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By L. I. Cothern

THE introduction of mechanized mining has created a demand for long working faces. It has also prompted mining men to contest the old theory that longwall methods can be used only where roof conditions are ideal and where pack-wall material is plentiful. "Longwall" as used in this paper means "modified longwall," "semi-longwall," or any of the various "wall" or "long-face" methods of mining. Many mines are now using long conveyor faces that differ only in their methods of development, types of roof support and method of loading coal onto the conveyor. Some types of longwall operations are being carried on successfully under conditions heretofore considered impossible by men experienced in longwall mining. With possibly one or two exceptions, long-face methods in Alabama are a direct result of the need for lower mining costs. The advantages over room-and-pillar systems were clearly expressed in an article by Messrs. Fies and Lacy of the DeBardeleben Coal Corporation1 as follows: (1) increased tonnage per miner; (2) increased percentage of lump coal; (3) reduction in cost of development; (4) elimination of the cost of room yardage; (5) reduction in the cost of haulage, from ability to use larger cars; (6) reduction in the cost of machine cutting; (7) reduction in cost for tracks; (8) reduction in the cost of deadwork; (9) reduction in the cost of supervision. An attempt on the part of the operator to gain these, advantages by changing from room-and-pillar to longwall requires considerable courage, and credit should be given to those men who have done their bit to meet the competition of rival fuels. The initiatory problems to be solved are in reference to: (1) retreating or advancing system, (2) length of wall, (3) method of roof support, (4) method of entry development, (5) type of conveyor or loader, (6) hand vs. machine loading (onto conveyors), (7) hand vs. machine loading in entries, (8) control of roof pressure,

Jan 1, 1940

By Charles H. J. Patterson

When coal is deposited on the decks of pneumatic tables, all fine particles clinging to the larger pieces are blown free by the air. Inasmuch as the air retains an appreciable residual velocity after passing through the bed of coal, it is capable of suspending particles of goodly size. This velocity is dissipated gradually and, unless confined, can readily extend beyond the limits of the plant. Today the ideal in the design and operation of pneumatic cleaning plants is not that they be no dustier than the ordinary tipple, but rather that they be as clean as an office or shop. This degree of perfection may not yet have been attained in any commercial plant, but it is not impossible of achievement. Not until recently has the recirculation principle been applied to pneumatic separating plants. In the writer's estimation, it has not yet been proved entirely satisfactory in commercial installations. A serious obstacle lies in the fact that it is practically impossible to provide a truly closed circuit. The air circuits must be interrupted at certain points, if only for the introduction of raw material and for the recovery of the finished product. It is feasible to prevent the escape of polluted air at these points, but this can scarcely be accomplished without admitting additional air into the circuit. These additions of air are cumulative, which necessitates means for emitting to the atmosphere the excess while still carrying its objectionable burden, if provisions are not made for conditioning. If it must be provided at all, conditioning is frequently simpler and more economical if applied to the entire volume of air involved. This procedure eliminates the extra initial cost and operating expense of the closed system. Crane Cheek Experiments The first noteworthy commercial installation of pneumatic equipment was made in 1922, at the Crane Creek plant of the American Coal Co. of Allegheny County, at McComas, W. Va. Six tables for cleaning coal between the limits of and 3 in. comprised the initial installation. Dust was collected by hoods connected by a system of ducts to exhauster fans. In this installation the unit dust burden was small, owing to the removal of fines from the feed by vibrating screens.

