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T. M. Drown, South Bethlehem, Pa.: Mr. Thackray's paper shows in a striking way the high degree of rapidity and ac curacy exhibited by the chemists of our steel-works in ordinary everyday practice. That determinations made in an hour should present only slight differences in the third place of deci male is certainly matter for surprise and congratulation. This remarkable result has been due, perhaps, in part, to a remark able cause. The managers of works, ignorant of all the diffi culties of the laboratory, have demanded "the impossible " of their chemists—and the chemists have done it! Andrew A. Blair, Philadelphia, Pa.: Mr. Thackray's paper is extremely interesting, especially in its bearing on the question of a standard method for the rapid determination of phosphorus in the laboratories of steel-works. Before discussing the re sults in general, I desire to explain the results obtained by me under method A'. This is the method which I have used in the work of the sub-committee on Methods of the Interna tional Steel Standards Committee. It may be described briefly as follows: Solution in nitric acid; oxidation of carbonaceous matter by permanganate; precipitation of phosphoric acid by molybdate solution; reduction of molybdic acid in the reductor, and titra tion by permanganate. This method was used apparently by only three chemists, Dr. Dudley, Mr. Crowell, and myself. In determining phosphorus by this method, among the most essential points to be considered are the ratio of iron to molyb dic acid, or the reducing action of zinc on molybdic acid as compared to its reducing action on iron, and the ratio of molyb dic acid to phosphorus in the ammonium phospho-molybdate obtained by precipitation from the solution of the steel. In regard to the first point, the usually accepted ratio is 1 to 0.90756, or, as it is roughly stated, 0.9076, which is based on the assumed reduction of the molybdic acid to Mo12019,. This

Jan 1, 1896

By G. L. Oldright, F. S. Wartman, H. E. Keyes

The economic manufacture of sulfuric acid by the ordinary chamber process usually involves production on a large scale and a plant that is costly to construct. The nature of sulfuric acid makes it costly to transport any great distance. For these reasons, the metallurgist has not found it feasible, at times, to beneficiate ores amenable to leaching, and a need exists for a local process that will produce acid cheaply on a small or large scale. To leach ores containing residual sulfides, an oxidizer, such as ferric sulfate, is needed in solution. Precipitation with scrap iron is one of the cheapest methods of removing some metals from solution, giving a plant of low first cost and supplying a source of cheap ferrous sulfate. The other ingredient needed for the process is SO2 roaster gas, the addition of which, as described below, will give both ferric sulfate and sulfuric acid. Where roaster gas is a waste or obnoxious product, the expense for materials is still further lessened. The use of ferric sulfate and sulfuric acid as a solvent lends itself well to the utilization of scrap iron as a precipitant, and the stages of the process fit in well together as an economic whole. Applications The hydrometallurgist usually thinks of ferric sulfate as a partial solvent for some of the sulfides of copper alone, as most work has been done on this metal. The processes of Hannay and Christensen, for leaching unroasted galena with ferric chloride made by anodic oxidation, show the added solvent action given by "ic" salts when added to brine solutions. It was found by R. D. Bradford (in some work to be published soon by the University of Utah) that, by the addition of a ferric salt to a brine solution, the silver as well as the lead in an unroasted semi-oxidized ore could be largely dissolved. The "ic" salt in the case of silver has evidently the same effect as the case of cupric sulfate when

Jan 1, 1926

By Persifor Frazer

These properties, owned by Mr. William A. Butcher, of Philadelphia, are in the Panuco Mountain, which lies about thirty miles southwest of the town of Candela. It is a granite which penetrates the surrounding limestones and contains the famous copper-mine to which it gives its name. This mine, which is the property of a company in Philadelphia, has long been known to produce gold as well as copper from almost all its parts; and in corroboration of this be it said, that the undersigned has washed gold from a number of places where the works of the mine or natural sections had exposed the decomposed granite to view in the state of kaolin. It is well known that these junction- or contact-planes between two different formations are often the lodging-places of much freemilling gold, which through fissures are sometimes carried long distances perpendicular to the strata and into the interior of the formation. The structure of the Panuco Mountain, with its outlying spurs and adjacent foot-hills, forms a most instructive and unusual study. At a rough guess the area covered by this mountain will equal, perhaps, twenty-five to thirty square miles ; but its singular feature is the intimate welding together of two formations into one topographical unit. The lines of division between the granite and the calcareous sandstone are of such complicated character that they could not be mapped on a small scale. Unlike the majority of such contacts, the divisions between formations are not always marked in the Panuco Mountain by gulches, valleys, and streams (or the dry beds of the latter), but in the portion of the mountain which lies south of the Panuco copper mine, the lines of junction of these formations cross the gulches and promontories, and, in some instances, cannot be traced by any such topographical features. The house of the Panuco copper mine is 3742 feet above oceanlevel (by rough barometric observation), and the gold-mine about to be described is 235 feet above this, and about two miles distant,

