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By J. P. Savely, D. E. Nicholas, R. D. Call

Progress in the technology of slope design over the past 15 years now permits the selection of rational slope angles if suitable data on geology, hydrology, and rock properties are available for a specified project. Although a full-scale slope design study remains the best course of action, there are situations where an extensive study is not feasible due to time or budget constraints. Two typical examples are: (a) selecting pit slope angles for a preliminary feasibility study at the exploration stage; and (b) coping with a slope failure in an operating mine. In both instances, slope angles must often be chosen on the basis of data that are currently available or can be readily obtained. All too often during exploration programs, a feasibility study is initiated shortly before the decision deadline to drop the property or proceed to purchase. If the only existing data at this point are a few cross-sections at odd angles showing ore and waste contacts or a dog-eared map of the surface geology, there may not be time to collect and organize sufficient information for the design of slope angles. On the other hand, if during the drilling program geologic cross-sections were constructed and the structural data compiled in tabular form, rational slope angles could be computed within the allotted time.

Jan 4, 1977

The authors have done a very thorough job in analyzing the factors affecting turndown sulfur performance at Inland's No. 4 B.O.F. While many of the results are not unexpected, it is helpful I am sure to have quantified many of the relationships that the operators rely upon daily. On the other hand, however, the results shown for ladle skimming are very surprising. I do not doubt the statistical relationship shown but I feel, based on our experience at Youngstown, that some other parameter has been ignored in the data on ladle skimming. It was our experience that by skimming our hot metal transfer ladle we could reduce our lime consumption by eleven percent while obtaining sulfur removal comparable to that shown by the authors. I would like the authors comment of similar adjustments on the lime charge that were made on skimmed heats at Inland. If not, it would seem that one could gain more desulfurization in the B.O.F. by raising the hot metal manganese than by installing a skimmer. The author's state that no comparisons are valid between the data sets for the two time periods involved because of the difference in the consumption of No. 2 Bundles. I feel this in fact is one of the important conclusions to be drawn from the paper, as there seems to be approximately a 10-20 percent difference in percent of heats that are under 0.020 percent sulfur for similar conditions, which is an extremely important difference with today's demands for low sulfur. I would like the author's comments on the difference in the amount of 82 bundles consumed. Along this same line I was quite surprised by the relatively low number of heats that had a first turn down of 0.020 percent sulfur or less. Also rather disconcerting are the conditions necessary to achieve a first turn of 0.020 percent sulfur, 50 - 60 percent of the time, as required by today's specifications. It is a problem which we are well aware of, but the numbers are still shocking.

Jan 1, 1972

By J. M. Cases

Study of the normal interaction between flotation collectors and the silicates through measurement of the electrokinetic potential carried out by the streaming potential and flotation recovery methods indicates that the interaction is wholly 07 partly of electrostatic origin. In some cases, it partly consists of the chemical affinity of the polar head of the collector for the active surface sites. Reagents composed of a polar head and a paraffinic chain and forming micelles in solution were used as flotation collectors. They are sodium dodecylsulfate (anionic collector) and dode-cylammonium chloride (cationic collector). The adsorption isotherms on biotite of alkylamine chloride having 10 to 18 carbon atoms in their chain all show a sharp change in slope relevant to the condensation of alkylammonium ions into bidimensional phase.1-1 Condensation is possible because of the relative homogeneity of the adsorbing surface and of the very strong lateral binding forces through Van der Waals type bonds in the adsorption layer. The different isotherms are seen to coincide when, instead of the equilibrium concentration, the under-saturation ?µ = kT In C/C, is plotted in abscissa, C representing the concentration of the solution with which the adsorbed layer is in equilibrium and C, the saturation concentration of micelles in solution or. critical micellar concentration. More particularly, the undersaturation ?,u1*, corresponding to a surface coverage 6 of 0.5, is equal to Since silicates immersed in aqueous solutions show a surface charge which is a function of pH, it is of primary importance to study the influence of this parameter on the adsorption of collector ions acting as Strong electrolytes in the pH range where they are utilized. The aim of this present paper is to determine by studying electrokinetic phenomena and recovery curves effectuated with a cationic collector and a anionic collector, the nature of the normal adsorbate-adsorbent interaction. Tables 1 and 2 sum up part of the results previously obtained'H11 for the determination of the point of zero charge of the silicate studied by the streaming potential method. Throughout the remainder of this paper, the surface charge will be considered positive for all values of pH below the point

