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By Francois E. Heuze

INTRODUCTION Rock slope stability typically is governed by the geological discontinuities. This stability can be improved by drainage, unloading, adjustment in slope orientation, adjustment in slope angle, and also by reinforcement such as bolts or tendons. This paper addresses the modeling of bolt reinforcement in rock slopes. Most geological discontinuities such as joints have rough surfaces; they dilate during shear displacement. Their shear strength is characterized by two envelopes (Fig. 1); the peak envelope is distinct from the residual envelope when the joints can dilate. If the dilation is restrained transversely, such as with bolts, the normal stress will increase and the joint strength also will increase. It has been demonstrated that this increase may be considerable (Obert et al., 1976). The new normal stress at peak strength is a com- posite function of the properties of the rock mass and of the steel (Heuze, 1979). Hence, the dilation and its resultant effects on joint shear strength must be included in the analysis and design of the reinforcement. We present a model which can be used to perform such an analysis. Early studies of rock reinforcement in mining and civil applications (Lang, 1957 - Panek, 1962 - Osen and Parsons, 1966 - Lang, 19721, did not consider the specific effects of bolts on joint shear strength. In 1973, Heuze and Goodman reported direct shear tests on rough sandstone joints with bolts perpendicular to the joint plane (Fig. 2). The peak shear strength of such joints was greatly in excess of the shear strength of the unbolted joints. The excess

Jan 1, 1983

By KENNETH W. GREENAWALT, William Greenawalt

THE patent system, through which an inventor is given exclusive right to his invention for a limited period as a reward for his industry and in reimbursement of his expenditures, originated in England in the famous "Statute of Monopolies," enacted in 1623. The first patent granted in America was to Samuel Winslow, in Massachusetts, in 1641. The basis of the patent system of the United States is a provision in the Constitution giving Congress the power to secure to inventors for a limited time the exclusive use of their discoveries. The first legislative enactment was the law of 1790, which was placed on the statute book after Washington had addressed Congress in its favor. Under this law, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of War, and the Attorney General constituted the board for the examination of patent applications and the granting of patents. The first Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson, became the first administrator of the patent sys- tem in this country. He personally examined every application filed during his term of office.

Jan 1, 1930

By FREDERICK W. BRADLEY

MINING is one of the world's oldest industries and has pioneered the civilization of all new lands. Today, mining is not only one of the essential and basic industries of the world, but it is constantly growing in magnitude and becoming more important. We think that the most of our mining is done in the western portion of this country, but in the old State of Pennsylvania mines and products derived from minerals account for about two-thirds of the entire productive wealth of the State. As our forests are denuded, mining furnishes substitutes for timber in the way of concrete, gypsum board, etc. ; and as civilization increases the wants of mankind, mining is producing metals and minerals of every kind in increasing quantities. For example: during the past ten years the per capita consumption of copper in the United States has increased 49 per cent, to 14.56 Ib.; that of lead has increased 35 per cent, to 12.24 lb.; and that of zinc has increased 70 per cent, to 9.57 Ib. The consumption in European countries is about one-half of this, and there are other countries with large populations where there is virtually no consumption; so when all other countries catch up in consumption with our country, you can see what an enormous demand there is going to be for the metals, even to the extent of having to find substitutes for copper, lead, and zinc.

