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By Arthur Taggart

Recent jig practice has shown such marked departures from the pronouncements of the textbooks, particularly as to particle size recovered and size range of feed, as to make it desirable to reexamine the mechanism of jig action. This paper presents the results of such a study. The general conclusions of the Paper are: I. A jig bed is a bi-functioned as well as bi-parted body. The upper layer comprises a plastic stream moving slowly in a substantially horizontal direction from feed lip to tail board. It serves to rough out tailing and light middling and to pick up heavy middling and lift it out 01 the jig box. The lower layer acts as the ultimate separating means by absorbing concentrate and rejecting heavy middling. 2. The separating function of the lower layer is performed in three definitely diflerent ways, depending upon the relative sizes of the grains presented to it and those composing it. Experimental The experimental work consisted of close and long-continued visual observations of operating beds in a plunger jig, eccentric driven, and in determinations of the settling rates of various metal spheres through a quartz bed under various conditions of operation. Falling velocities were measured by an ingenious method devised by A. 6. Dorenfeld, a student in the Mining Department at Colum- bia. Spheres of different metallic alloys, 3/8-in. diameter, were cast with a short piece of fine copper wire frozen in to Serve for suspension-A short piece of black cotton thread was looped to the top of the wire to serve as an indicator. The set-up for a test is shown in Fig. I. The thread should be boiled, if necessary, to make it freely water absorbent. The piece of clean plate glass D is supported rigidly at the proper height in a vertical position. The white scale E is similarly supported behind the glass. At the beginning of a test, D is filmed with water by holding it (best with clean rubber finger cots) under running tap water. It is then clamped in approximate position and C, already wet, is laid across it and drawn straight and vertical with the upper end at or near the top of D, and the ball A slightly above the top of the expanded bed. The water film holds the string to the glass. For a test the string is released, its upper end position noted just after the top of the ball becomes submerged, when the corresponding time is read, and thereafter simultaneous readings of position and time are taken as desired. Results of the visual studies of the bed are given at the pertinent places in the following discussion. Results of the settling tests are summarized in Figs- 2 and 3. Definitions The name bed as used herein refers to the entire mixture of solids and water filling the jig box. A layer is a stratum of a bed composed of particles of substantially the same specific gravities. A granular product is long-range when it approximates a crushed or ground product limited as to upper size only; a short-rafzge product is one closely sized. A bed is loaded when operating with continuous feed and discharge of products; it is unloaded when pulsating norma11y but neither being fed nor

Jan 1, 1943

By Weixiang Meng, Zhao Song, Ming Guo, Zhigao Liu, Shoubao Zhang

"There are many multi-layer coal reserves in China which account for nearly 20 to 25% of the existing proven reserves. When the coals are mined in a descending order using the fully mechanized long wall mining method, they usually have roof collapse with cavity and air leak in roadways and long wall stopes; this is especially relevant when the thickness of the rock between two coals is less than 5.0 m, as the roof stability of lower seam would be greatly reduced. At the Wuhushan Mine, such abnormal strata behavior occurs, including abnormal support stress, irregular period roof pressure, and roof falls in the face. The main reasons for these behaviors include smaller roof thickness, lower rock strength, and mining influence of upper coal; these reasons were determined by analyzing the in situ conditions. A mechanics-based model of the mine geometry was set up to study the sources of stress, the stress evolution of coal, and the discriminant method of roof stability; to obtain the smallest safe thickness of roof between two coal layers, numerical modeling was applied to analyze the relations between the roof thickness and its displacement distribution. Based on the above research, the No.1001 face was divided into easy roof caving zone (ERCZ), roof caving transition zone (RCTZ), and unlikely to roof caving zone (URCZ). In the ERCZ, comprehensive grouting to reinforce the roof was implemented; in the RCTZ, local grouting to reinforce the roof was implemented. Furthermore, a face stability control index and its range were developed in a fully mechanized face combined with mine pressure observation. After implementing this strategy, there have been no unexpected roof caving or other serious strata behaviors.INTRODUCTIONChina is the country with the largest coal production in the world, and the conditions for its coal seams are particularly complicated. For example, in China’s Datong, Wuda, Pingdingshan, and Qinshui mining areas, there are a large number of multi-layer coal seams. The thickness of these coal seams ranges from 1.3 m to more than 10 m, and the spacing between layers is from under 1.0 m to over 30 m. A common problem with these coal seams is that one layer of mining has a large impact on other coal seams, which are customarily referred to as close-distance coal seams. According to statistics, close-distance coal seams account for about 20–25% and 15–18% of China’s coal reserves and production, respectively.From the reference research of Huang (1999, 2002, 2018) and Tu (2010, 2011) we can learn that in the mining process of close-distance coal seams, downward mining is mainly used. When the upper-layer coal is mined, it has a huge mining disturbance effect on the floor (that is, the roof of the lower coal). The mining disturbance increases the mining fissure in the rockmass and weakens the strata strength. The mining problem formed by this issue is that when the lower coal is mined, problems such as difficulty in roadway support, collapse of stope roof, and difficulty in ventilation are often encountered. Especially for the mining of medium-thick coal seam groups with a layer spacing of less than 5.0 m, there has been a large-scale roof collapse accident with a fall height of more than 10.0 m. In response to such problems, domestic and foreign scholars and engineers such as Tan, Zhao, and Xiao (2010), Xie et al. (2017), and others have also carried out targeted theoretical and practical research."

