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By R. N. Edmondson, L. Mair, M. Tenenbaum

It is the policy of The Metallurgical Society to provide, in the TRANSACTIONS OF THE METALLURGICAL SOCIETY OF AIME, a prompt and accurate medium for publication of reports of significant new research in both the scientific and engineering aspects of metallurgy. Papers submitted to the Society are judged by competent reviewers according to established criteria for technical merit, accuracy, originality, and presentation. STAFF: Editor, Dr. Gerhord Derge; Editorial Assistant, M. A. Redmyrski; Staff Coordinator, James J. Burke. THE METALLURGICAL SOCIETY: W. R. Hibbard, Jr., President; J. C. Kinnear, Jr., Past-President; John Chipmon, Vice President; T. D. Jones, Treosurer; R. W. Shearman, Secretary. PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE METALLURGICAL SOCIETY: A. w. Thornton, Chairman; Dennis Carney, John Chipman, J. C. Fulton I. H. Hollomon H. H. Kellogg, A. E. Lee, R. Maddin, J. D. Sullivan, and D. Swan. Review and selection of manuscripts is under the supenision of the following Publications Committees: Extractive Metallurgy Division: T. 0. King Chairman; S. J. Dickenson, R. P. Hermsdorf R. Schuhmann. Jr.. and P. T. Stroup. Institute of Metals Division: Robert Maddin, Chairman F. Lincoln Vogel Jr., Vice-chairman, W. A. Baikofen, R. W. Boliuffi J. H. Bechtold M. B. Beyer. R S. Busk, C. G. Gaetzel, Paul Gordon C. D. Groham, Jr., Robert F. Hehe-mann,' R. I. Joffee, F. c. Joumot Jr lrving R. Kramer A. J. Lena Harold Morglin, C. J. McHargue, Russell A: Meussner, J. B. Newkirk H. W. Paxton, G. E. Pellissier, I. S, Servi, Alon U. Seybolt, A. J. Shaler, and Jack Washburn. Iron and Steel Division: J. C. Fulton, Chairman; T. B King, F. C. Langenberg, W. 0.. Philbrook, and T. 0. Winkler. Published bimonthly by the American Institute of Mining Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers Inc., 29 West 39th Street, New York 18, N. Y. Telephon: pEnnsvlvanio 6-9220. Subscription 522 Per year for non-AIME members in United States and North South and Central America; $25 foreign;, $5 for AIME members. Single copies, 54.00, single copies foreign, $5.00. The AIME is not responsible for any statement made or opinion expressed In its publications . . . Copyright 1958 by the American lnstltute of Mining Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers Inc. . . . Registered cable address AIME New York , . . lndexed in Engineering Index Industrial Arts Index and Chemical Abstrats . . . Application for second class mail privileges ii pending at New York, N. Y. Volume 212, Number 4.

Jan 1, 1959

By R. D. Pehlke, J. V. Gluck

AS a portion of a general study of liquid-metal thermodynamics, high-temperature galvanic cells were used to study the effect of added dilute solutes on the activity of zinc in dilute solution with molten bismuth in the range 450° to 650°C. 1,2 The cells were of the type The experimental procedures have been described previously.1 In the course of studies conducted in the bismuth-rich corner of the systems Bi-Zn-Au and Bi-Zn-Cu, marked discontinuities were observed in the electromotive force-temperature relations for a number of the experimental compositions. Above the discontinuity temperatures, the relations, which were linear, exhibited slopes similar to the binary alloy of the same mole fraction zinc, as shown in Figs. I and 2. Below the discontinuity temperatures, the slopes were markedly different, but the relations remained linear. In general, as the amount of the third eletnent was increased, the slope of the lower portion of the relations tended to become less positive. The slopes of electromotive force-temperature relations reflect the entropy of mixing of zinc and, therefore, the occurrence of a discontinuity marks the transition between two different equilibrium situations involving the solution of zinc. A number of other investigators3-5 have used such observations to determine liquidus boundaries in binary alloys. Since the upper portions of the ternary electromotive force-temperature relations of this study had the same slopes as the binary alloys, the discontinuities are interpreted as marking the transition between the single-phase liquid region and the underlying two- and three-phase regions. Reference to the Zn-Bi equilibrium diagram6 confirms that the binary alloys were single-phase liquids at the experimental temperatures. Fig. I shows the electromotive force-temperature relations for the alloys containing Bi-Zn-Au and Fig. 2 shows similar relations for the Bi-Zn-Cu alloys. In the lower portion of each figure, the temperature of the discontinuity is plotted vs the mole fraction of the added solute at the various levels of zinc concentra- tion. Cross-plots from these curves at constant temperature permitted the construction of the partial liquidus surface isotherms shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Jan 1, 1967

