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By Thomas Fraser

UP to the present, there has been no large coal-producing industry in any of the South American countries. Since colonial times, the great mineral and agricultural wealth of that continent has led the people to activities other than the development of manufacturing industries based on coal; and climatic conditions are such that there has been very little demand for solid domestic fuel. However, there are extensive and widely distributed reserves of coal in South America that would make the development of a modern coal industry feasible. That factor is of the utmost significance now, when it is believed that the South American countries are entering the pioneer phase of a broad industrial development. Coal Fields Great areas of coal-bearing formations of Cretaceous and Tertiary ages occur generally throughout the Andean uplift and extend into the coastal range of the Caribbean region far east of Caracas. Thus the west coast countries have adequate reserves of coal, which include a wide range of types and classes. In the eastern part of South America, east of the Cordillera, as in North America, the coal measures are of Carboniferous and Permocarboniferous ages. The principal known deposits in this area are in the southern States of Brazil. Permocarboniferous coals ranging in rank from lignitic to anthracitic are found in the States of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Parana and Sao Paulo. In the great.interior plateau of Brazil, south of the Amazon River, are extensive areas of Carboniferous strata that may contain coal deposits. There are widely scattered reports of findings of coal in' wells and stream beds in northern Piaui and Goias. In the Rio Fresco Valley, explorers have observed outcrops of two beds of anthracite and have brought to Rio de Janeiro samples from these beds. The Fresco is a tributary of the Xingu River that enters the Amazon from the south, but coal could not be shipped by water since the Rio Fresco area is in the upper part of the Xingu Valley, and there is a formidable series of rapids between that area and the lower level of the Amazon River basin. It is doubtful if coal deposits in this general area will be of economic importance for many years to come. Fig. 1 shows the general location of known coal fields of South America that have been explored sufficiently to indicate the presence of workable reserves. The coal deposits of the Andean region are similar in occurrence and general characteristics, as well as in age, to the coals of the Rocky Mountain region of North America. Although the coal fields obviously

Jan 1, 1952

By R. M. Keeney

Jan 1, 1915

By A.J. PHILLIPS, Wm. B. Price

ADMIRALTY nickel is a new corrosion-resisting and heat-resisting white metal alloy composed of 70 per cent. copper, 29 per cent. nickel and 1 per cent. tin. It has been given the trade name "Adnic." In 1924, Win. B. Price1 described this alloy and its successful use as a diaphragm metal. The physical properties of Adnic at ordinary and elevated temperatures were given in Mining & Metallury.2 A patent3 was granted on Adnic, April 28, 1925. Work was first started on this alloy during December, 1921. An investigation of the patent situation in this country and abroad, and also a search of the literature, did not reveal any work on the ternary diagram, copper-nickel-tin; and the only wrought copper-nickel-tin alloy found was that known as "Newloy," composed of copper, 64 per cent.; nickel, 35 per cent.; tin, 1 per cent. This was being manufactured and sold by Wm.. Gallimore & Sons, Ltd., Sheffield, England, for unplated spoon and fork stock, and first came to our attention in January, 1922. The preliminary work in connection with the development of Adnic was started by casting four, binary copper-nickel alloys of the compositions shown in Table 1. Various amounts of tin were added to each of these mixtures, to produce the series of ternary copper-nickel-tin alloys also given in Table 1. A 200-gm. sample of each of these was cast by melting in a clay graphite crucible and allowing the melt to slowly cool with the furnace. A longitudinal section from each of these castings was polished and etched for-examination. The castings were not homogeneous solid solutions, but showed the usual cored structure associated with cast alloys. However, from an examination of these sections we roughly determined

Jan 1, 1928

Jan 1, 1899

By C. W. Clark

Two papers have been written previously concerning operations at the Montreal East plant of Canadian Copper Refiners Limited. The first one,1 written in 1932, described silver-refinery operations at the time for producing silver and gold bullion from tankhouse anode slimes; the second,2 published in 1933, consisted of a description of the entire plant. Since publication of these papers the refinery has become the world's larg-est producer of refined selenium. The first selenium was produced in August 1934. Tellurium production on a. commercial scale followed in October 1935. This paper will deal with selenium and tellurium produc-tion and also with present operations in the silver refinery. Blister cakes from Hudson' Bay Mining and Smelting Co., Flin Flon, Manitoba, and commercial anodes from Noranda Mines Limited, Noranda, Quebec, are refined at Montreal East. Both these bullions have unusually high gold, selenium and tellurium content. The average assay of raw slimes produced from domestic and Noranda anodes is about 40 per cent Cu, 3600 oz. per ton Ag, 800 oz. per ton Au, 22 per cent Se and 3.7 per cent Te.