Jan 1, 1971

By A. G. Roach

THIS paper deals with a plant built under joint agreement between the Canadian and United States Governments to supply the strategic mineral, corundum, at a time when African production was dwindling and war demands still increasing. The operation began in September 1944, retreating the tailings from a former mill by gravity methods, and is still in production (Sept. 1946). In 1942, when it became apparent that South African production would be insufficient to meet mounting wartime requirements of corundum, a survey was made of Canadian sources of the mineral, at the request of the Foreign Economic Administration of the U. S. Government. The investigation1 indicated that the quickest and cheapest supply would be obtained by reworking the tailings deposit at Craigmont, Ontario. Sampling of the dump by Canadian Government engineers revealed that 125,000 tons of tailings, averaging 2.96 pct corundum, was available for retreatment. Ore-dressing tests on representative samples of the deposit were conducted by the writer in the laboratories of the Industrial Minerals Section of the Department of Mines and Resources at Ottawa; and gravity concentration on tables was indicated as the most suitable method of treatment. Decision to proceed with the project was deferred until May 9, construction was begun on May 18, and tune-up operation of the plant begun on Sept. 15, 1944. CORUNDUM-ITS PROPERTIES AND USES Corundum is an oxide of aluminum having the formula A1203. Its outstanding characteristic is its great hardness; 9 in the Mohs scale. In this respect it is second only to the diamond. It usually occurs in barrel-shaped crystals in nepheline syenites and other feldspathic rocks deficient in silica. It has a specific gravity of 3.95 to 4.1 and is insoluble and infusible. In color it ranges from white, through red and green, to black. Ruby and sapphire are gem varieties of corundum. Corundum is supplied to industry as closely graded grain.2 The coarser products (10 to 24-mesh) are used largely for snagging wheels in the steel-castings industry, while the finer grades (from 70-mesh down to flours) find a wide application in the polishing of lenses and for other uses in the optical trade. All sizes of corundum grain are in close competition with synthetic abrasives such as carborundum and alundum. In some fields of application the artificial product is superior to the natural grain but not in all. The shape of the particle and its behavior under conditions of actual use determine its sphere of employment. The United States is the largest consumer of corundum, annual consumption in peacetime approaching 3000 tons; during the war this figure was roughly doubled. During the years 1902 to 1913, the bulk

Jan 1, 1946

By A. G. Roach

This paper deals with a plant built under joint agreement between the Canadian and United States Governments to supply the strategic mineral, corundum, at a time when African production was dwindling and war demands still increasing. The operation began in September 1944, retreating the tailings from a former mill by gravity methods, and is still in production (Sept. 1946). In 1942, when it became apparent that South African production would be insufficient to meet mounting wartime requirements of corundum, a survey was made of Canadian sources of the mineral, at the request of the Foreign Economic Administration of the U. S. Government. The investigation' indicated that the quickest and cheapest supply would be obtained by reworking the tailings deposit at Craig-mont, Ontario. Sampling of the dump by Canadian Government engineers revealed that 125,000 tons of tailings, averaging 2.96 pct corundum, was available for retreat-ment. Ore-dressing tests on representative samples of the deposit were conducted by the writer in the laboratories of the Industrial Minerals Section of the Department of Mines and Resources at Ottawa; and gravity concentration on tables was indicated as the most suitable method of treatment. Decision to proceed with the project was deferred until May 9, construction was begun on May 18, and tune-up operation of the plant begun on Sept. IS, 1944. Corundum—Its Properties and Uses Corundum is an oxide of aluminum having the formula Al2O3. Its outstanding characteristic is its great hardness; 9 in the Mohs scale. In this respect it is second only to the diamond. It usually occurs in barrel-shaped crystals in nepheline syenites and other feldspathic rocks deficient in silica. It has a specific gravity of 3.95 to 4.1 and is insoluble and infusible. In color it ranges from white, through red and green, to black. Ruby and sapphire are gem varieties of corundum. Corundum is supplied to industry as closely graded grain.= The coarser roducts (10 to 24-mesh) are used largely for snagging wheels in the steel-castings industry, while the finer grades (from 70-mesh down to flours) find a wide application in the polishing of lenses and for other uses in the optical trade. All sizes of corundum grain are in close competition with synthetic abrasives such as carborundum and alundum. In some fields of application the artificial product is superior to the natural grain but not in' all. The shape of the particle and its behavior under conditions of actual use determine its sphere of employment. The United States is the largest 'Onsumer of corundum, annual consumption in peacetime approaching 3000 tons; during the war this figure was roughly doubled. During the years 1902 to 1913, the bulk

