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By Robert C. Emmett, Donald A. Dahlstrom

FOR many years gravitational classification has been employed as a basic tool in beneficiation of minerals and coal. While improvements have been made to increase efficiency and fields of application, the basic flow pattern has remained relatively unchanged in most gravitational classifiers. Feed slurry is introduced into a settling pool wherein the coarser solids settle against either an upward or horizontal fluid current, or a combination of both, and are withdrawn in a concentrated underflow stream. The finer solids below the classification point possess too low a settling velocity and thus are primarily swept out through a weir overflow by the bulk of the fluid. Because of its simplicity, efficiency, and low power and maintenance costs, gravitational classification finds a wide acceptance for separations in the range of 20 to 325 mesh. Two factors resulting from the basic flow pattern employed in gravitational classification present difficult problems for certain installations. If classification at 60 to 200 mesh of separation is desired, capacity in terms of gallons of overflow per minute per square foot of settling pool area must be low to allow required solids to settle to the underflow. If a thousand or more gal per min of feed slurry must be handled, either a very large classifier or a number of smaller units must be employed, taking up floor space and head room. Examples of this are the large classifiers, wetting tanks, or settling tanks used in the coal industry for recovery of process water from fine solids. Units as large as 50 or 60 ft in diam and 60 ft high, requiring substantial amounts of steel, are not uncommon. A second factor is the lack of self-regulation in gravitational classification. As overflow rate increases, mesh of separation increases correspond-ingly. This normally heightens difficulties of bene-ficiation. If a fine mesh of separation is required at varying feed rates, the problem is more than doubled in complexity. One of the primary advantages of gravitational classification is low power requirement. Gravity feeds or very low pressure heads are employed. However, fluid energy is still present in the inlet stream and provision must be made to dissipate it properly to obtain uniform upward or horizontal currents. Rather than waste this energy, it would be desirable to utilize it to secure a greater degree of self-regulation and simultaneously increase classification capacity per square foot of area. A free vortex could be realized by a tangential entry of feed, resulting in generation of centrifugal force to complement force of gravity in its action. With greater force it should be possible to gain finer separation at any overflow rate per square foot of settling pool area as compared with conventional gravitational classification. Furthermore, as feed rate increases, centrifugal force will also increase and at least partially offset faster currents sweeping solid particles to the overflow. A more stable classification point should result. The liquid-solid cyclone is the most common application of a free vortex in the beneficiation field.' Many previous papers have emphasized uniformity of flow pattern within the cyclone which is largely responsible for the sharp classification that can be obtained.'-4 If a free vortex can be maintained in a non-pressurized vessel with a free surface it may be possible to realize a third advantage of sharper classification. This open-top cyclone would then achieve a minimum energy loss comparable to that with conventional classifiers, and a mesh of separation coarser than 150 mesh, extending the range of application of the free vortex. This is not presently possible with ordinary cyclones. To test the applicability of the free vortex to gravitational classification, a 30-in. diameter open-top cyclone was constructed at Northwestern University. The cylindrical section was 30 in. high and the conical section included an angle of 60". The feed nozzle was a standard 4-in. pipe entering tan-gentially, with centerline 17 1/2 in. below the top of the cyclone. The conical section was flanged near

