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By Antoni Kidybinski

Mechanical properties of the nether roof rocks play a substantial role in maintenance of mine openings. On longwall faces too low strength is a cause of rock- falls which bring about delays in face advance, and hazard to the miners, while too high strength may result in over hanging of roof rocks in gobs, sometimes over a large area, initiating dynamic periodical pressures. Hence, efforts have been undertaken to develop methods of caveability evaluation for proper selection of roof control system and of longwall-face supports. DESCRIPTIVE CLASSIFICATIONS One of the basic qualitative criteria for classification of roof types with different caveability is the criterion of geological structure. The 26-stages scale worked out for conditions of Donetz Coalfield. USSR, by E.T. Proyavkin et al.(l) may be an example of that type of classification. This scale is presented graphically in Fig. 1. The first types of roofs according to this scale are easily caving immediately after exposure of a small surface, while the last be- long to the strongest roofs which over-hang in waste and require artificial fracturing. Observations and measurements carried out also in Donetz mines lead W.T. Davidyanc (2) to following classification: Class I - weak and densely bedded rocks very easily caving after each advance of supports. The roof subsidence over a waste edge is: [ ] where: h is roof subsidence, m M is thickness of the seam being mined, m S is width of an opening, m Class II - medium caveability and small main roof movements [ ] Class III - hardly breakable rocks, thicker beds with higher strength: caving by large blocks. After exposure of larger roof surfaces the movements of the main roof strata may affect an opening. [ ] Class IV - very hardly breakable rocks - thick, monolithic sandstones: they cause considerable difficulties in working with caving. [ ] Class V - thin-bedded rocks featured by the capacity of a smooth subsidence without disintegration into loose blocks with keeping contact between the particular blocks in a bed. In this classification mining with full roof caving is recommended for class I-III and only exceptionally for class IV. In many coal fields, qualitative and quantitative observations of roof rocks behavior have been carried out: as a result relations and characteristics found in certain mines are given. As an example, Kizielov Coalfield data in the USSR given by B.S. Vinokur (3) may be mentioned. In working thin pitching seams man- less system of undercutting the seam by means of rope saw is used there. The author separated four classes of roofs and gave, for every class, the empirical relation between the extracted area and the time of roof stability. The size of the stable area of exposed roof for particular classes is as follows: 120 to 150 m2 (1291 to 1614 ft2 ), 170 to 200 m2 (1829 to 2152 ft2), 250 to 280 m2 (2690 to 3013 ft2 ) and 350 to 400 m2 (3766 to 4300 ft ). For Kuznetz coalfield in the USSR the following classification of roofs was developed at the WIMI Institute in Leningrad: Class I - completely unstable: impact strength in- dex of rock f = up to 1.5 - the strip of roof 1.4 to 2.0 m (4.59 to 6.56 it) wide, exposed after shearer's cut holds stable during the time not longer than 5 min. Class II - low stability: f = 1.5 to 2.5 - the strip of roof 1.4 to 2.0 m (4.59 to 6.56 ft) wide and up to 4.0 m (13 it) long, exposed after shearer's cut holds stable during 5 to 20 min. Class III - medium stability: f = 2.51 to 3.5 - the strip of roof 1.4 to 2.0 m (4.59 to 6.56 it) wide and 4.0 to 25 m (13 to 82 ft) long, exposed after shearer's cut holds stable from 20 min. to 2 hours. Class IV - stable: f = 3.51 to 4.5 - the strip of roof 1.4 to 2.0 m (4.59 to 6.56 ft) wide and 25 m (82 it) long exposed after shearer's cut is stable during the time longer than 2 hours. Class V - entirely stable: f = over 4.5

Jan 1, 1982

Jan 1, 1969

[Secretary's Note.—The following official tables, prepared by the government of the State of Nuevo Leon, and presented to the Institute at the fifth seseion of its Mexican meeting, held at Monterrey, November 26, 1901, present in compact form a general summary of the mineral and metallurgical industry of the State for the preceding calendar year, together with a statement of the railway-shipments of ores from January 1 to October 31, 1901, which, in the absence of direct official mining and metallurgical statistics (not yet available for that year), clearly indicates an increased activity and productiveness of these industries. In other words, the mines are reported to have yielded in 1900 a total product of 83,960,169 kilos of ore; whereas, the railway is reported to have carried, in 10 months of 1901, a total of 108,318,647 kilos of ore. At this rate, the railway-shipments for 1901 mould amount to nearly 130,000,000 kilos. It is, of course, possible that the railwaystatistics include other freight than ores, or that they include duplications, such as would be involved in the record, first of certain ores transported, and afterwards of the " base bullion " produced therefrom. An accurate comparison is therefore impossible ; yet, after making all reasonable allowances for such items as have been named, it seems safe to infer that the mining and metallurgical industry of this State accomplished in 1901 a substantial progress.]

