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By John E. Sherborne

Much valuable scientific research has been performed in recent years on the subject of phase behavior of hydrocarbons.l-11 Engineers employed in petroleum production are interesting themselves in this work as well as in methods of applying the fundamental data available to the solution of their various problems. Recently a number of papers have been published in which applications of phase behavior have been made to specific cases pertaining to critical phenomena.l2-16 Little effort, however, has been made in the literature to show the relation between changes occurring in the critical region and the more common phase behavior, therefore it is believed that a presentation of the fundamentals of phase behavior with reference to hydrocarbons is timely. Study of phase behavior is not new. In the metallurgical field, knowledge of heterogeneous equilibria has advanced tremendously, particularly with reference to solid-solid and solid-liquid behavior. Much is known about vapor-liquid equilibria too, but few engineers are familiar with this subject. Definition of Terms In a discussion of this sort, a definition of terms used is most important. Such terms as "pressure," "temperature" and "volume" need little definition other than mention of the units in which they are considered. Pressure is expressed in pounds per square inch absolute. Temperature is usually expressed as degrees Fahrenheit or degrees Rankine. In considering thermodynamic and phase behavior, the use of the absolute, Rankine, scale is desirable. Volume is expressed as specific volume, such as cubic feet per pound. This will be recognized as the reciprocal of the specific weight. In considering systems composed of more than one component, it is sometimes desirable to consider molal

Jan 1, 1940

By W. B. Hincke, C. G. Maier

Commercial processes of lead softening directly involve the behavior on fusion of mixtures of the oxides of antimony and lead, and the vapor pressures of these materials. Practically no quantitative data have been available for the discussion of lead softening from the point of view of the fundamental metallurgy of the process. The Pacific Experiment Station of the United States Bureau of Mines, in cooperation with the University of California, in the course of its program of study of the fundamental properties of oxides and sulfides, recently made vapor pressure measurements upon the various forms of pure antimony trioxide.1 When these measurements were considered in connection with the softening and "fuming" furnaces which are often used for lead purification, an unexpectedly anomalous condition appeared. In brief, this anomaly consisted in the fact that in certain softening furnaces, where lead bullion of approximately 1 per cent antimony content was being treated at a temperature of approximately 1300" F., no appreciable volatilization of antimony occurred, there being produced only a "skim" containing from 15 to 20 per cent Sb, 65 to 60 per cent Pb, as mixed oxides. In the "fuming furnaces," where the temperature was only about 1400" F. and where an accumulation of "skims" from the primary softener was being treated with certain other antimony-containing materials, a considerable volatilization of antimony as oxide occurred; an "impure" skim of some 60 to 65 per cent Sb and 10 per cent Pb was also produced as mixed oxides. The latter material cannot be suitably treated in hearth-type or softener furnaces. The essential chemical difference between the first and second step is the customary use of some reducing material (such as petroleum coke) in the later operation. An obvious interpretation of the effect of coke in facilitating the fuming of the antimony is the supposition that the antimony may be reduced to metal, and volatilized as such. This supposition is improbable, however, when it is realized that a slight extrapolation of the vapor-

Jan 1, 1932

By Wilbur Nelson

IN 1839,1 Gerard, Troost, the first, State Geologist of Tennessee, reported the occurrence of zinc ores in East Tennessee, in connection with the iron ores at Embreeville; in 1844,2 he refers to the zinc deposits of East Tennessee, especially the apparently rich deposits occurring, in Jefferson and Claiborne Counties, while his ninth annual report is a ,description of the zinc deposits of Jefferson County and a description of the most improved processes by which zinc is extracted from its ores. Although. Tennessee has long known of the occurrence of its zinc deposits and has recognized their value, only during the last few years have these ores been successfully worked. As far as can be learned, prior to the systematic development of the Mascot district in 1911, no large-scale or successful operation of any of the zinc deposits was carried on. But in that year, after several companies had made considerable progress in developing the Mascot area and had proved. a relatively extensive body of low-grade sulfide ore, the American Zinc Co. entered the field. It introduced modern methods of prospecting and mining the ore and from the first was successful. Too great credit cannot be given this company for its pioneer work in a previously unimportant field. Throughout the history of its operations, the American Zinc Co. has confined its efforts to underground mining of the sulfide ore, sphalerite. This company has found that successful results in zinc mining in East Tennessee can be achieved only by expending large sums in prospecting and blocking out bodies of pay ore in sufficient magnitude for large-scale operations. At Mascot are located the mines of the American Zinc Co. of Tennessee, the mines being situated along the Southern Railway in the Holston River Valley, Knox County, about 13 miles northeast of Knoxville. Considerable mining and prospecting had been done by several companies prior to the acquisition of this property by the, American Zinc Co. Previous to 1900 only open pits, which were worked for oxidized ores, were operated. and the production was small. In 1900 the