Jan 1, 1938

By Walter Rose, W. A. Bruce

Improved apparatus, methods, and experimental techniques for determining the capillary pressure-saturation relation are described in detail. In this connection a new multi-core procedure has been developed which simplifies the experimental work in the study of relatively homogeneous reservoirs. The basic theory concerning the Leverett capillary pressure function has been extended and has been given some practical application. Some discussion is presented to indicate the relationship of relative permeability to capillary pressure, and to provide a new description of capillary pressure phenomena by introducing the concept of the psi function. INTRODUCTION For the purposes of this paper the capillary character of a porous medium will be defined to express the basic properties of the system, which produce observed results of fluid behavior. These basic properties may be classified in the following manner, according to their relationship to: (a) The geometrical configuration of the interstitial spaces. This involves consideration of the packing of the particles, producing points of grain contact, and variations in pore size distribution. The packing itself is often modified by the secondary processes of mineralization which introduces factors of cementation, and of solution action which causes alteration of pore structure. (b) The physical and chemical nature of the interstitial surfaces. This involves consideration of the presence of interstitial clay coatings, the existence of non-uniform wetting surfaces; or, more generally, a consideration of the tendency towards variable interaction between the interstitial surfaces and the fluid phases saturating the interstitial spaces. (c) The physical and chemical properties of the fluid phases in contact with the interstitial surfaces. This involves consideration of the factors of surface, interfacial and adhesion tensions; contact angles; viscosity; density difference between immiscible fluid phases; and other fluid properties. Fine grained, granular, porous materials such as found in petroleum reser~oir rock possess characteristics which are expressible by (1) permeability, (2) porosity, and (3) the capillary pressure-saturation behavior of immiscible fluids in this medium. These three measurable macroscopic properties depend upon the microscopic properties enumerated above in a manner which defines the capillary character. Systems of capillary tubes or regularly packed spheres may be thought of as ideal and numerous references can be cited in which exact mathematical formulations are developed to show the relationships governing the static distribution and dynamic motion of fluids in their interstitial spaces. The capillary character of non-ideal porous systems such as reservoir rock also is basic in determining the behavior of fluids contained therein; although, in general, the connection is not mathematically derivable but must be approached through indirect experimental measurement. This paper gives consideration to the evaluation of petroleum reservoir rock capillary character. The methods employed may be applied to the solution of problems in other fields, and the conclusions reached should contribute to the basic capillary theory of any porous system containing fluid phases. In this paper, a modification of the core analysis method of capillary pressure is employed and it is intended to show that the capillary character of reservoir rock can be expressed in terms of experimental quantities. A very general method of interpretation correlating the capillary pressure tests with fundamental characteristics such as rock texture, surface areas, permeability, occasionally clay content and cementation is introduced. Eventually an attempt is made for establishing a method of deriving relative permeability to the wetting phase from capillary pressure data. The experimental evaluation of capillary character must be approached in a statistical manner if reservoir properties are to be inferred from data on small cores. This is implied by the heterogeneous character of most petroleum reservoirs, and suggests that considerable intelligence should be applied in core sampling. Finally, this paper supports the view that once the capillary character of a given type of reservoir rock has been established by core analysis, fluid behavior can then be inferred in other similar rock. Although no great progress has been made in establishing what variation can be tolerated without altering the basic fluid behavior properties, evidence will be presented to indicate that certain reservoir formations are sufficiently homogenous with respect to capillary character that the data obtained on one core will be useful in predicting the properties of other cores of similar origin. Tests have shown that cores under consideration can vary widely with respect to porosity and permeability and still be considered similar in capillary character. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS AND TECHNIQUES Various types of displacement cell apparatus for capillary pressure experiments have been described in the literature. Bruce and Welge; Thornton and Marshall; McCullough, Albaugh and Jones3; Hassler and Brunner; Lever-

