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By C. S. Westerberg, C. P. Heiner

Observation of the clinkering action of coal from the Castle Gate D seam in underfeed stokers over a period of years has given rise to the present investigation of the effect of bony coal on clinkering. Some very costly examples of slagging clinkers in particular cases have been of especial interest to the authors. In such cases coal analyses and ash-softening and fluid temperatures have been found of little value. In general, it was noted that slagging mas accompanied by a somewhat higher ash content of the stoker slack, and the suspicion naturally arose that foreign matter was the troublemaker. One would naturally suspect bony coal and rock impurities because of their occurrence and prevalence within the seam and the relative absence of sulphur or other impurities in the coal mined. The test results given herein indicate that the concentration of the bony coal and rock impurities in the coal determines the clinkering tendencies of the ash during combustion. Castle Gate D Seam Extending from the Utah-Colorado line near Grand Junction, Colo., westward to Greenriver, Utah, and thence in semicircular form north and westward to Castle Gate, and from there southward to Mt. Hilgard in central Utah, is a line of nearly perpendicular cliffs, composed of interbedded massive sandstone and shales, making up the coal-bearing horizon of the Mesaverde formation of Upper Cretaceous age. The cliffs face roughly concentrically toward the south and southeast and the strata, with conformably enclosed coal beds, gently dip away from the face of the cliffs and at right angles to their front line. Back of these cliffs the mountain masses rise to an altitude of from 8000 to 10,ooo ft. above sea level. Stretching away from their foot is a great shale plain, on which the towns are situated and over which the railroad lines and highways run. The Castle Gate mines enter the coal beds at their outcrop; the workings extending within a particular coal bed away from the outcrop and under the mountain mass back from the cliff line (Fig. I). Throughout the Mesaverde formation in the Castle Gate general area, there are from two to five workable coal beds. Usually not all of these are coincidentally of workable size and merchantable quality throughout any given large tract. In the Castle Gate mine area, the base of the Mesaverde horizon and coal measures is marked by a massive, cliffmaking, gray sandstone bed 60 to 80 ft. thick. Locally this is referred to as the "Castle Gate sandstone floor." Frank R. Clark, in U. S. Geol. Survey Bull. 793, designates it as the "Aberdeen sandstone." At Castle Gate the various coal beds are designated by the letters A, B, C, etc., commencing with the lowest bed.

Jan 1, 1942

By C. P. Heiner, C. S. Westerberg

Observation of the clinkering action of coal from the Castle Gate D seam in underfeed stokers over a period of years has given rise to the present investigation of the effect of bony coal on clinkering. Some very costly examples of slagging clinkers in particular cases have been of especial interest to the authors. In such cases coal analyses and ash-softening and fluid temperatures have been found of little value. In general, it was noted that slagging mas accompanied by a somewhat higher ash content of the stoker slack, and the suspicion naturally arose that foreign matter was the troublemaker. One would naturally suspect bony coal and rock impurities because of their occurrence and prevalence within the seam and the relative absence of sulphur or other impurities in the coal mined. The test results given herein indicate that the concentration of the bony coal and rock impurities in the coal determines the clinkering tendencies of the ash during combustion. Castle Gate D Seam Extending from the Utah-Colorado line near Grand Junction, Colo., westward to Greenriver, Utah, and thence in semicircular form north and westward to Castle Gate, and from there southward to Mt. Hilgard in central Utah, is a line of nearly perpendicular cliffs, composed of interbedded massive sandstone and shales, making up the coal-bearing horizon of the Mesaverde formation of Upper Cretaceous age. The cliffs face roughly concentrically toward the south and southeast and the strata, with conformably enclosed coal beds, gently dip away from the face of the cliffs and at right angles to their front line. Back of these cliffs the mountain masses rise to an altitude of from 8000 to 10,ooo ft. above sea level. Stretching away from their foot is a great shale plain, on which the towns are situated and over which the railroad lines and highways run. The Castle Gate mines enter the coal beds at their outcrop; the workings extending within a particular coal bed away from the outcrop and under the mountain mass back from the cliff line (Fig. I). Throughout the Mesaverde formation in the Castle Gate general area, there are from two to five workable coal beds. Usually not all of these are coincidentally of workable size and merchantable quality throughout any given large tract. In the Castle Gate mine area, the base of the Mesaverde horizon and coal measures is marked by a massive, cliffmaking, gray sandstone bed 60 to 80 ft. thick. Locally this is referred to as the "Castle Gate sandstone floor." Frank R. Clark, in U. S. Geol. Survey Bull. 793, designates it as the "Aberdeen sandstone." At Castle Gate the various coal beds are designated by the letters A, B, C, etc., commencing with the lowest bed.

