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By R. W. Moore, A. B. Kinzel

Although the iron-carbon diagram has undergone many changes in the last 20 years, the region below the eutectoid line and up to approximately 1.7 per cent carbon has been little affected. This region is generally considered to consist of cenlentite and ferrite. Graphite has been noted occasionally in the hypereutectoid steel region, and the ready formation of graphite nodules in malleable cast iron is a phenomenon difficult to interpret in the light of cementite, supposedly stable at sub-eutectoid temperatures. In this case the graphite formation has been partly explained by the presence of silicon, and many have believed that silicon acts to change the stable state rather than to accelerate reactions so as to arrive at the stable state in a briefer period of time. Consideration of this phenomenon indicates that cementite is not the stable phase in the temperature composition zone referred to. In the course of examining a low-carbon steel tube taken from a petroleum cracking still, which had been in service for approximately three years at temperatures somewhat below the eutectoid temperature, observations were made that shed light on this entire subject. The tube in question analyzed:' C, 0.15 per cent; Mn, 0.49; Si, 0.02; S, 0.023; P, 0.015. The microstructure of the tube after service is shown In Figs. 1 and 2. From these it is evident that cementite as such is absent, and that in its place nodular graphite has been formed. In order to check this observation further, samples taken from the tube were heated at 850" C. for varying periods of time. The small samples were put into a large hot furnace, and the total time is recorded. The structure of the sample after 5 min. at 850" C. is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and the nest of pearlite surrounding the graphite nodules is most satisfactory evidence of the character of the nodules. As the length of time of heating at this temperature increases, the pearlitic zone increases, with final restoration

Jan 1, 1935

By R. W. Moore, A. B. Kinzel

Although the iron-carbon diagram has undergone many changes in the last 20 years, the region below the eutectoid line and up to approximately 1.7 per cent carbon has been little affected. This region is generally considered to consist of cenlentite and ferrite. Graphite has been noted occasionally in the hypereutectoid steel region, and the ready formation of graphite nodules in malleable cast iron is a phenomenon difficult to interpret in the light of cementite, supposedly stable at sub-eutectoid temperatures. In this case the graphite formation has been partly explained by the presence of silicon, and many have believed that silicon acts to change the stable state rather than to accelerate reactions so as to arrive at the stable state in a briefer period of time. Consideration of this phenomenon indicates that cementite is not the stable phase in the temperature composition zone referred to. In the course of examining a low-carbon steel tube taken from a petroleum cracking still, which had been in service for approximately three years at temperatures somewhat below the eutectoid temperature, observations were made that shed light on this entire subject. The tube in question analyzed:' C, 0.15 per cent; Mn, 0.49; Si, 0.02; S, 0.023; P, 0.015. The microstructure of the tube after service is shown In Figs. 1 and 2. From these it is evident that cementite as such is absent, and that in its place nodular graphite has been formed. In order to check this observation further, samples taken from the tube were heated at 850" C. for varying periods of time. The small samples were put into a large hot furnace, and the total time is recorded. The structure of the sample after 5 min. at 850" C. is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and the nest of pearlite surrounding the graphite nodules is most satisfactory evidence of the character of the nodules. As the length of time of heating at this temperature increases, the pearlitic zone increases, with final restoration