Jan 1, 1949

By Walter Rose, W. A. Bruce

Improved apparatus, methods, and experimental techniques for determining the capillary pressure-saturation relation are described in detail. In this connection a new multi-core procedure has been developed which simplifies the experimental work in the study of relatively homogeneous reservoirs. The basic theory concerning the Leverett capillary pressure function has been extended and has been given some practical application. Some discussion is presented to indicate the relationship of relative permeability to capillary pressure, and to provide a new description of capillary pressure phenomena by introducing the concept of the psi function. INTRODUCTION For the purposes of this paper the capillary character of a porous medium will be defined to express the basic properties of the system, which produce observed results of fluid behavior. These basic properties may be classified in the following manner, according to their relationship to: (a) The geometrical configuration of the interstitial spaces. This involves consideration of the packing of the particles, producing points of grain contact, and variations in pore size distribution. The packing itself is often modified by the secondary processes of mineralization which introduces factors of cementation, and of solution action which causes alteration of pore structure. (b) The physical and chemical nature of the interstitial surfaces. This involves consideration of the presence of interstitial clay coatings, the existence of non-uniform wetting surfaces; or, more generally, a consideration of the tendency towards variable interaction between the interstitial surfaces and the fluid phases saturating the interstitial spaces. (c) The physical and chemical properties of the fluid phases in contact with the interstitial surfaces. This involves consideration of the factors of surface, interfacial and adhesion tensions; contact angles; viscosity; density difference between immiscible fluid phases; and other fluid properties. Fine grained, granular, porous materials such as found in petroleum reser~oir rock possess characteristics which are expressible by (1) permeability, (2) porosity, and (3) the capillary pressure-saturation behavior of immiscible fluids in this medium. These three measurable macroscopic properties depend upon the microscopic properties enumerated above in a manner which defines the capillary character. Systems of capillary tubes or regularly packed spheres may be thought of as ideal and numerous references can be cited in which exact mathematical formulations are developed to show the relationships governing the static distribution and dynamic motion of fluids in their interstitial spaces. The capillary character of non-ideal porous systems such as reservoir rock also is basic in determining the behavior of fluids contained therein; although, in general, the connection is not mathematically derivable but must be approached through indirect experimental measurement. This paper gives consideration to the evaluation of petroleum reservoir rock capillary character. The methods employed may be applied to the solution of problems in other fields, and the conclusions reached should contribute to the basic capillary theory of any porous system containing fluid phases. In this paper, a modification of the core analysis method of capillary pressure is employed and it is intended to show that the capillary character of reservoir rock can be expressed in terms of experimental quantities. A very general method of interpretation correlating the capillary pressure tests with fundamental characteristics such as rock texture, surface areas, permeability, occasionally clay content and cementation is introduced. Eventually an attempt is made for establishing a method of deriving relative permeability to the wetting phase from capillary pressure data. The experimental evaluation of capillary character must be approached in a statistical manner if reservoir properties are to be inferred from data on small cores. This is implied by the heterogeneous character of most petroleum reservoirs, and suggests that considerable intelligence should be applied in core sampling. Finally, this paper supports the view that once the capillary character of a given type of reservoir rock has been established by core analysis, fluid behavior can then be inferred in other similar rock. Although no great progress has been made in establishing what variation can be tolerated without altering the basic fluid behavior properties, evidence will be presented to indicate that certain reservoir formations are sufficiently homogenous with respect to capillary character that the data obtained on one core will be useful in predicting the properties of other cores of similar origin. Tests have shown that cores under consideration can vary widely with respect to porosity and permeability and still be considered similar in capillary character. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS AND TECHNIQUES Various types of displacement cell apparatus for capillary pressure experiments have been described in the literature. Bruce and Welge; Thornton and Marshall; McCullough, Albaugh and Jones3; Hassler and Brunner; Lever-

