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By Chas. A. Ashburner

The occurrence of oil- and gas-springs in the State of New York has been a fact of historical record since 1627, when the existence of the Cuba oil-spring was first recorded. The utilization of natural gas at Fredonia in 1821 attracted the attention of the public to the possibility of obtaining an illuminating gas by digging and drilling into the rocks. No active search was made, however, for oil or gas by the drilling of wells until after the discovery of commercial oil in Pennsylvania in 1859. In 1862 a well was drilled at Bradford, McKean County, Pennsylvania, but a few miles south of the New York state line, to the depth of 200 feet, in search of the oil-sand which had been found at Titusville, Oil City, and at other points in Western Pennsylvania. Immediately subsequent to this, other wells were drilled in search

Jan 1, 1888

By Hamilton Wingate

In his paper on the hydraulic mining of a low-grade gravel in California,* Mr. W. H. Radford expresses the hope that other members of the Institute will contribute, for the benefit of all, their experience in similar lines. In these notes 1 shall describe the conditions and results of the operation of the Gold Bug Mining Co., of Cleveland, O., at Georgetown, Eldorado county, Cal.

Jan 1, 1903

Executive.. CHARLES F. RAND, Chairman. JAMES F. KEMP, JOSEPH W. RICHARDS. ALBERT R. LEDOUX, BENJAMIN B. THAYER. Membership. BENJAMIN B. THAYER, Chairman. WALTER R. INGALLS, JOHN H. JANEWAY, Jr., JOHN D. IRVING, HERMAN A. PROSSER. Finance. EDWARD L, YOUNG, Chairman. KARL EILERS, JAMES GAYLEY. Library. JAMES F. KEMP, Chairman. JOHN HAYS HAMMOND,3 E. GYBBON SPILSBURY,2 ALES. C. HUMPHREYS 4 BRADLEY STOUGHTON.

Jan 7, 1913

By C. A. Heberlein

C. A. HEBERLEIN, New York, N. Y.-The results stated by Rey and Brevers are so startling that they are of great interest, as the concentration of a low percentage of cinnabar by differential flotation yields a high-grade concentrate in the presence of either arsenical or iron pyrite. The authors say: "Cyanide can thus be used to depress arsenopyrite and make a good cinnabar-arsenopyrite separation. A cinnabar-pyrite separation could probably be effected in the same way." Corrosive sublimate at the present price of mercury would be a very expensive reagent but the expense would be justifiable if a high rate of concentration could be obtained with a high extraction. On my request, special tests were made in the Punitaqui mill in Chile along the line suggested by the authors, without any improvement of either grade or extraction. As the recovery of the cinnabar in a complex sulphide of chalcopyrite and pyrite gave unsatisfactory results, I had tests made at the testing laboratory of the American Cyanamid Co. at Stamford, Conn. As these tests turned out to be highly satisfactory, not only at Stamford but later at the mine, they are presented here. [ ] The pulp had a density of 22 and a pH of 7.8. Total time of conditioning was one minute. The reagent added was Texas fuel oil, 0.116lb. of 33.7 Bé. gravity containing 0.9 per cent sulphur. Frother, 0.062 lb. of No. 5 pine oil. Rate of concentration of mercury was 25.7: 11. [ ]

