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By Peter L. Langsjoen, Kenneth L. Maloney

Ten small and intermediate-sized (4.5 Mg/hr to 113 Mg/hr steam--10,000 to 250,000 lb per hr) coal-fired boilers in the upper Midwest have each been tested on both a bituminous eastern coal and a subbituminous western coal. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of substituting western subbituminous coal for eastern bituminous coal as a means of reducing the SO, emissions from this class of boiler and to demonstrate the feasibility of greatly expanded western coal utilization as a means of reducing the use of oil and gas. The scope of this study was such that the representative boiler types were tested on both eastern and western coal for a period of time sufficient to completely characterize their individual emission and operational characteristics.

Jan 1, 1978

By Richard D. Call

Data obtained from development drilling provide the basic input for open pit mine planning and design. Development drilling is defined as delineation of the size, mineral content, and disposition of an ore body by drilling boreholes (Thrush, 1968). The objectives of development drilling are: ( 1 ) determining the geometry of the mineralization, ( 2 ) determining the grade and tonnage, , ( 3 ) obtaining samples for metallurgical testing, and ( 4 ) obtaining geotechnical data for mine design. To accomplish these objectives, an appropriate drilling plan must include the number of holes, the spacing and orientation of the holes, and a suitable data collection program. The data collection program covers sample collection, hole logging, and data presentation. This chapter will present some guidelines for development drilling and data collection techniques. The operational aspects of drilling will be covered in an- other chapter.

Jan 1, 1979

By T. L. Berger, M. C. lnman, M. F. Rose

AFTER shock loading, mechanical twinning has been observed by several authors1-4 for a variety of fcc metals and alloys. It has been shown2,3 that low stacking fault energy materials deform primarily by the formation of mechanical twins and stacking faults during dynamic loading. Further, Inman, Murr, and Rose2 have shown that a correlation exists between the average hardness and the volume percent of mechanically twinned material in stainless steel. It has been observed in nickel' that mechanical twins are produced during shock deformation if the peak pressure associated with the shock wave is greater than 350kbar. It is the purpose of this work to discuss shock-hardening mechanisms in nickel and to determine to what extent the initial condition influences the final response. The "flying plate technique" was used to generate planar shock waves with peak pressures as high as 710 kbar. The details of the technique5" have been discussed elsewhere and will not be repeated here. The material used in this study was polycrystalline nickel of 99.98 pct purity and had an initial grain size of 0.18 mm. Prior to any deformation, all samples were given a stress-relief anneal of 6 hr at 600°C in a vacuum furnace. After annealing, the initial condition of the samples was changed by cold rolling individual samples from 0 pct to a maximum of 80 pct reduction in thickness. This provided samples with controlled initial histories for shock deformation. Immediately after shock loading, the specimens were slowed and quenched by suitable arrangement of buffer material and water bath. This technique minimized specimen damage and the effects of shock heating on the samples. Since deformation twins in high stacking fault energy fcc metals are only produced at high stress levels, the initial defect configuration prior to mechanical twinning should greatly influence the number of twins formed. In fact, Zukas and Fowler7 have found that prestraining in iron and steel greatly suppresses the formation of mechanical twins during the shock deformation process. Following the methods of Warren and warekois8 and Cohen and Wagner,9 X-ray diffraction profile analysis was performed to determine the incidence of stacking faults and mechanical twins in the deformed nickel. Analysis was made on samples in the annealed, cold-rolled, shock-loaded, and cold-rolled—shock-loaded states. The estimated accuracy of the peak position measurements is *0.01 deg in 2?. Therefore the accuracy in the measurement of the relative peak shifts between the (400) and (222) diffraction line profiles is on the order of *0.04 deg in 2?. None of our measurements indicated peak shifts greater than 0.04 in 28. This would correspond to a fault density of -1 pct and sets the limit on the sensitivity of our instrument. Similarly, analysis of the shift in the center of gravity of the diffraction line profiles yields the minimum measurable value of the twin fault probabilitya to be -0.002. Fig. 1 shows mechanical twinning in nickel shock-loaded to 400 kbar. In this photograph, fault intersections are clearly visible. The thickness of the individual fault lamellae was determined from the image widths of their lines of intersections by the

