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By Donald F. Saunders

Means and relative standard deviations were calculated for eU, eTh, K, and their ratios for aerial gamma-ray spectral data in 29 quadrangles at 1:250,000 scale. Known or suspected uraniferous provinces were characterized by: 1) Higher eU, eTh, and K means (due to generally higher radioelement concentrations); 2) Higher relative standard deviations for eU, eU/eTh, and eU/K (reflecting the presence of local uranium enrichments); and lower mean eU/eTh and eU/K values (showing uranium loss from "average" rocks to form local enrichments). "Uranium favorability indexes," i.e., combinations of the sensitive variables, show an excellent qualitative relationship to known occurences and geologic favorability. Results appear to confirm the existence of long-term crustal uranium provinces formed at the time of emplacement of the oldest known rocks.

Jan 1, 1980

By Allan J. Clark

THE September issue of MINING AND METALLURGY might almost have served as a review of the advances in the metallurgy of gold during the current year. In addition to a scholarly article by F. W. Bradley, there were able descriptions by W. W. Bradley and W. F. Boericke of the methods followed in California and in Ontario. Considered together, the two last-named articles indicate the many possible combinations of flotation with one or more of the older processes. This, the prominence of flotation as an aid in the beneficiation of gold ores, is probably the most striking of the year's developments. It would perhaps be nearer the fact to say that the year has not been marked by the gold metallurgists' discovery of the flotation process, but rather by the flotation merchandizers' discovery of gold metallurgy. I say this because native gold was floated successfully more than fifteen years ago, and a reference to these results was published six years ago.

Jan 1, 1933

By W. C. Ellis, E. S. Greiner, M. E. Fine

C. H. Samans and W. R. Ham (Chicago, Ill., and Dix-field, Maine, respectively)-—For several years we have been studying transitions of this basic type in metals, alloys, glasses, etc. Usually, however, they are not so clearly marked as those which the authors have found, and hence are much more difficult to determine accurately. Since our studies indicate that most of them occur virtually unchanged (as far as temperature is concerned) regardless of the form in which the element appears, we believe that they are a characteristic of the atom. Specifically, we believe that there is an additional rotational degree of freedom possessed by the nucleus which has not been considered heretofore. This nuclear rotation is made up of several components, each related to the several quantum shells of electrons. In chromium there are four of these shells and hence four separate series of characteristic transition temperatures. The lowest temperature at which any transition occurs, based on the present state of our computations, is 125°K, 4° higher than the authors' value of 121°K. A convergence of this series, we believe, shows up at the higher temperature of 2085 °K, surprisingly close to the transformation temperature of 2103°K recently announced by N. J. Grant of M.I.T. for a body-centered to face-centered transformation in chromium. Likewise, our computations indicate a temperature of 311°K for the second transition temperature, reported by the authors as 310 °K. A convergence of this series, we believe, shows up at a higher temperature as the melting point at 2163°K. Although our work on these series must, in a sense, still be regarded as empirical, since we do not understand fully as yet just what the series mean, it is based on a reasonably firm picture. The individual constants, from which the various series are computed for each element, comes directly from the X-ray K absorption limit. Furthermore, the same basic method has accounted for transformation and melting temperatures in about 50 of the chemical elements, which is all we have tried thus far. In many cases the only known transformation is the melting point, but in others the occurrence of transformations or other transitions, equally as well marked as those of the authors, has been pointed out by others. These observations have assisted us greatly. Consequently we were very pleased to see the authors' excellent work in finding these two transitions in chromium. With these confirming data, our picture of this element is clarified considerably, so we expect that at least some of our work can be published in the near future. R. C. Ruder (E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Cu., Wilmington, Del.)—The authors' interpretation of these transitions in terms of 3d to 4s electronic structure transitions is most interesting. It would be interesting to have additional experimental evidence of such transitions from the temperature dependence of the Hall coefficient in the neighborhood of the property changes discussed in this paper. Simple theory15 suggests the Hall coefficient as a measure of the free electron (or s electron) concentration per unit volume. It has been shown that for paramagnetic'" and ferromagnetic1? metals the simple theory is in fact too simple. However, the existence of a discontinuity in the Hall coefficient would provide information which should aid both in our understanding of these transitions and the significance of the Hall coefficient in these metals. It was rather surprising that no significant paramagnetic effects were observed. In this connection the recent work of McGuire and Kriessman18 is cited. They measured the magnetic susceptibility of chromium from 20" to 1460 °C. They also observed no large change in the susceptibility although there might be a change in slope in the vicinity of the 40 °C transition. The existence of these 3d to 4s electronic transitions has been discussed in connection with the paramagnetic susceptibility behavior of nickel and nickel alloys.'"-" Assuming a correspondence principle between classical and quantum mechanical paramagnetic theory and using classical theory to calculate the effective Bohr magneton number from the Curie constant for substances obeying the Curie-Weiss law," it is found that the effective magneton number is a function of temperature. The process of calculation involves the inverse of the differential of the 1/x4 vs. temperature curve so that good and numerous data are necessary to obtain significant results. The data of Fallot23 show a discontinuous increase of about 12 pct in the effective magneton number between 850" and 900 oC, followed by a continuous increase up to the melting point. The data of Sucksmith and Pearce24 show a possible 8 pct increase. The older data of Terry25 and Weiss and Foex26 show a continuous increase. It is possible that small amounts of impurity atoms change these electronic transitions significantly. Fallot's23 data on a nickel alloy with 4.5 atomic pct Fe indicate that the discontinuity occurs around 1300 °C. Systematic investigation of the transition metals for transitions of this nature should provide information which would be very valuable for our understanding of these metals. The absence of antiferromagnetic structures in chromium has been shown by Shull27 using neutron diffraction techniques. M. E. Fine, E. S. Greiner, and W. C. Ellis (authors' reply)—The remarks by Drs. Samans and Ham are certainly very interesting, in particular those pertaining to the close agreement between the theoretically calculated values for transition temperatures in chromium and the experimental values reported by a number of investigators. This is a remarkable achievement and we shall look forward to a more detailed presentation of the method followed in their calculations. We do not believe that the transition in pure chromium near 40 °C remains temperature invariant with alloying, as was reported by Samans and Ham for a number of the substances that they studied. We have not done any work with alloys but base our belief on the results of earlier studies in which less pure chromium was included and considerably lower transition temperatures were observed. The transition tempera-