Jan 1, 1902

By McHenry Mosier

MeRcuRy is one of the strategic metals of which the supply has been raised from critical uncertainty to more than enough for essential demands. Work by the Bureau of Mines has contributed substantially to increased production of mercury in the United States and to consequent accumulation of Government stocks. Other contributing factors have been higher prices for mercury and Government loans to operators. The Bureau has undertaken 13 exploration projects, 10 of which have been completed. This work has comprised 28,376 ft. of several types of drilling and 23,798 lin. ft. of surface trenching, and has indicated commercial ore containing 34,800 flasks of mercury and marginal ore containing 26,200 flasks, a total of 61,000 flasks; equivalent, respectively, to domestic production for 8 months, 6 months, and 14 months. As Government stocks are now adequate, domestic production (currently at the rate of 50,000 flasks per year) is gradually being curtailed through Government control of labor and operating supplies. Introduction Mercury was one of the seven metals designated as strategic by the Army and Navy Munitions Board in 1939, when Congress appropriated funds for the investigation of domestic sources of supply of war minerals. The Bureau of Mines immediately started a limited search for strategic minerals, but the first mercury project was not begun until December 1940. The U. S. Geological Survey assisted in the search for cinnabar by contributing information on domestic mercury deposits, preparing maps, and making geological studies of exploration projects. The present high rate of production of mercury in the United States was encouraged by the increase in price to $196 per flask at New York (Fig. I) and Government loans to operators for mine development and plant construction. The Bureau of Mines has issued, for restricted distribution subject to wartime controls, 13 War Minerals Reports on individual mercury deposits (listed in appendix A). In March 1942 it also published a Progress Report of the Metallurgical Division, R. I. 3627, Cinnabar-reduction Plants of the Southwestern Arkansas Quicksilver District. Uses of Mercury Mercury and its compounds have more than 3000 uses. Its principal use is as a catalyst in the manufacture of gases for chemical warfare; the next largest is in pharmaceuticals. Mercury is essential also for: (I) certain electrical apparatus, (2) industrial control instruments at many war plants, (3) munitions, including blasting caps, (4) insecticides in agriculture, (5) antifouling paint for ship bottoms, (6) dental preparations, (7) general laboratory use, and (8) amalgamation of free-milling gold ores.

Jan 1, 1949

By McHenry Mosier

MeRcuRy is one of the strategic metals of which the supply has been raised from critical uncertainty to more than enough for essential demands. Work by the Bureau of Mines has contributed substantially to increased production of mercury in the United States and to consequent accumulation of Government stocks. Other contributing factors have been higher prices for mercury and Government loans to operators. The Bureau has undertaken 13 exploration projects, 10 of which have been completed. This work has comprised 28,376 ft. of several types of drilling and 23,798 lin. ft. of surface trenching, and has indicated commercial ore containing 34,800 flasks of mercury and marginal ore containing 26,200 flasks, a total of 61,000 flasks; equivalent, respectively, to domestic production for 8 months, 6 months, and 14 months. As Government stocks are now adequate, domestic production (currently at the rate of 50,000 flasks per year) is gradually being curtailed through Government control of labor and operating supplies. Introduction Mercury was one of the seven metals designated as strategic by the Army and Navy Munitions Board in 1939, when Congress appropriated funds for the investigation of domestic sources of supply of war minerals. The Bureau of Mines immediately started a limited search for strategic minerals, but the first mercury project was not begun until December 1940. The U. S. Geological Survey assisted in the search for cinnabar by contributing information on domestic mercury deposits, preparing maps, and making geological studies of exploration projects. The present high rate of production of mercury in the United States was encouraged by the increase in price to $196 per flask at New York (Fig. I) and Government loans to operators for mine development and plant construction. The Bureau of Mines has issued, for restricted distribution subject to wartime controls, 13 War Minerals Reports on individual mercury deposits (listed in appendix A). In March 1942 it also published a Progress Report of the Metallurgical Division, R. I. 3627, Cinnabar-reduction Plants of the Southwestern Arkansas Quicksilver District. Uses of Mercury Mercury and its compounds have more than 3000 uses. Its principal use is as a catalyst in the manufacture of gases for chemical warfare; the next largest is in pharmaceuticals. Mercury is essential also for: (I) certain electrical apparatus, (2) industrial control instruments at many war plants, (3) munitions, including blasting caps, (4) insecticides in agriculture, (5) antifouling paint for ship bottoms, (6) dental preparations, (7) general laboratory use, and (8) amalgamation of free-milling gold ores.

