Search Documents

By Lloyd Pollish, Robert N. Breckenridge

SUCCESS in any underground mining operation is determined by accessibility of the orebody, which in turn is dependent upon maintenance of passage- ways to the mining zones and temporary support of the voids caused by extraction of ore. This is accomplished by one or a combination of the following methods: timbering, back-filling, pillaring, or, more recently, rock bolting. Timbering has usually been the principal means of maintaining these underground openings necessary for mining operations. Timber, however, does not prevent ground movement beyond the scope of localized sloughing, which is indicated by the gradual failing of the timber itself. Besides this, timbering has always been a costly process, and with the decline of available supplies of timber close to the mining areas, mining men have constantly sought other methods of controlling ground.

Jan 7, 1954

By R. W. Nash, A. E. Schwaneke, V. R. Miller

The Bureau of Mines developed a detector for controlling sorting devices to separate the copper-bearing fragments from the barren portion of Michigan native copper and western prophyry copper ores. A successful sorter could be used to preconcentrate the ore and eliminate costly hoisting or hauling of waste. An induction balance unit was developed and used in sorting tests on crushed sized - 2.5 + 1.3-cm (- 1 + 112- in.) ores from the Kingston (0.9% Cu) and Centennial (1.6% Cu) mines of Upper Michigan. Concentrates of 4.0% and 7.5% Cu, respectively, were obtained at recoveries of 85 and 80% of the copper in the feed. Eighty percent of the sorted ore was rejected as tailing. Sorting larger fragments improved the separation efficiency. Tests on - 10+ 5-cm (- 4 +2-in.) sized Kingston (1.6% Cu) and Centennial (2.1 % Cu) ore samples yielded concentrates of 4.3 and 4.5% Cu, respectively, with corresponding recoveries of 92 and 91 %. A bout 60% of the sorted ore was discarded as tailing. Porphyry copper sulfide ores also responded to electronic sorting but at a lower separation efficiency. Sorting response was affected by the degree of segregation.

Jan 1, 1979

By Ingvar Janelid

DURING the last ten years, in the effort to save manpower and costs, methods of drilling and blasting in Sweden have changed and developed in a revolutionary manner. These developments have been accompanied by extensive alterations in methods of tunneling and in mining technique. Since the end of the 1940's there has been a 100 pct change-over in Sweden to the use of tungsten carbide tipped drill steel. Both investigations and practical results have shown clearly that a tungsten carbide chisel bit fastened directly on the drill steel is the most economical for Swedish conditions. This applies to drill steel up to the longest size it is practical to handle. In terms of drilling footage, durability of the drill steel and the tungsten carbide bit is generally the same. In this respect, therefore, a detachable bit offers no advantage over integral steel. Transportation of integral steel to the grinding plant, instead of detachable bits only, involves heavier work, but this is counteracted by placing grinding plants closer together or by grinding at the working place itself. The drilling rate with integral steel is higher, the trouble of changing bits is avoided, and the difficulties which always arise with joints are eliminated.

Jan 6, 1954

By E. S. Leaver

THE presence of soluble base metals in precious-metal ores usually precludes cyanidation as the best method of treatment. The laboratory experiments described in this paper show the possibility of cyanidation of gold-silver ores containing less than 0.5 per cent, of cyanide-soluble copper and the effect of zinc in the cyanide solution. PART I.-COPPER IN CYANIDATION The proposed process of cyanidation of precious-metal ores containing copper is based on the regeneration of about 80 per cent., of the cyanide used in the dissolution of the copper. The method of regeneration involves a combination of the sulfide and the acid precipitation of the copper and silver. The resultant solution is made alkaline with lime, and the gold is precipitated with zinc dust. Solubility of Copper Minerals in Cyanide Solution In order to determine the solubility of copper minerals, including metallic copper, under the usual conditions for cyanidation, experiments were conducted with synthetic ores. Each ore sample was prepared by mixing the particular pure copper mineral with barren sea sand. Both the mineral and sand were ground to pass 100 mesh before they were thoroughly mixed. The percentage of copper in each head sample was determined by direct assay, excepting the metallic copper sample, which was computed on weights before mixing. Table 1 gives the results.