By D. F. Hewett

CONTENTS PAGE Introduction 1 Geologic features of eastern Oregon 2 Geology of the Sumpter quadrangle 2 Rocks older than the ore deposits 3 Rocks younger than the ore deposits 8 Lodes of the Sumpter quadrangle 8 Areal distribution 8 Geologic distribution 9 Major features of the veins 9 Mineralogy and texture of the veins 13 Ore deposits zonally disposed around the Bald Mountain batholith . . . . 13 Summary of mineralogy and texture 32 Zonal relations 33 Ore deposits zonally disposed around Greenhorn Mountain batholith . . . 36 Zonal relations 37 Relation of textural features to zonal arrangement of veins 37 Summary of zonal relations 38 Comparison with similar districts 39 Outlook for the district 40 INTRODUCTION IN an earlier report on the Sumpter quadrangle1 it was briefly stated that the quartz lodes of that region might be separated into several groups or belts on the basis of the kind and abundance of the minerals of which they are composed, and that these belts were disposed as areal zones around the principal intrusive mass of the region. When the opportunity to revisit the region was offered in 1929, as a result of a cooperative agreement between the State Mining Board of Oregon and the United States Geological Survey, it seemed advisable to pay particular attention to this feature of the lodes, in the hope that if the idea of zonal relations was confirmed it might serve as a guide in exploitation.

Jan 1, 1931

By H. C. H. Darley

The principal causes of unstable boreholes* have been known for many years. For example, in a paper published in 1938, Halbouty and Kaldenbachl listed nearly all the classes of troublesome shales that we know today. Much progress has been made since then, but we still have difficulty in identifying the cause of hole problems and consequently in selecting the right technique for combatting them. This subject was discussed at length by Kelly2 in a recent paper and much valuable information was provided. In the Shell Laboratory it was felt that there was a need for a better understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying the various forms of hole instability, and accordingly, a study was undertaken. This entailed reviewing the physics and chemistry of shales, developing tests for characterizing shales, and constructing a model to study borehole stability. Full simulation of underground conditions was not attempted; for example, we used reconstituted shale specimens, and often simple solutions or suspensions rather than practical drilling muds. Such procedures are necessary in order to establish mechanisms, but caution must be exercised in applying the results to the more complex conditions in the field. Part I — Compaction Swelling and Dispersion of Shales Compaction of Sediments Shales are formed by the compaction of sediments. Water is expressed as sediments are buried by subsequent layers, and the degree of compaction is proportional to the depth of burial, provided the water is able to escape easily to permeable formations. The younger sediments, when recovered at the surface, soften and disperse when mixed with water; the older shales have undergone diagenesis (alteration of the clay minerals, secondary cementation, etc.), and remain hard and unaffected by water. In this paper we shall apply the term "shale", as the drilling engineer does, to everything from clays, which are highly reactive to water, to completely lithified materials such as claystones and slates, which are completely inert. However, because these materials behave quite differently when encountered in the drilling well, it is desirable to develop a simple means of characterizing them. The feature that distinguishes the various shales is their dispersibility in water —soft clays disperse readily, harder shales disperse slowly when agitated, the lithified materials will not disperse at all unless milled. In the dispersibility test used in our study, a weighed amount of dry shale particles in the 12-to-100-mesh-size range was placed in a tube filled with distilled water and allowed to soak for 16 hours. The

