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By H. W. Kerr, B. Soutiere

THE possibility of using unidirectionally solidified eutectic alloys as high-strength composite materials has been investigated by several workers. Unidirectionally solidified lamellar and fibrous eutectics have been shown to have good short-time structural stability at temperatures close to the eutectic melting temperature.'-4 Several investigations of both short-time high temperature tensile properties and creep properties of eutectic alloys have been carried out,3-" with promising results. Little work has been reported, however, on the thermal stability of eutectic alloys which have been unidirectionally solidified and subsequently deformed in compression. Since processes such as rolling and grinding introduce compressive stresses, and since the properties depend on the spacing and perfection of the composite structure10,11 this aspect is of definite importance if unidirectionally solidified eutectic alloys are to be considered for commercial use. A Cd-Zn alloy made from 99.999 pct starting materials was cast into a graphite boat and zone levelled12 to obtain a completely lamellar structure at one end of the bar. Sections from this region of the bar were removed, recast into 6.5 mm I.D. Pyrex tubing, and solidified unidirectionally upwards at a rate of 2.8 cm per hr. Specimens were cut from the solidified rods, heated in air at 200°C (0.88 of the eutectic melting temperature) for various lengths of time, and examined metal-lographically. Compression specimens were also cut from the solidified rod carefully machined to a length of & in., and deformed with the compressive axis parallel to the original growth axis to produce a total longitudinal strain of 12 pct. Some of these specimens were examined metallographically; others were heated in air at 200°C for various lengths of time and then examined. Metallographic examination of the deformed specimens showed the two types of deformation previously described; slip lines13 (smoothly bent lamellae) and kinks13,14 (sharply bent lamellae). Very close to the specimen ends there were a large number of deformation bands, but at a distance of about -re- in. the deformation was very localized, as shown in Fig. 1.

Jan 1, 1970

By E. Keller

Some years ago the writer's attention was called to the fact that rolling-mill scales from auriferous copper do not have the gold content proportional to the gold contained in the copper from which they are derived.' So, later, he made a few simple experiments, which are described herewith. In order to test the gold movement on the changing surface of a copper plate under the influence of oxidation, plates 6 in. by 8 in. by 1 in. (15.2 cm. by 20.3 cm. by 2.5 cm.) of converter copper, refined, of 99.29 per cent. purity, and leaded copper with a content of 95.65 per cent, copper, were obtained. Ten cuts were made through the thickness of the plates along the longitudinal center and the silver and gold content ascertained in each of the 10 samples in both plates, as shown in the accompanying illustration. The assay results, recorded in Tables 1 and 2, show that the gold distribution is relatively uniform in both plates, while silver has greater variations, especially in the leaded plate. The plates subjected to oxidation were placed in a red-hot muffle for about 2 hr., two small scarifiers being used as supports. Arranged alongside each other, they nearly filled the width of the muffle, and so were practically under equal conditions of heat and draft. The accurate observance of the time was not possible, however, because of other work, but the time of the exposure of each plate in a pair was identical. At the end of each period, each plate was plunged into water and completely freed of scale, which was carefully collected, dried, weighed, and analyzed. Samples of the plates had also been taken of the molten metal and duly analyzed. Table 3 contains the analytical data for the two plates and their several sheets, or layers, of oxide scales. These figures show that in the oxidations of the converter copper the silver is fairly uniform, while the gold is highly irregular and especially low in the first layer. In the oxidations of the leaded copper plate, the silver and gold contents are variable; however, this irregularity is due to two different causes. The

Jan 1, 1919

By E. J. Longyear

The rapid development of the Mesabi range has been a matter of much wonder to those familiar with ore-deposits elsewhere, and much skepticism was shown when " millions of tons of ore on the Mesabi" was first reported. Now, however, with over 8,000,000 tons to its credit at the close of 1896, a prospect of 3,000,000 more this year, and more ore " in sight" than ever before, it is evident that the first claims for the range were not so greatly exaggerated as perhaps even those who made them thought they were at that time. An explanation of the ease with which these deposits have been explored is found in their mode of occurrence. Lying in flat beds and near the surface, and only exceptionally occurring under a taconite " capping," the prospector had only to sink a few vertical test-pits on a fortyacre tract down to the rock to be reasonably sure whether his property contained ore or not. If he found ore in one or more of these preliminary pits, he would then fill in with more pits until the ore-area was entirely outlined by test-pits from 200 to 400 feet apart. In the early days of the range the testing was almost entirely done by digging pits with pick and shovel. When water was encountered, work had to be stopped, unless a steam pumping-plant was put in, resulting in greatly-increased expenses. Latterly, drills have been used with great success in continuing the exploration after water has been struck in the pit, rendering further progress with pick and shovel impracticable. There are several kinds of drills in use. The diamond-drill is largely used, and possesses the advantage of being in readiness to drill rock if thought advisable, the taconite being very hard and almost impossible to drill except by the use of diamonds. Some form of churn-drill has been much used. This may be either a steam- or a horse-power-drill. The principle is the same in each, the cutting being done by percussion instead of by rotation, as in the case of the diamond-drill. A churning motion is given by passing a rope from the top of the

