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By G. R. Mansfield, W. B. Lang

THE third year of Government exploration for potash by the U. S. Geological Survey and the U. S. Bureau of Mines under the authorization of the act approved June 25, 1926 (Public 424-69th Cong.) is drawing to a close. The results thus far obtained are thought to be sufficiently interesting and satisfactory to justify the presentation of a brief preliminary account of the work. Review of Earlier Exploration The general geologic similarity of the Permian basin of Texas and New Mexico to the potash field of Germany had long ago suggested the possibility of the presence of potash salts somewhere in that basin, but petroleum exploration was then making little headway there and the necessary data could not be obtained. The discovery by Udden in 1912 of potash in brine from the Spur well in Dickens County, Texas, was the first direct evidence of its presence. In 1915-17 the U. S. Geological Survey drilled a test well with standard tools at Cliffside near Amarillo, but failed to find potash. Nevertheless, an observer has been kept in the field, at first in cooperation with the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology but since 1922 by the Survey alone, to secure data and samples from oil and gas tests. Since the discovery of oil in Reagan County in 1923 exploration by drilling has been rapidly extended to many parts of western Texas and southeastern New Mexico. The identification of the potash-bearing mineral polyhalite was first announced by the Geological Survey in June, 1921, the material having come from cuttings from the Bryant well in Midland County and the Burns well in Dawson County, Texas. Successive discoveries and announcements of similar purport aroused widespread interest in potash exploration, which culminated in the action by Congress already noted. Permian Salt Basin The Permian salt basin extends generally northeastward from western Texas and southeastern New Mexico through the Panhandle sections of

Jan 1, 1929

By Harry H. Nowlan

A heavy development campaign progressed during the year 1936 in South Texas1, following up important discoveries made in 1935. Oil and gas wells completed during the year were 1473 against 704 in 1935. The drilling program reached its peak of operations in June in consequence of offset requirements made necessary principally in Duval County in the Seven Sisters, Loma Novio, Lopez and Cole fields. There were six new fields discovered during 1936 as follows: Rhode in McMullen County; Peters, El Mesquite and North Kohler in Duval County; Wood in Starr County and Colorado in Jim Hogg County. No discovery of unusual consequence was made during the year. The pools mentioned above are simply in the primary stages of development. The most intensive exploratory work during the year was in Duval, Webb and Zapata Counties. Considerable activity also prevailed in Starr and Brooks Counties. Much significance is attached to the California Company's discovery in the Alta Mesa field in Brooks County, which is considered to be a deep-seated salt dome. The Comitas field, in Zapata County, developed some surprisingly good production in a shallow sand at 900 ft. and is being followed by a heavy wildcat campaign throughout that area in search of like production. In Starr County an active wildcat campaign is in progress in a continued effort to find new fields northwest of the Sam Fordyce field, in Hidalgo County. This play continues in a northerly direction through Starr and Jim Hogg Counties. New Fields Rhode.—The Rhode field, in southeastern McMullen County, was opened in May by the Magnolia Petroleum Co. with a gas well in the Whitsett (Upper Jackson) sand at a depth of 1810 to 1822 ft., this test is located in the southeast corner of sec. 86 on the Rhode ranch. Four gas wells have been completed, proving up a gas area of 1000 acres, more or less. Development will be slow because of lack of market for the gas.

Jan 1, 1937

By Kenneth Cottingham

The number of completions in 1944 in Ohio was only slightly greater than completions in the preceding year, but the initial daily volumes both of oil wells and gas wells declined considerably. The dry-hole ratio was a little lower than in 1943, even though in the year under review considerable effort was made to find new production. No new areas of consequence were discovered. Thirteen new gas pools, the largest of which was 1000 acres and the average 565 acres, were opened during the year. Eleven of these pools were in the Clinton sand, one was in the Oriskany, and one was in the Berea. Approximately 15 small pools might also be rated as discoveries, but because only one or two wells have thus far been completed in each, they cannot at present be properly evaluated. The latter pools average about 120 acres each. Some extensions were made to existing gas pools. The number of oil wells drilled was only one less than in 1943, yet compared with the year 1941, when twice as many oil wells were drilled, the difference is startling. Effective Aug. I, 1944, a blanket subsidy was granted of 35¢ per barrel on all Cleveland-Chatham, Coming, and Lima grades of oil, and 75¢ per barrel on Pennsylvania grade crude. The subsidy was authorized by the Office of Price Administration, with reimbursement to purchasers of the various grades made through the Defense Supplies Corporation, a branch of Reconstruction Finance Corporation. For several years the small operator, particularly the owner of stripper wells, was in a serious position. The subsidy has been a means of real help and, in addition to aiding the operator, it has prolonged the life of many small wells that otherwise would have been abandoned, with consequent loss of daily production and unre-covered reserves. It is questionable whether the price increase is sufficient to revive production of Corning grade, which has

