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By Martin J. Gavin

During the recent study of lubricating oils carried on in the San Francisco laboratory of the United States Bureau of Mines, it became desirable to distill the oils used in the experimental work at pressures as low as 10 millimeters (mercury column) absolute. In the effort to Overcome difficulties and eliminate sources of error, certain changes were made in the apparatus for vacuum distillation used by the Bureau of Mines for crude petroleum.4 These changes were described in R.I. 2819, issued in July, 1927. Subsequent to the publication of R.I. 2819 several other changes have been made, and the present form of the apparatus for vacuum distillation of lubricating oils is described in this revision of R.I. 2819. These changes were found to give more accurate checks on duplicate distillations. The major part of the credit for the laboratory work which developed the changes in the apparatus and method revised herein is due to Boyd Guthrie, assistant petroleum chemist, and R. V. Higgins, junior chemist, o the San Francisco laboratory, United States Bureau of Mines. DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS The distilling flask employed is essentially the Hempel flask as used by the United States Bureau of Mines for the analytical distillation of petroleum.5 he complete apparatus is shown in Figure 1. The fractionating column and exposed portion of the flask is wrapped with 4 inch asbestos rope and then surrounded by a cylindrical hood of 1/8 inch pliable asbestos sheet with a narrow air space between the wrapping and the cylindrical hood. This was found necessary to prevent any radiation or convection heat losses from the column, and resulted in obtaining a more even and constant fractionation by eliminating any dephlegmating action caused by temperature changes around the column.

Jan 1, 1930

By Valentin R. Garfias, C. O. Isakson

The production of oil in Mexico during 1929 was approximately 45,000,000 bbl., or 5,000,000 bbl. less than in 1928. The production of the fields near Tampico showed a decline of over 10,000,000 bbl. for both the light and heavy crudes, which was partly offset by an increase of over 5,000,000 bbl. in the production of the fields in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. During 1929 the retrenchment policy followed by practically all the companies was continued and no material improvement should be expected until the unsatisfactory conditions that brought about this situation are remedied. A new administration has just assumed control in Mexico; it should remain in power for 6 years, and the progress of the oil industry during that time will depend primarily on the policy pursued by the new government with respect to oil development. Development During 1929, there were drilled 214 wells as compared with 371 in 1928 and 583 in 1927. The percentage of producers in 1929 was 47.2 as against 34 per cent. in 1928. The new wells did not show water as quickly as in 1928, particularly in the Cacalilao field, where the greatest number of producers was brought in, their average initial daily production being 380 bbl. The flush daily production per well in the Southern fields was 1730 bbl., while the wells in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec came in with an average of 770 bbl. Development is summarized in Table 1. In the Southern fields 63 wells were drilled in 1929, of which 23 were producers, the best being drilled in Paso Real. This development tends to show that the southern extension of Dos Bocas-Alamo fault from Alamo to San Isidro terminates at San Isidro. The two wildcat wells completed in 1929, one in Magiscatzin and the other in Xicotencatl, were failures, and at the end of the year there were eight wildcat wells drilling and material was being hauled for two more.

Jan 1, 1930

By George Sears

UNTIL a comparatively few years ago, interest in tantalum was limited almost wholly to its scientific investigation, but its extreme resistance to the action of even the strong mineral acids, its great avidity for the common gases, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, and its capacity for transforming alternating to direct current are winning for it a place in our industrial life. Tantalum is not attacked by any single acid except hydrofluoric, nor is it affected by solutions of alkalies. Aqua regia, which readily dissolves both platinum and gold, has no action on it. This resistance to the common corrosive agents is an outstanding property of tantalum and accounts for many of the applications to which it has been put. When heated, tantalum reacts readily with oxygen and nitrogen and absorbs large volumes of hydrogen, 740 volumes being taken up at a dull red heat. This capacity for absorbing gases is being utilized to an increasing extent in the manufacture of vacuum tubes, in which tantalum is used for the metal parts, especially for grid wire. It is said to be a superior metal for this purpose, particularly in power and sending tubes, because of its low secondary emission. The use of tantalum in the manufacture of electrodes, dishes, spatulas and other laboratory apparatus appears to be fairly steady. There has been some development in its use for dental instruments, surgical tools, pen points, hypodermic needles and acidproof pumps. Recently it has been used in the manufacture of spinnerets for the rayon industry, of nozzles for the manufacture of artificial casings for sausages and of lining for plant equipment.

