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LOCAL SECTIONS (There are 60 Local Sections in the United States, 4 Foreign ) ADIRONDACK Established June 18, 1952 Paul W Allen, Chairman William Webb, Vice-Chairman Edwin Briggs, Secretary-Treasurer National Lead Company Mac Intyre Development Tahawus, New York Paul W Allen, Section Delegate R G Fleck, Alternate Section Delegate

Jan 1, 1954

The American Institute of Mining Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the American Institute of Electrical Engineers have established the . Engineering Societies Employment Bureau under the management of their Secretaries. One of the purposes of the Bureau is to keep in touch with all engineering firms with a view to supplying them with desirable men. Plans are under way to assist in placing men who are retiring from the government service. The Bureau is not intended to be exclusively for the benefit of unemployed members, of the Founder Societies; non-members who are introduced properly will be registered. Information, registration forms, etc., may be obtained from the office of the Bureau, Engineering Societies Building, 29 West 39 Street, New York, Room 903.

Jan 1, 1919

(Members are urged to send in for this column any notes of interest concerning themselves or their fellow-members.) Members and guests who registered at Institute headquarters during February: Paul S. King, Wilmington, Del. William Kelly, Vulcan, Mich. A. Del Mar, South Pasadena, Cal. F. H. Armstrong, Vulcan. Mich. T. D. Babbitt, Nampa, Idaho. Reginald E. More, Toronto, Canada. H. L. Williams, Newtonville, Mass. Tom M. Owen, Broken Hill, Australia. F. W. Bacorn, Pittsburg, Pa. Percy E. Barbour, Candor, N. C. Huntington. Adams, Mexico, D. F. Karl Nibecker, Youngstown, Ohio. Clifton B. Johnson, New. York, N. Y. G. A. Reinhardt, Youngstown, Ohio. W. Spencer Hutchinson, Boston, Mass. Herbert B. Cox, Boston, Mass. F. Louis Grammer, Leesburg, Va. E. C. Pechin, Buchanan, Va. H. C. H. Carpenter, London, England.

Jan 3, 1914

POSITIONS VACANT (Under this heading will be published notes sent to the Secretary of the Institute by members or. other persons.) Position for a single man experienced in cyanide mill construction and operation at a small mine in Nicaragua. Salary $150 per month and expenses. No.. 39. ENGINEERS AVAILABLE (Under this heading will be published notes sent to the Secretary of the Institute by members or other persons introduced by members.) Member, technical graduate, desires position in ore dressing, either experimental or operating. Has had practical experience in flotation and other special methods. No. 228. Member, technical. graduate, 10 years' experience in Belgian coal mines, five years' experience in American coal mines in connection with reorganization of companies and opening of new coal fields. Aged 37. Speaks Spanish. No. 229

Jan 7, 1915

By J. A. Bowknocker

NATURAL GAS was secured in the Trenton limestone near Findlay, Hancock County, in 1884, and oil in the following year. Drilling was rapid so that the production increased by leaps and bounds; in 1896, it exceeded 25,250,000 bbl., the maximum for the field. Since that time, the yield has decreased steadily and in 1921 was only 1,447,243 bbl. The territory extends as an arc of a circle from near the western end of Lake Erie southwest into Indiana, which it enters in Adams and Jay Counties. Sixteen counties are listed in Ohio but five of them combined had a new production of only 264 bbl. and they might well be omitted. Progress in the Trenton limestone field of northwest Ohio in 1923 is shown in Table 1.