Jan 1, 1929

By Giovanni B. Barla, Stefan H. Boshkov

The block caving method is examined in this paper on the basis of experimental results and observations in the field, and through the use of numerical modeling by the Finite Element Method. The Grace Mine, developed by a panel caving method, served as a reference case. However, the results obtained and the simulation techniques which have been developed may find useful application in more general conditions as encountered in other mining operations by block caving. Following a brief description of the Grace Mine and of the mining method, the problems associated with the behavior of underground drifts at the production levels, during undercutting and caving, are addressed. The most important results obtained through monitoring of strains and loads in the supports of a runway are discussed, while giving relevance to the sequence of mining operations in the immediate vicinity. The most important geomechanical data, as provided for subsequent modeling, are described with reference to: (a) rock mass characterization and (b) in situ state of stress. Then, the numerical modeling procedures, developed by the Finite Element Method in order to predict the caving phenomena and the behavior of underground openings during undercutting, are discussed. Finally, an attempt is made to compare the pre- dictions of the numerical analyses with, the measurements carried out at the instrumented site. Suggestions as to how to improve the results both qualitatively and quantitatively are also given.

Jan 1, 1984

By T. S. Jr. Sligh

OF all the qualities that are essential in a good cigar tobacco none is quite so important as the burn. This term is general and includes many points, the most important of which are evenness of burn, color of ash, firmness and coherence of ash, and fire-holding capacity. The fire-holding capacity refers to the length of time the leaf or cigar will continue to, glow after ignition. Chlorides tend to prevent complete combustion and products are formed thereby that are injurious to the flavor and aroma. On the other hand, the carbonates of the alkalies, particularly of potassium, aid the combustion and increase the fire-holding capacity. Barth1 thought that the harmful effect of the chlorides was due to their fusing and coating the tobacco, thereby preventing complete combustion. Schlosing,2 Nessler,3 and Garner,4 suggested widely different theories to account for the favorable action of potassium salts. In order to study carefully the action of the various salts upon the course of combustion of the cigar a knowledge of the temperature of the burning cigar is necessary. Lehmann5 who seems to be the only investigator who has made any attempt to determine the temperature of a burning cigar gives 480° C. as the maximum temperature which he recorded. It is evident, however, that his measurements were in error, probably on account of the method and apparatus used, since the lowest visible red corresponds to a temperature of about 575° C.

Jan 9, 1919

By Carl A Zapffe, George A. Moore

In a previous publication from this laboratory1 the conclusion was drawn that the embrittling effect of occluded hydrogen on iron and steel must result from the precipitation of the gas within small openings through the crystal structure. A review of the literature then published indicated the real existence of crystal substructures of the mosaic type and gave presumptive evidence that the "rift openings" associated with hydrogen occlusion are the same as the L'disjunctions" of the mosaic theory. Inasmuch as no clear conception of the actual nature of the crystal fragments and openings inherent in these theories has been established, it was considered desirable to obtain direct micrographic evidence of their true configuration. In this direction the standard methods of metallographic attack have proved useless. Recourse was had, therefore, to the direct examination of the surfaces upon which failure by cleavage had resulted from the presence of hydrogen. It was expected that such a surface, unaffected by chemical attack and undis-torted by polishing, would reveal the fine openings penetrated by the gas and thus indicate the real nature of the substructures. Materials Studied In commercial steels, defects caused by hydrogen take various external forms according to such factors as structure and purity, and to the extent to which hydrogen either occludes or produces chemical changes. The present work relates only to the well-known transcrystalline hydrogen embrittlement—-"pickling brittleness "—in which elemental hydrogen occluded within the grain develops cleavage characteristics. For example, hydrogen embrittlement resulting from hydrogen reaction products is excluded from detailed study. It was also desirable, as far as possible, to have the study uncomplicated by other elements which themselves cause brittleness. Three types of iron were used. These included ingot iron, decarburized free-machining steel, and a specially prepared, aluminum-killed, electrolytic iron. This choice allowed a comprehensive selection of unavoidable minor impurities and inclusions, which could subsequently be shown to have no specific effects on the structures within the grains. Carbon, and any other impurities free to react with hydrogen, were first removed by a preliminary annealing treatment in hydrogen. Subsequent treatment in vacuo extracted much of this hydrogen and its gaseous reaction products. The resultant ductile iron was then embrittled either by a second anneal in hydrogen, followed by rapid cooling, or by cathodic electrolysis. Group 1: Prepared from Armco Ingot Iron As shown in Table 1, the principal impurity in this iron was oxygen, which survived the purifying treatment to a large extent. Two series were prepared. The first (Nos. SIO-24) was purified only one day in hydrogen and dehydrogenized one day in nitrogen. Containing both hydrogen and its

