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By Reno H. Sales

The present-day application of geological knowledge to mine operations owes much to Survey activities. Early publications covering developed deposits at Comstock and Eureka in Nevada, and Leadville in Colorado, aroused great interest in mine geology among mine owners and operators. In later years personal contacts between Survey geologists, notably Lindgren, Spurr, Emmons, Weed, and Ransome, to name only a few, and mine managers, mine superintendents and mine foremen, brought directly home the importance of geological mapping and study in connection with mine operations. However, the Survey had recognized from the beginning that it was not practicable, either from the viewpoint of cost or policy, to supply direct help to the miner. The situation was met by many large mining companies through the organization of geological departments to deal with problems of geology which concerned not alone the every-day mine operation but also the life expectancy of the ore deposit. The mine owner therefore looked to the mine geologist to apply the "laws of ore deposition" in estimating the future of his mine. The examination of outside properties also became a duty of the company geologist where replacements were needed or where expansion of operations was contemplated. And finally, out of this situation there developed the independent consulting geologist, specializing in geological examinations of prospects, mines, and mining districts, whose duties included the highly important but often difficult task of appraising ore reserves and ore possibilities. Thus, while it may be considered by many that the work of the mine geologist overlaps that of the Survey geologist, their respective fields of endeavor are not in conflict. The appearance of the mine geologist has lessened in no manner the need of intensive field and research work by the Geological Survey and related organizations.

Jan 1, 1935

By Reno H. Sales

The present-day application of geological knowledge to mine operations owes much to Survey activities. Early publications covering developed deposits at Comstock and Eureka in Nevada, and Leadville in Colorado, aroused great interest in mine geology among mine owners and operators. In later years personal contacts between Survey geologists, notably Lindgren, Spurr, Emmons, Weed, and Ransome, to name only a few, and mine managers, mine superintendents and mine foremen, brought directly home the importance of geological mapping and study in connection with mine operations. However, the Survey had recognized from the beginning that it was not practicable, either from the viewpoint of cost or policy, to supply direct help to the miner. The situation was met by many large mining companies through the organization of geological departments to deal with problems of geology which concerned not alone the every-day mine operation but also the life expectancy of the ore deposit. The mine owner therefore looked to the mine geologist to apply the "laws of ore deposition" in estimating the future of his mine. The examination of outside properties also became a duty of the company geologist where replacements were needed or where expansion of operations was contemplated. And finally, out of this situation there developed the independent consulting geologist, specializing in geological examinations of prospects, mines, and mining districts, whose duties included the highly important but often difficult task of appraising ore reserves and ore possibilities. Thus, while it may be considered by many that the work of the mine geologist overlaps that of the Survey geologist, their respective fields of endeavor are not in conflict. The appearance of the mine geologist has lessened in no manner the need of intensive field and research work by the Geological Survey and related organizations.

Jan 1, 1935

By E. J. Roberts, E. B. Fitch

THE mechanism of classification by settling pools is most simply shown in the case of batch sedimentation such as was analyzed by Oden.1 The batch model will be considered, therefore, and it will be shown that the same mechanism applies to continuous operation. Classification in Batch Settling Pools: Consider a beaker or tank of slurry containing particles so dispersed that they can settle independently of one another under the influence of gravity. Originally all particle sizes are uniformly distributed throughout the suspension. All particles start immediately to settle towards the bottom at rates determined by their size, shape, and density—among other factors. Particles reaching the bottom settle out of suspension. After some given time the slurry above the deposited solids is siphoned off or otherwise removed, leaving the deposited solids behind. The deposited solids, together with entrained and any unremoved supernatant slurry, represent the underflow of a classifier. The slurry removed represents the overflow. There is a certain separation, size of particle which during the sedimentation has just time to settle from the top surface of the slurry to the level at which underflow and overflow are parted. All particles with a faster settling rate will have dropped to below this level, no matter where in the beaker they started from originally, and therefore will be absent from the overflow. Particles with a slower settling rate will not reach this level if they started from the top of the slurry, but a portion of them,