Jan 10, 1924

By Shiou-Chuan Sun, R. F. Wesner, J. D. Morgan

FOR successful electrostatic separation, the behavior of the component minerals of the tested ore under various conditions should be known. In the course of investigation, it was found that these are difficult to measure accurately by the presently available methods. The method used by Johnson1 is handicapped by the fact that particles in the extreme front and rear end of the falling stream are difficult to control or observe accurately. Furthermore, this method is not applicable when the tested sample consists of more than one mineral. The deflection method, as reported by Fraas,' is inadequate to show the differential amounts of mineral particles deposited at the various horizontal positions under the grounded roll of the separator. This weakness is further noted when the tested sample contains more than one mineral. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new method capable of measuring the behavior of mineral particles under various conditions, and of defining the optimum condition for separation. The main factors which influence the behavior of mineral particles in electrostatic separation are also described. dividing gauge and the two attached collecting chutes of a Johnson separator.~ This distribution analyzer consists of sixty or more 1.0-cm wide cells as shown in part in fig. 1; it has been fully described in a previous article." Except where otherwise stated, the testing procedure used in this paper is as follows: (a) calculate the weight of feed for a l-min run at a constant feed rate of one layer of closely packed particles falling on the grounded roll; (b) weigh and dry the feed at 100°C for 12 hr; (c) place the top of the distribution analyzer level 4 cm below the bottom of the grounded roll, so that the cells are longitudinally parallel to the grounded roll and the zero edge of a suitable cell is directly under the front vertical tangent to the grounded roll (see fig. 1); (d) with the charged roll at a negative potential of 15.5 kv, the dry hot sample is introduced into the feed chute at a constant feed rate; and (e)

Jan 1, 1951

By J. W. Powell

A Federal statute, enacted several years since, provides for the preparation of a geologic map of the United States. There are three requisites for a geologic map. The first is a suitable base- or surface-map upon which the rock-formations may be platted by means of conventions ; the second is a classification of the rocks and formations, and the third is a system of conventions by which the rocks and formations may be represented on the map. When the work of the Federal bureau created to prepare the geologic map was commenced, a topographic survey of the country was undertaken for the purpose of making maps suitable for the use of geologists in the field and for the representation of the geology; and this work has ever since been continued. The surveys have now extended over about one-fifth of the national domain, and are mapped on a series of atlas-sheets, each constituting a section of the great map of the United States. About 700 of these atlas-sheets are completed. They are in extended use among engineers, miners, prospectors, map-publishers and educators, and are thus widely known; moreover, these base-maps have been exhibited, described and discussed at meetings of the Institute, and thus do not require detailed consideration. Classification of Bocks and Formations. Modern classification is designed to express natural relation. In the beginning of observational science, or natural science, objects were discriminated and grouped by differences and resemblances; but at first the differences and resemblances recognized in the classification were external, even superficia1,'and often confined to single features. Later, groups of features and characteristics, both external and internal, were recognized as the basis of classification ; and of recent years, throughout the entire domain of biology, and to a considerable extent in the kindred sciences, classification is based not

