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By Albert Sauveur

This paper explains the possibility of using advantageously a boiling solution of sodium picrate to reveal dendritic segregation in steel. The mechanism of the action of the reagent is described. The failure of manganese alone to produce persistent dendritic segregation is also considered. IRON, like other metals, solidifies through the formation of dendritic crystals; iron alloys forming solid solutions, like other solid solutions, solidify likewise through the formation of dendritic crystals. The alloying elements or impurities as well as the inclusions segregate generally in the interstices, or "fillings," between the axes and branches of the dendrites; that is, in the portions last to solidify. This results in dendritic segregation or heterogeneity, which is generally persistent and makes possible the revelation of the dendritic crystallization of the metal through the selective action of a suitable etching reagent.1 For this purpose, a cupric solution, such as Le Chatelier's, is generally used, copper being deposited on the pure, or relatively pure, ferrite present in the axes while the fillings remain free, or relatively free., from copper deposition. The dendritic structure, formed on solidification in a steel containing 0.50 per cent. carbon, 0.37 per cent. manganese, 0.12 per cent. silicon, 0.07 per cent. sulfur, and 0.035 per cent. phosphorus is shown, after treatment with Le Chatelier reagent, in Fig. 1 under a magnification of 8 diameters. Commercial steel always contains inclusions of manganese sulfide, which are located in the fillings of the dendrites. Comstock has shown that boiling sodium picrate imparts a dark coloration to these inclusions. We find that this reagent likewise reveals dendritic segregations in commercial steel, as shown in Fig. 2, under a magnification of 8 diameters, which represents the same spot as that shown in Fig. 1. The fillings

Jan 2, 1924

By H. S. Ten Eyck

Fertilizer normally is spoken of as having three main components: nitrogen, phosphorus and pot- ash. Certainly, however sulfur must also be considered a basic component of fertilizers, even though in many instances it does not end up as a part of the end product. In addition, with heavier cropping and the resultant drain of plant foods from the soil, we have now reached a point where the minor elements necessary for plant growth have become a major factor in the fertilizer industry.

Jan 7, 1967

By A. F. Taggart

OLIVER C. RALSTON, Salt Lake City, Utah (communication to, the Secretary*).-This paper has appealed to me as being one of the most lucid, well-connected and complete papers on this subject which has been published. To be sure, the concepts called upon in an explanation of the flotation process by these authors are mostly old ones which have been more or less discussed in previous literature, but they have nevertheless been assembled in a most constructive and suggestive manner. We find a new contribution to flotation theory in the effect of fine particles increasing the viscosity of the interfacial film between a liquid and a gas. This phenomenon has been variously hinted at but never definitely stated in accepted scientific terms. The discussion of "contact angles". is very clear and will doubtless be welcomed by those who have not had the opportunity to investigate the literature on this subject, but it is unfortunate that the "hysteresis of the contact angle," observed by Sulman and reported some years ago, is not mentioned or explained. A few other points need discussion in order to call attention to the fact that, while this paper is the best discussion of the subject which has yet appeared, all of the truth has not yet been told.

Jan 12, 1916

By J. C. Irvine

Meramec Mining Co. has put into operation a crushing and conveying system on its newly established 2475-ft level, 200 ft below the lowest production. To develop this level without interrupting hoisting or mine haulage, a 15.8% decline was driven from the 2275-ft level. A 5-cu-yd LHD diesel loader and a diesel-powered drilling jumbo were put into operation midway down the decline, and were used to develop the remainder of the decline and the entire level. Development of the ore pass system to the crusher required the construction of Swedish-type dumps on the main haulage-ways of all production levels with a minimum disruption of ore haulage. Concrete was handled by both rail-mounted and rubber-tired vehicles. The system features four Swedish-type dumps with control chutes at the lower three dumps, a 42-in. gyratory crusher with attendant feeders, and an 1800-ft long roof suspended conveyor feeding two 5000-ton ore bins. The crushed ore from these bins is conveyed to the lower of the mine's two original loading stations for hoisting. The retention of the original dumping and ore pass system as an alternate route has given mine production a unique flexibility. Operation for 22 months has permitted evaluation of the system from a long-term standpoint.

