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By Howard L. Hartman

The past 15 years have seen rapid advances in the metallurgy of materials for drill machinery and bits, but rock drilling itself continues to be largely an art. Jet piercing, roller bit rotary drilling, and rotary percussion are all promising new techniques, but the percussion rock drill, still used for 90 pct of the blastholes in U. S. hard-rock mining, has under- gone no major modification since pneumatic machines were first used successfully in the 1860's. This singular lack of progress stems directly from ignorance of the nature of impact failure of rock and the fundamentals of rock penetration in general. For nearly three-quarters of a century, mining engineers did not know what went on at the bottom of a drillhole.

Jan 1, 1959

Kaolin deposits in Georgia lie in a belt that stretches across the central part of the state from Alabama to South Carolina. In 1977 the state's kaolin production was an estimated 4.58 million tons (5.05 million st) or 77% of US production. While mining methods vary, stripping contractor W. F. (Billy) Jackson of Wrightsville, Ga., depends on a fleet of 18 twin-engine elevating scrapers to move the hulk of overburden and clay. Owner Billy Jackson explains that the soil in this part of the state is perfect for scraper operation; overburden ranges from Georgia red clay to a sandy gumbo material. Apart from some shale, very little rock is encountered, thus eliminating any blasting re¬quirement. Most of the material can be removed with cutting edge teeth or with drop center blades.

Jan 6, 1978

By Edgar R. Kendall

A knowledge of the fundamental principles of locating, sampling, testing and evaluating materials is essential in prospecting for mineral aggregates. In this discussion, mineral aggregates will be considered sand, gravel, crushed stone and slag that are used as materials of construction. The quantity of mineral aggregates produced in the United States during the year 1935 for such purposes was roughly 165,000,000 tons, about 60 per cent of which was sand and gravel, 37 per cent crushed stone and 3 per cent crushed slag. The total value of this material was approximately $100,000,000. It is apparent therefore that the prospecting for suitable mineral aggregates is of considerable economic importance. In prospecting for mineral aggregates, the methods employed are the same whether the organization is large or small. In the large organization there may be available geologists for locating sources of supply, a land acquisition department to arrange for the necessary options or permits, engineers to do the sampling, a laboratory for testing, and a board of consulting materials engineers to make the final selection. Even small organizations must follow the same general procedure, though the responsibility for the selection of aggregates may rest with one man, who may or may not be an engineer, but who must depend entirely upon his own judgment. Locating the Supply The initial step in prospecting for mineral aggregates is the locating of suitable, adequate and economic sources of supply for the project in mind. Commercial plants in the vicinity should be investigated and a survey made of the existing structures that have been built of aggregates from these sources. If the structures are rather old and show no signs of deterioration, it is fairly good evidence that the aggregate is satisfactory. If materials of the proper quality can be obtained from commercial sources in sufficient quantity, and delivered to the job economically, it

Jan 1, 1942

By Edgar R. Kendall

A knowledge of the fundamental principles of locating, sampling, testing and evaluating materials is essential in prospecting for mineral aggregates. In this discussion, mineral aggregates will be considered sand, gravel, crushed stone and slag that are used as materials of construction. The quantity of mineral aggregates produced in the United States during the year 1935 for such purposes was roughly 165,000,000 tons, about 60 per cent of which was sand and gravel, 37 per cent crushed stone and 3 per cent crushed slag. The total value of this material was approximately $100,000,000. It is apparent therefore that the prospecting for suitable mineral aggregates is of considerable economic importance. In prospecting for mineral aggregates, the methods employed are the same whether the organization is large or small. In the large organization there may be available geologists for locating sources of supply, a land acquisition department to arrange for the necessary options or permits, engineers to do the sampling, a laboratory for testing, and a board of consulting materials engineers to make the final selection. Even small organizations must follow the same general procedure, though the responsibility for the selection of aggregates may rest with one man, who may or may not be an engineer, but who must depend entirely upon his own judgment. Locating the Supply The initial step in prospecting for mineral aggregates is the locating of suitable, adequate and economic sources of supply for the project in mind. Commercial plants in the vicinity should be investigated and a survey made of the existing structures that have been built of aggregates from these sources. If the structures are rather old and show no signs of deterioration, it is fairly good evidence that the aggregate is satisfactory. If materials of the proper quality can be obtained from commercial sources in sufficient quantity, and delivered to the job economically, it

