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Jan 1, 1922

By T. Egleston

There has alrvays been atheory among those working placer mines that gold is both folind rusty," and becomes so under treatment, hy which they nleun, not that gold becomes coated with oxide: of gold, but that it, is either coated superficially or alloyed with some substsnee which prevents the contact with mercury,and thus precludenthe possibility of amtrlgamation. To such aoiiditions of the

Jan 1, 1881

By B. J. Guarnera

There have been major changes in the makeup and nature of the uranium exploration industry in recent years. Significant price increases precipitated an increase in exploration activity-according to the Department of Energy, exploratory drilling in 1977, by 140 companies, was almost 8 million m (26 million ft). This represents a 37% increase over the prior year's drilling. Projections for 1978 indicate at least 9 million m (30 million ft) of exploratory holes will be drilled in the US. Exploration expenditures in 1979, including land acquisition, drilling, and other costs, were estimated by DOE at over $236 million. Domestic expenditures for 1978 are estimated at over $250 million.

Jan 10, 1978

By Harry H. Power

WHILE the attention of all engineering branches is focused today on changes and improvements in the several curricula, we are concerned here with the many questions arising in industry and college concerning the preparation for the petroleum engineering profession. The succession of problems confronting the petroleum engineer demands a degree of versatility not ordinarily encountered in other professions. As a consequence, the student cannot acquire mastery of all the several engineering branches represented in field practice, and as an alternative, he has learned to appreciate the value of thorough training in the basic or fundamental sciences as a preliminary foundation for professional work. While our attention is directed primarily to the training of engineers in educational institutions, it is necessary that the ultimate education of the professional engineer be kept in mind. It is apparent that his success as an engineer is limited not only by his educational and job experience, but by his native endowments: mentality, personality and health. The engineer's lack of job experiences often proves as much a handicap as the lack of adequate college training. If the final product proves to be satisfactory, both industry and technical institutions are to be congratulated. However, if the product is found wanting, the one most responsible should be apprehended. FITNESS FOR PROFESSION For the most part, students of engineering colleges have had their interests in applied science awakened at a relatively early age. Many of them entered college as a convenient means of acquiring a technical education, but undoubtedly would have had better prospects in a shorter program offered by institutions of noncollege grade. The activating motive of practical interest is also strong in students suitable for college training, but in many cases an intellectual interest must be awakened in order that it may survive graduation. Numerous engineers believe that this progressive process of selection and determination of career aims is one of the essential services rendered by the engineering colleges. Industrialists, who are more interested in quality than quantity of petroleum engineering graduates, have pointed out the good that should result if more emphasis were given to the work of eliminating the misfits. They also point out the protective measures that have been taken by other professions for the betterment of professional standards. Mention has been made of the beneficial results to be obtained by collective determination of the market for the products of engineering schools, particularly in that the students unsuited to the profession would have an opportunity to prepare themselves for employment more suited to their personalities and other qualifications. In the event that such a system of coordinated personnel direction is developed by the

Jan 1, 1941

Secondary blast holes are now being pierced in quartzite and sandstone quarries, using multiple hand-operated Jet-Piercing units supplied with oxygen, fuel and water from a compact mobile carrier. A unit of this type, operating in a Canadian quarry, enabled four Jet-Piercing blowpipes to pierce blast holes for two hours without shutdown. The piercing blowpipes used were developed by Linde Air Products Co., a division of Union Carbide and Carbon Corp. The mobile supply carrier was constructed by the quarry from specifications supplied by Linde and modified by the quarry operators for their particular use. Employment of the new self-contained unit, which allows up to four operators to pierce approximately 450 ft of blast hole without shutdown, accelerates rock removal operations. Normally, only two blowpipes are in operation at one time. Large boulders or ledges, which sometimes remain after primary blasting to hamper loading operations, can, in the case of certain hard rock, be prepared for reduction more rapidly with these new units than by any other means. A special feature of the new manual Jet-Piercing unit is the mobile gas and fluid supply carrier. It consists of a standard truck chassis fitted out with four banks of large standard-capacity oxygen cylinders, a steel-holding tank for fuel oil, and a gasoline-driven air compressor and tank for pressurizing the fuel oil tank. Cooling water for the blowpipes is supplied to the unit from a hose extension to the quarry supply line. Feeder lines from the oxygen cylinder manifolds and the oil and water tanks terminate in four sets of take-off stations on the control panel at the rear of the truck. As many as four hand Jet-Piercing blowpipes can be connected to the take-off panel by high-pressure rubber hoses. The hand Jet-Piercing blowpipe used with the mobile supply carrier is a highly portable device which can be manipulated comfortably by one operator. The blowpipe can pierce blast holes at rates up to 60 ft per hour, depending on the properties of the rock. Blast holes can be pierced at any angle from the vertical to the horizontal, making it necessary for the operator to drill from the top of the boulder. Hole diameter is held to approximately that which allows the use of a standard 11/8-in. diameter dynamite. The manual Jet-Piercing blowpipe has these important design features: a burner from which the combustion gases emerge at supersonic speeds (in excess of 6000 ft per sec); a hole-sizing shell which controls the minimum size of the hole and protects the copper burner; and a sliding shield which protects the operator against the steam and spallings ejected from the hole during the piercing. The Jet piercing process has been applied successfully in United States and Canadian quarries within the last several years as an advanced method of "drilling" blast holes.

