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By E. Marcoux, F. Lotfi, A. Belkabir, L. Maacha, A. C. Brown, S. Brunet

"Koudiat Aïcha is a small Zn-Pb-Cu deposit, enclosed in the Visean Sarhlef volcano-sedimentary series of the Moroccan Hercynian Jebilet massif. Base metal mineralization is located between a basal unit consisting of black argillite with arenite intercalations, and an upper unit composed of black argillite with locally fossiliferous calcareous units towards the top. Paraconcordant gabbro sills are present in both the upper and basal units, and the enclosing strata. Three successive phases of deformation linked to regional deformation overprint the volcano-sedimentary rocks and gabbros, as well as the sulfide mineralization.The mineral deposit includes several lenses of massive to semimassive pyrrhotite, 1 to 20 m thick, with a large halo of disseminated sulfide veinlets and sulfide nodules within a zone of intense chlorite alteration in the footwall. The ore mineralogy consists of massive to semimassive pyrrhotite with lesser amounts of sphalerite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, galena, pyrite, and stannite.Lead isotope results (206Pb/204Pb averaging 18.27) suggest that the metals of the Koudiat Aïcha deposit are derived from the volcano-sedimentary host rocks. Sulfur isotopes also indicate a volcano-sedimentary origin, with bacterial reduction of sulfate (d34SCDT = -7.5‰ to -10.5‰). The conditions for sulfide meta-morphic equilibration range from 250° to 330°C (sphalerite and chlorite geothermometers). The gabbroic sills could have been a local heat source for hydrothermal circulation. Based on these geological and mineralogical features, a Besshi-type model seems appropriate for the genesis of the Koudiat Aïcha mineralization.Koudiat Aïcha est un petit dépôt de Zn-Pb-Cu, encaissé dans la série volcano-sédimentaire Viséenne de Sarhlef dans le massif Hercynien de Jebilet au Maroc. La minéralisation en métaux usuels se situe entre une unité basale d’argilite noire interlitée d’arénite et une unité supérieure composée d’argilite noire comprenant localement des calcaires fossilifères près de son sommet. Des sills de gabbro paraconcordants sont présent à la fois dans les unités basale et supérieure, ainsi que dans les strates environnantes. Trois phases de déformation successives associées a la déformation régionale superposent leurs effets sur les roches volcano-sédimentaires, les gabbros, ainsi que la minéralisation sulfurée. Ce gîte comprend plusieurs lentilles de pyrrhotite massive a semimassive de 1 a 20 m d’épaisseur au sein d’un large halo de veinules de sulfures disséminés et en nodules au sein d’une zone intensément chloritisée dans le mur du gisement. Le minerai consiste en pyrrhotite massive à semimassive avec des quantités subordonnées de sphalérite, de chalcopyrite, d’arsénopyrite, de galène, de pyrite, et de stannite. Les résultats de l’analyse des isotopes du plomb (206Pb/204Pb moyen de 18.27) suggèrent que les métaux du gîte Koudiat Aïcha proviennent des roches volcano-sédimentaires encaissantes. Les isotopes du souf¬fre indiquent eux-aussi une origine volcano-sédimentaire, impliquant la réduction bactérienne des sulfates (d34SCDT = -7.5‰ et -10.5‰). L’équilibration métamorphique des sulfures s’est produite entre 250° et 330°C (géothermomètres à sphalérite et chlorite). Les sills de gabbro pourraient avoir été la source de chaleur locale responsable de la circulation hydrothermale. Sur la base de ces caractéristiques géologiques et minéralogiques, il semble approprié d’invoquer un modèle de type pour Besshi pour expliquer la genèse de la minéralisation de Koudiat Aïcha."

Jan 1, 2008

By Kevin G. Stricklin

Introduction Continuous monitoring techniques have been used in the US and abroad for many years. A continuous miner has a monitor that measures methane and automatically gives a warning if the methane exceeds 1%. It deenergizes the continuous mining machine automatically at a maximum concentration of 2%. Main fans are also continually monitored to ensure operation. Alarms may also be given at a remote location should a fan slow or stop. The systems being developed can continuously monitor various gases and equipment throughout the mine and transmit pertinent data to a surface monitoring station. At this station, conditions throughout the mine can be monitored and, in some instances, controlled. These are known as Mine Wide Monitoring Systems (MWMS). History The use of environmental monitoring systems began in 1976 when a federal court approved the petition of modification to use belt air at the face. The first mine to receive a modification did install a system to supplement existing safeguards. Later, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and the US Bureau of Mines (USBM) conducted tests dealing with the use of belt air. Findings from these tests are being used to set guidelines as requirements of a petition. These requirements include: • Velocity of air has to be 0.25 to 1.5 m/sec (50 to 300 fpm); • Monitors will be installed at each belt drive and tailpiece and at intervals not to exceed 610 m (2000 ft); and • An alarm level of 10 ppm, above the ambient level is appropriate. The early uses of environmental monitoring could only be used outby the last open crosscut. That may be a reason for an initial slow growth of these systems. In June 1982, MSHA began evaluating systems that could be used in returns to ensure that monitoring systems being used in areas where permissible equipment is required does not of itself pose an explosion hazard. This is known as the Mine Wide Monitoring Systems Evaluations and Sensor Classification program. The evaluations and classifications granted are based on electric currents and voltages. Use of mine wide monitoring systems The environmental aspect of MWMS in today's coal industry deals with carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH4), and air velocity. Just as all mines are different and encounter different problems, the MWMS are diverse and can be used to provide necessary data in all areas of coal mines. Mine operators in an ultragassy seam, for example, may be concerned with monitoring methane, while a mine that used diesel equipment may want to continuously monitor for diesel contaminants. In a mine with roof fall problems, airflow monitors may be helpful as an indication of whether the air is flowing in its normal course and at its normal volume. Today's MWMS can monitor any or all of these parameters. Most systems can be expanded as mining needs require. For example, a mine is now being monitored for methane and five years from now CO monitoring would help increase safety. It may be possible to use the same system by adding additional equipment. In the US, 30 environmental monitoring systems were installed from May 1985 through May 1986. In 1984 and 1985, there were 38 and 44 environmental monitoring systems in operation, respectively. Due to mine closings, 11 of these are no longer in use. However, the number of mines using environmental monitoring systems increased to 63. Use of these systems are not limited to any geographic area or

Jan 9, 1987

By John F. Gamble

Amphiboles are hydrated mineral silicates five of which occur in asbestiform habits as asbestos grunerite (amosite) asbestos, riebeckite (crocidolite) asbestos, anthophyllite asbestos, tremolite asbestos and actinolite asbestos] and non-asbestiform habits (grunerite, riebeckite, anthophyllite, tremolite and actinolite). The asbestiform varieties are characterized by long, thin fibers while non-asbestiform varieties such as cleavage fragments form short fibers with larger widths. The U.S. regulatory method for counting asbestos fibers (aspect ratio [>]3:1, length [>]5 µm) does not distinguish between asbestos and cleavage fragments. The method biases toward increased counts of non-asbestiform cleavage fragments compared to long, thin asbestos fibers. One consequence of this regulatory approach is that workers can be erroneously classified as exposed to concentrations of asbestos (asbestiform amphiboles) above the U.S. 0.1 f/mL exposure standard when in fact they are not exposed to asbestos at all but non-asbestiform amphibole cleavage fragments. Another consequence is that the known carcinogenic effects of asbestos may be falsely attributed to non-asbestiform amphibole cleavage fragments of the same mineral. The purpose of this review is to assess whether amphibole cleavage fragments pose the same risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma characteristic of amphibole asbestos fibers. We identified three groups of workers exposed to non-asbestiform amphiboles: two groups exposed to grunerite (Homestake gold miners and taconite miners) and one group exposed to industrial talc containing non-asbestiform tremolite and anthophyllite in St. Lawrence County, NY. In addition to assessing strength of association and exposure?response trends in the non-asbestiform amphibole cohorts, comparisons were also made with cohorts exposed to the asbestiform counterpart (positive control) and cohorts exposed to the mineral (e.g. talc) that does not contain amphiboles (negative controls). The cohorts exposed to non-asbestiform amphiboles had no excesses of lung cancer or mesothelioma. Similar results were observed in the negative control groups, in stark contrast to the excess risks of asbestos-related disease found in the asbestos cohorts. The only possible exception is the twofold increased risk of lung cancer where exposure was to industrial talc containing cleavage fragments of tremolite and anthophyllite. However, this risk is not considered attributable to the talc or amphibole cleavage fragments for several reasons. A similar increased risk of lung cancer was found in Vermont talc workers, studied in the same time period. Their exposure was to relatively pure talc. There was no relationship between lung cancer mortality and exposure measured as mg/m3 years and years worked. A case?control study reported that all the lung cancer cases were smokers (or former smokers) and attributed the excess to smoking. There were two mesothelioma cases among the NY State talc workers exposed to cleavage fragments of tremolite and anthophyllite, but talc is not a plausible cause because of too short latency and potential for previous asbestos exposure. The positive controls of tremolite asbestos and anthophyllite asbestos exposed workers showed excess risks of both lung cancer and mesothelioma and positive exposure? response trends. St. Lawrence, NY talc does not produce mesotheliomas in animals while amphibole asbestos does. In sum, the weight of evidence fully supports a conclusion that non-asbestiform amphiboles do not increase the risk of lung cancer or mesothelioma. ©2008 Published by Elsevier Inc. Keywords: Amphiboles; Cleavage fragments; Lung cancer; Mesothelioma; Asbestos; Non-asbestiform amphiboles; Grunerite; Talc

