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By William B. Senseman

FOR reasons well known to mining engineers, wet grinding is quite universal in plants having to do with the extraction of metallic values from crude ores. In the processing of the nonmetallic and industrial minerals, dry grinding is the more common method. The crude materials usually contain less moisture than is required for wet grinding and the products usually are marketed in dry form; most of them as powders. To grind wet, therefore, would entail the addition of water and an expense for drying the product, which is not justified. Furthermore, the material would be a dried cake that would still have to be pulverized or disintegrated before use. For producing fine products, air separators have largely replaced the earlier practice of sizing with screens and bolting reels. Mills in which the air-separating feature is an integral part of the design are now commonplace. Mill designs are many and air systems have developed along various lines, but for the purpose of this discussion, only the fundamental idea need be emphasized the idea of using air for sizing and removing pulverized material from a grinding mill. About 20 years ago, when the use of mills equipped with air separation had become common practice, heated air or gas was introduced to such a system for the removal of moisture. The purpose of this discussion is to outline the developments and trends that have followed this experiment. It is an important development, for mills equipped with air separation are now universally used for pulverizing not only nonmetallic and industrial minerals, but a great variety of other materials. All such mills are essentially the same. Dried material is pulverized, removed by an air stream, trapped in a cyclone collector, and relatively clean air from the cyclone is returned through a fan to the mill. There is no theoretical need for a vent from the system. The practical need is to vent the air that leaks into the system, and, since the cyclone is not 100 per cent efficient as a dust collector, this vented air carries some dust with it. The initial attempt. at drying was made on a system like that described, by the addition of a furnace. The minus pressure within the mill draws hot gas from the furnace. Infiltration air, along with the drying gases and evaporated moisture, is vented as before. The first application was made to a mill used for pulverizing coal. The coal contained very little moisture, so very little drying effect was needed for the success of this experiment. Actually, some calculated efficiencies of over 100 per cent were obtained before due allowance was made for the conversion of mill power into useful heat. When moisture is low,, the heat obtained from the conversion of mill power is an appreciable part of that required. That drying can be effected in the short time interval available in a grinding mill of this type is better understood by visual-

Jan 1, 1945

By James K. Stanley

WHEN a plastically deformed metal is heated to a certain temperature, it undergoes a complete change in microstructure, the consequence of which is a marked alteration of mechanical properties such as hardness, strength and ductility. This change in microstructure occurs by recrystallization and is a process involving the formation and growth of strain-free nuclei in the deformed matrix. These nuclei continue to form with time and grow until a new grain structure replaces the cold-worked structure. The formation of the nuclei in the deformed sheet of 1 per cent silicon ferrite is illustrated in Fig. 1. If a recrystallization is conducted isothermally, a measurement of the fraction of the matrix recrystallized plotted against time leads to an isothermal recrystallization curve, first established in 1942.1 Such recrystallization curves are shown in Fig. 4. These curves show that the recrystallization of a cold-worked metal is best considered as a rate process rather than a time independent process such as is suggested by the improperly named and misleading recrystallization diagrams involving deformation, temperature, and grain size. 2-5 Any study of the rate of recrystallization resolves itself into a study of the component rates of nucleation and growth. The previous paper' provided an account of the determination of the rates of nucleation; N, the number of nuclei formed per unit time per unit of unrecrystallized area, and growth, G, the radial growth in unit time, in the recrystallization of silicon ferrite (1 per cent Si). A method was developed to furnish experimental data for evaluating the effect of the recrystallization variables on N and G. The mathematical analysis for the derivation of the isothermal recrystallization curve was developed for a two-dimensional case (in thin sheets where the diameter of the recrystallized grain is greater than the sheet thickness). The present paper is a continuation of the study of recrystallization of 1 per cent silicon ferrite begun in 1942.1 In this work the effect of the factors deformation, temperature, grain size, composition, and recovery is studied with respect to the rates of nucleation and growth. At the same time it is shown how the cooperation of N and G affects the isothermal recrystallization curve. The study of these variables on N and G has a definite bearing on the mechanism of recrystallization and should lay a foundation for a rational theory on the subject. PROCEDURE The procedure used in these experiments was essentially the same as that described previously but in certain details some changes were made in the interests of speed. With few exceptions, the procedure is the same for the study of all the variables. Where the procedure is different from standard manipulations attention is called to this fact.

