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By W. L. Stuewe

For the purpose of this paper I shall, in order to limit myself, define the words 'Maintenance' and 'Equipment' as follows: Maintenance shall mean the 'care of or 'the sustaining of equipment in as nearly perfect condition as possible. Equipment shall mean any item of a mechanical nature entering into the production of coal; it will be seen that unless one limits the use of this word it could take in administration as well as operative equipment, and include metal mines, mills and smelters, and manufacturing plants. In any industry the first consideration is the proper operation of all units entering into the production of the article manufactured or produced. I wish to quote here what a man, well known internationally in financial circles, told his operators at the time a large expansion programme was under consideration. His exact words were: "I do not care how much it is going to cost. What I want to know is how much it is going to cost to operate and maintain. It is the continuous drain for repairs that costs us the most money." The truth of this statement has been proved time and again, and many companies have found the cost of maintenance to be the balance between profit and loss-so much so that, in two instances with which the writer is familiar, the mechanical equipment was practically replaced throughout. I bring this point out here to emphasize the value and necessity of keeping abreast of the times, and obtaining maximum efficiency with the minimum outlay. Time is indeed money where delays occur due to defective or poorly kept equipment, and it is absolutely necessary to prevent machinery from becoming defective or inefficient.

Jan 1, 1930

By T. G. Madgwick, W. Calder

Production of petroleum increased again during 1929, thus maintaining the steady growth inaugurated by the bringing in of Royalite No. 4 in Turner Valley, Alberta, towards the end of 1924, prior to which a decline over a number of years had been experienced. The growth has been confined to the Province of Alberta, the older production in New Brunswick and Ontario showing declines, although in the latter case considerable activity in the search for new gas structures was maintained and during the last six months two wells were brought in, one at Howard in the Trenton at a depth of 1250 ft., giving 5,500,000 cu. ft., and the other at Tilbury in the Guelph or Salina at 750 ft. giving 9,000,000 cubic feet. As has been the case during the past five years, interest in the search for structure and in the following up and development of areas already recognized has centered in Alberta and adjacent portions of Saskatchewan. This was due in the first instance to the striking of wet gas in the Palaeozoic limestone (Madison) of Turner Valley, some 30 miles south of Calgary, in Royalite No. 4 in October, 1924. The bringing in of other wells of similar importance late in 1928 and in the spring of 1929 which extended the productive area 3 miles southwards led to greatly enhanced drilling activity throughout the structure and adjacent areas and in other parts of Alberta. As a result good strikes of heavy crude oil have been recorded during the year at Ribstone, Oyen, Skiff and Coutts, in each case at moderate depths and in sufficient quanitity to justify prolonged testing. The prospects of a satisfactory production of this grade of oil are very encouraging. Actual oil production in the west is still confined to the Province of Alberta and for all grades of oil totaled 997,359 bbl., which compared with previous years shows a gratifying increase. To this increase the naphtha obtained from the wet gas of Turner Valley has proved the principal contributant, heavy crude also showing an improvement, while the light crude, the product of the Cretaceo-Jurassic sands overlying the Paleozoic of Turner Valley, remains unchanged. This is largely owing to operators casing off these sands in their endeavor to reach the limestone, but, there is evidence that in future more attention will be paid to

Jan 1, 1930

By Arthur Taggart

SOME years ago, A. M. Gaudin and one of the authors published a paper showing removal of tar acids from solution by sulfides preferentially as compared to gangues (specifically by galena as compared to quartz).1 The underlying phenomenon was classed as adsorption, and the paper went on to develop the general thesis that so far as water-soluble frothing and collecting agents in flotation are concerned, the phenomenon of adsorption is one of controlling importance. Adsorption was defined in that paper as "a process of rearrangement of a system, which results in establishing a difference in concentration, as between the interfacial layers and the bulk of the phases, of a substance or substances initially uniformly dispersed in one or several of the phases." The paper went on to develop the relation between adsorption and surface energy according to Gibbs' equation (which may be thrown into the form U/c = KdT/dc, where U = excess concentration in surface layer, c = concentration, T = surface tension, and K is a constant), and pointed out that, according to this equation, degree of adsorption and change in surface tension vary directly. The present paper offers a somewhat different definition for the term adsorption; and sets up, in sweeping terms, the generalization that simple chemical reaction underlies the functioning of the flotation reagents which control mineral collection, when these reagents are soluble in and act from solution in the water of the pulp.

