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By C Gunther

Ore deposits of commercial grade are local concentrations of great rarity when considered in relation to the area of unmineral¬ized land surfaces, and they must therefore be considered as the products of exceptional and complex conditions. The data collected from a great number of individual deposits are sufficient to permit certain broad generalizations in regard to the conditions favorable to ore deposition which even numerous exceptions do not invalidate. The broadest general relation of ore deposits is with intrusive rocks, and while there are notable exceptions, the great majority of ore deposits have a visible or closely inferred connection with intrusive rock masses. Conditions that permit the dissipation of the ore-bearing vehicles do not permit the concentration of metals in deposits; the prime factor to consider in this connection is that structural conditions must be such as tend to concentrate and not to dissi¬pate the ore-bearing solutions. The disadvantage of extrusive rocks is at once apparent; any metals the magma may have contained are dissipated at the surface and are lost; with the exception of tiny vugs and cracks in quickly cooled flows, no concentrations of metals are known in extrusive rocks, and the lack of confinement and quick cooling apparently do not permit extrusives to exert mineralizing effect upon the rocks with which they come in contact. The close mineralogical similarity between extrusives and intrusives, and the great difference in mineralizing power is a proof of the ease with which magmas part with their metallic content, and of the mobility of the ore-bearing vehicles in comparison with the parent magma.

Jan 1, 1932

By John J. Croston

IN the closing months of 1936 the copper industry gave every evidence that it was at last on the threshold of an improved era. At the beginning of the year prices stood at 9 ¼ ¢, which in itself was a great improvement over prices prevailing for the three previous years. Industry generally was showing signs of moving forward in this country, and business was definitely good in certain foreign quarters. The threat of war and preparations for rearmament in Europe and Asia acted as a further stimulus to purchasing. By midsummer the situation had so improved and stocks had been so reduced that the cartel of foreign producers (including American producers with foreign mines) decided to increase the production quota to 75 per cent on Aug. 1. Large-scale buying gave continued strength to the price and by Oct. 1 the quota was increased to 80 per cent, and again on Oct. 15, to 85 per cent. Notwithstanding this the price of copper continued its advance and on Nov. 1, with stocks declining continuously, the cartel increased operations to 95 per cent, then to 105 per cent on Nov. 5. In the meantime the domestic producers, because of the great increase in home consumption, had increased their production by nearly one-half. At the close of the year copper sold at 12¢ per pound, and since the turn of the present year has reached 17¢. This rapid increase has not been wholly justified. Much of the increase was due to the legitimate demands of recovering industry, but rearmament orders plus accumulation of reserve stocks in case of war, purchases in anticipation of labor strikes and purely speculative activities on the London Metal Exchange accounted for the balance. Certainly in view of the state of industry and the general world price level, it appears unnecessarily high. Talk of a copper shortage is sheer nonsense, the recent condition in the market being created by overbuying, leaving but a small volume for speculative supplies. It takes some months for an increase in mine output to reach the market, but production is again overtaking apparent consumption, stocks have begun to increase, and this, together with the reopening of many small

Jan 1, 1937

By Tomek Ulatowski

This article discusses principal areas relevant to financing natural resource projects using as an example a hypothetical newly proposed direct reduction facility. The issues most directly affecting the project from the standpoint of financing are categorized in four groups: 1. Lenders' differing requirements with respect to projected cashflows; 2. The impact of leveraging on project viability; 3. The importance of appropriate debt structure; 4. The significance of accurate and complete capital cost estimates. The findings emphasize that the economics and the financing of a project are not only inseparable, but that they should also be viewed as directly interactive during the project planning process.

