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By V. V. Clark

WHEN a district is more or less primitive, and a trained mining engineer attempts single- handed to prospect it according to old standards, he generally fails. He has not the ability to live out in the open alone for months at a time and carry on with enthusiasm and determination like the old-time prospector. But the same engineer, placed in an organized group where modern prospecting methods are employed, is immediately put on his mettle and his chances of winning are greatly increased. Marsman Investments, Ltd., with headquarters in Manila, has at the present time, Sept. 4, 1937, six prospecting parties in the Netherland East Indies. Three of these groups are combing their assignments for lode mines, studying structures, developing and reaching out into veins and zones with diamond drills. The other three are searching for placer mines with pans, pits, and Empire drills. I am in charge of one group seeking commercial gold placers on the Island of

Jan 1, 1937

By M. Cohen, D. J. Blickwede

Quantitative observations concerning the carbide phases in high speed steel are of importance for two general reasons: (1) the carbides, being inevitable constituents of the final structure, exert a direct influence on the properties of the steel; and (2) a substantial proportion of the total alloy content is tied-up in the carbides, and hence the extent of their solution on austenitizing governs the composition of the steel matrix. The latter relationship has a vital bearing on the response of the steel to tempering as well as on its performance in subsequent service. Accordingly, in the course of a long-term study of the behavior of high speed steels, the authors were confronted with the problem of securing quantitative data on the carbide phases. The obvious method for acquiring such information is to isolate the car-bides from the steel and subject them to chemical, X ray diffraction and other measurements. There are well-known extraction techniques which involve the chemical or electrolytic solution of the less noble matrix (ferrite, marten-site or austenite), thus leaving a residue of the carbide phases. However, the results obtained must be scrutinized carefully1,2 since the carbides may be affected by the chemical or electrolytic action. It is the purpose of the present paper to describe the experiments leading to an electrolytic-extraction technique for quantitatively isolating the carbides from both I and hardened high speed steel. Particular attention is paid to the amount, as well as the composition, of the carbides so that the matrix analysis becomes ascertainable by subtraction from the overall steel composition. Illustrative results are given for the M-2 grade of tungsten-molybdenum steel. Review of the Literature The chemical method of dissolving the matrix selectively with respect to the carbides makes use of dilute non- oxidizing reagents such as hydrochloric or sulphuric acid. Although this simple procedure has led to the determination of the cementite composition,3,4 it achieved only limited success because of the interaction between the acid and the carbide residue. Some of the carbides may not only be destroyed in this way, but the hydrogen released is likely to remove part of their carbon as hydrocarbon gases. The electrolytic technique of isolating carbides has the advantage of rapidly dissolving the specimen (anode) in the presence of less reactive solutions than are practicable with the chemical method. This reduces the possibility of chemical attack on the carbides, and furthermore, the hydrogen evolved during the electrolysis is released at the cathode which is not in close proximity to the carbides. The common electrolytes adopted for this purpose are hydrochloric and sulphuric acids.5-l1 Aqueous solutions of ferrous salts have also been used.12,13 A considerable advance in experimental technique was introduced by Treje and Benedicks14 who developed a double-compartment cell for electrolytic extraction, the anode and cathode chambers being separated by a porous diaphragm. A solution of 15 pct sodium citrate, 2 pct potassium bromide and 1 pct potassium iodide was selected for the anolyte, while the catholyte consisted of a 10 pct solution of copper sulphate, with copper serving as the cathode. This type of cell has a number of desirable characteristics: 1. The anolyte has a pH value close to 7, at least at the beginning of the run. 2. The iron that dissolves from the anode-specimen forms a water-soluble complex ion with the citrate, thereby preventing the precipitation of iron hydroxide (which would contaminate the carbide residue) despite the neutrality of the solution. 3. Copper deposition instead of hydrogen evolution occurs at the cathode, and this avoids an increasing concentration of hy-droxyl ions which (in an otherwise neutral solution) might cause the precipitation of insoluble hydroxides. 4. Contamination of the anode chamber by copper sulphate is inhibited by the porous diaphragm. Houdremont and coworkers15 applied the above method (with the further refinement of excluding oxygen during the electrolysis, washing and drying) to the extraction of carbides from a series of plain carbon steels after various heat treatments. They had quantitative success only with specimens in the annealed condition, and concluded that the size and shape of the carbide particles play an important role in the isolation process, with large spheroids exhibiting the least tendency to decompose during the electrolysis. Up to the present time, the citrate double-cell has not been used to any extent for isolating the carbides of high alloy steels, apparently on the grounds that the complex carbides are more resistant than cementite to attack in the simpler acid electrolytes. In particular, Bain and Grossmann7 and Gulyaev10.10a have employed the hydrochloric acid cell for their investigations of the carbides in high speed steel.* It will be demonstrated here that this type of cell is capable of yielding quantitative results in the case of high speed steel, and actually has certain advantages over the more complicated double cell. However, in order to provide a rigorous test of the quanti-tativeness of electrolytic procedures for the problem at hand, both methods were studied in considerable detail.