Jan 1, 1949

By P. R. Bradley

NO thought had been given to deep level mining at the Alaska Juneau mine prior to 1930, but in that year a prospect winze was started and continued for 1000 ft. vertically below the main haulage or adit level. The point at which this winze was started was selected entirely by the prevailing physical conditions, such as proximity to established workings, convenience, and the presence overhead of a substantial pillar of dimensions sufficient to lo¬cate the sheave wheel and loading pocket. It was, therefore, with some surprise that the unusually high-grade ore found just below the collar of the winze persisted, with certain vari¬ations, to a full depth of 1000 ft. vertically. Likewise this unusually high-grade ore was found to persist on the various crosscuts driven on levels at 200-ft. vertical intervals. To be brief, this deep level work found richer ore than any yet found in the mine over like areas, and inasmuch as the area was sufficient to plan for extensive deep level mining, plans for such work were given extended consideration.

Jan 1, 1936

On the Art of Metallography (Howe Memorial Lecture), by F. F. Lucas; Beneficiation of Iron Ore. Abstract of paper by C. E. Williams followed by Round Table Discussion; A Statistical Analysis of Blast-furnace Data, by R. 8. McCaffery and R. G. Stephenson; Air Discharge of Circular Tuyeres, by R. S. McCaffery and D. E. Krause; Open-hearth Steel Process as a Problem in Chemical Kinetics. by E. R. Jette; Carbon-oxygen Equilibrium in Liquid Iron, by H. C. Vacher and E. H. Hamilton; A Thermodynamic Study of the Phasial Equilibria in the Bystem Iron-carbon (Abstract), by Yap, Chu-Phay; Influence of Dissolved Carbide on the Equilibria of the System Iron-carbon (Abstract), by Yap, Chu-Phay; Inclusions and Their Effect on Impact Strength of Steel, I and 11, by A. B. Kinzel and W. Crafts: Method for Electrolytic Extraction of MnO, MnS, FeS and Si02, Inclusions from Plain Carbon Steels, by G. R. Fitterer; Permanent Growth of Gray Cast Iron, by W. E. Remmers; Some Notes on Blue Brittleness, by L. R. van Wert; Austenite-pearlite Transformation and the Transition Constituents, by A. Sauveur; Age-hardening of Austenite, by F. R. Hensel; Transformational Characteristics of Iron-manganese Alloys, by H. Scott; Composition Limits of the Alpha-gamma Loop in the Iron-tungsten System, by W. P. Sykes; Magnetic Properties Versus AUotropic Transformations of Iron Alloys, by T. D. Yensen and N. A. Ziegler; Dilatometric Study of Chrome-nickel-iron Alloys, by V. N. Krivobok and M. Gensamer; Low-carbon Steel, by H. B. Pulsifer; Bright Annealing of Steels in Hydrogen, by F. C. KeUey; Development of Continuous Gas Carburieing, by R. J. Cowan. Transactions, Institute of Metals Division, 1931. 500 pages. Index. Papers and discussions presented before the Division at Chicago, Sept. 22-26, 1930 and New York, Feb. 16-19, 1931. X-ray MetallograpIhy: X-ray Determination of Alloy Equilibrium Diagrams (Annual Lecture), by A. F. Westgren; Suppressed Constitutional Changes in Alloys. by G. Sachs; Texture of Metals after Cold Deformation; by F. Wever. Theoretical Metallurgy: Studies upon the Widmanatitten Structure. I.—Introduction. The Aluminum-eilver System and the Copper-silicon System; by R. F. Mehl and C. S. Barrett; Studies upon the Widmanstatten Structure, 11.—The Beta Copper-einc Alloys and the Beta Copper-alumnum Alloys, by R. F. Mehl and 0. T. Mareke; Application of X-rays in the Manufacture of Telephone Apparatus, by M. Baeyerts; Thermal Conductivity of Copper Alloys. 11.—Copper-tin Alloys; 111.—Copper-phosphorus Alloys, by Cyril Stanley Smith; Thermodynamic Study of the Equilibria of the Systems Antimony-bismuth and Antimony-lead, by Yap, Chu-Phay. Ganeral: Cemented Tungsten Carbide; a Study of the Action of the Cementing Material, by L. L. Wyman and F. C. Kelley; Influence of Casting Practice on Physical Properties of Die Castings, by C. Pack; Fabrication of the Platinum Metals, by C. S. Sivil; Effect of Certain Alloying Elements on Structure and Hardness of Aluminum Bronze, by 9. F. Hermann and F. T. Sisco. The WorkinG oF Metals: Metal Working in Power Presses, by E. V. Crane; Forming Properties of Thin Sheets of Some Nonferrous Metals, by W. A. Straw, M. D. Helfrick and C. R. Fischrupp; Die Pressing of Braas and Copper Alloys, by J. R. Freeman. Jr.; Plasticity of Copper-sina Alloys at Elevated Temperatures. by A. Morris: Directional Properties in Cold-rolled and Annealed Copper, by A. Phillips and E. 9. Bunn; Effect of Combinations of Strain and Heat Treatment on Properties of Some Age-hardening Copper Alloys by W. C. Ellis and E. E. Schumacher; Constituents of Aluminum-iron-silicon Alloys, by W, L. Fink and K. R. Van Horn; Equilibrium Relations in Aluminum-antimony Alloys of High Purity, by E. H. Dix, Jr., F. KeUer and L. A. Willey; Equilibrium Relations in Aluminum-magnesium Silicide Alloys of High Purity, by E. H. Dix. Jr., F. Keller and R. W. Graham; Constitution of High-purity Aluminum-titanium Alloys, by W. L. Fink, K. R. Van Horn and P. M. Budge; Experiments on Retarding the Age-hardening of Duralumin, by E. H. Dix. Jr. and F. KeUer; Aluminum-silicon-magnesium Casting Alloys, by R. S. Archer and L. W. Kempf; Modulurr of Elasticity of Aluminum Alloys, by R. L. Templin and D. A. Paul; Quenching of Alclad Sheet in Oil, by H. C. Knerr.

