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By William B. Millar

IN ONTARIO development of the gold mines is being rapidly pushed, while the intensity of the search for new mines has probably not been equaled at any time in the past. Even to outline the results of recent prospecting activity in Ontario would be a big undertaking, but it would be timely and, I hope, interesting to Institute members to review some generalities regarding the work of the prospector and then to discuss in some detail the growth of Ontario's most promising prospect area, the Swayze district, where serious mining operations are already under way. Probably no one writing about prospectors and pros¬pecting can resist hoping that his article will not reach the eyes of a certain portion of the uninformed general public and cause a further influx of "prospective prospectors" into any given area. It is somewhat mystifying how so many people reach the conclusion that prospecting is in

Jan 1, 1933

A letter has been received by the Secretary of the Institute from Mr. C. W. Purington, Honorary. Secretary of the. American Committee of Engineers in London, whose offices are at 6, Copthall Avenue, London, E. C. 2, which will be of interest to any member who may be intending to go to England. Mr. Purington says: "A Committee of Americans has been formed here, consisting mostly of Mining Engineers, and those interested-in mining and allied industries. We should be very glad, among other duties, to give assistance to any American engineers arriving in England on official business connected with the war. This assistance would probably take the form of offering advice and hints as to saving time in approaching British official Departments, and generally in getting. about." This Committee of Engineers was organized with the approval of the American Ambassador to Great Britain, who has recommended its services to the United States Government in connection with the conduct of the war.

Jan 7, 1917

By Charles H. Mitchell

British Columbia is enjoying a period of sustained high-level activity in all aspects and sectors of its mining industry. The total value of mineral production for 1962 was in excess of $229 million. This was the greatest total value attained for any year to date, exceeding the previous record year of 1956 by more than $40 million. It appears reasonable to expect that value of production for 1963, stimulated by increased production attained during the year, and by improved metal prices for some of the major products, will be substantially in excess of that recorded for 1962. Elsewhere in this issue appears a detailed report of prospecting and exploration activity in the Province. For the purposes of this review it is sufficient to state that the level of prospecting and exploration activity during the past several years has been greater than at any previous time and that there does not appear to be any slackening in activity or interest.

Jan 12, 1963

By T. Egleston

THE manufacture of charcoal in kilns was declared many years ago, after a series of experiments made in poorly constructed furnaces, to be unprofitable, and the subject is dismissed by most writers with the remark that in order to use the method economically the products of distillation, both liquid and gaseous, must be collected. It is asserted with truth that the number of kilns required for a large production of iron would be so great that it is doubtful whether any works would be justified in making the necessary outlay for their construction, but it can also be asserted with equal truth that for any such production in a given locality the use of charcoal as fuel would be equally unjustifiable. It appears to have been forgotten that there were other manufactures besides iron in which large amounts of charcoal were used, but these consumers seem to have been guided entirely by the results of the experiments of the iron men, who necessarily made the largest quantity of it. Some authors speak in a doubtful way of the quality of the charcoal produced, and a few concede that with great care good charcoal can be made in kilns, but that most of the workmen do not like kiln charcoal. This is the real secret of the opposition to this method of manufacture. Most of these objections were written when charcoal was the most important fuel used by the iron manufacturer, and when what was a large production of iron for several furnaces was less than that produced by a single modern one, in localities where other fuels can be had. Almost all that has been written on the subject related to the use of the fuel for the manufacture of iron in the blast furnace, where very peculiar properties are required, and where the quantity produced is limited by the height of the furnace, and this in turn by the crushing resistance of the charcoal. A large production was, therefore, only possible when the best and hardest woods were used. Of all these objections there is not a single one which is not equally applicable to any method of charcoal manufacture, whether it be meilers, pits, or furnaces. Until recently, therefore, the manufacturers of charcoal iron * Read at the Pittsburgh meeting, May, 1879.

Jan 1, 1880

By B. H. Bergstrom, Will Mitchell, T. G. Kirkland, C. L. Sollenberger

SEVERAL constructive and fundamental studies have been made in the analysis of data obtained from experiments carried on with batch ball and rod mills. The operating characteristics of ball milling in small continuous circuits have also been appraised. It is from these analyses that some of the theories of comminution have been developed. Relatively few studies of continuous rod milling have added significantly to the fundamental concepts, because seldom have they yielded sufficiently consistent results. Perhaps they have been too limited in their scope. Careful control of the variables in batch grinding is simple compared with that encountered in a continuous operation. This factor alone has discouraged many investigators. Occasionally results of systematic changes made in industrial rod mill circuits have been published, but usually the data are sketchy and are restricted because -of the unwieldiness of the equipment used. The work, in general, has not been comprehensive; nevertheless it has provided empirical relationships that have bridged the gap between postulate and practice so that by proper manipulation of formulae, a mill designer can anticipate mill size and power requirements.1-3 Although operating variables of a small continuous mill are not so easy to control as with the batch mill, with present day devices, and with careful experimental work, consistent results can be obtained.

