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By C. Gatlin, F. Armstrong, K. E. Gray

This paper presents some preliminary results of two-dimensional cutting tests of dry limestone samples at utmospheric pressure. Cutting tips having rake angles of + 30°, + 15", 0°, - 15" and - 30" were used to make cuts on Leuders limestone samples at six depths of cut ranging from .005 to ,060 in. at cutting speeds of 15, 50, 109 and 150 ft/min. The vertical and horizontal force components on the cutting tips were recorded with an oscilloscope equipped with a polaroid camera. Motion pictures of the cutting process at camera speeds of 5,000 to 8,000 frames/sec were taken at strategic points in the variable ranges. The movies provide considerable insight into the brittle failure mechanism in rocks. It appears that chip-generating cracks usually have an initial orientation which is related to the resultant of the externally applied forces. The latter part of the crack curves upward toward the free surface being cut, this part being governed by some type of cantilever bending or prying. The linear and angular motion of the loosened chips also indicate the tensile nature of brittle failure. Analyses of the forces on the cutting tips indicate that: (I) relatively small increases in vertical loading result in large cut-depth increases for sharp tips (rake angles 2 0"); (2) tool forces increase at an increasing rate as the rake angle decreases, particularly for rake angles < 0"; and (3), for the range of this study, rate of loading had little effect on the maximum forces. Both the movies and visual inspection of the cuttings indicated that the volume of rock removed by chipping was much larger than that by any grinding mechanism, even for tips having negative rake angles. Cutting size increases with increased cut depth and rake angles, and decreases slightly at high cutting speeds, the depth of cut having by far the most influence. The amount of contact between the rock and the cutting tip was always less than the depth of cut and rarely exceeded 0.010 in. even for cuts of 0.060 in. INTRODUCTION The planing (or slicing) of various materials with a fixed blade has long been practiced by workers in many industries. For example, the farmer&apos;s plow, the carpenter&apos;s plane and the housewife&apos;s paring knife all employ this basic action. The casual observer might suspect that something so common must be quite simple; however, as in all problems involving the failure of materials, such is not the case. Industries concerned with the machining of metals have long studied these problems, and their literature on the subject is voluminous. Despite these efforts, basic knowledge is not very advanced, as may be noted from recent and comprehensive analyses of their literature.12 Metals are more subject to analysis by classical theories of elasticity and/or plasticity than are rocks, since their elastic constants and strengths are reasonably well established in many cases. In spite of this relative "simplicity", Hill9 refaces his discussion with an admission that the mathematical solution to the machining problem is not known. Photoelastic studies of both machining and milling have been performed and are discussed thoroughly by Coker and Filon.4 Rotary drilling of rocks with fixed blade or drag bits has long been practiced by the mining and petroleum industries, and considerable study has been given to defining their cutting action in terms of the pertinent variables. Essentially all the published mechanistic research on drag-bit drilling has been performed by mining engineers and has been concerned only with rocks in the brittle state. Fairhurst5-7 has worked extensively in this area and employed photographic techniques quite similar to those reported here, except at much lower speeds. His studies showed the periodic or cyclical nature of the brittle failure mechanism, in which instantaneous loads on the bit varied from some maximum value to near zero. Goodrichs has presented further data on the subject as well as a qualitative description of the process. Again the postulated mechanism is cyclical, with alternate chipping and grinding periods. The ploughing of coal is a practiced method and has been studied in some detail by English mining engineers."" Their findings have considerable general application to drag-bit drilling. Evans," in particular, has extended Merchant&apos;s metal-cutting theory" to brittle materials with some success, although certain aspects of his theory are open to question. Fish13 has recently summarized nearly all the published works concern-

