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By C. McCulloch

OPEN-PIT mining of coal is relatively a recent innovation; men still active in the industry can trace its development. Re- viewing the growth of operations from the original horse-drawn scrapers, through the various stages of power equipment to the huge strip- ping shovels of today, one also notes changes in the methods of what the coal man calls preparation at the face. We really should not call it face preparation because, in contrast to underground mining, a face does not exist in strip mining. Further, preparation of the coal for market at the loading point has already, in but a few years, become largely of historic interest only and modern mines as well as old mines recently modernized rely almost entirely on separate and elaborate preparation plants to produce marketable coal. This practice was not voluntarily adopted by the producer but was forced upon him by the inadequacy of previous

Jan 1, 1939

By William L. Langdon

PRELIMINARY COMMENTS Recent years have been difficult for the mining industry, as reported in the most recently published Minerals Yearbook (Volume III), the estimated value of world crude mineral production has been generally declining since an historical peak in 1979 (16).* The costs of mineral extraction have, however, been rising rapidly. Individual project costs are, in general, exceeding the growth rate of mining companies, while operating and technical risks continue to increase (16). Risks resulting from currency flotation and political actions in the host country are also on the increase. Labor difficulties (such as those experienced by Phelps Dodge) and the Reagan Administration's recent rejection of a proposal by the International Trade Commission for higher tariffs and/or quotas on copper imports have also contributed to the mining industry's difficulties. The net result of these factors has been financial difficulties for mining companies with respect to paying for their current financial obligations as well as trouble finding new financing. It may be that one of the main factors in determining the future of the mining industry will be centered upon capital structure, i.e. how its assets are financed. Historical Perspective on Capital Structure In The Mining Industry As discussed by Isreal Borenstein in (4) and Thomas Navin in (7), mining firms typically have used a financial model based upon high financial leverage, i.e. large amounts of debt relative to equity. This has been especially true for American firms developing orebodies discovered overseas. Problems sometimes occurred for those who were forced to commit themselves to completion guarantees in order to obtain bank loans. Mines under these circumstances must be brought into operation regardless of market conditions. Politicians in overseas countries also may use the high profits required by these high risk ventures to argue for nationalization of mines. Coupled with the frequent use of high leverage, mining companies traditionally have paid out a higher percentage of earnings in the form of dividends than manufacturing firms. This is significant, in that such funds paid out in dividends are not available for other uses. Hence, a greater reliance upon debt and/or additional stock issues than would ordinarily be the case for manufacturing firms. Thomas Navin has stated in (7), that the theory behind the high dividend payout was that, "most mining investors thought of themselves as investing in a wasting asset, one that would gradually deplete over time until it ultimately became valueless." Investors, therefore, required a receipt, in the form of dividends, of a percentage of current earnings and a return on original capital. This view of reality, apparently, has not changed in some quarters, even though modern mine management ordinarily replaces depleted mines with new ones. It may be that this practice of high dividend payout coupled with relatively high financial leverage should be reexamined. Current capital structure theory could prove interesting and useful for those concerned with current conditions. Capital structure patterns and related practices in this industry are not, in many cases, congruent with those thought by some to be theoretically optimal. Prelude to Capital Structure Discussion With a few notable exceptions (such as the Guggenheims and Anaconda's chief operating,. officer in 1971) mining companies' chief executives and boards of directors have not been persons with financial backgrounds. This, one could conjecture, might have accounted for the relatively nonsophisticated nature of capital structures of mining companies. In order to appreciate the possibilities with respect to alternative influence on a firm's performance, one must be acquainted with the basics of financial theory. This paper is an attempt to familiarize the reader with (1) capital structure in general, (2) the usual components of this structure, (3) the general theory behind the use of financial leverage, and

Jan 1, 1985

A. K. McCosh, Coatbridge, Scotland (written discussion*).-It is well known in Great Britain that oven operators in the United States have been able to reduce the coking time much below European standards by the employment of higher temperatures. Our linings have always been the factor that has prevented our doing the same, and it would be of much interest to coke-oven operators here if Mr. Blauvelt would give a typical analysis of the bricks his company uses for the linings of its ovens, and if he could see his way to send me a sample so that I could have the texture examined, I should personally be very much obliged. The lining brick which my company has found most successful is of a ganister variety, and has the following analysis: Silica, 80.8 per cent.; alumina and iron oxide, .17.8 per cent.; lime, 0.8 per cent.; magnesia, 0.07 per cent.; but with this brick the least carelessness on the gas regulator's part may destroy the lining. It would also be of interest if Mr. Blauvelt could give the temperatures of the air leaving these generators and also of the oven flues.

