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By J. H. Nead

OBJECT THE experiments herein described were undertaken with a view to investigating thoroughly the influence of carbon on the tensile and impact physical properties of carbon steel. The original comprehensive plan included investigation of a series of steels with varying carbon contents over a wide range of heat treatments. These were to be studied as to their static tensile qualities, and also their resistance to shock as measured by the Charpy impact bending test. A thorough metallographic examination was likewise included in the schedule. The Charpy tests and the metallographic examination have not been completed to date, and are accordingly withheld for another report. All heat treatments, however, have been made, and the static tensile tests have been completed. A description of the procedure of the experiment and the results thus far obtained are therefore reported herein. CONCLUSIONS No attempt is made to draw general conclusions from these experiments, but the curves and the data are submitted as being of general importance and wide applicability.

Jan 12, 1915

By F. D. Mahone

Much crude oil, as produced from the well, carries varying amounts of water, which may be present as free water in globules sufficiently large to settle out, in time, if the fluid is allowed to stand, or as an emulsion formed by myriads of minute water particles, each surrounded and entrapped by a film of oil through which it cannot break under the action of gravity alone. Such an emulsified mixture of oil and water is commonly termed "cut oil." When such an emulsion is subjected, under proper conditions, to the influence of a high-potential alternating-current field, the minute water particles rupture the enveloping oil films and coalesce into larger water droplets this procedure continuing until all the water is freed into drops of such size that they readily settle out. This action has been photographed by the micro-moving-picture camera; under the microscope, the breaking-up of the emulsion, as described, is seen to be accomplished in a few seconds. The low power requirements of the process, from records of commercial plants, substantiate the theory that the action is that of a multitude of electrical condensers in series, rather than that of a number of conducting paths. The minute water particles serve as the metallic elements, or plates, of the condensers and the separating oil acts as the dielectric. Such surface charges as the particles may have are removed, and the intervening oil is broken, probably electrically by the voltage and mechanically by the attractive force between adjacent oppositely electrified particles. The principle of breaking up an emulsion under the influence of an alternating electric field was discovered by F. G. Cottrell and Buckner Speed, through experiments conducted, at the University of California, which resulted in a plant being installed on the property of the Lucile Oil Co. in the Coalinga field, California, early in 1909. This plant was able to reduce 14-per cent. emulsion to less than Pper cent. with commercial success. Standard Cottrell Apparatus The present standard Cottrell apparatus consists essentially of the electric treater and a settling or trap tank. The treater is a galvanized-iron tank approximately 3 ft. in diameter and 10 ft. high, which con-

Jan 1, 1924

By Frank Corwin

It is the purpose of this article to give a brief account. of the experimental work and to show how the increase in efficiency was brought about. Part of the experimental work described in this paper was carried out by the writers, while in the employ of the Anaconda Copper Mining Co., under the direction of M. W. Krejci, Metallurgist, and Arthur Crowfoot, Chief Sampler. Complete records of all of the MacDougall testing work have been placed at our disposal through the courtesy of A. E. Wheeler, Superintendent. II. BRIEF HISTORY OF PRESENT MACDOUGALL PLANT. The first change from the Brueckner cylinders used for roasting concentrates at Great Falls was the construction of a MacDougall roaster of the Herreshoff type. This furnace was first started on June 15, 1898. It bad eight hearths, was lined with fire brick, and had an air-cooled central shaft, but no provision was made for cooling the rabble arms. It was operated for a while, and accomplished the work of roasting, but ran so hot that the rabble arms became twisted and distorted out of shape. To prevent the furnace from becoming too hot a device was then installed to draw the heated gases away from the hearths. This consisted of a pipe connected to alternate hearths of the MacDougall furnace and also connected to the flue. It was equipped with dampers, 'so that the hot gases could be drawn away from any one of the alternate hearths directly into the flue.