Jan 1, 2007

By S. Mischler, J. Organiscak, S. Klima, C. Seaman

"Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s Pittsburgh Mining Research Division (PMRD) performed comparative testing of six hollow cone water sprays from three manufacturers: static swirl chamber sprays from Spraying Systems (BD-3, BD-5) and Steinen-Hahn (SH-3, SH-5), and movable swirl chamber sprays from Repair King (RK-3, RK-5). Water flow testing was completed at three operating pressures (60, 80, and 100 psig) where both sets of sprays (3-series and 5-series) produced similar water flows, deviating less than 8% from the average water flow rate at each pressure. Airflow induction testing was completed at 80 psig using a hot wire anemometer to take air velocity measurements upstream of the spray nozzles. Respirable dust capture efficiency testing was completed in a 14.5-m3 (512-ft3) closed system dust chamber at 80 psig. The dust capture efficiency ranged from 7.2% to 9.9% for the 3-series nozzles, and from 5.3% to 7.1% for the 5-series nozzles. Sprays were also analyzed using a Cloud Aerosol and Precipitation Spectrometer (CAPS), which uses light scattering to count and size the airborne water droplets from each spray. In both cases, Spraying Systems sprays produced the largest mean droplet size, followed by Steinen-Hahn and Repair King sprays, respectively. INTRODUCTION Coal mine worker overexposure to respirable coal dust continues to be a problem in underground coal mining operations in the United States. The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) now requires coal mine worker respirable dust exposure to be no more than 1.5 mg/m3 average over the actual working shift (CFR 30-70.100, 2016). Potential overexposure to respirable dust by continuous miner, roof bolter, and shuttle car operators may be prevented if proper safety and health practices are implemented as detailed in the mine’s ventilation plan (CFR 30-75.371, 2016). Water sprays are a necessary component of an underground coal mine ventilation plan. They are important on the continuous mining unit for moving air and removing respirable coal dust from the breathable airstream. MSHA requires underground coal mines to include the number, types, location, orientation, operating pressure, and flow rate of operating water sprays in their mine ventilation plans (CFR 30-75.371, 2016). Water sprays can become clogged, requiring the sprays to be properly checked, maintained, and replaced in order to continue meeting the ventilation requirements described in the mine ventilation plan.In an effort to eliminate the problems with spray clogging, Repair King has developed self-cleaning movable swirl chamber hollow cone water sprays (RK-3, RK-5). The spray’s movable swirl chamber is designed to only open when water pressure is applied to the spray nozzle, preventing the nozzle from clogging. Anti-clogging sprays could improve mine production by reducing the amount of time spent servicing clogged sprays. Also, these sprays could improve health and safety of miners since they would continue to suppress and capture dust and continue to move airflow at the face, while a clogged spray loses this ability until it is cleaned or replaced manually. The objective of this research was to assess the comparability of the Repair King sprays with the most commonly used sprays in underground coal mines using performance criteria. An assessment of the sprays self-cleaning or anti-clogging capability was not conducted."

Jan 1, 2017

By C. Zhou, B. Whisner, J. Carr

Proximity Detection Systems (PDSs) are used in the mining industry for protecting mine workers from striking, pinning, and crushing injuries when they work in close proximity to heavy machines such as continuous mining machines (CMMs). Currently all Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) approved PDSs are magnetic field based systems which can be influenced by the presence of wire mesh that is commonly used for supporting roof and ribs in underground coal m ines. In this paper, researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) characterize the influence of the mesh on the performance of magnetic PDSs by measuring the magnetic field difference around a CMM caused by the presence of the mesh. The results show that the magnetic fields are generally enhanced by the mesh which causes the PDS detection zones to be increased correspondingly. It was discovered that the fields around the joints of two mesh sections have the greatest enhancement and thus deserve more attention. In addition, it is found that the presence of mesh can also cause a variation in the generator current. The influence of mesh is characterized by the change in the generator current with respect to the distance between the generator and the mesh. It was found that the generator current change caused by the mesh can be significant (on the order of ten) when the mesh is extremely close to the generator (e.g, less than 1 cm) and is negligible when mesh is relatively far (greater than 0.15 m). The findings in this paper can be used to develop guidelines and best practices to mitigate the influence of mesh on PDSs. INTRODUCTION The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requires operators of underground coal mines to equip place-changing continuous mining machines (CMMs) with proximity detection systems (PDSs) to protect mine workers from striking, pinning and crushing injuries when they work around these heavy machines. Although a variety of technologies can be implemented for proximity detection, the magnetic-field-based PDS that was originally developed at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has shown great effectiveness in challenging mining environments and currently all MSHA-approved PDSs are magnetic-field-based systems. As shown in Figure 1, a magnetic PDS typically includes two major components----the magnetic field generator and the Miner Wearable Component (MWC). Magnetic fields are generated by injecting a high electric current into a ferrite-rod antenna sealed in the generator. The magnetic field strength detected by an MWC varies with the distance between the MWC and the generator. In a typical PDS, multiple generators are mounted on different locations of the machine. The relative location/zone of an MWC is determined based on the field strengths from different generators picked by the MWC. Ideally, for a PDS to work properly in the underground, the magnetic fields generated by the different generators should be stable and not vary with the environment, as the system would interpret any variation of the magnetic field as a result of the distance change between the machine and the miner wearing the MWC. In reality, however, this is not always the case since magnetic fields can be altered by a number of environmental factors such as the presence of steel wire mesh that has been widely used in underground coal mines for supporting roof and ribs In this paper, the influence of mesh on the PDS performance is investigated and the magnetic field change caused by the mesh is measured.

Jan 1, 2019

By M. Hesham El Naggar, Maged A. Abdlrahem

"Hollow bar micropiles have constructional advantages such as: fast and low-noise and low vibration installation process and small installation equipment, which allow access to tight places. In addition, they have efficient load transfer mechanism, which facilitates carrying considerable load in compression and tension. The common practice is to use diameter ratio of drill bit/ hollow bar (Db/Dh) around 2 in their construction, and they are typically designed assuming type B as classified by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). In this paper, the performance and capacity of Hollow bar micropile with different (Db/Dh) ratios are investigated. Full-scale micropiles were installed at a site in Ontario, Canada, and were tested in order to evaluate the uplift performance of Hollow bar micropile with different(Db/Dh) ratios. Two micropiles with two different ratios 2.25 and 3 were constructed and tested. The total length of the micropiles was 6m with embedded length of 5.75m. The soil at the site was primarily medium dense to dense sand. The results of the load tests are presented and discussed. It was found that the uplift capacity of the micropile increased by about 19.5% as Db/Dh increased from 2.25 to 3.INTRODUCTIONMicropile is a small diameter, less than 300 mm, drilled and grouted pile and is typically reinforced according to Federal Highway Administration (FHWA, 2005). The technology of micropile was introduced in North America in 1970’s, but the growth in the east coast of United State was intense compared to all other cities around the globe (Bruce and Nicholson, 1989). Nowadays, micropile construction is used extensively worldwide as a viable solution that offers several advantages such as fast installation in low headroom, minimal disturbance to the adjacent structure efficient load transfer due to high grout to ground bond strength. As the method of grouting has major influence on the grout – ground bond strength, FHWA has classified the micropiles into four categories. Type A: the grout is placed under gravity and no pressure is required. Type B: The grout is typically pressurized under a pressure range from 0.5 to 1 MPa as the temporary casing is withdrawn. Type C: the grout is placed in two-step process. First, the grout is poured under gravity only as in Type A. Before the hardening of the grout, similar grout is pressured of at least 1MPa without the use of packer. Type D: Like Type C, it is a two – step process, the grout is placed under gravity as in Type A and sometimes pressurized as in Type B. After hardening of the initial grout, additional grout is pressurized between 2 to 9 MPa through sleeved pipe by using packers, as many times as needed. According to this classification, hollow bar micropile is usually designated as Type B. However, the construction technique is completely different from Type B. Recently; there is a trend to supplement the four types of micropiles by Type E as represent to hollow bar micropile (Timothy et al, 2012). The construction method of hollow bar micropile involves two main stages which can be performed in one–step process: advancing the drilling bit attached to a threaded hollow bar to the required depth; and pressurizing the grout through nozzles of the drill bit."