Jan 1, 1943

By Carl A. Zapffe, George A. Moore

In a previous publication from this laboratory1 the conclusion was drawn that the embrittling effect of occluded hydrogen on iron and steel must result from the precipitation of the gas within small openings through the crystal structure. A review of the literature then published indicated the real existence of crystal substructures of the mosaic type and gave presumptive evidence that the "rift openings" associated with hydrogen occlusion are the same as the L'disjunctions" of the mosaic theory. Inasmuch as no clear conception of the actual nature of the crystal fragments and openings inherent in these theories has been established, it was considered desirable to obtain direct micrographic evidence of their true configuration. In this direction the standard methods of metallographic attack have proved useless. Recourse was had, therefore, to the direct examination of the surfaces upon which failure by cleavage had resulted from the presence of hydrogen. It was expected that such a surface, unaffected by chemical attack and undis-torted by polishing, would reveal the fine openings penetrated by the gas and thus indicate the real nature of the substructures. Materials Studied In commercial steels, defects caused by hydrogen take various external forms according to such factors as structure and purity, and to the extent to which hydrogen either occludes or produces chemical changes. The present work relates only to the well-known transcrystalline hydrogen embrittlement—-"pickling brittleness "—in which elemental hydrogen occluded within the grain develops cleavage characteristics. For example, hydrogen embrittlement resulting from hydrogen reaction products is excluded from detailed study. It was also desirable, as far as possible, to have the study uncomplicated by other elements which themselves cause brittleness. Three types of iron were used. These included ingot iron, decarburized free-machining steel, and a specially prepared, aluminum-killed, electrolytic iron. This choice allowed a comprehensive selection of unavoidable minor impurities and inclusions, which could subsequently be shown to have no specific effects on the structures within the grains. Carbon, and any other impurities free to react with hydrogen, were first removed by a preliminary annealing treatment in hydrogen. Subsequent treatment in vacuo extracted much of this hydrogen and its gaseous reaction products. The resultant ductile iron was then embrittled either by a second anneal in hydrogen, followed by rapid cooling, or by cathodic electrolysis. Group 1: Prepared from Armco Ingot Iron As shown in Table 1, the principal impurity in this iron was oxygen, which survived the purifying treatment to a large extent. Two series were prepared. The first (Nos. SIO-24) was purified only one day in hydrogen and dehydrogenized one day in nitrogen. Containing both hydrogen and its