Jan 1, 1957

By H. M. Rutherford

THE reflection method in seismic prospecting has aroused much interest in the past few years. The purpose of the present paper is .to present the method of reflections in the mapping of geologic structure and also to give some indication of its limitations. The reflection method is well adapted to the mapping of geologic structure in the Mid-Continent fields, and has been found most useful there. The refraction method is ideally suited to the finding of structures, such as domes, where the amount of relief is very large. This explains the brilliant success of the refraction method in the Gulf Coastal region of Texas and Louisiana. The additional fact that salt has a much higher velocity than the sur-rounding sediments made their discovery much easier. By the use of the reflection method, differences of relief of 25 to 50 ft. to the mile may be detected at a depth of 5000 ft., and the depth points accurately plotted on a map. This is hardly possible by the use of the refraction method. The reflection method has been in almost continuous use in the Mid-Continent area since 1926, but very little, if anything, has been published until recently(7) ? regarding either the method or the results. The dis-covery of several oil fields is now attributed to the use of the reflec-tion method. Reflection methods have been used by the Germans to find the thick-ness of the ice of several glaciers. (2,8) The depths there considered were of the order of only a few hundred feet. For the method to be of any practical value in this country, it must be able to work to depths of several thousand feet. As was indicated above, this is now possible, though there are many problems connected with the reflection method yet to be solved. The refraction method requires that the shooting be done over long ranges. It was necessary, for example, to take distances out to several miles in order to penetrate some five thousand feet. Naturally this uses a good deal of dynamite. In the reflection method the distances are much shorter and the amounts of dynamite are much smaller, within limits which will be noted below. The chief distinction between refrac-tion and reflection methods is to be found in the analysis of the seismo-gram. Refraction shooting makes use of only the first arrival of energy

Jan 1, 1932

By Mahesh C. Jha

Arsenical gold ores occur in many parts of the world, including numerous mines in Canada and the western United States. Free gold is often finely disseminated in the grains of sulfide minerals, arsenopyrite, pyrite, orpiment and realgar. Generally a sulfide concentrate is produced by flotation. Arsenical ores or concentrates are not amenable to direct cyanidation and therefore are considered refractory. A wide variety of roasting equipment and conditions have been used by the mills to remove arsenic and sulfur from these concentrates. The resulting calcine is easy to cyanide and gold is recovered from the cyanide solution by zinc dust cementation. Room-temperature potential-pH diagrams and high-temperature phasestability diagrams are presented to discuss the chemistry of the gold cyanidation, cementation, and roasting steps in the presence of arsenic. The environmental aspects of arsenic discharge are also included.

Jan 1, 1984

Robert Annan is an Englishman who started his brilliant mining career in Arizona, yet achieved the pinnacle of success in his native land when he became chairman of The Consolidated Gold Fields of South Africa. This story of his life, prepared in collaboration with the late Henry Carlisle, continues this fascinating biographical series of important personalities in the mining industry.

Jan 12, 1964

By Richard A. Mullins, James J. Merle

Systematic sampling and analysis in coal-washing plants results in product control and economical operation. A well-organized laboratory system reduces operating costs and increases sales if the operating and sales companies make full use of information it supplies. The operating cost of a control laboratory is less than 1 pct per ton of coal produced.