Jan 1, 1942

By H. J. Wasson

Published literature regarding the nation's oil reserve has been largely concerned with the estimated quantities in sight in known producing fields. This proved reserve has never been large in relation to demand. It has been the practice to consider the total future reserve (beyond that in sight within known fields) in the light of the broad potentialities of vast areas of partially explored sedimentary rocks, which are regarded as possible oil territory. Until recently, but little attention has been given to the rate at which the unexplored potentialities may be. converted into the proved reserve classification. To a certain extent, therefore, our contemporary viewpoint on the subject of national oil reserves is characterized by a pronounced contradiction. On the one hand, we measure known reserves as sufficient for only a few years of consumption—i.e., relative scarcity; on the other hand, we are confident that millions of unexplored acres will yield many new oil fields and that countless deeper productive formations underlie many of our known productive fields—i.e., infinite abundance. Of greater significance than the quantitative measure of either of these reserve classifications is the rate at which reserve replenishment must be accomplished in order to maintain an adequate time supply of proved oil reserves. The accumulation of geological data covering broad areas supports the belief that the remaining undiscovered oil reserve is exceedingly large. The distribution of oil in sedimentary formations of practically all ages, from Cambrian to Recent, is suggestive of almost unlimited possibilities; and the relatively small proportion of these possible areas that has been intensively explored in this country is a further index of the probable magnitude of the undiscovered future reserve. The implication that may reasonably be drawn from these observations is that oil, though distributed with less regularity and concentration than its related hydrocarbon, coal, nevertheless is a relatively abundant natural commodity of which the exhaustion appears remote. Final exhaustion of our oil reserve, if not infinitely remote, is a future contin-

Jan 1, 1937

R. F. WOOD,* Sandusky, Ohio.-I made a few tests of gun-metal specimens, after I noticed the results on quenching -reported by the Bureau of Standards. The data of one such test are given herewith. The bars were heat treated and quenched before they were machined, and in all cases they were brought up to 700° or 800°. They became extremely brittle,, showed almost no elongation, except such as was caused by the failure of the pieces to fit together after they were pulled, and the tensile stength was reduced from around 35,000 to about 13,000 lb. per sq. in. In addition, the weakening effect of the quenching seemed to be almost as marked when the bar was allowed to slowly air-cool from red to black, and then quenched, as it was by quenching directly from the red heat. Test Bars.-Rough size, 9/16 in. diam. over test section, grips 13/16 in. diam. Cast two in a flask, one on each side of a block 8 by 4 by 1 in. and fin-gated thereto from the grips but not from the test section. Poured with flask in inclined position, with gate to lower end of block and riser from upper end of each test bar. Bars were machined to ½ in. over the test section, after heat treatment. Casting the Bars.-Charge of 1500 lb. consisting of 400 lb. of new metals and 1100 lb. of G turnings and scrap was melted in open-flame oil furnaces and then poured into a 1-ton ladle. From the ladle 150 lb. was poured into a preheated No. 50 crucible, land from this the flasks of test bars were poured. The six flasks are indicated below by the numbers 1 to 6 and the bars in each flask by the letters a and b, thus 4a and 4h, for instance, were the two bars in flask No. 4.

