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By H. R. Banks

PONDERING the action of a ball mill employed to carry on comminution from the product of fine crushing to the point where flotation, cyanidation or other concentrating methods are applicable, one wonders where this machine had its origin. When Henry Wadsworth Longfellow reiterated the observation of that older poet Von Logau, and wrote “Tho’ the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small," he probably visualized the type of mill that was employed in medieval times for the production of flour, and can therefore not be considered as having gained admittance to the fraternity of millmen, on behalf of, either poet. He does, however, make it quite clear that the efficiency of even these Mills of Destiny was low, and to that extent voices a characteristic of fine-grinding equipment that has been the bugbear of all metallurgical engineers. PRINCIPLE OF BALL MILL The principle of the ball mill probably is traceable to the action along the coast line of oceans or lakes, or in the mountain streams. Wave action on rocks and pebbles, close to the shore line, gives the potential energy to the grinding media, which, in their rolling and tossing, break down the sands, and the resultant "pulp" carried out from the shore is classified and settles out in sizes ranging downward to extremely fine mesh. Surely, these are the real mills of God. If we allow our minds to dwell on the total tonnage that has been handled in this way, adding to the sands and clays at present in existence those enormous tonnages of metamorphosed sedimentaries, we sense the vast quantity of rock that has been so reduced. Is it not likely, therefore, that the answer to the beginnings of pebble milling, and eventually ball milling, came through the perception of this natural mill by one of our engineering forebears? METHODS OF GRINDING The relatively low return of mechanical input to a ball mill, in terms of useful work accomplished, has always intrigued me immensely. The potential energy absorbed by a ball raised to a high point in its path is apparently released with a very small return in useful work. Is the ball mill the most desirable means of fine grinding, or is there some other method through which we can recover a reasonable amount of the energy input in terms of useful work? Some years ago, on his retirement, H. W. Hardinge was questioned as to his thoughts on the trend of fine-grinding equipment. As I recall, his prophecy at that time was that the most likely field for improvement in grinding media would be toward a charge of flat disks with some mechanical scheme to cause them to slide over each other. Undoubtedly, Mr. Hardinge went through the usual experience of the muller and bucking board, the customary introduction of the budding millman to his calling. I have often wondered, but have never got beyond the wondering stage, as to the

Jan 1, 1945

By H. R. Banks

Pondering the action of a ball mill employed to carry on comminution from the product of fine crushing to the point where flotation, cyanidation or other concentrating methods are applicable, one wonders where this machine had its origin. When Henry Wadsworth Longfellow reiterated the observation of that older poet Von Logau, and wrote "Tho' the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small," he probably visualized the type of mill that was employed in medieval times for the production of flour, and can therefore not be considered as having gained admittance to the fraternity of millmen, on behalf of either poet. He does, however, make it quite clear that the efficiency of even these Mills of Destiny was low, and to that extent voices a characteristic of fine-grinding equipment that has been the bugbear of all metallurgical engineers. Principle of Ball Mill The principle of the ball mill probably is traceable to the action along the coast line of oceans or lakes, or in the mountain streams. Wave action on rocks and pebbles, close to the shore line, gives the potential energy to the grinding media, which, in their rolling and tossing, break down the sands, and the resultant "pulp" carried out from the shore is classified and settles out in sizes ranging downward to extremely he mesh. Surely, these are the real mills of God. If we allow our minds to dwell on the total tonnage that has been handled in this way, adding to the sands and clays at present in existence those enormous tonnages of metamorphosed sedimentaries we sense the vast quantity of rock that has been so reduced. Is it not likely, therefore, that the answer to the beginnings of pebble milling, and eventually ball milling, came through the perception of this natural mill by one of our engineering forebears? Methods of Grinding The relatively low return of mechanical input to a ball mill, in terms of useful work accomplished, has always intrigued me immensely. The potential energy absorbed by a ball raised to a high point in its path is apparently released with a very small return in useful work. Is the ball mill the most desirable means of he grinding, or is there some other method through which we can recover a reasonable amount of the energy input in terms of useful work? Some years ago, on his retirement, H. W. Hardinge was questioned as to his thoughts on the trend of fine-grinding equipment. As I recall, his prophecy at that time was that the most likely field for improvement in grinding media would be toward a charge of flat disks with some mechanical scheme to cause them to slide over each other. Undoubtedly, Mr. Hardinge went through the usual experience of the muller and bucking board, the customary introduction of the budding millman to his calling. I have often wondered, but have never got beyond the wondering stage, as to the

