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Jan 1, 1940

By M. L. Requa

EVERY forward step in civilization brings with it an increase in population and increasing demand for raw materials. Modern civilization, because of its industrial development, depends more and more for its well-being on ample supplies of raw materials; the higher the type of that civilization, the greater its dependence. No fact is more obvious than that the raw materials should be put to use with greatest prudence and efficiency. National life is not a matter of a decade or a century. Conservation is no longer a matter for political discussion; it is a vital element in the future welfare of all nations. Unfortunately, to the minds of many, conservation means the locking up of natural resources, their arbitrary withdrawal, bringing about, in short, a condition of industrial stagnation. This has occurred in past centuries through misdirected governmental effort. Two eminent engineers have variously defined conservation as follows:

Jan 1, 1925

Jan 1, 1941

Jan 1, 1940

Jan 1, 1941

By HENRY M. HOWEL

1. Introduction.-The first part of this papers treats of the causes and the restraining of piping in steel ingots; the second& considers the causes and the restraining of -segregation; and the third proposes certain precautions in engineering specifications concerning these two defects. Into their causes I have looked carefully, with the purpose of arriving at rational methods of restraining them, and at efficient ways of detecting. and measuring the harm which they cause, so as to benefit the public by reducing this harm at once effectively and with the least expense to the manufacturer, and therefore in the end with the least expense to the consumer. In Part I., I infer that the pipe is chiefly due to what I, call the virtual expansion of the outer walls of the ingot in the early part of the freezing. I find that the upper and smooth-faced part of the pipe probably forms while the interior is still molten, but that the lower, steep, and crystal-faced part probably forms in metal which is already firm. Of the five causes which may co-operate to limit the depth of the pipe, I find that three-blow-holes, sagging, and the progress of freezing from below upwards-are usually effective. I find that the pipe may be lessened by casting (1) in wide ingots,; (2) in sand molds, especially if these are pre-heated (this is rarely expedient); (3) at the tops instead of at the bottom; (4) slowly; (5) and with the large end up; (6) by the use of a sinking-head or other means of retarding the cooling of the top; (7) by permitting blow-holes to form; and (8) by liquid compression.) Most of these I consider in some detail, and in particular I dwell on the advantages of casting with the large end up, and I propose certain administrative arrangements to permit this.

Mar 1, 1907

By Hugh H. Waesche

OF all the military services, the Signal Corps is the most concerned with piezoelectric minerals because of its function as a supply service to the strategic and tactical military forces. Consequently this paper is written from the point of view of one associated with that organization. The Signal Corps is responsible for the research, development, and supply of communications, radar, and components to the using services of the Department of the Army and to some extent the other branches of the National Defense Department. Their work therefore includes the study of the sources, characteristics, and application of quartz and other piezoelectric materials. These materials have become a vital consideration in strategic planning and are essential for efficient tactical operation by all the Armed Forces. The Signal Corps at the beginning of World War II was responsible for both Army Ground and Air Force electronic equipment. Since that time this Army service organization has probably done more in the development of frequency control devices using piezoelectric materials than any other group.

Jan 1, 1949

By Ralph W. Marsden

The natural iron ores of the Lake Superior Region in the United States are being replaced by iron-ore concentrates produced from magnetite- or hematite-rich horizons in the Precambrian cherty iron formations. The production of natural ores will soon be less than one-half of the total ore shipped annually. The tonnage of natural ore produced will continue to decline until it is a minor percentage of the ore shipped. The natural ores include (1) soft ore, (2) hard ore, ( 3) conglomerate ore and ( 4) siliceous ore. The soft ores are the important ore type and are sometimes termed "Lake Superior type ore". These ores are in situ deposits of hematite and limonite formed by the leaching of silica and other gangue materials in the iron formations. The leaching is believed to have been done by downward moving surface waters. In deep ore deposits, generally over 1000 feet below the present surface, circulation and leaching action may have been assisted by hydrothermal activity. Hard ore deposits occur on the Vermilion and Marquette ranges where hematite or magnetite has replaced the silica (and possibly some silicates) in cherty iron formation. These ores commonly occur in structural situations favorable for the movement of hydrothermal waters. The ores are believed to be the result of hydrothermal action with iron, possibly from the iron formation, transported by hydrothermal waters to areas favorable for the replacement of silica by iron oxides. Certain stratigraphic horizons of the Lake Superior Precambrian cherty iron formations contain sufficient iron as magnetite or hematite, with a grain size and texture that will give adequate mineral liberation, to yield an ore-quality product after grinding and concentration. The magnetite-rich deposits are termed magnetite taconites. These ores occur on the Mesabi, Gogebic, and Marquette ranges. Magnetite taconite ores are unenriched cherty iron formation and are the result of the sedimentary deposition of the iron formation and the metamorphic history of the rock. The commercial quality hematite-rich iron formations in Michigan are termed jasper ores. The jasper ores are being mined on the Marquette and Menominee ranges. These ores are composed of specular or granular hematite associated with quartz and iron silicates. The jasper ores appear to be recrystallized iron formations in which iron, prior to recrystallization, occurred as hematite.

