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By Lee Hillard Meltzer, Ralph E. Davis

INTRODUCTION During the past few years emphasis has been placed upon methods of estimating the future expectancy of gas production from natural gas fields. Before technical methods were applied, the production expectancy over future years was based upon the knowledge of gas well behavior, learned through long experience and embedded in the "know-how" of men long in the gas producing business. It is doubtful that a technical study of future expectancy of a gas field or a group of fields was ever prepared for the preliminary planning of a natural gas pipe line system built prior to about five years ago. The decline in well production capacity was naturally recognized by all familiar with the business since its earliest beginnings more than 75 years ago. In 1953, the Bureau of Mines published Monograph Number 7, "Back-Pressure Data on Natural Gas Wells and Their Application to Production Practices," which gave to the industry the first technical analysis of the decline in production of individual gas wells. This method affords a means of estimating the future production in relation to decline in reservoir pressure. The demand for technical determination of expectancy of future gas productivity from fields or a group of fields led technical men to the application of the knowledge of well behavior to the problems. The decline in a well's ability to produce as pressures declined could be estimated by the use of the curve known as the "back-pressure potential curve" as developed by the Bureau of Mines. A field containing few, or even numerous, wells could be analyzed on the basis of the sum of potentials of all wells. In most studies of this nature, the problem is to estimate the rate of production that can be expected, not only from present wells but also, from wells that will in the future have to be drilled into the reservoir being studied. The "back-pressure potential" method requires that the following data be known or estimated: (1) Proved gas reserves. (2) Current shut-in pressures and rate at which shut-in pressures change with production. (3) Back pressure potential data on wells in the source of supply. (4) Ultimate number of wells which will supply gas, and their potential. (5) Limitations on productivity such as line pressures against which the wells will produce, friction drop in the producing string, and so forth. It is evident that the resulting estimate of gas available in each year for a future of say, 20 years, contains many uncertainties. While the method may have considerable merit for a field that is fully developed, it cannot be completely dependable in fields that are only partially developed. In such cases, some of the data upon which it is based can only be estimated or assumed. In the study of this problem during the past few years, a method has been developed which we believe has great merit, especially when applied to fields subject to substantial future drilling, and when applied to the study of fields which, on the average, appear to have characteristics similar, in general, to the average of the fields used in the development of the "yardstick" outlined herein. From an analysis of the production history of 49 reservoirs which are depleted, or nearly depleted, a curve has been constructed which shows the average performance of the reservoirs during the declining stages of production. When properly applied, this "average performance curve" can be used to determine the stage of depletion at which a reservoir or group of reservoirs will no longer be able to yield a given percentage of the original reserves. "AVAILABILITY" AND "AVAILABILITY STUDIES" The rate at which. a reservoir will yield its gas depends basically upon physical factors, such as the thickness and permeability of the sand, the effect of water drive, if any, and other conditions, and upon economic factors, such as the number of wells drilled. Within the ranges set by the physical conditions, a rate of delivery tends finally to become established. The rate (or range of rates) represents a balance between the interests of the operator, who desires the maximum return from his property and of the pipe line owner, who desires to maintain a firm supply for his market. This balance, which is influenced by the terms of the contract, determines the capacity which will be developed by the operator, and the time and rate at which the decline in production is permitted to occur. Thus the "availability" of gas

Jan 1, 1953

By M. S. Badollet

"DURING the past five years, production of asbestos fibers has increased in all countries that list asbestos as one of their mineral resources. Despite the many small mines that have been opened in Canada, United States, Mexico, South America, Italy, South Africa, Australia, Yugoslavia, and Rhodesia, the supply still does not meet the demand. It is estimated that total 1952 world production of asbestos fibers of all varieties approximated 1,600,000 tons, with Canada supplying 966,382 tons (I), or 60 per cent of all fiber mined.Asbestos fiber brokers continually are offering odd-lot samples of chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, and anthophyllite fibers to manufacturers, •quoting fantastic prices for tonnages •varying from just a few to 50 or more in a month. In many cases, the samples are not properly graded and contain quantities of rock impurities and finely ground dust.When vendors submit samples of asbestos fibers, the manufacturer should consider• them in terms of price, quality, quantity, and as possible substitutes for fibers currently used in his products.Grading of these odd-lot fibers in most cases has been poorly done, with resultant non-uniform fiber lengths. In some instances, a number of miscellaneous lots of fibers have been .blended for sale. This blending produces a fiber that is difficult for the manufacturer to accept as a substitute for the well-standardized Canadian fibers."