Jan 1, 1981

By W. C. Krumbein

Geological problems are approached from a geometrical (space relations) viewpoint, a kinematical (time sequence) viewpoint, or a dynamical viewpoint. The first two require sound training in conventional geology and in field methods. The third approach requires a solid foundation of chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Modern training for geologists should include close integrltion of basic sciences with geological principles. Introduction Our knowledge of the earth has increased tremendously during the last half century. We know more about its surface configuration, the distribution of its natural resources, the proccssion of living forms that inhabited it in the past, the chemical composition of its oceans, the areal distribution of its surface rocks, the movements of its atmosphere, and so on. Not only do we know more facts about the earth, but we have a better understanding of the processes that take place on and within it, such as the nature of earthquakes, the thermodynamics of the atmosphere, the chemical equilibria involved in the formation of igneous rocks, the mechanics of stream flow, the dynamics of the earth's origin, and so on. Many sciences contributed to the sum total of this knowledge, including such established disciplines as geology, geography, physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology. Out of this accumulation of new knowledge grew also a group of new sciences, such as seismology, oceanography, meteorology, volcanology, hydrology. Collectively these latter are known as the geophysical and geochemical sciences, and to a large extent they began as branches of geology. Until the turn of the century, for example, the study of earthquakes (seismology) was a part of geology, although as early as 1846 Mallet, a physicist, had suggested that the subject could be investigated by elastic-wave theory. Comparatively little progress was made along these lines until the seismograph was developed near the turn of the century; since then, additional earthquake data have accurnul~ted rapidly, but more important, the interpretation of these data essentially has kept pace with their accumulation. In similar fashion, meteorology was generally considered a branch of geology as recently as one or two decades ago. Considerable progress had been made in such aspects as weather forecasting, but the science dates its recent rapid rise from the year 1911, when Bjerknes first applied the principles of dynamics to the analysis of air masses. The rapid development of such disciplines as oceanography, volcanology and hydrology was due in part to the application of principles of chemical equilibrium, of dynamics, and of thermodynamics to earth problems, by men who were essentially physicists or chemists by training. The last half century, therefore, and particularly the last two decades, saw the influx of numerous chemists and physicists into the realm of the earth sciences. In the meantime the main body of geology itself showed a marked growth, and

Jan 1, 1946

By W. C. Krumbein

Geological problems are approached from a geometrical (space relations) viewpoint, a kinematical (time sequence) viewpoint, or a dynamical viewpoint. The first two require sound training in conventional geology and in field methods. The third approach requires a solid foundation of chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Modern training for geologists should include close integrltion of basic sciences with geological principles. Introduction Our knowledge of the earth has increased tremendously during the last half century. We know more about its surface configuration, the distribution of its natural resources, the proccssion of living forms that inhabited it in the past, the chemical composition of its oceans, the areal distribution of its surface rocks, the movements of its atmosphere, and so on. Not only do we know more facts about the earth, but we have a better understanding of the processes that take place on and within it, such as the nature of earthquakes, the thermodynamics of the atmosphere, the chemical equilibria involved in the formation of igneous rocks, the mechanics of stream flow, the dynamics of the earth's origin, and so on. Many sciences contributed to the sum total of this knowledge, including such established disciplines as geology, geography, physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology. Out of this accumulation of new knowledge grew also a group of new sciences, such as seismology, oceanography, meteorology, volcanology, hydrology. Collectively these latter are known as the geophysical and geochemical sciences, and to a large extent they began as branches of geology. Until the turn of the century, for example, the study of earthquakes (seismology) was a part of geology, although as early as 1846 Mallet, a physicist, had suggested that the subject could be investigated by elastic-wave theory. Comparatively little progress was made along these lines until the seismograph was developed near the turn of the century; since then, additional earthquake data have accurnul~ted rapidly, but more important, the interpretation of these data essentially has kept pace with their accumulation. In similar fashion, meteorology was generally considered a branch of geology as recently as one or two decades ago. Considerable progress had been made in such aspects as weather forecasting, but the science dates its recent rapid rise from the year 1911, when Bjerknes first applied the principles of dynamics to the analysis of air masses. The rapid development of such disciplines as oceanography, volcanology and hydrology was due in part to the application of principles of chemical equilibrium, of dynamics, and of thermodynamics to earth problems, by men who were essentially physicists or chemists by training. The last half century, therefore, and particularly the last two decades, saw the influx of numerous chemists and physicists into the realm of the earth sciences. In the meantime the main body of geology itself showed a marked growth, and

Jan 1, 1946

By Norikazu Hashimoto

SILICIDE coatings on refractory metals are often applied by transporting a silicon halide vapor to a hot metal surface . The coatings are usually grown by solid-state diffusion reaction. The diffusion is often slower than the vapor transport and hence may become rate-controlling.