Jan 1, 1931

By N. V. Melnikov, L. N. Marchenko

The latest theoretical and experimental study of physical processes initiated by explosions in solid media have made it possible to obtain a deeper insight into the mechanism of the energy transfer to ambient rock from char es of explosives interspersed with various air gaps. As shown in (17, high explosive action causes excessive fragmentation of medium in the vicinity of the charge, while expansion of the process into the massif is negligible. A theoretical outline of a more rational application of explosion energy was given with a view of obtaining more uniform fragmentation of rock convenient for loading and transportation. The proposed idea proven by experimental study consisted of the possibility of explosion control based on redistribution of explosion energy. Practical realization of the above idea was proposed (1) involving charges with air gaps for rock fragmentation. Since the Rolla Symposium on Mining Research (USA, 1961) (2), borehole charges with air gaps have become common practice. This method of rock blasting is applied in open cast and underground mines working the hardest and viscous, hard, medium hard and soft rocks (ore, quartzites, granites, 1 imes tones, sandstones, coals, etc.) as well as at enterprises for extraction of building materials and raw chemical minerals of any strength. Application of charges with air gaps results in an increase of the degree and uniformity of fragmentation (up to 94 percent of the blasted rock mass consists of fragments not exceeding 400 mm), the average fragment size decreases by 1.5-2 times and the amount of lumps is reduced by 2-10 times (in some cases there are no lumps at all ). Besides, the amount of operation for filling boreholes with tamping material is reduced, the specific consumption of explosives

Jan 1, 1971

ALBERT Ladd Colby, who died suddenly of influenza at Torquay, England, on Apr. 30,1924, was born in New York City, on June 26,1860. He was educated in the public schools of New York, at the College of the City of New York, and received the degree of Ph. B. from the Columbia School of Mines in 1881. He continued his studies at Columbia, acting occasionally as assistant to Prof. C. F. Chandler, until 1883. For the next three years he was Assistant Professor of Chemistry in Lehigh University; then head chemist and metallurgical engineer of the Bethlehem Steel Co., at Bethlehem, Pa., occupying the latter position until 1903. As head chemist his active and inventive mind devised several improvements in apparatus for increasing the rapidity and accuracy of the analytical work; as metallurgical engineer, he was, from time to time, in charge of the blast-furnace, open-hearth, bessemer, and puddling departments; he had entire charge of the inspection, assignment, and economic use of all metallurgical materials, and he early gave his attention to the formulation of specifications for metallurgical materials—an activity in which he long held a distinguished part in this country, and as a representative of his own country in England and Europe. He also sewed as expert for his company in patent suits, again laying the foundation for valuable service later as a consulting engineer. In this latter capacity he was excelled by few, if any, contemporaries in the iron and steel industry. His mind was ingenious, thorough, clear, and keen, both in the preparation of evidence and its presentation to the Court. He very quickly appraised the value of evidence, or of an answer to a question, and knew how to secure the infermation, either from the available literature of any language, or by special researches or plant studies. In the executive control of literary research for patent purposes, his long training, infinite capacity for digging through long series of articles in English, German or French, and clear formulation of the vital subject matter for the guidance of assistants, made him invaluable. He was also an adept in collecting information on special branches of his profession. For example, when the science of metallography began to assume importance, he made the first really comprehensive bibliography covering the literature of all siderurgical countries; for the newly formed International Nickel Co. he gathered all the information extant on the subject of nickel steel, both in the literature and in the minds of experts in America and Europe. Two books testify to the thoroughness of his work in this capacity, vie.: "American Standard Specifications for Steel,"