Jan 10, 1918

By H. J. Ramey

The wellbore acts as a storage tank during drawdown and build-up testing and causes the sand-face flow rate to approach the constant surface flow rate as a function of time. This effect is compounded if non-Darcy flow (turbulent flow) exists near a gas wellbore. Non-Darcy flow can be interpreted as a flow-rate dependent skin effect. A method for determining the non-Darcy flow constant using this concept and the usual skin effect equation is described. Field tests of this method have identified several cases where non-Darcy flow was severe enough that gas wells in a fractured region appeared to be moderately damaged. The combination of wellbore storage and non-Darcy flow can result in erroneous estimates of formation flow capacity for short-time gas well tests. Fortunately, the presence of the wellbore storage eflect permits a new analysis which can provide a reasonable estimate of formation flow capacity and the non-Darcy flow constant from a single short-time test. The basis of the Gladfelter, Tracy and Wilsey correction for wellbore storage in pressure build-up was investigated. Results led to extension of the method to drawdown testing. If non-Darcy flow is not important, the method can be used to correct short-time gas well drawdown or build-up data. A method for estimation of the duration of wellbore storage effects was developed. INTRODUCTION In 1953, van Everdingen and Hurst generalized results published in their previous paper3 concerning wellbore storage effects to include a "skin effect", or a region of altered permeability adjacent to the wellbore. Later, Gladfelter. Tracy and Wilsey4 presented a method for correcting observed oilwell pressure build-up data for wellbore storage in the presence of a skin effect. The method depended upon measuring the change in the fluid storage in the wellbore by measuring the rise in liquid level. To the author's knowledge, application of the Gladfelter, Tracy and Wilsey storage correction to gas-well build-up has not been discussed in the literature. It is, however, a rather obvious application. Gas storage in the wellbore is a conlpressibility effect and can be estimated easily from the measured wellbore pressure as a function of time. Several approaches to the wellbore storage problem have been suggested. As summarized by Matthews, it is possible to minimize annulus storage volume by using a packer, and to obtain a near sand-face shut-in by use of down-hole tubing plug devices. Matthews and Perrine have suggested criteiia for determining the time when storage effects become negligible. In 1962, Swift and Kiel' presented a method for determination of the effect of non-Darcy flow (often called turbulent flow) upon gas-well behavior. This paper provided a theoretical basis for peculiar gas-well behavior described previously by Smith. Recently, Carter, Miller and Riley observed disagreement among flow capacity k,,h data determined from gas-well drawdown tests conducted at different flow rates for short periods of time (less than six hours flowing time). In the original preprint of their paper, Carter et al. proposed that the discrepancy in flow capacity was possibly a result of wellbore storage effects. Results of an analytical study of unloading of the wellbore and non-Darcy flow were recorded by carter.14 In the final text of their paper, Carter et al.!' stated that they no longer believed wellbore storage was the reason for discrepancy in their kgh estimates. In view of the preceding, this study was performed to establish the importance of non-Darcy flow and well-bore storage for gas-well testing. In the course of the study. a reinspection of the previous work by van Everdingen' and Hurst' was made, and the basis for the Gladfelter, Tracy and Wilsey' wellbore storage correction was investigated and extended to flow testing. WELLBORE STORAGE THEORY As has been shown by Aronofsky and Jenkins,11-12 Matthews," and others, flow of gas can often be approximated by an equivalent liquid flow system. The following developnlent will use liquid flow nomenclature to simplify the presentation. Application to gas-well cases will be illustrated later. First, we will use the van Everdingen-HursP treatment of wellbore storage in transient flow to establish (1) the duration of wellbore storage effects, and (2) a method to correct flow data for wellbore storage. DURATION OF WELLHORE STORAGE EFFECTS When an oil well is opened to flow. the bottom-hole pressure drops and causes a resulting drop in the liquid level in the annulus. If V. represents the annular volume in cu ft/ft of depth, and p represents the average density of the fluid in the wellbore, the volume of fluid at reservoir conditions produced from the annulus per unit bottom-hole pressure drop is approximately: res bbl-- (V, cu ft/ft) (144 sqin./sq ft) psi -(5.615 cu ft/bbl)(pIb/cuft) ........(I)