Jan 1, 1950

By Sherwin F. Kelly

THE joint meetings of the Mining Geology Committee and the Society of Economic Geologists proved to be deservedly popular, and the interesting papers drew an attendance which strained the capacity of one of the large meeting rooms.. As might be expected these days when even the Supreme Court can't keep away from the subject of gold, the discussions opened on Thursday morning with several papers devoted to questions of structural and mineralogical relationships of the deposits of this metal. The presentation of Ira B. Joralemon's paper, "Veins and Faults in the Bralorne Mine," by Reno Sales, elicited considerable discussion on the relation of mariposite to gold, and the situation of the gold deposits with respect -to the Coast Range batholith. H. V. Warren stated that lie had observed mariposite always to be associated with gold in this region, but that gold was not always associated with mariposite. He pointed out that there is a series of veins on the west side of the batholith with a different mineralogy that, because of their richness but small size could quite easily make good, small mines. John A. Dresser concurred in this, and said lie thought this region was one of great promise for the mining geologist. He also reported having found mariposite associated with gold values below commercial limits, in the Appalachian regions.

Jan 1, 1935

In connection with the recent visit of the Special Mission of British Ministry of Munitions to the United States, the United Engineering Societies gave a dinner to the members of the. Mission on Tuesday evening, Nov. 13. This was the only public function on behalf of the visiting commissioners while they were in New York. During the remainder of their visit they were in daily conference with bankers, merchants' associations, labor federations, and other organizations. The result of these conferences will doubtless have an important influence on the manufacture of war supplies in the United States, since it will enable our business men and manufacturers to avoid a good many of the mistakes that unfortunately occurred in England at the beginning of the war. At present, fully 90 per cent. of the employees of British munition factories are omen, and the problem of employing women in the industries of the United States will doubtless soon be encountered with increasing frequency.