Jan 1, 1947

By H. R. Banks

Pondering the action of a ball mill employed to carry on comminution from the product of fine crushing to the point where flotation, cyanidation or other concentrating methods are applicable, one wonders where this machine had its origin. When Henry Wadsworth Longfellow reiterated the observation of that older poet Von Logau, and wrote "Tho' the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small," he probably visualized the type of mill that was employed in medieval times for the production of flour, and can therefore not be considered as having gained admittance to the fraternity of millmen, on behalf of either poet. He does, however, make it quite clear that the efficiency of even these Mills of Destiny was low, and to that extent voices a characteristic of fine-grinding equipment that has been the bugbear of all metallurgical engineers. Principle of Ball Mill The principle of the ball mill probably is traceable to the action along the coast line of oceans or lakes, or in the mountain streams. Wave action on rocks and pebbles, close to the shore line, gives the potential energy to the grinding media, which, in their rolling and tossing, break down the sands, and the resultant "pulp" carried out from the shore is classified and settles out in sizes ranging downward to extremely he mesh. Surely, these are the real mills of God. If we allow our minds to dwell on the total tonnage that has been handled in this way, adding to the sands and clays at present in existence those enormous tonnages of metamorphosed sedimentaries we sense the vast quantity of rock that has been so reduced. Is it not likely, therefore, that the answer to the beginnings of pebble milling, and eventually ball milling, came through the perception of this natural mill by one of our engineering forebears? Methods of Grinding The relatively low return of mechanical input to a ball mill, in terms of useful work accomplished, has always intrigued me immensely. The potential energy absorbed by a ball raised to a high point in its path is apparently released with a very small return in useful work. Is the ball mill the most desirable means of he grinding, or is there some other method through which we can recover a reasonable amount of the energy input in terms of useful work? Some years ago, on his retirement, H. W. Hardinge was questioned as to his thoughts on the trend of fine-grinding equipment. As I recall, his prophecy at that time was that the most likely field for improvement in grinding media would be toward a charge of flat disks with some mechanical scheme to cause them to slide over each other. Undoubtedly, Mr. Hardinge went through the usual experience of the muller and bucking board, the customary introduction of the budding millman to his calling. I have often wondered, but have never got beyond the wondering stage, as to the

Jan 1, 1947

By W. G. Fischer, S. R. Felde

Trona ore at the Westvaco, Wyo., mine of FMC Corp. has been obtained by room-and-pillar methods since the mine began operation. The flat- lying, 10-ft thick trona (Na2CO3.NaHCO3.2H2O) is covered by 1500 ft of weak shale and sandstone, and extraction of pillars on the retreat quite often throws large amounts of weight onto development workings. Weak shales in the roof and floor fail rapidly, and the mine ribs slough to such an extent that mining often becomes very difficult. When this occurs, efficiency goes down, costs go up, and the risk to men and machinery increases greatly. Difficult mining conditions in the early '60s forced a re-evaluation of all presently known mining techniques in bedded deposits. Many room-and-pillar mining plans were compared with the system in use at that time, but none of them offered a better solution to the roof control problem. Longwall techniques were also seriously considered, but machinery was not available that would cut the hard trona seam and still maintain the productivity obtained from room-and-pillar sections. However, since roof control in the longwall methods appeared to be more satisfactory than that found in room-and-pillar techniques it was believed that a new technique using the longwall principle and based on rock mechanics should be tried rather than previously known pillaring methods.