Jan 1, 1966

By R. R. Kimpel, L. G. Austin

An equation is derived describing fragment size for single fracture of brittle solids. It contains the equations of earlier workers as special or approximate cases and, in addition, is capable of describing coarse distributions in which a few large particles are produced on fracture. The equation can be fitted well to single fracture experiments where over-breakage is avoided. In 1956 Broadbent and callcottl described a method of analyzing the unit operation of grinding, applicable to homogeneous breakage of brittle materials. In essence, the grinding process was split into two parts: 1) the fractional amount of a given size which is selected for grinding per unit time, 2) the size-weight distribution of the fragments produced by breakage of this certain size (primary breakage distribution function). The theory was formulated using matrix algebra. They attempted an experimental verification of the theory using an assumed primary breakage distribution but the results were not very satisfactory. Austin and Gardner2 showed that this assumed distribution was widely different from experimental values and that it led to the poor agreement of predicted size-weight distributions with experiment found by Broadbent and Callcott. In addition, Austin and Gardner2,3,4 reformulated the original approach in terms of differential equations of grinding and demonstrated that the approach led to a very satisfactory description of the grinding process, providing that the descriptive parameters were measured experimentally. Recent work5 has substantiated these findings and the distribution functions of several materials ground under different conditions in different mills have been determined experimentally. The fraction underweight versus size used by

Jan 1, 1965

By F. W. Bloecher

DETERMINATION of the surface area of finely divided minerals is of interest to mineral engineers engaged in flotation, comminution, and de-watering studies. In the industrial minerals field, many materials are classified as to fineness according to their specific surface (surface area per unit weight). A method of surface area determination has been tested and used in the Richards Mineral Engineering Laboratories at M.I.T. It involves low temperature krypton adsorption measurements using the technique described by Beebe.' During the past fifteen years a number of new surface measurement techniques have been developed. Those that are broadly applicable to materials dealt with by mineral engineers include the permeability method in which a gas or liquid is passed through the sample, and the low temperature gas adsorption methods first described by Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller."" Efforts to make surface determinations from size distribution curves have long been attempted"."." but because of the uncertainty of sub-sieve size distribution and inaccuracies in screen analyses, the method is at best only a rough approximation. The most widely used gas adsorption method utilizes nitrogen gas." Nitrogen adsorption, however, is not particularly suited as a tool for most mineral engineers because the method is not applicable for surface determinations on coarse materials, that is, materials coarser than approximately 150 to 200-mesh. Other gases have been used in mineral engineering studies, particularly ethane."' lo The use of ethane gas, however, involves .a technique that is too sensitive for most mineral engineering work. The permeability method of surface area determination has the disadvantage of not being sensitive enough to detect the surface represented by minute cracks, the so-called internal surface of a particle. The low temperature krypton adsorption method described by Beebe1 utilizes apparatus and techniques that are essentially the same as those used in the ethane adsorption method."1° The surface area is calculated by the B.E.T. method."-' The krypton adsorption technique is particularly suited to the needs of the mineral engineer because: (1) The method can be used for making surface area measurements of rather coarse materials (35 to 48-mesh), as well as extremely fine materials, such as clays or colloidal slimes with specific surface that might be as high as 20 to 30 mb er g. (2) The use of krypton gas offers the advantage of low saturation pressures (2-3 mm) at the conveniently obtained liquid nitrogen temperature. Therefore the krypton vacuum system need not be designed to measure or withstand internal gas, pressures above one atmosphere as is the case with the nitrogen gas method. (3) The krypton technique offers the safety feature of employing liquid nitrogen, as contrasted to the ethane technique in which liquid oxygen is required. Furthermore, ethane vapor pressure at liquid oxygen temperatures is low (about 10 microns), and a high sensitivity McLeod gage is required for pressure readings. (4) The measurement technique with krypton gas is much simpler and faster, and the apparatus is less elaborate than that required with either nitrogen or ethane gases. Apparatus A krypton surface measurement apparatus like that used at M.I.T. is shown in Fig. 1. It is constructed of pyrex glass. A vacuum is maintained by two mercury diffusion pumps in series backed by a mechanical vacuum pump."' The vacuum thermocouple gage is used for checking the vacuum within the system. This type of gage is quite sensitive down to a pressure of 1 micron of mercury," but may be used to indicate pressures much lower than that