Jan 1, 1942

By W. J. Carlson, S. M. Parmerter, I. Iwasaki

This article discusses the effect of physical and chemical modifications of starches on the anionic and cationic flotation of silica from oxidized iron ores and magnetite-taconite concentrates. It also deals with the results of the interaction of starch, pH, and calcium ions on the flocculation, clarification, and filtration of iron ore slimes and magnetite-taconite tailings. Starches, particularly when an-ionically modified, were found to be effective depressants in anionic silica flotation. British gums and dextrins were beneficial for oxidized iron ores, but none of the starches or starch derivatives appeared to have any effect on magnetite-taconite concentrates. The flocculation and filtration of iron ore slimes were affected most strongly by the level of starch, to a lesser degree by the pH, and virtually not at all by the level of calcium chloride. The clarification of iron ore slimes was complexly dependent on these three factors. The flocculation of magnetite-taconite tailings depended mainly on the level of starch, whereas their clarification depended on the level of lime. As previously reported in the literature, selective flocculation and partial upgrading of a semitaconite could be readily attained with starch and calcium chloride. A previous article discussed some of the parameters that are important when various corn starches are applied to the soap flotation of activated silica from iron ores and to the flocculation of iron ore slimes.' Methods of solubilizing the starches and the molecular size after mechanical and thermal treatments, as inferred from the viscosity measurements, were shown to influence the adsorption characteristics on iron ores, and the residual concentrations of both calcium ion and starch in the pulp liquor were in direct correlation with the flotation and flocculation behavior.2-4 The present article summarizes the results of more recent tests conducted to ascertain the role of starches and starch derivatives in various phases of iron ore beneficiation. The scope of this investigation has been extended to include not only anionic and cationic flotation, but also the flocculation and filtration of iron oxide slimes, the selective flocculation and partial upgrading of semitaconites, and the flocculation and clarification of magnetite-taconite tailings —all problems that are of vital importance to the iron ore industry of Minnesota. By combining a practical approach with adsorption studies and by using single-mineral systems5 in these research efforts, it is believed that the ultimate goal of developing a suitable modification of starch structure may be realized. The topics covered in this article are limited to the empirical aspects of the research program on the depressant activity of starches and products in the cationic and anionic flotation of silica and of their role in flocculation, water clarification and filtration. ANIONIC SILICA FLOTATION In the soap flotation of activated silica from iron

Jan 1, 1970

By W.G. Harbert, C. Upthegrove

DURing the past year considerable work dealing with physical properties of cartridge brass was done at the University of Michigan in cooperation with the Ordnance Department of the U. S. Army. This paper gives some of the data bearing on the effect of the anneal, previous to the final reduction-or rolling, on the physical properties, particularly the hardness. Various phases of the subject of physical properties of cartridge brass have been presented by different investigators. Mathewson and Phillips1 refer to the work of Grard, in 1909, as the first systematic presentation of the relation between temperature and time of anneal, changing of physical properties and microstructure, and the previous reduction by cold rolling. They discuss the relation between time and temperature of annealand the previous reduction by cold rolling; also the relation between physical properties and grain size of annealed brass. The degree of deformation previous to the annealing was found to determine the temperature at which recrystallization and corresponding changes in physical Properties would take place. relation between grain size and Brinell hardness, found the hardness for low-temperature annealing to be dependent on the previous degree of reduction, while for anneals above a certain temperature the hardness after the anneal was independent of the degree of reduction. Actual differences in hardness, due to the degree of reduction, disappear only on annealing at 600" C. or above; though the differences for metal subjected to different degrees of reduction and annealed at temperatures between 350" and 600" C. were found to be relatively small. In their determination of the relationship of grain size to Brinell hardness, Bassett

