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By G. R. Gohn, S. M. Arnold

The results of stress-corrosion tests upon several non-ferrous sheet metals are presented in this paper. The metals include tough pitch copper, five binary brasses, two leaded brasses, one copper-silicon alloy, two tin bronzes, and two nickel-silver alloys. The tests indicate that for most of these sheet metals, externally applied bending stresses below the yield point (0.01 per cent offset) do not result in stress-corrosion cracking as determined by the A.S.T.M. Tentative Method of Mercurous Nitrate Test for Copper and Copper Alloys (B 154-41T).~ Only in the cases of low brass, high brass and medium leaded brass, all cold-worked 4 B & S numbers hard, was any corrosion cracking observed below the yield strength, and in all cases such failures occurred at stresses above the proportional limit for these materials. However, when some of the same materials which showed no evidence of stress-corrosion cracking at stresses below the yield strength, are stressed beyond the yield point, stress- corrosion cracking is quite apt to occur. Since experience has shown that some of these materials, particularly the brasses, are susceptible to stress-corrosion cracking under service conditions, these tests would indicate that, besides externally applied stress and corrosion, plastic deformation in addition to that resulting from the original cold working of the material is also required to produce conditions conducive to stress- corrosion cracking.

Jan 1, 1945

By W. P. Frey

The briquet plant of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co., at Lansford, Pa., has previously been referred to.' It has passed the stage of experiment and now rests on a foundation practically and financially sound. The purpose of this' paper is to explain how success has been attained, and to set standards for the development of hard-coal briquetting which may eliminate future failures. All the conclusions are based on actual results, avoiding speculation and theory. Up to three years ago, the L. C. & N. Co. used coal-tar pitch as a binder in making hard-coal briquets. The plant operated with a monthly output of 300 to 600 tons and was unable to meet its own expenses. Naturally, no one was satisfied, especially as the ideals of a smokeless briquet were still unrealized. Then came the Dutch oil process, introduced in this country by the General Briquetting Co. of New York. This process uses as binder a small percentage of heavy residue of petroleum, which, being liquid, permits great economy of handling; it also did away with the most objectionable fumes of the former briquets. This oil2 is not absolutely smokeless; heating the fresh fuel to red heat liberates some low-volatile hydrocarbons, yielding a white smoke which is not objectionable. On the other hand, this oil adds to the briquet about 7 per cent. of volatile matter, giving the product a heating capacity equal to that of the best free-burning anthracite coal. The average silt used in the manufacture of these boulets averages 16.5 per cent. chemical ash, corresponding to 12,000 B.t.u. per pound of coal. The Hydrolene used as binder runs about 17,500 B.t.u. per pound, and approximately 7 per cent. of it enters into the mixture, hence 12,000 X 0.93..........................11,160 B.t.n. 17,500 X 0.07.......................... 1,125 B.t.u. Total.....................................12,385 B.t.u. per pound of briquets

Jan 1, 1918

By T. W. Guy

The increased moisture due to water-spraying for coal dust control is of interest even for mines from which the coal is to be wet-washed before screening, because in many cases wet coal dust materially de- 20-mesh X 0 sizes as pct ROM average ............................... 6.3 pct Range 2.3 to 9.5 pct 20-mesh X 0 sizes as pct 3/8 X 0 sizes average........'...................... 18.9 pct Range 12.7. to 23.9 pct creases the loading efficiency of men and equipment at the faces. It also causes a serious increase in the normal wear and deterioration of all equipment with which it comes in contact. It is important to the consumer if it increases his as-received moisture. No attempt will be made in this paper to cover the entire subject of water-spraying of coal for dust control. It will be confined to discussion and data on (I) percentages of dust in bituminous coals, (2) moisture increases due to spraying for dust control in mines or plants by methods which have proved satisfactory for periods of one to five or more years, and (3) a few suggestions for research. Size and Percentage or Coal Dust The U. S. Bureau of Mines1 classifies as coal dust all bituminous coal passing a 20-mesh sieve (0.0328 in. square opening). The percentage of such dust to be found in ROM coal, of course, varies widely with the characteristics of the seam, and with the methods used in the mining and in the preparation of the coal. ROM screen analyses of 12 U. S. coals selected at random from personal files given in Table I show: A few other screen analyses examined indicating 40 pct or more of 20-mesh X 0 dust in 3/8 in. X 0 sizes were not included because of uncertainty that they were representative. The number of results in Table I is not sufficient to give a reliable estimate of the average, or of the range to be expected, but it indicates that in every case the coal dust is a relatively large percentage of the total ROM coal, and, of course, a progressively larger percentage of resultants as the larger sizes are separated for marketing.