Jan 1, 1943

By H. E. Rorschach

Activity in Oklahoma fields declined in 1938 from the banner year of 1937. During the year, 1768 wells were completed as compared to 2632 completed during the year 1937. The following tabulation sets out details regarding the wells completed during the year: These computations do not take into account the wells drilled for repres-sure and salt-water disposal, and other nonexploratory wells. Purchasers' reports filed with the Corporation Commission of the State of Oklahoma show a total of 168,789,229 bbl. of oil purchased from Oklahoma leases in 1938, or a daily average of 462,436, a decrease of about 25 per cent from the year 1937. The outstanding operation of the year was the further development of the Ramsey pool, in western Payne County, the producing horizon being classified as the Wilcox. This pool was discovered on the last day in the year 1937, by the Mid-Continent Petroleum Corporation drilling on a unitized block in see. 18, T. 18 N., R. 2 E. The map in Fig. 1 shows the development at the end of the year 1938. An important discovery of the year was the Champlin Refining Company's No. 1 Boehm, in Garfield County, sec. 4-24N-8W., the producing horizon being the second Wilcox found at a depth of approximately 6700 ft. This pool was assigned the name of Hillsdale. Some of the offsets to this discovery well had not come up to expectations at the end of the year, but the discovery seems to be important as indicating that the Wilcox sand is productive in the Anadarko Basin area, providing that the right structural conditions are present.

Jan 1, 1939

By Mark Malamphy

DURING colonial times, Brazil was famous for the richness of her alluvial gold deposits. Paul Ferrand has estimated that the gold produced during the period from 1700 to 1820 was the equivalent of some 64 million pounds sterling. Since that time, most of the more prolific alluvial deposits have been exhausted. A few gold mines are still func-tioning, notably the Morro Velho mine, which is one of the deepest mines in the world. Today, the gold production of Brazil is insignificant when compared with world figures, but there are still many gold-bearing regions and it is probable that in at least some of them profitable returns would result from an exploitation program taking advantage of all the most modern innovations in gold mining and ore treatment on a large scale. In order to demonstrate the value of some of these abandoned pros-pects and stir up interest in increasing the national gold production, the government has stimulated research. Experimental plants have been and are being established in various places, and tests on large quantities of ores are being carried out on a semicommercial basis. The Geological Survey of the State of Minas Geraes is very active in this line and the Federal Institution is also showing an increased interest in the matter. One of the lesser known gold-bearing regions of Brazil is in the vicinity of Lavras, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. Gold was first reported from this region in the early part of the nineteenth century. In 1811, D. João VI sent an experienced prospector from Minas Geraes to investi-gate the validity of the reports. According to the reports of Baron

Jan 1, 1934

By H. E. Rorschach

Activity in Oklahoma fields declined in 1938 from the banner year of 1937. During the year, 1768 wells were completed as compared to 2632 completed during the year 1937. The following tabulation sets out details regarding the wells completed during the year: These computations do not take into account the wells drilled for repres-sure and salt-water disposal, and other nonexploratory wells. Purchasers' reports filed with the Corporation Commission of the State of Oklahoma show a total of 168,789,229 bbl. of oil purchased from Oklahoma leases in 1938, or a daily average of 462,436, a decrease of about 25 per cent from the year 1937. The outstanding operation of the year was the further development of the Ramsey pool, in western Payne County, the producing horizon being classified as the Wilcox. This pool was discovered on the last day in the year 1937, by the Mid-Continent Petroleum Corporation drilling on a unitized block in see. 18, T. 18 N., R. 2 E. The map in Fig. 1 shows the development at the end of the year 1938. An important discovery of the year was the Champlin Refining Company's No. 1 Boehm, in Garfield County, sec. 4-24N-8W., the producing horizon being the second Wilcox found at a depth of approximately 6700 ft. This pool was assigned the name of Hillsdale. Some of the offsets to this discovery well had not come up to expectations at the end of the year, but the discovery seems to be important as indicating that the Wilcox sand is productive in the Anadarko Basin area, providing that the right structural conditions are present.

