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By R. J. Hafsten, E. S. Davenport, R. A. Grange

THE influence of austenite grain size upon the hardenability of steel is now fairly well understood; for a given austenite, increasing the grain size increases the depth of hardening, and, since the latter is related to the fundamental transformation behavior of austenite, it follows that austenite decomposition must, in general, be retarded by increasing grain size. To date, very little quantitative information bearing directly on the effect of austenite grain size upon the progress and result of isothermal transformation has been published. Davenport and Bain,1 and Zimmerman, Aborn and Bain2 have shown that the transformation is definitely retarded in hypereutectoid plain carbon steels at temperatures near and above the upper region of rapid transformation (Ar') when the austenite grains are increased in size. More recently, Griffiths, Pfeil and Allen3 investigated the effect of a series of different heating (austenitizing) temperatures upon the progress of isothermal transformation at 1245°F. (675°C.) and 745°F. (395°C.) in a medium carbon, low-alloy steel; while they reported no measurements of the austenite grain size, their results suggest that increase in grain size retards austenite transformation at 1245°F. (675°C.), but has no appreciable effect at 745°F (395°C.). The present paper deals with the results of a study of the isothermal transformation of austenite in a single commercial alloy steel in which a fine-grained or a coarse-grained state was induced by appropriate selection of austenitizing temperature. The data are presented in the form of isothermal transformation diagrams, which clearly show that coarsening the grains lessens the rate of transformation of austenite to proeutectoid ferrite and pearlite-that is, at temperature levels above about 1000°F. (540°C.)-but is without significant effect at lower temperatures where the transformation product is bainite or martensite. It is to be presumed that the foregoing statement would be valid, at least in principle, for many other grades of steel; it confirms again that the mechanism of transformation to a pearlitic structure is fundamentally different from that to an acicular structure. A number of related observations were made, which seem to throw some light on the transformation process as it takes place in alloy steels, particularly at temperature levels in the vicinity of 1000°F. (540°C.), where the transition from lamellar to acicular structures occurs. These data are discussed briefly in the belief that they may lead to a clearer understanding of this aspect of the subject. MATERIAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The material investigated was a commercial grade of S.A.E. 4140 steel, the composition of which was as follows: 0.37 per cent C, 0.77 per cent Mn, 0.98 per cent Cr and 0.21 per cent M0. It was hot-rolled to a 1 1/8-in. round bar and normalized by air-cooling from 1800°F. (980°C.).

Jan 1, 1941

By Michael Perch, Charles C. Russell

Nearly 95 per cent of the total coke production in the United States in 1940 was consumed in blast furnaces. In 1939 the percentage was 69,9, and in 1938 it was 61.3, To produce a net ton of pig iron 1959 lb. of coke was required in ,1940 and 1760o lb. in 1939. These figures indicate how dependent the production of pig iron is upon the production of coke. The rate of iron production is in some measure influenced by the physical and chemical characteristics of the coke. Blast-furnace operators believe that the physical properties of coke profoundly influence the operation of the furnace. Although it is true that coke of a wide variety of physical properties is used in American blast furnaces, the periodic fluctuation of these properties is one of the causes of irregularity of blast-furnace operation. The purpose of this paper is to present a broad picture of the physical properties of by-product coke that are generally considered to be important by coke-oven and blast-furnace operators. Effects of the kind of coal used, the preparation of the coal, the rate of coking, and other factors will be considered. Of all these variables, the kind of coal used is by far the most important. In this discussion use will be made of the method of coal classification by rank1 standardized by the American Society for Testing Materials. Although this method of classification has been an American standard for several years, it has not been given the attention it deserves, especially in connection with the selection of coal for production of coke. Despite the fact that many producers of blast-furnace coke are limited to some particular source or sources of coal, a good understanding of the principles involved in setting up the standard method of classification may lead to a better appreciation of the causes of changes in coke characteristics. Furthermore, where it is necessary to select new coals as a substitute for the original supply, this method of classification can be of great assistance. The data presented have been gathered from many sources, but no attempt has been made to cover the vast literature. Instead, some of the more important data have been selected to show how coals and their carbonization affect some of the physical properties of coke. It must be emphasized that generalizations concerning the behavior of coking coals are presented and that individual coals may vary widely from the specific behavior depicted. Nevertheless, it is believed that the data illustrate certain typical behaviors. Neither was it possible to cover completely all the factors involved; for example, the macroscopic constituents of coal are believed to have important effects on the physical properties of coke, but since there is little information available for such study, and since vitrain, clarain, and durain are neither

Jan 1, 1942

By Michael Perch, Charles C. Russell

Nearly 75 per cent of the total coke production in the United States in 1940 was consumed in blast furnaces. In 1939 the percentage was 69.9, and in 1938 it was 61.3. To produce a net ton of pig iron 1757 lb. of coke was required in 1940 and 1760 lb. in 1939. These figures indicate how dependent the production of pig iron is upon the production of coke. The rate of iron production is in some measure influenced by the physical and chemical characteristics of the coke. Blast-furnace operators believe that the physical properties of coke profoundly influence the operation of the furnace. Although it is true that coke of a wide variety of physical properties is used in American blast furnaces, the periodic fluctuation of these properties is one of the causes of irregularity of blast-furnace operation. The purpose of this paper is to present a broad picture of the physical properties of by-product coke that are generally considered to be important by coke-oven and blast-furnace operators. Effects of the kind of coal used, the preparation of the coal, the rate of coking, and other factors will be considered. Of all these variables, the kind of coal used is by far the most important. In this discussion use will be made of the method of coal classification by rank1 standardized by the American Society for Testing Materials. Although this method of classification has been an American standard for several years, it has not been given the attention it deserves, especially in connection with the selection of coal for production of coke. Despite the fact that many producers of blast-furnace coke are limited to some particular source or sources of coal, a good understanding of the principles involved in setting up the standard method of classification may lead to a better appreciation of the causes of changes in coke characteristics. Furthermore, where it is necessary to select new coals as a substitute for the original supply, this method of classification can be of great assistance. The data presented have been gathered from many sources, but no attempt has been made to cover the vast literature. Instead, some of the more important data have been selected to show how coals and their carbonization affect some of the physical properties of coke. It must be emphasized that generalizations concerning the behavior of coking coals are presented and that individual coals may vary widely from the specific behavior depicted. Nevertheless, it is believed that the data illustrate certain typical behaviors. Neither was it possible to cover completely all the factors involved; for example, the macroscopic constituents of coal are believed to have important effects on the physical properties of coke, but since there is little information available for such study, and since vitrain, clarain, and durain are neither