Jan 1, 1893

By Frank Riddle

THE life of thermocouples is governed, to a large extent, by the protection they receive when in use; particularly when the temperatures being measured are high and the products of combustion are reducing in character. Several types of protection tubes are being used for this work; they are made of ordinary and aluminous porcelain, fused quartz, carborundum, fused alumina, fireclay, and some kinds of metal. All of them may render good service under certain conditions but they must be used for the purpose for which they are intended. For example, fused-quartz tubes are very good when excessive changes in temperature occur, but under certain conditions they will crystallize and lose their strength. Porcelain is used in several ways in connection with the use of thermocouples: for insulating the two wires of the couple and to. prevent short circuits; for protecting the entire couple in a refractory gas-tight tube, which is ordinarily fastened to and is considered part of a properly equipped thermocouple; and for protecting the complete thermocouple from the possibility of physical injury and to support it. This tube is made porous and strong and is ordinarily built right into the wall or crown of the furnace, as the case may be. The insulating tubes must be small and sufficiently refractory to withstand the temperatures at which they are to be used. The length of the tubes, porosity of the material from which they are made, etc. does not particularly matter. The tubes are sometimes made with two or even four holes, the latter being used where it is desirable to have two couples as close together as possible for calibration work. The thermocouple protection tube must be of proper size to permit the thermoelements and insulating tubes to be inserted or taken out easily. It must be porous enough to withstand sudden changes in temperature and yet gas-tight, as well as refractory enough to withstand the furnace temperature, even if the tube protrudes into the furnace in a horizontal position without support for a reasonable distance. If the

Jan 9, 1919

Mining examinations are of several kinds and the scope of the investigation depends in each case upon the purpose for which the examination is made. A formal examination of a developed mine is an expensive undertaking; from one to several months are allowed for the work according to the size of the property; many samples are taken; investigation is made of the geological features, including, perhaps, a topographical and geological survey of the surface; the metallurgical treatment of the ore is studied; finally, a determination of costs is demanded. Formal examinations are made for prospective purchasers or as a basis for the consolidation of several properties, and occasionally, in the owner's behalf, to verify the work of resident engineers, or to determine the readiness of a mine for equipment and the kind and capacity of equipment it shall receive. A formal examination of a mine should not be undertaken until a preliminary examination has shown that it is justified. It is regrettable that some engineers are in the habit of prosecuting long and exhaustive examinations of properties whose lack of merit should be, and perhaps is, apparent from the start, or of continuing their investigation long after an unfavorable result is seen to be inevitable. This wasting of a client's money is a species of trickery difficult to prove, and therefore the more contemptible. Preliminary examinations are precisely what the term implies, and are undertaken to determine the advisability of making

Jan 1, 1932

By Andrew L. Mular, K. K. Humphreys

Introduction Estimates performed on potential future plants must by their very nature be either order-of-magnitude or budget (preliminary) estimates. Of the three types of estimates recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Standard Z94.2), order-of-magnitude and budget estimates are the least accurate. Order-of-magnitude estimates have an expected accuracy of plus 50 percent to minus 30 percent. In other words, it is anticipated that actual project cost will be no more than 50 percent above the estimate and no less than 30 percent below the estimate. Budget estimates, or preliminary estimates as they are often called, have an expected accuracy of plus 30 percent to minus 15 percent. The reason that greater accuracy cannot be expected in performing estimates on proposed new facilities is simply that insufficient data is generally available to permit performance of a highly accurate estimate. As stated in ANSI Standard Z94.2, a definitive estimate, i.e., an estimate with an expected accuracy of plus 15 percent to minus 5 percent," . . is an estimate prepared from very defined engineering data . . . (including). . .as a minimum, fairly complete plot plans and elevations, piping and instrument diagrams, one line electrical diagrams, equipment data sheets and quotations, structural sketches, soil data and sketches of major foundations, building sketches and a complete set of specifications." In other words, the engineering of the project must be fairly well underway to permit a definitive estimate to be performed. Such is the case only after the construction decision has been made, all potential alternatives evaluated, and major expenditures committed for a particular course of action. This situation is beyond the scope of this chapter. The chapter is directed to comparison of various technological alternatives for which site specific engineering data is not generally available. Accordingly, such comparisons can be made only by utilizing preliminary or order-of-magnitude estimating techniques.

