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By V. R. Garfias

After a series of fruitless negotiations, the Mexican Government, on March 18, 1938, decreed the expropriation of several oil companies, and took possession of the properties, offices and records not only of the expropriated companies but of others not legally expropriated. This condition prevails to date.

Jan 1, 1939

By V. R. Garfias

After a series of fruitless negotiations, the Mexican Government, on March 18, 1938, decreed the expropriation of several oil companies, and took possession of the properties, offices and records not only of the expropriated companies but of others not legally expropriated. This condition prevails to date.

Jan 1, 1939

By S. L. GILLAN

OF the forty or more excursions provided for the delegates to the World Engineering Congress at Tokyo, the trip to the Ashio copper mine stands out as one of the most enjoyable. In every detail looking to our comfort and pleasure the Furukawa company, our hosts, were admirable. This company operates five other copper mines, also gold and coal mines. Ashio is the largest with an annual production of about 14,000 tons of copper. It has been continuously worked since 1620, and doubtless was one of the sources of copper used in the gigantic statues of Buddha of many hundred years earlier date.

Jan 1, 1930

By V. R. Garfias

Principal events in petroleum operations of Mexico during 1934 have been the completion of three producing wells in the Poza Rica area and the plans for the expansion of operations of the Cia. de Petroleos de Mexico, S.A. (Petromex). Production for 1934 is estimated at close to 38,000,000 bbl., an increase of 4,000,000 bbl. over the previous year; an increase due in large part to the successful development in Poza Rica. The output of the South fields (Golden Lane) and Tehuantepec fields also increased somewhat during the year. Production of natural gasoline increased from 382,000 to 431,000 bbl. in 1934. Crude run in local refineries is estimated at 26,000,000bbl., some4,000,000bbl. more than the previous year. Exclusive of bunker fuel exports totaled 24,000,000 bbl., or 3,000,000 more than in 1933. Domestic consumption increased approximately 500,000,bbl. during the year, reaching a total of close to 13,600,000 bbl., exclusive of ships' bunkers. A total of 148 wells were completed as compared to 91 in 1933 and 40 in 1932. In proven areas, 133 completions resulted in 54 producers and 79 failures. The 15 wildcats drilled during 1934 gave no encouraging results. Seven of these were located in the border zone of northeastern Mexico; three tested possible northeast extensions of the Northern fields; two were drilled for possible extensions of the "Golden Lane" and three were completed in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Fields Northern Fields (Heavy Oil District).—There were 34 producing wells and 71 failures completed in the Northern fields, as compared to 20 producers and 20 failures in 1933. Practically all new producers were drilled to the shallower San Felipe formation, while wells drilled to the deeper Tamasopo limestone encountered salt water. Production of the field totaled 11,890,000 bbl., a decrease of 7.5 per cent from the previous year. Acid treatment was attempted during the year in seven wells

Jan 1, 1935

By A. L. Field

This general subject has been so thoroughly discussed by Dr. Herty and his associates, especially with regard to the degree of oxidation of the metal at the time that the silicon pig or spiegel is added, that I am not going to spend much time on that today. I should like to propound a question, which is based on my own observations made some years ago while with a large alloy-steel company which had two open-hearth furnace plants. It is true that one of these plants was not engaged particularly in making alloy steels, but there were certain relations between slag and metal composition which appeared to me to be entirely different in the two plants. I have an explanation for it that is more or less incomplete, but possibly Dr. Herty or Mr. Reinartz or some of the others may be able to complete it. Suppose we take our three layers; the metal on the bottom, on top of that the slag, and on top of the slag, the gas. We cannot overlook the gaseous phase. Regardless of the effect of the iron oxide in the slag on the rate of carbon elimination—and that, of course, is rather important in alloy practice since it is not desirable to have the carbon dropping too rapidly at the time the deoxidizing is had in the furnace—it will probably be admitted that it depends on the iron oxide in the metal for a given carbon oxide. I have seen cases where with approximately identical metal and slag compositions one furnace would work twice as rapidly as another in removing carbon. Of course, there is some explanation of this in what others have already said, that the question of the exact lime and silica content of the slag determines the activity and viscosity of the slag; but I am convinced, without having reviewed the actual records since I was asked to make this talk, because they were not available at the time, that the slags in these two furnaces were not materially different. Putting it another way, one furnace would have