Jan 1, 1935

By Basil B. Zavoico

The developments in the Russian oil industry during 1935 marked a very definite turning point from the time when the industry was being educated to the modern methods of oil-field finding and development, refining, transportation and marketing, to the time when the industry has thoroughly assimilated the modern technique and is now firmly standing on its own feet, as is shown by the remarkable qualitative, if not quantitative, progress in 1935. The oil industry promises that 1936 will be a record year in every respect with both quantity and quality approaching the desired high levels and standards. More particularly the Soviet Government is beginning to be successful in the development of new fields and such new production in geographically strategical points of the country will be in the coming years a factor of great importance in the industrial life of the country. The most notable achievements of the last year have been: the very successful development of the Ishimbaevo oil field in the Lower Oural-Permian Basin; the discovery and development of several promising oil fields in the Puta district of Azerbaijan, while large flush production of Baku area was extended 50 miles due southwest into the Saliani-Aliat district, where a 3000-bbl. well was completed early in 1936 at Pirsagat. Also, an apparently important discovery was made at Zikh, on the Apsheron Peninsula proper. These discoveries, as well as several important strikes in the deeper producing sands in the older fields of the Apsheron Peninsula, have greatly augmented the proven reserves of Russia and made them available either at the points where transportation facilities were already present or at points not too far distant from major industrial centers of the country. Of course, not all objectives were achieved during the past year, and several major difficulties remain to be solved in the coming years, the more important of which are: (1) supply of equipment and of parts; (2) the unavailability of competent technical men in sufficient numbers, which more particularly affects the distant fields; and (3) the problem of distribution of oil products throughout the country, especially the question of handling the needs of small consuming areas, which, while individually unimportant, in the aggregate require huge distribution.

Jan 1, 1936

By Basil B. Zavoico

The developments in the Russian oil industry during 1935 marked a very definite turning point from the time when the industry was being educated to the modern methods of oil-field finding and development, refining, transportation and marketing, to the time when the industry has thoroughly assimilated the modern technique and is now firmly standing on its own feet, as is shown by the remarkable qualitative, if not quantitative, progress in 1935. The oil industry promises that 1936 will be a record year in every respect with both quantity and quality approaching the desired high levels and standards. More particularly the Soviet Government is beginning to be successful in the development of new fields and such new production in geographically strategical points of the country will be in the coming years a factor of great importance in the industrial life of the country. The most notable achievements of the last year have been: the very successful development of the Ishimbaevo oil field in the Lower Oural-Permian Basin; the discovery and development of several promising oil fields in the Puta district of Azerbaijan, while large flush production of Baku area was extended 50 miles due southwest into the Saliani-Aliat district, where a 3000-bbl. well was completed early in 1936 at Pirsagat. Also, an apparently important discovery was made at Zikh, on the Apsheron Peninsula proper. These discoveries, as well as several important strikes in the deeper producing sands in the older fields of the Apsheron Peninsula, have greatly augmented the proven reserves of Russia and made them available either at the points where transportation facilities were already present or at points not too far distant from major industrial centers of the country. Of course, not all objectives were achieved during the past year, and several major difficulties remain to be solved in the coming years, the more important of which are: (1) supply of equipment and of parts; (2) the unavailability of competent technical men in sufficient numbers, which more particularly affects the distant fields; and (3) the problem of distribution of oil products throughout the country, especially the question of handling the needs of small consuming areas, which, while individually unimportant, in the aggregate require huge distribution.

Jan 1, 1936

Botanical exploration has identified many plant species that naturally accumulate very high concentrations of elements, particularly heavy metals. The enormous potential applications of some of these species to remove metals from soil (phytoextraction) are slowly being realised. The discovery of hyperaccumulation has resulted in considerable research into applications for removing contaminants (phytoremediation) or more importantly, in the context of this discussion, for commercially æfarmingÆ metals (phytomining) from metal-bearing soils. Currently published phytoextraction models estimate Ni yields using Berkheya coddii (a South African nickelophyte) are approximately $US 750 ha-1, excluding the cost of processing. Research indicates that B. coddii will also accumulate significant amounts of Co, resulting in a considerable increase in the value of the crop. Modification of the substrate by acidification, fertilisation and/or chelation indicate fruitful avenues for improving this yield by increasing the extractability of the target element, elevating biomass production rates and/or rendering other contained heavy metals extractable. Plant uptake of more insoluble elements, such as Au, may be induced in many plant species using chemical compounds. These chelates applied to the soil, form soluble complexes with poorly soluble metals forcing them into the soil solution. Plants may then accumulate these metal complexes through transpiration. Research has achieved foliar Au concentrations of 78 mg kg-1 in Iberis intermedia, 56 mg kg-1 in Brassica juncea and 9 mg kg-1 in B. coddii (on a dry weight basis). Therefore in theory B. coddii could phytomine a soil containing modest concentrations of Ni, Co and Au to yield 116 kg Ni, 36 kg Co and over 6 oz Au ha-1 at a current value of $US 4000. Root crops have also shown promise in chelate assisted Au accumulation (eg 6.8 mg kg-1 in Beta vulgaris and 118.5 mg kg-1 in Raphanus sativus). Phytoextraction, in its varied applications, is rapidly coming of age as a technology having considerable potential for application in environmental science and the minerals industry. Phytotechnology employs unique plant biochemical behaviours in the rhizosphere, driven by the sunÆs energy, to seek out and concentrate low levels of heavy metals at very low cost.

