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By R. W. Raymond

I desire to call the attention of members of the Institute to a new method of plotting and determining faults in mineral deposits, suggested by Prof. Hanns Hoefer, lately of the Mining School of Przi-

Jan 1, 1882

By Charles Catlett

While the occurrence of phosphorus in coking-coal has assumed less importance with the development of the opeu-hearth method of steel-making, it may not be without interest to note the form in which phosphorus exists in one particular coal-seam. In the examination of what is known as the Big seam, which outcrops a few miles west of Columbiana, Ala., my attention was called to the distribution through the coal, in the form of minute veins and particles, of a resinous-looking substance. A small amount of this was selected, and was provisionally identified as evansite (Al6 Y2 O14, 18 Aq). Subsequently, through the courtesy of Dr. J. Sharshall Grasty, of the Geological Department of the University of Virginia, I was able to secure an additional amount of material, which was purified down to about 0.3 g. This was examined by Prof. John J. Porter, of the University of Cincinnati, and gave the following partial analysis: Per Cent. Loss on ignition,......... 37.43 Phosphoric anhydride,..10.33 Alumina,..........36.33 There was also a trace of silica, and quite a considerable quantity of lime and magnesia. Professor Porter was led to think that the material was not pure, but a mixture of several of the phosphates of aluminum carrying lime and magnesia. The material available did not permit of the convenient determination of the other ingredients. One form in which phosphorus occurs in coal is evidently as a hydrated phosphate of aluminum; and any coal which shows to the eye the occurrence of a light-colored resinous-looking material should be looked on with suspicion as being high in phosphorus.

Jan 1, 1912

By F. W. Glaser, W. Ivanick

A pressure-sintering method was used to produce binder-free and very dense TiC specimens. Some physical properties of these TIC bodies were determined and found to compare favorably with those of certain cemented Tic grades. It was also observed that the hot transverse rupture strength of TiC bodies remained substantially the same regardless of the amount or type of binder material used. STUDIES of the structure and physical properties of refractory materials have been intensified recently because of the urgent need for nonstrategic materials that retain their strength at high temperatures. Research aimed at determining and improving the physical properties of cemented carbides and borides has been accelerated with a view toward possible use of such materials in connection with turbine blades, rocket nozzles, and other high temperature applications. On the hypothesis that the strength requirements in connection with some of the above applications could be met only by proper choice of cementing agents for such refractory materials, the literature describing the physical properties of borides or carbides was reviewed. However, with a few exceptions,'-" references were found only to compositions containing at least one or more auxiliary binder metals. Cobalt and nickel are among the most frequently employed cementing agents. The melting point of Tic (approximately 3250°C) and therefore the sintering temperature, at which notable densification of a cold pressed Tic powder compact could be expected in the absence of a liquid binder phase, is relatively high. The present study makes use of a high temperature, pressure-sintering procedure, recently described by one of the authors in connection with the sintering of binder-free ZrB,," to produce dense bodies of sintered Tic—free of any cementing agent. During the course of this sintering study, some physical properties of dense Tic bodies produced by this method will be discussed. Materials, Preparation of Samples, Testing Methods The procedure for the forming of Tic powder consisted of mixing graphite and TiH, powders in stoi-chiometric proportions, and heating this mixture in a H, atmosphere and carbon crucible by high frequency, to temperatures ranging between 1900° and 2100°C (3452" and 3812°F). The powdered carbide was then comminuted and screened to the desired particle size. Table I shows the chemical analysis of the two grades that were employed for the production of samples during this work. Bodies of Tic, approximately 2.5xlx0.5 cm were produced in graphite molds that were heated by direct conduction. Sintering was carried out at temperatures for time intervals ranging from approximately 0 to 30 sec under a constant pressure of about 1.3 tons per sq in. An alternate method for the production of samples consisted in cold pressing the individual Tic grades at pressures ranging from 4 to 10 tons per sq in. and sintering in a hydrogen atmosphere in graphite crucibles heated by high frequency induction. Sintering temperatures ranged from 2600° to 2900°C (4715° to 5255°F). Electrical testing was done by measuring potentiometrically the voltage drop over a length of 1.5 cm for a current of 10 amp at room temperature. Cross-sectional areas as well as densi-