Jan 1, 1968

By V. V. Valleroy, A. J. Cornelius, B. T. Willman, G. W. Runberg, L. W. Powers

This paper reports the results of an investigation into the use of steam as a recovery agent. High oil recoveries by steam, as much as 100 per cent greater than by water flood, were demonstrated in laboratory linear cores. The principal mechanisms responsible for the additional oil have been identified as (1) thermal expansion of the oil, (2) viscosity reduction and (3) steam distillation. Although the first two also enhance recovery by hot water flood, they are effective with steam injection at lower volumes of produced fluids. Steam-zone residual oil saturation is independent of initial saturation. Recovery by steam is greater for lighter oils because they contain a greater fraction of steam-distillable components. Equations for the steam-zone advance in a radial homogeneous system are presented; these show the effect of reservoir parameters. The displacement in the hot liquid region moving ahead of the steam front can be estimated by a calculative procedure which is suggested. The method which takes account of the temperature gradient is applicable also to a regullar hot water flood. INTRODUCTION Considerable industry interest in the application of heat to petroleum reservoirs as a means of increasing oil recovery has been evident in the past few years. Three thermal methods which have attracted interest are (1) the injection of saturated steam, (2) the injection of hot water and (3) the injection of air into a formation to support combustion within the reservoir. Much has been published in recent years on underground burning, and there have been several papers on hot water injection. Although there are several early reports1,2 on steam injection, no recent experimental studies have been published on this recovery method. In our early thermal methods research, a marked improvement was found in oil recovery by steam injection compared with recovery by water injection in the same system. An investigation subsequently was undertaken to obtain quantitative information from which to evaluate steam injection as an oil recovery method. In addition, it was desired to investigate the recovery mechanism of hot water as compared with that of "cold" water and steam injection. An understanding of the mechanisms by which these processes operate would generally define favorable field conditions for their successful application. This paper reports the results of the laboratory study and suggests calculative approaches to estimate the field behavior of the steam-injection process. EXPERIMENTAL METHOD EQUIPMENT A schematic diagram of the equipment used for the displacement tests is shown in Fig. 1. Essentially, it consisted of a core with suitable means for recording temperatures, a feed system for injecting steam or cold or hot water, and a receiving train for condensing, cooling and measuring produced fluids. For the steam experiments, air-free saturated steam was piped from the boiler to the core face in insulated lines that were provided with steam traps and bleeds to remove any condensate formed in the lines due to heat losses. A 12-in. section of the line immediately ahead of

By R. V. Wheeler, F. V. Tideswell

The suggestion, which appears to find increasing favor, that the elementary composition of coals should be used as the basis of their classification, makes it important that our methods of expressing this elementary composition should be refined. It is doubtful whether many published ultimate analyses of coals are accurate within 1 per cent. carbon. Many are probably as much as 3 or 2 per cent. in error in carbon. It is, perhaps, not always realized that the extreme variation in carbon content over the range of bituminous coals is but 16 per cent. An error of 1 per cent. in carbon on analysis corresponds therefore with one-sixteenth of the whole range, an amount which is unjustifiable even for the application to commercial needs of a system of classification based on ultimate analysis. For the purposes of scientific research such limited accuracy is of little value. The object of this paper is to examine one important source of error in ultimate analysis, that due to the occurrence in coal of inorganic material, and to emphasize the need for the quantitative measurements (of carbon more particularly) on coals to be rendered independent of their contents of such material. Adventitious Mineral Matter When a determination of calorific value, for example, is made upon a coal, it is customary to correct the measured value with respect to the ash left by the coal on incineration, recording the result as being on an "ash-free basis." It is desirable, before discussing the adequacy of the correction thus made, to demonstrate its validity, which turns on whether the ash is present as an adventitious impurity in the coal and forms no part of the coal substance itself. The inorganic matter associated with coal has originated in several ways1: 1. The "inherent" inorganic materials, occurring as constituents of the plants from which the coal-forming deposits were derived.

Jan 1, 1928

By E. A. Metzbower

STEREOGRAPHIC projections of hcp metals depend upon the c/a ratio. Hu1 has recently published standard projections for titanium (c/a = 1.5873) of the (000l), the basal plane, the (1010), the most prominent slip plane, and the (1012), the most prominent twinning plane. Caplan et a1.2 and Hul have also published tables of angles between poles of planes, between directions, and between directions and poles of planes. From these tables standard projections and double stereograms can be constructed. However, by using the on-line CALCOMP plotter with a CDC 3800 computer, direct plots of standard stereographic projections of titanium (c/a = 1.587) have been made.