Jan 1, 2002

By Howard S. Bryant

FROM the viewpoint of the oil producer, the oil refiner, the oil marketer, and the investor, in oil securities, a brief picture of the crude oil supply and demand in the present critical season of the year will be timely and interesting. Although crude oil production has been in a comparatively poor statistical position this year, increased sales and sustained refinery and crude oil prices have allowed increased profits for many oil companies. The large amount of crude oil going into storage during the present period of peak consumption, just previous to the major yearly fall decline in consumption, has caused oil producers to make plans to leave the oil in the ground for the present in several of the areas of large flush production. The present moment is looked on as the turning point in the current year.

Jan 1, 1929

By Joseph A. Holmes

Although Venezuelan production attained a new peak in 1938, passing the 190 million barrel mark for the first time, there was a distinct flattening of the steep upward trend that marked 1937 and preceding years. The annual total of 190,231,780 bbl. was only 31/3 million barrels above the 1937 figure, an increase of slightly less than 2 per cent, which contrasts sharply with the 20 per cent increase of 1937 over 1936. As in the previous year, the Lake Maracaibo fields supplied approximately 73 per cent of the oil produced, Lagunillas remaining the largest single contributor in spite of a 17 million barrel decrease in its annual output. Tia Juana increased its percentage of the Venezuelan total from 14.1 per cent in 1937 to 23.4 per cent in 1938; La Rosa showed little change with 13.7 per cent; Quiriquire in eastern Venezuela was also little changed with 13.2 per cent; Mene Grande, the only other field of real importance, declined from 7.7 per cent of the total in 1937 to 6.6 per cent for 1938. Two new fields, Temblador and Bachaquero, began actively to ship oil during the year, and by November were averaging 7600 and 10,000 bbl. per day, respectively. The former is in eastern Venezuela, and the latter is the most southern of the proven Lake Maracaibo fields. (A map of Venezuela was published in Volume 127 of the Transactions.) Table 1 gives a complete résumé of Venezuelan production by fields for 1937 and 1938, and shows that 1,685,575,663 bbl. had been produced to Dec. 31, 1938. The percentage contributed by each of the principal fields to this total is shown in Table 3, as well as their trends over the past several years. From these data it is apparent that the Maracaibo Basin is the principal source of Venezuelan production, and will probably continue to hold this position for some years. At the year's end 2657 oil wells were producing, of which 2425 were in western and 232 in eastern Venezuela; 36 per cent were on natural flow, 57 ppr cent were pumping, and 7 per cent were on air or gas lift. Out of 523 wells drilled, 507 producers were completed in 1938, five less than in the previous year and nearly 100 less than in 1929. These