Jan 1, 1945

By H. R. Stahi

THE ore of the Southeast Missouri lead district consists essentially of galena in dolomitic limestone. The galena usually is in a very finely disseminated condition. The experience of recent years in the concentrating plants of the St. Joseph Lead Co. has shown that dry crushing carried to a point where about 90 per cent of the ore passes a 14-mesh screen liberates the larger portion of the galena, and minimizes further necessary reduction in rod or ball mills. Concentration practice has attempted to carry size reduction to a point where economic unlocking of the galena is obtained, without causing undue sliming of the very friable galena. While 60 per cent of the tonnage of the district is treated by the flotation process, only 40 per cent of the total concentrates is produced by that means, as efforts have always been made to keep the grade and tonnage of flotation feed as low as possible. The milling practice of the district for some years has recognized the generally accepted idea of better selective grinding in rod mills as compared with ball mills, with the attendant decrease in production of fines. The function of rod and ball mills in the various concentrating plants is the grinding of table middlings and coarse tailings that carry lead values too high to be discarded. The simplified flowsheet in Fig. I illustrates the place of grinding mills in the circuit. The arrangement of classifiers, tables and mills constitutes a closed circuit within somewhat flexible limits. In 1937 experiments were conducted in replacing the ball charge in a 6 by 4-ft. ball mill with rods 2 in. in diameter and 51 in. long. This step was taken with some hesitancy, as it was easy to picture a mass of tangled and crossed rods. However, no difficulties developed, and after a short trial period, six more ball mills were converted to rod mills. These mills are of the spur gear and pinion, belt-driven type, using in most cases a 75-hp. motor and having a 9 1/2 -in. open trunnion discharge. As ball mills, they carried a charge of 16,000 to 20,000 lb. of balls, 2 in. in original size. The feed to the mills was dewatered by dewatering wheels and introduced at 70 to 75 per cent solids, with a single scoop feeder. One change in mill design was found advisable when rods were introduced. The existing end liners had an outward flare of 3 ½ in. in 12 in. These were replaced by linings having vertical interior faces, in order to prevent undue end travel of the rods. This change gave an effective working length of 5 2 ¾ in. inside the mill. No alterations were made in the shell liners, which are of the smooth type, made of manganese steel 2 in. in original thickness. The rods at present in use are 51 in. long and 1 3/4in. in diameter. The composition has been varied at times; at present they contain 0.70 per cent carbon and 0.70 per cent manganese. Some breakage and etching occurs as the rods become small, but this is considered preferable to using softer rods, which may kink and cause tangling of the charge. The mill charges are renovated occasionally, broken pieces being removed and the charge brought up

Jan 1, 1945

By F. R. Hensel

P. R. Kalischer.*—I should like to amplify a little one of the points made by Dr. Hensel, and rather violently disagree with him at the same time. He brought out the point that when the higher forming pressures are used on the green compacts there is a marked decrease in the density as sintered. We found that to be true and, of course, many of you notice that that is true with copper compacts also. But, in my opinion at least, it is not true that the expansion is due to entrapped air. We have vacuum-pressed both silver and copper compacts and obtained almost exactly the same numerical expansion as we secured by pressing in air. The powder, however, that is vacuum-annealed does show a slight decrease in expansion on sintering, but almost the entire increase on expansion can be overcome by very slow rates of heating. And it is our opinion that a majority of the expansion is due to dissolved oxygen in the discrete metal particles themselves rather than to entrapped gases. Another interesting observation that we have made is that often with silver or copper compacts it is desirable to silver solder or braze the compact into some part of a piece of equipment after completing powder metallurgical operations on it. If such a compact is sintered and coined, say a silver compact, given an initial forming pressure of 10 to 15 tons per square inch, and sintered, there is an adequate amount of shrinkage and it can be coined at about 50 or 60 tons per square inch and bring up the density nearly to theoretical. If, then, that compact is silver-soldered into some part of a fixture or a machine, it will expand very beautifully, and the only way that this can be overcome. as far as we know, has been to reanneal after the coining operation at a temperature higher than is to be used in any subsequent operation. In that way, a density very nearly theoretical can be achieved, but the coining operation cannot be carried to the excessively high pressures or expansion and bubbling of the compact will occur again.