Jan 1, 1982

By W. F. Vietti

Operations in the Texas Gulf Coast during the past year have resulted in the discovery of a number of new fields arid the extension of a few of the older fields, both by deeper drilling and by lateral development. Twenty-six new oil and gas-producing areas and discovery of oil or gas in three subsequently abandoned wells have been recorded for a total of 29 new fields of varying importance. Producing areas at Conroe, Manvel, Greta, Pierce Junction, Hastings, Dirks, Thompson, Batson, Mykawa, Tomball, Raccoon Bend, Samfordyce arid Saxct have been increased. Primary geologic studies followed by geophysical mapping or straight geophysical prospects have been responsible for the more important discoveries. These methods have further proved themselves an aid to limiting wildcatting to the more prospective areas and as the chief means to discover reserves in the future. Production for 1935 totaled 69,560,720 bbl. as compared with 60,850,-360 bbl. for 1934. Strict proration has been in force throughout the discovery of more oil than has been produced. The number of producing oil wells has steadily increased to 4851 at the end of 1935, as compared with 3858 at the end of 1934, owing in part to the prolonged life, because of proration. There were 1272 oil and gas wells completed during 1935, as against 835 in 1934. New Fields Pertinent data on the new fields discovered during 1935 are includrd in Tables 1 and 2. Hence, the discussion of these discoveries will be limited. Bee County.—Three new gas fields were added during the year: Beeville, discovered by G. M. Church in No. 1 Wood on Sept. 21; Foley, discovered by Dirks Bros. in No. 1 Foley on Feb. 8; and Plummer, discovered by Hynes and Fisher in No. 1 T. M. Plummer on Sept. 2. The three new oil fields added are: Hartzendorf, drilled on fee land by Hartzendorf and completed on May 17 as a small pumper; Ray, southwest of Tuleta, and discovered by Jameson and Burns in No. 1 Campbell

Jan 1, 1936

By T. Egleston

I HAVE to announce with great regret that our distinguished honorary member, Louis Gruner, died in Paris in March last. The Institute, in his death, has lost one of the first as well as one of the greatest of its honorary members. I speak with great feeling, as he was both my instructor and my friend ; and I am sure that if he could hear what I am about to say of him, lie would object to it. Mr. Gruner's modesty was such as even to prevent, except in his own Corps, the thorough appreciation of his work in his own country. I think be mas better appreciated by those who are familiar with his labor in almost any other country than his own. A just man, a thorough scholar, a great investigator, he was so unselfish that almost the last act of his life, and the last letter he signed, only a few hours before his death, had for its ohject to render a service to one of his former pupils. I think no one who mas ever associated with him could forget, in the greatness of his learning, the sincere and earnest friend, mho was always ready to render a service, where such service could be rendered even at great inconvenience to limself. His own motto, "Sein, nieht schein;" that is, "Be, not appear to be," was singularly descriptive of his character; and, what is more than all, he was one of the most earnest Christian men with whom it has ever been mv. good fortune to be thrown in contact. There are few such men. He was one of the greatest metallurgists that Europe has ever produced; a man the more remarkable because, though known to most of us as a metallnrgist, some of the best work of his life was in the domain of geology to which he contributed very important researches and memoirs, which will remain permanently among the valuable additions to the geology of his own country. He was, at the same time that he was the greatest metallurgist in Europe, a brilliant chemist, a thorough geologist, a distinguished professor, and an expert, practical miner, whose advice and methods had only only to be known to be followed. Mr. Gruner was born in Smitzerland in 1809, and graduated from the Polytechnic School of Paris in 1530 and entered the School of Mines, from which he graduated with distinction in the Corps of Government Engineers of Mines at an early age, and was immedi-