Jan 1, 1953

By R. G. Paterson

THE usual procedure in determining the magnetic susceptibilities of rocks and formations has been to take samples in the field and measure their volume susceptibilities in the laboratory, using one of numerous methods available. In none of these methods is the measuring instrument suited for field use. Usually the sample is pulverized; sometimes it is machined to a desired size and shape, and in one method' a cast of the sample is made and the susceptibility of the rock compared with that of a material of known susceptibility of the same size and shape, made from the cast of the original sample. Some writers assert that the difference in susceptibility of a rock sample in powdered and solid forms is negligible, and while doubtless this is true in many cases there are others in which the difference becomes appreciable. Further, the susceptibility of a small specimen may differ from that of the rock from which it is taken, owing to the stresses produced by the hammering or other forces used to obtain the sample and shape it for testing. Wilson2 found that an individual specimen of granite had about the same susceptibility in the solid as in the powdered form, but that pieces from different parts of the rock varied as much as 750 per cent because of unequal distribution of magnetite. The most accurate value of susceptibility would, obviously, be obtained from averaging a number of tests on the undisturbed rock instead of from one or two samples. No such procedures have been published, to the writer's knowledge. It is the purpose of this paper to describe a method by which susceptibilities of rocks may be determined in place by means of a portable instrument. METHOD The principle involved in this new method is that there is a change in inductance of a coil due to the presence in its magnetic field of a paramagnetic or diamagnetic medium. In this case, however, the windings of the coil do not enclose any part of the rock under test. Instead, the coil is circular, being small in cross section as compared to its radius, and consists of several hundred turns of fine wire. It is placed flat on the rock of which the susceptibility is to be measured. Thus only part of the magnetic field from the coil penetrates the rock under test. The relation between the change in field strength or inductance of the coil and the susceptibility of the medium will be developed later. To measure the change in the inductance of the coil due to the presence of a magnetic material an alternating-current inductance bridge was chosen. DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS Of many alternating-current bridge methods applicable,3 the one shown in Fig. I (Owen's bridge') was adopted for its simplicity and sensitivity. In Fig. I, the test coil is indicated by P1L1. It is connected to the bridge by about

Jan 1, 1941

By C. H. Stein

THE Pennsylvania Legislature, on March 13, 1837, passed an act authorizing the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Co. to construct a railway to connect the North Branch Division of the Pennsylvania Canal with the slack water navigation f the Lehigh River; the navigation company accepted this act on May 10, 1837. Edwin A. Douglas, chief engineer for the navigation company, located the route for this railway from White Haven to Wilkes-Barre, which was called the Lehigh & Susquehanna Railroad. The object was to transport coal from the Wyoming Valley, of Pennsylvania, to the Atlantic seaboard. This railway was considered a marvelous piece of engineering, as it included a tunnel nearly 13 mi. long, and a series of inclines, or planes, up which the cars laden with coal were raised from the vicinity of Ashley to the summit f the mountain near Solomon's Gap, whence they were taken to White Haven by rail. There the coal was transferred to canal boats. In June, 1862, floods almost completely destroyed the upper division of the canal, so on March 4, 1863, the Pennsylvania Legislature passed an act prohibiting its restoration, but granted a charter for the construction of a railway from White Haven to Mauch Chunk to connect with the line from White Haven to Wilkes-Barre, previously built. On March 16, 1864, a supplementary act was passed extending the Lehigh & Susquehanna Railroad to Easton, Pa. This completed a direct all-rail route from Wilkes-Barre to the New York harbor (by way of the Central Railroad of New Jersey). Up to this time, all freight and passenger traffic passed over the planes, but in 1866 and 1867 there was constructed what was known as the "back track" down the mountain side between Solomon's Gap and Ashley over which all the passenger traffic and empty cars thereafter passed; it is now known as part of the main line. For the handling of the heavy coal traffic, however, this would have involved a continuous climb from Ashley, 170.27 mi., from New York, to Solomon's Gap, 157.8 mi. from New York, or a distance of 12.47 mi., and a total ascent of 1,013.75

