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By Eric Jette

IN a recent article,1 the authors reported the results of an X-ray investigation on the range of solid solutions that occurs in the iron-oxygen system in the vicinity of the compound FeO, which frequently is called "Wüstite." The object of that investigation was primarily to study the unusual type of solid solution phenomena involved in this range. Briefly summarized the results were: 1. The NaCl type of lattice found by earlier workers was confirmed. 2. The lattice dimensions decrease rapidly with decrease in iron content. 3. No alloy that was a homogeneous single phase was ever found at compositions beyond 76.80 per cent Fe, while the theoretical iron content of FeO is 77.73 per cent Fe. 4. Measurements of the densities and lattice constants led to the conclusion that the form of substitution was complex, an FeO group being replaced by oxygen. Such a substitution, of course, is equivalent to removing an iron atom (or ion). The ideal unit cell of FeO can be con-sidered as containing four groups of FeO and, thus, when this type of substitution takes place, there remain in the unit cell three FeO groups and an oxygen, or a total of seven atoms with a gross formula of Fe304 instead of the original Fe404. 5. This was the only interpretation that would fit the experimental results and at the same time be consistent with (a) the previously deter-mined fact that the FeO lattice is ionic (i. e., consists of Fe++ and 0= ions) and (b) the chemical fact that as the oxygen content of the substance increases, ferrous iron becomes oxidized to ferric iron. The experimental results of this investigation are included in Fig. 1.

Jan 1, 1933

By B. Fitch

This paper deals with the behavior of sedimenting suspensions. More particularly, it treats, in as organized a manner as possible, the body of knowledge, theoretical or empirical, by which one predicts the behavior of miscellaneous swarms of particles in suspension. Such knowledge is necessary for precise and economical design of equipment. While the behavior of a single spherical particle settling through an infinite sea of quiescent fluid is well understood, practical sedimentation processes are almost always concerned with particles of assorted sizes, densities, and shapes, in such concentration that there is profound particle interaction. Such swarms of particles are observed to settle in any of four markedly different manners. Which one they follow is governed by particle interaction. It is determined largely by the dilution of the suspension, and the relative tendency of the particles to cohere. TYPES OF SEDIMENTATION The relationship between the different modes of sedimentation is shown paragenetically in Fig. 1. The left side of the diagram represents particles having little tendency to cohere; the right side represents particles for which interparticle cohesion is large compared to the settling force. The vertical axis represents dilution. As seen in the diagram, sedimentation is divided into three broad fields or regimes. At high dilutions there exists a regime here named 'clarification.' Particles in clarification may settle either individually, or by collecting into separated floccules. Thus there are two different possible modes of settling in the clarification regime. It is characteristic c~f this regime that there will be no clear line of demarcation between settling suspension and a supernatant. Faster particles settle out ahead of slower ones. In batch tests there develops a gradation of both particle sizes and pulp density due to progressive depletion of the largest particles from any given pulp level.

Jan 1, 1962

By D. W. Jessup

ONLY during the past few years, have the old-fashioned methods for treating ores and byproducts progressed to any marked degree. The advent of multiple-hearth roasting, blast roasting, the baghouse, and the Cottrell plant indicate this change. It is the ability to roast and smelt sulfide ores and concentrates that gave this later advance. Further investigations that will solve the problem of efficient handling of flotation concentrates and their attendant ills are of the utmost importance. With future developments, the metallurgist will be able to smelt more economically and to treat still more refractory ores, making the early methods appear small by comparison. GROWTH OF SMELTING Well within the memory of pioneer smeltermen, the ore was charged directly into the blast furnace as it came from the mine;, only the richer, ores were smelted, the lower grade and sulfide ores were undesirable. Matte was, at first, thrown away and only two products) were desired-slag and lead bullion. Scores of the early smelting companies failed because of improper reduction of ores, high costs, short- furnace campaigns, inability to treat sulfide ores, and ores containing-zinc. With the failure of weaker companies, consolidation eliminated many others, until today the field is dominated by a comparatively few organizations, each strong financially. Formerly, a few thousand dollars would erect a small plant, whereas the modern smelter costs over a million dollars. Ore and products to which formerly no attention was paid are now treated with comparative ease and at a good profit. Mechanical improvements have modernized smelting, furnace tonnages show an increase, and metal recoveries have made enormous strides. Even though costs have decreased, they have not dropped in proportion to the improvements, because of the higher wages, greater costs of fluxes and coke, more undesirable ores smelted, etc.