Jan 1, 1930

By Homer Griffield Turner

The nature and comparative features of anthracite and bituminous coals have been discussed by the writer in two previous papers.' Although this paper is offered as a further contribution to the subject, it seems desirable at the outset to repeat some of the descriptive matter of the early works in order to show the actual connection between various constituents of both coals and the new photomicrographs and other physical and chemical properties. Structure of Anthracite and Bituminous Coals A lump of bituminous coal (Fig. 1) is readily seen to be composed of layers differing from one another in texture, luster and thickness. There are, in general, three kinds of layers, although only two are usually seen. One is deep black, very compact, and has a bright luster; another is grayish black, has a duller luster and is less compact; the third is black, dull and porous in appearance, but because of its thinness is not often seen except on parting surfaces. This last material is charcoal. American students of coal morphology use the names anthraxylon, attritus, and fusain to designate these three constituents of laminated coal. Anthraxylon refers to the brightest bands, attritus to the duller layers, and fusain to the charcoal. Close examination of a lump of bituminous coal shows the brightest deep black layers to be embedded in the duller grayish black laminae. These deep black layers are lens-shaped and vary in thickness from thin sheets to over half an inch. They are often so continuous through the lump that their tapering terminae are not noticeable. On careful examination the duller grayish black laminae (Fig. 7) are seen to contain many very thin sheets of this very bright black material. The charcoal

Jan 1, 1930

By H. C. Gunning

Introduction Considerable attention has of late been attracted to the area surrounding Nimpkish lake, on northern Vancouver island, by the discovery of important rich copper deposits. In less than two years some 200 mineral claims have been staked in a small area, and at least two groups have very promising surface showings. During the summer of 1929, the writer spent one month investigating the general geology and mineral deposits of the region, and, although no detailed work has as yet been done in the field or in the laboratory, the importance of the mineral discoveries and the lack of geological information available to the public warrants a preliminary paper on the district. The district is, from a mining viewpoint, very accessible. Boats from Vancouver call at Englewood, in Beaver cove, four times a week. From Englewood, a first-class logging railway, operated by the Wood, .English Company, extends to the northeast corner of Nimpkish lake. The fifteen-mile trip from the north to the south end of the lake is made by boat, two tugs being maintained by the logging company. The whole trip from Englewood can easily be made in one day. The known mineral deposits lie immediately east of the southern part of the lake, four miles or less from the shore. A fair trail, four miles ? long, leads from the lake to the Nimpkish Copper group. Apart from this trail and an old logging railway grade which follows the east side of Klaanch river for several miles, no trails exist on the southeast side of the lake.

Jan 1, 1930

Separates of all the Technical Publications published in 1930 are available at Institute headquarters. All the papers are on file in public, university and technical libraries, and when so indicated in the list, may be found in the TRANSACTIONS. Copies of these papers have been mailed to those members of the Institute who are registered in Classes A-Mining Methods; B-Milling and Concentration; C-Iron and Steel Division; D-Non-ferrous Metallurgy; E-Institute of Metals Division; F-Coal Division; G-Petroleum Division; H-Non-metallic Minerals; I-Mining Geology; K-Mining Administration; L-Geophysical Prospecting, respectively. Other members may obtain copies by writing to the Secretary. Additional copies are sold at the rate of 1 cent per page; minimum charge, 25 cents. METAL MINING TECH¬ NICAL PUBLI- TITLE AUTHOR MEETING TRANS CATION VOLUME No. AND PAGE* 264-A.29. Quicksilver Industry in 1929. Im- L. H. Duschak San Francisco T30, 283, 312 provements in the Metallurgy of C. G. Maier and Oct., 1929 Quicksilver and Symposium on The others Present Status of the Quicksilver Industry (With Discussion) (37) 271-A.30 Observation on Ground Movement R. E. Palmer New York T30,168 and Subsidences at Rio Tinto Feb., 1930 Mines, Spain (20) 274-A.31 Development and Installation of the C. L. Berrien New York T30, 139, 166 Hawkesworth Detachable Bit (29) . Feb., 1930 276-A.32 Protective Measures Against Gas O. A. Glaeser New York T30, 129, 187 Hazards at United Verde Mine (11) Feb., 1930 287-A.33 Use and Cost of Compressed Air (12) R. S. Lewis New York Feb., 1930 314-A.34 Miami Copper Company Method of F. W. Maclennan New York T30, 39, 80 Mining Low-grade Orebody (44) Feb., 1930 319-A.35 How Human Beings Respond to W. J. McConnell New York Changing Atmospheric Conditions Feb., 1930 (9)