Jan 1, 1973

By C. R. Ramachandra, C. C. Patel

Flotation of chalcopyrite from a low grade ore was studied by using different xanthates and dixanthogens as collectors and by conditioning the flotation pulp with oxidizing gaseous systems. The improvement in the recovery of chalcopyrite with the oxidizing systems was mainly due to the auto-activation of chalcopyrite, leading to the enhanced adsorption of xanthates and dixanthogens even when the latter were formed by oxidation of the xanthates. With air or oxygen as oxidizing system, the amount of ethyl xanthate required at pH 8.5 was much less than normally employed in the industry, the recovery being 97-99% of chalcopyrite with a concentrate of 24% copper. With isopropyl and isoamyl xanthates, the recovery was improved but the grade was lowered. By conditioning the pulp with air-CO2 or oxygen-CO2 mixture, the recovery was lowered with ethyl xanthate only, mainly due to the depressant action of bicarbonate formed. Flotation with dixanthogens gave cleaner concentrates of chalcopyrite. because iron pyrite did not float with these collectors. Of the dixanthogens tried, diisopropyl dixanthogen gave the highest recovery, 99% chalcopyrite with a concentrate containing 28.5 to 30% copper, when the pulp at pH 8.5 was condi-tioned with air. Isopropyl dixanthogen was found to be the best collector of all the xanthates and dixanthogens studied. It was found that the adsorbed ethyl, isopropyl and isoamyl xanthates at chalcopyrite surface, activated by cupric sulfate, and at iron pyrite surface were oxidized to the corresponding dixanthogens to different degrees in presence of air, oxygen, air-carbon dioxide mixture and oxygen-carbon dioxide mixture.' The dixanthogen formed at chalcopyrite surface was, however, firmly adsorbed while that at iron pyrite surface was easily desorbed. Since dixanthogens formed have greater hydrophobicity than the corresponding xanthates, as revealed by contact angles,1,2 the former were expected to improve the flotation results. It was, therefore, thought desirable to find out the effect of air, oxygen, air-carbon dioxide mixture and oxygen-carbon dioxide mixture on the selective flotation of chalcopyrite when individual xanthates were used as collectors. The effect of direct use of dixanthogens as collectors on the selective flotation of chalcopyrite was also investigated. For these studies, low grade chalcopyrite ore, received from the Indian Copper Corp., Ltd. (I.C.C.), Ghatsila, Bihar, was employed. At the milling plant of the I.C.C., chalcopyrite is floated at a pH of 8.5, employing ethyl xanthate as collector. EXPERIMENTAL Materials Employed: XANTHATES - Ethyl, isopropyl and isoamyl xanthates of potassium were prepared in a pure state by the methods described earlier.4 A 0.03% aqueous solution of a xanthate was freshly prepared in air-free distilled water for flotation studies. DIXANTHOGENS - Diethyl, diisopropyl and diisoamyl dixanthogens were prepared by the oxidation of xanthates by iodine and purified by extraction with petroleum ether. A 0.03% alcoholic solution of dixanthogen was used as a collector. FROTHER - A 0.2% solution of pine oil in ethyl alcohol was employed. SODIUM CARBONATE - A 0.4 N solution was used. ORE - The composition of the -100 +200-mesh size (Tyler standard) powdered ore, as determined by standard methods of analysis, was: copper 1.57%, iron 10.29%, sulfur 3.15% and acid insolubles 66.10%. Iron present as chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) was 1.38%, while that present as iron pyrite (FeS,) was 1.37%. Both chalcopyrite and iron pyrite were found to be liberated from the gangue minerals and from each other, as observed under a microscope. Flotation of Chalcopyrite with Xanthates in Presence of Different Gaseous Systems: Fifteen grams of -100 + 200-mesh size ore were shaken well with 100 ml of distilled water. The pH of the pulp was adjusted to 8.5 by the addition of sodium carbonate solution. Then 0.1 ml of xanthate solution (0.005 lb xanthate per ton of the ore) was mixed with the pulp, and the latter together with washings transferred to a