Jan 7, 1913

By Persifor Frazer

The mines which I am about to describe are all situated in the northern part of the States of Nuevo Leon and Coahuila, Mexico, between the twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh degrees of latitude. They might be grouped, orographically, into four classes: 1. Those in the Sierra de la Ygnana chain; 2. Those in the Sierra de Gomez chain; 3. Those in the Cerro Mercado; 4. Those in the Sierra de San Marcos chain. (See large map.) The first two of these may be further arranged in one geographical district, to which the name, "the Villaldatna. district," may be applied, and the last may be ascribed to the geographical district of " Monclova." Geologically described, the country rock, in which four of the six mines occnr, is a limestone, concerning which a few words will be said further on, to wit.: The Arroyo (gulch), the Montanos and the Pinitos (pines), in the Villaldama district, and La Paloma (the dove), or Iron Mine, in the Monclova district. The San Rafael appears to lie in granite, or a heavy-bedded gneiss, presenting most of the characteristics of the latter, though the contact plane of the limestone is not far off. It is certainly worthy of attention that the ore occurs in that portion of the crystalline rock, which is nearest to the limestone, and it has been thought by some observers to be a true contact vein. It is well known that veins of this character are very often distinguished for constancy and richness. Although the undersigned cannot entirely free himself from the impression that this proximity of different formations has had an important influence in the origin of the part of the vein on which this mine is situated; still he was unable to establish it actually at the contact of the limestone and granite, but rather a short distance within the latter. Two openings of the Riojas vein were respectively in limestone and in rotten whitish granite, but this fact, if established (as by the correspondence of the strike line of the vein in direction with that of a line joining the

Jan 1, 1884

By T. E. Leontis

The importance of magnesium alloys in the manufacture of aircraft engines has been realized for many years. A concentrated effort has been exerted in the laboratories of the Dow Chemical Co. to develop magnesium-base alloys with improved properties at elevated temperatures whereby greater advantage can be taken of the inherent lightness of these materials. In an earlier publication, attention was called to the superior tensile properties and resistance to creep of cerium-containing magnesium alloys at temperatures up to 700°F. More recently, additional data on magnesium-cerium alloys have been furnished by Murphy and Payne. The present paper deals with the mechanical properties of sand-cast magnesium alloys containing zinc, at temperatures up to 500°F. The study includes binary Mg-Znt alloys containing up to 10 pct zinc and several ternary and some polynary alloys based on the Mg-~Zn,f Mg-jZn, Mg-4.4211, Mg-6Zn, and Mg-roZn binaries. The compositional variation in the tensile properties, hardness, and creep at room and elevated temperatures, and in the electrical conductivity at room temperature has been determined. The results of these tests show that many zinc-containing magnesium alloys exhibit resistance to creep at elevated temperatures significantly higher than that of present commercial magnesium alloys, but lower than that of alloys of the magnesium-cerium type. In addition, they have high tensile properties at room and elevated temperatures and high conductivity. This combination of mechanical properties and conductivity indicates that these alloys should be given serious consideration for commercial applications involving exposure to temperatures higher than those to which present commercial magnesium alloys can be taken safely. Literature The properties of sand-cast magnesium alloys containing zinc as a principal alloying element have not been investigated very extensively, especially at elevated temperatures. The following remarks, which are confined to sand-cast alloys, will serve as a summary of the most important references on this phase of magnesium metallurgy. The first recorded determination of the tensile strength of binary Mg-Zn alloys as a function of zinc content was reported by Aitchison. Similar studies, including the measurement of elongation and hardness, have been performed by Gann and Winston,' Dumas and Rockaert, Haugh-ton and Prytherch,6 and by Spitaler, the last being reported by Beck.' A slight superiority in the tensile strength of chill-cent Mg + 8 es alloy Over the sand-cast alloy was noted by Maybrey.8 That alloys of magnesium containing 5 to 12 pct zinc

Jan 1, 1949

By H. W. Morse

The experimental work on the oxidized copper ore at the New Cornelia mine at Ajo, Ariz., ended on Jan. 12, 1916. On that date final decision was made on the general nature of the process to be used in the 5,000-ton leaching plant, and on many of the details, as far as experience on a 40-ton scale could decide them. With the approval of the Board of Directors and the General Manager, John C. Greenway, we have compiled what seem to be the most interesting data on the results obtained during the experimental period. The most important part of the data resulted from the operation of a 1-ton and a 40-ton plant at Ajo. Experimental work on Cornelia oxidized ore dates back to April, 1912, and has been going on nearly continuously since that time. A good many variations from the original idea have been tried, but the process finally decided upon is in principle and in all of its details a simple one. The history of the leaching work on this ore has been brought down to about a year ago in papers presented to this Institute by Stuart Croasdalel and Dr. L. D. Ricketts.2 The present paper will, therefore, deal principally with the results obtained during the last year of the work. Preliminary Tests by Mb. Croasdale Preliminary tests were begun by Stuart Croasdale in July, 1912. A number of important points were definitely decided by his work. Among these were: 1. New Cornelia oxidized ore, not very finely crushed (to about 2-to 3-mesh) showed good extraction with 5 per cent. sulphuric acid. It appeared that better than 80 per cent. extraction could be expected. 2. The consumption of acid for this extraction was not prohibitive. It was apparently 3.5 to 4 1b. gross per pound of copper recovered.