Jan 10, 1954

By W. D. Steele, S. D. Brady

THE Pittsburgh coal seam in West Virginia contains the largest coal reserves of any coal seam in that State and is, therefore, one of the most important seams, and attains mineable thickness and purity throughout that part of the seam extending from the Northern Panhandle to Monon¬galia Co. thence south and southwest across the state to Wayne Co. near Huntington. The Pittsburgh coal is also mineable in the Upper Potomac region but is now practically exhausted there. The total mineable areas of this coal amount to 2,165 sq miles and are estimated, by the West Virginia Geological Survey, to contain 13% billion net tons. The largest body of Pittsburgh coal outcrops on the western edge of West Virginia, along the Ohio river as far south as Moundsville, West Va., going under the river at that point and extending at various depths down the river as far as Wetzel Co. line where it thins out to such an extent that it has little practical value, and on the eastern edge this large body outcrops along the Monongahela River. The territory to be covered by this paper is the area known as the Northern. West Virginia District comprising Wetzel, Monongalia, Marion, Preston, Harrison, Doddridge, Taylor, Barbour, Upshur, Lewis, Gilmer, Braxton and Calhoun Counties, and is also known as Dist. 3 under the Bituminous Coal Act. This region was originally opened for commercial mining along and adjacent to the Monongahela River around 1852 when the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was constructed to Fairmont. It has been extensively developed, first, in 188o (when the Monongahela River Railroad, now B. & O. R. R., was constructed) between Fairmont and Clarksburg, and later, in 1916, between Morgantown and Fairmont when the Monongahela Railway was constructed and placed in operation, this area furnishing the major portion of the production over the past years. With the mining out of a great deal of this territory adjacent to the Monongahela River considerable interest has been developed in the back acreage; and within the past few years a number of diamond core drill holes have been made in the back areas of Monongalia and Marion Counties. In this back area the oil and gas well drilling showed that the Pittsburgh coal seam was of mineable thickness and ranged in depth from 350 to 1,000 ft below the surface of the stream valleys but this drilling did not furnish any definite data as to its thickness and quality. ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE The Pittsburgh seam in Northern West Virginia is of primary importance as a coal resource not only because of its large reserves but because of its contributing a very large part of the coal used in this country for general steam uses. The Pittsburgh seam is a consistently thick seam, averaging 8 ft in thickness, with very easy grades underground, so it has always been

Jan 1, 1948

By Alfred Brooks

THE only oil produced in Alaska in 1923 was obtained from a dozen small wells, one of which was drilled during the year on the single patented tract of petroleum land in Alaska, in the Katalla field. These wells are owned by the Chilkat Oil Co., which finds a ready local market for its product in the form of gasoline produced in its own refinery. The search for oil has been continued, but except in the Cold Bay field there has been no drilling in new fields during the year. Drilling was in progress during 1923 at Pearl Dome, 18 miles from the coast. Here the Associated Oil Co. sank two wells, about 500 and 950 ft. deep, but suspended drilling in June. The Standard Oil Co., drilling on the same structure, reached a depth of 300 ft. by August and is reported to have reached about 700 ft. by November. The company began the, installation of a second drill in August. George C. Martin, who hastily examined the Chignik region, south of the Cold Bay field, reports that what is known of the geology near Chignik is not favorable to the presence of petroleum. Kirtley Mather, who made a geologic survey of the northern part of the Alaska Peninsula, reports that some of the structures and the formations are favorable to the presence of oil. A small seepage has long been known in the region near the mouth of Douglas River, which flows into Cook Inlet. Sidney Paige last summer made an examination .of the oil seepages which have long been known near Cape Simpson, 50 miles southeast of Point Barrow, the northernmost point of Alaska. He reports that there are two very large seepages emanating from small ridges about a mile apart and several miles from the coast. These are marked by flowing petroleum, and cover many acres. There is a very large accumulation of petroleum residue at these seepages. The surface exposures consist of clay shales with hard thin partings of calcareous shale which lie nearly horizontal, and are probably, of Jurassic age. Mr. Paige and his two sub-parties explored a large area inland from the Arctic coast between Cape Beaufort on the south and Point Barrow and Cape Simpson on the north. He himself ascended the Meade River for 150 miles. These surveys indicate a wide distribution of what is believed to be the formation from which the Cape Simpson seepages emerge, which is probably of Jurassic age. These rocks near the north Arctic coast are little disturbed, but are increasingly folded to the south, toward the mountains. No other seepages have been found, but what is known of the geology is not unfavorable to an oil field. This entire region lies in Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4, and it was examined by the Geological Survey at the request and expense of the Department of the Navy.

