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By D. E. Ranta, Stephen W. Thomas, Clancy J. Wendt

One of the most difficult tasks associated with placer mining is the sampling of the deposit. More placer projects have failed due to inaccurate assessment of the reserves than to any other reason. Within the realm of placers, those containing valuable minerals with a high unit value are more difficult to sample than those with larger bulk, lower unit value minerals. Some items to consider when sampling a placer deposit are as follows: A. A relatively large sample is needed for accurate valuation of the ground being tested. Placers are composed of many sizes of gravel which makes a representative sample difficult to obtain. B. When sampling placers for high unit value minerals such as gold, any error in mineral content of the sample will be magnified in the calculation of reserves. C. Values are usually erratically distributed within the gravel mass. Therefore, some placers with a more uniform value distribution may be adequately assessed with a minimum number of samples whereas a deposit with a highly erratic distribution of values may not be adequately sampled regardless of how many samples are taken. D. The investigation of a placer deposit should be made by, or be under the direction of, a person experienced in the art of placer sampling. F) During a sampling program, items that must be observed and noted in addition to the sample size and valuable mineral content should include boulder size and number, clay content, bedrock conditions, water, frozen ground, false bedrock, and any other physical characteristics that would affect mining of the deposit.

Jan 1, 1992

The Division of Minerals and Geochemistry in collaboration with three mineral exploration companies, Mawson Pacific Ltd, Ramsgate Resources Ltd and Tectonic Systems Pty Ltd commenced a two year research project to investigate the application of remote sensing techniques to exploration for mineral deposits in access of the Yilgarn Block in Western Australia. The project utilizes satellite data such as day and night imagery from the NOAA-AVHRR (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) satellite. The recent research with the imagery in the Kalgoorlie, Southern Cross and Mt Magnet regions has highlighted the advantages of the mid infra-red and the two thermal response channels of NOAA-AVHRR for geological investigations. These three channels have the spectral resolution to distinguish stratigraphic units and younger intrusive bodies, and to delineate fracture zones and shear zones associated with Proterozoic dykes. But most important is the capacity to distinguish thermal signatures from geological structure, near-surface outcrop and palaeochannels which have been covered by unconsolidated sediments. The research project applies remote sensing methods including enhanced satellite imagery optimised to the Western Australian environment. It encompasses data from both space and airborne monitoring platforms that have obsreved a significant spectral response for the classification of alteration zone lithologies. It includes the collection of multiseasonal data from areas of interest which is essential both for the understanding of thermal characteristics of important lithologies and for the extrapolation from field work investigation to potential exploration areas. No comprehensive investigation of this type has been carried out within the Yilgarn goldfields.

Jan 1, 1987

By G. H. Clevenger

(Continuing the discussion of the paper of James Johnston, presented at the New York meeting, February, 1914, and printed in Bulletin No. 85, January, 1914, pp. 107 to 133.) This paper cannot fail of being of great interest and value to all who are interested in the cyanide process, on account of the important developments which it records. Mr. Johnston is to be commended for the large amount of detail which he gives, and the company and its management for permitting the publication of data of this character, which while of great value to others could well be considered private property. It might be discussed from a number of standpoints: First, as an example of recent practice in mill and cyanide plant construction; second, the mill practice; third, the cyanide practice; and fourth, the new features in cyanide treatment involved. Perhaps a more vivid way of expressing it would be : First, the equipment or tools with which the various operations are carried on, are they the best and most efficient which could have been selected for their respective uses; and, second, is the best use in every case made of these tools? It may be well inquired is the highest possible recovery of silver made at the lowest cost per ounce recovered? For after all, the making of the greatest ultimate profit is inseparably associated with successful metallurgical practice; there must therefore be at all times a careful balance maintained between recovery and cost of obtaining it. I wish to call attention in a very general way to the equipment used and to an anticipation of questions which are bound to arise in this connection. However, the. bulk of my discussion will be confined to the presentation of certain additional data, together with a more or less general discussion showing the line of development which leads up to the present practice and .the applicability of certain features of it to similar problems elsewhere. There are a number of vital points of broad general interest involved in Nipissing low-grade practice upon which metallurgists will by no means be agreed to which I wish to call particular attention in the hope that it will lead to the presentation of data y others of practice in other districts which will' assist in reconciling this divergence of opinion.