Jan 1, 1930

By Richard L. D?Arcy

This paper describing the mining practice and methods at the United Verde Extension mine, Jerome, Ariz., is one of a series of papers in preparation by the Bureau of Mines presenting the mining methods used in various mining districts of the United States. The United Verde Extension mine is a massive, high-grade deposit of copper sulphide containing some gold and silver and is mined almost exclusively by the conventional square-set method with some local modifications. About 450 men are employed underground and 1200 tons of direct smelting ore is produced per day. Figure 1 is a surface map of the Jerome district.

Jan 1, 1930

By E. P. Chartkoff, W. P. Sykes

In 1926 one of the authors published researches on the determination and description of the iron-tungsten and iron-molybdenum systems,' including the equilibrium diagrams. In 1929, further work was carried on, including the examination by X-rays, which is recorded here. Meas-urements were made of changes in lattice parameters in the solid solutions. Precipitation from the solid solution and the accompanying changes in hardness were studied as well as the formation of the intermetallic com-pound phases upon sintering a mixture of metal powders. Materials All the specimens were prepared from the same quality of metals and by the same methods as were described in the determination of the constitutional diagrams. The metal powders as mixed and pressed were sintered or fused in a hydrogen atmosphere and subsequently treated as indicated in the titles of the figures. The formation of the iron-rich solutlon in the solid was accomplished by sintering in hydrogen for a period of 20 to 30 hr. at a temperature 25' to 50' C. below the melting point of the eutectic. The tungsten-rich and molybdenum-rich solid solutions of iron were prepared by adding the iron as a solution of iron ammonium oxalate to the oxide of tungsten or molybdenum, followed by a hydrogen reduction. This method results in a homogeneous alloy after sintering the pressed metal powder for 20 to 30 hr. at a temperature slightly below that of the peritectic reaction in the system involved. For X-ray examination the specimens were variously prepared, depending on the nature of the sample and what it was desired to show. For example, the iron containing tungsten or molybdenum in solid solution was cut with a file, the chips were put through bolting cloth, and this powder of filings formed the specimens for comparative study. The

Jan 1, 1930

By H. D. Baylor

This is the first of a series of papers describing mining methods and costs at cement plant quarries throughout the United States and deals directly with those methods employed and costs obtained at the quarry of the Louisville Cement Co. located at Speed, Ind. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author wishes to acknowledge the assistance of Mr. J. M. Buohheit, superintendent of quarries, and Mr. H. E. Schoonover, quarry engineer, in furnishing data and in compiling this report.

Jan 1, 1930

This discussion was prepared by members of the Phelps Dodge Corpn. staff who were designated to review the minutes. It is confidential but permission has been granted to distribute copies among those who attended the Conference. The minutes of the above conference contain numerous references to the plants and practices of Phelps Dodge Corporation. As many of these references are inaccurate, the following notes are made covering such points: Construction Magnesite Brick in Reverb. Arch (1) An.18" arch, 20 feet long, was built on one furnace with 5 feet on each side of magnesite brick, the center portion .being of silica brick. The furnace was put in operation February 13, 1930 and on April 23rd after 68.8 days' operation it was replaced due to failure of the silica brick forming the center of the arch. At this time, while the silica brick had completely gone, there was 14" of magnesite left. Bridgewall Tapping (2) Tapping matte through the burner wall was first tried at the Copper Queen Smelter in April, 1925. At that time, a copper casting with 1 ½ extra heavy pipes for water cooling cast in it, and having one taphole block was used. Later, on the other (old) furnaces, similar castings, but equipped with two tapholes, were used. We found with these furnaces that we could tap through the burner wall at the beginning of a campaign, but would subsequently have to go back to side wall tapping. This was the case until sometime in 1926. The new furnaces, that went in operation at the beginning of 1927, each had water. cooled castings with two tapholes. These have been used entirely and have been quite successful. Sometime after the furnaces were put into operation sidewall tapholes were put in, simply for the removal of any accumulation of matte that might be temporarily retained at the front end by bridges or dams in the furnace formed by overcharging locally.

