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By H. H. Podgurski, Hsun Hu

Large cryslals of high-purily iron (99.996+ pcl) cannot be obtained by the usual strain-ameal technique. Repealed phase transformation by thermal cycling prior to crilical deformation improves the capabilily of cryslal growith but fails to yield satisfactory crystals. Imperfect columnar crystals can be produced by the phase-transition method. The addition of a small amounl (0.005 wl pet) of nilrogen IT was reported'-4 that for metals of very high purity the usual procedures of the strain-anneal technique fail to produce large crystals. This was eliminates practically all the difficulties in crystal growth by the normal strain-anneal procedures. An actual example is presented, showing that most parts of a strip have been converted into a large crystal by this method. The addition of nitrogen, which can be removed from iron with less difficulty, is believed to be more desirable than carbon additions for the same purpose. thought to be due to the strong tendency for recovery in the high-purity metals: hence the critically strained matrix undergoes polygonization instead of recrystallization upon annealing for crystal growth. Talbot1,2 succeeded in overcoming this difficulty by adding 0.03 to 0.04 pct C to high-purity iron before critical deformation. followed by annealing in hydro-

Jan 1, 1965

By T. Koulomzine

The theory of the Askania magnetometer, as well as a complete discussion of all factors influencing magnetometer readings, is very ably described by J. Wallace Joyce. We will assume that the reader is thoroughly familiar with this theory and we will use whenever possible the same notations for the physical values involved in the theory. On the other hand, we believe that the principal formulas of the magnetometer can be deduced much more easily by the use of differential calculus than by the methods employed by Joyce. Consequently, we are presenting herewith a resume of the theory of the vertical magnetometer in order to determine the correct formula of the temperature coefficient which we propose to compensate.

Jan 1, 1949

By Harry Morgan

ONE of the direct results of the increasing number of oil wells drilled to greater depths has been the development of new types of bits. These bits should resist the abrasive action of drilling and give the greatest footage before bit changes become necessary on account of dulled cutting edges. The loss of drilling time caused by changing bits becomes more important as the well becomes deeper, because the whole drill pipe must be unscrewed to make; each change. Under ordinary conditions the change takes: 2 1/2 hr. for round trip at 4000 ft., 3 hr. for round trip at 5000 ft., 4 hr. for round trip at 6000 ft., 5 hr. for round trip at 7000 ft. In other words, the time to change a stand of drill pipe (90 ft.) varies from 1 2/3 min. at 4000 ft. to 23 min. at 8000 ft. In general, the formation in the deeper zones is harder and dulls bits more quickly than the formations nearer the surface, therefore even a small increase of hole drilled per bit will decrease costs and increase speed of drilling.

Jan 1, 1929

By J. L. Bruce, N. B. Braly, F. A. Linforth, Wm. B. Daly, Paul A. Gow, C. L. Berrien, R. H. Sales, P. F. Beaudin, John Gillie, G. W. Roddewig

Butte mining district is situated in Silver Bow County, in the southwestern part of Montana. Butte originated as a placer mining camp, gold having been discovered in 1864, on Silver Bow Creek, near the southerly end of what is now Main Street. The Butte placer gold was heavily alloyed with silver, and only commanded $13 an ounce. Placer mining was vigorously prosecuted along Silver Bow Creek and its tributary gulches for about 5 years, at the end of which time, in 1870, the Butte camp was practically deserted. In the meantime, the quartz veins prominently traceable over the hillsides were located, the first location, July 12, 1864, being made by the Missoula Mining Co. and called the Missoula Lode Claim, and later relocated by G. 0. Humphreys. Reasoning from the presence of the gold placers, free milling gold and silver ores were eagerly looked for by the early prospectors. Claims covering the great Rainbow and other silver lodes were located in the 60's. The presence of valuable silver ores in these veins caused the staking of many claims, believed to be valuable only for silver, but which later, at depth, proved to be enormous copper producers.