Jan 8, 1925

By John Porter

(Cleveland Meeting, October, 1912.) Iv taking up this subject it is first necessary to define our terms. Efficiency, in its engineering usage, means the ratio between actual and theoretical results, and efficiency-records thus involve the use of scientifically determined standards with which all results are compared. Scientific management is the methods used in increasing efficiency, and includes the use of efficiency-records. Effeciency-records do not alone constitute scientific management, but they are necessary to it, and any so-called system of management which is not based upon standards and standardization is fundamentally wrong. An efficient management and efficiency-methods in management are not the same thing. There are some people who have an instinctive genius for management and accomplish results without exactly knowing how they do it. Such a manager may obtain a very high efficiency without the aid of scientifically determined standards. On the other hand, it sometimes happens that poor results will accompany the use of efficiency-records, clue to a weak or indifferent management, which fails to make use of the information acquired. Efficiency-records are only a tool, and like other tools are worthless unless used. The ordinary cost, sheet and production-statement do not go far enough. They tell what has been done, but give no information as to how well it has been done. It is true that the man who is familiar with the industry and the plant in question may draw inferences and form a general idea of good work or bad work, but it can only be a very general and hazy idea. Comparisons with previous records or records of other plants are unsatisfactory, since there is nothing to show the cause of the differences.

Jan 4, 1913

By Donald R. Williamson

Ore estimation at Cyprus Pima mine begins with estimating average copper grades for mine model blocks. Accuracy of the estimates has been checked four times in the last several years by comparing the estimates with arithmetic averages of corresponding blasthole (BH) assays. The data file now contains 3.567 estimated blockgrades and more than 10,000 blasthole assays. These data were compared by straight-line regression analysis at appropriate intervals as the body of data grew. Arithmetic averages of the estimates differed each time from arithmetic averages of the BH averages by nearly the same amount. More significantly, regression curves of the new total sets of data did not change position appreciably showing that copper grade estimates of blocks in all grade ranges from the lowest to the highest grade ores remained in error by nearly the same amount. Other studies revealed that core hole assays of the dominant ore type are biased and that that bias almost equals the error in estimation. Discovery of constancy in error indicated that regression analysis could be a means for correcting estimates of average block copper grades. A correction for estimated block grades was developed. It required determining which regression is appropriate for the particular problem, and a mechanism that is demonstrably sound. This paper describes the problem and the solution: No comparable study has been, found in the literature. Two other applications of regression analysis to metal grade comparisons are presented. Each adds a bit of support to a generalization which was suggested by correction of average block copper grades, namely, when performance of an estimate is to be evaluated, the variable taken to be the yardstick for the performance should be regressed on the estimate.

Jan 1, 1980

By J. M. Hartman

ONE of the most important subjects to the blast-furnace engineer is a thorough knowledge of the conditions affecting the temperature in the different portions of the furnace. All efforts to decrease the consumption of fuel and improve the working of the furnace must be based upon it, and I may, therefore, be permitted to place before you the results of my observations, and detail the conclusions to which they have led me. Tracing the thermic conditions from below upwards we have at the bottom of a blast furnace making No. 3 iron a temperature of 2900° F., which increases slightly to a point a little below the tuyeres. In the immediate vicinity of the tuyeres the temperature is somewhat lower, owing to the entering blast ; but a short distance above the tuyeres, where all the oxygen of the blast has been converted into carbonic acid, the highest temperature in the furnace must be attained. This carbonic acid is, however, almost as soon as formed, converted by the glowing coal into carbonic oxide, a process which absorbs heat, reduces the temperature, and provides the active agent for the reduction of the iron ores. In its ascent the hot carbonic oxide gradually parts with its heat, first melting the descending iron and earthy materials, which drop down to the hearth of the furnace. The limit of this zone of fusion is rather sharply defined, and the temperature above this zone suddenly decreases. In its further ascent the hot gas drives off the carbonic acid from the limestone, which causes a further absorption of heat, and finally the gas escapes at the top, at a temperature of about 250° F. if the furnace is working well. These changes of temperature 1 have attempted to represent graphically,