Jan 1, 1945

By Norman P. Goss

The Chairman.—Thank YOU, Mr. Goss Gentlemen, I believe we have heard one of the finest papers, especially since Mr. Goss has been very generous in his frank discussion of continuous casting. One point he has brought out which 1 think some of us have not thought through to the same extent that he has—that the continuous casting process offers the small producer an opportunity to compete with the larger, more conventional and presumably better established industries. The meeting is now open for discussion. Are there any questions concerning the first two papers? J. A. Malone.*—I should like to ask Mr. Goss whether there is any special problem involved in the first part, the upper part of the mold before he gets to the first graphite lubricant area. N. P. Goss.—You mean in the forming chamber where chilling first takes place? J. A. Malone.—Yes. N. P. Goss.—So far I have not had any trouble in this part of the setup. My only

Jan 1, 1945

By H. E. Montgomery

H. L. Burghoff.*—I have a question, Dr. Smith. A number of the alloys you mentioned contain lead, which, of course, is present as discrcte particles. At what level of concentration does lead begin to play an important part in determining these elevated-temperature characteristics ? A. J. Smith.—That is a difficult question to answer because of the complicating features of the alloys that arc lead free. I do not know of any work done on the subject. But for comparison, 85-5-5-5 has about the same characteristics at, say 450°F. as 88-10-2, which is lead free or contains at most 0.30 per cent. Both 85-5-5-5 and 88-10-2 precipitate delta. The specification limit of usage is 406°F., temperature of saturated steam at

Jan 1, 1945

By D. Harrington

The greatly extended use of the underground trolley-locomotive system for hauling coal without doubt was one of the most important factors in the rapid progress of coal mining and the increased production of coal in American coal mines during the period 1910-20. Much of the superior efficiency of production of our underground coal and metal lines should also be credited to the trolley locomotive system. The trend to mechanization of mines during the past 15 years, mere particularly the past 5 years, with higher production per man employed and greatly accelerated advancement of working places, has required increased use of trolley locomotives, necessitating larger equipment, higher speeds, and more 'frequent turn over of pit cars. This is re¬flected in increased size of locomotives and the use of larger mine ears (some with a capacity up to or over 10 tons); moreover, heavier rails and larger-size trolley wires have boon or ought to have boon installed. Trolley-locomotive haulage has proved to be rapid; economical, efficient, and productive; nevertheless; in spite of these advantages, so-many hazardous features and, unsafe conditions are involved and the price paid in life and property is so high as to justify the statement that the system should be scrapped if it cannot be operated under reasonably safe conditions. Since bare trolloy wires were introduced into underground mines, they have boon responsible for the death of hundreds of diners, property damage totaling millions of dollars, an indeterminate loss of tonnage through the abandonment of mines or parts of mines, and loss of time after disasters caused by fires or explosions originated by the trolley haulage system.

Jan 1, 1945

THIS article describes the origin and details of a hydraulically operated switch to control the operation of an automatic underground pumping system. This system was installed in December, 1939, on the 2,350-foot level at No. 5 shaft of the Buffalo Ankerite mine. The pumping unit consists of an 8-stage centrifugal pump direct-connected to a 150 h .p., 2,200 volt motor. Pumping capacity is 200 gallons per minute under a 1,315-foot head and with a flooded suction. The control consists of a 200 amp., 2,200 volt oil-immersed starter with thermal overload protection, thermal protection on the pump, and a flow switch that is bypassed for 30 seconds after the pump starts. The 30-second time lag is operated by a relay mounted on the panel. There is a swing check valve in the discharge line of the pump which originally operated the flow switch by means of a connected outside lever which closed the switch as the check valve opened.

