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By R. Scot Clark

The reactively sputtered silicon dioxide capacitor -was developed for use in the monolithic integrated circuit, thereby requiring the capacitor to be fabricated on an oxidized silicon slice. The silicon dioxide film is formed by reactively sputtering silicon in a 50 pct Ar-50 pct 0, atmosphere and the physical properties are indistinguishable from silica. A practical upper limit of capacitance per unit area of 0.25 pf per sq mil is reached with the capacitors fabricated from the Si0, film. Methods shown to enhance this value are double stacking the thin-film capacitors and addition of aluminum to the silicon cathode during sputtering to form an aluminosilicate dielectric. A major contribution to the field of diffused integrated circuits would be the addition of auxiliary passive devices for replacement of diffused passive devices which are currently being fabricated for many integrated circuits. This accomplishment would increase the flexibility of the diffusion process in order to concentrate more on transistor parameters rather than on fabricating diffused resistors and capacitors. To pursue this technique, a thin-film SiOz capacitor was developed which has _ proven applicable to many integrated circuits. Although the SiOl capacitor has an application, the major deterrent from extending the integrated circuit into many useful areas such as low-frequency linear application is the low dielectric constant of SiO, and the low usable capacitance in an integrated circuit. This paper will cover the sputtering techniques used for forming the SiO, film, the physical and electrical properties of sputtered SiO,, and yield information concerning the application of these capacitors to integrated circuits. REACTIVE SPUTTERING Reactive sputtering is simply the sputtering of a metal or semiconductor in glow discharge in the presence of a reactive gas. The material to be sputtered is seen in Fig. 1 as the cathode of the system and is bombarded with positively charged ions of the ambient gas. In this investigation, the ambient gas is composed of 50 pct Ar and 50 pct O2 at a pressure of approximately 2.5 X l0-' Torr. The ions are accelerated toward the cathode in the cathode dark space by the electric field and upon striking the cathode effect a momentum energy transfer to the surface atoms. The transferred energy is sufficient to dislodge a surface atom or atoms and these particles diffuse through the glow discharge to the collector or anode. Several mechanisms of oxidation in the reaction chamber can be considered during reactive sputtering. 1) The surface of the cathode is oxidized and the oxide is subsequently sputtered. 2) Oxidation and sputtering occur simultaneously. 3) Sputtering of the cathode material is followed

Jan 1, 1965

By N. I. Fisher, J. Shepherd

Statistical studies have been carried out on structural geological data collected across a large zone of roof failure 600 m (1968 ft) wide and at least 800 m (2642 ft) long in the Greta coal seam at Aberdare East Colliery. Two swarms of hundreds of minor, normal faults with throws commonly between 3 and 300 mm in the room and pillar workings are broadly coincident with roof failure. The faults have been classified into dip slip and oblique and strike slip types. Roof conditions have been classified into good; troublesome with subclasses scaly, heavy, gutter falls and wide, flat-roofed falls; and severely failed with subclasses very heavy roof, gutter falls and dome falls. Troublesome conditions are defined as those in which the height of the fall is less than or equal to 0.3 m, and severely failed conditions as those in which the fall height is greater than 0.3 m. Comparison of faults, roof condition and mining rate on a shift basis indicates that faults and roof failure are much more important than machine breakdowns in reducing mining rate. The effect of faults on roof conditions has been quantified using a concept called the "zone of influence," a rectangular area around a fault in which the fault has potentially deleterious effects. The spatial comparison of fault "zones of influence" with areas of roof failure wing Spearman's rank correlation coefficient shows that, while normal dip slip faults do not appear to be associated with roof failure, oblique slip and strike slip faults appear to be associated with roof classed as severely failed. The "zone of influence" of an oblique slip fault may extend up to 3 m on each side of it in the headings and up to 1.14 m in the cut-throughs. The fault "zone of influence" has geomechanical implications for the design of mine openings and Possibly represents the maximum length of a cantilevered roof beam likely to fail during mining, owing to a fault. Roof conditions could Possibly be predicted in blocks of &gin coal if the type of fault could be identified in oriented drill cores.