Jan 1, 1880

R. H. THURSTON, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. (communication to the Secretary): The " tri-axial diagram" was, I think, first employed by me in the work of the " U. 8. Board Appointed to Test Iron, Steel and Other Metals." A model was exhibited to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the diagram was first published, and the model described, in a paper presented to the same society at its Nashville meeting in 1877." The problem then presented to its inventor was to find a method of planning a research involving proportions of ternary compositions in such manner that, a limited number of such compositions being tested, the results should give the law of variation in the physical properties of all possible combinations of the three elements, and the actual numerical values of such as were important to the investigator. The investigation of the binary alloys, copper and tin, copper and zinc, and tin and zinc, had been completed and satisfactorily discussed, employing the usual bi-axial diagram, of which the ordinates represented the one, and the abscissæ the other, of the characteristic properties to be studied, the composition being commonly indicated by the abscissæ. In these cases it was easy to ascertain, by the study of a limited number of compounds, the law of variation in strength, ductility, etc., with composition; but, for a long time, the ternary alloys were not attacked, because no simple and satisfactory method presented itself of securing results significant for the whole field by the investigation of a comparatively small number of alloys. The tri-axial diagram was finally hit upon as a means of representing and interpreting results, and researches were at once begun, and in due time satisfactorily completed.

Jan 1, 1899

By John Park

THE mining .district is located in the northeasterly part of Nevada, between the Jarbidge River on the west and the East Fork of the Jarbidge on the east. The northern boundary of the district is but a few miles south of the Idaho state line-the gold-bearing area extending from this point south, for 5 or 6 miles. The Jarbidge Mountains, in which the ore deposits occur, range from 5000 to 11,000 ft. in elevation, the most important mines being situated about 7000 ft. or higher. The town of Jarbidge lies along the Jarbidge River and is reached by stage from Rogerson, Ida., the nearest railroad point. During the summer months, the camp may be entered from the south by way of Deeth, Nev., but no regular transportation facilities are available over this route. HISTORY The mineral deposits were not discovered until 1909, when D. A. Bourne, panning along the river bank, found gold in the gravel at the mouth of a small stream flowing into the Jarbidge. He prospected in the vicinity of this stream, later known as Bourne Gulch, and shortly after located the North Star claims. During the following spring and summer (1910), the camp of Jarbidge grew from nothing to a town of 2000 people and the hills surrounding it were practically all taken up by mining claims. Most of the work done during. the first year or two consisted of trenching and open-cut prospecting. Tunneling was started on a number of claims and many veins were uncovered. Mills were built and operated on a few properties, notably the Pavlak and the North Star. These ran only a few months, however, when they were closed down because of extraction and financial difficulties.

Jan 1, 1925

By Charles Catlett

Some years ago the writer was struck by what might be called the remarkable vitality of the Virginia furnaces during the panic of 1893; and attention was called to the fact in the American Manufacturer of February 8,1895. From the second half of 1892, which was a period of maximum output, to the second half of 1893, when the full effects of the depression had been reached, the output of pig-iron had fallen off in Illinois 85; in New York, 66; in Ohio, 51; in Tennessee, 44; in Pennsylvania, 28; and in Virginia only 15 per cent. It seemed a reasonable inference that the State which had thus shown its marked ability to meet hard times could make and market its product with a larger margin of profit than any of the other States. This was true at that time, and to a certain extent the reasoning still holds good; but my mistake was in not fully realizing the marked effect of the Mesabi development, combined with reduced economies in transportation, and the consequent advantage to those furnaces which were so situated as to utilize these new commercial factors. The effect of these factors is seen in comparing the second half of 1894 with the second half of 1892. New York had dropped off 44, Alabama 23, Tennessee 21, Illinois 19, and Virginia 16 per cent., while Pennsylvania had increased 5 and Ohio 10 per cent. While there is no question of the great economy which has been made possible for certain interests which are peculiarly situated with reference to the ores of the Northwest, it is yet too early to say what furnaces not so fortunate will have to pay for their raw material. Already an increase of twenty cents per ton of ore has been announced, based upon increased cost of production.