Jan 1, 1898

By Edward Pesout

The McGill smelter started operations in the year 1907. The smelter furnaces were fired with run-of-mine coal on grates until April 1911, when oil firing was introduced. Oil firing continued until April 1918, when the initial coal-pulverizing plant was started.' Early Pulverizing Plant Various alterations were made to that plant during its operation, one of the more important being in connection with the system for delivering pulverized coal. In order to minimize coal-dust explosions and fires, the return portion of the main delivery line was eliminated in the year 1928. Thereafter coal-dust explosions and fires were greatly reduced. Pulverized coal was prepared at this plant primarily for the reverberatory furnaces, but for several years it was also delivered to the converting plant, roasters and power-plant boilers by a system of auxiliary fans and delivery lines. During the period March 29 to April 8, 1929, one reverberatory furnace was fired with pulverized coal produced by an Aero, type J, unit coal pulverizer with a rated capacity of 5 tons per hour. This machine actually pulverized its rated capacity but the product was too coarse. After certain regulations, a her product was obtained but the pulverizer capacity decreased and this resulted in insufficient coal for efficient furnace operation. Table I gives a comparison of the average screen analyses of the pulverized-coal products from the impact-type unit pulverizer and the regular coal-plant installation. It was definitely proved that this size and type of unit pulverizer could not furnish sufficient coal of proper fineness to give smelting results comparable to that obtained with the regular coal-pulverizing plant. The coal from this unit pulverizer was so coarse that it did not ignite or burn properly and thus did not produce the proper heat for efficient smelting. During the latter part of 1929 and the early part of 1930, experimental work was conducted with a 7-ft. o-in. by 48-in. Hardinge conical ball-mill coal-grinding unit, which was installed alongside a furnace in the reverberatory building. Results obtained from the test run indicated that this unit would furnish sufficient coal of proper fineness for good smelting.

Jan 1, 1947

By H. E. Gross

Recently, areas of abnormal rock pressure have been drilled on the Gulf Coast of the United States. These pressures may be caused by the recent and pronounced raising of some of the structures without loss of the formation pressure that existed when the reservoir was developing and the producing sand much more deeply buried. It is possible also that a permeable fissure may connect a shallow accumulation of gas with the gas cap of a much deeper reservoir of oil, gas and water. The pressures are so great that dependence on blowout-prevention equipment alone is hazardous to life and property. Fortunately, wells with excessive casing-head pressures, such as the Stanolind Oates No. 1 of the South Houston field, an 8700-ft. gas well with 6000 Ib. per sq. in., and the near-by Stanolind Candelari No. 1, and 8100-ft. gas well with 5000 Ib. per sq. in., have not blown out and cratered. A case is on record of drill pipe in a well in Harris County, Texas, (Oates No. 1) rotating for 8 hr. through blowout-prevention rams holding a back pressure of 2900 Ib. per sq. in. at the casinghead after the mud was altered by salt-water intrusion. Such conditions warrant the use of extremely heavy muds having low viscosity, made from galena (PbS) or specially prepared mixtures of hematite (Fe²O³) and galena suspended by bentonite. In some Gulf Coast wells, sodium silicate mixed with concentrated brine is used to drill through heaving shale formations. Such a fluid inhibits heaving remarkably, but it is expensive and costs as much as $10 per barrel. Barite has been used to weight this mixture. However, this mineral too rapidly increased an already excessive viscosity and it was thought that galena might be better for weighting such drilling fluid. The operator was anxious to try the latter, but none was available in the district. Laboratory Study of Heavy Muds To foster the use of the plentiful and extremely heavy mineral, galena, research has been done recently at the University of Oklahoma to determine the mud-making properties of this substance. For comparative