Jan 3, 1924

By E. C. Pechin

AT the September meeting of the Iron and Steel Institute of Great Britain, Mr. Charles Wood, of the Tees Iron-works, read an interesting paper on "Further Improvements in Blast-Furnace Hearths," which was followed by an animated and instructive dis¬cussion. If the durability of hearths and in-walls is a matter of interest in England, where furnaces stay in blast from eight to twenty years, it

Jan 1, 1876

By Oliver Halston

THIS paper reports the results of the use of salt in some research work carried on during the past 3 years at the Salt Lake City Station of the Bureau of Mines, which is quartered in the University of Utah, whose Metallurgical Research Department cooperates with the Bureau. Only the work involving the use of salt is described. The authors wish equal credit given to J. F. Cullen, C. L. Larson, C. Y. Proutz, C. E. Sims, H. C. Neeld, R. W. Johnson, F. G. Moses, N. C. Christensen, and G. H. Wigton, who have all in some way contributed toward the success of this work. Lead Metallturgy Popularly Supposed to be Without Problems In bead metallurgy it is difficult at first to find metallurgical problems, as the prevailing conception has been that bead is so easily concentrated in its various ores and so easily reduced to its metallic form that the only progress possible is that involved in cheapening methods of mining and of reduction. Most of the problems usually considered are of minor nature and do not involve radical metallurgical changes. During the 3 years of work of the Salt Lake Station, the following classification of problems in the metallurgy of bend has been made: Those involving Oxidized Ores. 1. Ores containing only bead. s. Ores containing bead and silver or gold. 3. Ores containing bead and zinc, with or without silver. Sulphide Ores. 1. Ores of pyrite carrying some bead. 2. Ores of complex zinc-bead-iron sulphides. 3. Complex sulphides containing in addition precious metals.

Jan 8, 1917

By Joseph Jensen

No outstanding example of an important producing unit operation exists in California today where the competitive drilling drainage feature is or was entirely eliminated We need not feel, however, that the thought of unit operation had its birth in 1924, when Henry L. Doherty named and sponsored it so strongly before the American Petroleum Institute and our own organization. No man or company in California ever drilled a wildcat well without exerting every possible effort to get all of the structure, so as to control drilling and avoid competition. Overproduction did not begin in 1923, so there has always been the wish to avoid it. In this state the practice of selling acreage around a wildcat has not been followed, except possibly in rare instances. The operator drilling the wildcat knew he must pay the bill alone, so he endeavored to get the benefit of his effort by tying up all of the land around his well and by so planning his different lease obligations as to avoid as much offsetting as possible. If he failed to get all of the land, it was because someone's price was too high, some other oil man also had the same idea and already held some lands, a competitor took leases away from him while his work was still incomplete, or (as was so often the case) the hidden structure when developed did not prove to be where the wildcatter thought it would be. The last named condition often led to a forced drilling campaign by the last leases secured and thus to serious drilling drainage problems. Ownership of the Land The land situation differs a great deal in various parts of the state. In the San Joaquin Valley, all the land is surveyed into sections and townships. Railroad land grants embraced a part of the land. In the areas that were developed at an early date, as at Kern River, Coalinga, McKittrick and the Sunset-Midway field, such land as the railroad company's diligent land department had been unable to sell for a song as grazing land still remained in its ownership. Operation and ownership

