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By L. N. Cosner, C. F. Austin, J. K. Pringle

Shock wave attenuation studies with three igneous rocks are reported: a spessartite elastic to low intensity stress waves, a diorite which is anelastic, and a porous scoria. The level of shock passing through a given thickness of rock has been determined by donor-receptor methods using high speed streak cameras. Test results include shock propagation velocities adjacent to the explosive, the dependence of test results upon test geometry, and the variation in shock wave attenuation in these three common igneous rock fabrics. The utilization of explosives in rock mediums involves a series of interrelated phenomena. These are the detonation process within the explosive, the transfer of energy from the explosion products to the surrounding rock medium in the form of sound or shock waves, and the transmission of the resulting waves through the rock medium to create damage in the rock mass. The subject of this paper is the investigation of the close-in phenomena that occur in the intensely shocked rock immediately adjacent to a detonating explosive charge. The specific aspects studied include propagation velocities, free surface velocities, pulse attenuations and the determination of the equations of state for the test rocks employed. In addition, a series of tests was conducted to indicate the dependence of the test results on the charge diameter utilized. The equations of state for rock materials have been investigated by a number of authors. Lombard, ',' Grine and Fowles,3,4 Zharkov, 5 Hughes and McQueen,6 Chabai,7,8 and Bass9 have published equation of state data on rock materials similar in structure or composition to those investigated in the study. Rinehart10 has prepared a voluminous tabulation of the available equation of state data from these publications and in addition has included data on many other rock and earth materials in his compilation. The reader is referred to the extensive tabulations and bibliography of Rinehart for classical studies involving the equations of state of metals and other solids and liquids. The problems of sympathetic detonation between drill holes in hard rock environments has received the attention of various authors as have the problems of explosive rock coupling close-in stress wave attenuation and explosive diameter effects. 11 to 18 In particular, the don or-receptor geometry of this report is very similar to the geometry of adjacent drill holes in rock. Most published pulse velocity and attenuation work in rock has been devoted to velocities at much lower amplitudes than those associated with close-in explosives phenomena and most attenuation studies involve transmission and attenuation across large spans of material. Excellent work in these areas has been published by the U. S. Bureau of Mines and by many individuals and groups engaged in geophysical research. SELECTION OF TEST MATERIALS A series of rock materials was desired for this test program that would be meaningful industrially, and that would also yield comparative results from a research viewpoint. Based on the availability of a series of related petro-fabrics, for which there is an abundance of physical and shock response data, three igneous rocks were selected as the test series. The applicability of shock wave studies in igneous rocks to industrial problems is readily demonstrated. Hardrock tunneling, quarrying and mining take place in igneous rocks throughout the world. From a research point of view, igneous rocks exhibit a wide variety of grain sizes and considerable diversity in composition, yet the common igneous rocks have a general similarity in their constituent mineral structures and in their grain-to-grain bonding mechanisms. The latter is based on the concept of rock formation through magma cooling and crystallization, though the degree of liquefaction in granitic plutonic masses is indeed a moot question. Three specific types of igneous rock were chosen for study. A coarse-grained granitic textured rock was desired that would serve as a representative of the widely abundant intrusive rocks of the world and

Jan 1, 1967

By T. B. Counselman, T. B.

Continuous countercurrent decantation calculations have always been a headache to the cyanide man (and the chemical engineer) because of the simultaneous equations involved. These are tedious to solve, and there is considerable opportunity for mathematical error. This paper presents a shortcut method for making these calculations, which has been in successful use for twenty years by the author, and which is particularly valuable in selecting the best of several possible flowsheets, or evaluating the effect of various assumptions.

Jan 1, 1950

ECONOMICS In the preceding pages you will find an attempt to judge the direction of one phase of the mining industry in Drift, and following that a quick round up of what happened to production in 1958 in Trends. Next, Charles Merrill presents a comprehensive price history for the mineral products of greatest importance, complete with figures for the past 50 years. On the following pages Nathaniel Arbiter and Charles Will Wright take a look at price trend prospects and the cold war in mining, respectively. MINERALS BENEFICIATION Fifty years progress is reviewed as a springboard for a look ahead. In the past decade the art has moved forward, but the author fears that the science is not progressing as promisingly.

