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By L. C. Graton

Introduction The Porcupine district of northern Ontario has yielded over $300,000,000 in gold during its twenty-three years of mining operations. It thus ranks among the foremost gold producing areas of the world. Of this $300,000,000 already produced from the District, the Hollinger mine has furnished over 60 per cent and stands as one of the greatest gold mines of all time. In 1929, the Hollinger Directors decided to supplement the current geological and development work by an intensive investigation of the geology of the mine. This special study, begun in June of that year, was completed in October, 1932. An account of the geology of the mine in a degree of detail commensurate with the intensity of the study is in course of preparation. But the widespread interest manifested at the present day in gold occurrence generally, in Canadian gold deposits, and in the specific results of the investigation at Hollinger, appears to justify the immediate presentation of a highly abridged summary of our principal findings, insofar as they relate to the more general and scientific phases of the geological situation. Those conclusions having direct bearing on operating and exploratory policy are not dealt with here. The present preliminary paper, therefore, records chiefly the conclusions reached, with little incorporation of supporting argument or evidence. While intended to give a reasonably balanced perspective of Hollinger geology, the condensed presentation naturally emphasizes those views which are not in complete accord with accounts hitherto published regarding this district.

Jan 1, 1933

By AIME AIME

PETROLEUM technology was the sole subject of discussion at the meeting of the Petroleum Division at the Baker Hotel, Dallas, Texas, Oct. 6-7, except for the brief talks by President Becket and Secretary Parsons at the dinner on Friday evening. Even on this occasion, following the scheduled official features, it was in order to talk "shop." W. E. Wrather and E. A. Stephenson, respectively Chairman and Secretary of the Division, had planned for a meeting of this nature and by preference, apparently, the 122 who registered fell in with the scheme wholeheartedly. Not because the competent local committee had not provided for it, but by choice, the members just did not sign up for entertainment or field trips, but did attend largely the three technical sessions and engage in earnest discussion of the approximately dozen excellent papers. In this connection, and without question, the high lights of the meeting were the papers by Morris Muskat and R. D. Wyckoff, and Prof. W. K. Lewis. The former, entitled, "A Theoretical Analysis of Waterflooding Networks," had been entirely demathematized by the authors for presentation at this and the Los Angeles meetings; the author of the latter, which was on the "Physical-chemical Relationships of Hydrocarbon Gas-liquid Mixtures at High Pres¬sures," had airplaned to Dallas in the company of Dr. H. D. Wilde from Chicago in order to present his paper at the final session on Saturday morning.

Jan 1, 1933

By AIME AIME

AN enthusiastic crowd, cheerfully confident that the upturn in the oil industry has arrived, gathered in Los Angeles on Sept. 29 for a Petroleum Division meeting arranged by the Southern California Section. The assembly room of the California Oil and Gas Association was the place of meeting. H. Norton Johnson was in the chair for the morning session, with about eighty members and guests present. Four papers were presented before lunch and a fifth, on electrical coring, was withdrawn as the work on which it was based is still confidential. Joseph Jensen read his contribution on the "Kettleman Hills Middle Dome Unit Plan" and, as he had an active part in framing the plan, his outline and discussion of it was authoritative and informing. J. H. Woods asked concerning the operation of the casing-head gasolene plant under the plan and was informed that one company would operate the plant and royalties would be paid participating companies

Jan 1, 1933

By C. R. Kuzell

IN COMPARISON with recent years 1932 has yielded much less tangible evidence of progress in copper reduction and refining. The industry has been extremely quiet, especially in the United States. Design and construction has been throttled by lack of new capital expenditures. The excess producing capacity of the whole industry and the extremely gloomy outlook for the future have made it unwise to tie up more capital except under special conditions. The plants built during the previous year have, however, been placed in operation. Older plants have been abandoned, temporarily shut down, placed on part time operating basis, or continue to operate at a low percentage of normal capacity. In the United States the Phelps Dodge Corporation at Douglas, Ariz., has completed the remodeling of the former Calumet & Arizona smelter. A new roaster and Cottrell plant chimney was completed this year. Though operations have been limited the new equipment has been found to justify all expectations. The reverberatory plant addition consists of two furnaces 26 by 107 ft. inside dimensions, with a high arch, and modern steel binding of excellent design. Natural gas fuel gives good results. One of these furnaces will treat 1000 tons of solid charge per day with a fuel consumption of approximately 3,000,000 B.t.u. per ton. The larger converters have not only yielded the expected lower costs, but have simplified operations in the converter department. One of the noticeable results is the greater cleanliness in the environment and the absence