Jan 1, 1952

Jan 1, 1904

By Becket, Frederick M.

CHROMIUM is but one hundred and thirty years of age-a mere youngster as related to many metals that' have speeded world progress. It was Vauquelin of France who proved conclusively that the so called red lead of. Siberia contained a new element. The variety and characteristic colors of the compounds suggested the name chromium. He also succeeded in reducing oxide of chromium to the metallic form and described the product as very brittle, infusible, needle- like crystals on which acids had very feeble action. His metal was not pure chromium, of course; it must have contained appreciable carbon in the combined form as a result of reducing the oxide by carbon at high temperatures. Vauquelin's description in 1798 of this work is a gem-indeed, literally, he went so far as to discover the presence of chromium oxide in the emerald. The metallic product did not seem to interest Vauquelin greatly, but a new chemical industry began shortly after his discoveries.

Jan 1, 1928

By Christopher G. Atwater

The object of this paper is to describe and discuss the progress that has been made, up to the present date, in the development of the modern by-product coke-oven. There are few members of the Institute who have not heard more or less of the by-product oven-installation, and there are many whose acquaintance with it is intimate and practical. Since the general opinion on the subject has hardly become crystallized as yet, it is hoped that this paper will at least furnish matter for discussion. In order to obtain an idea of the present status of the industry in the principal iron-producing countries, the following table has been prepared : Table Showing Proportion of Coke Made in By-Product Ovens in Various Countries. United Kingdom (1898, Mr. George Beilby). Short Tons. Per Cent. Coal coked in by-product ovens,. .. 1,400,000 7.9 Coal coked in blast-furnaces with by-product recovery,.......2,240,000 12.7 Coal coked in non-by-product ovens,. . 14,000,000 79.4