Jan 1, 1942

By I. Hawke, K. Barron

I. Hawkes (Postgraduate School in Mining, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, England) — The photoelastic stressmeter is proving to be a very practical tool for 'in-situ' measurements in the fields of civil and mining engineering and Barron's article has therefore come at a very opportune time, supplementing as it does, the considerable amount of laboratory and field data which is being accumulated.1,2,3 There are however several points relating the application of Barron's conclusions to the practical use of the meter which require further elucidation. EASE OF READING If the photoelastic stressmeter is to have a wide application, the fringe orders must be easily measured. The system adopted by the writer and his colleagues at Sheffield for the uniaxial stress case is to read the fringe order at the 45 point, 0.20 in. from the center (11/4 in. diam meter). This procedure has been recommended because the fringes not at this point form a very distinct 'eye' which is obvious even to those who have had little experience with photoelastic fringe patterns. Barron points out that this point can also be used up to a stress ratio of 0.33 and in practice this is normally done. In biaxial fields above a ratio of 0.33 the 'eye' is no longer apparent and the fringe order must be ascertained at some other point. The writer and his colleagues experimented at various points and finally chose a point at a distance 0.175 in. (11/4 in. diam meter) on the minor stress axis and fixed this point on the meter by inserting a collar of this diameter. This procedure enables the 'eye' technique to be used for uniaxial stresses as the 'eye' falls outside the collar; any other technique for biaxial patterns would require lines to be engraved on the meter itself and reading difficulties would be experienced by all but the most highly trained. It is interesting to point out that in a great many field applications ranging from underground pillars to building foundation piles the stresses measured have been uniaxial. In such cases, reading the fringe order has been simple even for unskilled persons. SENSITIVITY The photoelastic stressmeter acts as an inclusion, and as such its theoretical behavior is as described by Barron's mathematical analysis. When considering its practical application, however, it must be remembered that rocks and concrete are not mathematically ideal substances. The theory relates the fringe order in the meter to the stresses and the E (Young's Modulus) and the µ (Poisson's Ratio) values of the surrounding material. There is of course no unique E or µ value for rocks or concrete. These values change both with stress level and time load application sometimes to the order of 300%. We at Sheffield have very accurately calibrated the photoelastic stressmeter in a wide range of materials and have also measured the average E values for these materials. The results prove that the meter sensitivity

Jan 1, 1965

By Henry Louis

Henry Louis, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England (communication to the Secretary*).—In this paper Mr. Simons derives the various forms of revolving slime tables, of which the Harz and the Linkenbach tables are typical examples, from the old rectangular or box buddle. This I believe to be an error, at any rate if Mr. Simons attaches the same meaning as I do to the ((evolution" of a dressing appliance. By the '(evolution" of such an appliance I understand the progressive development and improvement of an appliance acting on a definite principle, such improvements having usually for their object the economy of labor in working the same, or the increase of its capacity; when an entirely new principle is introduced, I no longer look upon this as evolution from the old type, but as the origination of an independent type of appliance. The box buddle was no doubt the predecessor of the old Cornish round buddle, which was evolved from it with the object of saving the labor required to work the box buddle; both machines are horizontal-current separators, in which the separation of sands of different densities is effected by their differential rates of fall in a horizontal current of water of considerable depth. These appliances, though well suited to sands, are for obvious reasons not adapted to the treatment of slimes. The revolving tables of the Harz and similar types, on the other hand, act on the principle which I have called separation in thin films of water, and which Mr. Simons calls the film sizing principle, in which the resistance of the surface over which the pulp flows plays an essential part in determining the separation of the particles, and which is well suited to the treatment of slimes. Unlike the last principle, it will not work in deep bodies of water and cannot be used where considerable depth of material accumulates in the appliance, as in the box buddle and round buddle. As I have shown in my book, The Dressing of Minerals, p. 326, these revolving tables are a development of the appliance known variously as the flat buddle, flat table, or frame, the last name, which is the old Cornish one, being the one that I personally prefer. These primitive appliances, as well as the continuous-acting round tables described by Mr. Simons (his Figs. 10 et seq.) all work on the principle of separation in thin films, and are all adapted for the treatment of slimes; his buddles and round tables (Figs. 1 to 9) do not work upon this principle, and should therefore be sharply differentiated from the former. The evolution in each case of the continuous acting, more or less automatic, circular appliance from the primitive, intermittent, hand-worked, rectangular appliance has proceeded upon strictly parallel lines. The question of the evolution of the respective types involves a point of some importance as regards the principles of ore dressing.