Jan 1, 1930

By J. H. Rose

This paper describing the milling practice at the Magma Copper Co., Superior, Ariz., is one of a series being prepared by the Bureau of Mines on milling methods and costs in the various mining districts throughout the United States. ACKNOWLEDGMENT The authors wish to acknowledge their indebtedness to William Koerner, general manager of the Magma Copper Co., for permission to prepare this article; to J. S. Garrott, former mill superintendent, for the historical facts; and to Walter Cooksley, general foreman, for his assistance in obtaining the data.

Jan 1, 1930

By O. M. Schaus

This paper is one of a series, prepared by the Bureau of Mines and deals with the Montreal mine, one of only two active properties in Wisconsin on the Penokee-Gogebic range. The purpose of this paper is to describe the conditions of occurrence of iron ore in a particular property and to present sufficient details of equipment and production methods to convey to the unacquainted operator a correct idea of the mining practice.

Jan 1, 1930

By A. B. Hooker

Many attempts have been made to develop methane detectors that will be safer and more accurate than the flame safety lamps used to detect methane in mines. The development has taken two general forms, namely: (1) Methane detectors, in which the evidence of methane depends entirely upon changes in the appearance of the detecting element, such as a flame or filament; (2) indicating methane detectors or those equipped with scales upon which the approximate percentage is definitely indicated. As an aid in the development of suitable detectors, the United States Bureau of Mines has assembled and published in its Schedule 8B a set of minimum requirements which tests and experience have shown desirable for methane detectors. Any manufacturer may submit his detector for inspection and tests leading to approval under this schedule.

Jan 1, 1930

By Dwight C. Roberts, Stender Sweeney

The spacing of wells in Long Beach oil field has caused much discussion from the earliest days of its development, on account of the closely drilled town-lot areas which have been as intensively developed as any productive areas in the world. The purpose of this paper is to present the results obtained from this type of development in comparison with the more widely spaced development in this field, now that a sufficient length of productive life has elapsed. The intensity of development in Long Beach is indicated by the fact that up to Sept. 1, 1929, there were 1736 wells either drilled or drilling. Of these 165 failed to get production and 121 were drilling. Thus 1450 wells have produced oil from an area of 1350 acres. Up to July 1, 1929, these wells produced a total of 35.5,047,913 barrels. Method Pursued Four groups of offset areas were chosen, in each group the wells in one area are widely spaced and in the other, closely spaced. The areas in each group are contiguous and the groups are spread over the field from the southeast end to the northwest, so that representative data are assured. The comparison has also been extended to shallow and deep zones, like zones in their respective areas being compared. Even though these productive zones are very thick, a fair picture of results is obtained, because the drilling of the wells in the two types of areas was concurrent in the different groups and, as a rule, the thickness of sand opened up at any one time was about the same. As deeper sands were found, wells in offset areas were deepened or new ones were drilled in both types of areas. The division of zones was made in the same manner in contiguous areas. The total cumulative production up to July 1, 1929, of the wells in their respective zones in each area was obtained. From these figures were computed the recovery per well, recovery per acre, acreage per well, and the ratios of these factors. Thus July 1, 1929, is the end of the period considered in all areas.