Jan 1, 2019

By H. R. Brannon, F. M. Perkins, Weldon O. Winsauer

Both the abnormal resistivity exhibited by shaly reservoir materials and their potential are due to adsorption of ions. Interrelationships between the two have been derived and verified by laboratory results. These relations which have resulted from this work may be used in a qualitative manner to estimate whether or not a particular shaly reservoir contains hydrocarbons, and also to estimate the porosity of shaly sands. INTRODUCTION In spite of the progress which has been made in the last decade toward a better understanding and utilization of the electric log, there remain a number of problems in the interpretation of the log. One of these which is often troublesome is that of divining the nature of the fluids in sandstones or carbonate rocks which contain appreciable amounts of shale. It was shown by Patnode and Wylliel in 1949 that shaly rocks exhibit an abnormally low resistivity when saturated with solutions of low ionic concentrations. This phenomenon has been demonstrated to be due to the adsorptive properties of shale or clay in the rock.' In estimating the fluid content of shaly sands or carbonates from the electric log, it is desirable and sometimes necessary to correct for the abnormally low resistivity. A similar correction is likewise often necessary if attempts are made to estimate the porosity of a stratum from resistivity measurements. The correction may be made from data obtained on core samples and from information on salinity of interstitial water. Cores, however, are not always available. Moreover, even if cores are at hand, their examination is time-consuming. It would be most desirable, therefore, to make corrections of this nature from the log itself. Since both the abnormal resistivity and the potential' are consequences of the adsorption of ions on shale, it should be possible to utilize the potential curve to give better interpretation of resistivity data obtained in logging shaly materials. The work described in following sections was directed toward this end. THEORY Relation of Resistivity of Shaly Reservoir Rock to Adsorpttve Properties In discussing the effect which the presence of shale or clay exerts on the resistivity of a reservoir rock, it is convenient to make use of the resistivity factor.4,5 This quantity has been defined as the ratio of the resistivity of the rock when it is completely saturated with an electrolyte to the resistivity of the electrolyte itself. When the rock, such as a clean sand or carbonate, is free of shale the resistivity factor is virtually independent of the ionic concentration of the electrolyte used to saturate the sample, so that F = R0/Rw = constant for a clean rock . . (1) where F is the resistivity factor, R0 is the resistivity of the rock saturated with electrolyte, and Rw is the resistivity of the electrolyte. When the rock contains argillaceous material, the resistivity factor as defined above is no longer independent of the concentration of the electrolyte used to saturate the rock, but decreases as the ionic concentration of the electrolyte decreases. In explanation of this behavior, it is instructive to consider a sample of shaly porous rock placed in contact with a large volume of a dilute electrolyte. The sample is considered to become saturated with the electrolyte, and to attain equilibrium with it. As a result of adsorption by the shale surfaces within the rock, there is a greater concentration of ions in the solution adjacent to the shale particles in the interstices of the sample than there is in the external solution with which the

Jan 1, 1955

By P. Hazebroek, M. Prats, E. E. Allen

Well locations in water floods frequently do not coincide with the ideal well locations associated with the flood pattern which is used. A question of importance is. "How much oil is lost because of this?". This is the problem treated in this paper. It is assumed that each pattern in a five-spot flood has the proper number of production and injection wells but that the wells may be off-pattern. The distance by which a well is off-patern is given in terms of the pattern spacing, defined as the length of one side of a five-spot. The influence of off-pattern wells on the performance of a five-spot flood has been investigated mathematically for unit mobility ratio. All production and injection rates are assumed to remain equal. The loss in recovery resulting from pattern irregularitie: has been calculated at a cumulative water injection corresponding to a 98 per cent water-cut in a regular five-spot. Displacing a single production or injection well by about one-third the pattern distance reduces the total field recovery by 4.4/N per cent of the recovery obtainable with regular spacing, where N is the number of five-spots in the flood (assumed large). When off-pattern wells are separated by at least one regular five-spot and are displaced by less than one-third the pattern distance, the total loss in recovery in a large-scale flood is, at most, 1 per cent of the recovery obtainable from that field with a regular five-spot pattern. However, much higher losses may occur if the off-pattern wells are not separated by a regular five-spot, if the rates are imbalanced, or if the mobility of the injected water is higher than that of the crude. Although the loss in oil recovery due to pattern irregularity often may be low, the off-pattern case will always require injection of more water to reach the same final water-cut. The volume of water injected per unit volume of oil displaced has been calculated for each five-spot adjacent to a five-spot containing a single 08-pattern well. The cumulative water injection at the time of 98 per cent water-cut may be increased by as much as 37 per cent when a production well is displaced one-third the pattern distance toward an injection well. The existence of differences between actual subsurface locations and the idealized well patterns used in secondary recovery operations is well recognized. However, the methods commonly used for predicting waterflood behavior ignore such differences, even when subsurface locations are known. The reason for this is simple. The idealized well patterns are highly symmetrical and, as such, the production history of the pattern (and even of the field) can be determined from that of a few production wells—usually from only one. Consideration of the many irregular well spacings found in a specific field would entail a large amount of work, and then the results would be applicable only to that specific field. In an attempt to provide an answer to the more general problem, this paper considers a water flood having an idealized well pattern, except for one well which is not at its regular location. When several off-pattern wells are present, their contributions are assumed to be additive unless the off-pattern wells are close to each other. Only four positions of the off-center well (at x, y. of Fig. 1) are considered in this paper. These are shown

