Search Documents

By Clarence R. Claghorn

Few facts relating to the Bernice anthracite coal-basin have been published in our Transactions, and little is known among engineers in general of the character and composition of the coal found in that basin.

Jan 1, 1889

By SME

A regular feature of the December issue is the abstracts of graduate theses in the mineral industry field presented during the preceding year. The following abstracts were submitted for this second article in the series.

Jan 1, 1976

By E. Higgins

It is the purpose of this paper to set forth the relation and function of the various organizations and institutes engaged in the promotion of safety in the iron mines of the Lake Superior region…

Jan 1, 1915

By Norikazu Hashimoto

SILICIDE coatings on refractory metals are often applied by transporting a silicon halide vapor to a hot metal surface . The coatings are usually grown by solid-state diffusion reaction. The diffusion is often slower than the vapor transport and hence may become rate-controlling.

Jan 1, 1968

By D. D. Donald

C. J. Barber (U. S. Smelting Refining & Mining Co., Salt Lake City)—In his paper Donald describes how New Jersey Zinc Co. made surveys for a connection between the Ivanhoe and Van Mater shafts at Austin-ville, Va. Except to say that the two faces had to meet "accurately" on line and grade, Donald does not indicate the required precision. Assuming that there were 24 angles in the 11/2-mile traverse and 15 in the one-mile traverse, it can be shown that if the average error in plumbing each shaft was 230" and the average error in measuring each traverse angle was 210". then the average error at the point of -connection would have been about ±1.9 ft normal to the line between the shafts. This calculation assumes that any errors in the triangulation would be negligible compared with the errors in the plumbings and traverses, and it also neglects taping errors. With no constant errors or blunders, the latter would be important only in lines normal to the line between the shafts. To make the average error at the connection less than 1.9 ft would, therefore, require either reducing the error in the plumbings to less than ±30", or that in the traverse angles to less than ±l0", or fewer stations, or a combination of these. Referring briefly to the triangulation, because of the problem of fitting a new triangulation into older surveys of the district the orientation deserved some mention, even though the connection could have been made with an assumed bearing. It would be interesting to know how many triangles were required and what the average summation error was before making any adjustments and without considering the algebraic signs. Perhaps this is referred to indirectly in the statement that the maximum angular error distributed was 2". Turning to the shaft plumbings, it would be helpful to know how many men were employed and how long each shaft was in use. Donald says that the surface positions of W-2 and W-3 were carefully surveyed from the collar position of W-1, without indicating how this was done. The length of the backsight would be particularly important. There must have been some error in setting W-1 vertically below the stations in the headframes. How immovable were the headframes, especially the Van Mater, which appears higher than the Ivanhoe and subject to more vibration because of skip hoisting? Donald does not say whether the plumbing wires had been previously restraightened to minimize spinning (otherwise they behave like weak helical springs). The use of light steel weights is most surprising because there seem to be excellent reasons for using heavier, nonmagnetic weights. Did the shafts contain no steel sets, pipes, power cables, etc., which might attract steel? The plumbing method described by Donald was designed for deep shafts in South Africa but differed from the South African practice in two important respects. As described by Browne,6 in South Africa the line between the wires was made parallel to the long axis of the shaft, whereas in the Ivanhoe shaft the lines between the wires were diagonally across the shaft. The main reason given for the South African practice is to insure that the gravitational attraction between the wires and the rock walls is the same on both wires, and therefore does not affect the bearing of the line between them. It seems probable, however, that the effect of air currents might be minimized in the South African procedure, and might be serious with the wires in the diagonal position at the Ivanhoe shaft. In the South African case cited by Donald the wires were swinging freely (although the plumb bobs were sheltered from air currents) but in the Ivanhoe case they were dampened with the plumb bobs set in water. In the discussion of Browne's paper R. St. J. Rowland said:' It has been the practice for a long time to damp the oscillations by immersing the bobs in oil or water. The time per oscillation is thus increased, thereby extending the time taken to complete the work. The longer the suspended wire the less there is to recommend the practice . . . The theoretical time for one swing of a simple pendulum 1050 ft long is approximately 36 sec, which would be increased by dampening the plumb bob in water. Hence very few complete swings would be observed in the 5 min intervals used at the Ivanhoe shaft. In the two South African cases described by Browne, the length of plumb line in one shaft was 5425 ft, the calculated period of swing was 81.6 sec, the average actual period was 76.6 sec, and 94 complete swings were observed in 2 hr. In the other case the length of plumb line was 3116 ft, the calculated period of swing was 61.8 sec, the average period was 63.5 sec, and 86 complete swings were observed in 1 hr 31 min. Browne concluded that observations of more than 30 swings are not likely to result in sufficient gain in accuracy to be justified. Returning to the Ivanhoe and Van Mater plumbings, an objection to the method used is that all four azimuths were taken from fixed points instead of swinging wires, and that each pair of observations would— barring blunders— check closely, and so perhaps give a false feeling of security. In fact, it seems that only two azimuths were obtained from one plumbing, and not four as stated by Donald. Nevertheless, the tying in of each pair of wires from both sides of the shaft has much to commend it. Donald's description leaves the impression that if each shaft was plumbed only once, the engineers were fortunate indeed if the average error in the underground orientation was as little as 30". Because the survey was done over a period of three years, it seems likely that the plumbings were repeated, perhaps more than once. The underground traverse angles were measured by conventional methods, but because the number of angles in the overlapping traverses was not given, the angular closure given by Donald does not indicate the accuracy with which this was done. Donald's description of a method of taping lines of irregular length is welcome. The literature on taping is usually confined to lines of about one tape length, generally 100 ft. Such lines are rare in metal mining because the time, trouble, and cost of setting points at 100-ft distances underground are not warranted. (Nevertheless civil engineers may go to this expense