Jan 1, 1931

L. K. ARMSTRONG H. L. NORTON SECRETARY-TREASURER of SECRETARY-TREASURER Of COLUMBIA SECTION ARIZONA SECTION PERCY E. WRIGHT A. B. CARPENTER SECRETARY-TREASURER Of SECRETARY-TREASURER Of PUGET SOUND SECTION SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SECTION

Jan 8, 1919

The following figures (Nos. 1-4) and tables (Nos. 1 and 2) were inadvertently omitted from the chapter entitled "Optimum Open-Pit Mine Production Scheduling" by Thys B. Johnson, Section 4, pages 539-562. [ ]

Jan 1, 1969

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS President and Director HOWARD C PYLE, '61, Los Angeles, Calif Past President and Director AUGUSTUS B KINZEL, '60, New York City President-elect and Director JOSEPH L GILLSON, '62, Wilmington, Del

Jan 1, 1959

FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Erie V. Daveler, Chairman A B. Kinzel Gail F. Moulton INVESTMENTS ErIe V. Daveler, Chairman W L. Kleitz, '52 Henry Krumb, '53 Joseph E. Pogue, '51

Jan 1, 1952

By H. J. Oberson, J. H. Brown

Comminution devices such as rod or ball mills are characteristically nonselective in their operation in that all material fed to a mill is ground to some extent. This is unfortunate when the object of comminution is liberation, for not only is energy expended in breaking pure gangue particles wasted, but, since gangue is frequently the predominant phase, the opportunity for such loss is great. Ideally, in this application a comminuting device should develop fracture only in locked particles. In the present investigation an attempt was made to use the large density difference which may exist between minerals to prevent comminution of one while grinding the other. EXPERIMENTAL MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT The two minerals used in this work were -8-mesh galena and -8+ 20-mesh quartz. All tests were made on 2000-g charges containing 50 pct by weight of each mineral. Heavy media suspensions consisted of -100-mesh ferrosilicon in water. For grinding, a laboratory mill 10 in. diam by 12 in. long was filled to about 30 pct of its volume with either a ball or a rod charge. The balls ranged in size from 3/8 to 1 1/8 in. in diam; the rods ranged from 5/8 to 1 1/4 in. diam by 11 in. long. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE In all tests employing heavy media, the ground pulps were treated as follows: 1) After recovering the ground charge from the mill but before drying, the pulp was wet screened on 200 mesh. 2) After drying the + 200-mesh product from step 1, the ferrosilicon was removed magnetically. 3) The nonmagnetic quartz and galena product from step 2 was sized on 10-mesh through 200-mesh screens. 4) The mineralogical composition of each screen fraction was determined by measuring its specific gravity. The specific gravity was related to the weight of galena in the fraction through the relationship

Jan 1, 1961

United Engineering Trustees, Inc. W. D. B. MOTTER, JR., '44 A. L. QUENEAU, '45 ALBERT ROBERTS, '43, President The Engineering Foundation GEORGE D. BARRON, '44 F. F. COLCORD. '46 A. L. QUENEAU, '45, Chairman

Jan 1, 1943

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS President and Director AUGUSTUS B KINZEL, '60, New York City Past President and Director GROVER J HOLT, '59, Ishpeming, Michigan President-elect and Director HOWARD C PYLE, '61, Los Angeles, Calif

Jan 1, 1958

By F. H. McDowell

DURING the last eighteen months the Tilly Foster Iron Mine Company, the President of' which is Mr. E. I?. Hatfield and the Managing Director Mr. B. G. Clarke, has been carrying out a plan

Jan 1, 1889

By Barnabas Bryan

In the year 1875, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, acting on incorrect information concerning the production of oil and gas, established what has become the law of the land for the governing of oil production. While the decision was ideal for the refining monopoly which was completed in that year, there is no evidence that the court was in any way influenced by that refining monopoly. The evidence indicates that the court accepted the view of the royalty owner and independent oil producer. Throughout the life of the refining monopoly it accepted this law, which was so evidently to its advantage in securing cheap raw material. The same policy continued until the development of the exhaustion theory and the entry of the various units of the former monopoly into the production of crude oil. It is curious that no one doubted the new theory of shortage sufficiently to feel the need of changing the law. When the theory entered the economic field sufficiently to raise crude oil prices beyond justification it shortly disproved itself, but by this time the question of split ownership in producing fields made a change from legal error to justice too complicated to be undertaken by the large companies. Not even the ardent advocate of unit operation dared to carry the question to the United States Supreme Court, which has never been asked to pass on the complete question. The impossible position of the producing industry, hemmed in on one side by court law compelling wasteful production and on the other by the national law against cooperation, lasted until the demoralization of 1927 led to cooperation within a state and under state guidance. Since that time control of production has grown with the bringing in of each new field and at this time has the active support of the Department of the Interior in such ways as are definitely legal. As in 1875, the royalty owner and independent producer are opposing by all possible means the rational conduct of the business of producing crude oil. Fluctuation in Investments The investor in oil securities has not been as badly fooled as has the oil man himself. Fig. 1 is designed to show the composite regard of all