Jan 1, 1949

By P. P. Gregory

Natural petroleum gas occurring in the oil-bearing reservoirs is found to exist either as free gas associated with the oil and/or in solution in the oil. In some virgin fields practically no free gas is encountered under the reservoir conditions of pressure and temperature, although in other fields a considerable section of the "pay" horizon is occupied by free gas. In other words, a given oil field may or may not have a gas cap before the exploitation takes place. However, when the reservoir pressure is reduced to a point below the critical saturation pressure by withdrawals of fluids from the producing formation, the gas dissolved in the oil inevitably begins to come out of solution and becomes free gas. Under the controlled methods of production and drilling, a portion of this gas is produced with the oil to the surface and a portion of it remains within the reservoir to accumulate at higher structural levels toward which it migrates by virtue of its low specific gravity. The rate of growth of a gas cap in a given structure depends primarily upon the rate of decline in the reservoir pressure. If the rate of pressure decline is rapid, the gas cap likewise will grow rapidly. On the other hand, shrinkage in the gas-cap area was noted in some fields in which reservoir pressures wereincreasing. Determination of Gas-oil Contact and Thickness of Gas Cap The gas-oil contact can be conveniently located in the process of drilling a well and by electrical logging. However, very little can be found in the petroleum literature concerning methods of predetermining gas-oil contacts in producing reservoirs. Therefore, the writer feels justified in describing briefly a simple, workable, and inexpensive method of determining gas-oil contacts and outlining the limits of gas-cap areas in a field where such knowledge may be essential for efficient production and development operations. The method involves the determination of the following data: (I) Structural data, such as the depth or elevation of the top' of "pay" horizon; (2) reservoir pressures; (3) tubing and casing pressures at the well head; (4) static oil-pressure gradient; (5) static gas-pressure gradient. These data can be secured with a minimum of expense, inasmuch as the

Jan 1, 1938

By W. R. Ingalls

THE present administration has made sincere and effective efforts to reduce the expense of the Federal Government, but it has reached a point beyond which it seems impossible, or anyway extraordi-narily difficult, to go. This is ascribable to the large part of the budget that is represented as war expense. There is no doubt that this spells high taxation for many years to come. Nevertheless, although a large part of the taxation will be attributable to the war, the paying out of the proceeds of that taxation by the government will not be war expense, except in minor part, as will be hereinafter made clear. It will be useful to explain the economic meaning of this situation, for it has bear-ings upon several open questions, such as a bonus to the ex-soldiers, the foreign debt accounts, etc. The expense of the war on the part of the American people was in the main paid concurrently with its prose-cution. This was necessary. Warfare is not conducted with money, but with materials and labor. Except for such previous production as was represented by stocks of goods, the requirements had to be supplied by coincident production. With the end of 1918 our war expense ceased, save for such production, e.g., of ships, that was allowed to run on unchecked, and the indemnities that had to be paid for cancelled contracts. When those matters have been settled we shall be done, barring one important thing. Of course, our war expense began to contract right after the armistice and shrunk rapidly with the demobilization of the troops in 1919. If we had not been able to obtain all needful material from our own sources and had been constrained to borrow it from foreign countries, incurring a foreign debt, we should have been in the quite different posi-tion of having to repay that material, or its equivalent, during subsequent years. The European countries had to come to us for such supplies. This outlines the fundamental difference between their present situations and ours. We were therefore compelled not only to furnish materials and man-power for our own warfare but also much for the Allies.