Jan 1, 1963

By G. J. Heuer, J. N. Dew, G. C. Clark

The effect on well behavior of partial permeability barriers, changes in producing rates and well spacings have been calculated through use of a radial, unsteady-state, two-phase-flow mathematical model. This model allows for variations in permeabilities and porosities with distance from the wellbore. The numerical methods necessary to solve the problem require use of a highspeed digital computer, in this case an IBM 704. In each instance, pressure and saturation gradients, gas-oil ratios and recoveries around a well producing by solution-gas drive have been calculated as a function of time and distance from the wellbore. Comparisons are made to show the effect of changes in producing rate and of varying permeability near the wellbore and out in the formation on the production and pressure history of the well. The effect of different well spacings on producing rate and ultimate recovery is considered. Although the mathematical description of the reservoir is simplified in comparison to an actual reservoir, the results do give some insight into the difficult problem of spacing and proration in a heterogeneous solution-gas-drive reservoir. Results show that for the cases considered spacing has little effect on ultimate recovery and that permeability barriers removed from the well decrease producing rate for a period of time but have only a small effect on ultimate production. INTRODUCTION The effect of spacing and producing rate on the production characteristics and ultimate recovery of a well producing by the solution-gas-drive mechanism have been topics of interest to the oil industry for many years and the subject of many hearings before state regulatory bodies. The problem is very complicated because of the difficulty of simulating in the laboratory a reservoir producing by the solution-gas-drive mechanism under anything like normal field conditions. This paper gives the initial results of a study aimed at determining the effect of these factors on production from reservoirs simulated by a mathematical model. Two-phase, unsteady-state equations are used to calculate pressures, saturations, and rates of oil and gas flow as a function of time and distance from the wellbore. The model is radial, and reservoir properties may be varied with distance from the wellbore. A decrease in permeability at a given distance results in a low-permeability ring concentric with the wellbore through which all the fluids from more distant portions of the reservoir must flow. The current mathematical model allows for variation of permeability, porosity and saturations as a function of distance from the well. Any desired drainage radius for the well may be selected. Drainage radii of 745 and 1,053 ft, which correspond to 40- and 80-acre spacing, were chosen for the calculations which follow. A large amount of the input data has been held constant. No investigation was made into the effect of changes in fluid properties and relative permeability characteristics on oil and gas production behavior. Fluid properties and relative permeabilities are essentially those of the White Mesa portion of the Greater Aneth area in southeastern Utah. A recently concluded hearing before the Utah Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to determine spacing for the field aroused interest in the possible effect of permeability constrictions located some distance from the well on production and recovery. This interest stimulated the present study. In this paper, no attempt has been made to simulate any field production characteristics exactly. Only the solution-gas-drive mechanism has been investigated, and production by liquid expansion has not been considered. This investigation is exploratory in nature but does give some insight into the problems of spacing and proration in a solution-gas-drive field having permeability variations. THE MATHEMATICAL MODEL The mathematical model is similar to that proposed by West, Garvin and Sheldon.' Approximately the same techniques have been used in arriving at a solution. The equations are nonlinear, partial differential equations which have been known for some time. The particular equations used for this study neglect the effects of capillary pressure and gravitational forces. The advent of modern digital computing equipment has made their solution practical. Basically, the method solves for pressure, saturations, and oil and gas flow rates as a function of distance and time. In our model, distance to the

The problem of surface support in coal mining is naturally divided into three branches: 1. Surface covered with improvements of such value as compared with the value of the underlying coal, or with such elements of danger to mining, that absolute support is essential. 2. Surface with improvements of less value than the underlying coal such that moderate settlement may be permitted, but destructive settlement must be avoided, either by reason of danger to human life or unwarranted property damage. 3. Surface of relatively small value as compared with the underlying coal where destructive settlement may be permitted. First Problem In the first case it is evident that the original support must be maintained either (a) by leaving ample pillars and confining the coal recovery to a very conservative first mining, (b) by so supporting less conservative first mining by filling or flushing that the gradual deterioration of the pillars may be prevented and subsidence avoided, or (c) by incompressible support as masonry either as an adjunct to insufficient pillars or in place of the original coal support. a. From tests made by the Scranton Engineers Club, it appears safe to figure on 2000 Ib. per sq, in. as the safe squeezing strength of coal pillars in place, provided that these are, as usual, not higher than their least horizontal dimension; and from this figure the percentage of pillar to be left for various depths may be easily calculated. For safety in this