Jan 1, 1935

By A. L. Field

This general subject has been so thoroughly discussed by Dr. Herty and his associates, especially with regard to the degree of oxidation of the metal at the time that the silicon pig or spiegel is added, that I am not going to spend much time on that today. I should like to propound a question, which is based on my own observations made some years ago while with a large alloy-steel company which had two open-hearth furnace plants. It is true that one of these plants was not engaged particularly in making alloy steels, but there were certain relations between slag and metal composition which appeared to me to be entirely different in the two plants. I have an explanation for it that is more or less incomplete, but possibly Dr. Herty or Mr. Reinartz or some of the others may be able to complete it. Suppose we take our three layers; the metal on the bottom, on top of that the slag, and on top of the slag, the gas. We cannot overlook the gaseous phase. Regardless of the effect of the iron oxide in the slag on the rate of carbon elimination—and that, of course, is rather important in alloy practice since it is not desirable to have the carbon dropping too rapidly at the time the deoxidizing is had in the furnace—it will probably be admitted that it depends on the iron oxide in the metal for a given carbon oxide. I have seen cases where with approximately identical metal and slag compositions one furnace would work twice as rapidly as another in removing carbon. Of course, there is some explanation of this in what others have already said, that the question of the exact lime and silica content of the slag determines the activity and viscosity of the slag; but I am convinced, without having reviewed the actual records since I was asked to make this talk, because they were not available at the time, that the slags in these two furnaces were not materially different. Putting it another way, one furnace would have

Jan 1, 1935

By John V. Beall

THIS is not simply the story of how a water filled shaft was developed into a million-ton- a-year producing mine in the space of four critical years, although it is reason enough for telling it, but it is also the saga of an engineering achievement in which knowledge nurtured by years of experience in coal and ore mines was blended together and the best from each type of mining selected. The entire system of mining was detailed on maps by the mining engineering department before the shaft was unwatered, and subsequent development followed these plans nearly to perfection. The selection of machinery was particularly critical as it was necessary to push production from only a few headings in the early stages of development and metal mine machinery was being used in a coal panel-system of mining.

Jan 12, 1950

By D. W. Brunton

The maps of our large mines are usually prepared with the greatest care; and it is somewhat singular that, in compari~on with the great amount of time and money spent in surveying and platting, 80 little actual use is made of them. Almost the only purpose for which a completed survey-map is afterwards consulted, is the determination of the relative position of the different workings to each other, and to the boundary-lines of the property. After the completion of such a map, it should be made the beginning of another, and in most cases a far more important undertaking, namely, its utilization as a starting-point for a complete inventory of the company's underground possessions. The ordinary mine-survey map, being nothing but a record of what has been done, is, in one sense, only ancient history. To increase its value, such additions should be made as will render it a complete statement of the amount and value of ore in sight at any particular time, and a guide for future development. Comparatively little extra labor is involved in this undertaking, since the larger and most expensive part of the work has already been completed when the mine has been surveyed and mapped. The necessary additions consist in working out and platting on the maps, the geology of the mine as exposed in the workings, in such a manner that the geological survey may be of daily use in the development and operation of the mine. The first step towards the production of a geological map consists in tracing individual level-sheets from the general or composite map. The area to be included, outside of the property in question, will depend very much on local conditions; but, for geological, legal and commercial reasons, it should be extended as far as reasonably practicable. The scale to be

Jan 1, 1906

LIMA (PERU) Established May, 1952 (Official year begins in June) Luncheon meetings third Wednesday monthly Ernesto A Baertl, Chairman Arthur C Hall, Chairman-elect Raymond R Beard, 1st Vice-Chairman Edgardo Portaro, 2nd Vice-Chairman Walter E King, Secretary-Treasurer Av Santa Cruz 331 San Isidro, Lima, Peru Alberto E Brazzini, Asst Treasurer Daniel M Rodriguez, Asst Secretary Robert P Koenig, '56, Section Delegate Arthur C Hall, Alternate Section Delegate

Jan 1, 1955

By William R. Chedsey

ALTHOUGH few changes can be reported in educational methods at the mineral technology schools during 1940, other events have taken place of direct interest to, and that will have a profound effect upon, mineral industry education on the United States. In the erection of new buildings, some notable changes have been made on the campus, The U.S. Bureau of Mines Experiment Station at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, was dedicated on May 20. The construction and equipment of this building cost between $300,000 and $400,000. It will be the general headquarters for the metallurgical division of the Bureau and will have a pronounced effect upon the mineral industries research program at the University.