Jan 1, 1930

By W. W. Beaton

The Coxheath copper mine is situated on the north side of the Coxheath hills and opposite the French Vale, at a distance of about 10 miles southwest of Sydney, Cape Breton county. The deposit was discovered in 1880, and the first work on the property was carried out with local capital. Lacer some Boston men became interested and formed a Company to finance the undertaking. This group operated the mine intermittently for approximately 20 years, spending close to one million dollars on the undertaking. Three shafts were sunk to depths of 110, 190, and 340 feet, and further underground workings to the extent of approximately one-half mile were driven. Also, an extensive surface programme was carried out. in which many test pits and hundreds of feet of trenches were dug, Early in the summer of 1928 the Arno Mines, Limited, optioned the property and immediately started an exploration campaign. A series of trenches were dug along the parallel vein system, and over 4,000 feet of diamond-drilling was done. The results obtained were so encouraging that a mining plant was erected in the fall of chat year and No. 2 shaft was drained. A complete new plant was installed, consisting of one 120 h.p. Fairbanks-Morse Diesel engine, direct connected to a Sullivan angle compound, air compressor; an 80 h .p. Leonard boiler, which supplies power for the 7 by 11 Ingersoll-Rand hoist; and a Sullivan class C steel sharpener and oil furnace. Two 250-gallon Cameron pumps, one operated by steam and the other by air, were placed in the mine so that, in case of a break-down, the mine would not be flooded.

Jan 1, 1930

By Sam Harlan

At intervals during the past several years the oil industry has been confronted with the problem of forestalling crises in its affairs. These crises have been reduced to periods of depression which, fortunately, the industry has been able to survive. Under the existing competitive practices which control the producing division of the industry it apparently has been proved that the best efforts logically to curtail development and producing operations are inadequate for effecting a true production balance and the consequent stabilization of prices. The industry is awakening to the fact that the situation warrants revolutionary thought and at this time it is looking for a permanent solution of its problem in a general plan for unit development and operation such as the one first proposed by Henry L. Doherty. Mr. Doherty's proposal was designed not only as a means for stabilizing the industry as a whole, but its principles involve very definite potential benefits for the average individual operator and royalty owner as participants in pooled projects. The benefits to these individuals would be derived from maximum recovery, the maximum utilization of natural energies, the minimization of development and operating costs, enhanced values of leases and royalties through improved efficiencies and ultimate yields, improved earnings through stabilized crude oil prices, etc. This plan was revolutionary to the industry's practices and at the time was rejected, but it now appears that the development and operating policies for new properties are continually approaching the ideal of the original plan. Oil companies are constantly extending their efforts to improve all factors that have a bearing on the costs and efficiencies of their operations. These efforts may, in some degree, be a normal outgrowth of the industry's progress, but the forced consideration of market conditions, the growing appreciation of the importance of regulating operations for maximum ultimate economies and the depreciation of the old principle of maximum flush at any cost, come from a new school of thought which has been stimulated by the immediate pressure of overproduction and

Jan 1, 1930

By W. I. Garms

This paper, describing the milling practices at the Hayden concentrator of the Nevada Consolidated Copper Co. is the first of a Series being prepared by the Bureau of Mines on milling methods and costs in various districts of the United States. The Hayden concentrator is located at Hayden, Gila County, Ariz., 20 miles from the mine at Ray, Pinal County, Ariz., and approximately 1-1/2 miles north of the junction of the Gila and San Pedro Rivers. During the fourth quarter of 1928 the concentrator treated daily by flotation an average of 10,336 tons of ore containing 1.25 per cent of copper. The average recovery during this period amounted to 87.84 per cent of the total copper. The concentrates contained 19.88 per cent of copper.