Jan 1, 1979

By Blamey Stevens

(Butte Meeting, August, 1913.) THE following paper aims to make a full explanation of the phenomena of rock jointing: It may be unnecessary to give any general description of what are termed joints in rocks, but Professor Geikie's clear and faithful generalizations are so illuminating that no excuse need be given. for introducing the following and other quotations into this paper "Almost all rocks are traversed by vertical or highly inclined divisional planes termed joints. These have been regarded as due in some way to contraction during consolidation (fissures of retreat) ; and this is no doubt their origin in innumerable cases. But, on the other hand, their frequent regularity and persistence across materials of very varying texture suggest rather the effects of internal pressure and movement within the crust." 1 General Explanation.-In this paper I show that the phenomenon of jointing may to a large extent be accounted for by the pressure of the water contained in the pores of the rock. To understand this, each constituent grain of the porous material may be considered to be separately compressed by the water which submerges it. As all the grains are held together by cohesion, the whole mass is contracted by this pressure. In an indefinitely extended mass, however, there must be a limit to the possible contraction without rupture, because the material is restrained from moving freely by other material around its boundaries. The mass of rock thus becomes broken up. This phenomenon is known as '" shrinkage " jointing. The term " shrinkage " is an apt one, if it be understood that the shrinkage of the rock is often brought about by change of stress. Stresses.-The compressive component of water stress on the individual grains is evidently the same as that of the water with which it is in contact. This is so, both before and after the jointing is formed. Before the jointing is formed there is, however, a tensile stress in one or more directions which keeps the material from contracting. .

Jan 7, 1913

By G. E. Anderson

The Asientos-Tepezala district is in the north of the State of Aguasca-lientes, about 30 miles north of the city of Aguascalientes, the capital. The district is reached by a standard-gage railway on the west side through the junction, Rincon de Romos, which is on the main line of the National Railways of Mexico from El Paso to Aguscalientes. The terminal is Tepezala. On the east side a narrow gage connects Asientos with the junction, San Gil, on the main line, Asientos to San Luis Potosi. Tepezala on the west side of the Asientos hills is about 2 miles from Asientos on the east side. The area between the two mining centers is separated by a low subdued divide which forms the central part of the hills. The district is in a group of isolated hills surrounded by characteristic bolsón plains. The hills rise above the surrounding plains about 6500 to 10,000 ft.; the highest peak is Alta Mira. The two mining districts lie somewhat upon the flanks of the hills at about the same elevation, 7200 ft. The district is an old one and has been known since early in the 17th Century when the mines were worked by the Franciscan Monks. Their mining operations, which were limited to the oxidized ore above the water level, consisted chiefly in extracting silver from the Santa Francisca vein. To judge from the old workings and the remains of surface plant, the operations were on a large scale. By modern mining operations since about 1900, the various mines of the district have been one of the principal sourees of ore for the smelter located at Aguascalientes. Topography The topographic features of the Asientos hills are largely controlled by the character of the underlying rocks. During the Tertiary period, the entire group of hills was probably covered by extrusive volcanic material in the form of cones and lava flows. The central part of these have since been carried away by erosion, so that remnants have been left along the borders of the hills. These remnants form rather conspicuous peaks,

Jan 1, 1927

By Lester C. Uren

Tars paper reviews the industrial trends and changes in educational concepts that have led to the development of the modern petroleum engineering curriculum. A trend toward emphasis on engineering fundamentals is noted. While most universities are committed to the traditional four-year engineering program, it is agreed that more than four years is necessary for academic preparation of the petroleum engineer in all phases of his profession. The author proposes a coordinated program of undergraduate and graduate training that will permit of adherence to the general pattern of the present four-year engineering course, with provision for extension of the program into specialized graduate courses of professional character. In the latter, emphasis may vary with the interests and objectives of the individual student. A specific undergraduate curriculum is proposed in which upward of 80 per cent of the available time is devoted to engineering fundamentals. A broad survey of the professional field is afforded in courses grouped in the third and fourth undergraduate years, but detailed treatment of the professional aspects of petroleum engineering is reserved for the graduate program. INTRODUCTION Of necessity, engineering curricula must ever be changing to reflect the new techniques, the changing concepts that are presented as the engineering industries develop and unfold. Particularly is this true of the younger engineering curricula representing comparatively new and rapidly changing industries such as the petroleum industry. Institutions that planned their petroleum engineering curricula a decade or two ago now find that the petroleum industry has become vastly more technical in its requirements. En¬tirely new methods and techniques have come into vogue and must be given place in the curriculum, and some of these are of a character that demands changing emphasis in the fundamental preparatory subjects. College and university faculties cannot complacently assume that curricula in this field that were considered appropriate 10 or 20 years ago still reflect the needs of the industry that they are designed to serve. If they do, their graduates will be poorly equipped to meet the requirements imposed upon them by a rapidly changing industry. Perhaps it is not too much to expect academic authorities to anticipate the trends of industry and equip their graduates with what they will need to attain leadership 10 or 20 years after graduation. Whether or not this desirable objective is possible, there is no excuse for allowing curricula to fall behind the current needs of industry. DURATION OF CURRICULUM The majority of our engineering schools and colleges still adhere to the four-year curricula and there appears to be a definite sentiment among many engineers engaged in industry that work should be so planned that the engineering student may secure the essential academic preparation for his profession in a terminal four-year program. Yet, in recent years, it has become increasingly apparent that four years of