By R. T. DeHoff, F. N. Rhines

The problem of determining the number of particles of a phase distributed randomly in unit volume c an opaque matrix from measurements made on random plane sections is closely investigated. A formalized derivation for the general case is presented. Applications of this formal result are made to specific types of aggregates dispersed in a matrix; circles, particles with flat circular ends, cylinders, and constant shape aggregates of ellipsoids of revolution. Quantitative measurements of the average geometric properties of these aggregates are developed. In 1953 R L. ullman&apos; developed a technique for determining, from measurements made on random plane sections, the number per unit volume, Nv, of particles imbedded in an opaque matrix. Using meas urements previously developed for volume fraction, vV,&apos; and surface area per unit volume, .SV,= he was able to determine average volume, average surface area, and average dimensions of particles, independent of size distribution, for spheres and circular disks,&apos; as well as for uniformly sized cylinders of any axial ratio.4 The technique is mathematically rigorous for the cases studied. Recent studies of this problem have yielded rigorous solutions for the general case of cylinders, permitting evaluation of NV independent of size distribution and with all axial ratios intermixed. Generalization to shapes having flat, circular ends has been deduced. A solution has also been obtained for the ellipsoid of revolution, independent of size distribution, but requiring a constant axial ratio in the generating ellipses. In the following derivations, as in Fullman&apos;s work, it is assumed that the problem is purely a combination of geometry and probability theory,that is,eithe the particles to be measured are imbedded randomly in the matrix, or a sufficient number of random plane sections are taken to make the sample representative. A relationship exists between the number of par- ticles of a given size and shape that may be situated in unit volume (Ny) and the number of intersections a random plane can be expected to make with these particles (Na). It is the purpose of the following section to derive this relationship. The probability of Intersecting Convex Bodies. Consider a convex, closed surface, that is, one for which no two surface normals point in the same direction, situated at some arbitrary position and orientation in a cube of material that is one unit long at each edge. It is not necessary to assume that this surface is symmetrical. Let planes be constructed in the cube parallel to the top face and at random distances from it. Those planes which lie between the two planes which are just tangent to the top and bottom of the surface will intersect it. The probability that a plane will intersect the body may be defined as the limit of the fraction of planes that lie between the two tangent planes as the total number of planes constructed becomes infinite. This fraction, in the limit, is equal to the distance between the two tangent planes, DV, divided by the total length over which planes are constructed, which has been taken as unity. If the body is now rotated to a new orientation, applying the same argument, the probability of intersection is again numerically equal to the distance between tangent planes. Let DV ($, 0) be defined as the distance between tangent planes of a convex body as a function of orientation, Fig. 1. The probability, Pr, of intersecting the body with a randomly oriented and randomly positioned plane, is then equal to the average value of DV (0, $) over all possible orientations. It may be easily shown that for a system of spherical coordinates the probability of finding an orientation between Q and Q + de, $ and $ + d$ is (1/4n) sin $ dB d$, so that This relationship may be applied to each body in an aggregate of convex bodies. In particular, if the bodies in an aggregate are classified according to size and shape, and the ithsuch class is considered, Eq. 111 may be applied to this entire class, the probability of intersecting any body in this class being

Jan 1, 1962

By J. E. Andersen, J. Halpern, C. S. Samis

In the presence of oxygen, galena is oxidized in an aqueous medium containing sodium hydroxide, in accordance with the following reaction: PbS + 2O2 + 3OH ? HPbO2 + SO4 = + H2O A novel method was devised for following this reaction which takes place in an autoclave under oxygen pressure, by measuring the concentration of HPbO2- in the solution with a cathode ray polarograph employing stationary platinum electrodes. Using this procedure a study was made of the kinetics of the reaction, in which the effect of a number of variables, including temperature, oxygen pressure, NaOH concentration, and agitation, on the rate, were determined. The results of this study are described and discussed, in terms of possible mechanisms for the reaction. IT is known that sulphide minerals can be oxidized in aqueous media in the presence of oxygen under pressure. Reactions of this type can be classified in two categories depending upon whether the products of oxidation are insoluble or soluble in the aqueous medium. An example of the first type of reaction is the oxidation of pyrite in alkaline solutions, giving rise to an insoluble iron oxide. The kinetics of this reaction have been investigated and its mechanism established.&apos; It has been applied in the oxidation of iron sulphides present in refractory gold ores to improve the subsequent recovery of gold by cyanida-tion.&apos; The second type of reaction finds application where it is desired to recover the metal by leaching during oxidation. In this case a medium is selected in which the oxidized mineral is soluble. For example, nickel, copper, and cobalt sulphide ores can be treated by oxidation in the presence of a solution of ammonia dissolving the nickel, copper, and cobalt as the metal ammine sulphate salts.:&apos; A similar treatment has also been reported to apply to zinc sulphide ores.&apos; It is known that lead sulphate is soluble in solutions of sodium hydroxide or ammonium acetate. It should therefore be possible to dissolve the lead from galena ores by aqueous oxidation with oxygen under pressure using either of these solutions. The applicability of the ammonium acetate treatment has been investigated and confirmed in a recent study.&apos; The present paper describes the results of a similar study in which the kinetics of the oxidation of galena in sodium hydroxide solutions have been investigated. The object of this investigation was pri- marily to obtain information of a fundamental nature relating to the kinetics and mechanism of this reaction. The use of pulps of comminuted ore in a study of this type is undesirable because of the difficulty in controlling and measuring the surface area. The measurements were therefore made using galena crystals of measured surface area and in this way absolute reaction rates were obtained. The reaction was found to proceed as follows: PbS + 2O2 + 3OH ? HPbO2 + SO4 + H2O [I] The products are sodium plumbite and sodium sulphate salts which dissolve in the aqueous solution. The reaction studies were carried out in an autoclave in which a desired pressure of oxygen was maintained. The reaction was followed by measuring the concentration of lead in the solution with a cathode ray polarograph. The results obtained in this investigation are presented and discussed in the present paper. Experimental Materials: The crystals of galena were obtained from Violamac Mines, Sandon, B. C. The following impurities were indicated by spectrographic analysis carried out by the Provincial Assay Office, Victoria, B. C.: Sn, 0.02 to 0.2 pct; Sb, 0.07 to 0.7; Zn, 0.01 to 0.1; Si, Fe, Mg, As, less than 0.05 pct; Ag, 126 oz per ton, the latter determined by standard fire-assaying procedure. After cutting a specimen measuring approximately 5x7x12 mm, the crystal surfaces were ground parallel to the 100 axes using No. 2 emery, washed with water, and the dimensions were measured with a micrometer. Oxygen gas was of commercial grade and supplied in cylinders by Canadian Liquid Air. Solutions were made up with chemicals of chemically pure grade and distilled water. Equipment: Autoclave: The autoclave used in these studies was constructed of stainless steel and

