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By R. T. Keyes, R. B. Clay, L. L. Udy, V. O. Cook, M. A. Cook

Based on compressibility and stress wave velocity in rock, initial explosive loading conditions, the thermochemistry of the explosive and reasonable description of the pressure-distance relations behind the shock front, the distribution of energy between the products of detonation and the burden are estimated as a function of time for various loading conditions. These include 'powder factor', loading density A (fraction of borehole occupied by explosive), and the explosive itself. Factors responsible for rock fragmentation are discussed in terms of: 1) 'release wave fracturing', 2) 'shear wave fracturing', and 3) 'release of loading fracturing' or 'rock bursting'. Release wave fracturing appears to occur only in the immediate vicinity of free faces, and shear wave fracturing only adjacent to the borehole under normal blasting conditions. Rock bursting is thus considered to be the most important means of rock fracturing in blasting. Means for maximizing it are considered. The most important factors to consider include maximum available energy A, explosive density p1, loading density A and 'powder factor'. Maximum efficiency is attained in general by maximizing the A . p1 product. This is achieved by using high density explosives at a loading density of unity (A = 1.0). Ways for achieving this condition are discussed. The bulk-handled aluminized slurry blasting agents have the desired properties for achieving optimum conditions for high blasting efficiency based on the theory outlined herein. Factors considered most important in the blasting of rock are: 1) The maximum available energy A, determined by the heat of explosion Q and the mechanical efficiency ?, a factor intimately associated with the mode of application (A = Q at highest gas concentrations). 2) The 'borehole pressure', pb, or the maximum pressure developed in the borehole after passage of the detonation wave and before the burden has had time to move or become compressed appreciably. (Owing to the short duration of the detonation wave at any particular point in the borehole, the fact that the explosive may not always fill the borehole completely and the further fact that the burden may not actually see the detonation pressure, the borehole pressure is considered more significant than the detonation pressure p2 as a performance factor in borehole blasting.) The borehole pressure is determined by the explosion or adiabatic pressure, p3 , and the loading density, A, or the fraction of the borehole filled by explosive. 3) The physical conditions important in the application of the explosive are: a) The 'powder factor,' (We/Wr), or the ratio of the wt of the explosive to that of the rock being blasted expressed as lb per ton or more generally in lb/cu yd. b) The bulk density, p1 ?. c) The 'burden' or 'line of least resistance,' the spacing between boreholes, the geometry of the borehole pattern and sequence of firing. d) The physical and chemical properties of the rock, most significant of which are possible heterogeneties, such as faulting, prefracture, and greater than micro-scale chemical heterogeneities. (This factor is not considered here but deserves a great deal of careful consideration.) All of these factors need to be carefully considered in the most economical engineering of a blast. Here is considered firstly an outline of the present status of dynamic rock mechanics, particularly as it pertains to blasting. The factors pertaining to the most efficient application of blasting agents are also considered, followed by a discussion of methods of application to achieve optimum explosives performance. ROCK MECHANICS Dynamic rock mechanics is currently a rapidly developing science contributing greatly to a better understanding and consequently the more effective application of explosives in blasting of rock.1-22 Basic to the development of the science of dynamic rock mechanics were the advances of Goransen23 and the Los Alamos and NOL groups24-28 concerning rock and stress wave phenomena and the transmission and reflection characteristics of stress waves at interfaces between different media. Basing considerations on this new knowledge as well as new experimental methods of study (ultra-high speed streak and framing cameras and electronic timers) the theory of fracture and failure of solids under impulsive loading by stress waves developed rapidly.14,16,27-29 Also the

Jan 1, 1967

By Thomas E. Bruner

With drilling costs playing a pivotal role in the economics of most mineral exploration programs, there has been a significant effort over the past decade to trim expenditures in this area. One result of these cost-cutting measures has been the substantial shift to use of rotary drills. By the mid-1970's, rotary drilling accounted for six times as much footage as core drilling in exploration work. Among the various rotary drilling techniques, the use of dual-tube drilling for continuous sampling is attracting growing interest. Factors such as drilling speed and cost advantages, coupled with favorable comparisons between chip samples and solid core samples, have helped to spark this interest.