Jan 7, 1914

For convenience, we tabulate below the weight systems contained in the Probierbüchlein: [Pound and centner weights used by merchants for ore, lead, and copper I frother = 20 or 50 centners (depending on locality) I centner (Stolberg & Eisleben) = 112 pounds. I centner (Nuremberg) =100 pounds I pound =2 marks =32 lot =128 quintlein-512 pennyweights =1024 beller I mark -16 lot -.64 quintlein =256 pennyweights = 512 beller 1 lot= 4 quintlein= 16 pennyweights= 32 beller I quintlein = 4 pennyweights= 8 beller I pennyweight = 2 beller Netherlands mintmasters' weights for silver I mark =12 pennyweights=288 grains I pennyweight - 24 grains Assay weights for gold I mark= 24 carats 96 carat-grains. I carat = 4 carat-grains] The assayer's weights were miniature copies of the legal weights of his locality, intended, like the modern assay ton, to eliminate calculation. Each assayer made his own, not usually bothering about a given proportion between the true weights and the assay set, but maintaining the correct ratio between all the weights in any one set. The weights were quite small, to permit the use of less sample, but the exact size is nowhere stated in the Probierbüchlein. Even the legal pound varied considerably from place to place, depending on locality, and assayers would use different factors depending on the sensitivity of their balances, among other things. Agricola makes the assay centner equal to one actual drachma, by which term he means the German quintlein, or 1/12,800 of the full weight of the 100-pound centner. Schreittmann says that the 100-pound centner on the assay scale should be less than half a quintlein, i.e., the factor should be at least 25,600. Biringuccio says the assay centner might

Jan 1, 1949

By William R. Beloff, Franklin M. Grynkewicz, Puza

Construction of the MBTA Red Line Extension through Somerville, MA, called for driving twin tube tunnels through a zone of approximately 83m (273 ft) with mixed face conditions. While the majority of the tunnels were driven through competent hard rock using drill and blast techniques, the mixed face zone was advanced using floating crown bars for primary support. The overburden consisted of medium clay, underlain by water bearing glacial till, over a sloping bedrock surface. Due to the unusual nature of the construction techniques, a program was undertaken by the Contractor to monitor ground movement and stresses in the temporary steel supports. This paper presents a description of the instrumentation employed, as well as the measured ground movements and support stresses. Additionally, the tunneling techniques are briefly presented and commented upon. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Davis Square to Porter Square Tunnel Contract is part of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authorities (MBTA) Red Line Extension from Harvard Square in Cambridge to the Alewife Brook Parkway via Somerville. The 5.1km (17,000 ft) Red Line Extension consists of four major new stations, three of which will be interlinked via tunnel construction, and the remaining station will be the last link of an open cut portion, and a terminal point for this phase of the extension. This 866m (2,790 ft) portion began at Porter Square in Cambridge and rose at a 4% slope through Somerville, terminating at the new Davis Square Station. Twin tube tunnels were constructed through 763m (2,517 ft) of rock and 83m (273 ft) of mixed face conditions at the Davis Square end. Figure 1 presents a plan view of the entire contract.

Jan 1, 1981

This paper discusses design concepts in planning a large modern bulk terminal. The need is emphasised for a studied master plan, in-built materials handling flexibility and staged development. An integrated approach is advocated, combining functional purpose designed foundations and structures to serve their mechanical, electrical and environmental functions. Dry bulk and slurry handling are also compared in perspective.

Jan 1, 1983

By W. J. O'CONNOR

THE production of lead in the United States for the period from 1720 to 1912 was 10,432,668 tons valued at $924,600,000. The average price during this period was 4.4c. a pound, although lead sold at times below 3 cents. We know that in the early days of lead smelting in Montana lead was deliberately lost in the slag and only enough reduced as bullion to collect the silver. This bullion was freighted by ox team to Corinne, Utah, the terminus of the railroad at that time, and shipped to Swansea or Omaha, Neb., for refining. The slag from some of the above mentioned operations contained as much as 15 per cent lead and has since been resmelted. Since 1921 the production of lead has increased each year and the price and tonnage have been as follows :