Jan 1, 1886

By L. de Florez

The successful control of any operation, whether industrial, military, or purely physical, is fundamentally dependent upon the same elements: (I) The securing of accurate and pertinent information concerning the factors involved in the operation; (2) Correct interpretation of their relationship as affecting future results; (3) Efficient means for effecting changes in the factors governing the operation to shape the result. The analogy which exists in the control of operations in these widely differing fields of action is of utmost interest, and in considering the physical control of a process, the realization of its existence permits a clearer conception of the steps required to achieve results and aids in formulating the problems to be met. Let us imagine, for instance, the requirements for successfully conducting a business. It is evident that the first requisite lies in obtaining continuous and reliable information concerning the functioning of its various branches and in detecting, with the least possible delay, any tendency of change in their functions; next, in correctly analyzing this information by comparison with past records, showing the relation of the particular business to general conditions in the trade; and finally, in employing means for counteracting any unfavorable change in general conditions, or compensating for its effects by an appropriate action. Likewise, in military operations, the success in carrying out a plan lies primarily in the maintenance of proper intelligence and communication service, which furnishes information as to the disposition of forces; in correct analysis of the ascertained position, guided by fundamental knowledge of tactics; and finally, on the efficient carrying out of orders and effecting corrective movements. In the physical operation of a process, such as for example in cracking, our information is obtained by pressure and temperature instruments, etc., which permit us to visualize existing conditions under which the operation is being carried out. The information at hand is then analyzed and certain conclusions arrived at as to the results which will be obtained under the observed conditions. If this analysis should indicate, in the

Jan 1, 1928

By Robert Franke

(Butte Meeting, August, 1913.) IN view of the prominence which the conical mill has attained in the fine-crushing field .within the few years since its introduction, the following comparison with its more mature forerunner, the Chilean mill, based on extensive tests, is submitted in the interest of the milling profession. Soon after designing the concentrating plant of the Miami Copper Co. in 1909, the Hardinge conical mill made its appearance in the milling forum. . Its possibility as a suitable crushing device for the plant was well recognized, but in view of the lack of commercial demonstration, at the time, as to capacity, efficiency for desired product, and the still more uncertain factors of cost of maintenance and power consumption, it was deemed that the immediate adoption of this machine throughout the plant would be a hazardous undertaking. For these reasons it was decided to equip the majority of the immediately required units of the plant with Chilean mills, the fine-crushing proficiencies of which were better known, and one section with Hardinge mills, to serve as a test unit for the guidance of future installations and replacements. Thereby, after 1.5 years' operation with both types of mills, a thorough test as to metallurgical efficiency and cost economy has been obtained. The conical mill used in these tests is the 8-ft. Hardinge pebble mill, having a cylinder 22 in. in length. The cylindrical portion of this mill is lined with cast-iron liner plates, and the conical extensions with silex bricks bound together by cement. Each. liner plate carries a projecting lifter, the function of which is to increase the height of drop of the lifted material. Danish No. 5 pebbles, obtained from the coast deposits of Denmark, are used for the grinding charge. The Chilean mill used is a fast-running, 3-roller, 6-ft. Saturn mill, with screens of 0.037-in. opening. The feed to these mills is the oversize of Callow screens having 0.029-in. openings, which. follow rolls crushing to 0.5 in.

