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By Robert L. Davidoff

INTRODUCTION The impact of taxation differs substantially from state to state in a complex fashion that depends on both the physical characteristics of a mineral deposit and on the price of the mineral commodity relative to its costs of production. A comparative analysis of the tax structures of eight states (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wisconsin) showed wide variations in rates of return for any given type of mineral property, with no state having either the most burdensome or least burdensome tax structure under all circumstances. Three hypothetical mineral operations were analyzed: a producing open-pit copper property, a non-producing underground platinum operation, and a non-producing underground gold operation. None of them corresponds exactly to an existing property. Each of these property types is further defined to have ore feed grades at three different levels, leading to three potential profitability levels, referred to in this paper as "economic", "marginal" and "subeconomic". Thus the differential impact of state tax structures is measured for mineral properties of different types, as well as for different profitability levels. Montana is used as the base case. This study does not address the topic of corporate structures or tax consolidation. There are no costs assumed external to the operation of the deposit (e.g. exploration to locate additional deposits). Two types of analyses were performed for this study. The first calculates the total cumulative tax payments in each state using all applicable taxes (including U.S. federal income taxes and examines the resultant differences in discounted cash-flows rate of returns DCFROR's amoung the eight states. The second is a sensitivity analysis that examines each type of state tax separately (i.e. state income, property, and severance taxes) in order to isolate and examine the differences in tax payments that are due to the difference in rates and methods of computing specific types of taxes in each state. The results of this study serve to illustrate the complex nature of interactions among various taxes. For example, property tax is a deduction in calculating severance tax in some state. Changes in property-tax and severance-tax payments both enter into the calculation of state and federal income-tax liability. This, in turn, could change the timing and usage of tax-loss carry forward amounts and investment tax credits. Additionally, the physical characteristics of a property, the method and costs at which the mineral will be extracted, and the profitability level at which each property operates will affect tax treatment. Each mineral operation was evaluated at three different predetermined profitability levels, referred to using the terms economic, marginal and sub-economic. These three profitability levels are defined by the ore feed grades of the primary commodity that yield in constant terms, approximately an "economic" 18% DCFROR, "a marginal." 10% DCFROR, and a "sub-economic" 5% DCFROR, respectively, under the Montana tax structure. In the analyses, the mining and processing parameters for each of the three types of properties were assumed to be identical for each of the eight states. It was assumed that each operation produces at full operating capacity throughout its life. This implies the level of mineral commodity demand will support the inferred commodity price, such that each operation will be able to sell all its output. The analyses performed for this study were done using a comprehensive economic evaluation simulator that is used in the Bureau of Mines, Division of Minerals Availability MAS program to perform DCFROR analyses. All economic evaluations performed upon these data (see appendix 2) were in constant January 1981 dollars. By-product prices used for the analyses were: [Gold $425.00/troy ounce Palladium$200.00/troy ounce Silver $ 10.00/troy ounce] Typical cash-flow calculation layout is given in Appendix 3. The initial step for each evaluation is to define an "economic" profitability level scenario. An 18% DCFROR rate in Montana was considered the

Jan 1, 1985

By L. E. Snow, L. F. Pett

AT the Utah Copper Pit of Kennecott Copper Corp. a versatile mobile drill unit has been developed and tested. Through increased drilling speed and additional available drilling time, an improvement of 233 pct in drill performance has been realized. Operators using drill power can quickly and easily convert the unit from a vertical to a toe hole drill. Drilling is done with the machine in line with the unit or at right angles to it. Table I covers the 1950 drill record at the mine, showing the types of machines used and the footage obtained. Development of the new units was prompted by a desire for solution of the following problems: 1—The ever-expanding operations within the Utah Pit, requiring some 65 miles of transmission pipe lines radiating from a central compressed air plant, have now taxed this compressor plant beyond capacity. While 100 lb per sq in. pressure is maintained at compressors, transmission losses from innumerable small leaks result in low terminal pressure at the drills. Fig. 1 illustrates that while terminal pressure varies according to size of air hose and fittings used, the average drill is operating on air pressures within the 60 to 70-lb range. The compressor plant is operated primarily for air rock drills. All drilling is done on day shift, but it is necessary to run two of the three 3720 cu ft capacity compressors during night shift in order to prevent drastic loss of pressure through leaks. On day shift all three compressor units are operated at capacity, so that there is no reserve safeguard available for extensive repairs to any compressor. The calculated volume of compressed air required for operation of 25 drills is but 33 pct of three day-shift compressors. While compressed air is being used to a minor extent for purposes other than drilling, it is felt that satisfactory substitute facilities could be pro- vided in the event that air lines were no longer available. 2—Drill performance has increased beyond the capacity of present 3-in. drifter machines. 3—The installation, maintenance, and moving of air lines in routine mining is a growing problem. The 2-in. level lines are placed outside electrification towers and must be moved to new location upon completion of each shovel cut. In addition to these moves it is often necessary to dismantle level lines so that excessive shovel spillage, or material covering track following a blast, can be pushed in the clear with bulldozers. Where level room is limited, it is often necessary to remove air lines in giving bulldozers room to prepare grades for wagon drills. In spite of precautions taken, many level lines become buried, twisted, and constricted, with excessive air loss resulting. Excessive back break in blasting often leaves several sections of air line suspended in mid-air. Occasionally air lines come in contact with defective electric transmission towers, so that holes are burned through pipe. 4—Rail-handling of drilling equipment such as wagon drills from one location to another requires considerable locomotive crane crew time. Any new unit developed should travel under its own power. 5—Present practice requires accessory material including hose, water pressure tanks, water barrels, drill steel, and bits to be transported by means of push cars when drill locations are changed on any level. 6—In order to supply numerous drill locations with material, many stock piles of new drill rods, drill bits, and other essentials must be left at strategic points, usually in the vicinity of powder magazines. This practice makes for poor housekeeping and contributes to the loss of supplies. Planning the Unit It was felt that a mobile drill unit which would rectify the foregoing problems should meet certain demands: 1—It must furnish compressed air to operate a 4-in. rock drill at a pressure of 90 to 100 lb.

Jan 1, 1953

By L. E. Snow, L. F. Pett

AT the Utah Copper Pit of Kennecott Copper Corp. a versatile mobile drill unit has been developed and tested. Through increased drilling speed and additional available drilling time, an improvement of 233 pct in drill performance has been realized. Operators using drill power can quickly and easily convert the unit from a vertical to a toe hole drill. Drilling is done with the machine in line with the unit or at right angles to it. Table I covers the 1950 drill record at the mine, showing the types of machines used and the footage obtained. Development of the new units was prompted by a desire for solution of the following problems: 1—The ever-expanding operations within the Utah Pit, requiring some 65 miles of transmission pipe lines radiating from a central compressed air plant, have now taxed this compressor plant beyond capacity. While 100 lb per sq in. pressure is maintained at compressors, transmission losses from innumerable small leaks result in low terminal pressure at the drills. Fig. 1 illustrates that while terminal pressure varies according to size of air hose and fittings used, the average drill is operating on air pressures within the 60 to 70-lb range. The compressor plant is operated primarily for air rock drills. All drilling is done on day shift, but it is necessary to run two of the three 3720 cu ft capacity compressors during night shift in order to prevent drastic loss of pressure through leaks. On day shift all three compressor units are operated at capacity, so that there is no reserve safeguard available for extensive repairs to any compressor. The calculated volume of compressed air required for operation of 25 drills is but 33 pct of three day-shift compressors. While compressed air is being used to a minor extent for purposes other than drilling, it is felt that satisfactory substitute facilities could be pro- vided in the event that air lines were no longer available. 2—Drill performance has increased beyond the capacity of present 3-in. drifter machines. 3—The installation, maintenance, and moving of air lines in routine mining is a growing problem. The 2-in. level lines are placed outside electrification towers and must be moved to new location upon completion of each shovel cut. In addition to these moves it is often necessary to dismantle level lines so that excessive shovel spillage, or material covering track following a blast, can be pushed in the clear with bulldozers. Where level room is limited, it is often necessary to remove air lines in giving bulldozers room to prepare grades for wagon drills. In spite of precautions taken, many level lines become buried, twisted, and constricted, with excessive air loss resulting. Excessive back break in blasting often leaves several sections of air line suspended in mid-air. Occasionally air lines come in contact with defective electric transmission towers, so that holes are burned through pipe. 4—Rail-handling of drilling equipment such as wagon drills from one location to another requires considerable locomotive crane crew time. Any new unit developed should travel under its own power. 5—Present practice requires accessory material including hose, water pressure tanks, water barrels, drill steel, and bits to be transported by means of push cars when drill locations are changed on any level. 6—In order to supply numerous drill locations with material, many stock piles of new drill rods, drill bits, and other essentials must be left at strategic points, usually in the vicinity of powder magazines. This practice makes for poor housekeeping and contributes to the loss of supplies. Planning the Unit It was felt that a mobile drill unit which would rectify the foregoing problems should meet certain demands: 1—It must furnish compressed air to operate a 4-in. rock drill at a pressure of 90 to 100 lb.