Jan 1, 1926

Maryland Geological Survey, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md Edward B Mathews, State Geologist A list of publications-and maps will be sent upon request. The Survey published 12 general reports between the years 1897 to 1928, inclusive Vols. 1 and 9 are out of print, others may be obtained at the uniform price of $1 each. Separates of many of the papers contained in the volumes may be had; in the following list a few of the available separate papers of most direct interest are cited. Vol. 1, pt 4, Bibliography and cartography of Maryland, by E B. Mathews (1897), 25 cents, vol 5, pt 4, Report on the coals of Maryland, by Clark and others (1905), 25 cents paper bound, vol 6, pt 1, The physical features of Maryland, by E B. Mathews, W. B. Clark and others (1906), 25 cents paper bound, including map, 75 cents, vol 8, pt 2, Maryland mineral industries (1896¬1907), by Clark and Mathews, free, vol 8, pt 3, Report on the limestones of Maryland, by E B Mathews and J. S Grasty (1909), 25 cents paper bound, vol 9, pt. 3, Report on the iron ores of Maryland, by J T. Singewald, Jr. (1911), 25 cents paper bound, vol 10, pt 1, The geography of Maryland, by W B. Clark (1918), 25 cents paper bound Vol 11, pt 1, The coal formations and mines of Maryland, by various authors (1922), 35 cents paper bound, vol 11, pt 2, The fire clays of Maryland, by various authors (1922), 35 cents paper bound Most of a series of Systematic Reports on the geologic formations found within the state are also available: Pliocene and Pleistocene, $1; Upper Cretaceous, $5; Lower Cretaceous, $5, Triassic (in preparation), Carboniferous and Permian (in preparation);

Jan 1, 1933

By A. E. Wells

A critical study of the wet Thiogen process for extracting sulphur from the smoke of smelters is one of several investigations related to the general smelter-smoke problem that are being conducted under the direction of the Bureau of Mines. Part of the work done in the pyrometallurgical section of the cooperative metallurgical exhibit of the Bureau of Mines at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition during 1915 related to this investigation, and at the expiration of the exposition, the work was continued in the labora- tories of the Bureau of Mines in the Hearst Memorial Mining Building of the University of California, Berkeley, Cal., where a mining experiment station of the bureau has been established under the cooperative agreement with the University of California. Early in the spring of 1915, when plans were being made to co- operate with several metallurgical interests, the Thiogen Co. proposed to the Bureau of Mines that, along with the studies of various pro- posed methods for eliminating sulphur dioxide from smelter smoke, there should be included a study of the wet Thiogen process. In the study as outlined it was proposed to determine whether it would be technically and commercially feasible to use the, process for the recovery of elemental sulphur from the sulphur dioxide in waste smelter gases. Although there had been no large-scale work with the process, either in the laboratory or at a smelter, representatives of the metallur- gical and mining industry had shown considerable interest in the proposed method, and the desire had been expressed that a better knowledge of the possibilities of the process should be obtained. Thus, cooperation with the Thiogen Co. seemed justified by the in- terests of the metallurgical industry, and by the conservation promised by the recovery of a product of market value from what is otherwise a waste, and in some instances a serious nuisance. In accepting the responsibility for directing this investigation, the officials of the Bureau of Mines were necessarily free to conduct the work in the manner they considered necessary to determine the facts. It was also understood that any information obtained was to be made available to all who might be interested and might be printed in a Bureau of Mines report. To cover the cost of laboratory equipment and supplies, and the payment of salaries of assistants, other than Bureau of Mines employees, the Thiogen Co. in May, 1915, deposited with the cooperative metallurgical exhibit fund a sum considered sufficient to warrant starting the laboratory investi- gation. The origin and organization of this fund has been described by Clevenger and the author." In outlining the program for this investigation it was hoped that ultimately a small complete plant would be erected and the investi- gation center around the operation of the plant. However, pre- liminary to the erection of the plant, a laboratory study of the proc- ess was considered necessary, as the technical features of the process could be determined, it was believed, as satisfactorily on a smaller scale as on the scale first proposed. However, it was realized at the time that it would not be possible to determine so satisfactorily or definitely the commercial possibilities of the process on the scale of work adopted as in the larger operating plant. With this fact in mind it was planned that, if the study of the technical features on a laboratory scale gave sufficient promise of the process being commer- cially feasible, an operating unit should, if possible, be constructed later, and that more definite information concerning the commercial prospects should be determined. The investigations were started in June, 1915. In June and July work was confined entirely to small-scale laboratory tests, in which a careful study of the chemical reactions involved was made. In August, tests on a larger scale were started, and these were con- tinued until December, small-scale tests being made at the same time. On December 1, 1915, all work on the Thiogen process was discon- tinued temporarily, as the close of the exposition necessitated moving the laboratories. Work on the Thiogen process was started again in January, 1916, in the laboratories of the new mining experiment sta- tion at Berkeley, Cal., and was continued during the spring of 1916 until a point was reached where it was felt that the essential parts of the process had been carefully covered, and that some definite state- ments concerning the technical features and possibilities of the process, as given in this report, were warranted.