Jan 5, 1950

By H. E. Stamm, H. H. Spain, R. C. Rumble

This paper presents a reservoir analyzer study of the performance of the Woodbine formation in the East Texas basin. The study was made possible by the compilation of available information on the configuration. thickness and the pressure drawdown of the formation. The investigation was made of the pressure variations in the basin incident to production from the several Woodbine reservoirs. In addition, the apparent compressibility of Woodbine water was evaluated so that the potential water yield of the formation could be determined. The distribution of permeability of the Woodbine sand and the interference between producing areas were also investigated. In conjunction with this basic study of the Woodbine sand, an acceptable match of the production-pressure relationship in the East Texas Field was established on the analyzer. INTRODUCTION When production is taken from a reservoir contiguous to an aquifer, the resultant pressure gradient causes a water influx into the reservoir. For some years it has been the practice to predict the performance of water drive reservoirs with mathematical equations that relate the water influx into reservoirs to their pressure behavior. A rigorous solution of these equations is quite complex: hence, the conventional method requires the simplifying assumptions that the formation have constant thickness, permeability and poiosity, and that it have a known and regular shape. It is necessary to use performance records of the reservoir in question to determine the equation constants that make the results of the mathematical calculations duplicate the reservoir history. The values of the constants determined in this manner sometimes differ so greatly from theoretical or measured values that the constants appear unreasonable. The equation constants comprise such factors as the thickness, porosity and permeability of the formation, and the viscosity and compressibility of water. Usually the thickness, porosity and viscosity are known within a reasonable degree of certainty. whereas the formation permeability and the water compressibility are known with considerably less certainty. Hence. permeability and compressibility values are arbitrarily selected that will make the mathematical equations duplicate the reservoir behavior. In many reservoir studies the value of the compressibility of water thus selected has exceeded the reported value by a factor of from severalfold to manyfold. Whether this excessive value results from the inadequacy of the mathematical approach to take into account the shape irregularities and the heterogeneities of the aquifer, or is due to some type of formation compaction and decrease of porosity has not been established. Because of the significance of the potential water yield of formations with reference not only to oil reservoirs but to water resources as well, it is very important that a representative value for the effective water compressibility be determined. One of the best known examples of a field for which it has been possible in the past to predict the future reservoir pressure is the East Texas Field. Until about 1943 it was possible by means of mathematical equations to duplicate past pressure behavior and to predict with a high degree of accuracy the reservoir pressure of the field. Since 1943, however, the calculated pressures have deviated progressively from the observed pressures to such a degree that in recent years, it has

Jan 1, 1951

By H. H. Spain, R. C. Rumble, H. E. Stamm

This paper presents a reservoir analyzer study of the performance of the Woodbine formation in the East Texas basin. The study was made possible by the compilation of available information on the configuration. thickness and the pressure drawdown of the formation. The investigation was made of the pressure variations in the basin incident to production from the several Woodbine reservoirs. In addition, the apparent compressibility of Woodbine water was evaluated so that the potential water yield of the formation could be determined. The distribution of permeability of the Woodbine sand and the interference between producing areas were also investigated. In conjunction with this basic study of the Woodbine sand, an acceptable match of the production-pressure relationship in the East Texas Field was established on the analyzer. INTRODUCTION When production is taken from a reservoir contiguous to an aquifer, the resultant pressure gradient causes a water influx into the reservoir. For some years it has been the practice to predict the performance of water drive reservoirs with mathematical equations that relate the water influx into reservoirs to their pressure behavior. A rigorous solution of these equations is quite complex: hence, the conventional method requires the simplifying assumptions that the formation have constant thickness, permeability and poiosity, and that it have a known and regular shape. It is necessary to use performance records of the reservoir in question to determine the equation constants that make the results of the mathematical calculations duplicate the reservoir history. The values of the constants determined in this manner sometimes differ so greatly from theoretical or measured values that the constants appear unreasonable. The equation constants comprise such factors as the thickness, porosity and permeability of the formation, and the viscosity and compressibility of water. Usually the thickness, porosity and viscosity are known within a reasonable degree of certainty. whereas the formation permeability and the water compressibility are known with considerably less certainty. Hence. permeability and compressibility values are arbitrarily selected that will make the mathematical equations duplicate the reservoir behavior. In many reservoir studies the value of the compressibility of water thus selected has exceeded the reported value by a factor of from severalfold to manyfold. Whether this excessive value results from the inadequacy of the mathematical approach to take into account the shape irregularities and the heterogeneities of the aquifer, or is due to some type of formation compaction and decrease of porosity has not been established. Because of the significance of the potential water yield of formations with reference not only to oil reservoirs but to water resources as well, it is very important that a representative value for the effective water compressibility be determined. One of the best known examples of a field for which it has been possible in the past to predict the future reservoir pressure is the East Texas Field. Until about 1943 it was possible by means of mathematical equations to duplicate past pressure behavior and to predict with a high degree of accuracy the reservoir pressure of the field. Since 1943, however, the calculated pressures have deviated progressively from the observed pressures to such a degree that in recent years, it has

