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By J. J. Jakosky

The fundamental hydrodynamic principles governing the production of oil from wells have been carefully studied and evaluated by many investigators. These prior studies are quite complete and cover virtually the entire field of oil production and recovery.' One of the most important measurements in production studies is that of the bottom-hole pressure at various rates of production.2 It is the purpose of this paper to outline the technique and economics of fluid-level measurements as applied to pumping wells and to review briefly other methods for obtaining bottom-hole data. The applications of bottom-hole pressure or fluid-level measurements are based on simple hydrodynamic principles. Under equilibrium conditions, pbh = hd + pg + pch [1] when pbk = bottom-hole pressure, Ib. per sq. in. absolute, h = height of fluid in well, ft., d = average fluid density, Ib. per sq. in. per foot, p, = weight of section of gas column 1 in, square from fluid level to casinghead, Pch = casinghead pressure, Ib. per sq. in. absolute. In words, equation 1 states that the bottom-hole pressure is equal to the weight hd of the column of fluid plus the weight of the column of gas between the fluid and the casinghead plus the casinghead pressure. At moderate rates of flow, the rate of production is approximatcly proportional to the difference between the reservoir, or static bottom-hole. pressure and the flowing or producing pressure; i.e.: Q = c(pr - pbh) [2] pr = the reservoir pressure, c = the constant of proportionality. However, at production rates approaching zero and also at high rates the proportionality may break down. By combining equations 1 and 2 the

Jan 1, 1939

By Otto H. Henry

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the equilibrium diagram of the lithium-magnesium pair as a first step in studying the possible usefulness of these alloys as ultra-light structural materials. Review of the Literature The behavior of lithium towards magnesium was first investigated by Masing and Tammann.(1)† In order to prevent oxidation the alloys were made in iron tubes under an atmosphere of hydrogen; temperatures were measured with a glass-protected thermocouple. These investigators found that lithium and magnesium form two series of solid solutions separated by a miscibility gap between 85 and 95 per cent magnesium; that the alloys with 81 and 95 per cent magnesium showed a homogeneous structure under microscopic examination, while the alloy with 89 per cent magnesium contained two distinguishable crystallites; that the curve indicating the beginning of crystallization rises from the melting point of lithium to that of magnesium; and that no compounds of lithium and magnesium are formed. The equilibrium diagram was not plotted because no definite data were obtained for determining the solidus and the position of the miscibility gap in the solid state. The difficulties encountered in this investigation were: (1) that it was necessary to heat them as high as the melting point of magnesium in order to obtain homogeneous melts; at such temperatures the alloys attacked the glass protecting the thermocouple; and (2) that at temperatures above 400" C. the lithium united with the hydrogen to form lithium hydride, thus contaminating the alloys. By applying the same methods as those used in the lithium-magnesium system, Masing and Tammann determined the equilibrium diagram of the

Jan 1, 1934

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 minerals particles and air bubbles. This theory, unfortunately, was not developed as fully as it seems desirable.

Jan 1, 1927

By J. J. Jakosky

The fundamental hydrodynamic principles governing the production of oil from wells have been carefully studied and evaluated by many investigators. These prior studies are quite complete and cover virtually the entire field of oil production and recovery.' One of the most important measurements in production studies is that of the bottom-hole pressure at various rates of production.2 It is the purpose of this paper to outline the technique and economics of fluid-level measurements as applied to pumping wells and to review briefly other methods for obtaining bottom-hole data. The applications of bottom-hole pressure or fluid-level measurements are based on simple hydrodynamic principles. Under equilibrium conditions, pbh = hd + pg + pch [1] when pbk = bottom-hole pressure, Ib. per sq. in. absolute, h = height of fluid in well, ft., d = average fluid density, Ib. per sq. in. per foot, p, = weight of section of gas column 1 in, square from fluid level to casinghead, Pch = casinghead pressure, Ib. per sq. in. absolute. In words, equation 1 states that the bottom-hole pressure is equal to the weight hd of the column of fluid plus the weight of the column of gas between the fluid and the casinghead plus the casinghead pressure. At moderate rates of flow, the rate of production is approximatcly proportional to the difference between the reservoir, or static bottom-hole. pressure and the flowing or producing pressure; i.e.: Q = c(pr - pbh) [2] pr = the reservoir pressure, c = the constant of proportionality. However, at production rates approaching zero and also at high rates the proportionality may break down. By combining equations 1 and 2 the