Jan 1, 1941

By R. U. Fitting, A. C. Bulnes

Field experience with limestone and sandstone production indicates the existence of wide differences between the reservoir behavior of these two types of formation. Little attention appears to have been given to the separate study of the flow of fluids and the retention of fluids in limestones. This paper presents data and arguments to demonstrate the existence of a difference between the two types of formation, and urges the separate intensive investigation of limestone reservoirs. AH experimental data presented pertain to dolomitic limestone formations in west Texas and New Mexico. Two kinds of Porous media are recognized— intergranular and intermediate. Intergranular rocks are those in which the porosity and permeability are determined by the geometrical properties and the sorting of the sedimentary units; intermediate rocks, those in which there is no direct relationship between grain properties and the porosity and permeability. Limestones in general are intermediate media. The partial relationship between porosity and permeability of any class of Porous media is represelried by an area of .finite extent and definite shape on the permeability-porosity plane. The horizontal and vertical variations of porosity and of permeability in limestone and sandstone formations are discussed and compared. Comparisons are made of connate-water content, the relative permeability-saturation relationship, and capillary phenomena in the two kinds of rocks. A number of tentative conclusions are drawn relative to the reservoir properties of lime- stones; in particular, (I) dolomitic limestones are oil bearing and apparently are oil productive in zones of permeability less than 0.1 millidarcyj and (2) primary depletion (by gas expansion) oil saturations may be lower in dolomitic limestones than in sandstones. Introduction It is well known that the reservoir performance of limestones displays numerous irregularities when compared with that of sandstones, and that the departures from "normal" behavior of limestones are more frequent and generally more marked than in sandstones. This is particularly true of fractured limestones and those that have undergone considerable development of secondary porosity' A review of the literature of production research published during the past 15 years reveals a startling absence of theoretical and experimental investigations directed specifically toward explaining and predicting the performance of limestone reservoirs, even. though such problems as the prediction of water encroachment and the estimation of ultimate recoveries continue at the "inspired guess" stage. By far the greater part of the experimental data reported pertain to measurements on sandstone core samples, while the theoretical studies, almost without exception, are developed from the assumption of an ideal porous medium and therefore seldom are applicable to limestone formations. The chief cause of this situation appears to be the common belief that, to all practical intents and purposes, sandstones and the majority of producing limestone formations

Jan 1, 1945

By Howard Evans

Moderate but substantive gains were recorded in 1972 in the minerals processing industry. In the area of mill design, a number of large plants under construction during the past two to three years were tuned up and went into production. The application of operating controls has also made some significant strides. Progress here has been made in the areas of on-stream particle size analysis, on-stream x-ray analysis, slurry transportation, tripper control, flotation reagent control and digital control of grinding circuits. The major contributions to improved equipment are coming from smaller specialized equipment makers.

Jan 2, 1973

By T. F. Adams, D. P. Morse

Tunneling is primarily an excavating cycle consisting of a sequence of operations: drilling, shooting, ventilating, mucking, and erecting supports, if necessary. However, the type and condition of the ground that is being worked, as well as the size and shape of the tunnel, determine the rate of advance. In addition developments in drilling, ventilation, mucking, and haulage equipment have contributed to faster tunneling. Geology: This discussion will be limited primarily to rock tunnels or those which require the use of explosives, and the cost and hazards depend primarily on the condition of the rock which may be broken, decomposed, and contain water with gas. Advance geological study is an important part of any tunnel work and helps to minimize serious miscalculations. The geology itself, at best, is a matter of experience and prediction and it is not so much a matter of the types of rock the tunnel may go through, but a knowledge of the class and intensity of the rock defects that may be encountered.

Jan 4, 1958

By AIME

Compiled by Mary Ann Gross, Department of Energy. Bruceton. PA. Supplemental data from Coal Age indicated by (*). Reprinted by permission from CoalAge magazine.

Jan 1, 1981

By George M. Fowler, Joseph P. Lyden

PaGE Scope of this Report.................................................... 206 Production of Tri-State District.......................................... 207 Historical Sketch....................................................... 207 Location and Topography............................................... 211 Geology............................................................... 212 The Tri-State District.............................................. 214 Stratigraphy........................................................... 217 General Geological Section in Tri-State Region....................... 217 Stratigraphic Section of Mineralized part of Boone Formation........... 218 Stratigraphic Section Bird Dog Well.................................. 219 Metamorphism........................................................ 220 Structure............................................................. 225 Regional.......................................................... 225 Due to Metamorphism.............................................. 229 Ore Deposits.......................................................... 231 Types............................................................ 232 Hard-ground Deposits.......................................... 232 Brecciated................................................. 232 Stratified............................................ 232 Sheet Ground............................................. 232 In Dolomite............................................... 233 In Shale.................................................. 233 Soft-ground Deposits.......................................... 233 In the District as a Whole....................................... 233 Ore Minerah and Analysis......................................... 233 Paragenesis....................................................... 234 Conclusions........................................................... 236 Structure.......................................................... 236 Genesis of the Ore.................................................. 237 Future of the District............................................... 239 Acknowledgments..................................................... 239 Discussion............................................................ 239 Scope of This Report The Tri-State district. as outlined in this paper. refers to the entire mineralized area in sout'hwestern Missouri. southeastern Kansas and

Jan 1, 1932

By Paul L. Hunter

Nearly 2000 people are employed at Kennecott's Chino Mines Division, which recently completed its 50th year as a leading copper producer. Chino operates an open pit mine at Santa Rita, N.M., and a reduction plant, including mill, power plant, and smelter, at Hurley, N.M. The property mines 66,000 tons of copper ore and materials per day. There have been safety and industrial health programs at Chino for a number of years, but in 1955 these procedures were reorganized on a more active basis. The following discussion evaluates the progress made during the 1955-1958 period.