Jan 2, 1959

By M. Sheffield

This paper presents a technique lor predicting the flow of oil, gas and water through a petroleum reservoir. Gravitational, viscous arid capillary lorces are considered, and all fluids are considered to be slightly compressible. Some theoretical work concerning the fluid flow in one-, two- and three-space dimensions is given along with example performance predictions in one- and two-space dimensions. INTRODUCTION Since the introduction of high speed computing equipment, one of the goals of reservoir engineering research has been to develop more accurate methods of describing fluid movement through underground reservoirs. Various mathematical methods have been developed or used by reservoir engineers to predict reservoir performance, 193-5,7,8 The work reported in this paper extends previously published work on three-phase fluid flow (1) by including a rigorous treatment of capillary forces and (2) by showing certain theoretical mathematical results proving that these equations can be approximated by certain numerical techniques and that a unique solution exists. DISCUSSION The method of predicting three-phase compressible fluid flow. in a reservoir can be summarized briefly by the following steps. 1. The reservoir, or a section of a reservoir, is characterized by a series of mesh points with varying rock and fluid properties simulated at each mesh point. 2. Three partial differential equations are written to describe the movement at any point in the reservoir of each of the three compressible fluids. All forces influencing movement are considered in the equations. 3. At each mesh point, the partial differential equations are replaced by a system of analogous difference equations. 4. A numerical technique is used to solve the resulting system of difference equations. Capillary forces have been included in two-phase flow calculations.1,4,8 The literature, however, does not contain examples of prediction techniques for three-phase flow that include capillary forces. Where capillary forces are considered, each of the three partial differential equations previously discussed has a different dependent variable, namely pressure in one of the three fluid phases. Therefore, three difference equations must be solved at each point in the reservoir. Where large systems of equations must be solved simultaneously, an engineer might question whether a unique solution to this system of equations actually exists and, if so, what numerical techniques may be used to obtain a good approximation to the solution. It is shown in the Appendix that a unique solution to the three-phase flow problem, as formulated, always exists. It is also shown that several methods may be used to obtain a good approximation to the solution. The partial differential equations and differenceequations used are shown in the Appendix. Matrix notation has been used in developing the mathematical results. Two sample problems were solved on a CDC 1604. They illustrate the type of problems that can be solved using a three-phase prediction technique. SAMPLE ONE-DIMENSIONAL RESERVOIR PERFORMANCE PREDICTION A hypothetical reservoir was studied to provide an example of a one-dimensional problem that can be solved. Of the several techniques available, the direct method of solution as shown in the Appendix was used. The reservoir section studied was a truncated, wedge-shaped section, 2,400 ft long, with a 6' dip. (A schematic is shown in Fig. 1.) This section was represented by 49 mesh points, uniformly spaced at 50-ft intervals. The upper end of the wedge was 2 ft wide, and the lower end was 6 ft wide. The section

Jan 1, 1970

By Henri V. Reibell

Deep open pit optimization supposes very long and sedious calculations in order to assign the best shape of the pit and the best bottom level, which will give the biggest profit. Computers give the possibility to make these calculations. More over, they allow to multiply trial calculations so that it is possible to obtain more reliable results. The paper does not expose the computer program but only the way in which mining engineers can use it.

Jan 1, 1969

By Gilbert Soler

Producers of alloy steels recognize the importance of chemical composition in relation to the hot-working properties and the typical surface defects found in their product. Each analysis of steel has its own peculiar characteristics. Under conditions of standard mill practice each analysis is susceptible to certain types of defects. Mill practice must be varied to obtain the best combination of surface and internal quality in the product. Chemical composition influences the cast structure and crystallization characteristics of the ingot. It also determines the rate of heating and cooling, the plastic hot-working range, and the phase structure of the steel at various temperatures. as well as the tendency toward scale formation and decarburization. This paper endeavors to emphasize the manner in which chemical composition affects the various properties of steel, and to indicate the relative importance of these factors in relation to the hot-working properties and surface characteristics of killed steel. The influence of chemical composition may be outlined as follows: I. Effect on the cast structure of steel, including: A. State of deoxidation, and type of inclusions. B. Gas content of steel. C. Freezing point and melting point of steel. D. Crystallization characteristics and segregation. 11. Effect on the hot-working properties and surface characteristics of steel, including: A. Plastic hot-working range. B. Phase structures at hot-working temperatures. C. Rate of heating. D. Cooling characteristics. E. Scale formation. F. Surface decarburization. EFferect of Chemical Composition on Cast Structure of Steel State of Deoxidation and Type of Inclu-sions.—The state of deoxidation is limited by the final chemical analysis desired in the finished product, and is controlled primarily by carbon, manganese, silicon, and aluminum, and to a lesser degree by chromium, titanium, vanadium, or other deoxidizing elements. The degree of deoxidation affects the density of the cast structure and broadly classifies the steel as killed, semikilled, or rimming. This in turn manifests itself in surface characteristics. The manner and extent of deoxidation also controls the amount, type, and distribution of nonmetallic inclusions formed. The equilibrium of manganese, silicon and aluminum with the slags and pouring refractories with which the metal comes in contact is important, especially in regard to inclusions of fire-clay origin. Some surface Seams and hot-working difficulties can be traced to nonmetallic inclusions.

