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By Fred C. Bond

JUST four years ago, in March, 1930, Gilbert LaBine discovered the rich deposit of pitchblende and silver ore on the east shore of Great Bear Lake, 30 -miles south of the Arctic Circle, which brought a new mining district into being. His original discovery is now the property of Eldorado Gold Mines, Ltd., but other groups have been active. Vigorous prospecting has outlined a mineralized zone that extends at least 100 miles from north to south. In this area silver discoveries have been relatively common; pitchblende, as might be expected, has been harder to find, though a deposit has been located this spring nearly 100 miles south of Eldorado that may be of great importance.

Jan 1, 1934

By W. W. Eckles

This paper is presented as a suniniary report of the use of well gas composition correlations obtained from mass spectrometer recordings as a means of identification and determination of reservoir continuity. Conventional methods for detecting composition differences are en-pensive, elaborate, and difficult to obtain. This excludes the use of extensive composition data for most applications. During recent years the mass spec-trometer has come into general use as an analytical tool in petroleum refineries. The use of mass spectrometer composition patterns ir~ characterizing or "finger-printing" the produced gas from a reservoir, presents a novel method for correlatitlg gas samples from well to well. The mass spectrometer provides a trace similar to an electric log. having peaks which represent the abuntlnnce of certaitz hydrocarbons in the well gas sample. Without going further into the detailed analysis the idea has been advanced that these traces or patterns could be used as a means of identifying a particular natural gas. This theory has proven to be essentially correct. The mass spectrometer pattern method is simple and cheap as COi?7pared to other standard methods. It greatly facilitates the solution of reservoir and geological problems in which correlation of well gas Com-positions is a factor. Specific field applications have been made. This paper concerns the results obtained in 465 individual gas analyses from 35 fields and 77 res- ervoirs. In a number of cases it has been found that such data have been extremely valuable in the determination of reservoir continuity. In at least one case, the method was a valuable contribution in tracing a reservoir from sand to sand in a coinplex fnulted field involving n11rnerous gas reservoirs. Field applications are presented to illustrate the possibilities of the method at the present stage of developnient and to stimulate the ernployrnent of this new approach by geologists and petroleum engineers in the industry. INTRODUCTION Identification of producing horizons and the determination of reservoir continuity are often a problem in those areas where dome structures and highly faulted sands are encountered. To complicate the picture further, there may be numerous sands, one on top of the other which dip and diverge in different directions. Even though it may be possible to develop some solutions to the preceding problems on the basis of the geological and reservoir data on hand. it is readily recognized that substantiating data based on independent methods would he extremely valuable. It has been found through field studies that correiation of well gas composition can be used to advantage in the geological and engineering study of a complex reservoir identification problem. METHOD FOR COMPARISON AND CORRELATION OF WELL GAS SAMPLES Since a large number of well gas samples are required in a gas identification or reservoir con- tinuity problem, it is necessary that a method of analysis be employed which can detect differences in composition readily and inexpensively. Although detection would be possible by means of low temperature fractional distillation (POD) analpsis, the method requires a relatively large sample and is comparatively slow and expensive to run. The mass spectrometer affords an inexpensive and precise analysis of small well gas samples taken at the surface which are about 1/300 as large as a POD sample. These samples can be obtained by regular field personnei and shipped to the spectrometer for analysis. It is, therefore, a practical approach to the problem. A typical record from the mass spectrometer is illustrated in Fig. I. The peaks on the record represent the abundance of ions produced from the different hydrocarbon molecules making up the gas sam-ple. In well gas comparisons only five peaks are employed, since the other peaks are formed from the same gas molecules and furnish no additional information. The five peaks used represent the abundance of methane, propane, ethane, butane and heavier, and oxygen. They are referred to respectively as the 16, 29, 30, 43, and 32 peaks. The oxygen peak is used to correct for air content in

Jan 1, 1958

By AIME AIME

INSTITUTE members attending the Annual Meeting in New York who want to see one of the mining engineers' newest aids, photoelastic stress analysis, are due for an interesting afternoon on Thursday, Feb. 15, when open house: will be held at the Columbia University mining laboratory. Information as to the direction and distribution off stresses in mine structures, which has been developed by Professor Bucky, associate professor at the Columbia School of Mines, and David Sinclair, research assistant, is useful in the design of pillars and in the placing of openings relative to working places such as gangways and haulage levels.: This work has been sponsored during the last ten years by the Engineering Foundation.. It is fully reported in T. P. No. 1140.