Jan 7, 1913

By Hugh Spence

THE use of natural feldspathic rocks, as opposed to straight feldspar, for ceramic purposes is not new. "Cornwall stone," a semi-kaolinized granite containing fluorite, has long been used by the English pottery trade instead of feldspar, and "Carolina stone," a similar rock, is now being offered to the American trade. A recent report of the U. S. Bureau of Mines states that trachyte, a glassy volcanic rock, is being used in California instead of feldspar in ceramic bodies. In Germany, phonolite and basalt have been investigated, and possibly also used, as ceramic raw materials, and extensive research has been conducted in Russia in recent years looking to the utilization of the immense bodies of nepheline syenite of the Kola Peninsula, which is the host rock of the apatite deposits now being exploited on a large scale in the Murmansk region; the nepheline is recovered as a by-product of the concentration of the apatite. Long used principally as a raw material for the pottery and allied industries, where, in bodies, glazes, enamels, etc., it serves as a fluxing ingredient and forms, on firing, a glassy bond with the more refractory clay, flint and coloring particles, feldspar has been finding ever increasing employment in glass. In 1936, over half of the nearly quarter of a million tons of feldspar sold in the United States went to the glass trade. Its usefulness for this purpose is due to the resistance to thermal shock which it imparts to glass products, particularly bottles, containers and tableware, because of its alumina content, which averages from 16 to 20 per cent. Active search has been made on the American continent during the past few years for other minerals of feldspathoid type, with comparable or higher alumina content, that may be suitable for glass and other ceramic purposes. One of the most important results of this work has been the delimiting in central Ontario of large bodies of nepheline syenite of excellent ceramic grade.

Jan 1, 1938

By C. A. Heiland

The new geophone described herein was developed by Charles H. Hull, instrumentmaker of the Colorado School of Mines, and the writer. The first geophone was invented during the war for the purpose of detecting enemy sapping or underground mining operations and for locating enemy artillery. It is based on the principle of the seismograph—a heavy lead mass suspended by one or two diaphragms, which are clamped to an air-tight case. When the ground vibrates during the transmission of sound waves, the case moves with it while the so-called steady mass remains practically motionless. Attached to the top of the casing is a hose leading to an earpiece shaped like a stethoscope. When the mass and the diaphragm move up and down in the case, the air is compressed and rarified in the inside; thus the vibration is communicated as sound wave to the human ear. The geophone combines a surprising simplicity of construction with an extreme sensitivity. Other listening instruments were developed during the war, adaptations of the telephone and the microphone—that is, instruments operating through the medium of electricity—of which the so-called seismicrophone, an adaptation of the carbon-granule microphone receiver, probably has found the greatest application, but such instruments apparently have not proved as useful as the simple geophone despite obvious advantages arising from the use of electricity. The carbon receivers were more subject to extraneous noises and to what is called "frying," and they did not offer the advantage possessed by the geophone; namely, the simultaneous use of two receivers, which makes it possible to determine the location of the source of sound. During the war, the U. S. Bureau of Mines made a study of the geophone and of the propagation of sound waves through rock. These studies have been continued, as the earlier results proved the possibility of using the geophone in various non-military ways, principally in mining, and the results of these studies have been published.'

Jan 1, 1932

By L. S. Darken

In the study of reactions occurring in liquid iron, alone or in contact with a liquid oxide or slag phase, it has been found that the experimental data over a limited range of concentration can in some cases be represented satisfactorily by the simple equilibrium expression where (P) denotes the concentration of a product and (R) the concentration of a reactant in the reaction r1R1 + r2R2 + • • • D P lP1 + P 2P2 + • • • Some of the reactions for which it holds are listed in Table 1. For others, however, the simple equation apparently does not hold. This has been attributed to an improper method of expressing concentration (for instance, weight per cent instead of mol fraction); or it has been supposed that the solutions are not ideal in the sense that the activity of a component is not proportional to its true mol fraction. But it may be that the problem has been oversimplified by neglecting some molecular species actually present; that is, by considering only the ostensible simple components and thus leaving out of account possible compound formation. It is the purpose of the present paper to point out how, in a group of related cases, a reasonable consistent assumption relative to the presence of a compound makes it possible to express the experimental data satisfactorily by the simple equilibrium expression when this compound is taken into account, and to bring into harmony data referring to different reactions in liquid iron. There are several a priori reasons for believing that solutions in liquid iron should not deviate far from ideality, provided that the concentration of solute is not too great and is expressed in proper terms. The factors that commonly lead to nonideality in systems at ordinary temperature— as ionization or the occurrence of polar and nonpolar molecules—are presumably less effective in inetal and in slag systems at high temperature. Again, the type of equation commonly used to express the value of