Jan 1, 1968

By O. A. E. Jackson

In all three principal dunite dikes, minute disseminated grains of pyrrhotite are to be seen in the fresh rock in amounts less than 1 pct. Traces of nickel have been reported from many such specimens. Nickeliferous pyrrhotite is the principal nickel-bearing mineral, although olivine contains very minor amounts of nickel in solid solution, substituting for magnesium and iron. Such occurences are of no economic significance. Nickel analyses of possible economic significance (up to 3 pct Ni) have been returned from samples taken near the margins of the two large western dunite dikes. These samples were from schistose zones along and within the dike walls. The mineralized shear zones, up to 30 ft wide, strike N 30 W and dip from 65" to 90" west. They consist of layers of hard, fresh, green-gray dunite, mineralized with finely disseminated pyrrhotite. These layers alternate with layers of soft, black, oxidized schistose dunite up to 1 ft wide, well mineralized with pyrrhotite and tabular-fractured pentlandite in crystals up to 1/4-in. diam. Sulfides identified in polished sections were chiefly pyrrhotite and pentlandite, with much smaller amounts of chalcopyrite. There are two varieties of pyrrhotite. One develops a fine polish and conforms to published descriptions. The other is slightly darker and browner, does not polish as well, and displays flamelike growth or intergrowth structure when etched with nitric acid fumes. Pyrrhotite and pentlandite crystallized contemporaneously in the form of veins in the olivine and as fillings of the interstices of euhedral olivine crystals. Chalcopyrite replaces the other sulfides. The most striking feature of the deposits is their occurrence in intimately fractured and schistose zones in the dunite where faulting has been localized along the contacts of the sediments and the dunite dikes. Though far too little detailed work has been done to be certain, there appears to be a higher concentration of sulfides in the shear zones along the margins of dike apophyses, sediment reentrants, and strike and dip irregularities. Much more study would be required in order to submit a plausible theory of formation of the nickel deposits, supported by laboratory and field evidence. Results of the present study, especially localization of the metals by fracturing, certainly indicate that the nickel concentrations were brought about by precipitation of nickel sulfides from fluids that used the fractures as a means of ingress. Studies of nickel sulfide deposits throughout the world have demonstrated that such sulfides were deposited at considerable depths and at temperatures of several hundred degrees. This would rule out the possibility of groundwater as the transporting medium. The two possible sources of hot nickel-bearing fluids are quartz diorite and gabbro. The first possibility is that large volumes of fluids, expelled from the quartz diorite magma during its crystallization, obtained a supply of nickel by altering the nickeliferous olivine of the dunites. The likelihood of this process is lessened by the recognition that, although the dunites show some alteration to serpentine, talc, and trem-olite, they are for the most part remarkably fresh outside the schistose zones. The worldwide association of nickel with basic rocks, together with the presence of pyrrhotite in thin films on joint planes of the gabbro on Jumbro Mountain, favors the gabbro source. The writer extends thanks to C. Phillips Purdy, Jr., project chief of American Metal Climax Inc., for giving him the opportunity to study these deposits. He is also indebted to the officers of American Metal Climax Inc. and Discovery Mines Inc. for permission to publish this article.