Jan 1, 1924

By Nathaniel Arbiter

There is a history in all men's lives, Figuring the nature of the times deceas'd, The which observ'd, a man may prophesy, With a near aim, of the main chance of things. W. Shakespeare, Henry IV; Part 2 Introduction This nation's first century embraced two stages of the Industrial Revolution. During one, what had been a colonial agricultural economy began to industrialize; water power, then steam after 1794, were the energy sources; coal and iron were the essential ingredients. The second stage started after 1850; aided by rich and diverse mineral resources, the country began its transition from the Iron Age to the Age of Metals. Early civilizations had been built on stone, and fairly high levels were sustained on iron. But the spectacular advances in the past century in communication, in construction, in transportation by sea, rail, land and air, and in much that characterizes modern civilization have depended increasingly on the use of the complete metallic and nonmetallic resources of the earth's crust. Thus it was appropriate to define the Industrial Revolution as “the period during which man's relationship to natural resources became utterly changed”, 1 with minerals playing a major and indispensable role. But we are now becoming aware that the relationship of man to natural resources must change again. On every hand the dangers inherent in the contamination of land, sea and air by the wastes of civilization are becoming apparent. And from the growing realization that mineral wealth is finite must eventually come other far reaching changes in mineral use and distribution. For on the scale of centuries we cannot continue to exploit mineral resources even at present rates, let alone at expanded rates, without eventual depletion of the more abundant resources, and early exhaustion of the less abundant. In the past our problems were relatively easily met by the development of new and improved machinery and processes. But the future will

Jan 1, 1971

By George Burrell

J. S. HALDANE, M. D., F. R. S., Oxford, England (communication to the Secretary?).-The valuable paper of Messrs. Burrell and Gauger is of special interest to me as, through the courtesy of the management, I had an opportunity of visiting the Portland mine, Cripple Creek, in 1911, in connection with the investigations on acclimatization to high altitudes, carried out on Pike's Peak, near Cripple Creek, by Professors Yandell, Henderson and Schneider, Dr. Douglas and myself.1 The analyses of one or two samples of the vitiated air were entirely confirmatory of those of the authors. A fatal accident owing to two men being lowered down a shaft filled with the gas had occurred in a neighboring mine just before our visit.

Jan 12, 1916

By B. H. Sage

IN recent years there has been an increase of interest in the flow of gases at relatively high pressures. Hydrodynamic calculation of the energy losses in the flow of gases in conduits, as well as through the porous solid materials constituting natural petroleum reservoirs, requires a knowledge of the viscosity of the fluid at the pressure and temperature involved. Although there are numerous publications concerning the absolute viscosity? of hydrocarbon gases at atmospheric pressure, there appears to be little information available relating to the effect of pressure upon the viscosity of these gases. Vogel28 determined the viscosity of methane at 32° F. and atmospheric pressure. His measurements at 32° F. were later substantiated by the measurements of Rankine and Smith17 at 63° and 212° F. Ishida12 also reported values for the viscosity of methane at atmospheric pressure. Trautz and Kurz26 measured the viscosity of propane at atmospheric pressure, from 83° to 530° F., by the use of a short capillary tube. Rap-penecker18 determined the viscosity of gaseous isopentane at elevated temperatures. Day' made an accurate investigation of the effect of pressure upon the viscosity of n-pentane and isopentane at pressures from 2 lb. per sq. in. ? to the vapor pressure at 77° F. (approximately 9.8 and 13.3 lb. per sq. in., respectively). Earhart5 reported data upon the viscosity of several natural gases measured by the long capillary-tube method. The viscosity of air, at atmospheric pressure and 73.4° F., was measured by Harrington7 by the rotating-cylinder method. Kellstrom13 has recently made an elaborate investigation of the viscosity of air at atmospheric pressure. The latter work is perhaps the most accurate investigation of the viscosity of a gas that has been made. .

Jan 1, 1937

THE Executive Board of The American Engineering Council met in Pittsburgh, May 26 and 27. Its actions on the licensing of engineers and on the Employment Bureau are printed at length elsewhere in this issue. The board announced plans purposing the solution of the national problems of water power and forestry, upon which "the industrial development of the nation and the standard of living of future generations largely depends. The whole Federal water-power situation is in so critical a condition that immediate constructive action by the Government to conserve the public interests, involving vast consequences of economic and Federal policy, is necessary. After a long discussion during which the water-power problem as it affects Government reorganization was reviewed and Henry Ford's Muscle Shoal's plan was discussed, the board decided to lay the entire question before President Harding. A national movement to conserve the nation's forests, in which engineers, the U. S. Forestry Service, the forestry services of the states, universities and technical schools, and other groups such as the farmers, the railroads, and lumbermen, shall pool their efforts, was set in motion by the engineers. The work will be in charge of a Reforestation Committee of the Council, headed by Charles H. MacDowell of Chicago. Mov-ing picture interests will be asked to aid. The board pledged its support to President Harding in his plan for Government reorganization. In adopting the report of its Committee on Public Affairs, headed by J. Parke Channing of New York, the Executive Board of the council determined, in the event of the failure of the President's efforts to bring about greater economy and ffieciency in national affairs by regrouping of Federal functions, to press independ-ently a nation-wide movement for the establishment of a Department of Public Works. Progress in a national survey of the two-shift day in American industries was reported by the Council's Committee on Work Periods in Continuous Industries. This survey, called the most extensive of its kind ever made, has been in progress for more than a year; and purposes an exposition of industrial conditions which shall form a basis for establishing the relative merits of three shifts of eight hours each and two shifts of twelve hours each.