Jan 1, 1939

By Joseph A. Holmes

Although Venezuelan production attained a new peak in 1938, passing the 190 million barrel mark for the first time, there was a distinct flattening of the steep upward trend that marked 1937 and preceding years. The annual total of 190,231,780 bbl. was only 31/3 million barrels above the 1937 figure, an increase of slightly less than 2 per cent, which contrasts sharply with the 20 per cent increase of 1937 over 1936. As in the previous year, the Lake Maracaibo fields supplied approximately 73 per cent of the oil produced, Lagunillas remaining the largest single contributor in spite of a 17 million barrel decrease in its annual output. Tia Juana increased its percentage of the Venezuelan total from 14.1 per cent in 1937 to 23.4 per cent in 1938; La Rosa showed little change with 13.7 per cent; Quiriquire in eastern Venezuela was also little changed with 13.2 per cent; Mene Grande, the only other field of real importance, declined from 7.7 per cent of the total in 1937 to 6.6 per cent for 1938. Two new fields, Temblador and Bachaquero, began actively to ship oil during the year, and by November were averaging 7600 and 10,000 bbl. per day, respectively. The former is in eastern Venezuela, and the latter is the most southern of the proven Lake Maracaibo fields. (A map of Venezuela was published in Volume 127 of the Transactions.) Table 1 gives a complete résumé of Venezuelan production by fields for 1937 and 1938, and shows that 1,685,575,663 bbl. had been produced to Dec. 31, 1938. The percentage contributed by each of the principal fields to this total is shown in Table 3, as well as their trends over the past several years. From these data it is apparent that the Maracaibo Basin is the principal source of Venezuelan production, and will probably continue to hold this position for some years. At the year's end 2657 oil wells were producing, of which 2425 were in western and 232 in eastern Venezuela; 36 per cent were on natural flow, 57 ppr cent were pumping, and 7 per cent were on air or gas lift. Out of 523 wells drilled, 507 producers were completed in 1938, five less than in the previous year and nearly 100 less than in 1929. These

Jan 1, 1939

The following have been compiled from information furnished through the courtesy of Dr. W. P. Haynes, of London, and Mr. T. V. Grigorescu of Ploesti, Rumania. Gura Ocnitzei was the most active field during the year, furnishing 40 per cent of the production and 50 per cent of the drilling activity. Extensions to the west in this field were made both by Concordia and Romana Americana. In these new extensions the bulk of the production comes from the Drader member of the Dacian, with an average depth of 1300 m.; the underlying third Meotic at 1700 m. has not been developed yet. In Gura Ocnitzei east no new drilling has been done in 1933, but here declining pressures have led to the extensive use of gas-lift and pumps. Ochiuri saw some small drilling activity, but production declined. Two good wells were brought in by Unirea and Astra at the close of the year. Boldesti continued to be developed on a general plan by the four major companies interested. Production was from the Meotic, which in this dome has been penetrated for 356 m. Reserves have been estimated at about 63,000,000 bbl. An important discovery in this area was the bringing in of Credit Minier No. 1 Harsa to the east of the main field and producing from the Meotic. This well came in during October, 1932, and is now making 1400 barrels. In the Moreni Piscuri field only routine operations have been carried on. The prolific sands are now declining rapidly. Ceptura also saw only routine operations. In the Arcesti field development of the Meotic continues. Seven new wells were brought in during the year and ten were drilling at the close of 1930. The field produced over a million barrels for the first time during 1933. In the other fields only routine operations were carried on. A considerable increase in efficiency of operations was noted during the year. The average drilling time has been reduced, coring programs have been amplified, and much care has been taken in straight hole drilling. The Schlumberger electrical coring apparatus is extensively used. Electric-driven rotaries have been introduced at Gura Ocnitzei. The Moniteur du Pétrole Rouman reports that the index cost of drilling one meter, taking 1929 as a base of 100, has been reduced to 32 in 1933.

Jan 1, 1934

By G. Wheeler

Epithermal gold exploration in the last decade has developed useful models for exploring new ore districts in Oregon. In Eastern Oregon, disseminated gold occurs in epithermal deposits that have been pervasively silicified and brecciated. Many gold prospects staked since 1980 are in fluvial and lacustrine sandstone and conglomerate deposits. Clay alteration products and disseminated pyrite may be present. Vein filling calcite and thin to thick quartz veins are common. Late stage quartz forms pseudomorphs after calcite in many deposits. Arsenic, mercury and gold are geochemically anomolous but silver is usually not. The epithermal deposits are located in part of the Deer Butte Formation or equivalent units. Exploration criteria include the presence of Deer Butte Formation or correlative units and NW structures cut by N-S basin and range structures.