Jan 12, 1919

By H. B. Pulsifer

This paper outlines a method for rapid production of flat,, granular surfaces on many of the medium hard alloys. Grinding wheels and fabrics on wheels are not used; the purpose is accomplished by rubbing on emery papers and on fine abrasives heaped on hand boards. The advantages of chromic acid in the solutions for etching nickel and copper alloys are explained. Steels may require an additional step in the mechanical smoothing owing to the lack of an ideal etchant. Chloric acid is a rapid etchant for steel. Thirty-six photomicrographs illustrate the steps in smoothing and the clearness with which structures can be rapidly exposed. New structures in low-carbon steels are announced. After a little practice, many materials can be finished within two or three minutes. CUPRONICKELS In the previous papers on the metallography of copper and magnesiurn which the author has presented to this Institute there has been an attempt to demonstrate the advantages of minimizing the mechanical work of surfacing and depending more on chemical means; the present paper continues the research into a still wider field. It is obvious that the success of a chemical method for smoothing and etching depends almost entirely on the use of a suitable reagent. The etchant must remove the surface granulations and outline the structures. A very special type of reaction between reagent and metal must be displayed. Promiscuous corrosion or the intensification of the attack about local couples formed by impurities or components must not be in evidence. There are several reagents that etch highly polished nickel and copper alloys very well. Acidified ferric chloride solutions, concentrated and dilute nitric acid solutions, and nitric and acetic acids in acetone have been used to good advantage for the purpose. However, if they are expected to etch rather deeply—that is, smooth as well as characterize— the results may be far from satisfactory. Advantages of Chromic Acid In a protracted series of experiments it has been found that the addit,ion of chromic acid may be of the most surprising benefit. The function

Jan 1, 1929

By H. B. Pulsifer

This paper outlines a method for rapid production of flat,, granular surfaces on many of the medium hard alloys. Grinding wheels and fabrics on wheels are not used; the purpose is accomplished by rubbing on emery papers and on fine abrasives heaped on hand boards. The advantages of chromic acid in the solutions for etching nickel and copper alloys are explained. Steels may require an additional step in the mechanical smoothing owing to the lack of an ideal etchant. Chloric acid is a rapid etchant for steel. Thirty-six photomicrographs illustrate the steps in smoothing and the clearness with which structures can be rapidly exposed. New structures in low-carbon steels are announced. After a little practice, many materials can be finished within two or three minutes. CUPRONICKELS In the previous papers on the metallography of copper and magnesiurn which the author has presented to this Institute there has been an attempt to demonstrate the advantages of minimizing the mechanical work of surfacing and depending more on chemical means; the present paper continues the research into a still wider field. It is obvious that the success of a chemical method for smoothing and etching depends almost entirely on the use of a suitable reagent. The etchant must remove the surface granulations and outline the structures. A very special type of reaction between reagent and metal must be displayed. Promiscuous corrosion or the intensification of the attack about local couples formed by impurities or components must not be in evidence. There are several reagents that etch highly polished nickel and copper alloys very well. Acidified ferric chloride solutions, concentrated and dilute nitric acid solutions, and nitric and acetic acids in acetone have been used to good advantage for the purpose. However, if they are expected to etch rather deeply—that is, smooth as well as characterize— the results may be far from satisfactory. Advantages of Chromic Acid In a protracted series of experiments it has been found that the addit,ion of chromic acid may be of the most surprising benefit. The function

Jan 1, 1929

NEW MEMBERS The following list comprises the names of those persons who became members during the period July 10, 1919, to August 10, 1919. BALL, C. LEONARD.. Cons. Engr., Suffern Co., Inc., 135 Broadway, New York, N. Y. BARRY, CHARLES W Box 502, Idaho Springs, Colo. BATTLE, JOEL ALLAN, JR., Min. Engr., U.S. Bureau of Mines, Room 2114, Interior Bldg., Washington., D. C. BEER, GUIDO, Compagnia. Italian, Dir Bronzi Speciali, C. I., B. S. La Direzione, Italy. BITLER, WILLIAM F., Management of Coal Properties, The Provident Life & Trust Co. of Philadelphia, 409 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. BLOOM, SETH W., Chief Engr,, Northwestern Min. & Exchange Co., 130 E. Sribner Ave., Du Bois, Pa. BOYDELL, W. Guy B., Min. Engr., Tul Mi Chung Mine, Care Seoul Min. Co. Whang Hai Do, Chosen. Korea. BRYAN, RUSSELL R.., Met., Sunnyside Min. & Mill. Co., Eureka, San Juan Co., Colo. CHIAPELLA, STEPHEN EUGENE 323 W. 30th St., Los Angeles, Cal. CONWAY, EDMUND JOHN, Exploration Engr., Granhy Consolidated Min., Smelt & Power Co., Ltd., Anyox, B. C., Canada. DEMOREST, DANA J Prof. of Met., The Ohio State Univ., Columbus, Ohio. EIDEMILLER, H. N., Geol., Benjamin C. Neely, Min. Lands & Leases, Crystal Falls, Mich.