Jan 1, 1954

By Michael A. Toole, O&apos

INTRODUCTION The tremendous capital investment required to produce a low grade ore deposit demands a reliable answer to the question: "How much does it cost to drill a well to produce the uranium that geologists have indicated is there in the ground?" However, you will find the answers given will be many and varied, depending on whether they come from the operating company, the drilling contractor, a geologist, a reservoir engineer, purchasing agent, or whoever. Each generally considers only a limited area of the total operation. The operating company usually depends upon the drilling contractors, service companies, and consultants to supply expertise. Because it is often difficult to see the "whole picture" or even to agree upon what the "whole picture" is, planning a well program and its costs is often done piecemeal. Frequently, costs "saved" in one area of the program are needlessly spent in another, because the effect of one area upon the other was overlooked. Since the drilling fluid is such an influential part of the drilling program, it should be given utmost consideration when planning the overall program. As W. D. Lacabanne wrote in 1954: "The drilling fluid system is understandably called the heart of the rotary oil drilling rig. Any other type of rotary rig.... should benefit by the incorporation of mud fluids in the drilling scheme." And G. R. Gray mentions that "The driller recognizes the drilling fluid as one of the useful tools available to solve drilling problems." However, in minerals drilling, only in recent years has the drilling fluid been considered as more than a tool to get through special problem areas. Although there are many similarities between drilling for oil and gas and drilling for minerals, the differences in the drilling equipment used justifies designing specific fluids for the minerals drilling industry. NL Baroid/NL Industries, Inc. has been a leader in introducing such fluids and in providing technical know-how to the minerals drilling industry. The purpose of this paper is: (1) to discuss the selection of drilling fluids to meet specific drilling conditions during both exploration and production and (2) to show the interrelationship among factors present in the exploration and production phases that influence total well costs. DRILLING FLUIDS FOR DRILLING PROBLEMS The drilling fluid is a tool that can be used to improve drilling performance by improving hole cutting, cleaning, stability, and formation productivity. Properly formulated and maintained drilling fluids enable the drilling operation to be carried out with increased efficiency and lower total (overall) costs. However, it should be noted that not all drilling problems can be solved by even the most carefully prepared and maintained drilling fluids. Of the many possible drilling problems encountered in a well before reaching target depth, this paper will discuss only those most likely to be present in the shallow [61 to 610 m (200 to 2000 ft)] drilling operations in South Texas. LOST CIRCULATION Loss of circulation is the most common problem encountered in drilling. Because the losses occur under varied conditions, it is often difficult to determine the exact causes. "Lost circulation" or "lost returns" means the partial or complete loss of drilling fluid to voids in the formation. "Loss of water" while drilling with water may take place into any permeable section and should be distinguished from "water loss" or filtration of fluid through the filter cake of mud solids laid down on a permeable formation. "Loss of water" can frequently be stopped by the addition of colloidal sized clay particles such as high yield bentonites, whereas "water loss" may be controlled with organic polymers. Subsurface conditions that lead to loss of circulation can be classified as: (1) natural fractures, (2) induced fractures, (3) unconsolidated or highly permeable formations (loose gravel), and (4) cavernous formations (crevices and channels). Loss of circulation may occur whenever the borehole pressure exceeds the formation pressure. The greater the differential pressure, the more likely it is that circulation may be lost. To stop loss of whole mud, voids must be bridged so that a filter cake can be laid down on the permeable section. The plugging material must be of the proper size and shape to offer greater resistance to the fluid flow around it than the flow up the annulus. A plugging composition that satisfies these requirements may not be able to be handled by the small rig pump available.

Jan 1, 1979

By Edward Hanrahan

September 1981 I'm here today to report on a revolution -- a revolution in the way the Federal Government looks at energy. I'm not talking about a simple change in the relative emphasis on sources -- such as more recognition for coal and nuclear power, with less rhetoric about "soft- technology." Nor am I describing a mere change in focus -- from the demand side to the supply side. And I am not referring exclusively to our obvious goal of budget cuts. No, I'm here to discuss a fundamental change in Federal direction -- one that started as soon as President Reagan was inaugurated, and one that is articulated in the National Energy Policy Plan he sent to Congress in July. That brief policy document was backed up by three volumes of supporting data; but I think I can catch it's flavor for you in just three phrases: * First, various energy forms complete with each other and complement one another. * Second, fair competition among them (which includes honest pricing) will give us the best "energy mix." • And, finally there may be ligitimate arguments about where Federal responsibility in regard to energy spills over into Federal interference; but it's about time we drew the distinction -- and eliminated the latter. This Administration's national energy policy is quite different from any we have had in recent years. It is tuned to human nature and changing times. We are seeking the best practical solutions in the energy -a lot better than the ones we have been offered before, but still something less than perfection. One way we do that is by counting on a fully informed public to guide it's own destiny. And, instead of treating energy as an isolated entity, we recognize it as part of the overall economy. The President's Program for Economic Recovery is as much a factor in energy policy as the specific actions of the Department of Energy. One striking difference from the past energy policy 1s that this policy plan does not say: "In 1985 we will -produce so many hundreds of millions of tons of coal: . . . or . . . "By the end of this century the Nation will be deriving X percent of it's electricity from wind generators." Unfortunately, targets like these are what many people have come to expect from the Federal Government -- and what they think of as energy policy, whether the figures hold up in the long run or not. But . . . think about it! Nether the Department of Energy nor any other part of the Federal Government produces coal, or mines uranium, or manufactures solar collectors. There are only a few sections of the country where the Federal Government generates and sells electricity. So it does not take any great insight to recognize that the amount of energy we will produce or consume as a Nation In the future depends on many factors beyond direct government action. And those future totals cannot be predicted precisely, anyway -- by the Government or by anybody else. According to our way of thinking, the choices should be up to the people. When the free market works within a healthy economy, individuals express their preferences in the marketplace -- adjusting the balance of all energy factors continually in a way that no computer could be programmed to reflect perfectly. So, instead of having the Government issue a rigid set of numerical goals, our main concern simply is that there be enough energy. We want the Nation itself to decide how much that should be, what form it should take, and how that energy should reach consumers. The marketplace decides. Considering the recent past, this is indeed a revolutionary idea. It has some pitfalls, and we won't reach this ideal of free choice overnight. But that is where we are headed. And I'll offer some evidence in a few minutes that the policy has already started working. First, let me give you some of it's highlights: 1) Nobody who appreciates the philosophical underpinnings of this Administration will be surprised that the energy policy shows faith In domestic energy production and the supply side of the economy; but it also recognizes the important role of energy conservation -- the wise and efficient use of energy resources.