Jan 4, 1966

By Leonard Larson

Before direct or wet smelting of copper concentrate was adopted at the McGill smelter, in November 1932, actual furnace smelting tests had indicated the possibility of smelting between 400 and 500 dry tons of wet concentrate per furnace day. Under calcine smelting practice, solid charge up to 116; tons per furnace day had been smelted. It was realized that in order to smelt wet tonnage in equivalent amount per furnace day, a higher combustion rate and higher temperatures would be necessary within the furnace. The reverberatory furnace considered in the following history of wet-smelting developments is a unit rz7 ft. long and 28 ft. 8 in. wide, inside dimensions (Fig. I). This furnace was in operation through all the years from 1934 to date. During 1933, the first complete year of direct or wet smelting, the plant was on a curtailed copper-production basis and the available concentrate tonnage to be smelted was limited. The average coal-firing rate in the reverberatory for that year was 124 tons per furnace day. This rate was lower than the average for years immediately preceding under calcine smelting practice. With this coal-firing rate, an average of 391 tons of new metal-bearing material (N.M.B.M.) was smelted per furnace day. The following year, 1934, the coal-firing rate was increased to 139 tons and the smelting rate increased to 448 tons N.M.B.M. per fur- nace day. In succeeding years production required that either more tonnage be smelted in the one furnace or an additional furnace be placed in operation. With this situation confronting the smelting department, it was determined to continue the program of increasing the coal-firing rate and also to intensify the temperature in the smelting zone of the furnace. In order to accoinplish this, various improvements were made to aid combustion within the furnace. The burners were enlarged, increased primary air was supplied to the burners, and changes were made in the furnace to enlarge and streamline the outlet, thus increasing the furnace draft. The coal-firing rate was increased yearly until 1937 when the firing rate averaged 210 tons per furnace day. Thereafter the firing rate fluctuated according to character of charge and production requirements. In general, however, with the same character of charge the smelting rate increased in almost direct proportion to the increases in firing rate. Table I shows the average coal-firing rate, smelting rate, and other pertinent data for the direct-smelting years of 1933 to 1939 inclusive, the first fivc months of 1940 and May 1940. These figures show that the water evaporated in the waste-heat boilers was in almost direct proportion to the coal-firing rate. In making comparisons in the table, it should be borne in mind that the figures, except for May 1940, are yearly averages. Because of changes in character of charge or operating conditions, records for individual days or even months

Jan 1, 1944

By Russell Franks, W. O. Binder

In recent years a considerable tonnage of the 18 per cent chromium and 8 per cent nickel steels has been used in lightweight high-strength structures that must be resistant to deterioration under atmospheric conditions. These steels are austenitic in character and their strength can best be increased by cold-working. Although a marked increase in tensile strength is obtained, claims have been made that the cold-worked steels do not possess fully satisfactory elastic propertics. Under certain conditions, however, this has caused no great concern, because, as explained by Ragsdale,1,2 he cold-rolled steels have been widely applied for construction of lightweight, high-strength trains using spot welding for joining purposes. Ffield3 agrees that the ease with which thin sections of the cold-rolled 18-8 steels can be joined by spot welding is greatly in their favor, but that they would be more satisfactory if higher elastic properties and a higher modulus of elasticity could be obtained. He states that, as far as the mechanical properties are concerned, the straight chromium stainless steel is superior to the cold-worked 18-8 steel, and in order to illustrate, he prcsented the data of Fig. 1, which also give a stress-strain curve for a low-carbon 13 per cent Cr steel. Ffield† proposed that columbium-bearing or titanium-bearing cold-rolled 18-8 steels be given a heat-treatment (preferably for 1 hr.) in the range 400" to 600°C. to precipitate carbides in order to obtain better mechanical properties. Discussions by Sutton,4,5 de Ganahl,6,7,8 Krivobok and Lincoln,' Knerr,l0 and Thaden11 have given further information on the properties of the cold-rolled 18-8 steels compared with other materials used in lightweight, high-strength structures. These investigators and others point out that the ultimate tensile strength of the cold-rolled 18-8 steel can be increased to 200,000 lb. per sq. in. or higher; Krivobok et al. indicate that