Jan 1, 1949

By V. Leroy, A. G. Guy

Serious disagreements are often found between experimentally determined intrinsic diffusion coefficients and those calculated employing the usual form of the vacancy theory. In the new theory it is proposed that the total intrinsic flux, Ji, of component i, is the sum of a part, f, due to the usual random exclzanges of component i with the vacancies, and a second part, Ji, due to exchanges with the uacancies composing the net vacancy flux. The present treatment, while less powerful than that of Manning, has the advantage of easy uisualization and of facilitating the application of the vacancy-flux effect to complex systems. IT is becoming increasingly evident that there are serious deficiencies in the version of the vacancy theory of diffusion that has been widely used for the past 20 years. One type of evidence is the frequent lack of agreement between intrinsic diffusion coefficients and tracer diffusion coefficients, even taking account of the thermodynamic factor. A second kind of evidence is the observation of a Kirkendall shift larger than theoretically possible, that is, larger than can be accounted for without assigning a negative value to one of the two intrinsic diffusion coefficient.'- The thermodynamic factor could conceivably make both coefficients negative, but not just one. It is clear that a cause of these anomalies, apart from any inadequacy of the usual vacancy theory, might lie in an oversimplified treatment of the data. Adequate experimental techniques, including the use of moderate pressure during the diffusion anneal, are now available to insure that porosity, lateral expansion, and so forth, can be kept negligibly small in most cases. The effect of differences in atomic volume can be of major importance, and it is essential that one of the available methods4 be used to account for this factor. In the present treatment this is accomplished by the consistent use of moles per cubic centimeter as the unit of concentration. Of the various possible inadequacies of the vacancy theory, attention will be given here only to effects of the net vacancy flux. annin' has previously considered this question, beginning with an analysis of atomic jumping of tracer atoms. When he added the effect of a concentration gradient, new terms arose that could be associated with the flow of vacancies. The present treatment uses quite a different approach. The usual vacancy flux, J,, is introduced explicitly, and a simple analysis predicts major changes in the intrinsic diffusion coefficients from this cause. The usual assumptions are made that only a vacancy mechanism is operative, that the formation of voids can be neglected, and that changes in the partial molal volumes, vl and v2, are negligible. The significant diffusion coefficients for the present topic are Dl and D,, the intrinsic coefficients, which enter in the equations, where the flux Ji, moles per sq cm per sec, is that crossing the Kirkendall interface. The concentration, ci, is in units of moles per cu cm, and the concentration gradient, aci/ax, is evaluated at the Kirkendall interface. It will be recalled' that the calculation of Dl and D2 involves the measurement of areas on the diffusion curve with respect to the positions of the Kirkendall and Matano interfaces. In the case of the anomalies mentioned earlier, the Kirkendall shift is too large to be accounted for by the diiferetzce in fluxes (J2 -J1), given by Eqs. [I] and [2]. The logical inference is that the flux of the solvent atoms, J1, is actually in the same direction as the flux of the solute atoms, Jz. In terms of Eq. [I] this requires that Dl have a negative value. However, it would be somewhat misleading to state that the solvent atoms are diffusing up their own concentration gradient. The explanation that will be advanced here pictures competing processes producing the net flux of solvent atoms: 1) diffusion of the solvent atoms down their own gradient by random exchanges with vacancies; and 2) diffusion of solvent atoms in the opposite direction by exchanges with the net vacancy flux. ACTION OF THE NET VACANCY FLUX Theories of vacancy diffusion can be formulated with varying degrees of refinement, and the present theory has purposely been kept as simple as appeared adequate to explain the phenomenon in question. In particular the following aspects have been neglected: 1) the gradient of vacancy concentration in comparison to the gradient of the atomic species; 2) departure of vacancy concentration from the local equilibrium value; 3) variation of the jump frequency, LO, with the specific surroundings of the atom-vacancy pair being considered; 4) correlation effects. These and other refinements can be considered once the essential mechanism has been established. The essential idea of the present analysis is to calculate the total intrinsic flux, Ji, of component i as the sum, JlJ?±j{ [3] where J; is attributable to the usual random atomic jumping, and J{ is a contribution arising from the net vacancy flux, J,. The latter quantity, of course,

Jan 1, 1967

By H. A. Wheeler

History ILLINOIS has so recently attained the third place in the oil production of the United States that few realize its great importance, or are aware of its highly profitable character. Since 1907 Illinois has furnished about 15 per cent. of the United States output and about 10 per cent. of the world's production. The value of the output in 1913 is estimated at $30,000,000, of which about $20,000,000 is profit. The present prosperity dates from 1905, but efforts have been made since 1865 to develop production and geologists have been very sanguine as to its future for over 25 years. Had the oil operators been as confident as the geologists, the field would have been opened at least 30 years earlier. For the rich Eastern Illinois oil field is located along the La Salle anticline, that was mapped 46 years ago by Professor Worthen in the

Jan 5, 1914

By E. J. McCaustland

The behavior of steel after overstrain and at moderate temperatures is fairly well known. It has been made the subject of much investigation, and our knowledge is clear and definite on many points. The ultimate raising of the elastic limit, after moderate overstrain, and the consequent lowering of the ductility, seem to be well established. It is also well understood that the immediate effect of overstrain is to lower the elastic limit, possibly to zero, but that if not interfered with, this limit will subsequently rise higher than before. The " tests after moderate temperature," reported in this paper, were undertaken to verify the above statements for the particular steel under investigation, and also to determine, if possible, the total time required for complete recovery from this state of overstrain. The behavior of overstrained steel at temperatures at or below 32" F. is not so well known. Tests made by Prof. E. G. Coker, at McGill University,' show that steel, overstrained and subjected to cold, will remain in a state of overstrain for an indefinite period. I am not aware of any other published results of tests along this particular line. The effect of time and temperature on the recovery of steel from overstrain was made in 1902-3 the subject of some investigation in the laboratories of the College of Civil Engineering of Cornell University. A general plan was outlined in connection with the regular courses of instruction in testing of materials; but the press of routine work and the demands of the schedules on the time of the students were so great as to presage long delay in the completion of the work. Not much had been accomplished up to 1904-05, when Messrs. E. C.