Jan 1, 1982

By P. Majani, F. P. Kokesh, M. Grosmangin

Determination of the quality of cementation of casing in oil wells in the past has involved inflow and circulation tests to insure that the producing zones were adequately sealed off from the adjacent zones. Existing logging methods, such as temperature and radioactivity surveys, may detect the presence of cement behind the casing. However, the qualities of the cement (i.e., its hardness and particularly its bond to the casing) are not indicated. The new logging method described in this paper operates on the principle that the attenuation of a sonic pulse transmitted by a casing is greatly increased when that casing is bonded to an outer annulus of hard material (such as set cement) which has an appreciably smaller sonic-wave velocity than that of the casing. The down-hole tool contains a source of recurrent sound pulses which are detected by a receiver spaced a few feet from the source The amplitude of the detected casing-borne pulse is measured, and the resulting signal is transmitted to the surface where it is recorded vs depth. Since amplitude is a function of attenuation, the log is readily interpreted. Laboratory studies have shown straightforward relationship between attenuation and such variables as source-detector spacing and per cent of circumference bonded. It is shown that cement not set or not bonded to the casing has compara- tively little attenuating effect. Field examples show not only the cement top, but also the variation in cementation quality below the top. Further, the increase of bonding with time and after squeeze cementation is depicted. The detection of poor cement jobs is confirmed by production tests and by formation-test results. It is anticipated that the method will have wide application in evaluating cementation quality prior to formation testing in completions and recompletions. The analysis it affords may aid in further improving cementation techniques. INTRODUCTION The main purpose of oilwell cementing is to isolate a production zone from other undesirable zones. To investigate whether this purpose has been accomplished, several logging methods have been used such as temperature logs, radioactive tracer logs, etc. While these logs all respond to the presence of cement behind the casing, they do not indicate the degree of bonding of the cement to the casing. Early in the application of sonic logging, it was noticed that considerable attenuation of sound signals takes place in cemented pipe and is often made evident on the standard Sonic log by cycle skipping.' The development of a circuit capable of continuously recording the amplitude of the casing-borne sound signal has made possible an extensive series of laboratory and field tests, which gave the following results. The amplitude of a sound signal after it has traveled in a firmly cemented pipe is only a small fraction of that recorded by the same device in free pipe. This provides a wide spectrum of energy levels; for given local conditions, empirical values of the amplitude can be correlated with the quality of cementation. Interpretations made in this manner generally have been confirmed by production tests, circulation tests and squeeze cementation. The purposes of this paper are to give a general description of the new logging method and to present some laboratory and field results. CYCLE SKIPPING Early attempts to study the quality of the cement behind the casing were performed with a standard Sonic log, which measures the transit time At, and were based on the well known phenomenon of cycle skipping.' Cycle skipping normally is interpreted as being a manifestation of weak signals at the receivers. The log of Fig. 1 was run with the recording instrumentation adjusted to enhance cycle skipping. A mirror-image presentation was used for better visual interpretation. The transit time of sound in steel is about 58 microseconds/ft (corresponding to a velocity of 17,000 ft/ sec), and the portions of the log where this value is recorded are interpreted as zones with no cement bond. Where cycle skipping produces a higher value of At, weak signals (or a high rate of attenuation) are indicated, and a good cement bond may be present. The occurrence of cycle skipping, however, depends too much on instrument adjustment to give a uni-