Jan 1, 1903

By R. W. Gurry

In a series of charts this paper presents the composition of all gas mixtures, composed of the elements carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, which at temperatures from 1000° to 1800°F are in equilibrium with (1) austenite of various carbon contents, (2) iron and iron carbide, (3) graphite, (4) iron and its oxide. THIS paper presents the results of calculations made to determine the proportions of CO, CO2, CH4, H2, H2O and N2 in gas mixtures which, at temperatures from 1000" to 1800°F, satisfy, individually, the following conditions: (1) equilibrium with carbon steel of specified carbon content throughout the stable 7 iron region; (2) equilibrium with iron and iron carbide, both above and below the eutectoid temperature; (3) equilibrium with graphite; (4) equilibrium with iron and its oxide. From these data a new type of chart has been prepared which permits one to determine, from a room-temperature analysis of the furnace gas in question, the effect of the gas upon the steel at furnace temperature. Thus a guide is provided as to the carbon content which will result and as to the possibility of oxidation or sooting. All of the atmospheres commonly used in the commercial heat treatment of steel are composed of some or all of the simple constituents CO, CO2, CH4, H2, H2O and N2, and also in some cases oxygen or higher hydrocarbons. As the gas mixture is heated certain alterations in the proportions of the constituents take place, and at the temperature of the furnace the composition is, in general, not at all that of the entering gas. If equilibrium in the gas phase is presumed a calculation involving the use of certain fundamental data predicts for a certain temperature the carburizing, decarburizing, or sooting characteristics of a given atmosphere, and, upon the additional assumption of equilibrium between gas and metal, also the oxidizing ability of the gas and the ultimate carbon content of the steel. The extent to which these predictions are fulfilled will depend upon how closely the assumptions of equilibrium are realized in any particular case. Although at lower temperatures equilibrium is often not reached, there is considerable evidence indicating that above about 1000°F the approach to equilibrium in the gas phase is generally substantially complete, particularly in the vicinity of the steel which acts as a powerful catalyst in promoting reactions in the gas phase. The extent of the gas-metal reactions is commonly affected essentially by the sojourn at temperature; equilibrium with respect to carbon, for example, is accomplished simply by continuing the treatment long enough. However close the approximation of equilibrium may be in any instance, the above mentioned calculation indicates the condition of the steel at equilibrium, and at the present time this is the only basis of control of a furnace atmosphere. The effect at elevated temperature of a gas of a certain composition at room temperature upon a given steel has customarily been judged by first calculating from gas equilibrium constants the proportions of the gas constituents at the temperature of the steel, then comparing certain of these with the proportions known to be in carbon or oxygen equilibrium. This process is tedious and time-consuming, in particular because the calculation generally involves a series of successive approximations; and since some knowledge and familiarity with this type of computation are required, not everyone needing the information has been, in the past, in a position to obtain it. By making a series of equilibrium calculations, combining with fundamental data for gas-metal reactions, and plotting the results in a special way, a chart has been prepared which enables anyone

Jan 1, 1951

By Lawrence B. Wright, Lester G. Morrell

On the steep slopes of the Kootenays, 15 to 20 miles south of Nelson, B. C., are a number of ore occurrences (Fig. 1). One that has many features of mining and geological interest is the Ymir Yankee Girl Gold Mines Limited. Discovery of this property was made in 1899 at an outcrop on the hillside, some 2500 ft. above the village of Ymir. This proved to be a branch vein 20 ft. long leading to two main veins, the Yankee Girl and the Spur (Fig. 5). The ore pattern as now delimited shows a remarkable increase in ore area with depth below the outcrop. This recent development is of interest particularly in view of the fact that the property was nearly condemned, professionally. Another interesting feature, which has a bearing upon its history, is the persistent excess of tonnage produced from period to period over visible reserves. This is not ascribed to lagging mine development, but to detailed vein characteristics, which we will endeavor to make clear by giving a description of the veins and their surroundings. HISTORY AND PRODUCTION Little interest_was_evidenced-in this-distriet until the building of the railway in 1893 provided easy access and the discovery of the Ymir mine in 1896 attracted attention. As a result, the Ymir Yankee Girl group of claims was staked in October 1899. In 1907, an American syndicate took over the property and subsequently extended the 50-ft. drift and opened the present 400 and 540-ft. levels. In 1908, the Syndicate, without recording any shipments in the meantime, dropped its lease, which was taken up by H. L. Rogers, who bonded the Yankee Girl group. Rogers shipped 2622 tons of ore, mainly from the uppermost stope in the mine, which is reported to have yielded