Jan 9, 1921

CENTRAL AMERICANIZATION COMMITTEE Chairman, MRS. C. C. BURGER This committee reports progress in drawing up circulars on the. subject of Americanization, to be sent to all the branches of the W. A. A. I. M. E. It is greatly to be desired that all our members should interest themselves personally in work that can be done among the women and children in the mining districts in the way of Americanizing those of foreign birth or extraction; so much can be accomplished by individual interest and sympathy.

Jan 11, 1918

By Henry Louis

It can scarcely be considered a matter of doubt, in the present state of our knowledge, that the existence of, at any rate, two wellmarked allotropic modifications of gold can be recognized, namely

Jan 1, 1895

No. 349.-A Canadian university wishes to engage a man to teach non-ferrous metallurgy and ore-dressing as well as to direct research work. The instruction work covers 7 months but the research work is continued throughout the year. To a suitable man the rank of professor will be granted. Applicants are requested to state education, experience, salary desired and any other particulars that might assist in selecting a man for this position. No. 354.-Wanted, for Northern Nigeria, one chief and two assistant mining engineers, competent surveyors, with good knowledge of alluvial tin mining and dressing of tin concentrate. Preferably with previous Nigerian experience, and exempted or able to. secure passport. Apply in writing, stating qualifications, experience and salary required.

Jan 12, 1918

We remember him as a messmate, as a roommate, and when we rubbed shoulders with him on the square, for his kindly thought and unassuming manners. The Spanish grippe has claimed many from our depot. As we read down the names we pause here and there to recall some incident to establish permanently in our memory as a link to bind us, the living, with the dead. "And there's one name we cannot pass So we pause, and ponder awhile. And recall all his cheery words, And his smile—his perpetual smile." Men detained in the Quarantine Camp will have cause to remember him too, for he displayed his gentlemanly bearing and courtesy to all he came in contact with. Lieutenant Norman Lloyd Ohnsorg First Lieutenant Norman Lloyd Ohnsorg died in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 11, 1918. He mas born in St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 10, 1889, and lived in that city until he was 11 years of age when his parents removed to Iron Mountain, Mo., where he spent the next 6 years. On Jan. 10, 1906, he entered the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy at Rolla, Mo., and graduated from that institution in 1910, receiving both the Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering and the Engineer of Mines degrees. In 1912, he received the degree of Bachelor of Science in Metallurgy, and in 1916, the degree of Metallurgical Engineer. After leaving college he wae connected with the following companies: Noble Electric Steel Works, Heroult, Shasta Co., Cal.; Mammoth Copper Mining Co.. Kennett, Cal.; St. Joseph Lead Co., Herculaneum, Mo.; Granby Smelting & Mining Co., Neodesha, Kans.; The Phosphate Mining Co., Nichols, Fla. While with the last company, he volunteered, in April, 1917, for service in the engineering corps of the U. S. Army. He passed an excellent examination, was accepted and called to Washington and placed in Division T. of the Ordnance Department where he was engaged in research work pertaining to nitrogen. He was then ordered to Sheffield, Ala., where he was second in command of the construction of the Government nitrogen plants at Muscle Shoals. After the completion of the plants, he was ordered to Buffalo, N. Y., on Sept. 28, 1915, to inspect and report on a government plant. After completing this work, he was called back to Sheffield. He left Buffalo on Oct. 6, but delayed trains caused him to miss connections in Cincinnati where he had to wait 12 hours. He had not beedfeeling well for