Jan 1, 1948

By A. G. Roach

This paper deals with a plant built under joint agreement between the Canadian and United States Governments to supply the strategic mineral, corundum, at a time when African production was dwindling and war demands still increasing. The operation began in September 1944, retreating the tailings from a former mill by gravity methods, and is still in production (Sept. 1946). In 1942, when it became apparent that South African production would be insufficient to meet mounting wartime requirements of corundum, a survey was made of Canadian sources of the mineral, at the request of the Foreign Economic Administration of the U. S. Government. The investigation' indicated that the quickest and cheapest supply would be obtained by reworking the tailings deposit at Craig-mont, Ontario. Sampling of the dump by Canadian Government engineers revealed that 125,000 tons of tailings, averaging 2.96 pct corundum, was available for retreat-ment. Ore-dressing tests on representative samples of the deposit were conducted by the writer in the laboratories of the Industrial Minerals Section of the Department of Mines and Resources at Ottawa; and gravity concentration on tables was indicated as the most suitable method of treatment. Decision to proceed with the project was deferred until May 9, construction was begun on May 18, and tune-up operation of the plant begun on Sept. IS, 1944. Corundum—Its Properties and Uses Corundum is an oxide of aluminum having the formula Al2O3. Its outstanding characteristic is its great hardness; 9 in the Mohs scale. In this respect it is second only to the diamond. It usually occurs in barrel-shaped crystals in nepheline syenites and other feldspathic rocks deficient in silica. It has a specific gravity of 3.95 to 4.1 and is insoluble and infusible. In color it ranges from white, through red and green, to black. Ruby and sapphire are gem varieties of corundum. Corundum is supplied to industry as closely graded grain.= The coarser roducts (10 to 24-mesh) are used largely for snagging wheels in the steel-castings industry, while the finer grades (from 70-mesh down to flours) find a wide application in the polishing of lenses and for other uses in the optical trade. All sizes of corundum grain are in close competition with synthetic abrasives such as carborundum and alundum. In some fields of application the artificial product is superior to the natural grain but not in' all. The shape of the particle and its behavior under conditions of actual use determine its sphere of employment. The United States is the largest 'Onsumer of corundum, annual consumption in peacetime approaching 3000 tons; during the war this figure was roughly doubled. During the years 1902 to 1913, the bulk