Jan 1, 1930

By E. S. Davenport, R. J. Hafsten, R. A. Grange

The influence of austenite grain size upon the hardenability of steel is now fairly well understood; for a given austenite, increasing the grain size increases the depth of hardening, and, since the latter is related to the fundamental transformation behavior of austenite, it follows that austenite decomposition must, in general, be retarded by increasing grain size. To date, very little quantitative information bearing directly on the effect of austenite grain size upon the progress and result of isothermal transformation has been published. Davenport and Bain,' and Zimmerman, Aborn and Bain2 have shown that the transformation is definitely relarded in hypereutectoid plain carbon steels at temperatures near and above the upper region of rapid transformation (Ar') when the austenite grains are increased in size. More recently, Griffiths. Pfeil and Allen3 investigated the effect of a series of different heating (austenitizing) temperatures upon the progress of isothermal transformation at 1245°F. (675°C.) and 745ºF. (395°C.) in a medium carbon, low-alloy steel; while they reported no measurements of the austenite grain size, their results suggest that increase in grain size retards austenite transformation at 1245ºF. (675°C), but has no appreciable effect at 745°F (395°C.). The present paper deals with the results of a study of the isothermal transformation of austenite in a single commercial alloy steel in which a fine-grained or a coarsegrained state was induced by appropriate selection of austenitizing temperature. The data are presented in the form of isothermal transformation diagrams, which clearly show that coarsening the grains lessens the rate of transformation of austenite to proeutectoid ferrite and pearlite—that is, at temperature levels above about 1000°F. (540°C.)—but is without significant effect at lower temperatures where the transformation product is bainite or martensite. It is to he presumed that the foregoing statement would be valid, at least in principle, for many other grades of steel; it confirms again that the mechanism of transformation to a pearlitic structure is fundamentally different from that to an acicular structure. A number of related observations were made, which seem to throw some light on the transformation process as it takes place in alloy steels, particularly at temperature levels in the vicinity of 1000ºF. (540°C.), where the transition from lamellar to acicular structures occurs. These data are discussed briefly in the belief that they may lead to a clearer understanding of this aspect of the subject. Material and Experimental Procedure The material investigated was a cornmercial grade of S.A.E. 4140 steel, the composition of which was as follows: 0.37 per cent C, 0.77 per cent Mn, 0.98 per cent Cr and 0.21 per cent Mo. It was hot-rolled to a 1 1/8-in. round bar and normalized by air-cooling from 1800°F. (980°C.).

Jan 1, 1941

By R. J. Hafsten, E. S. Davenport, R. A. Grange

The influence of austenite grain size upon the hardenability of steel is now fairly well understood; for a given austenite, increasing the grain size increases the depth of hardening, and, since the latter is related to the fundamental transformation behavior of austenite, it follows that austenite decomposition must, in general, be retarded by increasing grain size. To date, very little quantitative information bearing directly on the effect of austenite grain size upon the progress and result of isothermal transformation has been published. Davenport and Bain,' and Zimmerman, Aborn and Bain2 have shown that the transformation is definitely relarded in hypereutectoid plain carbon steels at temperatures near and above the upper region of rapid transformation (Ar') when the austenite grains are increased in size. More recently, Griffiths. Pfeil and Allen3 investigated the effect of a series of different heating (austenitizing) temperatures upon the progress of isothermal transformation at 1245°F. (675°C.) and 745ºF. (395°C.) in a medium carbon, low-alloy steel; while they reported no measurements of the austenite grain size, their results suggest that increase in grain size retards austenite transformation at 1245ºF. (675°C), but has no appreciable effect at 745°F (395°C.). The present paper deals with the results of a study of the isothermal transformation of austenite in a single commercial alloy steel in which a fine-grained or a coarsegrained state was induced by appropriate selection of austenitizing temperature. The data are presented in the form of isothermal transformation diagrams, which clearly show that coarsening the grains lessens the rate of transformation of austenite to proeutectoid ferrite and pearlite—that is, at temperature levels above about 1000°F. (540°C.)—but is without significant effect at lower temperatures where the transformation product is bainite or martensite. It is to he presumed that the foregoing statement would be valid, at least in principle, for many other grades of steel; it confirms again that the mechanism of transformation to a pearlitic structure is fundamentally different from that to an acicular structure. A number of related observations were made, which seem to throw some light on the transformation process as it takes place in alloy steels, particularly at temperature levels in the vicinity of 1000ºF. (540°C.), where the transition from lamellar to acicular structures occurs. These data are discussed briefly in the belief that they may lead to a clearer understanding of this aspect of the subject. Material and Experimental Procedure The material investigated was a cornmercial grade of S.A.E. 4140 steel, the composition of which was as follows: 0.37 per cent C, 0.77 per cent Mn, 0.98 per cent Cr and 0.21 per cent Mo. It was hot-rolled to a 1 1/8-in. round bar and normalized by air-cooling from 1800°F. (980°C.).