Jan 1, 1941

By G. W. Binkley, G. K. Dumbauld, F. A. Brooks, B. E. Morgan

In recent years, oil well cementing compositions have been developed with low densities, controlled set strengths, and satisfactory thickening times. With the introduction of the permanent-type well completion method for cementing wells, another property—that of rate of filtration or water loss to permeable formations— has become important. Laboratory data show that cement slurries prepared with oil, water, bentonite, and calcium lignosulfonate possess satisfactory thickening times, strengths, and filtration properties for primary cementing of casing and for squeeze cementing with the permanent-type well completion technique. Cementing compositions have been prepared with oil-in-water emulsions varying in composition from 60 cc water and 20 cc oil per 100 gm cement to 90 cc water and 45 cc oil per 100 gm cement. These compositions have contained from 0.4 to 5.0 per cent calcium lignosulfonate by weight of dry cement. Slurries prepared from these compositions weigh 11.4 to 13.1 lb/ga1 and have filtration rates of from 10 cc to approximately 100 cc in 30-min API tests at room temperature. The unfiltered emulsion cements develop one-day tensile strengths of 60 to 220 psi; and the filtered mass sets to tensile strengths of 60 to 150 psi in 12 hours and develops strengths of 320 to 515 psi in seven days when cured at 125° F. Field experience gained from 13 field mixing jobs demonstrates the utility of the emulsion cement for permanent-type squeeze cementing operations. INTRODUCTION In recent years, research in oil well cementing composition has been directed toward the development of cements having low densities, controlled set strengths, satisfactory thickening times, and low rates of water loss by filtration. Two well cementing compositions that have been developed with these properties are the modified cements containing, respectively, 12 and 25 per cent bentonite clay and various concentrations of calcium lignosulfonate1,2 In a search for other ways to incorporate these characteristics in a cementing composition, consideration was given to the rheological properties of oil-emulsion drilling fluids. Many of the desirable properties observed in oil-emulsion drilling fluids are equally advantageous in a cementing composition. For example, low water loss by filtration and low density, which are inherent characteristics of these oil-in-water emulsions, are desirable for many oil well cementing operations. Furthermore, oil-emulsion slurries have lubricating properties similar to those of oil-emulsion muds, a factor which should provide ease of rotation of casing during primary cementing operations. The properties of lubrication and low filtration may be of special value in both primary and squeeze cementing operations encountered in slim-hole drilling. Studies in the preparation of oil emulsion systems have pointed out the need for violent agitation in order to disperse the oil into the water phase. It was thought, therefore,

Jan 1, 1957

By Oscar A. Glaeser

It is common knowledge that the iron orebodies of the Mesabi Range lie nearly horizontal and are of trough or blanketlike types. These orebodies are from a few feet to several hundred feet thick and vary from a few acres in extent to the size of the largest one, at Hibbing, Minn., which is over 1 mile wide and 3 miles long. They are covered with sand, boulder and clay overburden and occasionally shallow depths of ledge material, varying in total depth from about 20 to 200 ft. Large areas are not capped with overlying ledge material; the top of the ore lies directly underneath the surface material. Because of the comparatively great tonnage of ore, open-pit mining has made tremendous strides since the first open-pit ore was shipped from this range by the Merritt brothers, from the Mountain iron mine in October, 1892, and along with the great development of open-pit mining on the Mesabi Range has gone a tremendous change in the character of. equipment used. Early Stripping Operations The first stripping at the Burt mine at Hibbing, Minn., started in 1902. The engineers spent a long time in selecting the most suitable location for a small pit area, involving a stripping contract of 350,000 cu. yd. This property afterwards had several million yards of stripping and several million tons of ore removed from it, but inasmuch as it was the first open pit of the Oliver Iron Mining Co. in this district it was necessary to try several different locations for the small pit area, to uncover maximum tonnage and the best grade of ore so as to sell the idea of open-pit mining and discontinue the underground operation then going on. The writer's first open-pit work on the Mesabi Range was in 1903 as an Oliver company mining engineer on a stripping job of 1,500,000 cu. yd. at the Monroe mine, Chisholm, Minn. Here the contractor, an old-timer used to railroad methods, was, to a small extent, using teams of horses hitched to 2-yd. narrow-gage cars and hauling the stripping material from the pit area to outside of the pit limits. The dirt thus moved was loaded by hand. The same contractor was also using 60-ton and 70-ton railroad-type shovels with dippers of 21/2 and