Jan 1, 2016

By Shu-cai Zhou

"To understand the solidification behavior of austenitic heat-resistant stainless steel (TP34 7) in rotary electromagnetic-field, the influence of electromagnetic stirring in mold (M-EMS) on solidification structure of TP34 7 heat resistant steel in a round billet continuous casting was investigated based on industrial experiments. The results indicate that the excellent billet solidification structure of TP34 7 heat resistant steel can be obtained with appropriate electromagnetic stirring parameters. The solidification structure of TP34 7 heat resistant steel can be remarkably refmed, central porosity and shrinkage cavity can be remarkably decreased and equiaxed grains zone widens was enlarged. The industrial trials verify that the stirring intensity of TP34 7 heat resistant austenitic stainless steel should be higher comparing with plain carbon steel. Due to a higher viscosity, rotating speed of molten stainless steel was 20-30% lower than that of molten carbon steel in the same magnetic flux density.IntroductionIn recent years, the development of ultra super critical (USC) plants is accelerated by the demands of environment protection and energy saving, and USC plants with steam temperature and pressure conditions in excess of 593°C and 24.lMPa respectively were constructed. To achieve the goal, it is important to develop new materials with excellent high temperature strength, superior resistance to oxidation and corrosion at high temperature. Besides, their cost must be low enough to meet the requirement of plants [ 1]. TP34 7H steel is promising austenitic heat-resistant steel, which is used as superheater/reheater tube material and is extensively used for high temperature components and fossil-fired power plants, and suitable to be used in USC boilers plant. This kind steel contains with about 0. 7%Nb and it keeps higher allowable stress and creep rupture strength than TP304 and TP321H [1-2]. TP347H has conventionally been produced by ingot casting followed by forging and rolling. Recently, in order to decrease the production cost, challenging trials to produce these types of alloys by a continuous casting (CC) process have been attempted. However, the solidification structure of austenitic stainless steel is one of the key issues that attract more attention. Due to the low thermal conductivity of TP347H heat resistant stainless steel (much smaller than that of plain carbon steel), pronounced defects during continuous casting of austenitic heat-resistant steel such as coarse columnar, center porosity and coarse bridging, greatly influence mechanical properties of fmished products.A widely used technique in metallurgy is the inductive drive of molten metals using rotational or traveling magnetic fields. Recently, rotary electromagnetic stirring (EMS) has been applied to reducing various defects and improving increase the solidification structure of the metals in the continuous casting of steel, Al-based alloys and Mg-based alloys [3-8]. Electromagnetic stirring of plain carbon and low alloy steel in the continuous casting bloom and slab is well established for improving the quality of cast products [9-11] and is widely used in industry. However, very few literatures on electromagnetic casting of heat resistant stainless steel have reported. In this work, an industrial plant trial was performed to clarify the effect ofM-EMS on the macroscopic quality ofTP347heat resistant steel billet, in which the regularity and mechanism of the influence of EMS on solidification casting billet were discussed."

Jan 1, 2014

By W. A. Tiller, W. C. Johnston

The solute distribution ahead of an advancing solid-liquid interface is controlled by varying the momentum boundary layer thickness in the liquid adjacent to the interface. Single pass zone-melting experiments on Pb-Sn alloys are described in which the liquid is caused to rotate in the plane of the solid-liquid interface due to the influence of a magnetic .field rotating in this plane. The variation of the diffusion boundary layer thickness with field strength is determined. DURING the freezing of an alloy a partitioning of solute occurs at the solid-liquid interface, the magnitude depending upon the difference in the solid and liquid solubilities at the interface temperature. Because the diffusion coefficient is so small in the liquid relative to normal freezing rates, either a pileup or a depletion of solute occurs at the interface when the partition coefficient, kO, is either less than or greater than unity, respectively. This solute distribution is completely characterized by i) the solute concentration in the liquid far from the interface, C) the ratio of freezing velocityf, to diffusion coefficient, D, iii) the partition coefficient, ko, and iv) the thickness of the diffusion boundary layer, 6,, at the interface (this assumes that an electric field is not applied across the interface). For a particular system, C ko and D are fixed so that the character of the solute distribution can be changed only by a variation of either f or 6c. As is well known, the freezing velocity can be changed by varying the thermal environment of the alloy. Whereas, the thickness of the solute rich layer can be changed by varying the fluid flow conditions in the liquid. It is the purpose of this paper to describe a technique for controlling the fluid flow conditions in the liquid. During most solidification experiments the driving force for fluid flow arises from either mechanical mixing, thermal convection or electromagnetic mixing. The momentum boundary layer thickness, 6m at the solid-liquid interface, within which negligible movement of the liquid occurs, has been calculated for the special case of mechanical mixing where crystals are solidified by the Czochralski technique.l,2 The calculation of 6m for the case of thermal convection has also been made.3 In some calculations it has been assumed that the momentum boundary layer thickness, 6,, may be equated to the thickness of the diffusion boundary layer 6c, at the interface. However, as may be seen from Appendix I this is only true in very special cases and in general where a is a constant of magnitude determined by the particular liquid alloy. Neither calculations nor experimental data exist for the dependence of upon electromagnetic mixing. In this paper experiments are described in which the liquid is caused to rotate in the plane of the interface due to the torque developed on it by a magnetic field, H, rotating in this plane. The variation of is controlled by the variation of H. A magnetic field rotating in a plane perpendicular to the interface has been used for the purification of aluminum. Experimentally, we determined the variation of 5C with H by using the zone-melting technique of pfann5and a theoretical relationship of Burton et a1.2 pfann5 has shown that, after the passage of one molten zone through a long cylindrical charge of uniform concentration, CO, the solute distribution, C,, in the solid is as shown in Fig. 1. The equation describing this distribution is

Jan 1, 1962

By B. H. Bergstram, C. L. Sollenberger

When glass spheres are crushed by slow compression loading, the outer lune-shaped fragments resulting from the fracture consistently fly outward at high velocity. About 45 pct of the strain energy fed into the sphere-platen system reappears in the form of the kinetic energy possessed by these fragments. These measurements were obtained from high-speed photographs. This kinetic energy can be utilized for addtional comminution if the fragments are allowed to impact against a suitable structure. Comminution theory has advanced considerably in recent years by the study of this unit operation under laboratory conditions. Some of the parameters have been isolated, but the experimental measurements of the pertinent quantities, such as energy, particle size, etc., are still only made prior to and after the conclusion of a fracture sequence. The catastrophic fracture process itself has not been adequately studied from a comminution point of view. It has recently been suggested by Gilvarry that the fragments which result from the free crushing of a single glass sphere by slow compression contain a considerable amount of kinetic energy after fracture. This kinetic energy, if properly directed, possibly can be partially utilized to cause additional fracture. In this paper a hypothesis will be presented which suggests that this kinetic energy is necessarily present and that its dissipation is the process by which a large part of the thermal energy imparted to the crushed product is generated. Evidence supporting the existence of kinetic energy and its utilization for secondary fracture will also be presented. THEORETICAL A previous paper4 has shown that the load-deformation curve of a system composed of an elastic sphere gripped by a pair of parallel platens, can be predicted by a consideration of the theories of Hertz as summarized by Timoshenko.' The deformation A, of one half of the system is given by which states that the deformation is a function of the mutually applied load, P, the radius of the sphere, R; and the respective physical properties of Poisson's ratio, v, and Young's modulus of elasticity, Y. The shape of experimental load-deformation curves conform to this relationship. The energy input to the sphere-platen system, can be predicted from the integral of the load acting through the appropriate distance, dA. Since dA can be evaluated in terms of P from the derivative of Eq. 1, this integral can be integrated between limits of 0 and P. The test sphere, however, is loaded at not one but at two points of contact, i.e., at both ends of a diameter, and hence the total energy input, E, is twice the energy input at each end, or The energy input to the system calculated from this equation corresponds to the energy computed from the measured area under the load-deformation curve. Timoshenko, considering the impact of two perfectly elastic spheres, has shown that the inter-penetration distance A is given by - m f (D (^ * ^t w as modified for the special case where one sphere is of infinite radius, i.e., its surface is a plane; where M is the mass of the finite sphere of radius R, and V is the velocity of approach at the start of an impact and also equals the final velocity of separation for perfectly elastic bodies. Because A is also a function of the load and the elastic properties, as shown in Eq. 1, the velocity, V, can also be calculated in terms of the elastic properties and maximum load, P, or