Jan 1, 1968

By Peter Allen, John R. Stuermer

COUNTRY RISK ANALYSIS A company operating in a foreign country assumes all the risks that it would at home. However, beyond these, it assumes risks that arise from the unique political economic, financial conditions of the foreign country which it operates. These risks are known as "country risks". The importance of these risks has grown appreciably in the recent past (particularly in the aftermath of Iran's revolution in the late 1970s and Mexico's debt rescheduling of 1982-83), and as a result, country risk analysis has become an increasingly useful management tool. Country risk analysis seeks to assess the probability that countries will service their aggregate foreign liabilities on time, as well as the probability that country conditions could inhibit the debt service capability of private sector debtors. This involves assessment of both the ability and the willingness of countries to meet their external liabilities in a timely fashion. "Ability" is linked economic and financial variables: principally, a country's economic structure, foreign exchange generating capacity and debt service burden. On the other hand, "willingness" is tied to political factors: mainly the economic/financial orientation of government policy and the stability of economic decision making. Ability: Economic, Financial Conditions and Prospects Judgement of a country's ability to meet foreign financial obligations begins with a detailed study of a country's external balance sheet which compares the country's foreign liabilities and assets. Table 1 below presents country balance sheets for Mexico, Korea and Indonesia. [TABLE 1 The External Balance 3-,-et 1983 (billions of dollars; Indonesia Mexico Korea Foreign Liabilities 31.1 67.6 40.5 By Source: Bank 13.1 75.5 26.3 Non-bank 18.0 12.114.2 Foreign Reserves 9.3 4.7 7.0] The large magnitude of Mexico's external debt (nearly $90 billion), compared to foreign assets of approximately $5 billion, illustrates the weakness of this country's external payments position, and the main reason that it has been unable to meet interest and principal payments and been forced to reschedule its foreign debt. On the other hand, the relationship between Korea's external liabilities and assets ($50.5 billion and $7 billion, respectively), is more favorable and helps explain why Korea has been able to meet debt service payments and maintain its access to the international capital markets. Indonesia has even a more favorable relationship between its foreign assets and liabilities, $31 billion and $9 billion, respectively, and its debt is mostly lower interest rate, non-bank debt, making for a less onerous debt service burden. After the balance sheet, the analysis turns to a comparison of the country's foreign exchange earning capacity and its prospective financing requirements, that is, the country's future earnings stream