Jan 1, 1952

By J. S. Crump, H. L. Stone

Laboratory studies have indicated that displacement of oil from a reservoir by means of a condensing gas drive results in extremely high oil recovery, approaching 100 per cent under the most favorable circumstances. A condensing gas drive is defined as a gas drive in which the gas utilized is appreciably soluble in the oil it is displacing. The laboratory studies consisted of a number of gas drive displacement experiments, all using a horizontal, sand-packed, steel tube as the laboratory reservoir. The experimental results indicate that the more soluble a gas is in the oil to he displaced, the more efficient that gar is as a displacing fluid. Experiments were conducted utilizing both a light, volatile crude and a heavy, asphalt crude as the in-place oil. In both cases, oil recovery was appreciably enhanced by solubility of the displacing gas. It is believed that the use of condensing gas drives would result in increased oil recovery from many reservoirs during either primary or secondary phases of production. INTRODUCTION Since the early days of the oil industry there has been an increasing awareness of the problems of oil recovery. During the last few decades particularly a growing recognition of the problems has led to widespread attempts on the part of the industry to increase oil recovery by improved technology. One method which has been used to increase recovery is the maintenance of reservoir pressure by injection of gas. Part of the beneficial effect resulting from this gas injection was to prevent evolution of the gas dissolved in the reservoir oil, since such evolution would cause the oil to shrink and become more viscous, thereby adversely affecting oil recovery. In most instances, the gas injected was predomillantly methane, and so the possibility of oil recovery by retrograde vaporization existed. Laboratory investigations of displacement of reservoir oils by methane, carried out at high pressure, have indicated that considerable additional recovery of light oils could be effected by vaporization, but only at the cost of a severe volumetric shrinkage of the residual oil which would cause a decrease in relative permeability to oil in the reservoir. Consequently, recovery of oil by physical displacement would be impaired. The study suggested, therefore, that recovery of oil might be enhanced by injecting into the reservoir a gas known to be appreciably soluble in the oil at reservoir conditions. Swelling of the oil due to solution of gas should result and yield a consequent increase in the relative permeability to oil. The work described in the following sections was, therefore, undertaken to investigate the possibility of increased recovery by this mechanism. Research similar to that reported in this paper has been conducted by The Atlantic Refining Co.1,2,3 In these studies, Whorton, et al, and Slobod, et al, used methane-rich gas to displace oil from model reservoirs. Solubility of the gas was achieved by keeping the reservoir pressure greater than the saturation pressure of the original oil, and the degree of this solubility was varied by operating at different reservoir pressures. Thus the Atlantic project was primarily a study of the effect of reservoir pressure upon oil recovery by gas drive. The objective of the work reported in this paper was to study the effect of gas composition upon oil recovery while holding the reservoir pressure constant. DESCRIPTION OF EXPERIMENTS The discussion of the preceding section suggests that

Jan 1, 1957

E. E. Russell Tratman, New York City (communication to the Secretary): Mr. Glenn's paper brings up again the question of the part played by coal-dust in colliery-explosions. In the discussion of Sir Frederick Abel's paper on " Accidents in Mines," read before the Institution of Civil Engineers,? much was said about the dangerous properties of coal-dust, and several instances were given of the successful use of a spray of water, water and compressed air, or exhaust-steam from an engine, to keep the mine SUEciently damp to prevent the formation of dust clouds. Methods of preventing shots from blowing out; of using water cartridges to prevent flame ; and of using lime cartridges, wedges and other means of breaking down the coal were also discussed. Mr. Emerson Bainbridge referred to the explosive termed " roburite " (ammonium nitrate and