Jan 1, 1987

those who are to lie in the torn fields of France. Today we read of Lieut. William Hague, whom we said good-by to hardly more than a month ago-—so clean, ao young, so strong—who, abandoning the professional career in which he had won such commendation and which held for him such promise, leaving his wife and his little boy to whom he was so dear, answered at once the call for men of his training, and is now dead "in the service of his country." There are many friends of that courtly and dignified gentleman James D. Hague who recall, both here and in Stockbridge, the parental pride in the promising lad of such a little time ago—the eager schoolboy at Milton, the rather grave youth at Harvard, his entry into new experiences in the Western mining world, and who, seeing him during his stay at Camp Upton, realized that the old Puritan stock was still sound and true—and now with him the struggle is over and the sacrifice made. Captain William Teasdale Hall Captain Hall, who was admitted to Junior Membership in the Institute in 1915, while still a student of mining at the University of Toronto, was killed in action in France on May 19, 1917. Captain Hall was born in Toronto in 1893, and received his academic training at Harbord College, from 1908 to 1911, when he entered the University of Toronto, School of Practical Science. During the three summer vacations of his university course, he was employed by the O'Brien mine at Gowganda, next by the McIntyre Mining Co., at Porcupine, and finally by the Mines Branch of the Geological Survey, which was conducting magnetic surveys to the north of Port Arthur. When war was first declared, Mr. Hall endeavored to join the artillery as an officer, and for the purpose secured a provisional lieutenancy with a Hamilton battery, but he did not receive an overseas appointment, and on being graduated as a mining engineer in 1915, he was offered a position in Chile, which he accepted. He left Toronto on May 27, 1915, and was engaged in Chile as a mining engineer for nearly a year. In the latter part of April, 1916, he decided to offer himself again for service at the front. He crossed the Andes and sailed for LiverpooI, where he landed on May 13, 1916. On May 27, 1916, Captain Hall was given a commission as a lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps, 21st Squadron. He went to the front on Sept. 1, 1916, and remained there continuously. His

Jan 1, 1920

We remember him as a messmate, as a roommate, and when we rubbed shoulders with him on the square, for his kindly thought and unassuming manners. The Spanish grippe has claimed many from our depot. As we read down the names we pause here and there to recall some incident to establish permanently in our memory as a link to bind us, the living, with the dead. "And there's one name we cannot pass So we pause, and ponder awhile. And recall all his cheery words, And his smile—his perpetual smile." Men detained in the Quarantine Camp will have cause to remember him too, for he displayed his gentlemanly bearing and courtesy to all he came in contact with. Lieutenant Norman Lloyd Ohnsorg First Lieutenant Norman Lloyd Ohnsorg died in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 11, 1918. He mas born in St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 10, 1889, and lived in that city until he was 11 years of age when his parents removed to Iron Mountain, Mo., where he spent the next 6 years. On Jan. 10, 1906, he entered the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy at Rolla, Mo., and graduated from that institution in 1910, receiving both the Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering and the Engineer of Mines degrees. In 1912, he received the degree of Bachelor of Science in Metallurgy, and in 1916, the degree of Metallurgical Engineer. After leaving college he wae connected with the following companies: Noble Electric Steel Works, Heroult, Shasta Co., Cal.; Mammoth Copper Mining Co.. Kennett, Cal.; St. Joseph Lead Co., Herculaneum, Mo.; Granby Smelting & Mining Co., Neodesha, Kans.; The Phosphate Mining Co., Nichols, Fla. While with the last company, he volunteered, in April, 1917, for service in the engineering corps of the U. S. Army. He passed an excellent examination, was accepted and called to Washington and placed in Division T. of the Ordnance Department where he was engaged in research work pertaining to nitrogen. He was then ordered to Sheffield, Ala., where he was second in command of the construction of the Government nitrogen plants at Muscle Shoals. After the completion of the plants, he was ordered to Buffalo, N. Y., on Sept. 28, 1915, to inspect and report on a government plant. After completing this work, he was called back to Sheffield. He left Buffalo on Oct. 6, but delayed trains caused him to miss connections in Cincinnati where he had to wait 12 hours. He had not beedfeeling well for

