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By A. M. Johnson

Dewatering is a major operational cost at some mines. Under certain conditions, costs associated with water disposal may continue beyond the productive bye of the mine. For mines with mineralized waters, this is of special concern. Since 1974 experience has been gained from examination of a number of closed underground metal mines that exhibited drainage problems. It was observed, in certain cases, that had appropriate steps been taken prior to closure, the resulting drainage problems could have been largely avoided. Reclosure steps would have involved alteration to the 'plumbing system" of the mines; i.e., the drifts and crosscuts interconnecting the mine workings. This could have best been accomplished by the placement of bulkheads and/or selective drifting. In addition to reconfirming that hindsight is 20-20, a lesson learned from these case studies shows that a relatively simple hydrologic evaluation prior to mine closure may avoid a troublesome and costly drainage problem.

Jan 1, 1985

By Milton E. Wadsworth

Hydrometallurgical processing of ore deposits by solution mining or in situ techniques requires the interfacing of technologies as diverse as hydrology, geology, chemistry, and rubblization. This synthesis represents one of the main challenges to in situ processing due to the inherent complexity and vocabulary of these well-developed technologies, and to the general lack of appreciation for the depth of knowledge and endeavor in each separate field. No better example of the need for such interfacing of technologies exists than that of solution mining. How well these technologies interface depends upon the size of the operation and its financial capability to use the information and technology available. It is inconceivable that any one individual can optimize each potential contribution alone; consequently, some areas are usually neglected or simply are not fully appreciated. When one examines what must be done at a future date to develop and exploit a remote solution mining system, it becomes obvious that each discipline must effectively communicate the needed background information to make the project a synthesized whole.

Jan 12, 1977

By Reynold Q. Shotts

Data are presented which show that fractions of varying densities from the same coals are oxidized at different rates by nitric acid. From oxidation data, the approximate quantity of "bright" and "dull" components may be calculated. Definite relationships between oxidation rate and rank are shown for density fractions from at least two bituminous coals.

Jan 8, 1950

By E. Alan Haley

Accurate and economic control of line and grade on long tunnels, large structures, excavations and waterways has been a problem to surveyors and engineers for decades. The conventional method of surveying, incorporating a level, transit and a number of surveying technicians, has proven to be a very expensive and time-consuming operation. Now, however, engineers have adapted the laser to help ease the problems of surveying, at the same time increasing the efficiency of such operations. The laser, which projects a continuous, narrow red beam of brilliant light, provides a constant alignment reference that does not interfere with personnel or equipment. A complete laser alignment system, specifically designed for and suited to a variety of mining and tunneling operations, has been developed by the Perkin-Elmer Corp. The engineering significance of this development can be fully realized when it is noted that, aside from potentially tremendous economic advantages in terms of labor savings, the laser beam provides a system of alignment that is at least ten times more accurate than presently used optical systems. The new laser system provides accuracies within 10 microinches per foot (1 x 10-5in.) when used with an accessory centering detector. In one of its first field trials, the laser was used for alignment of a two-mile tunnel which showed a total deviation of less than 5/8 in.

Jan 4, 1968

By Robert M. Abrams

The passage of an ore pulp through the froth flotation process results in the production, after dewatering, of a finely divided concentrate. This intermediate product must be handled to the subsequent process facilities via beit or other types of conveyors, hoppers, bins, chutes and feeders, and the like. Flotation concentrate has some difficult handling properties such as abrasiveness, sluggishness when moist, or fluidity when dry. These characteristics require the judicious selection or design of handling equipment and the careful engineering of transfer chutes. It is to the special problems which are encountered in this in-plant handling procedure that this paper is addressed. The methods which will be discussed have been developed primarily for the handling of the froth flotation concentrates of copper, lead, and taconite iron ores, but may be generalized, with appropriate modifications, to apply to other similar metallic concentrates. The controlled feeding of concentrates from bins and hoppers is covered along with some of the techniques used to transfer concentrates from one belt conveyor to another. Methods are described for unloading belt conveyors into bins or storage piles. The reclamation from storage piles is also treated.