Jan 1, 1953

By G. W. Thomas

A simplified mathematical model of underground conduction heating in a system of limited permeability is presented. The model applies to underground retorting of oil shale, or to reservoirs containing extremely heavy oils. We assume that heat is introduced at a constant rate into a horizontal fracture which communicates between wells. The radial temperature distribution along the fractured surface is approximated by a step-function. Heat transfer away from the fracture is assumed to be by vertical conduction, and all convection effects are neglected. The model also takes into account the possible temperature dependence of thermal conductivity. A general expression for calculating the growth of the step-function temperature distribution with time is derived. The use of this expression and solutions to the one-dimensional heat equation make it possible to construct isotherms. Expressions for calculating .oil recovery, well spacing and heat efficiency are also given. An example calculation is presented for the conduction heating process in oil shale. Finally, the effect of the heat transfer coefficient between the gas and the fracture boundaries is investigated. INTRODUCTION Thermal recovery processes of oil recovery fall into the four general areas of hot fluid injection, forward combustion, reverse combustion and conduction heating. The first three of* these processes have been rather extensively studied in the past decade from both the experimental and theoretical points of view. As a result, it is possible to make reasonable engineering predictions and analyses of these processes. Little attention has been devoted, however, to the conduction heating process other than to note its possible utility.I To a certain extent, conduction heating cannot be divorced from the other regimes cited above, insofar as these provide the source of heat energy. In the conduction heating process, heat is introduced (either by combustion in the forward or reverse mode or by hot fluid injection) into a small fraction of the total reservoir thickness. This fraction may be either a streak of high permeability or an interwell fracture. Heat penetrates by conduction into the adjacent, less permeable regions of the oil-bearing rock, where the direction of conduction is essentially perpendicular to the streak or fracture. The heated product then drains by gravity or is gas driven to production wells. Conduction heating is probably most applicable to systems containing immobile bitumens such as tar sands and oil shale deposits and perhaps to low-permeability reservoirs containing highly viscous crudes. The mechanism also acts in combination with other thermal processes where fingering or overriding of a bed occurs. It seems probable that in at least one field test, conduction heating of this type was very influential.2 In this presentation we give a first approximation to some of the quantitative aspects of conduction heating. Marx and Langenheim3 treated a similar problem where they focused attention upon the injection interval, which spanned the total reservoir thickness. In their model, conduction heat losses to the bounding media imposed a practical limit on the calculated heated area. In the present study, however, we shall confine the injection interval to a small fraction of the reservoir thickness and assume it has no heat capacity. We therefore direct our attention to regions outside the injection interval into which the conduction of heat is beneficial. In particular, we will endeavor to locate specific isotherms in the media bounding the injection interval. Furthermore, we will construct our model to allow the thermal conductivity to vary arbitrarily with temperature. Thus the model will be applicable to underground retorting of shale where variations in thermal conductivity may be important. THEORY We consider the rock matrix to have no or, at best, a very limited permeability; consequently a

Jan 1, 1965

By C. B. Alcock, R. G. Hudson

Sulfur pressure measurements above FeS in equilibrium with iron have been carried out by the Knudsen orifice method. A comparison is made of the weight loss of the cell per unit time obtained in the above experiments, that calculated from Richardson and Alcock's measurements of the S2 pressure above FeS in equilibrium with iron, and the dissociation constant for diatomic sulfur from spectroscopic and thermal data. EXTENSIVE equilibrium measurements have been made to determine the sulfur potentials of a great many systems of metallurgical interest.' In order to confirm their reliability, to supply data which may be of use in further thermodynamic calculations, and to establish the reliability of the Knudsen orifice in obtaining accurate thermodynamic values at high temperatures, the present investigation on the pressure of the gaseous species above FeS in equilibrium with iron has been carried out. The Knudsen orifice method has been used for these pressure measurements. Experimental The apparatus and general technique for this investigation are the same as that reported for the determination of the vapor pressure of silver.' To reduce the residual gas pressure in the evacuated chamber, a titanium getter, maintained at run temperature, was introducbed. Several types of Knudsen cells were used—platinum, zircon, and fused silica. The orifice in the zircon cell was fashioned with a small diamond wheel. The same precautions were used in this investigation as were employed in the work on Mo2S2.3 The FeS-Fe mixture was prepared by heating a sample of pure FeS,, supplied by K. K. Kelley of the Bureau of Mines, with excess iron powder, cp grade, obtained from the Fisher Scientific Co. These two substances were heated in a closed Armco iron crucible at 960°C, held in a vacuum of less than 10" mm Hg for 24 hr. The mass was then removed from the cell and ground in an agate mortar. In this form it was charged to the various Knudsen cells. Heating the Knudsen cell for an additional two days was sufficient to obtain constant rates of weight loss of the cell. The data obtained in this investigation are recorded in Table I. To establish whether or not a sulfide of iron is volatile at these temperatures, 0.7646 g of the FeS-Fe mixture, described above and containing 69.2 pet Fe, was placed in the zircon Knudsen cell. Run Nos. 103 to 109 were performed on it. After the completion of these runs, the total amount of iron left in the cell was obtained by chemical analysis. It contained 0.537 g Fe, compared to 0.529 g in the original charge. Thus, there was an apparent gain in iron of 1.5 pet. This is attributed to unknown experimental error, and the conclusion is that no sulfide of iron is volatile. The vapor pressure of pure iron4 is about one thousandth that of the sulfur pressure' at these temperatures. The vapor pressure of iron inside the Knudsen cell will be almost exactly that of pure iron, since in the iron-rich phase the percentage of sulfur is of the order of 0.025 pet.At this low percentage of sulfur Henry's law is probably obeyed by the sulfur. Thus, the iron will obey Raoult's law. In any event, the vapor pressure of iron will be lower than that of pure iron and, since the vapor pressure of pure iron is negligible compared to the pressure of sulfur, the weight loss of the cell due to the vaporization of iron should be negligible. Since neither iron nor FeS is volatile to an appreciable extent, the total weight loss of the cell must be due to the vaporization of sulfur. Discussion and Calculations On the assumption that S, is the only gaseous species present in appreciable quantity, its pressure

