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By Arno C. Fieldner

PROBABLY no large industry in the United States is in greater need of technologic research leading to economic improvement than the coal industry. It has suffered severely from increasing substitution of petroleum and natural gas for coal and its products in the fuel markets. Part of this substitution is due to the greater convenience and suitability of liquid and gaseous fuels for special purposes, and part of it has been due to the extensive research programs conducted or sponsored by the petroleum and allied industries in the past 2 decades. A recent estimate1 places these expenditures at $100,000,000 a year.

Jan 7, 1951

By George W. Mitchell

THE property of Eureka Corp. Ltd. is located in the approximate geographic center of Nevada, 2 miles from Eureka, the county seat. The great sources of power, the Colorado, Snake, and Salmon Rivers and the rivers of northern California, are 300 to 500 miles distant, and no lines serve areas closer than 150 miles. Fuel for diesel and steam generation is available in Utah, 300 to 400 miles to the east. Eureka's railhead is 80 miles north where two trunk lines cross the county. A spur line serves Ely, 77 miles east. Good highways connect Eureka to the railheads.

Jan 8, 1953

By Paul M. Tyler

MUCH information concerning pegmatites which was thought to be true a few years ago has been proved false, and what is now actually known about some pegmatites is not true of many others. The erratic and seemingly unpredictable structure and variable composition of this class of mineral deposits has been widely emphasized. Even parts of the same pegmatite body exhibit marked differences in texture, mineral composition, width, and attitude. Constructive geological thinking in respect to pegmatites now aims to establish general laws rather than to stress the confusing diversity of features having no special economic significance.

Jan 9, 1953

By H. F. Silver

Although the literature indicated that a hydrogen-ated coal bitumen might be used as a substitute for petroleum asphalt and road tar, no work could be found in which the material was actually used or evaluated as a road binder.' Therefore, a study was initiated to investigate the production and properties of a road binder made by hydrogenating coal in the presence of a solvent at elevated temperatures and pressures. HYDROGENATlON PROCEDURE Four different samples of sub-bituminous Wyoming coals and three samples of coals from other states, ranking from lignite to a low-volatile bituminous coal,

Jan 1, 1969

By Edward B. Durham

At the Richmond mecting in February, 1901, I presented for discussion the proposed rail-specifications of Committee No. 1 of the American Section of the International Association for Testing Materials, with a review of their work, and other matters relating to the heat-treatment and chemical composition of steel (Trans., xxxi., 455). In order to bring out the views of our members on the important points referred to, I offered for discussion the following questions and comments (trans., xxxi., 972): " 1. The advantages to be gained by using more metal in the flanges and web of the heavier sections of rails.

Jan 1, 1903

By R. W. Ells

That portion of Quebec to which the few remarks I propose to make are more particularly intended to apply, viz., the Eastern Townships, has long been known for its mineral wealth, and has enjoyed a reputation for mining enterprises, second probably to no other part of Canada. Capital has been invested in large amounts at various points, some of which has yielded a handsome return to the investors, while in other cases the inevitable results of rash and foolish speculation have followed, much good money has been sent after bad, and the principal result has been a dearly bought expe- .

Jan 1, 1890

By Walter Renton Ingalls

Vague references to tin-deposits in Mexico are scattered throughout technical literature, and that country has been looked to as a likely source of a part of the world's supply of till at no very distant date; but thus far nothing but occasional small lots have come forward, so that the notion has arisen that these mines are either mythical or unworkable. So far as I am aware, there has not yet been published any description of the tin-deposits of Mexico except a few brief references; and this paper, based on a study of them made in 1892, is therefore offered.

Jan 1, 1896

By Martin A. Moyers

THE nation's effort to win the war speedily is reflected in current trends in coal utilization, as in all other fields of our lives. In all industries, wherever coal is used for the production of heat and power the emphasis is on getting the most useful result with the least expenditure of matt.ria1. In addition to carrying its own share of the load, increased as it is by the demands of war industry, coal has had to fill in for the other fuels, mainly petroleum products, whose distribution from their more distant sources has been crippled by lack of shipping. Thus, the outstanding note in the utilization of coal this year is not the development of new methods of burning or handling coal but the extraordinary job that the industry has done in producing enough coal to serve all needs.

Jan 1, 1943

Jan 1, 1883

By E. R. Smith

ANALYSIS of the requirements for gun perforation equipment suitable for penetrating casing and cement showed that these points would be involved: (1) Powder charges electrically detonated under high fluid lieads and at remote distances. (2) Selective firing of sliots in sequence. (3) Sufficient velocity for the bullet to penetrate at least two strings of seamless casing and all cement beyond the strings. (4) Heat-treatment of steels to withstand great pressures and penetration. (5) Esclusiorl of fluid under extremely high hydrostatic pressure. (6) Stranded steel wire line acting as weight - suspending and current - carrying medium. (7) Firing controls operated above the surface. (8) Determining gun depth and suspended weight by means of the wire line. (9) Portability for field use.