Jan 1, 1940

By Lawrence B. Wright, Lester G. Morrell

On the steep slopes of the Kootenays, 15 to 20 miles south of Nelson, B. C., are a number of ore occurrences (Fig. 1). One that has many features of mining and geological interest is the Ymir Yankee Girl Gold Mines Limited. Discovery of this property was made in 1899 at an outcrop on the hillside, some 2500 ft. above the village of Ymir. This proved to be a branch vein 20 ft. long leading to two main veins, the Yankee Girl and the Spur (Fig. 5). The ore pattern as now delimited shows a remarkable increase in ore area with depth below the outcrop. This recent development is of interest particularly in view of the fact that the property was nearly condemned, professionally. Another interesting feature, which has a bearing upon its history, is the persistent excess of tonnage produced from period to period over visible reserves. This is not ascribed to lagging mine development, but to detailed vein characteristics, which we will endeavor to make clear by giving a description of the veins and their surroundings. HISTORY AND PRODUCTION Little interest_was_evidenced-in this-distriet until the building of the railway in 1893 provided easy access and the discovery of the Ymir mine in 1896 attracted attention. As a result, the Ymir Yankee Girl group of claims was staked in October 1899. In 1907, an American syndicate took over the property and subsequently extended the 50-ft. drift and opened the present 400 and 540-ft. levels. In 1908, the Syndicate, without recording any shipments in the meantime, dropped its lease, which was taken up by H. L. Rogers, who bonded the Yankee Girl group. Rogers shipped 2622 tons of ore, mainly from the uppermost stope in the mine, which is reported to have yielded

Jan 1, 1940

By Hugh Henton

THIS paper is the result of an investigation made in association with Dr. Charles H. Fulton. Early in 1918 a search was started for methods of utilizing, in the manufacture of basic refractories, certain domestic resources in magnesites, dolomites, and magnesian limestones. Much information was collected during that year and during 1919 regarding magnesite and dolomite deposits. During 1920 and 1921 a research was made into methods of calcining dolomite and separating magnesia therefrom. Some success was attained and many new ideas were brought out in connection with the preparation and utilization of magnesia in the form of "caustic" or light-burned material as well as in the form of refractory or "dead-burned" material. Stimulated by this success, much advance has been made in manufacturing processes for the "plastic magnesia," so called, used for magnesia cement, stucco, flooring and otherwise in the structural industries.

Jan 3, 1926

By F. J. Cuddeback

For low-head pumping of small quantities of water, the water jet, or hydraulic educter, has been used to advantage by Eagle-Picher Mining and Smelting Co. in the Tri-State district. Water-jet pumps are used for draining sumps and pockets up to 15 ft. in depth. They have been used very successfully when only moderate amounts of water are encountered in taking up bottom. A small, easily handled unit is desirable in this work, especially while opening and deepening a new stope. Small air pumps are convenient but can be used only on the day shift, when air is available. Obviously, a jet pump of smaller capacity but operating 24 hr. prevents lost time at the start of each shift. No tests have been made on their power efficiency, but admittedly it is low. However, for certain kinds of work this is offset by their handiness, low initial cost, low upkeep, and reliability. They will handle slime and sand without ill effect, and will continue to pump indefinitely on air. This foolproof 24-hr. performance has led to their continued use at some places even after electric pumps with better power efficiency could have been installed. The success of jet pumps depends largely upon a cheap source of high-pressure water. Owing to mine depths in the Tri-State district, pump pressures range from 100 to 150 Ib. per sq. in. In many mines it is common practice to handle the normal inflow water with triplex pumps ranging in size from 3 to 8 in. The pumps operate 24 hr. per day, and, in order to handle emergency conditions, are speeded slightly faster than necessary to pump the normal inflow. The sump level is governed by controlling the by-pass water with a butterfly valve and float. This method is somewhat wasteful of power, but permits the pumps to operate with a minimum of attention. Such an installation is visited once a day to check lubrication. Hence, if some of this water, normally by-passed to the main sump, were used to operate a jet pump, the power cost could be considered low regardless of efficiency. Figs. I and 2 show two water jets that have done satisfactory work. The one in Fig. 2, made up entirely of pipe fittings, may be of interest partially because of its novelty, but does better work than its appearance indicates. The pipe fittings for this jet as shown cost $2.20. Some improvement in its design may be made by cutting out the 135 by 1¼-in. reducer to a smoother taper as shown by dotted lines. A 3-in. suction pipe is sometimes used in order that the discharge may be as straight as possible. A 2-in. discharge line has been used frequently, but 3-in. pipe is used where several hundred feet of discharge is required.