Jan 4, 1979

By Roshan B. Bhappu, Raul A. Deju

A method is proposed by which the chemical reactions between water and a silicate bed can be related to equations of flow. First the reaction mechanism is studied both theoretically and experimentally. Once the reaction mechanism is established, the equations of flow are solved, and a solution (under physically reasonable side conditions) is obtained. Experiments to substantiate the solution are also presented. The knowledge of surface reactions at the water-solid interface is of critical importance in extractive metallurgy. This is especially true in regard to the froth-flotation process of mineral concentration and all phases of hydro metallurgical recovery of metals. Similarly, the problem of ground-water contamination is one of growing concern, not only because of the increasing demands on our sources of supply but also because of the increasing necessity to find vehicles of waste disposal. The hydrochemistry of waste waters must be understood to exploit and develop such resources properly. To understand these problems, it is necessary to obtain a better insight into the reactions that take place between water and a solid packed bed. To do this, we will develop here in a theoretical model that predicts the fate of a chemical species in solution as it reacts with a silicate bed through which the liquid percolates. The treatment will be one-dimensional in nature and will not include dispersion. Experiments will also be presented to substantiate the theoretical model, using the silicate minerals listed in Table 1. This paper is preliminary in nature and is part of a larger study of the surface chemistry of the silicate-water interface. Mechanism of Surface Reactions In a previous paper,' the authors discussed the properties of various silicate minerals from a mineralogical standpoint. Now efforts will be made to study the reactions that occur when these minerals are put in contact with water. The reactions occur almost entirely in the surface layer of the mineralsa and are termed sorp-tion reactions. In this study sorption denotes the composite of all physical adsorption and chemical adsorption occurring between the silicate surface and the water in contact with it. A model of sorption as seen from a chemical-bond standpoint is presented below. On the basis of this model, the surface reactions between deionized water and a silicate mineral can be studied. Sorption Model: It is known that as the oxygen-silicon ratio increases from quartz to the olivines, a greater percentage of the oxygen bonding power is available for bonding to cations other than silicon. Hence, with an increasing oxygen-silicon ratio, the oxygen-to-metal bonding increases. Upon the fracturing of a silicate-mineral crystal, the oxygen-metal bond breaks more easily than the stronger oxygen-silicon bond, resulting in a negatively charged surface. Then, if the mineral is immersed in a liquid containing hydrogen ions, the negatively charged surface should tend to be neutralized by hydrogen ions from solution, resulting in a change of the solution pH. Thus, an increase in the degree of sorption of hydrogen ions must occur as the oxygen-silicon ratio in the crystal structure increases. Also in a previous paper,' the authors found that for a given silicate mineral the change of pH with time is given by

Jan 1, 1971

By A. M. Gaudin, D. W. Fuerstenau, M. M. Turkanis

SOLUBLE silver salts are effective activators for flotation of sphalerite with potassium ethyl xanthate as collector.' Since sphalerite takes up large quantities of silver ions rapidly," investigation of this system appeared fruitful for studying the mechanism of sphalerite activation and deactivation. Experimental data presented here comprise studies of the mechanism and rates of activation and deactivation of sphalerite with silver and cyanide ions. A 20-lb sample of sphalerite from Ottawa County, Oklahoma, was handpicked, crushed, screened, hydrosized to produce a 65/100-mesh fraction, and purified by electrostatic separation. The sphalerite was then leached with benzene and absolute ethyl alcohol to remove possible organic contaminants and with 0.1 M NaCN to remove any copper that might have been picked up during screening. The benzene had been specially purified by grinding with fine sphalerite for 12 hr to remove trace impurities that might have had a specific affinity for sphalerite. Finally, the mineral was washed, dried in flowing nitrogen, and stored in large ground-glass stoppered weighing bottles under a small nitrogen pressure.

Jan 1, 1957

By H. M. Wolflin

SOMEWHAT more than a year ago the writer collected some extensive notes on metal-mine fires and a paper on metal-mine fire prevention and fighting, a summary of these notes, was hastily pre-pared, with the assistance of G. Chester Brown, chief mining engineer, Industrial Accident Commission for the National Safety Council meeting. This summary, which is admittedly incomplete, is submitted in the hope that it will evoke some discussion that may result in a reduction in metal-mine fire hazard along the line. To accomplish such a reduction does not require the application of complicated scien-tific data. The use of just a little care, a small amount of thoughtfulness and a bit of common sense will work wonders. UNDERGROUND FIRE FIGHTING There may be some interest in a short list of con-clusions of a rather general nature that were reached in connection with some recent mine-fire fighting opera-tions. No effort has been made to cover the field; the items have been jotted down loosely, and very hastily, in the order in which they occurred to the writer. Originality is claimed for, only a few of them. 1. Temperature readings and analyses of mine-air samples, systematically taken, are invaluable aids to effective metal-mine fire fighting and recovery opera-tions. The analysis of the return-air samples fre-quently gives a surprisingly accurate indication of conditions existing underground. 2. Employees must be thoroughly trained in the use, of mine rescue apparatus, because a relatively slight difference in the amount of training makes a vast difference in the amount of work they can per-form under oxygen. In general, slender, wiry men make better apparatus men than those of heavy, more muscular physique, although there are frequent excep-tions to any such general statement. 3: Surprisingly high temperatures, up to 165° F. or 170° F. pan be endured for short periods by wearers of mine rescue apparatus if the air is dry, but lower temperatures, 135° to 140° F. are almost unbearable if the air is very moist.