Jan 1, 1953

By Carl Wagner

J. Pearson (British Iron and Steel Research Association, London, England)—Dr. Wagner has referred to the work of Richardson and Dancy and Gellner and Richardson on the reduction at 900 °C of wiistite films on iron. He has assumed that iron ions and electrons migrate backwards to the iron-wustite interface and that the reduced iron grows on the metal substrate. This would be a possible explanation of the results of these workers were it not for the fact that, as stated by Gellner and Richardson but not stressed, this growth in the center of the specimen can occur even

Jan 1, 1953

By J. A. Danko, C. D. Pears, L. D. Schmidt, J. P. McGee

This paper describes a pilot plant built on the campus of West Virginia University by the Federal Bureau of Mines station at Morgantown, West Virginia, for gasifying pulverized coal in a mixture of oxygen and steam at pressures in the gasifier up to 450 psig. The work upon which this report is based was done under a cooperative agreement between the Bureau of Mines and the West Virginia University. The goal of Bureau of Mines work at Morgantown is development of a low-cost process for producing mixtures of carbon monoxide and hydrogen for the modified Fischer-Tropsch synthetic-fuel plants, which may be shifted to produce hydrogen for coal-hydrogenation plants. Gasification with oxygen offers the inducement that the gas may be generated at the pressure at which the gas will be utilized in a gas-synthesis plant. Since the optimum pressure for the synthesis appears to be about 400 psig, the gas should be produced at approximately 450 psig to take care of pressure drops in the purification train and control valves. If the gas is generated at the pressure of utilization, only the oxygen need be compressed, not the raw synthesis gas. This means a saving in power of 5 hp per hour per 1000 cu ft (CO + H2), which is approximately a saving of 4 cents per gallon of gasoline. For example, consider a commercial plant generating 18,000,000 standard cubic feet per hour of raw gas that would produce approximately 10,000bbl of liquid product per stream-day. Assume that this gas would be 85 pd CO + H2 and that the oxygen required would be 320 cu ft per 1000 cu ft of CO + H2. The following estimate is based on a commercial centrifugal compressor. If the 18,000,000 std cu ft per hour of synthesis gas is compressed to 450 psig with 74 pd efficiency, 107,000 hp is required for compression. If the synthesis gas is generated at 450 psig pressure, only

Jan 1, 1953

By E. C. Payne

"IntroductionTHE SMALLER industrial and commercial steam generating plants in the United States are suffering from an ‘engineering deficiency' which, if allowed to continue, will probably result in the extinction of the species• that now burn •approximately 75 million tons of coal. We will classify as 'small' those plants which should require not more than one operating man per shift, including those in which as little .as thirty minutes per day should be adequate for .all service attention. These are the small steam plants that need the most, and get the least, expert attention for fuel :planning, equipment selection, design layout, .and proper operating technique. Dissatisfaction with bituminous coal is usually caused by one or more preventable weaknesses such as excessive or burdensome labour •for firing, .coal or ash handling and manual operation, smoke and fly ash emission above nuisance levels:, high maintenance and premium coal application for acceptable operation, and .finally, overall steam costs which are not .competitive. These 'deficiencies', so .common in the small coal-fired steam plants, can be readily eliminated by competent engineering and modern equipment with automatic controls."

Jan 1, 1953

CONTENTSSummaryIntroductionGeographical and Geological Outline of the RegionGrowth of the Mining IndustryTable 1: Production StatisticsGeneral GeologyRecent Alluvium and River GravelsSambeto SeriesMudstone and Basalt ContactVatukoula SeriesIntrusivesStructureGeologic HistoryLodesTable 2: Principal Lodes and Their OrebodiesMineral Assemblage and ParagenesisOre Shoots and Their ControlEmperor MineLoloma MineDolphin MineExplorationConclusionAcknowledgmentReferencesSUMMARYThe Tavua Goldfield was found in 1932 within a basin, both topographical and structural, near the sea on the north side of Viti Levu, Fiji, and has produced over £13,000,000 (Fijian) worth of gold and silver from the three mines...

Jan 1, 1953

By J. F. Barkley

Two major problems in the operation of air preheaters for boilers are corrosion and the accumulation of deposits on the heating surfaces. Corrosion or loss of metal necessitates replacement of parts; the accumulation of deposits decreases the size of the gas and air passages, resulting in increased pressure drop for the same gas flow, and also affects the heat transfer. These items, either singly or together, limit the capacity and efficiency at which the equipment can be operated and affect its availability, even causing undesirable shutdowns under extreme conditions The field and laboratory work on regenerative air preheaters described in this report covers research on the relative corrosion resistance of different materials, such as various metals, special metal coverings, and fired clays, and studies on deposits, their nature, analyses, and corrosive effects. This is the first report on cooperative work of The Air Preheater Corp., of New York City, and the Federal Bureau of Mines.