Jan 1, 1923

By W. G. Harbert, C. Upthegrove

DURing the past year considerable work dealing with physical properties of cartridge brass was done at the University of Michigan in cooperation with the Ordnance Department of the U. S. Army. This paper gives some of the data bearing on the effect of the anneal, previous to the final reduction-or rolling, on the physical properties, particularly the hardness. Various phases of the subject of physical properties of cartridge brass have been presented by different investigators. Mathewson and Phillips1 refer to the work of Grard, in 1909, as the first systematic presentation of the relation between temperature and time of anneal, changing of physical properties and microstructure, and the previous reduction by cold rolling. They discuss the relation between time and temperature of annealand the previous reduction by cold rolling; also the relation between physical properties and grain size of annealed brass. The degree of deformation previous to the annealing was found to determine the temperature at which recrystallization and corresponding changes in physical Properties would take place. relation between grain size and Brinell hardness, found the hardness for low-temperature annealing to be dependent on the previous degree of reduction, while for anneals above a certain temperature the hardness after the anneal was independent of the degree of reduction. Actual differences in hardness, due to the degree of reduction, disappear only on annealing at 600" C. or above; though the differences for metal subjected to different degrees of reduction and annealed at temperatures between 350" and 600" C. were found to be relatively small. In their determination of the relationship of grain size to Brinell hardness, Bassett

Jan 1, 1923

By Henry S. Drinker

THE Musconetcong tunnel is situated in New Jersey, near the line of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, about twelve miles from Easton, on the Easton and Amboy Railroad, the latter being the extension of the Lehigh Valley Railroad to tide-water. Up to the present time, the terminus of the Lehigh Valley Railroad has been at Phillipsburg, N. J., opposite Easton, passengers connecting there with New York by the Morris and Essex (D. L. and W.) and New Jersey Central lines; freight and coal being forwarded by the Morris and Essex to tide-water at Hoboken, and by the Central Railroad to Elizabethport and Port Johnson ; also, by the Belvidere and Delaware connections through Trenton to South Amboy.

Jan 1, 1875

By G. Sachs, G. Espey

It is well known that high residual stresses are created in tubing by the sinking process, in which no internal tool or mandrel is used.l-4 In this process, the wall thickness is usually slightly increased.4,5 In tube drawing with a plug, the residual stresses are gradually reduced with increasing reduction of wall, and, by the conventional approximation methods of stress measurement, no stress is detected in tubing in which the wall reduction is over 50 per cent of the total reduction in cross-sectional area.l,6 It has also been observed that higher stresses are set up by the use of wide-angle dies than by acute dies.? 'he actual stress distribution in drawn tubing has been investigated by a few workers,7"9 but has not been related to the conditions of the drawing process. Some attempts have been made to correlate accelerated cracking tests for stresses in brass products with the magnitude of the circumferential stresses and the condition of the metal. l-10 Materials and Preparation The material used in this experiment was commercial cartridge-brass (70 per cent Cu, 30 per cent Zn) tubing in the straightened and annealed condition.† This tubing was of various outside diameters and had a wall thickness of 0.032 in. It was sunk to 1/2-in. outside diameter by means of an experimental 10,000-lb. hydraulic draw-bench, with a maximum drawing speed of 8 ft. per minute. All dies were of 1/2-in. diameter. Various die materials and contours were used in order to study the effect of die design on residual stresses in the tubing; the specifications for the dies are given in Fig. I. Castor oil was used throughout as lubricant. Chattering occurred in sinking some of the tubing, particularly when dies having the more acute angles were used, but the tubes showing chatter marks did not differ markedly from those with a smooth surface regarding the magnitude of residual stress. The source of the chattering has not yet been revealed. The wall of the tubing becomes thicker during s nking, as previously observed.4,5 The increases in wall thickness were 3, 7 and 9.5 per cent on the average for 6, 20 and 33 per cent reductions in diameter, no effect of the contour being noticeable. The reductions mentioned throughout this investigation do not consider this fact, but are reductions of the outside diameter. For the evaluation of the residual stress two fundamentally different methods were used. The approximation methodl,ll of splitting a certain length of tubing was employed to obtain a bird's-eye view of the effect of various drawing conditions on the circumferential stress measured by the diameter change occurring On splitting. For