Jan 1, 1915

By Emma Smith, R. W. Guard

INVESTIGATION of the nickel-rich end of the Ni-Zr system has been prompted by an interest in the effect of small amounts of zirconium in high temperature alloys. Hansenl presents a hypothetical diagram based on the work of Allibone and Sykes,2 who investigated the system up to 44 atomic pct (55 wt pct) Zr by metallographic means. Since the alloys they used were melted in Alundum crucibles they were probably contaminated with appreciable amounts of aluminum. They found two compounds which they called Ni3Zr and Ni4Zr. Hayes, Roberson, and Paasche3 identified a compound NiZr (50 atomic pct Zr) with a melting point of 1470°C. Such a high melting compound is not compatible with the observation of Allibone and Sykes2 hat a eutectic is formed near 50 atomic pct. The alloys containing up to 60 atomic pct Zr were melted in an inert atmosphere in a noncon-sumable electrode arc furnace. Analysis of most of the alloys indicated negligible loss of zirconium. The alloys were examined in the as-cast condition and also after annealing for 6 hr at 1175°C (or 1000°C for the alloys between 25 atomic pct and 45 atomic pct). Metallographic specimens were etched using mixtures of HF-HNO3-H2O or acetic acid- HN0,-H,O. The specimens for the solidus determinations were wrapped in molybdenum foil and sealed in evacuated quartz tubes. Specimens to be heated above 1300°C were enclosed in zirconia tubes inside the quartz to prevent reaction with molybdenum. The solidus determinations were carried out by heating the specimens at various temperatures for a few minutes and then examining the interior structure metallographically to determine at what temperature melting began. The 150 mesh powders for X-ray analysis were annealed in an evacuated quartz tube for 2 hr at 540 °C to remove cold work. Alloys with 22.5 atomic pct Zr and 44.4 atomic pct Zr required annealing at 700 °C for complete recovery. The grains of both of these alloys were soft and rather ductile. Both Debye-Scherrer film patterns and spectrometer traces were made for each alloy using filtered copper radiation. Results and Discussion The presence of a substantial amount of second phase in an alloy with 1.1 atomic pct Zr indicated that the solid solubility of zirconium in nickel is somewhat less than 1 atomic pct. The a0 value for the face-centered-cubic matrix in the same alloy was equal to that of pure nickel, so that the solubility must be very small. This observation is as expected from the large atom size difference. Annealed specimens of alloys with 15.0, 16.7, 22.5, 28.6, 44.4, and 59.4 atomic pct Zr showed. micro-structures that were essentially single phase. When

Jan 1, 1958

By Ralph M. Hunter

UNTIL recent years, maintenance of surface coal handling facilities was a relatively simple task. Equipment consisted principally of conveyors, screens and crushers of comparatively simple construction. Electrical equipment consisted of motors and starters, with little, if any, interlocking. In most cases failure of any component affected only the grades of coal loaded so that even a prolonged break-down did not affect mine operation materially. However, with the introduction of modern cleaning plants, the picture has changed. The equipment is much more complex and therefore more difficult to maintain. In many cases failure of any component of the plant prevents loading of coal. Even if provision is made to by-pass, the quality of coal loaded is lowered, affecting markets. In the case of plants designed to permit full seam mining, marketable coal cannot be loaded without operation of the cleaning plant. Under these conditions it is apparent that considerable thought and effort toward better maintenance are justified. In order to assure continuous, efficient and economical operation, maintenance should receive consideration, not only after the plant is in operation, but while it is being designed. It is hardly necessary to say that the designer should strive for sturdiness and wearing qualities. It is sometimes not realized, however, that even the best parts will sooner or later require replacement or repair. The designer should, therefore, give consideration to accessibility. Anyone who has had to do with cleaning plant maintenance is familiar with installations where several hours are required to get at a part that can be repaired or replaced in a few minutes, once it is accessible. As in most cases, experience is the best guide. The men who operate and maintain this equipment know the problems encountered. Whenever available, the opinions of these men should be sought and heeded. As an example, we might consider the refuse elevator on a Chance Cone. Our company is now operating three of these cones, the first of which was installed in 1941, and the latest in 2946. Exact records are not available, but well over 50 pct of delays charged to the Chance Cones have been caused by the refuse elevator. This elevator receives refuse from the cone and carries it to a point above the water level of the cone, discharging onto a dewatering and desanding screen. Since the elevator operates under water and necessarily has close clearances in the lower boot, it tends to jam on large pieces of refuse or tramp iron. The chain, buckets and boot are also subjected to the action of water, sand and refuse, which accelerate normal wear. In case of jamming or chain-breakage it is necessary to drain the elevator and the cone so that even a minor fault in the elevator causes a considerable loss of time for the cone. In our new plant, which will contain two Chance Cones, the refuse elevator has been eliminated. This was accomplished by raising the cone so that the refuse gates could discharge directly onto the dewater-