Jan 1, 1941

By Edward Keller

About a dozen years ago the art of bessemerizing copper- * matte, brought to these shores from France, was first established at the smelter, in Butte, Montana, of the Parrot Silver and Copper Company, which had bought the process from Mr. Manhks, the inventor. Through the efforts of Mr. J. E. Gaylord, general manager, and Mr. A. J. Schumacher, snperintendent,, assisted by an able staff, the new method rapidly underwent, at the Parrot establishment, an evolution towards higher perfedion, and within a few years its success and its advantages were so marked that all the great works in the west followed in the footsteps of this pioneer. The converter-process has now practically superseded the reverberatory-process in this country. The latter will undoubtedly, in a not very distant future, be relegated to metallurgical history. The writer has availed himself of what was perhaps the last chance to make comparisons of the two methods, working practically on the same material on an extensive scale, the reverberatory process being that of the Baltimore Copper Smelting and Rolling Company,* while the converter-process is that of the Anaconda Copper Company—both using the matte from the latter company's works in Anaconda, Montana. For the greater portion of the material considered in this paper, the writer is indebted to the two companies. In order to understand the difference of behavior of the several elements, and the difference of the copper produced in the two processes, it is best to study and follow those elements

Jan 1, 1899

By V. K. Zworykin

THROUGHOUT its development the science of electronics, like so many other branches of science and industry, has been indebted to the metallurgist. Metallurgy has provided the electronic engineer with conductors to furnish passage for electrons outside of his evacuated tubes; it. has developed tungsten and tantalum wires for emitting electrons and various refractory metals and alloys suitable for electrodes, which receive them and guide them within the tube; finally it has supplied ferromagnetic materials both for shielding electronic apparatus from magnetic fields and for forming highly concentrated fields for deflecting electron. Today I hope to show you that electronics has not been altogether ungrateful for this assistance. More specifically, I wish to indicate the role that the electron microscope, a relatively recent product of electronic engineering, is playing even now in the study of metals. Every metallographer is aware that his standard metallographic microscope will not reveal structural detail involving separations smaller than a certain fraction -at the very best a tenth-of a micron. This limitation, he knows, is a consequence of the fact that the wave length of the light employed for forming the image has this order of magnitude. It is, thus, a property of all light microscopes. To overcome it, a different imaging medium must be employed. The existence of such a medium became evident when it was demonstrated' that electrons were affected by magnetic and electric fields with axial symmetry just as light is affected by glass lenses; these fields, or "electron lenses," curve the paths of electrons reaching them from an object located on the axis of symmetry in such a manner that, at some distance from the lens, a true image of the object is formed, Furthermore, although a wave length may be ascribed to electron beams just as to light, this wave length is much shorter; for electrons accelerated through a difference of potential of 50 kilovolts, the wave length is only about one hundred-thousandth of that of visible light: Actually, the electron microscopes of today resolve detail one hundred times as fine as light microscopes; if the maximum useful magnification of the latter is taken to be a thousand, that of electron microscopes is one hundred thousand. THE ELECTRON MICROSCOPE Since electrons are readily scattered and absorbed by matter, specimens to be observed in the electron microscope must be prepared to be less than one micron in thickness; furthermore, the interior of the microscope must be carefully evacuated to prevent collisions between the electrons and the molecules of the air. Finally, as already mentioned, the lenses are formed by axially symmetric magnetic or electric fields, and not by any material medium such as glass. Apart from these basic differences, the electron microscope closely

Jan 1, 1943

By Will B. Jamison

Man's material advance from one level of civilization to the next has involved the development of new, more useful tools and the utilization of energy greater than he alone could produce. These two essentials for material progress have developed at an ever increasing rate in the last century. While the first really successful use of mechanical energy derived from burning fuel was in James Watt's steam engine which pumped water from coal mines in Cornwall about 1770, there was still very little use of mechanical energy in mining by 1900 except for pumping and hoisting. Compressed air, having some of the characteristics of steam and which operated engines not unlike steam engines or steam hammers, powered the first attempts to mine coal with energy greater than human muscle could provide. When direct current-powered traction cars replaced horse-drawn transportation cars on city streets, it was natural that direct current locomotives should begin to replace animal and human power in mine haulage. Slowly, trolley and battery locomotives were developed and introduced. With d-c systems being established for haulage, it was natural that improved cutting machines should be developed and powered by d-c motors. Thus began the years of

Jan 5, 1960

By Edward Martinez

Although the copper segregation process has been known as a method for treating oxide copper ores since the 1920's, the reactions involved in this process are still a matter of conjecture. However, the evidence turned up in a recent series of experiments at Asarco's Central Research Laboratories strongly indicates that some of the proposed reactions may not be occurring. Experimental work on oxide copper ores from the Sagasca mines in Chile led to the discovery of the copper segregation process in 1923. It was found that the reduction of the copper with coal at about 700°C occurred on the surface of the coal instead of remaining disseminated in the ore. The unusual behavior of the copper, which caused it to migrate from the ore particles to the coal, was traced to the presence of a small quantity of sodium chloride occurring in the ore. Further experiments with oxide copper ores proved that the presence of a halide, either occurring naturally or admixed with the ore, caused the copper to migrate from the ore particles and to segregate in the charge.