Jan 1, 1961

By Dean Goodermote, Carla S. Stone

I Introduction Coal fuels China. Roughly 70 percent of all commercial energy demand is supplied by domestic coal production and with the recent Chinese opening to the West, the Chinese Coal Industry may figure prominently in the export market as well. Because of the importance of China's coal industry to the future of China and the Pacific Rim energy balance, this paper reviews the industry and offers some cautious projections for its outlook. II Energy's Position in the Current Political and Economic Climate Traditionally, Chinese society has been dominated by the policies of its most important government leaders. Deng Xiaoping, Vice Chairman of the Communist Party is the current leader of China. Deng and his proteges are pragmatists. Although China's government structure is based on Marxist/Leninist tradition, Deng and his followers are promoting experiments with market economics and expanded relationships with Western Countries, which have encouraged foreign investment in China. Energy companies represent just one type of industry that is interested in helping the Chinese to develop their abundant natural resources. Although China's leadership is committed to a program of economic modernization, that program currently is experiencing what the Chinese government terms "readjustment". Readjustment cuts back in imports due to deficient foreign exchange and deemphasizes heavy industry, while it encourages agricultural and consumer goods output and, most imporant, energy production. Increased Chinese coal and oil production is essential both to fuel industry and, equally important, to provide foreign exchange. If sufficient energy production is not forthcoming, then economic growth will be severely retarded. China's 1979 per capita GNP of $260 is only slightly better than the weighted average achieved by low income countries of $230. (1) Delays in growth could lead to social unrest, threatening the position of the current leadership. Since there is no institutionalized mechanism for leadership succession and policy continuation, it is reasonable to assume that leadership changes could result in energy policy changes. III Energy Consumption Energy production is important to China's future economic health as highlighted by the World Bank. If China's economy grows rapidly, 5 percent to 6 percent during this decade, the Bank noted, a significant energy shortfall could occur as early as 1985. This state of affairs contrasts sharply with China's current position as a net hydrocarbon exporter. (2) To assure a healthy economic future, China's leadership is attempting to reduce its rate of increase in energy demand through conservation as well as to boost energy output. A massive conservation promotion program has been underway since 1979 and there is much room for improvement. China's industrial sector is only about half as energy efficient as is U.S. industry. (3) During the last two decades, each percent of increase in GNP has been accompanied by a 1.8 percent of increase in energy consumption. (4) This compares rather poorly with the United States where a less than one-to-one relationship exists. IV Energy Supply The short term prospects for oil production are uncertain. Production increases were rapid in the 1960's and early 1970's, averaging 20 percent annually, but most of this increase came from one field, Daquing. Now that Daquing's production has peaked and the offshore potential has yet to be developed, petroleum production has maintained a plateau of 2.1 million b/d, at least temporarily, of which approximately 15 percent is exported. (5) Output

Jan 1, 1982

By B. F. Buie

For over 200 years meerschaum has been a significant item of trade between the Near East and countries to the west. Best-known for its use in making smoking pipes and cigar and cigarette holders, it is also used in making a variety of decorative and ornamental items. It is easily carved, and is given an attractive, lustrous finish by rubbing. No published specifications are known, but compact form, purity, uniform whiteness or light color, and uniform, porous texture appear to be requisites. Fig. I a shows the appearance of a piece of crude meerschaum from Turkey; Fig. lb a carved item; and Fig. lc, d, and e show the fibrous and porous texture as revealed by the scanning electron microscope. Neither a major industrial mineral nor a precious stone, meerschaum nevertheless holds a record of long-and continuing-association with art and personal affairs of man. It is also a mineral to which modem methods of exploration and production probably could be profitably applied. An interesting account of the preparation and use of meerschaum in the early part of this century is given by Sterrett (1907). Geology and Mining Mineralogy Meerschaum is recognized now to be the compact variety of sepiolite, the claylike variety of which is one of the minerals included in the chapter on clays. The word meerschaum, from the German meaning "sea foam," was in earlier times used synonymously with sepiolite, a word of Greek origin suggestive of the resemblance of the compact variety-then the only variety known-to cuttlefish bone. At one time meerschaum was used as the commercial name, and sepiolite for the scientific name. However, to think of meerschaum as the name by which sepiolite is known commercially is no longer valid, in view of the recent emergence of the earthy variety as a competitor of bentonite and other clay materials. Present tendency is to restrict the term meerschaum to the compact variety, and to use the term sepiolite as a more general name to include both the compact and earthy varieties. This is the terminology followed in this publication. Meerschaum typically is white to light gray, has a hardness of 2 to 2 ½ , conchoidal to irregular fracture, and specific gravity varying with porosity from about 2 to less than 1. The composition is somewhat variable,- but is near that determined by Schaller (1936) for sepiolite as 2MgO.3SiO2.4H2O. A more modern for mula based on X-ray determination of the crystal structure is given by Caillére and Henin (1961) as (Site) (Mg9)030(OH)6(0H2)46H20. The reason for the firm, compact nature of meerschaum, in contrast with the earthy variety of sepiolite, is not fully understood. It may be due to the presence of a very minor amount of some bonding material such as silica. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) photographs of a specimen from Turkey (Figs. lc-le) indicate that the meerschaum is composed predominantly, if not entirely, of crystalline fibers which merge into sheetlike forms in a complex, intertwined mass. Detailed X-ray and crystal structure data, as well as some data on thermal stability range, are given by Caillère and Hénin (1961) for the sepiolite family of minerals. Mode of Occurrence and Origin Most authors have attributed the origin of meerschaum to alteration of serpentine or other magnesian minerals. The occurrence in alluvium and other surficial deposits does not necessarily indicate that the alteration was supergene. In fact, hydrothermal origin appears more likely for some deposits, though not for all.