Jan 3, 1924

By Fred P. Dewey

In my paper on the porosity and specific gravity of coke, read at the Roanoke meeting, June, 1883, and published in this volnme, an analysis by Dr. henry Froehling is reported (p. 10 of the preliminary edition of the paper, or p. 120 of this volume), as showing the composition of Fire Creek coke. This analysis WaS of coke made in beehive ovens at Low Moor, Va., from New River coal. Dr. Froehlng's analysis of the Fire Creek coke was as follows: Moisture..........0.260 Volatile matter.........0.260 Fixed carbon .........92.377 Ash 1....6.750 Sulphur..........0.535 Phosphorus.........0.0146 Both analyses are reported side by side in The Erginias for 1883, p. 99. By an error in copying, the Low Moor analysis was trans-

Jan 1, 1884

The Engineering Council met on October 11 in the rooms of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Engineering Societies Building, New York. The Rules Committee submitted a draft of rules for the admission of other societies to the Council and progress was made in their consideration. The Committee on Public Affairs reported on a number of requests that the Council support pending or proposed legislation. Remedial laws intended to promote hydro-electric development were favored and Council voted to offer its cooperation to the United States Chamber of Commerce which is interesting itself in this matter. A movement to coordinate, unify and strengthen the work of various engineering committees cooperating with the federal authorities at Washington was favorably considered. Messrs. H. W. Buck and Charles. Whiting Baker were appointed Council conferees. CALVERT TOWNLEY, Secretary.

Jan 12, 1917

CHARLES KIRCHHOFF, Chairman. ALBERT SAUVEUR, Vice-Chairman. HERBERT M. BOYLSTON, Secretary, Abbot Bldg., Harvard Sq., Cambridge, Mass. John Birkinbine, J. E. Johnson, Jr., J. S. Unger, William H. Blauvelt, William Kelly, Felix A. Vogel, James Gayley, Richard Moldenke, Leonard Waldo, Henry D. Hibbard, Joseph W. Richards, William R. Walker, Henry M. Howe, C. F. W. Rys, William R. Webster, Robert W. Hunt, E. Gybbon Spilsbury, Frederick W. Wood. A. A. Stevenson, J. S. Unger and C. F. W. Rys have accepted membership on the Iron and Steel Committee. The Program Committee has held two meetings- in New York and has perfected the preliminary plans for the October meeting. The Committee will meet again in September. The following provisional program has been laid out by the Program Committee, but is subject to later additions and changes :

Jan 9, 1913

By John F. Abel

At the spring meeting of the Open Pit Division of AIME's Arizona Section, I was asked a question which indicates the acceleration of technical advancement. The question was: "How does an engineer at a properly keep abreast of what is new?" The fact that some 200 Arizona AIME members were at the meeting is a testimonial to the desire of these men to do just that- keep abreast. There is a great deal of talk in academic circles about the built-in obsolescence of an engineering or scientific education, too. About 100 commencement speakers every spring are sure to admonish the graduates that education is a continuing thing. Mining engineers are a small fraternity. We keep informed by talking to one another. Talking shop is valuable but there is no substitute for reading.

Jan 1, 1970

By W. Mostowitsch, H. O. Hofman

In our investigation of the Behavior of Calcium Sulphate at Elevated Temperatures with Some Fluxes,' we incidentally studied the decomposition of ferric oxide when heated in a current of dry air. We found that at 1,500° C., with 15-min. periods of heating, Fe²,O³, hardly changed in weight, the greatest loss being 0.23 per cent., and we therefore concluded that the compound remained unchanged at 1,500° C. in a current of dry air. In a more recent experiment we heated Fe²,O³, in a current of dry air and found that there was a decided loss in weight. A new investigation upon the behavior of Fe², O³, using a larger amount of substance and heating for a longer period of time, revealed the fact that a measurable dissocia-

Jan 1, 1910

Two separate but closely related projects now under construction on the St. Lawrence River- the Seaway and the St. Lawrence Power Project- are providing the impetus for what may become one of the most significant economic expansions in the Northeast. By 1959, or even earlier, electric power will be flowing from the largest single hydroelectric installation east of the Rockies. Simultaneously there will come into existence a great new commercial waterway which will provide cheap transportation from the farm and industrial heartlands of the U. S. and Canada to the markets and resources of the world. When the Seaway is completed, vessels with five to ten times the capacity of those now using the Canadian canal system will be able to move from the Atlantic Ocean to Lake Superior.