Jan 1, 1951

By R. W. Prouty, R. T. Green

The object of this paper is to describe, as concisely as possible, the methods of sampling and ore estimating used at the Copper Queen Branch, Phelps Dodge Corpn., as applied to the Copper Queen mines at Bisbee, Ariz. Because of the difference in occurrence, manner of prospecting, and methods of mining, the sampling and estimating practice falls into two divisions: That for the underground operations, and that for the Sacramento Hill steam-shovel operations. The orebodies of the Warren district may be divided into three main classes: Replacements of limestone, replacements of porphyry, and replacements of contact breccia. The first class is more or less intimately related to porphyry intrusions, although in badly fractured country this relationship may not be well shown. These orebodies are mainly oxide and carbonate ore and very irregular, both in size and outline, although usually roughly lenticular and following the bedding of the limestones. There is usually quite a sharp boundary between the ore and waste in the carbonate and oxide orebodies and sampling is not necessary to determine the limits of commercial ore. In the sulfide orebodies, it is exceedingly difficult, without sampling, to determine the boundary between commercial ore and the surrounding low-grade or barren pyrite. Calculations made a few years ago showed that these orebodies had an average thickness of 35 ft, As some of the orebodies are from 100 to 300 ft. thick, it can be seen that the smaller ones form a difficult prospecting and estimating problem. In the replacements in porphyry, both underground and in Sacramento Hill, the boundary usually cannot be determined without sampling. There is a gradual decrease in value until barren material is reached; this gradation may occur within a short distance or it may extend for several yards.

Jan 1, 1925

By T. A. Dungan

The thermal processes for the production of metallic magnesium can be divided into two general classifications, the direct reduction of magnesia with carbon and the indirect reduction of compounds of magnesium by reducing agents that are themselves products of carbon reduction. The latter are so chosen as to cause reduction of magnesium compounds wherein only the magnesium is liberated in the vapor phase. Reducing agents used are: calcium carbide, silicon carbide, silicon, aluminum, various silicides or combinations of calcium, aluminum, silicon in iron. All of these are products of highly endothermic reactions and, with the exception of scrap aluminum, can be produced in an open, submerged arc furnace; that is, the arc is covered only by the charge itself. The more investment in energy required to prepare such a reducing agent, the less is the energy required in the subsequent step to reduce the magnesium compound to the metal. It is impossible, however, to avoid the laws of thermodynamics, no matter how much circumambulation is resorted to in the preparation of successively more powerful reducing agents. Since each such step carries forward its own inefficiencies, it appears evident that the ultimate status of such processes is dependent upon the development of by-products. The direct reduction of magnesium oxide by carbon has a decided appeal to both the scientist and the industrialist. The successful production of the carbo-thermic plant at Permanente is a significant fact in the substantiation of this concept. Like most developments, however, the history of carbon reduction of magnesia is not one of triumph after triumph, or immediate heady success to the investigators. It is understood that one of the early investigators conducted an experiment wherein he placed carbon and magnesia in one end of an evacuated tube and managed to heat this end to a temperature high enough that magnesia and carbon deposited at the other end of the tube. The charge, unreduced, appeared to have been completely transported from the hot to the cold end of the tube. This raised doubt for some time as to whether magnesia could be reduced at all with carbon. It was correctly suspected, however, that the magnesia was in fact reduced and the resultant magnesium vapor and carbon monoxide reacted upon one another upon reduction in temperature to reform the starting ingredients. Attempts were then made to dilute the two vapors by passing a considerable stream of hydrogen through an arc furnace charged with magnesia and carbon. Thus by dilution of the products it was' expected to obtain metallic magnesium. The results were positive and metallic magnesium was .0