Jan 1, 1953

By Leslie W. Austen

ROTARY kiln operators will agree that some of the most severe conditions a refractory must stand occur in the hot zone of a kiln burning Portland cement, dead burn dolomite, magnesite, peri-clase, and similar materials. Frequently the operator is faced with factors beyond his control which drastically shorten the life of refractories. Shutdown due to mechanical failure can be serious if the period is of sufficiently long duration to cause the dropping of coating or the loosening of the lining. A change in slurry can affect the coating and cause ring buildup. A change in type of fuel and its effect upon the flame can cause a shift in location of the hottest zone. Weekend shutdowns or any other interruption can cause the operator trouble and may damage the refractories, since stopping and starting a rotary kiln is certainly more difficult than stopping and starting a motor. Some operators have tried to set an estimate of damage for each shutdown in equivalent days of running time. Conditions affecting the refractory may be roughly grouped in four classes: chemical attack, mechanical stress, thermal shock, and abrasion. Chemical Attack: The drive to obtain maximum production through a kiln demands maximum operating temperatures, temperatures which are limited more by the ringing up or melting of the clinker. This can cause interface temperatures at the junction of coating and refractory which require the use of a basic kiln block to withstand the chemical attack. Chemical changes take place within the refractory itself, especially in chemically bonded or unburned kiln blocks. These changes cause the formation of the ceramic or burned bond. Migrating liquids or fluxes from the kiln charge have an effect within the refractory and lead to mineral or glass formation. The alkalies, sodium and potassium, migrate into the refractory as silicates, chlorides, sulphates or other salts. They may move under capillary action or may be caused to move by volatilization with condensation in the cooler portion. Mechanical Stress: Concentrated stress may be caused by several factors or combinations thereof. I—The rings of refractories must be kept tight and rigid within the kiln, and this alone demands considerable force to hold the blocks in place. So that the force will not be concentrated, the blocks should fit the circle as perfectly as possible, with the faces in contact overall. 2—As the kiln is heated, thermal expansion takes place at the hot end of the kiln block. Since this disturbs the plane face it too can cause a concentrated stress at the two ends of the block, and shearing stress can be set up within the brick itself because of the difference in expansion between the two ends. 3—If a lining becomes loose and moves in the shell very severe stress can be set up, and as the kiln rotates this load changes and gives the effect of repeated loading. Permanent expansion of the refractory can also cause severe loading. 4—Not least important, flexing of the kiln is frequently the cause of concentrated stresses. Thermal Shock: Thermal shock, the result of heating and cooling too rapidly, occurs on starting and stopping or when a large patch of coating drops, exposing the bricks. Again, its destructive effect is often the result of phase change, liquid to solid or the reverse; dense refractories loaded with glass-forming impurities are particularly susceptible. Thermal shock is a. problem with refractories set in the wall or roof of a stationary furnace, and becomes even more serious in a rotary kiln, the tendency to spa11 being magnified with movement and concentration of stress. Uniform rate of feed and loading insures both better coating and a more uniform stress. Abrasion: If the refractories do not take a coating, abrasion can become a most destructive factor. Movement of the lining in shell or movement of loose blocks causes abrasion, which is also most destructive if the refractories do not take a coating. An analysis of the problem of basic lining for the hot zone reveals, therefore, a number of desirable characteristics: high refractoriness, basic chemical reaction, resistance to spalling, good strength at all stages, ability to take coating, true sizing, volume stability, and abrasion resistance. Increased demand