Nov 1, 1955

By D. V. Fites

The ripper is not a new tool. In fact, it dates back as far as the Roman Empire. The Roman's ripper-mounted on wheels and shaped something like a plow-was pulled by oxen and was used to loosen the earth for the shovelers and basket carriers building the Appian Way. There are records of rippers being used in this country in railroad construction between 1860 and 1880. The tractor-mounted ripper, introduced a little over ten years ago, extended the capability of the ripper because of greatly improved maneuverability and the additional weight which could be brought to bear upon the ripper tooth. Increases through the last ten years in tractor weight and horsepower further increased ripper capability until now, in some geographic areas, hardly any rock is unchallenged by them.

Jan 12, 1967

INTERNAL The year 1976 was another outstanding year in the operation of the Institute and in the success of its varied activities. Total AIME membership reached 59,773 for a gain of. 6.4 percent. Total revenue increased to $5,111,2 10, up 22.4 percent, and balance sheet assets increased to $8,479,612, up 12.2 percent from the previous year. AIME and its constituent units conducted 30 technical meetings during the year, and attendance was up at most of them. Publications issued by the Constituent Societies continued a healthy growth. During the year 9 new local Sections were established, and at the end of the year the Institute had 150 Sections, with 19 of them overseas. Details on all of these operations are on pages 2 and 3 of this report.

Jan 4, 1977

By Lombard Squires, W. K. Lewis, W. I. Thompson

Clays consist predominantly of hydrated silicates of alumina. The formula is frequently assumed to be A1203 . 2Si02 . 2H20,'and certain of I. North Carolina. Low plasticity. 11. Same as I, after washing. Low plasticity. III. Tennessee. Good plasticity. IV. Pennsylvania flint fireclay. Low plasticity. V. Laredo, Texas. Very plastic. CaO/Na2O corrected for GO2. VI. San Antonio, Texas. Fine grained, highly plastic. Moisture and CO2 were determined together at 18.8 per cent. VII. Selected crude bentonite, California. " Data from R. Ries: Clays. John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1927. them undoubtedly have substantially this composition, but in general the ratio of silica to alumina is considerably higher. However, they always contain water of chemical constitution, as shown by Table 1.

Jan 1, 1935

By W. B. Agocs

In August 1954 a low altitude test geophysical survey was made in the Green Pond area of Morris County, New Jersey, with a Gulf Research and Development Co. Model I1 total magnetic field variation magnetometer mounted in a Sikorsky S-55 helicopter. The test was made in this area to compare the results of a high precision, very low altitude magnetometer survey with an existing ground magnetic survey in this area having known magnetite concentrations, so that the method could be used in areas of difficult access for the detailing of airborne magnetometer anomalies of interest in place of ground surveys. The load capacity of the Sikorsky S-55 permitted installation of a recording scintillation counter so that a radioactivity survey would be made simultaneously with the magnetometer survey.

Nov 1, 1955

By Alec M. Crowell, Thomas D. Bailey

Although natural gas was first discovered in Northwest Arkansas in 1887, . near Fort Smith, Sebastian County, the literature contains very little information on the region, which is separated distinctly from the oil area of Southern Arkansas. For that reason this brief and concise report is a summary of developments from discovery to the present time. Northwest Arkansas produced 5,736,-ooo,ooo cu. ft. of natural gas during 1942, the trend of production having been generally upward over the past five years, as is shown in Fig. I. Since 1904 a reserve of 237 billion cubic feet of natural gas has been discovered in Northwest Arkansas, of which approximately 162 billion cubic feet have been expended, leaving a reserve of approximately 75 billion cubic feet available as of Jan. 1, 1943. A prolific new field discovered in Pope County Oct. 23, 1942, will add to the reserve of the region materially. Per well reserves, over-all, are unusually high because of the practice of multiple completion. As yet no commercial deposits of oil have been discovered in Northwest Arkansas. but the gas deposits have proved of immense value industrially, principally in the processing of zinc ore mined in the local area as well as that imported from distant states. With the war, new interest in the exploitation of the metallic ores of the region lends new significance to the gas reserves tabulated herein. Geological Discussion The region covered in this report comprises the Arkansas Valley from Pope County weslward to the Arkansas-Oklahoma state line as shown in Fig. 2. This valley is a westward trending structural trough with sharp-topped ridges and mesa-like mountains rising above the valley's undulating surface. It is bounded on the north by the Ozark Highlands and on the south by the Ouachita Mountains. The sedimentary beds of the Arkansas Valley are composed mainly of noniossil-iferous shales and sandstones. The rocks contain a high content of carbonaceous material and many coal beds are found in the region. The Gxed carbon ratios (ratio of fixed carbon to volatile combustible matter of surface coals) are very high and average about 80 per cent over the region covered in this report. Little or no calcareous material is present. Rocks of the Arkansas Valley are sharply folded, and igneous intrusive rocks cut the sedimentary beds at a few places. The Arkansas Geological Survey' made a detailed reconnaissance survey of the Arkansas Valley province in 1927, the purpose being to delineate the major structural features (Fig. 3) and to point out the possibilities of discovering addi. tional gas deposits. More than fifty anticlines were mapped as a result of this survey. The information gained by this