Jan 1, 1939

By T. S. Hutchinson, C. E. Kemp

The bottom water drive analysis presented by Muskat has been extended to include fields with wider well spacings. Curves are presented from which volumetric sweepout, water-oil ratio, and rate relations may be calculated. The effects of non-unity ratios on sweepout eficiency and productivity decline have been studied by an approximate method. Also, the effect of gravity on volumetric sweepout has been approximated for a particurlar geometry. INTRODUCTION The purpose of this paper is to report work done in applying the analysis of bottom water drive reservoirs given by Muskat1 to a larger class of reservoirs, to extend this analysis to include the effects of gravity and non-unity mobility ratios in an approximate manner, and to investigate the rate of decline of productive capacity. The bottom water drive type reservoir is one where the oil is underlain by a water zone of sufficient thickness that water movement is essentially vertical. This system is defined in more detail in the appendix and a one well element is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1. Muskat obtained solutions to the equations describing the volumetric displacement efficiency of idealized bottom water drive systems by assuming that gravity effects due to differences in density betwecn oil and water were negligible and that the mobilities of oil and water were the same. If either of these assumptions is not made, the complexity of the system makes an analytical solution well nigh impossible at the present stage of mathematical development. Coles and Stade' developed an approximation to consider these factors. The authors have refined approximations, starting with the same basic assumption, which should give a somewhat quantitative picture of bottom water drive performance when mobilities are not equal and the effects of gravity are not negligible. The results of these approximate calculations can then be used to obtain the decline in well productivity as the field is depleted.

Jan 1, 1957

By George Wolff

To THE average person, the purport of the items and figures on the balance sheet of a mining company are hazy and the real financial condition of the company is cloaked in obscurity. It is also likely that the satisfaction of the stockholder in his investment, as well as the determination of the prospective investor, rests more on the reputation of the company, his confidence in the management, the stated earnings per share and the dividends paid, than on a comprehension of the information contained in the balance sheet. The balance sheet of any company at best can only closely approximate the true financial condition as of a given date. Any item of asset, except cash, can probably be altered if another's viewpoint is applied. It is difficult and expensive to drill and explore an orebody to determine the entire tonnage of ore therein. Those inherent difficulties render it practically impossible to prepare an absolutely correct balance sheet of a mining company. It is possible, however, to present the facts of a mining company more intelligently and comprehensively than is usually done. With this in mind, a balance sheet of an imaginary mining company is submitted, with supporting schedules. The same fundamental principles hold true whether we consider a large or a small company. Less complexity is involved in dealing with the affairs of a smaller company. Therefore, for this purpose, the assumed company operates but two mines and a smelting plant. It has been deemed advisable to introduce the features of the operation of a mine acquired prior to March 1, 1913 and one after that date. The presentation therefore is concerned in one mine with the appraisement as of March 1, 1913 and in the other with the appraisement by reason of discovery. A consequential factor pertains to dividends paid from depletion reserves and therefore free of surtax to the stockholders. While supporting schedules, when necessary, give details of certain items on the balance sheet, it seems desirable to give further explanations with respect to some of them. This seems to be important because some mining companies do not treat the items as indicated on the statements submitted.

Jan 1, 1928

By Fred D. Rosi

Introduction There is probably no field in which materials research has played a greater role than that of electronics. However, to trace present and future patterns of materials research in electronics is not an easy assignment, since this industry has a high degree of dynamism in its growth, and is busily engaged today in the scientific improbabilities of only recent yesterdays. On the other hand, this task seems especially appropriate since electronics is a truly frontier industry - one whose place in American industries has advanced from 50th prior to World War II to 6th in 1967, with sales of more than $22 billion. And this growth has been associated with the equally rapid progress of science and technology over the period - in particular with the emergence of materials science as a vital force in underscoring this progress. For several reasons this parallel growth is not too surprising. First, by its very definition electronics is a science that essentially deals with the nature, behavior, detection, generation, control and utilization of electrons in solids or at their surfaces. Second, in the electronics industry, systems are made of an integration of components, and these components with their interconnections are made of materials. Thus, the basic building blocks of systems are materials; and it has been largely the advances in materials research and technology that have led to new and improved devices and systems. It follows, therefore, that the broadening of the frontiers in electronics through the exploration of new territories is tantamount to scientific discovery and materials innovation to a degree found in no other major industrial activity. But to put this in the proper perspective of present and future materials trends, it would be appropriate first to survey historically the progress in electronics by pointing out major scientific discoveries and associated materials research patterns that have led directly to its tremendous growth. Then from this base we can consider recent trends in materials research that could form the basis for future progress in the electronics industry. In my review I shall examine the areas most familiar to me, so I must acknowledge at the outset that this survey is not all-inclusive.