Jan 1, 1948

AS provided in Article VIII, Section 4 of the By- laws, the Papers and Publications Committee has formulated the following, rules of pro-cedure and submitted them to the Board of Directors for consideration and approval. In preparing these rules the committee, and an active subcommittee con-sisting of Messrs. Norris, Sharpless; Fohs and Wither-ell, have kept in mind the desirability of codifying the practice that has grown up through the now sev-eral years of experience of the committtee, without casting them in a mold so rigid as to be hampering. The problems of the Institute change from year to year and the methods of publication must change also to meet each new situation as it arises. "The estab-lishment of divisions and special volumes devoted to the papers. read before each required certain changes from former practice. These rules have been framed with this in view. The committee suggested, however, in its letter of transmittal, that the system will be made all the more workable if the Board will, as far as practicable, in making appointments to this committee, arrange for representation from each of the professional divisions and technical committees. It is understood that the chairman of the committee will be named by the Board. The rules regarding spe-cial volumes have been framed, keeping in mind the present policy of distribution, as already approved by the Directors under which the special volumes go only to the special. groups except on request. The committee has not attempted to provide rules governing consideration of any appeal made to the Board from one of its decisions, but its services and files will necessarily be at the full service of the Board in any such event. The rules which were ap-proved by the Board at its meeting on March 30, 1928, are as follows: Signed by C. S. Witherell, Chairman. (A) The authority of. the Committee on Papers and Pub-lications, hereinafter called the Committee, is defined in Art. VIII, Sec. 4 of the By-laws of the Institute, which reads as follows: "Papers and Publications: The Committee on Papers and Publications shall consist of the Secretary of the Institute, and at least twelve members of the Institute, to assist in passing on all papers offered for publication. They shall be appointed annually by the Board of Direc-tors, on recommendation of the President, and shall have authority, subject to appeal to the Board, to accept or reject papers for publication in the Transactions and Technical Publications of the Institute. The Commit-tee shall formulate a set of rules of procedure which, when approved by the Board, shall have the force of By-laws until revoked or amended." The policy of the Committee will be to uphold the ob-jects of -the Institute as set forth in the Constitution (Arti-cle 1, Sec. 2).

Jan 5, 1928

By G. A. Koehler

The Hiawatha mine, a producer of iron ore, is near the City of Iron River, in Iron County, Michigan. This mine, operated by The M. A. Hanna Co., has been chosen by the author as a typical iron mine in this district that is using the cut-and-fill mining system. General Geology The Hiawatha ore body lies along the steeply dipping north limb of a syncline that closes around on the east end to form a bathtub-shaped structure. Throughout this major structure there are very many smaller wrinkles or folds, which vary the direction as well as the thickness of the ore body. The total length of the ore formation with minor interruptions so far developed is about 3600 ft. The ore body throughout the entire present depth of 2000 ft. has averaged approximately 40 ft. in thickness; it is somewhat narrower at the upper levels and shows a marked increase in thickness on the bottom levels. This increase in thickness probably indicates that the bottom of the trough is near or that a major monoclinal fold has been encountered, which flattens the ore and gives apparent horizontal thickening. The footwall of this ore body is generally a black, graphitic slate, very rich in iron sulphides, quite combustible when exposed to air, and very treacherous to handle during mining operations. The hanging wall, in most places, is a cherty, fairly hard iron formation, and in general stands quite well ill open stopes. There are places, however, where black slate is found in both the hanging wall and the footwall, which makes mining difficult, as the black slate tends to slough off after being exposed to air. In these places it becomes necessary to leave a scale of ore 5 to 6 ft. thick on both hanging wall and footwall, which is not recovered. Fig. I shows a typical vertical cross section through the Hiawatha ore body. Type of Stoping Because of the size and shape of the ore body and the hard, dense structure of the ore, sublevel stoping has been an efficient and economical method of extracting the ore. This method, with various minor changes, has been used since the mine was opened in 1893. There have never been any stope-filling operations, however, until recent years, when crushing of pillars and black-slate fires forced the issue and methods were arrived at to fill all stopes. Development of Deeper Levels Shaft sinking to deeper levels in development operations has been done successfully by two methods without interference or hindrance to production. These systems are: I. Sinking an auxiliary winze a short distance from the shaft, then drifting back to the shaft location and putting up a pilot raise through to the bottom of the shaft. This raise is always in the manway compartment of the shaft, so that no work is ever done under a cage or skip. A 20-ft.

Jan 1, 1946

By E. P. Valby

A method is presented in which the hydrocarbon weight fractional analyses of the well effluents from a true gas-tip-portion well and a true dark-oil-ring well furnish the basic data for determining the properties of any mixture of production from the two sources. The effect of injected gas on these properties can be computed. Comparison of similar properties of a given well effluent to the properties of mixtures of the basic well effluents will give the relative amounts of production from the two sources and injected gas. Presentation of Problem Oil fields having an area of gas-cap, or light-oil production, over the dark-oil area present a problem of increasing gas-oil ratios during the production of an oil well. The use of pressure maintenance in a field such as above, or a cycling project, wherein residue gas from an absorption plant is injected into the reservoir, adds to the problem, because a part of the increased gas-oil ratio may be due to the production of injected gas. The usefulness of a means to determine the amount of injected gas in a well effluent led to the development of a method in which well-effluent analyses of a true gas-cap-portion well and a true dark-oil-ring well furnish the basic data needed to determine whether injected gas of a known composition is present in a given well effluent. Development op Method The method presented herein is based upon the principle that if two fluids, or well effluents, having different properties are mixed in known proportions by weight, • the properties of their mixtures can be computed. Conversely, if these basic data are known, the properties of a mixed well effauent can be used to compute the relative amounts of each type of well effluent in the mixture. A convenient way of making these computations is to have the fractional analyses of the base well effluents and mixtures expressed in weight fractions The mathematical equations expressing the properties of mixtures will be developed for a two-component system consisting of the well effluents from the dark-oil ring and the gas-cap area. The added effect of injected gas, a third component, will also be developed. The following assumptions have been made in developing the method: 1. The gas-cap and dark-oil fluids exist initially in separate portions of the reservoir. 2. The fluids in each portion exist in a single phase at pressures above the saturation pressure for the dark-oil fluid. 3. The composition of each fluid is substantially constant throughout its respective portion of the reservoir. 4. Changes in reservoir pressure and temperature will not change the composition of the fluid entering the well bore. 5. The injected gas displaces original gas-cap fluid 100 per cent. •• 6. AS the injected gas travels through a