Jan 1, 1900

By Francis B. Foley

From the point of view of the metallographist, the adaptation of x-rays to the study of the crystal structure of metals is of the greatest importance. While one may hardly consider the findings resulting from x-ray study as revolutionary, their positive nature, compared with the deductions we have been forced to accept from the work that had gone before, gives firmer ground on which to build and furnishes new fields for speculation. Prior to the advent of the crystallogram, the best work on the crystal structure of steel was that of Osmond and Cartaud.' They concluded, from their investigation with percussion figures formed at various temperatures, that alpha, beta, and gamma irons belonged to the cubic system and that they showed well-marked specific characteristics and could not have the same internal structure. What the internal structures were, they had no direct method of determining; but from a consideration of the fact that the 001 plane (that parallel to the cube face) is a plane of perfect cleavage and minimum hardness in alpha iron and that the 111 (octahedral) plane is by far the most important in the crystallography of gamma iron, they were led to suggest the simple cubic arrangement as that of alpha and the face-centered cubic arrangement as that of gamma iron. They suggested the body-centered cubic arrangement as that of beta iron. The atomic arrangement of the various crystal forms of iron has been quite definitely determined in recent years by means of x-rays and the work of Westgren2 and Weatgren and Phragmen3 has been rather conclusive. They not only determined the atomic arrangement of alpha, beta, and gamma iron but also that of the high-temperature modification delta.

Jan 1, 1926

An Outline Classification of Mining Systems for Ore and Coal. See COAL Progress at the Homestake Mine. By Guy N. BJORGE. (Min. & Met., June, 247. 4400 words.) Homestake's mining methods today are controlled to a con¬siderable extent by that which has been done in the past. The two main operating shafts were begun m 1878 and 1896 respectively, so that the location of shafts, loca¬tions of all the drifts on the upper levels, and a great deal of stoping was done before any of those now connected with the mine had anything to do with it In this paper is described the general plan of development. A table shows percentage of total production mined by the different methods in recent years. Average daily produc¬tion for several years now has been about 3850 tons milled. With the present schedule of 6-day operation of the mine, that means about 4450 tons a day mined This ore is treated at three plants, with respective capacities of 2000, 1200 and 600 tons The principal novelty in milling is at the largest mill where the stamps are used as crushers only, and where in the last two years a notable increase has occurred in the size of screens used A unit has been added to cyanide plant No 3 The construc¬tion of a new shaft is described, as is also the hoist building The company operates its own lumber and timber department It has a well equipped hospital Housing at Lead is an individual matter. Rejuvenating the Golden Chariot Property in Idaho. By R. S. MCCLELLAN (Min. & Met, November, 443. 2300 words) An effort to rejuvenate the Golden Chariot group of properties near Silver City is now being carried on by the John Hays

Jan 1, 1935

By T. B. Crowe

MucH has been written upon the precipitation of metals from cyanide Solution by zinc. We often read of the many factors that influence precipitation, such as zinc surface, purity of zinc, percentage of lead, temperature of solutions, strength of solutions in cyanide or alkali, etc. -Little do, we hear, however, of the part that oxygen plays in precipitation. Caldecottl says: "As the dissolving of gold is essentially an oxidation process, so its precipitation is one of reduction." All who have studied or worked with cyanide solutions will agree that Caldecott's statement is true.' . In the cyanide work in the mills of the Portland Gold Mining Co., we have always found oxygen to be the greatest enemy to precipitation. Oxygen Antagonistic to Good Precipitation A few years ago, while making some experiments on the effect of pressure upon the dissolving rate of gold from our ores, to prove a point, I made some bottle tests under vacuum. The results were surprising, and showed that under vacuum practically no gold dissolved, which confirmed my belief that Elsner's equation was true and also led me to investigate the amount of dissolved air carried by solutions at atmospheric pressure. The experiment consisted in partly filling an acid-bottle with mill-solution and connecting it by a rubber hose to a vacuum pump. When the vacuum was suddenly applied, a cloud composed of thousands of small air bubbles rose out of the solution, showing qualitatvcily' the amount of dissolved air that was contained in the solution, and also proving that the relief of atmospheric pressure on the solution permitted this dissolved air to escape. In studying literature on the subject, we find Henry's law—"The amount of gas dissolved by a liquid is proportional to the pressure to which the gas is subjected."