Jan 1, 1942

By G. Sachs, G. Espey

It is well known that high residual stresses are created in tubing by the sinking process, in which no internal tool or mandrel is used.l-4 In this process, the wall thickness is usually slightly increased.4,5 In tube drawing with a plug, the residual stresses are gradually reduced with increasing reduction of wall, and, by the conventional approximation methods of stress measurement, no stress is detected in tubing in which the wall reduction is over 50 per cent of the total reduction in cross-sectional area.l,6 It has also been observed that higher stresses are set up by the use of wide-angle dies than by acute dies.? 'he actual stress distribution in drawn tubing has been investigated by a few workers,7"9 but has not been related to the conditions of the drawing process. Some attempts have been made to correlate accelerated cracking tests for stresses in brass products with the magnitude of the circumferential stresses and the condition of the metal. l-10 Materials and Preparation The material used in this experiment was commercial cartridge-brass (70 per cent Cu, 30 per cent Zn) tubing in the straightened and annealed condition.† This tubing was of various outside diameters and had a wall thickness of 0.032 in. It was sunk to 1/2-in. outside diameter by means of an experimental 10,000-lb. hydraulic draw-bench, with a maximum drawing speed of 8 ft. per minute. All dies were of 1/2-in. diameter. Various die materials and contours were used in order to study the effect of die design on residual stresses in the tubing; the specifications for the dies are given in Fig. I. Castor oil was used throughout as lubricant. Chattering occurred in sinking some of the tubing, particularly when dies having the more acute angles were used, but the tubes showing chatter marks did not differ markedly from those with a smooth surface regarding the magnitude of residual stress. The source of the chattering has not yet been revealed. The wall of the tubing becomes thicker during s nking, as previously observed.4,5 The increases in wall thickness were 3, 7 and 9.5 per cent on the average for 6, 20 and 33 per cent reductions in diameter, no effect of the contour being noticeable. The reductions mentioned throughout this investigation do not consider this fact, but are reductions of the outside diameter. For the evaluation of the residual stress two fundamentally different methods were used. The approximation methodl,ll of splitting a certain length of tubing was employed to obtain a bird's-eye view of the effect of various drawing conditions on the circumferential stress measured by the diameter change occurring On splitting. For

Jan 1, 1942

By W. R. Atkins

THE Negaunee mine is at the east end of the Marquette Range, in the city of Negaunee, on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Iron ore was first discovered on this property in 1883 by diamond drilling. A shaft was sunk soon afterward, and the mine has been worked continuously ever since. The total shipments from 1887 to' Jan. 1, 1945, were 20,417,587 long tons. The mine was taken over by the present operators, The Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Co., in 1903. During the past four years, 1941 to 1944 inclusive, the property has produced an average of nearly a million tons a year, and has employed more than 400 men. GEOLOGY The ore body at the Negaunee mine lies in a large syncline dipping about 15° to the west, the ore coming to ledge at the east end of the trough. The ore occurs in the Negaunee formation of the middle Huronian age, which consists of ferruginous cherts and slates through which intrusions of diorite have occurred. Although these intrusions of diorite have an important bearing on the formation of ore on the range, they are not important in this ore body. Some faulting has taken place along the diorite intrusions, or dikes as they are called locally, and also other faults are known to exist across the formation. These faults do not complicate either mining or development of the ore body. The footwall consists of jasper underlain with Siamo slate; the hanging wall is jasper and ferruginous chert. Fig. I shows a typical cross section of the ore body. The ore body is quite regular, about 120 ft. thick in the middle of the syncline and thinning out toward both sides of the fold. Its width ranges from 400 to 800 ft., the average being about 600 ft. The footwall is uniform in dip and strike, but irregular lenses of ore often extend 50 to 75 ft. up into the overlying jasper capping. METHOD OF MINING Ore in the Negaunee mine has been mined by top slicing almost exclusively since 1903. This method of mining has been employed because it is especially adapted to the size and shape of the Negaunee ore body, and to the soft, sticky nature of the ore as well as the generally soft, broken jasper capping. Development The ore body has been developed from six different levels with intervals varying between l00 and 125 ft. On the average, the dip causes a horizontal offset of 350 ft. per level, and under these circumstances it has been necessary to carry on considerable development in rock to make available the ore lying along the north and east footwalls. This is not as disadvantageous as might be supposed, because of reduced pressure and the accompanying saving in maintenance costs. The development of the