Jan 1, 1918

By Dick Whittington, W. R. Taylor

GENERAL In mid-1974, a representative of ARCO Petroleum Company walked into our Austin offices and asked for a permit for ARCO's first Clay West Mine site. This was the first in situ uranium mining permit issued in the United States. That initial permit, issued in January 1975, was for three acres. The four years since have been characterized by growth and change. Today there are 16 permits approved for approximately 1,540 production acres issued to five companies at eight sites in four counties. There are approximately seven additional permit applications being processed or on the verge of being submitted for an estimated 2,000 additional acres of production. As a rough gauge of the financial scope of this activity, at the typical 40 production wells per acre and an estimated $2,000/well, operators hale installed or committed $122 million for production wells. This does not account for the exploration and development wells installed to delineate the ore or the cost of processing facilities for extracting the uranium. HISTORY OF URANIUM MINING IN TEXAS Information I have concerning early in situ uranium mining activities is "sketchy" but the apparent first on-site test of in situ uranium mining was conducted between 1967 and 1971 at the Dueterstat site, north of Yorktown in Gonzales County, by City Service. Others ran tests at the Bruni site in Webb County and the Burns and Clay West sites in Live Oak County in the mid-70's. During this period, Texas Water Quality Board personnel in the central and district offices maintained a general surveillance of these various test activities. Regulation of in situ uranium mining was formalized with the issuance of a permit in January 1975 with the advent of ARCO's initial production scale (3 acre) effort in the Clay West area at the Moser mine site. Since 1975, the accelerating rate of mining and exploration activity is noticeable. There were 16 exploratory rigs operating early in 1977. This year, the rig count is averaging 46--a 287% increase. HISTORY OF LEGISLATION Paralleling this mining activity was state and federal legislation which subjected in situ mining to environmental regulation. The following is a brief chronology of the legislation that is directly or indirectly related to uranium mining. As most of you know, disposal wells are an integral part of most in situ uranium mines operating in Texas. They are used both during production and during aquifer restoration following production. The wells are regulated by the Texas Injection Well Act, enacted in 1961 by the Texas Legislature. In 1967, the Water Quality Act established the Texas Water Quality Board, and provided for the regulation of water quality by the so-called permit system. In 1969, the Solid Waste Act was enacted by the Texas Legislature. The legislation provides for control of wastes from manufacturing, mining, and agriculture. This Act regulated uranium surface mining activities until 1975 when the Texas Surface and Mining Reclamation Act placed responsibility with the Railroad Commission for uranium open-pit mining and surface mining of coal and lignite. In 1972, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Public Law 92-500) was passed. This legislation forms the legal base for the NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) and the subsequent point source effluent guidelines and standards. The November 6, 1975 issue of the Federal Register published interim final rules for Best Practical Treatment levels for effluent discharges from ore mining and dressing operations. Litigation was immediately initiated by eleven companies against these proposed rules, and they are currently being reconsidered for reissuance in 1979. In 1974, the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (Public Law 93-523) was enacted. A part of this legislation is the Underground Injection Congrol Program. The regulations implementing this program have undergone various public hearings and it is expected that they will be published in the Federal Register before the end of 1978. In 1975, the Texas Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (Senate Bill 55), providing for the Railroad Commission's authority to require reclamation of surface mines, was passed. In 1977, an amendment to Senate Bill 55 was introduced that proposed to place regulation of in situ mining of coal, lignite, and

Jan 1, 1979

By E. H. Wells, A. Andreas

New Mexico retained its position as the sixth largest oil-producing state for the year 1937 with a total production of 38,484,630 bbl. This was an increase of 11,680,184 bbl. over the 1936 production of 26,804,446 bbl., or a gain of 43 per cent. The production for Lea County during 1937 was 35,961,056 bbl.; for Eddy County, 2,136,251 bbl.; and for northwestern New Mexico (San Juan and McKinley Counties), 387,323 bbl. The average daily non-marginal well allowable for Lea County on Jan. 1, 1937, was 92 bbl.; at the close of the year it was 67 bbl. The average daily pipe-line runs were less than the allocations of the New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission, but slightly in excess of the state allowables recommended by the United States Bureau of Mines. The average daily production for the year was 105,437 barrels. The total number of completions in the state was 742, of which 638 were oil wells; 19 hydrocarbon gas wells; 5 carbon dioxide gas wells and 80 dry holes. Of the dry holes, 46 were in proven fields. Of these 46 dry holes, 13 were in the Artesia-Grayburg-Jackson-Maljamar area, Eddy County, two in the Getty Extension field, Eddy County, 11 in the Red Mountain field, McKinley County, three in the Rattlesnake field, San Juan County, and nine in the Aztec-Bloomfield area, San Juan County. There were only eight dry holes in the proven fields in Lea County. Southeastern New Mexico Lea County.—The Monument field was the largest producing field in Lea County, with 10,945,788 bbl., closely followed by the Eunice field with 10,927,929 bbl. The Hobbs field, formerly the largest producing field in Lea County, was relegated to third .place, with 7,292,522 barrels. Drjlling during the year closed the gap between the northern part of the Eunice field and the southern part of the Monument field. The wells in this area were relatively small, because of decreased porosity in the lime. The greatest activity in Lea County was in the Monument pool, with 199 completions, 197 being oil wells, one a gas well and one a dry hole.

