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By Alfred H. Bell, George V. Cohee

Illinois produced 146,788,000 bbl. of oil in 1940, or nearly 11.0 per cent of the total for the United States, and ranked fourth among the oil-producing states. Its production was only slightly less than that of Oklahoma, which produced 11.5 per cent of the national total. Illinois' production in 1940 represents an increase of 55 per cent over the previous year, when it amounted to 94,912,000 barrels. The development of the Devonian limestone in the Salem and Centralia fields is largely responsible for the increase in production during 1940 Production from the Devonian limestone in these two fields was estimated to be 36,698,000 bbl., or 25 per cent of the state's total production (Table I). The increase in production during June, when the state's daily average production attained a peak of 518,200 bbl. for the week ending June 29, was due to the Devonian production at Centralia (Fig. I). The initial production of the best Devonian wells in the Centralia field was as high as 12,000 bbl. in 24 hr. Daily average production in IIIinois for 1940 was 400,000 bbl. of oil, but actually daily production fluctuated widely during the year. At the beginning of 1940 daily production was approximately 330,000 bbl. During the first hali of the year it in-creased irregularly to the peak in June mentioned above and as the prolific Devonian producing areas were drilled up, the state's daily production declined rapidly during July and continued to decline, although more slowly, until the end of the year, when the daily production was approximately 325,000 bbl. The daily average production per well in the new fields at the end of the year was approximately 40 bbl. (Fig. I). Oil from the Devonian was also produced in the Bartelso field, Clinton County, the Sandoval field, Marion County, and the Irvington field, Washington County, bringing the estimated total production from the Devonian limestone to about 26 per cent of the state's total production, The remainder was obtained largely from the Mississippian system. About 2 per cent of the total was from Pennsylvanian and Ordovician strata. The decline in the Devonian limestone production has been so rapid that the 1941 output from this system will probably be only a small fraction of that of 1940 unless large new reserves are discovered. The "Trenton" (Ordovician) limestone has been tested in two wells in the Centralia field and both were small oil producers at a depth of about 4000 it. The "Trenton" also was found productive in the Salem field at a depth of 4500 ft. (Table 5). The initial production of the discovery well, which was completed shortly after the end of the year, was 130 bbl. on pump. Other wells drilled early in 1941 had initial productions averaging 172 barrels. The outlook for 1941 is for a continuation of drilling activity in Illinois, but at a declining rate (Fig. I, upper curve). The most active area at the end of 1940 was in the deep basin area in Wabash, Edwards, White, and Hamilton Counties.

Jan 1, 1941

By HENRY M. HOWEL

1. Introduction.-The first part of this papers treats of the causes and the restraining of piping in steel ingots; the second& considers the causes and the restraining of -segregation; and the third proposes certain precautions in engineering specifications concerning these two defects. Into their causes I have looked carefully, with the purpose of arriving at rational methods of restraining them, and at efficient ways of detecting. and measuring the harm which they cause, so as to benefit the public by reducing this harm at once effectively and with the least expense to the manufacturer, and therefore in the end with the least expense to the consumer. In Part I., I infer that the pipe is chiefly due to what I, call the virtual expansion of the outer walls of the ingot in the early part of the freezing. I find that the upper and smooth-faced part of the pipe probably forms while the interior is still molten, but that the lower, steep, and crystal-faced part probably forms in metal which is already firm. Of the five causes which may co-operate to limit the depth of the pipe, I find that three-blow-holes, sagging, and the progress of freezing from below upwards-are usually effective. I find that the pipe may be lessened by casting (1) in wide ingots,; (2) in sand molds, especially if these are pre-heated (this is rarely expedient); (3) at the tops instead of at the bottom; (4) slowly; (5) and with the large end up; (6) by the use of a sinking-head or other means of retarding the cooling of the top; (7) by permitting blow-holes to form; and (8) by liquid compression.) Most of these I consider in some detail, and in particular I dwell on the advantages of casting with the large end up, and I propose certain administrative arrangements to permit this.