Jan 1, 1941

By Charles A. Ashburner

VERY little is known of the economical value of the cod-bells of the State of Texas. The first authentic statement in regard to their occurrence is that contained in the reports of the United States Exploratians for the Pacific Railroad, near the 32d parallel of latitude, published in 1863-55. Professor William P. Biake reports, "that a number of seams of bituininorls coal, varying in thickness from two to four feet, have been opened along the Brazos River, in Young County, about one hundred and fifty miles west of Fort Worth." Dr: Shurunrd also states, " that the claracteristic fossil fornis of the Carbeiferaas Era have been found with this coal, and considers the age of the formation established. Foesils obtained from the carboniteroas limestone remove all doubt of the age of these deposits."† In the spring of 1879, I was called upon by some Eastern capitalisets to make an examination of the Brazos coal-field, in order to obtain the thickness, extent., and value of the coal which could be mined and be'made merchantable fir stearn, heating, and metallurgical purposes. The demand for coal in this section of the country is great, and a fuel which in our Eastern markets might be considered of inferior quality, would here find a ready sale. It must be remernbered that the market value of a coal does not depen'd upon its absoltite purity, but upon its actual value in heat units which it is capable of prodwing. A poor coal which can be cheaply milled near the consuper, is infinitely more remunerative to a mining company than a superior coal whose cost to the consumer is greatly increased by high mining charges and railroad freights. The value of the Texan coals does not depend upon their purity but upon their low first cost and nearness to a market. A glance at a geological map of the United States, will show that the Brazos coal-field is the extreme southwestern extension of what may be called the Missourian, Fourth or Western, bituminous coal

Jan 1, 1881

By H. J. R. Way

The work to be described was undertaken at various periods from 1937 to 1939 on the Busia gold field, in the eastern province of Uganda. It was decided to examine the possibility of reef prospection by the resistivity method, for it was not known how far the usually disintegrated nature of most reefs in the ubiquitous laterite near the surface would obscure indications obtained by resistivity traverses. The work at the commencement was therefore largely experimental, but the results obtained thereby were satisfactory, and a survey was started at the Government closed area at Amonikakine. With the limited time and resources at the writer's disposal, it was not possible to complete the survey to his satisfaction or to follow up exhaustively all the geophysical indications, but some of the results of the experimental work and the survey were of sufficient interest to be worth recording; in particular the relation between the width of reef, electrode separation and shape of the curve, and the interference effect of constant separation curves over zones of float are significant and useful. Three new veins were located, but only one contained sufficient gold to warrant detailed prospection. This was called the Geophysical reef, and was uncovered over a strike distance of 1140 ft., and there are indications that it extends over a distance of 1990 ft. These results and the recom- mendations consequent therefrom were embodied in a special report to the Uganda Geological Survey. History OF the Field The Busia field is in the southeastern corner of Uganda near the Kenya-Uganda border, and is about 17 miles north of the northeastern corner of Lake Victoria. Gold was first discovered in the area in the stream beds by Davies1,2 in 1932. Subsequently numerous small alluvial claims were worked by prospectors and the area was prospected for reef by a company for periods varying from three to nine months, but was finally abandoned, as the results were considered unfavorable. Further prospecting by the Geological Survey in 1935-1936 under Davies8 and later under the writer4 uncovered three reefs with sufficient gold values to be of economic interest. These were finally taken over by a company known as Borderland Syndicate, which still owns the area, and from September 1937 to the end of 1941 about 13,000 oz. of gold was extracted from reefs of the area proved by the Geological Survey. Opencast mining operations are still proceeding (February 1943). The Amonikakine area lies to the immediate north of that of Borderland Syndicate. A certain amount of prospecting had been done when the writer started work there. As a result of his report, this area was taken over by another syndicate, but little further work was accomplished before it ceased operating because of difficulties of wartime working.

