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By J. R. Sturgul, J. C. Wynn

Computers and computer applications in geophysics are fairly recent innovations. The area of data handling is one that has found many immediate applications. Initially, the use of computers involved in almost all cases, a batch-input arrangement requiring a trip to the local computer center, a wait and another trip. Even though the computer worked at incredible speeds, the time-delays, in case an error in the input data developed, often could be several days. Use of computers in mining exploration by medium-sized or small-sized companies and contractors has been almost non-existent beyond simple data reduction work. The principle J. R. Sturgul, SME member, and J. C. Wynn, both affiliated with the Dept. of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, presented this paper at the Eleventh International Symposium on Computer Applications in the Minerals Industry, reasons appear to be the time factor and the inconvenience of the frequent trips involved. With the advent of time sharing systems, whereby a company need only have access to a terminal, the main objections can be overcome. An Apparent Solution An apparent solution to the time and distance inconveniences which would permit more extensive use of computers in geophysical exploration, is to buy or lease/purchase a medium-sized computer and install it in or near one's office. This is a formidable proposition in terms of cost and programming time on both respects, but several mining companies of larger size have already gone this route. In most cases, the computers have been expensive devices with a limited memory or core size. For routine data handling this memory size is not restrictive; however, for many geophysical applications such as three-dimensional modeling this can be critical.

Jan 10, 1973

By H. V. Churchill

THERE are two distinct methods of combating corrosive conditions. The first and most popular method is to choose a surface or material which will give adequate service under the specific and general conditions which are present. The second is a control or modification. of the corrosive conditions to the end that metals and materials which would be attacked and corroded without such control or modification may be used. Under the first method of attack of the corrosion problem may be grouped such devices as the selection of metals or alloys which offer great resistance or the use of protective coatings such as paints, lacquers or metallic coatings. Such procedures are exceedingly useful. It is, undoubtedly true that most of the problems of corrosion will be solved by recourse to this first method of attack. However, it must be remembered that there are many conditions in which metals are used where the choice of the particular metal to be used must depend upon other factors than corrosion behavior. Some of the factors which may govern the selection of metals for specific use are the physical and mechanical properties of the metals. But there is another factor which is of prime importance and that is relative price. It is the pressure of these factors of mechanical properties, physical characteristics, and relative price that has acted as the stimulus for the second method of combating corrosion. The producer and user of various metals is confronted with the fact that because of mechanical properties, physical characteristics, or price, the use of a particular metal is desirable even though the corrosion conditions are adverse to the use of the metal. In many cases, the successful use of the metal may be made even though it is impossible to protect the metal by coatings. This is rendered possible by control or modification of the corrosive media.

Jan 1, 1929

By H. W. Knott, M. H. Mueller, P. A. Beck

The rolling and recrystallization textures in 300°C rolled uranium sheet were investigated using a Geiger counter diffractometer with the modified Schulz reflection technique. Seven sections of sheet material were used in order to obtain sufficient data for quantitative pole figures by the reflection technique. A special integrating specimen table was used for obtaining and recording the data automatically. The rolling texture was described in terms of several "ideal orientations" in which the stronger orientations have either the (1103 or (010) poles in the vicinity of the rolling direction. The recrystallization texture of the sheet uranium was also described by several "ideal orientations" which are somewhat different, except in one case, than the as-rolled "ideal orientations." RESULTS of an X-ray study of the deformation texture in rolled uranium rods were reported by Harris' in which a concentration of (010) and (110) poles was found in the rolling direction. More recently Seymour," Mitchell 'and Rowland,3 and Adam and Stephenson4 reported results obtained on uranium sheet rolled under various conditions of tem- perature and amount of reduction. Since the results of Seymour as opposed to those of the two other groups of investigators are not in full agreement, it seemed justifiable to publish the present data, obtained concurrently with the previously mentioned investigations.'-' The results with rolled and re-crystallized uranium sheet were also included in the paper, since they appear to be more complete than the only previously published texture data on recrystallized sheeL3 In the present investigation great care was taken to maintain complete separation of the reflections from different crystal planes, even in cases where the 20 angles differed from each other by less than