Jan 1, 1983

By Roshan B. Bhappu, Thomas J. Lien

The DYNA WHIRLPOOL Processor (DWP) is a cylindrical dynamic heavy media vessel. It is used to beneficiate fine ore sizes from one and one-half inches in diameter down to 65-mesh. Process units available treat up to 80 tons per hour. Units can be manifolded for higher capacity plants. Finely ground magnetite and ferrosilicon are used for media. , Installed capital costs are from $4,000 to $6,000 per ton hour of feed. Operating costs are from $0.30 to $0.50 per ton of feed. The DWP is used to beneficiate metallic and non-metallic ores and coal. The OCC Vessel is a static heavy media separator used to beneficiate coarse ore up to six inches in diameter and auto scrap. Process units available treat up to 300 tons per hour.

Jan 1, 1978

By John Gross

THE deductions drawn in crushing and grinding operations have heretofore been based on a separation of the products into various sizes. A crushed product may be sized by sieving, by elutriation, and by aid of the microscope. To estimate the surface of each size the relation of the surface to the estimated average diameter must be assumed. Such a relation, owing to the irregularity of the particles, may involve two assumptions: First, a factor to convert average diameter to surface for one particular size; and second, a variation in the factor as the diameter of the particle changes. Obviously a surface measurement in which such assumptions and estimates are involved is questionable. In the first paper of this series1 a method has been given by which an accurate measure of surface of quartz can be obtained from its dissolution rate. By the use of this method, surface measurements have been made on a series of sieve sizes of crushed quartz, the results of which are given and discussed in this paper.