Jan 1, 1940

By Charles H. MacDowell

Up to 1909 the American public had little knowledge of, or interest in, potash. Some remembered that it had to do with soft soap and sore throat,, but further they knew not. In 1909-10, the German-American potash war, and the publicity attending hostilities, brought home to America the knowledge that potash was an important article of commerce; that Germany monopolized its production and distribution, and exercised all the prerogatives attending complete control. The present war, with its transportation embargo, has again directed attention to Germany's strength as a potash producer and her present unfortunate situation as a distributor. As a consequence, the search for potash takes on new life and it again becomes a subject of general interest. My first knowledge of potash came from a study of the German potash exhibit at the World's Fair in 1893. This investigation led to the recommendation that Armour & Co. engage in the manufacture of commercial fertilizers and the fertilizer branch was organized early in 1894. From then to now " potash " has been a live subject. Two and eight-tenths per cent. of the earth's crust consists of potassium oxide. It is an important constituent of feldspar, granite, and other igneous rocks. Potash is valuable commercially in a water-soluble form. In igneous rocks it is locked in so tight that it is of little value and no utilization in a commercial way has been made of these insoluble forms. Potash in water-soluble form is found in large deposits in Germany; in smaller deposits in Austria and Spain; and in brines in some of our Western arid basins. The deposits in Germany, Austria, and Spain are concentrations from sea waters containing potash derived from the decomposition of potash-bearing rocks. It has been found that the amount of potash remaining in decomposed rocks is not the same as that in the original rock. For instance, granite containing originally 5.58 per cent. potash contained only 1.49 per cent, in the decomposed rock. Syenite containing 6 per cent. in the original

Jan 1, 1915

By L. S. Darken

In the study of reactions occurring in liquid iron, alone or in contact with a liquid oxide or slag phase, it has been found that the experimental data over a limited range of concentration can in some cases be represented satisfactorily by the simple equilibrium expression where (P) denotes the concentration of a product and (R) the concentration of a reactant in the reaction r1R1 + r2R2 + • • • D P lP1 + P 2P2 + • • • Some of the reactions for which it holds are listed in Table 1. For others, however, the simple equation apparently does not hold. This has been attributed to an improper method of expressing concentration (for instance, weight per cent instead of mol fraction); or it has been supposed that the solutions are not ideal in the sense that the activity of a component is not proportional to its true mol fraction. But it may be that the problem has been oversimplified by neglecting some molecular species actually present; that is, by considering only the ostensible simple components and thus leaving out of account possible compound formation. It is the purpose of the present paper to point out how, in a group of related cases, a reasonable consistent assumption relative to the presence of a compound makes it possible to express the experimental data satisfactorily by the simple equilibrium expression when this compound is taken into account, and to bring into harmony data referring to different reactions in liquid iron. There are several a priori reasons for believing that solutions in liquid iron should not deviate far from ideality, provided that the concentration of solute is not too great and is expressed in proper terms. The factors that commonly lead to nonideality in systems at ordinary temperature— as ionization or the occurrence of polar and nonpolar molecules—are presumably less effective in inetal and in slag systems at high temperature. Again, the type of equation commonly used to express the value of

Jan 1, 1940

By Frederic H. Lahee

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the similarity of the oil-producing structures in the Mexial fault zone, and to show how the apparently very irregular well logs in these fields may be use? for the practical interpretation of subsurface conditions. The Mexia oil field, in Limestone County, Tex. (Fig. 1) is closely associated with a fault that trends about 30" east of north and has a displacement of between 200 and 400 ft., with downthrow on the west. Minor slips accompany this major fault, some being roughly parallel to the main break while others are transverse to it. These faults belong to the so-called Mexia fault zone, a belt of fracturing that has been traced in its characteristic features southward to near Kosse, 15 miles south of Groesbeck, in southern Limestone County, and northward at least as far as the Trinity River at the eastern border of Navarro County, and possibly as far north as Hunt and Hopkins counties.2 The Balcones fauil zone, from 30 to 40 miles west of the Mexia fault zone, differs from the latter in that its principal displacement is a downthrow on the east. In this respect, it is exactly the opposite of the Mexia displacement. Between these two zones of major faulting lies a great down-dropped block, or graben, which is broken by numerous minor faults. Oil Fields Associated with Mexia Fault Zone When speaking of oil fields associated with the Mexia fault zone, we refer only to those now producing from the Woodbine sand. In this category belong the Mexia, Currie, Old Richland or Seay-Cranfill, Powell, and New Richland fields, named in the order of their discovery (see Fig. 1). Subsequent development may prove that the gas found in the Boyd Oil Co.'s Connor well, north of Kerens, is coming from another pool in the same fault zone.