Jan 1, 1920

Presentation Overview ?WRDC Purpose and Activities ?Women in Trades, Technology and Operations (TTO) Occupations ?Factors in Successful Recruitment / Retention of women (VBNC) ?Recruitment and Retention Strategies ?Conclusion Women in Resource Development Committee (WRDC) ?Incorporated in 1999 as a Not for Profit Organization ?Based in Newfoundland and Labrador ?Works to Increase the Participation of Women in Natural Resource Industries ?Research (Using Gender-Based Analysis) ?Career Exploration Programs for Women and Girls ?Outreach and Advocacy ?Policy Development ?Public Awareness and Education ?Gender Sensitivity Training ?WRDC Educational Resource Centre

May 1, 2006

By Song Jiang, Xianzhi Tan, Minjie Lian

"The ground water heat pump system lades underground hot water which can be heated or cooled by heat exchanger in water source heat pump air conditioner. This system replaces the model of heating of air-conditioning by refrigerator and boiler. In this paper, the formation conditions of hot water energy in Shan Dong are analyzed in order to achieve the purpose of energy conservation and emissions reduction by taking full advantage of water resources such as water pouring and return water of beatification during the productive process of underground metal mine. In order to analyze the issue better, the paper points out some ways and methods for geothermal water often used in underground metal mine. This paper also presents the advantages of the technology of water source heat pump that is applied into underground metal mine. Here is a case study of comprehensive utilization of water source in a certain underground metal mine in Ji Ning. This mine, according to its own actual situation, designs heat pump heat exchange system which is used for indoor heating of buildings and bath for staff. It turns out that the system can save 23% water per year, cut down 3.303 million KW electric energy, and reduce 4160t emission of carbon dioxide. It is concluded that the technology of water source heat pump has broad application prospects in underground metal mine. Therefore, the results show that it is an ideal way to change the present structure of cooling and heating source in metal mine.Introduction In recent years, overuse of fossil fuels has posed a grave threat onto the environment, which makes renewable energy a more important status in energy structure. Development and utilization of renewable energy has become an important direction. Water source heat pump technology is to use solar energy stored in water as cold/heat source to convert energy. Currently, this technology has been widely used in some advanced countries. However, due to facers of implementation technology and component costs, there is still a gap in water source heat pump technology between China and these advanced countries. According to (Blum et al 2011) that after in-depth study, water source heat pump technology has developed rapidly in China recently, and the gap is gradually reduced. Groundwater source heat pump system as a kind of high efficiency, energy-saving and environmentally friendly technology in recent years, more and more get the people's attention. At the same time, its practical application has also been rapid development. Based on (Ni et al 2015) that According to the relevant departments of the prediction, the technology will become the 21st century the most efficient heating and cooling technology."

Jan 1, 2017

By Karl Eilers

During my stay of two years in this country, I have heard of only four electric mine-locomotive plants, of which three were built by the firm of Siemens & Halske, and the fourth by the Allgemeine Elektricitatsgesellschaft, both of Berlin. The earliest of these was established in 1882 in the royal coalmines at Zaukeroda, Saxony. In 1883, the Consolidated Paulus and Hohenzollern colliery at Beuthen put in a plant; and in the