Jan 1, 1939

By S. F. Emmons

"The obscurity which still veils from us the true nature of veins will become more acid more cleared up when they can be considered in connection with the geological structure of the regions in which they occur." 1 THESE words, according to Lossen, the biographer of the late Dr. A. von Groddeck, of Clausthal, were the last received by him from that eminent man, perhaps the most far-sighted and carefully progressive of recent writers on ore-deposits. They seem to me to form a fitting text for what I am about to say ; since I find that many of the conclusions at which I have arrived by my own study of the structural relations of ore-deposits,or, in other words, of the structural and dynamic geology of the regions in which they occur in this country, have been similarly determined by hint within recent years in Europe, and especially in his home field of work, the Harz. I shall not enter upon a detailed account of how far other workers may have arrived at similar conclusions with myself, since these questions of priority are of little interest, except to those immediately concerned; but will briefly present the methods by which, in my work in this country, I have arrived at certain generalizations, and will point out the practical bearing which they may have upon the work of mining engineers. In my first thorough and systematic examination of an important group of ore-deposits, viz., that of Leadville, Colo., I was enabled, through the generous facilities afforded me by the then Director of the Geological Survey, Clarence King, to

Jan 1, 1913

By George W. Sargent

For the experiments here described a rod was used, 0.75 in. in diameter, and rolled from one ingot. Analyses of the ingot and rod showed them to have the following composition respectively: C. Mu. Si. P. 8. Percent. Percent. Percent. Percent. Percent. Ingot,. .. 1.150 0.328 0.223 0.020 0.016 Rod,. .. 1.033 0.327 0.223 0.020 0.016 Pieces 4 in. long were heated to various temperatures in a closed porcelain tube, within a gas furnace, and allowed to cool with the same; they were then turned, threaded, and subjected to physical tests in a Riehlé testing-machine. The elastic limit was determined by the drop of the beam. The elongation was measured in two inches. From the threaded ends of the testrpieces, disks were cut, and prepared by combined polishing and etching, using parchment stretched over a wooden block and moistened with a 2-per cent. solution of ammonium nitrate. The structure, as thus developed, and the fractures, were magnified and photographed. A cooling-curve was constructed, and the critical point was located at 675º-680º C. A thermo-electric pyrometer was used to make the measurements of temperature. The micro-constituents of steel have been so frequently and thoroughly described by others that I need only say here that the theoretical micro-structural constituents of this steel were : pearlite, 95 ; ferrite, 0 ; cementite, 5 per cent. The quenched metal would be expected to consist almost entirely of martensite—provided, however, the quenching be done at or near the proper temperature. Rapid quenching from a high temperature would give rise to austenite.

Jan 1, 1902

By T. A. Rickard

From time immemorial the fissure-vein has been held the simplest type of ore-deposit. The prominence given to it by Cotta and his disciples, from their study of the mines of the Erzgebirge, is impressed upon technical literature; and, in consequence, the ores which carry the valuable metals have been supposed to occur mainly in fissures, cleaving the rocks in diverse directions, and the noblest type of vein has been deemed that which cut across the country independent of its structure, whether evidenced as bedding, foliation or cleavage, and which was identified with rents produced in the rocky crust of the earth. As so conceived, the vein was a fissure filled with ore, extending through the country for a varying distance, and continued downward to a depth more or less proportionate to its longitudinal extent. The vein-material was bounded by an encasement of rock, and those immediate surfaces which limited it on either aide were called " walls." These primary conceptions have become modified by the experience of modern mining in widely separated regions. The study of lode-formations has led to the recognition of notable departures from the supposed normal structure of the veins of Saxony and Cornwall, the two classic homes of early economic geology. Typically the walls of a vein are conceived as parallel rockplanes enclosing the ore; the upper one being called the " hanging-," and the lower the "foot-wall."* Walls are rarely alike. Even where a vein traverses a homogeneons formation, such as a massive crystalline rock, it is usually found that the surface which bounds it underneath

