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By N. Brown, H. Green

The effect of quenching temperature and of aging temperature and time on compression stress-strain curves of ß brass was investigated. Age softening occurs at a rate which decreases with decrease of quenching temperature below the critical temperature for ordering. The activation energy for softening is 15,400 cal per mol. No matter how rapidly brass is quenched or what the temperature from which it is quenched, practically complete order is obtained at room temperature. It has been demonstrated that with respect to the specific heat,',' electrical resistivity," X-ray diffraction, and microstructure, the slowly cooled and rapidly quenched specimens are the same and that complete long range order exists in both cases. However, Smith" showed that the hardness of ß brass depended upon the cooling rate and the temperature from which brass is quenched. Smith showed that the hardness was a maximum for specimens quenched from about 445 °C and that the as-quenched structure softened at room temperature at a rate depending upon the temperature prior to quenching. This softening after quenching is in this paper referred to as age softening. The results of this investigation are qualitatively the same as the findings of Smith. However, a more detailed analysis of these phenomena has been possible since the stress-strain curve offers a more sensitive index of the state of the metal than hardness. It is the purpose of this paper to show how the mechanical properties are related to the ordering of ß brass. A 200-lb ingot made from electrolytic copper and electrolytic zinc was extruded to 1/2in. rod. Chemical analyses at frequent intervals along the rod showed that the alloy contained 51.5 pct Cu with the greatest impurity being iron, at 0.01 to 0.001 pct. To obtain a constant test material, the 1/2in. extruded rod was warm-rolled to % in. diameter at 200°C and then recrystallized to a grain size of 2.0 mm. The specimens for the compression test were % in. high and % in. in diameter. The specimen ends were polished on 600 metallographic paper and coated with Molykote for a lubricant. The compression rig consisted of an anvil resting on the machined table of the Baldwin Southwark testing machine and a plunger fixed to the movable cross

Jan 1, 1954

By M. J. Humenick, K. Garwacka

A laboratory experimental research project was conducted to evaluate the use of chlorine for the oxidative destruction of residual ammonia that may remain in ground water after in-situ uranium solution mining operations. The work tested the idea of injecting high strength calcium hypochlorite solution into the mining zone to convert ammonia to nitrogen gas as a final cleanup process for ammonia removal from the ground water system. This paper details ammonia removal efficiency as a function of chlorine dose, reactant, and product material balances, and how the concept may be used as a final ground water restoration process.

Jan 1, 1985

By R. L. Tobie, H. W. Seaney

Over the years since 1956 when initial experiments were conducted on underground concreting in an attempt to cope with the ground weight and pressure encountered in the development of a large-scale underground block caving system, the use of monolithic concrete linings has grown to include most of the primary development in the mining area. Although the development cost of concrete linings is higher than either timber or steel-supported openings, the repair and maintenance costs are substantially lower, making concrete the most economical means of ground support. Other ad- vantages are also apparent, in that concrete provides superior fireproofing, better ventilation, and a safer, cleaner working place.

Jan 11, 1965

By William R. Webster

In view of the good results which have followed the wide discussion of the rail-specifications of the American Section of the International Association for Testing Materials, I now offer for discussion its specifications for steel forgings and steel castings. It is not necessary to emphasize the importance of reaching definite conclusions on these subjects. Engineers, consumers and manufacturers are alike interested in securing good, reliable, uniform steel. In this connection, I would call particular attention to the important paper read by Mr. C. H. Ridsdale, last September, before the Iron and Steel Institute, as bearing on them; and, for convenience of reference in the discussion, I append the Table in Section VI. of his paper, on a Manifestations, Classified mider Heads of Faults of Different Types. appearing after Treatment by the User, for Tracing their Probable Source."* The discussion of these specifications will be practically a continuation of our former discussions on "The Physics of Steel." We have passed through a period in which the chemical composition of steel has received the greatest prominence; but failures of steel forgings and castings of the best chemical composition have shown that we could not control the quality of the finished product by the chemical composition alone. It must be admitted that differences in the physical properties of the steel, greater than those due to small variations in composition,are produced by heat-treatment, both in connection with the mechanical work of forging and otherwise. The present result is a strong tendency to deem the heat-treatment more important than the chemical composition. I think the mean course is the safer. We should give them equal importance; for we know that to produce the best results me must start with a good

