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By J. D. Rice, H. H. Rachford, G. H. Bruce, D. W. Peaceman

The problem of unsteady-state gas flow through porous media leads to a second-order non-linear partial differential equation for which no analytical solution has been found. In this paper a stable numerical procedure is developed for solving the equation for production of gas at constant rate from linear and radial systems. An electronic digital computer is used to perform the numerical integration using an implicit form of an approximating difference equation. Solutions are presented in graphical form for various values of dimension-less parameters. The solutions are compared with the laboratory study of gas depletion in a linear system. INTRODUCTION Production of fluids from porous rock reservoirs is essentially a transient process. Transient gradients develop as soon as production begins, and further withdrawals continue to cause disturbances which propagate throughout the reservoir, each adding in some way to the prior ones. A correct mathematical analysis of this behavior is complicated by the fact that the transient or unsteady-state flow of compressible fluids must be described by difficult second-order partial differential equations. As a practical matter, three distinctly different cases arise: 1. Flow of single-phase liquid 2. Flow of gases 3. Multiphase flow The first of these has been found to give a linear second-order equation similar to the well-known heat flow equation. where 7 is fluid density, 8 is time, and a a constant for the system, provided d 7 = r cdp, where the compressibility, c, is constant over the range of pressure, p, considered. Solutions of Equation (1) for both linear and radial flow are available in several forms.2'3' On the other hand. the second case, which is the flow of gas, gives a non-linear second-order equation, the solution of which is not known. Although a number of approximate solutions have been proposed, each is limited in value by the associated simplifying assumptions. Inasmuch as the analysis of transient flow is limited to liquid systems, a solution of the second case is necessary if further progress is to be made in studying underground fluid movement. For this reason a solution of Equation (2) was undertaken by means of numerical integration of approximating difference equations. BASIC DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION Equation (2; is derived by combining the equation of continuity, the perfect gas law, and Darcy's law to give the basic differential equation Strictly speaking, the fluids present in a gas reservoir are not perfect gases. Furthermore, there are indications that over certain velocity ranges, Darcy's law is not applicable. It would not be practicable. however, to attempt to obtain numerical solutions which would take into account all the possible variations from these laws which could occur in actual systems. The

Jan 1, 1953

By G. Rowan, M. W. Clegg

The basic equations for the flow of gases, compressible liquids and incompressible liquids are derived and the full implications of linearising then discussed. Approximate solutions of these equations are obtained by introducing the concept of a disturbed zone around the well, which expands outwards into the reservoir as fluid is produced. Many important and well-established results are deduced in terms of simple functions rather than the infinite series, or numerical solutions normally associated with these problems. The wide range of application of this approach to transient radial flow problems is illustrated with many examples including: gravity drainage of depletion-type reservoirs; multiple well systems; well interference. INTRODUCTION A large number of problems concerning the flow of fluids in oil reservoirs have been solved by both analytical and numerical methods but in almost all cases these solutions have some disadvantages — the analytical ones usually involve rather complex functions (infinite series or infinite integrals) which are difficult to handle, and the numerical ones tend to mask the physical principles underlying the problem. It would seem appropriate, therefore, to try to find approximate analytical solutions to these problems without introducing any further appreciable errors, so that the physical nature of the problem is retained and solutions of comparable accuracy are obtained. One class of problems will be considered in this paper, namely, transient radial flow problems, and it will be shown that approximate analytical solutions of the equations governing radial flow can be obtained, and that these solutions yield comparable results to those calculated numerically and those obtained from "exact" solutions. It will also be shown that the restrictions imposed upon the dependent variable (pressure) are just those which have to be assumed in deriving the usual diffusion-type equations. The method was originally suggested by Guseinov,1 who (a) postulated a disturbed zone in the reservoir, the radius of which increases with time, and (b) replaced the time derivatives in the basic differential equation by its mean value in the disturbed zone. In this paper it is proposed to review the basic theory leading to the equations governing the flow of homogeneous fluids in porous media and to consider the full implications of the approximation introduced in linearising them. The Guseinov-type approximation will then be applied to these equations and the solutions for the flow of compressible and incompressible fluids, and gases in bounded and infinite reservoirs obtained. As an example of the application of this type of approximation, solutions to such problems as production from stratified reservoirs, radial permeability discontinuities; multiple-well systems, and well interference will be given. These solutions agree with many other published results, and in some cases they may be extended to more complex problems without the computational difficulties experienced by other authors. THEORY In order to review the basic theory from a fairly general standpoint it is proposed to limit the idealising assumptions to the minimum necessary for analytical convenience. The assumptions to be made are the following: 1. That the flow is irrotational. 2. That the formation is of constant thickness. 3. Darcy's Law is valid. 4. The formation is saturated with a single homogeneous fluid.