Jan 1, 1930

By E. S. Davenport

WHEN annealed carbon, or low-alloy, steels are suitably heated the ferrite (alpha iron solid solution) and the carbide, of which they are composed, react together to form a single solid solution of carbon (and other elements) in gamma iron (austenite). This reaction may begin only at a certain minimum temperature called the eutectoid temperature. The first ferrite and carbide thus to react together do so in definite proportions known as the eutectoid composition. With further heating the original constituent that is present in excess is dissolved in the austenite until exhausted. Whether the excess constituent be ferrite (hypoeutectoid steels) or carbide (hypereutectoid steels) the procedure is much the same, and upon slow cooling the homogeneous austenite expels the excess of either (proeutectoid ferrite or carbide) until the eutectoid composition is reached. Thus the reaction upon heating is strictly reversed upon cooling and accordingly an equilibrium diagram of this process may be constructed. Such an equilibrium diagram concerns itself only with the tempera¬tures involved and with the proportions and compositions of the phases developed under conditions that suffice to permit equilibrium. Specifically it has no concern for the type or mode of distribution of these constituents nor with any extra-equilibrium conditions such as undercooling, which is almost universally encountered in metals. Actually, however, of great importance is the sluggishness toward equilibration caused by the not inconsiderable time involved in diffusion. Thus instead of the theoretical transformation point AE, we find for a certain rate of heating or cooling the use of the designations Ar and Ac (transformation temperature found on cooling and upon heating). These figures obviously have no particular meaning except as measured and expressed for a definite heating or cooling rate, and represent the apparent temperature displacement caused by an inadequate time allowance. In this paper are presented the results of a study of the time required for' the transformation of austenite to ferrite and carbide at a variety of temperatures and also of the time required for the reaction austenite ?martensite at the temperatures at which this reaction occurs instead of

Jan 1, 1930

By W. W. Graff

This paper describing the mining practice at Mine No. 5 of the Marquette range, Michigan, is one of a series being prepared by the Bureau of Mines on mining practices, methods, tend costs in the various mining districts of the United States. The top-slicing system of mining, has been used ever since the present operating company took control of the property in 1903, the main level and sublevel layout being chanced only as local conditions required and the use of mechanical equipment increased.

Jan 1, 1930

By M. M. Austin

Pure metallic tantalum, from a practical standpoint, is one of the newer developments in the metal field. Although it was used as filament in incandescent lamps in 1906, only within the last, five years has the metal been available in sufficient quantity and suitable form for more general application. In addition to corrosion-resisting properties and high melting point, the metal has an ability to withstand unusual amounts of cold working. It affords some striking demonstrations of block movement during plastic flow. Strength and Ductility of Tantalum Since there is no good way of defining working properties numerically, illustrations will be used. It is possible to roll a bar of pure tantalum 0.4 in. thick to sheet 0.001 in. thick, without heating or annealing. The sheet produced will be sound and may be bent upon itself at right angles to the direction of rolling. Longitudinally the sheet will be somewhat brittle. A disk of annealed metal may be cupped and drawn to the form of a capsule 3/16 in. dia. by 146 1? in. long. If carefully handled this capsule can be further deformed by drawing to a tube having an outside diameter of 0.050 in. Disks of tantalum may be spun into tubes of 39 in. dia. and 1½ in. long. In the form of rod, reductions may be made from 0.4 in. to 0.001 dia. In the latter process, it is necessary to heat the wire four or five times to 500" C., at intervals between 0.040 and 0.001 in. Although the melting point of tantalum is 2850" C., these heatings at 500" C. are sufficient to distinctly anneal it. Published figures on the strength and ductility of tantalum are not particularly accurate. This is due to the fact that these properties vary widely, depending on the extent to which the metal is contaminated by gas. There are no sharp critical points in these changes with gas content; samples of metal will vary from a springy or actually brittle condition to one of leadlike softness. Samples that have had a prolonged heating at high temperatures in a good vacuum, under conditions such as would be provided in vacuum-tube experimentation, will yield a product of about the hardness of annealed copper. The usual commercial metal will have the hardness of annealed mild steel.