Jan 1, 1954

By H. T. Sumsion, A. U. Seybolt

The results of an investigation of vanadium-rich V-O solid solutions are presented, indicating the structure and lattice parameters of two solutions, a and ß, and their approximate temperature-composition existence. The a solution is the terminal body-centered cubic one, and contains up to 3.2 atomic pct 0. The ß solution has an ordered body-centered tetragonal structure, is formed at 1270°C, and exists from about 15 to 22 atomic pct 0. From the evidence available, the various phase boundaries have no appreciable temperature dependence. Evidence has been found for a polymorphic transformation in pure vanadium at 1550°C. IN an earlier investigation&apos; dealing with the preparation of pure vanadium by calcium reduction of the oxide, it was found that small amounts of oxygen drastically reduced the ductility of the metal. Because this effect was so marked, it was decided to make a study of the solubility of oxygen in solid vanadium. This report deals principally with this solubility and the nature of the phase relationships in the vanadium-rich region, particularly at temperatures below 1300 °C. However, during the investigation enough data on the V-0 system were obtained to make it appear worthwhile to present a tentative phase diagram up to the composition VO. The only significant prior work found on this system are the contributions of Klemm and Grimm,&apos; and Mathewson et al.3 Klemm and Grimm prepared a wide range of V-O compositions by powder techniques including the compositions VO.l, VO.2, VO.3 and VO4 (9.1, 16.8, 23, and 28.6 atomic pct 0, respectively). The first three compositions were found to consist of a body-centered tetragonal solid solution, while the last also showed lines of VO (NaCl structure). They found that the parameter c, increased and the parameter a, decreased with increasing concentration of oxygen. For their composition VO.27, or about 16.8 atomic pct O, they cite the values a, = 2.948A, c, = 3.53A, and c/a = 1.2. Klemm and Grimm made no attempt to determine the solid solubility limit nor to construct a phase diagram. They did, however, give some data on the homogeneity range of VO, and they proposed a structure for the body-centered tetragonal solid solution; these points will be taken up later. Materials and Preparation of Samples The vanadium used in this investigation was prepared in the laboratory by the method previously mentioned.&apos; A typical analysis is as follows: Fe, 0.007 pct; Si, 0.02; Ca, 0.06; C, 0.224; O2, 0.044; N,, 0.0017; H2, 0.003; and V, 99.34 ±0.3 (assay). The vanadium assay is probably low by about the error given. The impurities total about 0.36 which, if subtracted from 100, gives a purity of about 99.6. At the time material was being prepared for this work no suitable technique was available for melting vanadium without appreciable contamination. The procedure adopted therefore was to cut the calcium-reduced regulii into slices which were then rolled to strip about 0.025 in. thick for oxygen diffusion. Pieces of rolled vanadium of approximately 0.025xY4xl in. and weighing about 0.3 g were suspended in a vertical fused-silica tube which was part of an ordinary gas absorption apparatus. The silica tube was heated by an electric resistance-tube furnace which could be raised around the silica tube or lowered away from it as desired. This apparatus had no novel features which require detailed description. Other than the silica tube and furnace, it consisted of a glass system evacuated by a liquid nitrogen trapped mercury diffusion pump, a mercury-operated gas burette, a McLeod and a Pirani gage, and a mercury manometer. It was also equipped with suitably located stopcocks for isolating various parts of the system; the vacuum ordinarily attained was between 10" and 10-6 mm of mercury. Oxygen generated by decomposing MnO2 was passed through anhydrous magnesium perchlo-rate before introducing it into the gas burette and thence to the absorption chamber.