Jan 1, 1930

By Frank Wartman

RECENTLY Horace Freeman1 obtained a patent on a successful method of conducting a roasting procedure described as to general features by Carl Schnabel2 almost forty years ago. Essentially, the Freeman process of roasting consists in introducing the finely powdered sulfide mineral, suspended in air or any other suitable gaseous medium, into the upper portion of a heated chamber. The stream of suspended particles is directed vertically downward. A counter-current stream of gas introduced at the bottom of the chamber flows upward. The mineral particles are oxidized as they fall through the heated atmosphere of the chamber. All air required for the oxidation may be admitted either at the top or the bottom of the chamber, or may be divided between the top and bottom inlets in any desired proportion. Heat may be recovered by passing the gases leaving the furnace through a waste-heat boiler or other form of interchanger. In speaking of the results obtained in roasting pyrite, Freeman says:3 Steam yield from the boiler exceeds 1 pound of steam per pound of pyrite con-sumed, which pays the cost of operation of the burner. The oxide produced is in the form of fused particles or hollow shells of magnetite, containing about 65 per cent of iron. It contains the gangue material ordinarily produced in flotation concentrate, of course, but it is being found that most of this can be eliminated by magnetic separa-tion, and that the sulfur content, as consistently produced, is below 0.2 percent. This material is especially interesting as a high-grade iron ore, free from phosphorus and low in sulfur. It may be sintered or briquetted. It is even more interesting as a raw material for sponge-iron production, to be directly smelted in electric furnaces without the usual cooling of the iron powder and magnetic separation between the reducing kiln and the electric furnace.

Jan 1, 1933

By Louis Huber

DESPITE the fact that centrifugal fans were first developed for ventilating mines and that artificial ventilation was first practiced in mines, the lack of knowledge of mining men on mine ventilation in general, and on fan performances and characteristics in particular, is very much in evidence today. While it is true that mines are much better ventilated now than they were 20 to 30 years ago, we have made very little progress in the study of mine ventilation, or in mine ventilating fan design. Today the average mine operator is woefully dependent on the engineers of mine fan manufacturers when he is in the market for a fan, and this situation works to the disadvantage of both the operator and the manufacturer. The former may be imposed upon by an unscrupulous sales engineer and induced to buy a fan which is not the proper one for the mine; when it is operating it may be wasteful of power and even accessory to a serious mine disaster. More often, however, it is the fan manufacturer who is imposed on. If the operator asks the manufacturer to build for him a fan that will deliver a certain quantity of air against a certain specified pressure and requiring a specified number of horse power when operating under these conditions, the manufacturer may build a fan that will comply with these specifications to the letter. When the fan is installed it is frequently found that it is delivering a greater quantity of air against a lesser pressure or a lesser quantity of air against a greater pressure, and is requiring more horse power than specified in the first case and less than that specified in the second. In either case the operator usually upbraids the manufacturer for not meeting specifications, and refuses to pay for the fan. The trouble in either case outlined above is that the pressure necessary to force the specified quantity of air through the mine has been estimated incorrectly by the operator or his engineers. When a fan is designed and built to deliver a certain quantity of air against a certain specified resistance it will operate at its maximum efficiency only when it is operating under

Jan 2, 1926

By P. H. Bohart

THe answer to the title question will be found by considering the ultimate influence of the petroleum engineers on industry and by considering the tools with which petroleum engineers must be equipped. Some 2000 to 3000 petroleum engineers are being absorbed by the industry yearly, indicating the magnitude of influence which they may exert on the industry. The petroleum industry is a highly technical one and it is inevitable that management be entrusted more and more to executives with technical training. The industry, therefore, expects the petroleum engineering schools to provide a broad basic training and a social and economic orientation which goes beyond merely supplying the minimum technical qualifications necessary to discharge responsibilities for a particular job. Because of the many branches of industry, emphasis must be placed on the Student's being trained in fundamentals, as well as grounded in other engineering branches, such as mechanical, civil and electrical engineering. The petroleum engineering graduate must know how to outline and organize the material for an engineering report and should be thoroughly grounded in English, both written and spoken. Even to the end that a five-year course may be required, they should receive instructions in auxiliary cultural and social science courses, industrial relations, and public speaking. Training in the method of approach to an engineering problem is something in which industry is deeply interested. A standard of ethics, a desire to arrive at the truth, and leadership training should be stressed. Introduction The basis of an an to any ques- tion concerning the petroleum engineering schools' responsibility to the industry will be found by considering the ultimate influence of the petroleum engineers on the industry and by considering also the tools with which petroleum engineers must be equipped in order to achieve success and happiness in the role in which their training, individual talents and choice of a profession ultimately will cast them. The problem must always be considered as it relates to a large group and not as it relates to a particular individual possessing strong natural talents and destined, by virtue of them, to pursue a certain course. The question implies that petroleum engineering schools have a responsibility, and indeed they do, not only to the industry but also to the students and even to the public. Because the responsibility is concentrated in a relatively few schools whose graduates are absorbed largely by the one industry, the responsibility is more apparent and the effect of failure to discharge the responsibility fully is more serious than the effect of similar failure on the part of schools supplying a smaller portion of the industry's intake of engineering graduates. This fact is especially true with respect to an industry such as the petroleum industry whose ratio of technical to nontechnical employees is relatively high and is increasing.