By Ian Wark

IN the paper on the development of the flotation process at Broken Hill (Australia) prepared by the Broken Hill Branch of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and published in its Proceedings for 1930 (N. S. 80), it is stated that the concentration of ores by flotation has been established on a commercial basis in Australia since 1904 and that differential flotation was practiced at Broken Hill in 1912. Since then, progress in flotation practice throughout the world has been rapid, and during recent years the knowledge of the reactions between comparatively modern so-called chemical promoters or collecting agents and the mineral surfaces has been broadened by the published accounts off many investigators, particularly those working in American universities. Because of the benefits the Australian mining industry has derived from the flotation process, it was felt that the industry should take some part in the efforts that are being made to extend the knowledge of the principles on which the flotation process is based. Accordingly, early in 1930, three Broken Hill mining companies-the Broken Hill South, the North Broken Hill, and the Zinc Corporation-together with the Electrolytic Zinc Co. of Australasia, Ltd., and the Mount Lyell Mining & Railway Co., established a laboratory in the chemistry department of the University of Melbourne for the purpose of investigating the principles underlying flotation. Subsequently, the Burma Corporation, Ltd., expressed a desire to cooperate. The two authors are directly employed and controlled by these six organizations, and the cost of the investigation is divided equally among them. The research has been carried out under the general direction and in close cooperation with Harry Hey, chief metallurgist for the Electrolytic Zinc Co. of Australasia, Ltd., and the authors desire to place on record their indebtedness to him for his ever willing help and constructive criticism.

Jan 1, 1932

By C. H. Mathewson, W. R. Hibbard, Robert Maddin

A satisfactory mathematical relationship between shear, elongation and change of orientation in the axial straining of a single crystalline rod or wire may be based on a simple model in which blocks, representing glide lamellae, glide over one another and rotate so as to maintain the original fixed position of the axis as the wire elongates.' Obviously such a model gives no information concerning strain-hardening or the atomic adjustments at the sliding surfaces and their influence on the internal structure of the blocks. Moreover such an operation could be conducted with rigid blocks only by using self-aligning grips or a flexible attachment which would permit the adjacent blocks to freely assume their changing orientations. There are many unsolved problems (see Andrade2) concerning the manner in which nature departs from the simple model in permitting the essentials of slip, rotation and elongation to occur along with strain-hardening and the appearance of glide lamellae of various dimensions and special characteristics, not fully appreciated at the present time. This paper describes part of an extensive investigation on the development and characteristics of glide ellipses in single crystalline alpha brass rods and is especially concerned with the observation of cross-slip in crystals oriented wholly within the range of slip on a single system according to the generalizations first presented by Taylor and Elam in 1923.³ Experimental Procedure Half-inch rods of alpha brass (nominally 70 pet Cu, 30 pet Zn)* were converted into single crystals by melting and gradual solidification in a graphite mold according to the Bridgman method.4 In order to remove any coring, the crystals were homogenized at 800°C for 16 hr and tested by etching with a 50 pet nitric acid solution. The back-reflection Laue technique as described by Greninger6 was used for determining the orientations of the crystals. Standard stereographic operations were employed to locate the specimen axis in a triangle of the Taylor and Elam3 projection so that the slip plane and direction could be predicted. The lineage structure reported by Buer-ger6 was present in the crystals used in this investigation. However, only crystals were used in which the internal differences in orientation did not exceed two degrees. Very little is known concerning the effect of the presence of a lineage structure on the detailed mechanism of plastic deformation.