Jan 1, 1930

FROM the first to the last meeting of t h e Rocky Mountain Club John Hays Hammond served as president. He guided its deliberations when there were any, but that always y o u n g organization was never particularly deliberate. Youth never is. And the Club was the embodiment of the youthful spirit of the West, which considers any- thing can be done if there be but the will to do it. Ham- mond and the others came out of the West, but they, brought the West with them P and in all the far countries in which he has served his profession and in all the honorable offices in which he has served his country, he lived true to the ideals under which he was raised. A Californian, born in San Francisco in 1855, the son of an army officer, Major Richard Pindell Hammond, educated in the public schools of his native city, at Yale, and at Freiburg, he turned early and quickly to mining. He served his apprenticeship as all successful mining men do, as assayer, surveyor, as assistant in ex-aminations and later as principal, and finally as mine manager. Even in those days of beginnings, his future world-wide career was foreshadowed in that Mexico as well as California served as his training school. His first major step up the ladder was in connection with the Bunker Hill and Sullivan mine, where he served in various positions finishing as president and considerable owner. It was from this great lead mine that he was called to South Africa, where he remained a number of years and was the technical expert who guided the great enterprises of Barnato Brothers and Cecil Rhodes. The story of his activity in developing the "deeps" of the Rand and in opening Rhodesia has been often told but is always an alluring one of adventure and accomplish-ment. After his famous escape from death at Johannes-burg as a member of the Reform Committee, he went first to London and later returned to the United States representing both British and American capital in the purchase and development of great mines in all parts of the world. For some years he was general man-ager, consulting engineer, and director of the Guggen-heim Exploration Co., but of recent years he has oper-ated entirely on his own account and with marked success.

Jan 4, 1928

By Arthur B. Foote

The cams at present universally used in stamp mills lift the tappets with an involute form of curve, to which the surface of the tappet is always tangent; moreover, the line of contact between tappet and cam, if produced, would pass through the center of the stem. This is no doubt a desirable feature, but the writer has long believed that it would be much more desirable if the cam were to pick up the stamp without shock, and gradually increase the upward velocity of the stamp throughout its upward movement. The involute form of cam attempts to impart instantly a considerable upward velocity to the stamp, starting it from a state of rest, and the result is a destructive blow, a great deal of noise, and much wear and vibration. The writer has developed a form of cam which will lift the stamp pith a motion similar to that of the piston of an engine between the end and middle of its stroke; in other words, harmonic motion, from the woint of zero to maximum velocity. The curve will give this ideal motion only when the stamp is set for the exact drop for which the cam was designed, but the improved cam will not be as bad as the involute cam until the drop is reduced one-half. In other words, if a cam is designed for a 6-in. drop, it will be some improvement over the usual form of cam until the drop is only 3 in. Any cam, whatever its form, must of course lift the stamp in the same number of degrees of revolution; therefore, with this new form, since the stamp starts more slowly on its upward course, it must end up by going faster, the average speed being the same as with the involute cam. The stamp, after it is no longer in contact with the cam, keeps on going up a certain distance, which is easily calculated. It is therefore possible to hang up a stamp without a cam stick, if the fingers are not more than + in. longer than necessary to hold the tappet above, the cam. With this design of cam the surface of the tappet is not tangent to the surface of the cam throughout the lift. The possible consequences of this were studied with a full-size model, and did not seem serious, as