Jan 1, 1944

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Jan 1, 1947

By John Tyssowski

In 1925, Harry Howard Stout, then metallurgist for Phelps Dodge Corporation, while investigating the cleaning of cathode copper by various gases at elevated temperatures below the melting point of the metal, observed in the laboratory that particles of pure copper heated in a closed tube filled with hydrogen seemingly "stuck together." By further investigation he found that there was actual crystal growth across the boundaries of the particles of pure metal; in other words, there was a complete new crystal realignment and growth throughout the newly formed copper mass. It was coalescence, not adhesion; the several particles had become one unit. From this discovery has been developed the coalescence process, whereby copper of cathode purity is squirted out in semifabricated form from an extrusion press, by the application of about 3000 tons pressure on a 10-in. piston. Stout decided that cathode copper produced by electrolytic deposition was the logical source of the pure copper required for the coalescence process, but as there was no way of reducing the ordinary tough commercial cathodes to the small particles required he was confronted by a serious problem at the outset. Under his direction, this problem was solved by William H. Osborn and Harry Howard Stout, Jr. They developed the process and technique for producing cathode copper in brittle, friable form, and to them must be given the greater part of the credit for this phase of the development program as well as for that relating to the gas cleaning of the cathode particles. Concurrently, the three metallurgists worked on the problem of effecting a complete union of the cathode particles. Adequate washing was all that was needed to free the particles from electrolyte solution and slimes. A press was designed to produce briquettes of the proper porosity and density, and a method was devised of removing surface oxidation from the particles of cathode, by treatment in an atmosphere of deoxidizing gas at an elevated temperature. The temperature was determined at which the surface cleansing and preheating could be done in one operation, and for this a charging and preheating furnace in which there is maintained a positive pressure of deoxidizing gas atmosphere was designed. And finally, a method of feeding the heated briquettes of deoxidized cathode copper into an extrusion press without contamination from the air was evolved. For the final stage, a press was required because not only heat but pressure was required to obtain complete growth of the new crystals between the cathode particles as well as the elimination of all voids or non-coalesced areas. All essential stages of the process are protected by patents or patent applications in the United States and principal foreign countries, and the copper is produced on a commercial scale.

Jan 1, 1941

By H. R. Stahl

The disseminated lead district of Southeast Missouri lies 70 miles south of St. Louis. The only metal of economic importance in the ore is lead, but minor amounts occur of iron, zinc, copper, cobalt, nickel, silver and cadmium. These minor metals, as might be expected, tend to concentrate in both the flotation and table middlings. In the past, some zinc has been recovered by differential flotation. The silver and cadmium tend to associate with the zinc, and some recovery is made of these two metals at the smelter. The lead occurs as galena, or lead sulphide. The minor metals are also present as sulphides. The presence of oxidized lead is suspected, but has not been definitely proved. The gangue is chiefly dolomitic limestone, with small amounts of sandstone and shaly glauconitic and chloritic minerals. The ore contains about 3.25 per cent lead, occurring as galena disseminated through the gangue. Some of the galena is very finely disseminated, and the mineral in the gravity tailings, or chat; is seldom or never in the free state. The method of treatment of the ore has been evolved over a period of 75 years; hence probably is not far from correct. The milling processes have tended toward simplification during the past 15 years, but recoveries have never been sacrificed for the sake of simplicity. In many cases, simplification of flowsheets has led to better recoveries and operating economies. A simplified flowsheet is shown in Fig. I. The St. Joseph Lead Co. operates four mills in the Flat River district, with a normal total capacity of about 21,000 tons per day, divided as follows: Federal mill, 11,000 tons; Leadwood mill, 4500 tons; Desloge mill, 3400 tons and Bonne Terre mill 2400 tons. The methods of concentration used at these plants are similar in principle; they differ mainly in details and in the type and size of the equipment used. The process of concentration may be divided into five main steps; i.e., dry crushing, wet grinding, classification with its attendant desliming, tabling and flotation. A brief description of these processes will be given, noting important differences in the various plants, and also noting the more important changes or developments of the past few years. Dry Crushing The run-of-mine ore is hoisted in skips, the capacity of these skips ranging from 23/4 tons to 81/4 tons. At the Desloge plant, the ore is hoisted in 2-ton mine cars on self-dumping cages. All ore is hoisted at shafts adjacent to the various crushing plants, no ore being transported on the surface. Primary breaking at all the mills is accomplished with 9E Telsmith breakers. Preliminary screening is provided ahead of most of these crushers, either by station-