Jan 1, 1930

By W. T. Nightingale

The three gas-producing "pools" discussed in this paper are in Sweet-water County, southwest Wyoming, and Moffat, County, northwest Colorado. Hiawatha, North Baxter Basin and South Baxter Basin gas fields became economically important in 1929 when a 330-mile gas line connected them with Salt Lake City, Ogden and towns en route. This development immediately focussed attention on the gas-producing fields and the efforts of the producing company to develop them in an orderly, economical manner. Several outstanding interests were acquired and working agreements made with others. Thus the interference of natural drainage areas was avoided, the pernicious practice of drilling direct

Jan 1, 1930

By C. H. Jr. Herty

FEW subjects have attracted the attention of metallurgists more than ,oxygen in steel. From the days of Mushet and Ledebur interest in this subject has been increasing, and as additional knowledge has become available, the problem has naturally grown more complex. Instead of using the simple term "oxygen" we now distinguish between iron oxide, silicates of various kinds, oxysulfides, oxygen as gas and oxygen in solid solution in steel. There are five general methods for determining oxides in steel: hydrogen reduction;, vacuum fusion; various wet-extraction methods, including electrolytic methods; methods depending on volatilization of the iron away from the oxides; and metallographic methods. For oxygen in solid steel each of these methods has both advantages and disadvantages. The hydrogen-reduction method is of no use on steels above about 0.20 per cent. carbon;1 furthermore, it gives only FeO and possibly some MnO. The vacuum-fusion method2 is expensive and gives total oxygen, with the exception of some A1203, and does not differentiate between the various oxides in which the oxygen exists. Most of the wet-extraction methods' give only the more insoluble oxides Si02 and A1203, though the iodine method gives MnO to an uncertain degree (information that may be more misleading then no information

Jan 1, 1930

By T. H. Miller

This piper is a continuation of a series of yearly review articles started in 1925 by Thomas Varley. The development of flotation has been rapid, and better understanding of the functions o' flotation reagents has resulted in many changes in the kinds and quantities o reagents used. It is the purpose of this report to present the information in such a manner as to be of value to the milling industry as well as to the manufacturer of flotation reagents. These data have been compiled from a. survey of approximately 250 flotation plants of all classes within the United States. Many of these plants made complete reports of their operations, out others were apparently unable to supply this information in sufficient detail to meet the requirements of this investigation. Although it is realized that the data obtained in this survey are not as full as they should be to render the greatest service possible to the milling industry, it is hoped that succeeding articles will include complete information regarding milling; conditions and recoveries. As in the past, every effort has been made to conceal individual plant operations. RESULTS OF INVESTIGATION Table 1 gives the tons of ore treated by gravity and flotation methods and the concentrates produced as reported by 208 plants. The totals of 77,043,535 tons of ore and 4, 596,640 tons of concentrates from this table compare with totals of 78,973,012 tons and 4,683,972 tons respectively (furnished by the Bureau of Mines, Division of Mineral Statistics), indicating that the milling survey is about 98 per cant complete.

Jan 1, 1930

By E. H. Crabtree

This paper, describing the milling practices at the White Bird concentrator, Picher, Okla., is one of a series on milling practices being published by the Bureau of Mines. The concentrator of the White Bird mine, Canam Metals Corporation, is located in almost the geographical center of the present Picher mining cam' in the Tri-State district, one-half mile east of the town of Picher, 1 mile south of the Kansas State line, and about 18 miles west of the Missouri State line.

Jan 1, 1930

By Frank W. Sansom

This paper is one of a series of articles dealing with milling methods and costs at metal mines in the United States, written in accordance with an outline prepared by engineers of the United States Bureau of Mines and published by the bureau. The Netta mine and concentrator is the largest of the plants of the Eagle-Picher Lead Co, It is located in Ottawa County, in the extreme northeast corner of Oklahoma, and in what is known as the Tri-State zinc and lead mining district, embracing the northeast corner of Oklahoma, the southwest corner of Missouri, and the southeast corner of Kansas. A majority of the production comes from the Oklahoma section, with Kansas second, and Missouri third.