Jan 1, 1940

By E. P. Mathewson

A Discussion of the Paper of E. P. Mathewson, presented at the New York Meeting, April, 1907, and printed in Bi-Monthly Bulletin, No. 13, January, 1907, pp. 7 to 14. PROF. HENRY M. HOWE, New York, N. Y. (communication to the Secretary *) :-The results presented in Mr. Mathewson's paper are of very great interest. Perhaps the most interesting is that shown in Table I. and Fig. 1, in which the arsenic decreases in 10 min, from 0.22 to 0.07 per cent. This is such a large decrease that it is to be hoped that Mr. Mathewson will verify it by repeating his tests with a matte of similar composition. This is particularly to be desired, because the simultaneous removal of sulphur appears to be very small. All three blows further agree in showing that the removal of arsenic is in the very early part of the blow. The fact that the removal of arsenic then ceases abruptly cannot be explained completely by the fact that the arsenic has fallen so low as by its lowness to resist further removal, because in the first blow the arsenic becomes stationary at 0.06 per cent., whereas in the third blow it does not become stationary until it has fallen to 0.034 per cent. The abrupt ending of the re¬moval of arsenic is more likely to find its explanation in the composition of the slag, and it is to be hoped that. Mr. Mathewson will supplement these extremely valuable data with others in which the composition of the slag at the same time shall be given. The sudden rise of arsenic toward the end of the third blow I suppose must be referred to an error in sampling or analysis. Mr. Mathewson speaks on page 14 of the "percentages of iron . . . volatilized during the first period." Is it his meaning that all this iron is really volatilized, or does he mean that the iron is scorified and the sulphur volatilized ?

Jul 1, 1907

(Under this heading will he published notes sent to the Secretary of the Institute by members or other persons introduced by members.) No. 488.-Mining engineer, member, technical graduate, married, age 38, desires position of superintendent or assistant superintendent. Has had 15 years' practical experience as miner, millman, machinist, surveyor, engineer, foreman, and superintendent in the West, Southwest, and Mexico. Speaks Spanish. Now employed as superintendent of copper property in Southwest. Can give the best of references. Minimum salary $250. Available now. No. 491.-Mining engineer, member, married, age 43, desires to connect with some-good coal company as superintendent or manager. Is thoroughly conversant with flat and pitching systems of coal mining. Has had 23 years experience from the bottom up; 7 years experience as superintendent and manager. Good organizer. Has handled all classes of labor acid has always made good. Available now. No. 492.-Metallurgist and chemical engineer, member, with 8 years executive experience in research and technical direction of all departments of nom-ferrous metallurgical manufacturing, is open for change in position. Specialist in raw materials-and supplies, reclamation of wastes, and standardized control of processes. No. 493.-Member, age 37, technical education, married. Seventeen years' experience as superintendent, engineer, chemist, and assayer, exploration engineer in United States, Central and South America, Siberia and India. Especially in iron, manganese, copper, and rare metals. Desires to make a change. No. 494. Electrometallurgical engineer, member, age 30, A. M. and Ch. E. degrees, thoroughly trained in electrochemistry, metallurgy and electrometallurgy. Three years in charge of experimental work on and operations of electric furnaces. Desires responsible position in investigative or executive work with commensurate salary.

Jan 11, 1918

H. Van F. Furman, Denver, Colo. (communication to the Secretary): There are some statements in Dr. Carpenter's interesting paper which appear to require explanation, if not modification.

Jan 1, 1901

By Jack F. B. Silman

Proving up any large, open pit ore deposit by normal exploration drilling under the best of conditions is a noteworthy accomplishment. But, when adverse conditions preclude standard drilling methods, and the same end result is achieved by a relatively new and little known type of drilling, special comment is in order. Three major problems confronted exploration drilling at the Questa molybdenite mine of the Molybdenum Corporation of America-sampling, terrain and time. Surface and underground longhole drilling provided the needed solutions, thus making the greatest single contribution to an exploration and development program that was successful in proving a major, open pit molybdenum deposit.

Jan 5, 1965

By Simon D. Strauss

The world appetite for minerals in the, third quarter of this century grew at a higher rate than had been anticipated. To illustrate, consider the experience of four, commodities. Excluding the Communist bloc, sometimes referred to as the centrally planned economies, demand for aluminum increased at a compound rate of 8.6% between 1950 and 1975,; copper rose by 4.4%; iron ore by 5.5%; and tin, the laggard in the group, by 2%. Except for tin, the figures are substantially greater than growth rates anticipated in 1950 in the Paley Commission report and other studies. The growth rate was not evenly distributed in geographical areas. Professor Wilfred Malenbaum of the University of Pennsylvania did an interesting study breaking these figures down as among three principal sources of demand -- the United States, other industrialized nations (which he referred to as the "rich lands"), and the developing world (which he referred to as the "poor lands").