Jan 1, 1943

By H. H

This paper describes the milling practice and operating results of the recently installed heavy-media separation plant of Barton Mines Corporation, the world's largest producer of garnet. This pioneer application of heavy-media separation (sink-float) processes for the beneficiation of a nonmetallic ore is unique in many respects, the details of which will be apparent from the following presentation. Characteristics of the Ore The property is on Gore Mountain, 5 miles west of the village of North Creek, New York, and 11 miles by road. The altitude of the mine is approximately 2800 feet. The valuable mineral, garnet, occurs in a surface deposit, the ore body being about ¾, mile long and varying in width from 50 to 300 ft. The garnet, principally almandite, Fe3Al2 (SiO4)3, occurs in a metamorphic rock of uncertain origin. The gangue mineral is principally hornblende, which constitutes from 40 to 80 per cent of the rock. The remainder of the gangue is divided between plagioclase feldspars and hypersthene, with smaller amounts of biotite, apatite and pyrite. The garnet content of the ore body varies from 5 to 20 per cent of the mass and averages about 10 to I2 per cent. The garnet occurs as crystals, mostly imperfectly developed, known locally as "pockets." These crys- tals vary in size from a fraction of an inch to a foot or more in diameter. Occasionally crystals have been found up to 30 and 36 in. in diameter but they average 4 to 6 inches. Nearly every crystal of garnet is surrounded by a rim of coarsely crystalline hornblende. The quarry faces are striking in appearance, showing crimson-red garnet crystals with their coal black rims scattered over a grayish black background. The specific gravity of the garnet is 3.8 to 4.1 while that of the hornblende ordinarily is 3-07 to 3.24. Some specimens of very dense hornblende have been found with a specific gravity as high as 3.40. The garnet crystals are laminated in structure, and readily cleave into flat, tabular pieces with sharp, chisel-like edges. Even when crushed to a very fine size, the garnet retains this flat, sharp, slivery grain shape. This characteristic, together with its hardness and toughness, gives it its value as an abrasive- Former Operations Mining operations have been carried on for 60 years. Until 1923, only the oxidized (soft rock) section of the ore body was mined. The oxidation, which affected the garnet only slightly, made possible the removal of the garnet from the rock by hand after it was blasted down, using small hand picks. In 1923 a mill was erected on the property, and was rebuilt and redesigned in 1928. Before the adoption of heavy-media separation, concentration was effected by

Jan 1, 1943

By James Norman, Benjamin S. Lindsey

Barite (BaSO4) is the most important industrial barium mineral from the standpoint of quantity consumed. In 1938 the amount was 365,000 tons. Its uses are numerous, some of the more important being in the production of pigments, as an inert filler in a wide variety of products, as a weighting material in oil-well drilling muds, in the manufacture of some binds of glass, and in the production of barium chemicals. The barite studied in this investigation occurs as the massive variety in a shale replacement formation near Magnet Cove, Ark. It is intimately mixed with quartz and small amounts of iron oxide and residual shale. Complete liberation of barite and quartz is not obtained when the rock is ground to I00 per cent through 325 mesh. The crude rock with which all test work was done assayed 85.1 per cent BaS04, II.II. per cent SiO2, and 2.85 per cent R2O3. Its specific gravity was 4.03. It was found in the course of the investigation that the barite contained a small amount of uniformly distributed carbonaceous material, so intimately dispersed that it could not be seen with the microscope, but gave a definite gray cast to the barite concentrates. The color of the barite in polished sections of the crude rock ranged from gray to almost black, while finely ground powder was a reddish gray. The reddish hue was due to the iron oxide present. In 1939, under the supervision of Oliver C. Ralston,* the Bureau of Mines, in cooperation with the Milwhite Company, of Houston, Texas, undertook to study the flotation of barite from Magnet Cove, Ark. Flotation of several southern barite ores had already been investigated by the Bureau of Mines.' The Magnet Cove barite was unique, however, in that it had to be ground to such an extremely small particle size for liberation. The flotation of non-metallic minerals in the presence of a large amount of slime is usually very difficult, and when done is an innovation calling for conditions different from those under which granular material is separated. Laboratory Flotation Work Preliminary investigation showed that the flotation reagents recommended by O'Meara and Coel for separating barite and siliceous material were suitable, but much larger quantities of reagents were required to separate such finely divided material. Moreover, it was found that careful control of the frothing was necessary. When oleic acid and sodium silicate were used a voluminous froth was observed at the beginning of a test, and toward the end there was not enough froth to effect complete recovery of barite. The addition of pine oil as a frother gave proper frothing for the duration of the test, and the substitution of coconut fatty acid (crude lauric acid) for oleic acid produced a more heavily burdened froth. Two different paper-mill fatty-acid products were tested