Jan 1, 1985

By Benjamin N. Webber

The peninsula of Nicoya contains virtually all of the known manganese deposits of Costa Rica. These are south and west of the Tempisque River, which flows across the peninsula near its juncture with the mainland. This peninsula forms the westernmost part of the province of Guana-caste, which is the northern. of the two Pacific Coast provinces of Costa Rica. The larger villages are connected by ox-cart roads and trails. The area may be covered on horseback without difficulty except during the rainy season, when rivers are in flood and difficult to ford. This is particularly true of the Rio Seco-Guay-jiniquil area, where there are no inhabitants and few open trails through the tropical jungle. Santa Cruz and Sardinal are served by the Taca Airlines, two planes a week from San Jose and Puntarenas. The port of Puntarenas has excellent loading facilities but none are available nearer the manganese districts; there ore must be lightered to vessels standing offshore. Physiography In Costa Rica there are three physiographic divisions: (I) the central plateau (Mesa Central), a somewhat dissected lava platform upon which are superimposed volcanic peaks, some of which are still active; (2) the Atlantic lowlands and (3) the Pacific lowlands. The peninsula of Nicoya and the larger part of the province of Guanacaste lie within the Pacific low- lands. The term "lowland" indicates relation to the central plateau, as the peninsula of Nicoya is largely mountainous. The mountains of Nicoya form the southern extremity of a range of low hills, which are almost continuous along the Costa Rican coast to the Nicaraguan border. The coast line shows evidence of subsidence. The Gulf of Nicoya obviously is the drowned valley of the Tempisque River. The west coast of Nicoya shows many rocks, shoals, bays, inlets and small islands as evidence of a sea encroachment. The altitude of the manganese deposits ranges from 0 to 800 ft. Topography is of the mature type of wide valleys and low hills, often with abrupt slopes. The climate is tropical and humid; rainfall of 125 in. falls largely between Sept. I and Jan. I. Vegetation often is very dense, the Rio Seco-Guayjiniquil area being truly tropical jungle, containing many hardwoods. History and Production The production of manganese ore in Costa Rica apparently dates from the first World War. It reached a peak of about 10,000 tons in the year 1919, then declined rapidly. Evidence of this period of prospecting has rotted away or been swallowed by the jungle. The war now in progress apparently revived the interest in Costa Rican manganese and has encouraged further prospecting. Deposits long known have been redenounced and trails have been cut through the jungle to them. Many new deposits have been discovered in the last

Jan 1, 1949

By Benjamin N. Webber

The peninsula of Nicoya contains virtually all of the known manganese deposits of Costa Rica. These are south and west of the Tempisque River, which flows across the peninsula near its juncture with the mainland. This peninsula forms the westernmost part of the province of Guana-caste, which is the northern. of the two Pacific Coast provinces of Costa Rica. The larger villages are connected by ox-cart roads and trails. The area may be covered on horseback without difficulty except during the rainy season, when rivers are in flood and difficult to ford. This is particularly true of the Rio Seco-Guay-jiniquil area, where there are no inhabitants and few open trails through the tropical jungle. Santa Cruz and Sardinal are served by the Taca Airlines, two planes a week from San Jose and Puntarenas. The port of Puntarenas has excellent loading facilities but none are available nearer the manganese districts; there ore must be lightered to vessels standing offshore. Physiography In Costa Rica there are three physiographic divisions: (I) the central plateau (Mesa Central), a somewhat dissected lava platform upon which are superimposed volcanic peaks, some of which are still active; (2) the Atlantic lowlands and (3) the Pacific lowlands. The peninsula of Nicoya and the larger part of the province of Guanacaste lie within the Pacific low- lands. The term "lowland" indicates relation to the central plateau, as the peninsula of Nicoya is largely mountainous. The mountains of Nicoya form the southern extremity of a range of low hills, which are almost continuous along the Costa Rican coast to the Nicaraguan border. The coast line shows evidence of subsidence. The Gulf of Nicoya obviously is the drowned valley of the Tempisque River. The west coast of Nicoya shows many rocks, shoals, bays, inlets and small islands as evidence of a sea encroachment. The altitude of the manganese deposits ranges from 0 to 800 ft. Topography is of the mature type of wide valleys and low hills, often with abrupt slopes. The climate is tropical and humid; rainfall of 125 in. falls largely between Sept. I and Jan. I. Vegetation often is very dense, the Rio Seco-Guayjiniquil area being truly tropical jungle, containing many hardwoods. History and Production The production of manganese ore in Costa Rica apparently dates from the first World War. It reached a peak of about 10,000 tons in the year 1919, then declined rapidly. Evidence of this period of prospecting has rotted away or been swallowed by the jungle. The war now in progress apparently revived the interest in Costa Rican manganese and has encouraged further prospecting. Deposits long known have been redenounced and trails have been cut through the jungle to them. Many new deposits have been discovered in the last