Jan 2, 1922

By H. C. Gatos, A. D. Kurtz

WITH the growing interest in the mechanism of self-diffusion of metals, the study of accurate and convenient methods for determining self-diffu-sion coefficients appears highly desirable. It was with this objective in mind that the present investigation was undertaken. Gatos and Azzam1 employed an autoradiographic technique for measuring self-diffusion coefficients of gold. This method involved sectioning of the specimen through the diffusion zone and recording the radioactivity directly on a photographic film. Because of the very short range of the emitted ß rays in gold, the activity recorded on the film was essentially the true surface activity. With proper choice of the sectioning angle, sufficient resolution could be obtained and the entire concentration-distance curve recorded in one measurement. For the boundary conditions of the experiment, where an infinitesimally thin layer of radioactive material diffuses in positive and negative directions into the end faces of a rod of infinite length, the solution of the diffusion equation is C/Cn = 1/v4pDt exp (-x2/4Dt) where C is the concentration of diffusing element (photographic density in this case), C,, is the constant (depending upon amount of radioactive material), x is the diffusion distance, D is the diffusion coefficient, and t is the time. Thus, by plotting the logarithm of the concentration vs the square of the diffusion distance, a straight line results and the slope contains the diffusion coefficient. In this manner, the self-diffusion coefficient of gold can be obtained as a function of temperature. In the present investigation the results reported by Gatos and Azzam1 have been verified, and the autoradiographic technique has been further developed and applied for the determination of the self-diffusion coefficient of gold at a number of temperatures. Furthermore, the energy of activation for the self-diffusion of gold has been conveniently determined. . Experimental Techniques Preparation of Specimens: The inert gold of high purity was received in the form of a rod from which cylinders were cut and machined to a diameter of 0.500 in. The specimens were annealed to a suitably large grain size and the faces were surface ground prior to the deposition of the radioactive layer. The radioactive isotope Au198 was chosen. It was produced in the Brookhaven pile by means of the reaction Au197 + n ? Au108. It decays by ß emission (0.96 mev) to Hg108 with the subsequent emission of a y ray (0.41 mev). 70Au 108 ? 80Hg 108 + -1e°. The half life of the Au108 is 2.7 days so that a strict time schedule had to be maintained in order to secure sufficient activity until the end of the experiments. For this reason, initial activities as high as 10,000 millicuries per gram were used. The gold arrived in the form of foil and was evaporated onto one face of each gold specimen cylinder to a thickness of about 100A. A sandwich-type specimen was formed by welding two such cylinders together. Evaporation of Gold: The gold was evaporated under vacuum from heated tantalum strips which were bent in such a way as to limit the solid angle through which the gold was allowed to vaporize, thus insuring a more efficient utilization of the gold. The specimens rested on flat brass rings which had an inner diameter of 0.475 in. The entire specimen-holding assembly could be manipulated from outside the vacuum system by means of a magnet which attracted a slug of soft iron attached to the assembly. By evaporating inert gold on glass slides under conditions identical to those employed for the radioactive gold, it was found that the thickness of the films was about 100A. Welding: The welding was performed by hot pressing in a stainless steel cylinder. The inside of the cylinder was threaded and fitted for two plugs. The specimens to be welded were placed in the middle of the cylinder and two pressing disks, one at each end, were inserted to avoid shearing stresses as the plugs were tightened. Mica disks were placed between the pressing disks and the specimens to prevent them from welding. The plugs were then tightened with a hand wrench and the entire unit was placed in an argon stream for about an hour to remove the oxygen. The unit was then inserted in the center of an argon atmosphere furnace maintained at about 700°C and left there for about an hour. Because of the difference in the temperature coefficient of expansion of the two metals, as the temperature rose. the pressure on the specimen-rollple increased and a weld resulted Welding was generally satisfactory under the conditions described.

Jan 1, 1955

By William G. Pariseau

A design procedure for the quantitative estimation of support load requirements in underground mines is presented. The central problem in the design of mine support is one of es¬timating a maximum load that the ground will exert on the support in the coarse of mining. The distribution of stress around mine openings changes as mining progresses. At the time of support installation, the support load is essentially zero. With the passage of time and advance of the face, ground motion loads the support. The finite element method of analysis provides a simple quantitative technique for simulating the effects of mining and face advance on support load requirements. In particular, the maximum support load can be estimated by the proposed design procedure.

Jan 1, 1978

By C. M. Weld

In the course of my professional work in China during the fall of 1907, I had an opportunity to visit the iron-ore mines at Ta-yeh in Hu-pei province (long. 114O 50t E., lat. 30' 20t N.). It occurs to me that a rescript and discussion of my notes taken at that time should be of interest, particularly as supplementing the exceedingly interesting recent paper of Thomas T. Read on The Mineral Production and Resources of China.' Ta-yeh is situated near the right bank of the Yangtze river. The mines are at an average distance of about 16 miles from the river-port Shi-hui-yao, which in turn is some 70 miles SE. of Hankom. The ores are shipped to the works of the Han-Yeh-P'ing Iron & Coal Co. at Hanyang, as also very largely to the Japanese government iron- and steel-works at Wakamatsu, Japan. Smaller qnantities have been exported to the Pacific coast of the United States. These ore-deposits have been briefly noticed in a number of publications, but, so far as I know, Mr. Read's description, in his chapter or1 the iron-ores of the Chinese Empire,2 contains the first attempt to define their geological character. In his more recent paper Mr. Read follows very closely the text of his earlier description. To quote briefly from the recent paper, he says : " The iron-ores at Ta-yeh .... lie along the contact between a marble and an intrusive body of a dark-gray syenitic rock." He refers to a figure which exhibits in plan, but not in section, the relative positions of the syenite, ore-bodies, and limestone. The contact is seen to trend approximately E-W., with the syenite on the north and the limestone on the south. " The syenite lies to the north of the marble, and a few miles farther north the marble again appears, iron-ore again being present along the contact." No litho-