Jan 1, 1938

By E. L. Tucker

PREVIOUS investigations of E. L. Tucker and R. E. Head' related in particular to the effect of cyanogen compounds on galena, sphalerite, and pyrite, and their behavior in the presence of such com- pounds. The present contribution deals with the float- ability of the copper minerals and of pyrite. All experiments were performed on minus 200-mesh material, the method of preparation being the same as that described in the previous article. Flotation tests were made in a small mechanically agitated machine of 50-g. capacity designed in this laboratory by Gates and Jacobsen." General Naval Stores pine oil No. 5 and potassium xanthate were used in constant amount in all of the experiments; these agents were selected because of their present wide use in the flotation of copper minerals. Lime additions were varied to secure four 'final hydrogen ion concentrations, namely, neutral, 0.0005 per cent CaO, 0.003 per cent CaO, and 0.02 per cent CaO. The variation in lime addition was introduced to include the range of alkalinities employed in actual flotation practice.

Jan 1, 1926

Jan 1, 1966

By Samuel D. Warriner

(Wilkes-Barre Meeting, June, 1911.) THE dealings between concentrated capital invested in the conduct of our various industries and the combinations of labor known as "trade union organizations," have produced not only in the United States, but abroad, many novel methods of negotiation between employers and wage-workers. The size and strength of these organizations have destroyed the personal elements formerly governing the dealings between employer and employee and have produced various forms of trade-agreements now in more or less successful operation. The difficulty, however, has- been to secure consent of both parties to an equitable agreement. For this purpose there have been devised various forms of arbitration, either compulsory under the shadow of governmental legislation, or voluntary by mutual agreement. But these have not been altogether successful from a technical stand-point, for the reason that a compromise has generally been necessary, and in an effort to reach an agreement, terms have been made which have been neither fair nor satisfactory to either of the contending parties. The Anthracite Board of Conciliation represents one of the few thoroughly successful courts for the settlement of trade-disputes, if not the only one which has yet been evolved. The prestige of this board rests upon its successful treatment of the labor-troubles of the anthracite region for a period of more than eight years, and upon the fact that it has been able not only to reach decisions based upon the merits of the controversies, but to enforce its decisions upon both the employees and the employers. It has never been obliged to shape its conduct to secure the consent of the contending parties, and its decisions have been strictly and, in the main, cheerfully observed. The remarkable feature of this board has been that it has

Aug 1, 1911

By Walter Miller

DURING the second year of America's active participation in the war the main objectives of the petroleum refining industry were again to provide the four most important product needs for war: 100-octane aviation gasoline, toluene for TNT production, high-quality lubricating oils for the needs of aviation and the armed forces, and petroleum chemicals for synthetic rubber manufacture. All other materials supplied by the petroleum industry took an inferior priority ranking, depending on the degree of essentiality. To accomplish the above objectives the industry initiated and carried on a building program during 1942 and 1943 which will put those two years down in petroleum refining history as the greatest construction years of all time, a record which will hold for decades to come. Led by an estimated total of $900,000,000 going into 100octane and contributory plant investment, it is easy to picture a total of two billion dollars and more going into additional refining-industry plant investment during 1942 and 1943, most of it privately paid for, but a substantial part covered by R.F.C. Government money financing.

Jan 1, 1944

By JAS. F. McCARTHY

THE present Hecla Co. is a Washington corporation; the Hecla Co. of Idaho was the old company. The older corporation owned two claims, the Hecla and the Katie May, and was incorporated for 500,000 shares of one dollar par value. The principal shareholders and officials of the older company were among the early mining men of the camp. Among the active officials were John A. Finch and A. B. Campbell. Among the directors and share- holders were Patrick Clark, J. R. Smith, Frank Upman, F. J, Kipp, Chas. Kipp, B. A. Kipp and Carl Landsee. F. J. Kipp and Carl Landsee are now directors of the Company. All of the others mentioned have died, but the surviving members of their families retain their ownership in the Company's shareholders. B. A. ,Kipp, who recently died, was the largest shareholder at the time of incorporation and Patrick Clark was the second largest shareholder. B. A. Kipp is a brother 'of F. J. Kipp, director of the Company.