Jan 6, 1960

Jan 1, 1948

By F. W. C. Boswell, R. L. Cunningham, H. M. Weld

Chemical analysis shows the partition of the magnesium addition between the metal and the graphite is independent of whether the graphite is in the form of nodules or flakes. The bright central spot observed in nodular graphite polished sections is shown to be due to the structure of the nodules. DURING the past few years numerous papers have been published on the production1-7 and heat treatment" of nodular cast irons. However, very little information is available on the structure of the nodules and the reason for their formation. It would appear that an explanation of the phenomenon of nodulation must await a detailed knowledge of the nature of the nodule. Disagreement exists among various workers on such a fundamental point as to whether or not a nodule actually contains a microscopically visible, nongraphitic nucleus.9-11 Work was initiated with a view to obtaining definite information on this and other aspects of the problem. Chemical Separation and Analysis Microscopic appearance had indicated9-11 that a nongraphitic core might exist in nodules (Fig. 1). It appeared that a chemical comparison of separated nodules and flake graphite would be profitable, for if the core is nongraphitic a relatively large amount of certain elements would be found in the nodules as compared to the flake. This comparison could best be made by obtaining nodules and flake from the same melt of cast iron, part of which had been in-noculated with a suitable addition reagent for the formation of nodules. A 300 lb melt was produced. About half of this was innoculated in the ladle with an Fe-Si-Mg alloy to produce nodules and cast into keel blocks; the remaining half of the melt had silicon added in an effort to compensate for the silicon in the innoculant used in the other half of the melt and this was cast into similar keel blocks. The analyses of the resultant irons are given in Table I. Nodules and flake were chemically extracted from 2 kg samples of metal as described in the appendix. While this method dissolved the iron and chromium carbides, it did not dissolve the titanium, vanadium, and molybdenum carbides. These latter carbides could have been removed by nitric acid, but in other experiments it was found that it attacked pools of metallic iron entrapped in the nodules which had, until the nitric acid treatment, been protected from the attack of the sulphuric, hydrochloric, and hydrofluoric acids. It will be shown in the next section that entrapped iron exists in nodules but not in flake. On microscopic examination many tiny irregular particles were observed to accompany both the nodules and the flake. These were identified by tabling a sample of nodules from which a sufficient fraction was obtained for X-ray analysis. A good pattern of titanium carbide was obtained indicating that this was the predominant compound present. Since it was not possible to determine how completely the carbides could be removed mechanically and since their removal from flake is much more difficult, it was decided not to resort to any separation as this would render further comparisons more difficult. The samples were ashed in a combustion

Jan 1, 1953

By F. L. Bosqui

The history of the development of gold metallurgy in South Africa is divisible into two periods: That preceding the introduction of the cyanide process on a commercial scale in 1890; and the 24 years intervening between that important event and the present time. The period between the discovery of the banket reefs of the Witwaters-rand and the year 1890 was one of phenomenally rapid progress in mining development, but of no special interest to the metallurgist, There were no strikingly original or distinctly local advances in the treatment of gold ores. Californian practice in stamp milling and amalgamation prevailed, in mills ranging in equipment between 5 and 50 stamps, operating within a wide range of efficiency, and under the trying conditions usually encountered in a new and isolated field. The somewhat incomplete records of gold output of that period show that in December, 1887, there were 20 producing companies in the Witwatersrand district, of which 10 had mills, the largest being of 20 stamps. The only official record of returns for May, 1887, was that of the Wemmer mine, whose modest achievement with a 5-stamp mill was 100 tons crushed, producing 887 oz. 3 dwt. of gold. This is interesting in view of the present-day output of this field, which in 1913 reached 8,430,998 oz. The rapid increase of production during this first period (May, 1887, to January 1891) is shown by the following summary for the year 1890:1 Total tone crushed.................................. 702,828 Number of stamps in operation....................... 1,046 Average number of tons crushed per stamp per day..... 2.36 Yield of gold, ounces................................ 494,817 Yield per ton, pennyweights.......................... 13.36 The stamp duty ranged between 11/2 and 4 tons per day, according to weight of stamp, fineness of screen, and operating skill available. The prevailing weight of stamp was about 900 lb., and the screen, 900 meshes to the square inch.