Jan 1, 1979

E. E. BACH, Ellsworth, Pa.-A personal interview with a man is one factor in reducing labor turnover; his working conditions is another, while the conditions under which lie brings up his family is still another; all have much to do with the reduction of labor turnover. A man well placed, happy in his work and happy in his home, will stay put and incidentally decrease the labor turnover in any industry. C. R. HOOK, Middletown, Ohio.-I am so deeply and sincerely interested in the employment problem, that it is very difficult for me, once I get started, to know when to, stop. In the first place, I want you to understand that I realize that what may be a possible accomplishment in the plant with which I happen to be connected, may not be possible of accomplishment in the same way in your plant. Our problems might be quite different; our location might be quite different, and therefore our employment problem would be very much affected by the community conditions. Two of our plants happen to be located in a town of about

Jan 4, 1918

The performance of a two-horizon depletion-type reservoir produced through combination wells is analyzed. By introducing some simplifying approximations, it has been possible to obtain formulas which are easy to handle. Only ordinary differential equations are used, and the development of the analysis can be followed without difficulty by the non-specialist. A rigorous analysis has been made of this problem. It has been found that the approximations introduced in the simplified analysis are fully justified and that errors seldom will be more than 2 per cent. The report shows the effect of the rate of withdrawal upon the relative depletion of the two horizons. Numerical examples are given. INTRODUCTION In its simplest form an oil reservoir consists of a continuous, homogeneous body of porous and permeable rock, enclosed at the top and the bottom by impermeable material. The flow of fluid through such a reservoir has been the subject of numerous papers, and the mathematical analysis of well performance, pressure build-up, etc., has reached a high degree of refinement. One of the basic assump tions introduced into these analyses is the homogeneity of the reservoir. In non-homogeneous reservoirs, these computations still can be carried out satisfactorily, provided small irregularities in the physical properties of the rock are distributed in a random fashion. The flow equations are derived as solutions of the continuity equation, and their solutions are dependent upon the assumption of many constant factors in the reservoir: permeability to oil, compressibility of the reservoir fluid, viscosity saturation, etc. When these axe assumed to be constant, the continuity equation can be solved rigorously. When these assumptions do not hold and corrections are introduced, it becomes very difficult and often impossible to solve analytically. The present analysis is concerned with production from a two-layer depletion-type reservoir in which the layers have different permeabilities. Instead of using the continuity equation, results were derived from some simple physical ideas. In a single-layer reservoir in which the oil is at a pressure above the bubble point, the rate of production often has been assumed to be directly proportional to the pressure drawdown. In the simplified analysis it has also been assumed that the drop in average reservoir pressure is directly proportional with the cumulative withdrawal. These considerations in the past have been the basis of the analysis of reservoir performance and have been applied to a variety of problems, often with marked success. In the problem under investigation these relationships are shown to be compatible with the equation of continuity, but the approach has the advantage of leading to ordinary differential equations in which changes in constants can be introduced without making the analytical solution impossible. It has the additional advantage that it can be understood more readily by the large group of engineers who are not reservoir specialists. For that reason, detailed steps in the mathematical developments have been shown in full. SCOPE OF ANALYSIS The analysis in this paper has been applied to a two-layer depletion-type reservoir in which both horizons are produced simultaneously in the same well. Because of the difference in permeability, it is obvious that the depletion of the two zones will proceed at different rates. For various problems it may be of interest to know the degree of depletion of the two zones at any arbitrary time and to in-

An "international gold conference" was held at Spokane, Wash., on Sept. 5, 1918, under the auspices of the Northwest Mining Association, which was attended by a large number of engineers, mine operators, and bankers, representing the northwestern states, as well as Alaska and British Columbia. The principal subject under consideration was the doleful condition of the gold-mining industry, gripped between the diminished purchasing value of its product, and the increased cost of its operation. Two resolutions were adopted by the meeting. The first approved the resolution adopted Aug. 12 by the American Gold Conference, a permanent organization formed at Reno, Nev., in which it is stated that relief by the United States to the gold producers of this country should he made to correspond with the increased cost of production, the extent of the relief to be fixed from time to time to Meet changing conditions. The second resolution, adopted after serious and long-continued discussion, was introduced by F. A. Ross, mining engineer, of Spokane, and a member of the Institute, and was as follows: WHEREAS, it is now clearly understood and agreed by the allied nations that national gold reserves must be augmented without delay if rapidly expanding credits are to be secured; and WHEREAS, at this time, the production of gold is daily decreasing to an alarming extent because of well known conditions that, render the mining of gold-bearing ores unprofitable; and WHEREAS there is no way by which the mining of gold-bearing ores may be made profitable except by the direct' aid and influence of the government; and WHEREAS the government has appealed to the mining industry for practical information and practicable suggestions upon this subject; therefore, be it