Jan 7, 1922

By J. E. Brantly

In October 1939, a drilling program was commenced on the Atlantic seaboard of Brazil, with three steam rotary rigs of medium capacity. One of these was assigned to the State of Alagbas and the other two to the State of Bahia. During the remaining few months of 1939 and during the year 1940, some eight wells were drilled, two in Alagbas and six in Bahia. Two small producers were found in the latter state. In early 1941 three medium-weight Diesel rigs were added to the equipment, thus permitting the drilling of some 15 wells during the year 1941. The two small producers found in 1940 in the State of Rahia were near the city of Silo Salvador. In 1941 three additional small wells were brought in, in the same area, and a further producer on an isolated structure some 75 km. to the northwest of this production. No commercial production has been found in the State of Alagbas. Approximately 26 wells have been drilled or are drilling, six of which are producers— five in one area and one in another. The program for 1942 calls for the development of the two areas in which wells have been found and also the drilling of several wildcat structures located either by geophysics or surface geology. All production in the area of the several producing wells is somewhat less than 2000 ft. and in the other area about 3800 ft. The area of the several wells is known as the Lobato field, and is practically within the city limits of Sao Salvador. The area 75 km. northwest of the city will be known as the Candeias field.

Jan 1, 1942

By J. E. Brantly

In October 1939, a drilling program was commenced on the Atlantic seaboard of Brazil, with three steam rotary rigs of medium capacity. One of these was assigned to the State of Alagbas and the other two to the State of Bahia. During the remaining few months of 1939 and during the year 1940, some eight wells were drilled, two in Alagbas and six in Bahia. Two small producers were found in the latter state. In early 1941 three medium-weight Diesel rigs were added to the equipment, thus permitting the drilling of some 15 wells during the year 1941. The two small producers found in 1940 in the State of Rahia were near the city of Silo Salvador. In 1941 three additional small wells were brought in, in the same area, and a further producer on an isolated structure some 75 km. to the northwest of this production. No commercial production has been found in the State of Alagbas. Approximately 26 wells have been drilled or are drilling, six of which are producers— five in one area and one in another. The program for 1942 calls for the development of the two areas in which wells have been found and also the drilling of several wildcat structures located either by geophysics or surface geology. All production in the area of the several producing wells is somewhat less than 2000 ft. and in the other area about 3800 ft. The area of the several wells is known as the Lobato field, and is practically within the city limits of Sao Salvador. The area 75 km. northwest of the city will be known as the Candeias field.

Jan 1, 1942

By C. E. Shoenfelt

Wildcat drilling in the Rocky Mountain region did not suffer as large a decline in 1942 as was anticipated. The drilling program laid out by the Government at the beginning of the year stressed wild-catting operations and called for reduction of drilling in proved fields. The increased wildcatting campaign did not yield a great many new discoveries, nor important extensions to old fields. Several interesting wildcat wells were drilled in Colorado in 1942 but no new fields were discovered. The Wilson Creek field was extended and about 400 acres added to its reserves. In Montana two new oil fields and two small gas fields were discovered. The developments in the marketing situation had improved, however, making the prospects especially bright for 1943, as will be shown presently in the section on Montana in this report. In New Mexico eight wells were completed, which constituted discoveries ol either oil or gas but none of these was of major proportions. In Wyoming one new oil field and one new gas field were discovered, and one old oil field and one old gas field were extended. Most important was the disco-very of prolific oil producers in deeper sands in three old oil fields, of which one at least, Elk Basin, probably is of major proportions. Government Action On Dec. 26, 1942, President Roosevelt signed the O'Mahoney bill, calling for a flat 12.5 per cent royalty on lands in the public domain. It is expected that the enactment of this bill will encourage wildcatting in the public land states. Opportunity for a full discussion of the problems of reserves and production was afforded at the hearings conducted on the O'Mahoney bill by the minerals subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Public Lands and the statements submitted at these hearings last fall placed the situation, its causes and the logical remedy, clearly on record. It was established at the hearings that for several years the volume of oil discovered per wildcat well drilled has steadily declined; new fields discovered have not been of major proportions; drilling costs have advanced rapidly; a sharp decline in exploratory drilling took place in 1942, while the proportion of dry holes increased; the inescapable conclusion is that to find new reserves the search for oil must be intensified and much more wildcat drilling ' must be done. To ensure an adequate drilling campaign, the Petroleum Industry War Council, the Interstate Compact Commission and other representative oil organizations have voiced by resolution their opinion that an upward revision of crude prices is necessary to provide an incentive to the prospector to undertake the hazards of wildcat drilling, since statistics prove that only ope in five or six wells drilled results in actual production. Former Price Administrator Henderson rejected the recommendations for price increases and declared himself unalterably opposed to a general price advance, On the ground that such advances would contribute to inflation. Now that Mr. Hender-