Jan 1, 1933

By H. W. Gillett

MAINTENANCE of membership by the technical so¬cieties and the activity of these societies in spite of the adverse business situation have been noteworthy. This forcibly brings home the fact that industry recognizes that sound technical guidance is well worth its cost. The numerous difficulties and losses due to defects of various kinds arising from gas-metal reactions are now generally recognized and interest in these problems is widespread. The forthcoming A. I. M. E. round-table discussion of gas-metal problems will do much to clarify the situation and will permit us to assay our present knowledge and to suggest the proper direction for profitable future research. "The Age Hardening of Metal" was the title of the annual I. M. D. lecture delivered by Dr. Paul D. Merica. A critical review of the known facts relating to age-hardening phenomena was first given, followed by the presentation of a theory correlating the detailed observations which have been made regarding the mechanism of the hardening.

Jan 1, 1933

By A. B. Parsons

LECTURE, it appears, is a discourse that is supposed to be instructive. I am quite sure that you will derive no instruction from what I have to say. I will be satisfied if my remarks provoke thought along one or two mental paths that have not been traveled so fre¬quently as to be devoid of interest. I have no particular message apropos of professional engineers or professional engineering, and any conclusions that I may seem to reach will be purely tentative and incidental. Probably at times you have wondered, in a casual way at least, why so many people who are not, never have been, and never will be engineers, want to use the title. For example, I recently received a communication from a life insurance broker or salesman, whose chaste letterhead bore the legend "Estate Engineer." He was perfectly serious about it, as is also the expert accountant who assumes the imposing name of cost-analysis engineer. Dozens of equally amazing titles might be cited. Then there is that class of individuals who have been engineers, in the true sense of the word; who have gone into some other kind of occupation; but who cling tenaciously to the name engineer, usually prefixing some word or other which at once gives them away by telling what their work really is. For example, we have such pseudomorphs as the management engineer, and the sales engineer. It is quite evident that engineer is a word to conjure with. Evidently both the man who appro¬priates the designation without any justification and the ex-engineer who persists in calling himself an engineer even after he has abandoned engineer-

Jan 1, 1933

By J. A. HUFF, V. V. BAKER

This circular is intended to present in brief form the statutory provisions of Pennsylvania regarding mining operations, in force at the end of the 1931 session of the legislature. lo reference is made to general laws which affect mining only incidentally in common with other subjects, such as the workmens compensation law. The statements have been condensed as far as practicable, and provisions not deemed of general interest, such as matters dealing only with administrative details, have been omitted. This circular obviously is not written with such particularity as to be of great value to the legal profession, but it is hoped that it will be beneficial to the mining industry in giving this information in a relatively compact form. At the end of each paragraph the statute from which it is derived is cited to facilitate reference to the text of the law. It is planned to publish additional circulars from time to time dealing with the mining laws of other States. Any criticisms of the form of publica- tion followed herein, or suggestions aimed at the improvement of future circulars, will be welcomed.

Nov 1, 1932

By G. W. Jones

"INTRODUCTION In a previous reports results were given of a manhole investigation carried out over a period from June,- 1929, to July, 1930, in cooperation with the Edison Electric Illuminating Co. of Boston, Mass., to determine the general hazards of combustible gases and vapors in manholes and other underground openings owned by this company. Considerable time was spent in this initial investigation in developing a suitable detector for determining the range of explosibility of the gases found in manholes. About 17,000 tests have been made with the detector since the investigation was started and its utility has been verified and its accuracy checked, by having complete analyses made of such samples that showed combustibles present equal to or above 25 per cent of the lower explosive limit, and those found deficient in oxygen.The initial investigation made in 1929 and 1930 demonstrated that the detection, control, and elimination of combustible hazards in manholes can best be obtained by a close cooperation of the interested parties through a systematic and continuous inspection of manholes, under proper supervision.COOPERATIVE INVESTIGATI0N DURING 1931The investigation carried out during the year 1931 has been along lines similar to that conducted during 1929 and 1930. In the present investigation the Edison Electric Illuminating Cc. of Boston and the Boston Consolidated Gas Co., have cooperated with the Bureau of lanes. The Boston Consolidated Gas Co. serves a major part of the territory under discussion with gas, but the tests covered the Edison territory irrespective of the gam company furnishing manufactured gas. A test crew consisting of two men, one an employee of the Consolidated Gas Co. and one an employee of the Edison Electric Illuminating Co., has been continuously employed during the year in the testing of games in manholes served by the Edison system. The test crew was under the direct supervision of John Campbell, superintendent of the special service department of the Edison Electric Illuminating Co., and F. M. Goodwin vice president of the Consolidated Gas Co.As in the previous investigation, all manhole tests were given test numbers. The test data sheets on which the information regarding the tests were recorded were prepared in triplicate, one copy going to the Edison Company, one going to the Gas company, and the third to the Bureau of Mines at Pittsburgh. These test data sheets were then filed (1) according to the town, (2) the street location, and (3) the manhole number; in this way a complete record pf each manhole tested was immediately available. A specimen test sheet is given below."