Jan 1, 1940

By Russell Franks, W. O. Binder

In recent years a considerable tonnage of the 18 per cent chromium and 8 per cent nickel steels has been used in lightweight high-strength structures that must be resistant to deterioration under atmospheric conditions. These steels are austenitic in character and their strength can best be increased by cold-working. Although a marked increase in tensile strength is obtained, claims have been made that the cold-worked steels do not possess fully satisfactory elastic propertics. Under certain conditions, however, this has caused no great concern, because, as explained by Ragsdale,1,2 he cold-rolled steels have been widely applied for construction of lightweight, high-strength trains using spot welding for joining purposes. Ffield3 agrees that the ease with which thin sections of the cold-rolled 18-8 steels can be joined by spot welding is greatly in their favor, but that they would be more satisfactory if higher elastic properties and a higher modulus of elasticity could be obtained. He states that, as far as the mechanical properties are concerned, the straight chromium stainless steel is superior to the cold-worked 18-8 steel, and in order to illustrate, he prcsented the data of Fig. 1, which also give a stress-strain curve for a low-carbon 13 per cent Cr steel. Ffield† proposed that columbium-bearing or titanium-bearing cold-rolled 18-8 steels be given a heat-treatment (preferably for 1 hr.) in the range 400" to 600°C. to precipitate carbides in order to obtain better mechanical properties. Discussions by Sutton,4,5 de Ganahl,6,7,8 Krivobok and Lincoln,' Knerr,l0 and Thaden11 have given further information on the properties of the cold-rolled 18-8 steels compared with other materials used in lightweight, high-strength structures. These investigators and others point out that the ultimate tensile strength of the cold-rolled 18-8 steel can be increased to 200,000 lb. per sq. in. or higher; Krivobok et al. indicate that

Jan 1, 1940

The 118th, meeting of the Institute, which has been arranged primarily for the benefit of the Institute of Metals Division and of those members who are particularly interested in iron and steel, will be held in the Milwaukee Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wis., on Oct. 8 to 11, 1918. This date has been selected because at that time, and at the same place, the American Foundrymen's Association and the American Malleable Castings Association will hold meetings. A notable exhibit of metallurgical and mechanical processes and products, at which over 165 firms will be represented, has been arranged in Machinery Hall, of the Auditorium Building. Wherever practicable, the machinery will be in operation. The program of the Institute's sessions was published in Bulletin 141. A special announcement of the meeting, together with a program of the sessions of the American Foundrymen's Association, has been mailed to every member who was thought to be directly interested in the meeting. A report of the meeting-and of the discussion of papers will be printed in the December Bulletin.

Jan 10, 1918

By Francis J. Dennis

(San Francisco Meeting, October, 1911.) MANY factors govern the value of dredging-ground, and much capital can be wasted by the mistaken policy of contracting for the purchase of property and the installation of machinery before a thorough, examination has been made. To the uninitiated investor the presence of gold is generally the criterion,, and very superficial evidence is necessary to satisfy him as to this point. He considers the comprehensive report of a competent engineer as a wasteful extravagance and cannot understand why the engineer requires so much time and money to ascertain the information on which to base his conclusions, when the promoter can furnish him such pleasing and satisfactory data with but little expenditure of time and money. The uninitiated investor will often optimistically risk capital for purchase and equipment, and not until the venture comes to grief does he learn that the conditions are wholly unsuited for dredging. In many instances, a short preliminary examination by a competent engineer would have disclosed these facts. The mere presence of gold is by no means sufficient; some of the other factors necessary to be ascertained in determining the value of placer-ground for dredging-purposes are : (1) character and distribution of gold, and how much can economically be recovered; (2) character of bedding underlying the gravel, its contour, and whether its gold can be recovered by ordinary dredging-operations; (3) area and depths of gravel, surface contour, over-burden, water-level, proportion of fine material and boulders, and the presence of any material which might interfere with the dredging-operations and the recovery of the gold; (4) water-supply, power available, labor, transportation, and supplies, and cost of these ; (5) climatic condi-tions; (6) title to property, cost and royalties, and legal obstacles to carrying on dredging-operations. A brief reconnaissance may be sufficient to determine that some of the essential conditions for successful dredging are