Jan 1, 1928

Jan 1, 1941

By Kenneth A. Moon

Kenneth A. Moon (U.S. Army Materials Research Agency)—The authors are to be congratulated for a very interesting and valuable paper. Their discussion of the structural implications of the results shown in their Fig. 5, however, requires a small correction. The model of Speiser and Spretnak with 0 = 1 and z' = 2 is perfectly reasonable for the Ti-O a phase, but Eq. [3] is valid only for solutions sufficiently dilute that the number of empty sites excluded by more than one filled site is negligible. The composition at which intrinsic saturation occurs therefore cannot be deduced from Eq. [3], but but must be decided by consideration of the structural details of the phase in question. In this case, intrinsic saturation is expected not at the composition Ti3O but at Ti2O, because Ti2O has the anti-Cd structurel4 for which each filled octahedral site has two nearby empty sites, one in the hexagonal plane immediately above it, and one in the similar plane below it. The other two models, with ?=1/3 and 1/2, imply a distinction between octahedral sites in pure titanium which is not easy to justify. The problem of extending Speiser's and Spretnak's treatment in a general way to more concentrated solutions will be the subject of a forthcoming publication by the writer. M. T. Hepworth and R. Schuhmann, Jr. (authors' reply)—The authors wish to thank Dr. Moon for calling to their attention the paper by Holmberg which presents the results of X-ray studies of Ti-O solutions ranging from 0 to 33 at. pct 0 and quenched from various annealing temperatures between 400" and 1800°C. Within these ranges, Holmberg found three types of phases: 1) At high oxygen contents (above 25 at. pct) and low annealing temperatures, he found the anti-Cd(OH)2 structure referred to by Dr. Moon. In this structure each titanium atom is in contact with 3 oxygens and each oxygen is in contact with 6 titaniums, the "available" oxygen sites corresponding to every other layer of octahedral sites in the titanium matrix. The limiting composition is Ti2O. However, this anti-Cd(OH)2 structure was not observed for samples containing 25 at. pct 0 or less. 2) For the specimen containing 25 at. pct 0 annealed at 400°C an ordered Ti3O structure was observed. This structure is related to the anti-Cd(OH)2 structure but differs from it by providing only two oxygens adjacent to each titanium atom and thus is consistent with the model represented by Eq. [5] in our paper, with 6 = 1/3, z' = 0. 3) For dilute solutions and for more concentrated solutions annealed at higher temperatures, the structure corresponds to that of the metal with random distribution of oxygens among all the octahedral sites. Thus, it is interesting to observe that the thermo-dynamic indications of ordering in the vicinity of Ti3O can now be supported qualitatively at least by Holmberg's X-ray evidence of the existence of an ordered phase of the composition Ti3O. That is, for solutions with oxygen contents close to that of Ti3O, both the thermodynamic data and the X-ray data are more consistent with models based on the ordered structure of Ti3O than they are with the model which Dr. Moon suggests corresponding to "intrinsic saturation" at Ti2O.

Jan 1, 1963

By G. S. Upadhyaya, A. D. McQuillan

HERE would appear to be a simple relationship between the group number in the periodic table of the early transition metals and the maximum amount of hydrogen which they can absorb.' Thus group IIIA metals (Sc, Y, and La) yield a trihydride in which the metal atoms are on a fcc lattice and the hydrogen atoms occupy both tetrahedral and octahedral interstices. Group IVA metals (Ti, Zr, Hf) form dihy-drides in which the metal atoms are on either a fct or cubic lattice, but in which only the tetrahedral interstices are occupied by hydrogen atoms. In group VA (V, Nb, Ta) the hydrogen-saturated metal attains a composition slightly below that of a monohydride under normal conditions. Finally the metals of group VIA (Cr, Mo, W) do not dissolve appreciable quantities of hydrogen. The manner in which hydrogen solubility disappears on alloying a group VA metal with one from group VIA has previously been investigated.2 It is necessary, in order to obtain a general picture of the reactions of alloys of the early transition metals with hydrogen, to examine a system containing metals from groups IVA and VA in which there must be a change from a fcc to a bee hydride phase. The system chosen for investigation was the pseudobinary system between titanium hydride and niobium hydride. Metallic alloys were prepared by melting iodide-prepared titanium with zone-refined niobium in an argon-atmosphere are-furnace. To ensure homogeneity each alloy was cold-swaged and then heated at 1250°C in a high-vacuum furnace until metallo-graphic examination confirmed its complete homogeneity. Small weighed specimens of the alloys were charged with hydrogen using gaseous hydrogen generated by heating titanium hydride. The apparatus has been described elsewhere.3 Throughout the charging process the hydrogen pressure was kept at about 1 atm while the specimen, initially at 800 °C, was slowly cooled to 150°C over a period of days. The total amount of hydrogen absorbed by each specimen and the room-temperature crystal structure of the hydride powders were determined. The X-ray investigation indicates that the fee hydride phase arises from alloys extending in composition from titanium to 67 at. pct Nb. After a two-phase field lying between 67 and 74 at. pct Nb in which the fee and bee hydrides coexist, all alloys richer in niobium yield a distorted bee hydride. Data derived from parameter measurements are presented in Fig. 1. The atomic volume per metal atom has been plotted against the composition of the initial metallic alloy in order to facilitate comparison of the effects of hydrogen addition in the two phases of different crystal structure. The amount of hydrogen absorbed by each alloy at saturation in terms of the hydrogen to metal ratio and alloy composition is given in Fig. 2. Over the whole range of the fee hydride phase the hydrogen content remains constant, while in the distorted body-centred hydride phase, the hydrogen content increases with increasing titanium content reaching a hydrogen/metal ratio of 1.4 at the boundary of the two-phase region. It seems likely, therefore, that the maximum hydrogen content of the fee hydrides is limited to a hydrogen/metal ratio of 2 because hydrogen atoms