Jan 1, 1954

By Warren Weaver

Some of the advantages of the inductive method of electrical prospecting were emphasized in a paper by Dr. Max Mason. Since this emphasis was misunderstood by some to indicate a too exclusive interest in inductive methods, we are especially happy to help correct this impression by reporting on some of our work on surface potential methods. Earth Currents and Surface Potentials When two electrodes, A and B, are placed on the surface of the ground a distance d apart, and a 100-volt battery is connected across the elec- trodes, current flows from the positive electrode A to the negative electrode B. The current does not pass directly from A to B along the straight line joining these two points. In fact, a negligible amount of the total current chooses this direct path, and the flow actually takes place

Jan 1, 1929

By D. T. Van Zandt

IN the late 1920&apos;s rotary drills began to replace the churn drills in the petroleum industry, but until the middle 1940&apos;s the churn drill was the only widely accepted means of drilling large-diameter blastholes for quarry operations. The Calcite plant of the Michigan Limestone Div., U. S. Steel Corp., was one of the first to experiment with rotary drills for quarry blasthole drilling, and the first to employ compressed air on a fully rotary rig to cool the bit and raise the cuttings to the collar of the blasthole.

Jan 8, 1954

By John D. Hanks

INTRODUCTION Chevron&apos;s Uranium Mill is located near Panna Maria, Texas; 70 miles southeast of San Antonio. Designed by Kaiser Engineering, the Mill will process a nominal 2500 dry T.P.D. of uranium bearing ore containing 15% uncombined moisture. Earl Torgerson, San Mateo, California, is the consulting metallurgist on process design. Feed to the plant consists of a mixture of high, medium and low grade sandy day ore; the average grade of the ore will be 0.7% throughout the life of the project. The ore is delivered to the mill via truck and stored by type in individual piles on a flat storage area. The ore is fed by conveyor to a semi-autogenous grinding mill. The SAG mill discharge slurry is pumped either to a storage tank or to the first of five mechanically agitated leach tanks where both H2SO and NaC103 are added. Following leaching, the slurry is mixed with thickener No. 2 overflow before being pumped to a six-thickener, countercurrent decantation circuit where the solution containing uranium is separated from the leach residue. The residue is washed essentially free of solubilized U308 values at the sixth thickener and discharged to an adjacent tailings pond. The first thickener overflow, containing approximately 0.4 grams U308 per liter, is filtered for clarification and sent to the liquid ion exchange (solvent extraction) section. The pregnant aqueous solution is mixed with organic solvent containing amine on which the complex uranyl sulfate ions are absorbed. The immiscible aqueous and organic solutions are mixed and separated in each of the four stages of solvent extraction. The final pregnant organic is directed to a stripping section. A strip solution containing (NH4)2S04 (ammonium sulfate) and NH4C1 (ammonium chloride) is contacted and separated from the organic in each of the four mixer-settler units. The strip solution is mixed with NH3 and the uranium precipitates along with trace amounts of sulfate, chloride, and ammonia. After washing in a thickener, the uranium precipitate or yellowcake is centrifuged and dried in a multiple hearth roaster. Overflow from the yellowcake thickener is recycled back to the stripping section of the solvent extraction circuit. The dried yellowcake concentrate contains more than 98% U308; diluents include H20, ammonia, chloride, etc.. Impurity concentratons in the product are sufficiently low, after drying, to permit direct shipment to refinement installations. ORE RECEIVING Ore from one or more mines will be stored on a pad adjacent to the uranium processing mill. Ore stored in the area may total 200,000 tons or more, which is equivalent to over a two month treatment reserve for the mill. In addition to providing surge capacity, the proposed storage facility permits natural oxidation of the ore and affords an area which, in turn, improve plant U308 recovery and reduces consumption of oxidizing reagents. The uranium bearing ore is segregated at the storage area into several distinct types. One group can be identified by its sandy, clay-like matrix and will be distinguished by its U308 concentration of high, medium, or low. Other ores contain substantial quantities of carbonaceous shale, typical of ore in the area. Feed is recovered from any one or combination of piles, in accordance with operating requirements and recovery factors. The run-of-mine ore, at 15% moisture, is transferred to a stationary, 24-inch by 24-inch grizzly. Undersize material falls into a 280-ton surge hopper located below grade, while oversize material is removed for preliminary size reduction. A sump-pump is located at the reclaim hopper to recover excess mositure and ore spillage for processing. Plant feed is continuously drawn from beneath the hopper at an average rate of 120 tons per hour by means of an apron feeder. The hopper is equipped with a low level safety system to protect the apron feeder assemble. The ore is transferred to a belt conveyor, elevated and discharged into a semi-autogeneous grinding (SAG) mill. Water addition at the discharge point is automatically controlled by a feed rate, moisture analyzer system located on the belt conveyor. GRINDING Minus 24-inch ore, at a rate of 120 mosit tons per hour and cyclone underflow at a rate of 137 moist tons per hour are combined with a controlled 186 gallons per minute fresh, warm plant process water. The mixture, at an average 68% solids, is fed to the SAG mill. The viscous mass is subjected to grinding at a temperature moderately above ambient resulting from use of the 140ºF well water. The 16.5&apos;x5.0&apos; Marcy Mill is driven by a 500 H.P. A.C. Motor. The mill will rotate at 73.4% of critical speed or 14.06 R.P.M. Eight percent of the mill&apos;s volume will be occupied by steel grinding balls; 22% by pulp. The mill is designed to rotate in either direction, in order to obtain maximum lifter and liner life. The SAG mill is equipped with a trommel having ½ -inch slots for removal of oversize material at its discharge and the large or oversize material is collected and either recirculated periodically or discarded. The undersize slurry is diluted to 64% solids with the addition of hot well water or mine water to the mill discharge sump. The flow is automatically controlled utilizing data from a gamma density meter. The slurry from the mill discharge sump is pumped to hydrocyclones to classify the particles. Underflow from the cyclones, at 80% + 28 mesh, is recycled to