Jan 1, 1941

By Gilbert Soler

Producers of alloy steels recognize the importance of chemical composition in relation to the hot-working properties and the typical surface defects found in their product. Each analysis of steel has its own peculiar characteristics. Under conditions of standard mill practice each analysis is susceptible to certain types of defects. Mill practice must be varied to obtain the best combination of surface and internal quality in the product. Chemical composition influences the cast structure and crystallization characteristics of the ingot. It also determines the rate of heating and cooling, the plastic hot-working range, and the phase structure of the steel at various temperatures. as well as the tendency toward scale formation and decarburization. This paper endeavors to emphasize the manner in which chemical composition affects the various properties of steel, and to indicate the relative importance of these factors in relation to the hot-working properties and surface characteristics of killed steel. The influence of chemical composition may be outlined as follows: I. Effect on the cast structure of steel, including: A. State of deoxidation, and type of inclusions. B. Gas content of steel. C. Freezing point and melting point of steel. D. Crystallization characteristics and segregation. 11. Effect on the hot-working properties and surface characteristics of steel, including: A. Plastic hot-working range. B. Phase structures at hot-working temperatures. C. Rate of heating. D. Cooling characteristics. E. Scale formation. F. Surface decarburization. EFferect of Chemical Composition on Cast Structure of Steel State of Deoxidation and Type of Inclu-sions.—The state of deoxidation is limited by the final chemical analysis desired in the finished product, and is controlled primarily by carbon, manganese, silicon, and aluminum, and to a lesser degree by chromium, titanium, vanadium, or other deoxidizing elements. The degree of deoxidation affects the density of the cast structure and broadly classifies the steel as killed, semikilled, or rimming. This in turn manifests itself in surface characteristics. The manner and extent of deoxidation also controls the amount, type, and distribution of nonmetallic inclusions formed. The equilibrium of manganese, silicon and aluminum with the slags and pouring refractories with which the metal comes in contact is important, especially in regard to inclusions of fire-clay origin. Some surface Seams and hot-working difficulties can be traced to nonmetallic inclusions.

Jan 1, 1941

By A. Chakravarti, C. C. Harris

First-order kinetics adequately describe the recovery of a single floatable species. The conditions under which cell behazior can be simulated by a single-phase model are discussed; deviations from the multiphase model are accountable. The rate coefficient depends upon operating conditions besides particle size and mineralogy and the physicochemical properties of the pulp constituents. The model for a real flotation system combines the first -order, single-phase model with a distribution of noninteracting species. Methods for determining the distributions are discussed. Applications of the procedure to flotation studies are outlined. The mathematical description of flotation as a rate process can be traced to Garcia1 who reported cases in which the fraction of solid remaining in a cell in semi-batch operation, F (for Notation used throughout, see Table l), decays exponentially with experimental time T. F = e-k>r. (1 The differential equation leading to Eq. 1 is dF ----= -k,F (2) dT which is recognized as the algebraic analog of the chemical kinetics first-order reaction equation.' This has led to suggested mechanisms for flotation and mathematical relationships other than first order: with very little foundation other than analogy. The flotation rate coefficient kl can be accounted for as the product of several probabilities concerning bub-ble-particle attachment and detachment, aggregate entry from pulp into froth and return from froth to pulp, and removal from froth as concentrate. These factors clearly contribute to the magnitude of the overall flotation rate, and there are others also, but describing flotation merely as the overall probability of consecutive gross events hardly appears a significant advance in understanding. More recently, it has been described in terms of a stochastic process, which promises to provide a more satisfactory approach? The present paper will be more concerned with a phenomeno-logical description of the flotation process than with an account of the internal mechanics of the process. This is not a statement of priorities, or a judgement of the relative importance of these options but rather an assessment of what is presently possible. Previous investigators'" have developed methods for interpreting semi-batch flotation data in terms of species distribution. These methods have been used in an attempt to explain flotation behavior in response to changes in operating conditions." Inspection of examples given in the literature" reveals discrepancies between theory and experiment, and data obtained in the Colum-

Jan 1, 1971

By F. F. Sharpless

IT IS to be. read in Western newspapers that Hon. S. S. Arentz who introduced H. R. 7736, 'has repudiated it, that certain mining men in Utah and Nevada say that they will fight it "until hell freezes over." It is to be read in more temperate expressions that "the eminent engineers who drafted the bill exhibited a woeful misunderstanding of Western sentiment and opinion." Furthermore, it is averred that there is no need for revising the mining laws, that we have got along pretty well under the existing laws, etc. Such statements are so surprising in view of, the facts of record that it is hard to believe that the oppon-ents of the bill, who make them, are well informed, or that they represent general opinion. It will be useful therefore to review the record of the case. Our GOOD OLD MINING LAWS We have indeed got on well in our mining industry, but that has not been by virtue; of our good old mining laws. Rather has it been in spite of them. Ever since the Richmond-Eureka case in the '70s there has been litigation arising from them. Early in the '80s the apex law was discarded by common consent in Leadville, and it has been ignored in every district of flat-lying ore deposits ever since. The great mines of the present time are the porphyry copper deposits. At Bingham, Ely, Ray, Chino, Miami, Clifton and Ajo the apex law is simply inapplicable. A law that is inapplicable to the modern conditions of mining may be an old law, but it can not properly be characterized as a "good" law. For such reasons, and many others of weight, there has been a demand for revision of the mining laws; dat-ing ,back at least three decades. President Roosevelt appointed a commission to advise respecting the question, said commission comprising. Dr. James Douglas (chairman), John Hays Hammond, D: M. Barringer, Walter B: Devereux, and William B. Mather. This committee was unanimous on the following points:

Jan 1, 1922

By A. S. Richardson

THE conditions that make necessary the mechanical ventilation of the Butte mines of the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. are due to a number of causes, all of which are incidental to the depth at which mining operations are now carried on. The main object to be accomplished, of course, is the reduction of the temperature and humidity of the air in the working places. Ventilation fans, both surface and underground, have been used for many years, but increasing depth has made the problem much more difficult. Further improvement in both ventilation equipment and methods, therefore, became necessary; and it is the purpose of this paper to describe the work planned and done under the improvement program. The mines of the district have been frequently described in various technical publications, so a description is unnecessary here. From a mine-ventilation viewpoint, compared with coal-mine ventilation systems, the problem is complicated by the fact that the workings to be ventilated are situated on a large number of steeply dipping veins which frequently intersect and are faulted, and also by the fact that the extent, or existence, of orebodies is not definitely known in advance of actual development work. For these reasons ventilation work cannot be planned in advance of actual operations, nor can such regular systems of ventilation as are used in working the more uniform and continuous bodies of coal be developed. When operations are conducted at a normal rate, about 10,000 miners are employed on two shifts, so that about 5000 men will be underground at one time. But as ventilation is necessary to reduce high temperature and humidity due, mainly, to natural causes, the quantity of air per man per minute is not a governing consideration in determining ventilation requirements. Most important among the numerous sources of heat and humidity in the mines are : heat generated during decay of mine timber; heat and humidity given off by mine rock and water; heat generated by oxidation of sulfide minerals; heat given off by electrical equipment; heat generated by mine fires (in certain localities).

Jan 2, 1922

By W. L. Martin, J. N. Dew, H. B. Steves, M. L. Powers

This paper presents and discusses the results obtained during a pilot test in the Loco field in southern Okla homa. The test was conducted in a 2%-acre pattern that was part of a 20-acre conventional waterflood pilot area. The conventional flood was well past its economic limit when the hot waterflood was initiated to obtain technical information and operating experience. Temperature data from nine observation wells showed that about 75 percent of the pattern was affected by heat, and that heat losses were severe in the pilot pattern. About 60 percent of the injected heat was lost to overburden and underburden zones during hot-water injection. Wellbore heat losses were held at tolerable levels at the shallow depth of the test by providing a low-pressure air annulus between the injection tubing and well casing. Hot water provided water injectivity increases of 200 to 400 percent. The hot water channeled across the lower portion of the oil sand in three directions through zones of relatively high water saturation. There was no conclusive evidence that natural fractures or pressure partings aflected the flow of fluids in the pilot pattern; however response undoubtedly was aflected by localized pressure gradients and by injection-production rate ratios. The results showed that hot waterflooding increased oil recovery in a reservoir containing 600 cp oil. The total tertiary oil production from the pilot pattern area was 3,896 bbl or about 156 bbl/acre-ft swept by heat. The corre.sponding WOR was about 34:I. Description of the Hot Waterflood Process To hot waterflood an oil reservoir, water is injected that has been heated to a temperature substantially higher than the original reservoir temperature, but lower than the vaporization temperature of water at the prevailing pressures. In the reservoir the hot water flows continuously into cooler sand and rapidly loses heat to the sand until it has been cooled to the original reservoir temperature. Thus, a heated zone and a region or "bank" of cooled water begins to accumulate immediately after hot water injection is started. This bank of cooled water continues to grow ahead of the heated zone, which also grows, but at a slower rate. This occurs because heat transfer is almost instantaneous, and the ratio of heat capacities of water to rock is such that two or three unit PV of hot water must be injected to heat a given unit bulk volume of the reservoir. The primary displacement mechanism is the same for both hot and conventional cold waterfloods; i.e., "piston" displacement occurs at the original reservoir temperature. The incremental benefits of hot waterflooding usually occur long after the breakthrough of cold water at producing wells, and the increased oil recovery necessarily is accomplished with high WOR's (water-oil ratios). Heat decreases the viscosity and density of oil and water. These effects result in more rapid and increased recovery of secondary or tertiary oil. If the cost of the required heat is low enough, the ultimate oil recovery of a hot waterflood should be increased substantially over what would be expected at the economic limit of a conventional cold waterflood. The economic benefits of any hot-fluid injection project depend primarily upon the cost of the heat required to produce more oil at an increased rate. This cost depends in part upon the amount of heat lost to surrounding formations. Heat loss depends upon reservoir thickness, water injection rate and temperature, the depth of the formation, well spacing, and the characteristics of the reservoir rock and surrounding formations. In general, percentage heat losses decrease as injection rate and reservoir thickness increase. Although it is an old idea, hot-water injection has not received widespread field application in the oil industry as a drive process. Much of the original field work with hot water was done in Pennsylvania fields where water permeabilities and injection rates are low. In these cases, hot-water injection was used primarily as a means of increasing in-jectivities — not as a recovery process. Ramey' recently has published an excellent review of the development of hot fluid injection processes. Recent publications"' and our own experiences now indicate that hot water or steam injection also can effectively increase the oil recovery from reservoirs containing viscous crudes. However, the economics of these methods as displacement processes have not been established. Several theoretical predictive techniques have been published (for a review see Ramey'), but simplifying assumptions make