Jan 1, 1936

Alexander Forsyth, Southport, Me. (communication to the Secretary): In Mr. Irving's able and interesting paper he describes minutely the appearance of the wolframite and its association with the refractory siliceous gold-ore. He also describes this gold-ore, but fails to mention the important pockets of metallic gold found in the Lead City occurrence of it. I use the term " metallic " in preference to the more usual " free," for it has been found that this gold is not easily amalgamated. Metallic gold is comparatively rare in the refractory siliceous gold-ores of the Black Hills; hence its occurrence in considerable amounts in the Lead City wolframite district deserves notice. I possess a beautiful specimen from the Harrison mine. It is a lump of drusy, granular ore, about 6 in. in diameter. The gold .is " shot" through it in large and small pin-heads; and in two specially oxidized areas, each about 11/2 in. in diameter, it is peppered full. The famous " Grantz strike," made in the Lead City wolframite locality, produced many beautiful gold specimens. This district affords an excellent example of the repeated discovery of new mineral values upon old ground. By reason of its proximity to the Homestake vein, this wolframite deposit was inevitably traversed many times by experienced geologists, mineralogists and mining engineers, who evidently must have thrown aside, with no thought of wolframite, the lumps of " black iron " lying about. I have the admission of an able geologist that, six months before the wolframite was discovered, he visited some of the very mines where it occurred, and passed it by as magnetic iron-ore. At the time of the discovery, the mineral was scattered over the gold-mine dumps in no small quantities, having been culled as worthless out of the gold-ore. It remained for

Jan 1, 1902

By Woolf, W. G.

Filtration of hot (60°C) supersaturated zinc sulphate solution (sp gr 1.540) from slimy leach residues at the electrolytic zinc plant of Sullivan Mining Co., Kellogg, Idaho, is de- scribed. Separation of liquids and solids in the finished leach is by Burt filters modified to meet conditions of high-acid, high-density process for electrolytic zinc. Operating characteristics of the Burt filter on this pulp are presented.

Jan 1, 1950

"Nestling in a little valley, right under the shadow of the rugged peaks of the Rocky Mountains and just over the great Continental Divide on the Pacific Slope, are Columbia Gardens, Butte's one rare beauty spot. Here purling brooks, fed from springs of snow-water course through the grounds to lend their aid later in making the great Columbia River. It is a question which has done more to make this oasis the charming place it is, nature or man, for both appear to have put forth their best efforts. The inspiring scenery surrounding the gardens is found in close association with the consummate art of the trained landscape gardener. The most delicate flowers, nurtured in large greenhouses, in the pleasant months of early spring and summer are transplanted into outdoor beds and in many instances woven, as it were, into beautiful designs. Green trees and grass on every side rest the tired eyes.Butte owes this delightful breathing spot to former Senator W. A. Clark, who owns and maintains it. A decade ago there were five large smelters belching forth their obnoxious fumes upon the city, making it impossible for vegetation to flourish within the confines of the town, a condition which fortunately no longer prevails. Primarily with a view of furnishing the children with a healthy playground, other than the muddy or dusty streets, Mr. Clark bought and developed the land upon which these grounds are situated. Upon numerous days in each month during the summer season, when school no longer demands attendance, his street railway carries the little folks to and from this ideal spot, free of all charge. ""Children's Day"" at the gardens presents a scene of life and happiness which once seen can never be forgot."

Jan 1, 1913

"The Southern Cross mining district was discovered during the early rush of gold seekers over Montana following the discovery of gold in 1861. Placers were worked near the Atlantic Cable mine in 1866, and soon attention was turned to quartz lode mining. High grade ores were discovered in the North Atlantic claim, adjoining the present Southern Cross group. The early metallurgical treat¬ment of these ores was by means of arrastres, a crude form of amalgamating mill, illustrated on the page opposite. This old arrastre located by the roadside on Warm Springs creek, was built by Barker Bros. in 1879. Further discoveries overtaxed the capacity of this plant, and in 1875 Thomas' Stuart employed a contractor named Jeptha J. Corner to convert the old Wilson & Fifer sawmill located at the Big Spring into an up-to-date gold quartz mill. 'For this trans¬formation Corner received the sum of $1,400.00. The illustrations give a good idea of the nature of its construction. Practically no iron was used in the mill, excepting for the stamps, dies and cams and cam shafts. Whether or not the saving attained reached the limits of present day perfection is not known. There being no steam boilers available, the early prospectors believed in the principle of conservation of fire wood, water power was therefore used, generated by a ""direct-connected"" over-shot wheel. Water for power purposes was supplied by the nearby spring. History fails to record the tonnage treated in this relic of early Montana milling practice.The ores of the Southern Cross district have not proved readily amenable to mill treatment, but being largely composed of iron oxides, they are most desirable fluxing ores for smelter operations. The B. A. & P. Ry. extends into the district. Electric power is furnished by the Flint Creek 'station, three miles distant."