Jan 1, 1945

By J. F. Gallie

From the standpoint of exploration and new discoveries, South Arkansas had a discouraging year in 1944. In January there were 73 untested drilling blocks, and 60 additions were made during the year. Of the total, 65 were condemned by dry holes on or adjacent to them, while 5 proved productive. The latter resulted in the discovery of the Salem Church, Calhoun Wilks, and Strong fields, and the extension of the Village field to the southeast. The year ended with 63 untested blocks, 41 of which were scheduled for tests to the Smackover lime, the state's deepest oil-producing formation. Geophysical activity in 1944 totaled 164 crew weeks, of which 110 were seismic, 43 gravity, and 11 radioactive (Fig. I), in contrast with 674 crew weeks reported for 1943, of, which 563 were seismic and in gravity, Five seismograph and two gravity crews were engaged in exploration in South Arkansas during January 1944. but only two seismograph crews were working there at the end of the year. In addition, exploratory core drills were used for a total of 38 weeks during the year. The year's few discoveries, none of which is considered as having added appreciably to state reserves, were the meager results obtained in the drilling of 62 wildcat wells 2000 ft. or deeper. Of this total (a detail of which appears in Table 2), 42 were drilled to the Smack-over lime or below, The average depth of the 62 wells was 5384 ft., as compared with 4992 ft. in the preceding year, while the average depth of the 42 wildcats in the lime was 5913 ft. in 1944. Fig. 2 has been prepared to show all , wells penetrating to the Reynolds oölitic lime. The 1944 dry holes are circled lightly, while discoveries are heavily circled and shown as producers. Smackover lime fields, producing from the Reynolds oolitic lime member, are indicated in black, and the locations of dry wildcat wells drilled prior to 1944 are also shown. Table 3 provides a listing of all Smackover lime wells drilled through the end of 1944. Production for the year was slightly more than in 1943, totaling 29,282,747 bbl., as compared with 27,521,943 bbl. for the preceding year. The increase was 1,760,804 bbl., or 6.4 per cent, bringing production to a peak exceeded only in the 1923 to 1928 period of flush production from the older shallow fields, principally Smackover. The increase was largely attributable to additional development in the Dorcheat-Macedonia, Atlanta, Fouke, Stephens-Smart, Haynesville, and Village fields, little production deriving from 1944 discoveries. These six fields accounted for loo of the 122 field wells drilled during the year. Annual and cumulative production for the producing life of the state are presented graphically in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 has been prepared by the author to show the producing ages and present known productive limits of all fields in South Arkansas. Production data, as usual, are assembled in Table 2, and provide a further breakdown of producing formations in the individual fields.

Jan 1, 1945

By John T. Galey

An intensified search for gas, because of the shortage in the area, led to the completion of 482 wells in southwestern Pennsylvania during 1944. This number was 27 more than the number in 1943, but 118 of the wells were nonproductive. Shallow Development Oil The initial production of the 25 producers completed was slightly less than was obtained from four wells above last yearJs total. The largest well, 20 bbl., was found in the Big Injun (Miss.) sand in Morris township, Washington County, at a depth of 2085 ft. It is currently producing about 3 bbl. per day. Outside the main producing area, a well drilled in Nicholson township, Fayette County, obtained 15 bbl. per day from 1864 to 1866 ft. in the Gantz (U. Dev.) sand. The Federal subsidy of 75¢ per barrel, effective , 1, 1944, which increased to $3.40 the current pipe-line price in this area, seems to have been insufficient stimulus to materially increase drilling for oil, although more repressuring operations are contemplated. Gas The volume of initial open flow of gas developed is off slightly over 10 million cu. ft. from 36 more wells than were completed a year ago, and the average rock pressure of this new gas is more than 100 lb. less than that obtained a year ago. Apparently the best find of this year was reported in Patton township, Allegheny County, where an initial volume of over 4 million cu. ft, was encountered in the Speechley (U. Dev.) sand at a depth of from 3293 to 3303 ft. The rock pressure there, 1190 lb. per sq. in., is nearly virgin. However, this area is fairly well delimited by dry holes and docs not seem nearly so promising from the standpoint of reserves as the Armbrust area, which was discovered several Years ago. In the patton township locality another fair well with 1303 M cu. ft. open flow and 400 lb. Per 59. in. rock pressure completed in the Hundred-Foot (U. Dev.) sand at a a depth of 2125 feet. Armstrong County, as usual, leads in number of producing wells completed with lowest percentage of failures but ranks only fou th in volume of production developed. Only two wells here had more than one million cubic feet capacity, but the rock pessure was under 200 Ib. Per sq. inch. In Fayette County, where the largest portion of new gas was found, activity appears to be shifting eastward. In Luzerne township, four producers having a total combined initial open flow in excess of 10 million cu, ft, were found in the Big Injun (Miss.) sand. The best well was found also in the same area in the Speechley sand (U. Dev.) at a depth of 3460 ft. This was a 2500-M CU. ft. well in Georges township. Several wells of more than a million cubic feet capacity were found in Jackson, Washington, Wayne and Whitley townships, Greene County. None of these, however, was in a new pool.