Jan 1, 1969

Jan 1, 1918

By H. A. Wheeler

. Page History.................................533 Location .........:.....................536 Geology...............................539 Description of the Eastern Field ... :..................543 Description of the Western Field .........,...........546 Quality of the Oil ................ ,........549 The Oil Sands .,.............................549 Drilling Features'........................., . 551 Well Density...........,.'...............:. 552 Plant Equipment.......................:.'., .554 Market Features..........................555 Production Prices.........,...................557 Royalties and Rentals.........................558 Cost of Oil Leases............................'.558 Operating Expenses..........................559 Operating 'Profits...........................559 Gas Developments ........................560 Gas-Gasoline production ... :....................561 Statistics.......562 History Illinois has SO recently attained the third place in the oil production of the United States that few realize its great importance, or are aware of its highly profitable character. Since 1907 Illinois has furnished about 15 per cent. of the United States output and about 10 per cent, of the world's production. The value of the output in 1913 is estimated at $307000,000, of which about $20,000,000 is profit. The present prosperity dates from 1905, but efforts have been made since 1865 to develop production and geologists have been very sanguine as to its future for over 25 years. Had the oil operators been as confident as the geologists, the field would have been opened at least 30 years earlier. For the rich Eastern Illinois oil field is located along the La Salle anticline, that was mapped 46 years ago by Professor Worthen in the

Jan 1, 1915

By J. B. Mudd

Introduction It is difficult to think of any activity on which mankind has been more dependent than mining, and certainly there is much evidence in almost every part of the world of old workings that clearly demonstrate that man from earliest times has dug and toiled to take from the earth precious stones, metals and materials that from time to time have been essential or of value to him. In step with social development and industrial and technological advances the tempo of mining activity, regulated only by the laws of supply and demand, has quickened and in this century has accelerated rapidly in keeping with its dramatic development. Indeed, the rate of change of events has been such that if it were to continue to accelerate as fast as it has over the past decade there is reason to wonder how the insatiable demands for metals and minerals are to be met in the years that lie ahead. Shallow mines containing high-grade ore deposits either have been or are being rapidly mined out and their place can only be taken in general by ore lying at greater depth, or by ore of low grade, situated for the most part in remote and in underdeveloped areas. The cost of exploration and development is rising at an alarming rate, with the result that the expenditure now required to bring a mine to production far exceeds anything previously contemplated. It is estimated that the total capital required to maintain existing operations and develop new ones during the next 5 years will be of the order of $50,000 million and of this, new capital to bring new mines to production will be of the order of $3,000 million. Today no single mining finance company can, from its own resources, find all the money for a major mining development, and as a consequence there has been a strong trend toward joint ventures and to the formation of multinational consortiums. International lending institutions already play an important part in financing many new mining projects and their participation provides the financial umbrella under which other lenders can invest with greater security. There is little doubt that to finance the costly ventures in the future, governments and international lending agencies, banks and finance