Jan 1, 1917

By W. C. Maurer

Although millions of feet of rock are drilled annually, the basic drilling mechanisms involved are not well understood. The primary reason for this lack of knowledge is because the basic principles of rock failure are not well understood and rock failure is the primary mechanism in drilling. A better understanding of the drilling mechanisms would enable a more scientific approach to the design and use of drills and bits. The paper reviews several models which have been proposed to explain various aspects of the different drilling methods. These models are described and their limitations and areas of application are discussed. Drilling rate relationships are developed and related to the basic rock failure mechanisms. TYPES OF MECHANICAL DRILLS There are three basic methods of mechanically attacking rock: 1) percussive action, 2) rotary action, and 3) combined rotary-percussive action. A percussion drill applies a force perpendicular to the rock surface and the bit moves into the rock perpendicular to the surface, forming a crater beneath it (Fig. 1). A rotary drill applies a constant thrust to the bit while a torsional force moves the bit parallel to the rock surface, breaking the rock ahead of it. A rotary-percussive drill applies both a rotary force and a percussive force to the bit which moves into the rock at an angle to the surface. The commonly used drills can be classified as: rotary-drag, diamond; percussive-hammer, piston, churn; and combination-rotary-percussive, roller.

Jan 1, 1967

By William Waters Van Ness

The Pierrefitte mines, situated in the South of France, in the district of the Hautes-Pyrenees, owe their name to the fact that the first mining operations of any extent, and of comparatively reccnt date, were carried out in the neighborhood of the village of Pierrefitte, which is a branch terminus of the Midi railway. The Pierrefitte mines, however, embrace a wide extent of country and several different concessions, on most of which comparatively little exploration-work has been done. The portion of the property presently to be described is a zone running roughly E—W., over a distance of about 5 miles from the valley of Cauterets to the valley of Estaing, the ridge dividing these valleys being a spur of the main chain of the Pyrenees, and running more or less at right angles to it. According to local tradition, which various indications tend to confirm, these mines are of ancient date, the first workings being attributed to the Romans, who are supposcd to have sought not only the lead but also the silver which is contained in the ore. Old slags have been found in the neighborhood which might well have been produced from the cupellation of lead-ores. These old workings, while of considerable extent at times, do not seem to have extended beyond a depth of 100 ft., even this depth being somewhat exceptional. The old notarial records of the district show that mines were known to exist, and that they were even worked, in the sixteenth century, but since the mines were abandoned (by the Romans or others) considerably prior to this period, very little