Jan 1, 1913

John J. Porter, Cincinnati, Ohio (communication to the Secretary *):—The remarks of Mr. Firmstone concerning the presence of nickel in Oriskany ores, call to my mind some additional evidence on this point. In 1903, while engaged in the determination of zinc in a number of samples of ore from the Oriskany mine of the Alleghany Ore & Iron Co., I was surprised to discover the presence of nickel and cobalt. As far as I was then able to discover, their present;! had up to this time remained unnoticed. The amounts ranged from 0.05 up to 0.10 per cent. of the combined oxides, and while no attempt was made to separate the metals, the presence of both nickel and cobalt was conclusively proven. Since that time I have learned that traces of these metals are of quite general occurrence in Virginia iron-ores, and more especially in the ores of the Potsdam formation from the western slopes of the Blue Ridge. In certain manganese-ores from this formation, I have found as high as 0.50 per cent. of nickel and cobalt oxides. Any one interested in this subject will find further information in a volume l written by Andrew 8. McCreath, and printed in 1884 for distribution by the Norfolk & Western railway. A number of complete and accurate analyses of Virginia iron-and manganese-ores are given, and practically all show nickel and cobalt in appreciable quantity. Still another source of information on the occurrence of nickel in iron-ores in the United States, for which I am indebted to Charles Catlett, is found in the Tenth Census. Several analyses of Oriskany ores are given: all of which show the presence of nickel, with less cobalt, while the single representative from the Potsdam formation shows nickel, with no cobalt.

Jan 1, 1909

By David Baker

A Discussion of the Paper of David Baker, read at the Lake Superior Meeting, September, 1904. (Washington Meeting, May, 1905.) MR. JOHN J. PORTER, Chicago Ill. (communication to the Secretary*) :-Mr. Baker's account of his experiences with stock-distribution has been particularly interesting to me, as it confirms the opinions which I had formed concerning the rapid failure of linings in several furnaces that have recently come to my notice. These furnaces, four -in number, are of modern construction, having been built or remodeled within the past two years, and are equipped with a well-known type of skip-hoist and double-bell charging-apparatus. In every case, a hot spot has developed within a few months after blowing-in, which has already compelled relining in two cases, and the probabilities are strongly against a long campaign in the other two. Since the hot spot in each case appeared in a position approximately opposite to the skip-hoist, and since the sizing, mentioned by Mr. Baker, is very apparent, it would seem as though there could be no doubt concerning the cause of the trouble. Nevertheless, there are some who cannot see it in that light; for the managers of two of these plants, at least, do not admit the existence of bad distribution, and have satisfied themselves by putting in cooling-plates, thickening the lining of the in-wall, and changing the brand of the fire-brick used for the construction of the walls. From observations of the clumping-action of the skip-hoist, and from subsequent inspection of the stock-distribution in the furnace itself, I arrived at the conclusion, some time ago, that no system of filling could be perfectly satisfactory where the stock is dumped into the hopper from one side, also that some

Mar 1, 1905

By Reich G. Gaertner

Almost every mining engineer who has had charge of extensive underground workings will have observed how often directions as to course and levels, deduced from careful theodolite measurements, have been slighted or disregarded by mine-foremen and shift-bosses, and how often these tedious measurements had to be repeated, even for minor works, such as ventilation-drifts or winzes, in order to carry them on with the required or desirable regularity. Besides the time and care absorbed by theodolite surveys, there is still another inconvenience, namely, the interruption of transportation during the time of observation, and, in heavily producing mines, the loss consequent upon such interruption. In proposing a subsidiary instrument to the theodolite, it is my purpose not to present a new one, but simply to recommend to the consideration of American mining engineers one which has been in use in nearly all the prominent mines of Europe for many decades, and has there fulfilled its purpose admirably. I refer to the mining or hanging compass (Fig. 1). At my urgent request, the firm of Keuffel & Esser, of New York, have lately constructed this instrument in a form which adapts it better to use in this country. By the addition of the trigonometer, the banging compass becomes at once an instrument which will prove of value even in the hands of foremen and practical miners, who have little or no knowledge of trigonometrical calculations. Probably many will say that me have no use for needle-instruments ; that our modern theodolites are of such perfect description, and leave so little to be desired, that the introduction of a compass would look like a step backwards compared to the fine results obtained by angle-instruments. I concede all that, and do not pre-