Jan 1, 1982

By JOHN R. SUMAN

IT SEEMS particularly appropriate that the Institute's Regional Meeting should be held in Minnesota this year. Whether we like it or not, we cannot help looking at things now in the light of the World War and the all-out effort we, as a nation, are making to defend our resources, our institutions, and our way of life. The ability to do this lies in large measure in the ability to forge weapons of defense-the machines of war. The basic ingredients of any defense system, or war machine, are the raw materials of industry-iron ore, providing steel for guns, shells, tanks, and warships; coal for stoking the nation's furnaces; oil to furnish power for war planes, ships, trucks, and mechanized weapons; and all the other materials that play a vital role in the operation of modern armies and navies. The tremendous requirements of full-scale defense programs are indicated by the large number of commodities that are now under priorities because the supply is not sufficient to meet both defense needs and all normal civilian consumption. But out of all these items two are of paramount importance-steel and petroleum. In this age no nation can hope to main¬tain a position as a first-class power in the world without a highly developed industry, particularly the heavy industries based on steel, and without access to the necessary resources for those industries. In 1918, 70 per cent of the iron and steel production of the United States was required for defense purposes. In 1940, 15 per cent of our iron and steel production was consumed for defense purposes, and with the acceleration of the defense program, it appears that the proportion of steel output required for defense purposes will reach 40

Jan 1, 1941

By H. S. Geismer

INTRODUCTION. THERE are three general methods available for obtaining commercial brown iron-ore : hand-screening; washing; and washing and concentrating. Hand-screening has produced a large tonnage of ore in the past, but is rapidly falling into disuse, except as a preliminary step, largely because modern furnace-practice requires all foreign material to be separated from ores before they are delivered to the furnace, and hand-screened ores can rarely be made to fulfill that requirement. Another argument against hand-screening is, that the waste-pile often contains as much ore as the screen recovers. The operation known as hand-screening consists of throwing the ore-bearing material against a stationary inclined screen of 0.5- to 0.75-in. mesh, similar in construction to the screens employed in sand-pits. The recently-prospected brown-ore deposits of Cuba seem to offer possibilities for hand-screening not possessed by the average American deposit, since these ores are not associated with worthless clays. Washing, and washing and concentrating, may be discussed together, since concentrating is never practical on brown iron-ore, except to treat ores that have already been washed. (Strictly speaking, washing might be classed as concentrating, but it is never so designated by brown-ore men.) The various steps of removing ore-bearing material and converting it into ore suitable for blast-furnace use, may be grouped under five heads: loading for transportation ; transporting ; feeding into the washer; washing; and concentrating. These five subjects will be considered in consecutive order. Each of these successive steps may be accomplished in a number of different ways, the choice depending entirely upon the character of the ore-bearing material to be treated.

Aug 1, 1911

By Webster, Wm. Reuben

THE greatly enlarged demand for small sizes of seamless copper tube which has recently occurred, due particularly to the rapid growth of the electric household-refrigerator industry, has emphasized the superiority of phosphorized to tough pitch copper for the purpose of producing this commodity. In the manufacture of this material exceedingly heavy reductions by cold drawing are employed, customary practice involving as much as 90 per cent. reduction of cross-sectional area in four runs without intermediate annealing. Although this superiority has long been recognized by tube makers, no quantitative expression of it has heretofore been published. It is believed that the data herewith presented mill serve this purpose. Recent investigators are not in agreement as to the relative mechanical properties of copper containing small amounts of oxygen as compared with copper containing sufficient oxygen to produce that condition known as tough pitch. Hanson, Marryat and Ford1 found that "oxygen has a relatively small effect on the properties of copper." Johnson, on the contrary, states "it cannot be denied that it (tough pitch copper) is inferior to deoxidized copper . . . where severe mechanical manipulation is concerned." These authorities in the reports of their investigations, as might be expected from their conclusions, do not present data of a character requisite to a conclusive determination of the question.