Jan 1, 1895

By R. V. Whetsel, V. R. Garfias

Production of crude petroleum in Mexico during 1936 totaled approximately 40,309,000 bbl., showing a negligible increase over the previous year. While only four producing wells were completed in the Poza Rica area in 1936, its production increased from 9,468,000 bbl. in 1935 to 13,417,000, making it the ranking producing field in Mexico. This gain in output, however, was offset by abnormal losses due to artificial curtailment mainly the result of strikes and other disturbances in the heavy-oil district of the Northern fields, which declined 2,500,000 bbl., and in the South fields (Golden Lane), where output decreased 1,500,-000 bbl., while production in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec fields remained practically stationary. Production of natural gasoline for 1936 is estimated at 800,000 bbl., or 200,000 bbl. greater than in 1935. Crude run to stills in local refineries increased about 1,000,000 bbl., totaling 31,000,000 bbl. for 1936. Exports of crude and refined products were approximately 24,400,000 bbl., or over 2,000,000 bbl. greater than in 1935, the increase representing withdrawals from storage in Mexico. Exclusive of ships' bunkers, domestic consumption increased about 1,000,000 bbl. during the year, reaching an estimated total of 15,200,000 bbl. The Mexican domestic demand for gasoline is estimated at 2,540,000 bbl. for the year, an increase of 310,000 bbl. over 1935. In all, 70 wells were completed in Mexico during 1936, as compared to 74 in 1935 and 148 in 1934. In proven areas 59 completions resulted in 31 producers and 28 failures. Unusual results were obtained during the year over a scattered area in northeastern Mexico near the United States border, where out of eight completions six were fair-sized gas wells. A wildcat dry hole was completed in Chocoy in an attempt to extend the Northern fields to the northeast, and another in Quebrache, to the southeast of the heavy-oil district. A deep test (10,168 ft.) through the Cretaceous lime into the Jurassic was completed as a dry hole in Metlal-toyuca, 9 miles southwest of the Old Alamo field on the Golden Lane.

Jan 1, 1937

By Stanley M. Kaplan

As we all know, the electric-furnace operation consumes practically 100 pct cold steel scrap. This is in contrast to the operation of the open-hearth furnace, in which 40 pct or more of the charge may be hot metal. The problem of quality of scrap for the electric furnace is really twofold, and in the interest of simplification may be described under two headings: (I) physical specifications, (2) chemical composition. Shipment of electric-furnace scrap to meet required physical specifications is a relatively easy task. The scrap dealer is accustomed to preparing material to certain sizes and shapes. His employees readily execute orders when they are given in terms of length, width and thickness of the material to be loaded.

Jan 1, 1947

By W. A. James

NATURE endowed the Niagara Frontier with great resources but it was the molding of these resources by the early pioneers that assured its future development. This great industrial district of New York stretches along about fifty miles of shore line on the eastern end of Lake Erie and the Niagara River, embracing the two counties of Erie and Niagara, with the city of Buffalo about in the center. This location at the junction of the eastern end of the Great Lakes and the western boundary of the State, a great focal point of land and water, transportation, guaranteed the development of the Frontier. Although the first white settlers came to this section in 1784, it was not until after the turn of the nineteenth century that real development started. Perhaps the most significant influence in the early days was the completion of the Erie Canal between Buffalo and Albany in 1825. This then monumental achievement gave Buffalo an advantage in the race for the best trade route to the Western

Jan 1, 1938

By Carl Henrich

While the size of the blast-furnaces used for smelting leadand copper-ores has constantly increased, during late years, the manner of removing the slag from the furnace to the slag-dump has (until quite recently, at least) practically remained the same. The only appliance in practical use has been the two-wheeled slag-pot, holding about 300 to 400 pounds of slag, or as much as one man could manage to pull or push on a smooth, hard surface. When these slag-pots on wheels were first introduced, the daily capacity of a lead or copper blast-furnace hardly reached 30 tons of smelting-charge. With furnaces of this size, and even when the capacity had been doubled, this kind of slag-pot answered well enough. All the improvements made were in the construction of these pots and not in an increase of their size, which was limited by the weight which one man could handle. But the size of the furnace went on increasing. The daily consumption of one furnace rose gradually to 75 tons, 100 tons, and even more. The writer had occasion to construct some of these furnaces, which, in their day, were among the largest, if not the largest, of the water-jacketed kind then in existence. A water-jacketed furnace will always smelt more in the same time than a furnace with brick walls. Already, in those days, the slag-removal from these enlarged furnaces received due attention by the writer. The removal of 60 tons of slag in 24 hours, in pots holding only 300 pounds each, will require 400 pots to be filled in 24 hours; and when the amount.of slag increases to 90 tons, 600 pots will be required. That is to say, in the last case, 25 pots in each hour, or 1 pot each 24 minutes, will have to be put under the slagspout, filled, pulled away, and replaced with another. This will involve too much hurry for any degree of comfort, convenience