Jan 1, 1892

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

By Edward B. Hughes, Frank G. Norris

OXIDATION is characteristic of all processes for making steel from pig iron. This thought has been aptly expressed by H. W. Graham13 in the most recent Howe Memorial Lecture, "The process of steel-making consists of using iron oxide to reduce the carbon content of the pig iron to the desired level." Direct oxidation refers to the reaction that results from introducing oxygen either alone or mixed with other gases directly into the steel bath. In working a heat, oxygen in some form is added to the steel to remove the undesirable constituents as oxides. There are two general methods of supplying this oxygen to the open hearth bath. The method in which the oxygen is added as a, compound such as C02-or iron ore is designated an indirect method because the steel bath must first decompose the compound to attain oxygen in a usable form. The other method in which oxygen is added to the bath in the elemental or gaseous form, more or less diluted by other gases such as nitrogen, is a direct, method because no decomposition is necessary before the oxygen reacts with iron to form FeO which is dissolved in the bath in a usable form. Bubble formation (at least of a macroscopic size) presents no problem in case of direct oxidation because the reacting agent (oxygen) is in the form of bubbles when entering the metal. Regardless of whether oxygen is introduced into the bath directly or indirectly, several reactions proceed concurrently. In the presence of the bath of molten iron, FeO is formed either by oxidation of iron by oxygen or reduction of oxides by iron. This FeO dissolved in the molten iron is the source of oxygen for the oxidation of manganese, carbon, silicon, and phosphorus if these are present. The oxidation of carbon from steel is the controlling steelmaking reaction. The introduction of oxygen into the bath, its reaction in the elimination of impurities, and its control by the use of de-oxidizing additions have been subjects of importance since steel was first made by the bessemer process. Direct oxidation is, in a sense, an application of the bessemer principle to the open hearth process. Graham13 states: "The use of oxygen or air jets introduced into the metal bath is essentially an effort to approach in the open hearth the turbulence, rapid interface reaction, and high production rate per hour that exists in the bessemer process." The general subject, "Oxygen in Steelmaking," was given new life by the studies of Herty and associates starting about1925. The current interest in elemental oxygen is intimately related to the large scale production of oxygen developed during the war period. Some of the first applications were made during the early summer of 1946 at the Steel Co. of Canada using oxygen with the fuel. Such a use is of considerable interest and importance in contributing to faster heats but is not the subject of the present discussion which deals entirely with the introduction of elemental oxygen directly into the open hearth bath. A recent article12 reviewing the current

Jan 1, 1948

By W. A. Ver Wiebe

Under the impetus of new demands caused by the war, the oil and gas industries of Kansas established new records during the year 1942. In all, 1513 test wells were drilled, which is somewhat of a drop from the figure of 2113 for 1941. The 1513 tests yielded 800 new oil wells, 85 new gas wells, and 628 dry holes. Thus there was an increase in two categories, the gas wells and the dry holes. Considering that last year only 592 dry holes were completed out of a much larger total, the figure of 628 dry holes causes some concern among local operators. The increase in unsuccessful tests illustrates once more the fact that each year it is becoming harder to find the remaining oil pools. When the figures are broken down, it appears that western Kansas accounted for 1177 tests, of which 689 were oil wells, 33 gas wells, and 455 dry holes. The total potential daily initial production uncovered by the successful wells amounted to 753,178 bbl. of oil and 619,734,000 cu. it. of gas. The figures for new initial production indicate a substantial drop from last year's figure of 1,691,000 bbl., and the figures on gas are slightly higher. In 1941 the new gas as based on a daily potential was 508,000,-000 cu. ft. In eastern Kansas, 336 wells were drilled. Among these in were oil wells, accounting for a daily initial potential production of 16,199 bbl. The new gas wells numbered 52 and added 253,725,000 cu. ft. per day to the gas potential production of the state. The remaining tests, 173 in number, were dry. It is interesting and perhaps significant that about half (630) of the wells drilled in western Kansas were drilled by the independent operators. Among the large companies, the Cities Service Oil Co. drilled 163 wells; the Stanolind Oil and Gas Co., 52; the Skelly Oil Co., 39; the Continental Oil Co., 48; and the Shell Petroleum Co., 21 wells. In eastern Kansas the independent operators drilled 297 out of the total of 336 wells. Among the major oil companies the Cities Service Oil Co. drilled 19; the Phillips Petroleum Co. 7; and the Sinclair-Prairie Oil Co., 6 wells. The figures based on relative percentages of dry holes to successful oil or gas wells are revealing. In western Kansas almost one half of all wells drilled by the independent operators were dry holes. The major oil companies drilled approximately 547 wells in western Kansas, of which 379 were successful in finding either oil or gas. It thus appears that the major companies fared better than the independents. In eastern Kansas the major companies drilled 39 wells, of which 29 were successful in finding commercial quantities of oil or of gas. No less than 329 wildcat test holes were put down in western Kansas and 105 in eastern Kansas, or 434 in all, during 1942. Considerably more than half of these were drilled by independent operators; 223 in western and 99 in eastern Kansas. An exploratory hole 56 mile or more from production is regarded as a wildcat well in Kansas. On a percentage basis, about 80 per cent of wildcat wells were failures. In western Kansas only 20 per cent found either oil or gas. The failures were about equally distributed among the major