Jan 1, 1925

By A. J. Conelius, D. P. Sobocinski

This paper presents a correlation for predicting the behavior of a water cone as it builds from the static water-oil contact to breakthrough conditions. The correlation is partly empirical and involves dimensionless groups of reservoir and fluid properties and of production and well characteristics. The groups were deduced from the scaling criteria for the immiscible displacement of oil by water. The correlation is based on a limited amount of experimenfal data from a laboratory sand-packed model and on results from a computer program for a two-dimensional, incompressible system. Because the correlating groups are dimensionless, they can be used to estimate the performance of water coning cases not specifically considered in the correlation. However, despite its dimensionless nature, the correlation is not completely general and will not provide meaningful estimates of cone behavior in many situations. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND The production of water from oil wells is a common occurrence which increases the cost of producing operations and may reduce the efficiency of the depletion mechanism and the recovery of reserves. We will deal with one cause of this water production, namely, coning. The coning of water into a producing well is caused by pressure gradients established around the wellbore by the production of fluids from the well. These pressure gradients can raise the water-oil contact near the well where gradients are most severe. Gravity forces that arise from fluid density differences counterbalance the flowing pressure gradients and tend to keep the water out of the oil zone. Therefore, at any given time, there is a balance between gravitational and viscous forces at points on and away from the completion interval. When the dynamic forces at the wellbore exceed gravitational forces, a cone of water will ultimately break into the well to produce water along with the oil. We can expand on this basic visualization of coning by introducing the concepts of stable cone, unstable cone and critical production rate. For instance, if a well is produced at a constant rate and the pressure gradients in the drainage system have become constant, a steady-state condition is reached. If, at this condition, the dynamic forces at the well are less than the gravity forces, then the water or gas cone that has formed will not extend to the well. Moreover, the cone will neither advance nor recede, thus establishing what is known as a stable cone. Conversely, if the pressure in the system is in an unsteady-state condition, then an unstable cone will continue to advance until steady-state conditions prevail. If the flowing pressure drop at the well is suffcient to overcome the gravity forces, the unstable cone will grow and ultimately break into the well. It is important to note that in a realistic sense, stable cones may only be "pseudostable" because the drainage system and pressure distribution generally change. For example, with reservoir depletion, the water-oil contact may advance toward the completion interval, thereby increasing chances for coning. As another example, reduced productivity due to well damage requires a corresponding increase in the flowing pressure drop LO maintain a given production rate. This increase in pressure drop may force an otherwise stable cone into a well. The critical production rate, well known in the literature, is the rate above which the flowing pressure gradient at the well causes water (or gas) to cone into the well. It is, therefore, the maximum rate of oil production without concurrent production of the displacing phase by coning. At the critical rate, a built-up cone is stable but is at a position of incipient breakthrough. Numerous papers have been published on critical rates. Some of the better known of these include the work of (1) Muskat and Wyckoff,' who first dealt with the coning problem; (2) Chaney, et al,' who developed expressions similar to those of Muskat but who presented results in a conven ient-to-use graphical form (the "Sun" method); and (3) Meyer and Garder,b hose analysis is based on radial-flow formulas. One assumption in critical production rate analyses is that the cone has built-up to just before its breakthrough into the well. But, these analyses reveal nothing directly about the time it takes for the cone to build up to this incipient breakthrough position. Thus, water-free oil can be produced from a well for prolonged periods at rates above the critical rate before the well reaches the condition to which the critical rate applies. The published literature contains little on the rate of growth of a cone. Experimentally, Meyer and Searcy studied the rate of rise of a cone in a Hele-Shaw model.' Additional related work on water breakthrough and produced water-oil ratios in water driven reservoirs was reported by Muskat," Hutchinson and Kemp," Henley, et al,' and Stevens, et a1.B Theoretically, the basic coning equations for a water-oil system can be developed by applying the conservation of mass to each of the phases, relating flow velocities with pressure by Darcy's law, and relating pressures across water-oil interfaces by capillary pressure. With the usual boundaries at the well and reservoir limits, the solution of the resulting equations for the time behavior of a water-oil interface constitutes a free-surface, boundary-value problem. The shape of the boundary depends on the internal potential distribution, while this

Jan 1, 1966

By Richard S. McCaffery, Morrison B. Yung

While assaying some copper carbonate ore from the Frazer claims, Similakameen, B. C., I noticed that on parting the gold button a deep orange solution was formed. The button gave off pink bands in the nitric acid, which became deep orange at a short distance from it; and as it traveled over the surface of the porcelain dish, it left a deep orange track behind. As the button brightened in the cupel, it appeared to have a bronze color; but I have since found that when amarillium is in large excess of the gold, the button is a very dark gray. The button parted easily. To the orange solution I added a salt (NaCl) solution, shook in a silver testbottle, and filtered. With H2S I obtained a precipitate, which I supposed due to platinum. However, on further tests, it did

Jan 1, 1903

J. B. MCGRAW, New York, N. Y. (written discussion*).-In Mr. Burke Baker's description of the process of the American Briquet Co., he speaks only of the attractive features, but every process which uses a compound or emulsified binder has certain undesirable features which must be considered. In making an emulsion, the success of which depends upon the introduction of the various ingredients at certain fixed temperatures and the complete intermixing of a soluble solution with an oil which has absolutely no affinity for it, considerable difficulty is found in keeping the various factors in strict accordance with the formula. To serve its purpose properly or, in other words, to be right for easy mixing with the coal, it should be of a certain predetermined density. Among the controlling factors of this ate the proportion of moisture contained and the temperature of the oil when introduced. If the latter is higher than intended, a greater proportion of moisture will be evaporated than is proper, and if the oil is not sufficiently hot the process of emulsification is retarded. These various factors can be controlled with more or less certainty where working in a laboratory or in a small experimental way, but when it is attempted on a large commercial scale, certain obstacles not otherwise apparent are likely to be encountered.