Jan 1, 1884

By O. C. Ralston

Flotation is now commonly practiced in alkaline ore pulps, yet little is known regarding the action of the alkaline solutions on the ore particles beyond the fact that films of oxidized material form. We wish to chronicle our discovery of the presence of soluble reducing agents in alkaline ore pulps of the United Verde, and present some data on lime consumption. During the grinding and flotation of a pyritic ore containing small amounts of ferrous sulfate and other soluble salts, an excess of lime was added to precipitate the salts, and filtered samples of the solution were titrated with standard permanganate solution. Even in pulps of high causticity an appreciable permanganate titration was always obtained, in spite of the fact that the solutions were shown to contain little iron. Investigation of the cause brought about the discovery of several previously unsuspected compounds in flotation pulps made from pyritic ore. Not only the reducing agents present had to be identified, but also the amount of dissolved oxygen, and a survey was finally made of the free oxygen content and reducing agents of the mill pulp in the concentrating mill at Clarkdale. A great many compounds might form, caused by oxidation of pyrite or other metal sulfides or by reaction between a lime solution and pyrite. The most probable compounds considered were calcium sulfides, polysul-fides, thiosulfates, and polythionates. Later it was discovered in the literature that in alkaline pulp polythionates do not exist and if introduced are decomposed into sulfites and thiosu1fates.l Any precipitated sulfur is changed by alkali into thiosulfate and polysulfide. Sulfites and sulfides react to form thiosulfate, so that in the end it is possible to have in an alkaline solution only thiosulfate and an excess either of sulfide or sulfite. Confirmatory tests were made and it was finally established that the alkaline mill pulps made from the United Verde ore contained

Jan 1, 1930

By John Furness Park

The mining district is located in the northeasterly part of Nevada, between the Jarbidge River on the west and the East Fork of the Jarbidge on the east. The northern boundary of the district is but a few miles south of the Idaho state line—the gold-bearing area extending from this point south, for 5 or 6 miles. • The Jarbidge Mountains, in which the ore deposits occur, range from 5000 to 11,000 ft. in elevation, the most important mines being situated about 7000 ft. or higher. The town of Jarbidge lies along the Jarbidge River and is reached by stage from Rogerson, Ida., the nearest railroad point. During the summer months, the camp may be entered from the south by way of Deeth, Nev., but no regular transportation facilities are available over this route. History The mineral deposits were not discovered until 1909, when D. A. Bourne, panning along the river bank, found gold in. the gravel at the mouth of a small stream flowing into the Jarbidge. He prospected in the vicinity of this stream, later known as Bourne Gulch, and shortly after located the North Star claims. During the following spring and summer (1910), the camp of Jarbidge grew from nothing to a town of 2000 people and the hills surrounding it were practically all taken up by mining claims. Most of the work done during the first year or two consisted of trenching and open-cut prospecting. Tunneling was started on a number of claims and many veins were uncovered. Mills were built and operated on a few properties, notably the Pavlak and the North Star. These ran only a few months, however, when they were closed down because of extraction and financial difficulties. A period of development followed in which the majority of the present producing mines were opened. The Elkoro Mines Co. acquired a number of claims in 1915 and started work on the present mill in 1917. Since that time other properties have been taken over until this company is by far the largest operator in the district. Only one other company is now actively engaged in mining, the Bluster Mining & Milling Co., which has

Jan 1, 1925

By W. R. Ingalls

THE manufacture of zinc oxide directly from the ore is one of the most important contributions that America has made to the metallurgy of zinc. Heretofore, this has been clone chiefly for the production of zinc and zinc-lead pigments, and the method has been known as the Wetherill process. While that term may properly be applied to the process for pigment manufacture, it must be recognized that the principles of the process are of far wider application; and that there is going to be wider application in the immediate future is more than an expectation. I have in mind the use of the process as a method of igneous concentration. Igneous concentration is broader in its scope than the Wetherill process, for it may be done in the blast smelting furnace, or in the reverberatory, or by other means. Igneous concentration is a rather clumsy term, and I prefer to introduce the new generic expression of "zinc burning," which is convenient, readily understood and precise, for in all cases the zinc oxide is reduced to metallic form, is volatilized and is then burned to zinc oxide, the latter happening, however, after the zinc has been separated from the residue of the ore. As previously indicated, zinc burning may be done either in blast or reverberatory smelting, the gangue of the ore being scorified and drawn off as slag, while other metallic minerals are reduced to matte or metal. Such processes have heretofore been practised on fairly large scales. Thus, F. L. Bartlett smelted zinc ores at Canyon City, Colo., in specially designed blast furnaces, wherein the smelting column was only about 18 in. high. Such a limitation was necessary in order to prevent zinky accretions in the shaft of the furnace, which in course of time would have interfered with its operation. In running the Bartlett furnaces it was easy to bar them off, indeed, to poke right down into the smelting zone, and keep things going freely. Some iron blast furnaces in Virginia and the spiegeleisen furnaces of the New Jersey Zinc Co. afford other examples of zinc burning in blast-furnace smelting, although in their cases the happening is incidental rather than a primary purpose.