Jan 1, 1930

By M. R. Campbell

Coal is the geological product of entombed vegetal tissues. This view of its origin led Stopes and Wheeler to define it as "mummified plants." They evidently intended this term to be used in a broad way and to mean the preservation of the organic material, as such, regardless of the means employed to accomplish the purpose. The term " coal" should be regarded, therrfore, as broadly generic, and applicable to all accumulations of vegetal tissues as soon as they are covered and protected either by water or by earthy material. In this sense peat should be regarded as the first stage of coal formation and the term coal should include the resultant products of transformation in all other stages of the process until they have lost all resemblance to the original matter from which they were derived. If this idea of the development of coal is accepted and it is admitted, as the geologists claim, that the forces which produced this transformation of the coal have been active since vegetation began to grow upon the land, and are still in operation, it is obvious that somewhere in the world there are all gradations of this material from peat just forming in the swamps of today to graphitic anthracite which presumably marks the most advanced stage that can be recognized with certainty as belonging to the series. Some of these coals, particularly those occurring in the upper part of the series, are fairly well known because they are the ones that are most widely distributed and have been mined and utilized most extensively. On the other hand, the coals in the lower part of the series are but little known because they are not so abundant and, owing to their relative inefficiency, have been only slightly exploited and utilized, especially in regions where the better coals are abundant. The result of these conditions is that much research work has been done on coals of the higher ranks and a great body of facts regarding their physical and chemical properties and the uses to which they are best adapted has been accumulated, but little information is available regarding the coals of the lower ranks. Many able scientists, particularly chemists, have attempted to bring some order of the chaos of coals of various compositions and uses by

Jan 1, 1930

By Joseph Chalmers

The Petroleum Experiment Station of the U. S. Bureau of Mines at Bartlesville, Okla., has for the past three and a half years maintained a laboratory with the necessary personnel for conducting research on methods of increasing the recovery of oil. Some of the preliminary problems encountered in starting this work, with the data obtained, were discussed in A. I. M. E. Technical Publication No. 144, "Oil Recovery Investigations of the Petroleum Experiment Station of the U. S. Bureau of Mines," which was presented at the October meeting of the Institute at Tulsa, Okla., in 1928. Scope of Paper The following discussion gives some of the results of the more recent work at the Oil Recovery Laboratory. These experiments were conducted to obtain laboratory data pertaining to the relative merits or efficiencies of various pressure media in the recovery of oil from a sand reservoir. Two general types of experiments were conducted. In one the various pressure media were passed through an artificial body of sand partly saturated with oil at a constant input pressure; in the other the pressure media were passed through the body of sand partly saturated with oil at a constant volume rate. No attempt will be made to discuss the ramifications of economic problems which enter into the choice of a pressure medium. Apparatus and Materials The two 6-in. by 6-ft. flow tubes described in Technical Publication 144 were used in these experiments. They consist of 6-ft. sections of 6-in. casing with a blind flange at each end. There are three 1-in. well openings in each tube, spaced 2 ft. 4 in. apart, the end wells being