Jan 5, 1918

To the American Institute of Mining Engineers: The committee appointed at the February meeting upon Railway Resistances would respectfully report: That one person has been constantly employed in calculating the results of the data taken prior to March 1st, 1876. Also to complete the data taken upon the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, a diagram was taken upon a through freight train from Cleveland to Chicago, and one from Chicago to Cleveland. So that now we have diagrams from Buffalo to Chicago and return, which, when fully worked up, will give results of the utmost importance in determining the cost of transportation of freight. These data will be of much importance in determining the proper methods of equating grades and curves, which is so essential in the location of new lines. The calculations show that instead of our attempting to formulate results from data obtained on one road, it will be best for the in¬terests of transportation to enlarge the scope of our inquiries, and to extend the experiments so as to include all of the more probable causes which affect the cost of transportation. Were the details of railway equipment constructed alike, much work, which is now necessary, would be saved. It is not uncommon to find upon the same road 10 to 30 different patterns of something in construction to subserve the same purpose, which more or less modifies the friction of the cars. Take the majority of our trunk lines, with this diversity of construction, together with the varying conditions of track and manner of operating, and it will be at once seen that the labor and time to do the work and arrive at correct conclusions will occupy from two to three years. The results already attained in the short time in which they have been carried on, wholly by private enterprise, simply show what may be expected when the aid necessary is given to render them of the highest value to the great industries of the country. That the information may be general and of the greatest importance to our railway interests, the committee deem it advisable to secure, so * The following report, made at the June meeting of the Institute, is inserted in this place as appropriately supplementing the original communication of Mr. Dudley.

Jan 1, 1876

By J. C. Jaeger, G. A. Wiebols, N. G. W. Cook

It is usual practice in engineering to design a stable structure by ensuring that the stresses in the elements of the structure are always less than their strength, which may be defined as the yield stress, the ultimate stress, or the fatigue stress, according to the type of the load. Such restrictive design is not practical in the design of underground excavations since the rock surrounding such structures is usually failed, but only occasionally does this give rise to instability of the structure. Thus, while the usual criterion for the design of a stable structure is certainly sufficient, it is not necessary for underground excavations. A proper understanding of the conditions necessary for stability is vital to the useful application of rock mechanics knowledge to the design of underground structures. Most tests on the properties and strength of brittle rocks are disrupted at or near maximum load by the rapid release into the specimen of energy stored in the resilience of the testing machine. This is in contrast with a phenomenon, which may be observed frequently, where the rock immediately surrounding an excavation is both failed and subject to stress. By postulating a complete stress-strain curve for rock, it can be shown that failure is unstable or stable, depending upon whether the stress-strain curve of the rock lies inside or outside the stress-strain characteristics of the applied stress. Stability is, therefore, a function of the stiffness of the system applying the stress relative to that of the failing rock. Many workers have established that the strength of rock specimens under a lateral hydrostatic confining stress varies linearly with confining stress, in a way which may be expressed by the equation CT=Co+K[o]3