Jan 1, 1945

By John Birkinbine

The following data concerning the general dimensions and district-location of the blast-furnaces of the United States are intended to supplement a paper of similar title, which appears in volume xiv., pages 561 to 577, of the Transactions, and bring the record to the end of the calendar year 1886. The reasons for presenting the figures at so short an interval since the former paper are that the American Iron and Steel Association has lately issued a new directory of iron and steel works (edition of 1886) from which many of the plants which have been inactive are omitted and new industries added, to such an extent as to materially affect the figures presented in the first paper; and also that the improvement in business has encouraged a production of pig-iron in 1886 in excess of any previous outputs, and the results obtained in the industry at large as well as at individual plants form a better index of what the American furnaces can accomplish than those heretofore presented. The statement will not be extended beyond the production of pigiron, although it could well be made to include the manufactured iron and steel; and while the data given have been verified as far as possible up to the close of the year 1886, no attempt, except in special cases, has been made to note the changes which have taken place since that time—changes which within the next twelvemouth will affect some of the figures here presented. At the close of the year 1886 there were 579 blast-furnaces reported on the active list—an apparent decrease, as compared with my former paper, of 97 stacks; but this was not an actual decrease, since most of the furnaces dropped from the Directory were those which, owing to location, inefficient equipment, or fake of ore-supplies, etc., were considered likely to remain inactive, although a number of them will possibly be temporarily put into blast with iron advancing in price. On the other hand the new plants added

Jan 1, 1887

Jan 1, 1931

By Charles B. Dudley

In view of various papers and discussion.;, at recent meetings of the Institute, upon testing, methods of testing, inspectors, inspection and specifications, it has occurred to me that my experience of some fifteen years, in the making and enforcement of specifications, in connection with the Motive Power Department of the Pennsylvania Railroad, might give some value to the few suggestions offered in this paper. There is friction, not to say antagonism, between the producers and the consumers of structural materials. On the one hand, the producers complain of the severity of inspection, or the lack of knowledge and want of good judgment on the part of inspectors, and, indeed, have gone so far as to suggest the abolition of the whole scheme of inspecting and testing materials. On the other hand, the consumers are, apparently, more and more relying on specifications

Jan 1, 1893

By David A. Summers, John Corwine, Li-King Chen

The results from fracturing plexiglas beams are combined in eight existing equations to determine the surface energy of the material. The reliability of each equation is tested, and the equation in use to determine fracture toughness is found to be the most exact. This equation is then used in determination of the surface energy of Barre Granite.

Jan 1, 1971

By Clemens Catesby Jones

One of the achievements of the present century has been the development of brick-making from the crude and humble handicraft of the individual to a potential industry employing machinery, requiring immense capital, and now demanding that scientific direction which will finally raise it to the importance and dignity of a modern industrial process. It is as yet in the first stages of progress in this direction. The constant obstacle to a fully developed process has been the treat-

Jan 1, 1901

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Jan 1, 1938

By Victor Phillips, J. P. Blair

Jan 1, 1952

By F. G. Robb, D. N. Madge

This paper details some of the specifications and problems associated with implementing on-line control of a potash concentrator. The computer system described has the capability of three levels of control, including DDC with a single central processor. The system is also capable of on-line program compilation and modification through an extension of vendor utilities. The system is now in operation.

Jan 1, 1969

By S. S. Hedge, J. C. Ferm, J. T. Berger

The coal procedures described in this paper address the problems building a body of coal data that is accurate, precise, readily available, and easy to manipulate. The system is a set of interactive computer procedures consisting of a) data gathering (core hole and geophysical logs, their location, elevation, etc.) and standardized computer printouts, b) the graphic outputs of coded logs (log strips-scale variable) wing on-line electrostatic plotter, c) determination of seam continuity via relative movements of the log strips on an interactive graphic display terminal, d) calculation of the seam parameters (minable seam thickness, volume of non-coal material in the seam, ash and sulfur content of the raw or prepared product, roof and floor characteristics and other attributes relevant to mining), e) posting of seam parameters wing on-line drum plotter controlled by a microprocessor on-line to the minicomputer (PDP- 11).