Jan 1, 1913

By P. A. Laxen, H. R. Spedden

WHEN a mineral particle is fractured, bonds between the atoms are broken. The unsatisfied forces that appear at the newly formed surface are considered to be responsible for the adsorption of ions at the mineral surface. A knowledge of the mechanism and extent of ion sorption from solution onto a mineral surface is of interest in the development of the theory of flotation.'*' Study of the adsorption of sodium from an aqueous solution oftheon quartz offers a simple approach to this complicated problem. The availability of a radioisotope as a tracer element meant that accurate data could be obtained."." Three main factors which appeared likely to affect the adsorption of sodium are: l—concentration of sodium in the solution, 2—concentration of onotherof cations in the solution, and 3—anions present in the solution. Hydrogen and hydroxyl ions are always present in an aqueous solution. By controlling the pH, the concentration of these two ions was kept constant. The variation in thesethe amount of sodium adsorbed with variation in sodium concentration was then determined under conditions standardized in regard to hydrogen ion. The effect of concentration of hydrogen ions and of other cations was also measured. A few experiments were made to get a preliminary idea on the effect of anions. The active isotope of sodium was available as sodium nitrate. Standard sodium nitrate solutions were used throughout these experiments except when the effects of other anions were studied. It was found that sodium adsorption increased with sodium-ion concentration, but less rapidly than in proportion to it. Increasing hydrogen-ion concentration, or conversely decreasing hydroxyl-ion, brings about a comparatively slight decrease in sodium-ion adsorption. Increasing the concentration of cations other than hydrogen or sodium decreases somewhat the adsorption of sodium ion. It would appear as if the kind of anion is a secondary factor in guiding the amount of sodium ion that is adsorbed. Materials and Methods Quartz The quartz was prepared as in previous work in the Robert H. Richards Mineral Engineering Laboratory' except for the refinement of using de-ionized distilled water for the final washing of the sized quartz, prior to drying." To minimize the laborious preparation of quartz, experiments were made to determine .whether the sodium-covered quartz could be washed free of sodium and re-used. The experiments were successful as indicated by lack of Na" activity on the repurified material and by its characteristic sodium adsorption. Table I gives the spectrographic analyses of the quartz used. The quartz ranged from 16 to 40 microns in size, averaging about 23 microns (microscope measurement), and had a surface of 1850 sq cm per g (lot I), 2210 (lot 11) and 2000 (lot 111) as determined by the Bloecher method." Radioactive Sodium Method of Beta Counting for Adsorbed Sodium: Na22, the radioisotope of sodium, possesses convenient properties.' It has a half-life of 3 years, thus requiring no allowance for decay during an experiment. On decay it emits a 0.575 mev ß+ radiation and a 1.30 mev r radiation. The decay scheme is illustrated in the following equation: ß+ NaR-------'8'77NeZ2 3 years The /3 radiation is sufficiently strong to penetrate an end-window type of Geiger-Mueller counting tube. This, in turn, makes it possible to use external counting, a great advantage in technique. Furthermore, it permits the assaying of solids arranged in infinite thickness, while assaying evaporated liquors on standardized planchets. The equipment used was standard and similar to that employed by Chang.R The original active material was 1 ml of solution containing 1 millicurie of Na" as nitrate. This active solution was diluted to 1000 ml. Five milliliters of this diluted active solution was found to give a quartz sample a sufficiently high activity for accurate evaluation of the sodium partition in the adsorption measurements. Also, 1 ml of final solution gave a sufficiently high count for precision on the liquor analyses. The sodium concentration of the diluted active solution was 1.2 mg per liter, so that 6 mg of sodium for 60 ml of test solution and 12 g of quartz was the minimum amount used. The active solution was stored in a Saftepak bottle. Procedure for Adsorption Tests: The method consisted of agitating 12 g of quartz with 60 ml of solution of known sodium concentration for enough time to establish equilibrium between the solution and the quartz surface. The quartz was separated as completely as possible from the solution by filtering and centrifuging. The activity on the quartz and in the equilibrium solution was measured and the partition of the sodium was calculated from the resulting data. The detailed procedure for the adsorption test is set forth in a thesis by Laxen." In brief, it included the following steps: 1—Ascertainment of linearity between concentration of Na" and activity measured. 2—Evaluation of factor to translate activity on solid of infinite thickness in terms of activity on an evaporated active film of minute thickness, on the various shelves of the counter shield. 3—Taking precautions to avoid evaporation of water during centrifuging