Jan 1, 1929

By Arnlf Muan, Bert Phillips

The quenching technique has been used for- a study of phase velntiorzs within the composition triangle 2CaO.Fe2O3-FeO.Fe2O3 Fe2O3 of the system Ca-Fe-O. Desired total compositions of sanzples were attained by weighing of starting materials in required proportions and keeping them in sealed 80 pct Pt 20 pct Rh tubes during equilibration .runs. The liquidus surface has been delineated. the existence of two ternary compounds has been established, and seven ternary inwariant situations have been determined. ONE unit within the research program on refractory oxides in progress in our laboratories is the study of phase relations in the system Ca-Fe-Si-O. The present paper deals with the ternary system 2CaOFe2O3-FeO.Fe2O3-Fe2O3, which is only a small part of the enormously complex quaternary system. Many of the phases occurring in iron ore sinter products have compositions which can be closely approximated within this ternary system, and a knowledge of stability relations existing among these phases may be expected to be a useful guide for improving sintering operations. Two fundamentally different experimental approach es are commonly used in studies of systems containing iron oxides, both permitting control of the oxidation state of Fe. One method consists in keeping constant the oxygen partial pressure of the gas phase in equilibrium with condensed phases (liquid and crystalline). In the other method, which is the one used in the present investigation, the total composition of condensed phases is kept essentially constant by keeping the samples in a gas-tight container. The details of this experimental procedure will be described in a later section. PREVIOUS WORK Extensive studies of phase relations in the bounding binary system FeOFe2O3-Fe2O3 have been reported by Greig, Posnjak, Merwin, and Sosman,' by Darken and Gurry,2, 3 and recently by Phillips and Muan.4 A diagram summarizing the results of these studies is shown in Fig. 1. Particular attention is

Jan 1, 1961

We have seen that the first coal development in Pennsylvania was in the Pittsburgh bed in the southwestern corner of the state. The next mining, in point of time, was done in Clearfield County along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, but the amount of mining done was quite small for a number of years and was soon exceeded by that from the area north of the Susquehanna River in Tioga, Bradford and Lycoming Counties, which will be considered now. It is claimed that coal was first noticed in Tioga County, in 1792, by Robert and Benjamin Patterson who were leading a party of settlers from Williamsport to southern New York, and while clearing a road near the site of Blossburg, found coal, which was said to be good. About 1815 David Clemons made an arrangement with Aaron Bloss, owner of the land, to work some of the coal and hauled the first load down the river to Painted Post, N. Y., as there were no available markets in his own state. Smiths found it an excellent fuel and apparently he found a ready market for the small amount he could transport by wagons and sleighs. As wood began to become scarce around the towns in New York State, the knowledge of the coal deposits in the mountains at the head of the Tioga River attracted attention to the field and the necessity, for means of transportation from it. Some coal had been floated down the river, but navigation was uncertain and dangerous. In 1827 an iron plant was built, and to ship its product and coal, it was proposed to build a canal along the river to reach Corning, N. Y. A company had been chartered in 1826 in Pennsylvania to "make a navigable canal or slack-water navigation" to the state line and coal was shipped on rafts of logs, both being sold, during highwater. In 1828 the company was authorized to build a railroad instead of a canal, and in September 1840, the railroad was completed from Corning to Blossburg.1 That some coal from Pennsylvania had been reaching southern New York towns prior to the improved means of transport is shown by the report of a committee to the New York Assembly: "the bituminous coal has been brought to us either from Great Britain or from that part of our own country which borders on, and lies west and south of the Susquehan-

Jan 1, 1942

By NEWTON B. KNOX

THE war has forced the principal industrial nations of the' world into the strait jacket of a closely controlled economy; taxes have been heaped upon all enterprises in order to maintain the armed forces and to deprive the people of the ability to bid for goods now unavailable. These restrictions, controls, and taxes are unlikely to disappear entirely after the war has been won, for debts will remain to be paid with a long period of difficult readjustment. Although the new economy will doubtless offer plentiful opportunities for the advantageous use of capital, no investor can ignore the favorable conditions offered by industry in Latin America, where taxes are relatively low and the restrictions on free enterprise comparatively mild. In mining in South America, the great international corporations have

Jan 1, 1944

By John V. Beall

HEAVY-DENSITY separation processes, a commercial application of the sink-float test used in mineralogical laboratories for the separation of mineral particles by their difference in specific gravity, are the biggest development in mineral dressing since flotation, which was at about the same stage of development thirty years ago. The scope of their application has broadened and, though still in the development stage, they are being accepted in a constantly increasing number of commercial installations. This progress in mineral beneficiation is especially satisfying when we realize that our high-grade ore deposits are fast disappearing and a big factor in determining whether a hole in the ground is being sat upon by a liar or an honest citizen is how economically the ore dressers can concentrate comparatively low-grade ores. As early as the middle of the nineteenth century attempts were made to use aqueous salt solutions in a heavy-liquid separation for cleaning coal. But the original and recovery costs of these liquids were high and further, the fact that they were corrosive, unstable, and toxic added to the difficulty in using them.