Jan 1, 1970

By P. K. Leung, S. R. Allada, P. M. Dranchuk, D. Quon

The alternating direction explicit procedure (ADEP) makes use of the boundary conditions to reduce multi-dimensional problems to a series of one-dimensional problems. The method, previously applied to reservoirs containing only an under-saturated oil, has now been extended to cover the case of natural gas reservoirs. l his involves solving a non-linear partial differential equation, application of the procedure is straightforward and no calcuIational problems were encountered. INTRODUCTION There has been a growing interest in formulating mathematical models of petroleum and natural gas reservoirs — models which permit the engineer to examine and evaluate the physical and economic consequences of various alternative production policies. The tremendous reduction in the cost of solving such models in recent years has made possible their use as an almost routine management tool. This reduction is the result not only of improved computer hardware but also of the development of more efficient mathematical techniques. The present paper is concerned with the application of a recently proposed numerical method (ADEP) to two-dimensional gas reservoirs. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Given a two-dimensional Region R, bounded by a closed Curve C (Fig. 1) such that the behavior on Curve C is known, the differential mass balance for each fluid phase in R, neglecting gravitational effects and assuming Darcy's law for fluid transport, can be written as:

Jan 1, 1967

By William B. Hughes

The rubber-sleeve core barrel was developed to improve core recovery from unconsolidated sands, where it is most difficult to obtain cores with conventional barrels. The use of a rubber-sleeve core retainer, together with other departures from clsual design, has required a considerable amount of testing to prove its op-erability. Tests run in shallow experimental holes and in drilling wells in the U. S. and Vemzuela have, to a large extent, proved the operation of the barrel. Internal mechanism troubles, such as sandbinding of the sleeve, have been largely overcome. Cores have been recovered from completely unconsolidated sands where conventional coring has almost been abandoned because of poor recovery. In addition to retaining the core until brought to the surface, the barrel gives a "packaged-ar-cut" core, which is coilverzient for handling and transportatiorz. In the initial work, drag blade cutters, roller cutters, and tungsten carbide insert cutters were usrd for cutting unconsolidated sands. Further bit head development is presently being conducted using diamond heads in unconsolidated sands where shaler, hard sands, and limestones are encountered in adjacent formations. Thir work should render the barrel capable of cratting and recovering most types of formations, possibly including broken and frac- tured fornlations. This development is being carried on in cooperation with a diamond bit manufacturer. INTRODUCTIO N For many years the oil industry has needed greater recovery of cores from unconsolidated formations. Conventional equipment has been used to core unconsolidated sands with little success. Specifically, a core barrel was needed which would recover unconsolidated sands in a condition that would give useful reservoir information. DEVELOPMENT OF 'THE RUBBER-SLEEVE CORE BARREL Basic Requirements of Unconsolidated Sand Corino The basic need was defined as a core barrel that would obtain a continuous unconsolidated core with sand grains in place as deposited in the formation. A preliminary survey of coring equipment and search of the literature pointed out the weaknesses of conventional core barrels. Laboratory tests using unconsolidated sand in a metal tube simulated actual sand movement into the core barrel during conventional coring. In conventional barrels the core sometimes crumbles and bridges, or fails under compressive column action, becomes oversize, and wedges against the walls of the inner barrel. The core barrel requirements established by the surveys and preliminary tests are as follows. 1. The core should be held to- gether as it is cut so it cannot crumble and bridge against the walls of the coring tool, care being taken not to permit damage from fluid circulation. 2. The core should be continuously supported as it is cut so it will not have to support itself in compression. 3. The core should be packaged in the barrel to retain an undisturbed condition during the trip out of the well. The packaging should be such that the core can be removed from the barrel and shipped to the core analysis laboratory without physical disturbance or alteration of fluid content by exposure to the atmosphere. Operation of the Rubber-Sleeve Core Barrel The rubber-sleeve core barrel (Fig. 1) meets the basic requirements for the recovery of unconsolidated sands.

Jan 1, 1970

By J. B. Fletcher

The Miami mine first started operations in 1910. For convenience, the history of the orebody can be divided into the following categories (Fig. 1): 1) 1910 to 1925: 24.4 million tons of high grade ore, mined by top slicing, sublevel caving, etc. 2) 1926 to 1954: 102 million tons of low grade ore, mined by block caving.