By Arthur Taggart

Recent jig practice has shown such marked departures from the pronouncements of the textbooks, particularly as to particle size recovered and size range of feed, as to make it desirable to reexamine the mechanism of jig action. This paper presents the results of such a study. The general conclusions of the Paper are: I. A jig bed is a bi-functioned as well as bi-parted body. The upper layer comprises a plastic stream moving slowly in a substantially horizontal direction from feed lip to tail board. It serves to rough out tailing and light middling and to pick up heavy middling and lift it out 01 the jig box. The lower layer acts as the ultimate separating means by absorbing concentrate and rejecting heavy middling. 2. The separating function of the lower layer is performed in three definitely diflerent ways, depending upon the relative sizes of the grains presented to it and those composing it. Experimental The experimental work consisted of close and long-continued visual observations of operating beds in a plunger jig, eccentric driven, and in determinations of the settling rates of various metal spheres through a quartz bed under various conditions of operation. Falling velocities were measured by an ingenious method devised by A. 6. Dorenfeld, a student in the Mining Department at Colum- bia. Spheres of different metallic alloys, 3/8-in. diameter, were cast with a short piece of fine copper wire frozen in to Serve for suspension-A short piece of black cotton thread was looped to the top of the wire to serve as an indicator. The set-up for a test is shown in Fig. I. The thread should be boiled, if necessary, to make it freely water absorbent. The piece of clean plate glass D is supported rigidly at the proper height in a vertical position. The white scale E is similarly supported behind the glass. At the beginning of a test, D is filmed with water by holding it (best with clean rubber finger cots) under running tap water. It is then clamped in approximate position and C, already wet, is laid across it and drawn straight and vertical with the upper end at or near the top of D, and the ball A slightly above the top of the expanded bed. The water film holds the string to the glass. For a test the string is released, its upper end position noted just after the top of the ball becomes submerged, when the corresponding time is read, and thereafter simultaneous readings of position and time are taken as desired. Results of the visual studies of the bed are given at the pertinent places in the following discussion. Results of the settling tests are summarized in Figs- 2 and 3. Definitions The name bed as used herein refers to the entire mixture of solids and water filling the jig box. A layer is a stratum of a bed composed of particles of substantially the same specific gravities. A granular product is long-range when it approximates a crushed or ground product limited as to upper size only; a short-rafzge product is one closely sized. A bed is loaded when operating with continuous feed and discharge of products; it is unloaded when pulsating norma11y but neither being fed nor

Jan 1, 1943

By G. G. Priest, B. E. Morgan

The production of oil and gas from wells is often seriously hindered by the compaction of solids in the perforations during the perforating process. To realize the full productive capacity of a well, it is necessary either to remove the plugging material from the perforations or to perforate in a manner which does not cause plugging of the perforations. The latter method can be accomplished by having a non-plugging fluid in the casing at the time the well is perforated. This paper describes the results of laboratory tests, perforating tests, and experimental field tests which demonstrate that certain emulsions serve effectively as non-plugging perforating fluids. The principal components of these emulsions are two liquids: an aqueous phase consisting of a solution of either sodium chloride or calcium chloride, and an oil phase consisting of diesel oil, tetrachloroethylene, or a combination of both. Small amounts of other agents which serve to stubilize the emulsions, to reduce the fluid loss, and to inhibit corrosion are also present. The density of the emulsions is controllable within the range of 7.5 to 12.5 lb/gal; no insoluble solids are present, the filtration rate is low, and the thermal stability is satisfactory at temperatures as high as 200°F. The corrosion of steel by these emulsions is negligible. Tests conducted under conditions which simulate the temperature and the pressure in an actual well demonstrate that these emulsions fulfill the requirements of a non-plugging perforating fluid. In addition, lirnited field experience furnishes evidence that these emulsions remain in position after they are spotted, that they are retained in the casing after the perforations are made, and that they are easily removed from the perforations when the well is opened for production. When the pressure in the borehole is greater than the formation pressure at the time a well is perforated, plugging of the perforations can be avoided by spotting an emulsion adjacent the interval to be perforated. This procedure should eliminate low well productivity caused by plugging the perforations. INTRODUCTION Nature of Problem The most widely used method for the completion of oil and gas wells is to set and cement casing through productive horizons, and then to obtain production by gun-perforating the section of casing opposite the desired interval. This method is gen- erally successful and it was thought at one time that those failures which did occur were due to insufficient penetration by the perforator. Despite recent improvements in perforators which assure ample penetration, unsatisfactory fluid production continues to be a problem. Evidently, the trouble comes from some other source. Recent results obtained by Allen and Worzel1 demonstrated that low fluid productivity may be caused by the perforating process and/or by the fluid in the wellbore at the time of shooting. They found that perforations are often completely plugged by debris from the perforator, pulverized sand from the formation, and compacted solids from the drilling mud when the pressure in the wellbore is greater than the pressure in the formation at the time of perforation. In some cases a differential pressure in excess of 400 psi was required to initiate flow into the well through these plugged perforations. The plugging of perforations by solids not only causes low productivity from wells, but it creates simultaneously other problems in the production of oil and gas. For example, when most of the perforations are plugged, high rates of flow must occur through the few perforations that are open. The resulting high pressure drop may cause production