Jan 1, 1896

By Edward A. Loria

Vanadium is one of the materials being considered for use in fast-breeder nuclear reactors. It is a good heat conductor and nearly transparent to radiation, properties regarded as ideal for nuclear fuel containers. The problem has been the metal lacks ductility needed for forming. In our program at Reno Laboratory the effects of the U.S. Bureau of Mines (previous affiliation) the effects of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon have been reported21,22 nd most recently the effects of boron and boron with carbon.23 The continuing study by the Ames Laboratory of the effects of hydrogen, the most subtle and fugitive element in its relationship to structure and properties, is commendable. The solubility of oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen in vanadium (and other bcc metals as well) is related to material purity. With the available limit on metal purity and the interaction (clustering) of hydrogen with the other interstitial and substitutional elements present in their base metal, would the authors comment on the tolerance of hydrogen in relation to oxy- gen that will avoid intergranular fracture and above what content or how seriously harmful in oxygen at various carbon levels? Understanding the true effects of hydrogen (and other interstitial impurities) in vanadium depends on knowledge of the amount present under various conditions and its distribution between various possible positions. Significant amounts of hydrogen may be in "thermo-dynamic" solution, but not as individual atoms in interstitial positions. It may be in grain boundaries, in subgrain boundaries, in vacancies, or in dislocations. Some of the hydrogen may be paired or in complexes with impurities in substitutional solid solution in vanadium. This makes the analysis of the effect of hydrogen vastly more difficult. It should not be expected that hydrogen in grain boundaries will affect slip in the same manner as hydrogen in interstitial positions, nor will the complexes react to heat treatment the same way as hydrogen in dislocations. It is gratifying that the authors have quoted results from two of our inestiations,' but neglected one2' which applied the Petch theory to electrorefined vanadium of high purity and analyzed the effects of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon on the ai and ky values obtained by the extrapolation and grain size methods. Details can be found in the paper. Briefly, we obtained a ui value of 10,300 psi (t = 5150 psi) at 273°K. The metal also exhibited profuse twinning with high ductility at 123" and 77°K. Nitrogen was more effective than oxygen in increasing ui, the increase being about twice as much for the same impurity level. Carbon additions resulted in only minimal changes in Ui. The corresponding ky increased as oxygen and nitrogen increased, with nitrogen being more effective. Carbon additions resulted in little change. Although the difference in yield strength of vanadium was explained on the basis of the Cottrell-Bilby model of the tearing away of dislocations from the impurity atoms,

Jan 1, 1970

By R. W. Nelson

The theoretical basis is presented for energy dissipation methods of measuring permeability in saturated heterogeneous media. Analysis starts with the equation for single-phase flow in heterogeneous porous media which is a first-order partial differential equation in the unknown permeability. This equation is reduced to a system of characteristic equations useful in deriving a differential expression for the permeability as a function of the known potential distribution. For steady flow systems the expression is integrable, giving the permeability integral for direct calculation of the distribution along successive streamlines. The boundary condition in permeability is presented and includes a discussion of the special requirement to assure uniqueness. Theoretical results and necessary computations are incorporated into two general computer programs capable of determining the permeability distribution in two- and three-dimensional steady flow systems. Results are then presented for an energy dissipation analysis using the methods and soltware to determine a field permeability thickness distribution. INTRODUCTION Theoretical work leading to the description of fluid flow in heterogeneous porous media has developed slowly and somewhat sporadically, although the areas of engineering applications predominantly involve flow in nonhomogeneous media. The lack of accurate and economical methods for measuring field permeability distributions has been a major limitation to realistic description of natural flow systems. The economical measurement of permeability using energy dissipation methods may overcome this limitation. Among other things, any permeability measurement method involves consideration of energy dissipation; as used here, "energy dissipation method" denotes the following general approach. The areal energy distribution is measured on an existing flow system in porous media. Then through appropriate analysis of the dissipation of energy in the flow system, the permeability distribution is determined throughout the region using the minimum boundary conditions required to assure a mathematically unique result. This paper presents the theoretical basis for such a method, as well as the techniques and computer software needed to carry out the analysis. The method and techniques are then used in a preliminary field application. EQUATIONS DESCRIBING FLOW IN HETEROGENEOUS MEDLA Heterogeneous as used here implies differing in kind, having unlike quantities or possessing different characteristics. Accordingly, a heterogeneous porous medium has unlike quantities or differing characteristics at different locations. More precisely, if a porous medium is heterogeneous with respect to some property, then that property is functionally dependent on the spatial location. (Media properties are considered here as macroscopic.) Specifically considering permeability k,** then k = G(x, y, z) ,............(1) or the permeability is a scalar function G of the location (x, y, z). Spatial variation of several other properties, of which porosity, dispersivity and medium compressibility are but a few, is implied by the broad title of heterogeneous porous media. The term will be used hereafter to imply only heterogeneity with respect to permeability. The porous medium is considered isotropic as implied by G being only a scalar function. Anisotropy