Jan 1, 1925

By Edward Keller

THE ASSAY FOR COPPER. SOMEONE some time ago remarked that some chemists still insist on telling us how to determine copper by the electrolytic method. The. writer must confess that he believes that everything is not known definitely as yet as to how the exact amount of copper is determined in such material as purest commercial electrolytic copper. Some of us are not yet convinced that the pure copper atom is at all times deposited from an acid solution and that no oxygen or hydrogen will, under certain conditions, accompany it. Difficulties with impurer material are frequent, but erroneous results are not always apparent, since these do not speak so readily for themselves as those in the first case. By this is meant that if a chemist finds 100 per cent. of copper in electrolytic copper it is pretty certain that he perceives the result to be wrong, while if he finds 0.1 per cent. of copper too much in a very impure material he is far more likely to be unconscious of his error. These, in a wide experience, are frequent happenings and the writer has always looked with interest to publications on this subject. In turn, he :feels justified in giving to others a few of his own observations. Up to a few years ago there were two methods of electrolytic copper assay in technical use, which had in common, that the amount of copper deposited on the cathode did not exceed 2 g., and they differed in that, for the one a large sample 1 (20 to 80 g.) was taken from the general sample by a splitting device, dissolved, and from the solution a small portion (to contain 1 or 2, g. of copper) measured out for the electrolytic deposition; in the other Method the copper was determined, generally in 1-g. portions of the separated coarse and fine portions of the sample, all of which passed -a 16 or 20-mesh screen, being accomplished by a 40-mesh screen,

Jan 8, 1913

By H. M. Chance

Adequate treatment of the difficulties surrounding the valuation of mineral lands requires that agreement be first reached defining value as understood for the purpose of appraisal. To define value as the price of a product is not sufficient, and does not assist us in using the factors that cause variations in values and in relative values. The real value of any product depends primarily upon its relation to the necessities, comforts and pleasures of mankind. As the necessities, comforts and pleasures of the civilized races differ from those of more primitive man, the value of products varies with the degree of civilization and the environment of the consumer. Coal has no value to the savages of warm climates, and arrow-head flint none to the residents of New York. It has long been recognized that what has been termed " intrinsic value " must be limited to materials that are essential to existence—air, water, food. But " intriusic value" cannot be measured in monetary terms. The intrinsic value of a bushel of wheat is due to the fact that it will support the life of an individual for a certain definite time, but this fact does not enable us to measure or to express that value in monetary terms. It has often been proposed to adopt as a measure of the value of any product the quantity of labor necessary to produce it, but this method is of limited application, and will not apply to what may be termed " intrinsic values." For many reasons it might be well, while assenting to the fact that any material may be intrinsically valuable, to abandon the use of the term " intrinsic value." One of these reasons is the tendency to confuse the idea of intrinsic value with a value that is conferred by economic conditions, that is purely artificial and that may be permanent or evanescent. Intrinsic value must from its nature be permanent and unchangeable. Possibly for present purposes the value of any material may be considered as having a dual origin: First, that due to economic

Jan 1, 1914

By E. E. Brownson

This paper will be confined to the treatment of methods as applied in the laboratory of the Boston and Montana Reduction Department of the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. at Great Falls, Mont. As the electrolytic plant of this company operates at a current density of approximately 35 to 40 amperes per square foot when running up to capacity, the arsenic and antimony content of the anodes delivered to the plant is of considerable importance as bearing on the purity of the refined cathodes turned out. Owing to the rather high relative percentage of antimony, it has always been the custom to determine antimony as well as arsenic in all forms of copper. Thus, anodes have been analyzed in which the antimony was about equal to the arsenic, although the average shows about 2 parts of arsenic to 1 of antimony. In the refined copper the relative proportions of the two impurities vary considerably, but probably in the average are about equal. In this latter case, the percentage of the two is SO small that ordinarily no attempt is made to separate them, the report of analysis showing percentage of As and Sb combined. Although rapid and exceedingly accurate determinations of arsenic may be made by means of various distillation schemes, the determination of antimony, either by itself or together with arsenic, has always been more or less cumbersome and has required a considerable amount of time. By the methods, details of which follow, the determination of arseluic and antimony, either separated as in the case of anodes or together in case of refined copper, is accomplished in 24 hr. from the time the sample is received by the chemist. As to the accuracy of the results obtained, it can be quite positively stated that in this respect these methods are very satisfactory, much more so than any heretofore employed in our work, and when the rapidity of determination is considered, the results are very accurate.