Jan 1, 1952

By Neil Donnell, O&apos

MODERN mine maps are largely a product of evolution. The first mine maps used in the west were old composite maps with all the levels plotted on the same sheet. The composite was widely used and occasionally is seen even now. This type of underground map had serious limitations. One was the development of an indecipherable complex of workings around steep shafts. The other limitation was that of size; often when a working passed the limit of the sheet no map was made of it. These old maps have been superseded by the single level maps, laid out in squares or rectangles which can be expanded indefinitely in all directions. This produces a system capable of unlimited expansion in three dimensions, with all the detail of every working clearly marked and legible. A good set of mine maps should be laid out in blocks, all blocks of equal size. Each block should be limited by plane coordinates without overlap on bounding map quadrangles. At all times the direction of North should be indicated as an aid in remembering bearings of underground workings. It is desirable that all maps of whatever scale be plotted on sheets of uniform size. In fact, it is possible to make nearly all underground maps, surface maps and sections on sheets of the same size.

Jan 9, 1950

By Irwin R. Higgins

CONTENTS A. Introduction B. System Description C. Uranium Pilot Plant Programs D. Summary INTRODUCTION The Chem-Seps Continuous Countercurrent Ion Exchange (CCIX) contactor was first conceived of in 1951 at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. In the 27 years that have passed, there has been a steady stream of pilot plant process development studies on a variety of processes far too numerous to mention. These have been in the area of water and waste treatment, chemical processing, ore leach treatment, and many others. Many successful production systems have been installed and operated in a variety of applications. A few of these are described herein together with a description of the system and its operational characteristics. SYSTEM DESCRIPTION Chem-Seps Continuous Countercurrent Ion Exchange* is a single loop in which various sections are separated by valves to isolate the sections performing different functions simultaneously. (Refer to Figure 1). To explain the working of a typical unit, let us use a simple configuration used in water softening or demineralization. The resin is moved in small increments by the hydraulic ram action. All solution flows are countercurrent to the flow of resin. The contaminants are removed in the process cycle and the resin is moved in the pulse cycle. A controller in the effluent stream from the treatment section senses the proper limit permissible in the effluent. In the process cycle, the influent enters through a set of distributors, moves downward and leaves through a set of collectors. Simultaneously the regenerant enters through valve RE and leaves through valve WA. The rinse enters through valve RI and its duration is controlled by an interface controller. In the process cycle, valves B, C, and D are closed, isolating all the sections. The duration of the process cycle is 4-10 minutes depending on the contaminants to be removed and is controlled either by a timer if the contaminants are fixed, or a controller in the effluent stream, if the contaminants fluctuate at short intervals. Valve A is open and resin is dropped to the pulse section simultaneously with the removal of contaminants in the treatment section, regeneration of loaded resin in the strip section, and rinsing of regenerated resin in the rinse section. As the resin drops through the valve A, it is backwashed to remove the suspended solids or resin fines. Removal of these fine particles is important to avoid the unnecessary pressure drop in the bed and plugging of the distributors. At the end of process cycle, all flows going into the unit and out of unit are automatically shut off. The valve A closes and valves B, C, and D open in proper sequence. A slug of water enters through valve PU, a predetermined incremental volume of resin moves into the regeneration section, an equal volume of regenerated and rinsed resin enters the bottom of the treatment section, and an equal volume of the loaded resin leaves the top of the treatment section and goes into the resin reservoir section. (The resin movement is plug flow with the Reynold's number being in the laminar region of the curve, and no fluidization occurs during the pulse cycle.) The total time required for proper sequencing of valves and the movement of resin is 20-30 seconds. At the end of this period, the valves B, C, and D close and valve A opens. The solution valves open and normal steady state operation begins. All valves are interlocked and properly sequenced. The resin movement is precisely controlled by sonic devices. Special Features of Chem-Seps CIIX "Downflow"*: The raw feed in the treatment section moves downward and the resin moves upward in the treatment section. The "downflow" of feed overcomes the handicap encountered in "upflow" systems. The "upflow" of feed requires a certain minimum flux during process cycle to lift the bed and keep it

