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By W. H. Davitt

While it is true that taxes, especially income taxes, whether they be federal, state, or local, are not usually thought of as a "cost" of doing business, it is equally true that these tax costs do reduce the distributable profits just as much as the cost of power, supplies, or labor. Therefore, the consideration given to taxes is often as important as that given to other costs. Hopefully you will recognize that, within certain limits, taxes can be controlled to an economic advantage. The tax laws as now imposed are quite complex. Many of these laws and the regulations thereunder involve many factual determinations, technical considerations, and specialized valuations that can best be made by people trained in the specific area concerned. A substantial amount of a tax liability turns on the proper consideration given to issues involving facts and principles which are peculiarly engineering in nature. The importance of these "engineering" issues in tax administration has been significantly increased in recent years by our rapidly advancing technology, automation, stepped-up mineral and oil exploitation, new industries such as electronics and nuclear power, and the extension of percentage depletion to all minerals. These specialized requirements incorporated in the law are so technical that full consideration can not be given by people with a non-engineering background.

Jan 7, 1974

By James R. Gage

THE lead deposits of Missouri may be divided into three districts, the southwest, middle, and southeast. As too much time would be required to devote a detailed account to each district, only a description of the modes of occurrence of the lead ores in the southeast district will be given. The lead mining region proper of Southeast Missouri is embraced in an area of about twenty-five miles in width by about one hundred in length. The country embraced in this district is very broken, and traversed by ridges from one hundred to three hundred feet in height, with an occasional knob rising higher. Porphyry forms almost the entire substructure of the region, with here and there outcrops of granite. The crystalline rocks were eroded into ridges and valleys before the deposition of the limestone took place. These porphyries are older than the Silurian limestones, and "belong (according to Pumpelly) to the Archaean (Azoic) formation, of which they may be the youngest member in Missouri. They are the near equivalents, in point of age, to the great iron-bearing rocks of Lake Superior, New Jersey, and Sweden."12/02/2007

Jan 1, 1875

By Virgil R. D. Kirkham

NoRth America has for many years led the world in phosphate production, but with development of African deposits and their marketing conditions with respect to European countries, this leadership will shortly pass to Africa. Algeria, Egypt, Tunis, and Morocco have large phosphate reserves and a correspondingly large production because of easy mining and a ready European market, which was developed during the war. An increase in home consumption is destined to develop for the eastern American fields, and the countries of the Pacific will provide a market for the western producers. New processes indicate a decrease in fertilizer costs, which will encourage a more widespread domestic use and assure better marketing conditions. The African deposits, although benefited by a water haul, have the disadvantage of being isolated from a source of acid so that the crude rock is shipped from Africa to its destination, whereas in the United States the chief product shipped is acidulated rock or various types of superphosphatic fertilizers, The principal types of phosphate deposits used in the manufacture of fertilizers are guanos, apatite, phosphatic marl, phosphatic limestone, phosphatic shale, and phosphate rock which is also known as phosphorite. Some of these deposits are found on each of the continents; Table 1 gives their occurrence, age, location, character, extent, etc. Most of the information found in this table represents a compilation of information published elsewhere in a different form and widely scattered.

Jan 1, 1925

By J. K. Brooke, F. A. Renninger

During 1966, crushed stone production in the United States totaled just over 811 million tons valued at almost $1.2 billion. This represented in- creases of 4 % in tonnage and 5 % in value over that for 1965. Excluding the crushed stone used for agricultural and certain industrial purposes (cement, lime and flux), crushed stone mineral aggregate production totaled 616.3 million tons valued at almost $910 million, also up roughly 4% in tonnage and 5% in value over the 1965 figures. Limestone was by far the most widely used rock variety, followed by basalt, granite and sandstone in that order. Concrete aggregate and roadstone continued as the main uses for stone, accounting for 63% of all tonnage produced in 1966 and 60% of total stone value. Sand and gravel production in 1966 increased 3% over that for 1965. Total 1966 output was just in excess of 934 million tons valued at almost $985 million as compared with 908 million tons at $957 million for the previous year. Excluding the higher valued industrial sands, 903.2 million tons of sand and gravel valued at $891.6 million were used directly as mineral aggregates, representing a 2.9% increase in tonnage and a 2.4% increase in value over 1965.