Mar 1, 1907

By L. O. Howard

R. HATCH, Garfield, Utah.-The object of the meeting, I believe, is to determine the proper chemical composition to insure long wear of a ball in a mill, This might also apply to rods. I feel that there is only one way of determining accurately the wearing qualities of balls in mills, and that is by actually wearing out 400 or 500 tons of different kinds of balls. Two things add to the wearing qualities of a ball: (1) the tenacity, with which the particular particles of iron or steel are cemented together; (2) the individual hardness of each particle. My experience is that a ball that has a Brinell of 550 to 650 will give comparatively long life. There is considerable difference of opinion as to the best steel and iron alloys necessary to produce a satisfactory grinding ball. Some favor chrome, some manganese and some nickel. Personally, I believe cast iron alloyed with chrome makes the best ball for small sizes; for large sizes (3 1/2 in. and up) steel alloyed with manganese is best. L. 0. HOWARD, Pullman, Wash.-How would this method apply to lining? A. KissocK, New York, N. Y.-I do not subscribe to that exactly. As I am connected with the Climax Molybdenum Co. you would hardly expect me to. We have been much interested in trying to work out this grinding-ball problem and have spent a great deal of thought and effort on it. As we are associated with the American Metal Co. and have a number of properties of our own, we are in position to try our ideas on ourselves first. We have tried different compositions, but have not done anything very remarkable with them yet, except that we have been able to say that the combination of chrome and molybdenum has given the best wearing ball. Mr. Hatch feels that iron is the best medium for grinding, but since toughness as well as hardness is a factor in wearability we feel that a well made steel is better for this purpose. Another difficulty with cast, or chilled, iron is lack of uniformity from day to day or from heat to heat and the impossibility of producing balls free from blow or shrinkage holes which materially affect their life. If cast iron is made hard it becomes brittle and lacks stretch or toughness. This prevents its use in the larger sizes, as breakage is a serious handicap to efficiency. We have tried hard and brittle balls and softer but very tough balls and have proved that maximum hardness, with sufficient toughness to prevent breakage, is the most important factor in resistance of a steel to abrasion. It is well known that chromium is one of the best hardening agencies for either iron or steel, and molybdenum is recognized as an element capable of introducing toughness. In other words, the proper combination of chromium and molybdenum permits unusual hardness with still sufficient toughness to stand up under severest impact. It is yet too early to give any actual mill results of this new combination and though we are proving our ideas at our own properties we have to depend on others to help us make the data more general and more worth while and would like to get some tests

Jan 1, 1928

By R. E. Phelan

WHILE 1931 was a most important year in the history of Canadian copper smelting and refining, nevertheless, due to the low price of copper and the in- ability of the International Nickel Co. to market its full capacity of nickel. the production of both copper and nickel was considerably less than the total installed capacity for the production of these metals. IIY the nor- mal course of events, 1931 should have seen a great increase in the production. of both copper and nickel in Canada, because the large extensions to both the copper smelting plants and the copper and nickel refinery capacity, which had largely been completed in the year 1930, should be showing their effect.

Jan 1, 1932

By R. J. McNally

THERE are three primary plant nutrients—nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—expressed in any fertilizer compound as percent N, percent P 2 O 5, and percent K 2 O, in that order. This article will be concerned with the first two. The chief source of P 2 O 5 is phosphate rock. As found in the western states phosphate rock is essentially tricalcium phosphate-calcium fluoride (fluor-patite). As such, it is quite water insoluble.

Jan 1, 1957

By Worthen Bradley

A BETTER understanding of what is happening in the domestic quicksilver industry, and what is likely to happen, can be had after reviewing some of the highlights of the past four years. Hitting the high spots in chronological order, they are: February 1939-Army and Navy Munitions Board starts investigation on civilian and war needs of certain "strategic materials," including quicksilver, with a view to recommending stock piles. Every known producer is canvassed by the end of the year.