Jan 1, 1930

By V. F. Marsters

THE oil-producing territory of Peru is confined to the province of Tumbes and the department of Piura, located in the extreme northern end of the republic and adjacent to the southern border of Equador. The first real production came from Zorritos field, located on the shore line and in the province of Tumbes. The production of this territory was soon exceeded by that of the Negritos field, also located along the shore line and in the northwest corner of the department of Piura. Talara, lying a short distance north of the original or early producing area was made the shipping port. This field was developed by the London Pacific Petroleum Co.; it is now-operated by the International Petroleum Ltd. (Toronto, Canada). A little later, the Lobitos field came into prominence; it was first exploited by the Lobitos Oil Co. At present, it is operated by the British Oilfields Ltd. This field is located between Talara, on the south, and Zorritos, on the north. It is now the second largest producing area in the country, the Negritos being by far the largest both in area and production. In other parts of Peru, there have been periods of desultory prospecting, particularly in the department of Puno. This work was carried on in the surrounding region of what,is locally known as the "Pirin" field, developed by the Brown Brothers. It lies between Juliaca, a railway junction point and Lake Titicaca. No favorable results from the latest prospecting have been reported. During the past few months, an opinion has been expressed in various journals that it is doubtful if commercial production will be found in the high plains of the Lake Titicaca region. It is, however, due to the Peruvian oil industry to remember that the Pirin field, although covering but a small area, was a fair producer even under adverse circumstances. If the author's interpretation of the geology of the Titicaca section is correct, certain sections of the high plains will be found to be commercially productive, not-withstanding the unfortunate geographical position from the standpoint of transportation; or its elevation.

Jan 3, 1925

By W. M. Clark

OUR interest in the matter of pyrometers and pyrometry is primarily that of a user of considerable quantities of heat-measuring equipment; and while we play be somewhat critical on the subject we have aimed to make the nature of these comments constructive. The glass industry in America dates back to 1609, when Capt. John Smith started a small glass plant near Jamestown, Va., with a few Italian workmen, to manufacture glass beads for trading with the Indians. While the industry has expanded until it has reached a volume of over $200,000,000 per annum, the means of heat determination in Colonial days was the human eye, and in much of the industry the same means is used today. About 15 yr. ago the largest glass-house supply dealers began to sell platinum pyrometers, but as nearly all of these proved un-satisfactory, pyrometers met a temporary rebuff from the old-time glass manufacturers. As their ruggedness of construction, reliability, and stability have been improved, however, pyrometers have gradually won their way into more and more extensive use throughout the glass trade. But there are still many applications where pyrometers are not used, largely because of cost and upkeep considerations. There are two distinct fields in glass works for pyrometry. The first calls for accurate temperature measurement and the second only demands knowledge of relative comparative fluctuations of temperature, to know whether the work is becoming hotter or colder. For example, in a lehr for annealing glassware and removing strain we want accurate temperatures to know that the ware is heated to the critical temperature for rapid removal of strain. On the other hand, in a glass pot furnace nearly 120 ft. (36 m.) in circumference, where the pyrometer couples only project inside the furnace wall for less than 2 in. (50 mm.), it is inconceivable that these few inches represent the accurate temperature at every point of the 120-ft. circumference but the relative readings as to whether the pyrometer shows schedule temperature fluctuations are valuable indications for control. The glass melting in the pots is,

Jan 8, 1919

By Everett Carpenter

THE average daily production of crude oil-in Kansas a1 the beginning of the year was about 71,000 1 bbl. and, at its close, 82,000 bbl.-an increase of 11,000 bbl. per day. The total production for the state during the year was about 28,250,000 bbl., or an average of practically 77,500 bbl. per day for the year. This increase in the production was the result of the discovery of several new pools of high-grade oil. COWLEY AND SUMNER COUNTIES One of the principal factors in bringing the production of the. state back to its former level was the newly discovered pools in western Cowley County. During December, 1923, the Waite Phillips Co. completed its Johnson No. 1 in Sec. 20, T. 33 S., R. 3 E., which opened up the Rainbow pool about 12 miles southwest of Winfield. In this pool, the production comes from the Burbank sand, locally called the "Rainbow," found at a depth of 3200 ft. The sand varies in thickness from 25 to 40 ft. in the seventeen wells completed during the year, and the initial productions ranged from 300 to 3000 bbl. per day of 40° Be. oil. The Rainbow pool is purely a wildcat discovery, for no. rocks suitable for the use of the geologist are present. To determine the geologic conditions, the larger companies core-drilled the Rainbow area immediately after the discovery. The Marland Refining, Co., drilling on the Graham farm in Sec. 9, T. 33, R. 3, failed to find the Burbank sand and continued to the Siliceous lime, often erroneously called the Wilcox, at 3505 ft., where a well with an initial production of 900 bbl. of 40 Be. oil was obtained. In the development following this discovery, 4 additional wells were completed, 3 of which encountered pay sand at 2500 ft., the initial productions each being about 200 barrels. Judging by the sands already proved and the area indicated as probably oil bearing by the development to date, these pools have a very promising outlook for the future. It is not unlikely that a field second only to El Dorado may have been opened.