Jan 1, 1944

By V. C. Perini

The North Central Texas district as herein defined includes the counties of Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Coryell, Eastland, Erath, Fisher, Hamilton, Haskell, Hood, Jones, Lampasas, Mills, Nolan, Palo Pinto, Parker, San Saba, Shackelford, Stephens, Stonewall, Summer-ville, Taylor, Throckmorton and Wise. These counties as listed are the counties of District 7B, State Railroad Commission. In the new designation of districts for the Transactions, the North Central Texas district includes most, but not all, of the counties of the previously classified West Central Texas district. This district covers the south central crest and the west flank of the Bend flexure north of the Llano uplift. The west flank of the Bend flexure is on the east boundary of the Permian Basin of West Texas. The greater part of the oil and gas produced in this district has been from Pennsylvanian strata. Some oil and gas has been produced from the lower Permian (by the latest, selection of the Pennsyl-vanian-Permian boundary) and minor amounts from the Mississippian and Ordovician sediments. Increasingly important quantities of oil and gas are to be expected from the older sediments by deeper development in proven fields and by new discoveries. Most of the oil and gas in the district has accumulated in localized, well-defined structural traps in limestone and sandstone reservoirs and in traps due to stratigraphic changes in sedimentation, mainly porosity traps in limestone and sandstone lenses, both usually associated with some structural feature. These features are found by surface and subsurface geological structural mapping, by core drilling and by geophysical surveying. Geochemical methods are also the basis for some wildcatting. The demand for sweet crude oil from this district is firm for local and national consumption, but the market price for the oil remains practically the same as in 1941. The price is not adequate to meet the requirements of the average independent operator with the continued advance in production, tievelopment and wildcatting costs. Stripper wells are being plugged daily and should be jealously saved for the future local and national reserves, especially in view of the fact that new discoveries of commercially important oil and gas reserves are not keeping pace with consumption. An expected economic disruption attendant upon the national war effort has arisen and continues in the future outlook for this district. The lack and delay of securing replacement parts for almost all oil-field equipment has handicapped and delayed operations and has decreased efficiency in wildcatting, development and production. Sufficient experienced drilling, scientific and office personnel is lacking because of inductions in the armed forces and migration to war industries during the period before manpower conservation became effective. The office personnel of the average oil and gas producer continues to be swamped by the increasing demands for reports by state and federal bureaus. An average of IQ days

Jan 1, 1944

By V. C. Perini

The North Central Texas district as herein defined includes the counties of Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Coryell, Eastland, Erath, Fisher, Hamilton, Haskell, Hood, Jones, Lampasas, Mills, Nolan, Palo Pinto, Parker, San Saba, Shackelford, Stephens, Stonewall, Summer-ville, Taylor, Throckmorton and Wise. These counties as listed are the counties of District 7B, State Railroad Commission. In the new designation of districts for the Transactions, the North Central Texas district includes most, but not all, of the counties of the previously classified West Central Texas district. This district covers the south central crest and the west flank of the Bend flexure north of the Llano uplift. The west flank of the Bend flexure is on the east boundary of the Permian Basin of West Texas. The greater part of the oil and gas produced in this district has been from Pennsylvanian strata. Some oil and gas has been produced from the lower Permian (by the latest, selection of the Pennsyl-vanian-Permian boundary) and minor amounts from the Mississippian and Ordovician sediments. Increasingly important quantities of oil and gas are to be expected from the older sediments by deeper development in proven fields and by new discoveries. Most of the oil and gas in the district has accumulated in localized, well-defined structural traps in limestone and sandstone reservoirs and in traps due to stratigraphic changes in sedimentation, mainly porosity traps in limestone and sandstone lenses, both usually associated with some structural feature. These features are found by surface and subsurface geological structural mapping, by core drilling and by geophysical surveying. Geochemical methods are also the basis for some wildcatting. The demand for sweet crude oil from this district is firm for local and national consumption, but the market price for the oil remains practically the same as in 1941. The price is not adequate to meet the requirements of the average independent operator with the continued advance in production, tievelopment and wildcatting costs. Stripper wells are being plugged daily and should be jealously saved for the future local and national reserves, especially in view of the fact that new discoveries of commercially important oil and gas reserves are not keeping pace with consumption. An expected economic disruption attendant upon the national war effort has arisen and continues in the future outlook for this district. The lack and delay of securing replacement parts for almost all oil-field equipment has handicapped and delayed operations and has decreased efficiency in wildcatting, development and production. Sufficient experienced drilling, scientific and office personnel is lacking because of inductions in the armed forces and migration to war industries during the period before manpower conservation became effective. The office personnel of the average oil and gas producer continues to be swamped by the increasing demands for reports by state and federal bureaus. An average of IQ days