Jan 10, 1918

By Harry R. Cedergren

Properly designed drainage systems can be of great benefit to many kinds of Civil Engineering works, including embankments, and often are the most economical way to protect such works from the damaging effects of water. To function properly, drains must be able to remove water without also removing soil or becoming clogged with soil or erodible rocks. The first criterion to be used in designing drainage systems, called the filter criterion, can prevent all such problems (erosion and clogging) when properly fulfilled in design and construction. The second requirement of drains is that they must be capable of removing all of the incoming water without the build-up of large amounts of head that can damage the protected works. To insure this kind of perfomance, the discharge capabilities of drains should always be verified by appropriate hydraulic and seepage calculations. This paper describes these two basic drain design criteria and also gives examples of application of seepage principles to the evaluation of the potential benefits of drains and to the design of drains for mine waste embankments.

Jan 1, 1985

By L. C. Brown, C. St. John, C. C. Sanderson

The diffusion rate in Cu-Te couples is very sensitive to compressive stress, with a load of 20 psi making a significant difference to the width of the diffusion zone. At zero stress, two phases appear in the diffusion zone (Cu4Te3 and CuTe). Under compressive loading the third stable phase (Cuz Te) also appears, and its thickness increases progressively with increasing stress. The results are explained on the basis of an incipient Kirkendall porosity which restricts the transfer of atoms from the copper into the diffusion zone. DURING a study of the Kirkendall effect in Cu-Te couples prepared by clamping together the two components, it was found that the diffusion-zone width and shape in the plane of contact were not reproducible. Although the stresses involved in clamping are not normally sufficiently high to affect diffusion rates, preliminary tests established that the Cu-Te system is particularly stress-sensitive. The phase diagram for the system Cu-Te given in Hanssen1 shows that there is practically no solid solubility at either end of the phase diagram. Many areas of the diagram are not fully substantiated, but there appear to be three intermediate phases: Cu,Te—hexagonal in structure, having a grey luster; Cu4Te3—a tetragonal defect structure, having a red-purple luster; CuTe—orthorhombic in structure and having a golden-green luster. The existence of a fourth phase, the X phase at 37 at. pct Te, is considered doubtful. The composition ranges of the three stable phases are small, and are not accurately known. The phase diagram changes little with temperature up to 305°C, at which temperature a polymorphic transformation takes place in Cu2Te. The nature of the Cu-Te phase diagram indicates that the diffusion zone in a Cu-Te couple would consist of a series of layers of intermediate phases. The relative thickness of any one phase will depend on its diffusion coefficient and composition range.' In this type of diffusion couple it is often found experimentally that some phases are not visible at all in the diffusion zone due either to a small diffusion coefficient or to a restricted composition range.3 Since the composition ranges of the phases in Cu-Te are not known, it is not possible to determine diffusion coefficients in this system from a knowledge of the phase thicknesses. Several investigations have been carried out to determine the effect of compressive stress on diffusion rates in multiphase systems. Diffusion couples of Ni-A1 have been investigated by Storchheim et al.4 and by Castleman and Seigle.5 Two phases (ß and ?) appear in the diffusion zone under zero stress and the thickness of both phases is progressively reduced with increasing stress. According to Storchheim et al.4 a stress of 25,000 psi reduces the thickness of the diffusion zone by 50 pct. In a-brass—?-brass couples the thickness of the 0 phase formed in the diffusion zone was reduced by 20 pct at a stress of 20,000 psi.6 In other investigations the compressive load has been observed to increase the width of the diffusion zone. In A1-U, several investigators3,8 have found the width of the whase UA13 to increase with stress. According to casileman,8 the rate of formation of UA13 at 520°C is 75 pct faster at a stress of 20,000 psi as compared with a stress of 2500 psi. In Cu-Sb the effect of stress is greater than in the other systems described. According to Heumann9,10 only one phase (y) appears in the diffusion zone at a stress of 500 psi, but at a stress of 850 psi two phases (y and k) are present. If a diffusion couple containing both y and k phases is annealed at a low stress level, the y phase grows at the expense of the k phase. EXPERIMENTAL The diffusion couples were prepared from electrolytic copper bar stock with a nominal purity of 99.92 pct and from tellurium of 99.7 pct purity. The tellurium proved difficult to machine because of its brittleness and a technique was developed for casting the tellurium into a graphite slab mold and spark-machining specimens from this slab. Both the copper and tellurium were produced in the form of discs 2 in. diam by approximately 1/4 in. thick with surfaces ground flat to 3/0 emery paper. The diffusion apparatus is shown in Fig. 1. Auni-axial compressive stress was applied to the system through a simple lever system. A stainless-steel rod actuated by the lever arm lay inside a stainless-steel tube. The diffusion couple lay on top of the steel rod, and pressure was applied to the couple between the rod and a plug welded into the center of the tube. To ensure a uniform stress across the couple, a hemispherical boss and cup were used to transmit the load to the diffusion couple. A 400-w tube furnace with a uniform hot zone 3 in. long slid around the stainless-steel tube and maintained the assembly at temperature. A thermocouple situated 3 in. from the specimen operated a proportional temperature controller which maintained the specimen temperature constant to ±2°C. Most diffusion runs were carried out at 250C although a few tests were made at other temperatures in the range 235° to 300°C. The specimens were inserted and removed with the furnace at operating temperature, and took only 2 min to reach diffusion temperature—a time small compared with the total diffusion time. All the diffusion experiments were carried out in a hydrogen atmosphere, since consistent results were obtained in hydrogen and nitrogen atmospheres and in