Jan 1, 1920

By J. Moore Samuel

THE CHAIRMAN (WALTER DOUGLAS, NEW YORK, N. Y.).-Perhaps there is no problem that causes the modern metallurgist more worry than the question of unaccounted for loss. He has not the advantage of the metallurgist of the early days here, who could sleep peaceably with the settled conviction that there were certain copper mineral constituents of the ore which were volatile, and there was therefore nothing to worry about. The slag contents and volatilization accounted for the balance of the copper that went in the top of the furnace after the weighing of the bullion. There have been great strides in recent years toward reducing this loss. Perhaps the Anaconda company is the one we have to thank for the original pioneer work along the lines which we are all today following. We would be glad to hear from some gentlemen present with reference to their experience with this question of dust losses. E. P. MATHEWSON, Anaconda, Mont.-You mentioned the Anaconda company, Mr. Chairman. I would like to say something about what we have been doing there, and the troubles we have been having. We have a tremendous volume of .gas to handle. We adopted the system of large chambers, lessening the velocity of gases, and incidentally cooling the gases. Unfortunately in one sense and fortunately in another, we were compelled to increase the amount of gas handled in the flue system, and the results were then not so good. Still, we get a very good recovery. Our system of taking a sample is similar to the one described by the writer of the paper. We have tried all kinds of apparatus for getting a fair sample. We divided the area of the flue into imaginary squares, and have taken samples for a certain period of time from each square; and have used the asbestos bags. At present, there is a large unit of the Cottrell apparatus almost ready to connect up on the roaster flue to catch the dust from flotation concentrates. The worst things smelters have to handle at the present clay, they are coming in the Southwest as well as the Northwest, are of material much of which is as small as 500 mesh, and the ordinary methods of catching dust will not apply to flotation concentrates. The Cottrell process is going to be tried out at our plant for this material. We have devised special forms, with a view to preventing the formation of dust from this material, and we are pleased with the results so far obtained. There is another point in connection with this subject that I want to put before the members here, so they will be thinking about it. You know there has been a great deal of litigation between the farmers

Jan 12, 1916

By B. C. Craft

Louisiana experienced deeper and increased drilling during 1934, resulting in the discovery of five new fields: Bosco, Acadia and St. Landry Parishes; Lake Hermitage, Plaquemines Parish; Roanoke, Jefferson Davis Parish; Gillis, Calcasieu Parish; and Four Isle, Terrebonnc Parish. New sands were discovered at New Iberia, Iberia Parish; Lake Washington, Plaquemines Parish; Sligo, Bossier Parish; and in the Rodessa gas field, Caddo Parish. Other miscellaneous events worthy of mention are the continued leasing of prospective oil and gas lands in North and South Louisiana, extensive geophysical work in the Gulf Coastal area, and increased interest in the development of flank production on piercement type domes, resulting in the acquisition of flank acreage and the leasing of several shallow domes in the Gulf Coast and Interior salt-dome areas. The total oil production for Louisiana during 1934 was 32,529,082 bbl., an increase of 6,929,280 bbl. over 1933. The total daily production at the end of the year from 2421 wells was 102,752 barrels. North Louisiana During the year, 144 oil wells and 68 gas wells were completed in North Louisiana as compared with 111 oil wells and 47 gas wells during 1933. The North Louisiana oil production was 9,274,050 bbl. as compared with 10,023,580 bbl. during 1933, a decline of 749,530 bbl. The normal decline in the old fields and especially in the Zwolle area was partly offset by increased production in the Converse field, Sabine Parish, and by acid treatment of wells in the Zwolle, Converse and Caddo fields. There were no new fields discovered during 1934. During the year R. W. Norton enlarged the boundaries and reserves of the Rodessa gas field. A series of gas-bearing sands, was discovered in J. B. French, No. 1-B, sec. 34, 23 N. 16 W., below the oolitic lime found at 5500 ft. in which formation all previous wells had been completed. The total depth of this well was 5825 ft. Subsequent drilling has resulted in