Jan 1, 1938

By H. B. Small

The Ottawa river, the northeastern boundary of the Province of Ontario, and the dividing line between the latter and the Province of Quebec, has long been famous for the rafts of timber floated over its waters from the depths of the forest, and other poets besides Moore, have immortalized its beauties in verse. But with the ad vent of the railway which now pierces the forest solitudes, the days of rafting were numbered ; and the boat song is now heard no more on "Ottawa's tide," or at such long intervals only, that, when heard, it seems an echo of the past. The lumber trade is fast leav ing Ottawa City, the old headquarters of the business; and such square timber as is now cut is gradually finding other outlets than shipment to Great Britain, and other channels of transportation than the Ottawa river. Skirting the northern shore of this great river runs a vast chain of hills, assuming at times the altitude of mountains. Their geological character marks them as remnants of the earliest land of this conti nent. Following the course of the St. Lawrence from the Gulf of that name to the confluence of the river with the Ottawa, the course of which latter they then pursue, the range has been styled " the Lau rentians." Rolling in long undulations, with rounded, rather than rugged or pointed summits, they leave a margin of 8 or 10 miles, dipping in a gentle slope to the water's edge, rich for agricultural use, and dotted here and there with farms and settlements. Beyond this margin bold hills stretch northerly to blue mountains, rich in iron, lead, plumbago, and other minerals. The Apatite District.—One of these minerals is apatite, or phos phate of lime, the use of which as a material for the manufacture of superphosphate as a fertilizer has become the basis of the industry bidding Fair to prove ere long one of the chief elements of Canadian trade. So rapid has been the growth of this new industry that if the lumber business were to disappear from this mineral district, its void would be filled by that which has sprung up in connection with phosphate.

Jan 1, 1893

By Edward Pesout

The McGill smelter started operations in the year 1907. The smelter furnaces were fired with run-of-mine coal on grates until April 1911, when oil firing was introduced. Oil firing continued until April 1918, when the initial coal-pulverizing plant was started.' Early Pulverizing Plant Various alterations were made to that plant during its operation, one of the more important being in connection with the system for delivering pulverized coal. In order to minimize coal-dust explosions and fires, the return portion of the main delivery line was eliminated in the year 1928. Thereafter coal-dust explosions and fires were greatly reduced. Pulverized coal was prepared at this plant primarily for the reverberatory furnaces, but for several years it was also delivered to the converting plant, roasters and power-plant boilers by a system of auxiliary fans and delivery lines. During the period March 29 to April 8, 1929, one reverberatory furnace was fired with pulverized coal produced by an Aero, type J, unit coal pulverizer with a rated capacity of 5 tons per hour. This machine actually pulverized its rated capacity but the product was too coarse. After certain regulations, a her product was obtained but the pulverizer capacity decreased and this resulted in insufficient coal for efficient furnace operation. Table I gives a comparison of the average screen analyses of the pulverized-coal products from the impact-type unit pulverizer and the regular coal-plant installation. It was definitely proved that this size and type of unit pulverizer could not furnish sufficient coal of proper fineness to give smelting results comparable to that obtained with the regular coal-pulverizing plant. The coal from this unit pulverizer was so coarse that it did not ignite or burn properly and thus did not produce the proper heat for efficient smelting. During the latter part of 1929 and the early part of 1930, experimental work was conducted with a 7-ft. o-in. by 48-in. Hardinge conical ball-mill coal-grinding unit, which was installed alongside a furnace in the reverberatory building. Results obtained from the test run indicated that this unit would furnish sufficient coal of proper fineness for good smelting.