Jan 1, 1903

Later this month (June 24-27) in San Francisco, the Society of Mining Engineers of AIME, together with the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Canadian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy and the Engineering Institute of Canada, is sponsoring the second biannual Rapid Excavation and Tunneling Conference. The dominant theme of the Conference is the practical application of techniques and research relating to underground rapid excavation and tunneling. In the following pages, ME gives highlights of many of the 24 technical sessions and some of the papers being presented. The full proceedings of the Conference will be published by SME-AIME later this year.

Jan 6, 1974

By P. L. Hofmann

The National Waste Terminal Storage (NWTS) Program was established in 1976. The objective of this program is to develop the technology and provide the facilities for the safe, environmentally acceptable isolation of civilian- and defense-related, high-level and transuranic nuclear wastes, including spent fuel elements, for which the federal government is responsible. The principal emphasis of this program is on disposal in mined geologic repositories. Technology development in support of the NWST program includes the formulation and management of a strong basic science and engineering program to generate an appropriate data base to aid in understanding of the key geological processes and major engineering structures involved. The current status, problems, and future plans of the technology program will be summarized.

Jan 1, 1984

By F. M. Sandoval, R. E. Ries, J. F. Power

Returning the original soil material to the surface of smoothed mine spoils is a practical means of restoring agricultural productivity. Research has established that high-sodium spoils in North Dakota: (1) must be covered with about 70 cm of soil material to achieve maximum production; (2) top-soil must be segregated and spread separately from subsoil; (3) potential production depends on the quality of the soil material returned; and (4) erosion and upward salt movement must be controlled for sustained production. Erosion is best controlled by reducing final grades as much as possible during the smoothing process followed by prompt establishment of vegetation.

Jan 12, 1979

By David Scott

WHEN mining operations were first instituted in the mines of the Miami Copper Co., at Miami, Ariz., the relatively hard character of the ground in the western section of the property made it seem advisable to use a wide shrinkage stope and pillar system. The system as finally evolved was applied to the mining of 2,300,000 tons of ore by the use of stopes and pillars each 50 ft. in width. Development, mining and extraction of this reserve has been continuously in progress since 1910, and the final stages of extraction are now reached. A complete survey of all phases of this system can therefore be made. Modification in working methods was obviously necessary, and the system to be described is believed to be typical of the best features. DEVELOPMENT The preliminary work had three main objectives: The opening of a haulage level, the construction of a drawing-off level, and the driving of sublevels for use in stoping. In addition to these, some extra sublevel drifting was necessary to determine exactly the boundaries of the orebody, the general outline having been determined by churn drilling. This development was based on the requirements of stopes 50 ft. wide, with pillars 50 ft. wide between each stope. The length of these units varied from 200 to 500 ft.

Jan 6, 1916

By J. H. Wiggins

This paper first pictures the economic phase of evaporation losses and the actual evaporative conditions in handling and storing crude and gasoline in the United States; then follows a discussion of some of the theories of physics involved in evaporation loss and lastly an application of these theories to handling oil and gas on producing properties. GRANTING that about 600,000,000 bbl. of light oil will be produced in the United States this year and taking the Bureau of Mines' statement that 7 1/2 per cent. of the total crude production will be lost before the finished gasoline is shipped from the refinery, the volumetric evaporation will be 45,000,000 bbl. of the cream of the gasoline. This is a conservative figure and is equivalent to 1,890,000,000 gal. The real value of this liquid is at least 150 per cent. of the value of an equal volume of motor fuel. At only 10 c. per gal., the value lost is $189,000,000; at 15 c. per gal. the loss is $283,000,000. If 750,000,000 bbl. of light and heavy oil are produced here this year and the average price per barrel is $1.333, the gross return to producers will be $1,000,000,000 and the net returns about $200,000,000, if the cost of production is only $1 per barrel. Thus, the evaporation bill is about 20 per cent. of the gross income and is equal to the net income of the crude-oil producers. Two other comparisons with popular phases of the petroleum industry will help give an adequate conception of the evaporation problem. These are: cost of preventing evaporation compared to cost of cracked gasoline and volume of gasoline evaporated compared to volume of gasoline manufactured from natural gas.