Jan 1, 1953

By F. A. Forward

"IntroductionTHE LYNN LAKE MINE, situated in Manitoba about 150 miles north of Sherridon, has been actively developed by Sherritt Gordon Mines, Limited, during the past seven years, resulting in the establishment of a proven reserve of over 14,000,000 tons of ore containing 1.223 per cent nickel, 0.618 per cent copper, and additional cobalt values. For many years, the Sherritt Gordon Company operated a copper-zinc-gold mine at Sherridon but, as this mine was approaching exhaustion and as it was proposed to use the mining and milling equipment to treat the Lynn Lake ore, a number of unusual problems were faced in transferring plant and operations from the one mine to the other, and particularly in preparing to undertake nickel production.Preliminary investigation showed that the ore could be concentrated by flotation to produce a copper concentrate containing 28 to 30 per cent copper with less than 1 per .cent nickel, and a nickel concentrate containing 11 to 14 per cent nickel, 0.3 to 0.4 per cent cobalt, and less than 2 per cent .copper, with high recovery of the three metals in .the concentrates. It was apparent that, initially, the copper concentrate could be economically smelted and refined in the usual manner. But as the nickel concentrate contained an insignificant amount of precious metals (less than 0.02 oz. per ton) and as .it had a much higher nickel content than comparable concentrates normally produced from sulphide ores, the selection of a treatment process and the location of a plant required careful study."

Jan 1, 1953

By David Cornell, D. L. Katz

Procedures for computing turbulent flow of gas in steady state near the well bore and a graphical method for predicting unsteady state laminar flow at distances from the well have been combined to compute pressure gradients in gas reservoirs. Methods are discussed for predicting single and multiple transients at constant flow rate in an infinite reservoir, predicting constant How rate. in a finite reservoir, reproducing and interpreting back pressure test data, and prediction of the behavior of a closed-in gas well. An example of the graphical method is given for a single transient and the results are compared to a published analytical solution. A typical calculation of the pressure gradient in a reservoir and the production of gas is made .starting with data from a hack pressure test. INTRODUCTION The calculation of pressure gradients throughouse a ga-reservoir at any point in its production history is a complex problem involving turbulent flow near the well bore and unsteady state flow of the gas from the reservoir. The problem is complicated further by the variety of boundary conditions that may be imposed upon the flow. Such boundary conditions include finite or infinite reservoirs. constant or variable rates of production, constant or varying bottom hole pressures, complex initial pressure distributions throughout the reservoir, and pressure maintenance through cycling. In addition to these problems there are the practical difficulties associated with natural gas reservoir analysis These might include: (1) variation. in the permeability and porosity throughout the formation. (2) variations in the thickness of the formation, (3) communication of the producing formation with other producing zones. (4) radial variations in permeability due to influx of drilling fluid. acidizing. or the buildup of liquid in the formation around the well, (5) partial penetration of the producing zone. (6) water flood, and many others. These problems will be considered eventually. In the mean- time, it is necessary to present methods of handling the case of radial flow through a homogeneous, regular, producing stratum to a single well uncomplicated by other factors. The idealized case of steady state, radial flow from a natural gas reservoir was studied by Elenbaas and Katz5 and by Mac-Koberts.' An analysis of the unsteady flow of gases through porous media has been made by Aronofsky and Jenkins' for the one dimensional laminar case with the boundary conditions of constant downstream pressure and uniform initial pressure. Solutions for the partial differential equation for unsteady state radial flow of liquids through porous media have been given by Van Everdingen and Hurst" for the constant bottom hole pressure and constant production rate cases for laminar flow in a reservoir initially at a constant pressure. The analogous heat transfer equation has been treated by Perry and Berggren9 for the case of quenching a cylindrical hole in an infinite medium to a constant temperature. The back pressure curve, which involves the variation of the bottom hole pressure as it is determined by the behavior of the reservoir as a whole. has been studied by Rawlins and Schellhardt,10 Binck-lev,' Baumel and Breitung,' and others. No complete. adequate treatment has been given for the unsteady state, radial flow of gases into a cylindrical hole from a porous medium with or without the presence of turbulent flow and for any set of boundary conditions. If one relies only on analytical solutions of the basic equations, a new solution must be obtained for each new boundary condition. Furthermore, the complexity of the mathematical expressions for boundary conditions other than the very simple cases limits the use of analytical solutions. Graphical methods exist, however. that are general in nature, accurate, and readily employed. The analysis of steady and unsteady, laminar and turbulent, radial flow for various boundary conditions with application to specific natural gas well problems by means of graphical procedures forms the content of this paper. STEADY STATE RADIAL FLOW EQUATION FOR LAMINAR AND TURBULENT FLOW A steady state radial flow equation for laminar and turbulent flow through unconsolidated sands has been given by Muskat as discussion of the work by Elenbaas and Katz.5 This equation is based on the properties of unconsolidated