Jan 1, 1971

By L. D. Ricketts

' In recent years the metallurgical field of the copper industry has expanded greatly, the copper ores have become lean add diverse in charactcr, and we are obliged to treat such ores on a very large scale. On the commercial side, the operating and consulting staffs of the great mining companies have been enlarged and organized, and no great capital expenditure is decided upon until it has been investigated and recommended by a highly organized force of specialists as a committee. I believe that in the scientific field and in the most valuable proceedings of our -various societies the old idea of one-man point of view and one-man treatment of principle and detail together has been splendidly developed and should continue, but for the advancement of our art we should deliberately discuss subjects among ourselves in order to do away with the idiosyncrasies of the individual and to gain a composite view reprcscnting the best thoughts of many men. In the development of new ideas leading to the introduction of new methods, the societies could enlarge their present great field of usefulness if such discussion be had, and in my opinion further great good could be done if a number of men of different qualifications and experience would join in preparing a joint book, each dealing with his particular problem, but consulting the other men. In this way individualism would be preserved and various processes would be described, and if properly reviewed the paper would be palpably capable of analysis, and the student would have at his command the associated efforts of a group of qualified engineers. I have neither the time nor the qualifications to make an investigation and study in detail of hydro-metallurgical processes, but for some years I have foreseen the development of such processes, and I have a deep interest in the subject and have given some of its phases careful consideration from a long-distance viewpoint. I have assisted in directing many experiments and in reviewing the merits of many processes, and am glad to make some introductory remarks with the understanding that other gentlemen present will freely and candidly enter into the discussion and help to fill out the few bare bones that I can uncover.

Jan 1, 1916

By R. F. Shurtz

The author proposes a method used with some success on a magnesite deposit at Gabbs, Nev. He believes this procedure to be more sound than the blind practice of assigning uniform quality to large, soinetimes vast blocks or ore on the basis of analyses made of a small number of samples. When an ore deposit is evaluated on the basis of core sampling, questions always arise as to how much weight should be given the various sample grades and how the deposit should be divided into specific volumes assigned to corresponding grades. For a tabular deposit it is customary to use the so-called zone-of-influence. This zone is usually defined as the polygon in the plane of the deposit having corners halfway between a given core drill intersection and each of the nearest neighboring intersections. The volume of the ore in this polygon is assigned the analysis obtained from the drill core taken at the intersection. In massive or irregular deposits, volumes of various shapes may be defined with respect to the locations of drill core samples. These volumes may be regarded as three-dimensional zones-of-influence; the theory involved in assigning the values of the central analyses to the ore in the volumes is the same as that used in the case of a tabular deposit. The zone-of-influence method was used in evaluating one of the magnesite deposits at Gabbs, Nev.'-"