Jan 1, 1962

By N. A. Gokcen, E. S. Tankins, G. R. Belton

Equilibrium in the reaction H2(g) + O[in liquid iron, cobalt, or nickel] = H2O(g) has been investigated over wide temperature and composition ranges. Oxygen has been found to obey Henry's Law in each of the three metals at 1550°C. The standard free-energy changes for the above reaction are given by: (1550° to 1700°C) ?Foco = -45,360(±290) + 16.16(±0.16)T (1490° to 1700°C) ?Fo Ni = -48,170(±220) + 16.12(±0.12)T (1465° to 1700°C) where the standard state for dissolved oxygen is the I wt pet solution. ThE thermodynamic behavior of dilute solutions of oxygen in molten iron has been the subject of many investigations over the last thirty years,'-'4 the majority of the investigators having utilized the reaction:

Jan 1, 1964

By C. W. Hill, G. P. Luckey

In a previous article1 preliminary experiments were described, indicating the possibilities of a quantitative spectroscopic method for the determination of small amounts of lead in copper, which would be accurate and rapid, and could be carried out in the refining plant by one not skilled in chemical analysis. The present paper deals with the development of the method in the factory, giving the details of apparatus and its standardization, and presenting a comparison of the accuracy of the method with that of the standard electrolytic determination. (For variations and other applications of the method, the reader is referred to the first article.) A carefully weighed sample (0.4 gm.) of the copper to be tested is placed in a cavity in a graphite positive electrode. An arc capable of

Jan 1, 1919

By Robert E. Delavault, Harry V. Warren

Circumstances determine whether it is better to make analyses in the field or in a permanent laboratory. The rubeanic acid test described in this article has been designed primarily for field use: it is simple and virtually foolproof, and it requires a minimum of field kit.* It is sensitive, easily detecting 4 ppm of readily extractable copper in a soil. This is by no means a quantitative test, but it is accurate enough to provide a valuable indicator of copper anomalous areas for both prospectors and field geologists. The easiest method for detecting metal deposits that do not produce visible float or stains is to make a simple chemical test for the metal in overlying soil, or in the silt of a stream that may have picked up metal farther upstream.

Jan 11, 1958

By Lawrence Adler

The authors are to be complimented on using a novel and potentially helpful technique to analyze the effects of mine roof trusses. However, some criticisms of their application and analysis seem appropriate to further its acceptance. This discussion will deal with the normal structural analysis format covering: 1) material. 2) load, 3) structure, and 4) analysis. It will then briefly review the testing procedures and finally cover miscellaneous items. That the analytical and testing results admittedly disagreed by several orders of magnitude, indicates a need for improved understanding. The introduction of data determined previously was not assisted by references to "Interim" or "Preliminary" reports. This material should have been concisely reformulated for the open discussions that Transactions encourage. In addition, many important simplifying assumptions are tacitly made without recognition, and much less, an attempted justification.