Jan 1, 1953

By P. A. Laxen, H. R. Spedden

WHEN a mineral particle is fractured, bonds between the atoms are broken. The unsatisfied forces that appear at the newly formed surface are considered to be responsible for the adsorption of ions at the mineral surface. A knowledge of the mechanism and extent of ion sorption from solution onto a mineral surface is of interest in the development of the theory of flotation.'*' Study of the adsorption of sodium from an aqueous solution oftheon quartz offers a simple approach to this complicated problem. The availability of a radioisotope as a tracer element meant that accurate data could be obtained."." Three main factors which appeared likely to affect the adsorption of sodium are: l—concentration of sodium in the solution, 2—concentration of onotherof cations in the solution, and 3—anions present in the solution. Hydrogen and hydroxyl ions are always present in an aqueous solution. By controlling the pH, the concentration of these two ions was kept constant. The variation in thesethe amount of sodium adsorbed with variation in sodium concentration was then determined under conditions standardized in regard to hydrogen ion. The effect of concentration of hydrogen ions and of other cations was also measured. A few experiments were made to get a preliminary idea on the effect of anions. The active isotope of sodium was available as sodium nitrate. Standard sodium nitrate solutions were used throughout these experiments except when the effects of other anions were studied. It was found that sodium adsorption increased with sodium-ion concentration, but less rapidly than in proportion to it. Increasing hydrogen-ion concentration, or conversely decreasing hydroxyl-ion, brings about a comparatively slight decrease in sodium-ion adsorption. Increasing the concentration of cations other than hydrogen or sodium decreases somewhat the adsorption of sodium ion. It would appear as if the kind of anion is a secondary factor in guiding the amount of sodium ion that is adsorbed. Materials and Methods Quartz The quartz was prepared as in previous work in the Robert H. Richards Mineral Engineering Laboratory' except for the refinement of using de-ionized distilled water for the final washing of the sized quartz, prior to drying." To minimize the laborious preparation of quartz, experiments were made to determine .whether the sodium-covered quartz could be washed free of sodium and re-used. The experiments were successful as indicated by lack of Na" activity on the repurified material and by its characteristic sodium adsorption. Table I gives the spectrographic analyses of the quartz used. The quartz ranged from 16 to 40 microns in size, averaging about 23 microns (microscope measurement), and had a surface of 1850 sq cm per g (lot I), 2210 (lot 11) and 2000 (lot 111) as determined by the Bloecher method." Radioactive Sodium Method of Beta Counting for Adsorbed Sodium: Na22, the radioisotope of sodium, possesses convenient properties.' It has a half-life of 3 years, thus requiring no allowance for decay during an experiment. On decay it emits a 0.575 mev ß+ radiation and a 1.30 mev r radiation. The decay scheme is illustrated in the following equation: ß+ NaR-------'8'77NeZ2 3 years The /3 radiation is sufficiently strong to penetrate an end-window type of Geiger-Mueller counting tube. This, in turn, makes it possible to use external counting, a great advantage in technique. Furthermore, it permits the assaying of solids arranged in infinite thickness, while assaying evaporated liquors on standardized planchets. The equipment used was standard and similar to that employed by Chang.R The original active material was 1 ml of solution containing 1 millicurie of Na" as nitrate. This active solution was diluted to 1000 ml. Five milliliters of this diluted active solution was found to give a quartz sample a sufficiently high activity for accurate evaluation of the sodium partition in the adsorption measurements. Also, 1 ml of final solution gave a sufficiently high count for precision on the liquor analyses. The sodium concentration of the diluted active solution was 1.2 mg per liter, so that 6 mg of sodium for 60 ml of test solution and 12 g of quartz was the minimum amount used. The active solution was stored in a Saftepak bottle. Procedure for Adsorption Tests: The method consisted of agitating 12 g of quartz with 60 ml of solution of known sodium concentration for enough time to establish equilibrium between the solution and the quartz surface. The quartz was separated as completely as possible from the solution by filtering and centrifuging. The activity on the quartz and in the equilibrium solution was measured and the partition of the sodium was calculated from the resulting data. The detailed procedure for the adsorption test is set forth in a thesis by Laxen." In brief, it included the following steps: 1—Ascertainment of linearity between concentration of Na" and activity measured. 2—Evaluation of factor to translate activity on solid of infinite thickness in terms of activity on an evaporated active film of minute thickness, on the various shelves of the counter shield. 3—Taking precautions to avoid evaporation of water during centrifuging