Jan 1, 1957

By M. E. Wadsworth, C. H. Pitt

Nickel corrosion in sulfuric acid solutions at elevated temperatures and oxygen wer-pressures was imestigated. Weight loss was 1inear with time and varied directly with oxygen concentration. Independent variation of the possible active species in solution indicated that the undissociated sulfuric acid molecule plays an important part in the corrosion mechanism. The rate determining step was considered to be the adsorption of oxygen on a site containing adsorbed H2SO4. THE tendency for a metal to go into solution depends on a number of factors some of which are: 1) the position of the metal in the electrochemical series; 2) the type and concentration of corroding species in solution; 3) the concentration of oxygen in solution; 4) the type of film formed at the liquid-metal interface; and 5) the physical state of the metal. The corrosion of a metal in an aqueous solution may be considered to be a heterogeneous reaction that occurs at the liquid-metal interface. The reaction is generally considered to occur as a result of electrochemical potential differences within the system. Little work has been published in the literature concerning the corrosion of pure nickel. A great deal has been publistled dealing with the experimental and theoretical aspects of the over-all corrosion process. Evans,1 Uhlig,' and recently Todt 3 and Tomashoff,4 have published books which review the results of experiments which have been conducted on corrosion, and have developed some of the basic ideas of the more widely accepted theories of corrosion. Friend5 states that. nickel does not readily discharge hydrogen from any of the common nonoxidiz-ing acids and that a supply of some oxidizing agent is necessary for appreciable rates of corrosion. He further notes that at temperatures between atmospheric and close to boiling, corrosion rates tend to vary with concentration, temperature, and aeration in acid concentrations up to 25 pct. Whitman and Russel6 studied the effect of dissolved oxygen on a number of metals in acid solutions and found that oxygen accelerates the rate of corrosion of nickel in sulfuric acid. Flowers and Kelley7 in studying the action of dissolved CO, on electroplated nickel postulated that nickel dissolves as NiHCO3 in the presence of CO, and air. It was found that oxygen was necessary for corrosion to take place and that the rate increased with increasing amounts of oxygen in solution. Flowers and Kelley attributed the oxygen effect to cathodic depolarization. MacGillavry, Rosenbaum, and wensson' determined metal solution potentials of nickel in various electrolytes. They found that nickel has no tendency to corrode in alkaline solutions in the presence or absence of air. In acid solutions in the presence of air, metal solution potential increases in the order of 1/2 v were observed. This increase was attributed to probable chemisorption of oxygen on the nickel surface and the corrosion mechanism suggested was the interaction of H+ ions with the nickel oxide formed at the surface. Delahay9 observed the reduction of oxygen on various metals. A polarograph was used to measure the course of the reaction. With some metals hydrogen peroxide was produced as an intermediate compound. However, nickel was not considered to be a hdrogen peroxide producer. Van Rysselberghe 10,11 and associates attributed the accelerating effect of carbon dioxide on the corrosion process to the presence of percarbonic acid produced in solution reacting with the hydrogen peroxide. The percarbonic acid can be reduced at less negative potentials than hydrogen peroxide and as a result accelerates the reaction. EXPERIMENTAL Since a complete description of the apparatus used can be obtained elsewhere,12'13 no attempt will be made here to describe the equipment other than to note that it consisted essentially of an autoclave unit from which samples could be withdrawn periodically without disturbing the interior state of the autoclave. A titanium autoclave liner was used to protect the autoclave from the solution.

Jan 1, 1961

By L. E. Snow, L. F. Pett

AT the Utah Copper Pit of Kennecott Copper Corp. a versatile mobile drill unit has been developed and tested. Through increased drilling speed and additional available drilling time, an improvement of 233 pct in drill performance has been realized. Operators using drill power can quickly and easily convert the unit from a vertical to a toe hole drill. Drilling is done with the machine in line with the unit or at right angles to it. Table I covers the 1950 drill record at the mine, showing the types of machines used and the footage obtained. [ ] Development of the new units was prompted by a desire for solution of the following problems: 1-The ever-expanding operations within the Utah Pit, requiring some 65 miles of transmission pipe lines radiating from a central compressed air plant, have now taxed this compressor plant beyond capacity. While 100 lb per sq in. pressure is maintained at compressors, transmission losses from innumerable small leaks result in low terminal pressure at the drills. Fig. 1 illustrates that while terminal pressure varies according to size of air hose and fittings used, the average drill is operating on air pressures within the 60 to 70-lb range. The compressor plant is operated primarily for air rock drills. All drilling is done on day shift, but it is necessary to run two of the three 3720 cu ft capacity compressors during night shift in order to prevent drastic loss of pressure through leaks. On day shift all three compressor units are operated at capacity, so that there is no reserve safeguard available for extensive repairs to any compressor. The calculated volume of compressed air required for operation of 25 drills is but 33 pet of three day-shift compressors. While compressed air is being used to a minor extent for purposes other than drilling, it is felt that satisfactory substitute facilities could be provided in the event that air lines were no longer available. 2-Drill performance has increased beyond the capacity of present 3 ½ -in. drifter machines. 3-The installation, maintenance, and moving of air lines in routine mining is a growing problem. The 2-in. level lines are placed outside electrification towers and must be moved to new location upon completion of each shovel cut. In addition to these moves it is often necessary to dismantle level lines so that excessive shovel spillage, or material covering track following a blast, can be pushed in the clear with bulldozers. Where level room is limited, it is often necessary to remove air lines in giving bulldozers room to prepare grades for wagon drills. In spite of precautions taken, many level lines become buried, twisted, and constricted, with excessive air loss resulting. Excessive back break in blasting often leaves several sections of air line suspended in mid-air. Occasionally air lines come in contact with defective electric transmission towers, so that holes are burned through pipe. 4-Rail-handling of drilling equipment such as wagon drills from one location to another requires considerable locomotive crane crew time. Any new unit developed should travel under its own power. 5-Present practice requires accessory material including hose, water pressure tanks, water barrels, drill steel, and bits to be transported by means of push cars when drill locations are changed on any level. 6-In order to supply numerous drill locations with material, many stock piles of new drill rods, drill bits, and other essentials must be left at strategic points, usually in the vicinity of powder magazines. This practice makes for poor housekeeping and contributes to the loss of supplies. Planning the Unit It was felt that a mobile drill unit which would rectify the foregoing problems should meet certain demands: 1-It must furnish compressed air to operate a 4-in. rock drill at a pressure of 90 to 100 lb.

Jan 1, 1952

By W. V. Green

The creep-rupture behavior of commercial powder-metallurgy tungsten rod is reported for temperatures of 2250°, 2500°, 2700°, and 2800°C, stresses up to 7000 psi, and times up to 4 hr. The temperature dependence and the stress dependence of creep rates are evaluated. Rupture time is fitted to the Larson-Miller parameter and compared to lower-temperature and higher stress results reported by pugh.4 THE tensile strength of single-crystal wire1 and of polycrystalline wire2 have been measured by Goucher. More recently Bechtold3 and pugh4 have studied the mechanical properties of tungsten rod between room temperature and 1200°C. Since tungsten has the highest melting point of all metals, it should retain useful strength to very high temperatures, and should find many applications in missiles, rockets, and so forth. Therefore, the mechanical usefulness of polycrystalline tungsten rod was investigated in the 2250" to 2800°C temperature range by short-time creep-rupture tests. MATERIALS TESTED Creep specimens were machined from 1/2-in. round commercial tungsten rod which was manufactured from powder by cold pressing, sintering, and hot swaging. Purity reported by the vendor was 99.95 pct W. Spectrochemical analyses showed "traces" (less than 0.01 pct) of silicon, iron, and titanium, and "faint traces" (less than 0.001 pct) of calcium and manganese. Carbon content was 30 ppm and nitrogen content was 70 to 110 ppm. No oxygen analysis was obtained. Room-temperature stress-strain tests on the as-received tungsten gave badly scattered results. Threaded end specimens broke at the threads. When these specimens were retested using shoulder grips, the specimens broke at the shoulders. No fractures occurred in the gage lengths. The fracture stresses were: 127,000; 137,000; and 154,000 psi for three specimens which fractured at the shoulders. The microstructure of the as-received tungsten rod is shown in Fig. 1. SPECIMENS USED Fig. 2 shows the two types of creep specimens tested. The threaded-end type specimen, which was used in most tests, had a 3/4-in. gage length and 1/4-in. gage diam. The cone-end specimen, which was used primarily to investigate the effects of a smaller gage diameter and the practicability of the modified grips and specimen, had a 3/4-in. gage length and a 1/8-in. gage diam. In both cases, the gage length terminated at 0.005-in. high shoulders which served as fiducial marks for optical strain measurements. Surface finish on the gage length was 16 µ-in. rms. Creep rates and rupture times were not significantly different for the two types of specimens and were not affected by electropolishing the specimens before testing. TESTING PROCEDURE The constant-load creep-testing machine used has been described by Smith, Olson, and Brown.5 In it the specimen is held vertically by grips of similar material and on the axis of a cylindrical tungsten or tantalum heater-tube. The specimen is loaded by means of the specimen grips, a pull rod (which is sealed to the chamber lid by a vacuum-tight bellows), a mechanical lever system, and hanging dead weights. Both specimen and grips are heated by radiation from the heater-tube, which is heated by its own electrical resistance. An optical system views the incandescent specimen through slits in the radiation shielding and heater-tube. The optical system projects an enlarged image of the specimen gage length on a ground-glass screen. Periodic gage-length measurements are made on this image with two cathetometers. Thorium oxide coatings on the specimen threads or conical end surfaces completely prevented diffusion-welding of specimens to grips, and were used