Jan 1, 1972

By E. E. Gardner, P. A. Schumann

A description of a new four-point probe configuration which permits measurement of epitaxial layer resistivity is given. An analytic solution to the potential distribution due to a point current source on a multilayered structure is briefly described. Typical solutions for this probe configuration are presented. Probe spacing, layer thickness, substrate resistivity, and substrate thickness enter into the calculation. Correction factors for typical cases are given. A brief description of the construction of a probe which can achieve a small spacing of 15 is presented. The prohe is constructed so that all points are adjustable by micrometers and the probe spacing and configuration can be easily altered. Measurements of layer resistivity with the four-point probe are compared with those taken with the three-Point probe and diode-capacitance techniques. TWO techniques of obtaining profiles of N/N+ epitaxial structures are given. The reproducihility of the probe spacing and resistivity measurement is discussed. The effects upon the resistivity measurement of errors in the measurement of the lager thickness, substrate resistil)itv, and substrate thickness are presented. SINCE its introduction by valdes' in 1954, the four-point probe has been the most widely used tool for determining semiconductor resistivity. Its usefulness ranges from the evaluation of bulk semiconductor ingots to the characterization of impurity profiles in diffused structures. In general the four points, two current probes and two potential probes, are placed on one surface of the material being tested either in an in-line array or in a square array. Numerous correction factors1 8 have been worked out for these configurations which are dictated by the finite geometry of the sample being tested. One method of evaluating thin wafers has been proposed which has two probesg on each side of the wafer. Further modifications have added a fifth'' and a sixth" probe. One paper1' has discussed the accuracy of the four-point probe and the precautions necessary in its use. With the exception of the method where two points are placed on opposite sides of the wafer, the four-point probe is restricted to evaluation of wafers with a homogeneous resistivity or to the case where an isolating junction exists between the substrate and the layer (epitaxial or diffused) being evaluated. Due to the relative resistivities and thickness, the resistance of the epitaxial layer is much greater than that of the substrate, and consequently a majority of the current flows through the substrate. The potential distribution at relatively large distances from the current sources is determined by the substrate resistance, and hence the AV/I value is a measure of the substrate resistivity and not that of the epitaxial-layer resistivity. In the immediate vicinity of a current source the potential distribution is determined by the layer resistivity among other factors. Consequently, if the potential probe is placed very close to the current source, then with appropriate correction factors it is possible to determine the layer resistivity. This was the theoretical basis for using two closely spaced probes on opposite sides of an epitaxial wafer. However, due to mechanical problems, it is desirable to place the four probes on the same side of the wafer. This paper discusses the potential distribution in

Jan 1, 1965

By J. O. Brittain, E. Lautenschlager

An investigation was conducted on fine grained airon wire to measure the influence of the temperature of deformation on strain aging near room temperature. Specimens were deformed various amounts at 77°, 195°, or 273°K and aged. The strain aging was followed by either internal friction or return of the yield-point measurements. The results show that strain aging occurs in three stages. During the first stage there is small, almost immediate return of the yield point. The solute carbon concentration, as mesured by internal friction, remains constant in stage I but is lower than the concentration in the unstrained condition. In the second stage, the solute concentration decreases while the magnitude of the yield point increases. In the third stage, the solute atoms continue to drain from the solution, the yield point approaches a maximum, and the strain-hardening coefficient and flow curve increase. The kinetics of the strain aging reaction are not the same for the two sets of measurements since the internal friction results lag behind the yield-point measurements. However, the strain-aging kinetics measured at 44° and 64°C showed no effect due to the difference in initial deformation temperature; nor were the strain aging kinetics influenced by low-temperature anneals at 77°, 195°, and 273°K. 1 HE object of this investigation was to measure the effect of initial deformation temperature on the strain aging of a-iron by tensile tests (i.e., return of the yield point) and internal friction methods, to correlate the results of the two measuring methods, and to measure the effect of low-temperature annealing (<273°K) after low-temperature deformation upon strain aging. The experiments were performed on fine-grained a-iron wire containing 0.02 wt pct c.l According to Thomas and Leak,&apos; return of the yield point and internal friction are similar measures of strain aging since both are dependent on solute atoms leaving the solid solution. The decrease in internal friction as a function of aging time is indicative of the removal of solute atoms from the solid solution, while the return of the yield point as a function of the aging time gives the rate of arrival of solute atoms at the dislocations. According to Cottrell and Bilby,3 during aging the solute atoms create an "atmosphere" which locks the dislocations and causes a return of the yield point on subsequent testing. It has been shown that after low-temperature neutron bombardment, a-iron goes through a stage of recovery at low temperatures which can be attributed to the annealing of iron interstitials&apos; and/or vacancies.4 If, after low-temperature deformation, there is an interaction during a low-temperature anneal between mobile point defects and the solute atoms (i.e., carbon atom interaction with vacancy or iron interstitial), it is possible that some solute atoms will be found at defect sites other than dislocations. Such changes in the sinks for the carbon atoms might be expected to alter the strain-aging kinetics sufficiently to be detected by either inter-