Jan 1, 1958

By R. J. Blackwell, A. L. Pozzi

Scaled laboratory-model studies provide a powerful method for evaluation of a proposed oil-recovery process. In recent years, models have been used extensively to evaluate processes in which solvents displace oil, both for general cases and for specific reservoir conditions. Since the performance of a miscible flood in a horizontal reservoir can be significantly affected by transverse mixing between solvent and oil, this displacement mechanism must be accurately simulated in the scaled model studies. Unfortunately, precise scaling of transverse dispersion coupled with the requirement of geometric similarity requires impractically large laboratory models and long times for experiments. If scaling requirements for miscible displacements could be relaxed while accurate simulation of essential displacement mechanisms is maintained, the utility of model studies would be greatly enhanced. The purpose of the work reported herein was to evaluate the relative importance of various mechanisms affecting miscible displacement and to ascer tain whether the essential features of the displacement process can be simulated even though some scaling groups are not satisfied. These studies were performed with completely miscible systems in linear, horizontal models packed with unconsolidated media. From the experimental results, a set of relaxed scaling criteria was formulated which allows the requirements of geometric similarity and equality of the ratio of viscous to gravity forces to be omitted for specified conditions. The relaxed criteria are valid whether transverse mixing is by molecular diffusion or by convective dispersion. Correlations which permit prediction of vertical sweep efficiencies in linear, horizontal reservoirs were developed from the experimental data when transverse mixing is by molecular diffusion. These same correlations may be used when transverse mixing is by convective dispersion if an empirically defined, effective, transverse dispersion coefficient is used in the description of the mixing process. The effective transverse dispersion coefficient correlation essentially duplicates the dispersion coefficient correlation for equal-viscosity, equal-density fluid systems. Experimental values for the effective transverse dispersion coefficient can be measured readily. INTRODUCTION One of the most effective methods for evaluation of miscible-displacement oil-recovery processes is that of displacements in laboratory models scaled to simulate reservoir conditions. For these laboratory studies to be meaningful, however, the essential displacement mechanisms affecting reservoir performance must be accurately simulated. Since the performance of a miscible flood in horizontal reservoirs, or in dipping reservoirs at high rates, can be significantly affected by transverse mixing of solvent and oil, this mechanism must be considered in the design of laboratory experiments. Unfortunately, precise scaling of transverse dispersion coupled with the requirement of geometric similarity requires impractically large laboratory models and long experiment times. This difficulty seriously limits the utility of laboratory model studies. Craig,et al,1 demonstrated that geometric similarity is not required when mixing is unimportant. Their experimental data indicate, for the cases studied, that the displacement is sufficiently characterized by scaling the ratio of viscous-to-gravitational forces. This work suggests that relaxation of the requirement of geometric similarity and, possibly, other criteria might also be permissible when mixing is important, provided suitable groups describing the mixing process are scaled. The purpose of the work reported here was to evaluate the relative importance of various mechanisms affecting miscible displacement and to ascertain whether the essential features of the displacement process can be simulated even though some scaling groups are not satisfied. Consequently, laboratory investigations were made of the dependence of recovery on dispersion and other variables,