Jan 1, 1948

By R. W. Olson, A. L. Benham

Viscous fingering was studied as it occurred in an open Hele-Shaw model (1 ft x 4 ft x 1/16 in.); it was also studied in the same model packed with 80-mesh glass beads during miscible displacements under unfavorable viscosity ratio conditions. It was determined that the lengths of 20 elements of the front were distributed normally around the average position of the combined elements under all conditions. Represented by the normal distribution, the length of the viscous fingers grew linearly with the distance traveled from the point of finger formation, increased with displacement velocity, and increased with increasing mobility ratio. Results obtained during the first few inches of displacement were of little or no use in predicting finger growth and/or finger length throughout the 4-ft model since the point of finger initiation cannot be predicted and would often occur several inches from the point of injection with either positive or apparent negative coordinates. The fingering occurring during a miscible slug displacement was much greater than would be predicted based upon the actual mobility ratios between in-place fluid and slug and between slug and following fluid, using the results described above for miscible displacement in the absence of a slug. Many of the experiments in the packed model showed that the rate of growth of the viscous fingers was diminishing toward the end of the displacement in the 4-ft long model, indicating that microscopic mixing, such as diffusion or dispersion, was decreasing the viscous fingering effect. INTRODUCTION Viscous fingering is a manifestation of a finger-shaped interface between displaced and displacing fluids occurring during typical miscible displacement projects for oil recovery. Its cause may be traced to the instability of a viscous fluid being displaced by a more mobile fluid. Viscous fingering takes on important significance in the miscible slug process 1.2 where it may be a dominant factor in determining minimum slug size. Experimental1-3 and theoretical4-7 studies of viscous fingering have been made by other investi- gators. However, an exhaustive study of the variables affecting viscous fingering had not been made. The present study was undertaken in an effort to determine the effects of some of the more obvious variables—such as mobility ratio, displacement velocity, distance displaced, and packing—upon viscous finger length and growth in a small laboratory model. It does not necessarily follow that conclusions reached by studying the results of this model study may be applied to the field. Future studies would have to evaluate the effect of model size on extension of these results. EQUIPMENT AND EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES A flow diagram for the equipment used in this study is shown in Fig. 1. Basically, it consisted of (1) a constant-rate pump for the injection of displacing fluid into (2) a model made up of two flat transparent plates spaced a small distance apart and (3) provisions for the production of fluid into a calibrated graduate. The displacing fluid contained a dye which allowed visual observation of finger spacing and length. The pump performed at rates from 2.5 cc/hr to 480 cc/hr, while pumping a light mineral oil into a bladder in a closed glass container holding the displacing fluid. The model was made up of two plates of 1-in. Plexiglass with dimensions 1-ft wide by 4-ft long. These were spaced 1/16 in. apart so that the internal model dimensions were 1-ft wide x 4-ft long x 1/16

By William Hall

THE product obtained by roasting stibnite is likely to contain some unoxidized antimony trisulphide and a mixture of antimony trioxide and antimony tetroxide. It was desired to determine, as accurately as possible, the condition of the antimony as well as the total quantity present. Attempts were made to separate the trisulphide and the two oxides by methods based upon their varying solubilities in different solvents, but no satisfactory results were obtained in this way. It was found, however, that by determining the total antimony content, the antimony present as trioxide, and the antimony present as trisulphide, a good idea of the chemical composition of the roasted product could be obtained. The total antimony was determined by dissolving the sample in concentrated hydrochloric acid, reducing the antimony entirely to the trivalent condition by means of hydriodic acid and eventually titrating the antimony back to the pentavalent condition by means of iodine in the presence of sodium bicarbonate.' The details of the procedure are as follows: Weigh out 0.25 gram of the roasted product into a trapped flask (Fig. 1), add 4 grams of powdered tartaric acid, 2 grams of potassium iodide and 40 c.c. of concentrated hydrochloric acid. Boil the solution gently for 5 min. and then cool to room temperature by shaking the flask while holding it under running water. Then, very carefully discharge the iodine color by the cautious addition of 0.05-normal sodium thiosulphate solution, adding a little starch toward the last. Nearly neutralize the acid with ammonia solution, but leave the solution distinctly acid. Pour the slightly acid solution into 200 c.c. of water con-

Jan 1, 1916

By W. T. Turrall, D. Porter

The paper describes a machine developed for the purpose of concentrating clear optical grade fluorspar crystal from a feed material containing less than 1 pct impurities. The principle of concentration is based on the fact that in a liquid having an index of refraction equal to that of fluorite (n — 1.434) clear crystals are invisible, whereas crystals containing occluded impurities absorb a part of the light. As the crystals pass through a light beam, undesired crystals give themselves away by creating a shadow on a photoelectric receiver. .The shadow is converted by the photoelectric cell into an electric pulse. An electronic circuit amplifies this pulse and commands the operation of a mechanical concentrator. Hp HE crystal laboratory, Dept. of Physics, Massa--*- chusetts lnstitute of Technology, was confronted with the problem of obtaining a supply of optical grade calcium fluoride (CaF,) for use in growing synthetic CaF, crystals. A search of the known fluorspar deposits did not indicate that any quantity of optical spar could be obtained. Even the best material had to be sorted by hand to remove impurities. The process for growing CaF, crystals developed by Professor D. C. Stockbarger of the Dept. of Physics, M.I.T., necessitates very pure feed materials. Exclusion of impurities is required, even in amounts detectable only spectrographically. The impurities occurred as minute inclusions of SiO,, BaSO,, CaCO,, FeS2, water or air. Crystals up to 4 in. in diam and weighing several pounds are made by the Harshaw Chemical Co. in Cleveland. Since the time required to grow a 4-in. crystal is about one week, and since the cost of manufacture is high, removal of impurities by any concentration method appeared practical. The mineral engineering section of the Dept. of Metallurgy undertook to investigate the possibility of concentrating clear optical fluorspar, —4 mesh + 10 mesh, from a feed containing over 99 pct CaF,. Various innovations of the known methods of concentration were considered, but in each case the minute amount of impurities associated with the crystal produced such extremely small differences