Jan 1, 1897

By Albert Sauveur

My first paper dealing with the theories of the hardening of steel by rapid cooling was published in the Transactions of this Institute in 1896— 30 years ago-under the title "The Microstructure of Steel and the Current Theories of Hardening," hence, also, the title of the present paper. It was extensively discussed and was, I believe, one of the starting points of many subsequent papers and discussions of the same subject, dis-cusssions which at times became almost violent and which led to the formation of different schools such as the "Carbonists" and the "Allo-tropists." Some of the older members of the Institute, who took part in the debate or who were interested observers, will, I am sure, have kept a vivid remembrance of it. The controversy gradually quieted down, apparently for lack of ammunition, without any side acknowledging defeat. Recently, however, interest in it ha been revived through the claims of some that these vexed questions had at last been solved. In an effort to ascertain if possible the prevailing view of those best qualified to express an opinion a questionnaire was submitted to the following gentlemen: J. 0. Arnold Sir Robert Hadfield Edgar C. Bain W. H. Hatfield Carl Benedicks Samuel L. Hoyt N. Belaiew Kotaro Honda H. M. Boylston Zay Jeffries Harry Brearley H. Le Chatelier G. K. Burgess H. H. Lester William Campbell Francis F. Lucas H. C. H. Carpenter John A. Mathews Pierre Chevenard A. McCance P. Dejean Albert Portevin C. A. Edwards Walter Rosenhain F. Giolliti Bradley Stoughton G. Grenet F. C. Thompson Leon Guillet

Jan 1, 1926

By Frederick Becket

DOCTOR Albert Sauveur, distinguished scientist and Honorary Mem-ber of this Institute, predicted in the first Howe Memorial Lecture that the privilege of delivering this annual address would be considered a highly significant honor. The intervening years have well borne out Sauveur's prophecy. I wish to assure the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers that I also deeply appreciate this honor, recognizing at the same time the present and even more the future respon-sibilities with which it is accompanied. Several of the previous lecturers had the good fortune to attend the classes of Professor Howe and to work in his laboratories. I was similarly favored, although in my instance and to my great regret the period was all too short. However, Howe's book, published in 1903, "Iron, Steel and Other Alloys," afforded me abundant opportunity to continue these studies. How well I remember the inspiration I derived from this famous book by Howe, the metallurgical master, pioneer, and educator! Remembering that Professor Howe contributed numerous papers to The Metallographist, a magazine supported from a technical point of view by the world's pioneers in metallography, I was curious a few days ago to learn the nature of Howe's early contributions to this magazine. The first paper by Howe in the first year of The Metallographist (1898) dealt with the allotropic theory; the second also treated of allotropy, and I quote the first sentence. of that paper: The allotropic theory of the hardening of steel may, like so many other important theories, have to be accepted or rejected not on direct proof or disproof, but on the accumulation of circumstantial evidence for or against it.

Jan 1, 1938

By Hertha Freche

THE diffusion of magnesium and silicon from the core into the high-purity coating of Alclad sheet is important commercially, and led to the use of a duplex product for the study of diffusion by means of spectro-graphic analysis of successive layers. It has been found that in the duplex materials the diffusion of magne-sium from an undersaturated aluminum-magnesium alloy into its high-purity aluminum coating is approximately of the same order of magnitude as the diffusion of silicon from a saturated aluminum-silicon alloy into its high-purity aluminum coating. However, if magnesium and silicon are both present in the alloy in the ratio of Mg2Si they appear to diffuse in the approximate ratio of this compound. Finally, if the alloy contains silicon in excess of the amount required by magnesium silicide, the amount of diffused silicon in the high-purity aluminum coating will also be in excess. The interdiffusion of metals in the solid state is of both scientific and technical interest, because it is helpful in the study of the alloy structure and in the solution of problems pertaining to the strength and surface condition of the fabricated product. W. C. Roberts-Austen1 carried out the first quantitative determination of the coefficient of diffusion of gold into lead. This classical experiment was followed by a series of investigations on the diffusion of metals and nonmetals in iron and steel and in nonferrous metals and alloys. Recently the diffusion of copper in coated strong aluminum alloys was investigated by A. Burkhardt2. This appeared to be the first published investigation on the diffusion of metals into aluminum.