Jan 1, 1953

By B. L. Averbach, Morris Cohen, S. A. Kulin

The martensitic transformation can be initiated by elastic stresses at temperatures above M. in a steel containing 20 pct Ni and 0.5 pct C. Shear strains and normal tensile strains acting on a potential habit plane promote the transformation but compressive strains oppose it. THE strain sensitivity of the martensitic transformation has long been recognized. It is now well known that martensite formation can be induced by plastic deformation at temperatures below, and not too far above, the M, point.' However, the exact role of elastic vs. plastic strains and of the concomitant stresses has proved to be a very elusive matter. Many investigators2-' of the steel hardening reaction have made use of the stresses resulting from volume changes to account for such observations as the existence of retained austenite and its variation across the section of a bar, the change in the amount of retained austenite with quenching rate, and the self-stopping nature of the transformation when the cooling is stopped. The effect of applied strain as an independent variable has been studied in 70 pct Fe-30 pct Ni alloys by Scheil7 and McReynolds.8 Some data are also available for lithium and Li-Mg alloys,9 Cu-Zn,10 Cu-Sn and Cu-A1 alloys," and aus-tenitic stainless steels."-" It has been found that martensite formation can be induced isothermally, even at temperatures above M,, by mechanical deformation of the parent phase. The competitive nature of plastic yielding by slip and by the martensitic reaction has been depicted by Scheil.7 Basically, Scheil postulated that: 1—at temperatures not too far above M, (where austenite is less stable than martensite), a critical resolved shear stress (within the elastic range) is required to promote the transformation to martensite; 2—at and below M,, the austenite lattice becomes mechanically, as well as thermodynamically, unstable and shears over spontaneously into martensite without the application of external stress; and 3—at temperatures sufficiently far above M8, the critical resolved shear stress for martensite formation increases to a level above that required for slip, and plastic flow then supersedes the transformation when external stress is applied. Scheil's concepts were tested by McReyno1ds8 ho found no change in the elastic moduli (measured both statically and dynamically) of 71 pct Fe-29 pct Ni alloys in the vicinity of the M, temperature. Since the moduli did not approach zero or become negative on cooling to M,, it was concluded that the austenite lattice does not become mechanically unstable at M2, as postulated by Scheil. McReynolds also reported that M, is not raised by elastic stresses. Accordingly, plastic deformation was considered to stimulate the transformation by generating martensite nuclei in the distorted regions of the parent phase. The above issues with regard to the role of applied stress require clarification, if a basic understanding of the martensitic transformation is to be obtained. For example, in the reaction-path theory,'"," it is postulated that strain embryos exist in the austenite that provide part of the activation energy for the nucleation process. These embryos are visualized to be regions of localized strain in which the atoms in the austenite lattice are displaced part way along the path to their ultimate positions in the martensite. Consequently, it would

Jan 1, 1953

By Borgelt B. V, Perry A. J, Wellington H. K

There has been little change in the lead smelting practice at Mount Isa since 1939 when the metallurgy and general practice were outline by Raney and Blott.The purpose of this paper is to descriqe some of the operational details that have influenced the overall production. The slag fall hns been increased by the lowering of the lead content of the concentrate. Further, as it is the practice to include iron on the furnace charge and carry a higher lime content in the slag, both factors have produced notable results in furnace operations.All blast furnace gases are filtered in a baghouse and this unit is. being further extended to take all smelter gases, thus eliminating the existing Cottrell plant handling Dwight-Lloyd gases.The lead smelter was closed down from April 1943, to May 1946, during which time blister copper was produced.The report is subdivided as follows:-1. Filtering and Mixinga. Effect of calcium sulphate on cloth.b. Dwight-Lloyd charge composition.c. Main mixer.d. Return sintel sizing.2. Blast Furnace Operationsa. Introduction.b. Use of orehearth.

Jan 1, 1953

By P. T. Carter, A. B. Murad, H. B. Bell

N. A. Gokcen (Michigan College of Mining and Technology, Houghton, Mich.)—The activities of silica, represented in Fig. 5 for the systems MnO-SiO2 and CaO-SiO2, are in disagreement with the established binary phase diagrams. At Ns102 = 0.50 in MnO-SiO2, and at Ns102, = 0.65 in CaO-SiO2, each binary system is saturated with respect to silica at 1550°C, and therefore as102, is unity in each case. The curves for as102 (FeO-SiO2) and as102, (MnO-SiO,) should nearly co-