Jan 1, 1935

G. M. TAYLOR,* Colorado Springs, Colo.-The ore treated at the United Eastern is primarily a gold one and is cyanided-the counter-current decantation method being employed. One of our employees visited this plant a few months ago and, on his return, reported that the moisture in the tailing was carrying 20 c. per ton, which would appear to be somewhat high. As this type of plant has been advocated by one of the recognized cyaniding engineering firms in the country, and a number of these plants are in successful operation, it does not seem to me that the dissolved loss could be so high, and I would like to know if any one can give any definite information on this point? J. V. N. DORR, New York, N. Y.-I am very glad that Mr. Taylor has raised this question. When I first read Mr. North's paper and saw his statement, that they had an actual dissolved loss of 21.5 c. per ton, I was very much puzzled at this high loss which appeared avoidable by another decantation or the addition of a rotary filter. Reading it again, however, I noted that the actual dissolved loss of 21.5 c. given was evi-dently obtained by multiplying the assay of solution discharged from Z. thickener by the tonnage. On the basis of 283 tons milled per clay, this means $56.54 going to the clam. He states, however, that he returns from. the dam into the system, 70 tons daily assaying 40 c. per ton or $28 per day, so it would seem reasonable, unless I have overlooked something to regard the actual dissolved loss as $56.54 less $28 or $28.54, equaling 10.8 c. per ton. Even this loss, however, is much higher than good practice elsewhere, and can be accounted for largely by the tonnage being handled, which I believe is 30 per cent. above the capacity planned.

Jan 12, 1919

By Gary A. Kordosky

Winning copper from oxide ores usually involves hydrometallurgical techniques. The processes involved are the leaching of copper from the ore and the recovery of the leached copper from the aqueous solution.

Jan 1, 1981

By B. Yarar

Jan 1, 1985

By William P. Blake

AMONG the many interesting objects to be seen at the Vienna Exhibition last summer, the model of the system of underground transportation by a continually moving chain, adopted at the Hasard collieries, at Micheroux, near Liége, Belgium, was one of the most attractive, and full of valuable suggestion to mining engineers. These collieries are under the superintendence of the celebrated

Jan 1, 1874

By H. R. MacMichael

THE rate, at which zinc ore can be sintered varies widely, depending on the characteristics- of the ore. A coarse table concentrate already roasted to a very, low sulfur content may sinter at the rate of-8.6 tons per hour per 100 sq.ft., of wind-box area. At the other extreme is a finely ground flotation, concentrate, with considerable sulfur remaining in the ore as delivered to the sinter plant, for which corresponding rate may be only 3.8 tons per hour, or 44 per cent of the first rate. A usual, size-of sinter machine in zinc plants is one with wind-box 3.5 by 33 ft., making 115.5 sq. ft. of area, and using a 100-hp. fan. Such a machine with the coarse concentrate described would produce 10 tons of sinter per hour; and with the fine, flotation concentrate would produce only 4.4 tons per hour. Ore of the latter class is -sintered at the plant of the Mexican Zinc Co. (subsidiary of the American Smelting & Refining Co.) at Rosita, Mexico. ; Consequently, an unusually large sintering capacity per ton of ore to be treated is required, and provision was made for treatment of 9000 tons concentrates per month, preroasted to. 5 to 9 per. cent sulfur. For this duty three of the usual 33-ft., 100-hp. sintering machines would have been needed.. Considering the auxiliary equipment. necessary for proportioning, handling, and mixing charge, as well as means for disposition of the sinter, a three-unit plant becomes-very complicated, especially if the capacity should be doubled later. After much study it was decided to build a single sintering unit of ample capacity for the work, the plant thus being much simpler and cheaper in construction as well as in operation (Figs. 1 and 2). The sintering machine was built with a wind-box 5.25 by 60 ft. (315 sq. ft.) and provided with a 300-hp. fan.