Jan 9, 1919

By W. S. Potter

The proportions of manganese and carbon in manganese steel are familiar to all…

Jan 1, 1915

By Thomas MacFarlane

AMONG the industrial enterprises which have, from time to time, been undertaken in our Dominion, few have been more uniformly unsuccessful than those which have had for their object the develop ment of our mineral resources. These resources hare not been re garded as insignificant. On the contrary, it is supposed that we possess in our ore deposits something more than mere points of mineralogical interest. Some people are enthusiastic enough to be lieve that our mineral wealth will yet occasion the establishment in our backwoods of happy and industrious communities, causing, in fact, our wilderness to blossom as the rose. These enthusiasts do not shut their eyes to the serious obstacles which at every stage in terfere with the carrying out of mining enterprises in this country, and which tempt one to believe that no such enterprise can ever be conducted to a desirable end, but they entertain the conviction that as our capitalists, miners, and technologists reach the years of discretion, and handle our mines in an economical, vigorous, and judicious manner, and as our statesmen become alive to the necessity of fostering, without extremely protecting, our metallurgical indus tries, mines and furnaces will gradually prosper, and so develop as to become a tower of strength to our agricultural, manufacturing, and mercantile interests. The fact that our past experience does not generally justify such glowing anticipations makes one all the more anxious to put on record the history of a successful mine, such as the Silver Islet has, on the whole, been. My connection with its discovery and early development was a very intimate one, and I propose in this paper to sketch its history and character, and sum up the amount of silver it has so far yielded. An additional reason for the appearance of this paper is that the Transactions of the Institute contain only a few references to the Silver Islet Mine. Although this mine is reported successful, we have, of course, no guarantee that it will not fall a victim to the same influences which have

Jan 1, 1880

Cycle, automatic, in mine hoists, LV, 17. Cylindrical furnaces, repairing partly collapsed, XXXVI, 215-222. Dacite-porphyry, San Jose, Tamaulipas, Mex., percentage composition, XXXVI, 186. DAGGETT, ELLSWORTH: The Extraordinary Faulting at the Berlin Mine, Nev., XXXVIII, [liii], 297. Daiquiri, Cuba: geology, LIII, 3, 43. iron deposits, LIII, 40. Magdalena mine, LIII, 9, 23, 24. mines, bibliography, LIII, 59. situation of mines, LIII, 42. [ ]

Jan 1, 1918

By E. C. Mahan

THE text of my talk was suggested by the invita-tion of your secretary, who said that the excess productive capacity of the bituminous industry was a matter of common concern to engineers and coal operators. Cognizant of the depressed condition of the industry, he tactfully added that in common council we might find wisdom. Certainly it would seem that the application of the best engineering knowledge available would be helpful in solving mining problems. There is no doubt that clear thinking, characteristic of the engineering type of mind, is essential to untangle the shapeless pattern which increased complication, so often mistaken for progress, has developed. There is much thinking today which neither looks forward to a logical combination of ideas nor backward to simple fundamentals. The result of that sort of thinking is hopeless confusion. Lately we have heard much about excess capacity and overproduction, along with their attendant evils. Respecting the bituminous coal industry, these terms have been frequently misused. How many of us have seen them applied to the coal industry but how few of us have understood them. I am reminded of a state-ment which William Green, president of the American Federation of Labor and a former miner from the Ohio field, gave to the Associated Press last month, in which he was quoted as saying: "The coal men must realize that conditions have altered since the World War. To-day they are producing a billion tons a year, with a market for only half that tonnage." I cite this instance as a glaring example of the flood of. loose statements about the bituminous industry with which the public is being deluged. If the general public, or some of the newspapers, had any passion for the facts, this sort of misleading statement would not get very far. Unfor-tunately, in these days, opinions are more sought after than facts, and statements by such a person as Mr. Green and are promptly accepted by a credulous public.