Jan 1, 1945

By W. N. Lacey, R. H. Olds, B. H. Sage

Samules of liquid and gas were obtained from the primary separator of a well in the Paloma field. The volumetric properties of the samples and of six systematically chosen mixtures of the samples were experimentally determined at 100°, 190°, and 250°F. at pressures up to 5000 lb. per sq. inch. From these data the influence ,of pressure and temperature upon the composition and specific volume of the bubble-point liquid and of the retrograde dew-point gas was established, The formation volumes and gas-oil ratios of the rnixtures investigated were calculated on the basis of the plant-product oil, which is defined as the isobutane and less volatile portion of each mixture. The results are presented in graphical and tabular form. The volumetric behavior of the mixture corresponding to that produced by the well at the time of sampling was determined for 235ºF., the reported reservoir temperature, by graphical interpolation of the experimental data with respect to composition and temperature. The results indicate that the well-production mixture probably existed as a gas at its retrograde dew point under the conditions of temperature and pressure believed to prevail in the producing zone at the time of sampling. The effect upon the phase behavim occasioned by the omission from the well-production mixture of certain components of intermediate molecular weight was investigated. In the first case, all of the isobutane and 11-butane, and substantially all of the iso-pentane, were removed from the mixture of trap samples corresponding to the well production. In the second case, all the propane, isobutane and n-butane, and substantially all of the isopentane, were removed. Both modifications led to considerable increases in the retrograde dew-point Pressure at 235ºF.; an increase of 558 lb. Per sq. in. above that of the unmodified well-production mixture in the first case, and an increase of 1208 lb. Per sq. in. in the second. It was concluded that the material? remaining after the removal of certain components of intermediate molecular weight could not be injected back into the reservoir in the saqe proportion in which they were produced without entailing appreciable loss of liquid material through condensation within the formation. Introduction Under the usual conditions of production practice, petroleum arrives at the surface of the earth in a physical state considerably different from that in which it existed in the underground reservoir. The relative rates of production and the properties of oil and gas measured at surface conditions do not constitute, in general, even a qualitative description of the fluids existing in the reservoir. The estimation of reserves and the attainment of optimum efficiency with regard to rate, quantity, and cost of production require accurate data concerning the physical properties of petroleum throughout large changes in pressure and temperature. Many schemes have been devised for predicting the behavior of propane, as it is encountered in nature? but the experimental work upon which these predictions are based has not, for the most part, been extended to the higher pressures that occur in practice, nor do these methods permit, as yet, the estima-

Jan 1, 1945

By Herbert H. Kellogg

RECENTLY the long-chain primary amines have been used extensively for the flotation of silicate minerals. The use of amines to float sulphide minerals has been investigated by several authors1-5,18 but most of this work has been done with the short-chain (less than six carbon atoms) primary amine compounds or the more expensive secondary, tertiary and quaternary amines. Perhaps the fact that the long-chain amines are good collectors for the common gangue minerals has led investigators to omit them from consideration as collectors for the selective flotation of metallic sulphides. The work reported in this paper was designed to investigate the use of a typical long-chain amine salt, lauryl amine hydrochloride, as a collector for the flotation of galena-sphalerite ores. The results show that lauryl amine hydrochloride (LAmHCI), when used in small amounts, is a good collector for the selective flotation of sphalerite and galena from the common gangue minerals. The differential flotation of sphalerite from galena was not accomplished but the amine flotation of sphalerite after the standard xanthate flotation of galena is possible. The experimental work reported herein is not complete enough to be able to say whether amine flotation of lead-zinc ores would prove superior to xanthate flotation, or whether the method is even applicable to a more complex ore than the one used for this work. However, the apparent reagent costs for the flotation operations described in this paper seem to be less than for xanthate flotation. This fact alone should be sufficient to encourage the millman to investigate the use of these amine reagents, especially as these reagents are available on a commercial scale at a reasonable price. This paper has as its secondary purposes to illustrate how contact-angle measurements have aided in this investigation, and to bring forward some evidence concerning the mechanism of the collecting action of primary amines. CONTACT-ANGLE TESTS The contact-angle measurements were made by the method described by del Giudice6 and used in recent work by Taggart and his collaborators.7-9 The mineral specimens for the contact-angle tests were carefully chosen, to avoid cracks and inclusions of other minerals. All specimens were mounted in "transoptic" plastic mounts and the surfaces were cleaned by polishing with levigated alumina on a cloth-covered glass polishing wheel. Distilled water was used on the lap during the polishing and at all subsequent steps in the contact-angle tests. The mounted mineral specimens were handled with glass forceps and special care was exercised to prevent exposure of the dean surface to air or any other source of contamination.