Jan 3, 1923

Albert SaUveur, Cambridge, Mass. (communication to the Secretary*):—On close examination I think it will be found that the evidence by which Mr. Corson claims to have shown the inaccuracy of a statement I made a few years ago, is far from convincing. This statement is: "Hot work as such has no influence upon the structure of the metal. Indirectly, however, by retarding crystallization until a lower temperature is reached, it may influence its structure most decidedly ; but the same results could be accomplished by heat treatment alone, i.e., by re-heating the unworked metal to the temperature from which the worked piece was allowed to cool undisturbedly." The Melallographist, vol. ii., p. 267 (under the head of "Changes of Structure Brought About by Work"). Of the two pieces of steel tested by Mr. Corson, one was worked and finished at a a cherry-red" and the other reheated to a cherry-red, and the assumption was made that in both cases the temperature was about 715' C., although no pyrometric device was used to record it. The possibility of considerable difference in temperature alone is so great as to invalidate Mr. Corson's inferences. The apparent temperature,

Jan 1, 1907

We have seen that the first coal development in Pennsylvania was in the Pittsburgh bed in the southwestern corner of the state. The next mining, in point of time, was done in Clearfield County along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, but the amount of mining done was quite small for a number of years and was soon exceeded by that from the area north of the Susquehanna River in Tioga, Bradford and Lycoming Counties, which will be considered now. It is claimed that coal was first noticed in Tioga County, in 1792, by Robert and Benjamin Patterson who were leading a party of settlers from Williamsport to southern New York, and while clearing a road near the site of Blossburg, found coal, which was said to be good. About 1815 David Clemons made an arrangement with Aaron Bloss, owner of the land, to work some of the coal and hauled the first load down the river to Painted Post, N. Y., as there were no available markets in his own state. Smiths found it an excellent fuel and apparently he found a ready market for the small amount he could transport by wagons and sleighs. As wood began to become scarce around the towns in New York State, the knowledge of the coal deposits in the mountains at the head of the Tioga River attracted attention to the field and the necessity, for means of transportation from it. Some coal had been floated down the river, but navigation was uncertain and dangerous. In 1827 an iron plant was built, and to ship its product and coal, it was proposed to build a canal along the river to reach Corning, N. Y. A company had been chartered in 1826 in Pennsylvania to "make a navigable canal or slack-water navigation" to the state line and coal was shipped on rafts of logs, both being sold, during highwater. In 1828 the company was authorized to build a railroad instead of a canal, and in September 1840, the railroad was completed from Corning to Blossburg.1 That some coal from Pennsylvania had been reaching southern New York towns prior to the improved means of transport is shown by the report of a committee to the New York Assembly: "the bituminous coal has been brought to us either from Great Britain or from that part of our own country which borders on, and lies west and south of the Susquehan-

Jan 1, 1942

By H. F. Johnson, C. S. Harloff

The Nichols series system of electrolytic copper refining has successfully maintained its strong competitive position in the copper-refining industry of today; therefore the improvements made in accomplishing this result are of interest. While additional interest would lie in specific comparisons of results obtained in series operation with those in multiple, we have refrained from such a comparison because it can be fair to both only when they are operating under similar conditions on the same grade of materials. Historical The Nichols Copper Co. started a small refinery at Laurel Hill, using its present system, about 1892. The details of the process in its early stage of development were kept strictly secret, so that no information was published or interchange of ideas permitted with the staffs of other copper refineries, where the multiple system was being developed at the same time. However, the fundamentals of the process and type of cell used today differ very little from their earliest form. All operations including loading and unloading of tanks, and all transportation as well, were carried on by hand. The plant remained in this condition with a gradual expansion taking place until the World War forced such a rapid development that little time or thought could be devoted to modernization or mechanical improvement requiring careful design or detailed planning. Considerable progress was made, however. (1) Large refining furnaces were developed. (2) The old expensive air-lift type of circulation was abandoned in favor of the present system. (3) Operating technique was gradually developed to a high point of efficiency. (4) Tank construction and lining were greatly improved, the first concrete tank being installed in 1915. (This tank is still in operating condition.) (5) A new power plant was constructed. (6) Fuel oil was substituted for lump coal on the refining furnaces. (7) Mechanical casting of the finished product was accomplished. During this entire period the plant was particularly fortunate in receiving only high-grade, clean copper bullion coming principally from the Phelps Dodge mines in Arizona. This, together with the lack of