Jan 1, 1967

By H. W. Hardinge

Disregarding for the present the economic side of a new device, let us turn to that feature of the conical pebble-mill which is of interest from a scientific point of view, and consider the device as a puzzle in which the theories of the cylindrical type of mill have been increased. Many articles have been written on the theory of the tube-mill, and explanations have been made which do not explain ; but these have evolved suggestions of practice which have resulted in changes in the tube as to length, diameter, feed, discharge, speed of rotation, rotation on hollow trunnions, rotation on rings, and changes in the operation as to quantity and size of pebbles, charge of load above or below the axis, crushing by causing the larger pieces of the material of the charge to act as grinders, whether crushing is abrasive or impactive, etc. The practical worker in crushing. is first interested in the endeavor to reach an econonlic means of accomplishing a desired end; but the improvements in crushing-practice have been largely left to the manufacturer of machinery, who, as a rule, has little, if any, knowledge of the specific requirements— such as granulation, sizing for concentration without pulverizing the metals, instead of pulverizing the rock or gangue; the metals being the more friable, while the rock is tough and not so easily disintegrated. A reversal of this practice is the aim of sliming direct for cyanidation or pulverizing for cement, etc. In the ordinary cylindrical mill, having a diameter of 4 or

Jan 1, 1909

By K. D. Hester, A. C. Anderson

The Elliot Lake uranium deposits are contained in a pebble conglomerate which is similar throughout the basin. This paper compares the solid-liquid separation circuits of two nominal 3000 T/d acid leach uranium concentrates treating Elliot Lake ore. One concentrator employed rotary vacuum drum filtration for solids removal and washing, the .other used counter current decantation in torque arm thickeners. Capital and operating costs, operation and maintenance, and metallurgical performance of the two solution recovery methods are compared and contrasted. A recent development, removal of the sand fraction ahead of C.C.D. and separate sand washing in hydraulic cyclones, is also discussed.