Apr 1, 1912

By AIME AIME

On Nov. 11, 1909, M. Alexandre Pourcel, of Paris, France, upon the proposal of a large number of distinguished members, and the unanimous recommendation of the Council, was elected by the Board of Directors an Honorary Member of the Institute. M. Pourcel has devoted forty-three years to the metallurgy of iron and steel ; and the work which he did between thirty and forty years ago constitutes an important part of the founda¬tion of the practice of to-day. Among his striking contribu¬tions are : (1) his perfection, in 1869, of the manufacture of high-grade ferro-manganese in a carbon-lined open-hearth furnace, instead of the costly crucibles previously used; (2) his discovery, in 1874, of the method of making solid steel cast¬ings; (3) his manufacture, in 1875, of ferro-manganese and silico-spiegel in the blast-furnace; and (4) his anticipation, in 1875, of modern American blast-furnace practice, by the pro¬duction, in a very small furnace, of Bessemer pig containing 2.5 per cent. of silicon, from a burden yielding only 46 per cent. of iron, and with a consumption, per ton of pig, of only 1,8401b. of coke, containing 15 per cent. of ash. These brilliant pioneer achievements, together with his contributions to cur¬rent technical literature, won for him the Bessemer gold medal of the Iron and Steel Institute ; the great" medal of honor," which is the highest award of the French Society of Mineral Industry, and other gold medals, as well as the distinction of honorary membership of the Comité des Forges de France, which was conferred upon him in 1891. In recent years, M. Pourcel has been instrumental, as consulting engineer of the Société de Commentry-Fourchambault, at Decazeville, France, in an extraordinary development of the manufacture of special steels. The Invar plant, of this company, is said to make a greater variety of such steels (includ-

Dec 1, 1909

By AIME AIME

MOTHER example of the broad field that is covered by the mining industry is the recent erection by the Phelps Dodge Corp. of a modern hospital building at Douglas, Ariz., and an identical one at the rejuvenated mining town of Morenci. Managers of even small mining properties are often called upon to build schools, houses, stores, maybe a jail, and provide sanitary arrangements, possibly the while acting as mayor of the town. Those who direct larger properties may have to build hospitals, as in the present instance, construct sewage disposal plants, and sometimes even build and manage railroads. A mining camp achieves its reputation among mining men not entirely by the grade or amount of its ore, or the skill of the operating staff in mining and milling it at a profit-the operation soon acquires a reputation as either a desirable or an undesirable place to live, regardless of its remoteness from what is euphemistically termed civilization. Such a community is indeed fortunate if it can boast of a good hospital.

Jan 1, 1940

By Porter W. Shimer

The device here described has been found useful in sampling foundry-iron, and there is no reason why it should not be equally useful in sampling other metals, which are not too hard to be drilled with a breast-drill. It consists, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, of an ordinary plumber's gas T (without bead) of about 1/2-inch in internal diameter, over the leg of which is snugly fitted a small tin cup, about If inches deep, to catch the drillings which are made by use of a breast-drill with a 1/4-inch twist bit, working through the arms of the T. The forward arm of the T is filed down to a blunt edge, over which is stretched a short piece of rubber tubing projecting a little beyond the end. The bottom of the inside of the front arm of the ? is filed down to a slope, to facilitate the passage of drillings into the tin cup. The rear arm of the T is fitted with a tin ring, projecting about 1/4-inch, for the purpose of holding in place a stiff spiral brass spring, which serves to press the sampler firmly against the metal to be drilled. The other end of the spring is supported against a shoulder of the breastdrill. The projecting rubber prevents the loss of any drillings, and also the falling of sand from above into the sampler. With ordinary care there need be no risk of getting particles of rubber into the sample. It is, of course, not possible to get a fair average sample of drillings, representing a pile of foundry-iron, by taking drillings from any one or two pieces, because of the frequently mixed character of the iron. This observation applies more particularly to the sampling of iron as it is broken and piled at the foundry, than to sampling at the works, where, if the furnace is working regularly, a few pigs may fairly represent a whole cast. By the use of this device, it is possible for a sampler to pass