Jan 1, 1961

By NONE N

Jan 1, 1963

Jan 1, 1959

By V. N. Cox, C. H. Grant

Both the underwater method and the rock cratering method contribute useful information in evaluating and comparing new explosive compositions. Results indicate that metallized explosive systems which contain no high explosives can be formulated to offer more energy and to do potentially more work than other slurry explosive systems. Commercial field trials are presently being conducted with a metallized explosive that does not contain any high explosive. Although there have been only a few commercial blasts to date, the results are encouraging. The Dow Chemical Co. has been engaged in explosives research since 1953. The incentive for this research was based on the desire to find additional markets and uses for magnesium metal of which DOW is a heavy producer. The thermodynamic calculations for explosives incorporating light metals indicate energies approximately twice that of nonmetallized explosives currently being used. Early in 1960, additional patent rights were acquired from independent inventors and a development station at Virginia, Minn., was set up to conduct a commercial testing and market evaluation program with this new product. The actual manufacturing of the explosive was to take place in the boreholes. Due to the complexities involved in controlling the manufacture of the explosive in the borehole, performance was sometimes in doubt. Furthermore, experience indicated that the metallized explosive systems could not be evaluated by the standard laboratory methods then being used, and it was necessary for us to look for more suitable research methods. Tests were conducted on several known methods for explosive evaluation. The most promising were the Navy underwater method for energy evaluation and a modified Livingston crater method intended to compare explosive performance in rock. After shooting over 2000 charges of 8 to 60 lb under water and in taconites and granites with many types of explosives, a metallized explosive was developed which is now being manufactured at a pilot plant in Virginia, Minn. and is being evaluated commercially. UNDERWATER METHOD An underwater method of evaluating explosives has a number of advantages. A permanent site can be established and operated indefinitely. A large number of charges may be fired in a short length of time. The medium in which the explosive is shot is exactly the same for successive shots. Data are recorded electronically minimizing human judgment. A disadvantage of the underwater method is the lack of confinement provided by the water medium. Many explosive compositions require a greater degree of confinement to develop good energy release. Although the relative significance of the two components of energy release that are usually measured, the shock energy and the bubble energy, and their relationship to breaking rock are not clearly understood, the underwater method is a valuable research tool for screening explosive compositions and gaining an insight into the manner in which explosives release their energy. Fig. 1 shows schematically the underwater apparatus. The piezoelectric gages are calibrated tourmaline crystals which convert the shock wave to an electrical impulse which is transmitted to an oscilloscope and recorded on Polaroid film. The shock traces are picked up by scopes 1 and 2. Scope 1 is timed to pick up the full trace whereas scope 2 is timed to cover the first increment of the shock trace expanded, and therefore allows full inspection of the propagation and peak pressures. Scope 3 records the bubble trace. When the explosion occurs, a bubble of gaseous detonation products is formed. The outward momentum of the water keeps expanding the bubble even after

Jan 1, 1963

By E. H. Herron, J. H. Perry

Mathematical simulation of reservoir behavior may be used to help understand reservoir processes and to predict reservoir behavior, thereby leading to the most economically desirable form of exploitation. In addition, simulation can be used as a tool for reservoir description to learn more about the physical nature of the reservoir and the mode of primary recovery. This use is essential in most reservoir studies and represents one of the more significant applications of simulation. Prediction of reservoir behavior provides information concerning displacement efficiency, optimum well locations, and the comparison of alternative producing processes. Since oil, water and gas all commonly occur in many reservoirs, a simulation that takes into account the simultaneous flow of three immiscible phases is a prerequisite for obtaining such information. Furthermore, a simulation that describes this flow in two dimensions provides the capability of evaluating combination gas- and water-drive reservoirs with either an areal or a cross-sectional description. Many reservoir problems require such a simulation. The objective of the research described here was to develop a mathematical model and associated computer program for accurate, efficient, and economical prediction of the reservoir flow of three phases in two-dimensional geometry. Several authors have discussed multidimensional reservoir simulation of two phases.l-3 Gottfried et al.' presented an analy- sis of three-phase simulation in one dimension. Fagin and Stewart" and Garrett6 have discussed the simulation of three-phase flow in two dimensions, but their solution techniques were different from the method discussed in this paper. In particular, previous models and computer programs have usually involved either fewer capabilities or inefficient and less rigorous descriptions resulting in limited applicability. In the following sections, we present a description of the model, an evaluation of the method, and the application to reservoir problems. Additional and supporting material is presented in the Appendix. The Three-Phase Model General Description The three-phase model consists of the mathematical description of the flow of oil, water and gas in a reservoir. Conceptually this description considers flow in all three space dimensions, but in the subject simulator it is assumed that no flow occurs in the third dimension. The model includes the effects on reservoir behavior of fluid and rock compressibility, viscosity, gravity, capillary pressure, relative permeability and gas solubility. Within the two-dimensional restriction, the reservoir considered may be completely heterogeneous and anisotropic. The differential equations governing multiphase, multidimensional flow in a reservoir are too complex to be solved analytically, so they are approximated by a system of finite difference equations and solved