Jan 1, 1909

By B. Chalmers, L. Bäckerud

The growth temperature of dendrite tips has been measured in a binary alloy system, Al-Cu, as a function of rate of formation of solid phase. Metallographic examination has rerealed the dendritic structure dereloped during different stages of the freezing process and factors influencing the undercooling, such as solute buildup, surface tension, and kinetic effects, have been estimated. Practical implications of the results are discussed. THE development of a dendritic growth pattern during the solidification of metals and alloys has an influence at least equal to that of grain size on the properties of the casting or ingot being produced. and consequently much interest has been devoted to the study of this phenomenon. A review of the knowledge gathered up to 1964 has been given by Chalmers.' Among recent publications in the area the works of Jackson et al 2 and Flemings and his coworkers3,4 are of special interest. This work is an experimental study of the factors which influence the development of a dendritic pattern during the solidification of a typical binary alloy system, A1-Cu, when there is no heat source in the liquid. This means that the temperature and the temperature gradient are controlled by the heat extraction from and latent heat evolved by the growing crystals. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Samples were prepared from a master alloy made up of aluminum, 99.995 pct, and copper. 99.99 pct, of the concentrations given below and of sufficient size to fill cylindrical graphite molds of 35 mm ID and 35 mm height. Bottom. wall. and lid of the graphite molds were all of 6 mm thickness, Fig. 1. Thin ceramic thermocouple shields could be introduced at different positions in the sample through holes in the lid. The assembly was heated in a small vertical resistance furnace to a suitable temperature. 700° to 720°C. which is well above the melting point of the sample. It was thereafter taken out of the furnace and chilled at selected rates, and the temperature changes in the sample were recorded. For high sensitivity in the temperature recordings, a reference thermocouple was held in a solidifying pure aluminum melt. which was very well insulated and therefore was at a constant temperature. 660°C, for nearly half an hour. The thermocouples were connected so that the difference voltage was fed into the recorder of which the most sensitive range was 1 mV. Temperature variations could be read to within 0.l°C. The thermocouples used were of the Chromel-Alumel type (28- or 38-gage wires) and the recorder a two-pen Moseley strip chart recorder. The different rates of chilling were obtained in the following way. a) The graphite crucible was wrapped in one or two layers of an insulating. feltlike material (Fiberfrax paper from the Carborundum Co.). The drop in temperature per unit time after complete solidification could thereby be varied from 8" to 18°C per min. This corresponds to a rate of heat extraction in the given samples from 0.08 to 0.17 cal cm-' sec-I. 6) The bare graphite mold was placed free on a piece of firebrick. The measured temperature drop was around 50°C per min (-0.5 cal cm-" ' sec- I). c) By blowing compressed air through a tube with many holes surrounding the mold in a ring shape. the rate of heat transfer could be raised to 150' to 200°C per min (-1.7 cal cm-3 sec- I). d) Cooling rates around 1000 C per mill (-9.4 cal cm-3 sec-l) were obtained by substituting the air in the device used in c by water. The range of cooling rates used in these experiments correspond to technical casting processes from slow solidification as obtained in sand molds to very rapid freezing which occurs in some continuous casting and welding processes. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS The A1-Cu system was chosen for the experiments: the relevant part of the phase diagram is reproduced in Fig. 2. Observation of the Center Temperature. When a thermocouple is inserted in the center of the melt. the type of cooling curves obtained at slow solidification rates differs little from numerous published curves from similar systems. and the solidification pattern

Jan 1, 1970

By J. D. McBeth, G. M. Potter, Ramon Pizarro

Heap leaching is used by the Carlin Gold Mining Co., Carlin, Nev., to supplement conventional processing of gold ore by agitation-leaching and countercurrent decantation. Selected open-pit ore containing about 0.072 oz Au per ton is crushed to 3/4 inch, dumped by truck on an asphalt pad, and leached by sprinkling with dilute cyanide solution for 7 days. The heap is then drained and removed by front-end loader to tailings disposal. About 70 percent of the gold is dissolved. Leach solution from the heap joins the pregnant solution from countercurrent decantation for gold recovery by zinc precipitation. Four leach pads, each with a capacity of 1,400 tons of ore, are in use. About 10,000 tons of ore are heap leached monthly from about April through October. Heap leaching is recessed during freezing weather. Labor, equipment, and reagent requirements for heap leaching are presented.

Jan 1, 1974

By Charles Barrett

THE copper-silver system presents several points of special interest in the study of segregate structures. The system is simple eutectic, with limited solid solutions terminal with the pure component metals. The extent of solid solubility decreases with decreasing temperature for both the copper-rich and the silver-rich alloys, thus offering a possi-bility for the formation of Widmanstätten figures and also a possibility for aging after quenching. In contrast to the structures studied previ-ously the structures in this system are unique in their; origin, for one terminal solid solution will precipitate the other, and ice versa. In most of the other systems for which crystallographic data on the precipi-tation (or transformation) process are available, either intermetallic compounds or intermediate phases partake in the decomposition process; the absence of such phases thus distinguishes this system. The lattice structures of the two solid solutions are identical in type, differing in lattice spacing by approximately 10 per cent; because of this it seems difficult if not impossible to predict on the basis of present theory either the outward form of the precipitate or the lattice orientation relationships between matrix and precipitate. The eutectic temperature in the copper-silver system1 is 779°C. At this temperature copper -dissolves 4.3 atomic per cent (7.0 weight per