Jan 1, 1970

By A. M. Gaudin

A GREAT number of hypotheses has been advanced to explain the complex phenomena that are encountered in flotation. In the days of bulk-oil flotation, when a large quantity of oil was employed, it was observed that the oil-mineral aggregate floated above the ore-pulp because of its lesser density. With the advent of froth-flotation this phase of the theory had to be modified to take into-account the presence of air bubbles.. The reason why the mineral-bearing froth of today rises to the top of flotation cells is, of course, because the air-mineral aggregate, with whatever reagent may be associated with it, is lighter than the pulp. In an attempt to explain froth-flotation the fact has been emphasized that certain minerals are wetted and therefore remain in water; while others are not wetted and therefore become associated in preference with air. Such an "explanation" does not explain facts, it merely states them; for instance, it does not explain why minerals are wetted under some circumstances and not wetted under others. Going somewhat further, the wetting or nonwetting of minerals by water has been ascribed' to differences in the angles of contact between oil droplets and mineral surface at the surface of the minerals. This explanation, however, was abandoned when soluble flotation reagents came to replace the so-called "insoluble" reagents. Another theory, sponsored about 10 years ago by Ralston,2 involves the effects of electric charges at the surface of the mineral particles and air bubbles. This theory, unfortunately, was not developed as fully as it seems desirable. The belief that adsorption phenomena might play a preponderant role in flotation3 has been rather widespread for the last 10 years. Unfor-

Jan 1, 1928

During the war period of quicksilver activity there were a number of departures from what may be termed the classical quicksilver metallurgy. Attempts were made to beneficiate low-grade ores by gravity concentration and flotation; mechanical furnaces began to replace the Scott furnace and the vertical coarse-ore furnaces, and condensers of sewer tile and redwood tanks were used in place of the older brick and stone condensing chambers. Other developments that have occurred during the current period of quicksilver activity are mainly in the nature of improvement and further refinement of those started during the war period. Each period of quicksilver activity has been accompanied by the proposal of various new processes, including wet methods for the treatment of quicksilver ores and innovations in furnaces, retorts and condenser equipment. As far as the author knows, nothing of economic significance in the way of "new processes" has been developed. There is in fact no real need for any essentially new process for the treatment of quicksilver ores; the direct furnace treatment is simple and inexpensive. Moreover, with rare exceptions, the quicksilver industry has no complex or refractory ore problems corresponding to those which are receiving more and more attention from metallurgists in other branches of the nonferrous field. Untler these conditions improvements in quicksilver metallurgy must be looked for through the adaptation of current developments in engineering and metallurgy generally to the particular needs of quicksilver practice rather than through the invention of new processes. Preliminary Treatment of Quicksilver Ores At Sulphur Bank, in the treatment of old dump material left by the early operators, wet screening is being used as a preliminary step in concentration ahead of flotation. Power shovels and trucks are used to deliver some 400 tons of ore per day to the lower terminal of a hoist, which in turn discharges the material at the top of the screening plant. Wet screening is carried on in two stages. Depending on the character of the material, 1-in. or 2-in. punched screens are used on the first trommel.

Jan 1, 1930

By George W. Healy, Ko Yamaguchi

In typical calorimetry the energy given off by a material under study is transferred to a water bath, whose temperature is sensed by a thermometer; for correct measurement the water bath must attain a uniform temperature to which the thermometer must respond. This introduces two sources of error, non-uniformity of the heat sink and a time lag until its temperature is registered. These errors may become important where a rapid process such as solidification of metals and alloys is being studied by means of Oelsen'sl quantitative thermal analysis. To overcome this difficulty, a calorimeter sink was conceived in which the water bath is replaced by a copper coil, which serves simultaneously as heat

Jan 1, 1967

By E. G. Woodruff

The earlier struggles in petroleum geology were directed to solving the Qrigin and method of accumulation of petroleum. We are now fairly well agreed on those subjects. Most of us think that the great mass of petroleum commercially produced comes from plants or animals, or possibly from both. We are confident that the oil was not produced where it is now found but has accumulated in reservoirs of various kinds. The types of reservoirs are certainly variable but they just .as certainly follow definite geologic laws. Some of these types of reservoirs can be determined from surface study; others cannot. We know, too, that these types of reservoirs (largely structures such as anticlines, domes, and terraces) are much more widespread than the oil pools. In other words, there are many places where good sands and good structures exist but where oil is not found. It is the purpose of this paper, therefore, to attempt to analyze, from a regional standpoint, some of the conditions that control the presence or absence of oil pools and to group them in a regional way, hence the term "Petroliferous Provinces." The paper lays no claim to presenting new facts but attempts to group and classify the information that so many have expressed again and again. The essential factors for an oil field are petroleum, a reservoir material, and conditions under which the petroleum can enter the reservoir but cannot escape except through the drill holes. The paper will first discuss the source of petroleum as it occurs in definite regions, then the regional arrangement of reservoir strata, and finally the areal arrangement of structures. To have petroleum, there must be a source. Since living matter is considered the source of the petroleum, geological conditions must have been such that living organisms were abundant. Arid regions on the earth's surface have not given rise to living things in sufficient abundance to produce oil; similarly, too cold regions and saline inland lakes. The converse of this is that warm moist conditions must prevail to produce an abundance of vegetable matter. Before an area can be