Jan 1, 1956

By L. M. Howe, J. Gordon Parr, E. Saarema

THE decreasing solid solubility limit at the titanium-rich end of the Ti-Cu constitutional diagram,' Fig. 1, suggests the possibility that titanium-rich alloys may be age-hardenable. However, results obtained by Holden et al. reproduced in Fig. 2 show that after quenching from 790°C the age-hardening of an alloy containing 1.7 pet Cu is very slight, while a 0.8 pet alloy decreases in hardness, during heat treatment at 400°C. It was believed possible that powder samples of alloys might show different results from the lump samples used by Holden et al., since small particles are often more sensitive to diffusion processes than larger samples. Consequently, a 1.9 pet (by weight) Cu alloy was made by the technique of levitation melting," checked for homogeneity, and filings of 48-65 Tyler screen size were cut from it for aging experiments. The filings were helium-quenched (by a technique described previously)' from 790°C, sealed in vacuo in silica tubes and aged at temperatures of 400°, 450°, and 500°C. Microscopic and X-ray examinations failed to reveal any structural changes during the aging process. This is not too surprising since early stages of precipitation do not usually manifest themselves in ways that are readily detectable by metallographic methods, and the extent of precipitation on overaging a 1.9 pet alloy is very small. However, hardness readings (taken on a Bergs-man micro hardness tester, using a 25 g load applied to a diamond indenter) do show a hardness peak at each aging temperature, Fig. 3. About a dozen readings were taken on each heat treated sample; the highest reading and the lowest reading were ignored and an average taken of the remaining values. In

Jan 1, 1957

By H. T. Byck

The plastering properties of six representative California drilling muds were studied over a temperature range of 70 to 175 F. at several mud weights, using a high-pressure circulating filter press with full size consolidated cores. In all tests, with untreated as well as with chemically treated muds, the filtration rates at elevated temperature were higher than at low temperatures and in nearly every case this increased filtration rate was notably larger than could be attributed alone to the decreased viscosity of water—the flowing medium—at elevated temperatures. It is concluded that no existing method will permit even an approximate determination of the filtration rate at high temperature from data at room temperature. It is necessary to measure filtration at the temperature actually anticipated in the well, or to make a sufficient number of tests at various lower temperatures so that a small extrapolation of these data to the anticipated well temperature may be applied. Such tests should be carried out on the mud as actually used in the well. The viscosity of each of the muds was determined over the same temperature range. While no relationship was observed between mud viscosity and plastering properties, it was found that chemical treatment of the muds for viscosity reduction shifted the temperature of minimum viscosity to appreciably higher values than for untreated muds. Importance of Plastering Properties A survey of the literature on rotary drilling muds clearly shows the growing realization of the importance of plastering properties,'-5 not only from the point of view of the successful completion of the mechanical operation of drilling the well but also from the point of view of minimum impairment of the natural flow possibilities of a given well. Poor plastering properties with attendant high filtration rate (large water loss to the formation) and thick mud sheath, lead to stuck drill

Jan 1, 1940

By Robert Abbott

THE influence of various elements in retarding or accelerating the absorption of carbon during the process of carburization is fairly well known. In general those elements which forth carbides accelerate the absorption, while those which do not retard it. It has sometimes been wrongly stated that those elements which raise the temperature of the critical range increase the absorption, while those which lower this temperature decrease it. Silicon is a notable exception to this rule, for its influence is to raise the critical range but to lower the absorption of carbon. Some elements which do not form carbides have no apparent influence upon the absorption rate. Carbon itself retards the absorption rate. With a view to obtaining more exact data upon the subject the following experiments were undertaken : 208 steels of different chemical composition were selected to represent most of the types of modern constructional steels. Specimens 3 in. in diameter and in. in length were weighed to milligrams. They were then packed in the special carburizing box shown in Fig. 1, and kept in .the furnace for 10 hours at a temperature of 900° C. A duplicate experiment was conducted at 1,000° C. At equal' intervals of time the box was rotated in the furnace so that. two complete revolutions were made in the 10 hours. This precaution was taken to neutralize as much as possible any effect of unequal heating. At the end of the 10 hours the box was allowed to cool in the furnace with the doors open. The specimens were then weighed again and the increased weight (carbon) determined. In. the following table are given the analyses of the various steels, together with the. increased weight of .carbon expressed in milligrams.