Jan 1, 1947

By H. H. Lowry

SCIENCE attracts the attention and interest of an individual or an industry in general only in proportion to the apparent direct application to its immediate welfare or benefit. Engineering accomplishments, as applied science, therefore receive more recognition than the scientific discoveries on which they are based. Even self-evident truth needs endless repetition before recognition: engineering as applied science cannot advance beyond the science on which it is founded. Scientific research, and discovery, is sometimes forced by the limitations recognized by those active in its development for the use of society and industry and sometimes results from an apparently superficially illogical curiosity about natural phenomena. Research has received inadequate support except in industries born in the laboratory, the chemical and electrical industries, from which many lessons might well be drawn by their elder associates. The rapid growth of these industries has been largely due to close cooperation of scientists and engineers. Most rapid advance is made when the research worker and the engineer keep in close touch with each other's ideas and problems. Many of the developments of modern industry are based on dis-coveries buried for years in scientific journals because the "time was not ripe" at their discovery. The situation with regard to utilization of coal is quite the opposite. The fundamental facts in regard to the scientific aspects of the problem of developing the energy from coal are scarcely known. The engineer, without much scientific cooperation, has accom-plished much in increasing the number of kilowatt-hours per pound of coal from 0.31 in 1919 to 0.69 in 1934, in increasing the 1000 gross ton-miles of freight hauled from 6.1 to 8.3 per ton of coal in the same period, in fuel economy in production of coke, and in developing the production of motor fuel in Germany and England by hydrogenation of coal. This lack of scientific research on the utilization of our most important natural resource, coal, has been due undoubtedly in large part to the reluctance of investigators to study the interrelationships involved in, the complicated processes in which coal is used. These complexities are made

Jan 1, 1936

By A. Lawley, H. W. Schadler

TWINNING has long been recognized as a possible mode of deformation in crystalline solids and has been studied in a wide variety of crystals.&apos; Recently, deformation markings which have the topographical characteristics of twins have been seen in tungsten" and the body-centered cubic alloys of tungsten and molybdenum with rhenium.3-7 These markings have been identified as twins because: 1) they are visible after polishing and etching;2,3 2) their formation is accompanied by an audible click and a drop in load;4 and 3) the habit plane is {112}, the plane which has been identified as the twinning plane for several body-centered cubic metals.&apos; However, there has been no published evidence for the specific determination of the twinning direction in rhenium alloys of tungsten and molybdenum, because usually the deformation twins were not broad enough to be detected with a conventional X-ray beam. Consequently, [111] is inferred as the twinning direction since the latter must lie in a plane of symmetry perpendicular to the twinning plane (112). As Sims and Jaffee3 and Lawley and Maddin4 have shown, the addition of rhenium to molybdenum and tungsten increases the ductility of the alloy over that of the pure metal, but twinning is much more profuse in these alloys than in the pure elements, particularly at Mo-35 pct Re*and W-30 pct Re. Since twinning is often associated with brittle fracture in iron8 and the silicon-irons,9 direct experimental proof that the deformation markings in tungsten and molybdenum alloys of rhenium are twins seemed to be needed. Using the Laue back-reflection technique, the deformation markings in a Mo-35 pct Re alloy are shown to be deformation twins. The twins have a (112) habit plane and the twinning direction is <111>. The Mo-35 pct Re specimen used was taken from a 0.060-in. zone-refined single crystal deformed 6 pct in tension at 78°K. The Laue back-reflection technique, with a film to specimen distance of 2 cm, and white radiation from a copper target were used.

Jan 1, 1962

By Albert Hayes

FOUR mines at Wabana, on Bell Island in Concep-tion Bay, Newfoundland, produced 1,209,777 tons of ore in 1927, and it is expected that the produc-tion will be larger in 1928. The ore is a stratified oolitic hematite of sedimentary origin. Three workable beds and many thin beds occur in a thickness of 400 ft. of interbedded sandstones and shales. It is not profitable under present conditions to mine extensively in ore beds less than 4 ft. thick. The iron ore beds outcrop on the small island and are inclined northward more steeply, than the slope of the ocean bottom. The mine work-ings follow the bedded ore below the sea bottom, No. 3 Mine extending about 2 miles north of the island. At this point there is a cover of 1500 ft. of rock and 600 ft. of ocean water. It is impracticable to operate drills in the ocean to prove the extent of the submarine orebody in advance, and diamond drilling from the mine workings is the only method of exploration. Bell Island has been settled for a long time and a monument at Cupids, near Brigus at the head of Conception Bay, commemor-ates the tercentenary of a settlement there in 1611 by Captain Guy of England. was one of the chief ports of Newfoundland for deep sea fishing and doubtless many a captain wondered about the red rocks as he sailed past. The famous geologist, J. B. Jukes, records seeing a bright red sandstone 8 ft. thick on the northwest side of Bell Island during a visit in 1842, but he evident ly did not try to land on that rocky coast to get a sample. The iron ore is plainly visible in the high cliffs along the coast of the island, as bright brown layers interbedded with gray and white sandstones and dark shales. The heavy red rock was used by the fisher-men as anchor weights for fish nets and small boats, but its real value, so the story goes, was discovered by a merchant in Saint John,