Jan 1, 1945

By F. McIntosh Galbraith

This paper describes the use of the magnetometer, under geological direction, in exploration of the Sudbury nickel district. The writer's experience at Falconbridge has led him to the belief that only through detailed work, and by careful correlation of both geological and geophysical results, can geophysical prospecting methods be applied successfully to mining exploration problems. It is hoped that the basic technique described in the paper will be found to have general application. Introduction Within the past 20 years, geophysical methods of prospecting have become solidly established in the field of petroleum exploration. They have not, however, been similarly adopted by the mining industry, although mining is a far older craft and should be the more advanced in its technique. While, therefore, it is almost a routine matter to have geophysical surveys performed in a new area being tested for oil, a new metal-mining district is usually teeming with prospectors and promoters long before the technical man appears on the scene. Even then, only the more primitive engineering methods are customary in the early stages of exploration. Three factors are chiefly responsible for this situation, The first is the difference between oil pools and ore deposits in their geological modes of occurrence. While most of the known metallic ore bodies have been found outcropping at the surface, petroleum deposits are characteristically buried. This does not mean that all ore deposits outcrop, but neither does it mean that we should rely on "wildcatting" to discover blind ore bodies. The second factor is the relative scale of metallic lodes and accumulations of petroleum. In areal extent, a metal-bearing vein deposit is typically a much smaller geological feature than an oil pool. Presenting a narrower target, it requires closer shooting to score a direct hit. And finally, there is the need, in mining work, for close correlation of the known local geology with geophysical observations. This becomes of increasing importance as the size of the objective diminishes. A geophysical disturbance on a large enough scale will be detected under almost any circumstances and by almost any technique; without benefit of geology, however, the significance of a local anomaly may easily be misread. Campaign at Sudbury In the Sudbury nickel district of Canada, new deposits of nickel and copper have been discovered recently by magnetic methods, under geological supervision. A campaign of exploration, designed to encompass the district eventually, was set in motion in the spring of 1935. After six years, a new and important Ore body has been discovered and its continuity established to 1000 ft. in depth; several areas have been eliminated; and a number of possibilities remain to be tested. This has been accomplished with the expenditure of less than $$I50,000-—including the cost of all diamond drilling. The responsibility for carrying out this campaign was entrusted by the company to its Geological Department, and the under

Jan 1, 1946

By A. J. Miles, A. D. Topping

in this paper, the theory of elasticity has been applied to the rock about a deep well, It is assumed that the rock has a modulus of . elasticity and a Poisson's ratio and that the theory of elasticity applies. It is necessary to know or assume the state of stress existing in the rock before it is penetrated by the well drill. The application of this theory indicates that stress concentration of shear, tensions, and compressions about the bore hole are of a high order. This is particularly true when a horizontal compressive stress exists in one direction only in the formation before drilling. If such an initial state of stress exists before drilling, then the rock will have stress concentrations of both tension and compression at the same elevation and of such magnitude that failure of the rock is likely. Accompanying these is a shearing stress of large proportion which is likely to produce spalling of the well walls. Internal pressure applied to the well bore will relieve the extreme compression but not the tension and has little effect upon the shear. Plastic deformation of the rock through a geological time tends to mitigate the stress concentrations. IntroductioN It has long been known that the stresses about holes and re-entrant corners of elastic solids under the influence of loads are different and generally more intense than those imposed upon the body else- where. Stress concentration at a re-entrant corner can be reduced by increasing the radius of the fillet at the corner. Stress concentration at the end of a crack in a plate undergoing either tension or compression Can be relieved appreciably by drilling a hole at the very end of the crack. Also, stresses can be increased in an elastic body in tension or compression by making a hole in it. The stress concentration is greatest at the edge of the hole. Considerable knowledge of the stresses which exist about the bore hole of a deep well may be had by applying our knowledge of engineering mechanics; or more particularly the theory of elasticity. It is, of course, necessary to make the assumption that the rock is elastic and behaves as an elastic solid, that is, that it obeys Hooke's law, has a modulus of elasticity, and a Poisson's ratio. It is also necessary to know, Or assume, the state of stress which exists in the rock prior to the penetration of the drill. With this knowledge it is possible to compute the stresses about the bore hole. The problem can be simplified by considering several simple cases separately and then by applying the principle of superposition to solve the more complex cases which are made up of the simpler ones. Case i—Rock Strata in Compression Penetrated by a Hole This case was first worked out by G. Kirsch* for structural material, but applies equally well to a horizontal rock strata in a state of in in one direction

Jan 1, 1949

By I. J. Logan, Warren L. Baker

By 1950 or soon thereafter facilities will be available in foreign countries for the production, transportation, and refining of about 4,305,000 bbl per day of crude oil—a volume not far short of current United States output. This is indicated by announced plans for foreign expansion, - some of the work being already under way. The projected potential production is about 1,500,000 bbl per day or 50 pct above the record-setting foreign production of 2,810,000 bbl daily in 1946. The scheduled new foreign facilities are equivalent to almost one third of the present facilities of the United States. Fears that so much additional foreign oil may flood world markets and disrupt the domestic industry of the United States are not justified. The projected foreign expansion apparently has been planned on a sound business basis, with careful consideration of the world's actual need for all the projected additional production. Materially increased world demand for petroleum promises to absorb the increased supplies without ill effect upon the domestic industry. Even by applying conservative estimates of both foreign and domestic demand, it is indicated that world requirements can absorb the projected larger foreign output and still permit continued increase in United States production. World demand would have to increase only 5.7 pct per year in the 1947 to 1950 period to absorb the prospective supply. Such an increase may be conservatively projected, in view of past and current trends. Introduction Recent announcements of plans for expanding petroleum facilities in the Middle East and Venezuela foreshadow an unusually sharp increase in foreign production in the immediate future. Therefore, the next few years will bring far-reaching changes in world petroleum affairs, with foreign petroleum production and other activities assuming much greater importance than formerly. Tabulation of figures on development already under way or planned indicates that in the next several years facilities will be available for producing, transporting and refining twice the prewar production of foreign fields and about 50 pct or nearly 1,500,000 bbl a day above their record-level output of 1946. To say that foreign fields may be producing such an enlarged quantity by 1950 is, of course, a statement of great significance to everyone connected .with the oil industry and especially to those of the American petroleum industry. A production of 1,500,000 bbl daily is equal to the combined yield of the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and New Mexico. This means that within the next several years foreign petroleum facilities will undergo a new expansion equivalent to one third of the present facilities of the United States. To think of such an expansion in foreign production is to raise at this meeting the question of what this prospective foreign development means for the United States, the American petroleum industry in general, and the American engineer and technologist in particular. It is only logical to question whether or