Jan 1, 1927

By Gerard C. Gambs

The electric utility industry is the largest customer of the U.S. coal industry, consuming nearly 50% of present coal production. By 1980, the electric utilities are expected to burn over 500 million tpy of coal or 75% of total coal production. When coal is burned in electric utility plants, ash is produced in one of several forms. These include fly ash, bottom ash and bottom slag. At the present time, approximately 20 million tons of these ashes are produced and must be disposed of by the utilities at a cost of 50[c] to $2 per ton. In 15 years, more than double this quantity will be produced. Only a small quantity of this ash is put to any practical use. Much remains to be done about expanding uses for fly ash and bottom slag.

Jan 1, 1967

By Galen H., Clevenger

THE first and most important thing that affects the majority of lead producers in the Rocky Mountains and the western mining regions is that zinc in an ever-increasing degree is inseparably associated with the lead. The Sullivan mine in British Columbia is not only a great lead mine, but also a great zinc producer. This mine could not reach its full measure of productiveness, nor was its great value established, until a reasonably good physical method was developed for separating the lead from the zinc prior to the recovery of each metal by an appropriate process. The western metallurgists and also metallurgists in other parts of the world have long faced the lead-zinc problem. This for many years stimulated a great deal of experimental work looking toward the development of a physical or chemical method of separating lead and zinc in concentrated form from complex ores. Space will not permit of going into this work in detail, but it is sufficient to say that with but few exceptions the western lead smelter continued smelting charges many times too high in zinc for the most efficient operation of lead furnaces. The zinc was not only lost, as the zinc content of many a western slag dump bears mute testimony, but the cost of lead smelting was increased by reason of the presence of the zinc. The owner of the ore under these circumstances could be paid nothing for the zinc and, indeed, he was penalized for it

Jan 1, 1926

By Edward H. Robie

PROBABLY nowhere in the United States or its possessions is mining development more active at present than in the Philippine Islands. Only a few years ago only one company was of any importance, the Benguet Consolidated. Now, five companies are paying dividends, five others have reached the producing stage, some seven others may produce this year, and a score or so are being actively developed. Gold production in 1933 was valued at about $8,000,000, last year at about $11,000,000, and this year an output valued at about $17,000,000 is envisaged. At the beginning of 1934 about 1750 tons of ore was being milled daily; at the end of the year, the tonnage was approximately 3400. In 1933 there were only thirteen Institute members in the Philippines; a year ago there were 27, and now there are 46. About fifteen thousand amen were employed in the mining industry last year, with mine payrolls amounting to $3,500,000. An immense amount of new machinery has been required. One difficulty has so far hindered gold-mine development to some extent-lack of adequate power. Each company therefore finds it necessary to generate its own power, and for this purpose diesel engines are generally adopted.

Jan 1, 1935

By James Lorimer

THE topography at the Stan Trg mine facilitated early exploration by adits; in consequence adit levels were developed at horizons 865, 795, and 760 meters above sea level, and the levels in the mine 'are named according to their elevation. Exploitation started from the 760-m. level . upwards while simultaneously first steps were taken with regard to mining in depth. A deep dewatering adit 2.5 km. long now gives access to the deposit at the 610-m. horizon which also is connected with the 760-m. adit level by a three-compartment main hoisting shaft. Main levels have been developed internally from

Jan 1, 1936

By AIME AIME

THE iron and steel activities of this meeting opened on Monday morning with the steel melting session," with G. B. Waterhouse in the chair and A. L. Feild as vice-chairman. N. A. Zeigler's paper, on "Gases Extracted From Iron Carbon Alloys by Vacuum Melbing," created considerable interest and the discussion in general was most favorable. H. W. Gillett and Louis Jordan of the Bureau questioned the method of analysis for oxygen and C. H. Herty, Jr., and J. M. Gaines, Jr., I , expressed their surprise at the large amount of oxygen with the high ,carbon alloys. Whether the gases found existed as gas in blowholes or as oxide inclusions was also a moot point. A paper by C. D. King, on "Basic Open-Hearth Yields," was an extremely interesting and valuable contribution. It was discussed by C. E.Kinney and A. L. Feild and numerous questions were asked throughout the presentation. Mr. King then presented a critical analysis of the losses together with novel methods of calculating them. A paper by C. H. Herty, Jr., and J. M. Gaines, Jr., on "Unreduced Oxides in Pig Iron and Their Elimination in the Basic Open-Hearth Furnace," followed. The question of silicates and oxides in pig iron created much discussion, notably by Henry Hanson and W. J. MacKenzie, who gave figures on chipping cost as a function of blast-furnace practice.