Jan 1, 1960

By E. S. Bumps, W. F. Craig, M. Baeyertz

Metallurgists have looked at fractures macroscopically for many years and have evolved a vocabulary in which such words as "cleavage," "brittle," "shear," "ductile," "granular," "fibrous," and "silky" are used to describe the appearance of the fractured surface; but the meaning of these words in terms of metal structure is not well established. Observations of the structural meaning of "brittle" and "ductile" fractures in plate steels have been made, notably, by Kramer and coworkers1 and by Tipper.2 Grossman3 has studied the fracture of tempered martensite and combinations of ferrite and martensite. Notwithstanding these and other less concerted attacks on the problem, present understanding of fracture rests more on assumptions and logic than on experiment. It is the purpose of this paper to add a little to the growing fund of experimental observations of the nature of fractures in steel. The particular fractures to be described were obtained in conventional impact testing of an ordinary structural steel shape. In impact tests of the Charpy type, the specimens fail in a characteristic manner that depends on the steel and the temperature of testing. With ordinary structural and many other steel products, an appropriate range of testing temperature will cause a considerable change in the energy absorbed before fracture. This change is known as the energy transition and is accompanied, more or less closely, by alteration in the appearance of the fracture. At testing temperatures below the transition, the terms "brittle," "cleavage," or "granular" are used to describe the fracture; above it, "ductile" or "shear" are often used. Within the transition, the fracture changes from "brittle" to "ductile" by a progression in appearance, wherein the "brittle" portion of the fracture becomes restricted to a smaller and smaller central area of the fracture, as the testing temperature is raised and the "ductile" type of fracture is approached. All this is well known to metallurgists. The specimens under consideration are of the conventional V-notch Charpy type. They were taken from a structural steel shape of the following analysis: C Mn P S Si 0.17 0.46 0.009 0.029 0.03 Both longitudinal and transverse specimens were tested and examined. Fig 1 shows the energy values plotted against testing temperatures in the usual way. The curves for both longitudinal and transverse specimens show an energy transition, although the maximum energy absorbed at testing temperatures above the transition is greater in the case of the longitudinal specimens. Fig 2 illustrates the changes in the macroscopic appearance of the fractures that are associated with the energy transitions shown in Fig 1. Macrographs of the fractured surfaces of the specimens have been identified with the fracture ratings at intervals on each fracture curve. The numerical fracture rating on the ordinate of Fig 2 indicates the percentage of the area of each fracture that was considered to be "brittle" on macroscopic observation. Such rating of the fracture type in impact tests is now customary in many laboratories. Hereafter the specimens will be identified by reference to Fig 2 as 90 pct "brittle," 80 pct "brittle," and so on, in accordance with this macroscopic evaluation of the appearance of the fractured surface. The discussion of the fractures is divided into three parts. The first two are concerned with the mode of fracture and its relation to general structural features. As the same metal-lographic features occur in both longi-

Jan 1, 1950

By P. B. Liebermann

THE resistance to motion offered by mine cars is caused principally by: Rolling friction, flange friction, bending rails, bearing friction and wind resistance. With proper construction and with a fair amount of attention and care, that is, under favorable conditions, the first three items cannot be greatly improved. The wind resistance ordinarily is negligible on account of the slow speeds commonly used. The bearing friction, however, is a variable item, depending upon the design, the bearing material, the lubrication, the location (whether in wheel-hub or on car-body) and the alignment. Under the most favorable conditions the bearing friction will reach a lowest possible value. By the development of a successful anti-friction mine-car bearing this lowest value has been improved to such an extent as to affect the whole system of mine haulage. After being satisfied of their durability and certainty of operation, any investigation into the advantages of anti-friction bearings for mine cars will have to be based upon reliable information as to the saving in power of such bearings. While numerous tests have been made in this direction, the results have not always been convincing, principally because of the rather crude methods that were employed. These crude methods are the main cause of the wide variations existing in regard to the exact amount of the frictional resistance. Frequently an ordinary spring balance is used and the pull necessary to move a certain car or train of cars is obtained by a number of readings. Such spring balances necessarily have a coarse graduation and the continuous vibration and fluctuations to which they are subjected make them highly dependent upon the individual observer. Further, they must be frequently calibrated. Sometimes these tests were made without regard to acceleration, speed or even grade.