Jan 7, 1924

By James A. Lewis

It is the purpose of this paper to show the importance of sand characteristics, when combined with other physical data, in evaluating production obtained by secondary recovery operations, and to indicate the benefits to be gained from the application of these principles to primary production. Introduction During the past 10 years there has been a growing interest within the industry regarding the movement of fluids through oil reservoirs. A number of research projects have been directed toward the development of the physical laws governing this movement. In the period 1933 to the present, correlations between laboratory analysis of cores, reservoir fluids and well performance have been established and have been applied to successful secondary water-flooding recovery operations; and to the completion, production, reconditioning and evaluation of wells in new fields. The application of these data to water-flooding, either natural or artificial, is comparatively new, but the principlcs involved were set forth in 1880 by John F. Carll,1 who said: The flooding of an oil district is generally viewed as a great calamity, yet it may be questioned whether a larger amount of oil cannot be drawn from the rocks in that way than by any other, for it is certain that all the oil can-not be drawn from the reservoir without admission of something to take its place. If one company owned all of the wells drawing upon a pool, and had accurate records of the depth and characteristics of the oil producing stratum in each well, it is quite possible that some system might be devised by which water could be let down through certain shafts, and thus the rocks be completely voided of oil and left full of water. As it is, however, no systematized plan of action can be adopted. The careless handling of one well. by which water is let down to the oil rock, may spoil several others belonging to different parties. A clashing of interests at once arises and is likely to result in disaster to the whole district. In judging of the probable effects of the intro-duction of water into any particular oil district several things are to be considered. (1st) The time of flooding—whether early in the progress of development, while yet a large percentage of oil remains unexhausted or at a later period after the supply has suffered from long continued depletion. (2nd) The structure of the rock—whether regular and homogeneous throughout, or composed of fine sand inter. bedding connected and irregular layers of gravel, sometimes lying near the top and at others near the bottom. (3rd) The shape of the area being flooded. (4th) The position of the point at which water is admitted. in relation to the location of the surrounding wells still pumping oil. (5th) The height (which governs the pressure) of the column of water obtaining admittance. (6th) The duration of the water supply. Although we may take exception to part of Carll's reasoning, particularly " and thus the rocks be completely voided of oil and left full of water," we must give him credit for pointing out the increased effectiveness of water encroachment in displacing oil from a sand and for his recording six of the present seven considerations necessary for evaluation of production of oil by water

Jan 1, 1942

By James A. Lewis

It is the purpose of this paper to show the importance of sand characteristics, when combined with other physical data, in evaluating production obtained by secondary recovery operations, and to indicate the benefits to be gained from the application of these principles to primary production. Introduction During the past 10 years there has been a growing interest within the industry regarding the movement of fluids through oil reservoirs. A number of research projects have been directed toward the development of the physical laws governing this movement. In the period 1933 to the present, correlations between laboratory analysis of cores, reservoir fluids and well performance have been established and have been applied to successful secondary water-flooding recovery operations; and to the completion, production, reconditioning and evaluation of wells in new fields. The application of these data to water-flooding, either natural or artificial, is comparatively new, but the principlcs involved were set forth in 1880 by John F. Carll,1 who said: The flooding of an oil district is generally viewed as a great calamity, yet it may be questioned whether a larger amount of oil cannot be drawn from the rocks in that way than by any other, for it is certain that all the oil can-not be drawn from the reservoir without admission of something to take its place. If one company owned all of the wells drawing upon a pool, and had accurate records of the depth and characteristics of the oil producing stratum in each well, it is quite possible that some system might be devised by which water could be let down through certain shafts, and thus the rocks be completely voided of oil and left full of water. As it is, however, no systematized plan of action can be adopted. The careless handling of one well. by which water is let down to the oil rock, may spoil several others belonging to different parties. A clashing of interests at once arises and is likely to result in disaster to the whole district. In judging of the probable effects of the intro-duction of water into any particular oil district several things are to be considered. (1st) The time of flooding—whether early in the progress of development, while yet a large percentage of oil remains unexhausted or at a later period after the supply has suffered from long continued depletion. (2nd) The structure of the rock—whether regular and homogeneous throughout, or composed of fine sand inter. bedding connected and irregular layers of gravel, sometimes lying near the top and at others near the bottom. (3rd) The shape of the area being flooded. (4th) The position of the point at which water is admitted. in relation to the location of the surrounding wells still pumping oil. (5th) The height (which governs the pressure) of the column of water obtaining admittance. (6th) The duration of the water supply. Although we may take exception to part of Carll's reasoning, particularly " and thus the rocks be completely voided of oil and left full of water," we must give him credit for pointing out the increased effectiveness of water encroachment in displacing oil from a sand and for his recording six of the present seven considerations necessary for evaluation of production of oil by water