Jan 1, 1901

By E. A. Anderson

THE copper-zinc phase equilibrium diagram has been the sub-ject of many investigations. Until recently, however, the boundary of the terminal solid solution of copper in zinc (eta) has not been thoroughly investigated. This paper reports determinations of the solid solubility of copper in zinc at temperatures from 100° to 400° C., the course of the liquidus and solidus for the eta solid solution and determinations of the peritectic temperature and peritectic point for the reaction between epsilon and the melt to form eta. The liquidus of the eta phase was determined by thermal analysis and the solidus by the microscopical examination of specimens quenched from temperatures above and below the solidus. The temperature of the peritectic horizontal was obtained by thermal analysis and the com-position at the peritectic point was determined by extrapolation of the solid solubility boundary of the eta phase to the peritectic horizontal. The solid solubility boundary of the eta solid solution was investigated very carefully. Particular care was used to achieve equilibrium in the alloys at each temperature selected. The X-ray, electrical con-ductivity and microscopical methods were used in determining the solid solubility limits. The X-ray method measures the changes in the solvent lattice with increasing solute content and in this manner locates the composition of the alloy at which no further change in the solvent lattice takes place, the limit of solid solubility. The method of electrical conductivity measures the conductivity of the alloys of a graded series of compositions, whereby the solubility limit is indicated by a discontinuity in the conductivity-

Jan 1, 1934

By Leo Behr

RECENT years have seen important practical advances in the construction of recording instruments for use with thermocouples. The difficulties of the problem will be appreciated when it is remembered that a 10° F. change in temperature of a base-metal couple at 1500° means a change in the electromotive force of about 0.00035 volt. In a circuit having a resistance of 350 ohms, this means a change in the current of 0.00000,1 amp.; and despite this requirement of great sensitivity the instruments must be sufficiently robust to withstand the rough usage which is so often their lot. Two methods are in common use for the measurement of the electromotive force produced by a thermocouple: 1. The milliammeter method, in which the current produced by the thermocouple in a circuit of known resistance is measured and from. this the electromotive force is deduced by Ohm's law. 2. The potentiometer method in which a known potential difference is opposed to the thermocouple electromotive force. The use of thermocouple and milliammeter for measuring temperature introduces some possible sources of error, for the reading depends on a number of factors, including the following: (1) Electromotive force set up at the hot junction, (2) electromotive force set up at the cold junction, (3) resistance of the circuit including thermocouple, lead wires, and meter, (4) field strength of magnets, (5) strength of controlling springs in meter, (6) friction at pivots, of pointer on paper, etc. It is obviously necessary to so design and maintain the installation that the reading is independent of all the factors except the first. The electromotive force set up at the cold junction can easily be taken care of provided it is constant. This has been approximately accomplished by burying the cold junction in the ground or actually secured by locating it in a container, the temperature of which is kept constant by means of a thermostat.

Jan 9, 1919

By W. R. Davis

This paper presents a sunimary of the results of a study of the Dornick Hills-Springer sand reservoir of the Velma Pool. Stephens County, Oklahoma. The data are of interest because this type of reservoir is unusual in the mid-continent area. The reservoir is characterized by very steep dips and a relatively thick producing section. Its up-dip productive limit is defined by truncation of the productive sands, and the down-dip limit is defined by deterioration of sand quality rather than by the presence of an oil-water contact. The crude oil is of 29" API gravity, is relatively viscous and was saturated with dissolved gas at the original reservoir pressure. Consideratiqn of the physical characteristics of the reservoir indicates that natural water encroachment will be negligible, and that the producing mechanism will be a dissolved gas drive augmented by gravity drainage. Performance to date tends to confirm this. INTRODUCTION It is the purpose of this paper to present some of the features of the Dor-nick Hills - Springer sand reservoir which are unusual in mid-continent operations. The study was undertaken in an attempt to define the producing mechanism or mechanisms that will control reservoir performance, as an aid in determining well completion and production practices. GEOLOGY The reservoir under consideration is a series of sand bodies of Pennsylva-nian age found in the Lower Dornick Hills and/or Springer formations. For the purpose of this paper, the sand series is referred to as the Dornick Hills-Springer sand. This sand series lies on the northeast flank of the Velma anticline, and dips very sharply to the northeast in TWP 1S-5W, the average dip being about 45º. However, as shown in Fig. 1. the trend of the pool swings eastward in TWP 1S-4W with a coincident de- crease in dip angle. In this portion of the pool the average dip is about 25". Faults in Sections 30-1S-4W and 32-1S-4W are shown in Fig. 1. These faults show only minor displacements for the horizon contoured in Fig. 1, but they do show a pronounced displacement of the immediately overlying beds. Similar faults are thought to exist in TWP 1S-5W; however, since the detailed geological studies necessary to properly define these faults were not available to the author, no attempt to show them in Fig. 1 has been made. The up-dip productive limit throughout the pool is determined by the truncation of the Lower Dornick Hills-Springer sand. The down-dip productive limit does not appear to be defined by edge water, but by a gradual reduction in permeability of the sands. No dry hole has produced a significant volume of water from this sand section. There was a small gas cap in TWP 1S-5W. Most of the wells in TWP 1S-SW encountered an oil sand 70 ft to 150 ft thick, a shale 20 ft to 80 ft thick, and another oil sand 50 ft to 130 ft thick. A few scattered wells in this area encountered other and bodies below these