Jan 3, 1925

By Carle R. Hayward

WHEN lead production began to recede from the peak productions of 1929 many plants took advantage of the curtailed operations to make necessary improvements and repairs about the plant. There followed a period of adjustment to synchronize production and demand, which merged in the present period of marking time. The lead smelting and refining industry has produced little that is new during the past year except in what might be called makeshifts, which have been introduced to make operation at fractional capacity profitable. This is more particularly true in refineries than in smelters. The Parkes process had become standardized during the period of normal production, with softening, desilverizing, and dezink-

Jan 1, 1935

By Waldemar Lindgren

FIFTEEN years ago, in his presidential address before the Washington Academy of Sciences,1 Alfred H. Brooks said: "Applied geology can only maintain its present high position by continuing the researches which advance the knowledge of basic principles. Future progress in applied geology depends on progress in pure geology." Early in 1927, Dr. David White, then chairman of the Division of Geology and Geography of the National Research Council, appointed a committee "On the Processes of Ore Deposition," which was the first recognition by the Council of this branch of applied geology. This committee will not be able to solve the many complex problems involved; it can only clear the way, survey the field, state the problems and encourage systematic research. This short paper aims to outline and to analyze the present status of this kind of geological research, to ascertain the quality of the work and to suggest lines that might profitably be followed. INCREASING DEMAND FOR GEOLOGISTS Economic geology, or the art of geology, could develop only after the principles of geology and mineralogy had been established. Before that time it was merely a collection of trade rules accompanied by more or less wild speculations. Thus we observe the beginnings of economic geology in the period 1770-1820. Soon afterwards, the State Surveys were established in this country, with the realization that the natural resources should be investigated and described. Geology was hardly yet equal to the task of scientific research in relationships and genesis, however, and there followed a period of discouragement and stagnation. In the meanwhile, pure geology had again registered progress, and, based on its principles and also on the rapid mining development in the Cordilleran region, the present phase of the study of ore deposits began to take form. Raphael Pumpelly, S. F. Emmons and G. F. Becker were among the pioneers in this movement. The United States Geological Survey was organized. Ore deposits were scientifically described and studied along lines of structure and mineralogy; theories of genesis were advanced, not always permanent but based on sound induction.

Jan 1, 1928

By V. V. Clark

WHEN a district is more or less primitive, and a trained mining engineer attempts single- handed to prospect it according to old standards, he generally fails. He has not the ability to live out in the open alone for months at a time and carry on with enthusiasm and determination like the old-time prospector. But the same engineer, placed in an organized group where modern prospecting methods are employed, is immediately put on his mettle and his chances of winning are greatly increased. Marsman Investments, Ltd., with headquarters in Manila, has at the present time, Sept. 4, 1937, six prospecting parties in the Netherland East Indies. Three of these groups are combing their assignments for lode mines, studying structures, developing and reaching out into veins and zones with diamond drills. The other three are searching for placer mines with pans, pits, and Empire drills. I am in charge of one group seeking commercial gold placers on the Island of

Jan 1, 1937

By G. B. WATERHOUSE

THE year 1929 was exceedingly busy and prosperous for the iron and steel industry in the United States. The lake shipments of ore were approximately 65,000,000 tons, steel ingots produced were about 57,000,000 tons. Plants were very active. operating for many months well over their rated capacity, slowing down during the last quarter following the severe break in the stock market. The ore tonnage mentioned above was the greatest ever shipped by lake from the Lake Superior region. The trend at the ore mines has been to supplement manual labor by mechanical appliances as much as possible. Mining methods have been greatly improved along the lines of safety as well as to increase the percentage of ore recovery. Crushing and grading of iron ores continued to gain in popularity inasmuch as remarkable blast-furnace operations and records were obtained with sizing and uniformity of raw materials. Progress was made along other lines. The Bradley process for the separation of manganese osicle and iron oside from siliceous manganiferous iron ore was cleuelopecl; also considerable work was clone on a process for the beneficiation of the Cuban laterite ores. Sintering of ores and concentrates increased in popularity. A new analytical method for the deter- mination of sulfur in iron ore was worked out which reduced the time required appreciably. The ore re- serves of the Lake Superior district continued to receive considerable attention and played an important part in the recent mergers which have taken place in the iron ancl steel industry.