Jan 8, 1928

By Thomas Fraser, David R. Mitchell

THE primary purpose of the loading plant is to transfer the finished product from the preparation machines to the railroad car, truck, or barge in which it is to go to market. Secondary purposes of the loading plant are: to prevent excessive degradation of sizes during loading, to reduce segregation as much as possible, and to prevent excessive quantities of very good or off-grade coal from entering any one car. Nonuniformity of consignments is one of the chief sources of complaints by consumers and coal merchants. A properly designed loading plant will do much to reduce complaints and insure uniformity, not only from shipment to shipment but also in each individual consignment along the length of the car and in cross section. DEGRADATION IN STORAGE, LOADING AND SHIPMENT The object in loading is not only to handle the coal without breakage and segregation, but also to produce a well-trimmed load that will ride to its destination without spillage o~ breakage en route. The small sizes present in a car-of prepared coal as received by the purchaser consist of: missed small sizes not screened out in the preparation plant, breakage during loading, and breakage caused by handling en route. For domestic sizes of anthracite shipped from the Pennsylvania anthracite field to Atlantic coast cities, the dealers&apos; loss because of breakage in loading and shipment amounts to from 2 to 5 per cent and for anthracite shipped to Middle West cities, the loss is 8 to 9 per cent. This difference is in part because dealers in the Middle West rescreen their coal more thoroughly than is usual in the East. One dealer handling Illinois No. 6 coal shipped from southern Illinois mines to Chicago reports an average size loss of 10 per cent when lump coal is unloaded with a fork. This runs as low as 5 per cent for carefully loaded coal and as high as 15 per cent for carelessly loaded coal. An Ohio dealer estimates the degradation in loading and shipment of West Virginia coals consigned to Ohio cities as follows: Pocahontas lump

Jan 1, 1950

By Paul D. Merica, L. J. Gurevich

In connection with other investigations on the properties and characteristics of chilled-iron car wheels, the question as to the best range of annealing temperatures was raised. Chilled-iron wheels are cast with a chill against the tread and the inside of the flange, the remainder being in sand. The composition of the metal is so chosen that under these conditions the trcad and inside of the flange will show white iron to a depth of from 5/8 to in. (15 to 22 mm.), the remainder of the wheel becoming graph itized or gray. In order to relieve the stresses set up during cooling under such drastic conditions, the wheels are stripped from the mold, while still red hot, piled in a soaking pit, and allowed to cool very slowly from their temperature at stripping. Obviously the most suitable temperature for this annealing is the highest at which no formation of graphite occurs within the white tread and at which the wheels can be stripped from the molds. Inasmuch as no direct determinations have been made of the temperatures at which the formation of graphite takes place in white iron of compositions used in car wheels upon annealing, it was considered worth while to determine these temperatures as a means of establishing the maximum temperatures at which the annealing of the wheels may be carried out. In the course of this work, some incidental observations were made which are of interest in connection with the theory of graphitization in whitc iron. The literature on the subject of the formation of graphite both during cooling at casting and upon annealing is very extensive and can be best studied by reference to a comprehensive discussion of the subject by Hatfie1d.l Perhaps the most important contributions of previous investigation are the following: 1. Whether a given mass of molten iron becomes white, mottled, or gay upon casting, depends on its composition and its rate of cooling through the temperature range of solidification and immediately below. 2. The more rapid the rate of cooling, the less is the extent of graphitization.

Jan 1, 1920

By Frank C. Green

Drilling for oil and gas in Missouri in 1935 was mostly confined to proven areas, but was marked by the completion of one of the largest oil wells, 53 bbl., and one of the largest gas wells, 2,000,000 cu. ft., drilled in recent years. A new oil pool, discovered in southern Cass County late in 1934, was further developed; a new pool in southern Platte County is possibly indicated by the completion of a single small well, which flowed naturally; and a deeper sand was developed in the Marota gas pool in Jackson County. Completions dropped to a lower level than in any recent year. A total of 73 wells, which included the deepening of 8 old wells, was drilled. In Bates County, there was one gas well with an open flow of 100,000 cu. ft., and one dry hole. Cass County had six oil wells with about 100 bbl. initial production; one gas well with an open flow of 500,000 cu. ft., and three dry holes. In Jackson County there were seven oil wells with 25 bbl. initial production; 24 gas wells with 7,358,968 cu. ft. open flow, and 27 dry holes. Platte County had one oil well, one small gas well and one dry hole. The oil well flowed naturally about 4 or 5 bbl. per day. It is rather difficult to obtain production figures on either oil or gas leases, but in cases where the figures have been given to the writer in confidence, they disclose conditions comparable with many other regions. One oil lease of 32 acres has produced 125,000 bbl. in four years, or nearly 4000 bbl. per acre. Another lease has made 50,000 bbl., or about 3000 bbl. per acre. It is probable that the total daily production at the end of 1935 was close to 200 hill. per day. A gas pool covering less than one square mile has made 110,111,000 cu. ft. in about 18 months. In this period, the open-flow capacity has been reduced from about 10,500,000 cu. ft. per day to about 3,500,000.