Jan 1, 1969

By R. V. Norris

LAST October, Mr. R. V. Norris and Mr. Matthew C. Fleming were appointed to represent the Institute at the Second National Industrial Tax Conference, which was held in New York City on Oct. 22 and 23. After reading the report submitted by the Committee, Mr. Norris and Mr. Fleming addressed the following to the Tax Committee of the National Industrial Conference Board: The tentative report of the Tax Committee of the National Industrial Conference Board was received too late to make it possible to lay it before the Board of the Institute, and the undersigned themselves have not had sufficient time to digest its interesting contents and recommendations carefully. So that we desire to make it clear that the comments we make on the report are the expression of our personal opinion only. In the first place, we feel that the Committee which drew this tentative report is entitled to the commendation and thanks of the country for what has been manifestly a work of tremendous labor and for the able and conservative report which they have presented. With

Jan 1, 1921

By H. Herman, M. E. Fine

Kinetics of reversion and reformation of GP I were studied resistometrically in Al-1.7 at. pct Cu. The reversion process is over in roughly 1/2 minute at 205 "C irrespective of the amount of primary aging. After reversion the occurrence of an incubation time before reaging begins has been substantiated. The reaging kinetics is drastically accelerated by plastic deformation to the specimen. An incubation time is observed only if the specimen is aged before reversion. The incubation time and the effect of plastic deformation indicate that nucleation of GP I is heterogeneous. Simple clusters of copper atoms apparently do not act as nuclei for GP I. AFTER quenching aluminum-rich copper from the solid solution range, Guinier-Preston zones of the first kind, GP I, form very rapidly at room temperature. The rate, largely controlled by the concentration of vacancies, is initially most rapid1 (that is, at the time of the first measurement: 1/2 min) and decreases with time. The nucleation is thought to be athermal. If after aging for several days the GP I is dissolved by reversion at 205°C, according to measurement of Young's modulus an incubation period is observed before GP I begins to form on subsequent aging.2 Yet if the reversion is carried out immediately after quenching, both resistivity3 and modulus changes2 show no incubation effect. The zones which form after reversion have the same structure as those which form after the quench.4 Because of entropy considerations and also the short diffusion time, the solid solution after reversion, 2 min at 205°C, is probably more highly clustered than at the original solution treating temperature, 520" to 550°C. It appears most reasonable to associate with nucleation the incubation time observed on reaging after reversion. A simple cluster of copper atoms, many of which are presumed to be present after reversion, is then not a sufficient nucleus for GP I; a GP I nucleus must contain something in addition to a cluster of copper atoms. The purpose of the present note is to give some additional experimental information concerning the incubation time and rates of reaging after reversion. The existence of the incubation time has been verified by measurement of another property, the electrical resistivity. Acceleration of reaging after reversion by plastic deformation has also been investigated. In acl.dition, the kinetics of the reversion process itself was studied. EXPERIMENTAL Electrical resistance was measured by the poten-tiometric four probe method. The 1.7 at. pct Cu alloy was furnished by the Aluminum Co. of America in the form of 1/2 in. rod. The major impurities reported by Alcoa were Fe (0.002 wt pct), Si (0.003 wt pct), and Mg (0.001 wt pct). Specimens for measuremenl of resistance were prepared by rolling to 0.010 in., cutting 2 by 0.2 in. pieces, rolling the middle pclrtions of these to 0.005 in., and splitting the 0.010 in. sections up to the reduced central section to form current and potential leads. Aluminum extension wires insulated with ceramic tubes were spot welded to the leads. The specimen was supported by the lead wires. The whole specimen assembly was annealed at 500" C in an air furnace for more than 12 hr and then aged at room temperature. This was done to assure quick and complete resolution during subsequent solution treatments. These were carried out in Houghton's "430 Temper Salt" at 520'C for 1 hr. Unless otherwise specified, quenching was accomplished by quickly transferring the specimen from a salt pot to 25°C water. Aging was carried out in a 3 liter dewar of distilled water, rotated and stirred. The temperature was controlled to +0.01°C with a thermomercurial regulator in conjunction with a transistorized relay