Jan 1, 1960

By W. Mckewan, W. M. Fassell

The oxidation rates of copper have been determined at temperatures from 600" to 900°C in oxygen from 14.7 to 400 psi total oxygen pressure. The oxidation rate of copper is unchanged by oxygen pressures within the range studied. The observed data extend Feit-knecht's conclusion concerning the pressure independence of copper from atmospheric pressure to 400 psi. All samples studied in the above-mentioned temperature and pressure range have both Cu2O and CuO present in the oxide film. NUMEROUS papers have been published on the oxidation of copper, some of which have noted the effect of oxygen pressure on the oxidation rate of copper. It must be noted, however, that no data on the oxidation rates of copper at pressure in excess of 1 atm have been reported in the literature. (Le Chatelier¹ reported that a black oxide of silver was formed at 300°C and 15 atm pressure.) This is likewise true for the other metals. This investigation was initiated to obtain experimental oxidation rate constants for pure metals at elevated temperatures and high oxygen pressure. Copper was selected as the first metal since probably more reliable data are available on its oxidation rates and related physical and chemical properties than for any other metal or alloy. As a general summary, the following conclusions appear well established for the oxidation of copper: 1—The oxide coating consists of Cu2O with a superficial coating of CuO providing the ambient oxygen pressure exceeds the equilibrium pressure for the coexistence of Cu2O and CuO.² The following sequence of phases is then Cu/Cu2O/CuO/O2 (gas). The Cu2O consists of large crystals that have no relation to the orientation of the metal crystals, except for a very thin layer adjacent to the metal." The CuO consists of very fine crystals randomly oriented. If the oxygen pressure is below the equilibrium pressure for the coexistence of Cu2O and CuO, the coating consists of Cu,O only. 2—The rate-determining factor in the parabolic oxidation of copper is the diffusion of Cu+ ions through the Cu,O layer.4,6,7 The Cu+ ions are accompanied by electrons to maintain electrical neutrality. The mechanism of the reaction at the Cu2O/CuO interface and the method of growth of the CuO is in some doubt. 3—On copper, there are three reported pressure effects: (a) At pressures below 0.3 mm Hg oxygen pressure, the oxidation rate increases directly with pressure.', ' .Vxygen starvation at the surface may account for this effect. (b) At oxygen pressures from 0.3 to 63 mm, the oxidation rate increases as the 7th root of the oxygen pressure providing the temperature is such that only Cu2O is present in the film. (c) At pressures from above the equilibrium pressure for the coexistence of Cu2O and CuO (varies with temperature) to atmospheric pressure, the oxidation rate is independent of the oxygen pressure.' Equipment In order to determine the oxidation rates of metals in an oxidizing atmosphere at pressures up to 400 psi, the equipment is somewhat different than for low pressure work as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A Leeds and Northrup Micromax recording controller (A) is used to control the temperature of the Ni-chrome furnace winding in conjunction with a Micromax electric drive unit. The drive unit adjusts a 20 amp Variac (variable transformer) to control the power input into the Nichrome furnace winding. Due to the "self heating" of the sample by oxidation, frequently encountered in oxidation rate studies, it is essential that the sample temperature be measured independently. This is done by means of a series of six chromel-alumel calibrated thermocouples located spirally around the oxidizing metal sample. Each thermocouple is partially shielded from the direct radiation of the furnace wall by

Jan 1, 1954

By P. R. Sahm, T. V. Pruss, D. A. Gandolfo

Cb 3 Sn powders were hot-pressed to estahlish densi-fication conditions and assess the possible use of such compacts in multiphase structures with ceramic or magnetic inclusions. Superconducting transition temperatures, Tc, were measured as a function of powder particle size, pressing temperature, and second-phase admixtures. The highest transition temperatures were found in coarse powder (5 to 500 u) compacts and were only weakly depended on pressing temperatures up to 1200°C. Fine powders (below 5 p), however, both single-phase CbsSn and Cb3 Sn-composites, showed a stronger dependence on hot-pressing temperatures. While Al2 O3 phase admixtures did not affect T, much more, a Pronounced T, degradation was observed upon the addition of ferrimagnetic Fe2 Mno. 5 Zno.5 O4 powders. Likewise, critical current densities, Jc, at 4.2° K were lowered appreciably in the ferrite doped samples, whereas the neutral A1203 inclusiow gave slightly improved Jc values. MULTIPHASE structures in electronically active materials have recently gained in interest as pointed out by Galasso in a review article.' In superconductors the most widely reported group are eutectic alloys which have been mostly investigated with respect to the proximity effect.2"4 In addition, "artificial eu-tectics", for example in the form of mercury-vycor glass sponge5 or fine niobium wires imbedded in a copper matrix,= have been prepared to attain higher critical fields and critical current densities. The idea was to enhance flux pinning phenomena by second-phase inclusions or ho1es. 7 Flux pinning should also be possible by the introduction of insulator inclusions into a superconducting matrix. Ceramic-metal combinations are most easily produced by hot pressing (= pressure sintering), as it permits an almost unlimited selection of material combinations. Cb 3 Sn has been prepared by vapor phase growths or in the form of thin films. Large compacts must be sintered,1° however, and normally present difficulties. At temperatures below 1350°C insufficient densities are obtained and at higher temperatures the loss of tin due to dissociation upsets the stoichiometry. Hot pressing is a natural approach to circumvent the problems, since one can obtain satisfactory densities despite low sintering temperatures. This work was mostly concerned with establishing conditions to hot press Cb3 Sn and Cb3 Sn multiphase structures (= composites), because no data are presently available, and to evaluate these with respect to their transition temperatures. However, a few measurements on critical current densities were also carried out, in particular to assess the value of ferrimagnetic inclusions. I) EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The experimental procedure involved the preparation of feed material and powders, hot pressing, and evaluation of the resulting ingots. As no attempts were made to synthesize Cb3Sn from the elements during hot pressing, feed material had to be produced. For this purpose, a stoichiometric Cb-Sn powder mixture was compacted into a 3-cm-diam ingot (80,000 psi) and then inserted into a quartz tube and evacuated. Rf heating was employed. Above the tin melting point (230°C) liquid tin was forced out of the ingot, but was pulled back by capillary action after approximately 0.5 hr of continuous pumping at 700°C. Thus, it appears that evacuation at this temperature caused desorption of impurity gas creating wetting surfaces which, later on, favored alloying at relatively low temperatures. After a presintering period of 17 hr at 800°C, the quartz tube was tipped off and sealed into another such larger-diameter tube which, in turn, was connected to a pump system. This configuration permitted a temperature treatment at 1400°C, carried out for 65 hr, without collapsing of the glass walls or unfavorable chemical interaction of Cb3Sn with the quartz. The resulting material was