Jan 1, 1983

By Robert D. Gunn, John E. Boysen, Dennis D. Fischer

The second underground coal gasification experiment conducted by ERDA's Laramie Energy Research Center at a site near Hanna, Wyo., was completed on Jul. 30, 1976. During the experiment production reached 0.32 blm3/d (12 M cu ft/d) of 6.9 w/m3 gas (175 Btu per cu ft). Approximately 6100 tonnes (6700 tons) of coal were gasified during the experiment. Energy return ratios of 4.5 to 5.3, coal gas thermal efficiencies of 76 to 89%, and overall process efficiencies of 65 to 74% were achieved during the second Hanna experiment. This paper describes the experiment and the results obtained with emphasis given to the determination of the energy recovered relative to energy consumed in conducting the test. Data from this determination are compared with previously published data from the first test conducted at Hanna during 1973-74.

Jan 1, 1978

By C. F. Chung

This paper will discuss an application of multivariate discriminant analysis to aid in predicting mineral potential from regional geological data and information on mineral deposits, with particular emphasis on the use of the logistic discriminant function. Logistic discriminant analysis is a generalization of standard discriminant analysis in that the discriminant analysis becomes applicable under a much wider class of distributions. As a practical example, the standard multiple discriminant analysis and the logistic discriminant analysis are applied to data from the Bathurst area in the Appalachian region of Canada and the results are compared with one another.

Jan 1, 1977

By Fred H. Lippold, Wm. H. Wolf

Methods of fair payment for excavating, supporting, and concrete lining tunnels have been sought by various owners for years. Tunneling techniques have changed with the development of equipment-from the hand-mucking operation to the machine mucker and, most recently, to machine-boring; from tunnel supports using timber sets to steel sets to rock bolts and, most recently, to shotcrete support; and from hand-placing the concrete lining using wooden forms to pumping or pneumatic placing using steel forms. As tunnel construction techniques advanced, so did methods for payment for the work performed. The recent development of tunnel-boring machines, or "moles," is precipitating another change. These changes have led to some difficulty in providing proper payment for the various items of work for different types of tunnels. As a major construction agency engaged in water-resources development in the western states, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has long been aware of the need for clarification of payment provisions in tunnel construction. The Bureau has some 150 miles of tunnels completed on its projects and about 50 miles of tunnels under construction. In this construction, the Bureau has benefited by the advance made by contractors in improving the techniques of tunnel excavation. To assure that the Bureau has an up-to-date approach to payment provisions, the Chief Engineer recently established a "standard" method of payment for all types of tunnels. It is believed that this new method of payment will be equitable for all contractors bidding on various types of tunnels using the diversity of methods of excavation now available to them. These payment provisions provide for different quantities for excavated tunnels using the blasting technique or using machine-boring techniques. In this way, the contractors have a choice in excavation methods and an equal opportunity to be low in their bids. We believe this will be an incentive to all contractors to be as progressive as the development of new equipment economically allows.

Jan 1, 1970

Jan 1, 1925

By A. Tobey Yu

The recent adverse economic climate has added further impetus to the demand for better-grade and lower-cost raw materials, for which increasingly larger quantities of muck are being moved and processed at higher unit labor costs. As a result, the cost impact of handling and shipping has never been as keenly felt by the mining industry as it is today. Thanks to joint innovative efforts by users and manufacturers, new and improved automated bulk-handling systems and devices are now blossoming everywhere to give the mining man the tools he needs to move ore, waste and concentrates more efficiently and economically.