Jan 4, 1928

By Zay Jeffries

TUNGSTEN has the highest melting point of all the known metals, namely 3350° C.; it is one of the hardest of the metals; it has the highest equiaxing or recrystallization temperature after strain hardening, of any pure metal known. It is particularly distinguished because, when composed of small equiaxed grains, it is extremely. brittle and fragile at room temperature, and when possessing a fibrous structure it maybe ductile and pliable at room temperature. The common ductile metals act in exactly the opposite manner in this respect. The present paper will include a brief note regarding the manufacture of wrought and. ductile tungsten. The metallography of wrought and ductile tungsten in the various stages of manufacture will be considered more or less in detail. The general relationships between the properties of tungsten and other metals will also be considered. A discussion will be given explaining why fibrous tungsten is ductile at room temperature, even though past experience with other metals would indicate that it should be brittle. Finally, a brief note regarding some new fundamental metallographic propositions relating to all metals will be given.

Jan 6, 1918

By M. J. McPherson

Having worked on the thermodynamics of air/liquid-water mixtures passing through the surface fans of deep mines, I find this paper of great interest and congratulate the authors on producing it. There are two matters, however, deserving discussion. First, the authors have described the classical theory of fog formation with fogging occurring at "supersaturation." In fact, the process of fog formation begins well below 100% humidity. The more strongly hygroscopic nuclei in the atmosphere will attract water molecules and begin to grow at a relative humidity perhaps as low as 70%. The process is a dynamic one with both condensation and evaporation taking place throughout the mixture on microscopic liquid surfaces. As saturation is approached, the rate of condensation accelerates rapidly producing the familiar reduction in visibility. Hygroscopic nuclei are present in all natural atmospheres and under the appropriate conditions of pressure and temperature, will produce clean fogs. However, if the air is polluted by particulates from combustion or other processes then the resultant coagulation with growing liquid particles may produce dense (and sometimes photochemical) smogs. It is this process that is likely to occur in underground mines when moist air is cooled below dew point. Second, the authors have summarized very well the individual measures that might alleviate the problem. In particular, I agree that neither heating nor refrigerating the air, by themselves, provides a satisfactory solution. However, there is a combination of these that provides a neat and effective control of fog formation. This involves a small, self-contained refrigeration unit within a duct but without the usual external heat rejection facility. The air is cooled below dew point and, hence, dehumidified on passing over the cold evaporator coils. The heat from the condenser is rejected back into the air down-stream from the water eliminator, as shown in [Fig. 1]. The duct configuration can be designed to create good mixing at the outlet.

Jan 1, 1984

By Foster Bain

THOUGHTFUL people have raised questions as to how long nature's bank could continue to accept our drafts. These questions came to the fore so persistently, and there were so many evidences -such as the failure of natural gas in Indiana, the increasing scarcity of lumber in the Lake Superior region, the progressive sterility of Southern farm lands, the choking of the Sacramento River by tailing-point-ing to possible danger from overdraft or to misuse of resources and opportunity, that President Roosevelt called a conference which assembled at the White House on May 13, 1908, to consider these and related questions. This, the first great Conservation Congress, had a wide and beneficial influence on the thought of the world. It profoundly influenced the course of succeed-ing events and, while even yet there are sharp dis-agreements as, to the wisdom of much that has been done in the name of conservation, I believe that thoughtful men, and engineers especially, agree that the time had come when sharp attention was properly called to the waste that accompanied development of our resources. RESOURCES LARGE BUT NOT INEXHAUSTIBLE In 1908 there was a surprisingly large number of men, who should have known better, prepared to argue that our resources are "inexhaustible." No competent mining engineer, of course, believes that, as regards minerals at least. They may be, and, in most cases, fortunately are, large; as to many of them our knowledge is too general to permit measuring the reserves; but we know now, and I think the public appreciates, that there is a limit to our supply of gas, oil, coal, iron, and metals. Indeed, with the inten-sive study made necessary to meet the demands of the war, and the more careful accounting required by the newer systems of taxation, depletion has become a common word, and that mines are wasting assets has become a platitude.