Jan 1, 1948

By S. D. Warriner

ONE of the most, if not the most, difficult of the problems associated with the mining and distri-bution of anthracite is to get clearly into the minds of the consumers and of the editorial and reporto-rial writers in the public press the relationship between the cost of production, the price at the mine and the price that the consumer pays for his coal, delivered in the cellar. One sees in his morning paper a statement to the .effect that out of the $12 or $13 per ton that his dealer charges him, the miner gets only $2 or even less, and he asks himself or the paper asks for him, "Who gets the difference?" Not infrequently the amount that the miner gets is given for run-of-mine bituminous coal while the price quoted is that of prepared anthra-cite, egg, stove, or chestnut, as the case may be, delivered to the bin of the consumer; and the difference stands out with all the more prominence; and it sticks in his memory with a persistency which no manner of explanation is able to efface. A recently published official report for the year. 1921 of one of the State Bureaus stated the total production of anthracite in net tons of 2000 lb., and included not only the output recovered by washeries from old culm banks and by dredges from creek and river channels, but also the colliery consumption;, i.e., the coal used by the companies in the operation of the collieries. This resulted in a total production of 90,509,075 net tons for which the labor cost was stated at $283,961,300, or $3.13 per net ton, equivalent to $3.50 per gross ton. This figure of $3.50 was immediately seized upon as representing the labor cost per gross ton of fresh-mined commercial coal. It is almost a hopeless task to try to correct such errors of statement in the first place, and, in the second place, to correct the misapprehen-sions that arise from them. As a matter of fact, the report was misleading in regard to the labor cost of the entire production shipped, as the coal used for colliery consumption should be deducted. Correctly stated, the report should have shown, calculated in terms of gross tons of 2240 lb., the legal weight in Pennsylvania, as follows: Gross production 80,607,359 tons Less colliery fuel 8,757,137 tons Commercial production 71,850,222 tons Total labor bill $283,961,300.00 Labor cost per ton...: 8 3.952 The foregoing figures" of tonnage are obtained from the State Department of Mines. Even these include the quantity recovered from calm, banks by washeries, and consequently the $3.95 arrived at as the average labor cost is somewhat less than that actually involved in the mining of fresh-mined coal. Unfortunately, the figures of washery production and the cost of producing it are not available.

Jan 7, 1922

By F. McIntosh Galbraith

This paper describes the use of the magnetometer, under geological direction, in exploration of the Sudbury nickel district. The writer's experience at Falconbridge has led him to the belief that only through detailed work, and by careful correlation of both geological and geophysical results, can geophysical prospecting methods be applied successfully to mining exploration problems. It is hoped that the basic technique described in the paper will be found to have general application. Introduction Within the past 20 years, geophysical methods of prospecting have become solidly established in the field of petroleum exploration. They have not, however, been similarly adopted by the mining industry, although mining is a far older craft and should be the more advanced in its technique. While, therefore, it is almost a routine matter to have geophysical surveys performed in a new area being tested for oil, a new metal-mining district is usually teeming with prospectors and promoters long before the technical man appears on the scene. Even then, only the more primitive engineering methods are customary in the early stages of exploration. Three factors are chiefly responsible for this situation, The first is the difference between oil pools and ore deposits in their geological modes of occurrence. While most of the known metallic ore bodies have been found outcropping at the surface, petroleum deposits are characteristically buried. This does not mean that all ore deposits outcrop, but neither does it mean that we should rely on "wildcatting" to discover blind ore bodies. The second factor is the relative scale of metallic lodes and accumulations of petroleum. In areal extent, a metal-bearing vein deposit is typically a much smaller geological feature than an oil pool. Presenting a narrower target, it requires closer shooting to score a direct hit. And finally, there is the need, in mining work, for close correlation of the known local geology with geophysical observations. This becomes of increasing importance as the size of the objective diminishes. A geophysical disturbance on a large enough scale will be detected under almost any circumstances and by almost any technique; without benefit of geology, however, the significance of a local anomaly may easily be misread. Campaign at Sudbury In the Sudbury nickel district of Canada, new deposits of nickel and copper have been discovered recently by magnetic methods, under geological supervision. A campaign of exploration, designed to encompass the district eventually, was set in motion in the spring of 1935. After six years, a new and important Ore body has been discovered and its continuity established to 1000 ft. in depth; several areas have been eliminated; and a number of possibilities remain to be tested. This has been accomplished with the expenditure of less than $$I50,000-—including the cost of all diamond drilling. The responsibility for carrying out this campaign was entrusted by the company to its Geological Department, and the under