Jan 1, 1946

By H. J. R. Way

The work to be described was undertaken at various periods from 1937 to 1939 on the Busia gold field, in the eastern province of Uganda. It was decided to examine the possibility of reef prospection by the resistivity method, for it was not known how far the usually disintegrated nature of most reefs in the ubiquitous laterite near the surface would obscure indications obtained by resistivity traverses. The work at the commencement was therefore largely experimental, but the results obtained thereby were satisfactory, and a survey was started at the Government closed area at Amonikakine. With the limited time and resources at the writer's disposal, it was not possible to complete the survey to his satisfaction or to follow up exhaustively all the geophysical indications, but some of the results of the experimental work and the survey were of sufficient interest to be worth recording; in particular the relation between the width of reef, electrode separation and shape of the curve, and the interference effect of constant separation curves over zones of float are significant and useful. Three new veins were located, but only one contained sufficient gold to warrant detailed prospection. This was called the Geophysical reef, and was uncovered over a strike distance of 1140 ft., and there are indications that it extends over a distance of 1990 ft. These results and the recom- mendations consequent therefrom were embodied in a special report to the Uganda Geological Survey. History OF the Field The Busia field is in the southeastern corner of Uganda near the Kenya-Uganda border, and is about 17 miles north of the northeastern corner of Lake Victoria. Gold was first discovered in the area in the stream beds by Davies1,2 in 1932. Subsequently numerous small alluvial claims were worked by prospectors and the area was prospected for reef by a company for periods varying from three to nine months, but was finally abandoned, as the results were considered unfavorable. Further prospecting by the Geological Survey in 1935-1936 under Davies8 and later under the writer4 uncovered three reefs with sufficient gold values to be of economic interest. These were finally taken over by a company known as Borderland Syndicate, which still owns the area, and from September 1937 to the end of 1941 about 13,000 oz. of gold was extracted from reefs of the area proved by the Geological Survey. Opencast mining operations are still proceeding (February 1943). The Amonikakine area lies to the immediate north of that of Borderland Syndicate. A certain amount of prospecting had been done when the writer started work there. As a result of his report, this area was taken over by another syndicate, but little further work was accomplished before it ceased operating because of difficulties of wartime working.

Jan 1, 1946

By A. M. Gaudin

MANY studies of comminution have been made to ascertain the size distribution of the product and to evaluate the work of comminution in the light of the size distributions of the feed and product. Up to now, these studies have been essentially statistical in character, that is, a certain lot of feed was subjected to comminution in some specified way, and the aggregate product was fractionated into sizes, thereby losing all knowledge of individual relationship of feed to product pieces. Radioactive tracers offer a means to do something in this respect which could not be done before, namely, to follow the rupturing of some particular piece in its normal environment of other pieces. That is, it permits going beyond the usual statistical limitations of size distribution studies to what may be termed a personalized or individualized study. The purpose of this paper is to present some preliminary experiments conducted with this tool.

Jan 11, 1951

By J. P. Dunlop

The fact is not.ablc though probably little known that thc Unitcd Statcls is the only nation obtaining and distributing through its Govcrn-ment burcaus any data pertaining to waste metals and drosses. Some foreign goverrlnlents do issuc reports relating to rnine or smelter production of prirrlar~ metals, but none gives in scope and detail t'he information published now by the U. S. Bureau of Mines and formerly by the U. S. Geological Survey; and this is despite the fact that the funds annually allotted for those purposes are insignificant in comparison with allotments for the preparation of data relating to other industries of like importance. The earliest data on the production of metals from secondary sources in the United States were contained in a press bulletin issued by the U. S. Geological Survey on Jan. 4, 1909. The information published was that for thc year 1907 obtained ant1 compiled by C. E. Siebenthal, who was one of the first to visualize the growing importance of the scrap-letal indust,ry. Thc Nationd Conscrvation Commission had emphasized its opinion that the known domestic supply of certain kinds of the morc important irietals was being rapidly marketed and that while there was no immediate cause for concern it was best to conserve such resources. Not only had there been a lanlentable lack of any data regarding the quantity of scrap inetals available or used but also gross carelessness and indifference in the segregation, collection, and effective use of scrap material. Siebenthal realized that even approximately correct statistics of recoveries from the more important base-metal scrap and drosses wcrc nearly as essential t,o both producers and consumers as the stat'istics of the output of primary metals. There were not then nor are there now sufficient funds for complete collection of data, nor was it considered the province of the Geological Survey t'o do more than determine approximately the recovery of secondary metals for use in supplementing those given for the primary metals. Undoubtedly the first bulletins issued did not give the full output, for it takes time to establish contacts for an inquiry covering so

By R. W. Jenkins, O. J. Neslage

The need for mechanized drilling to decrease mining costs has resulted in the development of the jumbo from column-and-bar drill carriages to hydraulically controlled jib jumbos. Resultant savings from use of improved jumbos have been high enough usually to retire the machinery investment within a year. The jib jumbo unit has been applied successfully to development and preparation programs and flat-bedded stopes, and an even wider field is forecast for its use.