Jan 1, 1960

By R. I. Jaffee, F. C. Holden, H. R. Ogden, A. G. Imgram

The tensile and notch tensile properties of four refractory metals (molybdenum, tungsten, niobium (columbium), and tantalum) and one alloy (Mo-0.5Ti) were investigated. All the materials were evaluated in bar form, and the molybdenum and Mo-0.5Ti also were studied in sheet form. The notch sensitivity of each material was evaluated on the basis of several criteria, including the notch-unnotch strength ratio, the ductility transition, and the fracture transitions. USE of refractory metals as structural materials in aircraft and space vehicles may subject them to low-as well as high-temperature environments. At elevated temperatures, the usefulness of a material usually is limited either by strength considerations

Jan 1, 1962

By D. Turnbull, R. E. Cech

Small particles, 10-20 microns diameter, of a 28.6 atom pct nickel, balance iron alloy, have been supercooled 186 C with respect to bulk alloy M, temperature. Particles exhibit a marked mechanical shock sensitivity while being held in a supercooled state. The tendency for shock to induce martensitic transformation appears to be a maximum at —140 to —160°. Slow cooling of particles in mechanical contact with one another results in extensive martensite formation. This is prob-ably the same effect as the catalytic effect observed in polycrystals where martensite formation in one grain induces transformation in other grains. AS a result of extensive research over the past decade on the martensitic transformation, a much better though not complete understanding of the transformation has resulted. Recent reviews by Bilby and Christian' and Kaufman and Cohen2 have

Jan 1, 1959

By James F. Kemp

The Bulletin of the Institute for March, 1911, is chiefly devoted to papers upon the iron ores of northeastern Cuba. At that time information about the new developments in the peculiar brown hematites of the region was becoming widely circulated and interest was especially keen. For some years exploration had been conducted with pits and trenches and so great an area had been shown to contain ore in the Mayari, Moa, and Cubitas or San Felipe districts, that the reserves conveniently situated for the consumption of American furnaces were estimated as quite two billions of tons. In the subjoined footnote will be found a list of the principal papers of special interest which have already been published.' The further remark may, however, be made that the

Jan 1, 1915

By F. J. Smit, S. C. Sun

Flotation variables were investigated for the re-clamation of phosphate from a Florida washer slime. Under optimum conditions, 92% of the phosphate was recovered. Further cleaning of the rougher flotation concentrate resulted in a product containing about 30% P2O5 with a phosphate recovery of 65%. The enormous amount of slimes rejected in the Florida pebble phosphate fields, containing roughly one-third of the phosphate in the pebble matrix,1 has long been considered as a serious problem to the industry. The mere disposal of these slimes has posed an almost insurmountable task for several investigators.2-5 Some companies still resort to huge surface dams, some covering 1800 acres, for slime disposal.6 Information on the recovery of fine phosphate from these slimes is scanty. Dry separation8 and electrostatic beneficiation8 were suggested, but would necessitate radical changes in the present mining and concentration methods. Haseman10 proposed the selective flocculation of colloidal phosphate with starch, while Ralston11 suggested the removal of clay from the matrix by amine flotation. Leaching of the slimes for recovering the small amount of uranium was attempted by the Battelle Memorial Institute12,13 but proved to be economically unfeasible. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the optimum fatty-acid flotation conditions for reclaiming the phosphate discarded with the Bartow washer slime. Prior to the flotation experimerits, however, the size distribution and the minera-logical composition of the employed slime had to be determined.