Jan 1, 1943

By Thomas D. Bailey, Alec M. Crowell

Although natural gas was first discovered in Northwest Arkansas in 1887, . near Fort Smith, Sebastian County, the literature contains very little information on the region, which is separated distinctly from the oil area of Southern Arkansas. For that reason this brief and concise report is a summary of developments from discovery to the present time. Northwest Arkansas produced 5,736,-ooo,ooo cu. ft. of natural gas during 1942, the trend of production having been generally upward over the past five years, as is shown in Fig. I. Since 1904 a reserve of 237 billion cubic feet of natural gas has been discovered in Northwest Arkansas, of which approximately 162 billion cubic feet have been expended, leaving a reserve of approximately 75 billion cubic feet available as of Jan. 1, 1943. A prolific new field discovered in Pope County Oct. 23, 1942, will add to the reserve of the region materially. Per well reserves, over-all, are unusually high because of the practice of multiple completion. As yet no commercial deposits of oil have been discovered in Northwest Arkansas. but the gas deposits have proved of immense value industrially, principally in the processing of zinc ore mined in the local area as well as that imported from distant states. With the war, new interest in the exploitation of the metallic ores of the region lends new significance to the gas reserves tabulated herein. Geological Discussion The region covered in this report comprises the Arkansas Valley from Pope County weslward to the Arkansas-Oklahoma state line as shown in Fig. 2. This valley is a westward trending structural trough with sharp-topped ridges and mesa-like mountains rising above the valley's undulating surface. It is bounded on the north by the Ozark Highlands and on the south by the Ouachita Mountains. The sedimentary beds of the Arkansas Valley are composed mainly of noniossil-iferous shales and sandstones. The rocks contain a high content of carbonaceous material and many coal beds are found in the region. The Gxed carbon ratios (ratio of fixed carbon to volatile combustible matter of surface coals) are very high and average about 80 per cent over the region covered in this report. Little or no calcareous material is present. Rocks of the Arkansas Valley are sharply folded, and igneous intrusive rocks cut the sedimentary beds at a few places. The Arkansas Geological Survey' made a detailed reconnaissance survey of the Arkansas Valley province in 1927, the purpose being to delineate the major structural features (Fig. 3) and to point out the possibilities of discovering addi. tional gas deposits. More than fifty anticlines were mapped as a result of this survey. The information gained by this