Jan 1, 1970

By R. W. Stahl

Employees and dollars are necessary to all enterprises and any force, such as fire, which destroys either, can bring very serious consequences, including business failure. Since everyone acknowledges the necessity of conserving human life, we will devote most of our paper to the economic factors involved. A coal-mine fire is considerably more difficult to combat than a fire in a surface building because of the combustible surroundings in the mine, the explosive gases emitted from the coal, the suspension of explosive dust when mine timbers burn and the unsupported roof falls, the limited space in which approach to the fire can be made, and the limited avenues of escape. A survey of coal-mine-fire protection indicated that a rather low value was being placed on property and equipment. This prompted comparison with other industries. The comments made in this comparison are not intended as an indictment of the coal industry, since we do have mines that are well protected against fire, but the comments on conditions at the mines visited are factual and may help others to improve similar conditions. SURVEY PROCEDURES Plants of the steel, aluminum, rubber, chemical, and petroleum industries were surveyed, and all facets of the fire-protection scheme were covered. The industrial plant invariably had four times as much water readily available for instant use than the mine. In many mines where water is available, no equipment for applying it is provided, such as hose, nozzles, and adapters, so that time is lost in collecting this equipment. (See Table I.) EXTINGUISHERS Many more and generally larger portable extinpishers are available at the plant as compared to the mine. The extinguishers are generally placed nearer to sources of danger. In addition, respiratory protective equipment is always available at strategic points in plants but only in a few mines. (See Figs. 1 and Table 11) INSPECTING AND TESTING EQUIPMENT Plant water facilities are checked weekly and flushed at 6-month intervals, and hose is pressure-tested at least yearly; some mines check water yearly, but hose is not tested unless used. Fire extinguishers are inspected weekly in plants and completely overhauled yearly; one mine had monthly checks and overhauls only after use. FIRE BRIGADES AND TRAINING Every plant had designated fire-fighters and some complete full-time brigades; at one mine a chief mechanic was designated as being in charge of fires, and other depended entirely upon officials who might not be familiar with the equipment. COST OF FIRES AND PERCENTAGE OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN FIRE PROTECTION The direct cost of recent mine fires ranged from $128,000 to $240,000; indirect costs, such as lost tonnage, idled equipment, lost orders, and the like might run the cost to over $500,000. (See Figs. 2 and 3).

Jan 1, 1961

By Charles S. Barrett

NUMEROUS determinations1-7 of the tex-ture of cold-rolled polycrystalline iron, steel, and ferritic alloys have been made with good agreement among the various observers as to the principal features of the texture common to all, but there has been no adequate explanation of the texture in terms of the behavior of individual grains. This study presents an explanation of the texture based on the observed rotation of single crystals when deformed in a manner similar to a grain in the aggregate, a method we have found useful in leading to a better understanding of compression and tension textures;8,9,10 in particular, the aim has been to determine experimentally the end orientations of rolled single crystals of iron. These are discussed in connection with the point of view of Wever1 and of Boas and Schmid2 that the rolling texture is a simple compression texture (compression normal to the rolling plane) superimposed on a simple tension texture (tension in the roll-ing direction), and the point of view of Kurdjumow and Sachs3 that three ideal end orientations exist.