Jan 1, 1979

By C. A. Hartnagel

The production of petroleum in New York in 1940, totaling 4,999,000 bbl., was only slightly under the amount produced in each of the previous three years. The year 1940 started auspiciously with a posted price on Jan. I of $2.75 a barrel. Four price reductions, beginning in May, resulted in August in a low of $1.85 a barrel, after which two increases brought the year's closing price to $2.15 a barrel. The favorable crude price at the beginning of the year stimulated an increased drilling program, especially in the water-flooding districts. In the Allegany County region, which accounts for about two-thirds of the state's oil production, 886 wells, including water-intake wells, were drilled; 200 more than in the preceding Year. During the closing months of the Year there was a marked decline in the number of wells drilled. The unfavorable position in which the industry found itself before midsummer was due largely to the loss of export markets for its high-grade lubricants, constituting approximately 25 per cent of its business. As a result of this situation, runs to refineries were curtailed as much as 30 Per cent at the middle of the Year. Improvement in market conditions toward the end of the Year found the stocks of available crude at an almost record low. Deep DRILLING with the gradual exhaustion of some of the important natural and flood-oil-produc-ing areas of the Allegany and Bradford pools, overproduction will not be a serious problem in the future. The possibility of finding new territory or deeper producing sands has been further lessened by the drilling of additional deep wells for gas in and about the present oil fields. Many of these wells drilled to the Oriskany sand-stone were over 4000 ft. deep and have tested the entire thickness of the Devonian formation, the upper 2000 ft. of which contain all the important oil-producing strata in the state. Water-flooding It is thus evident that the problem of the New york oil producers is not one of find-ing new supplies but of obtaining as much 6 oil as possible from the old developed fields that during the 60 years of their life have 1 produced I 3o,ooo,ooo bbl. of oil. Although a few floods were in operation before I9I9, when the production of oil by flooding was 1 made legal, the output for that year amounted to only 85I,000 bbl. From 1919 I on there has been an almost constant increase, which during the past four years has averaged well above 5,000,000 bbl. annually. During the last 22 years, which constitutes the period of important flooding operations, 651337,000 bbl. of oil have been produced in the state. Careful estimates indicate that between one-third and one-half of the oil fields are being flooded or are already watered out. Some of the flooded and watered-out areas include territory with unusually thick sands, which were highly productive during the early history of the fields. From a recent study of operations in the New York oil fields, it is estimated that about 65,ooo,oo bbl. of oil

Jan 1, 1941

By C. A. Hartnagel

The production of petroleum in New York in 1940, totaling 4,999,000 bbl., was only slightly under the amount produced in each of the previous three years. The year 1940 started auspiciously with a posted price on Jan. I of $2.75 a barrel. Four price reductions, beginning in May, resulted in August in a low of $1.85 a barrel, after which two increases brought the year's closing price to $2.15 a barrel. The favorable crude price at the beginning of the year stimulated an increased drilling program, especially in the water-flooding districts. In the Allegany County region, which accounts for about two-thirds of the state's oil production, 886 wells, including water-intake wells, were drilled; 200 more than in the preceding Year. During the closing months of the Year there was a marked decline in the number of wells drilled. The unfavorable position in which the industry found itself before midsummer was due largely to the loss of export markets for its high-grade lubricants, constituting approximately 25 per cent of its business. As a result of this situation, runs to refineries were curtailed as much as 30 Per cent at the middle of the Year. Improvement in market conditions toward the end of the Year found the stocks of available crude at an almost record low. Deep DRILLING with the gradual exhaustion of some of the important natural and flood-oil-produc-ing areas of the Allegany and Bradford pools, overproduction will not be a serious problem in the future. The possibility of finding new territory or deeper producing sands has been further lessened by the drilling of additional deep wells for gas in and about the present oil fields. Many of these wells drilled to the Oriskany sand-stone were over 4000 ft. deep and have tested the entire thickness of the Devonian formation, the upper 2000 ft. of which contain all the important oil-producing strata in the state. Water-flooding It is thus evident that the problem of the New york oil producers is not one of find-ing new supplies but of obtaining as much 6 oil as possible from the old developed fields that during the 60 years of their life have 1 produced I 3o,ooo,ooo bbl. of oil. Although a few floods were in operation before I9I9, when the production of oil by flooding was 1 made legal, the output for that year amounted to only 85I,000 bbl. From 1919 I on there has been an almost constant increase, which during the past four years has averaged well above 5,000,000 bbl. annually. During the last 22 years, which constitutes the period of important flooding operations, 651337,000 bbl. of oil have been produced in the state. Careful estimates indicate that between one-third and one-half of the oil fields are being flooded or are already watered out. Some of the flooded and watered-out areas include territory with unusually thick sands, which were highly productive during the early history of the fields. From a recent study of operations in the New York oil fields, it is estimated that about 65,ooo,oo bbl. of oil