Jan 1, 1934

By David P. Hale

THE Cartersville barite district is near Cartersville, Ga., in the southeastern part of Bartow County, about 43 miles northeast of Atlanta. The area over which active mining is being done extends about six miles in a northeasterly direction and is about three miles wide. Barite production in Georgia began about 1907,1but the existence of the mineral was known much earlier. At present four companies are operating washing plants and three other plants are operating on leases from those companies. The chief impurities in the ores are silica and iron oxide. The silica is easily washed and jigged out and gives little trouble. Any gravity separation between the iron and the barite is generally poor, owing to the slight difference in specific gravity. Two operators have turned to magnetic separation as the solution to the problem and have made remarkable improvements in the finished product. By very close sizing prior to jigging, the separation between iron and barite has been greatly improved. In some localities manganese occasionally appears as an impurity, but is fairly easy to eliminate by gravity methods. A considerable percentage of iron and silica is eliminated by being broken free in crushing. Until methods for the recovery of fine ore were introduced a minimum of crushing was done, but modern methods allow more than formerly. The depression years brought about the need for increased recovery of ore handled on the part of the producers and a demand for a higher grade of product on the part of the buyers. Improvements in milling and mining practice have had a far greater effect, however, than merely the production of a better grade of ore with greater recovery. They have opened for mining large areas that a few years ago were considered noncommercial deposits because of their inaccessibility and their high iron content. It is no exaggeration to say that the new methods have more than doubled present known reserves of barite ore of economic value.

Jan 1, 1938

By T. E. Godson

AS this is the age of reform, a uniform mining law for North America is a moot subject for discussion at this meeting of the Institute. The question is one of peculiarly technical and, in many respects, local character. We all appreciate the value of the metal-producing industries and recognize the necessity and importance of a well-considered and evenly balanced mining law as a branch of our jurisprudence either for the Provinces or the Dominion as a whole. Mining has taken its place as a forempst industry and legislation that seeks to control and govern it is the concern of not only the active miner but the citizens of the state. A law that, through its charitable measures brings into being the prospector, the pathfinder and superstructure of all mining activity and industry! protects his interests, safeguards invested capital, and encourages and enforces development, possesses at least the salient requirements of a businesslike Act. The manner of doing so is, I think, one of local and internal concern. May I be permitted to say without presumption that of the five mining codes, or Acts, that we have in the Dominion of Canada born and bred within the Provinces of British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, some of them could be materially improved. In many respects they do not measure up to the times; they were no -doubt creations of merit at the date of their .birth but they have not been clothed in seasonable raiment as the years passed by. It is a stern fundamental principle that all natural resources are the inalienable property of the crown. If it is mineral land, then it follows for the protection of the state and the direct advancement of the occupant that the land should be developed as such. The method or machincry by which this must be accomplished is a matter of detail, not of principle. If the right to possession as a licensee depends on discovery, it is not inconsistent with the duty the crown owes to the state that a grant in fee should pass to the discoverer if there is imposed, after patent issues, a requirement of continuous work or the alternative of an acreage tax sufficiently burdensome to make it unprofitable that the land should be held in an undeveloped state. If this requirement is recognized, the mental distinction between a grant and lease ceases to exist. A

Jan 1, 1920

PREPARED BY THE PETROLEUM DEPARTMENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE, LONDON THERE is very little to add to the report printed last year by the Institute as no developments of importance have taken place during the year. The following is a brief note on the various countries: GREAT BRITAIN The United Kingdom is a very small producer of petroleum, practically the whole output being derived from the oil-shale deposits of the Lothians of Scotland. The crude oil produced by distillation of shale in 1922 amounted to 180,000 tons, and the estimated production for 1923 is 207,000 tons. Because of the recent- decline in the market value of petroleum products, the production of oil, from shale can no longer be regarded as remunerative, and the future outlook for the industry is serious unless prices recover. As regards naturally occurring petroleum, the drilling operations undertaken by the Government have now been closed down. Out of the eleven borings undertaken only one, that at Hardstoft in Derbyshire, proved to be a producing well; its output was 125 tons in 1922 and 136 tons in 1923.