Jan 1, 1946

By D. W. Brunton

THE maps of our large mines are usually prepared with the greatest care; and it is somewhat singular that, in comparison with the great amount of time and money spent in surveying and platting, so little actual use is made of them. Almost the only purpose for which a completed survey-map is afterwards consulted, is the determination of the relative position of the different workings to each other, and to the boundary-lines of the property. After the completion of such a map, it should be made the beginning of another, and in most cases a far more important, undertaking, namely, its utilization as -a starting-point for a complete inventory of the company's underground possessions. The ordinary mine-survey map, being nothing but a record of what has been done, is, in one sense, only ancient history. To increase its value, such additions should be made as will render it a complete statement of the amount and value of ore in sight at any particular time, and a guide for future develop¬ments. Comparatively little extra labor is involved in this undertaking, since the larger and most expensive part of the work has already been completed when the mine has been surveyed and mapped. The necessary additions consist in working out, and platting on the maps, the geology of the mine as exposed in the workings, in such a manner that the geological survey may be of daily use in the development and operation of the mine. The first step towards the production of a geological map consists in tracing individual level-sheets from the general or composite map. The area to be included, outside of the property in question, will depend very much on local conditions; but, for geological, legal and commercial reasons, it should be extended as far as reasonably practicable. The scale to be

Sep 1, 1905

By P. G. Nahin, A. Grenall, R. S. Crog, W. C. Merrill

A progress report of an experimental investigation into the role of clay in reservoir performance is presented. The Paper gives some of the reasons for considering clay as a significant component and outlines the objectives of a broad field of stud) which it is intended to pursue. Descriptions of the analytical methods used are given; these include X-ray diffraction. elec tron miscroscopy, thin section petrography, infrared spec-troscopy, and cation exchange analysis. A suite of the more important clay minerals has been assembled and characterized l~y these methods for use as standards in core analysis. From the data obtained it appears that although no one method of analysis is diagnostic for all of the clay minerals the infrared technique shows considerable promise in this direction. For the present, one or more supplementary methods should be used to confirm the clay mineral identifications. The methods of analysis are applied to field cores taken from repesentative and widely differing strata especially as regards their susceptibility to damage by fresh water. well.; completed in the stevens and Gatchell zones in San Joaquin valley are I,articularly clear-cut examples of this behavior with stevens zone wells being more adversely affected by fresh water. cores from these zones have been studied and are discussed. It appears that differences in this behavior can be ascribed to differences in the nature of the contained clays. The value of the infrarecl spectra of the clay fractions in establishing the identity of the predominant clay minerals is given particular emphasis. INTRODUCTION It is a challenge to the technical resources of the petroleum industry that when the economic limit of production is reached, from 40 to 70 per cent of the oil in California reservoirs remains unproduced even by use of the best presently known methods of recovery. The magnitude of this abandoned volume of oil can be appreciated when it is considered that to 1950 in excess of 8 billion bbll has been produced from California reservoirs with estimated economically recoverable reserves in known fields and pools totaling nearly 4 billion bbl.24 If for every barrel of oil produced there is at least another barrel still in place, it is evident that the revenue obtained from the recovery of only a .few per cent of this volume would repay the cost of the required research manyfold. From well completion experience. production behavior, and a growing body of laboratory data it now appears certain that the mineral composition of a producing stratum has an important bearing on the productivity and ultimate yield. In addition to the organic component and water, the cores con,ist of gravel, sand. silt, and clay" in diverse variety of (a, composition and (b) texture. It is the composite effect of these two factors which is probably responsible in large measure for the way in which the oil flows to the well. The role of the clay and fine-size accessory minerals is not clear but there is a growing opinion, based on their physical and chemical properties, that it is a significant one. of particular importance are the prime facts: 1. The silt and clay fractions of the reservoir matrix possess the highest surface area per gram, and 2. The silt and especially the clay fractions are the most chemically reactive of the inorganic constituents present. Only within the last few years has the knowledge of clay mineralogy and the techniques of identifying the clay minerals reached such a stage as to enable reliable inquiry into the composition of argillaceous sediments.2,8,10,11,12,16,26 It is the purpox of this and succeeding papers to add to the fund of information on the role which these materials play in the production of petroleum from California formations by correlating their presence and associated properties with observed reservoir behavior. In the present paper attention is directed to their possible influence on damage by fresh water. OBJECTIVES The attack on this problem divides naturally into two broad phases: 1. Determination of the nature of the clays and their relationships to the other mineral components, and 2. Determination of the physico-chemical relationships between the clays and the interstitial fluids. In the work described in this paper the emphasis has been on phase 1, which stems logically from the necessity of identifying and understanding the materials to be dealt with in Phase 2. Based on the authors' present opinion that not all of the minerals which occur in oil-bearing formation are of equal importance in their effects on the flow and recovery of oil, it was decided to focus attention first upon the clay minerals content and then. later perhaps. work into the field of the normally larger size non-clay minerals and fractions. The