Jan 1, 1962

By T. S. Lundy, J. Askill

J. Askill and T. S. Lundy (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)—Moore has proposed a simple correlation between the activation energy for solute diffusion in fee metals and the atomic volume of the diffusing species using both tracer and chemical-diffusion data. The first point we wish to make is that it is wrong to attempt such correlations without separating the two types of data. Activation energies obtained using tracer techniques cannot, in general, be directly compared with those obtained from chemical-diffusion experiments. A knowledge of the variations of chemical potentials with composition is necessary and chemical-diffusion data must be corrected for such variations, even for dilute alloys, before a comparison is possible. Secondly, for nickel, iron, aluminum, and lead, Moore neglected a number of recently published works, e.g., Al26 and Mn54 in aluminum,46 cr51 in nickel,47 and Fe55 in iron.48 These and others should have been used. If one considers only the tracer diffusion data, there is left no simple correlation of the type proposed by Moore. For example, in the case of solute diffusion in aluminum the only reliable tracer data listed by Moore are for zinc and aluminum. The nickel, cobalt, and iron data of Agarwala49 are representative of near-surface diffusion-not bulk diffusion. In conclusion we suggest that for tracer diffusion data in these fee metals there is no justification for proposing any simple correlation of activation energy with atomic volume using the limited data that are presently available. R. H. Moore (author&apos;s reply)—The writer has proposed a simple correlation which is useful in estimating the internal consistency of diffusion data. The accuracy of the correlation is, of course, a function of the number of data available. Lundy and Askill take issue with the writer&apos;s decision to include data for the systems: nickel, iron, aluminum, and lead, taking the view that the data are insufficient to establish the correlation. The writer agrees that the data are insufficient and has cau- tioned the reader that the correlation is tentative in these instances. Inclusion of these systems is justified by the interesting trends the correlation reveals. For example, the distinction between interstitial and substitutional diffusion may be clearly established, Figs. 4 and 6, and the behavior of transition elements and nontransition elements is indicated to parallel the behavior illustrated by the silver and copper systems. Lundy and Askill have singled out the aluminum system for special criticism. The writer chose to discuss the data for diffusion of iron, nickel, and cobalt in aluminum in the terms used by the original authors9 and has included the comments of Balluffi.l0 The writer did not intend the reader to conclude that data for these elements should correlate with data for the nontransition elements as Lundy and Askill have evidently assumed. Iron, nickel, and cobalt form intermetallic compounds with aluminum, so the activity coefficients of these elements may be expected to deviate markedly from unity. This may account for the low frequency factors observed by Hirano.9 The nontransition elements, on the other hand, yield relatively simple phase diagrams with no evidence for intermetallic compound formation as in the case of iron, nickel, and cobalt. In dilute solution, Henry&apos;s law should be closely obeyed, the activity coefficients should not deviate markedly from unity, and the effect on the activation energy should not be large. The accuracy of the correlation applied to these systems will improve as the data is extended. It does not seem unreasonable to conclude that its extension should be encouraged.

Jan 1, 1965

By F. B. Foley

With the possible exception of high-speed tool steel, the service demanded of rock-drill steel is probably more precarious than that of any other tool steel. Unaided by the helpful influence of alloys and dependent solely on the efficiency of the heat treatment applied for its ability to stand up under the abuse to which it is necessarily subjected, rock-drill steel is worthy of intensive study. For its heat treatment the smith has his fire, an oil fire perhaps, and a quenching bath; he judges the temperature by his eye. There are shops where excellent drills are produced by this method, but there are more where the product varies between very good and very bad. Pyrometers with specially designed equipment are used in but few cases. But the responsibility for rock-drill failures does not rest entirely on the smith. Little has been published concerning the efficiency of drill steel, though the Canadian Mining Journal1 published the breakage record of a large number of hollow drill steels. This record indicates that most of the breaks occur during the early life of the steel and that as a given batch of steel is used, its percentage of breakage decreases. This fact, the article points out, is at variance with the much-talked-of theory concerning failure from crystallization and fatigue. It seems to point to the fact that the greater part of drill-steel failure from breakage is traceable to faulty manufacture, resulting in defects in the bore of the hollow steel from inclusions of slag or oxides, etc. As this defective material meets with early failure, it is weeded out. In addition, some breakage may be caused by a lack of proper condition with respect to heat treatment of the steel as furnished by the manufacturer. In the article mentioned, the breakage of 1/14-in (3.17 cm.) hollow steel is given as 4.62 per cent. for the early period of use, with a decrease to 3.35 per cent. and 2.67 per cent. with time in use. For 1-in. (2.5 cm.) hexagonal hollow steel, the figures for breakage are 0.18 per cent. and 0.06 per cent.; attention is called to the great decrease in breakage by the use of smaller diameter drills. The figures are given as so many drills sharpened, but there is no way of determining the percentage of

Jan 1, 1922

By Samuel Hoyt

THE hardness of annealed copper has been given in the literature and is easily obtained by any of the standard methods of hardness testing. It is not our intention to correct published values or to add to them, but to describe tests of two bars of annealed electrolytic copper in which the methods of Meyer&apos;s analysis were employed. MEYER&apos;S ANALYSIS OF BALL INDENTATION TEST The ball indentation test is probably the most valuable hardness test we now have but, as it is carried out in the Brinell or Rockwell test, the result may be seriously in error without the operator suspecting such to be the case. This condition results from the isolated and uncontrolled nature of the measurement. The accuracy depends on the accuracy of the equipment and the care and skill used in the operations; there is nothing in the impression diameter, which is all that is measured, to indicate the presence of error. Meyer&apos;s analysis supplies a control of the measurements that goes far toward eliminating unsuspected errors. The principles of this work maybe obtained from elsewhere.1 As this subject has not received the attention of this Institute, it may be well to summarize the more important points as follows.