Jan 3, 1924

By John V. Beall

On weekends things get pretty interesting out our way because the fleet is usually in. Our No. 2 son is now based at New London, which Isn't far from here, and he brings his friends home. No. 1 son is a re- cent Navy veteran, and he lives at home. It is just as well that the Pentagon can't hear what is said. This is all aside from the point except that last Friday evening, Dave Meinhard, a redheaded nukie (nuclear sub crewman) from Indiana, commented on our late arrival home In obvious need of a pick-me-up. "Just like my dad; but he has it rougher than you. We live in La Porte, Ind., and every day he drives 35 minutes to work at Bridgeman, Mich., and loses an hour on the time zone. It's really exhausting. You should see him." We feel very sympathetic. He should receive extra pay. However, extra pay benefits are hard to come by although the reverse comes relatively easy. For example Grass Valley, Calif., was such a nice place to live 25 years ago that they compensated for it by making an appropriate deduction for the s

Jan 1, 1971

The suggestions of the members of the Institute are very much desired by the Committee on Nominations prior to deciding upon its nominations to fill the places of those officers who retire early in 1917. The Committee must make its final report to the Board of Directors early in October. The members are, therefore, asked to send in promptly their suggestions for Directors as well as for Vice-Presidents and President. The Committee hopes to hear from a large number of the members. The officers to be elected at the annual meeting in February, 1917, are: One officer, known as Director and President. Two officers, known as Director and Vice-President. Five officers, known as Director. The attention of members is called to Articles V and VII of the Constitution, and to By-Law XIII, which reads as follows: "The geographical districts to be considered by the Committee on Nominations shall be as follows, until otherwise ordered by the Board. District No. 1. New England, New York, and New Jersey, excepting New York City and district, which is provided for in the Constitution. (N. B.-New York City and district is designated District 0.) District No. 2: Pennsylvania.

Jan 6, 1916

By E. C. Reed

Oil was discovered in Nebraska on Nov. I, 1939, when the Pawnee Royalty Company's Boice No. I well, about 3 miles west of Falls City (NE 1/4 NE 1/4, sec. 18, T.r N., R.16 E., Richardson County) was drilled into the Hunton formation but the develop-ment of the area took place during 1940. After a pumping test lasting 18 days, the Boice well stopped producing and failed to qualify for the State bonus of $ 15,000 offered for the first oil well to produce go bbl. per day for 60 consecutive days. On May 9, 1940, the Pawnee Royalty Company's Bucholz No. I well was completed about M mile southeast of the discovery well and flowed at the rate of about 330 bbl. per day, easily meeting the State bonus requirements. In addition to the discovery well, which later was reconditioned, and the bonus well, 28 producers were drilled in the Falls City field during 1940. Of these wells, 23 are in sec. 20, two are in the northern part 'of sec. 29, two in the southwestern part of sec. 17 and three in the eastern part of sec.

Jan 1, 1941

By G. L. Jr. Spencer

THERE is no question as to the importance of the part played by the retort in modern zinc smelting. A satisfactory retort should have properties that will result in resistance to slagging action and fire cracks, and have no tendency, or at least, only a small tendency, to soften and bend under furnace heat. The life and cost of a retort also are extremely important factors. The trend in zinc smelting during the past few years has been toward longer retorts and higher charge density. This is caused by the fact that the diameter is limited to 9 or 10 in. because of heat penetration difficulties in larger sizes. Consequently, increasing the length of the retort and density of charge offers the only practical means of increasing the amount of zinc produced per retort. The stiffness of a retort perhaps is the most important factor, as slag accumulates in the bottom of a retort which has sagged and very quickly cuts through, often ruining the retorts below. The development of the high-silica retort is a result of the demands made by the trend toward heavy charges.

Jan 1, 1931

By E. C. Reed

Oil was discovered in Nebraska on Nov. I, 1939, when the Pawnee Royalty Company's Boice No. I well, about 3 miles west of Falls City (NE 1/4 NE 1/4, sec. 18, T.r N., R.16 E., Richardson County) was drilled into the Hunton formation but the develop-ment of the area took place during 1940. After a pumping test lasting 18 days, the Boice well stopped producing and failed to qualify for the State bonus of $ 15,000 offered for the first oil well to produce go bbl. per day for 60 consecutive days. On May 9, 1940, the Pawnee Royalty Company's Bucholz No. I well was completed about M mile southeast of the discovery well and flowed at the rate of about 330 bbl. per day, easily meeting the State bonus requirements. In addition to the discovery well, which later was reconditioned, and the bonus well, 28 producers were drilled in the Falls City field during 1940. Of these wells, 23 are in sec. 20, two are in the northern part 'of sec. 29, two in the southwestern part of sec. 17 and three in the eastern part of sec.