Jan 1, 1970

By H. A. Doerner, F. D. DeVaney, J.B. Clemmer

Production of magnesium metal in the United States during the past decade has increased from less than 600,000 lb. in 1928 to more than 4,800,000 lb. in 1938.1 The growing industry has stimulated interest in methods of production and in sources of raw material. All of the present domestic production is from brines. However, the availability of large tonnages of magnesite in the state of Washington, together with the possibility of cheap power, have created interest in the utilization of magnesite for the production of magnesium metal as well as for other purposes. Magnesite, the carbonate of magnesium (MgCO3), usually is associated with limestone (CaC03) and dolomite (MgCO3. CaC03). It occurs in crystalline and microcrystalline (sometimes termed amorphous) forms.2 The more common crystalline mineral is found in various shades of white, gray, yellow and brown, the colors being due to impurities, chiefly iron. Magnesite has a hardness of 3.5 to 4.5 and a specific gravity of 3.0 to 3.1. It forms rhombohedra1 crystals in the hexagonal system, having a vitreous, pearly luster. The quarries and mines of the Northwest Magnesite Co. near Chewelah, Wash., are large producers of magnesite for refractories. The deposits are extensive, some veins being hundreds of feet wide. The boundaries of the veins are indefinite, and the magnesite is interfingered with dolomite. Calcite, talc, serpentine, quartz and shale are disseminated through the deposits. The quality of the ore cannot be determined by appearance or by simple tests; chemical analysis is required. These features make it difficult to determine the boundaries or total quantity of workable ore.3 Only the higher-grade ores are mined, and a considerable proportion of the magnesite content is discarded by hand-sorting and log-washing methods. After calcining, the sorted product meets the specifications for usual refractory material, as it contains approximately 81 per cent MgO, 7 per cent SiO2, 6 per cent CaO and 6 per cent Fe203 + A1203. A sample of the reject material had the following analysis after calcining: 65.4 per cent MgO, 6.3 CaO, 21.1 SiO2 and 6.5 R2O3. The percentage reported as R2O3 includes compounds whose chlorides are acid-soluble but give precipitates in ammoniacal solution that are ignited and weighed. The more common constituents are Fe2O3, A1203 and TiO2. The sorted magnesite product is not the best grade. even for refractory purposes, and leaves much to be desired for a reduction process. The rejected material contains a large proportion of magnesite. It is apparent that an effective concentration method would yield a higher recovery and a better product. In general, the refractory grade is not suitably pure for other uses. Recent developments in the production of

Jan 1, 1943

By J. B. Clemmer, F. D. DeVaney, H. A. Doerner

Production of magnesium metal in the United States during the past decade has increased from less than 600,000 lb. in 1928 to more than 4,800,000 lb. in 1938.1 The growing industry has stimulated interest in methods of production and in sources of raw material. All of the present domestic production is from brines. However, the availability of large tonnages of magnesite in the state of Washington, together with the possibility of cheap power, have created interest in the utilization of magnesite for the production of magnesium metal as well as for other purposes. Magnesite, the carbonate of magnesium (MgCO3), usually is associated with limestone (CaC03) and dolomite (MgCO3. CaC03). It occurs in crystalline and microcrystalline (sometimes termed amorphous) forms.2 The more common crystalline mineral is found in various shades of white, gray, yellow and brown, the colors being due to impurities, chiefly iron. Magnesite has a hardness of 3.5 to 4.5 and a specific gravity of 3.0 to 3.1. It forms rhombohedra1 crystals in the hexagonal system, having a vitreous, pearly luster. The quarries and mines of the Northwest Magnesite Co. near Chewelah, Wash., are large producers of magnesite for refractories. The deposits are extensive, some veins being hundreds of feet wide. The boundaries of the veins are indefinite, and the magnesite is interfingered with dolomite. Calcite, talc, serpentine, quartz and shale are disseminated through the deposits. The quality of the ore cannot be determined by appearance or by simple tests; chemical analysis is required. These features make it difficult to determine the boundaries or total quantity of workable ore.3 Only the higher-grade ores are mined, and a considerable proportion of the magnesite content is discarded by hand-sorting and log-washing methods. After calcining, the sorted product meets the specifications for usual refractory material, as it contains approximately 81 per cent MgO, 7 per cent SiO2, 6 per cent CaO and 6 per cent Fe203 + A1203. A sample of the reject material had the following analysis after calcining: 65.4 per cent MgO, 6.3 CaO, 21.1 SiO2 and 6.5 R2O3. The percentage reported as R2O3 includes compounds whose chlorides are acid-soluble but give precipitates in ammoniacal solution that are ignited and weighed. The more common constituents are Fe2O3, A1203 and TiO2. The sorted magnesite product is not the best grade. even for refractory purposes, and leaves much to be desired for a reduction process. The rejected material contains a large proportion of magnesite. It is apparent that an effective concentration method would yield a higher recovery and a better product. In general, the refractory grade is not suitably pure for other uses. Recent developments in the production of

Jan 1, 1943

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Jan 1, 1938