Jan 2, 1926

By G. W. Tracy

The material balance equation has been used for many years by engineers to determine reservoir performance. The use of this equation in general has been twofold: first, to determine the oil-in-place in a reservoir; and second, to predict the future performance. The Schilthuis form of the material balance equation, or one equivalent to it, has been used by many of the engineers. The use of the Schilthuis form in predicting future performance has proved to be laborious in that one generally must make several estimates at each step of the trial and error calculation before arriving at a check of the oil-in-place. A method is presented for expediting the calculations. The Schilthuis form of the material balance has been rearranged into a more useable form. In using the material balance to predict the future performance of a reservoir, it has become common practice to estimate the incremental oil production for each step of the calculation which corresponds to a given pressure reduction. Instead of estimating the incremental oil production, the method outlined in this paper better lends itself to estimating the instantaneous gas-oil ratio. A check of oil-in-place is more easily accomplished by estimating gas-oil ratio since it is less sensitive to small inaccuracies. This method incorporates the same self-checking feature inherent in the Schilthius form. DEVELOPMENT OF SIMPLIFlED EQUATION In the development of the simplified equation, the Schilthuis form of the material balance equation will he used. Substituting in Equation 1 for and rearranging terms In Equation 2, the cumulative oil production (n) is multiplied by a factor which is uniquely a function of pressure. Also, the cumulative gas production (G) and net water influx are also multiplied by factors which are a function of pressure alone. These factors are called and are defined as follows: Using these factors, Equation 2 becomes The equation in this form is easier to manipulate mathematically than any of the previous forms which, have been used. Sources of data for the pressure factors are a bottom-hole fluid analysis and the ratio of initial gas cap volume to oil volume in the reservoir. AID IN DETERMlNING THE ORIGINAL OIL-IN-PLACE Each of the curves and +, have a similar shape. Each is infinite at the bubble point pressure. As lhe pressure is reduced below the bubble point, the

Jan 1, 1956

By Francis Foley

WITH the possible exception of high-speed tool steel, the service demanded of rock-drill steel is probably more precarious than that of any other tool steel. Unaided by the helpful influence of alloys and dependent solely on the efficiency of the heat treatment applied for its ability to stand up under the abuse to which it is necessarily subjected, rock-drill steel is worthy of intensive study. For its heat treatment the smith has his fire, an oil fire perhaps, and a quenching bath; he judges&apos; the temperature by his eye. There are shops where excellent drills are produced by this method, but there are more where the product varies between very good and very bad. Pyrometers with specially designed equipment are used in but few cases. But the responsibility for rock-drill failures does not rest entirely on the smith. Little has been published concerning the efficiency of drill steel, though the Canadian Mining Journal&apos; published the breakage record of a large number of hollow drill steels. This record indicates that most of the breaks occur during the early life of the steel and that as a given batch of steel is used, its percentage of breakage decreases. This fact, the article points out, is at variance with the much-talked-f theory concerning failure from crystallization and fatigue. It seems to point to the fact that the greater part of drill-steel failure from breakage is traceable to faulty manufacture, resulting in defects in the bore of the hollow steel from inclusions of slag or oxides, etc. As this defective material meets with early failure, it is weeded out. In addition, some breakage may be caused by a lack of proper condition with respect to heat treatment of the steel as furnished by the manufacturer. In the article mentioned, the breakage of 1 ¼ -in. (3.17 cm.) hollow steel is given as 4.62 per cent. for the early period of use, with a decrease to 3.35 per cent. and 2.67 per cent. With time in use. For 1-in. (2.5 cm.) hexagonal hollow steel, the figures for breakage are 0.18 per cent. and 0.06 per cent.; attention is called to the "enormous decrease in breakage by the use of smaller diameter drills." The figures are given as so many "drills sharpened," but there is no way of determining the percentage of