Jan 1, 1942

By Scott Turner

MY YEAR OF SERVICE as president of the A.I.M.E. came at a time when the mineral industry had suffered severely because of disturbed economic conditions throughout the world. The Institute, an integral part of this industry, had been similarly affected. Its membership and revenues decreased; it was confronted by problems of retrenchment at a time when its vigorous operation was especially important to its members, of some moment to the mining industry, and of value to the nation. Throughout the last year, the recession of activity in our industry continued with slight abatement. Your Board accordingly exercised such economy within the Institute as was possible without impairment of essential functions. It endeavored to aid in sustaining the morale of members, their sense of professional unity, and their interest in maintaining research and the interchange of scientific and technologic data upon which the progress of our industry depends. Effort was made to assist in the difficult task of finding employment for needy members; our endeavors have met with some success.

Jan 1, 1933

By A. D. Hughes

C. W. MERRILL*-Mr. Hughes' paper not only is very well presented but is most timely in that it covers a subject of vital interest to the United States. Tin is one of the strategic metals which has not been found here in appreciable quantities. The total United States tin output since the first recorded production over 100 years ago would not supply current consumption for a fortnight. On the consumption side, tin is extremely important in national defense because of its use in tin plate which, in the form of tin cans, makes it possible to feed properly the armies that the United States recruits from its civilian population in emergencies. Moreover, the internal combustion engines so important in powering tanks, planes, and other war machines, require large quantities of tin alloys for bearings and for soldering. These considerations, along with the fact that Malaya, historically, has been the leading source of tin to the United States, make the kind of information that Mr. Hughes has presented so ably, a matter of vital interest.

Jan 1, 1949

By AIME AIME

T HE 121st meeting of the Institute held in New York City, February 16 to 19, 1920, was a great success despite vicissitudes of weather of unusual severity. On account of tremendous snowstorms, only two members of the Canadian contingent arrived, and several of our members from the west arrived thirty hours late. Two weeks prior to the meeting, the heaviest snowstorm in 34 years wrecked the surface transportation in New York; and it was only by special dispensation that arrangements were effected, with the New York Street Cleaning Department to clear away 39th street in front of this building so that vehicles could reach the curb. The total registration of members and guests was 1138.

Jan 1, 1920

By Henry G. Granger

A residence of 14 Sears in the Republic of Colombia, spent . in almost continuous traveling and prospecting-trips, has given me an intimate knowledge of the resources of that wonderful country. The man who best knows Colombia is unquestionably General Rafael Reyes, President of the Republic for the past three years, and with seven years more to serve in his present term. Such is the strength of his personality and the wisdom of his policies that his term of office will no doubt endure as long as he is milling to serve. The vastly improved economic situation and the brilliant outlook for Colombia are so directly due to the influence of President Reyes that a few lines concerning him will not be amiss, if they serve towards a better understanding of his personality. Born of a distinguished ancestry in the mountain~ of Boyaca, he is now 57 years old, just the age of his friend Porfirio Diaz when he began the work which has placed Mexico in the rank of great modern nations. It was Reyes who came to Washington to protest against the action of the government of the United States of America in

Jan 1, 1909

By C. W. EICHRODT

NUMEROUS requests for the suspension of publicity make difficult the preparation of the annual review of copper metallurgy for 1934. In the United States, sales allocations indirectly have set restrictions on the scope of activities of producers and refiners, and necessitated closer cooperation between secondary and primary producers. However, the feeling exists that preparations for a return of intense competition should not he neglected, and careful investigations are being conducted for ways and means of improving industrial positions and production methods. In all probability, efficiency in technique and equipment will prove of far greater importance in the near future than production capacity, and many important developments in copper metallurgy later will be found to have been born during the current year.