By H. C. Chao, W. F. Hosford, L. H. Van Vlack

The negative "plastic Poisson's ratio" suggested in earlier studies of Mus deformation is analyzed, and the results are verified experimentally with NaCl crystals. In the early stages of deformation where the primary {110}(110) slip predominates, compression along. the [001] direction produces contraction along the lateral [011] direction plus a compensating expansion along. the [100] direction. With additional strain, the primary slip is supplemented by secondary {111}(110) slip so that the above contraction diminishes and a more typical deformation appears. THE shape change of bee and fee crystals deformed by compression or tension along [011] has been analyzed in some detail and shown to be responsible for the development of peculiar microstructures in [011] fiber textured polycrystals of these metals.1'3 This paper concerns the unusual shape change accompanying [011] compression of NaCl crystals. It is the direct outgrowth of an earlier investigation of the deformation of manganese sulfide inclusions in steel.3,4 In that investigation, cylindrical specimens of steel containing small oriented crystals of MnS were prepared by powder metallurgy and plastically compressed. The flow of the inclusions was determined relative to that of the steel by sectioning the composite and measuring the length-to-width ratio L/W of the inclusion and diameter-to-height D/H ratio of the steel cylinder on the plane of section. These L/W ratios, normalized by dividing by the initial LO/WO ratio of the inclusion, were compared with the normalized D/H ratio of the steel cylinder. Of particular interest here are the deformation characteristics of an inclusion oriented with [Oil] parallel to the compression axis. When measurements were made on sections parallel to the (100) plane of the inclusion, the L/IV ratios were only slightly in excess of unity, indicating a high apparent hardness of the [011] criented inclusion. However, measurements on a (011) plane of section resulted in L/W ratios which were much larger, Fig. 1. These observations prompted an analysis of the strains resulting from slip in an MnS crystal compressed along [011.]. CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS Manganese sulfide has the NaCl crystal structure, and the predominant slip system is {110}(110). A secondary system, {111}(110), has also been reported.= {110}(110) Slip. When a crystal is subject to a uni-axial compressive stress 011 along [011], four slip systems, (101)[101.], (101)[101.], (110)[i10], and (110) [ 110], will be equally stressed with a shear stress t = 0.2 011 while the other two {110}( 110) systems will be unstressed. The normal strain En along any reference axis n resulting from slip is given by Schmid's law: en = S COS ?in COS in ?i 111 where ?in and +in are the angles between n and the i slip direction and n and the i slip plane normal, respectively, and where ?i is the shear strain on the i slip system, For the four active slip systems above, the cos ?in cos +in terms are all equal when the reference axes are the [011] compressive axis, [011] and [ 100]. Eq. [I.] therefore reduces to en - cos ?n cos +ny [2] where y =S?i for all slip systems. Substituting the appropriate angles, Eon = 0.25? 110 eon - 0.25y110 [3] €100 = -0.50y 110 The interesting feature of Eqs. [3] is that they predict that the strains in the [011] and [011] directions, resulting from {110}(110) slip, are equal and of the same sign. Thus when a crystal is compressed along [011], it will contract along the lateral [oil] direction

Jan 1, 1967

By Danforth R. Hale, R. E. Blair

Minerals for electronic and optical uses divide easily into two sections: (1) quartz and (2) minerals other than quartz. Quartz Quartz, having a great usefulness discovered by the radio communication enthusiasts about 1918, has become a subject of amazingly expanded interest in the US over the past decade as a man-made mineral and a multimillion dollar crystal-growing business. An economic summary of the commercial growing of quartz crystals has a place in a handbook directed to the mineral engineering industry when it is remembered that quartz crystals have long been an important commercial mineral, and that the raw material for "cultured quartz"-that is to say, quartz crystals grown through the ingenuity of man-is still natural quartz. Nearly all the natural crystals come from Brazil. The larger pieces which meet rigorous standards of quality are used for electronic and, to a lesser extent, optical components. Smaller pieces and fragments are used for vitreous silica. The need for high quality material in quantity led to US government-sponsored research programs in the 1940s that have resulted in the factory growing of beautiful crystals of prescribed shape, size, and quality. The development of the cultured quartz crystal is typical of man's success in adapting the product of the mine to increasingly sophisticated uses. A remarkable achievement perhaps, but foreshadowed by experiments in 1908 by Giorgio Spezia (1908), an Italian geologist studying the relative effects of temperature and alkaline environment on the solubility of quartz. Modern radio equipment is most often controlled as to frequency by the presence in the circuit of a separately added "crystal"-the 1918 discovery responsible for the existence and growth of the quartz industry. The "crystal" is quartz, but this component is a carefully oriented and prepared slice from a crystal, but not a crystal as recognized by a rock hound or seen in a museum. How quartz operates to control frequencies is not a proper subject for a handbook on industrial minerals, and references should be consulted (Cady, 1964; Mason, 1964). Quartz belongs to that class of materials called dielectrics: those that do not conduct an electric current but permit electric fields to exist and act across them. Quartz shows the "piezoelectric effect," which means that when a quartz plate is mechanically deformed against its natural stiffness, one of its surfaces becomes negatively charged, the other, positively charged. When the plate is released from the stress quickly, the charges disappear as the plate regains its original shape, but because of mechanical momentum the plate deforms in the opposite direction (to a lesser amount) and the surfaces correspondingly become charged in the opposite direction. By coating the two surfaces thinly with metal and attaching flexible wires, these charges may be brought into an electronic circuit. If the surfaces are suddenly electrically charged by movement of current through the wires, the "converse piezoelectric effect" occurs -the plate deforms. Carry the thought further and it is realized that an alternating current flowing through the wires responds to the mechanical oscillation of the plate and is keyed to this oscillation. By controlling the thickness of the plate its mechanical vibration frequency can be varied through a wide range. One type of quartz plate, called the AT-cut, having a precisely defined orientation with respect to the crystallographic axes of the crystal, vibrates on a microscopic scale much as a book would deform when placed flat on a table and the top cover moved parallel back and forth with the hand. There are at least 17 other orientations which have been studied, some of