Jan 1, 1943

By H. H. Stout

IN the early fall of 1025, the writer was conducting, in the Ledoux and Co. labora-tory, New York, experiments directed to-ward ascertaining the effect on its impurity content when cathode copper was subjected to a current of various gases at an elevated temperature below the melting point. The apparatus consisted of a vertical I-in. dia. silica tube about 12 in. long, heated on the outside. The cathodes were broken to pass 3/8-in. mesh, and a current of various differ-ent gases was passed up through a 4-in. long column of these loose cathode particles in the vertical tube furnace. Temperature was maintained to 1500° to 1600°F. and the gas treatments lasted from 3 to 6 hr. The writer observed that whenever reducing gas (H2 or CO) was used, these cathode par-ticles stuck together at points of contact with each other. The cohesion was so marked and tenacious that an examination was made of the fractured surfaces, when cathode particles were broken from the cluster. Crystal growth was always found to have taken place across the surfaces where separate particles were in contact, but only after all oxides, sulphates, etc., had been completely removed. The idea of a possible new process was then conceived and was disclosed to A. M. Smoot (V. P. Ledoux and Co.) with intent to obtain his views. The first conception as given Smoot was "to gas-clean broken cathodes, put them in an extrusion press, solidify and extrude them at around 1500°F." Smoot's reaction, after a few moments considera-tion, was, "It looks perfectly all right to me." The writer and his assistants, W. H. Osborn and H. H. Stout, Jr., after confer-ring as to ways and means, decided to go ahead with preliminary laboratory experi-ments, which, it was thought, would move the new process from the possible to the probable. This program followed a course indicated by three basic considerations: I. Since brittle cathodes were often unin-tentionally produced, it seemed probable that the laws controlling this type of deposi-tion could be ascertained. 2. We had already proved the gas-clean-ing feature. 3. There remained to prove: whether a sound, homogeneous metal billet could be produced with crystal growth established over the entire surface of each individual particle in the billet; and, if so, what would be the physical properties? Osborn arranged with Columbia Uni-versity for conducting experiments in its research laboratory to prove or disprove the third item; Columbia assigned C. A. Phillipi, Jr. to assist in the project. A press with a cylinder 2 in. high and of I-in. dia. was used. It was surrounded and heated by a resistance coil of Nichrome wire. Broken tough cathodes were used.

Jan 1, 1940

FOR four years your Committee has been engaged in the study of problems connected with the educational preparation of professional geophysicists. The present report represents the conclusions drawn from the investigations and deliberations undertaken since it was first organized. These studies have shown that the evolution of geophysics has proceeded along lines that differed from those marking the advance of classical geology. The latter science developed as a descriptive one, dealing with directly observable terrestrial phenomena, and the elementary, rational explanations that could be offered therefor. The fact that these phenomena were also chemical and physical in nature was seldom given more than passing acknowledgment. During the last half century, however, a new approach to problems of terrestrial phenomena has become of greater significance. This new attack has come through the sciences of physics and chemistry, as the people trained therein have investigated the facts of the earth as problems in their respective sciences. This development has been chiefly at the hands of European investigators, and European universities have long recognized it by establishing departments or institutions of geophysics. In the universities of North America, their arbitrary departmentalization into fields of physics, chemistry, astronomy, geology, etc., has prevented the academic recognition of such domains of science as geophysics and geochemistry. In consequence, the development of these subjects in the United States has been largely at the hands of nonacademic institutions, while the universities themselves are evidently in a state of confusion as to how the subject should be handled. In some places an attempt to teach geophysics is made in the physics department, in others in the geology department, in some in the engineering school, and occasionally as a cooperative effort; a Department of Geophysics is seldom found in North America. In some instances, proper academic planning has been precluded by interdepartmental jealousies, or by lack of appreciation of the significance of the subject. For the background upon which these conclusions are based, the reader is referred to reports previously issued or sponsored by your Committee. These reports are available from Institute Headquarters. The "First Report of the A.I.M.E. Mineral Industry Education Division's Committee of Geophysics Education, 1939," summarizes the replies received to question-

Jan 1, 1942

By AIME

WE produce Charles Van Ormer "Charlie" Millikan as living proof that man need not make a loud noise to be heard. His quietly affable, analytical, and soft-spoken manner in the face of all problems belies his ability to "get tough" when the situation demands it. As a chief engineer with many responsibilities for the success of a large producing company there must have been many occasions to tempt Charlie to excitement, but there are few, if any, who can say they saw him yield. He has an abiding faith in the benefits of hard and persistent work and will not admit the existence of a problem that cannot be reduced by it.

Jan 1, 1948