Jan 1, 1948

GENTLEMEN Herewith are transmitted reports from the Treasurer and of the principal standing committees of the Institute. To these special reports members are referred for details as to the year's work. Despite the unfavorable business conditions obtaining throughout the year, the Institute was able to carry on its various activities without curtailment and without drawing on the surplus accumulated through previous years. In fact, small additions were made to the Life, Member¬ship and various other funds. It is highly desirable that such additions should continue to be made, especially to the Life Membership fund, for reasons reported last year. At present, money must be used from current receipts in order to enable the Institute to fulfill its obligations to those who on joining the organization commuted their dues by a single payment. In addition, with the passage of years the number increases of those who have paid dues forty years or more and who, by reason of age or dis¬ability, are unable longer to practise their profession. These men have supported the Institute through their active professional life and it would be a pity to lose them as members through resignation or for failure to keep up their dues. In accordance with the By-laws the Board has authority to advance such members, on application, to the Honor Roll of Senior Members and to relieve them from further payment of dues. It has been the policy of the Board to do this liberally, but to keep up this, as well as to meet other obligations, it is necessary for money to be provided. It has been estimated by the Treasurer that nearly $50,000 additional should be placed in the Life Membership fund as soon as possi¬ble to meet these obligations without using current income and to that end it is necessary, not only to avoid running behind currently but to earn, if possible, some surplus each year. The small amount transferred to the Life Membership fund from surplus this year was, as a matter of fact, made possible by certain members paying personally bills that were properly chargeable to the Treasury. Such generosity is common among those active in Institute work and probably no year would have closed with a surplus except for it.

Jan 1, 1923

By L. G. Graper, E. L. Ramsey

The present program of increased production of armament and lend-lease material for mechanized war has created a problem for the shops that must do the machining. They have naturally turned to the steel producers to provide them with a steel that can be accurately machined with the greatest possible speed. The adding of sulphur to steel as an aid to machinability has long been practiced; however, it may cause red shortness in rolling and may result in billets with seams and cracks, which must be removed before rolling can be continued. This conditioning of billets slows down production and adds to the cost of making steel. Experience with various grades of sulphur steel made to different specifications has shown that Bessemer sulphur steels roll better than similar grades made in the open hearth, and also that low-carbon steels that are open or semikilled as tapped roll better than completely deoxidized or killed steels. This has led to the belief that oxygen plays an important part in the rolling qualities of sulphur-bearing steels. It is generally held that the red shortness of sulphur steels is due to the low melting point of the sulphide compounds that separate out at the grain boundaries when the steel solidifies. At the rolling temperature of steel these sulphide compounds melt and cause cracking. Adding Sulphur as a Sulphite These difficulties can be avoided if sulphur is introduced into the stecl by means of an anhydrous sulphite, such as sodium sulphite or sodium bisulphite, which—upon decomposition—forms sulphur dioxide. It is assumed that, in this case, the oxygen of the sulphur dioxide forms part of the sulphide inclusions in the steel, and raises their solidification temperature enough so that the formation in the steel of a low-melting eutectic is prevented. The result is the prevention of hot shortness and a more uniform distribution of inclusions. Fig. I shows photomicrographs of steels made with sulphur, while Fig. 2 illustrates the structure of steels made with sodium bisulphite. These samples were cut from the steels as cast—that is, before rolling— and were polished and lightly etched to bring out the grain boundaries. Fig. I shows that sulphide inclusions segregate more or less at the grain boundaries, and it can be seen how the continuity of these low-melting inclusions would cause red shortness. Fig. 2 shows that the sulphide inclusions arc more or less uniformly distributed throughout the matrix. This arrangement of inclusions has no apparent effect on the rolling qualities of a steel. This statement has been substantiated by the observation of the rolling of over 6000 tons of steel made with a sulphite addition. Results As stated before, the sulphur dioxide is added to steel by means of the decomposi- 27