Jan 1, 1979

PRESIDENT HERBERT HOOVER, STANFORD UNIVERSITY; CAL. PAST PRESIDENTS SIDNEY J. JENNINGS NEW YORK, N. Y. HORACE V. WINCHELL MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT EDWIN LUDLOW, NEW YORK, N. Y. TREASURER GEORGE D. BARRON NEW YORK, N. Y.

Jan 1, 1923

By Donald L. Anderson

Presence of hot water brought on by volcanic action nearby has severely complicated mining in the Limon gold mine in Nicaragua. Routine pumping problems have been multiplied and ventilation is a major problem. Enclosing rock is so hot that 20 pct of all power generated at the mine is consumed by forced ventilation. But hot water underground, however disagreeable and troublesome, may be handled and surmounted like any other difficulty if the estimated profit margin permits. Empresa Minera de Nicaragua's Limon mine is a 400-ton gold-silver producer located in western Nicaragua about 60 miles northwest of the capital city, Managua, and some 45 miles from the Nicaragua-Honduras border. Limon is situated in a low- lying district with a nearby chain of active and semi-active Tertiary volcanoes.

Jan 6, 1959

By R. H. Barham, G. W. Nabor

Linear aquifers, either limited or essentially infinite, may be encountered in reservoir engineering practice. In areas where faulting fixes reservoir boundaries, the fault block reservoir may have an aquifer of limited extent whose geometry is best approximated as linear. An infinite linear aquifer can occur as a regional feature whenever water movement through the aquifer member is constrained to one direction. Such constraints can arise from major faults, facies changes or pinchout of the member. Miller* pointed out that linear aquifers have received only meager attention in the past. He analyzed the performance of finite and infinite aquifers, developed working equations and curves, and presented examples. While Miller's curves may be used fairly easily, a separate one is required for each size of aquifer. In this paper, Miller's equations have been used as a starting point. By modifying them slightly, they can be reduced to a form which yields a single working curve, applicable to any size of aquifer. Thus. interpolation between curves is eliminated and accuracy is improved. Miller's results for finite aquifers covered only the boundary condition of no flow across the outer aquifer boundary. This paper also includes the case of constant pressure at the outer aquifer boundary.

Jan 1, 1965

By William H. Hartwig

A paper by Rose1 has called attention to some of the problems of wetting-liquid relative permeability measurement. The premises and conclusions set forth by Rose, namely the applicability of the Hassler scheme of measurement, will be accepted. In addition, it will be concluded that certain electrical analog circuits can be used as a pattern for consideration of possible hydraulic systems of measurements. NEW SCHEME OF MEASUREMENT The object of this note is to propose a new scheme of wetting liquid relative permeability measurement. It is significantly different from those heretofore described, nonetheless it is based on Hassler concepts. The scheme is illustrated in Fig. 1 in terms of the corresponding electric circuit analog. It may be designated descriptively as the "comparison" method of wetting-liquid relative permeability measurement. In this circuit, R, represents the resistance of the core sample which is being studied for relative permeability characteristics, R represents a "standard" resistance, R represents the combined series resistance of the barrier pads, R R2 represent the combined series resistance of barrier pads in the manometer circuit, C, C represent the capacitance of the manometers, E is a constant voltage source, S is the switch or stopcock. The following conditions are imposed upon .the network: Rb » R, and R, R,» R, R, » R., and the condensers C, and C,

Jan 1, 1953

By Walter Renton Ingalls

The ores of zinc which are important as sources of that metal are of two classes, viz., the sulphide and the oxidized. The latter includes six varieties: zincite (the red oxide) and franklinite (the oxide of zinc, iron, and manganese), which are found abundantly only in New Jersey; and the hydrous and anhydrous carbonates, the hydrous and anhydrous silicates, which are of widespread occurrence. The hydrous carbonate is known mineralogically as hydrozincite, zinconise, or zinc-bloom; the anhydrous silicate is recognized as willemite. With respect to the anhydrous carbonate and the hydrous silicate, however, there is a confusion of name which is of old standing. Attempts to clear it away were long ago made by the mineralogists with the result that there is now a more or less national uniformity of nomenclature; but there is still an international disagreement, sometimes very perplexing and always leading to inexactness in expression, which may be considered an adequate excuse for this return to a time-worn subject. The name calamine, together with Galmei of the Germans, is commonly supposed to be derived from xadµela, which was used by the Greeks to designate the peculiar kind of ore employed with copper in their brass-making, and also the accretions which formed in the brass-founder's furnaces. Agricola, however, says that it is from calamm, a reed, in allusion to the appearance of the material, cadmia fornacum, which collected 011 the furnace-walls. But whatever the derivation of the word, it was used until within one hundred years to include all the oxidized