Jan 1, 1914

By Stanley C. Herold

At the present time five localities in the Argentine Republic are known to bear direct evidences of the presence of petroleum. The segregation of these localities is more or less arbitrary inasmuch as minor indications may be found to extend from one locality to the other at no regular distance apart, especially in the northern and western part of the republic. These localities are listed as follows: North Argentine-Bolivian region, Salta-Jujuy district, provinces of Mendoza and Neuquen, Comodoro Rivadavia, and the Gallegos-Punta Arenas region. Economic conditions attract us to the possibilities of developing these and other regions of countries in the southern hemisphere. Development work will, naturally, be undertaken first in such localities as present direct manifestations of the presence of petroleum; "hidden fields" may exist, but, unless discovered by accident, their development will be left to the last. The problems to be solved in the development of the petroleum resources of the Argentine republic are mainly of stratigraphy, structure, and transportation. We are not here concerned with the unfavorable climate of the countries to the north in the tropics where, for us of the "far north," life hangs by a thread ready to be severed by a mosquito, gnat, or tropical germ. North Argentine-Bolivian Region The North Argentine-Bolivian region has already been described by the author.' Geographically and geologically this is admittedly one field extending from Argentine into Bolivia. It is not necessary to repeat here the various conditions pertaining to this field, though the summary may be quoted as follows: Extending from northern Argentine northward into central Bolivia is a belt of petroleum seepages. On account of the remoteness of the district it has, heretofore, been little considered by oil operators. The regional geology is comparatively well understood but the local features have not been carefully detailed. Development work in the past has been done on an unscientific basis and has led to failures. At the present time, access to the region is somewhat difficult but, no

Jan 1, 1921

By R. V. Wheeler, F. V. Tideswell

Coal being essentially a complex conglomerate of plant remains that have undergone decay and interaction in varying degree, it is understandable that attack on the problem of its chemical constitution by normal chemical methods should have been attended by but slight success. The obvious method of fractionation by means of selective solvents has yielded a few results of some value. Thus it is known that from many, if not all, bituminous coals organic solvents extract small percentages of oxygenated compounds, which are generally assumed to have been derived from the original plant resins, though a more probable source would appear to be the glycerides and waxes of the plants. Organic solvents also extract small proportions of hydrocarbons, the origin of which is doubtfill. Of more importance is the action of such pseudo solvents as pyridine, which, in addition to their specific solvent action, have the power of resolving and simplifying a portion of the coal substance in a manner analogous to that by which water can disperse a hydrogel. Early work with pyridine indicated that coals are composed of two main classes of compounds: the one soluble in organic solvents, the other capable of being partly dispersed in pyridine. Recent work has shown that the dispersion is colloidal in character and that it may be accomplished by the use of solvents less active than pyridine, such as benzene or chloroform, provided that the temperature of extraction is raised or the coal has been suitably preheated. The action of reagents on coal has proved of little value in the past, but some insight into the constitution of coal has been given by regulated destructive distillation. Thus, it has been shown that coals behave on distillation as though composed of two main classes of compounds: the one readily decomposable at moderate temperatures (yielding mainly the paraffins), the other undergoing a preliminary early decomposition (with evolution of oxides of carbon and water) and yielding a residue that at higher temperatures breaks down, yielding much hydrogen.