Jan 1, 1946

By D. D. Dunkin

SANDSTONE has been prepared for glassmaking purposes, and marketed from the White River Valley in-Arkansas at Guion, Izard County, since about 1910-soon after the completion of the White River Branch of the Missouri Pacific R. R. Co. Until 1921, operations were somewhat spasmodic and ended in many failures. In that year a plant was built by the Silica Products Co., Inc., and since that time the operation has been continuous and steady. The land is held under leases, covering about 30 sq. mi. of the best sandstone adjacent to the railroad. Most of the product is shipped to glassmakers. GEOLOGY The St. Peter sandstone is rather widely distributed in north central Arkansas and- is exposed most prominently in outcrops along the slopes of the White River Valley and its tributaries that form the division between the Boston Mountains to the south and the Salem Plateau of the Ozarks to the north. It is of Ordovician age and is generally underlain by Cotter dolomite and capped by Plattin limestone, except in the vicinity of Bellefonte and Everton. At those places, it is a massive cross-bedded, laminated, saccharoidal sandstone; underlying it is the Everton limestone and overlying it, the Joachim magnesium limestone. The sandstone at Everton contains numerous phosphatic pebbles and inclusions of sandy limestone. The irregularity of cross-section, the evidence of sorting action and the phosphatic pebbles appear to be indications of secondary deposition.

Jan 1, 1928

By Robert Maes, Robert de Strycker

The solidifzcation reactions in the Cu-Sn-As system were determined by microscopic examination, thermal analysis, and X-ray diffraction. The system presents no ternary compound. There is a quasi-binary section, of a simple eutectic type, between the compounds Cu5As2 and SnAs; the system presents, in addition, one ternary eutectic reaction, one ternary peritectic reaction, and seven transitional reactions. The temp-peratures corresponding to each of these reactions were determined, most of them with an accuracy of *lLC. The isothermal lines of the liquidus surface were also established for almost the entire diagram. NO reference was found in the literature relative to the Cu-Sn-As phase diagram and this is believed to be the first study on this subject. The Cu-Sn diagram was taken from Hansen and Anderko;' it is represented by Fig. 1, with the phase designation which will be used in the remainder of this work. For the Cu-As diagram, the solution proposed by Hansen and ~nderko' must be modified to take account of recent data, principally from Heyding and Despault~ and from Hume-Rothery and Burns; this yields the diagram represented by Fig. 2. As for the Sn-As diagram, it is not established with certainty, particularly so far as concerns the solid solubility of tin in arsenic and the solidification reactions near the compound SnsAsz. For this last point, Hansen and Anderko propose two solutions: congruent melting of Sn3Asz with a eutectic SnsAsZ + SnAs or incongruent melting implying a peri-tectic reaction L + SnAs = Sn3As2. Microscopic examination of the few binary alloys prepared in this composition range made us prefer the second of these solutions, which gives the diagram shown by Fig. 3. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS The experimental techniques used in this work were microscopic observation and thermal analysis; a few X-ray diffraction patterns were taken to verify the

Jan 1, 1967

By Robert L. Zerga

Mining equipment and systems have been incorporated into the San Manuel mine to meet the requirements of ore development and extraction. A general discussion of the existing equipment as it relates to the specific methods is presented. A comparison is made between original and present equipment, and future equipment needs. The problems, successes and failures of mining equipment adaptation for the San Manuel mining system are highlighted.