Jan 1, 1969

By G. A. Vissac

The only fine coal washer with proved automatic controls, the feldspar jig is capable of good efficiencies even at low separating gravities, handles a variety of products, and treats 150 tph and over. IN continental Europe the feldspar jig is used almost exclusively for cleaning the fine sizes of coal; it operates with an artificial bed, made up generally of pieces of feldspar or of any other hard and heavy rock with good cleavages. A primitive form of this machine requiring close supervision was used in this country years ago, but output was small. The modern machines are generally air-pulsated Baum-type jigs, with capacities up to 150 tph, and treat sizes from % in. to 0, usually previously dedusted or deslimed. These jigs are equipped with very accurate and sensitive automatic controls insuring satisfactory operation even at low separating gravity and with feeds irregular in quality and quantity. This paper will deal more particularly with coal cleaning separation, but the technical studies apply equally to all minerals. Theory of the Feldspar Jig To understand fully the operation of the feldspar jig and to appreciate its potential value, it is necessary to measure and analyze the motion of small particles of various specific gravities, falling in various media, under various conditions. As no practical formulas were available for that purpose, the writer has developed new theories and established new sets of formulas, which cannot be demonstrated here. They are applicable to all minerals and to many problems of coal or mineral concentration. These formulas do not pretend to absolute accuracy, but results, tested by comparison with experimentally recorded data, are sufficient for practical purposes, as they give definite indications of trends, relative values, and order of magnitude of the many factors involved. For pulsating motions no earlier formulas are available. In the case of continuous currents or motions, such formulas as Rittinger's, Allen's, or Stokes', over a hundred years old, apply only to special shapes and sizes of particles, involve factors and coefficients difficult to measure or appreciate, and deal only with free motions. They are of little use in solving practical problems. Units used with the formulas presented here are in the CGS system. Lateral friction and suction have been taken into account according- to methods currently used in aerodynamics, and only hindered motion is dealt with. As the feldspar jig is primarily intended to create a fluid bed condition, the mixture of fluids and solids obtained is homogeneous, and the apparent specific gravity of the separating medium is calculated accordingly. For instance, if 20 pct of the volume is coal and shale, with an average of 1.60 sp gr, in a liquid of 1.10 sp gr, the actual specific gravity of the separating fluid is 0.80 x 1.1 + 0.20 X 1.6 = 1.20. The fundamental equations are as follows: The general motion of a particle falling in a medium of specific gravity equal to u, hindered motion. is dv/dt = g/Ls [ L (s-u) - u/g v2 [1] g = 981 cm per sec, acceleration of gravity, and L = thickness of the particle of specific gravity (s) and velocity (v). The initial acceleration dv/dt = g (1-u/s ) [2] is a function of the specific gravity of the particle, only for a given medium, and independent of its dimensions—an ideal separating condition. The terminal velocity Vt = gxL- (s-u)/u, [3] for a given value of u, is a function of s and L. Two particles, L, s, and L2 s2, are said to be equivalent if they have the same terminal velocity, and accordingly L1/L2=s2-u/s1-u. [4] Two such particles cannot be separated by continuous currents, in any concentrating device. Because the initial accelerated motion, which provides for efficient separation, is followed by a constant velocity, which has a limiting effect, it is essen-

Jan 1, 1956

By P. A. Beck, Hsun Hu

It has been known for many years that in cold drawn polycrystalline aluminum the recrystallization texture is practically identical with the deformation texture.l,2,3 V. Goeler and Sachs4 stated that in cold rolled polycrystalline aluminum, too, the deformation texture is retained upon recrystallization. This behavior was interpreted by Dehlinger9 as an indication that each recrystallized grain inherits the orientation of the matrix in which it grew. However, Burgers and Basart showed6 that in deformed aluminum single crystals the orientation of the recrystallized grains strongly deviates from that of the matrix. Barrett demonstrated8 that even in deformed polycrystalline aggregates the local orientation within each deformed grain changes on recrystallization. No explanation has as yet been offered of how the aggregate texture can be retained, while the local texture is everywhere changing. According to Burgers and Louwerse6 the orientation change on recrystallization in compressed and rolled aluminum single crystals corresponds to a rotation around [112] axes lying in the active slip planes and perpendicular to active slip directions. This orientation change was rationalized by them on the assumption that the orientation of the recrystallized grains is determined by the orientation of the available nuclei, and that these nuclei are small fragments of the deformed crystal, rotated in the deformation process. Barrett pointed out,? however, that these assumptions were by no means proven, and that the total volume of material necessary for the nuclei is so small, that it must be available in any orien- tation whatever. It is, therefore, unlikely that an "oriented nucleation" theory could satisfactorily explain the orientation changes in recrystallization of a deformed crystal. Furthermore, in contradiction to Burgers and LOU-werse's conclusions, Barrett's results for the orientation change could be best expressed in terms of rotations around. [Ill] axes. Thus agreement is lacking not only in the interpretations but apparently even in the experimental results contributed by the various investigators. The orientation relationships on coarsening* in a highly oriented polycrystalline matrix were first investigated by Burgers and Basart.5 They produced a fine grained highly oriented matrix by the recrystallization of a compressed or rolled single crystal of aluminum, and studied the orientation relationships in three successive generations of crystals: the "deformation texture" in the single crystal, the recrystallization texture, and the coarsening texture. Burgers24 showed that the preferred orientation of each successive generation was almost always widely different from that of the preceding one, but that the coarse grains often approximately reverted to the orientation of their grandparent, the deformed single crystal. This observation, and the idea that the orientation of the coarse grains is determined by that of the available "nuclei," led to the concept that the coarse grains are nucleated by the remnants of the deformation texture.12,15 On the other hand, Bowles and Boas16 found, in a carefully conducted experiment, that in recrystallized fine grained copper of cube texture coarse grains grow in orientations which can be derived from the orientation of the recrystallized matrix by rotation around a [lll].] direction: the coarsening texture here does not appear to be related in any simple manner to the original rolling texture from which the cube texture had been obtained by recrystallization. It may be assumed that in a recrystallized material, even with a strong texture, there always are present some grains of practically any orientation. These may serve as "nuclei" for the coarse grains, provided that the conditions are favorable for their growth. The existence of a coarsening texture may be considered as an indication that grains with certain relative orientations with respect to the preferred orientation of their neighbors can grow much faster than others. This "oriented growth" theory was briefly suggested by van Arkel, as early as 1936,13 and it was mentioned by Burgers." Recently, C. G. Dunn produced direct