Jan 1, 1983

By Danforth R. Hale

Minerals for electronic and optical uses divide easily into two sections: (1) quartz and (2) minerals other than quartz. Quartz Quartz, having a great usefulness discovered by the radio communication enthusiasts about 1918, has become a subject of amazingly expanded interest in the U.S. over the past decade as a man-made mineral and a $3 million crystal-growing business. An economic summary of the commercial growing of quartz crystals has a place in a handbook directed to the mineral engineering industry when it is remembered that quartz crystals have long been an important commercial mineral, and that the raw material for “cultured quartz”- that is to say, quartz crystals grown through the ingenuity of man-is still natural quartz. Nearly all the natural crystals come from Brazil. The larger pieces which meet rigorous standards of quality are used for electronic and, to a lesser extent, optical components. Smaller pieces and fragments are used for vitreous silica. The need for high quality material in quantity led to U.S. government-sponsored research programs in the 1940s that have resulted in the factory growing of beautiful crystals of prescribed shape, size, and quality. The development of the cultured quartz crystal is typical of man's success in adapting the product of the mine to increasingly sophisticated uses. A remarkable achievement perhaps, but foreshadowed by experiments in 1908 by Giorgio Spezia (1908), an Italian geologist studying the relative effects of temperature and alkaline environment on the solubility of quartz. Modern radio equipment is most often controlled as to frequency by the presence in the circuit of a separately added "crystal"-the 1918 discovery responsible for the existence and growth of the quartz industry. The "crystal" is quartz, but this component is a carefully oriented and prepared slice from a crystal, but not a crystal as recognized by a rock hound or seen in a museum. How quartz operates to control frequencies is not a proper subject for a handbook on industrial minerals, and references should be consulted (Cady, 1964; Mason, 1964). Quartz belongs to that class of materials called dielectrics: those that do not conduct an electric current but permit electric fields to exist and act across them. Quartz shows the "piezo-electric effect," which means that when a quartz plate is mechanically deformed against its natural stiffness, one of its surfaces becomes negatively charged, the other, positively charged. When the plate is released from the stress quickly, the charges disappear as the plate regains its original shape, but because of mechanical momentum the plate deforms in the opposite direction (to a lesser amount) and the surfaces correspondingly become charged in the opposite direction. By coating the two surfaces thinly with metal and attaching flexible wires, these charges may be brought into an electronic circuit. If the surfaces are suddenly electrically charged by movement of current through the wires, the "converse piezoelectric effect" occurs -the plate deforms. Carry the thought further and it is realized that an alternating current flowing through the wires responds to the mechanical oscillation of the plate and is keyed to this oscillation. By controlling the thickness of the plate its mechanical vibration frequency can bevaried through a wide range. One type of quartz plate, called the AT-cut, having a precisely defined orientation with respect to the crystallographic axes of the crystal, vibrates on a microscopic scale much as a book would deform when placed flat on a table and the top cover moved parallel back and forth with the hand. There are at least 17 other orientations which have been studied, some of

Jan 1, 1975

By Ned Baker

Details are given of a fuel-induction system for a hydrogen, fueled engine. The induction system was designed to preclude backfire otherwise common in hydrogen fueled engines. System features and test data are presented and discussed in the context of the requirements peculiar to use in an underground mine environment. The fuel induction-system when tested in conjunction with a modified Caterpillar 3304 engine provided backfire free engine operation and satisfactory engine performance.

Jan 1, 1982

By A. T. Chatas

A description of the geometrical characteristics of spherical reservoir systems, a discussion of unsteady-state flow of such systems and examples of engineering applications are presented as backgmund material. The fundamental differential equation, a description of average spherical permeability and the introduction of the Laplace transformation serve as theoretical foundations. Engineering concepts are investigated to indicate particular solutions of interest, which are analytically obtained with the aid of the Laplace transform. These are numerically evaluated by computer, and presented in tabular form. INTRODUCTION A tractable mathematical analysis of unsteady fluid flow through porous media generally requires incorporation of a geometrical symmetry. The simplest forms include the linear, cylindrical (radial) and spherical. Most analytical endeavors have concentrated on cylindrical symmetry because it occurs more often in petroleum reservoirs. Nevertheless, some reservoir systems do exist that are better approximated by spherical geometry. Review of technical literature revealed but a single reference to unsteady spherical flow in petroleum reservoirs.l The motive and purpose of the present work was to remove this gap in technical information, and to provide the practicing engineer with some useful analytical tools. The mathematical details associated with the particular solutions of interest involved use of the Laplace transformation. Hurst and van Everdingen previously demonstrated the efficacy of this operational technique, and in many respects the present treatment was patterned after their earlier work.2 PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS GEOMETRICAL CHARACTERISTICS Geometrically, a spherical reservoir system is defined at any instant of time by two concentric hemispheres whose physical properties of interest vary only with the radial distance. Every physical property is thus restricted to be a space function of only one variable: the distance along a radius vector emanating from the center. Such a system is composed of an outer region and an inner region, separated by a defined internal boundary. The inner region simply extends inward from this boundary, whereas the outer region extends outward from it to an external boundary. The position of the internal boundary is presumed fixed, so that the size of the inner region remains constant. On the other hand, the position of the external boundary at any given instant of time is determined by the distance into the system that a sensible pressure reaction has occurred, Thus, the external boundary may change position with time. It initially emerges from the inner region and advances outward to its ultimate position. When this ultimate position coincides with a geometric limit, the reservoir system is said to be limited. When it coincides with points subject to pressure gradients furthest removed from the internal boundary, yet short of a geometric limit, the system is said to be unlimited. In this investigation two different boundary conditions are imposed at the ultimate boundaries of limited systems. The first requires that no fluid flow occur across this boundary; the second that the pressure remain fixed at this boundary.3-5 UNSTEADY-STATE FLOW In a strict sense virtually all flow phenomena associated with a reservoir system are unsteady-state. The transient behavior of these phenomena requires accounting, however, only when time must be introduced as an explicit variable. Otherwise, steady-state mechanics may be used. Analytically, steady-state conditions prevail in a reservoir system only over that portion of its history when this relation is satisfied:

Jan 1, 1967

By G. Chitiyo

Prediction of pothole characteristics is a challenging task, confronting production geologists at the platinum mines of the Bushveld Complex. The frequency, distribution, size, shape, severity and relationship (FDS3R) of potholes has a huge impact on mine planning and scheduling, and consequently cost. It is with this in mind that this study was initiated. Quantitative analysis of potholes indicates that pothole size (area covered) can be described by two partly overlapping lognormal distributions. These are referred to as Populations A (smaller) and B (larger). The range of observed pothole sizes conforms to a simple double exponential growth model based on Newton's Cooling Curve. A third size range of very large potholes (Population C) that could not be modelled properly within the proposed growth model is interpreted as to represent a very early phase of aggressive regional thermo-chemical erosion and potholing. In general, potholes are dominantly quasi circular with only a subordinate tendency of elongation. In the UG2, potholes with elongated forms are more prevalent in the size range between 20 and 500 m diameter. In the Merensky Reef elongated potholes are more common in the size range above 50 m in diameter. Although not distinctly visible, elongation of potholes in both the UG2 and the Merensky Reef show a net north/south orientation. Using shapes of pothole rims and floor areas, documented for the UG2 in the Waterval Shaft area, it is demonstrated that the northern, down-dip edges of potholes have steeper dips than the southern, up-dip edges. Spatial distribution studies using a uniform quadrant method suggest that in both the UG2 and the Merensky Reef, the potholes are randomly distributed, with a tendency towards clustering. Clustering appears to be more prevalent in the smaller Population A potholes. Bearing all findings in mind, it is found that the model of thermo-chemical erosion of the cumulus floor by new influxes of superheated magma best explains the observed data. Partial to complete melting of the cumulate floor occurred in three phases. The first represents the emplacement of hot magma. This magma, due to turbulent flow and high chemical and physical potential, aggressively attacks the existing floor (crystal mush on the magma/floor interface). Regional erosion is manifested by large, often coalescing potholes. During the second phase, when the magma emplacement process ceased and cooling in situ started, two distinct periods of pothole formation ensued. The first is related to rapid cooling along the relatively steep part of the Newton Cooling Curve, when Population B potholes nucleated randomly and grew rapidly with concurrent convective overturn and largely laminar flow condition. The second period of cooling occurred on the shallow-dipping part of the Newton Cooling Curve. Population A pothole growth became more subdued and nucleation appears to have been, at least locally, clustered. The final phase of this proposed 'super magma cycle' was introduced when chromitite crystallization and precipitation terminated pothole formation. This was followed sequentially by pyroxene and plagioclase crystallization to form the typical cyclic units of the Critical Zone. No suitable proxy could be found for the prediction of pothole density of potholes associated with the UG2 (likely due to limited spatial data coverage), and these are best predicted by extrapolation. The Merensky Reef slope index, in contrast, provides a proxy for pothole density, enabling prediction with reasonable confidence. This predictive model has been verified using underground information. The findings made during the course of this investigation have, when implemented, significant impact. Successful implementation will not only allow enhanced resource and reserve definition, but also better mine planning and scheduling.

Jan 1, 2008

By John D. Sullivan, Alfred P. Towne

"In copper percolation-leaching plants the ore is usually crushed to a maximum size of about three-eighths inch. Ordinarily an ore is crushed as finely as feasible since the rate of extraction of copper is increased with decreasing size of particles owing to the greater surface exposed and. the shorter path required for solutions to come into contact with the minerals to be dissolved. However, greater degree of crushing also increases the amount of fines. When ores are charged into leaching vats the coarse and fine material tend to segregate, resulting in channeling of solutions and leaving the areas where fines predominate only partly leached. An improvement in the method of charging the ore into vats that would minimize the deleterious effects of the segregations of fines would increase the percentage extraction of copper.The Inspiration Consolidated Copper Co.4 recently installed classifiers to remove the primary slimes from the ore, before charging it into the leaching vats. This necessitates a separate agitation treatment for the slimes.Recent publications5 of the bureau have shown the advantages of agglomeration followed by trickle leaching to extract copper from concentrator tailings. It was shown that when equal parts of ore crushed to about 1/4-inch size and concentrator tailings were agglomerated with approximately 10 per cent of moisture, either in the form of water or leaching solution, and the mass was charred into a leaching vat the ore could be treated successfully by open-drainage trickle leaching. Even with 30 or 35 per cent of minus 200-mesh material present the ore could be leached, if it was not flooded with solution.The results obtained in agglomerating ores and slimes suggested the possible advantages to be gained by wetting the crushed ore for standard percolation-leaching plants before charging it into the vats. Wetting the ore whould make the fine material and slime cohere to the larger pieces of ore thus tend to prevent segregation when the ore is charged into the vats. The bureau, at its southwest Experiment Station and in cooperation with the Department of Mining and University of Arizona, Tucson Ariz., therefore made a study to work: out A way in which slimes could be handled in percolation leaching. The study showed that the method of charging ore into the leaching vats governed the distribution the fines and consequently the rate extraction of copper. The results of the study reported in this paper."