Jan 1, 1981

By Donald C. Barton

OF the four papers that comprise this Technical Publication, three are case histories of individual geophysical prospects, subsequently tested by drilling. The bibliography of Dr. Barton's published scientific paperst includes investigations in physiography and surface geological mapping, as well as his geophysical papers, and from this list it is to be observed that he early recognized the place of different types of geophysical prospecting methods in the search for geological structures of economic importance. Moreover, his viewpoint was not merely that the structures should be found, but that the geophysical data should be examined quantitatively to determine the geometry of the structures. In other words, that although these data are insufficient to deduce a unique form for the structure that caused the effects measured in the data, the engineering computations should be carried out to give as much of a definite configuration to the structure as the data permitted, in order that the testing of the structures could be conducted in the most economical manner and with the idea that the experience so gained could be later incorporated in the study of structures subsequently found. Dr. Barton continually emphasized the quantitative use of geophysical observations, whereas at the time that he began his specialization in geophysics it was considered sufficient to use observations only qualitatively. He, more than any one else, was responsible for the first volume on geophysical prospecting issued by the Institute in 1929, and his three articles in that volume stressed the quantitative use of geophysical prospecting. The fourth article in this present Technical Publication is a further contribution to this branch of geophysical interpretation, and is a supplement to the paper in the 1929 volume, "Calculations in the Interpretation of Observations with the Eötvös Torsion Balance." From the successful demonstration by Dr. Barton of the usefulness of quan-

Jan 1, 1946

By Donald C. Barton

OF the four papers that comprise this Technical Publication, three are case histories of individual geophysical prospects, subsequently tested by drilling. The bibliography of Dr. Barton's published scientific paperst includes investigations in physiography and surface geological mapping, as well as his geophysical papers, and from this list it is to be observed that he early recognized the place of different types of geophysical prospecting methods in the search for geological structures of economic importance. Moreover, his viewpoint was not merely that the structures should be found, but that the geophysical data should be examined quantitatively to determine the geometry of the structures. In other words, that although these data are insufficient to deduce a unique form for the structure that caused the effects measured in the data, the engineering computations should be carried out to give as much of a definite configuration to the structure as the data permitted, in order that the testing of the structures could be conducted in the most economical manner and with the idea that the experience so gained could be later incorporated in the study of structures subsequently found. Dr. Barton continually emphasized the quantitative use of geophysical observations, whereas at the time that he began his specialization in geophysics it was considered sufficient to use observations only qualitatively. He, more than any one else, was responsible for the first volume on geophysical prospecting issued by the Institute in 1929, and his three articles in that volume stressed the quantitative use of geophysical prospecting. The fourth article in this present Technical Publication is a further contribution to this branch of geophysical interpretation, and is a supplement to the paper in the 1929 volume, "Calculations in the Interpretation of Observations with the Eötvös Torsion Balance." From the successful demonstration by Dr. Barton of the usefulness of quan-

Jan 1, 1946

THE Geophysics Education Committee has devoted several years to a consideration of the problem of training geophysicists. Past reports have dealt largely with fact finding and with the discussion of particular aspects of geophysical education. In the present report it is proposed to review the subject more comprehensively. This involves the question of what educational qualifications the geophysicist of the highest professional standards should possess, and the related question of what changes must be effected in existing educational institutions in order that prospective professional geophysicists may obtain instruction of the desired quality. The type of geophysicist here contemplated is one familiar with what is known already in the several branches of earth physics, and capable not only of following contemporary progress in any of these branches, but of contributing to that progress in a research capacity. Geophysics in its broadest sense, as has been emphasized repeatedly by this Committee, is the study of the physics of the earth and of terrestrial processes. This includes both the static and the dynamic characteristics of the gaseous, the liquid, and the solid portions of the earth, as well as its gravitational, thermal, and magnetic and electrical manifestations. Some branches of earth physics have been cultivated but slightly; others have reached an advanced state of development. Those branches whose development is sufficient to warrant explicit recognition in the form of organized Sections of the American Geophysical Union are: geodesy, seismology, tectonophysics, and volcanology, dealing with the rock constituents of the earth; oceanography and hydrology with the aqueous constituents; meteorology with the atmospheric constituents; and terrestrial electricity and magnetism with the electromagnetic manifestations. At present, instruction on the professional level in any of these branches of earth physics can be obtained in but few universities in North America. In most institutions where such instruction is undertaken different subjects are given in different and independent departments. Geodesy and hydrology are taught, if at all, as a part of civil engineering. The nearest approach to volcanology and tectonophysics ordinarily is represented by petrology and structural geology given