Jan 2, 1968

By S. M. Wu, R. L. Stone, T. D. Tiemann

The dissolution of silica from quartz in sodium hydroxide solutions was investigated by statistical methods. A second-order predicting equation was developed with 28 experiments expressing the dissolution of silica as a function of the variables quartz size, time, temperature and sodium hydroxide concentration. With this equation a comprehensive picture of the dissolution reaction was gained which included the effect on extraction of each variable and their interactions, fractional extractions, reaction rates and activation energies. A previous investigation of the extraction of silica from low grade siliceous iron ore by digestion in sodium hydroxide solutions presented the extraction as a function of time, temperature and sodium hydroxide concentration.' The present paper is an outgrowth of the previous work and develops by a mathematical analysis the functional relationship between the extraction of silica and time, temperature, sodium hydroxide concentration and particle size. Relatively pure quartz was used in this study in order that the basic quartz-sodium hydroxide reaction could be studied without the influence of other constituents that are commonly found in iron ores. The functional relationship between the dissolution

Jan 1, 1965

Jan 5, 1976

By Ralph A. Sherman, J. M. Pilcher

BY surface treatment of coal is meant the application of a material, either solid or liquid, to the surface of pieces of coal. The purposes of surface treatment are varied. They may be to identify or "trade-mark" the coal, to modify the burning characteristics, the coking tendencies, or the behavior of the ash, to prevent the freezing of wet coal, or to control the dust. The control of dust is the usual purpose of surface treatment. TRADE-MARKING COAL The application of color to the surface of coal for the purpose of identification and registration of the trade-mark has been practiced to some extent. In 1928, the Glen Alden Coal Co. began to color its coal and adopted the trade-mark, "Blue Coal." The Old Ben Coal Co. later followed a similar practice with "Green Coal." A commoner means of identification of coal has been the stenciling of designs or pasting labels on large lumps or in the distribution of small cardboard tags through the smaller sizes. The details of the method used to color coal have not been revealed. Usually all of the coal is not treated, because of the expense. Only enough pieces are colored to show clearly when distributed through the coal.

Jan 1, 1943

By W. Griffith

The purpose of this paper is to make public record of new information in regard to the sustaining power of artificial mine-roof supports (not timber props), the result of investigations recently made in the anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania. First.—By the "Scranton Mine Cave Commission," appointed to investigate the mining conditions under the City of Scranton. Second.—By the "Pennsylvania Mine Cave Commission," appointed by the Governor to investigate the general subject of mine caves in the anthracite region of Pennsylvania. Third.-—By the personal researches and tests made by the author in an effort to secure a better artificial mine-roof or surface support. During the progress of the work of the Scranton Mine Cave Commission, the Engineers for the Commission, Messrs. Conner and Griffith, being aware of the general lack of exact information in the engineering profession as to the strength of the ordinary artificial mine-roof or surface support, and particularly the stronger kinds, such as mine cogs, rock piers, etc., had tests made at the Fritz Engineering Laboratory at Lehigh University, to determine the sustaining power under various compressions of the several kinds of artificial mine supports in use in the anthracite region of Pennsylvania. A report of these tests wasincluded in the report of this Commission, which was published as Bulletin No. 25 of the United States Bureau of Mines, Washington. A similar series of tests, more extensive and more elaborately planned, were subsequently made for the Pennsylvania Minc Cave Commission at the U. S. Government Testing Laboratory at Pittsburgh, Pa. The report of this Commission was made to the Governor, but has not yet been published. The author, during his connection with the Scranton Mine Cave Commission, observed that of all the various devices employed for sustaining the roof of coal mines, the one universally used and the best