Jan 1, 1917

By Higuchi K

In this paper, the history of Japanese coal and gas outbursts is presented and circumstances and countermeasures at the time cf outbursts are summarized statistically. Then the present meth- ods for prevention used practically in Japan are introduced. From statistics, it was reconfirmed that Japanese coal and gas outbursts have occur- ed frequently in the district of geological disturbance, symptoms immediately before out- burst occurrence were the phenomena in connec- tion with failure of a coal seam and outbursts have occurred many times when the number of boreholes had not been sufficient to degas. One of the principal protective method adopted in Japan is the large diameter gas drainage boring which also posesses a stress relief effects. There is a tendency to make diameter of borehole larger to increase both stress relief and degassing effects.

Jan 1, 1986

By Caleen E. Kilby

A program of surveying and studying the surficial sediments of northern Juan de Fuca Strait was undertaken between 1988 and 199 1. Detrital sediments were mapped from the intertidal zone down to 100 m depth along the slopes of a series of shallow coastal marine terraces. The sand heavy mineral content was examined over this region and sediment geochemistry and assays were performed on selected samples both offshore and from beaches along the coast. The coastline of southwestern Vancouver Island has numerous streams, with a history of small Au placer extraction, which empty into the strait to the south. Only very minor evidence of this was seen in values from isolated locales. However, one beach presented a remarkably different mineralogy and geochemistry from the remainder of the coastline. From the beach to 800 meters offshore heavy mineral contents were greatly elevated and Ti values were as high as 1.4% of the sand fraction. Minerals were relatively fresh and angular, with mineral percents distinctly different than those found elsewhere along this coastline. No stream of substantial size crosses this largely sandy-gravel beach. A series of studies identified the source of this small marine placer as having its origins n the tailings from a submarine pipe broken short in the next bay. A Cu-Au mine 1.5 km upstream, closed by the mid 1970's, had processed its ore underground and piped the crushed tailings to the submarine discharge pipe. The crushed material has been transported and concentrated with the longshore current and been sorted by strong coastal swells. Ilmenite/titanomagnetite from the homblendized basalt of the mine is the source of the Ti enrichment.

Jan 1, 1994

Blasting is at first sight a simple operation. Blastholes are drilled in a suitable pattern, primed, charged with explosives, stemmed and finally the blastholes are connected together to give the appro- priate initiation sequence. In practice the action of the explosive takes place in the interior of an opaque rock mass and only the external faces of the rock mass to be blasted can be easily observed. The mechanisms of blasting cannot be observed directly and must be inferred from observations of the free face and meas- urements of particle movement made by sensors grouted into holes in the rock. Explosives react very rapidly, in some microse- conds and any instrumentation of a blast must have an appro- priate response time. In many mines several rock types can be encountered during production. Several different methods of blasting may be necessary to cope with changes in rock types espe- cially if weak rocks are found in the final limits. This also makes it difficult to be sure of getting a large enough volume of rock to perform a series of reproducible experiments. While there appears to be agreement on the mechanism of blasting it is unlikely that a detailed understanding of how all the variables that can be encountered in practice affect blasting. The ease of assessment of the results of blasting depends on the criteria used. It is easy to isolate, measure and count over- size boulders. It is however difficult and costly to get a complete fragment size distribution. Methods used to assess blasting can vary significantly from site to site and the ways in which data are collected, presented and analysed will vary making compari- son of blasts at several locations very difficult. The definition of an optimum blast can also vary with the type of blasting. The muck-pile profile and fragmentation will be different for a dragline to that for a truck and shovel operation. In order to be able to assess blasting the mechanism has to be understood. Th rock and explosive properties considered rele- vant to blasting can then be determined. This paper discusses the generally accepted mechanism of blasting. The on-site observa- tions to assess blasting are-then listed. The mechanism of blast- ing can also be modelled and the use of modelling to optimize hlaetina ie thPn Aiernccarl