Jan 1, 1936

By J. E. Lamar, J. S. Machin

INSULATING materials include a wide variety of nonmetallic mineral products such as exfoliated vermiculite, expanded gypsum, 85 pct magnesia, diatomite, asbestos, perlite, cellular glass, pumice, silica aerogel, expanded aggregates and mineral wool. Except mineral wool, most of these products, or the materials from which they are manufactured, are described in other chapters of this book. PROPERTIES OF INSULATING MATERIALS The insulating properties of the materials considered in this chapter result in general from entrapping extremely small pockets of air in such a manner that heat is not transferred by convection. The minimum heat conductivities of such insulating materials are slightly greater therefore than the conductivity of still air. In addition, conductivity varies with the overall density of the material, the temperature range in which the measurements are made, and the form into which the material is fabricated. However, the numerical value of heat conductivity should not be the sole criterion of an insulating material; for a particular application it may be advantageous to use a material of somewhat higher conductivity in order to secure other desirable engineering properties. This is especially true with certain materials that are used because of their refractoriness. Comparative insulating values of some commonly used insulating materials are shown in Table 1. In comparing the values presented in this table it should be borne in mind that heat conductivity varies with the mean temperature, with the overall density, and with the amount of moisture present. With fibrous or granular materials it varies with fiber or grain size and with the amount and kind of binder, if any is used. Under some circumstances it may vary with the arrangement of

Jan 1, 1949

By C. A. Heiland

I. Description of reflection equipments.................. 412 A. Design features of present types.................. 412 B. Reflection equipment designed by writer.............. 418 11. Characteristics of reflection seismographs............... 421 A. Types of coupling in electromagnetic seismographs.......... 421 B. Action of pickup, amplifier and galvanometer............. 424 C. Combined action of pickups, amplifiers and oscillographs....... 433 D. Static and dynamic constants................... 434 E. Desirable values for static and dynamic constants.......... 435 111. Calibration of reflection apparatus.................. 442 A. Dynamic tests without shaking table................ 442 B. Calibration methods....................... 445 C. Various other tests........................ 451 INTRODUCTION In the past five years, the reflection method of seismic prospecting has been developed to a high degree of perfection. Its success in mapping oil structure is due to the unique and definite nature of the depth data obtained. While articles on the principle and results of this method continue to appear in increasing number, there is virtually nothing published about the instruments used in this work. Several years ago, the writer started an experimental and theoretical investigation with the object of determining which characteristics would be best adapted to the problem at hand. As a result, an equipment was developed which has proved its usefulness in a great number of field tests. W. E. Pugh, now with the Empire Oil and Refining Co., joined the writer, in 1931 and 1932, in the laboratory experiments and field tests. In 1933, a paper was written on Certain Instrument and Field Problems in Reflection Seismology, and submitted to the Institute. The part of that paper dealing with field tests was published as Contribution 34 (reprinted in this volume, p. 455). Since then, considerably more labora-

Jan 1, 1934

By A. M. Gaudin

THE large increase in the use of selective flotation as contrasted with the collective flotation of a few years ago has focussed attention on the desirability of achieving accurate control of the pH of mill circuits. Although it is well-known that alkaline circuits result in dropping pyrite and that acid circuits conversely float it, but drop the gangue, there is little that is known, beyond question, ass to the action of the acidity or alkalinity of the circuits. A complete answer is not available at present but experiments -are now in progress at the University of Utah, whose aim is to find out what the effect is on recovery of a change in hydrogen-ion concentration and how this change is brought about. Broadly speaking, a change in hydrogen-ion concen¬tration seems to affect either the mineral surface, as was suggested by A. W. Fahrenwald in his paper "Surface Reactions in Flotation"1 (TRANS. 70, 647) or the attachment of the collecting agent on the mineral surface.

Jan 1, 1929

By Vincent P. Gianella

THE most intense earthquake on the Pacific coast in the last several years, and probably the second most intense shock to occur in Nevada since it was settled, was felt in many Western States shortly after 10 p.m. on Dec. 20, 1932. Be- cause the rifted area contered about the northern end of Cedar Mountain it is referred to as the Cedar Mountain, Nevada, earthquake. An idea of the intensity of the shock may be gathered from the distance at which it was felt: in Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Washing- ton, Oregon, California and Arizona. It is the strongest quake centering in Nevada since the Pleasant Valley earthquake on Oct. 2, 1915. Despite the strength of the vibrations and the large area over which they were felt, relatively little damage was done. The extent of the damage consisted of a few old stone buildings demolished as shown in Fig. 1, much cracked and fallen plaster, many chimneys shaken down and considerable cracking of brick walls. There were no deaths and four people were but slightly injured. The small amount of damage was due, largely, to the scarcity of structures within the area of strong vibrations, but an important factor was the aridity of the region (see Fig. 2) and the shallowness of soil cover so that there was but little water-saturated loose material in which strong secondary vibrations could be formed. Had this earthquake occurred in a region of heavy precipitation and dense population the damage to property and loss of life would undoubtedly have been large, with consequently much more newspaper publicity.