Jan 1, 1951

By W. R. Davis

This paper presents a sunimary of the results of a study of the Dornick Hills-Springer sand reservoir of the Velma Pool. Stephens County, Oklahoma. The data are of interest because this type of reservoir is unusual in the mid-continent area. The reservoir is characterized by very steep dips and a relatively thick producing section. Its up-dip productive limit is defined by truncation of the productive sands, and the down-dip limit is defined by deterioration of sand quality rather than by the presence of an oil-water contact. The crude oil is of 29" API gravity, is relatively viscous and was saturated with dissolved gas at the original reservoir pressure. Consideratiqn of the physical characteristics of the reservoir indicates that natural water encroachment will be negligible, and that the producing mechanism will be a dissolved gas drive augmented by gravity drainage. Performance to date tends to confirm this. INTRODUCTION It is the purpose of this paper to present some of the features of the Dor-nick Hills - Springer sand reservoir which are unusual in mid-continent operations. The study was undertaken in an attempt to define the producing mechanism or mechanisms that will control reservoir performance, as an aid in determining well completion and production practices. GEOLOGY The reservoir under consideration is a series of sand bodies of Pennsylva-nian age found in the Lower Dornick Hills and/or Springer formations. For the purpose of this paper, the sand series is referred to as the Dornick Hills-Springer sand. This sand series lies on the northeast flank of the Velma anticline, and dips very sharply to the northeast in TWP 1S-5W, the average dip being about 45º. However, as shown in Fig. 1. the trend of the pool swings eastward in TWP 1S-4W with a coincident de- crease in dip angle. In this portion of the pool the average dip is about 25". Faults in Sections 30-1S-4W and 32-1S-4W are shown in Fig. 1. These faults show only minor displacements for the horizon contoured in Fig. 1, but they do show a pronounced displacement of the immediately overlying beds. Similar faults are thought to exist in TWP 1S-5W; however, since the detailed geological studies necessary to properly define these faults were not available to the author, no attempt to show them in Fig. 1 has been made. The up-dip productive limit throughout the pool is determined by the truncation of the Lower Dornick Hills-Springer sand. The down-dip productive limit does not appear to be defined by edge water, but by a gradual reduction in permeability of the sands. No dry hole has produced a significant volume of water from this sand section. There was a small gas cap in TWP 1S-5W. Most of the wells in TWP 1S-SW encountered an oil sand 70 ft to 150 ft thick, a shale 20 ft to 80 ft thick, and another oil sand 50 ft to 130 ft thick. A few scattered wells in this area encountered other and bodies below these

Jan 1, 1951

By Roman Y. Poderny, Vladimir V. Rjevskii

In the USSR, the Moscow Institute of Radio Electronics tronics and Mining Electro-Mechanics (MIRGEM) has started what it hopes will become a nationwide movement to educate mining students in the precise specialties that industry has come to require. Courses for mining engineers, the MIRGEM faculty proposes, should dovetail as exactly as possible with specific jobs available in the mining profession. Acting upon this thesis, MIRGEM revised its own curriculum in 1962 and has since presented an over-all plan for Soviet mining education before two mining school conferences as well as the Ministry of Higher Education and a number of major Soviet industrial ministries. The plan was universally approved with some suggested revisions. SOVIET MINING EDUCATION TODAY At present, mining education in the Soviet Union covers the exploitation of solid minerals and raw materials, including coal as well as ferrous and nonferrous metals. The extraction, storage, and refining of oil and gas is treated as a separate discipline. In all, there are 33 Soviet universities and institutes that train mining engineers for careers in the industrial, research and educational fields.