Jan 1, 1921

By Richard E. Gray, William S. McCann, Robert C. Speck, Robert W. Bruhyn

Subsidence of the ground surface is the inevitable result of high recovery longwall and room and pillar coal mining operations. Up to now, U.S. research into this phenomenon has been concerned primarily with documenting the magnitude and extent of ground movements and prediction of the attendant ground strains through traditional ap¬proaches that have been developed in Europe and the United Kingdom. Preoccupation with ground strain prediction has, unfortunately, diverted attention from the more meaningful objective of predicting the severity of damage to structures at ground surface and the prob¬able cost to repair such damage. An attempt has been made to rectify this situation by reviewing in detail one hundred thirty four cases of subsidence damage to dwellings above active mines in western Pennsylvania, identifying the types of damage and the circumstances under which damage took place. The data reveal that damage to dwellings virtually always includes basements in addition to the readily apparent effects to the superstructure. In 90 percent of the subsidence cases, more than half the repair cost is associated with damage to subgrade components. A damage classi¬fication system has been devised that relates observed damage to severity and repair cost in a uniform manner for conditions in the Northern Appalachian Coal Field. Damage severity has been examined in the context of depth to the mine, the character of the near¬ surface overburden materials, mining type and other parameters.

Jan 1, 1983

By David Cole

The appearance of the Wilfley table in 1897 marked an epoch in the art of concentration of ores. The table has merited and received an almost unprecedented measure of public approval, lasting through its whole patent life. It has been very little improved in itself, or improved upon by competitors. The new machines bidding for popular favor have been of the Wilfley family, but without ability to do markedly better work than the parent machine, or to do more work except by the use of superimposed decks, the latter having obvious disadvantages. During the past three years there has been developed at Morenci a new type or arrangement of riffles applicable to the Wilfley type of concentrating table which corrects many of the objectionable features or limitations of the older system and obviates most of the difficulties encountered with it, particularly when handling ores having a low ratio of concentration. The new type is known as the Butchart1 riffle system, and its general arrangement is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The old system accomplished stratification satisfactorily but has

Jan 1, 1915

Jan 1, 1912

By G. W. Jr. Jarman

THE purpose of this paper is to present briefly a description of some of the special methods of separation or concentration, either singly or in combination with others, and to give certain operating data and examples. Explanation of the usual methods of large-production mill treatment, such as flotation or wet tabling, or of chemically treating industrial minerals, is not included in the scope of this paper, although one of these methods might be, in certain instances, augmented by one or more of the special methods that will be enumerated herein. Description of these special methods will be centered on magnetic separators, electro-static separators and air flotation or air tables.

Jan 1, 1938

By Edward B. Cook

The installation of the Gayley dry-air process appealed specially to the management of the Warwick Iron & Steel Go., for the reason that for fifteen years records had been kept at the works of the company, showing the amount of water entering the furnace in the form of aqueous vapor, and careful observations had been made of its effect upon the working of the furnace. Some years had proved much worse in their effect than others, on account, not only of excessive moisture, but also of great variation in the moisture from day to day, and sometimes within a few hours. It had been found impossible to make a satisfactory percentage of high-silicon foundry-iron in summer, even on high fuel; and for some years the endeavor had been made so to arrange the sales that, during July and August, only a small percentage of the iron produced would be required to carry more than 2 per cent. of silicon. Our larger furnace, running on basic iron, year after year, produced in February a tonnage 20 per cent. higher than in August, 011 a much lower fuel-consumption, while, at the same time, the summer months were marked by " messes," tuyeres closed by slips, and other irregularities, constituting serious additional business losses. It will be easily understood, therefore, that the records made at the Isabella furnace after the installation of the dry blast in 1904 possessed special interest, and were closely watched by us. On the basis of our own experience, we argued that if the moisture could be kept low, and also uniform, the cost of installation would be more than justified. The subject was brought before our Board of Directors in the fall of 1905; and in the spring of 1906 it was decided to install a plant of sufficient

Jan 1, 1909

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Jan 1, 1938

By Earl H. Miller, Henry H. Bruhn

COMMERCIAL beds of sylvite ore were discovered by the Snowden & McSweeney Co. while drilling a wildcat oil well some 25 miles northeast of Carlsbad, N. NI., in 1925. After a preliminary core drilling program the U. S. Potash Co. sank a 1060-ft shaft within 4 miles of the original discovery. This shaft was in an isolated location in a sand desert area with only the roughest of dirt roads connecting it with the neigh- boring town of Carlsbad some 21 ½ miles west.

Jan 6, 1954