Jan 9, 1917

By Edgar Trask

EACH branch of engineering seems to depend on the cooperation and contribution of some other branches to enable it to produce more efficient methods and appliances for man to use. The purpose of this paper is to show approximately the gain in efficiency of self-propelled merchant ships when steel of greater elasticity is substituted for mild steel in some of the strength members and alu-minum alloy is substituted in some of the parts where strength is not essential. The new steel will have some greater strength and a much greater elastic limit in the as-rolled condition, and must be readily weld-able under ordinary conditions of shipbuilding. Naturally, its cost may be more than mild steel, but if the demand is great that excess cost may be reduced to an amount that will make its use more economical than that of the present mild steel. There appears to be a well defined axiom in engineering today that to use the least power to carry a given load the weight of the carrier must be reduced to a minimum. This minimum must be, of course, consistent with the necessary strength, rigidity and durability and it must not be attained at an excessive cost where the fixed charges of the carrier will exceed the savings in, operating the motive power. Recent railroad equipment is a notable example of this, and in these trains alloy steels and aluminum together with less weight per horsepower of the power plant are reducing the weight of the carrier and hence the total power required for moving the paying load. Before considering the application of these metals to shipbuilding, it is well to explain some of the fundamentals of ship design.

Jan 1, 1936

By A. S. Richardson

The design of mine airways receives, in general, very little engineering treatment. To a large extent this is, of course, due to the fact that information upon which to base calculations is seldom available in definite form. In many rnines the extent of the workable deposits may not be known at the time an air course is planned, and the length of service is indeterminable. Volume of air required for ventilation rnay also increase with extension of the life of a property, and natural obstacles, such as heavy ground, often place limitations upon the size of opening that can be maintained. Perhaps most of the shafts used in the ventilation of metal mines were originally intended as hoisting shafts, and many of the tunnels and crosscuts similarly used, were also designed as haulage ways or for other operating purposes. Even when a shaft is sunk solely for ventilation, custom usually dictates a size and shape consistent with the type commonly used for ordinary operations, because experience has demonstrated it can be excavated and maintained. In fact, most ventilation openings were never made with any consideration as to economic design for such use. When an air course is required to pass air between different parts of mine workings under a fixed pressure, the size of opening required for a given volume of flow, is, of course, determined by the resistance factor of the air course. It is then impossible to proportion the opening with reference to economics of power consumption, and this paper is limited to the design of openings where ventilation pressure or power consumption may he varied for economic advantage. As the size of an air course is increased, the expense involved in excavation and support is, of course, also increased, but the charge for power is decreased. In the case of a mine that has only a short assured operating life, it would not be ecouomical to provide large openings in order to reduce power bills; but when operations are likely to continue for a long time, the power charge becomes a very important economic factor. Although lack of definite information on such factors as service life and costs of excavation and support affects the design of an air course, it appears, from a mathematical analysis of the problem, that considerable variations may be made in estimating these factors, without greatly

Jan 1, 1927

By Lucien Eaton

The use of filling in mines is less common in the United States than it is in Europe, where in some places it is required by law. In most cases the filling is placed by hand, and the material used for this purpose is the waste from development and that sorted from the ore in the stopes. When these sources provide an insufficient supply, additional rock must be quarried on surface or mined underground, or some other material must be used. In different parts of the world sand, clay, gravel, culm, granulated slag, mill tailings, and even ashes, have been used as filling material in place of or in conjunction with rock. Of all the materials used for filling the best is probably clean sand. Gravel, finely crushed rock, granulated slag and coarse mill tailings are almost as good, and the methods used for placing and confining sand will apply equally well to any of these. The advantages of sand are its comparatively slight compressibility and the ease, economy and convenience with which it may be placed. On account of the voids, which necessarily occur in fills made of coarse waste, such fills will compress 10 to 25 per cent before they develop their full strength, whereas clean sand seldom compresses more than 5 per cent. Sand is especially desirable when practically complete filling is required, and sand derived from mill tailings, especially when not thoroughly cleaned, has been remarkably effective in sealing off and extinguishing mine fires. When natural sand is available on surface, or when it can be obtained from the mill tailings or tailings dump, the cost of using this material for fill will probably be considerably less than that of rock. In this paper it is not proposed to discuss all methods of filling, but to describe some of the methods used for placing sand fill and to make a brief comparison of their merits. Methods of Placing Sand Sand may be transported and placed underground by several methods, which may be classified as follows: 1. By Hand.—The sand, which must be comparatively dry, is taken down the shaft in cars on cages and is distributed to its destination in these cars, or it is dumped down raises and is drawn off and distributed by means of cars, wheelbarrows or scrapers.