Jan 1, 1943

By M. Muskat

Calculations are reported on the differential sensitivity of the updip invasion of oil strata of varving permeability to the driving pressure differential. It is assumed that the water-oil interfaces advance with sharp fronts, or that the microscopic displacement efficiency is independent of rate and capillary pressure effects. It is found that, under such conditions, limitations of withdrawal rates will not greatly inhibit the "fingering" and bypassing tendency through high permeability strata unless the differential fluid head across the original oil column is of the order of or exceeds about 80 per cent of the driving pressure differential. In practice, such restrictions will be feasible only for oil reservoirs and aquifers of high permeability and dip, but may develop automatically under combined gas injection and water drive operations. INTRODUCTION A commonly expressed view regarding the intrusion of edge-waters into oil producing formations is that the geometry of such advance is rate sensitive. Specifically, it has been suggested that high rates of advance, stimulated by rapid withdrawals, will lead to "fingering" and an irregular type of invasion, whereas at low withdrawal rates the water encroachment will be more uniform. Two factors tend to support this view. One is the resultant effect of capillary pressure and gravity gradients in the displacement processes' involved in water intrusion, which are magnified at low rates of flow so as to improve the recovery efficiency. The other is the direct retarding effect of the rising water head as it advances upslope into the producing area. Capillary pressure forces give rise to a rate sensitivity of the oil recovery by water displacement in uniform strata as well as differential effects in non-uniform formations. These are basically independent of the effect of gravity and would also occur in horizontal beds or when the oil and water have the same density. Unfortunately, however, the fundamental equation describing the displacement process under the action of capillary pressures can be solved only by numerical or graphical procedures, and moreover the solutions are sensitive to the character of the capillary pressure and relative permeability curves.* On the other hand, the direct effect of gravity can be given a formal analytical solution if the simplifying assumption is introduced that the water advances with sharp fronts in the individual uniform strata. It depends on the absolute permeabilities of the water invaded zones and hence results in a rate sensitivity of the differential invasion in stratified media. Although a tieatment of this factor alone will not give a complete evaluation of the effect of rate on water intrusion in non-uniform pays, it should provide at least a semiquantitative measure of the sensitivity of "fingering" to withdrawal rate. Such a treatment will be presented in the following sections. GENERAL THEORY The basic element of the theory is the history of water advance updip in a uniform stratum (Fig. 1). In contrast to the assumption of constant flow rate, generally made in the analysis of displacement processes, we shall assume here that

Jan 1, 1951

By A. R. Denison

Several productive areas in the Mid-Con-tinent are broadly and briefly examined with respect to the present depth of drilling on productive structures, and the thickness of sediments remaining untested. Evidence is offered to show that a vertical mile to two miles of untested but prospective formation remain within reach of the drill. In no case would a well deeper than 15,000 ft. be required, and in most cases to no greater depth than 10,000 ft. Recent outstanding success of deeper prospecting in West Texas demonstrates the merits of deeper drilling on known structure. Introduction New fields discoverd during I942 equaled or exceeded the number in any preceding year. The total amount of oil found by these discoveries was less than in any previous year, for which accurate records are available. This means that the pools now being discovered are much smaller than in past years. This is to be expected, since the prospects available during 1942 were largely those overlooked in the earlier years and therefore represent a second or third order (in quality) of structural feature. This failure to find pools of good size and quality raises grave doubt as to the security of our future oil supply. With military needs rising almost daily, and the period of heaviest con- sumption in our war effort still in the future, there is even a growing doubt as to our ability to supply the amount needed for our ultimate victory. This does not mean that our reserves are inadequate, but rather that our "capacity to produce" may be inadequate. Lacking large fields with flush production, our capacity to produce is rapidly approaching our current needs. ,Since the industry is unable to find the large new fields necessary to keep a safe margin of "capacity to produce," other means are needed. It seems obvious that one of these should be deeper prospecting on the large, proven, productive structural features now known. The exploratory wildcat is drilled primarily in search of a trap and the reason for failure to find oil and gas in nine out of ten cases is due to the absence of a suitable trap under the drill site. Therefore, deeper drilling on a known structural feature that is productive largely eliminates the greatest hazard in wildcat drilling. While by no means all the oil known today is found in structural traps—in fact, some have estimated that less than half is so located— the fact remains that structural traps are far more commonly the oil fields that have multiple horizons of production superimposed one over the other. Outstanding examples are the Eldorado field in Kansas, the Tonkawa and Cushing fields in Oklahoma, the Louden and Salem pools of Illinois, and the richest and most prolific of all structural traps, the Long Beach, Ven-tura and other similar fields of California.