Jan 1, 1933

By F. W. Luerssen, J. F. Elliott

F LUSHING the early slag from a stationary open Fhearth having a high percentage of hot metal in its charge is necessary in order to remove silica from the system. The flush slag is strongly oxidizing and is somewhat acidic. It has, however, considerable capacity to extract phosphorus from the bath and it also removes considerable manganese. It seems probable that factors which control the distribution of phosphorus and manganese between slag and metal in the refining period also should be dominant in the flush and postflush periods. Several studies, as summarized elsewhere,1,2 support the viewpoint that conditions closely approaching equilibrium for these elements are rather readily established during the refining period. Over the years these studies have repeatedly demonstrated that 1—high slag v01ume, 2—low bath and slag temperature, 3—basic slag, and 4—strongly oxidizing slag favor rapid elimination of phosphorus from the bath to the slag. They also show that the following conditions favor retention of manganese in the bath: 1—low slag volume, 2—high bath and slag temperature, 3— basic slag, and 4—minimum oxidizing power of slag. When it is considered that the flush slag often carries as high as 75 pct of the manganese charged and only 25 to 60 pct of the phosphorus charged, it is evident that in removing silica much manganese is sacrificed but phosphorus removal is far from conplete. Because of overriding circumstances, this is accepted in most operations and actually it is considered to be inevitable. This may account for the fact that little attention has been paid to conditions affecting the elimination of phosphorus and manganese in the flush slag. A recent study of the behavior of various charge oxides has developed considerable information on the flush and postflush periods. Because the data are felt to be of general interest, they have been brought together and Presented in this paper. The object is to show the various factors in the flush and postflush periods which influence elimination of phosphorus and manganese. Physical Conditions During and After Flushing Physical conditions existing during the flush vary from plant to plant, from shop to shop, from furnace to furnace, and even from heat to heat. They are strongly influenced by the physical and chemical character of the charge oxide which is ordinarily necessary to provide sufficient oxidizing power early in the heat. Invariably the period is characterized by a vigorous reaction between the principal re-actants: the hot metal being added and the charge oxide. During the flush, it is probable that the slag acts to some extent as an oxidizer; but, because of the critical influence of the behavior of the charge oxid'e on flushing action, it seems apparent that the oxide itself is the dominant oxidizer. Fig. 1 shows the course of two heats which were selected as being typical of the group studied. Heat A was charged with 55 pet hot metal, based on the total metallics charged, and heat B had 57 pct hot metal. As indicated in Table I and Fig. 1, the melt-down slag, which is not usually voluminous and which is principally FeO, expands greatly in volume and will show rather high levels of SiO2, MnO, and P2O5 very soon after the beginning of the hot metal addition. Simultaneously, large volumes of CO are liberated which cause violent mixing of slag and metal. It is of interest to note that the time required to bring carbon down to a low level is very much longer than that required for the removal of silicon, manganese, or phosphorus. At the end of flush, carbon in the bath is still approximately 2 pct. When strongly reducing hot metal is brought into contact with strongly oxidizing conditions within the furnace! it is probable that the rate of mass transfer to the slag (and atmosphere) of silicon, manganese, phosphorus, and carbon initially depends principally on the rates at which the two participating phases are brought into contact That is, it depends on the nature of the various reactions. Later in the flush period, when the scrap is virtually all dissolved and the action of the bath has settled down to a steady and somewhat gentle boil, it is likely that other factors, such as the transfer of oxygen across the slag-metal interface, become dominant. The temperature of the slag-metal system is far from uniform. Heat is being driven by the flame down through the slag. Bubbling and surging of the metal also frequently brings portions of the bath in contact with the flame. At areas of contact between the ore and liquid metal, or slag and liquid metal, the oxidizing reactions generate much heat. On the other hand, scrap is being melted which tends to absorb large quantities of heat. Because the liquid bath is high in carbon, the steel scrap is brought into solution rapidly. This can proceed at a rather low temperature; and until much of the scrap has been taken into solution, the bath temperature would not be expected to increase appreciably. Consideration of these factors leads to the conclusion that during the flush period the slag should be rather hot and the bath relatively cold. Both observation and temperature measurements bear this out. Experimental Data The extended program of charge oxide evaluation permitted study of the widely varying conditions existing during the flushing period. Slag and metal analyses and bath temperatures reported herein (Tables I and 11) were obtained toward the latter portion of the work. Four different types of charge oxide, sinter, two types of hydraulic cement-bonded soft ores, and a pyrobonded agglomerate were used in the study. Although the heats reported were from only one 205 ton furnace, they show variations in flush slag analyses all the way from 25 pct FeO, which is typical with the use of a hard natural charge ore, to 45 pct FeO which resulted when a very poorly agglomerated fine ore was used. The physical behavior of the flushes showed a correspondingly wide variation from well controlled reactions to violent surges following periods of inac-