Jan 1, 1949

Development: Iron Ore In Peru Utah Construction Co., of San Francisco and a Peruvian Government corporation have signed an agreement for development of a large iron orebody in Peru. Most tests show 60 pct iron or better. Most of the ore is magnetite. Although ore will be shipped mainly to Eastern U. S. blast furnaces, shipments to the West Coast may develop as the orebody opens up. The construction firm indicated three American steel companies have shown interest in the project. The orebody is located 300 miles south of Lima and about 15 miles from the coast at the same longitude as New York City. Allen D. Christensen, executive vice-president of Utah Construction noted that the distance is shorter between Peru and the East Coast. The ore deposit measures about four to five miles in one direction and 10 miles in the other. As many as 15 outcroppings within these limits have been reported. Several of the outcroppings are thousands of feet long by several hundred feet wide, Christensen said. Shipments between 100,000 and 200,000 tons of ore per month are projected by the company. Cost of opening the mine to production may go over $5 million, Christensen said. It would include building of docks for ocean going vessels, housing, and heavy duty mining and processing equipment. The contract with the Peruvian government gives Utah Construction six to eight months for additional tests and a 20 year concession for mining the orebody. Peru will collect royalties on all ore. The company will also supply about 300,000 tons per year for an electric furnace to be installed by the Peruvian Government at Chimbote. No steel is produced in Peru now. Utah Construction formed the Argonaut Mining Co. last year, and was shipping iron ore from British Columbia to Japan at a rate of more than 50,000 tons a month, before winter weather decreased operations.

Jan 1, 1952

By VlNTON H. CLARKE

Diamond-drill blasthole sloping has now been used for a long enough time to permit us to discuss fairly its problems from the ore-breaking angle and to attempt to peer into its future. To do this we have gathered information from many properties through questionnaires. The operators have indicated fairly well in their answers what they think of the method. The many variations of methods have by now been fairly well developed, and performance rates and. mining costs are well established at each property. All this can be laid down on paper with fair completeness. Now. knowing all this, what will the future of the method be? To attempt to look into the future of a mining method immediately brings to light many problems and variables. For instance: why were diamond drills used in the first place? What has the cost trend been? In what type of deposit has the method proved most advantageous? What will the future cost of diamonds be? What are the possible substitutes?

Jan 1, 1949

By C. O. Lee, R. H. Feierabend, Z. W. Bartlett

DESPITE the fact that American brimstone production has increased 2 times since the prewar period 1935-1939, the demand for sulphur exceeds the supply. To alleviate this situation efforts are being made to increase the production of sulphur and bring the shortage to an end. The most important developments are being undertaken on the Gulf Coast. One new brimstone mine has been put into operation and three others are being developed. These projects are expected to account for a large part of the additional sulphur production now anticipated for the free world.'.' Except for a small amount of byproduct sulphur from sour natural gas and refinery gases, American brimstone is produced by the same process devised by Frasch 60 years ago, consisting essentially of the injection of superheated water at about 325°F into sulphur-bearing formations through wells which are drilled from the surface by standard oilfield methods. Sulphur deposits vary in depth from a few hundred feet to 2500 ft from the surface; in a typical deposit the sulphur occurs as crystalline aggregates in porous limestone and gypsum in concentrations varying from 5 to 40 pct, the thickness of the formation ranging from a few feet to several hundred.3 The deposits are usually surrounded by formations impermeable to the flow of hot water, the top and sides being enclosed by impermeable sediments and the bottom by dense impermeable anhydrite. As the hot water leaves the well bore, it percolates through the formation and transmits its heat to the rock and sulphur. When the sulphur reaches 240°F it melts, separates from the rock, and flows through the hot channels downward to the bottom of the well. Here it is freed from incoming water and from formation water, which saturates the porous rock, by gravity separation, liquid sulphur being 1.8 times as heavy as water. It then is pumped to the surface in a relatively pure state, 99.5 pct or better. Chief contaminants are organic impurities, such as petroleum residues, which are soluble in sulphur and tend to discolor it.' Sixteen deposits of commercial magnitude have been discovered in the Gulf Coast area. Five of these deposits have been depleted and abandoned with production totalling more than 26,886,000 tons. Eight properties are operating and have produced 65,875,-000 tons to Jan. 1, 1952, for a total Frasch-type production of 92,761,000 tons. Three new deposits are under development. Aforementioned deposits are listed in Table I. Each of these deposits has been found in the cap-rock overlying shallow intrusive salt plugs or domes and buried in several hundred to as much as 2500 ft of sediments. All salt domes do .not contain sulphur; only 16 sulphur deposits have been found in a total of 231 salt domes which are known to exist in the Gulf Coastal states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Ten of the salt domes lie in the Gulf of Mexico offshore from the Texas and Louisiana coasts. Additional offshore domes may be found, but their value as a sulphur potential is questionable owing to the great hazard and high cost that can be visualized at these exposed locations where depths of water reach 50 ft. Marsh operations of Freeport Sulphur Co. are in the southeast section of Louisiana. In general, the country is low, flat, relatively uninhabited marshland broken by many shallow lakes and bayous which extend for irregular distances inland. Geologically, the coastal area is of sedimentary origin, having been built up gradually under the sea by deposition of material carried down by large streams to their deltas. Offshore bars were formed enclosing