Jan 1, 1935

By H. T. Hildage

Although Greater New York does not bear any resemblance to a great mining district, the mining operations that are being conducted in and about the city are both extensive and interesting in character. With regard to the extent, it may be mentioned that, at present, there is more dynamite used in New York than in any mining district in the United States; that there are under construction about 38 miles of tunnel, and that 66 miles more are projected, most of which must be constructed .in the near future; that since 1903 at least 2,000,000 tons of earth has been removed in underground work, in addition to about 3,500,000 tons that has been removed in open-cut in connection with tunnel-work, and many times this quantity that has been removed in excavating foundations for buildings not connected with tunnel-work; and that there are to-day probably more than 5,000 men engaged in mining-work in and about New lrork City. These undertakings include almost every operation connected with underground work, from exploration by means of trench and boring, to the sinking of large shafts and the driving of large tunnels through every kind of ground from hard rock to soft, semi-fluid silt and quicksand. It is proposed in this paper to give a general description of some of the methods and appliances used in the opening-up of a " mine " in a large city, and a brief description of some of the &'mines" now being developed in New York, connecting as far as possible the methods described with the particular work for which they were designed, in order to give a general idea of the

Jan 1, 1908

By Chandler Morse

RENEWABLE VS. NONRENEWABLE NATURAL RESOURCES Nonrenewable resources, such as minerals, are the inevitable center of attention in discussions of depletion and exhaustion. Nevertheless, it may well be proper to regard some nonrenewable resources as not subject to exhaustion, and renewable resources may sometimes be treated as if they were finite stocks. Thus, the availability of nonrenewable resources is not and probably never will be known completely Chap. 2.5A, and therefore is not subject to firm predictions concerning exhaustibility. Moreover, because exploration and discovery are more or less continuous processes it is often appropriate to regard mineral supplies as flows, and to treat the estimated reserves as working capital, an inventory, continually depleted by use and augmented by discoveries.23 The aggregate economically exploitable stocks of a given mineral are seldom estimated (or estimatable) with precision, as Chap. 2.5A shows, and even when they are, forecasts concerning years of remaining life can be and often are falsified by changes in one or more of the multidimensional conditions of supply and demand; or the productive services formerly derived from an exhausted stock may continue to provided without material impairment by one or more substitutes b Conversely, the renewable resources are all subject to depletion when the rate of use exceeds the natural or induced rate of replenishment, and cases of exhaustion or near exhaustion, as through soil erosion, overcuttmg of forest lands, and overfishing, are rather common c Where exhaustion is a clear possibility the resource may either be exploited on a consciously adopted "sustainable yield" basis or be treated as an exhausting asset." In some cases, conscious treatment

Jan 1, 1976

By Robert N. McIndoo, M. G. Woodle

10.5-1. Introduction. In the not-too-distant past, maintenance and the facilities for maintenance were considered a necessary evil to be given only secondary consideration in the development and planning of a surface mine operation. With the increasing sophistication of mining equipment and machinery, this concept has been replaced; and today's mine managers recognize that planning for adequate maintenance facilities is as important to a successful operation as a sound mining plan. This chapter will present the basic maintenance facilities and the fundamental considerations necessary to meet the varied requirements of surface mining. 10.5-2. Determination of Shop Facilities. The size, shape, and extent of maintenance facilities are contingent on the general mining plan, the location relative to outside facilities, and to the available capital. The type of construction employed is dependent on climatic conditions and preference. HAULAGE SYSTEMS. The type of haulage equipment used will dictate the kind of shops needed. Truck haulage requires entirely different facilities than rail haulage. Some mines will employ both systems, and can include hoists, skips, or conveyor belts in combination with locomotives or trucks. The requirements of each type will be discussed. MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION. The pre-planning decision as to centralized maintenance vs. area maintenance, or a combination of both, will greatly affect the maintenance facilities required. A single pit with relatively short travel from shops to pit will probably have a centralized maintenance system. Where more than one mine is involved, or where there are diversified sections or functions in a mine (mine equipment, mill, conveyor, or