Jan 1, 1956

Jan 1, 1933

"The 100,000 volt sub-station at Butte is located near the center of the district in which the power is distributed. The sub-station building is 150 feet by 50 feet in plan and 50 feet high. It is a brick walled, steel framed structure with concrete floors and roof.There are installed at present four banks of single-phase transformers, rated at 3,600 k-w. per bank and connected in delta on both high and low tension sides. They step the voltage down from 102,000 to 2,500, at which voltage it is distributed to customers. The transformers are installed in fireproof compartments, entirely shut off from the rest of the building by brick walls and opening only out of doors. The transformers are mounted on wheels and can readily be run out onto a flat car, which stands on a track running parallel with the building in front of the row of transformer compartments. This arrangement furnishes a convenient method of handling the transformers, both at the time of installation and afterward, in case it is necessary to make repairs."

Jan 1, 1913

By O. J. Huber, P. D. Frost, H. A. Robinson

URANIUM is a (ß-stabilizing, eutectoid-forming element when alloyed with titanium. Udy and Boulger1 have reported that an alloy of 48.6 pet uranium in titanium retains ß-phase when quenched from the ß-region, while compositions of approximately 30 pet uranium transform to martensite during such quenching. Since the eutectoid reaction is rather sluggish, titanium-uranium alloys should be capable of being strengthened by the ß — a trans-

Jan 1, 1959

By Lo-Ching Chang, J. Chipman

C. B. POST*—Just what are you showing that has not been shown by fixing the attention on molecular species and choosing the molecular species to give you a perfect solution? J. CHIPMAN (authors' reply)—In general a fairly satisfactory thermody-uamic treatment of slag-metal equilibria can be worked out on the basis of assumed molecular species in the slag. This has been the method used by Shenck and more recently by White. Winkler and I also used it in studying dephosphoriza-tion. Darken and Gurry found that it did not fit satisfactorily in the case of their data on iron oxides. The ionic formulas used here conform to the data much better and probably correspond somewhat more closely with the actual structure of the slags. C. B. POST—It does seem to be similar to you? J. CHIPMAN—It is alternative, and may lead to a more complete understanding. C. B. POST—Have you had a chance to talk to glass technologists on this? Have they been using this type of set-up for glass solutions? J. CHIPMAN—Yes, and the ionic formulas have given them a little better understanding of what liquid glass is like. C. B. POST—Nelson Taylor always said we were going- about slag reactions from the wrong viewpoint when using molecular species. Evidently the glass technologists use ionic species exclusively when dealing with liquid glass reactions. J. CHIPMAN—I agree that it seems more rational and more accurate to use ionic rather than molecular formulas. We should be cautious, however, and not suppose that we really understand the structure of a slag just because we are able to fit its reactions by ionic equations.

Jan 1, 1950

By F. R. Hewitt

THE methods of mining talc are simple, and in western North Carolina are almost entirely by open cut and quarry. The larger part of the talc of this section lies in various-sized "veins" inclosed in quartzitic walls, the majority of which have by folding been thrown into a perpendicular position, or nearly so, and the exposed edges of which have been covered by debris from erosion of the mountain above. This covering of loose rocks and earth is from 5 to 25 ft. thick, and in most cases has to be removed because it is difficult to support. Sometimes the covering is heavy enough to "catch" and timber successfully, and in this case the talc can be worked out by the usual method of following the "vein," using stulls for holding up the walls until the vein is worked out, and then allowing the cut or drift to fall in. In some cases it proves more convenient to sink shafts and run drifts, following the talc "veins" until exhausted. The talc deposits of this section are badly broken and faulted both laterally and perpendicularly, and in some cases are found many feet below the level of drainage, necessitating pumping at considerable expense. . My own experience in mining talc has been that the chief point is to get a reliable "vein," and that then the mining is not as difficult, or any more so at least, than that of any common ore. If the. "veins" are pure talc it is simple; if the talc is admixed with foreign matter, such as tremolite in excess, or stains of iron or manganese, as is often the case, one had better abandon the deposit.

Jan 8, 1916