Jan 1, 1949

By C. H. Mathewson, Robert Maddin, W. R. Hibbard

A satisfactory mathematical relationship between shear, elongation and change of orientation in the axial straining of a single crystalline rod or wire may be based on a simple model in which blocks, representing glide lamellae, glide over one another and rotate so as to maintain the original fixed position of the axis as the wire elongates.' Obviously such a model gives no information concerning strain-hardening or the atomic adjustments at the sliding surfaces and their influence on the internal structure of the blocks. Moreover such an operation could be conducted with rigid blocks only by using self-aligning grips or a flexible attachment which would permit the adjacent blocks to freely assume their changing orientations. There are many unsolved problems (see Andrade2) concerning the manner in which nature departs from the simple model in permitting the essentials of slip, rotation and elongation to occur along with strain-hardening and the appearance of glide lamellae of various dimensions and special characteristics, not fully appreciated at the present time. This paper describes part of an extensive investigation on the development and characteristics of glide ellipses in single crystalline alpha brass rods and is especially concerned with the observation of cross-slip in crystals oriented wholly within the range of slip on a single system according to the generalizations first presented by Taylor and Elam in 1923.³ Experimental Procedure Half-inch rods of alpha brass (nominally 70 pet Cu, 30 pet Zn)* were converted into single crystals by melting and gradual solidification in a graphite mold according to the Bridgman method.4 In order to remove any coring, the crystals were homogenized at 800°C for 16 hr and tested by etching with a 50 pet nitric acid solution. The back-reflection Laue technique as described by Greninger6 was used for determining the orientations of the crystals. Standard stereographic operations were employed to locate the specimen axis in a triangle of the Taylor and Elam3 projection so that the slip plane and direction could be predicted. The lineage structure reported by Buer-ger6 was present in the crystals used in this investigation. However, only crystals were used in which the internal differences in orientation did not exceed two degrees. Very little is known concerning the effect of the presence of a lineage structure on the detailed mechanism of plastic deformation.

Jan 1, 1949

By T. H. Troller

FOR a long time propeller-type fans have been considered a very adequate means to move great quantities of air against small static pres-sures. They have been in use for this purpose in mines, as well as in other installations. For static pressures of over 2 or 3 in. of water, the centrifugal blower almost ruled the field until very recently. Some attempts were made to use a number of propellers in line. Such arrange-ments made it possible to obtain pressures higher than 2 in. of water, but they complicated the construction and increased its expense, and the efficiencies were not improved. The more recent development of propeller-type fans has been decidedly influenced by the intensive aerodynamic research in connection with aeronautical development, which has taught us, in particular, how to use airfoils properly. The characteristic that makes an airfoil so valuable is the fact that when it moves through the air a high force component, the "lift," acts on it vertical to the motion, while the "drag" in the direction of the flow is small. The ratio of lift to drag is approximately 20 to 1 at the angles at which the profile is used in practice. An element of the turning blade, the movement of which, relative to the air, is mainly in the direction of the plane of rotation, thus experiences only a small "drag" FIG. 1.-DIAGRAM OF FORCES ON WING SECTION. opposing its rotation, and for this reason a relatively small torque is required at the driving shaft. At the same time there is a strong force component at 90° to the plane of rotation. This force is parallel to the propeller axis in the direction opposite to that of the flow of air, with a correspondingly high pressure increase.