Jan 1, 1953

By Murray F. Hawkins, W. J. Ainsworth

In all types of subsurface pressure gauges the extension which occurs in the pressure-sensitive element is a function of the difference between the external (well or calibration) pressure and the internal pressure within the gauge, rather than a function of the external pressure only. The internal pressure is near atmospheric and depends upon (a) the quantity of air sealed within the gauge at the time of calibration or measurement, (b) the quantity of moisture (liquid water), if any, sealed within the gauge, and (c) the temperature at which the calibration or well measurement is made. Part of this correction for the change of internal pressure with temperature is taken care of by the customary temperature coefficient of the gauge. However, part of it is not, and while this portion may be only a few psi, it is nevertheless predictable or preventable, and should be considered in precision measurements. ERROR NO. 1 If air is sealed in the gauge at the same temperature and pressure for both the calibration and the well measurements, the usual temperature correction will take care of any difference between calibration and well measurement temperatures. However, if air is sealed within the gauge at temperature T1 and pressure P1 at calibration but at temperature T2 and pressure P2 for a well measurement, because different amounts of air are sealed within the gauge in each case, the internal pressure at. or corrected to, calibration temperature Tr will he different by where all temperatures and pressures are absolute. The calibration temperature is used, and not the well measurement temperature, because the usual temperature correction reduces the well measurements to calibration temperature. The correction term as calculated by the above equation is separate from. and in addition to, the usual temperature correction. Example: T, = 540°R, sealing temperature at calibration P, = 14.7 psia, sealing pressure at calibration T2 = 460°R, sealing temperature at well P2 = 14.7 psia, sealing pressure at well Tr = 660°R, calibration temperature AP = 660 [14.7/460 — 14.7/540] = 3.1 psi While this error is small even under these somewhat maximal conditions, it nevertheless represents a practical situation which did occur, and which as a matter of fact gave rise to this note. Where AP is positive, as above, the correction is added to the measured pressure; where negative, subtracted from the measured pressure. This correction should also be considered in successive calibration runs where the gauge, for example, may be warm from a previous calibration at an elevated temperature. ERROR NO. 2 Where a small quantity of moisture (liquid water) is sealed within the gauge at atmospheric conditions, the increased vapor pressure of the water at higher well or calibration temperatures will cause an increase in internal pressure. This moisture will come presumably from condensation within the gauge following temperature changes, from moisture on the operator's hands, and from atmospheric moisture (rain, mist, fog, etc.). Calculation shows that approximately 0.2 cc of water (three to four drops) is sufficient to saturate the air within an Amerada RPG-3 Gauge at 160°F, at which temperature the vapor pressure of water is about 5 psia. As the vaporization occurs in a sealed volume, the increase in internal pressure will be in excess of this 5 psi. At higher temperatures the pressures will be higher; however more water will be required to saturate the air within the gauge. Some experimental work was carried out with an Amerada RPG-3 Gauge at 200°F fitted with a 1,000 psi element, both with a dry recording chamber and with a small amount of water added. The results directly proved the existence of the error due to the presence of moisture, and, it is felt, indirectly, due to the differences in sealing temperatures and pressures, as both effects may be ascribed simply to an increase in the moles of gas within the recording chamber. SUMMARY In precision measurements the error introduced by sealing the gauge during a well test at a different temperature and pressure from that of calibration may be corrected for by using the equation presented, or it may be prevented by taking care always to seal the gauge at near calibration conditions. The error introduced by sealing moisture in the gauge may be prevented by taking care to keep moisture out of the gauge, or by removing the moisture by either warming or evacuating the gauge. Both of these errors are independent of the range of pressure measurement and the type of gauge, and are in addition to the usual temperature correction. ACKNOWLEDGMENT Appreciation is expressed to W. B. Kendall, Geophysical Research Corp., Tulsa, Okla., who pointed out the error from differences in sealing temperatures during some winter work in Canada. ***

Jan 1, 1956

“The mining industry can do more to alleviate world poverty, hunger and human misery, more to close the widening gap between advanced and developing nations and more to achieve international peace and understanding than any other single force in the world," Charles W. Court, Minister for Industrial Development, Western Australia, told the American Mining Congress audience at the opening session of the 1969 Mining Convention, October 19-22, San Francisco. Australia, he pointed out, is a shining example. In 1971, 60% of U.S. mining investment overseas will go to Australia and other parts of Oceania, an increase of 42% over a year ago. Australia has capitalized on world needs, its own rich resources and good investment climate. Developing nations can and should do the same, but they mix emotion with nationalism, often frightening away foreign investment which could breathe life into dormant and backward areas, said Court.

Jan 12, 1969

By W. B. Potter

There is probably no more interesting group of mineral fuels to be found in any country than that occurring within the limits of the new State of Colorado. The supplies are so abundant, and the occurrence and distribution are so favorable for easy development and transportation to the future manufacturing centres of the State, that they are destined to play a very important part in the material growth and prosperity of the region, the more so because of the rich and varied stores of ores awaiting metallurgical treatment, and the comparative scarcity of timber for fuel. From a purely scientific point, also, these lignitic coals form an interesting and important series. An examination of their geological occurrence and relations opens up new and important questions regarding the comparative value of various kinds of geological evidence, while a study of the character and composition of this class of fuels, which forms a connecting link, as it were, between the lignites and the true bituminous coals, may lead to a more thorough and accurate classification of mineral fuels. The analyses here presented are from samples, of not less than fifty pounds each, obtained by myself during the summer of 1875, and may be regarded as representing very fairly the average run of

By Leonard Obert

Before 1957 a number of investigators reported stress determinations made on or near the surface of underground excavations. The usual procedure was to measure surface strains and to calculate the stresses using laboratory-determined values of the elastic constants of the rock. In some instances strain gages were stress-relieved so that the measured stress was absolute. Also, several investigators reported near-surface absolute stress determinations made by the flat-jack procedure. In 1958, Hast1 described a procedure for making absolute stress determinations within a body of rock. In this procedure a diametral deformation gage was placed in a borehole and then the borehole was overcored to produce stress relief. The secondary principal stresses in the plane normal to the axis of the borehole were calculated from measured deformations and the elastic constants of the rock. During the past nine years a number of investigations have been reported1-20 in which this technique, or modifications of it, have been reported. Both the stress distribution in the walls of underground openings and the stress field at points as great as 200 ft from these openings have been determined. Considered collectively, these reports shed some light on the nature of the stress distributions in the proximity of underground openings and on the stress field, that is, the state of stress outside of the zone of influence created by openings. To summarize these findings first consider the stress distribution in the wall and structural components of openings. Fig. 1 (a) shows a typical theoretical stress distribution curve in a linear-elastic, isotropic, homogeneous material. Fig. 1 (b) is an idealized measured stress distribution curve for the same opening in a relatively unfractured uniform, but brittle,