Jan 1, 1940

By John Chipman, Wayne L. Worrell

Using recent thermodynamic data for the carbides and oxides of tantalum, columbium, and vanadium, the stable solid phases aboue 1300°K and at 1 atm CO(g) pressure in each M-C-O system have been determined. Pourbaix-Ellingham diagrams have been constructed and are used to estimate the minimum temperatures necessary to obtain these metals by carbothermic reduction under reduced pressures. TANTALUM, columbium, and vanadium react with carbon to form the M,C and MC carbide phases. The M,C carbides have narrow homogeneity ranges, but the MC phases possess considerable ranges of homogeneity.' The free energies of formation of the MC carbides were recently measured, and those of MC and M2Ccarbides have been estimated., (The notations MC and MC denote, respectively, the carbide compositions at the carbon-rich and at the metal-rich boundaries of the homogeneous MC phase.) In this paper, these carbide data are combined with thermodynamic data for the oxides to predict the stable phases in the Ta-C-O, Cb-C-O, and V-C-O systems at specified temperatures and oxygen pressures. M-C-O PHASE DIAGRAMS The solid phases in equilibrium above 1300°K for each M-C-0 system are shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Above 1300°K, the vapor would consist entirely of carbon monoxide; and these phase diagrams were obtained by specifying the vapor pressure of CO(g) to be 1 atm. The temperature at which any two solid phases become unstable is specified along the two-phase equilibrium lines in each diagram. To simplify the diagrams, all solid phases in the Ta-C-O and Cb-C-O systems are represented as stoichiometric compounds. However, the homogeneity ranges of VO and VC are indicated, because they form a complete series of solid solutions.3 It also should be noted that the homogeneity range of

Jan 1, 1964

By K. J. Gill, P. Chiotti

Thermal, metallographic, and vapor pressure data were obtained to establish the phase diagram for the thorium-zinc system. Four compounds corresponding to the stoichiometric formulas Th2Zn, ThZn2, ThZn4, and Th2Zn17 were observed. The melting points of these compounds under constrained vapor conditions were found to be 1055°, 1105°, 1095°, and 1015°C respectively. Four eutectics exist in this system with the following eutectic temperatures and thorium contents in wt pct: 1040°C, 89 Th; 945°C, 79 Th; 1045°C, 55 Th; and 995°C, 35 Th. The standard free energy, enthalpy, and entropy of formation for the compounds were determined from zinc vapor pressure data. ALTHOUGH the thorium-zinc system has been of technical importance in the commercial production of thorium and more recently of interest to some proposed pyrometallurgical separations processes for reactor fuels or blanket materials no detailed investigation of this system has been made in the past. Some previous work has been reviewed by Hanssen.1 The existence of four compounds, Th2Zn17, ThZn4, ThZn2, and Th2Zn has been established and their crystal structures have been studied by X-ray diffraction techniques.2-4 Smirnov et al.,5 determined the solubility of thorium in zinc and investigated the two-phase region between Th2Zn17 and zinc. They calculated some of the thermodynamic properties for these alloys from emf measurements on the cells Th/ThCl4(fused)/Cl2, C and Th2Zn17(s)+ Zn (l)/ThCl4(fused)/Cl2, C. The possibility of reaction between the anode materials and fused thorium tetrachloride to produce a lower valent thorium salt would have to be resolved in order to evaluate the results obtained. The purpose of the present investigation is to establish the phase diagram for the thorium-zinc system and to determine the standard free energy, enthalpy, and entropy of formation for the compounds formed. MATERIALS AND EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES The metals employed in the preparation of alloys were Bunker Hill slab zinc, 99.99 pct pure and Ames Lalboratory thorium. The major impurities in the thorium in parts per million were oxygen—1250, carbon—350, iron—100, nitrogen-75, and silicon—70. The metals in the form of several small massive pieces, total weight about 30 g, were cleaned with acid, washed with water and acetone, and dried just prior to their use for alloy preparation. Tantalum containers were found to be suitable for all the alloys studied and were used throughout this investigation. The metals were sealed inside of small 1-in.-diam tantalum crucibles by welding on preformed tantalum covers. A small thermocouple well made from 1/8-in.-diam tantalum tubing was welded in the bottom of each crucible. These crucibles were enclosed in