Jan 1, 1953

By C. O. Lee, Z. W. Bartlett, R. H. Feierabend

DESPITE the fact that American brimstone production has increased 2 times since the prewar period 1935-1939, the demand for sulphur exceeds the supply. To alleviate this situation efforts are being made to increase the production of sulphur and bring the shortage to an end. The most important developments are being undertaken on the Gulf Coast. One new brimstone mine has been put into operation and three others are being developed. These projects are expected to account for a large part of the additional sulphur production now anticipated for the free world.'.' Except for a small amount of byproduct sulphur from sour natural gas and refinery gases, American brimstone is produced by the same process devised by Frasch 60 years ago, consisting essentially of the injection of superheated water at about 325°F into sulphur-bearing formations through wells which are drilled from the surface by standard oilfield methods. Sulphur deposits vary in depth from a few hundred feet to 2500 ft from the surface; in a typical deposit the sulphur occurs as crystalline aggregates in porous limestone and gypsum in concentrations varying from 5 to 40 pct, the thickness of the formation ranging from a few feet to several hundred.3 The deposits are usually surrounded by formations impermeable to the flow of hot water, the top and sides being enclosed by impermeable sediments and the bottom by dense impermeable anhydrite. As the hot water leaves the well bore, it percolates through the formation and transmits its heat to the rock and sulphur. When the sulphur reaches 240°F it melts, separates from the rock, and flows through the hot channels downward to the bottom of the well. Here it is freed from incoming water and from formation water, which saturates the porous rock, by gravity separation, liquid sulphur being 1.8 times as heavy as water. It then is pumped to the surface in a relatively pure state, 99.5 pct or better. Chief contaminants are organic impurities, such as petroleum residues, which are soluble in sulphur and tend to discolor it.' Sixteen deposits of commercial magnitude have been discovered in the Gulf Coast area. Five of these deposits have been depleted and abandoned with production totalling more than 26,886,000 tons. Eight properties are operating and have produced 65,875,-000 tons to Jan. 1, 1952, for a total Frasch-type production of 92,761,000 tons. Three new deposits are under development. Aforementioned deposits are listed in Table I. Each of these deposits has been found in the cap-rock overlying shallow intrusive salt plugs or domes and buried in several hundred to as much as 2500 ft of sediments. All salt domes do .not contain sulphur; only 16 sulphur deposits have been found in a total of 231 salt domes which are known to exist in the Gulf Coastal states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Ten of the salt domes lie in the Gulf of Mexico offshore from the Texas and Louisiana coasts. Additional offshore domes may be found, but their value as a sulphur potential is questionable owing to the great hazard and high cost that can be visualized at these exposed locations where depths of water reach 50 ft. Marsh operations of Freeport Sulphur Co. are in the southeast section of Louisiana. In general, the country is low, flat, relatively uninhabited marshland broken by many shallow lakes and bayous which extend for irregular distances inland. Geologically, the coastal area is of sedimentary origin, having been built up gradually under the sea by deposition of material carried down by large streams to their deltas. Offshore bars were formed enclosing