Jan 1, 1953

By H. E. Miard

"IntroductionIT HAS BEEN SAID, with good reason, that the future of the coal mining industry, in our mountainous regions at least, depends on ability to extend operations successfully to depths greater than those reached until now. However, at many points, Nature has given definite hints that trespassing there could be fraught with very un-pleasant possibilities, unless the intruder be governed by a series of rigidly observed principles. In the coal mines of British Columbia, so far, bumps have taken place only at the Coal Creek colliery, but there they gave ample evidence of the extent to which they can hamper underground operations. Some of these manifestations have also been experienced at the McGillivray Creek colliery, in Alberta, at Carbonado, in Washington, and at Sunnyside, in Utah.Cognate phenomena, known as 'air blasts', have been experienced also in some deep metalliferous mines in British Columbia. Such occurrences were responsible for three fatal accidents at the Le Roi and War Eagle mines, near Rossland, in 1916 and 1917.In more or less disturbed coal fields, another form of stress release, equally detrimental, has been still more generally experienced than have been the bumps. Coal outbursts have taken place at Morrissey and Coal Creek, in the Crow's Nest Pass district, and at Cassidy, South Wellington, and the Nanaimo Reserve colliery, on Vancouver island. Manifestations of this kind have been made the subject of intensive study in European countries where they occurred on a really impressive scale, which must not be construed as meaning that some of our own outbursts did not approach a comparable magnitude."

Jan 1, 1953

By F. H. Buttner, E. R. Funk, H. Udin

Gold wires, 5 mil in diam, are found to creep viscously up to approximately 5.5x106 dynes per sq cm around 1300°K. Beyond this point, an additional slip mechanism appears. The average coefficient in the viscous range at these temperatures is 18.9 ± 7x10 12 poises. This observation and other visual observations made during the experiments agree with Herring's predictions. EARLY creep studies by Chalmers on single crystals of tin produced some of the first experimental evidence to suggest that metals deform viscously under very light stresses. That is to say, over a small initial stress range up to 150 g per sq mm, the single crystals of tin elongated at a rate proportional to the stress. The proportionality constant between strain rate and stress is by definition the coefficient of viscosity. Chalmers named this range of proportionality the microcreep range. One of the first theoretical attempts to explain the microcreep phenomenon was given by Kauzman,' who applied Eyring'sQ eneral statistical mechanical theory of shear rates to creep data then available. From the rate theory, he deduced the general hyperbolic sine law for shear rate on the assumption that the distortion of the reaction path due to stress is negligible and that the system is an infinite continuum. In order to fit the available data to the equation, it was necessary to assume that creep occurs by shear of rather large blocks of material, rather than by an atomistic shear process as in diffusion. The size of the shear units was shown to increase with increasing temperatures and lower stress, or lower strain rates. In applying the hyperbolic sine law equation to the microcreep data of tin, it was shown by Kauzman that the unit shear blocks became quite small, which suggested to him that microcreep might be a self-diffusion process. Making this an assumption, Kauz- man reworked the rate theory and arrived at an equation where the shear rate is proportional to the stress. In the form of viscosity coefficient, the equation is: o- _ \LkT V = 2qAlA where u is the stress; S, the shear rate; X, the distance in shear direction moved by flow units relative to one another in the unit process; L, the distance between layers of units of flow; T, the absolute temperature; k, Boltzmann's constant; qAL, a constant proportional to the size of flow units; and kT A, the diffusion coefficient = ------kTe-Q/RT = K X2 h Kauzman applied the expression to molten lead with a fair degree of success, the calculated viscosity being low by a factor of four. For solid lead the result is 5000 times too high. Taking q = 1, and X = dA = L = 21 = nearest neighbor distance, Udin, Shaler and Wulff8 found the equation low by a factor of lo7 for solid copper. On the basis of the discrepancy in lead, Kauzman indicated that microcreep is probably not a simple diffusion process of molecular shear units, but one involving preferential diffusion paths, or even that diffusion in solids does not involve shear at all. Cottrell and Jaswon4 treat the microcreep phenomenon on the basis of slow moving dislocations and apply it to Chalmers' data on tin with fair success. Nabarro Suggested a microcreep model in which mass movement in the direction of pull is effected by the diffusion of holes. The tension on the crystal effectively creates a greater hole concentration at regions near the crystal surfaces perpendicular to