Jan 1, 1943

By W. A. Ver Wiebe

Under the impetus of new demands caused by the war, the oil and gas industries of Kansas established new records during the year 1942. In all, 1513 test wells were drilled, which is somewhat of a drop from the figure of 2113 for 1941. The 1513 tests yielded 800 new oil wells, 85 new gas wells, and 628 dry holes. Thus there was an increase in two categories, the gas wells and the dry holes. Considering that last year only 592 dry holes were completed out of a much larger total, the figure of 628 dry holes causes some concern among local operators. The increase in unsuccessful tests illustrates once more the fact that each year it is becoming harder to find the remaining oil pools. When the figures are broken down, it appears that western Kansas accounted for 1177 tests, of which 689 were oil wells, 33 gas wells, and 455 dry holes. The total potential daily initial production uncovered by the successful wells amounted to 753,178 bbl. of oil and 619,734,000 cu. it. of gas. The figures for new initial production indicate a substantial drop from last year's figure of 1,691,000 bbl., and the figures on gas are slightly higher. In 1941 the new gas as based on a daily potential was 508,000,-000 cu. ft. In eastern Kansas, 336 wells were drilled. Among these in were oil wells, accounting for a daily initial potential production of 16,199 bbl. The new gas wells numbered 52 and added 253,725,000 cu. ft. per day to the gas potential production of the state. The remaining tests, 173 in number, were dry. It is interesting and perhaps significant that about half (630) of the wells drilled in western Kansas were drilled by the independent operators. Among the large companies, the Cities Service Oil Co. drilled 163 wells; the Stanolind Oil and Gas Co., 52; the Skelly Oil Co., 39; the Continental Oil Co., 48; and the Shell Petroleum Co., 21 wells. In eastern Kansas the independent operators drilled 297 out of the total of 336 wells. Among the major oil companies the Cities Service Oil Co. drilled 19; the Phillips Petroleum Co. 7; and the Sinclair-Prairie Oil Co., 6 wells. The figures based on relative percentages of dry holes to successful oil or gas wells are revealing. In western Kansas almost one half of all wells drilled by the independent operators were dry holes. The major oil companies drilled approximately 547 wells in western Kansas, of which 379 were successful in finding either oil or gas. It thus appears that the major companies fared better than the independents. In eastern Kansas the major companies drilled 39 wells, of which 29 were successful in finding commercial quantities of oil or of gas. No less than 329 wildcat test holes were put down in western Kansas and 105 in eastern Kansas, or 434 in all, during 1942. Considerably more than half of these were drilled by independent operators; 223 in western and 99 in eastern Kansas. An exploratory hole 56 mile or more from production is regarded as a wildcat well in Kansas. On a percentage basis, about 80 per cent of wildcat wells were failures. In western Kansas only 20 per cent found either oil or gas. The failures were about equally distributed among the major

Jan 1, 1943

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

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 investigators 1-5 have 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 grindabilities6 and 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 reported' 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 mineralogical analysis is shown in Table II. 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, 1952