Jan 1, 1896

The Library of the above-named Societies is open from 9 A.M. to 10 P.M. on all week-days, except holidays, from September 1 to June 30, and from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. during July and August. The Library contains about 55,000 volumes, including sets of technical periodicals and the publications of scientific and technical societies. Members of the Institute, with few exceptions, are forced to spend a portion of their time in localities isolated from sources of information. To these the Library can render valuable service through correspondence; letters requesting information will receive special attention. The Library is prepared to furnish references and copies of articles on mining and metallurgical subjects; to determine the existence of mining maps, and to furnish general information as to the geology and mineral resources of all countries. All communications should be made as definite as possible so that the information received may be what is desired and not include collateral matter which may not be of interest. The time spent in searching for such collateral matter will be saved, and the information will be sent more promptly and in more usable shape. The members of the Institute can be of service to the Library by forwarding copies of mining reports, maps privately issued, and similar material, which will be classified, indexed, and made available to other members. Suggestions for additions to the Library, either by purchase or personal solicitation as gifts, will be welcomed. It is hoped that members while in the city will use the Library freely, and assurance is given that most careful service will be rendered to them.

Jan 2, 1915

By Otto F. Pfordte

Although the subject has no practical bearing on the metallurgy of the present day, it may not be entirely uninteresting to note how the art of silver-lead smelting has been, and in a few remote districts of Peru is still practiced by an old method, and under conditions widely different from our own. The subject will be considered under the following subdivisions,. viz.: The general conditions; construction and plan of furnaces;, fuels and ores; method of working; furnace products and slags. The mineral region of Peru varies in altitude from 10,000 to 16,000 feet above sea-level, comparatively few mines being locatedh above or below these limits. The timber-line in the valleys is at about 12,000 feet altitude on the western slope of the mountains, and even there the supply of wood is not sufficient to be utilized as fuel for furnaces. The sides of the mountains are either bare or covered with a hard bushy grass, which is most luxuriant during the latter part of the rainy season, from February to April. Agriculture on the western slope rarely reaches above 12,000 feet, while on the eastern slope its limit is at 14,000 feet; and in either case the height named is reached only in sheltered places. Transportation is slow, being carried on mainly by llamas, donkeys and mules; the former (taking 100 pounds at a load) are almost

Jan 1, 1893

The Library of the above-named Societies is open from 9 A.M. to 10 P.M. on all week-days, except holidays, from September 1 to June 30, and from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. during July and August. The Library contains about 55,000 volumes, including sets of technical periodicals and the publications of scientific and technical societies. Members of the Institute, with few exceptions, are forced to spend a portion of their time in localities isolated from sources of information. To these the Library can render valuable service through correspondence; letters requesting information will receive special attention. The Library is prepared to furnish references and copies of articles on mining and metallurgical subjects; to determine the existence of mining-maps, and to furnish general information as to the geology and mineral resources of all countries. All communications should be made as definite as possible so that the information received may be what is desired and not include collateral matter which may not be of interest. The time spent in searching for such collateral matter will be saved, and the information will be sent more promptly and in more usable shape. The members of the Institute can be of service to the Library by forwarding copies of mining reports, maps privately issued, and similar material, which will be classified, indexed, and, made available to other members. Suggestions for additions to the Library, either by purchase or personal solicitation as gifts, will be welcomed. It is hoped that members while in the city will use the Library freely, and assurance is given that most careful service will be rendered to them.