Jan 1, 1968

By Isobel Clark

The increasing complexity of modern mining technology makes it ever more difficult to decide on the 'best* way to solve problems in mine planning. Yet with escalating costs it becomes increasingly more important for the mining engineer to be able to evaluate quantitatively the implications of the 'what happens if' postulation on the efficiency and economics of exploitation. The use of a model of the orebody can yield an estimate, not just of overall expected results, but also of the sensitivity of these results to possible variations in the orebody. Estimation techniques, such as Kriging, will produce the expected value for the grade of ore at any given point, or over any given volume within a deposit. However, the actual grades mined during production will - of necessity - differ from the predicted values. These possible variations, and the sensitivity of the management decisions to them, can be investigated in detail by the use of simulation. An orebody can be simulated which follows the known characteristics of the deposit at any given stage in development. These properties might be the histogram of grade values, the semivariogram from the samples, the actual borehole assays, geological constraints and/or interpretation, topography, lease boundaries etc. This would be one possible 'realisation' of the deposit as dictated by the currently known data. If several of these simulations are carried out, each conditioned to the current knowledge of the orebody, then it is possible to gain an idea of the range of possible outcomes of any mining procedure or decision taken - all of which are equally likely. Not only can the best decision then be taken, but its sensitivity to the inherent variation within the orebody, and to the ever present estimation errors may be thoroughly studied.

Jan 1, 1977

By O. B. Bucklen, P. G. Meikle

INTRODUCTION The trend in the coal industry for many years has been to make every- thing "bigger and faster." This also held true for loading and storage facilities. Where once a million ton per year mine was rare, three to five million ton per year mines are not uncommon today in the bituminous industry. This greatly increased production, made possible through mechanization, required greatly improved loading facilities just to get the coal away from the mine. Also, there is a trend toward combining production from more than one mine and cleaning it in a single preparation plant. In addition to increased loading capacity, this frequently necessitates raw coal storage and blending facilities. The development of the unit train with its attendant economics, more than any other factor, has contributed to the widespread construction of storage and high-speed loading facilities. In the export market, the construction of ever larger coal colliers has contributed to a need for faster and larger loading facilities. In this climate of rapidly changing technology, any written account is faced with the possibility of obsolescence before its appearance. Thus, this chapter seeks to define the common and current practice in coal loading and storage facilities with the full knowledge that this practice is an ever-moving target. FUNDAMENTALS OF COAL STORAGE Storage of coal is becoming an increasingly important part of coal handling systems at mines, particularly since the advent of the unit train concept in transportation. In order to take advantage of reduced transportation rates on trainload shipments of coal offered by unit train movement, operators have found that storage is an economic necessity. In unit train practice large predetermined quantities must be loaded in relatively short periods of time as opposed to conventional practice where coal is loaded at a speed dependent on the production capacity of the mine and/or the cleaning capacity of the preparation plant. Two surveys of storage practices at mines reveal several objectives for storage.1, 2 Raw and/or clean coal storage is generally practiced in order to accomplish one, or a combination, of the following objectives: 1. To improve plant efficiency by distributing plant feed over the entire operating time, or to allow a preparation rate different from the production rate. 2. To limit interruptions of supply, ie, allow mine and plant to function independently with delays in one not affecting the operation of the other.

Jan 1, 1968

By T. D. McKinley

Theory, operational characteristics, and indicated precision and accuracy of analytical methods based on vacuum extraction, equilibrium pressure, and combustion approaches are reviewed. At the present time vacuum extraction at 1400°C and the equilibrium pressure method are recommended for determination of hydrogen in titanium and titanium-rich alloys. UNTIL a few years ago the role of hydrogen in titanium was an unknown factor with regard to its effect on the physical and mechanical properties of the metal. However, following the work of Jaffee and othersa-" it is now generally acknowledged that hydrogen has a degrading effect on titanium and its alloys. The chief manifestations are a decrease in impact strength in -systems and delayed cracking in a-ß systems. Since hydrogen does have a de- grading effect on titanium it is essential to control it within tolerable limits. It then follows that procedures for quantitative estimation of hydrogen are a primary requirement for the industry. For greatest benefit these methods should be simple, rapid, and precise. In addition to having these virtues, methods must be easy to duplicate in both equipment and technique to gain widespread use. After inherent accuracy has been established, the, required precision to make a method acceptable is dependent largely on the nature of the work at hand. Ability to obtain a representative sample has a pro-