Jan 1, 1944

By N. B. Pilling, R. E. Bedworth

The corrosion of metals is one problem on which time and thought have been expended for many years. In the effort to avert the destructive action of a hostile environment, attention has been directed almost entirely to the conditions under which most metallic structures are called upon to perform, and the extensive and complicated phenomena attending the corrosive action of atmospheric agencies, acting at the ordinary atmospheric temperatures, have been studied, but there is unanimity of opinion regarding many fundamental facts. One neglected phase is the corrosive action of various gases upon metals exposed to temperatures considerably higher than the atmospheric range, and more especially the attack of atmospheric oxygen upon exposed metallic surfaces. That the problem is difficult is connoted by the practical dominance of industrial electric heating by alloys of one type (nickel-chromium). Proprietary interest may account, in part, for the paucity of information available upon even the most general factors determining the behavior of metals and alloys when exposed to such exacting conditions. The present paper gives some conclusions reached as the result of experimental work, extending over several years, on the mechanism and contributory factors of the high-temperature oxidation of a number of simple unalloyed metals; it is free from experimental detail and proof. High-temperature metallic oxidation may be considered as a phase of metallic corrosion. The scheme outlined below, in which corrosive agent and environment are the principal criteria, is one way of analyzing the several groups of corrosion phenomena. Erosion.—Disintegrating or destructive action by physical causes. Corrosion.—Disintegrating or destructive action by chemical causes. Low-temperature Corrosion.—Solid participating phases essentially immobile: (a) Gaseous agent; (b) liquid agent: action electrolytic and action non-electrolytic. High-temperature Corrosion.—Solid participating phases possess diffusive mobility: (a) Liquid agent; (b) gaseous agent: reducing gases, oxidizing gases. (1) Water; (2) miscellaneous elemental and combined oxygen.

Jan 1, 1923

By R. E. Bedworth, N. B. Pilling

The corrosion of metals is one problem on which time and thought have been expended for many years. In the effort to avert the destructive action of a hostile environment, attention has been directed almost entirely to the conditions under which most metallic structures are called upon to perform, and the extensive and complicated phenomena attending the corrosive action of atmospheric agencies, acting at the ordinary atmospheric temperatures, have been studied, but there is unanimity of opinion regarding many fundamental facts. One neglected phase is the corrosive action of various gases upon metals exposed to temperatures considerably higher than the atmospheric range, and more especially the attack of atmospheric oxygen upon exposed metallic surfaces. That the problem is difficult is connoted by the practical dominance of industrial electric heating by alloys of one type (nickel-chromium). Proprietary interest may account, in part, for the paucity of information available upon even the most general factors determining the behavior of metals and alloys when exposed to such exacting conditions. The present paper gives some conclusions reached as the result of experimental work, extending over several years, on the mechanism and contributory factors of the high-temperature oxidation of a number of simple unalloyed metals; it is free from experimental detail and proof. High-temperature metallic oxidation may be considered as a phase of metallic corrosion. The scheme outlined below, in which corrosive agent and environment are the principal criteria, is one way of analyzing the several groups of corrosion phenomena. Erosion.—Disintegrating or destructive action by physical causes. Corrosion.—Disintegrating or destructive action by chemical causes. Low-temperature Corrosion.—Solid participating phases essentially immobile: (a) Gaseous agent; (b) liquid agent: action electrolytic and action non-electrolytic. High-temperature Corrosion.—Solid participating phases possess diffusive mobility: (a) Liquid agent; (b) gaseous agent: reducing gases, oxidizing gases. (1) Water; (2) miscellaneous elemental and combined oxygen.