Jan 1, 1953

By Samuel S. Wyer

THE installation of the gas-producer power-plant in America has been so unusual that all engineers have viewed it with in¬terest; a large majority, however, regard it with a lack of con-fidence and many with positive distrust. Despite the fact that European engineers have usually been less inclined to take the initiative along experimental lines than are Americans, they have, nevertheless, developed the gas-producer plant to a very high state of efficiency to which they were forced by the neces¬sity of economy in fuel-consumption. The gas-producer power-plant is so common in Europe that engineers as well as the general public regard it with the same degree of confidence that is now universally placed in steam¬plants. Gas-engines, both small and large, are in general use there, and central stations, aggregating several thousand horse¬power, are quite numerous. The fact that gas-producer power-plants have received so little attention in America may be attributed to five conditions:-1', ignorance and prejudice; 2, newness of work; 3, in-

Mar 1, 1905

William Kent, New York City: I regret that I have not had the time since the Cincinnati meeting to make as complete a study of Mr. Salom's paper as I wished. I regard it as one of the most important papers that have been presented on this subject, and worthy of complete study. I started out, on the limited time I had, on a system of study which I would recommend to any one else who has leisure to complete the investigation. I took the original report presented at the Cincinnati meeting, and selected from it' such tests as had the analyses reported along with the physical tests, giving the amounts of carbon, phosphorus, manganese, etc., taking only those in which all these elements are given.

Jan 1, 1885

By John V. Beall

Cutting costs and increasing safety with new ideas is the byword with The Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Co. on the Marquette Range in Michigan. Among the new ideas being tried out are mechanical shaft mucking, prefabricated lagging to replace timber poles, Carset bits in shaft sinking, and rubber tired guide wheels on the ore skips. Plans are being made to stockpile ore with conveyor belts during the winter. In sinking the Mather "B" Shaft a 3/8-yd clamshell-type bucket is used for mucking. The clamshell is opened and closed by means of a verticallymounted hydraulic ram actuated by 5000 psi oil pressure. An Ingersoll Rand-type hoist is used to raise and lower the clamshell. The hoist is controlled by one member of the crew on the floor of the shaft. When the bucket is raised, the men swing it over the muck pile to the desired position and then it is lowered on to the broken rock. The 1400-lb weight of the bucket causes it to sink into the broken rock and it digs as the ram closes the bucket. The hydraulic ram is operated by a man on the lowest shaft steel set who controls a specially designed oil pump which supplies oil pressure. The clamshell is emptied.

Jan 1, 1949

By Gill Montgomery

At this moment in the history of the world, the all- pervading and universally most important fact is that the world population is beginning to outgrow its food supply, and the United States has suddenly lost its ability to give away huge food surplus to any nation in the world with a food shortage problem. This, of course, means that, all of a sudden, our government must completely reverse its former bureaucratic stance regarding crop controls and agricultural price supports, to out-right incentives to increase farm production and bring more idle land into food-growing use.

Jan 2, 1967

By K. S. TWITCHEEL

THE different lines leading out from the vocation of a mining engineer are,' perhaps, the most' varied of all the professions. The expedition sent by Charles R. Crane of New York 'as a gift to the Imam Yahia, king of the Yemen, Arabia, was probably unique. Mr. Crane made a visit, in January,1927, to the Imam Yahia at Sanaa, capital of the Yemen. He was received with the utmost cordiality and respect, as his friend- . ship for the ,Arab world is famous; He was 'greatly impressed by the desire of the Imam to develop his country. The Imam stated that he had heard that there were minerals in his country and that he would like to secure engineers to advise him about them and other natural resources.. This seemed such a practical idea, and so greatly appealed to Mr. crane, that he offered to furnish an engineering 'expedition. Naturally the Imam gratefully accepted. This expedition was to study (as far as possible in 'the limited time) the natural resources of the ,Yemen, advise the Imam of what these consisted, and make suggestions regarding the most practical methods for their development. As agriculture is always such a fundamental part of a country's wealth, I first went to Indio, California, to study water-well drilling and the date industry, and eventually arrived at Hodeidah, the principal Yemen seaport, on Oct. 21, 1927.

Jan 1, 1929