Jan 1, 1930

By H. J. Rose, J. J. S. Sebastian

When coal is stored under ordinary conditions, progressive changes take place in its chemical and physical properties. These changes are largely caused by the reaction of atmospheric oxygen with the coal substance. Although this "oxidation" or "weathering" occurs slowly in the case of high-rank coals, it is nevertheless a matter of considerable importance, since even a small amount of oxidation may affect the value of coal for carbonization purposes. Coal storage is a necessity at all carbonizing plants. In normal times there are about 5,000,000 tons in storage at by-product coke ovens and gas retorts in the United States, as compared with an annual throughput of about 75,000,000 tons. In other words, the average coal reserve at such plants is slightly less than one month's supply. However, owing to the cost of storage and recovery, coal is usually left in stockpile for as long a time as the management thinks advisable. Storage for six to eight months is common practice and is, in fact, a necessity at certain plants which obtain their coal by water routes that are closed during winter months. Modern by-product coke ovens operate continuously, and they are not cooled down from the time that they arc put into operation until they are shut down for rebuilding—perhaps 20 years later. This continuous operation is imposed by silica-brick construction and high operating temperatures. It is therefore obvious that coke plants must at all times maintain an adequate supply of stored coal, in order to prevent a failure in supply from any cause whatever. Thus when strikes or other emergencies threaten, abnormally large coal stocks are accumulated and held at coke and gas plants. Many of these plants have been forced, at some time or other, to use coal that has been stored for several years. Such coal may fail to coke at all, or it may produce a dirty appearing, weak coke of reduced value. The yields of salable by-products may also be distinctly lowered. However, it must not be assumed that slight oxidation or heat effects are always injurious. Certain high-volatile coals produce a stronger, blockier

Jan 1, 1930

By J. Elmer Thomas

The evolution of the oil business is one of the great industrial romances of modern times. First used as a medicine, then as a lubricant, then as an illuminant, and finally as a motor fuel, each change in its principal usage caused large increases in consumption. Producing Successes The producing branch of the industry responded ably to the demands made upon it. Never was there a famine, rarely any threat of scarcity, and stored inventories were gradually accumulated to form comfortable working stocks. Originally an erratic and hazardous undertaking, the discovery and development of oil fields has made such strides as to classify now as a science. When storage stocks were low, production in close balance with consumption, and demand trending sharply upward, considerable concern was expressed over future needs. Price was very responsive to fluctuations in supply under those conditions, and quotations for crude and refined oils exhibited wide swings. A very different situation exists today. Consideration of the statistics only since the war will show how recent has been this change. In the 10-year period from 1918 to 1927 inclusive, we produced in the United States 6,100,000,000 bbl. of crude and imported 900,000,000 bbl., our total supply being 7,000,000,000 bbl. The consumption was 6,600,000,000 bbl., thus adding to stocks 400,000,000 bbl., an accumulation of somewhat less than 6 per cent. of the total supply. During that period virtually every field was promptly developed as soon as discovered and nearly every well in the country was producing at full capacity. With the maximum production of the wells required to take care of the rapid increases in consumption, with storage stocks moderate and proven reserves very slight, the producing division of the industry acquired a tempo not needed now. Potential Surplus Today the situation is vastly different. The economic consumption is about 2,700,000 bbl., with current production slightly in excess of that.

Jan 1, 1930

The official Institute reports for the year 1929 were distributed in pamphlet form at the Annual Meeting, February, 1930, and were later included in Section 2 of Mining and Metallurgy, June, 1930, and thus made available to the entire membership. Membership In its report the Admissions Committee set forth the changes in membership during 1929, as follows: Total membership, Jan. 1, 1928, 8582; elected and placed on rolls in 1929, including 59 reinstatements, 509; loss by resignations in 1929, 88; loss by death in 1929, 110; loss by suspension in 1929, 37; membership at end of year not including Student Associates, 8856. Distribution of membership: Honorary Members, 16; Members, 6590; Junior Members, 38; Associates, 1041; Junior Associates, 1033; Rocky Mountain, 138; total membership, Jan. 1, 1930, 8856; Student Associates, 150; total including student associates, 9006. Treasurer's Annual Report, Year of 1929 Statement of Receipts For the year ended December 31, 1929 Dues: Arrears............................................ $ 3,501.75 Current............................................ 97,257.12 New Members...................................... 5,721.50 Advance........................................... 1,970.79 $108,451.16 Initiation Fees.................................................. 7,436.00 Magazine Receipts: Advertising Gross Receipts........................... $40,610.81 Magazine Sales..................................... 3,799.84 44,410.65 Sale of Transactions Current........................... $ 2,985. 15 Sale of Special Editions Current........................ 5,147.82 Sale of Back Transactions and Special Editions........... 4,186.93 Sale of Year Book..................................... 65.50 Sale of Authors' Reprints.............................. 2,585.40 Sale of Pins and Fobs.................................. 14.73 Sale of Technical Publications.......................... 1,451.55 Sale of Bindings...................................... 3,949.13 20,376.21 Net Interest Received: On Bank Balance and Temporary Investments......... $ 2,595.04 On Lie Membership Fund........................... 3,223.43 On James Douglas Library Fund...................... 5,425.61 On General Reserve Fund............................ 2,015.58 13,259.66 Miscellaneous Receipts........................................... 335.80 Total Receipts................................................ $194,269.48