Jan 1, 1973

By E. B. Mayo

David LeCount Evans (Consulting Petroleum and Mining Geologist, Wichita, Kans.)-—Not only E. B. Mayo but also W. C. Lacy, who apparently urged the preparation of this analysis, is to be commended. Regional thinking of this type is needed to assure future success in the never-ending search for new mineralized and petroliferous districts. As is usually the case, here is a regional study that will be read by the mining geologist alone. It is ironic that several of the trends established in this study have suggested themselves in northern mid-continent, detailed, and regional studies. These, where established, have offered new keys to petroleum exploration and have provided a possible basis for unraveling a number of broad generalities. The oil geologists, active in Colorado, Kansas, and Oklahoma, would find much food for thought in Mr. Mayo's projections. To be more specific: 1) The parallelism between E. B. Mayo's Texas Lineament and the Amarillo Uplift, the Wichita Complex and the Arbuckle Complex of the Texas Panhandle and Southern Oklahoma is viewed with interest and appears especially significant when compared with the similar northwest trend of the Central Kansas Uplift, a major trend of production. 2) Considering the various northeast zones of Fig. 2, and with particular reference to Mayo's C-C, the Jemez Zone is on direct line with one of several northeast-southwest controls which the present writer has been using with some success in Kansas subsurface correlations. Considering zones of shearing, with no apparent vertical displacement, but suggesting strike-slip movement, because of the staggered effect on other features which cross such trends, Mayo's philosophy presents regional possibilities for lines of weakness, considered to this time of only local significance. 3) And, finally, in an area as distant from the Southwest as central Kansas, the north-south trends of the Fiarport-Ruggles anticline, the Voshel-Hol-low Nikkel-Burrton structures, the Dayton to Stut-gart trend, the north, slightly east trend of the Ne-maha structural complex, and others all seem to approach the north-south alignments, a through f, of Mayo's Fig. 3. Mayo's employment of structural intersections to pinpoint crustal weakness, to localize igneous activity and its accompanying mineralization is not, perhaps, a new concept, but it is a 1958 model, produced by tools improved from the ever-increasing accumulation of geological observations. The use of intersecting trends in petroleum geology is not a new idea, since much production in earlier days was encountered via the straight line projections of established trends to centers of intersection. A tragedy in this age of specialization is that iron curtains have been raised between groups, all seeking raw materials, all acolytes at the altar of structural geology, but all smugly content in and protected by the ivory towers of petroleum geology, engineering geology, mining geology, and geophysics. Mayo presents basic ideas which can stimulate mid-continent structural thinking and, in the case of cen- tral Kansas. he provides a key to replace the broad and overworked simple monoclinal, sinkhole-dotted, Karst topography credo, which is not finding its share of new oil in a state where the declining discovery ratio is disconcerting. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists would do well to add E. B. Mayo to its list of Distinguished Lecturers. Evans B. Mayo (author's reply)—In reply to David LeCount Evans' comments, it is pleasing to learn that some of the elements discussed in my paper may interest petroleum geologists as well as mining geologists. This should not be surprising, however, because the lineaments make up the framework of the continent, and the oil-bearing sediments must reflect to varying degrees adjustments of basement blocks along their boundaries. A further possibility that petroleum geologists must have considered is that the slow escape of heat from buried lineaments and their intersections has aided the separation of oil from the sediments and started the migration into traps. Regarding the specific points listed by Evans, the following are suggested: 1) The branch of Texas Lineament marked 1' (Fig. 3) is thought to extend eastward through the Capitan Mts., New Mexico, through the long Tertiary dikes east of Roswell, and beyond via the Matador and Electra ranges of the Red River Uplift, Texas. Its further continuation might be the eastern flank of the Ouachita Fold Belt. The Amarillo-Wichita-Arbuckle zone of uplifts appears to continue east-southeastward the Spanish Peaks belt (3-5, Fig. 3). The northwest-trending Central Kansas Uplift would not belong to the above set, except insofar as the Central Kansas Uplift is traversed by west-northwest folds, possible continuations of the Uinta belt (5-5, Fig. 3). 2) The possible continuations into Kansas of the Jemez zone are new to me and are most welcome suggestions. 3) Most of the nearly north-south Kansan structures mentioned by Evans are unfamiliar to me, but the Nemaha Uplift itself appears to be part of a very pronounced structure traceable from the Cerralvo Fault Zone, south of the Rio Grande, through the Bend Arch, Texas, and the Nemaha Uplift, into the Pre-Cambrian of Minnesota (?). This nearly meridional zone is crossed and broken by the Rio Grande Embayment and by the Red River-Wichita Syntaxis. Petroleum geologists realize the economic importance of these features. Perhaps it is inevitable that some papers of general interest be buried in the journals of specialized groups. Moreover, papers dealing with regional, or lineament, tectonics and its applications to exploration for economic mineral deposits are as yet few in the American literature. The opportunity to advance this field is open to all those who are not ultra-conservative and who have a lively curiosity, plenty of patience, and not too many business restrictions. In conclusion, much appreciation is extended to D. L. Evans for his comments.