Jan 1, 1932

By W. P. Blake

Among the many interesting objects to be seen at the Vienna Exhibition last summer, the model of the system of underground transportation by a continually moving chain, adopted at the Hasard collieries, at Micheroux, near Liége, Belgium, was one of the most attractive, and full of valuable suggestion to mining engineers. These collieries are under the superintendence of the celebrated

By R. E. Zimmerman

THE separation of fine sizes of coal from its impurities by means of various flotation methods has become of increasing importance in the coal industry. This, no doubt, will be even more so in the future as the quantity of high grade coal is depleted, particularly that used for metallurgical purposes. The purpose of this paper is to describe and report the results of research work done under the auspices of the Pittsburgh Coal Co. to determine the amenability of their bituminous fine sizes of coal to flotation, to investigate the value of various reagents and factors affecting their use, and compare the results between froth flotation and bulk oil flotation. Compared with the preferential flotation of complex minerals, or ores, the flotation of coal is comparatively easy. However, this statement should not lull one into the feeling that there are no special problems involved. For instance, the separation of coal from pyrite in high sulphur coals is still far from being 100 pct successful. Size consist has considerable effect on reagent consumption and recovery. Other factors will be described and finally it must be remembered that in the flotation of coal a low priced material is being treated and thus economic considerations govern more closely its application than is generally the case in treating other minerals. As a result of the research work done by the Pittsburgh Coal Co. on the flotation of coal, it was concluded that it was practical to clean the -48-mesh coal commercially by froth flotation and after several different types of flotation units and circuits were investigated by means of pilot plants, large scale units were installed at their Champion Nos. 1, 4 and 5 Preparation Plants for the cleaning of -48-mesh slurries. These large scale operations have been recently described by D. H. Davis. 1 C. P. Proctor and C. B. Carlson2 in their chapter on Froth Flotation of Coal in the AIME Seeley W. Mudd series book on Coal Preparation describe some of the practical applications of our Pittsburgh Coal Co. laboratory work in actual plant practice as well as summarizing part of the investigational work. The author presents this paper, however, as a supplement to their reports, and records the basic research accomplished in the laboratory investigational work as well as the results of experi¬ments using bulk oil flotation. In presenting this work the author wishes to state much more work must be done in applying the principles of flotation to cleaning coal, especially in view of recent studies and practices in other mineral beneficiation fields. METHODS OF CONDUCTING LABORATORY TESTS The bulk of the research work was conducted in the laboratory of the Champion No. r Preparation Plant. This plant has elaborate facilities for sampling and analyzing coal and proved to be an admirable location