Jan 1, 1963

By R. E. Somers

1. INTRODUCTION 1. Location, Topography, and Climate The Burro Mountains are located in the southwestern part of New Mexico, in Grant County. The group is made up of two distinct moun-tain masses, known as the Little Burros and the Big Burros, the former lying about 6 miles southwest of Silver City-, and the latter about 9 miles farther in the same direction. They are separated by the valley of the Mangas River, a tributary of the Gila, and a stream only in name, except after a heavy down-pour of rain. . The Little Burros attain an elevation of 6,625 ft. above sea level, and the Big Burros 8,054 ft., with the surrounding country averaging about 6,000 ft. To the south of these mountains stretches the desert plain, while to the north are the more frequent elevations of the mountainous country.

Jan 5, 1915

By L. A. Willey

Although the interierometric method for the determination of length changes was devised by Fizeau more than three quarters of a century ago, it has not achieved the widespread use in the metallurgical field that its precision and simplicity would seem to warrant. The interferometer and the basic principle are both very simple. When optically plane surfaces held at a very slight angle to each other are illuminated by monochromatic light, rectilinear, equally spaced interference fringes arc formed. Each fringe corresponds to a defiuitc thikness of the wedge formed by the optical flat.;. The difference in wedge thickness between two consecutive fringes is cqual to one half the wave length of the illuminating light. Instruments for vicwing the intertero~ncter have passed through a number of modifications. Outstanding among the improvements were those Abbe. in 1884. His improved instrument permitted micrometric mcasurements to the order of one-hundredth of the width of an interference fringe (i.e., lengths were measured to the order of one two-hulldredth of the mave length of light ). It also permitted the consecutive use of light of several wave lengths. which made possible the determination of the order number of any fringe and therefore the absolute thickness of the wedge at any point. The Abbe dilatometer and methods of measuretment, including corrections to he applied for the change of index of refraction with change in tempcrature and barometric pressure in an air wedge, have been thoroughly described by Pulfrich.' Pulfrich2 made further improvements in the interference measuring apparatus. His instrument embodied all the features of the Abbe dilatometer but was made more versatile by its complete mechanical separation from the interferorneter. The introduction of an Amici prism in the piece permitted the simultaneous observ tion of the whole set of fringe systems developed in the interferometer from the visible light of a geisler tulle. .Also, the introduction of a direct-vision, reflecting prism made it possible to set the fringes parallel to the two vertical fiducial line. of the instrument without the necessity of rotating the interierometcr. Interferometric methods employed ill this country have been developed and dcscribed by Priest, Pelers and Cragoe," Austin,5 Merritt,= Saunders,? and Nix and MaNair. Since none of these authors used the type of instrument that was employed in the present investigation, they Will not be discussed here. This paper will be limited to the description of the interfernmetric apparatus and method used at the Aluminum Research Laboratories and to the presentation of data so obtained. Apparatus and Procedure A general view of the dilatometer, not including equipment for controlling and