Jan 1, 1979

By M. L. Fuller

DURING the last several years many papers have appeared dealing with the structure of highly polished metal surfaces The awakening of interest in this subject is due to the applicability of the electron diffraction technique to the study of surfaces The original theory of Beilby1 considered the surface of polished metals as of the nature of a super-cooled liquid or a vitreous, amorphous solid The electron diffraction effects from polished metals have been interpreted by many to be a direct experimental proof of the correctness of the Beilby theory This interpretation has been strongly opposed by others, so that at the present time the subject is in an uncertain and controversial state In the present paper new, and hitherto unpublished, electron diffraction effects from polished zinc are described These observations indicate that the polished surface of zinc is crystalline PUBLISHED WORK Many papers2-10 have interpreted the electron diffraction evidence as proof of the Beilby amorphous theory All investigators agree that highly polished metals give rise to two diffuse diffraction haloes, similar to those obtained by the diffraction of X-rays in liquids and vitreous solids It is this similarity that leads to the amorphous-layer interpretation of polished metals Strangely, the interatomic distances calculated from these haloes are very similar for the various metals investigated, in spite of a rather wide range of such distances in the crystalline and liquid states The calculated atomic sizes are, furthermore, smaller than are experienced in the normal states of the metals In spite of these anomalies, the amorphous-layer interpretation has been adhered to by many One investigator, S Dobmski,11 differs from the others in his experimental results By polishing under benzene in order to avoid the possibility of oxidation, Dobinski obtains diffuse haloes of [radire] different from those previously obtained He thus obtains a more rational quantitative correlation of-the diffuse haloes with the amorphous-layer theory

Jan 1, 1938

By Frank L. Nason

During the months of June and July of the present year, the writer made a special geological survey of the mining property of Messrs. Cooper and Hewitt, at Ringwood, New Jersey. Some of the results of this survey are presented to the society through the courtesy of Hon. Abram 8. Hewitt.

Jan 1, 1895

By Paul R. Martin, R. B. Kelly

The area comprising what is geographically termed "Central Texas" was somewhat less active in 1934 than in 1933. The year saw the completion of 182 dry holes and only 74 producing wells. Bexar, Williamson and Bastrop counties, with active fields such as Yturri-Southton, Byersville, North Dale and Cedar Creek contributed a majority of the new oil wells. Hilbig, in Bastrop County, 1933&apos;s most important discovery in the district, saw no development during the current year. New fields opened in 1934 were Byersville, a serpentine intrusion in Williamson County, and Manda, producing from similar material in Travis County. Like most of the other serpentine plugs, neither gives promise of covering a very large area. Other active counties were Bexar, Bastrop and Caldwell, although successful operations in each of them were limited to the old fields. The location of producing fields is shown on Fig. 1. New Fields Byersvil1e.—Late in 1933, Fritz Fuchs completed Zeischang No. 1, eight miles south of Taylor, Williamson County, for an initial production of 25 bbl. per day. The oil is 37" B6. A.P.I. gravity and is from Serpentine formation at approximately 900 ft. Additional drilling was carried on in 1934, and at the end of the year 18 producing wells had been completed, proving about 200 acres. Manda.—The Manda field, or Kimbro field as it is termed by some, received its first production Sept. 10, 1934, when the Humble Oil & Refining Co. completed No. 1 C. J. Peterson as an 8-bbl. oil well. The new field is near Littig, in eastern Travis County, and is about 15 miles northeast of Austin. Production is found in serpentine formation between 650 and 750 ft. The same company&apos;s No. 1 Buck Christian, second well in the field, flowed 190 bbl. per day through a ?-in choke. Although only a small area has been definitely proven it is expected that present drilling will provide extensions in several directions.