Jan 1, 1925

By R. R. Hawkins

PEoperly designed tubing strings make it possible to continue the flowing life of wells beyond the stage where ordinarily they would be put to pumping. Wells no longer able to flow through 2-in. tubing can be made to produce through smaller tubing if conditions within the well are carefully studied and correctly designed strings are installed. In this way, pumping expense may be postponed and in some pools it is within reason that the entire recovery may be obtained by natural flow if maintenance of pressure is practiced. Infrequent tubing changes would be necessary but their cost would be much less than that of installing and maintaining pumping equipment. If small wells are to be made to flow naturally, careful consideration must be given the actual lifting mechanics within the string, so that fairly accurate knowledge of reservoir conditions, especially pressure, is essential. Wells producing between 5 and 25 bbl. daily are classified here as "small wells." Exponential Flow A maximum of the energy contained in the expanding gas must be employed to do useful work if natural flow is to be continued. It is evident that adiabatic expansion would defeat this purpose, therefore the velocity of the gas must be held down to a minimum in order that isothermal expansion may be approached. Of course, true isothermal expansion would not be obtainable in an oil well, hence the use of the term "exponential." 1 Obviously the closer the approach to isothermal expansion, the more efficient the lift. Experiments by the U. 8. Bureau of Mines² have shown that for isothermal expansion to take place in a gas well where water is being produced, a definite relationship exists between the depth of the well and the minimum operating pressure. The latter must be such that the tubing fill-up, if static conditions prevailed, would be equivalent to 14 per cent of the distance between the top of the fluid inside the tubing and the tubing head. It has been observed that variations in this essential ratio

Jan 1, 1932

By Basil Prescott

In the science of evolution of the species, there is a law which, simply stated, avers that the history of the individual repeats the history of the race. Similarly, if unassisted by the experience of others, each SUCcessful engineer would perfect and develop his methods and technique from the rough grab sample up to the carefully taken, recorded and studied samples and observations which now determine and decide the expenditure of the large sums required for modern mining. Hence real progress results from the interchange of experience, as in that way the entire experience of the profession can be made available to every engineer. The literature of this subject is already voluminous, but some progress has been made in the gathering of data and in their compilation or presentation. More Romance than Developed Ore in Limestone Deposits In certain types of deposits, methods little known 25 yews ago have been developed, perfected and standardized to a degree that lifts sampling from the field of manual labor to the plane of an applied science; for instance, the modern methods of estimating the so-called porphyry coppers. With some types of orebodies, we have become familiar, and sometimes on too easy speaking terms, with millions of tons of ore in reserve and tens of millions of dollars; while with others even these once marvelous figures sink into insignificance before the array of ciphers that are presented. .In such company, the average limestone replacement orebody is entirely out of place, for its reserves seldom reach a figure to arrest the attention of the modern engineer, and more often are insignificant. It is only when the records of the production of some of the older camps are studied, which show them to have continuously produced over very extended periods, that a realization is borne home that occasionally this type is worthy of consideration even in these days of gigantic tonnage.

Jan 1, 1925

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

By Hoyt Stoddard Gale

Recent work on borate deposits near Kramer in the extreme southeast corner of Kern County, California, is of special interest because of the information it seems to give concerning the mode of origin of the borate minerals colemanite and ulexite, especially when considered in conjunction with the valuable clue to the mode of origin of colemanite in its present known deposits given in a paper by W. F. Foshag,1 of the United States National Museum. Colemanite is found in or near original deposits of ulexite, from which it is supposed to have been derived by a change in the character of the ground water or rate of its movement or both. Indications that an alteration of this sort had produced colemanite were first recognized by the writer2 in specimens collected in the Kramer district in 1920, and sent to W. T. Schaller, at U. S. Geological Survey, for identification. The identity of the two borate minerals in these specimens was suspected when collected but not at once determined, but the relations of the minerals as seen in the specimens seemed to afford a manifest clue to the origin of the deposits. Similar specimens were obtained by the writer from deposits in Death Valley soon after he had examined the deposits near Kramer. After studying the specimens submitted to him Dr. Schaller wrote as follows: " I have finally positively identified the boron minerals you sent me with your letter of Sept. 27. The &apos;white fibrous mineral like ulexite, is ulexite; the &apos;harder nodules&apos; in the clay are colemanite, apparently formed from the ulexite as a result of leaching, with recrystallization in place—a theory that Foshag is working on." The present paper is a report on the facts observed at the depo its near Kramer, and some general observations on the geological relations noted, which, unfortunately, still form only a very incomplete record. The intimate association of deposits of colemanite and ulexite in California and Nevada with certain volcanic rocks affords a strong pre-

Jan 1, 1926