Jan 1, 1942

By Richard A. Walker, John P. Hager

The thermodynamic properties of the Pb-Au system have been determined between 750" and 1075°C by means of the cell Mo, Pb(1) |(PbO-SiO2){l) , SiO2(s) |Pb-Au(1), Mo The activities of lead and gold exhibit negative deviations from ideal behavior; the values of ? pb and ? the raoultain activity coefficients at infinite dilution, being 0.24 and 0.25, respectively, at 1200°K. The liquidus curve for the gold-rich region of the Pb-Au phase diagram has been determined from measure-ments on seven alloy compositions in the two phase region (liquid + Au(s)). The standard free energies of formation of Au2O(l) and Ag2O (1) have been estimated from cell measurements obtained by replacing the alloy electrode with pure liquid gold and silver. A new integral molar heat of mixing curve for the liquid Pb-Au system is presented and the results of previous studies discussed. The contribution of HM to FE was found to be small relative to TSE. THE use of galvanic cells of the type A(l) |A+Za|A - B(l) [I] provides an accurate means for the thermodynamic study of liquid alloy systems. In Part 1&apos; it was shown that cells of type [I] may be extended to higher temperatures and to a wider range of alloy systems if the ion A+Za is incorporated in an appropriate molten oxide phase, rather than in the classical fused salt electrolyte. In the following investigation the experimental method is extended to an investigation of the thermo-dynamic properties of the Pb-Au system by use of the cell: Mo, Pb(l) | (PbO-SiO2)(l), SiO2(S) |Pb-Au(l), Mo [] Previous measurements on liquid Pb-Au alloys were obtained by Kleppa2 by electromotive force measurements on a galvanic cell involving a molten chloride electrolyte. These measurements were confined to temperatures less than 830°C and compositions with X Pb > 0.2 because of the instability of the cell at higher temperatures. Later measurements by Kleppa3 on the heats of formation in the composition range 0.67 < Xpb < 0.98 were not consistent with the results by electromotive force measurement. The purpose of the present study is to extend the temperature and composition range of the thermodynamic properties and to obtain an independent measure of the integral molar heat of mixing over the entire composition range.

Jan 1, 1970

By L. P. Teas

Although 1930 has been a year of stagnation, proration and curtailment, the Gulf Coast has measured up to its tradition in the matter of interesting and significant discoveries. Only 2 domes and 7 new structural areas were brought into the producing column in 1930, whereas, in 1929, 13 domes and one structure were added to this list, yet a total of 14 new producing horizons were proved on various domes and structures. On 5 domes new flanks were successfully tested for commercial production. The year 1930 has shown at Barber&apos;s Hill that oil in commercial quantities may exist below salt or cap. Numerous wells have been drilled through cap, or even salt itself, into good producing sands. The past year has been particularly notable in the interest and in the number of deep holes drilled. Two wells have gone below 8000 ft. in each of the states of Texas and Louisiana, and in the two states together 14 wells have gone below 7000 ft At the beginning of the year only one well was producing below 6000 ft. in coastal Texas, while at its end, 19 wells were producing or had produced. Geophysical discoveries and activity on the Coast have waned and this type of work has moved further inland. The peaks of production at Pettus, Barber&apos;s Hill, Raccoon Bend, Refugio, Orchard and at Humble, in Texas; and at Lake Barre, Port Barre, Black Bayou, White Castle and Vinton in Louisiana, were seen this year. These were new peaks for Humble and Vinton, of course, these fields having previously gone through periods of peak flank production. In Table 1 the completions listed are for the entire month of December in both years. It is remarkable that in 1930, a year of overproduction and proration, there were actually more wildcat operations at its end than at the end of 1929; but it is gratifying that the operations in the proven fields were exactly one-half what they had been at the end of 1929. The price of A grade coastal crude, or oil below 25" Bé., has been cut from $1.30 at the beginning of the year to $1.00 at its close; and B grade, or oil above 25o Bé., has been reduced from a price range of $1.15 to $1.63 down to a range of from $0.75 to $1.22. In spite of these reductions there has been no proration program on the Coast. Systematic

Jan 1, 1931

By G. H. Tausch, J. R. Dublin, T. A. Huber

Simplified equipment and techniques have been developed to permit cementing a completion interval in a well and recompleting higher, lower, or at the same depth in such a manner as to: 1. Eliminate the need for a conventional drilling or workover rig. 2. Eliminate mud and other cement contaminants which have long interferred with ideal cementing. 3. Eliminate need for drilling out cement. 4. Provide a more satisfactory recompletion. 5. Provide a more economical recompletion. This technique involves the use of a small-diameter, lightweight, tubing extension which is run on a wireline and set in a landing nipple previously installed in the tubing string. Low squeeze pressure and small cement volumes, with their attendant cost reduction, are successfully used when wells are completed and reworked with salt water or other penetrating fluids. Relatively low-water-loss cement is an integral component of the technique which provides that excess cement be reverse-circulated from the well to leave the casing void of cement when recompleting lower or in the same interval. Substantial cost reductions are realized by using the simplified or low-pressure cementing technique, and the ratio of successful squeeze-cement operations has been increased. Squeeze-cementing or recementing is the act of filling a channel behind casing or filling holes purposely placed in the casing. To obtain a satisfactory squeeze-cement job, it is necessary only to fill the channel or the perforation holes with a cement filter cake and to allow it to harden in that position. In the past, the presence of mud in a well has been considered the chief deterrent to obtaining a good cement bond and satisfactory cement job; however, late developments in squeeze-cementing have made it possible to eliminate cement contamination or interference. Since it is possible to form a cement filter cake with a small pressure differential, squeeze-cementing with high pressures may not be necessary in most cases. The amount of cement needed to fill the annulus about the casing and even to fill part of the casing, if necessary, is generally small in quantity. Use of low squeeze-cementing pressures and small quantities of cement provides the following advantages: 1. Longer effective life of well tubing, casing, and other equipment; and less chance of costly equipment failure due to excessive pressure. 2. Monetary savings effected by elimination of retainers and specal squeeze-cementing tools. 3. Monetary savings effected by use of small quantities of cement and fewer squeeze-cementing operations. 4. Future surface squeeze-cementing equipment may be smaller and more economical to operate and maintain.