Jan 1, 1935

By B. Otto Pixler

Mud-analysis logging provides identification of the fluid content of formations drilled by the rotary method and permits the accurate correlation of oil and gas shows with the depth. Mud-analysis logging eliminates much coring and has an especially important application in drilling programs when coring is particularly hazardous or the electric log is difficult to interpret correctly. An appreciation of the factors that influence the results of the mud analysis, such as rate of penetration, mud properties, coring, and characteristics of reservoir rock as related to the "flushing effect," permits a better understanding of the mud-analysis log. Recent studies of the relationship of the two gas readings obtained by the gas-detector instrument have proved significant. The difference between the total combustible gas reading and the higher molecular weight gas reading indicates the presence of methane. With few exceptions, zones not showing an increase of methane probably can be condemned. Mud-analysis logging furnishes valuable information, which generally cannot be obtained by other methods. Introduction Logging by mud analysis of wells drilled with rotary tools is a direct method of locating oil-and-gas-bearing formations. The use of this method of logging has increased each year until now more than 20 field units are being used in 13 oil-producing states and in some foreign countries. Several papers1-9 have been published in the petroleum trade journals describing in detail the equipment and the application of mud-analysis logging. This paper will discuss briefly the method and review its application and some of the late developments. Method As the drilling of a well progresses, the drilling bit dislodges and disintegrates a cylindrical section of the formation. If oil or gas is contained in the pore spaces of the cylinder, some of the contents of these porous spaces will be entrained in the drilling fluid. In wall logging by mud analysis, the mud is continuously examined for oil and gas on its return to the surface, and the results are correlated back to the actual depth of the hole at the time the mud was clearing the eyes of the bit. The test for gas is made by diverting a portion of the circulating mud from the flow line to a separator or gas trap, where the mud is thoroughly mixed with air and a portion of the gas entrained in the mud is removed. A stream of air is drawn coun-tercurrent to the flow of mud in the gas trap, thus materially assisting the separation of the gas from the mud. The air-gas mixture is then drawn into a "hot-wire" gas-detector instrument where the percentage of the combustible gas is determined. The presence of oil in the formation drilled is detected by a physical examination of the drilling mud under ultraviolet light. A sample of the mud is treated to reduce the surface tension and gel strength, after which it is placed in a viewing box. This box is so constructed that all external light is excluded and so that the sample may be subjected selectively to either ultra-

Jan 1, 1946

By W. J. Reagan

In a study of the life of ingot molds, it is essential to eliminate all of the variables. In the commercial manufacture of steel this is almost an impossibility. In this study many of the variables have been eliminated, and because of the unusually consistent furnace practice, with small variations in the type of steel manufactured, and a similar type of mold design for all ingot sizes, it is possible to determine with some degree of accuracy the cause of variations in ingot-mold life. All of the ingot molds in this study were used in the production of basic open-hearth killed steel with chemical analyses within the following range: C, 0.50-0.85 per cent; Mn, 0.60-0.80; Si, 0.20-0.30; S, 0.04 max.; P, 0.04 max. All ingot molds were of the closed-bottom type and used for bottom casting only. None of the molds in the study failed from cutting of the sides due to top casting; in fact, on only rare occasions are any molds used for top casting. The general type of this mold is shown in Fig. 1. All sizes have rather a heavy band of metal, about 6 in. wide, at the top to give mechanical strength at this point, and all have cast lugs. Cross sections of the various sizes from top and bottom sections are shown in Fig. 2. Ratios of wall thickness to ingot weight, ratio of ingot diameter to ingot length, and other figures of interest are shown in Table 1. In the majority of cases, the cause of failure in this type of mold is due to heavy fire cracking on the "flats" at a point from 3 to 6 in. from the bottom radius of the mold. Fig. 3 pictures this type of failure. The start of failure at these points usually begins with a very small section of the interior surface becoming involved. As a rule, a section of 1 or 2 sq. in. is the first noticeable indication that mold failure is taking place. Gradually the small section increases until a sizable cavity develops, causing a protuberance on the bottom of the ingot, which eventually becomes too large to be stripped. The mold is then removed from service. At the time of failure, this cavity often reaches a size of about 5 sq. in. and about 1/2in. deep. Sometimes cavities are found on only two or three sides and at other times all twelve sides appear to be invoIved.