Jan 1, 1948

By G. W. Ostroot, S. Shryock

Cementing deep, high-temperature oil wells where static temperatures range from 350 to 400F has become routine in the part decade. In the United States there were 271 wells drilled deeper than 15,000 ft during 1963. Many of these wells had static temperatures higher than 400F. Bottom-hole static temperatures near 700F are now realities in the geother-mal (steam producing) wells of California's Salton Sea area. The detailed planning initiated prior to drilling the wells is discussed together with the methods, materials and equipment used in solving the cementing problems which are encountered. Data are also presented that lead to development of cementing compositions that provide adequate thickening time, do not retrogress in strength, and maintain low permeability under these extreme temperature conditions. Field data include the cementing programs used on eight relatively trouble-free geothermal steam wells in the Salton Sea area. INTRODUCTION Not too many years ago cementing oil wells with temperatures in the range of 300F caused considerable anxiety. In some areas of the United States it is now fairly common to cement wells having bottom-hole static temperatures in excess of 400F. We are now confronted with the problem of cementing wells with temperatures ranging from 500 to 700F. Temperatures in this order of magnitude are often found in geothermal steam wells. From where does this extreme heat emanate? There are many theories as to the source of this steam flow. The most widely held views are: (1) heat- ing of ground water fairly close to the surface by an intrusive mass of hot rock; (2) steam generation from a reservoir of metamorphic rock, normally found below 25,000 ft and not at the shallower depths of the Salton Sea reservoir; and (3) high-temperature gases (water vapor) escaping and migrating from molten or semi-molten rock (magma) at a considerable depth. Of these. No. 3 seems to be the most generally acceptable explanation. Heat from springs and fumaroles has been used for years as a means of heating and cooking; however, significant progress in harnessing the vast power of underground steam reservoirs has been relatively slow. The first large-scale attempt to use the heat generated by steam from wells was made in Italy around the beginning of the 20th century. In excess of 250,000 kw of electrical power is now being produced from holes around Larde-rello, Italy. Another very active drilling program was initiated in the volcanic area of New Zealand in 1949.' Natural steam for power projects in the United States began in the early 1920's. An early commercial steam field is located at the Geysers, approximately 75 miles north of San Francisco, an area discovered in 1847 and used for many years as a health resort. Steam originates from 15 wells that have been drilled since 1957. The present output from this project is 25,000 kw. Success of the Geysers operation has been responsible for several companies taking a careful look at the feasibility of producing steam for power generation in the Salton Sea area of Southern California's Imperial Valley. Geothermal steam activity in this latter area began in 1961 when O'Neill, Ashmun and Hilliard completed Sportsman No. 1, at that time the hottest wellbore in the world.' Since its References given at end of paver. completion seven additional wells have been successfully completed in this area. Many problems encountered in drilling steam wells had to be overcome to make the ventures successful. Formation temperatures encountered in the Salton Sea seemed to be a straight-line function (a gradient of 13F per 100 ft of depth).' This imposed severe conditions on all aspects of drilling and completion. This varied, to some extent, from gradients in the older geothermal areas. Not to be overlooked is the effect of these temperatures on casing creep or elongation by thermal expansion (Table I), because standard API flanged wellhead equipment makes no provision for this kind of performance. Floating equipment was redesigned, and changes in types of downhole equipment were made in an effort to eliminate anticipated problems. In the later completed wells, standard oil-well cementing equipment has been used. During the early development of geothermal steam wells there were some problems resulting from blowouts. However, these were eliminated in the deeper Salton Sea wells and no problems were encountered with the drilling mud. A sodium surfactant mud was used on the Sportsman No. 1 to drill from 2,690 to total depth. Nevertheless, it was necessary that a cooling system be added and the mud cooled before circulating it back into the well. The difficulty in evaluating the size of the steam area and its potential in terms of pounds of steam and years of productivity still has not been resolved. Economic complexities have also entered into the steam play in the Salton Sea. The wells at the Geysers were drilled at a cost of $15,000 to $20,-000, whereas the Salton Sea wells will cost more than $150,000. This cost differential has to some extent been accounted for because of the heavily

Jan 1, 1965

By T. F. Bower, M. C. Flemings

The classical explanation for formation of the fine equiaxed "chill zone " in ingot solidification is that local supercooling near the chill wall causes copious nucleation in this region. This work indicates, however, that convection is an essential element in formation of the chill zone. In the absence of convection, no chill zone forms even though rate of. heat extraction is extremely vapid. Alloy studied was Al-l.5 pct Cu alloy solidified against a copper chill wall. When solidification was initiated at the chill wall in absence of. cor-vection, surface grain size was large (>I cm diam). When it was initiated in the presence of convection, it was fine (<0.05 cm diam). It is concluded that some form of "crystal multiplication" plays an important role in formation of the chill zone. INGOT macrostructures are generally classed as containing one or more of the three zones: "chill zone", "columnar zone", and central "equiaxed zone". These three zones are sketched in Fig. 1; their origin has been discussed in some detail.&apos;-&apos; The classical explanation for formation of the chill zone is that supercooling occurs in the region of liquid metal adjacent the mold wall, and copious nu-cleation then takes place in this region forming numerous small crystals. The columnar region then results by growth of favorably oriented grains (den-drites) which crowd out their less favorably oriented neighbors."5 The mechanism of the columnar-equiaxed transition has been the subject of considerable interest. The generally accepted mechanism, until recently, was that constitutional supercooling developed in front of the growing columnar grains with eventual nucleation of new, equiaxed, grains ahead of the growing solid front.&apos; Recently, it became evident this explanation was not completely satisfactory and it is now evident that "crystal multiplication" plays an important role. This crystal multiplication occurs by separation of dendrite arms from growing dendrites,8?"&apos; and has been shown to be strongly influenced by convection.6, 10-13 Reduced convection results, for a given alloy, in longer columnar zone, larger columnar grains, and larger equiaxed grains.7, 12

Jan 1, 1968