Jan 1, 1924

By J. French Robinson

A review of production in the Eastern District for 1930 is necessarily brief. Drilling operations were curtailed, due to economic conditions, which in turn reduced production. However, in spite of these conditions, there have been a few outstanding developments which surpass any of recent years. The development of a field in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties, New York, has been rapid and probably reached its peak of production in 1930. The gas in this field comes from the White Medina Sand (Silurian), at an average depth of 2600 ft. Some of the wells had an open flow of 20,000,000 cu. ft. of gas per day,' with an original rock pressure of 965 pounds2 per square inch. Another area developed during 1930 was the Tyrone field, in Tyrone Township, Schuyler County, New York. This field was discovered 2nd is practically controlled by the Belmont Quadrangle Drilling Corpn. of New York. The production is from the Oriskany Sand (Devonian), which is found at an average depth of 2100 ft. The field covers approximately 2000 acres, and to date has 14 producing gas wells. The largest well had an open flow of 15,000,000 cu. ft. and an original rock pressure of 740 Ib. The gas from this field is impregnated with sulfur, and requires washing before it is marketed. Because little is known of the Oriskany Sand, a brief description may be of interest. This sand outcrops at Oriskany Falls, New York, and has a thickness of 10 to 12 ft. Its texture is coarse grained, it is composed mostly of quartz and is a regularly bedded sandstone. At Yauger's Wood, in Cayuga County, New York, it is exposed and shows a thickness of 26 feet. The discovery of the Tyrone field led to much prospecting in the New York and the northern part of Pennsylvania, and as a result of this search, the Allegany Gas Co. struck a large gas well in Farmington Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, which created considerable excitement through the Eastern District. The gas was encountered at a depth of 4010 ft., and tested 20,000,000 cu. ft. open flow, with a shut-in pressure

Jan 1, 1931

By E. C. Potter

FUEL-OIL was first substituted for coal at these works in September, 1888. It was first applied in the converting-department to the battery of boilers, consisting of 14 tubular boilers, 16 feet in length by 5 feet in diameter. To operate these boilers with coal for 24 hours required 14 strikers, 3 ash-wheelers, 6 men unloading coal, and 2 water-tenders, making a total of 25 men. With fuel-oil the same boilers require for the same period 2 water-tenders and 4 men to attend to the burners, making a total of 6 men. This gives a saving of 19 men, which, at an average of $2 per day each, amounts to $38 per day. Comparing the consumption of oil with that of coal, we find that for the week ending January 5, 1889, with an ingot output of 6403 tons, 2731 barrels of fuel-oil were used as against a necessary consumption of coal for the same work of 848 tons, showing 3.22 barrels of fuel-oil to be equivalent to one ton of Indiana block-coal. Figuring oil at 60 cents per barrel, and coal at $2.15 per ton, we have as the cost of oil $1.93, as against $2.15 for its equivalent in coal. In December, 1888, the rail-mill battery of 26 boilers, of the same dimensions as those in the converting-department, was equipped for fuel-oil. For the week ending January 5, 1889, with a rail out-put of 5208 tons, 5987 barrels of oil were consumed, as against a necessary consumption of coal, to do the same work, of 1805 tons, showing 3.31 barrels of fuel-oil to be equivalent to one ton of Indiana block-coal, which at the costs named above would show $1.98 worth of fuel-oil to he equal to $2.15 worth of coal. The labor required to operate the rail-mill boilers for 24 hours, with coal as fuel,is: 26 stokers, 4 water-tenders, 6 ash-wheelers, 12 men unloading coal; total, 48 men. With oil as fuel, the same work requires 4 water-tenders and 6 men to attend to the burners; total, 10 men; a saving over coal of 38 men in 24 hours, which, at an average price of $2 per day, would be $76 per day. In the brief experience we have had with oil as fuel, we find that the efficiency of the boilers is somewhat increased and the repairs are

Jan 1, 1889

[L. W. KEMPF, Chairman E. E. SCHUMACHER, Past-Chairman E. A. ANDERSON, Senior Vice-Chairman A. A. SMITH, JR., Vice-Chairman 11. A. MALONEY, Treasurer ERNEST KIRKENDALL, Secretary 29 West 39th Street, New York 18, N. Y. Executive Committee 1947 C. Y. CLAYTON A. B. GRENINGER CURTIS PIGOTT 1948 WALTER BONSACK W. A. DEAN LOUIS JORDAN 1949 J. D. HANAWALT W. A. JOHNSON E. W. PALMER]