Jan 1, 1953

By W. T. Turrall, D. Porter

The paper describes a machine developed for the purpose of concentrating clear optical grade fluorspar crystal from a feed material containing less than 1 pct impurities. The principle of concentration is based on the fact that in a liquid having an index of refraction equal to that of fluorite (n — 1.434) clear crystals are invisible, whereas crystals containing occluded impurities absorb a part of the light. As the crystals pass through a light beam, undesired crystals give themselves away by creating a shadow on a photoelectric receiver. .The shadow is converted by the photoelectric cell into an electric pulse. An electronic circuit amplifies this pulse and commands the operation of a mechanical concentrator. Hp HE crystal laboratory, Dept. of Physics, Massa--*- chusetts lnstitute of Technology, was confronted with the problem of obtaining a supply of optical grade calcium fluoride (CaF,) for use in growing synthetic CaF, crystals. A search of the known fluorspar deposits did not indicate that any quantity of optical spar could be obtained. Even the best material had to be sorted by hand to remove impurities. The process for growing CaF, crystals developed by Professor D. C. Stockbarger of the Dept. of Physics, M.I.T., necessitates very pure feed materials. Exclusion of impurities is required, even in amounts detectable only spectrographically. The impurities occurred as minute inclusions of SiO,, BaSO,, CaCO,, FeS2, water or air. Crystals up to 4 in. in diam and weighing several pounds are made by the Harshaw Chemical Co. in Cleveland. Since the time required to grow a 4-in. crystal is about one week, and since the cost of manufacture is high, removal of impurities by any concentration method appeared practical. The mineral engineering section of the Dept. of Metallurgy undertook to investigate the possibility of concentrating clear optical fluorspar, —4 mesh + 10 mesh, from a feed containing over 99 pct CaF,. Various innovations of the known methods of concentration were considered, but in each case the minute amount of impurities associated with the crystal produced such extremely small differences

Jan 1, 1953

By AIME AIME

THE joint symposium on gases in metals on Tuesday: Feb. 16, between the Iron and Steel and the Institute of Metals divisions opened the technical sessions for both of these bodies. After a few words of introduction by P. D. Merica, R. S. Dean presented a paper by V. H: Gottshalk and himself on the solubility of gases in metals.

Jan 1, 1932

By Webster Hodge

MALL generators and motors are required to Soperate, in some critical applications, at temperatures where cold-worked silver-bearing copper re-crystallizes. Copper containing up to 30 oz Ag per ton has been used for many years to build the highest grades of commutators and slip rings. With failure of commutators impending because silver-bearing copper cannot withstand the stresses imposed at these higher temperatures, Cr-Cu was tried as a substitute with varying degrees of success. Cr-Cu proved difficult to fabricate because a critical heat treatment was necessary to obtain sufficient ductility. Besides, its rupture strength was shown to be low at operating temperatures, its electrical conductivity lower than desired, and its cost high. Furthermore, it often contained hidden flaws. The Nippert Electric Products Co. set out to find a better material by undertaking a research project with the stated objective of providing a material suitable for commutators that would have 1) a softening temperature above 750°F (400°C), 2) a minimum electrical conductivity of 90 pct of that of pure copper, 3) a strength not less that that of cold-worked silver-bearing copper, and 4) a materials cost of not over 1.5 times the cost of copper containing 25 to 30 oz Ag per ton. No commercial alloy met these specifications. However, it was found that copper containing from 0.18 to 0.35 pct Zr could be produced quite easily in the laboratory, and promised to fulfill the major requirements noted above. Interest naturally centered in the lower part of this composition range, since such alloys gave somewhat better electrical conductivities, and were lower in