Jan 1, 1944

By H. C. Ray

ABOUT the beginning of 1930, coal preparation had reached the stage where the cleaning of coal by liquid or air had become the order of the day. Since that time many new preparation plants have been installed in spite of the years of depression in the coal industry, and this is indicative of a trend wherein the coal producer found it expedient to manufacture a cleaner product in order to compete with other fuels. It was also about 1930 that, because of the difficulties encountered with fine coal in cleaning plants, dust collectors came into use. Both cleaning plants and dust collectors, therefore, were much discussed at the engineering meetings of the early 1930's. During these meetings the many advantages to be gained through the use of dust-collecting systems were pointed out by Hebley,1 Appleyard2 and others. The great possibilities of new markets for this product were emphasized and discussed at the same time; however, the disposal of the collected dust remained a problem. Since the purpose of dust collecting is to improve the preparation and, consequently, the salability of the coal, it seems illogical to return the collected dust to any of the coal being prepared for market use, as is done in preparation plants that include dust-collecting systems. The logical thing is to dispose of the dust in some useful and practical manner outside of the tipple. As a practical matter, this can be done in one or both of two ways; either by consuming the dust at the mine's own power plant or by marketing the dust direct to the consumer. The latter method not only offers the greatest opportunities, but is the most important, because of inequalities that may exist between the quantity of dust collected and the consuming capacity of the mine's power plant. In considering the more important marketing possibilities, we are confronted immediately with the problems connected with the handling and transportation of so fine a material. It is this problem, rather than the problem of finding new markets, that has been responsible for the lack of progress in the matter of dust disposal. It is the purpose of this paper to point out again some of the potential market outlets, and also to describe an existing system of handling and transporting coal dust. To the best of the writer's knowledge, this is the first and only operation in this country that has handled fine-mesh coal in bulk 50-ton lots direct to the consumer. POtential Markets for Fine-mesh Coal Dust In general, the potential market outlets would include any operation of which the pulverization of coal is a necessary part. To be more specific, a few of the better known operations of this type must include: colloidal-fuel plants, briquetting plants, "sea coal" distributing plants, water-purification plants and, obviously, pow-

Jan 1, 1944

By Harrison Schmitt

The definitions of the terms commonly used in connection with metamorphism at elevated temperature near igneous contacts are re-examined. As the study of tactite zones associated with igneous contacts progresses, more and more emphasis is put on the localization of the ore by structural forms. The generally early age of the silicates and late age of the sulphides is well established. Postsilicate structural deformation is likely to localize ore bodies. The silicates are often replaced by the ore minerals. we may not be far from proving that the elements involved in the formation of silicate aureoles are merely normal "volcanic" emanations, that silica, lime, magnesia, and alumina, and probably soda and potash, are likely to undergo local transfers only. The work of Newhouse suggests the agents of the formation of sulphides in deposits of various classifications are the volcanic emanations. Introduction The purpose of this paper is to define the terms commonly used in connection with the subject, to briefly review and discuss the broad features of the aureoles, to indicate some of the features lately recognized: to discuss the genesis, and to suggest how the associated ore deposits can best be studied and developed. When developing a subject in mining geology one is soon conscious of the vast amount of pertinent literature and that most relevant ideas, no matter how obscure, have been considered. One can only hope to make some small contribution in point of view, a few confirmatory observations, or, perhaps, suggest a small new idea indebted to the most recent data. It is nearly impossible, also, to give specific credit, and adequate credit, to all the contributors to a given subject. This study, furthermore, was not intended to cover the field exhaustively, nor is the bibliography complete. Definition OF Terms There is much confusion in the use of the broad terms concerned. Needless to say, metamorphism means change of form; metasomatism, change of substance. The term contact metamorphism, however, has been widely misused possibly by a majority of economic geologists and engineers. As originally adopted by European investigators it meant changes effected largely by heat (thermal effects) in the rocks invaded by plutonic intrusives, but did not include those local changes usually at the immediate contact brought about by the addition of substance, i.e., by metasomatism. The term has become clouded. In Europe it has