Jan 1, 1932

By D. R. Walker, M. C. Shaw

The laws of Kick and Rittinger are explained as functions of particle size with metal cutting theory. Comminution is shown to be basically the same process as metal grinding. The machine shop type of grinding operation is used to study mineral crushing. Evidence indicates that plastic flow occurs in comminution. THE laws of comminution of Kick and Rittinger have been debated for many years. Certain data obtained from ball mill and drop tests are found to be in approximate agreement with Rittinger's law while other data would seem to support Kick's law. In all these tests the energy required to produce a wide variety of particle sizes has been studied. Surface area has also been measured with considerable difficulty, at first because it was thought that the energy associated with crushing was that required to create new surface, later because of precedent and because a more fundamental variable was unknown. Tests made with the machine shop type of grinding process show that normally brittle materials that are usually crushed can behave like the more ductile metals. Brittleness is then a relative prop- erty largely dependent on specimen size and stress state. The machine grinding operation offers a convenient means for studying the comminution of materials in which the important size variable retains its identity. The energy required to grind a certain volume of material is shown to be strongly dependent on size. Kick's law is found to hold very well for particles below 1 micron in size, while Rittinger's law holds approximately in the comminution of larger particles. While a physical origin of Kick's law is established in terms of the theoretical strength of materials having a perfect lattice structure, there is found to be no physical basis for Rittinger's law. Because of its industrial importance, comminution has commanded considerable technical attention and has been the subject of continuous study for nearly a century. A number of empirical rules have been proposed to make it possible for grinding energies to be predicted. Of these so-called laws of comminution those bearing the names of Kick and Rittinger have been most widely applied and debated.

Jan 1, 1955

Smoky Valley Mining Company, Round Mountain, Nevada, was the pioneer operation designed for large scale heap leaching of crushed gold ores. It is located in the Big Smoky Valley which stretches 160 km (100 miles) through central Nevada west of the Toiyabe Mountain Range. Gold was first-discovered at Round Mountain, 88 km (55 miles) north of Tonopah, in 1905; and mining in the area included placer operations, which ran from 1946 to about 1960. Smoky Valley Mining Company is a partnership of Felmont Oil Co., Case-Pomeroy & Co., and Copper Range Co., with the latter being wholly owned by Louisiana Land and Exploration Co. In 1969, an option on the Round Mountain property was acquired by Copper Range, and during 1974 a decision was reached to proceed with mine development and plant construction. Ore reserves were reported at 10,537,000 mt (1 1,617,000 st) of 2.09 g per mt (0. 061 oz per ton) gold using a cut- off grade of 0.69 g (0.02 oz). Silver content was approximately 2.4 g per mt (0.07 oz per ton) and the waste to ore ratio was about 1: 1. By the end of 1976 heap leaching was in operation. The ore is a rhyolite tuff, sometimes described as a gold porphyry with highly abrasive qualities but which does not break down into slimes upon contact .with cyanide solutions. Gold is unevenly distributed through the ore but as a whole it is in a very finely divided state. Climatic conditions are extreme in central Nevada. Summers are hot and dry while winters are windy and cold with subfreezing temperatures. Elevation of the property is about 1,920 m (6,300 ft). Precipitation averages 203 mm (8 in.) per year. Until February of 1980, leaching was continued until the temperature reached minus 2ºC (28º F), and about 10 months leaching was the average. Water for the operation is drawn from the Toiyabe Mountains through a 13. 7 km (8. 5 mile) pipeline, originally installed in 1915, or from wells in the valley bottom. The plant requires make-up water at the rate of about 1,500 liters per min (400 gpm). On a schedule of three shifts, seven days per week, the daily output at Round Mountain amounts ,to 12, 700 mt (14, 000 st) consisting of 6,350 mt (7,000 st) each of ore and waste. Ore is hauled with a fleet of 45 mt (50 st) trucks and dumped into the 1,0.70 by 1,650 mm (42 by 65 in. ) gyratory primary crusher located near the pit. The primary