Jan 1, 1959

In the examination of an undeveloped prospect a decision must be arrived at from an inspection of the outcrops and the exposures in a few shallow pits. Prospects that are offered for sale rarely expose any important quantity of good ore, work having usually been stopped when the immediate exploration no longer yielded favorable results. It should be borne in mind, furthermore, that a great majority of prospects have been examined many times, and if of conspicuous promise, would have been acquired-for development. In most cases the problem for the engineer, therefore, is to discover the traces of a valuable mineralization that has disappeared through solution, or the conditions that indicate the possibility, or probability, of underlying secondary enrichments. The available data being meager, every feature should be the subject of careful study-the condition of the outcrop, the structural relationships, the associations of minerals, the alterations of wall rocks, the chances for underlying enrichments, and so forth, as well as the actual assay value of the material exposed. It is frequently advisable to spend the time and money necessary to have trenches dug at various significant points along a promising outcrop; such exposures, even if the depth attained is slight, often disclose conditions that are not apparent at the actual surface, as for example, the existence of soft minerals and the distribution of the various minerals through the mass of the deposit. Trenches also permit samples to be taken from points that were not accessible during former examinations. Strong, persistent outcrops of uniform width may be taken to indicate the probable size and character of the underlying vein,

Jan 1, 1932

By Frederic Benard

PRIOR to 1936, the Ontario Refining Co. received all incoming blister copper from The International Nickel Company's smelter in the usual form of 460-lb. cakes, or slabs. These were received in open cars in lots of 250 pieces. At the refinery the cakes were unloaded onto narrow-gauge cars, for convenient handling and pickup by charging cranes. In March 1936, an investigation was started on the feasibility of trans-ferring converter copper in the molten state from the smelter to the refinery anode furnaces, a distance of 114 miles. Although common in steel practice, the transportation of blister copper in this form had not previously been attempted and a preliminary study of the various factors involved was therefore necessary. For this purpose, a series of experiments was made in which molten copper, removed at different stages during the furnace cycle, was held in a small portable holding furnace. This vessel was essentially a refractory-lined steel cylinder provided with ports for filling and emptying, heated by an oil burner. Dimensions of the steel shell were 3 ft. 10 in. diameter by 7 ft. 3 in. long, and thickness of refractories depended oil the design and combination used for the particular experiment. The vessel was filled with approximately 2 ½ tons of copper at a predetermined temperature, the lining having been preheated to a definite point by means of an oil burner. All openings were well luted and temperature readings were made every 15 min. by means of an immersion-type thermocouple. In this manner the rate of heat loss resulting with different refractory design could be developed. The ratio of exterior surface to weight of metal was taken into consideration in comparing the experimental results with what might be expected for a full-sized unit, and observations were also made on type and degree of slag accretion. It was not possible to get as much information on this latter point as desirable, but all evidence showed that the problem would be control of slag build-up rather than attack oil refractories.

Jan 1, 1938

By A. Satter

Studies of wellbore heat transtnission during the injection of a hot fluid, as either gas or liquid, have appeared in he literature. The present investigation takes into account the effect of condensation, which is of practical sig-nificance when considering steam injection operations. Calculation procedures are given for superheated and for saturated and undersaturated steam. Effects of injection rate, time, pressure, temperature and depth of a well on heat losses have been analyzed. The benefits of using a packer are discussed. Also presented are correlations for estimating heat losses involved during injection of saturated steam. INTRODUCTION Studies of wellbore heat losses during the injection of a hot fluid have appeared in the literature. Ramey' has presented a useful solution for calculating temperature of a heated gas as a function of depth and injection time. Ramey and others have also presented solutions for the hot liquid case.'. ' No method is available to take into account the effect of condensation, which is of practical significance when considering steam injection operations. This paper presents a method of estimating the quality of a condensing fluid as a function of depth and time. The approach is basically the same as that used by Ramey. The following injected fluids and conditions are considered in this study: 1. Injection of superheated steam A. Decrease in temperature until cooled to the saturated state B. Condensation until condensed completely into hot (saturated) water 2. Injection of saturated or undersaturated steam; condensation until condensed completely into hot (saturated) water. Although this investigation does not include cooling of water after steam is completely condensed, Ramey's solution for the hot liquid case can be used for this purpose. The effects of various process variables on heat losses During the injection of steam into a well are investigated. THEORY QUALITY OF CONDENSING STEAM Predicting the behavior of condensing steam flowing down the injection wellbore requires an estimate of the quality of steam, i.e., the mass fraction of vapor in the mixture. Let us divide the total depth of the injection well into several segments which might be, but do not have to be, of equal magnitude. Consider condensation within a given depth interval AZ, the bottom of which is located at a depth Z from the surface (Fig 1). The following equation, derived in the Appendix- relates the quality of steam at the bottom of an interval to that at the top of the interval:

Jan 1, 1966