Jan 1, 1936

By C. P. Fiske

THE pottery of the New Jersey Zinc Co. (of Pa.) is equipped to make three classes of refractories; namely, spelter vessels, spelter condensers; and high-grade fire-brick. The most important of these are the spelter vessels, on account of the extreme severity of the service which they must perform, necessitating great care in the selection of materials and in the whole process of manufacture. Next to the spelter vessels in importance? come the condensers, as large numbers are used in the manufacture of spelter, and improvements m quality result in material decreases in working cost. , While the fire-brick which form the laboratory, or high-temperature portion of the spelter furnaces, are placed at the foot of the list, they-are nevertheless of much importance, since high quality will decrease the frequency of the always expensive shutdowns for repairs. To promote simplicity, the manufacture of these three products will be described separately in this paper, except in so far as materials and the crushing and handling system common to all are concerned. Materials Bond Clay.-The bond clay used entirely at the Palmerton pottery is a St. Louis clay furnished by the Grand View Fire Clay Co. It is stored in a system of covered bins, and no attempt is made to weather -it in the, accepted sense of the term " weathering." Some years ago our clay was weathered before pugging, but we did not find the benefit sufficient to offset the additional handling and the loss. of clay incurred. Furthermore, we believe that the rotting of the pugged mix (described later), accomplishes the same results to better advantage. That there is some action taking place in the clay while stored in the covered bins, however, is, evidenced by an increase in volume which at times has caused damage to the retaining walls of the bins. We have at present a stock of bond clay weathering in the open, and when this is put into service an opportunity will be afforded for making comparisons-with the clay as usually handled.

Jan 10, 1917

By Granville S. Borden

TAXES in general are onerous and are not a pleas- ant subject for discourse. There are, however, some very cogent reasons why we should dedicate a part of our thoughts and services to the solution of our taxation problems: The happiness of every individual in the United States depends on the maintenance of a stable government. The collection of taxes is an indispensable function of a stable government, and the power to collect taxes depends in part on the question whether taxes are fair and equitable. As representatives of the mining industry it is our duty to .protect it from tax burdens that are discriminatory or- unjust, As citizens we find that taxation is incessantly endeavouring to unravel the knots in our purse-strings. Many members of the Institute may be consulted .by clients on taxation problems, especially the phases which re- late to depletion and valuation. It is the hope of the writer that the discussion of some of the current depletion and valuation problems will stimulate interest in the problems, and as a consequence of this new interest facts will be ventilated, opinions rendered and services performed, which will be a means of solving the problems to the satisfaction of all parties interested.

Jan 1, 1929

By H. F. Perkins

CORROSION as an economic problem is growing rapidly in importance not only because it entails a replacement of corroded parts, but because it interrupts operation and causes hazards of damage and injury through failures of corroded equipment. Nearly all industries are interested in this subject. This paper, although concerned chiefly with corrosion in a complete refinery on the sea coast, discusses many of the various forms of chemical decomposition, most of which are found universally. The petroleum refining industry, in the writer's opinion, is seriously afflicted by the presence of sulfur in nearly all crude oils. The complete removal of sulfur from the crude as it enters the plant would cause such a relief from corrosion that this problem for research would seem to demand active attention. Next to sulfur the most troublesome corrosive agent is the saltmagnesium chloride, found in the water associated with crude oil, the last traces of which are so difficult to remove. This is much less serious, however, than the sulfur. Refinery corrosion can be tabulated as follows: Causes of Corrosion and Places of Attack in a Refinery CORROSIVE ELEMENTS MATERIAL ATTACKED Air: Pipe lines Moisture Tanks COQ Electric fixtures Sulfur gases Still towers Chlorine Condenser boxes Other acid-forming gases Ladders and stairs Smoke stacks Steel buildings All exposed metal Water: Alkali Fire lines and hydrants Acids Cooling water lines Air Condensers and coolers Other dissolved gases Boiler tubes Steam Steam pipes and valves Turbines Oil Sulfur compounds Tanks, pipes, valves, stills, towers MgCl2-Hydrochloric acid Condensers Air contamination