Jan 1, 1944

By W. H. McCormick, H. J. Benecki

CONSIDERING that a typical modern drilling machine strikes approximately 2000 blows per min and may develop a force of 30 to 200 ft-lb, de- pending upon size of the drill used, the importance of uniform stress distribution in this type of drilling becomes obvious. If the rod were perfectly symmetrical, and if it did not rotate, the problem would be relatively simple, however, the necessary forging, machining and heat treating operations prevent attaining this state of perfection. Take the modern hollow drill rod. The blow is transmitted not from the striking end of the rod directly through to the point of impact of the bit in the rock, but rather through a somewhat complex tool. To add further problems, this entire assembly is rotated immediately after the impacting blow. Rather than attempt to discuss the magnitude and distribution of stresses, it is desired to present a few things that will minimize unusual stress concentration and produce a rod in which the stress distribution will approach the theoretical ideal.

Jan 3, 1954

By R. C. Hepworth

Heaving in roads built on the Mancos Shale is a serious problem in east-central Utah. Heaves are expressed as local bumps, general rises and severe cracking of the pavement. The heaves usually occur in shale road cuts and generally show a seasonal cycle, which reaches a maximum development in the winter. The presence of certain salts, absorption of moisture and physical properties of the subgrade materials were considered, in Utah, to be the main factors in the heaving mechanism. Work done on similar problems elsewhere and studies conducted by the author indicate that the latter two factors are the most important. Results of this investigation indicate that heaving areas are associated with slaking shale or expansive clays, with and without salts present. Laboratory studies show that the initial moisture content of remolded samples and the desiccation history of un- disturbed samples have a major effect on swelling. Swell tests on compacted samples at various temperatures indicate that water has more influence on swell than temperature, except for samples containing sodium sulphate, which swelled with decreasing temperature. Chloride salts inhibited swelling. Tests on shale cores indicate that the stability of slaking shale can be preserved by maintaining its original moisture content. It is concluded that shales and expansive clays, when exposed in road cuts, become desiccated and are subject to expansion when moisture is subsequently available. The seasonal cycle of heaving may possibly be explained by the annual moisture excess and deficiency. To minimize the problem, freshly exposed shale should be kept wet, and the thickness of the subbase and base courses should be increased. The Utah State Department of Highways has been plagued for many years with a distressed condition that develops in roads constructed on the Mancos Shale. Locally these distressed areas are known as heaves, frost boils and alkali boils. These names refer to the surface expression, time of year

Jan 1, 1965

By Joseph L. Patrick

Geologic exploration, which has experienced an upward trend in the United States since 1962, continued with increasing activity through 1965. New, spectacular discoveries of recent years and continued questionable economic and political climates in many areas of the world have continued to focus the exploration attention of an increasing number of companies on the United States. Traditional geologic field methods are being bolstered by development of new methods, techniques and geophysical instruments. Reports from the states emphasize that successful exploration is dependent upon the combined effort of geochemistry, geophysics and geology, with high quality laboratory support of the field effort becoming increasingly necessary. PROGRAMS NOW UNDERWAY IN WEST During 1965 mineral exploration reached an all- time high in Nevada. Although examinations are being carried on throughout the State, much of the work is limited to two areas. The first area to attract recent exploration interest, initiated by discovery of the Carlin gold mine by Newmont Mining Corp., is an area of windows near the leading edge of the Roberts Mountains thrust fault in northeastern Nevada. Included in this area are the old camps of Mountain City, Battle Mountain, Cortez, Mineral Hill and Eureka. Major mining companies are using a combination of surface mapping, geochemistry, geophysics (largely induced potential surveys), following up with drilling. The second area of exploration is along the Walker Lane, a wide shear zone that parallels the Nevada-California boundary from Virginia City to Las Vegas. Activity has been intense in the Tonopah-Yerington area. Discovery of a large copper-iron deposit following an airborne magnetometer survey first focused recent attention on Walker Lane. Sixteen major companies are involved in exploration in the State.

Jan 2, 1966