Sep 1, 1932

By BUREAU OF MINES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Sep 1, 1932

By R. R. Sayers

The hazards connected with work under abnormal air conditions are becoming of increasing importance from a financial as well as a physiological stand- point, due to the extension of compensation laws to include diseases caused by dusts, toxic gases, and abnormal temperatures and humidities. The United States, with the excention of California, North Dakota, Wiscon- sin, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, is the only English-speaking country to-day where silicosis is not compensated.3 Cases of permenent total disability or death due to silicosis mar aprear in common-law courts, particularly in the States that have not recognized silicosis as an occupational disease for which compensation should be provided. Such cases have recently been tried in one State, according to a magazine editorial, not providing scheduled commensation for employees affected by silicosis, with results favorable to the claimant. Clearly established cases definitely linked with occupation as the cause may be expected to be recognized as deserving by juries and courts, and awards will be made. In one Atlantic Coast State, according to this editorial, 108 claims for silicosis, including 21 deaths therefrom, are said to have been filed against two small plants engaged in finely pulverizing quartz sand.

Sep 1, 1932

By G. R. Hopkins, E. M. SEELEY

The number of natural-gasoline plants has shown a consistent decline in recent years, but the total capacity has increased steadily. The number of completed plants, as determined by a survey as of January 1, 1932, amounted to 959. Previous surveys of January 1, 1928 and 1930 showed 1,155 and 1,035 plants, respectively. Of the total plants on January 1, 1932, 859 were operating and 100 were shut down, compared with 999 operating and 36 shut down on January 1, 1930. The material gain in the number of inoperative plants in the last two years was probably due to the severe decline in prices of 1931. The low prices of 1931, which were approximately 40 per cent below 1930, made it virtually impossible for the majority of the independent plants, or plants not owned by a large integrated company, to operate at a profit. Accordingly, the majority of the plants removed from the list in 1930 and 1931 were owned by companies which were engaged solely in the manufacture of natural gasoline. The total daily capacity of the plants on January 1, 1932, amounted to 11,387,000 gallons, an increase of 871,000 gallons, or 8 per cent, in the two years 1930 and 1931. That the total capacity of the plants has increased while the number of plants has declined is due to the fact that nearly all the plants constructed in the last five years have been large plants. During 1931 the average total daily capacity of the operating plants was approximately 10,600,000 gallons, while the average daily production amounted to 4,944,000 gallons. This indicates that the plants operated during 1931 at 47 per cent of their capacity, compared with 58 per cent in 1930 and 61 per cent in 1929. Although more plants have been dismantled in Oklahoma in recent years than in any other State, it continues to rank first in number of plants. On January 1, 1932, there were 238 plants in Oklahoma, compared with 145 plants

Jun 1, 1932

By L. V. Clark, Arthur La Motte

"INTRODUCTION The U. S. Bureau of Mines in 1930 and 1931 made a study of the properties and characteristics of liquid-oxygen explosives (L.O.X.) at the request of one of the largest users, in order to determine and eliminate the hazards attending its use.This report deals with the examination of absorbents for L.O.X. to (1) determine their most desirable and most undesirable characteristics, (2) to find ways and means of desensitizing absorbents to mechanical shock, and (3) to determine the effect that such desensitization of absorbents has on the explosive Characteristics of L.O.X.ABSORBENT MATERIALS The absorbent used in driving the Simplon Tunnel, the earliest project in which L.O.X. was used, was composed of crude petroleum, soot, and kieselguhr. During the World War, powdered cork, soot, sawdust, powdered straw, or other similar powdered materials were mentioned in the German military instructions for use of ""liquid air"" explosives. At that time the common types of absorbent, materials were compounded ones containing the above ingredients as well as kieselguhr, paraffin, gas oils, charcoal, bituminous coal, etc.Kuryla and Clevenger4 investigated absorbents of the above type and made the following statement concerning them:"