Jan 1, 1948

By E. C. Reed

Drilling activity in Nebraska during 1945 continued to decline slightly over that of the previous year. Eight tests for oil and gas were completed during the year, of which seven were wildcats and resulted in dry holes. The eighth test, an inside location in the Dawson field of Richardson County, yielded an initial production of about 3o bbl. per day with 86 per cent water from the Hunton formation. Five wells were drilling at the end of the year, two of which were wildcats. Two of the drilling wells were deepening operations in the Dawson and Falls City fields and the third was an inside location in the Falls City field, which appears likely to result in a producer. Most of the operations were in Richardson County but two wells were drilled in Dawes and Gage Counties and one each was drilling in Holt and Washington Counties at the end of the year. There were no new discoveries of oil or gas.

Jan 1, 1946

By A. E. Jenkins, L. A. Baker, N. A. Warner

The electromagnetic levitation technique has been successfully applied to rate studies of the de-carburization of liquid Fe-C alloys from 5.5 to zero pct C at 1660°C using gas mixtures containing 1 to 100 pct CO2 with CO or helium as diluents. The rate was shown to be independent of carbon concen -tration in the melt and only slightly affected by total pressure. The results were shown to be consistent with control either wholly or predominantly by gaseous diffusion. As well as avoiding side reactions with the crucible, levitation allowed precise calculation of reaction rates since the geometry of the system was accurately known. It also enabled interpretation using the established mass-transfer correlations for a gas flowing past a single sphere, The existence of gaseous-diffusion control and the extremely high rates of reaction reported for gas flowing past small spheres are of great practical significance in relation to current investigations into the use of spray-refining techniques in continzcous steelmaking. PREVIOUS work on the kinetics of carbon removal from liquid iron has generally involved the use of oxygen as the gaseous oxidant. Investigations have been made on commercial steelmaking furnaces and in addition laboratory-scale experiments have been attempted with a slag phase present. The general lack of agreement and the obvious difficulty in interpreting the results is at least partly due to the complexity of the systems used. This work has been reviewed by carter1 and more recently by Bods-worth2 and ward.3 The gas-liquid metal reactions have also been studied with slag-free melts by the conventional technique of blowing oxygen onto the melt contained in a crucible. The reaction between the oxidant and carbon could be followed by sampling either the melt or the gas phase. Side reactions with the crucible material have precluded direct interpretation of the results. Fujii, 5-7 using O-A mixtures, attempted to correct for the crucible reaction and reported that the reaction between carban and oxygen occurred at the melt surface and was controlled by gaseous diffusion for carbon contents greater than a critical value and by carbon-diffusion control in the metal for carbon contents less than the critical. The critical value was given as approximately 0.15 pct C. However, whereas this was the case for oxygen contents in the gas stream up to 10 pct, between 10 and 20 pct the rate was found to be approximately independent of oxygen content, and Fujii attempted to explain this observation by postulating the presence of an oxide "film".7 Turkdogan et a1.' have studied iron fuming during decarburizing and suggested gaseous-diffusion control of the reaction above a critical carbon concentration, given as approximately 2 pct C. Filippov9-12 reports in a similar manner to Fujii but makes no mention of the crucible reaction with the carbon in the melt, even though this would be expected with the temperature, crucible material (MgO), and carbon contents used. Both CO2 and O2 were used as oxidant gases. In the present work the decarburization of liquid Fe-C alloys was studied using an adaptation of the electromagnetic levitation technique, and thus the complexities introduced by crucible side reactions were eliminated. In this technique a single sphere of the Fe-C alloy is freely suspended and heated by electromagnetic induction in a flowing stream containing the oxidant gas. The full range of carbon levels up to saturation was studied, the temperature of the melts in this instance being held constant at 1660°C. The oxidant was CO2 which was used either pure or in association with a diluent gas, the total gas pressure being maintained either at 1 atm or at a reduced pressure. Thus the reaction under study was:

Jan 1, 1964

President MRS. HARRISON SOUDER south Paramus Road Ridgewood, N. J. First Vice-president MRS. ROBERT HURSH New York N. Y. Second Vice-president MRS. RICHARD LLEWELLYN LLOYD Great Neck, L. I'. N. Y. Third Vice-president MRS. PERCY E. BARBOUR New York N. Y. Fourth Vice-president MRS. E. P. MATHEWSON Tucson Ariz.