Jan 1, 1960

By R. Neilson Clark

The discovery of a thin pay streak, yielding carbonates of copper; native silver, and perhaps chloride of silver, was made on the 9th of April, 1874, within the trachytic belt which forms part of the Sierra Mojada. The discoverer named it the Humboldt Mine. On the 2d of May, 1874, another discovery was made, in a northwest direction from the Humboldt, at about five hundred feet distant, this was named the Pocahontas Mine. After some exploration these two discoveries were proven to be on the same vein. To the southeast of the Humboldt a claim had already been taken up, called the Virginia; and to the northwest of the Pocahontas, one called the Southeast Leviathan. On these' last two this same vein has been found and worked. This paper will therefore treat of the Humboldt-Pocahontas vein, as worked on these four claims, to wit: beginning at the northwest, the Southeast Leviathan, the Pocahontas, the Humboldt, and the Virginia claims. Since the spring of 1874, there has been sunk on this vein a total of twenty-seven hundred and fourteen feet of

Jan 1, 1879

By R. Neilson Clark

THE discovery of a thin pay streak, yielding carbonates of copper, native silver, and perhaps chloride of silver, was made on the 9th of April, 1874, within the trachytic belt which forms part of the Sierra Mojada. The discoverer named it the Humboldt Mine. On the 2d of May, 1874, another discovery was made, in a northwest direction from the Humboldt, at about five hundred feet distant, this was named the Pocahontas Mine. After some exploration these two discoveries were proven to be on the same vein. To the southeast of the Humboldt a claim had already been taken up, called the Virginia; and to the northwest of the Pocahontas, one called the Southeast Leviathan. On these last two this same vein has been found and worked. This paper will therefore treat of the Humboldt-Pocahontas vein, as worked on these four claims, to wit: beginning at the northwest, the Southeast Leviathan, the Pocahontas, the Humboldt, and the Virginia claims. Since the spring of 1874, there has been sunk on this vein a total of twenty-seven hundred and fourteen feet of

Jan 1, 1879

By O. K. Riegger, L. H. Van Vlack

The median angle of relatively few two-dimensional observations provides a satisfactory value for dihedral angle determinations. Those data that contain bimodal or non-equilibriated dihedral angle distributions are readily detected. THIS paper is concerned with a statistical simplification for determining dihedral angles in solids. Microstructures are partially controlled by relative energies of interphase boundaries and grain boundaries. smith1 has shown rather conclusively that such boundaries may be equilibrated to give a vectorial balance at grain and phase edges. Thus if an accurate measurement is made of the dihedral angle associated with grain and phase edges, an accurate calculation of the relative energies may also be made. The accurate measurement is difficult because the dihedral angle involves two planes in three dimensions, and only a two-dimensional cut through the dihedral angle is usually observed. Such a two-dimensional cut is statistically random provided there is no preselection or orientation. Harker and parker2 have shown that the mode of the frequency distribution of observed angles is within 5 deg of the true angle if the true dihedral angle is 120 deg. smith1 had calculations made to show that the same generalization could apply to dihedral angles of 30, 60, 90, and 150 deg. This procedure of requiring the determination of the statistical mode is time consuming because experience has shown that more than 200 angle observations are necessary before the mode is clearly indicated. It is possible to determine the dihedral angle with equal accuracy with only 25 angle observations if the median angle is used in place of the mode angle. Use is made of Harker and parker's2 basic equation tan =2 sin x cos

Jan 1, 1961

By P. B. Bucky

THE purpose of this paper is to present a scientific method for deter-mining the proper span and shape of roof for safe and economical mining; at present, these two vital factors wherever pillars are left to support the roof are determined by local practice or general experience. To develop the method described here, experimental laboratory work was done. The arch adopted was a segment of a circle, a flat roof being considered an arch with an infinite radius. Hitherto, arches have been used underground without the background of stress analysis that generally precedes arch construction on the surface. In many cases results have not been as expected, because of the lack of knowledge of the factors affecting its strength and behavior. A theoretical and experimental study of arches should furnish informa-tion that will make it possible to design safe and economical surface structures as well as underground openings. For example, on the subject of mine drifts and tunnels, the present idea is that arching their backs increases their strength; this paper will indicate that this is not always true, and if it can be shown that under certain conditions arching becomes unnecessary an economic saving will result. In room-and-pillar work a question may arise as to whether arching the roof and gobbing the excavated material will result in timber saving, and a decrease in the dan¬gers from falls of roof. It is to be distinctly understood that each mine must be treated as an individual problem, and that answers to these ques-tions and many others can now be found after experimental laboratory data have been obtained.