Jan 1, 1923

While mining silver at Butte in 1882, Marcus Daly is reputed to have told his partners in The Anaconda Silver Mining Co., "It looks rather gloomy. The vein is running into copper." Recently, The Anaconda Co. authorized an $11 million expenditure to be made over the next five years to ensure their "running into copper" at deep levels for many more years. The new development program is designed to permit both deeper and more widespread selective mining in "the richest hill on earth" by means of additional shaft-sinking, reactivating closed mines, and establishing new haulageways and centralized hoisting facilities. Historically a deep level selective mining camp, Butte will now continue its uncommon use of three main types of mining methods at one camp-selective mining, block caving, and open pit mining. It was thought by some people that the construction of the Kelley shaft and the subsequent beginning of block caving operations in 1952-outgrowth of the Greater Butte Project-signaled the end of stope mining of high-grade ores at depth. This feeling became more pronounced when, in 1957, the Berkeley open pit commenced operations. During recent years, the tonnage of ore mined selectively underground has decreased, but the new program will maintain the position of selective underground mining in the overall picture of the Butte operations for many years to come.

Jan 7, 1960

By Willard S. Morse

The purpose of this paper is to record the results obtained in the use of the Russell process at Aspen, Colo., covering a period of fourteen months, from November, 1891, to December, 1892, during which time over 30,000 tons of ore, purchased outright, on sample and assay, were treated. No explanation of results will be attempted, nor will the chemistry of the process be discussed. The plant was designed by C. A. Stetefeldt, of San Francisco, and built by the owners by day-labor. The entire plant is run by water-power, supplied by a flume 3600 feet long, and a pipe-line 2200 feet long, with a head of 170 feet. A Pelton water-wheel, 8 feet in diameter, is used, from which power is transmitted by wire-rope to the main counter-shaft in the mill, a distance of about 250 feet. From the mill to the samplingworks, about 150 feet, power is also transmitted by a wirerope. A Pelton water-wheel, 3 feet in diameter, supplies power to the dynamo for lighting the plant. The works are located adjoining the Santa Fe railroad tracks, and all ore and supplies are unloaded directly from the cars to the works. The sampling-works are provided with crushers and rolls, the latter being used only on samples, and not on the entire ore. The Cornish hand-quartering method is used in sampling ore for purchase. After crushing and sampling, the ore goes to the bedding-floor, where it is made up into mixtures suitable for the mill. The drying-plant consists of four Stetefeldt double shelfdryers, six shelves high, and is provided with dust-chambers and a stack 65 feet high for draft. These dryers are fired with gas

Jan 1, 1896

By J. S. Hardison

In the fall of 1912, the appearance of water in the oil of the Nevada Petroleum Co., Coalinga, Cal., made necessary the installation of a dehydrating plant to reduce the water below the 3 per cent. limit prescribed by the agency. Unlike the mining industry, technical literature of the oil industry is limited and extremely unsatisfactory. Until the recent efforts of the Petroleum and Gas Committee of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, no concerted movement has been instituted to secure publication of papers dealing with the problems of the oil business, and because of the additional fact that dehydrating of oil has not been practiced in California to any extent up to comparatively recent time, it was found necessary to experiment in order to determine the most satisfactory plan for this purpose. It is easy to write regarding successful enterprises, but, while not SO pleasant, it is equally desirable to write of failures so that others may be saved the loss incident to such investments. The water in this oil occurs both free and as an emulsion. Free water easily settles out, but the emulsion requires treatment. So far as can be determined, the emulsion consists of globules of water surrounded and enveloped by a film of oil. Starting with this hypothesis the theory has been evolved that in order to break up this emulsion the water must be heated at least to boiling point, when an explosion takes place destroying the globule. Unfortunately, this condition was not recognized in the installation of the first plant, which was planned on the following lines: A heater was arranged so that all the oil from the wells could be heated before reaching the shipping tanks, these being already fitted with coils for steam heating. Tanks were filled with about 4 ft. of water, live steam was turned into the coils and the water brought nearly to the boiling point, when the heated oil was run in. This for a time was partly successful, but the length of time necessary to apply this heat was too great for practical operating.