Jan 1, 1937

By Frederick Prime

IN this second supplementary list no titles to which an * is. Pre-fixed have been seen by the compiler; and he will be most thankful to have, any omissions or inaccuracies in the list sent to him to be published as a third supplement in the next volume of- the Trans-actions. The author is indebted to Prof. J. J. Stevenson, of New York, Prof. P. R. Uhler and John W. M. Lee, Esq., of Baltimore, and Lloyd P. Smith, Esq., of Philadelphia, for valuable assistance. OFFICE, ALLENTOWN IRON COMPANY, 230 SOUTH THIRD STREET, PHILADELPHIA, September 5th, 1881. ALABAMA. Geological Survey of Alabama. Report of Progress for 1879 and 1880, by Eugene A. Smith, State Geologist. Montgomery, 1881. 8vo., 158 pp., and 2 maps. CALIFORNIA. Omit Report of Hon. T. Butler King, in Supplement 1. For Trash's Geology and Industrial Resources, etc., in Supplement I., read Tyson's, etc: Fremont's Memoir on Upper California, is also published as XXXth Congress, 1st Session. Senate Mis. Doe., No 148, and has a map. For Randall's Report in Supplement I, read Report of the Special Committee in favor of a Geological Survey, submitted by Mr. Randall, April 24th, 1851. a.d., 1851. 8vo., 1.9 pp. XXXIst Congress, 1st Session, Sea. Ex. Doc., No. 47, Part 2 [Part 1 is Tyson's Report.] Report of the Secretary of War in further compliance with the Resolution of the Senate, calling for Copies of

Jan 1, 1881

SEC, 1, This Institute is incorporated under the Membership Corporations law of the State of New York; its corporate name is American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, Inc,; and its objects are such as are stated in its Certificate of Incorporation. ARTICLE II MEMBERS SEC. 1. The membership of the Institute shall comprise four classes, namely: 1. Members; 2. Honorary Members; 3, Associates; 4, Junior Associates. All members shall be equally- entitled to the privileges of membership, excepting that Honorary Members, Junior Associates, and Members and Associates whose residences shall be outside of the United States, Mexico, and Canada shall not be entitled to vote. Members and Associates residing within the United States of America, Mexico, and Canada, and not in arrears for dues, shall be entitled to vote in person at the meetings of the Institute, or, as hereinafter provided for, by letter ballot, SEC. 2, Members shall comprise all those persons who on the third Monday of February, 1918, were members of the Institute, and in-addition thereto, all those thereafter elected or transferred into the class of Members. A person to be eligible for election or transfer into the class of Members must be at least 27 years of age and must have had at least six years', employment in the practice of engineering, mining, geology, metallurgy or chemistry, during at least three years of which he must have held positions of responsibility in one or more of these fields. Graduation from the scientific course of a college, approved by the Committee on Membership,' shall be considered equivalent to two years' employment, as required in the previous sentence, Employment as -a teacher of engineering, mining, geology, metallurgy or chemistry, if in direct charge, may be considered a position of responsibility as specified in the second paragraph. Persons employed in research or any scientific literary work or in teaching in the scientific departments of colleges, approved by the Committee on Membership, who at the same time are engaged in consulting or in the active practice of mining, geology, or metallurgy, shall be entitled to consider the time so spent in active practice as equivalent to an equal length of time of employment in positions of responsibility, provided the work done or the positions held seem to the Committee on Membership to warrant the equivalency. The requirement of three years' employment in positions of responsibility may be waived by the Committee on Membership in the case of persons who have done notable original work in mining, geology, or metallurgy, or have won distinction by research or investigations, in one or more of these subjects.