Jan 1, 1941

By D. Y. Geng, S. S. Peng

Surface subsidence of two longwall panels, one with a private residence and the other with an arch bridge, was monitored over a period of 1 to 1' ½ years. Surface subsidence data were analyzed in terms of zone of advance influence and delay angle of maximum subsidence velocity. The variational characteristics of both features coincide with the periodic weighting at the advancing longwall face. Surface heaving in the subsidence process can also be attributed to periodic weighting. It was found that residential damages occurred when subsidence velocity exceeded 4.5 mm/day (0.15 ft/day). The effects of locating structures on the panel center and near the gob edges are illustrated. The effect of mining on ground water was also discussed. Finally, methods of reducing structural damages are recommended.

Jan 1, 1984

By E. M. Norris

In the summer of 1917 it was decided to fireproof the main tramway hoisting shaft of the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. at Butte, Mont. The shaft has three hoisting compartments and one pump compartment; it is timbered with 12 by 12-in. (30.5 by 30.5-cm.) fir timber, and is 2475 ft. (754 m.) deep. Subsidence and displacement of the surrounding country rock had produced exceedingly heavy ground, and had carried the shaft out of line, in several places, by as much as 2 ft. (0.6 m.) displacement. Constant repairing and realigning of the timbers had been necessary in order to maintain clearance for the cages. The most feasible method of fireproofing, therefore, seemed to be to cover the timbers with a coat of concrete applied with the cement gun. The cement gun, which is operated by compressed air at ordinary mine pressures, feeds a mixture of sand and cement through a hose to a nozzle having a water connection. The mortar in fluid form is thus sprayed upon the prepared surface in thin layers, which can be built up to any desired thickness. The cement gun can be set up at any convenient point; satisfactory results have been obtained with the nozzle a distance of 500 ft. (152 m.) from the gun. The shaft was thoroughly overhauled and the timbers put in the best possible state of repair. Between the 1000 and the 1400 levels, much loose ground lay against the shaft timbers on the north side; this was breast-boarded back and a 30-in. (76-cm.) reinforced-concrete retaining wall was erected, leaving a space of 12 in. (30.5 cm.) outside the shaft timbers to allow for future movements of the ground. For convenience in handling men and materials; it was arranged to concrete the auxiliary hoisting-cage compartment and the pump compartment first, using the cages of the main hoist to serve the cementing crews. The auxiliary cage was then available while the remainder of the shaft was being concreted.

Jan 3, 1918

By W. C. Knopf, G. Samsel

For several years International Minerals & Chemical Corp. has used a radiation method to assay potassium content of products from potash and feldspar beneficiation. The procedure is rapid, accurate, and inexpensive and is easily handled, if necessary, by nontechnical personnel. Data are presented to show the accuracies that may be expected if the technique is used for control of pilot plants or large- scale plants. Natural potassium is composed of three isotopes -K39, K40 and K41. Five other isotopes, artificially produced, have been detected. In natural potassium only the K40 isotope, with a half life of 1.4 x 109 years, is radioactive. Its modes of decay are beta and gamma rays, positrons, and x-rays. Only the more abundant beta rays, however, are important in radiation measurements using geiger tubes.

Jan 10, 1958