Jan 1, 1915

By C. Wagner

When an alloy solidifies and the composition of the solid differs from the composition of the liquid, atoms of the alloying elements rejected at the solid-liquid interface have to diffuse toward the bulk liquid. Diffusion may be supported by convection. Theoretical calculations have been made for a liquid without convection, for a liquid involving natural convection, and for solidification of a liquid alloy at the surface of a rotating disk as an example of forced convection. WHEN an alloy solidifies, the equilibrium composition of the originating solid phase differs in general from the composition of the liquid phase. Thus, segregation may take place, i.e., the composition of the solid phase formed at different times differs from the bulk composition. The degree of segregation depends on several factors such as the partition ratio of the alloying elements between the liquid and the solid phase, the rate of solidification, and convection. To clarify, a theoretical analysis has been worked out. The following presuppositions are made: 1—Calculations are confined to the solidification of binary alloys in which the concentration of component A (solvent) is much greater than that of component B (solute). 2—The equilibrium concentration of the alloying element B is assumed to be lower in the solid phase than in the coexisting liquid phase. 3—At the solid-liquid interface, partition equilibrium is assumed. 4—The dependence of the partition ratio of the solute between the liquid and the solid phase on concentration and temperature is disregarded since only small concentrations of the solute are considered. 5—The concentration of the alloying element B in the solid phase is supposed to be lower than the saturation concentration for the formation of a second solid phase. 6—diffusion in the solid phase is disregarded, since diffusion rates in the solid state are comparatively low. When the partition ratio of the solute between the liquid and the solid phase is greater than unity, a part of the solute is rejected at the solid-liquid inter- face and has to diffuse toward the bulk liquid. Thus there is necessarily a concentration difference in the liquid between the solid-liquid interface and the bulk liquid as has been pointed out by Hayes and Chipman,' Rutter and Chalmers,' Tiller, Jackson, Rutter, and Chalmers, and others (see Fig. 1). In view of the concentration gradient in the liquid phase, the ratio of the concentration of the solute in the solid phase to that in the bulk liquid differs from the equilibrium ratio, although at the solid-liquid interface, partition equilibrium is assumed. Under certain limiting conditions, the solid may even have virtually the composition of the bulk liquid as is shown below. General Equations Let u be the linear crystallization velocity in cm per sec, D the diffusion coefficient of component B in the liquid phase in cm2 sec-', c',, and c", the concentrations of component B in the liquid and the solid phase, respectively, in mol per cm", and s the distance from the solid-liquid interface toward the bulk liquid at a given time t. The partition ratio is assumed to be equal to a partition constant K. Thus. The difference in the specific volume between the liquid and the solid phase may be disregarded. In view of the discontinuity of the concentration of the solute at the interface according to Eq. 1, u(c', — c",), , , = tic', (S = 0)(1 — K) gram-atoms B per unit area per unit time are rejected at the interface and have to diffuse toward the bulk liquid. From Fick's first law it follows that uc',,(s = 0) (1 ~K) == - D(dc',,/?>s). _-„. [2] The concentration profile in the liquid near the interface depends on the interplay of diffusion and convection as is discussed in the following sections. A schematic concentration profile is shown in Fig. 1. The "effective thickness of the diffusion boundary