Jan 1, 1945

By Charles C. Hawes

DETERMINATION OF SILICA OXIDE iron ores usually are found in intimate association with silica and phosphorus compounds. Their quantitative separation and purification sometimes present difficult problems to the chemist. Silicic acids may represent various degrees of dehydration. They are exeedingly weak, but combine with metallic oxides and form some of the most stable oxides in nature, the silicates. When iron ores are treated with hydrochloric acid, they yield practically all their iron. However, apart from rare exceptions, varying amounts of insoluble residues of silica, alumina, lime, magnesia and compounds of phosphorus, sulphur, titanium, chromium and others will be left. If the oxides of silicon, aluminum and titanium are present in small quantities, the insoluble residue is generally very small, but the presence of these oxides is more usual in larger quantities. Therefore, only a special treatment can break the bond between these elements. Ore Residues Acids remove the soluble constituent of the ore, leaving the insoluble residue, which chemically is rock or gangue and must be treated accordingly. Alkali carbonates are used frequently to break up the residue, but other fluxes have also been recommended, such as a number of lead and boron salts. The introduction 0f these salts, which offers certain advantages, requires, however, their removal before the other constituents can be analyzed, and this elimination is sometimes difficult. Usually in quantitative analysis silicates are dissociated by fusing them in a platinum crucible with sodium carbonate, thereby forming sodium silicate, Na2SiO3, sodium aluminate, Na2Al204, sodium titanate, Na2TiO3, and carbonates of other elements. All the carbonates are soluble in hydrochloric acid, but also some silicic acid is formed that must be rendered insoluble. To this end the solution is evaporated several times, as the first evaporation still leaves as much as 5 per cent of the silica soluble. Even after a number of evaporations, minute quantities of silica may be found with the iron and alumina present. Perchloric Acid as an Agent for Dehydrating Silicic Acid Perchloric acid, HC104, (60 per cent), has been used for years as a solvent, but few chemists have used it to dehydrate silica. It is derived from anhydrous perchloric C1207, which is most unstable and dangerous. Perchloric acid is a strong oxidizing agent, which boils at 203°C. It is more effective in rendering silica insoluble than any other known agent, and most rapid in action. After perchloric acid is added to a mixture containing silicic acid, the resultant solution is

Jan 1, 1945

By Irving Kabik

Chlorates and perchlorates, when mixed with certain reducing materials, may give a detonating explosive of considerable power. Concerning explosive chlorate mixtures, Guttman3/ states that they "have at all times fascinated inventors on account of the large amount of oxygen stored up in potassium chlorate, which can be given off so readily. When Lavoiser and Berthollet tried to make a chlorate powder in a stamp mill in 1788, they made a great show of it, and even two ladies were present. Unfortunately, after a certain amount of pounding the powder exploded and killed an official and the daughter of the Government commissary, who assisted at the experiments.***. It is interesting to observe how the same old mixtures are proposed over and over again with slight alterations only, in order to qualify for a patent. Potassium chlorate with some carbonaceous matter like charcoal, sugar, starch, glycerin, flour, or sometimes a vegetable or mineral oil and the like occurs again and again." Sprengel explosives, in which some of the undesirable sensitivity of the chlorate was minimized by coating the crystals with a liquid reducing agent, received some attention after a patent was issued to Dr. Herman Sprengel in England in 1871.4/ A somewhat similar explosive, known as Rack-a-