Jan 1, 1988

At a large meeting of the members of the American Fund for French Wounded it which Mr. Franklin D. Roosevelt presided and at which Mrs. B. Girault Lathrop, President of the Paris Administration A. F.F. W., gave a most interesting address, special rows of seats were reserved for the members of the W. A. A. I. M. E. Those who were unable to be present will be glad to hear that Mrs. Lathrop complimented our organization on having supplied the largest dispensary operated by the A. F. F. W. and the Red Cross in northern France. The A. F. F. W. is going to erect an American Memorial Hospital at Rheims and it is hoped that the one hundred beds in the hospital will be endowed in memory of the men who gave their lives for the liberty of the world. It will be possible not only to endow beds, for which sums of $6000 each are needed, but also to give, as. memorials, sun- parlors at a cost of $10,000 each, two roof gardens at $5000 each, a laundry at $10,000 and a garage at $10,000. The New York Section has undertaken to endow a heel in memory of members of the A. I. M. E. who gave their lives in the Great War. Perhaps other Sections or groups of Sections may wish to do the same thing, or if no other Section cares to assume so much responsibility possibly individuals may like to join the fund already growing in New York, in which case they should send their contributions to Mrs. W. Y. Westervelt, 1 Lexington Ave., New York, N. Y.

Jan 6, 1919

By Carl Wagner

This paper contains solutions of the differential equation of diffusion in binary alloys if the diffusion coefficient is an exponential function of the concentration of one of the components. THE general differential equation for one-dimensional diffusion in a binary system can be written as: where c is the concentration of one of the two components in any suitable units; x, the distance from a reference plane; t, time; and D, the diffusion coefficient. Hartley and Crank&apos; have pointed out that eq 1 with conventional length units for measuring the distance x holds only if the alloy can be regarded as a rigid framework. In general, this is not the case, especially if the lattice parameter varies appreciably with composition. If a modified coordinate system is used instead of an orthodox system based on the centimeter a:: length unit, eq 52 is obtained, which has the same general form as eq 1 and is generally valid. The necessary transformations are presented in the appendix. If&apos; D is independent of concentration, analytical solutions of eq 1 are known for numerous boundary conditions. If D depends on concentration, solutions based on known analytical functions are not available. Among others, Boltzmann2 and Matano3 have shown that the concentration c depends only on (x/t1/2) in the case of diffusion between two semi- infinite spaces with uniform initial concentrations: c = c, for x < 0, t = 0, i.e., x/tl/2 = — x [21] c = c2 for x > 0, t = 0, i.e., x/tl/2 = + a Moreover, Boltzmann and Matano have shown how D may be calculated as a function of concentration over the whole range of composition from c -c, to c = c2 if c as a function of (x/t1/2) for the initial conditions stated in eq 2 has been determined experimentally. Thus, for instance, in principle, the diffusion coefficient in silver-gold alloys may be calculated as a function of concentration for the whole range of composition from only one diffusion experiment with a couple of pure silver and pure gold welded together. If the diffusion coefficient D as a function of concentration c is known, a solution of eq 1 for boundary conditions as stated in eq 2 with arbitrarily chosen values of c, and C2 may be wanted. For instance, if the diffusion coefficient in an alloy A-B as a function of concentration has been derived from an experiment with a diffusion couple involving 0 and 30 pct B as initial. concentrations, the calculation of the concentration distribution in a diffusion couple involving other initial concentrations, e.g., 5 and 20 pct B, may be desired. This problem may be solved by numerical or graphical integration of eq l. The solution of an ordinary differential equation of second order, which results from using (x/t1/2) as an independent variable, can be computed quite rapidly if two conditions for the same value of the independent variable are given. In eq 2, however, two conditions are given for two