Jan 10, 1913

By H. T. Byck

The plastering properties of six representative California drilling muds were studied over a temperature range of 70 to 175 F. at several mud weights, using a high-pressure circulating filter press with full size consolidated cores. In all tests, with untreated as well as with chemically treated muds, the filtration rates at elevated temperature were higher than at low temperatures and in nearly every case this increased filtration rate was notably larger than could be attributed alone to the decreased viscosity of water—the flowing medium—at elevated temperatures. It is concluded that no existing method will permit even an approximate determination of the filtration rate at high temperature from data at room temperature. It is necessary to measure filtration at the temperature actually anticipated in the well, or to make a sufficient number of tests at various lower temperatures so that a small extrapolation of these data to the anticipated well temperature may be applied. Such tests should be carried out on the mud as actually used in the well. The viscosity of each of the muds was determined over the same temperature range. While no relationship was observed between mud viscosity and plastering properties, it was found that chemical treatment of the muds for viscosity reduction shifted the temperature of minimum viscosity to appreciably higher values than for untreated muds. Importance of Plastering Properties A survey of the literature on rotary drilling muds clearly shows the growing realization of the importance of plastering properties,'-5 not only from the point of view of the successful completion of the mechanical operation of drilling the well but also from the point of view of minimum impairment of the natural flow possibilities of a given well. Poor plastering properties with attendant high filtration rate (large water loss to the formation) and thick mud sheath, lead to stuck drill

Jan 1, 1940

By Howard Scott

THE GREAT advances made in mechanical engineering during recent years through the use of alloy steels, as illustrated by the development of the airplane and automobile, may be ascribed primarily to the application of nickel as an alloying element. The ternary system iron-carbon-nickel has a wide industrial application and forms, further; the fundamental basis of the even greater class of the widely used quarternary steels such as nickel-chromium, nickel-silicon, and nickel-vanadium. As is not uncommon with such cases of virile growth in an industry, the application of the alloy steel in a largely empirical manner has outstripped its scientific development so that a fertile field for metallographic research still remains. In this field, the basic nickel steels require first consideration and are the subject of the present investigation, which is offered as a preliminary to the study of the more complex alloys of industrial importance. Of the principal tools of metallography-microscopic examination, determination of -mechanical properties, and thermal analysis-the last has developed much more slowly in its application to industrial needs so that the situation often exists that heat treatment operations are based on empirically determined temperatures; that is, temperatures determined without regard to the actual transformation characteristics of the alloy. This situation is undesirable as there is no uniform standard for comparison of results. It is due, outside the usual difficulties involved in temperature measurements, to the pioneer character- of much of the published work; to the lack of definiteness of the Ac2 transformation,1 particularly in low-carbon steels; to the failure to define operating conditions completely; and to the paucity of information correlating thermal characteristics with results of heat treatment.

Jan 2, 1920

By George Rice

VENTILATION of underground workings to fur-nish air of good quality to workers is now the accepted practice for all kinds of mining; but in coal mining it is also a requirement vital for safety to have systematic coursing of the air to all parts of a mine so that fire damp can be diluted and carried away. These two basic needs are recognized in the codes of every country or State where coal is mined, and each has its own system of ventilation requirements. With the same fundamental requirements, varying in degree but not in kind, the surprising thing is that these and other features of regulatory codes should vary so-wide-ly that their provisions on the same subject bear hardly any resemblance to one another. This was strikingly brought out in the paper given before this institute in 1926, on "State Coal-Mining Laws Concerning Ventila-tion1. The explanation ordinarily is that the geologic forma-tions and the mining conditions and methods differ in the various coal fields. Although that is true, in most countries and States the variations in the differ-ent mining districts within each country or state vary widely, and the respective codes must be made to apply by special provisions to meet the variations in thickness of coal, depth,. dip, character of roof, and presence or absence of gas. Evidently the great diversity in codes is due to the method of formulating them. Some are prepared by political commissions in which partisan interests are a factor; others originated in the early days of mining with meager outlines and were so amended by legisla-tive acts or administrative orders from year to year as to become complicated and ambiguous, and pro-visions in different parts of a single law are often contradictory. Such laws have therefore been difficult to interpret and to enforce adequately.