Jan 1, 1918

By William A. Kapp

INTRODUCTION Coal is being mined from beneath residential areas, structures, bodies of water and other surface features in the coalfields to the north, south and west of Sydney. The particular problems faced by mine operators in these areas vary considerably due to differences in the overlying strata, the variation in the depths of cover and also depend on the number of seams being mined. Detailed subsidence work first commenced in the Southern Coalfield in 1965 and is now being carried out over areas of extraction at roost collieries. The analysis of the results of the early investigations and of the work which continues in other areas has shown that there is a consistent relationship between subsidence and mine geometry and has led to a reliable empirical method for the prediction of subsidence. In addition, particular aspects of each of the studies in the Southern Coalfield results in a clearer understanding of strata movements and of the resulting subsidence. The features of a subsidence trough apply generally to all areas but the magnitudes of specific features vary according to the stratigraphy of the particular coalfield. The aim of the subsidence work is to quantify the effects of subsidence for a range of mining geometries and mining conditions to enable the maximum safe recovery of coal from beneath surface features. The importance of local subsidence investigations is becoming more evident to mine operators and to authorities or organisations with surface interests. The subsidence work also provides important information on the stabilities of pillars of coal which remain unmined between panels of extracted coal. These pillars are not extracted either because of poor mining or geological conditions, or because pillar extraction is not part of the particular mining operation. Subsidence studies over these coal pillars clearly establish whether the pillars have remained stable or have failed to support the overlying strata. With subsidence studies continuing over several years, it is possible to assess the stabilities of these pillars on a long term basis. BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY OF SUBSIDENCE Geographical setting Most of the black coal production in Australia comes from the Sydney Basin. The coal seams extend for approximately 350 km along the coast of New South Wales and inland for distances up to 150 km. The City of Sydney is located near the centre of the coastal extent of the Basin where coal has been mined at a depth of 900 m. The Sydney Basin is part of the Main Coal Province of NSW and is divided into several coal- fields. The Southern Coalfield to the south of Sydney contained 15 operating mines and produced 12.7 million tonnes of raw coal during the 12 months to June 1981. The collieries discussed later are shown in Fig. 1. The prominent topographical feature of the area is the Illawarra Escarpment which rises to 400 m above sea level, or 300 m above the coastal strip along the South Pacific Ocean. The escarpment is mainly sand- stone and the weathering of the cliff line has resulted in a covering of talus material at its base. Several collieries are located near the seams which outcrop along the escarpment. The city of Wollongong is located in a scenically attractive area on the coastal plain. The suburbs of Wollongong extend north along the coastline, south to beyond Lake Illawarra and west to the lower slopes of the escarpment. The Illawarra Escarpment forms the eastern boundary of the Woronora Plateau. On a regional scale the surface dips gently to the west and thus forms a watershed for the rivers, most of which flow in a general north westerly direction, sometimes forming steep gorges in the sandstone. These rivers join the Nepean and Hawkesbury River system and flow into the Pacific Ocean north of Sydney. Seven dam have been constructed over the Southern Coalfield (Fig. 1) and with one large dam further to the west, their stored waters provide the needs of the Cities of Sydney and Wollongong and the surrounding districts. A large part of the area affected by mining is the undeveloped bushland of the associated catchment areas. In general no special precautions have been required with respect to subsidence with the exception of the dam structures and stored waters. With the increase in coal mining activities and the expanding residential development south of the City of Campbelltown in the outer Sydney Metropolitan area, subsidence is becoming an increasingly important area of research. Structures which have been affected or considered are townships and extensive residential areas, buildings of historical importance, major tollways, and a high pressure natural gas pipeline. The subsidence effects of mining beneath natural features within national parks is coming under study as mining approaches these areas. Geological setting The coal seams of the Southern Coalfield lie within the Illawarra Coal Measures. They contain high rank coking coal used in the local steel industry and for export. The Bulli Seam is mined extensively through- out the Southern Coalfield with the lower Wongawilli Seam being second in importance with regard to coal production. The top of the Bulli Seam is taken to be the marker horizon between the Permian Coal Measures