Jan 1, 1916

By W. A. Foster

NINETY years after the Riddle nickel deposit N was discovered in Oregon in 1864, Hanna Coal & Ore Corp. began mining operations. Until 1954 much prospecting and preliminary development work had been done on the property, but no ore had been shipped other than for metallurgical testing. The deposit is being explored by churn drilling and trenching, and a few test shafts have been put down for the purpose of studying the ore in place, determining volume and moisture factors, and gathering bulk samples for pilot plant and smelter tests. In churn drilling, 6-in. casing is driven down 2 or 3 ft behind the drill bit and bottomed at each 5-ft interval. All the sludge for each cased 5-ft interval is dumped through a splitter and one eighth is saved and analyzed. Drillholes are stopped after going through the ore zone and penetrating fresh peridotite in which the nickel content is less than 0.5 pct.

Jan 8, 1957

Executive SIDNEY .J. JENNINGS, Chairman GEORGE D. BAR HON .I. E. JOHNSON, JR. EDWIN LUDLOW ROBERT M. RAYMOND Membership KARL EILERS, chairman LEWIS W. FRANCIS .1. E. JOHNSON, JR. LOUIS D. HUNTOON ARTHUR. L. WALKER Finance GEORGE D. BARRON. Chairman. CHARLES F. RAND BENJAMIN B. THAYER Library E. GYBBON SPILSBURY1 Chairman ALEX C. HUMIPHREYS3 GEORGE C. STONE .J. H. JANEWAY4 BRADLEY STOUGHTON Papers and Publications BRADLEY STOUGHTON, Chairman

Jan 10, 1918

By Geo. H. Ashley

THE year 1923 saw a decline in the production of crude oil and a strong advance in the production of natural gas. The production of petroleum in Pennsylvania has been remarkably uniform for many years, but with a slight average decline. Until 1918, production was maintained above 7,500,000 bbl. Four of the six years from 1918 to 1923, inclusive, saw a yield of between 7,400,000 and 7,500,000 bbl.; 1923 gave only 7,253,000 bbl. The production of natural gas in Pennsylvania has been variable, reaching a maximum of 138,000,000,000 cu. ft. in 1906 and nearly reaching that figure again in 1907 and 1917. In 1921 production dropped to 86,000,000,000 cu. ft., and it seemed that a rapid decline had set in. Prices were raised by most of the gas companies, and -these raises sustained by the Public Service Commission. Possibly as a result of this and the better prices realized, drilling in the gas fields has been active. The year 1923 has not been prolific in large oil wells. The largest single well was drilled by the Manufacturers Light & Heat Co. on the William Auld farm near Prosperity, Morris township, Washington County. This well started at 225 bbl, but quickly dropped to 60 bbl. A 100-bbl. well was struck in September in Springhill township, Greene County. Three wells in the Tidioute pool started at 50 bbl. or better, and a well near the 28th Ward, Pittsburgh, came in at 60 bbl. One well in Washington County started at 50 bbl., but all of the other wells started at less than 20 bbl. The Tidioute pool, which was the sensation of 1922, had by Jan. 1, 1923, dropped in daily total production to 1430 bbl., by Feb. 1 to 1040 bbl., and by May 1 to 700 bbl. At that time, most of the wells were still flowing naturally, though, as the gas pressure was rapidly decreasing, it was not anticipated that such a flow would long continue. As the wells in this pool started at from 500 to. 800 bbl.. a day, it is evident how rapidly they fell off. In August, 1922, the average production per well per day was 44 bbl. ; in February, 1923, 4 bbl.

Jan 3, 1924

By R. L. Wiegel

The two questions considered in this study are: (1) what similarity is there in the liberation of magnetite from various iron formations, and (2) how is this liberation affected by the size reduction technique employed. Twelve sample suites were obtained from commercial concentrators processing magnetite iron formation in the United States, Canada, and Australia. These samples have grades in the range 15 to 45% magnetite iron and approximate mineral grain sizes o f 50 to 2000 microns. Efforts were directed at measuring the liberation characteristics of the samples obtained from the concentrators primary grinding mills. The Davis tube, a laboratory magnetic separator, was used to concentrate individual size fractions of the size reduction product to determine liberation data. These liberation data were compared with relationships calculated from a highly idealized mathematical model of liberation in a binary mineral system. The results of these comparisons have been encouraging for nine or ten of the twelve samples tested. This leads to the conclusion that for most commercial iron formations, at least with conventional rod mill size reduction, it is possible to quantitatively characterize liberation with two parameters: an effective mineral grain size and ore grade. Limited laboratory size reduction tests as well as one of two sets of liberation data from commercial primary autogenous grinding lend some support to the contention that autogenous grinding can affect mineral liberation.