Jan 1, 1961

By J. W. Evans

ONE of the most important and frequent calculations that the extractive metallurgist is called upon to make is that of the standard free energy change of a reaction (?F°). For many reactions of metallurgical interest, the lengthy arithmetical calculations have been eliminated by the use of free energy-temperature diagrams which have been constructed by Ellingham,1 Richardson and Jeffes,2 Kellogg,3 and Osborn4 (e.g., for oxides, sulphides, halides) from critical surveys of existing data. The speed and simplicity of making calculations with these graphs make them of great practical value and, this should be stressed, in the majority of cases no greater accuracy is obtained by the individual calculations from specific heat data, entropies, and heats of reaction. With the increasing industrial application of vacuum methods to the winning of metals, notably at present magnesium and the alkaline earth metals, it is necessary to calculate low metal vapor pressures above reaction mixtures. The existing free energy diagrams usually give values where the solid and liquid metals are at unit activity. To obtain the free energy change associated with the reaction Metal (solid or liquid) = Metal (gas) it is customary to calculate this from either vapor pressure equations or from the appropriate free energy functions. This paper presents graphically the free energies of vaporization of a number of metals of economic importance which can be used in conjunction with other free energy diagrams. Certain metals have been excluded on the following grounds: titanium, tungsten, molybdenum, and platinum have very high heats of vaporization and boiling points and the uncertainty of these values arising from difficulties of high temperature measurements makes free energy values of doubtful accuracy; the data for cobalt, vanadium, and zirconium are uncertain; finally, arsenic, antimony, and bismuth could not be conveniently included. because of the presence of mixtures of polyatomic and mona-tomic vapors in the temperature range considered. Free Energy Diagram In Fig. 1, the standard free energies of vaporization per mol (?F°T) have been plotted for the temperature range 0" to 2000°C for the reaction M (solid or liquid) = M (gas) The data have been obtained from the free energy functions — (F-H298)/T for the solid, liquid, and gaseous elements and the heats of vaporization at 298°K, i.e., ?H298 (vapor). The values of these functions have been taken without change from the recent critical survey by Brewer;' the bulk of this data is from Kelley7 with adjustments in the light of more recent work. Values of the function — (F-H298) /T at T = 298°, 500°, 1000°, 1500°, and 2000°K were employed. Where possible, a further independent value was obtained by using the boiling point, i.e., where ?F°T = 0. All calculations are based on the assumption that the metal vapors are monatomic and that the boiling points refer to those temperatures at which the partial pressure of the monatomic vapor above the metal is 760 mm. For the alkali metals, e.g., sodium, potassium, and lithium, diatomic gas molecules are present as minor species; details of these are discussed by Brewer." On the basis of the above values and allowing for the change in slope at the melting point, straight line graphs were constructed and extrapolated to 2000°C. The deviation from a straight line did not exceed ±500 cal, which in all cases appears less than the probable error in the ?F°T values.

Jan 1, 1954

By P. H. Metzger, D. W. Fuerstenau

The activation of sphalerite was found to occur at a much lower rate with Pb++ then with Cut++ or Ag+. To prevent activation with Pb++, the ratio [m in solution must approximate 103. An example is given illustrating how this condition is met in practice through the addition of zinc sulfate and soda ash. In selective lead-zinc flotation, the mill operator, especially the one who is concentrating a partially oxidized ore, often must add zinc sulfate and/or soda ash for effective depression of the sphalerite. In the present paper the authors show how this practice prevents the activation of sphalerite in the presence of Pb++. A number of years ago Gaudin (1) postulated that Zn++ might control the activation of sphalerite with Pb++ through competitive adsorption. However, recent experimentation has shown the activation of sphalerite with Ag+ and Cut++ to be a chemical reaction in which silver or copper ions replace zinc in the sphalerite lattice through the formation of a more insoluble sul-fide (2,3,4) Thus, if activation with Pb++ is similar to that with Ag+ or Cu t+, zinc salts should control the activation of sphalerite not through competitive adsorption but because the ratio of [zn++/Pb++] in solution regulates the extent of the chemical exchange between Zn++ and Pb++ in the solid phase. The objective of this investigation has been to study the kinetics and equilibrium conditions for the uptake of Pb++ by sphalerite and to investigate the prevention of lead activation with zinc salts. BASIC PRINCIPLES Sphalerite activation has been shown to be a replacement reaction wherein a less soluble compound is formed at the expense of the more soluble zinc sul-fide (2,3,4) For example, if sphalerite is placed in an aqueous silver nitrate solution, ZnS gives to the solution more S= than can exist together with Ag+, and hence the following reaction takes place: ZnS + 2 Ag+? Ag2 S + Zn ++; k = [zn ++]/[Ag ++]2 = 10 26 (1) Therefore, ZnS will dissolve in the presence of Ag+ and activation of sphalerite with Ag+ will proceed after monolayer coverage by solid state diffusion until equilibrium conditions are reached in the system (2, 4) Because of the large difference in the solubility of ZnS and Ag2S, zinc salts cannot affect the reaction unless a complexing agent, such as cyanide ions, is present to complex Ag+ more tightly than Zn++ . By complexing Ag+ and Zn++ in solution, the uptake of Ag+ by sphalerite can be regulated by controlling the ratio m. . Experimentally (2) it was found that the activation of sphalerite by Ag+ could be prevented through the addition of NaCN if this ratio reached a value of approximately 10 26. The mechanism of sphalerite activation with copper salts is given by the following reactions: ZnS + Cu ++ ? CuS + Zn + + ; (2) k = [Zn++]/[Cu++] = 10 11 ZnS + Cu + ? Cu2S+ Zn++; (3) Experimentally Mao (3) found that the activation of sphalerite with Cu++ or Cu + was prevented if the ratios expressed in Equations 2 and 3 were approximately l09 and l022, respectively, with cyanide ions as the deactivator. Although zinc salts do not affect the activation of sphalerite with silver or copper ions in the absence of a complexing agent, activation with lead ions theoretically can be controlled by the addition of zinc salts because of the relatively small differences between the solubility of ZnS and PbS (5). Equilibrium