Jan 1, 1919

By A. J. Weinig

The Liberty Bell cyanide precipitate is unique in that it is apt to vary widely in composition in the course of very short periods of time, and a method of refining and melting that would prove highly satisfactory at one cleanup would yield7almost a hopeless "mess" at a second. Table I gives a general conception of the wide range in grade and composition of those raw precipitates. It is evident that no one standard flux could be expected to produce a high-grade bullion with such a widely variable precipitate, and that any method of treatment with acid requires most careful consideration. Refining by Acids Naturally, our first efforts to improve our precipitates were directed along the lines of acid treatment. Table II embodies the results of careful sampling and analysis of one cleanup at the time when wet refining reached its maximum development at this mill. We have now discarded all methods of wet refining, successfully replacing them by a more scientific method of flux calculation described herein, but it is believed that a general description of this wet refining is warranted as it throws some interesting side lights on acid refining in general. Table I.—Range of Composition of Raw Precipitates Per Cent. Gold and silver.................................... 25.0 to 75 Zinc.............................................. 18.0to 30 Lead............................................. 0.5 to 52 Copper........................................... 0.5 to 20 Silica............................................ 1.0 to 5 Calcium oxide...................................... 4.0 to 8 Sulphur.......................................... 0.5 to 8 Column A gives the analysis of the raw precipitate; column B, that of the precipitate after heating with steam, with frequent addition of hydrochloric acid until a point was reached where the batch had a strong tend-

Jan 1, 1917

By W. G. Matteson

BENJAMIN L. MILLER, So. Bethlehem, Pa.-In discussing the question personally with Mr. Matteson I have found that he simply proposed this as a suggestion and he recognizes, as well as a great many other oil geologists and oil operators, that to put into practice such a suggestion would mean the overcoming of many difficulties. Yet perhaps it may be possible to overcome the various objections that may be offered. Undoubtedly one of the most serious objections is that of incomplete and inaccurate well records. Faulty records are worse than no records at all. Perhaps, however, definite instructions and insistence on their observation may remedy this defect after a time. THE CHAIRMAN (M. L. REQUA, San Francisco, Cal.).-This subject is a. very important one, but just how far the National Government can go in .taking action is a question: It involves, of course, the question of State rights. California, I .think, has done very well up to date and probably will do better in the future. The law that was passed at the session of the Legislature 2 years ago is working as satisfactorily as anything of that kind can work with so little experience to guide the framers of the statute. We recognize in California the vital necessity of conserving the oil of the State. We have come to the conclusion that there is not as much oil ,in California as we thought there was. In the month of December the State drew on its oil stocks to- the extent of 1,800,000 bbl. and I think that the January statistics will show probably as much more. There is more or less of a.: panic at the present time among the large marketing concerns regarding the question as to where they are going to get their oil for future requirements

Jan 4, 1917

Curlisle: We're sitting in Don McLaughlin's office overlooking Sun Francisco Bay, and he's going to be good enough to talk about early days in California, maybe about his college years in Berkeley, maybe about his first jobs in mining. Now, Don, would you be good enough to start it off by saying something about George Hearst. I know he died before you were born, but you know a lot about the family, and you no doubt know a lot about him. Certainly, nobody in those days matched his record in getting hold of good mines. McLaughlin: George Hearst died, actually, in the very year that I was born, but as I more or less grew up in the home of Mrs. Phoebe Hearst, who was his widow, I heard a great deal about the mines and the people that made the great fortune she inherited and used so wisely. But I don't think I really had an appreciation of George Hearst until 1 became active in the mining world and realized how many major mines he had picked in the early days and how much he had to do with their development into successful properties. He started in the California gold fields, but it was on the Comstock that he made his first big stake out of his substantial share in the Ophir mine. I believe at that time he was on his own. Then, later, he became associated with Ben Ali Haggin and Lloyd Tevis in San Francisco, and scoured the West for them. They made a little money in Eureka, Nevada, and other places, but the first important property that he obtained for them was the famous Ontario Mine in Park City, which became one of the great silver lead producers of the Continent. Then later he acquired the Homestake.