Jan 1, 1953

By E. C. Harder

In view of the gradually decreasing known reserves of high-grade manganese ore and the rapidly increasing consumption of iron-manganese alloys in the steel industry, it is well to turn our attention to the development of low-grade manganiferous ore deposits and to the utilization of these ores in steel manufacture. The dependence of this country on imported manganese ore and ferromanganese has been forcibly brought to the attention of steel makers during the last few years by the cessation of manganese-ore imports from Russia, the restriction of manganese-ore imports from India and of ferromanganese imports from Europe. Should the importation of manganese ore from Biazil cease, the steel industry of this country would face a serious situation. The present practice of steel making requires ferromanganese in large quantities and ferromanganese of the grade used at present can be produced only from high-grade manganese ores such as the United States appears to possess only in insignificant amounts. There are in the United States, however, large reserves of manganiferous iron ore which could probably be used extensively in the steel industry if certain changes in the practice of steel manufacture were made. Thus high-grade manganese ore could be conserved. Among the most important deposits of manganiferous iron ore in this couniry are those of the Cuyuna iron-ore district of Minnesota. It is probable that in case of restriction of foreign supplies, the users of manganese in the United States would have to rely to a large extent on the Cuyuna district to make up the shortage. Manganiferous iron ore was found in association with iron ore in the Cuyuna district in many of the early drilling operations and the possibility of its utilization was in the minds of various explorers in the dis-

Jan 1, 1918

National Coal Board. Gate belt conveyors. London, H.M.S.O. (Price 95p.) Although the preface of this handy little book states that it has been written for the guidance of miningoperation trainees, it will prove valuable to the practising engineer as well. NIM reports Report no. 1733 A mineralogical investigation of weathered carbonatite from Salpeterkop. (14th Apr., 1975; re-issued 28th Feb., 1978). Report no. 1823 The recovery of gold and pyrite from a residue dump at Crown Mines. (10th Jul., 1976; re-issued 28th Feb., 1976). Report no. 1829 An investigation of weathered carbonatite from Salpeterkop. (20th Jul., 1976; reissued 28th Feb., 1978). Report no. 1932 A BASIC computer programme for the evaluation of intensity data from the Telsec Lab-X-250 Analyser. (12th Jan., 1978). Report no. 1940 The extraction of the noble metals with n-octylaniline,and its application to the analysis of platinum-bearing materials. (30th Jan., 1978). Report no. 1945 Analyses of the NIMROC reference samples for minor and trace elements. (28th Feb., 1978). International futures conference A conference entitled &apos;The Road Ahead&apos; is being organized by the 1820 Settlers National Monument Foundation to be held in Grahamstown from 3rd to 7th July, 1978. Conference of metallurgists The technical programme has been established for the 17th Annual Conference of Metallurgists sponsored by the Metallurgical Society of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. This year the Conference will be held in Montreal, Quebec, on 27th to 31st August, 1978, together with the 8th Hydrometallurgy Meeting.

Jan 1, 1978

During the past decade geopolymer technology has emerged as a possible solution for the effective stabilisation and solidification of waste materials. Amorphous to semi-crystalline geopolymers form by the co-polymerisation of individual alumino and silicate species, which originate from the dissolution of silicon and aluminium containing source materials at a high pH in the presence of soluble alkali metal silicates. It has been shown previously that geopolymerisation can transform a wide range of waste alumino-silicate materials such as fly ash and blast furnace slag into building and mining products with excellent chemical and physical properties, including high compressive strength as well as fire and acid resistance. These chemical and physical properties suggest that geopolymeric matrices derived from waste materials are well suited for environmental and other applications such as the encapsulation of mine tails, the immobilisation of heavy metals and also the fabrication of structural products. The current challenge is to demonstrate that a wide variety of natural Al-Si minerals could serve as potential source materials for the synthesis of geopolymers. Moreover, it should be shown on a large commercial scale that it is possible to encapsulate waste materials into the geopolymeric structure without compromising the chemical and physical properties of the final product for the desired application.