Jan 1, 1961

By W. H. Triplett

DISCUSSION John G. Barry (Mexico)—"The Nerinea limestone," writes W. H. Triplett, p. 584, "is ... medium-bedded (0.5 to 1.0 m)...." This is the Zuloaga formation. It has always been described as thick-bedded (1.0 to 3.0 m). "Whether the marls and shales were less amenable to replacement," he goes on to say, ". . . is a matter of opinion." In general, it is probable that the thinner-bedded formations were less competent than the nearby thicker-bedded, so that the latter produced pre-mineral breccias when all were subjected to flexing stresses. With reference to Mr. Triplett's analysis, p. 584, under Lower Cretaceous, in the Taraises and Cupido formations some few horizons should be considered as possibly containing hidden orebodies. In the Potrero camp, shown on the general map in the northwestern part of Fig. 4, p. 587, several mineralized beds are known; they are found throughout the whole thickness of the Cuesta del Cura formation. With regard to intrusive rocks, p. 585, the general map, Fig. 4, shows that the Potrero and Noche Buena camps are near a third, monzonitic intrusive. It seems doubtful that the Aranzazu was any hotter than the Providencia camp. However, the former does contain large deposits of exogenetic silicates, which in large part occur within the Zuloaga limestone, as shown by Bergeats in a stereogram. At the Aranzazti camp the La Caja formation was only slightly changed, whereas it was altered highly at the Providencia, possibly en-dogenetically. That the temperatures at the Providencia camp were relatively high at one time is also shown by the tourmaline veinlets and lenses in the monzonite and by the garnets on Temeroso peak; high temperature mineralization has possibly been eroded. Maps and sections show that the Concepcion del Oro —Temeroso stock occupies the original locus of some 40 kms of sedimentary rocks. The remains of large roof pendants at Carmen and Animas indicate that stoping was active. Whether all the sedimentaries were stoped and assimilated presents a lively problem, a correlative of which would be an estimate of the original constitution of the invading instrusive rock. As to extrusive rocks, see p. 585, there is also a large thick area of the extrusives left near Noche Buena in the "La Caja" intramontane valley of the La Caja range. This place gave its name to the range. The volcanics are also said to occur in considerable amount in the Mazapil valley.'' Turning now to the remarks under Regional Structure, p. 586, as partly indicated on the general map, Fig. 4, the Mazapil Mountains of the Mazapil region are a continuous, U-shaped range including a northern leg of some 24 km, a southern leg of similar length, and a uniting base which lies to the East and which measures some 10 km in a S 20 E direction. Thus the U-shaped mountains are continuous through a length of 58 km and also contain one continuous anticline, the adjacent valleys being synclinal. The northern leg of the U is called the La Caja range, the base is called the Concepcion del Oro range, and the southern leg the Santa Rosa range. The ranges in northeastern Zacatecas and southern Coahuila contain anticlines and the valleys contain synclines, which where thin are necessarily highly compressed isoclines with very steep dips. Many of the anticlines also have isoclinal components which are overturned, original mushroom tops being indicated. The anticline in the base of the U of the Mazapil Region, Concepcion del Oro range, is a recumbent anticline, over to the ENE, with a necessarily subjacent recumbent syncline.

Jan 1, 1953

By W. H. Triplett

DISCUSSION John G. Barry (Mexico)—"The Nerinea limestone," writes W. H. Triplett, p. 584, "is ... medium-bedded (0.5 to 1.0 m)...." This is the Zuloaga formation. It has always been described as thick-bedded (1.0 to 3.0 m). "Whether the marls and shales were less amenable to replacement," he goes on to say, ". . . is a matter of opinion." In general, it is probable that the thinner-bedded formations were less competent than the nearby thicker-bedded, so that the latter produced pre-mineral breccias when all were subjected to flexing stresses. With reference to Mr. Triplett's analysis, p. 584, under Lower Cretaceous, in the Taraises and Cupido formations some few horizons should be considered as possibly containing hidden orebodies. In the Potrero camp, shown on the general map in the northwestern part of Fig. 4, p. 587, several mineralized beds are known; they are found throughout the whole thickness of the Cuesta del Cura formation. With regard to intrusive rocks, p. 585, the general map, Fig. 4, shows that the Potrero and Noche Buena camps are near a third, monzonitic intrusive. It seems doubtful that the Aranzazu was any hotter than the Providencia camp. However, the former does contain large deposits of exogenetic silicates, which in large part occur within the Zuloaga limestone, as shown by Bergeats in a stereogram. At the Aranzazti camp the La Caja formation was only slightly changed, whereas it was altered highly at the Providencia, possibly en-dogenetically. That the temperatures at the Providencia camp were relatively high at one time is also shown by the tourmaline veinlets and lenses in the monzonite and by the garnets on Temeroso peak; high temperature mineralization has possibly been eroded. Maps and sections show that the Concepcion del Oro —Temeroso stock occupies the original locus of some 40 kms of sedimentary rocks. The remains of large roof pendants at Carmen and Animas indicate that stoping was active. Whether all the sedimentaries were stoped and assimilated presents a lively problem, a correlative of which would be an estimate of the original constitution of the invading instrusive rock. As to extrusive rocks, see p. 585, there is also a large thick area of the extrusives left near Noche Buena in the "La Caja" intramontane valley of the La Caja range. This place gave its name to the range. The volcanics are also said to occur in considerable amount in the Mazapil valley.'' Turning now to the remarks under Regional Structure, p. 586, as partly indicated on the general map, Fig. 4, the Mazapil Mountains of the Mazapil region are a continuous, U-shaped range including a northern leg of some 24 km, a southern leg of similar length, and a uniting base which lies to the East and which measures some 10 km in a S 20 E direction. Thus the U-shaped mountains are continuous through a length of 58 km and also contain one continuous anticline, the adjacent valleys being synclinal. The northern leg of the U is called the La Caja range, the base is called the Concepcion del Oro range, and the southern leg the Santa Rosa range. The ranges in northeastern Zacatecas and southern Coahuila contain anticlines and the valleys contain synclines, which where thin are necessarily highly compressed isoclines with very steep dips. Many of the anticlines also have isoclinal components which are overturned, original mushroom tops being indicated. The anticline in the base of the U of the Mazapil Region, Concepcion del Oro range, is a recumbent anticline, over to the ENE, with a necessarily subjacent recumbent syncline.

Jan 1, 1953

By D. M. Bodily, V. J. Hucka

INTRODUCTION Interest in the recovery of methane from coalbeds has increased rapidly over recent years, because of its potential as an energy resource and to alleviate pollution and safety problems. The resource base of coalbed methane in the United States has been estimated at 11.2 Gm3, roughly equivalent to 20 years consumption (Mroz et al., 1983; Kuuskraa and Brandenburg, 1989). Methane contributes to the adverse environmental impacts of global warming, tropospheric ozone formation (smog), and potentially stratospheric ozone destruction. Association of methane with coal has always presented a safety problem in mines due to the potential for explosions. The rate of release of methane depends on the amount adsorbed by the coal, the adsorption isotherm for the coal, and the size of the coal particles. Mining operations can affect the particle size distribution and the production of fines and therefore the rate of release. The time the mined coal remains in the mine may also be important in determining total emissions. The methane content of some Utah coals was determined in this study. The methane content of the coals is compared with the chemical and physical properties of the coals and the properties of the seam and neighboring strata. Correlations are developed to better understand the formation and retention of methane by these coal seams. METHANE FORMATION IN COALBEDS Three mechanisms for methane formation may be considered: (1) nonbiogenic formation, (2) formation by anaerobic bacteria during plant material deposition and the early stages of diagenesis, and (3) formation from pyrolysis of coal material during coal maturation. Nonbiogenic formation by thermal processes involving carbon- and hydrogen-containing compounds has been proposed as a mechanism for methane formation in the earth. It is not likely to be of importance where other fossil fuel materials are present. Coal would not survive the temperatures required and hence the methane would need to migrate and be trapped by the coal seam. This mechanism is unlikely for coalbed methane. Formation of methane by anaerobic bacteria undoubtedly occurs during coalification, but the methane may not be trapped until the pore system of the coal is developed, and would likely be displaced by methane formed during further coalification. Methane formed by maturation of the coal material as it progresses from peat to coals of various rank is the most probable mechanism for the formation of coalbed methane. Most of the methane is adsorbed onto the walls of microvoids in coal. It has been estimated that the surface area of one kilogram of coal is between 20,000 m2 to 200,000 m2. Surface area measurements depend on the coal and also on the method of measurement. At 20 atmospheres, in some coals, the adsorbed methane is 10 times greater than methane as a free gas. At 100 atmospheres the adsorbed gas can be as densely packed as a liquid. The volume of methane gas held in coal depends on the volume of gas that exists as a free gas and the adsorbed gas capacity. The volume of free gas in the coal can be calculated from the kinetic theory of gases (methane can be assumed to be an ideal gas because errors would not be greater than 1 % for normal mining pressures). Langmuir (1916) derived an equation for the adsorption of gases on uniform surfaces and this is applied to the adsorption of methane on coal:

Jan 1, 1993

By J. D. Stone, I. D. Brumby, J. D. Inch, C. J. Beukes

A. Continuous miners, and their operation at Bosjesspruit Colliery J. D. INCH*, B.Sc. (Min.), M. I. Min. E. (Visitor) A brief description is given of the main types of continuous miner and their incidence of application in South Africa. Definitions and descriptions of the design parameters and components of the main cutting head are given. together with an outline of the modifications carried out to improve machine cutting performance. An account is given of experience with the application of water infusion to suppress airborne dust during continuous-miner operations. B. The selection and performance of continuous miners at Matla Coal by J. D. STONE, B.Sc. Eng. (Min.,) M.B.L. (Graduate) The reasons for the choice of continuous miners for the development of accesses and the winning of coal in a modern underground coal mine are discussed. It is shown that, at relatively low depths, the extraction rate as well as the costs are more favourable than those of proved total extraction methods. The selection of a continuous miner is largely dictated by factors such as production rate, capital and running costs, imported content and the extent to which local content and manufacturing are to be increased, manpower requirements, seam thickness, expected floor and roof conditions, and maximum cutting height. The present inherent shortcomings of continuous miners, such as inefficient continuous transportation of coal away from the miner and the lack of an infinitely variable traction to match the sumping speed with the feasible penetration speed, are pointed out. Specific problems encountered and the methods of solving them, as well as a planned trial with a heavy-duty continuous miner, are discussed. C. Continuous mining within the Tavistock Group of collieries I. D. BRUMBY.Dip. Min. (Visitor) The Tavistock Group of collieries is situated some 25 km south of Witbank. The three collieries comprising the Group are Tavistock Colliery, Phoenix Colliery, and South Witbank Coal Mines. Continuous mining is practised to some degree at all three collieries. This system of mining was introduced at Phoenix during 1976, South Witbank during 1978, and Tavistock during 1979. For the twelve months ended June 1979, continuous mining accounted for 1,7 Mt of the 4,5 Mt hauled from underground. All the continuous miners introduced to date have been of the rotary-drum type. D. Pillar extraction at Usutu Collieries using continuous miners by c. J. BEUKES(Visitor) In 1969 Usutu Collieries began pillar extraction with conventional mechanized equipment. This was very successful, but certain disadvantages could be eliminated if continuous miners were used instead. In 1976 the first continuous miner was introduced for this purpose; this proved so successful that a second unit was introduced in 1977, and pillar extraction by conventional equipment was discontinued. By the end of 1978, 1,3 Mt had been mined from pillar extraction by continuous miners. This paper describes the method in some detail, and indicates that the operational costs are lower than for conventional bord-and-pillar mining. Defect solid state A one-day multidisciplinary symposium entitled 'The Defect Solid State '80' will be held under the auspices of the Solid State Physics and Materials Science Subcommittee of the South African Institute of Physics at the University of the Witwatersrand on Monday, 14th July, 1980, following the Twenty-fifth Annual Conference of the South African Institute of Physics.

Jan 1, 1980

By G. R. Belton, Y. K. Rao

A galvanic cell, using liquid MgCl2 or MgC12-CaC12 mixtures as the electrolyte, has been used to determine activities in Mg-A1 liquid alloys between 700' and 880°C. The incovporation of a chlorine electrode in the cell also allowed measurements to be made of the standard free energy of formation of MgCl2(l). The results are shown to be in good agreement with thermo-chetrlical values from the literature, and this is taken as evidence that the small, known solubility of magnesium in iMgCl2 introduces no significant error in galcanic cell measurements. Within experimental error, the activity coefficients and relative partial molar enthalpies at 800°C are shown to be represented by the following "subregular" solution equations: logy~~ =-0.68(1 -xMgj3 log yAL =-1.02(1 - XMf + 0.68(1 - XMf H.M = -4400(1 - %)3 / cal Mg 7Ag' HZ =-6600(1 - xA1)' + 4400(1 - XMf cal SCHNEIDER and toll' have used a transpiration technique to measure the vapor pressures of magnesium over Mg-A1 alloys between 544" and 594°C. amsstad,' however, has since suggested that the extrapolation to zero flow rate, used by these authors in interpreting their apparent pressure vs flow rate data, gives unreliable results. Rogers, Tomlinson, and Richardson,3 in interpreting the results of solution equilibria between Mg-A1 alloys and liquid MgC12, also considered the measurements of Schneider and Stoll to be unreliable and preferred to derive activities for the alloys from the earlier boiling point determinations of ~eit~ebel~ and the partial molar heats recommended by Kubaschewski and ~atterall.~ These latter heats were based substantially on the early calorimetric work of Kawa-kami but, unfortunately, his work on other systems has sometimes been found to be inaccurate.7 Rogers et al., in the above-mentioned paper,3 tentatively concluded that the most likely species responsible for the limited solubility (0.3 mole pct at 800°C) of magnesium in MgC12 were Mg° (neutral) and Mg2++. Two more recent studies8,9 have supported Mg2++ as the soluble species. In the present study, activities in Mg-A1 alloys have been determined by means of a galvanic cell involving liquid MgCl2 or MgC12CaCl, mixtures as the electrolyte. Since the reactive nature of magnesium precluded simple Faraday yield experiments, a chlorine electrode was incorporated in the cell in order that the performance of the cell could be checked by measurements of the heat and free energy of formation of MgC12. This procedure was considered necessary since it has been suggested1' that the solubility of a metal in a molten salt might introduce electronic conductivity; also, previous determinations of the standard electrode potential for MgC12 differed by as much as 70 mv11-13 EXPERIMENTAL Materials. Analyses of the materials used in preparing the alloys and the electrolyte mixtures are presented in Table I. The alloys were prepared by induction melting weighed amounts of the metals in a graphite crucible held under an argon atmosphere. Pure anhydrous magnesium chloride was prepared by heating the mixture MgCl, . 6H20 +NH4C1(1:1) to 650°C, followed by melting under dry argon. The melting point of the dry MgC12 was found by differential thermal analysis to be 714.8oC, which compares well with the accepted value of 714C.14 This agreement was taken to be an indication of the high purity of the dried salt. Table I. Compositions of Materials, wt pn Impurity Mg Al MgCI2 CaCI, Ba - - 0.005 Ca - - 0.010 Cu 0.02 0.02 Fe - 0.10 0.001 0.010 Pb 0.01 - 0.001 0.005 Mn 0.15 0.001 Si - 0.10 Sr - - 0.005 MBSO* - 0.040 ARGON TUNGSTEN CHLORINE LEAD—411 11 II ALUMINA 'A I / ave GRAPHITE on irA~_ ( ^"l ROD MAGNESIUM S>ILICA~^ /, OR ALLOY-. I /A] ___________ -«^- _ ELECTROLYTE I y FRITTED DISCS Fig. l—Arrangement of chlorine and metal electrodes in electrolytic cell.