Jan 1, 1936

By O. Nomland

The work of The Bahrein Petroleum Company, Ltd., on Bahrein Island consisted mainly in continuing development work and prospecting previously reported. The exploratory work, however, has been greatly minimized and new wells are being drilled, chiefly for the development of larger production; 20 wells had been completed by the end of 1935 and 8 were being drilled. In addition to what has been referred to as the &apos;&apos;main pay," two deeper productive horizons have been discovered, which apparently will greatly increase the potential of the field although the areal extent of this lower production has not yet been determined. The proven acreage of the "main pay" is more than 12,500 acres. Current production (principally from the upper horizons) is about 13,400 bbl. a day. The construction of a 10,000-bb1.-a-day refinery has begun and is to be in operation by July, 1936. It is expected that the capacity will be considerably increased at a later date. The construction of office buildings and a permanent camp has been almost completed. In Saudi Arabia the California Arabian Standard Oil Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Standard Oil Company of California, spudded in a well in April, 1935, near the village of Dammam, on the Persian Gulf coast of A1 Hasa. Although several important showings of high-gravity oil and considerable gas have been found, the well is not yet considcred a commercial producer. Dammam well No. 2 has been started farther south on the same structure. A great deal of reconnaissance and some detailed geological work has been completed during the last three field seasons. In order to overcome difficulties of transportation over the desert sand, unusual methods have been used. The parlies penctrating the interior by the use of automobiles and trucks have been supplied with gasoline and provisions by caravans of camels. Mail and supp1ies of lighter weight urgently needed have been carried to the field men by an airplane operated by the geological division of the company. Each party has been supplied with a radio receiving and transmitting set to keep in contact with the airplane as well as with geological headquarters at Jubail on the coast of A1 Hasa.

Jan 1, 1936

By Eric R. Jette, Earl S. Greiner

The constitution of the iron-rich iron-nickel-silicon alloys at 600ºC. has been determined by X-ray crystal structure methods. If the results are represented isothermally by a conventional equilateral triangular plot, the single-phase solid solution (body-centered cubic structure) of the iron-rich alloys at 600°C. is bounded by four two-phase areas. Three three-phase areas separate the respective two-phase areas. Three of the phases in the polyphase areas have the same structures as the corresponding phases in the binary iron-nickel or iron-silicon alloys. There are two phases, however, that have not been reported previously and whose structures have been tentatively identified in the present investigation. The solid solubility limit of the iron-rich solid solution at 600°C. was determined by comparing the lattice constants of this body-centered cubic phase in the single and polyphase areas. It has been shown that the lattice constants of ternary alloys may be represented by surfaces whose distances above the ternary plot (representing atomic composition) are proportional to the lattice constants of the respective alloys. Then the intersections of the surface for the single-phase alloys with those for the corresponding phase in the polyphase alloys, at the respective temperatures, are the solid solubility limits of the single-phase alloys at these temperatures. The data of the present investigation were evaluated by this method, although by a system of orthographic projection it was possible to represent the three-dimensional model in two-dimensional diagrams. This investigation has shown that the solid solubility of nickel in the body-centered cubic phase of the iron-rich iron-nickel-silicon alloys at 600°C. changes from 3.7 weight per cent (Owen and Sulley) in the binary iron-nickel alloys to 5.0 per cent in the ternary alloys containing 4.8 per cent silicon. Further additions of silicon increase the solid solubility limit of nickel to 16.0 per cent at 12.6 per cent silicon. From this point the limit decreases to 9.5 per cent nickel at 15.5 per cent silicon and is, of course, zero at 15.3 per cent silicon in the binary iron-silicon alloys.