Jan 5, 1928

By Eugene A. Stephenson

Critical analyses of the work expended in producing oil by the utilization of gas energy have appeared in the publications of Shaw,' Pierce and LewisI2 and Herold,3 authors who have ably discussed the factors which must be taken into consideration in comparing energy consumed per barrel in various wells which are flowed by means of gas-lift. However, two distinct phases of oil production are concerned with the ratio of gas energy consumed to oil produced. One of these phases is the gas-lift, which utilizes the differential gas pressures for the purpose of flowing oil, whether these pressures be natural reservoir pressures or be induced by artificial compression of gas or air. The other phase has to do with prorating oil production in pools which are operated either as units, or are subject to such restrictions as those imposed at Oklahoma City by the Corporation Commission, or by similar controlling groups in other fields. An abundance of literature is available relative to the problems of flowing wells by gas-lift, but the first suggestion that the energy of the gas within the oil and gas pool might serve as a basis for proration, appeared in the timely article by Mc Williams.4 Much of the dissatisfaction with proration in certain fields arises because some operators feel that besides the hazard to the wells which accompanies the test, the method of allocating production on the basis of the " potential" gage is inequitable and gives some operators a distinct advantage over others.5 The most severe penalty may be exacted from the most progressive operators or those who attempt to produce their oil with a minimum quantity of reservoir gas. If no difficulties ever developed in drilling, shutting off water, or in well completion, it might

Jan 1, 1931

By W. H. Craigue

THE scope of this article covers only the mathematical principles involved in discounting to present worth future expected profits and it is believed answers definitely two questions, which were raised at a recent meeting of the Committee on Methods of Valuing Coal Properties, as follows: 1. The accumulative effect of carrying charges on the value of coal mines showing definitely the number of years beyond which the coal may not be mined at a profit and subsequent to which the possession of any unmined coal will be a liability rather than an asset. 2. The effect on the valuation of coal mines, in the presence of the carrying charges described in question 1, of an increase in plant capacity and production. In general, in considering these questions, it may be stated that the consideration of an increase in plant capacity and production follows as a matter of course after a determination has been made of the year beyond which no profits are to be realized (giving the carrying. charges accumulative effect, or in other words capitalizing the carrying charges, as shown hereinafter). For example, if it is determined that any coal that is unmined after 45 years will have no value or less than no value, the question immediately arises as to whether or not a plant should be constructed that would result in a yearly production great enough to extract the entire tonnage in a time less than 45 years, and if so the number 'of years less than 45 years that would, from a financial stand-point, be the most desirable, all under the assumption that the market for the product or the transportation facilities are such that the yearly production can be increased to the desired amount.

Jan 1, 1933

William B. Phillips, Birmingham, Ala.: The analysis of Pratt coal made by myself, and given by Mr. Ormsbee in his paper (p. 113), is likely to mislead the reader as to the real nature of this coal. It represents the very purest coal that I have been able to get, and does not represent the average composition of the lump-coal as prepared for market. I wish it were true that the coal had no more than 2.50 ash and 0.83 sulphur. The analysis of McCalley is nearer the real figures than any of the others. There is no use in giving an

Jan 1, 1896

Most of the early coal production in Tennessee was for iron-making, and here, contrary to the usual custom, coal was used in the early furnaces before charcoal was. There was no salt industry of any volume. A considerable quantity of the coal used in the state before the Civil War was brought down the Cumberland River from eastern Kentucky, and both Pittsburgh coal and coal from the river mines in Kentucky was brought up the Tennessee River. The Memphis market was supplied almost entirely by river from Pittsburgh seam mines until the end of the period. The available data did not permit the production by counties to be estimated. [ ]

Jan 1, 1942

The sixty-fifth Congress created a commission on classification and standardization of wages of Government employees consisting of three members of the Senate and three ex-members of the House of Representatives: The Chairman of the National Service Committee has been notified orally by the Vice-chairman that when said Commission reaches the consideration of engineers' salaries in the Government service, request will be made for assistance of Engineering Council. As it is probable that this request will be received prior to the June meeting of Council, it is recommended that action be authorized concerning the appointment of a suitable committee of Council to undertake this work.