Jan 1, 1886

By James Douglas

Though liberality is not supposed to be a prominent trait of the Scottish character, Canada owes to a Scotchman, Sir Wm. Macdonald, more than to any other of its people, not only wise ideas, but pecuniary help towards extending education: and another Scotchman, in New York, has sumptuously housed under one roof three branches of the engineering fraternity, of which we are one. Having thus created us members of the same family—for the metaphorical meaning of house and kinship is identical—Mr. Carnegie expresses more emphatically than even he could in words, that, by aff'ording facilities for closest intercourse, he invites the mechanical, electrical and mining engineers to participate in the freest interchange of idea and experience, and to correlate and combine the results of their studies and activities; and, being members of the same household, to banish reserve and secrecy. And now we, the members of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, meet as though we were at home in a neighboring country. For whether we meet in Canada, in England, or elsewhere, the Institute is always received as though no political or geographical divisions separated its members from those of congenial associations in the land of its host. In truth, the title which we have assumed claims for the sphere of our activities the whole American continent, regardless of such trifling details as boundary-lines. The fact that we meet to communicate each other's experience, to discuss our difficulties, and to seek each other's aid in solving the intricate problems that so often present themselves in the course of our professional life, is an acknowledgment of our individual helplessness; and therefore an argument for united effort. But no effort can be of any value if there is an underlying suspicion

Jan 1, 1908

By S. F. Shaw

The Seminole field was first drilled in 1913. During the next 10 years other attempts were made to discover oil in this field, but without encouragement until March, 1926, when the Indian Territory Illuminating Oil Co. completed NO. 1 Dyer in the Hunton lime for 1100 bbl. On July 16, 1926, the Independent-Garland interests discovered oil in the Wilcox formation when No. 1 T. Fixico came in at 4055 ft. and on Sept. 9, 1926, production reached a peak of 8040 bbl. On Aug. 1, 1927, the daily production of the pools making up the Seminole district amounted to slightly over 500,000 bbl., practically all of which was coming from the Wilcox formation. The Hunton formation has not been very productive of oil, but has maintained a fairly high gas pressure; this formation has been encountered at from 3800 to 4200 ft., below which there is about 100 ft. of Sylvan shale. The shale is underlain by 75 ft. of Viola limestone in a few places in which formation oil has been encountered. Below the Viola lies the upper Simpson formation in which is found the Wilcox sand. The depth of the Wilcox in the Seminole field varies from 3900 to 4500 ft., and initial production has reached as much as 12,000 bbl. The gravity of the oil is about 41° Be. The general practice is to set 6 5/8 -in. casing above the Wilcox and drill in, though in several cases 5 3/16-in. casing has been set for the oil string, and in a few instances, casing as small as 4 3/4 in. has been employed. Production Statistics Production for the Seminole district for the various months since its discovery is shown in Table 1.

Jan 1, 1928

By William H. Shockley

There was an extensive mining and industrial exploitation of Russia, about 20 years ago, by Belgian, French and British capitalists; but the results were discouraging. It is said that the Belgian and French public together lost approximately $400,000,000, chiefly in the coal and iron industry of southern Russia. This loss is largely accounted for by the fact that most of the companies were formed, as usual in " boom" times, to sell stock; and that thorough investigations were not made. I11 1906, renewed interest was taken in Russian mines, especially in those of gold and copper, and a considerable literature is growing on this subject; but as yet I have seen no account of one of the large Russian mining estates. The following notes on such property, where the conditions are so different from those in the mining regions of the United States, should be of interest: This inadequate and probably somewhat inaccurate account is made up, partly from my own notes made on the ground, in the summers of 1904 and 1905, and partly from a volume on the geology and resources of the estate issued several years ago, containing surface- and mine-maps, and from a pamphlet published in 1904, giving a general account of the condition and prospects of the property. This pamphlet includes a report made in 1899 by Arthur L. Pearse, a member of this Institute. Both these books are in Russian, and were prepared by the Bogoslovsk Mining Co., which owns and operates the property. Articles in many other languages have appeared dealing with various matters connected with the estate; but I know of no other general account of it. In numerous books and articles on the Urals and Siberia, however, localities are described in which somewhat similar conditions prevail. Recent papers by

Jan 1, 1909