Jan 1, 1946

ENGINEERS AVAILABLE (Under this heading will be published notes sent to the Secretary of the Institute by members or other persons introduced by members.) Technical graduate, aged-31, with experience as surveyor, chemist with a sulphur company, practical miner, and as chief engineer of an iron mining company, desires a position as mining engineer or superintendent. Speaks French and German. No. 165. Member, aged 31, married, graduate Yale and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, six years' experience in coal and iron mining, from engineer to general superintendent, desires position with large coal or iron company. Will go anywhere. References. . No. 167. Member, technical graduate, with experience as machinist, chemist, construction engineer, and manager-of mines in the United States and Mexico, desires position .as mine superintendent or manager. Speaks Spanish. No. 168. Member, technical graduate, aged 26, with experience as engineer, mine foreman, assistant superintendent for a pyrite mining company. Experience includes diamond drilling, shaft sinking, underground work, milling of pyrites, and mine accounting. No. 169.

Jan 12, 1914

By J. F. Myers

A bit of old philosophy: The optimist, the pessimist, The difference is droll; The optimist, the doughnut sees, The pessimist, the hole. This is a neat summation of the viewpoint of those engaged in "treating the crude mineral crust of the earth." Many of those in high places have reminded us during the year of the diminishing supply of the resources so essen-

Jan 1, 1948

By Yeatman, Pope

FOR many years geologists have felt that mining companies should adopt a more liberal policy in the publication of their reports. The increasing usefulness of the geologist to the mining profession in recent years demands that consideration be given to this question. Prior to 1900, the call for geologists of high reputation by mining companies was probably mainly in connection with lawsuits arising from the interpretation of rights or ownership as defined by the "Law of the Apex," and from problems such as finding the continuation of the vein or whether the vein followed was the main one or a branch. Later, outside of legal questions, the most intensive and general use of their services arose from the search for oil. Geologists to determine the position of the formations

Jan 1, 1938

By Richard P. E. Hermsdorf

IN the nonferrous sessions this year, magnesium wiggled its way into a dace of prominence such as it has never before enjoyed. This was evidenced not only by the number of papers presented on that metal but by the attendance at the meetings. The atmosphere permeating these magnesium meetings was similar to that which exists in a family with a new baby. Everybody crowded around to see what it looked like and then wondered whether it would be a success and credit to the family. Well. magnesium appeared to be a vigorous youngster, full of life, and raring to go. A close relative of maenesium named " aluminum, although much more grown up, also attracted much attention. From the activity and spirit in these sessions

Jan 1, 1944

By O. E. Kiessling

THE Committee-on Production Control, at its meeting held during the last annual session in February, 1930, evidenced great interest in problems of stabilization affecting all mineral industries. . No immediate program of activity for the Committee as a- unit was decided on, however,, and efforts during the past pear have consisted lirgely of further stressing the economic aspects of mineral production and of the action by committee members, :.serving in their individual capacities, in sponsoring constructive changes, in specific, industries. Of greatest interest to the general subject of production control in 1930 was the very definite advance toward better coordination of demand and supply in the petroleum industry. Furthermore, since opinion both within and without the oil industry now favors a constructive program, and with a gradual change in legal precedents, it seems not unreasonable to expect greater progress in the near future.

Jan 1, 1931

By George C. Stone

Since the Troy meeting I have received several additional results of analysis of the same sample of spiegel, which I give below: P. I know only by correspondence. His methods are : for results Nos. 47, 48 (13.03, 13.26) dissolve In hydrochloric acid, evaporate, oxidize with nitric arid, filter from silica, separate iron as basic acetate, precipitate manganese as sulphide, dissolve in hydrochloric acid; and precipitate as carbonate. No. 49 (13.72) was obtained by Eggertz's method. Nos. 50, 51 (13.10, 13.10) were dissolved and oxitfized as before, the iron precipitated by oxide of zinc, filtered and washed four times with cold water; and the manganese titered hot with permanganate. P. regards these two results as low. Nos. 52, 53 (13.75, 13.69) were dissolved and treated like the last two, the precipitated iron was again dissolved, separated, and titered as before; the results are the sum of the manganese joined in both

Jan 1, 1884