Jan 1, 1971

By D. C. Seidel, E. F. Fitzhugh

The Colorado School of Mines Research Foundation has developed a hydrometallurgical process for recovering nickel from oxidized ores, including both the iron-rich laterites and magnesium-rich, soft silicates. Known as the HSO-HTCP (Hydrothermal Sulfidization Oxidation-High Temperature Cementation in Pulp) Process, the system consists of feed preparation, sulfidization, oxidation, precipitation (cementation), and calcination and melting. This paper deals primarily with the sulfidization and oxidation phases of the process. Nickel sulfide ores lend themselves readily to concentration before smelting or pressure leaching, but neither of the major oxidized ore types — the iron-rich laterites and magnesium-rich, soft silicates-has been directly concentrated. Upgrading of crude ore in current practice is limited to cobbing lumps of the harder, lower grade rock (protore) from the softer, enriched silicate ore, because only a small percentage of the nickel in these ores occurs in discrete, contrasting mineral particles. There is no apparent mineralogical contrast in the superficial, iron-rich lateritic ores and, in fact, there is no firm assurance that the nickel atoms are within the lattices of the limonite minerals, or else irregularly adsorbed on the limonite. Within underlying, "rotten rock" silicates, occasional veinlets of gamierite and related nickeliferous silicates are found.' The gamierite veinlets, however, are only incidental, and the majority of the nickel atoms occur as erratic replacements of magnesium atoms in the micaceous chlorites of the ore mass. Pyrometallurgical processes account for nearly all the nickel currently being recovered from oxidized ores. Plants in New Caledonia, Oregon, Japan, Brazil and Greece smelt the ores to make ferronickels or a sulfide matte,2 and the ammoniacal leaching3 at Nicaro, Cuba, is preceded by a reducing roasL4 The only fully hydrometallurgical installation has been the politically ill-fated Freeport Nickel Co. enterprise, and this process was limited to lateritic ores.5p6 A hydrometallurgical technique which might handle both laterite and the typically richer silicate ores has been an enticing goal. The technique described here was developed at the Colorado School of Mines Research Foundation, Inc. on behalf of the Republic Steel Corp. It uses sulfur, heat, air and metallic iron to recover nickel from these ores. Inasmuch as the ores are treated as aqueous slurries, the cost of drying a plant feed that normally carried 30% or more moisture is eliminated, and there are no dust problems. Patent applications have been filed by Republic Steel Corp. on the procedures used for getting the metal into solution and on the subsequent recovery without liquids-so l ids separation of the slurry. It is referred to as the HSO-HTCP Process (Hydrothermal Sulfidization Oxidation — High Temperature Cementation in Pulp). THE PROCESS FLOWSHEET The results of various experimental studies have been combined to form the continuous flowsheet illustrated in Fig. 1. This flowsheet serves as a general pattern showing the sequence of the operations which include: (1) feed preparation; (2) sulfidization; (3) oxidation; (4) precipitation (cementation); and (5) calcination and melting. This paper deals primarily with the sulfidization and oxidation phases of the process. Feed preparation: In general, the silicate ores can be considered as earthy rather than hard, and preparation might be carried out before the addition of water in a trommel, or with water in a scrubber or log washer. This breaks up the earthy particles, allowing the hard lumps to be separated by screening. The oversize material from most ores is relatively barren and may be discarded. If there is occasion to control the iron-magnesium ratio in the plant feed, laterite, which normally breaks up readily into fine sized particles, and silicates are mixed in suitable proportions. The fine product slurry from the initial steps is mixed with elemental sulfur and fed to a conventional ball mill, although the amount of actual grinding that takes place is relatively small. The object of milling is to complete the disintegration to natural particle size and to produce an intimate mixture of the ore and elemental sulfur. This pulp, which is almost entirely -200 mesh, has a pH of about 7.0 and normally can

Jan 1, 1969

By W. G. Matteson

The origin of the salt domes of the Gulf coastal plain has been investigated by many of the most able geologists, but the problem cannot be said to have been satisfactorily solved. Since 1860, numerous theories have been presented, only to be discarded, at least in part, as more complete infomation revealed their fundamental weakness. Real progress toward solution dates from 1902, when Hill1 advanced the theory of secondary deposition of the domal materials from saturated solutions of hot saline waters ascending from great depths under hydrostatic head along structural lines of weakness. Shortly thereafter, Harris,² using Hill's hypothesis as a basis, explained the doming and pronounced uplift associated with these salt cores as the result of forces exerted by growing salt crystals. This was a marked advance over the ideas of Coste3 and Hager,4 since no evidence of igneous intrusives, as they assumed to explain the uplifts, had been found associated with the domes. Harris5 developed his theory until it offered such apparently plausible explanations of so many details of dome phenomena that his hypothesis and conclusions received widespread acceptance, despite some serious objections, and today his theory, somewhat modified, is considered by many able investigators to be the best explanation of the origin of these domes. The immense production of oil per acre, the recognition of the high lubricating quality of the oil, the development and recognition of the efficiency and advantages of oil-burning vessels, with the subsequent exceptional demand for fuel oil, and the resultant advance in the price of coastal crude, have been responsible for a prospecting and develop- 1 Robert T. Hill: Beaumont Oil Field with Notes on Other Oil Fields of the Texas Region. Jnl. Franklin Inst. (1902) 164, 143. 2Gilbert D. Harris: Rock Salt in Louisiana. Louisiana Geol. Survey Bull. 7 (1907) 76. ³E. Coste: Volcanic Origin of Natural Gas and Petroleum. Jnl. Canadian Min. Inst. (1903) 6, 73. 4Lee Hager: Mounds of the Southern Oil Fields. Eng. & Min. Jnl. (July 28, 1904) 78,137, 180. 6Gilbert D. Harris: Geologicel Occurrence of Rock Salt in Louisiana and East Texas. Econ. Geol. (1909) 4, 12.