Jan 1, 1958

LIEUTENANT MARTIN F. BOWLES Martin F. Bowles, born Apr. 25, 1893, at Bonne Terre, Mo., and graduated from the Neodesha, Kans., High School, had finished all but one month of a four-year course in metallurgical engineering at the Missouri School of Mines, Rolla, Mo., when on May 12, 1917, he entered LIEUTENANT MARTIN F. BOWLES. the first Officers' Training Camp at Fort Riley, Kans. At the close of the training period, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and as¬signed to Co. B, 355th Infantry, 89th Division, and stationed at Camp Funston. He left this camp with his company on May 21, 1918, and sailed from an eastern port on June 4, arriving in England on June 15, 1918. After a short stay at a rest camp there, he proceeded to France. On August 14, he wrote that he was with Battalion Headquarters as Scout Officer, 1st Battalion, 355th Infantry, 89th Division. The last letter received from him, dated September 2, was written in his dugout and contained the following: "Here it is 2.45A. M. Sitting in a dugout

Jan 1, 1919

By A. T. Corey, C. H. Rathjens

INTRODUCTION Although the oil industry has been aware of the directional variability of permeability in porous rock, the directional variability of relative permeability has been largely ignored. Yet it is apparent that such an effect must be present in a system in which the distribution of oil and gas within the porous matrix is controlled by capillary forces. It is easy to visualize a rock composed of layers of fine and coarse material such that gas flow across the bedding planes would take place only after the average oil saturation had been reduced to a very low value. The fine layers, because of their greater capillarity, would remain saturated and act as barriers to the flow of gas after the coarse layers had been desaturated. Flow of gas parallel to the bedding planes would obviously take place at a much greater liquid saturation. Without more complete information concerning the geology of a reservoir than is generally available, it is not possible to predict exactly how such phenomena would affect the over-all performance of an oil field. It is possible, however, to predict qualitatively the effect of stratification on relative permeability measurements made on laboratory cores. In this investigation the effect of stratification was studied analytically by assuming that two porous materials with different capillary pressure-desaturation curves (but identical relative permeability curves) were in contact and in capillary equilibrium. As a qualitative check on the analytical results, cores having various degrees of visible stratification were used for relative permeability measurements made with fluids flowing both parallel and perpendicular to the bedding planes. A quantitative check was considered impractical because of the difficulty of devising models in which two materials of predetermined properties could be joined without the plane of contact becoming a discontinuity. THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS The assumption of capillary equilibrium in an oil-gas system implies that the difference in pressure between oil and gas is everywhere the same. This means that the curvature of the interfaces must be everywhere the same in order to satisfy the equation where PC is the pressure difference between phases, y the interfacial tension and r, and r2 are the major and minor radii of curvature. Depending on the pore size distribution of coarse and fine layers, the volumetric percentages of oil and gas in these layers will differ when equilibrium exists. The exact relationship can only be determined by obtaining the complete capillary pressure-desaturation curves for each of the porous materials in contact. It has been pointed out elsewhere' that the capillary pressure-desaturation curves of sedimentary porous materials can often be approximated by the relation where C is a constant and Soe is the effective saturation to oil based on a percentage of the pore volume effective to flow. In the same paper it was indicated that, as a first approximation, the values of oil relative permeability are given by and the values of gas relative permeability by For this analysis Eqs. 2, 3, and 4 were assumed to apply to each of two components of a hypothetical porous rock in capillary equilibrium. It was also assumed that each of the components had a residual wetting phase saturation of 20 per cent so that 80 per cent of the total pore volume was effective to flow. The permeability of the coarse stratum was taken as 100, and its displacement pressure was such that C in Eq. 2 had the numerical value of 1. The corresponding values for the fine stratum were 10 for the permeability and 10 for C. Units are not specified because they do not enter into the final results. The choice of the permeabilities and displacement pressure ratios was made to expedite the calculations. Any reasonable rock properties could have been chosen without changing the results qualitatively. Several arrangements of the two components were studied. Table 1 summarizes the resultant permeabilities obtained for four types of arrangement. RELATIVE PERMEABILITY CALCULATIONS The first step in the computation of relative permeability for the composite cores was the plotting of the capillary pressure-desaturation curves and the relative permeability curves for the individual components according to Eqs. 2, 3, and 4. At arbitrary