Feb 1, 1931

By T. K. Perkins, L. R. Kern, R. E. Wyant

Many factors influence the results of hydraulic fracturing to stimulate well productivity. Most of these factors have been studied and their effects discussed in the literature. However, the movement of sand through the crack during fracturing has received little consideration. Exactly where the sand goes in the fracture, how it gets there, and how this might influence results have not been studied, judging from published reports. To get an answer to some of these questions we have studied sand movement through a simulated crack segment in the laboratory. Although the work is preliminary, we have answered some questions about sand movement in a semiquantitative sense. We are reporting our results at this time in the hope of stimulating interest and further study in this important aspect of fracturing. LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of equipment used in this study. A segment of a vertical crack 0.25-in. wide was formed between two Plexiglas plates, and movement of sand in fluid through the crack was observed under various conditions. Sand and fluid were injected into the crack at constant rates. The top and bottom of the crack were closed so that the fluid flowed horizontally. Because of gravity most of the sand settled to the bottom before moving very far through the crack. If the fluid velocity exceeded a certain critical value, then all the sand injected was washed on through the crack even though it had settled to the bottom. When the fluid velocity was less than this value when sand injection was started, most of the sand which settled in the crack remained in place until enough of the area open to fluid flow was blocked by the settled sand to increase the fluid velocity to the critical value.. At this point all injected sand moved on through the crack even though it settled to the lower portion of the moving fluid section. All sand previously settled remained in place. When fluid velocity was increased at this paint by increasing fluid injection rate (without also increasing sand injection rate), some of the previously settled sand was washed out until enough area was open to flow that the velocity dropped to the critical value. Conversely, when the fluid velocity was decreased by decreasing the fluid injection rate (without changing the rate of sand injection), additional sand would settle until the critical velocity was again attained. In short, the critical velocity is an equilibrium value which the system will automatically seek, if possible. The equilibrium (or critical) velocity was measured under several conditions. The results of these measurements are shown in Pig. 2 where the equilibrium velocity is shown as a function of the amount of sand injected per minute. The points falling in the shaded band shown in Fig. 2 were obtained with water. The higher viscosities were obtained by adding CMC (carboxymethylcellu-lose). Data indicate that the equilibrium velocity is not very sensitive to sand size or transport fluid viscosity, or to sand injection rate (except at very low rates). Points connected by the solid CUrve in Fig. 2 were obtained with water and 20- to 40-mesh steel shot. The equilibrium velocity is apparently fairly sensitive to difference in density between particle and fluid. Only one run was made with a gelled fluid and that was gelled water at zero sand injection rate as shown in Fig. 2. (Measurements of equilibrium velocity at zero sand injection rate were made by filling the crack

By Michelle Crull, Susan Hamilton

Explosives safety requirements in the United States began in 1909 when the American Railroad Institute questioned explosives manufacturers regarding distances necessary to protect employees and property. In response to this inquiry, a group of explosives manufacturers collaborated to study over 200 explosive accidents. This study resulted in the 1914 American Table of Distance (ATD) published by the Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME). The 1914 ATD provided suggested separations between explosives and inhabited buildings, public highways, and public railways.

Jan 1, 2010

By V. D. Perry

Carlisle: Reno, let's start off by asking "When was the first day that you began working in your profession?" Sales: I began in Butte, Montana, on August 22, 1900 as an assistant engineer for the Boston & Montana Consolidated Copper and Silver Mining Co., and continued at that job for about a year. The general manager was C. S. Batterman, and the mines- Mountain View, Pennsylvania, Leonard, East Colusa, and one or two others-were part of Boston & Montana.

Jan 5, 1966

By Benjamin K. Pocock

When considering alternative equipment choices in mill or process flowsheets, it is important to determine both capital and operating costs of such equipment as well as other possible savings related to downstream operations. This paper presents a few case studies and shows cursory guidelines for the selection of equipment for new installations or in the retrofitting of existing plants. Based upon recent plant experience, suggestions are given to improve the operation of clarifiers, thickeners and vacuum filters.

Jan 1, 1986

By J. R. Hoskins

Method - A direct approach to instrument users, initially by letter and later by telephone or personal contact was made. The resultant data was compiled to give specific use information on the seven instruments. During the course of the study attempts to evaluate the Griswold Gage were abandoned when it became apparent that the gage was not being commercially produced. One company is developing the gage for its own use. The information presented is the result of over 1200 inquiries.

Jan 1, 1973

By Frank A. Peters

The Bayer process treating Jamaican bauxite was evaluated from an economic standpoint, using standard estimating methods and published data, to present a reference point for cost estimates for nonbauxite alumina processes. The estimated operating cost for a plant producing 1,000 tons of alumina a day is $47.96 per ton of alumina when charging $8 per ton for bauxite and $2.30 per hour for direct labor. The estimated fixed capital cost is $46 million.

Jan 1, 1966