Jan 1, 1950

By A. M. Gaudin

Activation of sphalerite with silver ions results from the exchange of two Ag ions for one Zn ion in the sphalerite lattice. The exchange is proportional to the logarithm of time and proceeds until either of the reactants is consumed. Sodium cyanide prevents the activation of sphalerite by controlling the ratio [Zn++]/[Ag+]' in solution. If sphalerite has already been activated with excess silver, cyanide ions can deactivate sphalerite provided oxygen is present. SOLUBLE: silver salts are effective activators for flotation of sphalerite with potassium ethyl xan-thate as collector.* Since sphalerite takes up large quantities of silver ions rapidly,2-4 investigation of this system appeared fruitful for studying the mechanism of sphalerite activation and deactivation. Experimental data presented here comprise studies of the mechanism and rates of activation and deactivation of sphalerite with silver and cyanide ions. A 20-lb sample of sphalerite from Ottawa County, Oklahoma, was handpicked, crushed, screened, hy-drosized to produce a 65/100-mesh fraction, and purified by electrostatic separation. The sphalerite was then leached with benzene and absolute ethyl alcohol to remove possible organic contaminants and with 0.1 M NaCN to remove any copper that might have been picked up during screening. The benzene had been specially purified by grinding with fine sphalerite for 12 hr to remove trace impurities that might have had a specific affinity for sphalerite. Ii'inally, the mineral was washed, dried in flowing nitrogen, and stored in large ground-glass stoppered weighing bottles under a small nitrogen pressure. The specific surface of two samples from the 65/100-mesh sphalerite stock, measured by krypton gas adsorption," was 420 cm2 per g. Compared with spheres of the same size and specific gravity, the prepared mineral had five times as much surface. Results of a wet chemical analysis and of a spectro-graphic study are given in Table I. Manganese, nickel, tin, indium, thallium, cobalt, and magnesium were not detected spectrographically. All solutions were preparid by -adding reagent-grade chemicals to conductivitv water. which had been previously saturated with the desired gases. Nitrogen and oxygen were purified, but no attempt was made to purify the laboratory air. Radioanalysis was carried out with prepurified Ag110 tracer obtained from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The complete decay scheme for Ae is complex. Its primary emissions are 0.09 and 0.55 mev ß rays and 1.48 mev y raysB and its half-life is believed to be 270 days. In preparation of solutions of AgNO3, the amount of Ag110 added was negligible compared to that of the inert silver. Abstraction of silver from solution by sphalerite was measured after agitation of 1.5 g sphalerite with 20 ml of solution in 50-ml pyrex flasks. All sample preparations were carried out in a dry box so that the proper atmosphere could be maintained. After the mineral had been agitated in the silver nitrate solution, an aliquot of the solution and a sample of the wet mineral were transferred to separate counting vials and weighed. The solid sample was dried and re-weighed and the activity in both vials measured by means of a scintillation counter. With scintillation counting it is possible to count y radiation from the solid and liquid, a distinct advantage over the older ß-ray counting techdiques.4 All measurements of silver activity were made using a sodium-iodide well-type scintillation counter. The amount of zinc in solution was measured colorimet-rically by the monocolor method of Sandell.7 Activation Studies Exchange Between Zinc Ions and Silver Ions During Activation: The increase of Zn++ in solution during activation with Ag+ is shown in Table 11. These data indicate a replacement of one Zn++ by two Ag+. Analysis of a separate two-month agitation test indicated that the replacement of Zn++ by Ag+ was, as expected, in the molar ratio of 2.0.

Jan 1, 1958

By Alton B. Cook, G. B. Spencer, F. P. Bobrowski

In estimating production gas/oil ratios and oil recoveries from reservoirs containing highly volatile oils it is highly important to include condensate that may be recovered from the gas produced from the reservoir. The volume of the hydrocarbon liquid condensed from the production of the solution gas that has been liberated. in some reservoirs may equal or even exceed the volume of recoverable stock-tank oil as estimated by present methods. The usual procedure1, 2, 3 in estimating future reservoir performance includes use of relative permeability data of the reservoir rock to gas and oil and includes material-balance calculations utilizing data on the volume of the reservoir fluids, oil and gas production and reservoir pressure decline, and data on the physical properties of the initial reservoir fluids. The inaccuracy in the procedure results from the false assumption that all of the free or liberated gas that enters the well bore of reservoirs containing highly volatile oils remains in the gaseous phase as it is produced. This paper presents a method for estimating future reservoir performance and oil recoveries based on special labora. tory analyses of reservoir-oil samples and recognition of the additional volume of hydrocarbon liquid that will be recovered at various stages of depletion from a solution.gas.drive reservoir. The method also includes calculations of the volume and composition of the hydrocarbon liquids that can be recovered by processing the produced gas in a natural-gasoline plant. The development of the method resulted from a study of laboratory analyses of reservoir samples and of field data obtained from two reservoirs containing oil of the highly velatile type. Relatively high pressures and temperatures prevail in oil reservoirs discovered at the greater depths of present-day drilling. The contained fluids may have high saturation -Dressures and large volumes of gas in solution. The oils and gases under these conditions may be almost identical in compositions and densities.4,5 Also, engineers have noted that, for a number of oil reservoirs and especially the deeper reservoirs, the API gravity of the stock-tank oil increaees as the production gas/oil ratios increase. They attributed this increase in API gravity of the stock-tank oil to the formation of condensate as the liberated gas in the reservoir is being produced. SOURCE OF DATA FOR CALCULATIONS Subsurface oil samples and well-test data were obtained from the E. Constantin-Lambert Well No. 1 in the Elk City Field, Okla., to demonstrate the need for and a method of calculating future reservoir performance when consideration is given to the recoverable hydrocarbon liquid from the production of solution gas that has been or will be liberated in a reservoir. The Lambert well is located in C, SW 1/4, SW 1/4, Set- 18, T-l0-N, R-20-W, Washita County, Okla. At the time of completion it was on the east edge of the development and Was producing from conglomerate through 30 perforations in the 5 1/2-in. casing at a depth of 9,859 to 9,864 ft. The well Was completed on July 9, 1949, and subsurface oil samples were obtained July 29 and August 1, 1949. Production gas/oil ratio data were obtained during the operation in series of two Separators at high and low-pressures of 314 and 44 psia, respectively, and at an average temperature of approximately 60°F. The flowing bottom-hole pressure at the time of sampling was 3,934 psis. The static bottom-hole pressure was not obtained at the time of sampling, as the well could not be shut in long enough for testing because gas produced from the well was used for fuel at an offset drilling well. However, the initial reservoir pressure was calculated to be 4,364 psia from knowledge of pressure gradients in other wells in the field and the depth of the casing perforations in the Lambert NO. 1 well.

Jan 1, 1951

By C. Wachmann

The theory presented ill this paper makes possible examination of the phenomenological aspect of secondary oil recovery by alcohol flooding. Limitutions of the theory are contingent on three primary assumptions: (1) chemical equilibrium, (2) no fingering, and (5) no dispersion. The second assumption implies one-dimensional flow. In a geometric sense the theory extends the Buckley-Leverett construction to systems of two slightly miscible fluids and to systems of three components. This is made possible by considering single-phase fluids to be made up two phases, namely of an excess of one phase and a negative amount of the other phase. The procedure is discussed in the paper. The theory also permits direct determination of the relationship between the aqueous phase saturation and the concentration of water in the aqueous phase in a zone of variable composition. The velocity of planes of constant water concentration and of constant saturation can be computted likewise and the existence of saturation discontinuities inferred. Consequently the behavior of such a Zone, which may exist at some time between a displaced and a displacing fluid, May be determined. mathematical details are given in Appendices. Problems of experimental verification are pointed out on the basis of a supporting experiment. Implications of the theory and effects of violations of primary assumptions are discussed briefly. The major conclusion is that, if the primary assumptions are met, with pure alcohol and alcohol-rich .slugs piston-like displacement of oil and water is possible. INTRODUCTION The recovery of oil from porous media by alcohol displacement has been studied for several years. Extensive experimental investigations into alcohol flooding have been carried out in the laboratory although little has been done in the field. A large amount of practical information is available, the extent being indicated by the first three papers cited 1-3 and their respecrive bibliographies. This has permitted the Formulation of inferential theories. A more analytical approach in which theories are developed primarily by reasoning from known physical principles and relationships has, however, lagged behind. In fact, an analytically derived theory of alcohol displacement has not been available. The theory presented in this paper on oil and water displacement by alcohol from a porous medium is a result of the analytical approach. The theory is idealized, as certain assumptions had to be made to make the mathematics tractable and reduce complexity of argument. In particular, major assuptions concerning conditions of equilibrium, interfacial stability, longitudinal mixing, etc., led to the exclusion of fingering, for example, from all considerations. In many laboratory experiments reported in the literature fingering could not be avoided. There is, therefore, disagreement between theories based on experimental evidence available and the analytically derived theory presented here. This theory presented is based on known physical data and makes use of the Buckley-Leverett construction and its suggested extension. The mathematical derivation of the theory is given in Appendices. Three examples relevant to alcohol displacement are discussed to explain the use of this theory: (1) system of two immiscible fluids (the Buckley-Leverett case); (2) system of two slightly miscible fluids involving an extension of the Buckley-Leverett construction; and (3) system of three components, including injection of pure alcohol or alcohol-rich fluid as a special case, which involves a more general extension of the Buckley-Leverett construction. In these discussions strict assumptions were made to impose equilibrium conditions and exclude mixing and fingering. Effects of relaxing these assumptions and consequent extensions of the theory are indicated. The complexity of the alcohol displacement process makes experimental verification of the theory essential. Some relevant evidence is offered in this paper.