Jan 1, 1945

By L. H. Robinson

Triaxial compression tests on Indiana limestone indicate that chemical additives in the pore fluids can increase or decrease the strength in plastic failure but not in brittle failure. Tests using a series of the sodium salts of dicarboxylic acids show that odd-number carbon-atom chains decrease the yield strength as much as 3.0 x 10 3 psi, and even-number carbon-atom chains increase the yield strength as much as 9.0 x 102 psi. ,The most effective chemical (sodium citrate) decreased the yield strength of Indiana limestone from 16.0 x 103 to 12.0 x 103 psi. The chemical additives investigated have no influence on microbit drilling rate when drilling with zero differential pressure. However, when drilling at a 2.0 x 103-psi pressure differeniial and using an odd-number carbon chain compound as the circulating fluid, the roller bit drilling rates were slower than with water whereas the drag bit drilling rates were faster. One even-number carbon chain compound added to the circulating fluid produces the opposite effect: the roller bit drilling rate is slightly faster than with water and the drag bit slower than with water. INTRODUCTION A Russian book by Rehbinderl published in 1944 generated much interest in the possibility of aiding and accelerating the destruction of solids by the action of a liquid in which the solids are deformed. This book describes a process in which microcracks are generated during elastic deformation. To describe this process, the rock is divided into three zones: (1) the zone in which the destruction takes place, (2) the predestruc-tion zone (an affected area immediately below the destroyed zone) and (3) the undisturbed specimen. Consider a load applied normally to a surface of an infinite slab of rock. Immediately below the point of application of the load, the rock is destroyed by compression or shear forces. Below this area of destruction, because of a great number of discontinuities ranging from defects to weak points in crystals of discontinuities in crystal latices, very small cracks are created in or between the crystals (often referred to as microcracks). Upon removing the load, the broken rock in the destroyed zone could be removed. In the lower predestruction zone, however, the microcracks in and between the crystals could disappear by the process of rehealing, i.e., the molecular attraction from one side of the crack to the other side being sufficient to completely eliminate the crack. Thus, a large number of these microcracks possibly exist only for a relatively short period of time. The concept of small cracks being generated within the crystals of a rock is not unreasonable. If the rock matrix is deformed below the yield point, some of the defects present within the crystalline structure could start small cracks through the interior of the grains. Upon removal of the load, these microcracks reheal (or the newly generated surfaces come back together) so that all evidence of cracks completely disappears. Under various types of loading, and in various types of fluids, the rehealing of these cracks would be time dependent. If a liquid adhered to the surface of a rock, it could penetrate into the microcracks and thus delay or prevent the rehealing process. This suggests that the prevention of healing of the microcracks may be dependent upon the wetting characteristics of the solid. Thus, rocks which are water-wet should be more easily destroyed in water than in nonpolar hydrocarbon liquid. Adsorption of a liquid could also reduce the free surface energy which could explain the decrease in strengths of materials under nonrepetitive-type loading. Rehbinder's work prompted Boozer, Hiller and Serdengecti 2 to examine the effects of pore fluids on the deformation of rocks subjected to triaxial compression over a range of confining pressures, temperatures and strain rates. Fluids which strongly adsorbed on the rock grain surfaces decreased the strength of sandstone and limestone, which deformed plastically. For certain strain

G. A. ROUSH,* South Bethlehem, Pa. (written discussion?).-Mr. Frey is correct in his impression that ice floats, but "frazil" ice happens to be the exception to the rule. The requirements for the formation of

Jan 12, 1919

By K. R. Carson, J. Weertman

THE fatigue-hardening curve has received much attention in recent years. This curve is obtained by plotting the peak stress required to maintain a given plastic strain per cycle vs the number of cycles. It