Jan 1, 1921

By A. H. Underwood, M. –Ls. Trépanier

INTRODUCTION The King and Beaver mines of Asbestos Corporation Limited (ACL) were joined in 1957 to form the King-Beaver mine. In 1964, ACL purchased the Johnson's Asbestos Company. The combined underground workings are a part of the King- Beaver mine. Asbestos ore is mined at the rate of 4080 metric tons per day (mtpd) to provide 15% of the company's daily requirement in the Thetford Mines area. Figure 1 shows the location of Thetford Mines. Two shafts service the underground. No. 3 shaft, 457 m deep, is used for personnel and material transportation, downcast ventilation, and ore hoisting. No. 4 shaft, 820 m to the south, is 389 m deep. It is used for material transportation and upcast ventilation. Figure 2 shows the relative locations of the shafts and the underground workings. The ore is mined by block caving. HISTORY The orebody outcropped at surface and was first mined as an open pit. Underground mining commenced when open pit mining became impractical. Shrinkage stoping, used initially, was unsatisfactory in the highly fractured ore. Sublevel stoping improved ore recovery and safety, but did not overcome the adverse effects of the un- stable rock. Observations of the rock failures indicated that block caving would be satisfactory. This was confirmed by careful investigation and testing. A method of block caving similar to that used at the Miami Copper Company was adopted. The first block commenced production in June 1933. BLOCK CAVING General A large block of ore is undercut above pre- pared drawpoints. The ore above the undercut caves by its own weight. Caving progresses up- ward as the caved ore is drawn. A large proportion of the rock breaks up in the caving action so that it will pass through the drawpoints. Oversize blocks are broken by drilling and blasting or mudcapping. Figure 3 shows the progressive stages of block caving. In the central part of the ore zone, the vertical dimension of a block is determined by the 132 metres between production levels. When isolated ore pockets are developed, the vertical dimensions of a block depend on the extension of the ore zone above the undercut. The minimum horizontal dimension of an under- cut determines the cavability of the overlying block. When necessary, caving is assisted by drilling long horizontal holes into the block above the undercut and blasting them. This procedure speeds up or restarts caving. It will not ensure complete caving of blocks having undercuts less than 30 m wide. Orebodies suitable for block caving are highly fractured and wide enough to cave freely without excessive dilution. Undercutting must

Jan 1, 1981

By T. A. Wilson, S. L. Hoyt

The plastic deformation of slender single crystals of zinc has been described in some detail in the paper by Mark, Polanyi and Schmid,' which has become a classic, and also by one of the present authors in a somewhat shorter account. 2 The study of single-crystal zinc is termed classical because zinc single crystals offer, perhaps, the best material yet available for the study of atomic behavior during deformation and the effect known as "strengthening" in metals. A considerable amount of additional work has also been done on single-crystal zinc, but as it is not closely related to the present paper it will not be considered. Throughout all the former work, the mechanism of plastic deformation first described by Mark, Polanyi and Schmid has been assumed to hold. This may be said to offer the strongest confirmation of its correctness. Even so, the picture of the process has never been as completely portrayed as is desirable. The first object of the present paper is to describe work that has been done in this field, and which is even yet being carried on, in the hope that a more complete picture may be obtained. Mathewson and Phillips3 have recently described a new mechanism of the deformation of zinc based on their study of large rectangular crystals. One of their conclusions was that deformation produced twinning with a rotation of some of the basal planes into positions 94" removed from their original position; a position almost the same as that of the prismatic planes before twinning. A second conclusion was that fracture occurred along these basal planes in their new position, and, therefore that fractures previously regarded as prismatic were in reality basal. Such findings are of great significance and they raise a question as to the generality of such behavior. Professor Mathewson's opinion is that even the slender cylindrical single crystals behave in the same manner as his large rectangular crystals when strained by simple tension.