Jan 1, 1945

By C. W. Donnelly, Louise B. Freeman, Coleman D. Hunter

It is with pride that the authors of this paper report. that during 1944 the production of petroleum in Kentucky passed its all-time peak, 9,496,985 bbl. being contributed. The delivery of natural gas, especially from eastern Kentucky, was maintained and possibly exceeded the highest deliveries of the past. To raise the production of oil and gas was not easy with inferior and worn-out equipment and the shortage of skilled labor. Reminiscent of the early days of the industry in the state, particularly in the hills of Elliott County, where mud roads often have gradients of 45º, was the replacement of worn-out trucks and tractors by oxen. Of the total 9,496,985 bbl., 17 per cent was contributed by the part of Kentucky that is east of the Cincinnati arch, as compared with the total of 7,010,776 bbl. contributed in 1943, of which 25 per cent was contributed by eastern Kentucky. This discrepancy is due to the discovery of more new fields in western Kentucky rather than to a decrease in production in the eastern fields, where the average has been maintained by reconditioning and secondary recovery of old fields and further development of new pools reported for the first time in 1943. In all, 1103 wells were known to have been drilled in the state during 1944, of which 659 were drilled in western Kentucky and 444 in eastern Kentucky. The exact number of wells drilled for any year is never known, as drilling permits are not required except 'when it is planned to drill through a workable coal seam. Of the total number of wells drilled, 459 were oil wells, 229 gas wells and 415 dry holes. The monthly production was as follows: January........................... 659,496 February.......................... 658,606 March...................... ...... 711,619 April............................. 649,926 May............................... 754,892 June.............................. 730,369 July.............................. 761,762 August............................ 878,053 September...................... 863,150 October........................... 968,732 November........................ 961,999 December........................ . 898,636 Western Kentucky In western Kentucky 352 wells were completed as oil wells with a total initial production of 47,922 bbl. of oil, the average being 136 bbl. per well. Two wells produced gas, the total initial production being 1,594,000 cu, ft. One hundred and eighteon wildcat wells were drilled, of which 107 were dry holes and 11 were oil wells. Three of the latter proved to be the discovery wells of commercial pools. Twelve new pools were discovered during 1944, none of major importance, as indicated in Table 2. The Utley pool, due to a stratigraphic trap on the flank of a closed structure, found oil in the Mcclosky at 2565 ft. in the discovery well, with initial productioil of 1000 bbl. The average daily production is now 227 bbl. from seven wells. The East Poole field, with the discovery well in the Tar Springs sandstone at 1811

Jan 1, 1945

By J. G. Thompson

Determinations of the hydrogen content of irons and steels invariably are subject to two serious difficulties: (I) the determination of amounts of 0.001 per cent or less of any constituent requires an analytical procedure of unusual precision and accuracy, and (2) the hydrogen content of many samples is dccidedly not stable; i.e., there is no assurance that the content at the time the analysis is made is the same as it was when the sample was taken or at some previous time in the history of the piece. In respect to both the precision and speed of the determination, the vacuum-extraction procedure for the determination of hydrogen possesses advantages over the vacuum-fusion procedure, which has been the recognized standard for the detcrmination of other gaseous elements in sted-— oxygen and nitrogen for example. The basic facts upon which the vacuum-extraction procedure is based—i.e., the evolution of gas from solid steel when it is heated in vacuum, and the fact that the evolved gas is rich in hydrogen—were observed by Graham1 many years ago. Subsequent investigations have shown that hydrogen exists in steel chiefly as interstitial solid solution (i.e., in atomic dispersion) and perhaps to some extent as hydridcs that are unstable and decompose to form atomic hydrogen. In either case practically all of the hydrogen in steel at elevated temperatures exists in the atomic condition and consequently is able to diffuse readily through the metal. In contrast to this, other gaseous elements, such as oxygen and nitrogen, normally are present in steel chiefly in the form of relatively stable compounds such as oxides or silicates and nitrates; i.e., the oxygen and nitrogen atoms are fixed in stable combinations and are not free to migrate. The only oxygen or nitrogen that can diffuse in steel is the small amount in solution (atomically dispersed) and the rate of diffusion of these atoms is much less than that of hydrogen because of their greater atomic volume and lower mobility. Consequently, it is possible to extract most or all of the hydrogen from solid steel in a reasonable time at moderately elevated temperatures, but the procedure is not applicable to the determination of oxygen or nitrogen. It is only within the last decade that these observations have been developed into an analytical procedure for the determination of hydrogen. Apparatus and Procedure The apparatus used at the National Bureau of Standards,6 for the determination of hydrogen by the vacuum-extraction procedure, is shown schematically in Fig. I. The specimen, freshly cleaned and dried,* is suspended on a fine wire within the quartz furnace tube that is connected to the reservoir system and analytical train.