Jan 6, 1914

By H. B. Fuqua, B. E. Thompson

The area discussed in this paper, commonly known as the West Texas district, is easily divisible into three geologic provinces, the Midland Basin to the east, the Delaware Basin to the west and the West Texas structural platform separating these two. Production in Garza, Scurry, Mitchell, Howard, Glasscock, Irion, Reagan and central Crockett counties is associated with the east flank of the Midland Basin. That in Loving and Reeves counties is associated with the Delaware Basin. All other production and developments discussed in this paper belong to the province of the West Texas structural platform. Because of certain developments that have occurred during the past year, it has been found necessary to slightly revise one of the fields as grouped by Mr. Reith in last year's paper1. The Scarborough-Leck field has been broken down as follows (Table 1): The Leck field is shown separately because it is producing from dolomite; while the Scarborough area, producing from sand, is regrouped and designated as " Scarborough-Kermit-Halley," which includes the producing sand belt across Winkler County from Ward County to New Mexico. It is believed that this is a more logical division of Winkler County and that considerable future work will be avoided by making this change before further production figures have accumulated under the present set-up. A number of new fields are listed in Table 1, some of which may represent extensions of other produeing arras. The authors, however, are inclined to believe that they represent new fields. In either event, less work is involved ill adding two areas together, if they later prove to be one, than in attempting to separate a maze of production data into two fields after they have been erroneously carried as one for a number of years. The Howard-Glasscock field is designated in this review as the Chalk-Roberts field and the Denman production on the Howard-Mitchell County line is included in the Iatan field. Development during 1934 Development in West Texas during the year 1934 showed a marked increase over the previous year both in exploration and ill exploitation

Jan 1, 1935

Jan 1, 1929

• As part of $850,000 granted by the House Appropriations Committee for development of manganese in the U.S., the Bureau of Mines will build a pilot plant at Artillery Peak, Ariz., for development of low grade manganese ores. • The historic Argo tunnel and mill in Idaho Springs, Colo., will reopen shortly for the mining of uranium. The Uranium Co. of America has acquired control of the tunnel and mill and 12 nearby mining properties. J. H. Rodgers and G. C. Ridland will manage the operation. •The opening of a new 4000-ton per day coal mine in Washington Co., Pa., and the reopening of another mine of the same capacity in Fayette Co. has been announced by the H. C. Frick Coke Co. They'll help meet added war demands. •A 7000 bbl per day commercial synthetic liquid fuel plant, making gasoline from natural gas at Brownsville, Texas is being operated by the Carthage Hydro-col Corp., a Texaco subsidiary. The gasoline is produced by the Hydrocol process, chemically similar to the Fischer Tropsch process, but differing mechanically in several ways. To operate the process it has been necessary to build an oxygen plant producing 95 pct pure oxygen in quantities equal to U. S. production of commercial oxygen in 1946. •Over 96 pct of the class of 1950 at Montana School of Mines are now employed,, in industry, and they're scattered from MIT to the island of Cuba., • Cobalt, heretofore almost entirely imported, will soon be produced in Idaho. The Calera Mining Co. is building a 600-ton mill in which a cobalt and copper concentrate will be obtained from Idaho ores. •Plans for mining iron ore on the Conarky Peninsula in French Guinea, (an ECA project) call for equipment purchases as follows: 8 wagon drills, electric shovel for mining, conveyor for the port, 8 trucks, wrecker, 2 tractors, as well as miscellaneous accessories and spare parts. •A low-grade lead-zinc mineralization, located east of any known ore bodies in Utah's East Tintic district, has been located by a 2000-ft wildcat USGS drill hole. * Higher-than-going rates have been authorized by the Munitions Board for its stockpile program, where domestic production of scarce materials is low or uneconomical. Payment in excess of 25 pct over the foreign price is now permitted. •A new self-centering conveyor roll, developed by Carnegie-Illinois Steel, is expected to revolutionize materials handling. It completely eliminates the necessity for sideguides to keep materials on a conveyor. See P. 1028. •Great Britain's socialized coal industry employs twice as many miners, but produces less than half as much coal as America's coal industry. last year, British mines produced 28 million fewer tons of coal than the output of the same ,mines in 1939. Absenteeism amounted to a big 12 pot of working time. • Labor market conditions have tightened on almost a country-wide scale. Only 4 out of 143 major labor market areas have a substantial surplus -- less than half the total for May. Growing scarcities of skilled labor are in evidence.

Jan 10, 1950

By AIME AIME

MECHANIZATION of operations and the development of much more refined preparation practices have been conspicuous achievements in coal-mine engineering in the last two decades. To both, Paul Weir was an outstanding contributor during his seventeen years' service with the Bell & Zoller Coal & Mining Co. and its aliates, the Centralia Coal Co. and the Crescent Mining Co. From 1920 to the end of 1936, when he resigned to go into consulting work in Chicago, he was successively chief engineer, general superintendent, and vice-president of Bell & Zoller. He changed its Zeigler mines from hand to mechanical loading, and planned and built a central mechanical cleaning plant.

Jan 1, 1939