Apr 1, 1932

By Lewis A. Smith

This circular presents a summary of the domestic chromium industry, and discusses the salient features of the world situation , reflecting the literature of the subject . The United States Bureau of Mines has in its files additional detailed information on many subjects briefly discussed in this paper and desires to assist the industries and the public by giving further data in response to individual inquiries . It will welcome comment and criticism and any contributions that would assist in making future editions of this circular more accurate . Unlike most common metals , chromium is rarely marketed as a pure metal . The chromium industry deals mainly with chromite , the principal ore of chromium , and with ferrochromium , the basic alloy in which chromium enters the metallurgical industry.

Apr 1, 1932

By Frank L. Hess

Vanadium, although widely spread in minute quantities through the crust of the earth, is found in few places sufficiently concentrated to be economically mined and prepared for use. Most rocks carry from a trace to a few hundredths of a per cent of vanadium oxide, and coal ash may carry about as much as the rocks, Much of the "coal" quoted in the literature as carrying vanadium has been asphaltite, and in other ccal the vanadium is of late introduction. The ash of the petroleums, though usually present in very small quantity, may carry a large percentage of vanadiun, so that production of vanadium from it has been seriously considered. Naturally the ashes of soze asphaltites similarly carry vanadium.' The great deposit at Minasragra, Peru, to which further reference will be made, is probably an altered asphaltite. Ilmenite and cther iron minerals usually carry vanadium 10 and some has been saved from the minette ores of France. 11 Many veins that carry lead copper and zinc minerals also carry a little vanadium, which, especially if the veins are in a comparatively dry region, such as the southwestern United States, northern Mexico, Northern Rhodesia, Southwest Africa, or Spain, collects in the oxidized parts of the veins as vanadinite,

Apr 1, 1932

By D. Harrington, M. W. Von Bernewitz

Sections 120 and 121 of Article XI. Fire Control, of a proposed Mine Safety Law in preparation, to be used as desired and when approved by any State, contains these provisions: After the adoption of these regulations, no mine operator shall erect any nonfireproof structure within 50 feet of any mine entrance. or airway. Every operating mine having nonfireproof structures within 50 feet of any mine entrance or airway, except headframes necessary for hoisting, shall have such structures fireproofed or removed and replaced with fireproof structures within six months of the adoption of these regulations. Before reopening, mines idle at the time of the adoption of these regulations shall have all non- fireproof structures fireproofed, removed, or replaced with fire- proof structures as required by the foregoing sentence. Upon receipt of the written statement of a mine operator that the fireproofing of existing structures is impracticable, the chief mining engineer (of the State commission) shall satisfy himself as to the abouracy of the statement. If he concurs that fireproofing is impracticable, and if at the same time he holds the opinion that adequate protection can be provided otherwise by such procedure, he shall have authority to issue a written permit for the substitution of fireproof door at or near portals of mine openings and collars: of shafts. Such doors shall fit as nearly gas-tight as possible. and shall be installed in such a way that the mouths of mine open- ings can be closed readily from outside of structures. The effec- tiveness of such permit may be made contingent upon the operator's continued compliance with any additional precautions which are necessary in the chief mining engineer's opinion to protect the lives of miners.

Mar 1, 1932

By H. Herbert Hughes

Soapstone commonly is associated with talc , and reports on either commodity usually contain a discussion of the other . From a geological or mineralogical standpoint the combination is justifiable , for soapstone essentially is impure talc . Commercially , however , the relation between them is remote . About 95 per cent of all talc sold in the United States is in ground form, whereas practically all soapstone is sold as furnace blocks or as fabricated structural slabs for many and diverse applications .