Jan 8, 1966

By A. S. Richardson

THE conditions that make necessary the mechanical ventilation of the Butte mines of the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. are due to a number of causes, all of which are incidental to the depth at which mining operations are now carried on. The main object to be accomplished, of course, is the reduction of the temperature and humidity of the air in the working places. Ventilation fans, both surface and underground, have been used for many years, but increasing depth has made the problem much more difficult. Further improvement in both ventilation equipment and methods, therefore, became necessary; and it is the purpose of this paper to describe the work planned and done under the improvement program. The mines of the district have been frequently described in various technical publications, so a description is unnecessary here. From a mine-ventilation viewpoint, compared with coal-mine ventilation systems, the problem is complicated by the fact that the workings to be ventilated are situated on a large number of steeply dipping veins which frequently intersect and are faulted, and also by the fact that the extent, or existence, of orebodies is not definitely known in advance of actual development work. For these reasons ventilation work cannot be planned in advance of actual operations, nor can such regular systems of ventilation as are used in working the more uniform and continuous bodies of coal be developed. When operations are conducted at a normal rate, about 10,000 miners are employed on two shifts, so that about 5000 men will be underground at one time. But as ventilation is necessary to reduce high temperature and humidity due, mainly, to natural causes, the quantity of air per man per minute is not a governing consideration in determining ventilation requirements. Most important among the numerous sources of heat and humidity in the mines are : heat generated during decay of mine timber; heat and humidity given off by mine rock and water; heat generated by oxidation of sulfide minerals; heat given off by electrical equipment; heat generated by mine fires (in certain localities).

Jan 2, 1922

US 4,134,618-Method for restoring an underground reservoir subsequent to the solution mining of an ore body of uranium, copper, nickel, vanadium, molybdenum, silver, rhenium, or selenium. Clean water a cycled through the mined area, via the injection and production wells used during mining, at a flow rate sufficient to entrain residual dissolved solids. The solids are separated at the surface and disposed of, e g., in a deep disposal well, while clarified water is recycled C A. Kossack, assigned to Atlantic Richfield Co. Jan 16, 1979 4 pp. (299-5) Filed. 12-29-77 (865,646) US 4,155,982-In situ leaching of a subterranean uranium ore deposit The ore is leached with a dilute aqueous solution of ammonium bicarbonate containing a small amount of hydrogen peroxide in order first to convert tetravalent uranium in the ore to the hexavalent state and second to dissolve the hexavalent uranium preferentially to the other metals or elements commonly occurring In such ore The uranium- enriched leach liquor IS brought to the surface, and the uranium recovered by means of adsorption on a particulate ion exchange resin, elution with an acid, and treatment with ammonia to precipitate relatively pure ammonium diuranate. G G. Hunkin, T P. Fife, and J R Stano, assigned to Wyoming Mineral Corp. May 22, 1979. 13 pp (423-7). Filed: 10- 9-74 (51 3,445). Same: Canadian 1,027,849, dated Mar. 14, 1978. US 4,157,847-In the mining of sulfur by the Frasch process hot water accumulating above subterranean sulfur from previous mining operations is recycled downward to contact and heat additional solid subterranean sulfur. Advantageously, pressurized and superheated drive water from above ground is commingled with the underground water to raise its temperature before it is recycled downward R. L Williams, R L Latiolais, J. L Gabriel, and R. L Bouis, assigned to Freeport Minerals Co June 12, 1979. 13 pp (299- 6) Filed 7-28-77 (81 9,879). US 4,158,76%1n this method for determining the uranium content of a solution obtained in the solution mining of an underground uranium ore deposit, the intensity of gamma radiation from the Th-234 daughter of U-238 emitted by the solution is determined as it impinges on a scintillator after being passed successively through filter foils of a ytterbium- tin alloy, a lutecium-tin alloy, and a hafnium-zirconium alloy This scintillation is evaluated as a measure of the uranium content To assure that the uranium-thorium conversion has reached a stable state, the measurement should be made about three months after the uranium solution has been produced R C Smith, assigned to Westinghouse Electric Corp. June 19, 1979 11 pp. (250-255). Filed. 10-20-77 (843,770).