Jan 1, 1982

By A. F. Taggart

THE following notes represent significant excerpts from a mass of records of experimental work done in the ore-dressing laboratory at the Columbia School of Mines during the years 1926 to 1928-inclusive. CLASSIFICATION OF EXPERIMENTAL WORK The experiments performed may be grouped for purposes of description under the following general -headings: I. Collecting agents. a. A method for quantifying collecting effect. b. Coating with undissolved collecting agents (oils) c. Action of dissolved collecting agents. II. Frothing agents. a. A method for quantifying frothing effect. b. Relation between frothing effect and chemical composition. III. Inorganic reagents. a. Methods of studying the effects of these reagents. b. Effect on slime dispersion. c. Effect on sulfides. SUMMARY OF THE ORIGINS OF PRESENT-DAY FLOTATION PRACTICE The first practicable, foolproof method of froth flotation was described in U. S. patent 835120, issued in 1906 to Sulman, Picard and Ballot, and in the equivalent patents in other countries. A number of less simple methods of producing the same result had been described previously in patent publications and otherwise.1 The reagents specified in all of these early patents were "oils" and, in addition, some inorganic substance, usually an acid. The quantities of reagents recommended and added were enormous when' compared with those used today.

Jan 1, 1929

By William H. Morris

At the Glen Summit meeting, the question of controlling the silicon in pig-iron WAS raised; and as this has been deemed by most furnace-men for years past a matter of special difficulty, an account of our experience in the matter may be of interest. When running on mill-iron, some years ago, we aimed to keep

Jan 1, 1893

By H. S. Drinker

THE first discovery of zinc 011 the property now worked by this company was made by the celebrated mineralogist, Prof. William Theodore Rapper, in 1845. Different claimants kept the property in continual litigation till 1861, when everything was satisfactorily settled by the purchase of the land by the company, who have worked it ever since. The mines are situated in a valley, four miles south of Bethlehem, Pa., in Lehigh County. The valley is from two to three miles broad, and is bounded 011 the north and south by syenitic hills. Syenite underlies the valley, and upon this is deposited the Potsdam sandstone, then a layer of slate, and, finally, a dolomitic limestone, belonging to the Chazy or Black River formation, in which the zinc deposits are inclosed. The rocks occur in folds, and have evidently been subjected to tremendous pressure from below, the zinc deposit being found in an anticlinal axis, in nearly vertical veins. I t is supposed that the zinc was originally disseminated through the

Falconbridge Nickel, the one-time subsidiary that grew up to swallow its own parent, Ventures Limited, in 1962, is not about to be left behind by rising nickel consumption. At a cost of several hundred million dollars, this Canadian firm has undertaken a series of new projects that will not only ensure its present share of the market, but also lead it into new areas of the nickel business. Although Falconbridge Nickel Mines Ltd. was not formed until 1928, it actually had its start in 1917- 18 with the discovery of a large, good grade nickel- copper deposit in Falconbridge, near Sudbury, Ontario. However, due to several factors, financing could not be obtained and the orebody lay fallow. It was not until 1928, when the Thayer Lindsley interests bought the property from the original owner, that it was developed.