Jan 1, 1955

By H. H. Hasler

THE mining and removal of coal from two or more beds, either simultaneously or consecutively, in vertically adjacent areas have always been matters of concern to mine operators from both operating and recovery points of view. However, with the progressive introduction and use of electrical and mechanical facilities, such problems assume even greater proportions. In this paper typical cases occuring in Cambia County, Pa., are given and procedures whereby such problems may be .greatly reduced, if not entirely eliminated, are suggested. Throughout a considerable portion of the Central Pennsylvania bituminous coal region, particularly in Cambria County (Fig. I), the portion of the region to which references in this paper are made, large areas are encountered where two or more beds of coal occur and have been mined extensively since the earliest days of mining in the county. Generally, operations were commenced in one bed of coal on a property, following which, as conditions appeared to warrant, operations were commenced in another bed or beds on the same property, in some instances by the same operator. Operating results by no means have been uniformly successful, as the following review of some typical cases indicates, partly because of lack of experience in earlier cases and in certain later cases to disregard for the experiences of earlier operators. It is suggested that repetitions of such failures may be reduced largely, if not eliminated entirely, by adherence to a few basic principles founded upon past experiences. Geology and Stratigraphy The geology, stratigraphy, and relief of almost all of Cambria County have been studied and reported at length by the U. S. Geological Survey in its Johnstown, Ebensburg and Barnesboro-Patton Folios and other publications, by the Pennsylvania Geological Survey and by various individuals. All exposed rocks occurring within the boundaries of the county are of sedimentary origin, consisting of alternate beds of sandstone, slate, shale, fireclay, coal, limestone, etc., and all have been classified by the U. S. Geological Survey as extending from the upper strata of the Catskill formation, Devonian system, to and including, in a few hilltop areas, the lower strata of the Monongahela formation, Carboniferous system. Included within that range is the Allegheny formation, Pennsylvania series, which embraces all of the commercially important beds of coal that occur in the county, viz., the A, or Brookville, to the E, or Upper Freeport, both inclusive, shown in Fig. 2. The measures are traversed by a series of anticlines and synclines, extending in a northeasterly and southwesterly direction, which form broad, gently sloping basins (flat to 15 pct pitch, exceptionally to 25 pct). However, the topography of the surface is such that long lines of outcrops of all beds of coal overlying bed B, and to a limited extent bed B also, occur over large areas, a factor which contributed to the early and extensive development of mining activities in the county. Earliest mining developments of commercial importance were made in B, C', D, and E beds of coal, and it is in these beds that the principal mining operations are being conducted. To a limited extent, mining operations also have been conducted in local areas in the A, B rider and C beds. Coal beds being mined today range in thickness from approximately 28 to 60 in. Intervals between the respective beds of coal are variable but conform somewhat to the following general averages: A to B, 60 to 100 ft.; B to C, 50 ft.; C to C', 70 ft.; C' to D, 45 ft.; and D to E, 45 ft. The following are typical mining cases obserced over a period of years in various parts of the county.

Jan 1, 1952

By Julien F. Phillips, Donald E. Garrett

The production of soda ash from natural sources is one of the United States' oldest industries. The London Company, which financed the settlement of Jamestown, in the fall of 1608 exported in its first cargo from Virginia " . . . trials of pitch, tar, glass, frankincense, and soap-ashes."1 This last product, a crude mixture of sodium and potassium carbonates obtained by the burning of wood in iron pots, was the commercial soda ash of its day, used in the infant soap, glass, and bleaching industries. Besides having a good cash value, its production helped to clear the land, and it was a compact, easily shipped commodity. The extra high potassium content of these American "pot-ashes" gave them an added market as a fertilizer, a field that they dominated until the opening of the Strassfurt deposits in 1860. This form of natural soda ash disappeared forever from commercial importance with the introduction of the Le Blanc process (1791), and later the Solvay process for manufacturing soda ash. The Solvay process was rapidly accepted in the United States, and has accounted for most of the country's soda ash production since 1884. It was not until the western part of the country began to be developed that natural soda ash was again produced. A number of lakes, playas, and springs west of the Rocky Mountains were found to be rich in this mineral, and climatic conditions were ideal for its easy recovery by solar evaporation. The production of natural soda ash from these deposits has become a steadily growing industry in the United States. Production A summary of the production and value of natural sodium carbonates in the United States is presented in Table 1. Prior to 1927 the principal output came from several different companies at Owens Lake, California. Then production at Searles Lake, California, began to [ ] increase until it became the most important source. In 1948 the sale of crude trona from Green River, Wyoming, commenced and since that time production from these latter two areas has been about equal. Table 2 lists the four