Jan 1, 1943

By C. E. Shoenfelt

Wildcat drilling in the Rocky Mountain region did not suffer as large a decline in 1942 as was anticipated. The drilling program laid out by the Government at the beginning of the year stressed wild-catting operations and called for reduction of drilling in proved fields. The increased wildcatting campaign did not yield a great many new discoveries, nor important extensions to old fields. Several interesting wildcat wells were drilled in Colorado in 1942 but no new fields were discovered. The Wilson Creek field was extended and about 400 acres added to its reserves. In Montana two new oil fields and two small gas fields were discovered. The developments in the marketing situation had improved, however, making the prospects especially bright for 1943, as will be shown presently in the section on Montana in this report. In New Mexico eight wells were completed, which constituted discoveries ol either oil or gas but none of these was of major proportions. In Wyoming one new oil field and one new gas field were discovered, and one old oil field and one old gas field were extended. Most important was the disco-very of prolific oil producers in deeper sands in three old oil fields, of which one at least, Elk Basin, probably is of major proportions. Government Action On Dec. 26, 1942, President Roosevelt signed the O'Mahoney bill, calling for a flat 12.5 per cent royalty on lands in the public domain. It is expected that the enactment of this bill will encourage wildcatting in the public land states. Opportunity for a full discussion of the problems of reserves and production was afforded at the hearings conducted on the O'Mahoney bill by the minerals subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Public Lands and the statements submitted at these hearings last fall placed the situation, its causes and the logical remedy, clearly on record. It was established at the hearings that for several years the volume of oil discovered per wildcat well drilled has steadily declined; new fields discovered have not been of major proportions; drilling costs have advanced rapidly; a sharp decline in exploratory drilling took place in 1942, while the proportion of dry holes increased; the inescapable conclusion is that to find new reserves the search for oil must be intensified and much more wildcat drilling ' must be done. To ensure an adequate drilling campaign, the Petroleum Industry War Council, the Interstate Compact Commission and other representative oil organizations have voiced by resolution their opinion that an upward revision of crude prices is necessary to provide an incentive to the prospector to undertake the hazards of wildcat drilling, since statistics prove that only ope in five or six wells drilled results in actual production. Former Price Administrator Henderson rejected the recommendations for price increases and declared himself unalterably opposed to a general price advance, On the ground that such advances would contribute to inflation. Now that Mr. Hender-

Jan 1, 1943

By J. W. Pugh, J. D. Nisbet

THIS study of the ternary has been made as one phase of a metallurgical investigation which began nearly four years ago in the General Electric Company's Research Laboratory in Schenectady, N. Y. The objective of this program is the discovery of new metallurgical information which will lead to the development of better high-temperature materials. Combinations of the four pure base elements—iron, chromium, nickel, and cobalt—are being studied at the present time. It is essential in an investigation such as this to know as much as possible about the constitutional diagrams involved. The study of the iron-chromium-nickel system has been made to this end. Preliminary Explanation of Experimental Procedure: In all, fifty-five alloys at steps of 10 at. pct were made for the investigation of this ternary. Several ternary alloys in the chromium rich corner had to be omitted because their extreme brittleness made testing impractical. All alloys were vacuum melted with hydrogen reduction and centrifugally cast. The apparatus and technique of this process has been described in detail by Nisbet.1,2 The purity of the alloys prepared in this way is considered to be quite good. Impurities are listed as follows: Pct Carbon.............................0.02 Oxygen................................0.02 Nitrogen.........................0.005 Magnesium..................0.03-0.05 Sulphur...........................trace Hydrogen....................trace Phosphorous..................trace Silicon........................ trace After casting, all samples were given a homo-genization treatment which consisted of holding them for 15 hr at 1150°C (2100°F) and water quenching. Testing was begun with the samples in this condition. The tests employed in the study of this system were (1) dilatometer, (2) hardness versus aging temperature, (3) tensile strength and elongation versus temperature, (4) microstructure analysis, and (5) electrical resistance versus temperature. Dilatometer tests were made at the rather rapid heating rate of 1093°C (2000°F) in one hour on a Bristol-Rockwell type instrument. Hardness data were taken on specimens cooled from 204", 427", 649°, 760°, 871°, 982°, and 1093°C under conditions which are thought sufficient to bring the specimens to equilibrium in all but the cases of the very sluggish transformations. Electrical resistance data for several specimens were taken for both heating and cooling conditions in a vacuum furnace especially designed for this work by D. W. Bainbridge, formerly of this laboratory. Provisions were made for heating and cooling standard specimens at a constant rate, while autographic records of resistance and temperature were made simultaneously. Micrographs of all the alloys were made in the quenched condition. Some question may exist as to how such physical values as hardness, tensile strength, and elongation were interpreted to indicate a change in phase. Original data were recorded on physical property versus temperature graphs, each of which was made from the data of a single alloy (fig. la). From these, another series of graphs were plotted with the physical property as a function of composition for constant temperatures (fig. 1b). Sharp deviations in the slope of these composition versus hardness curves often indicate a change in phase. The example of fig. 1 will serve to describe this experimental technique. The plotting of a single point from graph "a" to graph "b," and finally to the phase diagram "c," is illustrated. The location of the point on graph "b" is indicated as point (1). If all the alloys of the A-B binary system were solid solutions at temperature X, the hardness in this curve would be expected to rise at a fairly even rate as A is diluted with B to a maximum at some intermediate value between A and B, as