Jan 12, 1926

By Walter Herd

Fox the past eight years No. 2 mine of the Cumberland Railway & Coal Co., Springhill, Nova Scotia-a subsidiary of the Dominion Coal Co., Ltd.-has had an unenviable reputation for bumps. As the workings extended in certain directions under a greater cover, these bumps increased in severity and it became apparent that some change in the system of extraction was necessary if the mine was to continue to operate. In September, 1924, following several fatalities resulting from bumps, the Mines Department of Nova Scotia requested from the U. S. Bureau of Mines the services of George S. Rice, Chief Mining Engineer of the Bureau, to report on the conditions then prevalent in No. 2 mine, Springhill. This request was promptly and courteously granted. Mr. Rice made a full investigation and a comprehensive and helpful report, which is embodied in the 1924 Annual Report of the Department of -Public Works and Mines, Nova Scotia. Prior to 1925, the room and pillar method was employed and in January of that year (there being a cessation of work from March to August due to labor troubles) longwall retreating on the west side, on a limited scale, and in a small section on the east side of the mine was started. The major portion of the east side was not operated on this system till August, 1926, as there was developed a considerable area ready for pillar extraction between an arbitrary boundary and a point up to which bumps of any consequence, had not been experienced. In the interval development work for longwall retreating below the 5900-ft. level was vigorously- pushed. This longwall retreating system was suggested by Mr. Rice as a possible remedy and was heartily endorsed by the company officials. This paper describes the conditions and happenings subsequent to Mr. Rice's report and more especially the results with the longwall retreating system of mining under the peculiar circumstances pertaining to mining. No. 2 Seam, Springhill, at depth, and records the 'conclusions which experience with several severe bumps under this mode of extraction would suggest. Except where necessary to make the paper intelligible as an entity any duplication of Mr. Rice's report will be avoided.

Jan 1, 1929

By F. W. McQuiston, L. J. Bechaud

3.2-1. Introduction. Much has appeared in the technical literature on theory of sampling (18, 37), weight of sample required in relation to particle size (28), probability of error in sampling (3), and statistical analysis of sample data (20). Each industry, whether it be copper, iron ore, or coal, has its own standards and methods. All of the rather extensive theoretical treatments appearing in published literature on sampling apply to material already on hand such as coal, iron ore, or copper concentrates in rail cars, or in moving streams such as on conveyor belts. The attempt usually is to apply statistical techniques in order to improve reliability and precision in sampling, and to reduce differences between the analyses of seller and buyer. In contrast to this type of sampling, very little has appeared in the literature on sampling a virgin deposit from the metallurgical point of view. Perhaps it would he more descriptive to designate this point of view as "Gm-metallurgical," since geology is inextricably interwoven with metallurgy in gaining an understanding of the complexities of a deposit, eventually leading to a definition of mineable reserves, with the development of a flowsheet and engineering criteria for the planning of a successful and profitable operation. The degree of cooperation between these two departments often determines whether the processing plant is a success at the inception of operations, or whether expensive changes and modifications must he made, with the plant finally reaching rated capacity at some later date. The first concern of the metallurgical department should be to establish proper accreditation of the samples which will be used in any ore-testing campaign. It should he made mandatory, as part of operating management policy, for the responsible metallurgist to he aware of the significance of the samples and to become intimately knowledgeable in all aspects of metallurgical behavior and response to treatment of all varieties of ore in the deposit under consideration.