Jan 1, 1969

By D. C. Hilty

It has long been known that in melting high-chromium steels, some of the carbon might be oxidized out of the melt without excessive simultaneous oxidation of chromium, and that higher temperatures favor retention of chromium. The advent of oxygen injection as a tool for rapid decarburization of a steel bath permits significantly higher bath temperatures, and it was quickly recognized that the use of oxygen injection facilitated the oxidation of carbon to low levels in the presence of relatively high residual chromium contents. Up to the present time, however, specific data pertaining to the chro-mium-carbon-temperature relations in chromium steel refining have not been available. Individual steelmakers have evolved practices more or less empirically, but there has been very little real basis for predicting how effective any given practice can be in permitting maximum oxidation of carbon with minimum loss of chromium. The current investigation, therefore, was undertaken in an effort to establish the fundamental carbon-chromium relationship in molten iron under oxidizing conditions. As reported below, the equilibrium constant and the influence of temperature on that constant have been derived for the iron-chromium-carbon-oxygen reaction in the range of chromium steel compositions with what appears to be a fair degree of precision. The practical application of the result will be obvious. Experimental Procedure The laboratory investigation was carried out on chromium steel heats melted in a magnesia crucible in a 100-lb capacity induction furnace at the Union Carbide and Carbon Re- search Laboratories. The charges for the heats consisted of Armco iron, low-carbon chromium metal, and high-carbon chromium metal, the relative proportions of which were calculated so that the various heats would contain from approximately 0.06 pct carbon and 8 pct chromium to 0.40 pct carbon and 30 pct chromium at melt-down. When the charges were melted, the bath temperatures were raised to the desired level, and the heats were then decarburized by successive injections of oxygen at the slag-metal interface through a ½-in. diam silica tube at a pressure of 30 psi. The duration of the oxygen injections was from 30 sec to 2 min. at intervals of approximately 5 to 30 min. It did not appear that length or frequency of the injection periods had any significant effect on the results; cansequently, no effort was made to hold them constant and they were controlled only as was expedient to the general working of the heats. Between successive injections, the heats were sampled by means of a copper suction-tube sampler that yields a sound, rapidly-solidified sample representative of the composition of the molten metal at the temperature of sampling. This sampling device is a modification of the one described by Taylor and Chipman.1 An attempt was made to vary bath temperatures between samples, but it quickly became evident that, unless the variations were small or unless the new temperature was maintained for a minimum of 15 min. during which an injection of oxygen was made in order to accelerate the reactions, a very wide departure from equilibrium resulted. For most of the runs, therefore, temperature was maintained relatively constant at approximately 1750 or 1820°C. A few reliable observations at other temperatures, however, were obtained. Temperature Measurement The high temperatures involved in this investigation were measured by the radiation method, utilizing a Ray-O-Tube focused on the closed end of a refractory tube immersed in the metal bath. The immersion tubes employed were high-purity alumina tubes specially prepared by the Tona-wanda Laboratory of The Linde Air Products Co. These tubes were quite sturdy under reasonable mechanical stress at high temperature. They were unusually resistant to thermal shock, and chemical attack on them by the melts was slow. With care, it was found possible to keep these tubes continuously immersed in a heat for as long as 5 hr at temperatures up to 1850°C, before failure by fluxing occurred. The Ray-O-Tube—alumina tube assemblage was similar to those supplied commercially for lower temperature applications. In operation, the alumina tube was slowly immersed in the molten metal to a depth of approximately 5 in., and the device was then clamped solidly to a supporting jig where it remained for the duration of the run. A photograph of the equipment, in operation with Ray-O-Tube in place and oxygen injection in progress, is shown in Fig 1. When in position in a heat, the instrument was calibrated by means of an immersion thermocouple and an optical pyrometer. For calibration through the range of temperatures from 1500 to 1650°C, a platinum -platinum + 10 pct rhodium thermocouple in a silica tube was immersed alongside the alumina tube. Output of the Ray-O-Tube in millivolts and the