Jan 1, 1980

By N. E. Norman, R. Stier

The mining industry is continually seeking out new and better underground mining techniques. One of the most recent-also, perhaps, the most significant-of the new concepts in underground mining is the use of mechanical rock-boring machines. And one of the problems that concerns us all in this matter is the cost of mechanical rock tunneling. To help answer the oft-quoted question "What will it cost me?" the following pages deal with the operating costs of so-called "medium to medium hard rock" boring machines-i.e., those designed to meet the drilling requirements in 8000 psi to 25,000 psi rock. A few machines are capable of drilling hard rock above 25,000 psi, but the economics of mechanical tunneling in rock that hard is limited at the present time. [ ] For mechanical rock tunneling, there are five main cost factors influencing the expense: Capital Investment, Cutters, Labor, Power Requirements, and Maintenance. These factors give us a good basic picture of the cost of excavation, although muck handling, erecting supports, and other costs directly related to conventional tunneling and mechanical boring enter into the final picture.

Jan 6, 1967

By Gilbert Santoro

In this study tantalum carbide filaments of various compositions in the fcc region were prepared by heating a tantalum wire in a measured amount of hydrocarbon vapor. Such properties as tensile strength, transverse-rupture strength, microhard-ness, lattice parameter, electrical resistivity, and magnetic susceptibility were measured as a function of carbon content. Some of these properties showed a maximum or a minimum between a carbon-to-tantalum molar ratio of 0.80 and 0.85, the composition range at which the color changes from metallic gray to gold. The recent literature has shown that in the large homogeneity range for the fcc phase of the Ta-C system there is a marked variation for such properties as microhardness,' electrical resistivity, ' thermodynamic properties,z'3 lattice parameter and superconductivity. In addition to the technological interest of these variations within a single phase, important theoretical benefits may ensue from a continuous investigation of properties vs stoichiometry in tantalum carbide and other refractory defect compounds, for example the effect of the metal-metal distance and crystal structure upon bond formation and electronic structure. Whether there is a similar variation of the tensile strength is of practical importance. Of theoretical interest would be the knowledge of how the magnetic susceptibility varies with carbon composition. Both of these properties, as well as the transverse-rupture strength, were determined for tantalum carbide filaments in the fcc phase region. The lattice parameter, the electrical resistivity, and the microhardness were also investigated and compared with values appearing in the literature. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Material Preparation. Tantalum carbide specimens of various carbon content were prepared by statically carburizing high-purity tantalum filaments in measured quantities of pure hydrocarbon gas. The filaments, which were 10 mil in diameter and 20 or 40 cm long, were heated by their own resistance at temperatures from 1800" to 2200°C using alternating current in some cases and direct current in others. Tantalum wire from two sources was used. One had a reported purity of 99.96 wt pct Ta. The ingot from which this wire was drawn had been electron beam-melted as the final step in its purification. The reported purity of the other wire, which was prepared by a powder metallurgical process, was 99.88 wt pct Ta. The impurities of both tantalum sources are listed in Table I. Spec-trographic-grade toluene or research-grade propane was used as the source of carbon. The apparatus for the carburization of the filaments is shown schematically in Fig. 1. The system was evacuated to 1 x l0-' mm of Hg when using the electron beam-melted tantalum and to less than 1 p when using the less-pure tantalum. Neither the difference in the base vacuum, nor in the hydrocarbon gas, nor in the tantalum filaments resulted in any detectable difference in the properties studied in this work. However, only the carbides prepared from the higher-purity tantalum were used in the magnetic-susceptibility determinations. Once the base vacuum had been reached, the system was flushed with the hydrocarbon and re-evacuated. For any desired composition of the carbide, hydrocarbon gas was allowed to leak into a constant-volume flask to a predetermined pressure. These pressures were measured by a Cartesian diver-type mercury gage with a range from 0 to 20 mm and with a scale expanded to nine times. The hydrocarbon gas was allowed into the reaction tube and the filament was quickly raised to the reaction temperature. The slack in the filament due to thermal expansion was taken up by drawing out the movable electrode with a screw mechanism. The filaments were kept at temperature from a few minutes to 200 hr. In the majority of cases the heating time was 6 hr. The reaction tube was cooled by cascading water on its outer surface. By means of an ammeter and a voltmeter the electrical resistance at the reaction