Jan 6, 1965

E. M. Fitchett (Johnstown, Pa.)—The fact stated by the authors that: "In the laboratory, without marked efficiency decreases, the authors have deposited zinc successfully from solutions containing as high as 1 g per liter of germanium," (p. 465, paragraph 3) is most unusual. A similar statement is made in the summary and conclusions: "Germanium alone, within normal operating limits does not cause large efficiency losses." The limits are not defined. These facts are directly contrary to much of the published history on the effect of germanium in zinc electrolysis. A description of the conditions leading to such a successful electrolysis would be of interest to all engaged in the production of electrolytic zinc. It is unfortunate that the authors of this paper did not determine the actual concentration of germanium and cadmium in the solutions which they electrolyzed after a zinc dust purification. This purification will take out a variable amount of these impurities, depending upon the composition of the dust, type of agitation, presence of activating agents, etc. Probably every electrolytic zinc plant in this country has accurate methods, both wet and spectrographic, for determining germanium and cadmium. These specific methods, adopted from the standard analytical literature, are often available to educational institutions for the asking. The headings of Fig. 2 and of the two tables, with their definite concentrations of germanium and cadmium (which are not so definite according to the footnotes) could possibly be somewhat misleading, since the actual amounts of germanium and cadmium present during electrolysis are not known. Even the 1 hr electrolysis time might be too short for a study of this type; 12 or 24 hr tests might be much better. Commercial solutions have been known that gave over 90 pct ampere efficiency during the first hour of electrolysis, but no metal at all after 24 hr.

Jan 1, 1953

By Charles Shamel

I FEAR most of the Institute members are already weary of the perennial controversy about the apex law. I feel that way about it myself now, though I have been guilty of considerable contribution to the discussion in the past. The discussion does not seem to perceptibly influence previously held views and I would not again break into print on the subject but for the urgent invitation of the Chairman of our, Law Committee. This energetic and able member has firmly determined to secure a revision of the mining law and among other things to eliminate the so-called apex provision from the U. S. mining statutes. He is, however, fair about it and has invited me to make "the strongest possible argument in its favor." I am suspicious that he is acting on the psychological principle that it is usually easier to convince an audience against a cause vigorously but unsuccessfully defended than against one wholly mute. Nevertheless, I realize that personally he wishes me no harm, much as he hates the apex law, and so am willing that the Institute have whatever benefit may accrue from my taking up again the unpopular side of the discussion. I say this because the attitude of a large part of our "articulate" membership seems irreconcilably hostile; their minds are made up; favorable consideration is foreclosed; and they become impatient and even sarcastic at any attempt to elucidate a favorable view of the apex law. The exact question for discussion at the present time is not whether on abstract, or any other considerations, the apex law is the best possible rule, but the very different proposition whether, after nearly 50 years of statutory life and much longer as a practically universal miners' custom, it is now just and expedient to repeal the apex law.