Jan 1, 1951

By W. N. Carr, J. R. Biard, B. S. Reed

An analysis of the semiconductor injection laser is presented which is based on a phenomenological model using device and material parameters. The intent of the laser threshold analysis is not to predict from theory the actual threshold current density but rather to provide a logical means of interpreting experimental results. The device and material parameters have been selected such that they describe both the threshold conditions and quantum efficiency of the lasev. A technique is proposed whereby the current required to obtain a population inversion is predicted from device 1-V characteristics. Experimental data are presented which support the analysis. THIS investigation is concerned with the characteristics of GaAs lasers fabricated in this laboratory. However, the assumptions used in these calculations should not limit their application to GaAs alone. It is felt that the analysis is sufficiently general to be useful in describing the operation of other semiconductor-laser materials. ANALYSIS heavily doped semiconductors to be considered. The absorption and/or generation of optical radiation may be completely specified in terms of q(E) and the probability functions f,,(E) and f,(E) which define the occupancy of the valence-band and conduction-band levels, respectively. The symbols used in this analysis are listed at the end. Following the approach of all' it can be shown that the effective gain coefficient, g, in the plane of a forward-biased P -N junction is g(E)=-ai@)[1-fv(E)-fc(E)] [1I In particular Eq. [I] holds for the photon energy at which lasing occurs, Ep. Throughout the following discussion Eq. [I] is considered only for the lasing transition E = Ep. For simplicity the functional energy dependence of the various factors is omitted in subsequent equations. Unless otherwise stated the symbols used represent the values at Ep. If the analysis is limited to the P-type side of the laser junction, the function q(l -f,,) is recognized as the band-to-band absorption in the P-type material at thermal equilibrium. Under forward-bias conditions the function f, is determined by the electron quasi Fermi level in P-type material. For sufficiently large forward bias the second term in Eq. [3] will become dominant and net gain will result; i.e., g will become positive. In order to simplify the subsequent analysis several assumptions are in order at this point. a) No conductivity modulation occurs. /„ is independent of f, and therefore go is a constant. b) The P-type material is heavily doped such that the degeneracy of the valence band permits popu-

Jan 1, 1964

By L. W. McKeehan

THE occurrence of twins in large ferrite crystals, made by a new process, was reported in a recent note. This paper describes a typical case of such twinning and suggests, on the basis of the observed facts, why smooth slip-planes are rarely observed in this metal. METHOD OF PREPARATION The material In which the crystals here dealt with were grown was made from 1/8 -in. Armco iron welding rod containing C, 0.04; S, 0.037; P, 0.003; Si, 0.008, and Mn, 0.02 per cent. This rod was cold drawn into wire about 1 mm. dia. A piece of this wire was supported vertically and was locally heated in hydrogen at atmospheric pressure to about 1400° C. by an alternating current (60 cycles per sec.) of about 35 amp., passed through it between a pair of travelling contacts about 8 cm. apart. The rate of travel for the case in hand was 12 cm. per hr. After some 30 cm. of the length of the wire had been heated and cooled in this manner the whole wire was immersed for a few seconds in dilute nitric acid, not restrained by alcohol. Etching was continued until, as nearly as could be judged by eye, the original smooth cylindrical surface of the wire was no longer capable of specular reflection.

Jan 1, 1927