Jan 1, 1930

By H. L. TERWILLIGER

THOSE of us who have been following rock drilling work for the last 15 or 20 years can recall some of the problems that were encountered with the old piston type of rock drill and the solid steel which it used. There was frequent trouble in keeping a straight hole in badly broken ground when using the ordinary four- point bit that had a flare on the wings of about 14". The drill steel, when pounding down its hole, would follow the line of least resistance and draw away from the desired line when it encountered a weak side in the ground through which it was drilling. Some would overcome the difficulty by making long winged bits to prevent the steel crowding over; this would relieve the troubles to a great extent. There was trouble with the rifling of drill holes and inability to drill round holes in some ground. The cure for these ills was to use the "X" bit, rather than the crossbit. The "2" bits were brought out in an effort to make it easier to drill a round hole in bad ground. Most of these troubles were before the days when the mechanical drill sharpener was in as common use as it is today. It was not until the introduction of the Leyner type of rock drill, requiring hollow steel that the users of rock drills found themselves confronted with more difficult prob- lems than they had ever encountered before with drill steel because the steel had to stand more severe service.

Jan 1, 1924

By Edward H. Robie

PROBABLY nowhere in the United States or its possessions is mining development more active at present than in the Philippine Islands. Only a few years ago only one company was of any importance, the Benguet Consolidated. Now, five companies are paying dividends, five others have reached the producing stage, some seven others may produce this year, and a score or so are being actively developed. Gold production in 1933 was valued at about $8,000,000, last year at about $11,000,000, and this year an output valued at about $17,000,000 is envisaged. At the beginning of 1934 about 1750 tons of ore was being milled daily; at the end of the year, the tonnage was approximately 3400. In 1933 there were only thirteen Institute members in the Philippines; a year ago there were 27, and now there are 46. About fifteen thousand amen were employed in the mining industry last year, with mine payrolls amounting to $3,500,000. An immense amount of new machinery has been required. One difficulty has so far hindered gold-mine development to some extent-lack of adequate power. Each company therefore finds it necessary to generate its own power, and for this purpose diesel engines are generally adopted.

Jan 1, 1935

By J. Moore, D. Gault, R. V. Lugn

Impact of small projectiles with velocities between 0.9 and 7.3 km per sec on basalt produce craters chiefly by the ejection of fragments. Weight-size distributions of the ejecta are linear for part of the size range of the fragments. Cumulative weight-size distributions of the ejecta from different craters vary because of erratic formation of large fragments and a large percentage of ejecta below 0.1 mm. In the range of velocities studied, the crater depth is approximately proportional to the 0.75 power of velocity of the projectile. This relationship may represent a transition regime between the fluid impact regime and the undeformed projectile impact regime. The volumes per unit of projectile energy of the craters produced are comparable to those reported for lower speed projectile impact and drill bits. An experimental investigation of projectile impact on rock is being conducted jointly by the Ames Research Center of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the U.S. Geological Survey. Projectiles are launched with light-gas guns at the Ballistics Range of the Ames Research Center. The craters and ejecta produced in these experiments are being studied by the U.S. Geological Survey. Steel, aluminum and polyethylene projectiles weighing from 0.25 to 0.015 g were accelerated to velocities of 0.88 km per sec (2,900 fps) to 7.3 km per sec (24,000 fps) with a light-gas gun, using hydrogen as the propellant medium. Projectiles impacted the targets normal to plane rock surfaces in an atmosphere of air with a nominal pressure of 25 to 50 mm of mercury. The metal projectiles were mounted in supporting four-piece nylon sabots, which guided the projectiles down the launching tube. After launch, aerodynamic drag acted to separate the sabots from the projectiles. Impact velocities were determined with time measurements and spark photographs of the projectiles in flight. Ejecta were collected in lucite and aluminum containers placed around the target block. A small hole in the containers permitted projectile entry. Impact of projectiles of the size employed produced craters in the rock targets chiefly by ejection of fragments. The craters are small, roughly conical depressions with crushed and intensely fractured rock at the bottoms of the depressions. The ejecta are composed of pieces of the projectile and rock fragments ranging in size from a few tenths of a micron or less to several centimeters in maximum dimension. In this paper, the structural features of the craters, the weight-size distributions of the recovered ejecta, and crater depth and crater volume relationships are described. DESCRIPTION OF CRATERS Typical craters (Fig. 1) produced by experimental projectile impact in basalt are shallow, wide base

Jan 1, 1963