Jan 10, 1968

By G. W. Tracy, R. D. Carter

Numerical calculations were made to determine the behavior of reservoirs with high-pressure drawdown and wide well spacing where the initial productivity is low and the wells are completed by hydraulic fracturing. The two-phase flow equations were solved for the flow into a single well. This well was assumed to be producing from a reservoir with hydraulically created horizontal fractures (four different systems with fractures were studied). For comparison purposes, additional two-phase flow calculations were made assuming a reservoir with uniform rock properties. The two-phase flow results were also compared with the conventional calculation methods, which do not include the effect of saturation gradients resulting from a simultaneous flow of oil and gas which are normal to this type reservoir. It was found that the conventional methods predict (1) a high and too optimistic value of ultimate recovery, (2) a high producing rate and a high reservoir pressure at a given oil recovery and (3) a low trend of gas-oil ratio with oil recovery. Included in the two-phase flow calculations were provisions to control the oil production rate by an allowable rate and, also, by a gas-oil ratio penalty rule. For the systems with hydraulic fractures, the producing rate was controlled by the gas-oil ratio penalty rule for most of the life. This is in contrast to the system with uniform rock properties which went "on decline" almost immediately. An unexpected characteristic of the systems which included fractures was the early rise in producing gas-oil ratio from 730 cu ft/bbl to approximately 1,200 cu ft/bbl, followed by a "leveling off" before the normally expected gas-oil ratio rise began. Additional features which are a result of hydraulic fracturing are (I) greater ultimate recovery, (2) higher average producing rates and (3) a lower average reservoir pressure at a given oil recovery. INTRODUCTION Some oil fields discovered during the past few years are producing from certain volumetric ally controlled reservoirs (often referred to as solution or internal gas- drive reservoirs) which are characterized by high-pressure drawdown at the wells. Since the available pressure drawdown at a well is limited by the static reservoir pressure and the producing rate is controlled by the available drawdown, wells completed in this type of reservoir usually produce at a rate less than the allowable from the time of completion. Because of this, this type of reservoir is referred to as a low productivity reservoir. Economic considerations require the use of wide well spacing and well stimulation by hydraulic fracturing to make commercial wells in this type of reservoir. Performance predictions for volumetrically controlled reservoirs have been made using a combination of two standard equations. 1. The "Schilthuis" or "Muskat" type material balance equation is used to relate the average reservoir pressure and the cumulative oil recovery. 2. The results from the material balance equation and the productivity factor as described by Pirson' are used to relate the cumulative recovery with producing rate and time. The material balance equation assumed uniform pressure and liquid saturation conditions throughout a reservoir. The steady-state radial flow formula allows for a pressure gradient toward a well but assumes uniform liquid saturation. These calculation methods are adequate for application to reservoirs wherein the drawdown at the well to realize satisfactory producing rates is small compared to the total pressure. In low productivity, volumetrically controlled reservoirs, the pressure drawdown at the well is large cornpared to the total pressure. Although a precise number cannot be given for the magnitude of a large pressure drawdown, values in excess of 1,000 psi would definitely be included. For practical considerations, this usually occurs when the formation flow capacity is less than about 100 md-ft. However, this limit of formation flow capacity will vary with the well producing rate. The low pressure in the neighborhood of the well which results from a high drawdown causes evolution of large volumes of gas. This causes the gas saturation to be higher near the well than at a greater distance—-hence, a non-uniform gas saturation. Also, the relationship between the relative permeability to oil (K/K) and gas saturation is nonlinear but decreases approximately in an exponential way with increases in gas saturation. Because of this, the following chain reaction is established.

By John D. Siddle

Efficient energy utilization in the electrolytic zinc process, relative to other zinc processes, is one of the reasons for its wide adoption in recent years. Designers and operators of electrolytic zinc plants have pioneered process improvements, new equipment, and operating techniques to conserve energy. As energy costs advance still higher in the future, and competitive pressure against the less efficient producers increases, these or alternative energy-saving methods will be looked upon as a necessity for economic survival. Estimated energy savings which may be achieved by various equipment and techniques are included.

Jan 1, 1977

(The following list contains the names of those members of the Institute of whose connection with military service. we have only recently become acquainted; it also includes the names of a few who have recently been promoted or transferred. A complete list was published in the Year Book, issued as a supplement of the Bulletin for March, 1918.) ADAMS, HENRY, Major, Assistant to Department Engineer, North-eastern Dept. ALINE, P. A., Co. C, 316th Supply Trains. * Low-cost cottage construction in America; a study based on the housing collection in the Harvard Social Museum, by Winthrop A. Hamlin. Cambridge, Mass., Harvard University, 1917. (Publications of the Department of Social Ethics, No. 7.) 30 pp., 4 charts. Illus.

Jan 5, 1918

NEW MEMBERS The following list comprises the names of those persons Who became members during the period Dec. 10, 1914, to Jan. 10, 1915: Members AGUILAR-REVOREDO, J. F., Min. Engr -Casilla 146, Oruro, Bolivia. BAKER, JOHN M., Min. Engr Baker Mines Co., Cornucopia, Ore. BETTS, ROBERT M., Mgr Cornucopia Mines Co., Cornucopia, Ore. BILLINGS, THOMAS PARRY, Min. Engr., 404 Dooley Block, Salt Lake City, Utah. BLAIR, GEORGE SHEPPARD, Engr. and Assayer, Mariposa Min. & Mill. Co., Hornitos, Cal. BOLE, JOHN W., Supt ...Siskiyou Dredging Co., Fort Jones, Siskiyou Co., Cal. BOWMAN, REGINALD G., Statistician, International Smelting Co., 621 Kearns Bldg., Salt Lake City, Utah.