Jan 1, 1946

By R. P. McLaughlin

Discussion of the paper of R. P. McLaughlin, presented at the San Francisco meeting, September, 1915, and printed in Bulletin 'No. 108, December, 1915, pp. 2313 to 2319. M. E. LOMBARDI, Berkeley, Cal.-Mr. Bell, I would ask you to state before the meeting what you said to me the other day, about the final recovery of oil from oil sands that have become inundated with water. A. F. L. BELL, San. Francisco, Cal: In stating my opinion, I give it with certain qualifications. In the Kern field, and possibly in some others, I think we will eventually get all the oil out, whether the water comes in or not, since it is peculiarly constructed, being in the form of a partial dome. In 1909, while I was field manager of the Associated Oil Co., I installed some large air compressors to handle the water. At that time the oil had migrated to the higher and more shallow portions of the field, because the water had inundated the deeper sections. The result was that the shallow districts within the center of the dome were in many, cases producing as much or more oil per well than the deeper wells. And in the inundated sections the water had slowly spread over large areas, so that nothing but water was pumped from them. Under these conditions, we decided to pump the wet. well with air, and installed four 2,000-cu. ft. compressors. The air was compressed and forced into the wet wells at, about 250 lb. pressure. Shortly the inundated district that had produced almost all water and only about 150 bbl. of oil a day increased its production to over 2,000 bbl. of oil per day. It was not-long before, we noticed that the production of the shallow territory was falling off to such an extent that in many cases the wells were abandoned; at the same time the area of the water-inundated district was greatly reduced, showing that when the water pressure was reduced the oil migrated back to the lower depth. The wells which at first had had the air jets put into them finally produced so much oil that we had to take the 'air jets out and return to the use of the beam pump, because it is not commercially feasible to pump, an oil of 14° gravity with air. To handle such oil profitably by air, it must carry with it 50 to 90 per cent. of water. The results have led me to believe that oil monoclines, where there is a gradual rise to a certain point, or in plunging anticlines, even though water gets into oil sands, eventually we get the larger percentage of the oil. However, the man with a small acreage in the deeper sections may find some morning that his oil has gone, another man in some higher portion of the district having gotten it.

Jan 12, 1915

By Warren L. Baker, I. J. Logan

By 1950 or soon thereafter facilities will be available in foreign countries for the production, transportation, and refining of about 4,305,000 bbl per day of crude oil—a volume not far short of current United States output. This is indicated by announced plans for foreign expansion, - some of the work being already under way. The projected potential production is about 1,500,000 bbl per day or 50 pct above the record-setting foreign production of 2,810,000 bbl daily in 1946. The scheduled new foreign facilities are equivalent to almost one third of the present facilities of the United States. Fears that so much additional foreign oil may flood world markets and disrupt the domestic industry of the United States are not justified. The projected foreign expansion apparently has been planned on a sound business basis, with careful consideration of the world's actual need for all the projected additional production. Materially increased world demand for petroleum promises to absorb the increased supplies without ill effect upon the domestic industry. Even by applying conservative estimates of both foreign and domestic demand, it is indicated that world requirements can absorb the projected larger foreign output and still permit continued increase in United States production. World demand would have to increase only 5.7 pct per year in the 1947 to 1950 period to absorb the prospective supply. Such an increase may be conservatively projected, in view of past and current trends. Introduction Recent announcements of plans for expanding petroleum facilities in the Middle East and Venezuela foreshadow an unusually sharp increase in foreign production in the immediate future. Therefore, the next few years will bring far-reaching changes in world petroleum affairs, with foreign petroleum production and other activities assuming much greater importance than formerly. Tabulation of figures on development already under way or planned indicates that in the next several years facilities will be available for producing, transporting and refining twice the prewar production of foreign fields and about 50 pct or nearly 1,500,000 bbl a day above their record-level output of 1946. To say that foreign fields may be producing such an enlarged quantity by 1950 is, of course, a statement of great significance to everyone connected .with the oil industry and especially to those of the American petroleum industry. A production of 1,500,000 bbl daily is equal to the combined yield of the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and New Mexico. This means that within the next several years foreign petroleum facilities will undergo a new expansion equivalent to one third of the present facilities of the United States. To think of such an expansion in foreign production is to raise at this meeting the question of what this prospective foreign development means for the United States, the American petroleum industry in general, and the American engineer and technologist in particular. It is only logical to question whether or

Jan 1, 1948

By Ralph M. Hunter

Until recent years, maintenance of surface coal handling facilities was a relatively simple task. Equipment consisted principally of conveyors, screens and crushers of comparatively simple construction. Electrical equipment consisted of motors and starters, with little, if any, interlocking. In most cases failure of any component affected only the grades of coal loaded so that even a prolonged breakdown did not affect mine operation materially. However, with the introduction of modern cleaning plants, the picture has changed. The equipment is much more complex and therefore more difficult to maintain. In many cases failure of any component of the plant prevents loading of coal. Even if provision is made to bypass, the quality of coal loaded is lowered, affecting markets. In the case of plants designed to permit full seam mining, marketable coal cannot be loaded without operation of the cleaning plant. Under these conditions it is apparent that considerable thought and effort toward better maintenance are justified. In order to assure continuous, efficient and economical operation, maintenance should receive consideration, not only after the plant is in operation, but while it is being designed. It is hardly necessary to say that the designer should strive for sturdi-ness and wearing qualities. It is sometimes not realized, however, that even the best parts will sooner or later require replacement or repair. The designer should, there- fore, give consideration to accessibility. Anyone who has had to do with cleaning plant maintenance is familiar with installations where several hours are required to get at a part that can be repaired or replaced in a few minutes, once it is accessible. As in most cases, experience is the best guide. The men who operate and maintain this equipment know the problems encountered. Whenever available, the opinions of these men should be sought and heeded. As an example, we might consider the refuse elevator on a Chance Cone. Our company is now operating three of these cones, the first of which was installed in 1941, and the latest in 1946. Exact records are not available, but well over 50 pct of delays charged to the Chance Cones have been caused by the refuse elevator. This elevator receives refuse from the cone and carries it to a point above the water level of the cone, discharging onto a dewatering and desanding screen. Since the elevator operates under water and necessarily has close clearances in the lower boot, it tends to jam on large pieces of refuse or tramp iron. The chain, buckets and boot are also subjected to the action of water, sand and refuse, which accelerate normal wear. In case of jamming or chain-breakage it is necessary to drain the elevator and the cone so that even a minor fault in the elevator causes a considerable loss of time for the cone. In our new plant, which will contain two Chance Cones, the refuse elevator has been eliminated. This was accomplished by raising the cone so that the refuse gates could discharge directly onto the dewater-