Jan 1, 1951

By W. C. Merrill, P. G. Nahin, A. Grenall, R. S. Crog

A progress report of an experimental investigation into the role of clay in reservoir performance is presented. The Paper gives some of the reasons for considering clay as a significant component and outlines the objectives of a broad field of stud) which it is intended to pursue. Descriptions of the analytical methods used are given; these include X-ray diffraction. elec tron miscroscopy, thin section petrography, infrared spec-troscopy, and cation exchange analysis. A suite of the more important clay minerals has been assembled and characterized l~y these methods for use as standards in core analysis. From the data obtained it appears that although no one method of analysis is diagnostic for all of the clay minerals the infrared technique shows considerable promise in this direction. For the present, one or more supplementary methods should be used to confirm the clay mineral identifications. The methods of analysis are applied to field cores taken from repesentative and widely differing strata especially as regards their susceptibility to damage by fresh water. well.; completed in the stevens and Gatchell zones in San Joaquin valley are I,articularly clear-cut examples of this behavior with stevens zone wells being more adversely affected by fresh water. cores from these zones have been studied and are discussed. It appears that differences in this behavior can be ascribed to differences in the nature of the contained clays. The value of the infrarecl spectra of the clay fractions in establishing the identity of the predominant clay minerals is given particular emphasis. INTRODUCTION It is a challenge to the technical resources of the petroleum industry that when the economic limit of production is reached, from 40 to 70 per cent of the oil in California reservoirs remains unproduced even by use of the best presently known methods of recovery. The magnitude of this abandoned volume of oil can be appreciated when it is considered that to 1950 in excess of 8 billion bbll has been produced from California reservoirs with estimated economically recoverable reserves in known fields and pools totaling nearly 4 billion bbl.24 If for every barrel of oil produced there is at least another barrel still in place, it is evident that the revenue obtained from the recovery of only a .few per cent of this volume would repay the cost of the required research manyfold. From well completion experience. production behavior, and a growing body of laboratory data it now appears certain that the mineral composition of a producing stratum has an important bearing on the productivity and ultimate yield. In addition to the organic component and water, the cores con,ist of gravel, sand. silt, and clay" in diverse variety of (a, composition and (b) texture. It is the composite effect of these two factors which is probably responsible in large measure for the way in which the oil flows to the well. The role of the clay and fine-size accessory minerals is not clear but there is a growing opinion, based on their physical and chemical properties, that it is a significant one. of particular importance are the prime facts: 1. The silt and clay fractions of the reservoir matrix possess the highest surface area per gram, and 2. The silt and especially the clay fractions are the most chemically reactive of the inorganic constituents present. Only within the last few years has the knowledge of clay mineralogy and the techniques of identifying the clay minerals reached such a stage as to enable reliable inquiry into the composition of argillaceous sediments.2,8,10,11,12,16,26 It is the purpox of this and succeeding papers to add to the fund of information on the role which these materials play in the production of petroleum from California formations by correlating their presence and associated properties with observed reservoir behavior. In the present paper attention is directed to their possible influence on damage by fresh water. OBJECTIVES The attack on this problem divides naturally into two broad phases: 1. Determination of the nature of the clays and their relationships to the other mineral components, and 2. Determination of the physico-chemical relationships between the clays and the interstitial fluids. In the work described in this paper the emphasis has been on phase 1, which stems logically from the necessity of identifying and understanding the materials to be dealt with in Phase 2. Based on the authors' present opinion that not all of the minerals which occur in oil-bearing formation are of equal importance in their effects on the flow and recovery of oil, it was decided to focus attention first upon the clay minerals content and then. later perhaps. work into the field of the normally larger size non-clay minerals and fractions. The