Jan 6, 1916

By John A. Church

IT is a well-known fact that under similar conditions a ton of pig iron can be made from any ore with less fuel when charcoal is used than when coke or anthracite is employed for heating. The cause of this superiority is entirely undiscovered, and no explanation has yet been offered which has won even temporary acceptance. Such as they are the hypotheses heretofore presented are of two general kinds, and they come from those two divisions of the working force which are so often antagonistic in all professions, the scientific and the practical men. The theory of the scientific men is drawn from the chemical reactions which are known to go on in the furnace, and it is well expressed in a recent paper by Prof. Akerman, of the Stockholm (Sweden) School of Mines. It makes the superiority of charcoal as a fuel in the blast furnace to depend upon its quick and thorough reduction of carbonic acid. This property belongs to charcoal in virtue of its porous structure. Its cells have a diameter of only one twenty-four hundredth of an inch, and one grain of charcoal has been computed to have a surface of two and four-tenths square feet. According to the theory in question, carbonic acid is formed by the first impact of the air upon the fuel; but in charcoal furnaces the acid is immediately reduced to oxide by taking the necessary amount of carbon into combination, and the gas reaches its highest reducing power even in the near vicinity of the tuyeres. Coke, being harder, does not produce so strong a reducing gas in that part of. the furnace. Carbonic acid is formed as in the case of charcoal, and remains longer before its reduction to oxide is completed. Anthracite is the

Jan 1, 1879

By P. E. Baker

An experimental study of heat flow in steam flooding was carried out with steam displacing water in a plane-radial fluid-flow model. Temperature distributions in the model reservoir, overburden, and substratum were measured at frequent intervals during flooding by means of a fixed array of thermocouples. Heat losses to overburden and substratum and the division of heat between the steam and hot-water zones in the reservoir were calculated from the temperature data by performing numerical integrations over the appropriate volumes. Temperature profiles and heat distribution results are presented. Some results were (1) the fraction of injected heat that is lost to overburden and substratum, when expressed as a function of time, did not depend on injection rate; (2) a significant portion of the injected heat was contained in the hot-water zone ahead of and underlying the steam front in the reservoir. The division of heat between the steam and hot-water zones did depend on injection rate; and (3) considerable gravity override was observed. The experimental results are compared with those of several published theoretical studies of heat transfer in hot-fluid injection; approximate agreement on heat losses is found with some of the most idealized theories. A valid comparison cannot be made in regard to steam us hot-water zone; basic interpretation of the hot-water zone, in terms of a vertical steam front, is clouded by gravity override in the experiments. INTRODUCTION The experimental study reported here primarily concerns two problems of heat transfer in steam flooding that have economic and engineering importance. These are (1) the fraction of injected heat lost to the overburden and substratum, and (2) the division of the remaining heat between a zone containing steam and a zone of hot water at lower-than-boiling temperature. The volume of the steamed region, which has a direct effect on oil recovery, can be calculated readily from these results. Several valuable theoretical studies have been published on this problem, but no experimental tests of the theories have previously appeared. Tests were needed because the effects of the necessary simplifications in the theories could not be determined otherwise. The basic, untested theoretical problem is the effect of "decoupling" heat and mass transfer, and the resulting inability to include the effects of heat transfer and condensation on fluid flow. The theoretical problem solved so far has been a heat transfer problem in which fluid is present as a heat carrier and flows in a stipulated manner, either linear or plane-radial. The simplifications that have sometimes been made in regard to thermal conductivity by, for example, Marx and Langenheim,l Lauwerier2 and Thomas3 apparently do not have an important effect on heat loss calculations, although the results of the different methods disagree to a certain extent, as shown by Spillette4 and by Ramey.5 A recent paper by the author6 compared the results of experiments in hot-water flooding with several theoretical results and showed a rather poor agreement. It will be seen that the experimental heat loss results for steam flooding, however, show acceptable agreement. These comparisons are discussed in a later section. EXPERIMENTAL APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE The system studied was one in which a sand pack, initially water saturated and at a uniform temperature, was flooded with steam at a constant rate and temperature. The temperature distribution in the "reservoir" and adjacent "strata" was measured with an array of thermocouples, and heat losses were determined from these measurements. The sand pack contained no oil because the only concern of the experiments was heat flow, and it was important to have the flow pattern as simple

Jan 1, 1970