Jan 1, 1965

By Wallace W. Wilson

This DaoerAA calls to attention for the first time, to the writer's knowledge, a purported recovery of oil by substantially horizontal gas cycling that is considerably in excess of 50 per cent of the oil originally in place. The average angle of dip along the path of travel of the gas is less than one degree of arc. The best recovery by gas cycling previously brought to the writer's attention1 occurred in the case of the Mile Six Field in Peru, where about 68 per cent of the original oil in place has so far been recovered. In this case, however. the recovery was greatly aided 1)y the high dip angle of about 17.5". An approximate estimate of recovery was made by the method developed by the writer' for the case of the Cook Ranch Field, using an average relative permeability ratio function dictated by past experience with a number of good quality sandstones. A result of about 40 per cent recovery of the original oil in place wa* obtained after the 8.5 pore volumes of cumulative gas cycling undergone by the Cook Ranch Field. Tile writer desires to emphasize what appears to him as the sound engineering practiced at Cook Ranch, and also the care attending the taking of data and the high quality of the calculations made. It is impossible to take issue on factual grounds with any of the conclusions drawn in the paper. It is, however, desired to point out the difficulty of explaining the unexpectedly favorable oil recovery on ordinary theoretical grounds. It would be of interest to know whether relative permeability ratios have been measured on the Cook sand. The operator is inclined to attribute some of the excess benefit to settling of the oil across the bedding planes into the lower part of the sand. It is difficult for the writer to appreciate the importance of such an effect, inasmuch as the concomitant opening of excessive vacated pore space in the upper part of the sand would he expected to cause excessive bypassing of the gas. REFERENCE 1. Welge. H. J.: "A Simplified Method for Computing Oil Recovery by (Gas or Water Drive." Trans. AIME, (1952), 195, 91. AUTHOR'S REPLY TO MR. WELGE Welge has poined out clearly the difficulty of applying material-balance procedures in calculating the Performance of low-pressure, dispersed gas injection operations. There can be no argument that even with the most favorable assumptions of K,/K,, and with cumulative gas cycling in excess of normal expectations, the calculated oil recovery will be considerably less than the 72.5 per cent recovery realized from this project to Jan. 1, 1951. There probably are at least two reasons for the unusually high recovery from this reservoir, the effects of which would be difficult or impossible to calculate by known methods: 1. The operator did not use the same injection wells for the entire operation, and exercised considerable control over producing GOR by changing the locations of injection wells whenever well performance indicated excessive bypassing. Fifty-six wells were used for injection, not over 29 of which were in use simultaneously. This procedure resulted in frequent shifting of the fluid movement patterns in the reservoir and undoubtedly increased the ultimate recovery. The writer knows of no satisfactory procedure for calculating the effect of this practice. 2. Vertical movement of oil across the bedding planes of the reservoir rock hy gravity drainage tended to maintain a relatively high oil saturation, and hence a favorable K,/K, ratio, in the lower sections of the reservoir. As pointed out by Welge, this condition has aggravated the tendency for high producing GOR, but at the same time it has resulted in increased oil recovery. As may be seen from the performance charts for the various battery areas, operating (GOR'S have been quite high for the last several years of reported history.

Jan 1, 1952

By H. Wilton Clark

VARYING in thickness and in number from place to place, coal seams in the Canadian Rockies also range in pitch from nearly horizontal to vertical, sometimes with overturns. Over the entire coal-bearing area there are considerable differences of rank in coals of the same geological age, and there are marked differences in ash content and wash-ability characteristics. Correlation of seams at mining operations within a few miles of each other has often proved impossible. These factors influence mining methods, and, of course, production results. The oldest coal formations of western Canada are of Lower Cretaceous age, as the carboniferous sediments are marine and contain no coal. Coal is also present in formations of Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary ages. The rank of coal varies from semi-anthracite in some operations in the Kootenay and Luscar formations of the Lower Cretaceous in the Rockies to lignite in the Tertiary fields of the Saskatchewan prairies. Fig. 1 shows the general extent of the formations. The pitching seams, chiefly Lower Cretaceous, occur in the western belt of the Rocky Mountain foothills and the eastern slopes of the Rockies themselves. (The road to Tent Mt. strip pit, elevation 7000 ft, is shown on p. 832.) Formations extend from the U. S.-Canadian boundary for several bundred miles in Alberta and continue for a similar distance in British Columbia. Present geological estimates show a probable reserve of the order of 25,000 million tons of coal ranging from high volatile bituminous to semi-anthracite, with a large percentage of coking coal, constituting one of the major world reserves of that type. It should be noted that although the quoted estimate probably errs on the conservative side, the question of access to the seams in a mountainous terrain will always be a problem; a wide divergence may exist between actual reserves and the quantities of coal economically recoverable. An excerpt from the Canadian government Report of the Royal Commission on Coal 1946 states that conditions favorable to coal formation were intermittent and these intervals relatively brief in comparison with periods in which no coal was formed. Conditions were favorable to the growth or accumulation of vegetation in one area, while fresh water sediments and marine shales were being deposited in other areas. During periods of emergence the coal deposits were subjected to erosion or were covered by coarse sands and gravels from the mountains, whereas during submergence they were covered by fine clays deposited in embayments of the sea. During some of the periods of coal formation, volcanic activity deposited beds of fine volcanic ash and dust with the coal-forming vegetation. Coal deposits reach their greatest development in the mountains and thin rapidly to the east into the plains area, where they are deeply buried beneath younger sediments. For example, in the Fernie area of southeastern British Columbia there are in places 22 seams having an aggregate thickness of 150 ft in a stratigraphic interval of 3500 ft, whereas at Cole-man in the Alberta Crowsnest area the measures are only 800 ft in thickness and contain a maximum of five seams aggregating about 47 ft of coal. At Belle-vue, 10 miles further east, the measures are reduced to 430 ft with only three seams aggregating about 37 ft of coal. Subsequently the tremendous forces involved in the upthrust of the Rocky Mountains produced great displacement of the coal-bearing formations and at the same time a change in geologically young coals from low to high rank. The floor or footwall of most seams consists of carbonaceous shales, which are almost as adaptable to bending as the coal seams themselves. The seams show very few cleats or cleavage planes and have been so weakened structurally that as mined 50 pct or more will pass through a ¼-in. screen, seldom