Jan 1, 1951

By W. B. Wise, H. D. Attra, W. M. Black

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate a comparatively new approach for solving a problem that has plagued oil producers for many years—how to make the most money with available field production capacity. In a very basic operation such as a top-allowable one-well field, a computer and staff of engineers are not required to determine that the best operation is to produce that well at its maximum for as long a time as it will produce. However, as the problem becomes more complex and the number of wells and number of reservoirs increase, it probably will be a wise choice to devote some engineering thought and calculation time to determine the best way to operate that field on both an ultimate and day-to-day basis. Continued developments in the field broadly referred to as "operations research" have led to a number of useful engineering analyses for optimizing field operational problems. One of these techniques, termed linear programing, is parlicularly interesting because of its potential applications to the study of complex oilfield operating problems. Linear programing is concerned with the problem of planning a complex set of interde~endenl activities in the best possible (optimal) fashion. A field application of linear programing is being used to maximize daily income from a multi-reservoir producing operation. The initial results of this study indicate that the linear programing technique (I) can be applied effectively to field problems, (2) can be used to detect unsuspected avenues for improving operations and (3) can effect a significantly improved means of controlling field operations through the use of the highspeed computer. INTRODUCTION The usual approach for studying complex field operational problems has been to look in detail at several basic plans suggested by judgement and experience and, then, to choose the best plan from those investigated. This approach is entirely satisfactory provided: (1) that judgment and experience alone will reliably pick the best or near the best program as one of the plans to be investigated; and (2), and most important, that the factors which control field production will not change. This paper deals with the large group of field operations which are at least one-step removed from a satisfactory solution using the conventional method of analysis. Problems such as pipeline- and gathering-system design, transportation studies, large field development projects and multi-reservoir producing operations fall in this latter category. To find the best program for handling these problems when the best program is not obvious, a complete optimization study is required, and high-speed computers are required to continually update the program once it is selected. Operations of this type have an extremely large number of possible solutions. However, only one will result in maximum economic return and, more important, this one program must be re-evaluated and adjusted constantly to accomodate such changing field factors as the number of producing days, the price of crude, the discovery of new reserves, declining reservoir pressure with subsequent decline in production and a host of other factors which characterize specific operations. One of the most widely used, direct methods of optimization is a numerical procedure termed "linear programing", which is designed to investigate systematically each of the possible solutions involved in a given problem, determining rapidly and uniquely the optimum answer. As implied by the name, linear programing requires that all field variables be either defined or expressed in a series of interdependent linear equalities or inequalities. These relationships are solved simultaneously, using a form of matrix solutions to determine the optimum values for each producing variable that will maximize net profits. The solution techniques used in a recent field case study is termed the "simplex method" and is discussed in full detail in Ref. 1.

By Carmine D. &apos, Lemuel Tarshis, Joel Hirschhorn, Antonio

Vapor-deposited nickel films in the thickness range 700 to 4360A were tested in uniaxial tension utilizing a microtester designed specifically for this study. Contrary to the findings of some investigators, a definite thickness-strength relationship was observed below 3000 A with a four-to sevenfold increase in strength over that of bulk nickel. The films were characterized by high elastic strains and little plasticity. On the basis of these and other reported data, it is suggested that the high strength level in metal films is related to the manner in which they are produced. Vapor deposition, owing to its severe quenching effect. is believed to promote the formation of point defects which inhibit dislocation movement. IN recent years it has been reported that metals, when in the form of thin films, exhibit extraordinarily high strengths. The data published to date have been primarily concerned with silver and gold because of the ease with which these metals can be vapor-deposited and their high resistance to surface oxidation. Previous investigations into the mechanical strength of thin films has uncovered an apparent dichotomy of view on film behavior. Beams and his co-workers have reported a definite dependence of strength on film thickness. Other workers,"-'6 however, in separate studies on the strength of poly crystalline and single-crystal films have found no such thickness-strength relationship. The study of thin-film strength is extremely difficult because of the many variables associated with film preparation, handling, and testing. Moreover, the manner of test employed by different investigators has varied quite radically, ranging from simple uniaxial-tension to biaxial-bulge testing. The work reported herein was conducted in order to determine the mechanical behavior of a structural metal when in the form of a vacuum-deposited thin film and to gain some insight into the reasons for the high strengths exhibited by metals having such a con- figuration. In this study a method of test was chosen which would yield results which are easily interpreted and lend themselves to comparison with properties of the same material in bulk form. Moreover, specimen-preparation parameters and film-handling techniques are set forth so that other investigators can properly compare their findings with ours. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES A) Film Preparation. Vacuum deposition was performed in an 18 by 30 in. bell jar using a standard New York Air Brake Co. vacuum station with a 6-in. oil-diffusion pump. Before evaporation the system was pumped to a pressure of less than 2 x 10"5 torr. A shield was employed to protect the substrates from the emission of contaminants during the critical melting and outgassing of the evaporant. The source consisted of from one to six filaments (0.020 in. diam). The length of each filament was about 5 in. and was placed 6 to 8 1/2 in. from the substrate in such a manner that the substrate face was at 90 deg incidence with respect to the evaporant beam. The temperature of the source was 2000"~ during evaporation. The films were deposited onto a substrate arrangement which was composed of four basic components, that is: 1) a 3 by 1 in. glass slide; 2) a 22-mm sq micro cover glass on 1); 3) a 22 by 50 mm micro cover glass coated with collodion on 1); and 4) a stainless-steel sheet mask containing twelve rectangular openings of 1-mm and 2-mm widths and lengths of 5 mm laid over 3). Thus, test specimens of 1-mm and 2-mm widths are deposited onto a collodion substrate which precludes epitaxial effects in the specirnens. 17-le The rectangular cover glass and square cover glass were positioned in such a manner that a strip of film would be evaporated along the length and across the width of the large glass slide. This boundary of evaporated film was used to determine the film thickness by multiple-beam interferometry. The square cover glass was used for X-ray and chemical analyses. Thickness of the deposits was varied by changing the number of filaments used (one to six). The duration of evaporation was 30 sec for each filamgnt which resulted in a deposition rate of 8 to 20A per sec. Evaporations were all performed at room temperature; however, radiant heat from the source raised the substrate temperature to 40" to 60°C. All substrates were cleaned by ultrasonic agitation in a solution of spectranalyzed isopropyl alcohol. Collodion was deposited on the micro cover glass by immersion in solution of collodion in amyl acetate. B) Thickness Control and Measurement. Film