Jan 6, 1921

By David A. Keys

The actual procedure in estimating depth of overburden from magnetic observations made on the surface will vary with the form of the deposit and any theoretical discussion will apply only so far as the form of the deposit conforms to the mathematical premises on which the theory is based. Since the shapes of natural deposits in the field cannot be expressed rigorously in mathematical form, the best that can be done is to assume some simple form and deduce results. Fortunately many small variations in form produce only slight changes in the estimated depth of overburden, therefore the methods have a definite practical value. For the theoretical treatment, magnetic ore deposits may be divided roughly into three classes, depending upon whether the magnetic anomalies may be considered to arise from (1) a single magnetic pole, (2) a dike or (3) a magnetic doublet. Particular cases, falling under one or other of these classes, have been discussed by different authors.1"4 In general, it may be stated that when the magnetic effects as measured on the surface are due only to one pole of the body, the other pole being so remote that its effect may be neglected, the resultant anomaly F at any point will vary as the inverse square of the distance r of the point from the pole, which may be expressed mathematically by F = k/r2, where k is a constant. When the deposit occurs in the form of a long, thin dike, the resultant anomaly will be of the form F = k&apos;/r and when the deposit is in the shape of a lens, so that both poles have an appreciable effect on the surface, the result will be similar to that caused by a magnetic doublet, and the form will be F = k&apos;/r3. The particular class under which a deposit falls may be deduced from the results of the magnetic survey. The second class is readily found, but there may be difficulty in deciding between the first and third. Isody-namic contours of both the vertical and horizontal anomalies will often be a good guide in making a correct decision. The correctness of the theoretical calculations may be checked in two ways. The first is to make laboratory models of various known shapes and pole distributions, to calculate the anomalies to be expected

Jan 1, 1940

By David A. Keys

The actual procedure in estimating depth of overburden from magnetic observations made on the surface will vary with the form of the deposit and any theoretical discussion will apply only so far as the form of the deposit conforms to the mathematical premises on which the theory is based. Since the shapes of natural deposits in the field cannot be expressed rigorously in mathematical form, the best that can be done is to assume some simple form and deduce results. Fortunately many small variations in form produce only slight changes in the estimated depth of overburden, therefore the methods have a definite practical value. For the theoretical treatment, magnetic ore deposits may be divided roughly into three classes, depending upon whether the magnetic anomalies may be considered to arise from (1) a single magnetic pole, (2) a dike or (3) a magnetic doublet. Particular cases, falling under one or other of these classes, have been discussed by different authors.1"4 In general, it may be stated that when the magnetic effects as measured on the surface are due only to one pole of the body, the other pole being so remote that its effect may be neglected, the resultant anomaly F at any point will vary as the inverse square of the distance r of the point from the pole, which may be expressed mathematically by F = k/r2, where k is a constant. When the deposit occurs in the form of a long, thin dike, the resultant anomaly will be of the form F = k&apos;/r and when the deposit is in the shape of a lens, so that both poles have an appreciable effect on the surface, the result will be similar to that caused by a magnetic doublet, and the form will be F = k&apos;/r3. The particular class under which a deposit falls may be deduced from the results of the magnetic survey. The second class is readily found, but there may be difficulty in deciding between the first and third. Isody-namic contours of both the vertical and horizontal anomalies will often be a good guide in making a correct decision. The correctness of the theoretical calculations may be checked in two ways. The first is to make laboratory models of various known shapes and pole distributions, to calculate the anomalies to be expected