Jan 1, 1955

By Philip D. Wilson

IT has been my privilege to read the article prepared by R. S. Dean entitled "Production of Alumina from Low-Grade Domestic Materials" which appears on another page of this issue. Dr. Dean should be congratulated on the preparation of such an erudite and scholarly dissertation on bauxite and on the work which the Bureau of Mines has been doing in connection with the development of processes to use low-grade domestic materials.

Jan 1, 1943

By John W. Vanderwilt

THE Climax district is in northeastern Lake County, Colorado, on Fremont Pass (elevation 11,320 ft.) where the continental divide runs east-west joining high peaks of the Mosquito Range with the Sawatch Range, prominent ranges of the central Rocky Mountains. The mining towns of Leadville and Kokomo are thirteen miles to the south and seven miles to the northwest, respectively. Good highways lead to Denver (100 miles) by way of Kokomo, Loveland Pass, and Idaho Springs, and to Colorado Springs by way of Leadville. The ore deposit and mine are about one mile east of Fremont Pass and 600 ft. higher on the southwestern flank of Bartlett Mountain, a peak in the Mosquito Range. The molybdenite deposit lies within the Colorado mineral belt extending across the Rocky Mountains from Jamestown and Boulder to Silverton and Telluride. (See Fig. 1.) Fremont Pass is a broad open divide separating the drainage of the Tenmile River (Pacific) from that of the East Fork of the Arkansas River (Atlantic) ; but the mountains to the east and west are extremely rugged; altitudes in the vicinity vary from 11,000 to 14,000 ft. A conspicuous topographic feature within the district is the Tenmile Amphitheater, which lies east of Climax and

Jan 1, 1946

By Frank Foote, E. R. Jette

Precision lattice-constant measurements have been widely used in the study of cubic solid solutions but as yet have been rarely applied to noncubic solid solutions. (See, however, references I and 2.) With the high precision at present attainable in the measurement of lattice constants, the X-ray method should be readily applicable to noncubic solid solutions. In the work reported here, hexagonal close-packed magnesium was used as the solvent and either lead, bismuth or gold as the solute. In the magnesium-lead and magnesium-bismuth systems the a and c lattice constants were determined as a function of composition, densities were calculated from these lattice-constant data, these theoretical densities were compared with those directly measured and the solid solubility limit was determined on quenched specimens over a considerable range of temperature. In the magnesium-gold system, the solid solubility is very small but we have obtained an indirect check on the solubility limit previously reported. Materials and Preparation oF the Alloys The magnesium used was obtained from the Aluminum Company of America and was 99.987 per cent pure. Impurities as reported On the label were: Fe, Al, 0&apos;004 per cent; Si, 0.009 per cent; Zn, trace; Cu, Pb, nil. The bismuth was Merck&apos;s analytical grade, minimum purity 99.95 per cent. Maximum impurities as listed on the label were: Fe, 0.008 per cent; Pb, 0.010 per cent; Ag, 0.010 per cent; Cu, 0.005 per cent; Sn, 0.003 per cent; Sb, 0.00; As, 0.000; S, 0.01 per cent. The gold was purified by double precipitation with sulphur dioxide. The lattice constants of these three metals have been previously reported.3 The lead used was test lead, silver free and with a maximum of 0.10 per cent heavy metal impurities. The lattice constant 01 this lead has been measured and found to be 4.94057 ± 0.00016 at 25°C. The alloys were prepared by melting together weighed amounts of the constituent metals in magnesia-lined alundum crucibles under an atmosphere of hydrogen purified by passing over magnesium heated to 500°C. The magnesia lining prevented contamination 01 the alloys with aluminum. Vacuum melting could not be used because of the volatility of magnesium. A high-frequency induction furnace was used for the melting operation and the stirring action of the current resulted in thorough mixing of the constituents. The melts were allowed to freeze in the crucible, the ingots obtained weighed about 10 grams. An extremely thin white film formed on the surface of the melts, sometimes covering only a part of the exposed surface. The ingots were filed clean, placed in small iror crucibles with close-fitting lids and indi. vidually sealed into Pyrex glass tubes Before sealing off, the tubes were alter