Jan 1, 1930

By D. S. Hines

The purchase of mechanical equipment for mines is not unlike the purchase of other materials or supplies in general principle, but on account of the major part such equipment plays in the operations, and of the fact that life and valuable property are at stake, the matter demands the most careful attention on the part of the purchaser. The problems and difficulties encountered are dealt with below in their sequence in the purchasing procedure. Requisiting Although it is quite a common practice to submit a tentative specification of requirements to recognized manufacturers of equipment- soliciting alternative propositions or recommendations for study in the selection of certain equipment-as a rule the first step in purchasing procedure is the requisition. Primarily, it is the form that carries to the purchasing department the record of equipment wanted. A full and complete description or specification, and accuracy of record, are the important points to be insisted on in a requisition. Too much attention cannot be given to this detail, as this is one of 'the most important phases of purchasing work. Incomplete information, either in specification or detail, leads to delay in handling the requisition, and, if not detected in the purchasing department, may mean receipt of material which cannot be used for the purpose intended. In addition to description of material or equipment to be ordered, the requisition should also show where or what the equipment is for, whether for operating or new work. If for capital account, the number of the authority for expenditure should be given for record and distribution purposes.

Jan 1, 1930

By William Colby

INCREASING governmental control of human activities seems inevitable. Within the present generation railroad rates and the public sale of water, gas and electricity have been subjected to rigid regulation. The field of control is slowly but surely being enlarged, and it is the object of this paper to outline in brief space this tendency toward increased governmental regulation, as far as mineral resources are concerned. Our, dual form of government complicates the problem. We must deal not only with the powers of the Federal Government, but also with those of the individual States. In order to approach this question intelligently we must have some conception of the powers and jurisdiction of the States and the United States, respectively, over mineral lands and mineral production. Starting with the Federal Government we find it never owned any public domain within the States that formed a part of the thirteen original colonies and, for historical reasons, the same is true of Tennessee and Texas. The Mid-Western States were erected out of the public domain which was acquired by the United States through cession from the original States or by purchase from foreign nations. Congress early in the last century adopted a policy of leasing public lands containing lead deposits in a portion of this Mid-Western territory, but later abandoned that policy and disposed of such public, lands, mineral and non-mineral, outright so that they long since have practically all passed into private ownership and become subject to the general jurisdiction of the respective State governments. In the great public domain lying west of the Mississippi River, and in portions of some of the Southern States, the Federal Government adopted a new mineral land policy following the discovery of gold in California. (Acts of Congress of 1866, 1870, and 1872.) The mineral lands within these States, instead of being disposed of on the game basis as agricultural lands, as occurred in the Mid-Western States, were segregated from agricultural lands and sold under special laws intended to encourage mining, giving the miner the free right to locate and work these mineral lands without paying any royalty to the Federal Government. A miner could also obtain at slight expense a complete

Jan 1, 1930

By S. P. Kinney

Economy in blast-furnace practice depends largely upon efficient gas-solid contact in the shaft of the furnace. If efficient work is not done in the shaft the hearth and bosh will not function properly. A condition may be readily imagined where the particles of ore in the shaft are so large that the time entailed in the descent of these materials into the bosh is not sufficient to permit proper reduction and preparation prior to the time the ore enters the bosh of the furnace. Another condition may be pictured where the density of the stock column and the flow of stock is such that the ore will take one course and the gas another. Both of these examples will result in insufficient contact between the gas and the ore. Unreduced ore will reach the hearth, and gas which has not been efficiently oxidized will reach the stock line. The result is the use of an excess of carbon in the smelting process. An example of the result of inefficient gas-solid contact in the shaft of a blast furnace is shown by the curves in Figure 1.

Jan 1, 1930