Jan 1, 1962

By Albert Sauveur

It is delightful to read a technical paper like that of J. E. Johnson, The Effect of High Carbon on the Quality of Charcoal-Iron, presented in October, 1912, at the Cleveland meeting of the American Institute of Mining Engineers.' The clear, simple, and straightforward manner in which he describes his experiments and results makes you feel as if you had been, so to speak, at his elbow during the course of his investigations, while his method of procedure is so rational that you can fairly anticipate each step in the logical sequence of the tests performed. The following notes suggested by Mr. Johnson's paper are presented here in the hope that they may help, if only a mite, towards the final solution of a problem of considerable scientific and industrial importance. Physical Properties of Cast-Iron us. Its Ultimate Composition. Mr. Johnson writes that " an investigation along the lines of consumption showed that different irons have different characters totally independent of their analyses," and he declares that " the presence or absence of these elements [meaning carbon, phosphorus, silicon, and manganese] alone will not account for all, scarcely for a half, of the facts which have long been known." He further tells us that some foundries have " proved, by the most irrefutable tests, that they could take a certain iron of a given analysis and produce certain results," while with " another iron of the same analysis they could not produce these results at all." I feel confident that every experienced and thinking metallurgist will readily believe Mr. Johnson's statements and will share his views in regard to the hopelessness of inferring the

Jan 1, 1914

By E. B. Johnson

Cleveland-Cliffs lron Co., which operates Marquette lron Mining Co.'s Republic mine, conducted a test whereby 35,000 tons of self-fluxed pellets were produced in the grate-kiln system from specular hematite flotation concentrates. A brief description of the pelletizing plant is presented along with pertinent operating details. Date is included which compare operating conditions and the chemical and physical properties of the green and fired pellets for the self-fluxing pelletizing test with the normal acid pelletizing operation. The success of self-fluxed sinter in enhancing the operation of the blast furnace during the past few years has reasonably led to the assumption that the use of self-fluxed pellets might result in even greater furnace efficiencies. A great share of development work in agglomeration has been directed towards techniques related to the production of self-fluxed pellets, but only a limited tonnage of self-fluxed pellets had been produced on a commercial scale until this past year when The Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Co. produced 35,000 tons of such pellets by the grate kiln system at the Republic mine during the period May 21-June 5, 1962. REPUBLIC'S GRATE-KILN PLANT The grate-kiln pelletizing process consists of four stages, namely: feed or balling circuit, traveling grate, rotary kiln and annular cooler (Fig. 1). The balling section is conventional and utilizes four 9x30-ft balling drums in closed circuit with 5x14-ft vibrating screens having 3/8-in. rod decks. The traveling grate is 12 ft wide by 126 ft long and has 14 windboxes — six in the drying section and eight in the preheat section. The rotary kiln is 15 ft ID shell and 114 ft long. The annular cooler is 40 ft in diameter and has 12 windboxes. The cooler is divided into two zones by a moveable curtain wall. The high temperature air from the first zone is used as secondary combustion air in the kiln. Normally the only heat supplied is through the burning of No. 6 oil in the single kiln burner. Hot gases pass counter to the pellet flow through the system. The exit gases from the kiln pass down draft through the preheat section through cyclones and are drawn through the drying bed prior to exiting via the stack. The temperatures are normally held within the following ranges: Kiln 2400-2445 °F Preheat 1850-1950°F Drying 480-520°F Exit gas 200°F Pellets 120°F The design capacity of the Republic mine grate-kiln system was 2500 Itpd. Sustained production in excess of 35% over design capacity has been achieved. No screening of the cooler product is practiced. PELLETIZING TEST CONDITIONS When a decision was made to proceed with a test at the Republic mine pelletizing plant to produce 35,000 tons of self-fluxed pellets, several potential failure factors had to be carefully considered. Research work on a batch and pilot plant scale indicated that the grate-kiln system at Republic would require some major changes in order to obtain optimum conditions. In many cases compromises were agreed upon as major equipment changes and revisions were not feasible. The pelletizing conditions which laboratory development tests revealed were required in order to insure successful production of self-fluxed pellets were: 1) Good mixing of limestone and concentrate and proper moisture control; 2) Higher gas flow rates in the preheat section than are normally used; 3) Higher preheat temperatures than normal; 4) Maximum kiln temperature 2350°F. There was just cause for concern about balling problems that might occur. Approximately 10% of dry pulverized limestone was to be added to the specular hematite concentrate just ahead of the Pekay mixers on the belt feeding the balling drum. Large scale