Jan 1, 1962

By A. T. Yu

As the first loads of Noamundi iron ore rumbled into the new 54-in. Gyratory Crusher on March 30, 1968, one of India's largest and most modern iron ore processing complexes began operations. The completion of the $13 million mining and processing complex brought to a successful conclusion the second chapter of a phased expansion program initiated in 1958 by India's gigantic Tata Iron and Steel Co. The completed complex will yield annually 2.5 million tons of washed, sized ore and sinter fines destined for Tata's furnaces at Jamshedpur. Hewitt-Robins Div. of Litton Industries was awarded the turnkey project on the basis of world- wide competitive bids. Eighty miles southwest of the city of Jamshedpur, Noamundi lies on an approximate geographic grid of 22º-5' latitude north and 85º-30' longitude east. The mine is approximately 600 ft above sea level.

Jan 11, 1968

By Percy W. Bidwell

THE statisticians had defeated Germany months before she invaded Poland. With batteries of adding machines they had proved that she was suffering from serious deficiencies in critical food- stuffs and in practically all of the raw materials necessary for the conduct of modern warfare. Their calculations showed that with respect to fats, oils, wool, cotton, hides, petroleum, iron, copper and other metals, the Reich was bound to be at a great disadvantage vis-a-vis the French and British as long as the latter could keep open the lines of sea communication. The conclusion seemed obvious-"Germany can't win." The more cautious of the commentators introduced qualifications as to the length of the war and the tightness of the British and French blockade. They also made a third qualification as to the character of the struggle- whether it was to be a war of attrition or a war of movement. But since the invasion of Norway in April, there is no longer any doubt on this score. It is a war of movement-a war in which fuel, lubricants, and metals are being consumed on a scale never before seen.

Jan 1, 1940

By Alan Kissock

MOLYBDENUM is thought of as one of the rarer elements, for though it occurs in almost every country of the world it is seldom found in commercial quantities. In this country, however, there is one deposit which makes the term "rare" a misnomer. There are two commercially mined molybdenum minerals: molybdenite, the sulfide, and wulfenite, a lead molybdate. Of these two only the former is of any con- sequence but wulfenite is of mineralogical interest. It is frequently associated with oxidized lead ores and particularly in arid sections. Deposits, however, are usually quite superficial. It is highly oxidized and yet it does not appear to be an alteration product for it apparently disappears below water level and I know of no case where primary molybdenite, or in fact any molybdenum whatever has been identified below these surface wulfenite occurrences. The genesis of wulfenite would make an !- interesting study.

Jan 1, 1933

A development which could prove significant was the announcement on September 18 by Lone Star Industries, Inc., Greenwich, Conn., that the Snyder process which utilizes shock phenomena to break down ore in seconds, is operational. J. R. Kringel, chairman and president of Lone Star, says this about the process: "This new approach to the comminution of ores not only provides better mineral liberation at lower capital and operating costs, but it also makes a significant contribution toward the more efficient utilization of the country's rapidly depleting mineral reserves." The Snyder process consists of loading the material into a chamber, introducing a compressible working fluid such as steam under 300-500 psi, or as low as 80 psi, and then opening a millisecond-action discharge valve, causing the material to become entrained in the expanding fluid. The mixed fluid moves through a duct toward a discharge zone at near-sonic velocity, and is subject to a variety of extreme shock phenomena which accomplish the desired size reduction and mineral liberation.

Jan 11, 1972