Jan 1, 1957

By V. R. Garfias

Principal events in petroleum operations of Mexico during 1934 have been the completion of three producing wells in the Poza Rica area and the plans for the expansion of operations of the Cia. de Petroleos de Mexico, S.A. (Petromex). Production for 1934 is estimated at close to 38,000,000 bbl., an increase of 4,000,000 bbl. over the previous year; an increase due in large part to the successful development in Poza Rica. The output of the South fields (Golden Lane) and Tehuantepec fields also increased somewhat during the year. Production of natural gasoline increased from 382,000 to 431,000 bbl. in 1934. Crude run in local refineries is estimated at 26,000,000bbl., some4,000,000bbl. more than the previous year. Exclusive of bunker fuel exports totaled 24,000,000 bbl., or 3,000,000 more than in 1933. Domestic consumption increased approximately 500,000,bbl. during the year, reaching a total of close to 13,600,000 bbl., exclusive of ships' bunkers. A total of 148 wells were completed as compared to 91 in 1933 and 40 in 1932. In proven areas, 133 completions resulted in 54 producers and 79 failures. The 15 wildcats drilled during 1934 gave no encouraging results. Seven of these were located in the border zone of northeastern Mexico; three tested possible northeast extensions of the Northern fields; two were drilled for possible extensions of the "Golden Lane" and three were completed in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Fields Northern Fields (Heavy Oil District).—There were 34 producing wells and 71 failures completed in the Northern fields, as compared to 20 producers and 20 failures in 1933. Practically all new producers were drilled to the shallower San Felipe formation, while wells drilled to the deeper Tamasopo limestone encountered salt water. Production of the field totaled 11,890,000 bbl., a decrease of 7.5 per cent from the previous year. Acid treatment was attempted during the year in seven wells

Jan 1, 1935

By B. E. Thompson, H. B. Fuqua

For a very brief description of the North Texas area, and the general geological features with which it is associated, the reader is referred to the opening paragraph of last year's summary1. A more complete discussion of the structure of the area, together with other interesting data concerning it, has been published recently by the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas2. It has been impossible for the authors to isolate the statistics for production for each of the many small pools of this district, as such statistics are not kept by operators except by counties or arbitrary divisions of counties. The total number of wells drilled in Archer, Wichita and Clay counties also has been subject to some estimate, as many of the shallower holes are not reported. While both routine development in proven or semiproven areas and exploratory drilling during 1935 showed an increase over the year 1934, the discovery of new producing areas of importance did not show improvement over that period. Several extremely local productive spots within semiproven areas were found in Archer, Cooke and Wilbarger counties; and extensions to older producing areas were developed in Archer, Baylor, Cooke, Montague, Wichita and Wilbarger counties. In Archer County, the Grace and Woods No. 1 Archer County (Fee), 4 miles northwest of Archer City, in the Thomas Glass survey, encountered a sand from 2836 to 2845 ft. of Pennsylvanian (lower Canyon) age, which showed an initial yield of 75 bbl. daily. While its production is of negligible importance, it is given special mention in this review because of the fact that it is producing from a new and deeper horizon than has been previously exploited in the county. Little deep development occurred in the district during the year. The Walter Gant No. 2 C. M. Worsham in J. M. Swisher survey, about 14 miles east of Henrietta, in Clay County, was abandoned at 5127 ft. in

Jan 1, 1936

By H. B. Fuqua, B. E. Thompson

For a very brief description of the North Texas area, and the general geological features with which it is associated, the reader is referred to the opening paragraph of last year's summary1. A more complete discussion of the structure of the area, together with other interesting data concerning it, has been published recently by the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas2. It has been impossible for the authors to isolate the statistics for production for each of the many small pools of this district, as such statistics are not kept by operators except by counties or arbitrary divisions of counties. The total number of wells drilled in Archer, Wichita and Clay counties also has been subject to some estimate, as many of the shallower holes are not reported. While both routine development in proven or semiproven areas and exploratory drilling during 1935 showed an increase over the year 1934, the discovery of new producing areas of importance did not show improvement over that period. Several extremely local productive spots within semiproven areas were found in Archer, Cooke and Wilbarger counties; and extensions to older producing areas were developed in Archer, Baylor, Cooke, Montague, Wichita and Wilbarger counties. In Archer County, the Grace and Woods No. 1 Archer County (Fee), 4 miles northwest of Archer City, in the Thomas Glass survey, encountered a sand from 2836 to 2845 ft. of Pennsylvanian (lower Canyon) age, which showed an initial yield of 75 bbl. daily. While its production is of negligible importance, it is given special mention in this review because of the fact that it is producing from a new and deeper horizon than has been previously exploited in the county. Little deep development occurred in the district during the year. The Walter Gant No. 2 C. M. Worsham in J. M. Swisher survey, about 14 miles east of Henrietta, in Clay County, was abandoned at 5127 ft. in