Jan 1, 1907

By Earl F. Hanson

Fires in heavily timbered mines are disastrous, involving danger to both life and property. Some mines have been completely ruined or so heavily damaged that reopening them would not pay. Though few mines are entirely free from danger of fire, the risk is minimized by proper care and good design of plant. The Tintic Standard mine is at Dividend, Utah, in the famous Tintic mining district, about 60 miles south of Salt Lake City. The development of the mine was begun in 1907 by the late Mr. E. J. Raddatz and his associates. From the beginning, the work was hampered by high rock temperatures and the presence of high concentrations of rock gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Development work was carried on with great perseverance for nine years, and resulted in the discovery of ore in 1916. The total production of the Tintic Standard mine to Jan. 1, 1936, amounted to 1,664,388 tons of ore, having a gross value of $61,996,719. General Layout of the Mine The No. 2 shaft, which is the main working shaft of the Tintic Standard, is within the main orebody and is connected with the five other shafts. Their respective positions with respect to the No. 2 shaft are as follows: North Lily, 2770 ft. northwest with drift connections on the 700 and 900-ft. levels; No. 3 shaft, 670 ft. east connected through the 700-ft. level; Eureka Standard, 4550 ft. south, connected on the 900-ft. level; No. 1 shaft, 1470 ft. southwest, with connecting drifts on the 900 and 1250-ft. levels; Eureka Lilly, 2000 ft. southwest, with connecting drift and raise through the 1250-ft. level. The Tintic Standard orebody consists essentially of one continuous oreshoot extending from the 600-ft. level to the 1450-ft. level, with a cross-sectional area of approximately 70,000 sq. ft. at both top and bottom, reaching a maximum area of 215,000 sq. ft. between the 1100

Jan 1, 1937

By Michael Perch, Charles C. Russell

Nearly 75 per cent of the total coke production in the United States in 1940 was consumed in blast furnaces. In 1939 the percentage was 69.9, and in 1938 it was 61.3. To produce a net ton of pig iron 1757 lb. of coke was required in 1940 and 1760 lb. in 1939. These figures indicate how dependent the production of pig iron is upon the production of coke. The rate of iron production is in some measure influenced by the physical and chemical characteristics of the coke. Blast-furnace operators believe that the physical properties of coke profoundly influence the operation of the furnace. Although it is true that coke of a wide variety of physical properties is used in American blast furnaces, the periodic fluctuation of these properties is one of the causes of irregularity of blast-furnace operation. The purpose of this paper is to present a broad picture of the physical properties of by-product coke that are generally considered to be important by coke-oven and blast-furnace operators. Effects of the kind of coal used, the preparation of the coal, the rate of coking, and other factors will be considered. Of all these variables, the kind of coal used is by far the most important. In this discussion use will be made of the method of coal classification by rank1 standardized by the American Society for Testing Materials. Although this method of classification has been an American standard for several years, it has not been given the attention it deserves, especially in connection with the selection of coal for production of coke. Despite the fact that many producers of blast-furnace coke are limited to some particular source or sources of coal, a good understanding of the principles involved in setting up the standard method of classification may lead to a better appreciation of the causes of changes in coke characteristics. Furthermore, where it is necessary to select new coals as a substitute for the original supply, this method of classification can be of great assistance. The data presented have been gathered from many sources, but no attempt has been made to cover the vast literature. Instead, some of the more important data have been selected to show how coals and their carbonization affect some of the physical properties of coke. It must be emphasized that generalizations concerning the behavior of coking coals are presented and that individual coals may vary widely from the specific behavior depicted. Nevertheless, it is believed that the data illustrate certain typical behaviors. Neither was it possible to cover completely all the factors involved; for example, the macroscopic constituents of coal are believed to have important effects on the physical properties of coke, but since there is little information available for such study, and since vitrain, clarain, and durain are neither

Jan 1, 1942

By P. W. Bridgman

It is a commonplace that experimental physics in the last few decades has discovered manifold complexities in the atomic and subatomic levels, where it was thought for hundreds of years that no structure existed, as is witnessed by the derivation of the word "atom" itself. The field of exploration opened by the discovery of the electrical structure of the atom was so fundamental, rich and stimulating, that it has been almost exclusively cultivated by physicists since they obtained their first intimations as to the nature of the basic facts. Only within the last few years has it begun to dawn on us that we have overshot an enormous domain in which are situated many phenomena of fundamental importance for all the practical uses to which we put matter in our daily lives; the domain, that is, of most of the phenomena of interest to the biologist and the metallurgist. Furthermore, we are beginning to find that this intermediate domain is not entirely simple, but that it contains unsuspected complexities, some of them derived from the complexities of structure on the atomic and subatomic levels, and some of them emergent as matter collects itself into large aggregates, which often offer the key to the explanation of hitherto baffling large-scale properties of matter. Today I want to describe and consider some of these newly discovered complexities in the behavior of matter in bulk. The application to metallurgical problems is not always direct, but I hope to be able to suggest that such general notions as to structure as those here discussed must have important reactions on our attitude toward the problems of metallurgy. Three different sorts of phenomena of this kind to which I shall direct your attention are (1) the so-called structure sensitive phenomena, (2) complexities of such a nature that they are masked by the presence of extraordinarily small amounts of impurities, and (3) complexities depending on internal molecular rearrangements which can be understood only from the point of view of the quantum theory.