Jan 1, 1967

Jan 1, 1879

By J. W. Matousek, C. S. Samis

me thermodynamic properties of the components in the Cu-Ni-S ternary system have been studied by measuring the H2S/H2 ratios in a gas phase equilibrated with the molten matte at 1200°C. The measured sulficr potentials have been extended by extrapolation and combtned with previously published data to permit the thermodynamic analysis of the ternary system by integration techniques. A simplifying assumption of ideality in the Ni3Sz-CuS pseudobinary has been made. SINCE copper and nickel metals were first extracted from their sulfide ores the interaction between the two metals and sulfur has been of industrial and theoretical interest. The processes developed to extract copper and nickel have been reported periodically in the literature. The theoretical studies on the Cu-Ni-S ternary have been restricted to problems directly associated with production. It is only within recent years that the binary systems related to this ternary have been analyzed thermodynamically and mathematical devices developed to permit a corresponding treatment of the ternary system. In 1910 an investigation of the role of nickel in Cu-Ni-Fe-S mattes was reported,' It was concluded from this work that nickel is not an element replacing iron in mattes, but rather that Cu-Ni alloys behave as a single metal during the matte converting operation. The laws which govern the converting of Cu-Ni alloys were found to be the same laws as those that govern the conventional converting of copper alone. Although considerable information has been reported on the theoretical aspects of copper smelting, little data is available on the smelting of Cu-Ni ores except for phase diagrams and process descriptions. The available information on the Cu-Fe-S ternary and related systems prior to 1953 has been summarized by Ruddle.2 Since Ruddle's publication, Rosenqvist and coworkers have completed phase equilibria investigations of the Fe-S, Co-S, and Ni-S binaries,3 the Fe-S-O ternary,4 and the Cu-Fe-S-O quaternary.4 An extensive investigation of the Cu-Fe-S ternary system at smelting temperatures has been made by Krivsky and Schuhmann.5 At these temperatures, the Cu-Fe-S system is very similar to the Cu-Ni-S ternary with respect to the location of the single-phase and two-phase liquid matte regions. In the former, however, the area of immiscibility is more extensive and the region of liquid matte-liquid metal-solid metal equilibria is much more extensive. Krivsky and Schumann observed that the Cu2S-FeS pseudobinary system is, for practical purposes, an ideal mixture. This investigation has served as a valuable guide in analyzing the Cu-Ni-S ternary. EXPERIMENTAL The experimental procedure employed in this investigation was the conventional technique of equilibration of the sulfide matte with gaseous mixtures of hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide at 1200°C. The thermodynamic properties of sulfur (S2) in the gas phase are determined by means of Eq. [I] and the activity of sulfur in the matte by Eq. [2].

Jan 1, 1963

By Joachim J. Hauser

Experiments on latent hardening were peyformed by compressing single crystals along a direction perpendicular to the tension axis. The slope and length of easy glide in the tension test were found to depend only on prior deformation in the same slip plane. Prior deformation on a different slip plane changes the stress level of the resulting stress-strain curve. The yield points appearing upon reloading after prior extension and unloading were related to the end of easy glide. SEVERAL researchers have studied the latent hardening due to deformation of a crystal by slip on a slip System after prior deformation. These experiments can be divided into those in which the prior deformation was on the same plane as the subsequent and those in which the two deformation processes were in different planes. In the former category are the experiments of Buckley and Entwistle,1 Parker and washburn,2 and Haasen and Kelly.3 The latter case has not been studied systematically; it was the main purpose of this investigation to produce this type of latent hardening and explain the results in terms of the existing theories of work hardening. In general, tension producing slip on a certain slip system can be preceded by tension, transverse compression or longitudinal compression, each with predictable dislocation movement and intersection. The intersection of dislocations can lead to glissile or sessile jogs, Cottrell-Lomer locks and other sessile dislocations. The effect on the stress-strain curve could depend on which combination of the former mechanisms is operating. Haasen and Kelly3 have studied the yield points which occur in aluminum and nickel single crystals upon reloading after prior unloading in a tension experiment. They attributed this effect to the anchoring of dislocations occurring during unloading. As Cottrell and stokes4 have shown that dislocations cutting through the "forest" could only lead to reversible changes, they attributed the anchoring to the formation of sessile dislocations during unloading. However, different kinds of sessile dislocations could be formed during unloading, and it was the purpose of this experiment to determine whether Cottrell-Lomer locks are responsible for the yield effect and for the end of easy glide. The case where a longitudinal compression is followed by tension along the same axis is commonly referred to as a Bauschinger test. This type of effect was studied by Buckley and Entwistle1 on aluminum single crystals and by Parker and washburn2 on zinc single crystals. In such a test, the tension and the compression activate the same slip plane with opposite slip directions. The use of sideways compression in the present experiments permits the activation of different types of slip systems and the study of their effect on the easy glide region and on the transition between the elastic and easy glide region. The theory of seeger5 for the flow stress in fee materials is applied to explain the latent hardening. EXPERTMENTAL PROCEDURE All the single crystals used in this investigation had an axial orientation close to <210>, called the "0.5" orientation. This is the orientation for which the tensile axis is 45 deg from both the slip plane and the slip direction. The single crystals were grown from the melt under a helium atmosphere using milled graphite boats,=at a rate of 8.6 mm per min. The silver used in the experiment was 99.98 pct pure. The single crystals had a square cross section about 0.9 by 0.9 cm and a length of 14 cm. The orientation of the specimen was determined within ±2 deg by the Laue back-reflection method. The specimens were annealed at 940&apos; ± 2°C in a helium atmosphere for 24 hr and then furnace cooled over a period of 7 hr. The specimens were electropolished in a solution of 9 pct KCN in water. The specimens were tested in a soft-type tensile machine (the load is prescribed) up to 3 pct strain. The stress was increased continuously at approximately 30 g per mm2 per min. The strain was measured over a 5 cm gage length with a mechanical extensometer employing an optical lever. The strain and stress were measured with accuracies of i 2 X 10-5 and ± 2 g per mm2, respectively. The remainder of the stress-strain curve up to 20 pct strain was obtained in a hard-type tensile machine (the strain rate is prescribed). The strain and the stress were measured in that machine with an accuracy of ±2 pct. The compression tests were performed in the hard-type machine using accurately machined steel blocks without lubrication. The blocks were used so as to apply a uniform compression over a length of 13 cm. The strains were measured on the hard-type machine and with a micrometer.