Jan 1, 1960

By R. R. Hart, B. C. Wonsiewicz, G. Y. Chin

In recent years there has been increased miniaturization of electromechanical devices to keep pace with current trends toward smaller electronic components. A major problem facing the designer, however, is the higher stresses encountered by the material as a result of shorter springs. Hence an improvement in the elastic limit, as approximated by the 0.01 pct offset yield strength, would be highly desirable. An increase of 25 pct in the yield strength, for example, will permit a 20 pct reduction in both the length and thickness of a cantilever-type spring while maintaining the same compliance. One technique of improving the yield strength that has received little commercial attention is crystal-lographic texture strengthening.1,2 Texture strengthening is expected to be most beneficial in materials of hcp structure, but considerable gain can also be expected in cubic materials. A wire with a (111) fiber texture, for example, is expected to be 20 pct stronger than randomly oriented material, and 50 pct stronger than wire with a (100) fiber texture.293 For sheet specimens with a {110}(112) texture, characteristic of many heavily rolled fcc alloys, the (111) transverse direction is expected to be the maximum yield strength direction, about 20 pct higher than that in the (112) rolling direction.' In addition, the (111) direction is the direction of maximum modulus of elasticity for most cubic alloys. A large value of the elastic modulus could be desirable in designs where stiffer springs are required. To test the above idea, a 0.090 in. (-2.3 mm) thick commercial grade A (5 pct Sn) phosphor bronze sheet, a widely-used material for relay springs, was rolled from the spring-tempered condition (60.5 pct reduction) to various additional reductions up to a total reduction of 95 pct. Subsequently, additional material was obtained with a total thickness reduction of 97.3 pct Standard tensile specimens were prepared from the sheet material with the tensile axis parallel to and at 90 deg to the rolling direction. Tests were run on an Instron testing machine at a strain rate of about 0.050 min-l. Textures were determined by the use of the reflection pole-figure technique. Data were obtained using nickel-filtered CuKa radiation and with the aid of a Siemens pole figure goniometer. The X-ray pole figure studies show an incrzasing development of the texture toward the {110}(112) ideal

Jan 1, 1970

By W. H. Smith

IN the course of an investigation on chromium containing minor amounts of alloying elements, the information herein has been obtained on the crys-tallographic orientations resulting from arc melting, rolling, and annealing. The chromium used in this investigation was electrolytic flake obtained from the Electro Metallurgical Co. This material was heated for 20 hr at 1600°C in hydrogen with a dew point of about — 100°C. The oxygen and nitrogen content of the chromium after this treatment was 0.0003 pct 0 and 0.005 pct N. Five pounds of this chromium were arc melted in a water-cooled copper crucible. After arc melting, the oxygen and nitrogen contents were 0.002 and 0.025 pet, respectively. A section of this ingot is shown in Fig. 1. By means of a back-reflection Laue technique, the crystal habit of the cast ingot was determined. As expected, it was found that the [loo] was approximately the axis of the columnar grains. In this respect, chromium behaves like other body-centered-cubic metals in that a cubic axis is normal to the cold surface of the mold. A slab cut from this ingot was rolled at 600°C as follows: four 30 pct reductions were made with intermediate anneals at 1200°C for 15 min. Rolling was done with the [loo] of the columnar grains in the rolling direction. Following the final anneal, an 80 pct reduction was taken at 600 °C. The final sheet thickness was ten mils. By polishing and etching, the thickness was reduced to four mils and the grain orientation determined by the transmission Laue method using molybdenum radiation with a zirconium filter. Fig. 2 is the (110) pole figure for this material with the ideal (100) [011] and (111) [112] orientations indicated. The orientation is typical of most cold rolled body-centered-cubic metals having the [llO] of the grains approximately in the rolling direction and the (100) planes approximately in the plane of the rolled sheet. There is also evidence of some 10) [1 orientation. The grain orientation of sheet rolled 40 and 80 pct in the same direction as before at 600°C followed by recrystallization at 12000 C for 15 min was determined by a back-reflection Laue technique. A random texture was found in both cases. This 1200°C 15 min anneal was found to give complete recrystallization and some grain growth.