Jan 1, 1936

By C. D Looker

Common salt is mentioned in the most ancient writings as an important article of diet. It is fairly certain that it was used by men and animals long before the dawn of civilization. Its presence in natural springs has often been the determining factor in colonization; wars have been fought for possession of salt deposits; trade routes have been established expressly for the purpose of traffic in salt. Naturally this led men into adventures and discoveries that altered history and advanced civilization. In the early days the uses for salt were few and the methods of manufacture were crude and the purity low when compared to salt of the present day. Then the salt came largely from springs, shallow wells or the ocean, while today deep wells must be drilled to the natural brines or beds of rock salt and spacious shafts sunk so that the ancient deposits may be made to yield their supply of stored mineral. Mining and Purification The quantity of available salt seems inexhaustible. It occurs in practically every country of the globe. About 20 million tons is produced and consumed annually in the world. Of this amount about 7 million tons is produced in the United States; 13/4 million tons of rock salt, 2 1/4 million tons as evaporated salt and 31/2 million tons in brine used in the chemical industry. Mined rock salt is used in its natural state without purification. It is classified for the trade by crushing and screening. The average purity of rock salt mined in the United States is about 98.3 per cent pure sodium chloride1. The usual impurities are gypsiferous shale, anhydrite and silica, with traces of potassium, magnesium and calcium compounds. Refined or evaporated salt is made by crystallizing the salt from brine in open pans or vacuum pans. A comparatively small amount of salt is made from ocean water or the brines of inland lakes or seas, sometimes by solar evaporation. By far the larger amount of brine is obtained by drill-

Jan 1, 1938

By C. D. Looker

Common salt is mentioned in the most ancient writings as an important article of diet. It is fairly certain that it was used by men and animals long before the dawn of civilization. Its presence in natural springs has often been the determining factor in colonization; wars have been fought for possession of salt deposits; trade routes have been established expressly for the purpose of traffic in salt. Naturally this led men into adventures and discoveries that altered history and advanced civilization. In the early days the uses for salt were few and the methods of manufacture were crude and the purity low when compared to salt of the present day. Then the salt came largely from springs, shallow wells or the ocean, while today deep wells must be drilled to the natural brines or beds of rock salt and spacious shafts sunk so that the ancient deposits may be made to yield their supply of stored mineral. Mining and Purification The quantity of available salt seems inexhaustible. It occurs in practically every country of the globe. About 20 million tons is produced and consumed annually in the world. Of this amount about 7 million tons is produced in the United States; 13/4 million tons of rock salt, 2 1/4 million tons as evaporated salt and 31/2 million tons in brine used in the chemical industry. Mined rock salt is used in its natural state without purification. It is classified for the trade by crushing and screening. The average purity of rock salt mined in the United States is about 98.3 per cent pure sodium chloride1. The usual impurities are gypsiferous shale, anhydrite and silica, with traces of potassium, magnesium and calcium compounds. Refined or evaporated salt is made by crystallizing the salt from brine in open pans or vacuum pans. A comparatively small amount of salt is made from ocean water or the brines of inland lakes or seas, sometimes by solar evaporation. By far the larger amount of brine is obtained by drill-

Jan 1, 1938

By Harry M. Callaway

IN times of a falling metal market the mine operator attempts to remain in competition by lowering his overall cost and raising the grade of ore he processes. But these adjustments can be made only within narrow limits imposed by inherent characteristics of the operation. Is there some additional method whereby the break-even point can be lowered? One approach, perhaps the only one, to lower a break-even point is careful cost analysis considering both fixed and variable costs in relation to mining rate. The following is an analysis of cost distribution and its significance in determining the most economic combination of the factors of ore grade and tonnage output applicable to a given mining operation.

Jan 4, 1958