Jan 1, 1950

By J. E. Graham, A. H. Glenn

Oil operators engaged in drilling on the Continental Shelf of Louisiana and Texas are in agreement that adverse weather and wave action are two of the greatest hazards to the safety and efficiency of their work. It was ami-pated when the offshore operations commenced that such would be the case, and experience to date has verified this assumption. Because atmospheric conditions and wave action involve tremendous amounts of energy it is highly unlikely that it will be possible to control any but the most localized weather and wave phenomena within the foreseeable future. Thus. as long as the offshore operations involve the movement of small craft and barges over exposed waters, and the transfer of personnel and heavy equipment from these craft to either fixed structures or larger craft at close quarters, the weather and wave problem will remain. Taking into consideration the persistence of the wave and weather problem and the improbability of achieving a direct solution, the Humble Oil & Refining Company, in planning its offshore campaign investigated the possibility of forecasting wave and weather conditions in order to provide warnings of dangerous conditions and increase efficiency in day-to-day planning of work. It was recognized that predictions of wave and weather conditions based on meteorology and oceanography, both geophysical sciences, are not 100 per cent accurate and application of forecasts in the offshore work was dependent on whether they provided information which was sufficiently greater in accuracy than the layman's guess to be worth the expenditure involved. During World War 11. meteorology and oceanography were used with success in reducing danger resulting from environmental conditions and increasing efficiency of operations exposed to the elements. This success was partially the result. of improvement in the scientific techniques involved and the procurement and distribution of observational data, and partially due to the large scope of the military operations which meant that a reduction of losses of a relatively small percentage of the total cost amounted to a large figure expressed in terms of dollars. Since the offshore drilling involves an extremely large financial investment, it was considered that the experience of the Armed Services in successfully employing meteorology and oceanography might be duplicated in the oil industry. In addition. the oil industry's successful experience in utilizing seismology, geology, and terrestrial magnetism; all geophysical sciences, indicated that meteorology and oceanography, also of the family of geophysical sciences and sharing their scientific assets and liabilities, might be profitably put to use. Since the immediate problem involving the sciences of meteorology and oceanography in the offshore campaign is wave action, a program was inaugurated within the Humble Oil & Refining Company during June 1947. the purpose of which was to ascertain the applicability and limitations of wave forecasting in the offshore campaign. A summary of the effective wave forecasting techniques developed during the war was prepared in the form of a forecasting manual for the Continental Shelf off Grand Isle, Louisiana, by Bates and Glenn. After completion of this manual, experimental forecasts were prepared daily over a two-month period by Graham and Thompson to determine the accuracy of the forecasts. It was considered that the accuracy of the experimental forecasts justified a more extensive test under actual operating conditions in the offshore work and the firm of A. H. Glenn and Associates was set up under the sponsorship of the Humble Oil & Refining Company to work with the Humble Grand Isle District in providing forecasts of wave and weather conditions over a one-year period. This paper discusses the service now provided to the Grand Isle District, its applicability and limitations. TYPE OF FORECASTS REQUIRED It was apparent before the commence-mence of the forecasting service that a specialized type of forecast was required. Many of the weather elements of interest to the general public, such as rain and temperature, are of minor concern to offshore operators. On the other hand, such elements as wave height and wind speed and direction are of great concern in the offshore operations since variations in wave height of a few feet in the critical range divide safe from hazardous working conditions. To be of utility. a forecasting service for the offshore work must provide detailed forecasts of the elements which affect the operation. With this in mind, it was decided that forecasts would include the following information: average wave heights to the nearest foot, wind speeds within a range of approximately 5 miles per hour, and wind directions within 221 degrees. Since the procedure for forecasting these elements involves thorough analysis of weather data, it was decided to include a generalized forecast of weather conditions such as rain and cloud cover, although these are of secondary importance.

Jan 1, 1949

By A. H. Glenn, J. E. Graham

Oil operators engaged in drilling on the Continental Shelf of Louisiana and Texas are in agreement that adverse weather and wave action are two of the greatest hazards to the safety and efficiency of their work. It was ami-pated when the offshore operations commenced that such would be the case, and experience to date has verified this assumption. Because atmospheric conditions and wave action involve tremendous amounts of energy it is highly unlikely that it will be possible to control any but the most localized weather and wave phenomena within the foreseeable future. Thus. as long as the offshore operations involve the movement of small craft and barges over exposed waters, and the transfer of personnel and heavy equipment from these craft to either fixed structures or larger craft at close quarters, the weather and wave problem will remain. Taking into consideration the persistence of the wave and weather problem and the improbability of achieving a direct solution, the Humble Oil & Refining Company, in planning its offshore campaign investigated the possibility of forecasting wave and weather conditions in order to provide warnings of dangerous conditions and increase efficiency in day-to-day planning of work. It was recognized that predictions of wave and weather conditions based on meteorology and oceanography, both geophysical sciences, are not 100 per cent accurate and application of forecasts in the offshore work was dependent on whether they provided information which was sufficiently greater in accuracy than the layman's guess to be worth the expenditure involved. During World War 11. meteorology and oceanography were used with success in reducing danger resulting from environmental conditions and increasing efficiency of operations exposed to the elements. This success was partially the result. of improvement in the scientific techniques involved and the procurement and distribution of observational data, and partially due to the large scope of the military operations which meant that a reduction of losses of a relatively small percentage of the total cost amounted to a large figure expressed in terms of dollars. Since the offshore drilling involves an extremely large financial investment, it was considered that the experience of the Armed Services in successfully employing meteorology and oceanography might be duplicated in the oil industry. In addition. the oil industry's successful experience in utilizing seismology, geology, and terrestrial magnetism; all geophysical sciences, indicated that meteorology and oceanography, also of the family of geophysical sciences and sharing their scientific assets and liabilities, might be profitably put to use. Since the immediate problem involving the sciences of meteorology and oceanography in the offshore campaign is wave action, a program was inaugurated within the Humble Oil & Refining Company during June 1947. the purpose of which was to ascertain the applicability and limitations of wave forecasting in the offshore campaign. A summary of the effective wave forecasting techniques developed during the war was prepared in the form of a forecasting manual for the Continental Shelf off Grand Isle, Louisiana, by Bates and Glenn. After completion of this manual, experimental forecasts were prepared daily over a two-month period by Graham and Thompson to determine the accuracy of the forecasts. It was considered that the accuracy of the experimental forecasts justified a more extensive test under actual operating conditions in the offshore work and the firm of A. H. Glenn and Associates was set up under the sponsorship of the Humble Oil & Refining Company to work with the Humble Grand Isle District in providing forecasts of wave and weather conditions over a one-year period. This paper discusses the service now provided to the Grand Isle District, its applicability and limitations. TYPE OF FORECASTS REQUIRED It was apparent before the commence-mence of the forecasting service that a specialized type of forecast was required. Many of the weather elements of interest to the general public, such as rain and temperature, are of minor concern to offshore operators. On the other hand, such elements as wave height and wind speed and direction are of great concern in the offshore operations since variations in wave height of a few feet in the critical range divide safe from hazardous working conditions. To be of utility. a forecasting service for the offshore work must provide detailed forecasts of the elements which affect the operation. With this in mind, it was decided that forecasts would include the following information: average wave heights to the nearest foot, wind speeds within a range of approximately 5 miles per hour, and wind directions within 221 degrees. Since the procedure for forecasting these elements involves thorough analysis of weather data, it was decided to include a generalized forecast of weather conditions such as rain and cloud cover, although these are of secondary importance.