Jan 1, 1935

By Frederick Laist

THE object of the construction and operation of the 80-ton leaching plant was to test out the leaching of sand tailings on a large scale and, if possible, determine a definite method of operation, and the best construction for the larger unit which is now being built. It was also of importance to obtain some practical data as regards cost items. The 80-ton plant was not expected to be a commercial success. A leaching process on such low-grade material necessitates the treatment of a very large tonnage.. Such a cost item as labor, for instance, is entirely out of proportion in such a small plant. The amounts of acid, salt, scrap iron, and fuel for roasting, however, are the same per ton in an 80-ton plant as in a 2,000-ton plant. These costs were definitely established. Also the percentages of extraction and grade of tailings were definitely determined for a large-sized unit. Following will be found the description of the plant, the method of operation and the results obtained. A -general view of the plant is given in Fig. 1. The bins consisted of one coal bin with a capacity of 30 tons, one salt bin with a capacity of 20 tons, and a "mill tailings" or feed bin which held 70 tons. The coal and salt bins were placed with their floor level even with the firing floor of the roasting furnace. The feed bin, to give it greater capacity, discharged about 12 ft. below this point, to a 12-in. conveyor belt, which, in turn discharged into a pug mill. This fed another conveyor belt, which discharged into the top hearth of the furnace. The furnace was an ordinary six-hearth MacDougall roaster, .20-ft. in diameter. It was equipped with two fire boxes, on opposite sides, the flames entering on the third hearth. An induced draft was obtained with a Buffalo blower, worked as an exhaust fan. Just above the top hearth was an annular flue around the whole circumference of the furnace. Slots at intervals of about 18 in. led from this flue down into the top hearth. The slots were 2 in. wide by 6 in. long. This annular flue proved rather unsatisfactory, as it tended to fill up with flue dust and choke the slots, thus cutting down the draft. The volume of gas through

Jan 8, 1914

PRESIDENT WILLIAM L. SAUNDERS,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. PAST PRESIDENTS CHARLES F. RAND,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. BENJAMIN B. THAYER,2 NEW YORK, N.Y. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT PHILIP N. MOORE,1 ST. Louis, Mo. TREASURER GEORGE C. STONE,' NEW YORK, N. Y SECRETARY EMERITUS ROSSITER W. RAYMOND NEW YORK, N. Y. SECRETARY BRADLEY STOUGHTON NEW YORK, N. Y.

Jan 6, 1915

PRESIDENT BENJAMIN B. THAYER,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. PAST PRESIDENTS JAMES F. KEMP,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. CHARLES F. RAND,2 NEW YORK, N. Y. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT SIDNEY J. JENNINGS,1 NEW YORK,. N. Y. TREASURER GEORGE C. STONE,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. SECRETARY EMERITUS ROSSITER W. RAYMOND, NEW YORK, N. Y. SECRETARY BRADLEY STOUGHTON NEW YORK, N. Y.

Jan 11, 1914

By Georgc E. Collins

SEVERAL years ago, I estimated the total stock of gold in the world to be about a thousand million ounces, of which rather over one-third was available for monetary uses. Robert H. Ridgway has estimated the world's production from 1493 to 1927 as slightly over this amount. Of this total, 1.5 per cent was produced between 1493 and 1850 (before the Californian and Australian goldfields began to flood the world with gold), 331/2 per cent from 1851 to 1900, and 511/2 per cent from 1900 to 1927. Allowing for loss by attrition and permanent consumption in the arts, and for loss of buried treas¬ure, my first-mentioned estimate is perhaps not far from the truth; but my estimate of the monetary stock was certainly too low. Of the total production stated by Rid-way. 28 per cent came from North America. 26.9 per cent from Africa, 1.6.8 per cent from Australasia, 12.4 per cent from South America, and 11.2 per cent from Asia. Excepting that from the African conglomerate beds, the ultimate origin of which is still the subject of controversy, by far the greater part of the total production was derived from alluvials. Weighing all contingencies, it is improbable that any such production as has been made during the last forty years will be repeated in any similar period, if the present price level is maintained. The gold standard today seems firmly established except for temporary digressions. Nevertheless, no well-informed mining engineer will venture to assert the probability that the material for its maintenance throughout future generations can be furnished.