Jan 1, 1955

By M. E. Nicholson

The effect of boron on the austenitic transformation rate of iron is smaller than on low carbon steels. The influence of austenitizing temperature on B-Fe is the reverse of its influence on steels. THERE have been many studies made of the influence of boron on the hardenability of steel, but apparently none has been made of its influence on the y-a transformation of pure iron. There are several facts suggesting that boron should have a pronounced effect on the transformation rate of iron. First, Simcoe et a1.l indicated that boron reduces the nucleation rate of ferrite and bainite. Second, they showed, along with others,', " that the lower the carbon content of steel the greater the influence of boron on hardenability. If this trend extends to pure iron, the influence on rate of ferrite formation should be considerably greater for iron than for medium carbon steels. According to Rahrer and Armstrong," the multiplying factor for boron in pure iron should be about 2.40, compared with 1.50 in a 0.35 pet C steel. According to an extrapolation made by Grange and Mitchell,' the effect should be even greater, and the multiplying factor should be about 3.5 in iron. Many investigations of the boron influence'.7, 2, 5 indicated that boron is effective only when in solid solution. On the other hand, Chandler and Bredig" suggested that boron increases hardenability by combining with nitrogen, thereby preventing formation of AlN, which catalyzes the decomposition of austenite. If their hypothesis is valid, boron should have no effect on an alloy free from nitrogen. Digges et al." showed that so far as low nitrogen high purity Fe-C alloys are concerned this is not the case. No experiments, however, have been made on low nitrogen iron. To determine whether or not boron has an effect on low nitrogen iron and, if an effect exists, to determine whether it is as large as predicted from the investigations of boron treated steels, the following work was performed. Because of the rapidity with which iron transforms from austenite to ferrite at even a moderate degree of supercooling, it was decided to study the influence of boron on the transformation rate of iron by determining the effect of quenching rate on the temperature of the beginning of transformation. The technique, essentially that used by Greninger' and Duwez,H consisted of heating small specimens, 0.1 in. sq and 0.010 in. thick, in an atmosphere of purified helium with a resistance heater coil, and then quenching the sample in a jet of helium gas. At the time the jet was applied, the heating coil was removed from around the sample. The sample was suspended in the furnace on 30 gage chrome1 and alumel wires, one welded to each side of the specimen, which also served as a thermocouple for measuring the specimen temperature. Specimens were prepared from vacuum-melted iron obtained from the National Research Corp. which was rolled to a thickness of 0.060 in. and then decarburized in wet hydrogen for 51/2 hr at 700°C. This treatment also removed any boron present in the iron. The resulting iron contained 0.001 pet C. 0.0002 pet N, and 0.005 pet 0. One half of the piece was then boronized by surrounding it with 325 mesh boron powder and heating it for about 2 hr at 900°C in H,. The boronized iron was then homogenized at 1100°C for 24 hr. The iron boride case formed by boronizing was removed by grinding 0.010 in. from each side of the plate, and the piece was finally rolled to a thickness of 0.010 in. The resulting alloy contained

Jan 1, 1957

By David E. Nicholas

INTRODUCTION In this paper, a numerical process for selecting a mining method, with the emphasis on underground mass mining techniques, such as caving, induced caving, and stoping, is proposed. In the past, selection of a mining method for a new property was based primarily on operating experience at similar type deposits and on methods already in use in the district of the deposit. Then, the chosen method was modified during the early years of mining as ground conditions and ore character were bet- ter understood. Today, however, the large capital investment required to open a new mine or change an existing mining system make it imperative that the mining methods examined during the feasibility studies and the method actually selected have a high probability of attaining the projected production rates. Although experience and engineering judgment still provide major input into the selection of a mining method, subtle differences in the characteristics of each deposit, which may affect the method chosen or the mine design, can usually be perceived only through analysis of measured characteristics. The parameters that must be examined when choosing a mining method include: 1) geometry and grade distribution of the deposit; 2) rock mass strength for the ore zone, the hanging wall, and the footwall; 3) mining costs and capitalization requirements; 4) mining rate; 5) type and availability of labor; 6) environmental concerns; and 7) other site-specific considerations. This paper encompasses a detailed look at the first two parameters since they, plus mining costs, have the greatest impact on the selection of a mining method. The proposed method selection process is for a project where drilling has defined sufficient geologic reserves, but little or no underground development has been done. Since each deposit has its own characteristic geanetry/grade distribution, and rock mechanics properties, mining method selection should be at least a two-stage process. In Stage 1, the deposit is described in terms of geometry, grade distribution, and rock mechanics properties. Using these parameters, the mining methods can be ranked to determine which are most applicable; they can then be considered in general terms of mining and capitalization cost, mining rate, type and availability of personnel, environmental concerns, and other site-specific considerations. In Stage 2, the most likely mining methods are costed out, based on a general mine plan. Mining and capitalization costs are used to determine a cut-off grade fran which a minable reserve can be calculated; economic comparisons can then be made to determine the optimum mining method and economic feasibility. During the mine planning phase of Stage 2, rock mechanics information would be used to provide realistic estimates of underground opening size, amount of support, orientation of openings, and caving characteristics, and open pit slope angles. If ground control or operational problems should be encountered with the methods being considered, modifications could be made. Although planning on paper extends start-up time, it is cheaper to err on paper than to find the error after mining has begun. METHOD SELECTION - STAGE 1 The main purpose of Stage 1 is to select those mining methods which should be considered in greater detail. The simplest way to do this is by defining those characteristics required for each mining method and then determining whether the characteristics of the deposit are suitable. However, no one mining method is so restrictive that it can be used for only one set of characteristics, as indicated by the classification system proposed by Boshkov and Wright (1973). In the mining method selection proposed, geometry, grade distribution, and rock mechanics characteristics are ranked according to their acceptability for ten general mining methods.

Jan 1, 1981

By J. Weertman

It is shown that conditions suitable for the conversion of straight dislocations into helices are common in crystals hardened either through long-range dislocation interaction or by jog formation on dislocation lines. For dislocations other than screw dislocations or dislocations nearly screw in orientation, helices can be formed with the aid of core difhsion at temperatures low relative to the melting point of the material. It is assumed that, once formed, helices will degenerate into dislocation tangles. THE dislocation tangle is one major dislocation arrangement observed by the transmission electron microscope which had not been predicted previously from dislocation theory. Since first being observed, the tangle itself has become important in applied dislocation theory. The Cambridge school (P. Hirsch) bases part of its theory of work hardening upon this phenomenon.' In spite of the fact that the tangle obviously is a structure of prime importance to a cold-worked crystal, until recently relatively little attention has been paid to the question of exactly why or how tangles arise. It was generally assumed at first that cross slip and perhaps jog formation will lead to tangles. However Wilsdorf and schmitz2 concluded that cross slip cannot markedly contribute to the tangles. The Wilsdorfs and Maddin3'* have proposed that tangles arise by means of prismatic dislocation loops and superjogs which are produced by a precipitation of point defects. Dislocations with superjogs or which have joined with prismatic loops are themselves dislocation sources and they can produce new dislocations, a process they call "mushrooming", which then tangle with each other. There is no question that the Wilsdorfs et al. mechanism as well as the cross slip one can pro- duce tangles. However these may not be the only paths leading to tangle formation. In this paper we wish to consider another way tangles can form. Our work will be based on the theory of dislocation screw We wish to show that whenever a crystal is cold-worked there always is present a "driving force" leading to helix formation and thus to tangle formation. We do not expect to observe well-developed, regular helices in cold-worked metals. Rather we would expect that after a helix is formed random interactions with nearby dislocations will cause a well-developed helical dislocation to go over into an irregular form. A dislocation tangle is, of course, a grouping of dislocations with irregular forms. Therefore we feel that, in accounting for the formation of dislocation tangles, it is sufficient to show that many dislocations in a cold-worked crystal will take on helical form. The crucial step is helix formation. In order to have a straight dislocation assume a helical form, diffusion of vacancies, or interstitials, must occur. Our discussion of tangle formation therefore will be limited to crystals which have been deformed at temperatures ranging from about one fifth to half their absolute melting point. In this tem per a ture range appreciable core diffusion is possible. (There is no problem in explaining tangle formation at temperatures greater than half the melting point. At such temperatures dislocation climb through a bulk diffusion of point defects gives an extra degree of freedom to dislocation motion. This extra freedom of motion makes tangle formation easy.) At temperatures much below one fifth the absolute melting temperature diffusion processes are sufficiently slow that helix formation does not occur. Of course helix or tangle formation could occur in material deformed at very low tempera-tures which was subsequently warmed in order to make the thin specimen necessary for electron-microscope examination. Since within the temperature range of approximately one fifth to half the melting temperature the diffusion of point defects in the core of the dislocation is rapid, we can reasonably assume that within

Jan 1, 1963