Jan 1, 1962

By F. L. Bosqui

NO metallurgical process developed in the last half century has been more widely advertised to both technologists and lay- men, or has done more to promote efficiency and economy in the extraction of the valuable portions of ores than has the flotation process. Practically everybody has heard of this strange procedure whereby the heavy portions of an ore are made to float while the light parts sink. Some- times it is called froth flotation, the mineral-bearing froth being from the first a distinguishing characteristic. Many times it is called oil flotation, because a thin film of oil was commonly applied to the particles to be floated to make them adhere to the bubbles that rise through the pulp to form the surface froth. Oil, though commonly used, is not, however, necessary for this purpose, which is one of the facts that has been learned as the process has been developed.

Jan 1, 1940

Hunkered up against the spine of the Andes in a tight valley where natural refuge from avalanche hardly exists is the daring Rio Blanco project of Cerro Corp. The deposit here was found in 1904, but nature has foiled all previous attempts to open it. To an experienced mountaineer or a highway engineer with mountain experience, the avalanche hazard in the valley of the Blanco river would be immediately apparent. The collar shaft is at the head of the valley at an elevation of 3600 m and for 12 km down the valley there is no space on the floor for building very much; the dissected rock walls are roadways for avalanches and even a highway could not be maintained sufficiently passable. This is the proposition taken on by the Cerro Corp. Chilean National Decree #1699, passed on December 9, 1966, signified "Go" to the Compania Minera Andina, a company whose shares are held 70% by the Cerro Corp. and 30% by the government of Chile. The orebody, although only partially delineated, contains proven reserves of 120 million tons of ore averaging 1.58% Cu. When the operation comes on stream in the last quarter of 1970, it will be at the rate of 11,000 tpd. Annual production will be 65,000 tpy of recoverable copper in concentrates.

Jan 11, 1969

By E. J. Dulis, V. K. Chandhok, J. P. Hirth

Cobalt clearly increased the activity of carbon in austenite and in ferrite. This effect of cobalt on carbon activity Plausibly accounted for the effect of cobalt on accelerating the austenite to pearlite transformation. Cobalt was found to have only a slight effect on carbon diffisivity in various Fe-Co and Fe-Co-W-Mo austenites, but was found to decrease carbon diffusivity in Fe-Co ferrite. THE effect of cobalt in steel is unique in that it is the only element that reduces hardenability by accelerating the austenite to pearlite reaction. The results of several excellent investigations aimed at explaining the role of cobalt have been published,1"7 but a complete understanding is still lacking. In addition, cobalt significantly enhances the resistance to softening or tempering of highly alloyed highspeed and hot-work tool steels. The resistance to tempering is related to the secondary hardening reactions associated with the fourth stage of tempering during which carbides of molybdenum, tungsten, and/or vanadium form in a martensite matrix. The effect of cobalt on secondary hardening reactions in high-alloy tool steel has received considerable attention, but a full explanation of the reactions involved has not been developed. Inasmuch as austenite to pearlite transformation and secondary hardening involve carbide formation, the present authors believed that the role of cobalt in effecting carbon activity and diffusivity in austenite and in ferrite was important to a fuller understanding of the phenomena involved. TO investigate the effect of cobalt on the activity coefficient of carbon in austenite, an approach was used similar to that used by Darken17 in his experiments on the effect of silicon, manganese, and molybdenum on carbon activity and diffusivity in austenite. TO

Jan 1, 1962