Jan 1, 1940

By J. L. Carne

ORE control is a matter of planning and supervision based on a foreknowledge of the content and distribution of ore. The Inspiration orebody is predominately a copper-sulphide blanket, overlain by an oxidized zone of copper silicates, copper carbonates, and barren capping. Most of the ore is treated by leaching, and the optimum requirement of this method is the goal toward which the mining schedule is aimed. Both open-pit operations and underground mining are used. The problems of ore control at Inspiration are: I—maintenance of metallurgical balance, 2—conservation of oxide ore, and 3—mining out of the orebody at an average grade which parallels that of the reserve figure. Prior to the fall of 1926 all of the Inspiration division ores were treated by flotation, but the mixed ores of the Live Oak—Keystone section carried too large a proportion of copper in the form of chrysocolla for satisfactory flotation. For this type of mixed ore the leaching process now in use had been worked out, and the plant was put into operation in the fall of 1926. The process is known as the ferric sulphate leach, and the leaching solvents contain both ferric sulphate and free sulphuric acid. Sulphide copper in the form of chalcocite is leached by the ferric sulphate, and the oxidized copper minerals are dissolved by the sulphuric acid. From the beginning of operations to the present time the plant has treated some 67 thousand tons of ore having an average copper content of 1.142 pct, of which 0.605 pct has been in the form of oxidized copper minerals. The plant is currently being operated at the rate of 11,500 tons per day, 7 days per week. However, this tonnage is produced in 6 days of mine operation. The average current grade is approximately 1 pct copper, of which about 50 pct is present as oxidized or acid-soluble copper. Close control of metallurgical procedures is a vital factor in operation of the plant and is in turn dependent upon careful regulation of feed. An excess of sulphide copper requires the presence of more ferric sulphate in the leaching solvents. On the other hand, an excess of ferric sulphate in the presence of a low sulphide feed seriously reduces the efficiency of electrolytic precipitation in tank house operations. This condition must be avoided at all costs. An additional factor must be considered. It is known that the sulphide content is predominant in the ore which remains in the reserve. To maintain the necessary sulphide-oxide proportion, so that the entire reserve will mine out at both a grade and a sulphide-oxide ratio that will be permissible throughout the remaining life of the property, it is obvious that the oxide reserve must be currently preserved to as great an extent as possible. Fortunately much of the oxide reserve is found in the open-pit operation. This happy circumstance adds flexibility to the procedure and makes it possible to maintain the close regulation necessary to insure best overall results, both mining and metallurgical. The two ore streams from the pit and underground operations join at the coarse-crushing plant, and proper control must be exercised before the ore reaches this point. The open pit is currently providing about 55 pct of the ore and underground operations the balance of production. Both operations are under a single superintendent so that the closely interrelated problems may be more readily controlled. The least flexible of the two producing units is the underground mine, where the mining method is block caving. Although a block of ground may be undercut and developed, characteristics of the material determine its caving action. The ore in the chutes must be drawn. The area currently mined from underground is in a zone predominately sulphide and is generally

Jan 1, 1953

By J. L. Carne

ORE control is a matter of planning and supervision based on a foreknowledge of the content and distribution of ore. The Inspiration orebody is predominately a copper-sulphide blanket, overlain by an oxidized zone of copper silicates, copper carbonates, and barren capping. Most of the ore is treated by leaching, and the optimum requirement of this method is the goal toward which the mining schedule is aimed. Both open-pit operations and underground mining are used. The problems of ore control at Inspiration are: I—maintenance of metallurgical balance, 2—conservation of oxide ore, and 3—mining out of the orebody at an average grade which parallels that of the reserve figure. Prior to the fall of 1926 all of the Inspiration division ores were treated by flotation, but the mixed ores of the Live Oak—Keystone section carried too large a proportion of copper in the form of chrysocolla for satisfactory flotation. For this type of mixed ore the leaching process now in use had been worked out, and the plant was put into operation in the fall of 1926. The process is known as the ferric sulphate leach, and the leaching solvents contain both ferric sulphate and free sulphuric acid. Sulphide copper in the form of chalcocite is leached by the ferric sulphate, and the oxidized copper minerals are dissolved by the sulphuric acid. From the beginning of operations to the present time the plant has treated some 67 thousand tons of ore having an average copper content of 1.142 pct, of which 0.605 pct has been in the form of oxidized copper minerals. The plant is currently being operated at the rate of 11,500 tons per day, 7 days per week. However, this tonnage is produced in 6 days of mine operation. The average current grade is approximately 1 pct copper, of which about 50 pct is present as oxidized or acid-soluble copper. Close control of metallurgical procedures is a vital factor in operation of the plant and is in turn dependent upon careful regulation of feed. An excess of sulphide copper requires the presence of more ferric sulphate in the leaching solvents. On the other hand, an excess of ferric sulphate in the presence of a low sulphide feed seriously reduces the efficiency of electrolytic precipitation in tank house operations. This condition must be avoided at all costs. An additional factor must be considered. It is known that the sulphide content is predominant in the ore which remains in the reserve. To maintain the necessary sulphide-oxide proportion, so that the entire reserve will mine out at both a grade and a sulphide-oxide ratio that will be permissible throughout the remaining life of the property, it is obvious that the oxide reserve must be currently preserved to as great an extent as possible. Fortunately much of the oxide reserve is found in the open-pit operation. This happy circumstance adds flexibility to the procedure and makes it possible to maintain the close regulation necessary to insure best overall results, both mining and metallurgical. The two ore streams from the pit and underground operations join at the coarse-crushing plant, and proper control must be exercised before the ore reaches this point. The open pit is currently providing about 55 pct of the ore and underground operations the balance of production. Both operations are under a single superintendent so that the closely interrelated problems may be more readily controlled. The least flexible of the two producing units is the underground mine, where the mining method is block caving. Although a block of ground may be undercut and developed, characteristics of the material determine its caving action. The ore in the chutes must be drawn. The area currently mined from underground is in a zone predominately sulphide and is generally

Jan 1, 1953