Jan 1, 1970

By V. Rajaram

R.K. Leininger, N.R. Hasenmueller, and D.D. Carr The content of the paper by V. Rajaram does not fulfill the expectations of the title. But Rajaram submitted the article in October 1983, and he could not have foreseen the numerous developments that would occur before his paper was published more than two years later. Nevertheless, Rajaram failed to mention the interest in oil shale development in southern Indiana beginning in late 1979 and continuing through the present as a result of special financial encouragement of three oil shale projects in May and August 1984 by the Indiana Energy Development Board and the Indiana Corp. for Science and Technology. A session at the 1985 Eastern Oil Shale Symposium in Lexington, KY, Nov. 18-20, 1985, gave the current status of oil shale developments in the eastern United States. Speakers at this session reported on the three Indiana projects. First, Gary D. Aho, Cliffs Engineering Inc., spoke on a feasibility study by Cliffs Engineering and Allis Chalmers for a site-specific pilot plant using the Allis Chalmers process. The plant site is in Clark County, IN, on property of the Midwest Energy Resources Co. The project is funded by $240,908 each from the Indiana Energy Development Board/Corp. for Science and Technology (EDB/CST) and the US Department of Energy (DOE) and $120,454 from the corporate sponsors (total $602,270). Completion is scheduled for mid-1986. Next, Edwin M. Piper, Stone and Webster Engineering Corp., discussed the American Syn-Crude/Indiana Oil Shale Project. This effort followed the completion of two smaller projects funded by the Indiana EDB/ CST: "Testing of Indiana Oil Shale in a Petrosix Pilot Plant" (total funding by EDB/CST at $50,000) and "Assessment of the Petrosix Process for an Indiana Shale Oil Plant" (total funding by EDB/CST at $100,000). The status at the time of the report at the Oil Shale Symposium was that a request for an extension of time for securing nonfederal support had been submitted to the US Synfuels Corp. The proposal included building an 11-m (36-ft) diam retort in southeastern Indiana to process the New Albany Shale and to produce 366 m3 (2300 bbl) of shale oil per day by the PETROSIX process. The Indiana EDB/CST had contracted with Stone and Webster at $401,100 from EDB/CST and $245,835 from Stone and Webster for activities to advance the project in the negotiations with Synfuels Corp. At the time of the report, this project was the only eastern oil shale proposal that was still on the agenda of the Synfuels Corp. As a result of Congressional action in late December 1985, federal support from the Synfuels Corp. is no longer possible. Finally, Victor H. Carr, Eastern Shale Research Corp., described his firm's project, which is jointly supported by DOE ($227,749) and the Indiana EDB/ CST ($73,850) and is entitled "Feasibility Study to Determine Suitability of an In-Situ Process to Recover Hydrocarbons from Eastern Shale." An area in Scott County, IN, had been chosen, but not a specific 9 x 15-m (30 x 50-ft) site. One burn of a small in situ retort is contemplated as part of the project. Besides these three projects, several reports on shale research were presented. Joseph Damukaitis, American Syn-Crude Corp., reported that a pilot plant using the hydrogenation-extraction (H-E) process (described at the 1984 Eastern Oil Shale Symposium) was 94% built and would go through shakedown with oil shale but would then shift mechanical devices to process coal mine waste. Current status of research on the HYTORT process was then presented by Raymond C. Rex, Jr. Oil shale beneficiation research at the University of Alabama/Minerals Research Institute was reported by R. Bruce Tippin. Scott D. Carter discussed continued research on fluidized-bed retort¬ing of shale at the Kentucky Center for Energy Research Laboratory. Carl E. Roosmagi of DOE, Morgantown, reported on the oil shale research at the Morgantown Energy Technology Center (METC) laboratory. Henry J. Gomberg, Ann Arbor Nuclear Inc., discussed "Radiation Combined with Donor Solvents for Extraction and Up-Grading of Kerogen." Aurora M. Rubel and coauthor Eileen Davis presented results of research at the Kentucky Center for Energy Research Laboratory under the title "The Effect of Shale Particle Size on the Products from the Bench Scale Fixed Bed Steam Pyrolysis of Kentucky Sunbury Shale." Lastly, Maria Rockwell, Technical University of Nova Scotia, presented "Processing and Up-Grading of Low Grade Nova Scotia Oil Shale for Potential Use." A review of shale oil prospects by Gerald Parkinson in Chemical Engineering for Feb. 3, 1986, covers both western and eastern projects and includes a report that the US DOE is funding a few relatively small projects; most of the fiscal 1986 budget of $12 million for shale oil is for fundamental research. Projects include a $3.2 million three-year contract with Hycrude Corp. (Chicago) for development of the HYTORT process and a $1.2 million three-year contract with the University of Alabama's Mineral Resources Institute on beneficiation of eastern oil shale by froth flotation. The report incorrectly states that current projects include a total investment of $466 million in a pair of 18-month technical and economic feasibility studies for proposed projects in southern Indiana. The correct figure is $468,657 [$240,908 for the Cliffs Engineering/

Jan 10, 1986

By M. R. J. Wyllie

The relationship between the electromotive force (E.M.F.) across a shale barrier and the concentrations of sodium chloride solutions on either side has been investigated. It is shown that the action of a shale barrier is analogous to a glass membrane separating two acid solutions of different hydrogen ion concentrations. The shale behaves as a sodium electrode and is responsive to the activities of the sodium ions in the two solutions in such a way that the potential can be calculated by means of the Nernst equation. This conclusion is confirmed by laboratory experiments. In a borehole the total E.M.F. of a shale cell is the algebraic sum of the ~otential across the shale and a boundary potential. The relationship between total E.M.F. and the resistivity ratio of two sodium chloride solutions is indicated for a number of formation temperatures. The E.M.F. thus predicted is then compared with the .elf potential read from an electric log and good agreement is demonstrated. Based on both the self potential and resistivity curves of the electrical log. a method is given for calculating connate water content in a bed having in-tergranular porosity and containing both connate water and hydrocarbons. INTRODUCTION The first paper on electrical well logging by C. and M. Schlumberger and E. G. Leonardon in 1934' attributed the self potential curve principally to streaming potentials, i.e. to electroki-netic effects. Almost immediately great difficulties were encountered in reconciling many of the curves they obtained with this interpretation. and a ~econd paper' by the same authors soon appeared. In this second paper self potentials were attributed to the combined effects of streaming potentials and electrochemical potentials, the electrochemical potential being considered the result mainly of the interaction of fluids of differing salt concentrations, i.e. a boundary potential, and partly of potentials set up at the faces of impermeable materials. Some experiments involving a gray clay for the impermeable material were quated. The Schlumbergers and Leonardon deduced from the equation for a simple boundary ~otential that the electrochemical potential, as opposed to the electrokinetic potential, could be expressed in the form E=Klog- .......1 pe where K is a constant, pm the mud resistivity. p, the resistivity of the connate water in a porous bed. However, no general expression for the constant K was obtained. Although the literature between 1934 and 1943 contains a number of quotations of their results, the valuable work of the Schlumbergers and Leonardon was not extended so that the electrochemical potential has been generally attributed wholly to boundary potentials between the mud in the borehole and the connate waters in porous formations. Unfortunately, however, the fundamental premise of all these papers, that a boundary potential can give rise to current flow in a borehole, is thermodynamically untenable. As will be shown. the fact that the electrochemical potential can be fairly accurately express as E = K log pm/pc, a form in which a boundary potential may also be written, is partly fortuitous. The boundary potential is indeed an integral part of the expression for the electrochemical potential in a horehole, but in magnitude it represents only about 20% of the total potential. In 1943 an important step in the elucidation of electrochemical potentials was made by Mounce and Rust3 who showed that if a wall of shale separated two compartments which contained saline solutions of different concentrations, and if the two solutions were themselves brought into contact in the pores of a porous inert membrane (such as unglazed porcelain) a current flowed through the shale and saline solutions. The direction of positive current was from the shale into the more dilute solution. The paper of Mounce and Rust, while repeating some of the observations of the Schlumbergers and Leonardon, seems to be the first to show that the shale was the seat of a genuine electrochemical effect capable of causing current flow. In the same paper Mounce and Rust pointed out the similarity between the fundamental conditions of their experiment and the conditions which existed when a bed of shale in the ground was simultaneously in contact with a porous sand containing saline connate water and mud fluid of salinity different from that of the water in the sand. Since it is now generally recognized that the S.P. curve measures ohmic potential changes in the mud fluid in the well bore resulting from changes in current flow, it is apparent that currents having their origin in the electrochemical interaction of mud filtrate and connate waters with shale beds are a very important portion of the total S.P. The work of Mounce and Rusta and others appears to indicate that, in general, the electrochemical portion of a particular kick on a S.P. curve far exceeds any electrokinetic potentials resulting either from streaming potentials or Dorn effects. The Dorn effect, or sedimentation potential. arises when small particles are allowed to fall through certain fluids under the influence of gravity. a difference of potential being observe? between two electrodes placed at different levels in the stream of falling particles. The Dorn effect is unlikely to affect seriously the S.P. curve as now measured. A successful analysis of the electrochemical aspects of the S.P. log should