Jan 1, 1949

By Bradley Stoughton

THE importance of magnesium alloys as engineering materials has increased rapidly in the past few years. The most important properties of magnesium alloys are their lightness and strength, which result in their. extensive use in aircraft and automobile construction. Recent progress in the metallurgy of magnesium seems to offer hope of the production of the pure metal at a reasonable cost. The use of magnesium would doubtless increase greatly if it could be produced at a cost comparable with that of aluminum. AA preliminary survey of the magnesium-base alloys shows that the most promising from a practical standpoint are magnesium-aluminum and magnesium-zinc as binary alloys, and magnesium-zinc-aluminum as ternary alloys. The research reported in this paper is a preliminary study' of binary magnesium-aluminum and magnesium-zinc alloys, as an introduction to a series of further investigations.

Jan 2, 1926

By Neil H. Bostick

A specialized electronic data system processes data taken from normal gologic maps and stratigraphic tables to yield predictions of uranium resource location for an area such as much of the United States. Strata underlying specific quadrangle cells of the earth are evaluated for uranium favorability on the basis of selected criteria of lithology, structure, and stratigraphy but not specific past production in the area. Stored data are computer processed to yield volume of likely host rock beneath each cell to a given depth and at a given favorobility level. Results are plotted by machine directly as maps. A specialized and simplified procedure for predicting approximate uranium resources has been devised at Stanford Research Institute (SRI). The prediction is based on general geology beneath specific area cells of the earth in order to provide complete volume coverage; the strata underlying these areas are evaluated for uranium mineral favorability on the basis of a few selected geologic criteria in order to allow rapid data input. In order that the predictions be generally applicable, they are based on geological factors only, not past ore production of a given cell. Since the bulk of U.S. resources are in elastic host rocks, only such strata are considered in this work. This paper describes the structure and some details of the resource system and how it was tested in an area of the western United States.

Jan 1, 1971

By D. A. Rice, M. C. Fuerstenau

Flotation data indicate that sulfonate and amine adsorb physically on manganese oxide; oleate also adsorbs physically if the zero point of charge is sufficiently high. Chemisorption of oleate occurs on pyrolusite between pH 8 and 9, and possible mechan- isms of collector adsorption involving metal ion hydrolysis are discussed. The flotation characteristics of most metal oxides1-15 have been examined with standard collectors such as fatty acids and sulfonates. From these studies it would appear as though electrical phenomena are important when shorte r-chained collectors are involved. For example, Iwasaki, Cooke, and Choi9 have shown that dodecyl amine and dodecyl sulfate float iron oxide above and below the zero point of charge, respectively. In another system, D.W. Fuerstenau and Modi10 have shown that dodecyl sulfate, dodecyl

Jan 1, 1969