Jan 1, 1943

By T. C. King

AT the new Graham-Central Mill of Eagle-Picher, near Galena, Ill., material is simultaneously dewatered and introduced into the ball-mill scoop boxes by the use of variable-speed, 24-in. spiral classifiers. This arrangement has proved satisfactory in that the moisture content of the wet feed is reduced, thus allowing maintenance of density within the mills, and a constant feed at any desired rate to the mills is provided. In this mill the primary feed is wet crushed to minus 1/2 in. and preconcentrated by jigs to produce a bulk lead-zinc-iron concentrate and a waste tailing. The jig concentrate is then dewatered by a conventional dewatering classifier and stored in bins ahead of the ball mills. Even though this material is well dewatered, the discharge at the bin bottom is sloppy because of the gradual drainage of the water from the surface of the particles. Conventional belt feeders with vertical cutoff gates are unsatisfactory because of the flushing characteristic of the wet sand. The new installation employs 24 in. x 10 ft, 9-in. Simplex double-pitch spiral classifiers for feeders from the bin bottoms to the ball mill scoop boxes (fig. 1). These units are arranged with straight tanks and are driven by 5 hp motors through a U. S. Vari-Drive to provide a 4 to 1 speed ratio. Each bin discharges through a chute into the rising side of the spiral. The flushing characteristic of the material from the bottom of the bin is utilized to maintain a steady feed. A small amount of water tapped into the bottom of the bin insures uniform feed to the classifier. Excess clear water drains over the weirs. Feed rate to the mills is controlled by the variable-speed drives. The feed delivered by the spiral at a given speed setting is relatively dry, uniform, and steady, and as such is easily controlled by the operator. The classifiers are set on a pitch of 5 in. per ft and have a sand-raking capacity of from 8 to 32 tons per hr. It is believed that the solution of this problem offers possibilities for the storage of deslimed rod-mill sands and other similar products of the industry.

Jan 1, 1951

By Robert W. Hunt

The first pump of this character, made by H. R. Worthington, and, so far as the writer is informed, the first and only one of this kind ever constructed, is now in daily use in the above-named works. The water-pressure necessary for the working of the hydraulic machinery of this plant had been supplied, up to the time of the building of this pump, by two Worthington Duplex High Pressure Pumps, having steam-cylinders of 20 inches diameter and 12-inch stroke, with water-plungers of 71/2 inches diameter; eight inlet and eight outlet valves of 24 inches diameter, and pumping into a 6-inch pipe. These pumps required a large amount of steam, and, in consequence of the various additions to their duty, their capacity became far short of the work required. In preference to putting in another engine of the same class, it was decided to accept Mr. Worthington&apos;s proposition to build the compound one under description, he guaranteeing that it should be equal to the demands of the works, and at the same time cause a saving of from 5 to 6 tons of coal per day from the amount required to run the two old pumps. The new engine has been in operation about one month, and so far has exceeded the most sanguine expectations. It consists of two high-pressure cylinders of 21 inches and two low-pressure ones of 363/8 inches diameter, by 36-inch stroke, with water-plungers of 961/2 inches diameter. There are two air-pumps of 20 inches diameter by 18-inch stroke; the condenser being 24 inches diameter by 60 inches high. Both cylinders are jacketed with wood and felt, and the low-pressure cylinder also with live steam. The high and low pressure steamcylinders are in line and immediately adjoining each other, while the inconveniences attending an internal stuffing-box are avoided by having two piston-rods for each of the low-pressure cylinders, running through stuffing-boxes on the outside of the smaller high-pressure ones. The steam-valves are very ingeniously designed balanced