Jan 1, 1963

By C. E. Shoenfelt

The year 1939 witnessed the rapid development of several of the more important Rocky Mountain oil and gas areas and the discovery of new oil and gas fields. As a further result of an active year, many oil fields had their productive limits greatly extended or responded to deeper drilling with oil production in lower horizons. In Colorado there was a substantial increase in refinery capacity, with three new units constructed. Its contribution to the crude-oil supply was an important extension of the producing area of a Western Slope field and a deeper oil-producing horizon in an old field east of the Front Range. Occurrences of gas were reported in two wells in northwestern Colorado, but severe winter weather prevented tests and the value of these discoveries cannot be determined at this time. Montana's northern fields were extended and a number of record wells were completed. The North Cut Bank area gives promise of wide expansion in 1940. The gas-producing area of Wyoming's Elk Basin field was extended into Montana on the north plunge of the anticline. The most important developments in Wyoming oil fields in 1939 were extensions to the producing area of Lance Creek and the discovery of a deeper pay in the Tensleep formation at Wertz dome. A new gas field at Horn Valley in the south central part of the state was the only new field discovered, but wildcatting was at low ebb in Wyoming in 1939. Colorado In Colorado, the year 1939 saw the completion of several interesting tests, but largely with negative results. Oil was discovered, however, in a deeper sand in the old Fort Collins field and the productive area of the Wilson Creek field was extended. Gas had been noted in two Western Slope wells, at Yellowjacket-Buford and at Trull, but their volumes had not been determined at the end of the year. Of principal interest, however, were the failures, descriptions of which will be given presently. One of these established a new depth record for Colorado.

Jan 1, 1940

By C. E. Shoenfelt

The year 1939 witnessed the rapid development of several of the more important Rocky Mountain oil and gas areas and the discovery of new oil and gas fields. As a further result of an active year, many oil fields had their productive limits greatly extended or responded to deeper drilling with oil production in lower horizons. In Colorado there was a substantial increase in refinery capacity, with three new units constructed. Its contribution to the crude-oil supply was an important extension of the producing area of a Western Slope field and a deeper oil-producing horizon in an old field east of the Front Range. Occurrences of gas were reported in two wells in northwestern Colorado, but severe winter weather prevented tests and the value of these discoveries cannot be determined at this time. Montana's northern fields were extended and a number of record wells were completed. The North Cut Bank area gives promise of wide expansion in 1940. The gas-producing area of Wyoming's Elk Basin field was extended into Montana on the north plunge of the anticline. The most important developments in Wyoming oil fields in 1939 were extensions to the producing area of Lance Creek and the discovery of a deeper pay in the Tensleep formation at Wertz dome. A new gas field at Horn Valley in the south central part of the state was the only new field discovered, but wildcatting was at low ebb in Wyoming in 1939. Colorado In Colorado, the year 1939 saw the completion of several interesting tests, but largely with negative results. Oil was discovered, however, in a deeper sand in the old Fort Collins field and the productive area of the Wilson Creek field was extended. Gas had been noted in two Western Slope wells, at Yellowjacket-Buford and at Trull, but their volumes had not been determined at the end of the year. Of principal interest, however, were the failures, descriptions of which will be given presently. One of these established a new depth record for Colorado.

Jan 1, 1940

By J. B. Umpleby

The function of gas in the development and production of oil has far-reaching consequences that should be emphasized. The technical aspects of the subject have recently had a great deal of attention but less thought has been given to fundamental concepts underlying oil and gas law and the many customs and practices that have grown up in the industry. I shall review briefly the advance in knowledge of the subject and attempt to relate these concepts to legislative, judicial and operating problems. Early writers on oil and gas in Pennsylvania noted their close association in oil pools and their contemporaneous decline in output; also, that as gas pressure decreases so does production, that new offset wells reduce the output of existing wells, and even that tubing a well lengthens its flowing life. Expanding gas was deduced as the principal expulsive force. These fundamental observations had been made at least as early as 1880.1 They were treated, however, as academic considerations and did not greatly influence law or practice for many years except to instill into all operators an urgent desire to hasten offset drilling in order to obtain as much of the flush as possible. The most noteworthy later advance in knowledge came in 1926 when Beecher and Parkhurst published their paper on Effects of Dissolved Gas upon the Viscosity and Surface Tension of OiL.² This paper added to the old idea of an expelling force the concept of a modifying agent that actually changes the physical characteristics of the oil and facilitates its movement through the pore spaces of the reservoir rock. Largely since the publication of this paper, intensive study and concerted effort have been given to means of using to a maximum, in producing oil, these combined properties of gas. This is shown clearly by the number of papers dealing with the subject, and the new and revived terms now widely used to express thought, such as the expressions gas energy, reservoir pressure, reservoir energy, gas-oil ratio, bottom-hole pressure, beaning, tapered tubing and back-pressure. These terms, some of which are

Jan 1, 1932