Jan 1, 1942

By William N. Poundstone

What attracts young engineering graduates into the coal industry? What do these young men expect of a career in coal mining? These questions are often asked and debated by mining men throughout the country. In order to present a comprehensive answer to them, an opinion survey was conducted at West Virginia University's School of Mines among the junior and senior classes and part of the sophomore class. The tabulation of the answers showed that the present-day mining engineering student is an older, more mature individual as compared with former years and as compared with other present-day college students. The average age of the country's record-breaking 150,000 college graduates is 24 years. Among this year's mining graduates at West Virginia University, 78% are of this age or older. Over half (54%) of those polled in the survey are married. This is com- pared to 30% as a national figure. Of those married, 38% have one child and over 6% have two children. The entire senior group covered by this survey has averaged almost three years in the armed forces. An article entitled "The Class of '49" in the June issue of Fortune magazine states that this year's class is the oldest, most mature class in history. Our survey indicates that the mining engineering students at West Virginia University are well above the average in this respect.

Jan 1, 1949

By D. J. Carney, J. Chipman, N. J. Grant

SINCE the beginning of this century it has been known that hydrogen contributes to the porosity of steel and that it is harmful to its mechanical properties. The evidence for this has been largely qualitative. Steel to which hydrogen was purposely added. in sufficient .amounts was shown to be either porous or brittle or both, whereas similar steel of low hydrogen content was shown to be free of porosity and to possess normal physical properties. There have been a considerable number of qualitative experiments of this type. Also, early in this century, a few attempts were made to measure the amount of hydrogen normally dissolved in commercial steels. This was usually done by placing the sample under an inverted liquid column such as mercury and collecting the evolved gas. These attempts, while not successful in measuring actual amounts of dissolved hydrogen gas, were able to prove that this gas will diffuse out of steel at room temperature, and that the amount of hydrogen dissolved is normally very small. On the basis of such qualitative evidence, hydrogen has been and still is blamed for a great number of the troubles encountered in the steel industry. In recent years, partial solutions for many steel-working problems have been obtained. These have led to increased interest in accurate quantitative work on hydrogen in steel, with the expectation that the results might possibly answer a few of the remaining unsolved problems. Commercially, two of the obvious questions which are in need of an answer are: (1) what are the most important sources of hydrogen, and (2) what quantity of hydrogen can be tolerated in various steels? There are many other unanswered questions. To begin to find the answers it seemed logical to start at the beginning of steel production with the liquid metal. Further, it seemed almost imperative to solve first the problems of analysis and sampling of the metal for hydrogen. Once these problems have been solved, it would be possible to answer more of the important commercial problems mentioned above. As a consequence, it was decided to design an analytical apparatus and, upon satisfactory completion of this, to develop an accurate method of sampling liquid metal for hydrogen.

Jan 1, 1951

By R. F. Sheldon

Largest uranium deposit in the Northwest is Dawn Mining Co.'s Midnite mine on the Spokane Indian B Reservation. The orebodies lie along the contact of granite and metamorphosed sedimentary rock and are controlled by faults and shear zones near the granite contact. In the oxidized zone the deposits consist mainly of the secondary uranium mineral meta-autunite; sooty uraninite and primary uranium minerals are known to occur at greater depths. Elevations in the mine area range from 2500 to 3500 ft. The rolling hills and low, rounded mountains are covered with grass and evergreen trees.