Jan 1, 1941

Thus far virtually the sole theme of the conservationist has been the preservation of natural resources. Little thought has been devoted to the conservation of America's most significant asset-her people. True, considerable effort has been devoted to conserving man's physical strength by the invention and application of labor-saving machinery. Notable progress has been made also in the conservation of man's health through important discoveries in medicine. However, little if any positive success has been achieved in the conservation of the most valuable attributes of man-intellect, skills, manpower. Human resources are interrelated and interdependent. There is no monopoly on knowledge or skills' or human energy. No one must sell them short. All the knowledge and all the skills and all the energy possessed by all men are required to render all the services needed by all men. One of the major sources of wasted manpower is found in the nation's schools, with an educational system based on the outmoded theory of uniform education for all. Actually, if democracy means free initiative for the individual, and unlimited progress at the maximum rate of speed of which the individual is capable, then our public schools are not democratic in-

Jan 1, 1950

By O. C. Wheeler

Production in Colombia attained a new high during 1940 when it reached a total of 25,607,976 bbl. Of this amount, the Tropical Oil Co. produced 21;426,492 bbl., including 268,586 bbl. of petroleum condensate, and the Cololmbian Petroleum Co. produced 4,181,484 bbl. from its Barco property. The wildcatting program of different companies in the Magdalena Valley that was initiated during the previous year was continued but with results that were decidedly disappointing. Ten wells were drilled in the Magdalena Valley between the approximate latitudes of Puerto Wilches and Puerto Berrio and nine of these were dry; the tenth was a small producer of no commercial importance. The prospects of finding new fields in the Magdalena Valley thus received a serious setback, since some of the tests drilled were on well developed surface structures. The prospects of the Valley, however, have by no means been exhausted and drilling operations are being continued on other prospects. One additional wildcat was drilled outside the Magdalena Valley on the Colombian Petroleum Company's Barco Concession, which brought to 11 the total number of wildcats drilled in Colom-bia during the year. This well, known as

Jan 1, 1941

By O. C. Wheeler

Production in Colombia attained a new high during 1940 when it reached a total of 25,607,976 bbl. Of this amount, the Tropical Oil Co. produced 21;426,492 bbl., including 268,586 bbl. of petroleum condensate, and the Cololmbian Petroleum Co. produced 4,181,484 bbl. from its Barco property. The wildcatting program of different companies in the Magdalena Valley that was initiated during the previous year was continued but with results that were decidedly disappointing. Ten wells were drilled in the Magdalena Valley between the approximate latitudes of Puerto Wilches and Puerto Berrio and nine of these were dry; the tenth was a small producer of no commercial importance. The prospects of finding new fields in the Magdalena Valley thus received a serious setback, since some of the tests drilled were on well developed surface structures. The prospects of the Valley, however, have by no means been exhausted and drilling operations are being continued on other prospects. One additional wildcat was drilled outside the Magdalena Valley on the Colombian Petroleum Company's Barco Concession, which brought to 11 the total number of wildcats drilled in Colom-bia during the year. This well, known as

Jan 1, 1941

By J. C. Irvine

Meramec Mining Co., a joint venture by Bethlehem Steel Corp. and St. Joe Minerals Corp., is engaged in the mining, concentrating, and pelletizing of iron ore from the Pea Ridge mine near Sullivan, Mo., about 70 mi southwest of St. Louis. The orebody lies under about 1300 ft of sediments. It is tabular, about 2600 ft long and up to 600 ft thick, and lies in an approximate east-west delineation. The orebody dips about 80"s and is of unknown depth. The ore is primarily high grade magnetite with smaller zones of specular hematite. The Precambrian wall rock is rhyolite porphyry. The mine is serviced through two concrete-lined shafts, 19 ft 1 in. diam and 2500 ft deep. No. 1 shaft, equipped with an "A" type head-frame and conventional cylindrical drums, hoists men, materials, and waste rock; it is also the downcast air shaft. No. 2 shaft utilizes tower-mounted friction hoists to handle the two production skips, each with 24-ton counterweights, and a small man cage. The mine exhaust passes through this shaft. Ore is principally mined by sublevel stoping,

Jan 9, 1972