Jan 1, 1953

By G. G. Gunther, C. L. Boeke

THE zinc deleading processes at the Parral and Santa Barbara mills are described separately to provide a basis for comparison. Although the two procedures are fundamentally alike, there are some differences in application to meet specific conditions. The Asarco mill at Parral in the State of Chihuahua is a flotation plant treating 1450 metric tons per day of complex sulphide copper-lead-zinc ores. In general, the procedure used for selective separation of the minerals into a copper, a lead, and a zinc concentrate follows the usual practice. First, a bulk copper-lead concentrate is floated and then separated into a final copper and a final lead concentrate by the sulphurous acid process. A small tonnage of high grade gravity lead concentrate is tabled from the bulk copper-lead cleaner tailing before it is reground so as to avoid undesirable over-grinding and sliming of this portion of the lead mineral. Next, a zinc concentrate is floated from the lead rougher tailing and, as described later, is separated into a final lead product and a final zinc concentrate. Finally, the zinc rougher tailing receives a strong scavenger float to remove all recoverable middling values for regrinding and return to the flotation circuits. The slime is separated from the scavenger flotation product, and only the sand portion goes to the regrind section. The minerals in the separated slime are extremely resistant to all methods of selective separation and pose one of the major problems awaiting solution. Nevertheless, the slime shows a profit when mixed with either the lead or the zinc concentrate, except when metal prices are very low, so it is accepted as a final product for lack of a more profitable method of handling it. In contrast, the minerals in the reground sands of the

Jan 1, 1953

By L. A. Bromley, R. L. McKisson

A high temperature calorimeter designed for use up to 1500°K is described and the theory of its operation presented. This calorimeter was used to measure the heats of formation of Na-Sn alloys ranging in composition from tin to Na2Sn. The values tend to support those reported by Kubaschewski and Seith. ONE method of obtaining the heat of formation of an alloy is to measure the heat of mixing of the elements at high temperature. The principal advantage of this method is that the desired quantity is measured directly, while in conventional room temperature methods the differences of the heats of solution of the elements and the alloy in a suitable solvent are measured. A method of improving the accuracy of the high temperature measurements, when the precision of the measurement is lower than that of the heat capacity values for the elements, is to add one component at room temperature to the other at the high temperature, so that part of the heat of reaction is dissipated in heating the cold component to the high temperature. Thus, only a fraction of the heat of reaction is measured, and a result of higher precision is obtained. The limitations of the high temperature technique are that volatile systems cannot be studied, and that many alloys melt at temperatures higher than those at which the calorimetric apparatus operates readily. Nevertheless, a calorimeter operating at 1500°K would be useful in investigating many of the lower melting alloy systems and the low melting mixed oxide systems. A unit designed for these applications was built and is described here. The Na-Sn system was chosen for investigation because the temperature involved, 880°K, would adequately test the operation of the calorimeter. Further, the data reported in the literature for the various alloys of sodium and tin differ markedly, and it was hoped that this investigation would help to fix the values of the heats of formation in this system. Design of Apparatus A detailed discussion of the considerations involved in the calorimeter design is given by Mc-Kisson and Bromley,' and a brief summary follows. Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of the calorimeter. The inner graphite chamber is maintained at constant temperature by means of the circulating molten tin bath in which it is submerged. The tin is contained in a graphite vat. This unit comprises a thermostat whose heat capacity is about 7000 cal per "C. The main heating element consists of a machined graphite spiral with a room temperature resistance of about 1/2 ohm. These parts are separated from the powdered carbon external insulation by the cage, a cylindrical graphite chamber. The electrical insulators and separators, the auxiliary heater spool, and the loading tube liner are made of sintered alumina. The tin vat stirrers, the sample stir-rer, the melt thermocouple well, and the power leads are made of molybdenum. The auxiliary heater is wound with molybdenum wire and serves to compensate for the heat loss up the loading tube. All of the individual components in the high temperature region of the calorimeter will withstand at least 2000°K, and the various contacting materials should easily withstand 1500°K. The external container for the insulating carbon powder is a copper shell upon which copper tubes are soldered to serve as cooling coils.

Jan 1, 1953

By J. E. Hawley, Y. Rimsaite, T. V. Lord

"IntroductionIN THE COURSE of. a spectrographic investigation of the platinum metal .content of various minerals in sulphide ores, the use of • fire-assay beads dissolved in gold-amalgam ( 1) was found suitable for the quantitative determination of palladium and platinum. Later work on platinum and bismuth-rich beads showed however, that these could not always be readily mixed uniformly in the amalgam. Accordingly another technique was sought which would allow the simultaneous determination of gold, silver, palladium, platinum, rhodium, and bismuth, the last .a common contaminant in fire-assay beads. The method evolved, which consists of dissolving fire-assay •beads in .lead, resembles in several respects the method of Scobie (2) in which silver was used. It has equally good sensitivity arid reproducibility, and allows the determination of silver as well as the other metals mentioned. The 'mutua1 standard' method of calculation (3a) is used to determine actual quantities present. This method has been applied to sulphide and arsenide minerals and •ores• of nickeliferous and non-nickelferous deposits• of both pre-and post Cambrian age, and, following a suggestion by Dr. G. S. Hume and the late Dr. H. V. Ellsworth, Geological Survey of Canada, has also been used for a peculiarly rich platiniferous uranium oxide ore from the Nicholson property, Lake Athakaska, Sask. More recently, the method has been .tested for the determination also of iridium and ruthenium and results indicate it may be applied, as• well to osmium."