Jan 4, 1914

By C. Erb Wuensch

The Eagle mine is situated in the Kerber Creek mining district, Bonanza, Saguache County, Colo. The climate and topography of this district arc similar to those of mining camps of the Rocky Mountain region that lie 9000 to 12,000 ft. above sea level. The district is at the northeasterly edge of the San Juan volcanic region, in which successive Tertiary lavas have built up a high plateau resting upon earlier sedimentary formations, or the underlying pre-Cambrian complex. The latter was exposed in places by erosion previous to the eruptions. In the Bonanza district, proper, only volcanic formations, andesites and latites, are found. Dr. H. B. Patton,1 in his survey of the district, discriminates between several varieties of lavas and maps these as distinct flows. They are local variations within the same lava and it is impossible to determine any distinct line of demarkation between them. Structurally they are members of the same flow. There are three general types of vein occurrences: 1. Lead-zinc-copper-silver-gold veins in well-defined fissures with a quartz gangue; ill these, the various sulfides show a zonal arrangement. 2. Massive gray copper ores high in silver, in irregular fractures in the form of small lenses and pockets, in which little or no quartz is found. 3. Manganiferous quartz veins very low in silver and gold at the surface which, with depth, become important silver veins containing subordinate amounts of gold. These veins have a quartz gangue with an abundance of Phodochrosite. The silver is associated with small amounts of sphalerite, galena, and pyrite; fluorite also is present. The Eagle is the only mine that has been developed in the manganiferous quartz type of vein. It was discovered ill the fall of 1582, but little more than assessment work was done on the property for a number of

Jan 1, 1923

By D. V. Carter, Dan C. Williams, Franklin M. Hackbusch

During 1939 little of consequence happened in East and East Central Texas in the way of oil discoveries. At the end of the year, there were 47 oil and gas fields in the district. Twelve other fields, 11 oil and one gas, have been abandoned. The ranking fields in order of the number of completions for the year were East Texas, Talco, and Rodessa (Texas portion). There were 511 oil wells (distillate wells included), 32 gas wells, and 257 dry holes completed in the district. Exploration, Discoveries and Extensions During the year, 113 exploratory wells were drilled, the same number as in 1938; four oil fields and one gas-distillate field were discovered. Perhaps the most important discovery, which has been named Barron field, was that of M. Samuel et al., No. 1 Barron in Limestone County. The wells in this field are of the gas-distillate type. Other than the Talco and Sulphur Bluff fields, which produce oil from the Paluxy sand (Upper Trinity), this is the first field on the Corsicana-Mexia fault zone to obtain commercial production from deeper Trinity strata. This "pay" is the Petit lime of the Lower Glen Rose of the Trinity group. The four oil discoveries were: Redland, Angelina County; Bazette, Henderson County; Rowe and Baker, Henderson County; and Marion County Shallow in Marion County. It is believed that the Bazette field, Navarro County, represents an extension of the Flag Lake field. For details concerning discoveries, extensions and important wildcat wells drilled during 1939 see Table 2. Production and Proration The district produced 175,053,729 bbl. of oil (distillate production included) which is a decrease of 4.0 per cent from the 182,369,484 bbl. (distillate production included) produced during 1938. The district's production for the year 1937 was 208,594,453 bbl. The East Texas

Jan 1, 1940

By G. D. Tranter

THE importance of ladle and teeming practice and its relationship to the yield and quality of the product has focused considerable attention on this phase of open-hearth operation. Inherently bad steel cannot be perfected by manipulation during teeming, but through the proper handling of "off heats" serious losses, which in many cases arise, can be greatly minimized. Conversely, good steel can be ruined as a result of poor workmanship in the pit, and rendered unsuitable for application to orders where exacting surface and physical requirements are essential. Sufficient evidence has been secured to warrant careful investigation of pit operations when an abnormal number of basic defects develop in the semifinished product or are found on the inspection table. This paper is written from the standpoint of the problems involved in making satisfactory ingots for sheet rolling. Furthermore, since rimming steel is almost universally used for manufacture of sheet, the data presented herein refer particularly to that type of steel. Going back some 30 years in open-hearth history, the word "pit" properly described the hole into which the ladle was lowered to receive the metal tapped from the furnace. The working space was necessarily limited, and the disposal of slag and metal overflowing the ladle or lost because of breakouts presented a serious problem. The equipment, of course, was rather crude in the light of present-day development. Often no ladle stands were provided, the ladle being hung on the crane beneath the runner. When delayed taps occurred, the ladle was often held in position for many hours, thus tying tip pit operations and causing delays to adjacent furnaces. Because of crowded conditions, slag thimbles were not used and a network of cast-steel triangles and old tapping bars, placed before the heat was tapped, was the means for removing slag from the hole. Furnaces of different capacities were used

Jan 1, 1935