By O. Nomland

The work of The Bahrein Petroleum Company, Ltd., on Bahrein Island consisted mainly in continuing development work and prospecting previously reported. The exploratory work, however, has been greatly minimized and new wells are being drilled, chiefly for the development of larger production; 20 wells had been completed by the end of 1935 and 8 were being drilled. In addition to what has been referred to as the &apos;&apos;main pay," two deeper productive horizons have been discovered, which apparently will greatly increase the potential of the field although the areal extent of this lower production has not yet been determined. The proven acreage of the "main pay" is more than 12,500 acres. Current production (principally from the upper horizons) is about 13,400 bbl. a day. The construction of a 10,000-bb1.-a-day refinery has begun and is to be in operation by July, 1936. It is expected that the capacity will be considerably increased at a later date. The construction of office buildings and a permanent camp has been almost completed. In Saudi Arabia the California Arabian Standard Oil Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Standard Oil Company of California, spudded in a well in April, 1935, near the village of Dammam, on the Persian Gulf coast of A1 Hasa. Although several important showings of high-gravity oil and considerable gas have been found, the well is not yet considcred a commercial producer. Dammam well No. 2 has been started farther south on the same structure. A great deal of reconnaissance and some detailed geological work has been completed during the last three field seasons. In order to overcome difficulties of transportation over the desert sand, unusual methods have been used. The parlies penctrating the interior by the use of automobiles and trucks have been supplied with gasoline and provisions by caravans of camels. Mail and supp1ies of lighter weight urgently needed have been carried to the field men by an airplane operated by the geological division of the company. Each party has been supplied with a radio receiving and transmitting set to keep in contact with the airplane as well as with geological headquarters at Jubail on the coast of A1 Hasa.

Jan 1, 1936

By Frank C. Green

Drilling for oil and gas in Missouri in 1935 was mostly confined to proven areas, but was marked by the completion of one of the largest oil wells, 53 bbl., and one of the largest gas wells, 2,000,000 cu. ft., drilled in recent years. A new oil pool, discovered in southern Cass County late in 1934, was further developed; a new pool in southern Platte County is possibly indicated by the completion of a single small well, which flowed naturally; and a deeper sand was developed in the Marota gas pool in Jackson County. Completions dropped to a lower level than in any recent year. A total of 73 wells, which included the deepening of 8 old wells, was drilled. In Bates County, there was one gas well with an open flow of 100,000 cu. ft., and one dry hole. Cass County had six oil wells with about 100 bbl. initial production; one gas well with an open flow of 500,000 cu. ft., and three dry holes. In Jackson County there were seven oil wells with 25 bbl. initial production; 24 gas wells with 7,358,968 cu. ft. open flow, and 27 dry holes. Platte County had one oil well, one small gas well and one dry hole. The oil well flowed naturally about 4 or 5 bbl. per day. It is rather difficult to obtain production figures on either oil or gas leases, but in cases where the figures have been given to the writer in confidence, they disclose conditions comparable with many other regions. One oil lease of 32 acres has produced 125,000 bbl. in four years, or nearly 4000 bbl. per acre. Another lease has made 50,000 bbl., or about 3000 bbl. per acre. It is probable that the total daily production at the end of 1935 was close to 200 hill. per day. A gas pool covering less than one square mile has made 110,111,000 cu. ft. in about 18 months. In this period, the open-flow capacity has been reduced from about 10,500,000 cu. ft. per day to about 3,500,000.

Jan 1, 1936

By E. L. Estabrook

Oil companies operating in foreign countries have made increased use during 1930 of cooperative agreements in prospecting unproven territory and in developing proven territory. A considerable proportion of the existing foreign fields are held under single ownership and have been developed as units. The operating companies seek to maintain this condition by acquiring land in large blocks or by merging smaller concessions under unit operating agreements. Your committee has secured a number of reports on foreign non-competitive operations and a valuable formal paper which deals with the Golden Lane of Mexico.l 0. B. Knight has drawn some valuable comparisons concerning costs of development and ultimate production between a certain competitive area and another noncompetitive area along that strip of rich producing territory. After discussing details of production, numbers of wells and cost of drilling and production, he concludes that the 93,700,000 bbl. of competitive oil will have cost $0.193 per barrel as compared to 85,700,000 bbl. of noncompetitive oil at $0.059 per barrel. The saving of $0.134 per barrel amounts in round figures to $11,500,000, which is 21/2 times the total cost of developing the non-competitive block. The cost for drilling and development of the two areas of 3550 acres which Mr. Knight compares was $18,150,000 under competitive and $4,760,000 under noncompetitive conditions. The estimated ultimate production of the competitive 3550 acres is expected to reach 93,700,000 bbl., or 8,000,000 bbl. above the noncompetitive block. Under ordinary production methods it is to be expected that a noncompetitive area will yield less oil per unit area than will a similar competitive area, because of closer spacing and more rapid extraction in the latter case. The advantage of noncompetitive conditions, in this regard, is that the undivided ownership makes it possible to apply repressuring as a production method fairly early in the life of the field and thus, in the end, to vastly increase the yield. In the particular region described by Mr. Knight, repressuring is not thought to be a factor of

Jan 1, 1931