Jan 1, 1968

By George S. Rice

A problem of possible subsidence of the surface from mining operations, which might have had disastrous results, arose in 1913 at the Brier Hill mine, of the Penn Iron Mining Co., near Norway, Mich., now managed by Pickands, Mather & Co. for the Bethlehem Steel Co. A double track and sidings of the Chicago & North Western Railroad passed over part of the mine, and if subsidence had reached the surface it might have affected the stability of the tracks. The chief purpose of this paper is to record the facts disclosed by investigations of underground movement from 1913 to 1919, when the tracks were moved, and subsequently at intervals, as engineering data of value from mining carried on below the tracks in the steeply pitching lenses. A secondary purpose of this paper is to describe a novel method for determining the rate of speed of upward breaking above the mine excavations. This method was found effective and might be used elsewhere under similar conditions. The mine workings under consideration were developed from the Brier Hill shaft, which was circular, concrete-lined, 14 ft. in diameter and about 900 ft. deep. They extended about 800 ft. westward from the shaft, and nearly parallel to a corresponding length of the railroad tracks. The highest part of these workings was at a depth of 400 ft. below the tracks (Figs. 1 to 12). The mining company had the right to remove the ore, the railroad assuming that the surface would be supported. Finally, without legal controversy, an amicable adjustment was reached as to what should be done to lessen or obviate the hazard of subsidence. Method oF Mining Before the problem became acute, the mining company, to decrease the possibility of subsidence, had been mining the part of the orebody that lay under the tracks by a room-and-pillar system, back-filling with

Jan 1, 1934

By G. K. Burgress, H. S. Rawdon, R. W. Waltenberg, J. J. Crowe

The main objects of this investigation were to determine, from neasurements taken at representative rail mills…

Jan 1, 1915

By Frank Tolonen

IRON-ORE beneficiation is becoming of vital importance to the Lake Superior region, since only a few decades will be needed to exhaust the direct shipping ores even if generous allowances are made for discoveries of new orebodies. If the region is to continue as the chief source of ore to the steel industry of the United States, it must concentrate or otherwise beneficiate the enormous tonnages of available iron formations. A beginning along this line has already been made. About one-fifth of the total shipment, even now, is the product of some sort of concentrating process, while another fifth is improved in physical structure by crushing, screening, drying, sintering, or some other similar method. The amount of material amenable to these processes is limited, however; and, in order to be able to utilize the billions of tons of iron formations that cannot be so beneficiated, an intensive study of their nature and concentration possi-bilities is necessary. As long as high-grade ores are available in ample quantities, ore dressing is economically impossible, but as soon, as the supply nears exhaustion it becomes necessary. At first the products of ore dressing must meet as nearly as possible the same specifications as the rich ores in order to be adapted to the reduction processes already established. The future requirements as to quality will depend on the one hand upon the ability of the ore dresser to eliminate undesired constituents and charac-teristics in the material, and on the other upon the adaptation of the reduction processes to the product that can be economically supplied. A better understanding of the blast furnace and other reduction reactions, and improvements in the preparation of raw materials, should enable the Michigan districts to continue to supply ore for a long time to come. The study and testing of the iron formations necessary to bring a utilization of the low-grade ores, though requiring time and effort on the part of all concerned, should not be postponed, especially since the economic situation forces the use of the highest grade ore in preference to the leaner material.