Jan 1, 1976

By W. Gundaker, F. C. Schwerer

Natural chromium-bearing spinels (chromites), which are used as refractory materials in basic steelmaking, are the only commercially important chromium ore and are also encountered as difficult-to-separate contaminants in ore deposits of potential economic value. Techniques for characterization and separation of ore materials frequently are dependent on the magnetic properties of the constituent minerals. An experimental program was initiated to explore the effects of temperature and of simple mechanical and thermal treatments on the static magnetic properties of several ore-grade natural chromites. Studies of the temperature dependence of the magnetic properties showed that the natural chromites, which are dilute in the magnetic ions Fe and Cr, order magnetically only at cryogenic temperatures. However, mechanical treatment in the form of crushing produces a magnetic component that is ordered at room temperature and that is of sufficient strength to alter magnetic-separation characteristics. The additional magnetic component apparently is associated with surface structures which develop during crushing and disappear after heating to above about 500°C. Preliminary studies indicate that this surface structure enhances the susceptibility of the chromite grain surfaces to gas reactions at moderate temperatures.

Jan 1, 1976

By Forbes Rickard

Gilpin County, the cradle of mining in Colorado and the Cornwall of North America, is too well known to need much introduction; get, for the benefit of those not familiar with the district, it may be well to premise that it comprises a tract of country of about 122 square miles, lying between the counties of Jefferson, Boulder and Clear Creek, and hounded on the west by the main range of the Colorado Rockies. It is located centrally in the State, 40 miles west from the city of Denver. During the 38 years since the first gold-discovery, Gilpin county has contributed about eighty million dollars in gold and silver to the world's supply of these metals. Many mining districts have had their rise and decline in half this time; but, very far from being exhausted, this mining district is still in the ascendant; its output is increasing (it was $3,600,000 for the year just closed), and it was never more prosperous nor productive than to-day. Taken generally, there does not exist anywhere in the world so great a number of permanent veins within so small an area as in this district. Gilpin is practically a " poor man's camp." Its veins, with few exceptions, outcrop at the surface. In the oarlier---days of the camp these outcrops were worked in many instances by sluice-mining; particularly is this the case with regard to the veins of the Russell gulch. Discoveries are still made in the heart of this district, and the productive area is every year extending its limits. The districts of Yankee Hill, Hawkeye and Pine Creek, which used to be isolated, are now part and portion of the one gold-field of Gilpin county. Within the last year sensationally rich gold-discoveries have

Jan 1, 1899

By R. B. Woodworth

In the sinking of bore holes, there are but two fundamental operations —drilling and hoisting—which determine in the main the character of drilling mechanism and structures. There are endless ramifications, however, in the execution of these fundamental operations, according to the purposes for which the bore holes are drilled, their maintenance after completion, the protection and convenience of workmen, etc. The three main lines of use for bore holes are in mineral exploration, the sinking of water and salt wells, and the exploitation of pqtroleum and natural gas. This paper has to do more especially with the last. Here again there are many divergences. Wells may be drilled by either the percussive, the hydraulic, or the abrasive method. Finally, each of these methods, as applied by drillers of diverse nationalities, has followed somewhat different lines of development. The American system of cable-tool drilling has perhaps had the widest application; the hydraulic rotary is also in extensive use; but the Canadian system, the Galician system, and the Russian free-fall system all have their points of recognized merit and are preferred by operators accustomed to their use. These differences in drilling procedure, which rest ultimately on essential variations in geological conditions, are reflected in the drilling structures as well as in the drilling mechanism. The purpose of the present paper is to record those stages in the development of the application of steel to the construction of drilling mechanism and structures with which the writer has been intimately associated, and to contribute to the history of the art of drilling other data acquired in the course of his personal investigations. It is necessarily limited by reason of space to American practice, with especial reference, therefore, to the cable-tool system and the hydraulic rotary method of drilling wells for oil and gas.

Jan 1, 1916