Jan 1, 1931

By Herbert Hughes

The trend in modern building construction is definitely toward the use of weight-reducing materials. The basic advantage of lighter structural weight is obvious; reduction of dead load with retention of equivalent strength affords the possibility of increasing the live load, or if this is not desirable or necessary it makes feasible a reduction in size of structural steel members and corresponding savings in other phases of construction. Among the weight-reducing materials and practices rapidly gaining favor are the use of light-weight patented insulating board to replace back-up tile or units, particularly in home construction; introduction of aluminum alloys to replace steel for many purposes; manufacture of porous brick, the use of which materially reduces the weight of masonry walls and partitions; and the use of self-rising vesicular concrete, dia-tomite and sawdust tile, porous gypsum, or gypsum tile for nonload-bear-ing partitions and walls. Even building accessories are being designed to save weight and space; one of the most striking examples of this is improved radiator construction. Concrete technique is keeping pace with the rest of the industry. Burned shale aggregates now available in many sections of the country will make concrete weighing only 100 Ib. per cubic foot, saving roughly 35 per cent. in weight and sacrificing none of the strength of a rock-sand mix. It may be more expensive, but actual experience has shown that the saving in dead load will effect a reduction in structural steel which in many instances will more than offset the increased cost of the aggregate. The vesicular nature of most light-weight aggregates gives the concrete especially good insulating, fireproofing and soundproofing properties; yet absorption is compara.tively low. Strangely enough, however, the increased use of light-weight aggregates appears to have augmented the demand for ordinary aggregates in concrete construction rather than to have decreased it. Light-weight aggregates have widened the field for concrete structures and, since the producers do not attempt to recommend the use of their material except where weight or other special properties are important factors, impetus has been given to sales of other aggregates.

Jan 1, 1931

ALTHOUGH everybody is familiar with coal, few persons have an exact idea of, the great impor-tance of this precious fuel. Coal is the black bread of industry. Without it, industrial activity is much restrained; and so the great industrial countries of Europe and the United States of America are the great producers of coal. The 1913 production of coal in Belgium was 22,842,-000 tons, valued at 418,700,000 fr., nearly a half billion. In 1919, it was 18,483,000 tons, about 81 per cent. of the production before the war; in 1920, it had reached 22,414,000 tons, approximately the production before the war. To show the importance of coal production of Belgium, let us say that the coal industry employed 168,000 workers in the year of 1920, the metallurgical industry only 129,000 and the textile industry 103,000. The coal industry, then, employs the greatest number of workers. The value of the coal production in 1919 is estimated at 1,121,000,000 fr. On the basis of the production before the war, the value of the production of iron in 1919 would have been 701,000,000, of finished steel 1,086,000,000, and of zinc 415,000,000; therefore, in 1919 the value of the coal industry was greater than that of the metallurgical production.

Jan 8, 1922

By Joe L. Ratigan

INTRODUCTION Rock mechanics engineers are seldom concerned with obtaining the tensile or fracture strength of brittle rock at low mean stresses. The reason for this is two fold. Firstly, the behavior of many excavations in brittle rock is controlled by the inherent discontinuities in the rock mass. Because of the jointing and faulting, tensile strength is usually taken to be negligible. The second reason that tensile strength is seldom obtained in the laboratory is that the technology of utilizing this strength measure in design is undeveloped. Despite the fact that tensile strength of brittle rock is often ignored, there are a number of applications in rock mechanics wherein the knowledge of tensile strength is of fundamental importance. The apparent tensile strength must be known in a hydraulic fracture experiment if the state of in situ stress is to be determined from the initiation of the hydraulically induced fracture. In certain underground situations, the apparent tensile strength of intact rock beams defined by jointing or bedding planes is important in determining required rock bolting. Numerous other situations require a knowledge of apparent tensile strength including such high technology uses of underground space as geothermal energy extraction and LPG storage. Three observations are invariably made when intact rock samples are taken into the laboratory and tested to determine tensile strength. (1) The apparent tensile strength depends on the sample size (the 1 arger the specimen, the lower the tensile strength)