Jan 1, 1929

By AIME AIME

ALMOST as many attended the annual dinner this year as last, when the presence of Mr. Hoover was such an attraction that almost two-thirds more than had ever attended before were present. Only by putting the late comers at tables in the balcony could everybody be accommodated. Past President De-Golyer was the toastmaster and in opening the post-prandial exercises referred to the regrettable fact that this was the last of the long series of dinners which have been held at the Waldorf, as the hotel will be torn down to give way to an office building before another year. To the delight of the gathering "Oscar" appeared and, in a delightfully brief but characteristic speech, referred to the long association that had existed and hinted that a new Waldorf-Astoria may arise, where the Institute could continue to gather annually in an enlarged replica of the room they had met in so long. Before taking up the presentation of the medals, Mr. DeGolyer referred to the Institute's "Legion of Honor," the 34 men who have been members continuously for over fifty years. For various reasons only five of them, W. S. Ayres, F. G. Corning, Henry D. Hibbard, A. F. Schneider and Arthur Thacher, could be present. They were all seated at the speaker's table, and W. S. Ayres, 56 years a member, as the dean of the group, was called on to respond for them all. He said: "The introduction I have just received would indicate that this particular group of men to which I belong is considered by the chairman to be a group of real antiques. Possibly you are questioning the accuracy of his judgment. I hope you are, although there may be some first-sight evidences tending to substantiate the view held by the chairman.

Jan 1, 1929

By T. A. Rickard

Flaubert, as we know, laid stress on the selection of the right word, le mot juste, the precise epithet, the word that belongs to the thing. A sentence, or even a paragraph, may be spoiled by the use of a word that is not proper, that does not fit or is foreign to the meaning intended. An Australian mining expert is reported to have said: You have a property of considerable value, and what I saw warrants a good development of very rich cubicular galena, with gossan intermixed. 'Cubicular' means `belonging to a small bedroom', a `cubicle' being a sleeping compartment. He meant `cubic', of course. This is a malapropism, and reminds me of the lady from Chicago that, on her return from Europe, said how much she had enjoyed the rural parts of France, because, among other things, it was "so delightful to hear the French pheasants singing the mayonnaise to the tune of the Los Angelus". It is impossible to amalgamate coal-tar thoroughly with the pulp in the agitating-tank. In metallurgy, `amalgamate' refers to the combination of mercury with one or both of the precious metals, forming an amalgam, which is an alloy of mercury with another metal. It differs from other alloys, such as brass or bronze, in being made without the aid of heat, inasmuch as mercury is molten at the ordinary temperature. The word comes to us from the Greek. through Old French and means `something soft'. It is a mistake to use technical terms, having a specific meaning, for purposes that are foreign to that meaning. The writer of the quotation is not discussing any combination of metals; he is dealing with the physical process of mixing and is using 'amal-

Jan 1, 1931

By Paul M. Tyler

NOW that the dust of World War II has settled and we and our allies are faced with extravagant losses of men, money, and materials, virtually the only hope that the United States and Britain have in the way of reparations lies in the capture of industrial, technical, and scientific secrets. Even during the war American and British scientists and technicians gained access to German factories, questioned German personnel, studied German documents, and endeavored generally to keep pace with new discoveries in science, industrial technology, and process development. Under various agencies this work continued for two years after the war. Altogether at least 600 American scientists and industrialists have gone to Germany and brought back reports and several times as many British, Canadian, and. Australian investigators have been similarly engaged under co-operative arrangements designed to assure the maximum of coverage with a minimum duplication of effort. As a result of these investigations and document studies, about 500 or 600 reports have been prepared on metallurgical and allied subjects. Those by American authors or joint teams have been listed in the annotated Bibliography of Scientific and Industrial Reports, issued by the Office of Technical Services in the U. S. Department of Commerce. Many of the British reports are also available in this country through the same office or through a British representative in New York. Since it was my duty to read most of these reports for

Jan 1, 1948

By ROBERT H. BOOTH

THE happy intra-plant relationships of the Bridgeport Brass Co. are largely attributable to the interest of the management in this important business factor. In furtherance of this development Carl F. Dietz, President of the Company and a member of the Institute, has contributed the novel plan for the objective presentation of business economics, described herein. All of the officers of the corporation are active in its management and they together with many other workers filling both executive and subordinate positions have a substantial financial interest in the enterprise. The viewpoint of this organization is fairly reflected by the following quotation from Roosevelt's "The Foes of Our Own Household."

Jan 1, 1924