Jan 9, 1966

New equipment for seabed sampling, presently at the prototype stage, operates on the principle of diamond core drilling with wire line core barrels and is designed to drill cores from the seabed at depths down to 200 m with a continuous recovery of cores from an attendant vessel. The machine operates on the seabed by remote control from a console on the vessel. Neither installation nor operation requires the use of divers. Principal Applications Principal areas of application for the drill which is dubbed Maricor include investigation drilling in the continental shelf, mapping geological conditions before large drilling platforms are installed and exploring proposed undersea tunnel routes.

Jan 11, 1973

By E. J. Hall

(Butte Meeting, August, 1913.) THE iron-nail method of assaying has been used for a number of years, but has not met with the approval of all assayers. The method possesses advantages which may be given as follows : (1) no preliminary treatment is required ; (2) a lead button of proper size can be obtained (3) it is economical. On, the other hand, it has its disadvantages, which may be summed up as follows: (1) it is not applicable to ores containing large amounts of impurities other than sulphur, as practically all the base metals will contaminate the lead button ; (2) the slag is unsatisfactory in the larger number of fusions; (3) the method was known to give low silver results under certain conditions and the gold results were questionable. It was with the idea of determining the extent of this latter disadvantage that the following investigation was undertaken. It is well known that the fusion obtained in the lend assay is far more satisfactory than that in the " nails method " for gold and silver. The principal difference in the charges as a class is the presence of considerable reducing agent in the lead charge, and a limited oxidizing action in the nails charge, due to PbO. The possibility of improving the nails fusion by simulating the lead charge was the reason for using argol in some tests, even though there were reasons for expecting this would have -au objectionable effect on the results.

Jan 6, 1913

By John C. McDonald

This report is a continuation of an earlier one with a similar titlell to which the reader is referred for such details of procedure as do not appear here. A brief summary will be given of the objects and methods of the research at this time. It was pointed out in the previous paper that properties of magnesium alloys, as reported by different workers, often differ. This was thought to be due to differences in the preparation of the specimens tested. The ideal way to compare alloys would be to prepare each of them in so many ways that reasonable assurance would exist that the best properties of each alloy had been developed. The alloys would then be compared on the basis of these properties. The treatment actually given the alloys of these studies is necessarily a compromise with completeness. Nevertheless, enough treatments have been given so that a considerable degree of assurance exists that the properties obtained are representative of the alloy as such, and not merely of the manner in which it was worked and heat-treated. Procedure The alloys were cast in the form of cylindrical ingots, which were extruded into bar before being rolled. Some of the ingots were made in 2-in. diameter molds whereas all of the alloys of the previous paper were cast in 4.in. molds. For the larger ingots, the extruded bar was 2 by 0.140 in.; lor the 2-in. ingots, it was I by 0.100 in. Preliminary work indicated that strip rolled from both sizes of the bars would have substantially the same properties. The bar was rolled at some temperature in the range 400' to 800°F., for a total reduction of 50 per cent. The temperature and reduction per pass were so selected that no cold cracking occurred, but were such as to leave the metal in a semihard condition. The hot-rolled metal was annealed at several temperatures in the range 400' to 800°F.; it was also cold-rolled, and given solution and aging treatments. Two standard test bars corresponding to each treatment were pulled in tension, and the average was obtained. Twelve treatments, in all, were given each alloy. The properties of the annealed specimen having the highest percentage of elongation were selected to represent the alloy in the annealed condition. The properties of the cold-rolled specimen having the highest yield strength were selected to represent the alloy in the cold-rolled condition. These properties were then plotted against percentage composition by analysis. Smooth curves were drawn among the points, thus graphically averaging the results over the entire range studied. The percentage of elongation in the cold-rolled state was not plotted, since it was always low, and varied in an irregular manner with composition. Alloys Studied Magnesium-calcium Alloys.—Fig. I presents the results on the alloys of the rnag-

Jan 1, 1941