Jan 1, 1932

By Robert Forsyth

As the latest plant on a large scale, the new Bessemer works of the North Chicago Rolling Mill Company, at South Chicago, presents some features of interest to steel-makers, I have ventured to lay before the Institute a short description of that plant, and some* remarks upon the practice there. At the time the South Chicago works were designed the adoption of the basic process in this country seemed imminent. Experience in Europe had demonstrated the perfect success of the process technically, and the question of its commercial value was one which, for any particular works, would have to be settled by its special advantages for procuring the necessary ores and basic materials. Under the circumstances, it was thought best at South Chicago to so arrange the plant as to allow the introdnction of the basic whenever it became advisable, and to make such other changes from the standard type of Bessemer plant as the state of the art seemed to demand and to foreshadow. As the use of metal direct from the blast furnace, while generally condemned by experts here, was in such successful practice in Europe (particularly in connection with the basic process), there was no doubt about its feasibility, while its economy in fuel and labor made it especially attractive to the Western manufacturer. It was accordingly decided to build a direct-metal plant adapted to the basic process. The ingots made were to be rolled into rails at one heat, and were to be of such size (12 inches square and long enough for three and four rails) as to be readily and quickly handled by the rolling machinery proposed. This small size of ingots, and the large number cast from each heat of 10 tons, made it necessary to provide a good deal of room in the casting-pit—much more than in any previons plant—and to put down extra facilities for handling ingots. To meet the delays incident to the basic process—to insure that one vessel should be always blowing if necessary, and to provide opportunity for current repairs to linings, etc.—it was decided that three vessels should be used, and, to properly concentrate the work of

Jan 1, 1884

By Marsh S. Watson, Robert A. Howard

An electrolytic model study has been made of the relative productivity of perforated casing. The results show that the relative productivity is roughly one-half to two-thirds of that predicted from point-sink calculations. This discrepancy can he satisfactorily explained on the basis of casing interference. The relative productivity was found to he insensitive to spatial arrangement of the perforations. INTRODUCTION The relative productivity of wells with perforated casing has been treated mathematically by Muskat.' In his treatment the perforations are represented by small spheres, thus enabling him to approximate the flow by that to point sinks. By neglecting interference between the flow into the various spheres representing the perforations, one may deduce the approximate formula Qu 1/rp - 1/rw • (1) I + b/2n _________ 2n In re/rw Where Q is the flow rate into spherical sinks located in the median plane of the sand laver Qo is the open hole flow rate (uncased hole of radius rw) b is the thickness of sand layer under consideration (always one foot in this paper) n is the number of spherical sinks in the sand layer rp is the radius of a spherical sink rw is the well radius re is the drainage radius of the well. Fig. 1 is a comparison of values calculated from equation (1) with Mus-kat's values. It will be observed that the approximate values are in error by less than 21/2 per cent. The disturbing effect of the casing on the flow line; is not explicitly taken into account by Muskat, but he reasons that interference between the flow pat- terns from the various point sinks will result in a negligible flow in the region within the well radius, and that no appreciable error will result from not explicitly excluding flow from this region. This line of reasoning is open to question, however, as the flow impedance, in the immediate vicinity of the well, of a hemispherical cavity in contact with an opening in the casing is twice that of a spherical sink in a continuous sand layer. There will be a difference, moveover, between the flow into a hemispherical cavity and that into a circular hole in the casing. .This latter difference can best be appreciated by comparing the flow from a semi-infinite medium into a hemispherical cavity at the edge of the medium with the flow out of a circular opening of the same radius as the hemisphere and which is also on the edge of the medium. In this case2 ------= —2, showing that the difference in flow rates into differently shaped cavities is quite appreciable. It was the purpose of the investigation reported here to determine to what extent flow into circular perforations in casing departs from the values calculated by Muskat. For this purpose an electrolytic model was used.