Feb 1, 1932

By J. E. Hawley

Introduction The Siscoe gold mine is the most easterly producer of gold from deposits lying in the belt of Keewatin and Timiskaniing rocks which extends east from Kirkland Lake, Ontario, and on through the Rouyn copper area. Unlike many of the deposits in this belt, those of Siscoe are contained almost entirely in a stock of much-altered granodiorite which intrudes Keewatin lavas. They are situated on an island of about one square mile in area, lying in lake De Montigny, Dubuisson township, 40 miles south of Amos, on the Transcontinental branch of the Canadian National railways, and 52 miles east, and slightly south, of Noranda. Geographically, the deposits are favour-ably situated with respect to transportation facilities, a through water-route being available from Amos, along the Harricana river and its lake expansions. The deposits consist of auriferous quartz-tourmaline veins of the fissure-filled type and are of particular interest because of their geological structure and genesis. Furthermore, deposits of a similar type occur both in the Keewatin and in granodiorite bodies to the east, in Dubuisson, Bourlamaque, Pascalis, and Louvicourt townships, and it is hoped that the following discussion may be of some aid in the exploration work now being carried on throughout this general area.

Jan 1, 1932

The early history of a country is linked with its topographic features. Mountains are barriers, rivers are avenues, the sea is a highway. The first Europeans to reach the northwestern corner of the American continent, now known as Alaska, came from Asia, for the Pacific Ocean provided an approach by means of the islands that like stepping-stones stretch far westward from the inhospitable shore of the mainland. The Russians crossed Siberia and explored the Arctic coast of Asia. In 1728 a band of Cossacks was driven by a storm eastward from Kamchatka, and landed in Norton Sound.* Others followed them, and settled on the islands and peninsulas of southeastern Alaska. The mountains guarding the coast discouraged any advance into the interior. Another range, the northern extension of the Rocky Mountains, barred the westward progress of the French voyageurs and the English fur-traders of the Hudson's Bay Company. After the Russians had obtained a foothold among the Indians, the viceroys of Mexico sent successive expeditions up the coast, such as that of Pérez in 1774 and of Heceta in 1775. If the English fur-traders had not interfered, the Spanish and Russian spheres of influence would have conflicted, and the contest for control might have ended in establishing a line of demarkation somewhere near the mouth of the Columbia river. The British navigator Captain James Cook landed near Sitka in 1778 while seeking a way by water to Hudson Bay. Fifteen years later his midshipman, George Vancouver, in command of another British expedition, surveyed the coast

Jan 1, 1932

By J. E. Gill

Introduction During the past summer, detailed geological mapping was extended to cover the entire group of 31 claims owned by Waite-Ackerman-Montgomery Mines, Ltd., and considerable new information was revealed by development and exploratory work underground. These new facts provide a more complete view of the lithology and structure of the area than has heretofore been available. They also necessitate revision of certain interpretations presented last year by Peale (l), and have served to straighten out some of the problems suggested by Porritt (2). The purpose of this paper is to outline in a broad way the relations as now understood and to discuss in detail certain points which should be of interest to members of the Institute. Maps and records by the mine staff have been freely used in arriving at the interpretation presented in the following pages. The writers are especially indebted to Mr. R. V. Porritt, the mine manager, with whom many of the problems touched upon were discussed on the ground and whose intimate knowledge of the geology of the underground workings aided greatly in testing various hypotheses. The writers have profited greatly, also, from close association with Dr. W. F. James during the course of the work. Permission to publish the included data has very kindly been given .by the management.

Jan 1, 1932

By Bert Sandell

MUCH has been said and written about the various uses of die-castings, their applications in the various industries and their advantages and disadvantages. Examination of this literature, however, fails to disclose any data concerning the effect of temperature upon any of the physical properties of die-casting alloys. The uses and applications of die castings are so numerous, and of such a varied nature, that far too lengthy a manuscript would be required to list all of them. Brief mention of some specific cases will suffice to illustrate the temperature ranges in which certain die castings function. Automobile hardware, such as hub caps, door handles, radiator caps, etc., can be used as one example. Castings of this type are constantly exposed to varying climatic conditions, temperatures ranging from below zero to upwards of 100° F. Refrigerator parts, such as ice-cube trays, etc., form another example. Approaching the other temperature extreme, we encounter conditions such as are found in kitchens in which oven-heat indicator parts, cooking utensils, waffle grids, etc., embody use of die castings, where temperatures as high as 500° F. are often met with. Because of this variation in service temperatures, it was felt necessary to ascertain the effect of these temperatures upon the physical properties of die-casting alloys. The Charpy impact test was chosen first because of its simplicity, and because of the fact that brittleness is more likely to be objectionable in die castings than hardness or other physical properties.

Jan 1, 1932