Jan 1, 1981

By W. F. Vietti

Operations in the Texas Gulf Coast during the past year have resulted in the discovery of a number of new fields arid the extension of a few of the older fields, both by deeper drilling and by lateral development. Twenty-six new oil and gas-producing areas and discovery of oil or gas in three subsequently abandoned wells have been recorded for a total of 29 new fields of varying importance. Producing areas at Conroe, Manvel, Greta, Pierce Junction, Hastings, Dirks, Thompson, Batson, Mykawa, Tomball, Raccoon Bend, Samfordyce arid Saxct have been increased. Primary geologic studies followed by geophysical mapping or straight geophysical prospects have been responsible for the more important discoveries. These methods have further proved themselves an aid to limiting wildcatting to the more prospective areas and as the chief means to discover reserves in the future. Production for 1935 totaled 69,560,720 bbl. as compared with 60,850,-360 bbl. for 1934. Strict proration has been in force throughout the discovery of more oil than has been produced. The number of producing oil wells has steadily increased to 4851 at the end of 1935, as compared with 3858 at the end of 1934, owing in part to the prolonged life, because of proration. There were 1272 oil and gas wells completed during 1935, as against 835 in 1934. New Fields Pertinent data on the new fields discovered during 1935 are includrd in Tables 1 and 2. Hence, the discussion of these discoveries will be limited. Bee County.—Three new gas fields were added during the year: Beeville, discovered by G. M. Church in No. 1 Wood on Sept. 21; Foley, discovered by Dirks Bros. in No. 1 Foley on Feb. 8; and Plummer, discovered by Hynes and Fisher in No. 1 T. M. Plummer on Sept. 2. The three new oil fields added are: Hartzendorf, drilled on fee land by Hartzendorf and completed on May 17 as a small pumper; Ray, southwest of Tuleta, and discovered by Jameson and Burns in No. 1 Campbell

Jan 1, 1936

By Richard S. Culver

In spite of the widespread interest in rock bolt research, relatively little is known about the critical region surrounding the bolt anchor. In analyzing the stress distribution around an opening resulting from rock bolt support, it is commonly assumed that the bolt is fixed at a point far enough from the surface so that the anchor does not influence the performance of the bolt. Furthermore, a bolt anchor is assumed to per- form satisfactorily if it will hold the design load with a minimum amount of load relaxation, commonly called bleedoff. From the standpoint of the design engineer both of these assumptions are reasonable, but they ignore the fact that the extremely high stresses in the region of the anchor are capable of generating fractures in the rock. Lang1 estimated the bearing stresses for a slot and wedge anchor on a one-inch-diameter bolt to be as high as 125,000 psi. This paper describes a more thorough analysis of the magnitude of the stresses around the anchor and the nature of the potential fractures that might result. It should be emphasized that there are two types of anchor-associated fracturing which may occur. The more common form, particularly in soft rock, is severe localized crushing of the rock in the immediate vicinity of the anchor, which makes securing the anchor difficult and causes bleed- off. It is also possible to develop larger single fractures which propagate out from the anchor, affecting the strength of the entire rock mass. The formation of these larger fractures is of primary concern in this paper. In addition to estimating the contact stresses and pullout load for slot and wedge bolt anchors, Lang carried out an important study of rock bolt interaction which served as a basis for the experimental phase of this investigation. In the first phase of his tests, a plate of photoelastic plastic was compressed by a row of piano wire bolts, simulating the interaction of bolt stress fields to form a zone of uniform compression (Fig 1). To show the supporting effect of this beam, hr carried out another test series

Jan 1, 1968