Jan 2, 1915

By R. W. Raymond

The death of Louis Janin, which took place Mar. 6, 1914, at Santa Barbara, terminated the earthly career of almost the last survivor, and one of the most illustrious members, of that group of American mining engineers and metallurgists who, in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, directed the development of the mineral resources of the Pacific slope. Louis Janin was born in 1836 at New Orleans. His grandfather, an officer in the French army, had emigrated to this country, with his family, at or before the outbreak of the French revolution. His father became an

Jan 1, 1915

By Arthur Smith

THE Verde mining district is in Yavapai County, in north-central Arizona. Jerome, the principal town, has a population of 6000 and the two important mines of the district-the United Verde and the United Verde Extension-lie almost within its limits. Perched high on the southwest side of the Verde valley, at elevations of 4800 and 5500 ft. (1463 and 1676 m.) respectively, both mines have long tunnels from their lower levels through which the ore is hauled to the smelters. Clarkdale, the smelter town for the United Verde mines, lies in the Verde valley 4.1 miles (6.5 km.) distant in an air line from Jerome and at an elevation of 3560 ft. The two towns are connected by the standard-gage railroad of the Verde Tunnel and Smelter R. R., a subsidiary of the United Verde Copper Co. This road is 11 miles long and has a compensated grade of 4 per cent. At Clarkdale it connects with the Verde valley branch of the Santa Fe railroad. Clemenceau, the smelter town for the United Verde Extension mine, lies 3.5 miles (5.8 km.) in a southeasterly direction from Clarkdale, at an elevation of 3420 ft. It is connected to the Verde Valley branch of the Santa Fe railroad at Clarkdale by the Arizona Extension R. R., . a subsidiary of the United Verde Extension Mining Co. The portal of the haulage tunnel, at an elevation of 3757.5 ft., is also connected with the smelter town by 4 miles of standard-gage track belonging to? the same company. In the vicinity of Jerome, the great southern escarpment of the Arizona plateau forms the northeast side of the Verde valley. The general level of this escarpment, or "rim" as it is called, is about 4000 ft. above the Verde River. A corresponding elevation is reached only by the highest peaks of the Black Hills, which bound the valley to the southwest. Two lava-capped mesas, known as "Mingus" and "Wood chute mountains," form the culmination of the Black Hills. That part of the Old Black Hills mining district which lies between their crests and the Verde River is now known as the Jerome, or Verde, mining district. If the . smelter towns are not included, a strip about 7 miles long by 3 miles (11 by 5 km.) wide, embraces practically all of the properties belonging to the Jerome district. This strip lies parallel to and along the side of the Verde valley from First View, 2 miles northwest from Jerome, to the vicinity of Allen Springs, at the south end of Mingus mountain and all within the boundaries of the Prescott national forest reserve.

Jan 3, 1924

By William L. Saunders

Many members of the Institute, who participated in the visit made, during the Bethlehem meeting of February, 1906, to the shops of the Ingersoll-Rand Company, at Phillipsburg, N. J., inspected with interest the new Electric-Air drill, which the company had set up for the purpose of showing it in actual operation to American mining engineers. At the request of the Secretary of the Institute, I promised at that time to prepare a paper for our Transactions, describing the construction and advantages of the machine. But such a paper would then necessarily have contained much that was only expected or claimed by the designers and manufacturers of the drill, and not yet incontrovertibly proved by varied and long-continued practice. However moderate such statements might have been, they would have given inevitably to the paper, to some extent at least, the air of a prospectus, rather than of a technical contribution. I therefore decided, with the Secretary's approval, to postpone the writing of the promised paper until it could set forth the results of adequate actual practice, as well as the latest details of construction, etc., based upon practical experience. That period has now arrived. The Electric-Air drill has been exhaustively tested in the field, under varied and arduous conditions and upon the hardest rocks. It is now fairly in the field; its merits and performances are matters of unimpeachable record, and its place among established competitors can be definitely determined. As a representative of the Ingersoll-Rand Co., as well as a member of the Institute, I may be permitted to add that my company, being largely interested in the manufacture of air-coxpressors and machinery driven by compressed air, has no desire to injure its own business by claiming for this new machine that it should immediately supersede all existing applications of pneumatic transmission of power for drilling. On the

Jan 1, 1908