Jan 1, 1950

The early history of a country is linked with its topographic features. Mountains are barriers, rivers are avenues, the sea is a highway. The first Europeans to reach the northwestern corner of the American continent, now known as Alaska, came from Asia, for the Pacific Ocean provided an approach by means of the islands that like stepping-stones stretch far westward from the inhospitable shore of the mainland. The Russians crossed Siberia and explored the Arctic coast of Asia. In 1728 a band of Cossacks was driven by a storm eastward from Kamchatka, and landed in Norton Sound.* Others followed them, and settled on the islands and peninsulas of southeastern Alaska. The mountains guarding the coast discouraged any advance into the interior. Another range, the northern extension of the Rocky Mountains, barred the westward progress of the French voyageurs and the English fur-traders of the Hudson's Bay Company. After the Russians had obtained a foothold among the Indians, the viceroys of Mexico sent successive expeditions up the coast, such as that of Pérez in 1774 and of Heceta in 1775. If the English fur-traders had not interfered, the Spanish and Russian spheres of influence would have conflicted, and the contest for control might have ended in establishing a line of demarkation somewhere near the mouth of the Columbia river. The British navigator Captain James Cook landed near Sitka in 1778 while seeking a way by water to Hudson Bay. Fifteen years later his midshipman, George Vancouver, in command of another British expedition, surveyed the coast

Jan 1, 1932

THE following employment items are made available to AIME on a non-profit basis by the Engineering Societies Personnel Service, Inc., operating in cooperation with the Four Founder Societies. Local offices of the Personnel Service are at 8 W. 40th St., New York 18; 100 Farnswarth Ave., Detroit; 57 Past St., San-Francisco; 84 E. Randalph St., Chicago 1. Applicants should address all mail to the proper key numbers in care of the New York Office and include 6c in stamps far forwarding and returning application. The applicant agrees, if placed in a position by means of the Service, to pay the placement fee listed by the Service. AIME members may secure a weekly bulletin of positions available far $3.50 a quarter, $12 a year. MEN AVAILABLE Graduate Mining Engineer, 38; married, two children, Dutch nationality. Experience bauxite open-pit dragline, stripping and mining, nickel silicateous ore exploration, tin lode mining and dredging, ore dressing research, administrative. work, all in responsible positions. Read, write and/or speak seven languages. Desires responsible position. Presently located Netherlands. M-655. Mining Geologist, 35, married, 3 children, Canadian citizen. Eight years' experience Canadian gold mines as geologist, chief engineer, shift boss, 3 years in western U. S. as surveyor, junior geologist, etc. Desires position of responsibility. Prefer western United States. M-656-478-E-3-San Francisco. Mining Engineer, 30 years' experience open-pit and underground coal and iron mines. Held positions engineer to manager. Desire position of responsibility in foreign field. M-659.

Jan 1, 1952

ALL the ores of any kind whatsoever, even though they be semiminerals and may be perfect in their qualities, have to be recognized by experienced and good sorters. These men must have a detailed as well as a general experience of the metals so that in this first preparation, which is most important, they may know how to distinguish the good from the bad, and to know what is rock and what is ore. They must use patience in this, breaking and cutting and king the ore from the earth. They must separate the good ore from the bad, avoiding as far as possible every occasion for poisoning it by traces of other ores, evil stones, or other things inimical to its nature. Finally, with the judgment of the eye and with tools, and, in the end, by roasting it with fire and then quenching it with water, or by washing and re-washing it, the ore must be made as pure as possible in order to join it better with the companions that seem to be the most beneficial for its needs. Ores would be useless stones without smelting. Therefore, when it is certain that such ores are of divers elemental mixtures, aid must be given to each one according to the evil ingredients [47v] that harm it. But because such evil qualities are things that are often not apparent to the eye, such as too great a burning, or too much earthiness so that when they are alone the fire burns these ores before it melts them, it is necessary to temper them with other materials. To do this it is necessary to have the ability

Jan 1, 1942

James DouGlas, New York, N. Y. (communication to the Secretary*):—In my paper on the Conservation of Natural Resources, I referred to the slow replacement of bee-hive ovens by the by-product ovens as a most notable instance of waste. And I quoted from Mr. Parker's report for 1906 an explanation given by him in accounting for the small production of by-product coke. It was that the market for the by-products of the coke-ovens was so limited that some of the ovens constructed were out of operation. His report on the manufacture of coke in 1908' does not record an improvement, and attributes the strange fact that we alone, of all the industrial peoples, delay the adoption of this cardinal improvement from the continuance of the same almost inexplicable cause. To quote again from his report, he says (p. 241): "The year 1908 was not marked by any notable gain in the construction of byproduct coking plants, though some new work was done. There was a net increase

Jan 1, 1910