Jan 1, 1930

The 139th meeting* of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers was held at New York, February 17 to 20, 1930, the attendance totaling approximately 1800. The meeting consisted of the annual business session, 34 technical sessions at which were presented 166 papers, two meetings of the Board of Directors, two meetings of Section Delegates, two formal lectures and one special lecture, five group dinners and one group luncheon, luncheon daily for members and guests, fourteen committee meetings and conferences, the President's reception, the dinner-dance, an informal dance, a smoker, an exhibition of rare minerals and metals, two meetings of the Woman's Auxiliary and a special program of entertainment for the ladies. The Petroleum Division held seven sessions, including two general sessions featuring, respectively, a symposium on unit operation of oil pools and reports on developments in the petroleum industry during the previous year. The Iron and Steel Division held four sessions, at one of which Dr. Zay Jeffries delivered the Howe Memorial Lecture, the title of which was "The Future of the American Iron and Steel Industry." The Institute of Metals Division held six sessions, including two devoted to a symposium on the Melting and Casting of Metals, and the general session at which Dr. S. L. Hoyt delivered the annual Institute of Metals Lecture. The title of his lecture was "Hard Metal Carbides and Cemented Tungsten Carbide." The Coal and Coal Products Committee devoted one session and the greater part of another to Coal Classification and at a third session organized as the Coal Division of the Institute. The Committees on Mining Methods and Ground Movement and Subsidence each held a session, besides which they met jointly. Sessions were held by other Technical Committees as follows: Nonferrous Metallurgy, 1; Geophysical Prospecting, 2; Nonmetallic Minerals, 2; Milling Methods, 1; Rare Minerals and Metals, 1; Mining Geology, 2; Mine Ventilation, 2; Engineering Education, 1. At the annual business meeting on February 18, the following ticket was elected, and the reports of the President, Treasurer and Secretary were presented: William H. Bassett, President; Scott Turner, Vice-president; Henry Krumb, Vice-president; R. C. Allen, Cadwallader Evans, Jr., John M. Lovejoy, John A. Mathews and Milnor Roberts, Directors. At an executive session of the Directors on Tuesday afternoon, H. A. Guess was elected Vice-president to fill the vacancy created by the

Jan 1, 1930

By Walter Herd

FoR the past eight years No. 2 mine of the Cumberland Railway & Coal CO., Springhill, Nova Scotia—a subsidiary of the Dominion Coal Co., Ltd.—has had an unenviable reputation for bumps. As the workings extended in certain directions under a greater cover, these bumps increased in severity and it became apparent that some change in the system of extraction was necessary if the mine was to continue to operate. In September, 1924, following several fatalities resulting from bumps, the Mines Department of Nova Scotia requested from the U. S. Bureau of Mines the services of George S. Rice, Chief Mining Engineer of the Bureau, to report on the conditions then prevalent in No. 2 mine, Springhill. This request was promptly and courteously granted. Mr. Rice made a full investigation and a comprehensive and helpful report, which is embodied in the 1924 Annual Report of the Department of Public Works and Mines, Nova Scotia. Prior to 1925, the room and pillar method was employed and in January of that year (there being a cessation of work from March to August due to labor troubles) longwall retreating on the west side, on a limited scale, and in a small section on the east side of the mine was started. The major portion of the east side was not operated on this system till August, 1926, as there was developed a considerable area ready for pillar extraction between an arbitrary boundary and a point up to which bumps of any consequence had not been experienced. In the interval development work for longwall retreating below the 5900-ft. level was vigorously pushed. This longwall retreating system was suggested by Mr. Rice as a possible remedy and was heartily endorsed by the company officials. This paper describes the conditions and happenings subsequent to Mr. Rice's report and more especially the results with the longwall retreating system of mining under the peculiar circumstances pertaining to mining No. 2 Seam, Springhill, at depth, and records the conclusions which experience with several severe bumps under this mode of extraction would suggest. Except where necessary to make the paper intelligible as an entity any duplication of Mr. Rice's report will be avoided.

Jan 1, 1930

By Robert Keeney

IMPORTANT recent developments in the melting and annealing of non-ferrous metals include: 1. Melting of nickel silver in the vertical ring induction furnace. 2. Electric melting of stereotype metal. 3. The rotary-drum gas-fired brass melting furnace. 4. The low-frequency coreless induction furnace. 5. Finishing annealing of brass sheets with city gas1 replacing wood. -in the large brass-rolling mill. 6. Electric annealing of brass and copper tubing and sheets. 7. Replacement of oil by gas and electricity in the annealing of nickel-silver shells and stampings.

Jan 1, 1930

By R. Duncan Gardner

This paper describing the mining practice at the Harmony mine, Baker, daho, is one of a series being prepared by the Bureau of Mines on mining practices, methods, and costs in the various mining districts in the United States. About 150 tons of copper ore containing 4 per cent copper, 0.001 ounce gold, and 0.1 ounce silver, is being produced daily from the Harmony mine by the shrinkage method of mining. The ore is taken by an aerial tramway 1/3 mile long to the mill, where it is concentrated. The concentrate is shipped 8 miles by truck to the railroad and thence by rail to Utah for smelting.

Jan 1, 1930