Jan 1, 1956

By M. B. Bever, A. M. Reti, A. K. Jena

The results of this investigation show that in the system SnTe-PbTe l) the solid solutions have small exothermic heats of formation relative to the binary compounds, 2) solid-solution hardening is almost absent, 3) the tin and lead atoms are .randomly distributed on the sublattice occupied by them and do not undergo an ordering transition during a thermal treatment designed to promote such a transition, and 4) the lattice parameter changes linearly with composition. These findings suggest that the solid solutions of tin telluride and lead telluride approach ideal behavior. THE binary compounds SnTe and PbTe form a continuous series of solid solutions.' Information on several physical properties of these solid-solution alloys has been published.1"3 In the work reported here, the heats of formation, microhardness, and lattice parameters of these alloys have been measured and the possibility of an order-disorder transition has been investigated. Order-disorder transitions occur in some solid solutions of binary compounds. In the system Bi2Te3-BizSes, for example, the electropositive bismuth atoms and the electronegative tellurium and selenium atoms always occupy separate layers. In the disordered alloy Bi2Te2Se, the tellurium and selenium atoms are randomly distributed on the layers occupied by them, while in the ordered alloy they occupy distinct layers.4 The NaC1-type (Bl) structure of SnTe-PbTe alloys consists of two sublattices, one of which is occupied by the electropositive tin and lead atoms and the other by the electronegative tellurium atoms; any ordering would be expected to occur in the sublattice occupied by the tin and lead atoms. PREPARATION OF SPECIMENS Polycrystalline specimens of PbTe and Sn1-xPbxTe (x = 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75) were prepared by melting stoichiometric amounts of lead (99.999 pct), tin (99.98 pct), and tellurium (99.999 pct) in evacuated and sealed Vycor tubes. Because of the deviation of tin telluride from the stoichiometric composition5 this compound was prepared by melting 49.8 at. pct Sn and 50.2 pct Te. The tubes containing the melts were quenched into water; the solidified ingots were removed from the tubes and annealed for 2 weeks in vacuum (PbTe approximately 100°C below its melting point, the three alloys 100°C below their solidus tem-

Jan 1, 1969

By Chester Washburne

COLOMBIA has an almost ideal situation with respect to the world's markets, being only a short distance from the Panama canal and the West Indies. The sailing distance from its Caribbean ports to New York is less than that from Tampico. Geographically, Colombia consists of three systems of broad mountain ranges separated by two long narrow valleys. The Cauca River valley separates the Western or Coastal range from the Central range. On the west side of the Coastal range are the Atrato and San Juan Rivers. The Central and Eastern ranges are separated by the Magdalena River valley. In the department of Santander the Eastern range divides, one branch continuing northward as the Cordillera of Perija, the other turning eastward across Venezuela as the Cordillera of Merida. Between these ranges is the great basin occupied by Lake Maracaibo. These valleys consist mainly of long narrow reëntrants or tongues of Tertiary sediments between the older rocks of the mountain ranges. The late Miocene and younger sediments seem to have been deposited in separated basins, but the Cretaceous and possibly some earlier Tertiary strata were laid down more or less continuously over a great part of .Colombia and Venezuela. These strata were subsequently folded into the present ranges. The deposition of the Cretaceous and of some of the Tertiary was in a great sea, the main land mass being in Brazil, with land probably along some of the cores of the present mountain systems. The sediments, except the Lower Cretaceous, vary markedly in character and thickness. An illustration is seen in the massive series of non-marine conglomerates and sandstones of the upper Magdalena River valley, near Honda, which are almost wholly wanting in the coastal sections where marine sediments prevail. The oldest rocks bearing on the search for oil are the black carbonaceous and bituminous shales, limestones, and cherts of the upper part of the Lower Cretaceous. These probably are the main source of oil in both Colombia and Venezuela. They include thick bodies of true "oil shale. Above the carbonaceous and bituminous beds, lies a series of many thousand feet of clastic sediments. The most noticeable and easily recognizable formation among these clastic sediments is the "coal-bearing series," which may be either upper Cretaceous or Eocene. The

Jan 6, 1922