Jan 1, 1949

By Walter S. Weeks

IN this paper the effect of natural ventilation pressures is considered a part of the mine resistance and it is shown that their effect on the mine resistance is not the same as the total natural ventilation pressure of the shafts if the mine has several levels. It is shown that increasing the fan pressure causes the division of the air to approach the condition that would obtain if there were no natural ventilation pressure present. It is shown that if an appreciable difference in pressure is maintained between the beginning and end of a group of splits, the value of the integrated effect of the natural ventilation pressures on the individual splits does not change substantially with moderate changes of this pressure. A method is outlined for determining the resistance factor of the mine and the value of the effect of natural ventilation with the fan operating; also a method for determining this factor when circulation is caused by natural ventilation alone. NATURAL VENTILATION PRESSURE Natural ventilation pressure (N.V.P.) is caused by the difference in weight of the air in two similar columns between two horizontal planes, and the difference in weight is caused principally by the difference in temperature of the two columns. The fan pressure causes some variation in density, but, since it is usually small and affects both columns, its effect is relatively unimportant. It has been suggested that "N.V.P." be called "stack effect"; but, since the term N.V.P. was used in a previous Institute paper,' applied in exactly the same manner, the term will be used. FRICTIONAL RESISTANCE The frictional resistance to flow in a mine without natural ventilation may be expressed as RQ2 where R is a constant for a given air density and Q is the rate of flow. This frictional resistance plus the effect of velocity changes will be called the F pressure (F.P.) and a curve of F.P. against Q, the F characteristic of the mine. If a pressure is applied to a mine by a fan, the air flow so adjusts itself that the drop in pressure through any path from entrance to exit of mine, due to frictional resistances and velocity changes, is the same as that in any other path. The mine resistance varies as the square of the quantity. The air distribution without N.V.P. will be called "normal." NATURAL VENTILATION PRESENT When N.V.P. is irregularly distributed in a mine, it is more convenient in analysis to consider the N.V.P. as a part of the duct resistance. If it is so considered the resistance no longer varies as the square of the quantity, and if N.V.P. exists between levels the distribution of the air is no longer normal. The total N.V.P. of the mine is the pressure caused by the full length of the shafts. If a mine has several levels, N.V.P. exists

Jan 1, 1944

QUICKSILVER is a body that consists of flowing and liquid materials, almost like water with a shining whiteness; it is composed by Nature of a viscous, subtle substance with an overflowing abundance of moistness and coldness together. This composition, in the opinion of the philosophic alchemists, is a thing that is very disposed to become metal-indeed they say that it is the original seed of all metals. When it lacks the warmness and dryness or the specific time that they require, it cannot congeal and so remains in the form that we see as an imperfect thing without becoming metal. These clever investigators have also called it mercury in consideration of its properties, perhaps because of its resemblance to the planet of him whose actions place him between gods and men, according to the poets in their stories. Thus these investigators think that this has a similar place among perfect metals, since it is the primary mineral matter. It might also be that they called it so because like the god Mercury it is winged and fugitive, and by virtue of its powerful subtlety penetrates all things and can issue forth from them at will. But let it be called by any name they wish-it does not matter to us. I, like them, shall sometimes call it mercury and sometimes [23 ] quicksilver as it has been named to me, and you will understand it as such. Now I shall leave aside the disputes on whether it is the primary matter of metals or not, since I have said enough concerning this question in the first chapter of the First Book. In order to approach what the philosophers say about it, I say that it may well be material about to be converted into metal, but since it is seen to be so ill-proportioned and so badly decocted, I cannot believe that it can be disposed to the generation of all kinds of metals. Indeed, if it is, I think that if its necessary processes had not been interrupted it would be more apt to generate lead, tin, iron, or even silver rather than copper or gold. And if we wish to consider it in relation to the natural complexions [of metals] or to the power of the, planets, I think that mercury is far distant from those of gold and from the power of the sun and of the moon. Therefore I say that if it is not what I have said, it is a thing that Nature has been pleased to make as it is. I am led to say this because all of it that I have seen has had the same

Jan 1, 1942