Jan 1, 1941

By M. G. Cheney

Careful estimates indicate that during 1942 new discoveries and extensions in West Central Texas added oil reserves slightly in excess of the eight million barrels produced. Drilling activity fell 40 per cent below 1941 and 82 per cent below the normal drilling activity of the late 1920&apos;s. Total production for the district continued its downward trend, now being less than % of the 42.7 million barrels peak in 1921. Rapid revival of activity is not probable under existing conditions, as costs of discovery, development and operations on the average probably now exceed current market price for the oil, the latter having remained constant since the spring of I941. Costs have advanced materially since the third quarter of 1941, when reports to the Tariff Commission indicated a margin of profit of 13.3 per barrel. Physical as well as economic conditions are holding back the amount of drilling in this district. The lenticular sands are not suited to 40-acre spacing regulations. There is no surplus of experienced oil-field labor. To reduce costs, much second-hand material is used for all except the deeper wells.. Price controls have retarded movement of used equipment by prescribing maximum prices that arc too low for the better grade materizl, thus making , owners reluctant to sell. On the other hand, buyers are unwilling to pay ceiling prices asked by sellers for poor material. Seventeen new oil fields and five new gas fields were found during 1942. Extensions and deeper &apos;drilling brought favorable results in eight older fields. The most significant new developments appear to have been in Coleman, Jones, Shackelford and Taylor Counties. A 5800-ft. completion in Wise County brought this county into the producing column for the first time. None of these new discoveries can he rated above one million barrel reserve on the basis of present development. Probably the most important development was discovery of a deeper pay (Gunsight lime) in the Wimberly field of Jones County, which shows promise of producing over an area of about 1000 acres. Jones and Shackelford Counties still lead the district in total annual production. Discovery of the Reddin pool, north central Taylor County, is credited to geochemical methods, making one success out of five or more wildcats based on such methods. Geophysical surveying increased decidedly during 1942 and returns from these studies are expected during coming years. Most of the wildcatting in the district is still based on surface and subsurface geological structural mapping, study of log data as to distribution of prospective producing reservoirs, and drilling in proximity to previous showings of oil and gas. Geological debate continues as to the proper correlation of the 100 to 300 ft. of gray lime that has produced more than 100 million barrels in the Parks, Brecken-ridge, Curry, Eliasville, Ibex, Pioneer and other important fields of this district. Fossils indicate that this limestone is younger than the Atoka beds of Oklahoma. On a structural basis most geologists include this formation with the Bend but a number of paleontologists believe it is more properly classified with the Strawn.

Jan 1, 1943

By F. McIntosh Galbraith

This paper describes the use of the magnetometer, under geological direction, in exploration of the Sudbury nickel district. The writer&apos;s experience at Falconbridge has led him to the belief that only through detailed work, and by careful correlation of both geological and geophysical results, can geophysical prospecting methods be applied successfully to mining exploration problems. It is hoped that the basic technique described in the paper will be found to have general application. Introduction Within the past 20 years, geophysical methods of prospecting have become solidly established in the field of petroleum exploration. They have not, however, been similarly adopted by the mining industry, although mining is a far older craft and should be the more advanced in its technique. While, therefore, it is almost a routine matter to have geophysical surveys performed in a new area being tested for oil, a new metal-mining district is usually teeming with prospectors and promoters long before the technical man appears on the scene. Even then, only the more primitive engineering methods are customary in the early stages of exploration. Three factors are chiefly responsible for this situation, The first is the difference between oil pools and ore deposits in their geological modes of occurrence. While most of the known metallic ore bodies have been found outcropping at the surface, petroleum deposits are characteristically buried. This does not mean that all ore deposits outcrop, but neither does it mean that we should rely on "wildcatting" to discover blind ore bodies. The second factor is the relative scale of metallic lodes and accumulations of petroleum. In areal extent, a metal-bearing vein deposit is typically a much smaller geological feature than an oil pool. Presenting a narrower target, it requires closer shooting to score a direct hit. And finally, there is the need, in mining work, for close correlation of the known local geology with geophysical observations. This becomes of increasing importance as the size of the objective diminishes. A geophysical disturbance on a large enough scale will be detected under almost any circumstances and by almost any technique; without benefit of geology, however, the significance of a local anomaly may easily be misread. Campaign at Sudbury In the Sudbury nickel district of Canada, new deposits of nickel and copper have been discovered recently by magnetic methods, under geological supervision. A campaign of exploration, designed to encompass the district eventually, was set in motion in the spring of 1935. After six years, a new and important Ore body has been discovered and its continuity established to 1000 ft. in depth; several areas have been eliminated; and a number of possibilities remain to be tested. This has been accomplished with the expenditure of less than $$I50,000-—including the cost of all diamond drilling. The responsibility for carrying out this campaign was entrusted by the company to its Geological Department, and the under

Jan 1, 1946