Jan 1, 1928

By Cyril Smith

THE following table, which is composed of data given in the author's first paper on the thermal conductivity of copper alloys1, contains the results which have been obtained by previous workers on the thermal conductivity of the copper-tin, the copper-phosphorus and the copper-tin-phosphorus alloys (the phosphor bronzes). TABLE 1.-Previous Investigations Composition, Per Cent. by Weight Thermal Conduc¬ Investigator tivity, Cal/Sq. Cm./ Copper Tin Phosphorus CM./Sec.. °C. Hardebecka 95.0 5.0 0.176 (20° C.) Grossmanb 90.1 9.9 0.105 75.5. 24.5 0.059 24.9 75.1 0'.139 (13° C.) 9.7 90.3 0.131 0.0 100.0 0.142 Griffiths and Schofieldc 91.7' 8.0 0.30 0.108 87.2 12.4 0.40 0.087 (20° C.) 90.0 10.0 Small amt. 0.100 Donaldsondd: 87.8 1 11.3 0.35 0.128 Pfleiderere 99.4 1 0.63 0.250 (30° C.) 98.0 1.98. 0.125

Jan 1, 1930

By C. H. Herty Jr, C. H.

FEW subjects have attracted the attention of metallurgists more than oxygen in steel. From the days of Mushet and Ledebui 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 methods3 give only the more insoluble oxides SiO2 and A1203, though the iodine method gives MnO to an uncertain degree (information that may be more misleading then no information

Jan 1, 1957

By G. Barbery

Since the original paper, two methods have been introduced to compute the parameters of the three parameter size distribution equation: [ ] Both of them are based on graphical means, which are time-consuming and of little statistical significance. A program has been developed, using the Gauss-Newton method to compute by nonlinear regression analysis the parameters of the equation. Although the method is quite general in curve-fitting applications, it does not appear to be used in the field of size analysis, and a brief description is given. As applied here, the Gauss-Newton method involves the minimization of the least squares: [ ] where n is the number of sieves used. The second member of Eq. 2 can be approximated by a multiple Taylor's series expansion of first order about a starting value [ ] The minimization of Q (r,s,Xo) means: [ ] Putting Eq. 3 into Eq. 2 and differentiating, we obtain a system of equations which can be represented in matrix symbolism (box) The system can be solved for: [ ] and the operations repeated with new values: [ ] The starting values for r and s are taken as 1, for Xo, a value higher than the maximum sieve opening value. Applied to the data given by Herbst 5,6 for batch grinding of 7 X 9 mesh dolomite, the parameters given in Table 1 were obtained. The discussion of the significance of the residual sum of squares is a difficult subject in multiple nonlinear

Jan 1, 1972

By AIME AIME

THE convention which met in Washington at the call of the Joint Conference Committee was called to order at ten o'clock on Thursday morning; June 3, by Richard L. Humphrey, temporary chairman, member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, who made a brief statement of the reason for the meeting. Lieut. Col. Charles W. Kutz, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A., and Engineer Commissioner of the District of Columbia, then welcomed .the engineers composing the convention on behalf of the District of Columbia and, the Washington engineers. Although an elaborate program had been prepared on which were many well-known speakers on interesting and important topics, , it was voted to intersperse this to fill in the usual and unavoidable hiatuses in the business program of such a convention[ Calvert Townley, president of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, was elected permanent chairman, and J. C. Hoyt, of Washington, was elected secretary of the convention. The following committees were appointed: Consti¬tution and by-laws, Richard L. Humphrey, chairman; resolutions, Philip N. Moore, chairman; and program, F. H. Newell, chairman. Then, Gardner S. Williams, member of the, A. S. C. E. and the Grand Rapids Engineering Society of. Grand Rapids, Mich., and one-time member of the American Association of Engineers, offered the following resolutions:

Jan 1, 1920

By H. Pew, J. H. Field

To alleviate pollution more restrictive legislation is being enacted, either limiting emission of pollutants or the type of fuel that can be utilized. The nature and magnitude of air pollution problems affecting the mining, preparation, coking and combustion of coal are described. Methods for combatting particulate emissions by use of mechanical separators and electrostatic pre-cipitors are discussed. Proposed methods to meet the problem of gaseous emissions currently receiving considerable attention are described, with special emphasis on methods to decrease pollution by sulfur oxides. Concern about air pollution goes back several centuries, but until very recently most effort has been aimed at coal smoke and other visible pollutants. The classic example of a 'successful' campaign for smoke abatement and control is the fruitful combined effort of the city of Pittsburgh and its surrounding Allegheny County, which eventually led to the reconstruction of downtown Pittsburgh at an estimated cost of one billion dollars. Historically, the city's downtown Golden Triangle district had been afflicted by pollutants evolving from steel mills, from a variety of other industries, and from railroad locomotives. Efforts to alleviate the situation prior to 1943 were virtually ineffective. In 1945, however, a comprehensive redevelopment plan was prepared and backed by state authority. Within a few years a clean, modern metropolis has evolved where once stood America's famous 'smoky city.' But the victory in Pittsburgh, as in various other American cities, has not solved the national problem. Current estimates indicate that 133 million tons annually of air pollutants from all sources still are emitted annually into the atmosphere above the United States. About 10% of this annual effluent is particulate matter so that most of the remaining pollution problems will be solved only when other effluents are reduced. Essentially, these are sulfur oxides, nitro- gen oxides, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide. Over the years, both states and local communities have tended to increase the restrictions on smoke and fly ash — problems mostly of concern in the combustion of coal. Prior to the middle 1950's, ordinances sometimes permitted emissions of smoke equivalent to as much as No. 3 on the Ringlemann scale. Since 1956, no ordinance has been passed which allows smoke of greater than No. 2. Under today's conditions of improved fuels, equipment and practice, a few communities have passed laws prohibiting emission of smoke of any density darker than Ringlemann No. 1. The majority of existing laws on fly ash emission in the U.S. limit emissions equivalent to 0.85 lb of fly ash per 1000 Ib of flue gas. In recent years, however, regulations which have been adopted give cognizance to the higher level of performance now obtainable with improved equipment. A comparison of the restrictions of five codes adopted since 1960 is given in Table I. The most stringent of these is the one for New York City which provides for a maximum emission of 0.6 lb fly ash per million Btu heat release (equivalent to roughly 0.51 lb/1000 lb of flue gas). The first comprehensive effort to restrict the emission of SO2 resulted from the passage of a 1937 law in St. Louis. This regulation stipulated that coal containing in excess of 23% volatile matter and 2% sulfur must be washed, thereby presumably producing some effective reduction in the input sulfur content. This was followed in 1949 by a Los Angeles County law which prohibited the emission of SO2 in concentrations greater than 0.2%. Most SO2-restrictive legislation passed since that date has been based on this limiting 0.2% SO2 by volume, although modifications are occasionally permitted under selected conditions, sometimes based on the fact that certain limiting ground concentrations are not exceeded — such as in the rules adopted by the San Francisco Bay area. To date, no legislation has been passed in the U.S. to limit the generation of nitrogen oxides from the combustion of fossil fuels. However, such oxides are considered to be of potential importance in air pollution control because of their possible detrimental effects on health and their reported role in the formation of photochemical smog. Interest in reducing oxides of nitrogen from powerplant and auto exhausts is increasing and regulations limiting their quantity can be expected in the future.