Jan 1, 1953

By Edward Roberts

This is a progress report of an investigation by personnel of the Bureau of Mines from June to September 1951 to introduce preservative chemicals into growing timber. It also describes in detail the impregnation process, known as the collar method, developed by the United States Department of Agriculture2/ Twenty-eight trees were treated by this method, and a complete record was kept of each individual tree and of each timber cut from it. These timbers have been placed in a coal mine, and their tendency to decay is compared to that of adjacent untreated sets. Although several years will be required before final conclusions can be drawn, this report explains the appearance and encouraging results of the treated timber to date. Also included are some comparative costs of untreated timber, treated timber by the commercial pressure method, and treated timber by the collar method. INTRODUCTION In the hope of increasing the useful life of cut timber, experiments to impregnate growing trees with wood-preservative chemicals by utilizing the natural flow of sap have been carried on for centuries. None of the various methods used in these experiments has ever gained any widespread use because they have been commercially impractical.

Jan 1, 1953

By Will Mitchell, Ford F. Miskell, C. L. Sollenberger

Heat treatment of ore prior to comminution reduces power requirements for grinding, reduces grinding media wear, and improves recovery of iron values from a typical Minnesota magnetic taconite. Test data demonstrating this, as well as an analysis of the economics of commercial application of the technique, are presented. THE taconites in general are hard, tough ores, difficult to grind. Liberation of iron mineral constituents usually is accomplished by grinding the ore through at least 100 mesh, and often it has been found necessary to grind substantially through 325 mesh to achieve satisfactory recovery and grade in the concentration process. Because of the fineness of grind required and the enormous tonnages of material contemplated for treatment in the future, costs resulting from grinding media wear and power consumption, together with capital investment required for comminution, approach astronomical figures. Economy in any one of these elements per ton of material ground could very well reflect a considerable saving to the ferrous industry in yearly costs. With this in mind, the Research Laboratories of Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. have launched a program to discover means of effecting this economy. The initial phase of the work as described here deals with a heat treatment of crushed raw ore, followed by thermal shock in cooling, for the preparation of rod mill feed. Several investigators1-" ave noted an improvement in the grindabilities of ores treated in this manner. One investigator2 subjected low grade iron ores to heat treatment in an electric furnace. Basing his conclusions on screen analyses of crushed products, he observed that treated ore was more easily crushed than the untreated. He reported that observation of the treated and untreated ore through a microscope revealed cracks following the grain boundaries in treated ore, whereas no cracks were present in untreated ore. However, few if any have quantified the improvement in terms of total hp hours saved, reduction of wear of grinding media, or reduction of capital costs of grinding equipment involved. By means of Bond rod mill and ball mill grindabilitiesh nd by comparative wear tests, the conditions maintained during this investigation have been definitely evaluated. Heat treatment experiments have been made on a batch scale in a muffle furnace, followed by continuous scale experiments in a rotary kiln under various conditions of temperature, atmosphere, retention time, and quenching to determine the combination that would give the greatest improvement in the grindability of a taconite without affecting adversely the magnetic susceptibility of the magnetite. From these data, relative costs have been calculated for grinding both untreated and heat- treated ore on a basis of plant capacity of 120 tons per hour. Heat requirements for a rotary kiln, as well as the kiln capacity required for the treatment, have been estimated. For these tests 50 tons of ore were obtained from the Aurora mine of the Erie Mining Co., Hibbing, Minn. The ore was reported7 to have been selected from the magnetic portion of the lower chert horizons. An average chemical analysis of' this portion is shown in Table I and an approximate mineralogi-cal analysis is shown in Table 11. No attempt was made to differentiate between the various silicates because the compositions vary widely on the different horizons and depend on the degree of oxidation. Minnesotite, however, is the predominant silicate. The siderite grains were dispersed throughout the ore but were essentially associated with the rock-forming minerals. In a series of preliminary tests in which batches of —6 mesh ore were heat-treated in a muffle fur-

Jan 1, 1953