Jan 1, 1982

By W. S. Morris, R. R. Bradenthaler, G. Wade

Petroleum engineers generally are of the opinion that the flow conditions and, therefore, the formulas that apply to the flow of oil and gas in long pipe lines differ in many ways from flow conditions in oil wells. One of the reasons why the formulas in common use for pipe-line flow do not correctly apply to oil wells is that the flow lines are vertical and not horizontal. Another factor to be considered is that the fluid is a mixture of oil and gas and that the physical characteristics of these two components are affected differently by changing conditions of pressure and temperature during upward flour. Realizing the need for accurate data on flow in vertical pipes under conditions caused both by natural flow and the gas-lift, the U. S: Bureau of Mines has installed equipment at the Petroleum Experiment Station, Bartlesville, Okla., for the purpose of studying this problem. In additon a study will be made of the comparative effects of different natural-flow and gas-lift methods of producing oil on ultimate production from reservoir sands. Experimental Equipment The experimental equipment consists of a regular oil-field steel derrick, a large pressure tank installed in a concrete pit beneath the derrick floor, compressors and pumps, gas separators and absorbers, metering and control devices, and the necessary pipe connections. The crown-block level represents the derrick floor at an oil well, and the "producing sand" is the pressure tank below the derrick floor. The difference in elevation between the crown-block level and the tank is 90 ft. Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show the construction and exterior arrangement of the equipment. The success of the experiment will of course depend largely upon the accuracy of the oil and gas measurements and the temperature and pressure determinations. Because extreme accuracy is necessary, all oil and gas measurements will be checked at least twice, and in some

Jan 1, 1929

By C. B. Post, G. V. Luerssen

It is generally recognized that non-metallic inclusions in steel come from two principal sources. First are the chemical reactions in the furnace, or in subsequent deoxidation, resulting in slag which does not free itself from the metal. Much information has been published concerning these chemical reactions and their control through proper attention to slag viscosity, composition of deoxidizers, and other qualities. The studies of this subject by C. H. Herty, Jr. and others through the medium of physical chemistry have yielded much information for the steelmaker. The second source is erosion of ladle refractories, such as lining brick, stoppers, nozzles and runners, causing entrapped particles of globules of fluxed silicate material. In contrast with the large amount of information available on the first source, relatively little has been published on the subject of erosion which, in the case of basic electric melted steel, is the principal source of nonmetallics. This is probably due to the fact that the problem was assumed to be one of simple mechanical erosion, which could be solved primarily by modification of ladle practices. Good improvements have been made by elimination of slurries in the ladle, better ladle and runner refractories, and more attention to pouring temperatures. It is doubtful, however, that this problem has been recognized in its true light since it is not one of simple mechanical erosion but rather one of chemical reaction between the metal and the refractories; and in this sense is as much a problem of physical chemistry as the reactions involved in the actual steelmaking process. The influence of ladle refractories on the resulting cleanness of steels was early recognized by A. McCancel who examined large inclusions in steels made by both acid and basic practices. His chemical analyses showed the large influence exerted by the manganese content of the steel on erosion of the ladle and nozzles used in those days. The presence of MnO in such inclusions led McCance to the hypothesis that both basic and acid steels react chemically with the ladle refractories so that small globules of fluxed refractories are carried in the stream into the molds. This early work of McCance was checked by one of the present authors on basic electric bearing-steel, and it was found that on steels containing as low as 0.40 pct manganese the fluxed surface of the ladle lining after delivering such a heat showed as high as 25 pct MnO by actual analysis. Furthermore, by lowering the manganese content of the steel to 0.20 pct, ladle erosion was decreased with a corresponding decrease in silicate inclusions in the steel. Limitations placed on the manganese content for the required inherent properties made it impossible to pursue this line further, and subsequent attention was concentrated on improved ladle refractories, care in keeping the ladle clean and free from loose refractories up to the time of tapping, and pouring the steel at optimum temperature. Our study of the chemical reactions at the metal-brick interface between steel and ladle refractories was revived in 1939 as a result of an experimental observation made on the cleanness of alloy steels of the SAE types. This observation showed that the relative cleanness of such steels made in basic electric arc furnaces of 12 ton capacity and poured in ingots ranging from 1100 to 2200 lb weight was determined to a large extent by the ratio of the manganese and silicon contents, provided other steelmaking variables such as tapping temperature, pouring temperature, pouring time, amount of aluminum added for grain size control, and degree of deoxidation in the furnace were kept reasonably constant. Detailed studies made on the deoxidation and slag practice during the refining period of basic electric furnace practice showed that these two variables exerted some influence on the resulting cleanness of steel in the form of bars and forgings. The important variable, the manganese-silicon balance, was not apparent until heats were made in succession by the best furnace practice kept under fairly rigid metallurgical control. Another observation pertinent to this work concerned the similarity in the microscope of slag particles causing magnaflux or step-down indications in subsequent rolled bars, and the patches of slag frequently seen on the surface of ingots. These patches are generally believed to come from the glassy metal-brick interface in the ladle and represent an entrapment of such glass (both from the ladle brick and nozzle) in the metal as it flows over the refractories in the neighborhood of the nozzle. These glassy particles are carried down into the mold with the liquid steel, and gradually coalesce into a slag "button" which floats on the surface of the steel as it rises in the molds. Periodically the button is washed to the side of the ingot where it is trapped between the surface of the ingot and the mold, later appearing as a slag patch on the surface of the ingot after stripping. Even though most of the small glassy particles coalesce into a slag button while the ingot is being poured, it is logical to suspect this step in the steelmaking process as being a source of slag lines large enough to cause trouble