Jan 1, 1968

By H. B. Pulsifer

ABOUT 15 varieties, or modifications, of the best magnesium available were prepared and subjected to etching tests, then examined for microstructure. Of the 30-odd etching reagents that were tried, nearly half, mostly ammonium salts, etched the metal satisfactorily. The surfacing and etching of magnesium is shown to be a very simple and quick operation. The density and hardness of magnesium were determined. The most interesting new observations relate to the finding of the hexagonal etch figures, the crystal laminations, and the fact that the metal is plastic, cold, when restrained or quickly deformed. Under slowly applied pressure cold metal deforms slightly, then shears to fracture without plastic flow. The chief structural features of magnesium are presented in two reduced photographs and 30 photomicrographs. MATERIALS TESTED There are only two sources in the United States from which new metal can be procured: the American Magnesium Corpn. and the Dow Chemical Co. No pronounced structural or property differences in the metals from these two companies were disclosed by the work of this investigation. The following materials were obtained from the manufacturers: 1. Massive crystals of distilled metal (American Magnesium Corpn.). 2. Rods of hot-extruded metal, ½ -in. squares and 5/8-in. rounds (American Magnesium Corpn.). 3. Sheet magnesium, 0.005-in. thick (American Magnesium Corpn.). 4. Cast stick metal, 1 3/8-in. dia. (Dow Chemical Co.). 5. Magnesium-aluminum alloy, hot-rolled plate, ½ in. thick (American Magnesium Corpn.). From these materials, were prepared: 6. Sections from a furnace-cooled ingot made from distilled crystal. 7. Cold-strained pieces from (6), (4) and (2). 8. Pieces cold-squeezed to fracture from (6), (4) and (2). 9. Hammer-struck pieces from (6), (4) and (2). 10. Steam-hammer struck pieces from (6), (4) and (2). 11. Sections from furnace-cooled ingot of the magnesium-aluminum alloy.

Jan 1, 1928

By Joseph E. Pogue

The outstanding features of 1926 in the petroleum industry included the following: 1. Stocks of all oils (crude and refined) were reduced, making the first annual decline since 1918. 2. Domestic crude oil production increased steadily during the last 11 months of the year, accelerating during the fourth quarter, and ending the year at the highest level ever attained. 3. Three new major oil fields were developed—Panhandle, Spindle-top and Seminole. 4. Important advances were registered in production technique, tending to retard the declines of old wells and to maintain the flush periods of new wells. 5. The problem of gaining greater economic control of production through unit operations and gas conservation received growing recognition by the industry and the Federal Oil Conservation Board. 6. The rate of drilling was sharply increased during the second quarter of the year and suffered only a very slight retardation during the closing months. 7. The runs of crude oil to stills were maintained above normal throughout the year and underwent acceleration during the fourth quarter. 8. The gasoline situation was marked by a continuous and substantial increase in the rate of production of cracked gasoline, and by an improvement in the statistical position of the commodity. 9. Prices of both crude petroleum and its principal derivatives were characterized by more profitable levels and greater stability than for a number of years past; and, while showing declines during the fourth quarter, prices did not recede sufficiently to slow down materially either drilling or refinery operations. Change in Stocks The keynote of 1926 was a reduction in stocks of all oils to the extent of approximately 24,000,000 bbl., or 4.4 per cent., of which roundly

Jan 1, 1927

By Howard A. Meyerhoff

Nonmetallic rock and mineral products are so diversified that any generalizations regarding the industries based upon them are of doubtful value and can be misleading. They are geared to every phase of the national economy and respond sensitively and immediately to any economic change, but the responses vary with the individual products. They are also affected by political and competitive factors to a degree that is disconcerting and, at times, ruinous to operators, owners, and stockholders of mineral properties. It is not unusual to find these special factors functioning in reverse of general trends insofar as individual products are concerned. As this summary is being written in the final weeks of 1949 production statistics for the year are not complete, but it is obvious that few, if any, new production records will be set, and that 1949 level, will, in general, be lower than those of 1948. The decline in output is not alarming and reflects in large part the tendency of users, who have been finding sources of supply more dependable to rely on prompt deliveries rather than on inventories to meet immediate needs. Except for the government's program of stock piling which, insofar as it has worked at all, is of more direct interest and benefit to foreign than to domestic producers, industrial inventories have been further reduced, and the neater balance between production and consumption has freed capital for the manufacturer and has cut down the serious hazard of substantial inventory losses. There are no quantity products and only a few special products that cannot be supplied in quick response to current demands. Normal development of a few nonmetallic industries has been retarded by the government's unpredictable application and irrational interpretation of antitrust laws, and by extension of preferential tariffs to new countries and new products. Synthesis is likewise a potent threat. in certain fields, but otherwise it is difficult to make a review of 1949 read much differently from a review of 1948. Changes have been qualitative rather than quantitative, except for a few operations that have been pinched out by the relentless competition that characterizes many of the industrial mineral industries.

Jan 1, 1950