Jan 1, 1945

By H. Rosenthal, A. L. Jamieson

Stress-corrosion cracking of copper-base alloys is of considerable importance and has been the subject of many investigations which employed various accelerated tests and long-time service tests. The outstand¬ing accelerated tests used are variations of either the mercury cracking test reported by Rogers in 1905( 1)2 or the ammonia test reported in 1910(2). The ease of applica¬tion of the mercury test is probably the reason industry adopted it. Subsequent investigation of this test(3,4) revealed that a minimum threshold stress was necessary before mercury cracking could develop. Since season cracking has been found in some instances in caliber 0.3o ammunition which has passed the mercury test, it is evident that the threshold stress value of the mercury test may be too high for dis¬tinguishing between acceptable and un¬acceptable caliber 0.30 cartridge cases. This condition has naturally led to the study of an ammonia test with its ability to cause cracks with almost any stress level. But the lack of a definite threshold value means that standards are necessary for evaluating the results of the ammonia test.

Jan 1, 1945

By C. D. Rugen

GROUND raw material as fed to the cement kiln generally is a mixture of two to four components, each of which may have widely varying physical and grindability characteristics. Chemically similar materials found in the same or different deposits may also differ appreciably in physical properties, depending on their crystalline structure. The calcareous or principal cement raw material may vary from a soft chalky limestone or friable cement rock at one plant to a hard limestone or oyster shell at another plant. Argillaceous materials include clays, shales and granulated slag. Siliceous and/or iron-bearing material, including sand, iron ore and cinders, may also be required in addition for certain types of mixes. Frequently differences in grindability characteristics are not given the attention they deserve in comparing grinding results at one plant with those at another or in selecting suitable circuits or equipment. Many types of crushing and grinding units are used, with numerous open and closed circuit arrangements. Both wet and dry processes are used successfully. When rebuilding or installing a new grinding department, the choice of process or circuit in some cases may be dictated by the nature of the materials being ground but in other cases it may be the result of good salesmanship or a compromise. An over-all evaluation of wet process vs. dry process grinding should not be made without considering the effects on all other producing departments in the plant. In general, the more recent grinding installations, both wet and dry, have employed closed circuits, but many older open circuits are still in successful operation. In our experience, closed-circuit raw grinding pays, because of lower power consumption and less operating labor per ton of product. However, some dry open-circuit mills with improved equipment and operating methods compare favorably in performance with dry closed-circuit units. CHARACTER OF GROUND RAW MIX (KILN FEED) Grinding in the cement plant in general requires a considerably finer product than in most ore-grinding operations. A distinction between fineness of kiln feed and of cement may be made in that kiln feed preferably should be ground to a limiting size, whereas finished cement should include a range of size fractions including sufficient fine flours to give a product with satisfactory physical qualities. Grinding raw mix for kiln feed therefore is more comparable to ore grinding, although the limiting size is smaller. Most kiln feeds are ground from 85 to 95 per cent passing 200-mesh, depending on mix composition. Some cement chemists believe that raw materials cannot be too fine, since finer particles theoretically combine more readily and intimately in the kiln. However, there are certain definite practical objections to extremely fine kiln feed, such as loss of kiln dust, unstable material flow through the kiln and greater difficulty in control of chemical composition due to dust loss, and the disproportion of fines from the more easily ground component. Our

Jan 1, 1945

Geophysical Abstracts 1 - 86 wore issued in mimeographed form by the Bureau of Mines; Abstracts 87 - 111 were published in bulletins of the Geological Survey; Abstracts 112 - 119 were issued in mimeographed form by the Bureau of Mines as Information it ion Circulars 7256, 7257, 7267, 7273, 7285, 7292, 7303, and 7310. 1. GRAVITATIONAL METHODS 7786. Barton, D. C.3/ Case Histories and Quantitative Calculations in Gravimotric Prospecting. Am. Inst. Min. and Meat. Eng., New York, Tech. Pub. 1760, 1944, 49 pp.

Jan 1, 1945

By C. L. Bulow

In this discussion of stress-corrosion cracking of widely used copper-base alloys, no attempt has been made to prepare an extensive review or bibliography since this has been quite ably covered by other investigators. An excellent bibliography was published by H. P. croft(1)2 in connection with his studies of stress-corrosion cracking in mercurous nitrate solutions and his analyses of the magnitude and distribution of stresses in brass parts. We are reporting on a few of the results which have been obtained to date in connection with an ammonia vapor test and an alternate immersion test. These are accelerated corrosion tests for determining the susceptibility of materials to failure from season or stress-corrosion cracking due to the presence of moist ammonia and oxygen so prevalent in nature. Our experiences with the ammonia test seem to indicate that it is a more searching test, than the mercurous nitrate test.

Jan 1, 1945