Jan 1, 1934

By C. K. Leith

The ores of the region are contained in rocks of pre-Cambrian age, which, for most of the country up to recent years, have usually been referred to as “crystalline schists” or “crystalline complex;” and regarded principally as a metamorphosed basement-unit upon which the sedimentary rocks, beginning with the Paleozoic, were laid down. In the Lake Superior region this pre-Cambrian complex presents an' unusual variety of rocks with determinable relations. It has been possible, with the large expenditures which the magnitude of the iron-mining industry warrants, to work out their stratigraphy to a larger degree than bas been possible in almost any other area of pre-Cambrian rocks. [The portion here omitted contains descriptions of the Archean, Algonkian, and Keweenawan rocks of the several districts, their structure, distribution, correlation, and succession. Table I. and the geological map of the Lake Superior region belong to this portion, but are here reproduced on account of their value as guides to the readers of the rest of the paper.] The simplest and clearest conception of the pre-ambrian succession for the Lake Superior region may perhaps be obtained by thinking of it as primarily divided into six series-Keweenawan, Upper Huronian, Middle Huronian, Lower Huronian, Keewatin, and Laurentian-all but the last two separated by unconformities of varying and disputed relative im-

Jan 1, 1913

By D. Roberts

SUMMARY In order to accommodate a new plant in a limestone quarry in the Mendip Hills, it became necessary to excavate a potentially unstable disused face of the quarry. A simple two-dimensional graphical method was used to analyse a failure, which occurred during a period of exceptionally heavy rain in 1968, and the results of this analysis were used in estimating the stability of the proposed excavation. The presence of water in vertical fissures and tension cracks was found to be a dominant factor in determining the stability of these faces. The results of this approximate analysis were used as a guide in deciding upon the final slope design and the purpose of presenting this example is to illustrate how the various factors involved in arriving at this design were weighed to arrive at a compromise between theoretical recommendations and practical considerations. INTRODUCTION The successful outcome of a geological and geochemical survey to prove adequate re- serves of high quality limestone, suitable for producing burnt lime, led to planning for the installation of the necessary plant at Amalgamated Roadstone Corporation's Batts Combe Quarry at Cheddar in Somerset. Topographic and property boundary limits added to restrictions which were likely to be imposed by any forthcoming planning consents and restricted the choice of plant location to one site. The particular site is, in fact, the main floor area of the original quarry which, like many hillside quarries, had been worked with just one face. Before a benching scheme had been introduced on higher ground, the original face had attained a height of 230 ft. and sloped at angles of 58º to 64º. Fig. I shows the present configuration of the disused quarry face and the present working area above. The floor area below the disused face accommodates the existing crushing, conveying, and screening plant. The new facilities for lime burning are to be in addition to the existing main line business of producing roadstone and concrete aggregates and, although a new aggregate production plant would be included in the new installation, no disturbance of current production was to be contemplated.

Jan 1, 1972

By Ionel I. Gardescu

In connection with some of the experiments carried out by the writer on the behavior of gas and oil in a sand reservoir,' an interesting phenomenon was observed which may throw some new light on the problem of recovery of oil from a natural reservoir. The experiments are intended to show the effect of the surface area of the occluded gas masses, originally present in a reservoir, on the further evolution of gas from the oil and its consequent effect upon the rate of production of oil. The apparatus used in the experimental work is shown in Fig. 1. It consists primarily of a sand reservoir R and a displacement chamber D, which is used to induce small variations in volume. The reservoir and displacement chamber form a unit, and a lowering of the plunger D is equivalent to increasing the volume occupied by the oil and gas in the reservoir. The reservoir was first filled with dead oil and maintained under pressure until it was ascertained that most of the free gas had gone into solution. The volume of free gas present in the reservoir was computed from the coefficient of compressibility of the fluids by means of the displacement chamber D, reading to 0.005 c.c. and a special gage J reading to 0.02 lb. per sq. in. The oil was saturated with gas under pressure in reservoir S by circulating the oil for a long period of time through the gear pump B. Subsequently, the saturated oil was circulated through the sand reservoir following the circuit S6, B, S6, R4, the sand reservoir R, R1, R², F4, F1, back to reservoir S. In the following experiments the sand reservoir R was filled with gas-saturated oil at a pressure of 415Ib. per sq. in. with no free gas present. This was ascertained by closing off all the outlet valves and determining the coefficient of compressibility of the system by means of the displacement chamber D. Much difficulty was encountered in eliminating all of the free gas masses from the oil reservoir. The dead oil originally present in the

Jan 1, 1932