Jan 5, 1959

By Julian Nardi

Pumping solids through a pipeline is not new but until very recently other means of transportation were cheaper. Many proposed pipelines for transporting solids, while technically feasible, have not been attractive enough to warrant the financial risk involved. In some instances, the difference in transportation cost was negligible. In others, the threat of pipeline competition resulted in a slashing of rates on existing transportation to the point where a pipeline could no longer be justified. In others, a competitive product was cheaper. FIRST IN PLACERS The earliest record of solids being transported in a pipe was in the late 1850s in California placer mines. Water under pressure was used to force gold-bearing gravel up through a pipe, from 30 to as much as 55 ft, to a point where it could be discharged into a flume or sluice.

Jan 9, 1959

By M. G. Gulley

The drilling for and production of crude oil in the Lima-Indiana and Michigan fields were directly and profoundly affected by the severe strain to which the petroleum industry was subjected during the year 1931. Serious and long-continued overproduction in the large flush areas of the western and southwestern fields, coupled with a nationwide decrease in the annual rate of consumption-increase, served to precipitate ‡ This curve is the Mid-Continent price for 38" gravity crude and hence. affords a basis for estlmating the influence of general factors upon the price structure m these fields. a mid-year economic depression which was functionally reflected in every producing area in the United States. A study of the curves of price changes in portions of the central west territory (Fig. 1) will demonstrate this relationship as well as the ensuing upward trend, which developed when pressure was artificially relieved, at least for the time being, in the producing areas in the southwestern states. All field activities in the Lima-Indiana and Michigan territory during 1931 follow the price curve closely: the mid-year depression was evident in drilling activities— both wildcat and within the proved limits of producing fields, in pipe line

Jan 1, 1932

By AIME AIME

TECHNICAL achievement in mining will be rewarded at the forthcoming Annual Meeting of the Institute when the William Lawrence Saunders Gold Medal will be presented to Herman C. Bellinger. Mr, Bellinger was unanimously selected on the first ballot of the Medal Committee. Mr. Bellinger has had notable technical success as vice-president in charge of operations for the Chile Exploration Co., a position he has held since 1920.

Jan 1, 1941

By B. N. Whittaker, C. J. Bonsall

The paper gives an account of the factors influencing the stability of coal mining tunnels and goes on to examine various bases of support and lining design of such tunnels in relation to geological and mining conditions. The different types of coal mining tunnels are compared and comments made regarding the factors influencing their choice and basic design features. Foremost amongst design considerations is the design method and special thought has been given to the validity of different formulae as related particularly to UK Carboniferous geological conditions. Emphasis is placed on the role of the stress field in relation to tunnel stability. Shape of mining tunnel has been investigated and conclusions drawn regarding the merits of different commonly excavated geometries from a stability point of view. Detailed design aspects pertaining to determination of tunnel lining strength and resulting stability are critically examined and current design methods are compared. Data from UK mining tunnels are included as the basis for comparison of these design methods.

Jan 1, 1983

By Thomas S. Lovering

Hot springs, geysers, steam-emanating fumaroles- these creatures of nature were until recently little more than geological curiosities, but today they are exciting the interest of engineers around the world for it has been shown that such hyperthermal areas can be profitably harnessed by man to provide heat and power for his communities. Although water from hot springs was used centuries ago to heat some Korean dwellings, is being used today by one-third of Iceland's population for similar purposes, and is finding industrial applications in New Zealand and elsewhere, the most dramatic use of geothermal energy has been its conversion into electricity. The largest installation at the present time is that at Larderello, Italy, where the Count of Larderello began to experiment in the production of electricity from geothermal steam in 1904. Eight years later after a quarrel with the local power company, the Count installed his first steam turbine, a unit of 250 kw capacity.

Jan 9, 1965

By Benjamin C. Craft

Operations on the Louisiana Gulf Coast during 1936 resulted in the discovery of five new fields and the proving of flank production or new sands on 12 of the older fields. This district gained the rank as the outstanding deep-drilling region of the world. At the close of the year. 10 wells had been drilled beyond 10.000 ft. One of the most important

Jan 1, 1937