Jan 1, 1933

By P. F. Gnirk, J. B. Cheatham

The results of combined analytical and experimental studies involving simulated multiple bit-tooth penetration into mck are incorporated into a drilling rate equation for roller-cone bits assuming rather idealized downhole conditions. In particular, it is assumed that the rock behaves statically in a ductile fashion during bit-tooth penetration and that the rock chips are instantaneously removed from the bottom of the drill hole. The general analysis demonstrates an application of plasticity theory for the rock/bit-tooth interaction to the formulation of an upper limit on rotary drilling rate. INTRODUCTION Extensive experimentation involving single and indexed bit-tooth penetration into rock in a confining pressure environment has demonstrated that the chip formation process is of a ductile, or pseudoplastic, nature at sufficiently low differential pressures so as to be of interest in rotary drilling. Coincident with the experimentation, analytical consideration has been given to the theoretical problems of single and indexed bit-tooth penetration into rock. In general, the analyses have assumed that the rock behaves statically in a rigid-plastic fashion and obeys the Mohr-Coulomb yield criterion. The quantitative comparison between experimental and calculated values of bit-tooth load required for chip formation has been remarkably good for a variety of rocks commonly encountered in drilling and at simulated differential pressures as low as 500 to 1,000 psi. Results obtained recently for indexed bit-tooth penetration indicate that the work (or energy) required to produce a unit volume of rock chip can be minimized by a proper combination of bit-tooth spacing and bit-tooth load for a given rock type and differential pressure. By utilizing this information, it is possible to formulate a drilling rate equation, at least in a preliminary fashion, for a roller-cone bit performing under rather idealized downhole conditions. In particular, through the use of characteristic dimensionless quantities pertinent to a roller-cone bit and to indexed bit-tooth penetration, interrelationships among bit weight, rotary speed, rotary power, bit diameter, rock strength and bit-tooth shape and spacing can be explicitly expressed. In the formulation of the equations, however, it is assumed that the rock chips are instantaneously removed from the bottom of the drill hole and- that the rock behaves in a ductile manner during bit-tooth penetration. In addition, the effects of bit-tooth load application and penetration by a yawed tooth at an oblique angle are neglected. Although the analysis is presented in the light of some rather restrictive conditions, it does demonstrate a method of applying fundamental rock/bit-tooth interaction data, obtained by combining the results of analysis and experiment to the formulation of a drilling rate equation for rotary drilling. JNDEXED BIT-TOOTH/ROCK INTERACTION PREVIOUS RESULTS The mechanics of bit-tooth/rock interaction under simulated conditions of borehole environment have been extensively described in a number of papers.l-ll In particular, the effects of differential pressure, mechanical properties of rock, pore fluid, bit-tooth shape and spacing, rate of bit-tooth load application and dynamic filtration below the bit-tooth have been investigated experimentally. From a sequence of experiments.1-4 it was demonstrated that, for dry rock at atmospheric pore pressure, the mode of chip formation exhibits a transition, with increasing confining pressure, from predominantly brittle to predominantly ductile. This transition

Jan 1, 1970

By AIME AIME

APOCRYPHAL, no doubt, but widely entertained is the proposition that top-flight mining geologists never agree with each other on anything. Being rugged individualists, they frequently seem intolerant of opinions that conflict with their own. However, one may suspect that controversy is often more apparent than real. For example, at last summer's meeting of the American Mining Congress, Ira B. Joralemon and Reno H. Sales, discussing "Mining Geology, Today and Tomorrow," seemed to be in serious disagreement over various phases of the subject; but much of this arises from the different angles of approach of the two distinguished and successful ore finders.

Jan 1, 1941

By William P. Blake

It is scarcely necessary to point out the important functions of water in the mining operations of man, especially in the State of California, where sluicing and hydraulic mining have been practiced on such a grand scale as to arouse the opposition of the agricultural interests. But the role which water and ice have played in mining or excavating on their own account is not so apparent. The alluvions of existing rivers, and the higher gravel-beds left by ancient streams, are doubtless the result of running water; but how far these gravelly materials owe their origin primarily as rocky debris and fragments of veins to glacial erosion, it is difficult .to determine. Yet we see on every side in our higher mountains unmistakable evidences of the cutting, crushing and eroding effects of glacial ice. We note that mountain-summits have been reduced in height and shaped into rounded and dome-like summits. We know that the general contour of the hills of New England, of the Highlands of the Hudson, and of the mountains of northern New Jersey, is due to glacial carving. The same is true of the Laurentian hills of Canada and of the mountains of all northern regions. And we recognize in the vast deposits of so-called " drift," which are spread out over the surface of the northern States, the chips and debris from the glacial workshops. Thus we cannot avoid the conclusion that there was an enormous amount of cutting and excavating in glacial times, and that vast quantities of veinmaterial and of ores and metals must have been liberated by ice-action.