Jan 8, 1922

By F. F. Peng, A. D. Walters, M. R. Geer, J. W. Leonard

INTRODUCTION Washability characteristics derived from float-and-sink analysis in Chapter 4 demonstrate that coal is intrinsically heterogeneous, and this heterogeneity is also evident in the proximate, ultimate, and size analyses. A range of particles from high to low specific gravity is usually seen in the run-of-mine coal. One objective of coal preparation is to recover the high quality float material (the particles of lower specific gravity) such that the recovered product meets certain quality specifications, as well as to reject or recycle low quality particles of higher specific gravity. The maximum recovery of cleaned coal at the required quality is of major concern to plant operators. However, the quantity and quality of products of coal cleaning, determined in the operation of actual commercial cleaning plants and by theoretical calculation based on run-of-mine washability studies, are known to be different with each coal. Therefore, during the last half century, coal preparation engineers have repeatedly sought methods to predict the technical and economical efficiency of separation of cleaning equipment and systems. Many formulas have been proposed by international investigators to evaluate the efficiency of various coal cleaning operations, primarily based on the yield and/or ash of the various products of coal cleaning. Performance criteria in use today are capable of defining all of the important aspects of a given concentrating operation; however each criterion has certain restrictions or limitations. It is important, therefore, to understand how such formulas can be used and the problems involved in their construction. Technical Measure of Plant Performance Conventional means for evaluating a preparation plant's performance are generally approached through the use of equipment performance mea-

Jan 1, 1979

The following list comprises the names of those persons who became. members during the period Oct. 10, 1919, to Nov. 10, 1919. ABELL, 0. J., Pres. & Treas., Abell-Howe Co., 332 South Michigan Ave.; Chicago, Ill. ADAMI, ARTHUR E., Asst. Prof. of Min. Engrg., Montana State School of Mines,Butte, Mont. BASSETT, R. H Chief Engr., Hanna Ore Min. Co., Hibbing, Minn. BOZA, HECTOR J., Cons. Engr., Boza Aizcorbe Hermanos, Box 106, Lima, Peru. BROWN, HAROLD P., Cons. Concrete Engr 120 Liberty St., New York, N. Y. BUCHANAN, W. A Mgr., Meteor Mine, Slocan City, B. C., Canada. CAMERON, JAMES A Supt., Ellsworth Collieries Co., Ellsworth Pa. CARPENTER, CRANSTON HOWE, Electro-Met. Engr., General Engrg. Division, Westinghouse Electric & Mfg. Co., East Pittsburgh, Pa. CASTLETON, GEORGE T Assayer, Custom Office, Box 122, Eureka, Utah. CHAFFIN, C. E., Eastern Mgr., General Engineering Co., 120 Broadway, New York-, N. Y. CLARK, WALTER R., Wks. Mgr., Bridgeport Brass Co., 1875 Park Ave., Bridgeport, Conn. CLARKE, ERNEST E., Min. Engr., Vinegar Hill Zinc Co., 419 S. Court St., Platteville, Wis. COOLIDGE, E. B., Mgr., Spotted Horse Mine, St. Paul Montana Min. Co., Maiden, Mont. CORTELYOU, ARTHUR P., Resident Mgr., Potrero Min Co. Mocorito, Sinaloa, Mexico. COTTINGHAM, KENNETH, Pet. Engr., Halter & Robitaille Delmonico Bldg.,Fifth Ave. & 44th St., New York, N. Y. CREW, J. A Mgr., Research Dept., Pittsburgh Steel Co., Monessen, Pa. CUMMINGS, LISTER M., Efficiency Engr., Copper Queen Branch, Phelps-Dodge Corpn., Box 1539, Bisbee, Ariz. DANFORTH, GEORGE L., JR., Asst. Gen'l Supt., Illinois Steel Co., South Works, South Chicago, Ill.

Jan 12, 1919

By H. W. Montz

THE problem of surface support in coal mining is naturally divided into three branches: 1. Surface covered with improvements of such value as compared with the value of the underlying coal, or with such elements of danger to mining, that absolute support is essential. 2. Surface with improvements of less value than the underlying coal such that moderate settlement may be permitted, but destructive settlement must be avoided, either by reason of danger to human life or unwarranted property damage. 3. Surface of relatively small value as compared with the underlying coal where destructive settlement may be permitted. First Problem In the first case it is evident that the original support must be maintained either (a) by leaving ample pillars and confining the coal recovery to a very conservative first mining, (b) by so supporting less conservative first mining by filling or flushing that the gradual deterioration of the pillars may be prevented and subsidence avoided, or (c) by incompressible support as masonry either as an adjunct to insufficient pillars or in place of the original coal support. a. From tests made by the Scranton Engineers Club, it appears safe to figure on 2000 lb. per sq. in. as the safe squeezing strength of coal pillars in place, provided that these are, as usual, not higher than their least horizontal dimension; and from this figure the percentage of pillar to be left for various depths may be easily calculated. For safety in this