Jan 1, 1963

By George B. Clark

COMMERCIAL strip mining of coal was first begun in the state of Illinois in 1911.1 The annual tonnage of coal produced from coal strip mines in the state was very small until 1924, when the strip mines shipped 1.68 pet of the total state shipping mine tonnage. Since then, strip mines have gradually come into their own by producing a sizable percentage of the coal produced in the state. Table 1 shows the coal tonnage shipped from both underground and strip coal mines in the state of Illinois for selected years. The table illustrates the major role that strip mines play in the state's coal industry. Today, strip mining is generally conducted in areas where the coal seams lie so close to the surface of earth that a stripping method of mining the coal seam is cheaper than an underground method. Strip mining not only recovers 100 pct of the coal deposit, but may also be used as a method of mining large acreages of coal abandoned by the closing of underground mines.

Jan 1, 1949

For the year ending February, 1918 PRESIDENT PHILIP N. MOORE ST. Louis, Mo. PAST PRESIDENTS WILLIAM L. SAUNDERS NEW YORK, N. Y. L. D. RICKETTS, NEW YORK, N. Y. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT SIDNEY J. JENNINGS, NEW YORK, N. Y. TREASURER GEORGE C. STONE, NEW YORK, N. Y. SECRETARY EMERITUS ROSSITER W. RAYMOND,.. NEW YORK, N. Y. SECRETARY BRADLEY STOUGHTON NEW YORK, N. Y.

Jan 3, 1917

By Thomas J. O’Neil

During the past five years, the mining industry has been subjected to new operating constraints that are unprecedented in number, scope, and urgency. The industry must operate in a safer, cleaner manner, yet produce more without large price increases. Compliance with any new sweeping legislation is always difficult-and particularly so in today's adverse economic climate, which is being aggravated by the steady stream of environmental control and tax-reform programs. In effect, while government is unwittingly but surely undercutting the country's productive capabilities, it blames industry for the resulting failure to meet consumer demand. Any such real or alleged failure then brings heightened bitterness from Congress. During the recent energy shortage, for instance, threats of nationalization were ventilated in public along with proposals to abolish the mineral depletion allowance.

Jan 11, 1974

By W. M. Weigel

LESS advances in the technology of non-metallic minerals than for several years past mark 1931, and the cause is easily found. The universal depression and decreased markets for non-metallic as well as other mineral commodities has forced the producers to cut out all unnecessary expense and reduce operating costs to a minimum in order to keep going, even on a reduced output, and to prevent insolvency. The result. has been that but 'little research has been carried on, and such as has been completed has in but few cases been put into commercial practice on account of the expense involved in new equipment and plant changes. The trend in the industry has been more economic than technologic, and the greatest effort put on market studies and sales attempts to expand markets and scrutiny of present operating 'practice leading to reduction of cost of production. This tendency has been increased by highly competitive conditions and the buyer's market which has prevailed and to the fact that price has been a greater factor than quality in placing orders. Only in cases where improvements in technology would immediately and effectively reduce costs or where in special cases there was but little competition with almost a monopoly control has actual technical development taken place.

Jan 1, 1932