By B. H. Caudle, L. G. Davies, I. H. Silberberg

This paper presents a method of predicting the recovery and performance of a five-spot steam injection project, in which a realistic approach to pattern sweepout efficiencies is made. Published methods for radial systems were modified for the five-spot pattern by approximating the stream lines with straight lines radiating from the injection well and then converging to the producing well. In each radial segment, the position of the steam front and the temperature profile ahead of the steam front were determined by heat balance equations, which included an estimation of heat losses to surrounding formations. The location of the saturations behind the cold water front was determined from a Buckley-Leverett solution to the material balance equation. Results from this program show steamflood recovery in a five-spot pattern to be considerably less than that predicted for true linear or radial flow systems. For a specific reservoir containing 900-cp oil, a steamflood in a purely radial flow system was predicted to recover more than 75 percent of the original oil in place when 2 PV of water had been injected as steam. A five-spot steamflood with otherwise identical properties was predicted to recover 10 percent of the original oil in place when 0.15 PV of water had been injected as steam and to recover almost no oil thereafter. A cold water five-spot flood in this system was predicted to recover approximately W percent of the oil in place with I PV of water injected. For a five-spot pattern in an example reservoir with 10-cp oil, steam injection similarly showed lower ultimate recovery than water injection but no improvement in recovery rule. Introduction The thermal recovery method considered in this study is steam injection in a five-spot pattern. Pattern steam injection has been given little attention in the past, possibly because of some rather obvious disadvantages. Unless steam temperature is maintained throughout the entire swept area, the process will revert to simple waterflood with all heat being lost prior to reaching the oil bank. Also, the oil viscosity reduction takes place near the steam front and not around the producing wellbore, so that low producing rates must still be endured. This is the reason for the success of the steam stimulation, or cyclic injection, in which the fluids are produced from the same well used for injection. On the other hand, steamflooding can offer some advantages. Oil displacement is by four methods: (1) mechanical displacement by the condensed water, (2) viscosity reduction of the crude oil, (3) swelling of the crude oil, and (4) distillation of the crude oil in the steam zone. Although dependent upon the crude, laboratory experiments have shown displacements up to 80 percent by steamflooding. In addition, steam is a good heat transport medium, since it is cheap and has a high heat content. Previous Investigations Previous publications have reported methods for predicting recovery in a steamflood for linear and radial systems. Since no pattern sweep efficiency is taken into consideration, the recovery even from a radial system must be greater than from more realistic geometries such as the very common five-spot patterns. Probably the broadest coverage is given by Willman who reported experimental results and offered a method of predicting recovery for a radial flow system. They concluded that both hot water and steam injection recover more oil than an ordinary waterflood, and that steam injection could yield recoveries "as much as 100 percent greater than by water flood." They also concluded that both the heat requirements for a reservoir and the residual oil remaining in the reservoir after steam injection were independent of the amount of oil originally in place, that short exploitation times were desirable, and that a high percentage of net sand in the reservoir with a high initial oil saturation was desirable. The method assumes that the flood occurs in three concentric cylindrical zones: (1) an inner steam zone, (2) a central hot water zone, and (3) an outer cold waterflood zone. Displacement in the steam zone is based on laboratory-determined residual oil saturations while the hot water and cold water zones use the conventional Buckley-Leverett equations. Although the results shown by Willman et al. are for a radial system flowing out from the well to an assumed external circular boundary, their equations did

Jan 1, 1969

By D. S. Rowley, F. C. Appl

Assuming that rock behavior, during cutting with a single diamond, may be approximated by that of a rigid, Coulomb, plastic material, a theory of single diamond cutting action has been developed. Using this theory, the stresses on the diamond cutting surface and the components of the cutting force have been determined. Theoretical results agree reasonably well with available experimental data. The theory of cutting of single diamonds may be used as the basis for subsequent study of the perfonnance of surface set diamond drill bits and other surface set diamond cutting tools. INTRODUCTION For more than twenty years, surface set diamond bits have been used successfully in the mining and petroleum industries to drill and core rock formations that range from medium hard to the hardest known formations. Most extremely hard rock formations cannot be economically drilled or cored by any other means. In view of the growing use and importance of surface set diamond drill bits, it is reasonable to study the way in which these tools cut, and the factors that influence wear of the diamonds. Such knowledge will contribute to better bit design and will improve operating procedures. To analyze the cutting performance of these tools it is appropriate to consider the way in which an individual diamond cuts. Once this is established, the over-all performance of the bits can be determined by considering the total effect of the individual diamonds. In recent years there has been a growing interest in rock mechanics and there now exist several publications dealing with the deformation and failure of rocks. Notable experimental work has been reported by Bredthauer,1 Handin and Hager,2, 3 and Gnirk and Cheatham.4 An extensive collection of data pertaining to rock properties at low confining pressures has been given by Wuerker.5 Cheatham and Gnirk have recently presented an excellent review of the state of knowledge regarding analytical and experimental rock deformation and failure.6 Generally rocks are extremely weak in uniaxial tension, and weak or only moderately strong in uniaxial compression. Both tensile failure and compressive failure are generally brittle in nature. This means that there is little or no deformation or "flow" of the material before shear or tensile fracture occurs. Thus, until fracture occurs, rock behaves very nearly like an elastic material in uniaxial stress. Significant changes in behavior of rock occur under conditions of triaxial compressive stress. There is generally a marked increase in compressive strength and in ductility. It has been demonstrated that the failure becomes plastic (in a macroscopic sense) at sufficiently high values of confining pressure. Sharp wedge chisel indentation studies conducted by Gnirk and Cheatham indicate that many rocks behave in a plastic manner at relatively low triaxial compressive stress states.4 If "failure" under triaxial compressive conditions is considered to be either complete rupture or macroscopic plastic flow, then the general failure characteristics of a rock can be reasonably well represented by the commonly known Mohr envelope. This certainly is not a perfect failure criterion (since the effect of the intermediate principal stress is neglected) but it has been found to be adequate for most engineering purposes. Mohr envelopes usually are constructed graphically using experimental triaxial test data. For purposes of analysis it is convenient to represent the envelope in equation form. Among the several approximate forms appearing in the literature, a parabolic form is suggested by Cheatham,7 and an exponential form is suggested by Paone and Tandanand.8 The exponential form has been adopted for this study, and based on published data, appropriate parameters have been established for 19 rock types. A typical plot of the data compared with the approximate envelope, and a summary of the rock properties and

Jan 1, 1969