Jan 1, 1937

By B. Otto Pixler

Mud-analysis logging provides identification of the fluid content of formations drilled by the rotary method and permits the accurate correlation of oil and gas shows with the depth. Mud-analysis logging eliminates much coring and has an especially important application in drilling programs when coring is particularly hazardous or the electric log is difficult to interpret correctly. An appreciation of the factors that influence the results of the mud analysis, such as rate of penetration, mud properties, coring, and characteristics of reservoir rock as related to the "flushing effect," permits a better understanding of the mud-analysis log. Recent studies of the relationship of the two gas readings obtained by the gas-detector instrument have proved significant. The difference between the total combustible gas reading and the higher molecular weight gas reading indicates the presence of methane. With few exceptions, zones not showing an increase of methane probably can be condemned. Mud-analysis logging furnishes valuable information, which generally cannot be obtained by other methods. Introduction Logging by mud analysis of wells drilled with rotary tools is a direct method of locating oil-and-gas-bearing formations. The use of this method of logging has increased each year until now more than 20 field units are being used in 13 oil-producing states and in some foreign countries. Several papers1-9 have been published in the petroleum trade journals describing in detail the equipment and the application of mud-analysis logging. This paper will discuss briefly the method and review its application and some of the late developments. Method As the drilling of a well progresses, the drilling bit dislodges and disintegrates a cylindrical section of the formation. If oil or gas is contained in the pore spaces of the cylinder, some of the contents of these porous spaces will be entrained in the drilling fluid. In wall logging by mud analysis, the mud is continuously examined for oil and gas on its return to the surface, and the results are correlated back to the actual depth of the hole at the time the mud was clearing the eyes of the bit. The test for gas is made by diverting a portion of the circulating mud from the flow line to a separator or gas trap, where the mud is thoroughly mixed with air and a portion of the gas entrained in the mud is removed. A stream of air is drawn coun-tercurrent to the flow of mud in the gas trap, thus materially assisting the separation of the gas from the mud. The air-gas mixture is then drawn into a "hot-wire" gas-detector instrument where the percentage of the combustible gas is determined. The presence of oil in the formation drilled is detected by a physical examination of the drilling mud under ultraviolet light. A sample of the mud is treated to reduce the surface tension and gel strength, after which it is placed in a viewing box. This box is so constructed that all external light is excluded and so that the sample may be subjected selectively to either ultra-

Jan 1, 1946

By J. F. Myers, R. J. Tower

"There is nothing new under the sun." All over the world, mineral-dressing engineers are working at their problems, no two of which are alike. Each encounters equipment and process problems. Many devise simple ways and means of overcoming their difficulties. Many of these problems are quite common in the industry, yet, since no one human being seems capable of thinking of everything, these problems at some plants often are looked upon as necessary evils. The purpose of this symposium is to gather together, from competent engineers, devices and practices that have been useful to them. Most of the ideas contributed are not new, yet there is no plant operator, old timer or youngster, who will not find some idea herein that will give him a suggestion for improving his operation. Space does not permit a complete elaboration on all of the contributions offered. Each item is summarized, but this will be ample for those skilled in the art of mineral dressing. A list of contributors appears at the end of the paper, and the superior number at the end of each item identifies its source. General Equipment A signal light to show that a steel bin, containing relatively line, moist ore, is full, can be made by suspending a copper rod in the bin to a sufficient depth to ensure ample contact with the ore. One wire of a 32-volt circuit should be attached to the rod and one to the side of the bin. Sufficient current will flow to make the signal light burn. A 110-volt circuit could be used, but 32 volts ensures safety.10 Fig I shows a circular bin for crushed ore. It is a concrete structure footed on the ground, using no supporting columns. Tailing from the sink-float was used for aggregate. Cross conveyors for discharging ore are not required, nor is a tripper for filling. Segregation is minimized by drawing from different gates. An exhaust fan on top of the bin eliminates condensation due to temperature of the ore.21 A beam with an adjustable point of suspension near the center permits rigging rolls for removal in a very few minutes. This makes unnecessary the lacing of the cable through the hub bolts on one side, around the shaft on the other, and the trouble of balancing the load.8 The ratchet handle on a Symons crusher may be replaced by a drum with a cable wound on it. When the cable is pulled by a crane or hoist it causes the drum to revolve and thus screws or unscrews the bowl. This reduces handwork and materially shortens the time required for the job.&apos; TO Spread ore feed from an apron feeder over a belt conveyor, place a heavy steel bar about midway between the top