Jan 6, 1919

RECENTLY seven Boy Scouts were chosen from all the troops in the United States for their all-around ability, excellence in' scouting, and special ability as writers. Two of the members of this selected group were sons of In-stitute members. In the accompanying illustration, Ber-nard Queneau, son of A. L. J. Queneau, of the U. S. Steel. Corp., can be seen at the extreme left, just behind Theo-dore Roosevelt, who is shaking hands with the boy next to. Carl Zapffe (standing in the middle with his hands behind him), the son of Carl Zapffe, manager of the iron ore prop-erties of the Northern Pacific Railroad.

Jan 6, 1928

LEHIGH UNIVERSITY On April 25, the Mining and Geological Society of Lehigh University held a meeting and elected. the following officers for the college year 1918-1919: C. S. SCHUBERT, President, C. G. GILMAN, Vice-president, H. TSAI, Secretary, E. D. HOLLINSHEAD, Treasurer, C. N. TOMLINSON, A. A. KORVES, Curators. After a short business meeting the Society was favored by three interesting and instructive talks. Mr. C. A. Bonine spoke on the "U. S. Geological Survey" and showed a number of beautiful lantern slides; Mr. R. Rosenbaum read a paper on "Geodes;" and Prof. B. L. Miller presented a brief discussion on "War Minerals." H. TSAI, Secretary.

Jan 7, 1918

By William B. Plank

STATISTICS just released by the American Society for Engineering Education and given in the table, show that the total current enrollment of 200,227 in the 220 engineering schools of the U. S. and Canada represents a gain of 9.8 pct over a year ago, while the mineral engineering enrollment in the U. S. of 9826 shows a gain of only 4 pct in that field. The spurt in the mineral group shown last year is thus slowed down to less than one half of that in the whole engineering student body. Last year, it was growing more rapidly than the whole engineering group.

Jan 5, 1954

(Members are urged to send in for this column any notes of interest concerning themselves or their fellow-members.) Members who registered at Institute headquarters during June: Ralph H. Sweetser, Columbus, Ohio. O. M. Bilharz, Rivermines, Mo. Etienne A. Ritter, Colorado Springs. Colo. Joseph A. Holmes, Washington, D. C. Dwight E. Woodbridge, Duluth, Minn. Francis Church Lincoln, Urbana, III. Arthur Chippendale, Mexico City, Mex. William E. Saunders, Philadelphia, Pa. E. T. Miller, Louisville, Ky. E. P. Ross, Johnson City, Tenn. Jesse Scobey, Denver, Colo. H. M. Boylston, Cambridge, Mass. Charles Rhodes, Auckland, N. Z. Edward Keller, Perth Amboy, N. J. John W. Finch, Denver, Colo. F. G. Cottrell, San Francisco, Cal.

Jan 7, 1913

By John V. Beall

IKE'S amiable expression and apparent sincerity impressed AIME members as did the theme of his talk. Cautioning against the gradually increasing power of the federal government, he said: . . . "freedom as we know it is in no greater danger from without than it is from our own lack of understanding of this creeping paralysis from within." Next February, it will be three years since he uttered these words at Annual Meeting welcoming ceremonies, but the theme was oft repeated in his winning campaign. This brush with the exalted, brief though it was, makes Washington look friendlier to many AIME members than it has for years.

Jan 1, 1953

By C. P. Kempter

AS part of a continuing program of liquid metals research, the densities of liquid lead, tin, zinc, cadmium, and indium have been measured by a pycnometric method. The pycnometers are made of high-density graphite to the design illustrated in Fig. l(a). In pursuing this research program, emphasis has been placed on detailed experimental care. As a result, claims are made for densities accurate to within ± 0.05 pct over temperature ranges varying from about 100± to 200°C above the melting point. A paper reporting the densities of tin, lead, and Pn-Sn alloys has recently been published,' while papers dealing with

Jan 1, 1969