Jan 1, 2000

By Ashbel Welch

Ashbel Welch, Lambertville, N. J.: Dr. Dudley has given the wear of steel rails under four different conditions. He arrives at the conclusion that the softer rails, or those that from their composition ought to be softer, wear better than the harder. But there is another condition which has an important bearing on the subject, and should not be overlooked,—the weight on a wheel. With the lighter weights of the past, the softer rails may have worn best; with the heavier weights of the future, the harder may wear best. Weights will probably be increased up to the capacity of steel to bear; then doubtless the harder steel will wear best. A leaden rail with ten pounds on a wheel might carry millions of tons, but with one hundred pounds on a wheel, it would be destfoyed by a few thousand tons. So in the days of iron rails, my experience was that the softer rails under light machinery stood better than some of the harder; but under heavy machinery the softer were much the most rapidly destroyed. It is doubtless the same with steel. The pounding motion of the wheels loosens or spreads the particles of a thin film of steel; the pull lengthwise on the rail de-

Jan 1, 1881

ASHBEL WELCH, Lambertville, N. J.: Dr. Dudley has given the wear of steel rails under four different conditions. He arrives at the conclusion that the softer rails, or those that from their composition ought to be softer, wear better than the harder. But there is another condition which has an important bearing on the subject, and should not be overlooked,—the weight on a wheel. With the lighter weights of the past, the softer rails may have worn best; with the heavier weights of the future, the harder may wear best. Weights will probably be increased up to the capacity of steel to bear; then doubtless the harder steel will wear best. A leaden rail with ten pounds on a wheel might carry millions of tons, but with one hundred pounds on a wheel, it would be destfoyed by a few thousand tons. So in the days of iron rails, my experience was that the softer rails under light machinery stood better than some of the harder; but under heavy machinery the softer were muqh the most rapidly destroyed. It is doubtless the same with steel. The pounding motion of the wheels loosens or spreads the particles of a thin film of steel; the pull lengthwise on the rail de-

Jan 1, 1881

By J. M. Flaitz, A. S. Parks

OF the various methods of sampling gas-condensate wells, a method that secures a continuous representative sample of the well stream is desirable. Such a method, consisting of a sampling tube introduced into the well tubing, has proved satisfactory. The method is sufficiently accurate for operating and engineering problems A portable testing apparatus can be used with the sampling tube to obtain data useful in studying the economic and technical aspects of the development and operation of gas-condensate properties. Introduction The recent discovery and development of gas reserves that contain hydrocarbons that condense with reduction of temperature or Pressure, or both, to form a product known as condensate, has brought many new problems to the oil and gas industries. With further discovery of deep, high-pressure fields it is presumable that many more gas fields of this type will be added to the steadily increasing number. Such gas reserves are found either associated with oil as a gas cap or in separate formations. There seems to be no positive correlation between the physical or geological nature of the reservoir, and the chemical composition or phase characteristics of its contents. Knowledge of the chemical make-up and phase behavior of gas-condensate reserves is needed to cope with many problems. A knowledge of the chemical composition and phase characteristics of the reservoir material is necessary to properly design a gasoline or recycling plant, to estimate natural gas and condensate reserves, to enable the operator to study the economic and technical aspects of various methods of operation and development, and to carry Out the plan of operating subsurface and surface lease equipment. This information is often useful in questions of mineral ownership, proration, legal position, and taxation. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss methods used by the writers to determine the chemica1 composition and phase characteristics of the fluids produced from a condensate well. The scope of the paper includes a discussion and description of the method of sampling, the results of tests on the accuracy of the sampling method, a description of a portable testing apparatus used to examine the phase characteristics, typical results of tests on wells from several condensate fields, and some of the applications of these data to production problems. References to previous work on this subject are cited at the end of the paper. The Problem At reservoir conditions of temperature and pressure, the fluids produced from a condensate well exist in a homogeneous vaporous condition. The consequent reduction of temperature and pressure that occurs as this gas enters and flows up the well tube results in condensation of some of the hydrocarbon material to form a liquid. The relative amount of liquid condensed at any point in the flowing system

Jan 1, 1942