Jan 1, 1928

By Sylvain J. Pirson

The number of seismograph field crews employed in the active survey of potential oil territories is still on the increase, owing to the ever pending threat of a shortage in the supply of crude oil. It is to be expected that for years to come the seismograph will be responsible for discovering many new oil fields, both in wildcat territories and in deeper formations, and that the seismographic campaign will go on unabated. Yet improvements in instrumental design, in the field and interpretative techniques, are brought about year after year, and lead to the reshooting of areas many times surveyed previously. Notwithstanding the experience gained by the past eight years of active work in reflection seismographic surveys, the results given by this method of mapping deep formations have in many instances been at variance with the information subsequently obtained by the drill. To overcome this shortcoming, geophysicists have used closer spacing of the shot points and closer control of the depth points. The method discussed here is being used actively in the Mid-Continent region and endeavors to reduce the interpretation work to a mere mechanical technique, leaving as little as possible to the opinion of the interpreter. The New Method Field Technique.—In sectionized territory where country roads are available every mile, shot points are preferably located every 1/4 mile when six detectors are available or every % mile when eight detectors are at hand. The disposition of individual spreads is represented on Fig. I; in each case a shot point is located at the section corners. Fig. 2a represents the layout of a spread between shot points, the vibration detectors being preferably equidistantly located. Normally in the 1/4-mile control, the distance between shot points is 1320 ft. and the distance between detectors 220 ft. When shooting from shot point S.P. I, detectors 1 to 6 are connected to the recording galvanometers and detector 0 (which indicates the vertical travel time of the wave corre-

Jan 1, 1940

By Sylvain J. Pirson

The number of seismograph field crews employed in the active survey of potential oil territories is still on the increase, owing to the ever pending threat of a shortage in the supply of crude oil. It is to be expected that for years to come the seismograph will be responsible for discovering many new oil fields, both in wildcat territories and in deeper formations, and that the seismographic campaign will go on unabated. Yet improvements in instrumental design, in the field and interpretative techniques, are brought about year after year, and lead to the reshooting of areas many times surveyed previously. Notwithstanding the experience gained by the past eight years of active work in reflection seismographic surveys, the results given by this method of mapping deep formations have in many instances been at variance with the information subsequently obtained by the drill. To overcome this shortcoming, geophysicists have used closer spacing of the shot points and closer control of the depth points. The method discussed here is being used actively in the Mid-Continent region and endeavors to reduce the interpretation work to a mere mechanical technique, leaving as little as possible to the opinion of the interpreter. The New Method Field Technique.—In sectionized territory where country roads are available every mile, shot points are preferably located every 1/4 mile when six detectors are available or every % mile when eight detectors are at hand. The disposition of individual spreads is represented on Fig. I; in each case a shot point is located at the section corners. Fig. 2a represents the layout of a spread between shot points, the vibration detectors being preferably equidistantly located. Normally in the 1/4-mile control, the distance between shot points is 1320 ft. and the distance between detectors 220 ft. When shooting from shot point S.P. I, detectors 1 to 6 are connected to the recording galvanometers and detector 0 (which indicates the vertical travel time of the wave corre-

Jan 1, 1940

By R. E. Somers

1. INTRODUCTION 1. Location, Topography, and Climate The Burro Mountains are located in the southwestern part of New Mexico, in Grant County. The group is made up of two distinct moun-tain masses, known as the Little Burros and the Big Burros, the former lying about 6 miles southwest of Silver City-, and the latter about 9 miles farther in the same direction. They are separated by the valley of the Mangas River, a tributary of the Gila, and a stream only in name, except after a heavy down-pour of rain. . The Little Burros attain an elevation of 6,625 ft. above sea level, and the Big Burros 8,054 ft., with the surrounding country averaging about 6,000 ft. To the south of these mountains stretches the desert plain, while to the north are the more frequent elevations of the mountainous country.

Jan 5, 1915