Jan 1, 1949

By M. R. J. Wyllie

The relationship between the electromotive force (E.M.F.) across a shale barrier and the concentrations of sodium chloride solutions on either side has been investigated. It is shown that the action of a shale barrier is analogous to a glass membrane separating two acid solutions of different hydrogen ion concentrations. The shale behaves as a sodium electrode and is responsive to the activities of the sodium ions in the two solutions in such a way that the potential can be calculated by means of the Nernst equation. This conclusion is confirmed by laboratory experiments. In a borehole the total E.M.F. of a shale cell is the algebraic sum of the ~otential across the shale and a boundary potential. The relationship between total E.M.F. and the resistivity ratio of two sodium chloride solutions is indicated for a number of formation temperatures. The E.M.F. thus predicted is then compared with the .elf potential read from an electric log and good agreement is demonstrated. Based on both the self potential and resistivity curves of the electrical log. a method is given for calculating connate water content in a bed having in-tergranular porosity and containing both connate water and hydrocarbons. INTRODUCTION The first paper on electrical well logging by C. and M. Schlumberger and E. G. Leonardon in 1934' attributed the self potential curve principally to streaming potentials, i.e. to electroki-netic effects. Almost immediately great difficulties were encountered in reconciling many of the curves they obtained with this interpretation. and a ~econd paper' by the same authors soon appeared. In this second paper self potentials were attributed to the combined effects of streaming potentials and electrochemical potentials, the electrochemical potential being considered the result mainly of the interaction of fluids of differing salt concentrations, i.e. a boundary potential, and partly of potentials set up at the faces of impermeable materials. Some experiments involving a gray clay for the impermeable material were quated. The Schlumbergers and Leonardon deduced from the equation for a simple boundary ~otential that the electrochemical potential, as opposed to the electrokinetic potential, could be expressed in the form E=Klog- .......1 pe where K is a constant, pm the mud resistivity. p, the resistivity of the connate water in a porous bed. However, no general expression for the constant K was obtained. Although the literature between 1934 and 1943 contains a number of quotations of their results, the valuable work of the Schlumbergers and Leonardon was not extended so that the electrochemical potential has been generally attributed wholly to boundary potentials between the mud in the borehole and the connate waters in porous formations. Unfortunately, however, the fundamental premise of all these papers, that a boundary potential can give rise to current flow in a borehole, is thermodynamically untenable. As will be shown. the fact that the electrochemical potential can be fairly accurately express as E = K log pm/pc, a form in which a boundary potential may also be written, is partly fortuitous. The boundary potential is indeed an integral part of the expression for the electrochemical potential in a horehole, but in magnitude it represents only about 20% of the total potential. In 1943 an important step in the elucidation of electrochemical potentials was made by Mounce and Rust3 who showed that if a wall of shale separated two compartments which contained saline solutions of different concentrations, and if the two solutions were themselves brought into contact in the pores of a porous inert membrane (such as unglazed porcelain) a current flowed through the shale and saline solutions. The direction of positive current was from the shale into the more dilute solution. The paper of Mounce and Rust, while repeating some of the observations of the Schlumbergers and Leonardon, seems to be the first to show that the shale was the seat of a genuine electrochemical effect capable of causing current flow. In the same paper Mounce and Rust pointed out the similarity between the fundamental conditions of their experiment and the conditions which existed when a bed of shale in the ground was simultaneously in contact with a porous sand containing saline connate water and mud fluid of salinity different from that of the water in the sand. Since it is now generally recognized that the S.P. curve measures ohmic potential changes in the mud fluid in the well bore resulting from changes in current flow, it is apparent that currents having their origin in the electrochemical interaction of mud filtrate and connate waters with shale beds are a very important portion of the total S.P. The work of Mounce and Rusta and others appears to indicate that, in general, the electrochemical portion of a particular kick on a S.P. curve far exceeds any electrokinetic potentials resulting either from streaming potentials or Dorn effects. The Dorn effect, or sedimentation potential. arises when small particles are allowed to fall through certain fluids under the influence of gravity. a difference of potential being observe? between two electrodes placed at different levels in the stream of falling particles. The Dorn effect is unlikely to affect seriously the S.P. curve as now measured. A successful analysis of the electrochemical aspects of the S.P. log should

Jan 1, 1949

By N. R. Hasenmueller, V. Rajaram, R. K. Leininger, D. D. Carr

The content of the paper by V. Rajaram does not fulfill the expectations of the title. But Rajaram submitted the article in October 1983, and he could not have foreseen the numerous developments that would occur before his paper was published more than two years later. Nevertheless, Rajaram failed to mention the interest in oil shale development in southern Indiana beginning in late 1979 and continuing through the present as a result of special financial encouragement of three oil shale projects in May and August 1984 by the Indiana Energy Development Board and the Indiana Corp. for Science and Technology. A session at the 1985 Eastern Oil Shale Symposium in Lexington, KY, Nov. 18-20, 1985, gave the current status of oil shale developments in the eastern United States. Speakers at this session reported on the three Indiana projects. First, Gary D. Aho, Cliffs Engineering Inc., spoke on a feasibility study by Cliffs Engineering and Allis Chalmers for a site-specific pilot plant using the Allis Chalmers process. The plant site is in Clark County, IN, on property of the Midwest Energy Resources Co. The project is funded by $240,908 each from the Indiana Energy Development Board/Corp, for Science and Technology (EDB/CST) and the US Department of Energy (DOE) and $120,454 from the corporate sponsors (total $602,270). Completion is scheduled for mid-1986. Next, Edwin M. Piper, Stone and Webster Engineering Corp., discussed the American Syn-Crude/Indiana Oil Shale Project. This effort followed the completion of two smaller projects funded by the Indiana EDB/ CST: "Testing of Indiana Oil Shale in a Petrosix Pilot Plant" (total funding by EDB/CST at $50,000) and "Assessment of the Petrosix Process for an Indiana Shale Oil Plant" (total funding by EDB/CST at $100,000). The status at the time of the report at the Oil Shale Symposium was that a request for an extension of time for securing nonfederal support had been submitted to the US Synfuels Corp. The proposal included building an 11-m (36-ft) diam retort in south-eastern Indiana to process the New Albany Shale and to produce 366 m3 (2300 bbl) of shale oil per day by the PETROSIX process. The Indiana EDB/CST had contracted with Stone and Webster at $401,100 from EDB/CST and $245,835 from Stone and Webster for activities to advance the project in the negotiations with Synfuels Corp. At the time of the report, this project was the only eastern oil shale proposal that was still on the agenda of the Synfuels Corp. As a result of Congressional action in late December 1985, federal support from the Synfuels Corp. is no longer possible. Finally, Victor H. Carr, Eastern Shale Research Corp., described his firm's project, which is jointly supported by DOE ($227,749) and the Indiana EDB/ CST ($73,850) and is entitled "Feasibility Study to Determine Suitability of an In-Situ Process to Recover Hydrocarbons from Eastern Shale." An area in Scott County, IN, had been chosen, but not a specific 9 x 15-m (30 x 50-ft) site. One burn of a small in situ retort is contemplated as part of the project. Besides these three projects, several reports on shale research were presented. Joseph Damukaitis, American Syn-Crude Corp., reported that a pilot plant using the hydrogenation-extraction (H-E) process (described at the 1984 Eastern Oil Shale Symposium) was 94% built and would go through shakedown with oil shale but would then shift mechanical devices to process coal mine waste. Current status of research on the HYTORT process was then presented by Raymond C. Rex, Jr. Oil shale beneficiation research at the University of Alabama/Minerals Research Institute was reported by R. Bruce Tippin. Scott D. Carter discussed continued research on fluidized-bed retorting of shale at the Kentucky Center for Energy Research Laboratory. Carl E. Roosmagi of DOE, Morgantown, reported on the oil shale research at the Morgantown Energy Technology Center (METC) laboratory. Henry J. Gomberg, Ann Arbor Nuclear Inc., discussed "Radiation Combined with Donor Solvents for Extraction and Up-Grading of Kerogen." Aurora M. Rubel and coauthor Eileen Davis presented results of research at the Kentucky Center for Energy Research Laboratory under the title "The Effect of Shale Particle Size on the Products from the Bench Scale Fixed Bed Steam Pyrolysis of Kentucky Sunbury Shale." Lastly, Maria Rockwell, Technical University of Nova Scotia, presented "Processing and Up-Grading of Low Grade Nova Scotia Oil Shale for Potential Use." A review of shale oil prospects by Gerald Parkinson in Chemical Engineering for Feb. 3, 1986, covers both western and eastern projects and includes a report that the US DOE is funding a few relatively small projects; most of the fiscal 1986 budget of $12 million for shale oil is for fundamental research. Projects include a $3.2 million three-year contract with Hycrude Corp. (Chicago) for development of the HYTORT process and a $1.2 million three-year contract with the University of Alabama's Mineral Resources Institute on beneficiation of eastern oil shale by froth flotation. The report incorrectly states that current projects include a total investment of $466 million in a pair of 18-month technical and economic feasibility studies for proposed projects in southern Indiana. The correct figure is $468,657 [$240,908 for the Cliffs Engineering/

Jan 1, 1987