Jan 1, 1900

By T. lkeda, R. S. Montgomery. A. Hara

Actual test specimens used in the previous laboratory wear investigation,' were fully characterized and the data is given in Table 1. Most of the carbides tested could be placed into groups of similar mean grain size. When the wear rates of the members of these groups were plotted as functions of their hardnesses, a family of curves resulted; curves for groups containing data from larger grained composites were at lower wear rates at the same hardnesses. Most specimens tested showed only A-1 porosity (ASTM Standard designa-

Jan 1, 1971

By Hans Lundberg

By electrical prospecting, orebodies that do not otherwise manifest themselves at the surface may be located. Conditions favorable to success with the methods are: Favorable geological conditions, such a proportion of minerals of good electrical conductivity in the orebody as will render the latter materially a better conductor than the enclosing rock, situation of the orebody within the range of influence of the electrical currents used and in proportion to this range a sufficient area of horizontal cross section of the orebody. The result is to permit of spotting drill holes accurately and to save the expense of drilling barren ground. THE art of prospecting, like other branches of mining, has developed rapidly during the last ten years, mainly because of the advancement of mining geology, but also because of the development of "geophysical methods," which are based on the different physical characters of minerals and rocks, e. g., specific gravity, elasticity, and magnetic and electric properties. These methods have proved of great value, especially in countries where the rock is covered by soil and direct geologic investigation is out of the question. In prospecting for orebodies, the methods based on studying differences in electrical conductivity have proved most successful; for which reason, the methods of electrical prospecting have been subject to the most energetic and systematic work, especially in Sweden. This paper gives a brief description of the methods of electrical prospecting now in use, especially the new electromagnetic methods, which have not been described before. The great differences in the electrical properties, especially in conductivity, between ore minerals and rock minerals are fundamental to all methods of electrical prospecting, for which reason, the electrical conductivity of ore minerals and rock minerals has been carefully studied in connection with and previous to the development of the various methods of prospecting with electricity. Ore minerals with a metallic luster, such as chalcopyrite, iron pyrite, galena, specular iron, magnetite, etc., also graphite and a number of cows, have considerably higher conductivity than the surrounding rock and soil (see Table 1). The figures of the table denote the specific resistance W, expressed in ohms for a cube with an edge of 1 centimeter.

Jan 7, 1925

By Frederick Laist

THE object of the construction and operation of the 80-ton leaching plant was to test out the leaching of sand tailings on a large scale and, if possible, determine a definite method of operation, and the best construction for the larger unit which is now being built. It was also of importance to obtain some practical data as regards cost items. The 80-ton plant was not expected to be a commercial success. A leaching process on such low-grade material necessitates the treatment of a very large tonnage.. Such a cost item as labor, for instance, is entirely out of proportion in such a small plant. The amounts of acid, salt, scrap iron, and fuel for roasting, however, are the same per ton in an 80-ton plant as in a 2,000-ton plant. These costs were definitely established. Also the percentages of extraction and grade of tailings were definitely determined for a large-sized unit. Following will be found the description of the plant, the method of operation and the results obtained. A -general view of the plant is given in Fig. 1. The bins consisted of one coal bin with a capacity of 30 tons, one salt bin with a capacity of 20 tons, and a "mill tailings" or feed bin which held 70 tons. The coal and salt bins were placed with their floor level even with the firing floor of the roasting furnace. The feed bin, to give it greater capacity, discharged about 12 ft. below this point, to a 12-in. conveyor belt, which, in turn discharged into a pug mill. This fed another conveyor belt, which discharged into the top hearth of the furnace. The furnace was an ordinary six-hearth MacDougall roaster, .20-ft. in diameter. It was equipped with two fire boxes, on opposite sides, the flames entering on the third hearth. An induced draft was obtained with a Buffalo blower, worked as an exhaust fan. Just above the top hearth was an annular flue around the whole circumference of the furnace. Slots at intervals of about 18 in. led from this flue down into the top hearth. The slots were 2 in. wide by 6 in. long. This annular flue proved rather unsatisfactory, as it tended to fill up with flue dust and choke the slots, thus cutting down the draft. The volume of gas through

Jan 8, 1914