Jan 1, 1949

By J. M. Hartman

ONE of the most important subjects to the blast-furnace engineer is a thorough knowledge of the conditions affecting the temperature in the different portions of the furnace. All efforts to decrease the consumption of fuel and improve the working of the furnace must be based upon it, and I may, therefore, be permitted to place before you the results of my observations, and detail the conclusions to which they have led me. Tracing the thermic conditions from below upwards we have at the bottom of a blast furnace making No. 3 iron a temperature of 2900&apos; F., which increases slightly to a point a little below the tuyeres. In the immediate vicinity of the tuyeres the temperature is somewhat lower, owing to the entering blast; but a short distance above the tuyeres, where all the oxygen of the blast has been converted into carbonic acid, the highest temperature in the furnace must be attained. This carbonic acid is, however, almost as soon as formed, converted by the glowing coal into carbonic oxide, a process which absorb, heat, reduces the temperature, and provides the active agent for the reduction of the iron ores. In its ascent the hot carbonic oxide gradually parts with its heat, first melting the descending iron and earthy materials, which drop down to the hearth of the furnace. The limit of this zone of fusion is rather sharply defined, and the temperature above this zone suddenly decreases. In its further ascent the hot gas drives off the carbonic acid from the limestone, which causes a further absorption of heat, and finally the gas escapes at the top, at a ternperature of about 250&apos; F. if the furnace is working well. These changes of temperature I have attempted to represent graphically,

Jan 1, 1880

By J. M. Hartman

ONE of the most important subjects to the blast-furnace engineer is a thorough knowledge of the conditions affecting the temperature in the different portions of the furnace. All efforts to decrease the consumption of fuel and improve the working of the furnace must be based upon it, and I may, therefore, be permitted to place before you the results of my observations, and detail the conclusions to which they have led me. Tracing the thermic conditions from below upwards we have at the bottom of a blast furnace making No. 3 iron a temperature of 2900° F., which increases slightly to a point a little below the tuyeres. In the immediate vicinity of the tuyeres the temperature is somewhat lower, owing to the entering blast ; but a short distance above the tuyeres, where all the oxygen of the blast has been converted into carbonic acid, the highest temperature in the furnace must be attained. This carbonic acid is, however, almost as soon as formed, converted by the glowing coal into carbonic oxide, a process which absorbs heat, reduces the temperature, and provides the active agent for the reduction of the iron ores. In its ascent the hot carbonic oxide gradually parts with its heat, first melting the descending iron and earthy materials, which drop down to the hearth of the furnace. The limit of this zone of fusion is rather sharply defined, and the temperature above this zone suddenly decreases. In its further ascent the hot gas drives off the carbonic acid from the limestone, which causes a further absorption of heat, and finally the gas escapes at the top, at a temperature of about 250° F. if the furnace is working well. These changes of temperature 1 have attempted to represent graphically,

Jan 1, 1880

By R. F. Marande, R. S. Busk

THE magnesium-aluminum-zinc system contains most of the magnesium-base alloys used commercially, although in practice the ternary, alloys are usually modified by the addition of a small amount [ ] of manganese. Table I contains the magnesium-base commercial sand-casting alloys most widely used throughout the world, together with their typical tensile properties. These alloys may be regarded as a single family of varying aluminum and zinc content, disregarding manganese. A concise means of presenting data for them is by means of iso-property lines plotted on triangular coordinate paper. Constitutional, casting, and mechanical properties are presented in this manner. The data are given with the object of providing reference material, and to aid in the choice of a commercial alloy to serve a particular purpose. Detailed, critical analysis of the commercial alloys has been covered in a previous paper.1 [ ] All alloys reported were made in 15-lb. melts, superheated to 1700°F. for 15 min., cooled to 1400°F. and poured in sand molds. The test bars produced had a ½ in. reduced section and were about 6 in. long. Except for the data represented in Figs. I and 3 the alloys used were of commercial purity and contained 0.1 to 0.2 per cent Mn in addition to the aluminum and zinc. CONSTITUTIONAL DATA Under the heading of Constitutional Data are included all known data on con-

Jan 1, 1946

By Thomas M. Plouf

Getting optimal performance from flotation cells can, in many cases, be critical to a project&apos;s economic viability. Simple testing procedures can sound early warning signals as well as maintain optimum recoveries from the flotation cycle. The materials required for a simple testing laboratory include: (1) pH meter or pH paper, (2) bottles of reagents used in plant flotation, (3) stop watch, (4) calibrated eye droppers. (5) laboratory flotation machine (1000-g tank, open impeller), (6) froth collection pans, (7) magnifying glass, (8) sizing screen sufficient to retain 10% of the flotation feed coarse fraction, (9) sizing screen for the size particles at which desliming of the plant flotation feed is to take place, and (10) a set of screens covering the complete range of feed particle size.

Jan 4, 1978

By F. M. F. Cazin

In my first paper, relating in general to the movement of solids in a medium, I stated a newly-discovered natural law, and explained its application to mechanical ore-concentration. This law, as applied primarily to the motion of ships in water, had been announced, demonstrated and defended by me in the Journal of the Franklin Institute for March, April and May, 1893, and has not been controverted since then. I therefore contented myself in my first paper with the simple statement of it; and in order to avoid unnecessary repetition, I refer the readers of this paper to that statement (ante, p. 81) and to the earlier publication already mentioned.*

Jan 1, 1895