Jan 1, 1915

By Wilbur I. Duvall, James F. Devine

7.4-1. Introduction. Ever since explosives were discovered and developed for mining purposes, there has existed the problem of determining what effect the air and ground vibrations resulting from blasting have on structures of various types. This problem is especially acute for surface operations such as open pit mines, quarries, and construction projects that are in the proximity of residential districts, scientific laboratories, or other vibration-sensitive structures. Because the general public is directly involved in the blasting vibration problem, it has been of major concern to local, state, and federal governments, as well as to mining and construction companies, explosive manufacturers, insurance companies, and scientific investigators. Consequently, many investigations have been conducted, both in this country and abroad, on the effects of air and ground vibration on residential and other structures. E. H. Rockwell made some of the first studies in this country on the vibrations produced by blasting and the effect that these vibrations have on structures (18). In his publications, he stressed the need for measuring the vibrations from quarry blasting in order to establish the level of vibration as a function of charge size and distance. The concept of a damage criterion for structures was developed shortly thereafter, and a displacement of less than 0.03 in. was considered safe. During the period from 1939-1942, the Bureau of Mines conducted an extensive investigation on the problem of seismic effects of quarry blasting. This work, summarized in Bulletin 442 (20) was the first major effort for establishing damage criteria for residential structures based on experimental data. An acceleration of less than 0.1 g was considered safe, 0.1 to 1.0 g was caution, and greater than 1.0 g was damage. This work

Jan 1, 1968

By George S. Rice

Instantaneous outbursts of gas in underground workings are similar in effect to great blasts of explosives, but without heat effects. Fortunately they occur only in a few localities in exceptional coal fields of the world and under exceptional geologic conditions. Such violent outbursts should not be compared with the ordinary outflows of gas into coal mines or with explosions of gas and dust. The phenomenon is essentially one of gas held in circumscribed areas under very high pressure and as a mining face or heading approaches such a place and the mining excavation sufficiently weakens the natural surrounding dam or shell, this is burst by the pressure just as by the discharge of a mass of explosives. The outbursts, so far as known to the writer, have been confined to coal beds and have not occurred in other mineral deposits. Hence, as discussed later, he believes that it is the relation of the gases to the coal material that is a factor in conjunction with others in producing conditions which permit the phenomena to occur when mining is done. The gases in most instantaneous outbursts have been hydrocarbon gases but in two coal fields they have been definitely found to be chiefly or wholly carbon dioxide. One of these localities in which CO2 outbursts have been frequent and have caused loss of life is in the southern part of the Gard basin, near Alais, in southern France. In 1919, the writer visited the Fontaine mine in this field the day following the occurrence of an outburst by which two men were smothered by carbon dioxide and fine dust. After 24 hr. the CO2 had not been entirely removed by the ventilating current. Occasional outbursts of CO2 have also occurred in other small basins in France, causing accidents, as in Puy-de-Dome. However, mines in the Gard basin, north of those in which CO2 outbursts have occurred, have experienced hydrocarbon gas outbursts. In the Lower Silesian coal field, Germany, there is a group of mines which have been subject to many instantaneous CO2 outbursts, some causing serious accidents, but the greatest disaster occurred recently

Jan 1, 1931