Jan 1, 1949

INTRODUCTION The preceding chapters have brought us to a point in the mineral appraisal process where the composited sample values can now be used to estimate the grade and tonnage of the total mineral deposit. There are many techniques whereby drill hole composites and/or other sample data are used to assign grade and estimates to the surrounding rock. Matheron and his students have properly called such techniques extension functions. Before embarking upon a detailed discussion of extension functions, it is necessary that we take time to consider the concept of geostatistics as advocated by George Matheron who developed the "Theory of Regionalized Variables," which he published in 1962 (Matheron, 1971). The concept of regionalized variables has important application in the techniques of mineral appraisal. The position or location of a mineral sample within a deposit can be almost as important as its value. Geostatistics, when defined as "the application of the theory of regionalized variables* to the study of mineralized volumes of rock," takes into consideration the position as well as the magnitude of the value of the sample. The principles of geostatistics, as outlined by Matheron, represent a major step forward in the mineral evaluation process, because they provide a sound theoretical and practical basis for quantifying the geological concepts of (1) area of influence of a sample, (2) the continuity or lack of continuity of mineralization within the ore body, and (3) the lateral changes in mineralization according to the trend direction of an ore body and its orthogonal components; or in other words, a measure of the anisotropy of the deposit. Royle (1971) has defined the objects of geostatistic as being: "1. To estimate the most likely value of blocks of ore, or the values of the whole deposit; and 2. to estimate the errors of such estimates. This latter is important as, in addition to providing a check on unwarranted optimism, it shows where more valuation work may be needed." Because of the great importance of these concepts in mineral evaluation, an introduction into the theory of regionalized variables, and the study of a practical approach to its application is outlined here. REGIONALIZED VARIABLES VS. RANDOM VARIABLES Classical statistics, as discussed in earlier chapters, grew out of the study and application of probability theory. Probability is concerned with the outcome of random events and therefore classical statistics is built upon the theory of random variables, i.e., the probability of independent events. The validity of most statistical inferences depends upon sample randomness being assured for unbiased results. Where independent events cannot be assumed the results of statistical inference becomes suspect. On the other hand, geostatistics is concerned with variables that have position in space as well as magnitude, hence the term regionalized variables. Mineral deposits are not the only field to which the theory of regionalized variables is applicable. Many natural phenomena that demonstrate a relationship between change in magnitude and position in space are amenable to application of geostatistical techniques. Mineral deposits vary greatly in their geosta-

Jan 1, 1980

By M. A. Torcaso, P. Raimondi

The distribution of the oil phase in Berea sandstone resulting from increasing and decreasing the water saturation by imbibition was investigated Three types of distribution were recognized: trapped, normal and lagging. The amount of oil in each of these distributions was determined as a function of saturation by carrying out a miscible displacement in the oil phase under steady-state conditions of saturation. These conditions were maintained by flowing water and oil simultaneously in given ratios and by using a displacing solvent having essentially the same density and viscosity as the oil. A correlation shows the amount of trapped oil at any saturation to be directly proportional to the conventional residual oil saturation Sor The factor of proportionality is related to the fractional permeability to the water phase. Part of the oil which was not trapped was displaced in a piston-like manner (normal part) and part was eluted gradually (lagging part). The observed phenomena are more than of mere academic importance. Oil which is trapped may well provide the fuel essential for forward combustion and thus be beneficial. On the contrary, in tertiary recovery operations, it is this trapped oil which seems to make current techniques uneconomic. INTRODUCTION A typical oilfield may initially contain connate water and oil. After a period of primary production water often enters the field either from surrounding aquifers or from surface injection. During primary production evolution and establishment of a free gas saturation usually occurs. The effect and importance of this third phase is fully recognized. However, this investigation is limited to a two-phase system, one wetting phase (water) and one non-wetting phase (oil). The increase in water content of a water-wet system is termed imbibition. In a relative permeability-saturation diagram such as the one shown in Fig. 1, the initial conditions of the field would be represented by a point below a water saturation of about 35 per cent, i.e., where the imbibition and the drainage curves to the non-wetting phase nearly coincide. When water enters the field the relative permeability to oil decreases along the imbibition curve. At watered-out conditions the relative permeability to the oil becomes zero. At this point a considerable amount of oil. called residual oil, (about 35 per cent in Fig. 1) remains unrecovered. Any attempt to produce this oil will require that its saturation be increased. In Fig. 1 this would mean retracing the imbibition curve upwards. In addition, processes like alcohol and fire flooding, which can be employed at any stage of production, involve the complete displacement of connate water and an increase, or imbibition. of water saturation ahead of the displacing front. Thus, in several types of oil production it is the imbibition-relative permeability curve which rules the flow behavior. For this reason a knowledge of the distribution of the non-wetting phase, as obtained through imbibition, whether "coming down" or "going up" on the imbibition curve, is important.

Jan 1, 1965