Jan 1, 1950

By M. E. Hassan, J. C. Calhoun, R. F. Nielson

An apparatus was constructed for the measurement of inter-facial tensions over a range of temperatures and pressures. This apparatus utilized the pendent drop method, and resembles in construction similar apparatus recently described in the literature and in use in some petroleum research laboratories. The interfacial tensions of benzene, propane, n-pentane, n-hexane. n-octane. and iso-octane against water were measured at temperatures ranging from 26" to 82" C and at pressures ranging from 1 to 204 atm. Values of interfacial tensions for the henzene-water system and their variations with temperature and pressure are generally in good agreement with value? of previous investigations. The data in all cases showed a slight decrease of interfacial tension with pressure at constant temperature in the range studied. The effect of pressure became less as the pressure was increased, with an indication of a reversal of the effect at higher pressures. There was a decrease of interfacial tension with temperature at constant pressure in all cases, as would normally be expected. This rate of decrease became greater the higher the temperature. A general equation is presented for the interfacial tensions as a function of presPurp and temperature over the range studied, and the constants calculated for each system. A definite trend was found in the effect of molecular weight on the interfacial tension at a given temperature and pressure, for the homologous series from propane to n-octane. Data for n-decane from the literature fitted well into this trend. INTRODUCTION It has been recognized for many years that surface forces play an active part in the production history of an oil reservoir as well as in determining the amount of unrecoverable oil. The magnitudes of these forces are governed by the values of the interfacial tensions. These vary greatly with composition, pressure, and temperature. The effect of composition is greater than that of pressure and temperature over the ranges normally encountered. In fact, because of the variety of compounds present in a crude, no attempt has yet been made to correlate crude composition with its surface tension or with its interfacial tension against water. The amount of dissolved methane greatly affects the surface properties of an oil, and there are "surface-active" compounds in crudes which have a much greater effect on boundary tensions than do equal amounts of hydrocarbons. The purpose of the present work was partly to contribute data that would eventually be used in correlations applicable

Jan 1, 1953

By ALBERT P. J. BORDEAUX

THIS paper briefly describes the general outline of cyaniding silver-ores in Mexico, with special reference to personal experiments made in the Temascaltepec district. The most important papers on the subject deal with cyaniding gold-silver-ores, the gold predominating in value, so that the treatment is nearly the same as for gold-ores, the losses of silver being considered of little importance. I describe here the treatment of silver-gold-ores containing very little gold, which is more general in Mexico than elsewhere. The cyanide treatment, which was so successfully applied to gold-ores, did not succeed immediately with silver-ores on account of their varying composition. Gold occurs in nature usually in the native state, while silver occurs generally in combination with sulphur (argentite), and various combinations of sulphur, antimony, and arsenic. In former times there was a complete difference in the treatment of gold-ores and silver-ores. Amalgamation, which was successful with gold-ores, was generally inadequate with silver-ores. The usual treatment in Mexico for silver was the patio process, the theory of which was satisfactorily explained only quite recently by Mr. Ortega and others. GENERAL OUTLINE OP THE CYANIDE TREATMENT. The general tendency of the present practice is to slime the silver-ore as much as possible, and in order to obtain a higher efficiency, with less loss of cyanide, and greater speed, the following lines are observed 1. Crushing by stamps with 30- or 40-mesh screens, then crushing by Huntington or Chilean mills, through 60- or 80-mesh screens. 2. Concentration upon vanners.

Jan 1, 1910

By F. C. Canney

Geochemical prospecting seeks hidden mineral deposits by sampling for variations in the chemical composition of naturally occurring materials. Usually the samples are of soils and other products of weathering and erosion-surface materials extremely susceptible to contamination by human activities. Except when a survey is conducted well away from populated areas, contamination is an ever-present hazard. The program's success is particularly endangered when the contaminants are the elements sought; if these occur erratically throughout an area, spurious anomalies completely unrelated to mineralized areas can be formed. Evenly distributed contamination can be dangerous too, if it raises the background to such a level that true anomalies can no longer be easily detected. Suppose, for ex- ample, that in an area where the lead background is 20 parts per million the soil over a lead vein contains 1000 ppm of lead. Here the contrast would be 50 to 1, which is very satisfactory for geochemical surveying. Now if 1000 ppm of lead from some source were added evenly to the soil in this area, the contrast would be reduced to about 2 to 1, and the anomaly would no longer be readily detectable because a threshold of significance twice the value of the background is the minimum generally used for interpreting geochemical data.

Jan 2, 1959