Jan 1, 1963

By H. Linder, W. H. Dennen

The graphitic carbon content of soils may be used to detect and delimit subsurface graphitic zones. Spectrographic measurement of carbon in C horizon soils from several areas in the northeastern United States shows good correlation with known graphitic bodies. Bodies of graphite and sulfides are readily located by electromagnetic prospecting methods, but these methods cannot generally discriminate between them. Usual practice, therefore, requires follow-up work on electrically anomalous areas by trenching, drilling, or soil sampling in order to determine the mineralogical nature of the conductor. The efficiency and cost of such follow-up is consequently an important factor in prospecting. The presence of buried sulfide deposits is often reflected in concentrations of metals in the superincumbent soil. Simple chemical tests for such metal concentrations have been developed and applied with considerable success. Bodies of graphite or mixtures of graphite and sulfides are, however, very common and a means whereby buried graphite could be detected by soil testing should provide valuable additional information in the search for ore sulfide and graphite deposits. Graphite is a notably stable substance and should persist in soil above graphite-rich horizons. Microscopic examination of soil samples high in carbon, however, failed to reveal any recognizable graphite fragments indicating a grain size in the clay range. Presumably such small particles would have some mobility in a soil by a translocation mechanism similar to that proposed for the movement of clay particles in a soil profile. Experimental data supports this idea since the boundary between background and anomalous soils carbon values is quite sharp, but the anomalous zone is slightly broader than the graphitic source rock. A simple spectrochemical technique for the determination of carbon in geological materials has been described by Dennen,1 and may be directly applied to soils. A modification of this technique which employs an arcing chamber through which nitrogen is passed is recommended to decrease contributions from atmospheric carbon dioxide. Tests indicate that soils over graphitic zones may be strongly enriched in carbon. The spectrochemical determination of carbon depends upon the formation of the cyanogen molecule (CN) from carbon in a sample and atmospheric nitrogen, under the high temperatures associated with a dc arc. Samples for analysis are dried, lumps broken, and screened. A small portion of the -100 mesh fraction is packed into a copper electrode and excited as the cathode of a dc arc. The band spectra of cyanogen are recorded photographically and the density of the bandhead CN 3883A is measured. The limit of detection of the method is about 0.01 pct C and its coefficient of variation is about 15 pct. Soils, of course, contain carbon in other forms than graphite, and the amount of interference from such sources was examined. The C horizon of several soils from Massachusetts, Maine, and Pennsylvania were found to have a carbon content of 0.3 to 0.5 pct by weight. This content is chiefly due to the presence of carbonates and vegetable matter in the sample and may be readily eliminated, or at least

Jan 1, 1961

By A. M. Keenan, R. H. Carpenter

Geologic faults have always been a plague to the mining industry, and have often reduced a mining venture from a profitable to a marginal operation, and even at times have forced companies to liquidation or bankruptcy. The use of geology as an economic tool in coal mining is not generally recognized, particularly in coal deposits which are horizontal or essentially flat-lying, in which faulting might not be prevalent. However in pitching coal seams, the existence of faults is considered an inherent challenge, as the inclination of the seam or seams per se, is a product of geologic disturbance. The problems of faults are a constant challenge to the management of the Thompson Creek Coal and Coke Corp. in their operations in Pitkin County, Colorado, where high grade medium volatile coking coal is mined. The background for this paper has been provided by the experiences of these operations, in overcoming the effects of faults in mining, and resolving the fault structures. The properties of the Thompson Creek Coal and Coke Corp. are located in central Colorado, 13 miles southwest of Carbondale, Colorado, a tow] on the main highway between Glenwood Springs and Aspen, Fig. 1. The elevation at the mine portals is approximately 8000 feet: there is a relief of some 2.000 feet to the adjacent ridges rising away from the [nine portals. 'The entire present production of these properties totaling 180.000 tons of clean coal per year is trucked to the railhead at Carbondale, Colorado, from whence it is shipped to the Geneva Steel Plant at Provo, Utah. The properties were initially opened in September 1952. A total of 125 men are currently employed with the production conting from the Number 1 and 3 Mines, and development workings of the Number 2 and 5 Mines respectively. While the No. 2 Vine was opened in 1953 prior to No, 3 Mine, the encountering of faults without sufficient development work accomplished to sustain production, necessitated the diversion of manpower to the other [nines for economic considerations. GEOLOGY '1-he productive coal seams occur in the Mesaverde formation of Late Cretaceous age which outcrop along the eastern edge of the Piance Creek Basin from the Grand Hogback, a part of the southwestern flank of the White River Uplift north of Glenwood Springs, southward through the 'Thompson Creek area and the

Jan 1, 1961