Jan 1, 1950

By E. R. Borcherdt

Methods and equipment are subject to study in the Butte district at all times in order that advantage may be taken of any new developments that might serve to increase efficiency and lower costs. Detailed time studies of each operation involved in the entire mining process have been of invaluable assistance in analyzing the individual operation for possible improvement. In other words, the fact that a practice has been in vogue for many years does not exempt it from change provided an easier and cheaper method can be found. Exploration Ore occurs in the Butte district in such manner that structures must be drifted on, no matter how small or unimportant they appear when intersected by a crosscut. Parallel structures also add to the crosscut requirements. This prospecting work, which formerly was done entirely by drifting and crosscutting, is now being supplemented by diamond drilling, to aid in greatly decreasing the amount of waste. In long-shot prospecting, or in second or third class prospecting, where the chances of developing commercial ore are not very great, diamond drilling is of particular value. In prospecting where chances of encountering commercial ore are certain or where crosscuts can be used later for haulage or ventilation, drilling obviously is not applicable. Improvement in drilling machines and bits has contributed greatly to the present success of diamond drilling. For many Years square-set filled stoping was the principal mining method used in the Butte district. Later timbered and untimbered rill stopes were used, also some horizontal cut-and-fill stoping where both Ore and walls were particularly strong. Because of the amount of timber required for square-set stoping, and the relatively low production per stope unit, experiments with horizontal cut-and-fill stopes were begun in Ore bodies of which many had fairly weak walls. It was felt that increase in the speed of the stoping operation, followed closely by filling, to avoid weight being produced by permitting ore and walls to remain insufficiently supported over comparatively long periods, would maintain the walls and backs in safe condition without the use of timber and without ore dilution from wall slough. Cycles of drilling, scraping ore, and filling were devised, which have materially increased stope production and decreased timber consumption, so that both stope labor and supply costs were lowered appreciably without materially affecting grade control. In the larger mines of the district, where wide veins favor this stoping method, half of the total production is now being mined by horizontal cut-and-fill stopes (Fig. I). The increase of the filling rate demanded by the increased stoping rate was the greatest obstacle encountered in the accelerated stoping operations. Finally this problem was solved by replacing the time-honored method of transferring filling waste by small cars, which were hoisted or lowered in the auxiliary shaft, by a transfer

Jan 1, 1943

By E. R. Borcherdt

Methods and equipment are subject to study in the Butte district at all times in order that advantage may be taken of any new developments that might serve to increase efficiency and lower costs. Detailed time studies of each operation involved in the entire mining process have been of invaluable assistance in analyzing the individual operation for possible improvement. In other words, the fact that a practice has been in vogue for many years does not exempt it from change provided an easier and cheaper method can be found. Exploration Ore occurs in the Butte district in such manner that structures must be drifted on, no matter how small or unimportant they appear when intersected by a crosscut. Parallel structures also add to the crosscut requirements. This prospecting work, which formerly was done entirely by drifting and crosscutting, is now being supplemented by diamond drilling, to aid in greatly decreasing the amount of waste. In long-shot prospecting, or in second or third class prospecting, where the chances of developing commercial ore are not very great, diamond drilling is of particular value. In prospecting where chances of encountering commercial ore are certain or where crosscuts can be used later for haulage or ventilation, drilling obviously is not applicable. Improvement in drilling machines and bits has contributed greatly to the present success of diamond drilling. For many Years square-set filled stoping was the principal mining method used in the Butte district. Later timbered and untimbered rill stopes were used, also some horizontal cut-and-fill stoping where both Ore and walls were particularly strong. Because of the amount of timber required for square-set stoping, and the relatively low production per stope unit, experiments with horizontal cut-and-fill stopes were begun in Ore bodies of which many had fairly weak walls. It was felt that increase in the speed of the stoping operation, followed closely by filling, to avoid weight being produced by permitting ore and walls to remain insufficiently supported over comparatively long periods, would maintain the walls and backs in safe condition without the use of timber and without ore dilution from wall slough. Cycles of drilling, scraping ore, and filling were devised, which have materially increased stope production and decreased timber consumption, so that both stope labor and supply costs were lowered appreciably without materially affecting grade control. In the larger mines of the district, where wide veins favor this stoping method, half of the total production is now being mined by horizontal cut-and-fill stopes (Fig. I). The increase of the filling rate demanded by the increased stoping rate was the greatest obstacle encountered in the accelerated stoping operations. Finally this problem was solved by replacing the time-honored method of transferring filling waste by small cars, which were hoisted or lowered in the auxiliary shaft, by a transfer

Jan 1, 1943