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By Kenneth Seaver

Discussion of the paper of KENNETH SEAVER, presented at the San Francisco meeting, September, 1915 and at the New York meeting, February, 1916, and printed in Bulletin No. 105, September, 1915, pp. 1913 to 1927. WILLIAM HUTTON BLAUVELT, Syracuse, N. Y.-I think that Professor Richards' statement regarding the reason for the failure of the Bethlehem ovens was due to a misconception on his part. Silica bricks were not used because the ovens were built under German design and management and it has not been the practice in Europe to use silica brick nor has it been necessary, on account of their lower heats and slower coking time as compared with the present American practice. J. W. RICHARDS, So. Bethlehem, Pa.-While acting as Chairman at the San Francisco meeting, in introducing this paper of Mr. Seaver, I made some remarks in discussion referring to unsuitable brick having been used in a coke plant at So. Bethlehem, Pa., and being the principal cause of the failure of these ovens. This statement having come to the attention of the Didier-March Co. of Perth Amboy, N. J., who furnished the firebrick used in the construction in the original ovens referred to, at the Lehigh Coke Works, near So. Bethlehem, Pa., their. manager, Geo. A. Balz has corresponded with me, and wishes to have placed on record a general denial of the statement referred to. As a matter of justice to the manufacturers of the firebrick, it is but right that their statement should be given as much publicity as my statement which has been objected to, and I take pleasure in placing upon record the statement of Mr. Balz, general manager for Didier-March Co., extracted from a letter to me dated Jan. 14, as follows: "The

Jan 5, 1916

By T. Guilford Smith

In presenting the subject of " Armored Turrets for Coast Defense " to this Institute, I am indebted to the Gruson Ironworks, a company incorporated under the laws of the State of New York, for valuable information, model and plans, by which I hope to make clear the construction and peculiar merits of this class of gun-protection. I wish it understood, however, that this is not an undeveloped and untried inventor's ideal, but an advanced and fully perfected system, which has long since passed the experimental stage and has been adopted by most of the foreign governments, after years of extensive experimenting and the expenditure of millions of dollars. The present seems an appropriate time to present the matter to the scientific public, since, for the first time, it is possible to produce these turrets in this country, of American material, and made by American workmen, owing to an agreement entered into between the Gruson Iron-works and the Fried. Krupp Grusonwerk, of Magdeburg-Buckau, Germany, where they have hitherto alone been manufactured. Although its full development and present perfection have been attained at the German works, it may be of historic interest to state that the first idea of using a rotating protected platform for large guns originated with Mr. Theo. Ruggles Timby, a native of the State of New York, who filed a caveat in 1843 for a " metallic revolving fort, to be used on land or water, and to be revolved by propelling engines located within the same and acting upon suitable mechanism." This was followed in 1862 by the issuance to Mr. Timby of two patents (No. 35,846 and No. 36,593) covering the ideas described in his caveat of 1843. The first practical application of this system was made on the " Monitor," of Civil War fame, Mr. Timby receiving $10,000 for two

Jan 1, 1901

` LAWRENCE ADDICKS, New York, N. Y.-We have really two competitive processes for the production of electrolytic zinc. In the process used at Great Falls, the ore is roasted and the calcines leached, leaving a residue which has to be smelted; in the other method, the ore is burned, the zinc and lead fumed off, and the condensed fumes are leached. I do not think that we can yet come to any decision as to which is the better way to attack the problem. Of course if we roast first and then leach, various substances remain in the calcines which may consume sulphuric acid; whereas if we do the burning first, we obtain simply the zinc and lead oxides, with considerable sulphate, in the fume, and there is no shortage of acid. It also depends partly on the complexity of the ore. The one that Mr. Hall is treating and the ore they are treating at Great Falls are not quite alike, but I think they are sufficiently similar to make a comparison of the two methods, working in competition, on different parts of the country, very interesting. C. E. SCHWARTZ, Miami, Okla.-Mr. Hall states that the Joplin conditions are not suitable for the manufacture of electrolytic zinc. When we speak of Joplin ore in general, we consider, of course, a 60-per cent: concentrate with comparatively low iron, but if a low-grade concentrate could be made from tailings and so-called chats, then the problem would be quite different. A Joplin ore is comparatively simple to treat electrolytically, and I believe the electrolytic process would open a field for the treatment of such ores as would not be ordinarily smeltable; that is,

Jan 1, 1918

By Jacques B. Wertz

Among the parameters to be considered in the continuous search for new base-metal deposits, there often is a stratigraphic controlling factor that seems instrumental in the localization of ore. In British Columbia, for instance, the Upper Triassic as well as Lower Jurassic volcanics mixed with sediments are a useful indication in the search for copper while, in some parts of Australia, rhyolite bodies seem to be the favorable indicator, and this always within the geosynclinal environment. In Arizona, this stratigraphic factor becomes highly significant and it will be shown here that a large number of ore deposits are to be located around the flanks of ancient calcareous basins or depressions, preferentially corresponding to a certain optimum thickness as revealed by isopachs. The Martin limestone, of Devonian age, is already known for its basal O'Carroll bed which coincides with mineralization at places, and this is a relatively minor control. However, several limestone basins outlined by isopachs are in reality of greater importance as they localize mining districts. Indeed, most mines are found to coincide with a specific thickness of limestone while occurring simultaneously close to major, regional fracture intersections. The regional fractures in question were interpolated and extrapolated from known, important fault expressions, integrating quite well with the existing geology and further confirmed by minor criteria such as contacts, igneous plugs, axes of elongation of batholiths, dikes, etc. Although elements of subjectivity remain, this grid of fractures can be used quite successfully as a working hypothesis in the search for ore. Results of the present study which superposes major structural

Jan 1, 1971

By W. S. Ayres

BACK in the early nineties the old Dickerson iron mine in Morris county, N. J., was operated by a vertical shaft 850 ft. deep and by a continuing slope for more than 1000 ft. more 011 an incline of 65", together making the vertical depth about 1800 ft. I was then the general superintendent there. This mine, named for a former governor of New Jersey, had been worked more or less continuously from long before the American Revolution and up to this particular time. The pumping equipment was of the old-time Cornish type, with its long pump-rods running down the vertical shaft and the slope to the sump at its bottom. It was operated by a large flywheel engine in the engine room and all angles were turned by the usual bobs. Saturday was the day fixed for lowering the "suction" into the deepened sump at the bottom of the advancing slope. The mine foreman had gone down with the morning shift to superintend this very vital and particular work, which consisted not only of lowering the "suction" into the sump immediately after the pump had been stopped, but of securing it to the rock and putting in the added sections of column-pipe and of tightening up the numerous bolts at their joints, all before the water rose to the point of working. At an appointed time during the forenoon I had agreed to go down into the mine and join the mine foreman in consultation over any difficulties that might have arisen. At the time agreed I went down by the cage to the bottom of the vertical 850-ft. shaft, and then by ladders down the slope for over 1000 ft. more.

Jan 1, 1930

By T. A. Rickard

The use of the verb in this mood is not as common as formerly: at the time, for' example, when the Bible was translated and the plays of Shakespeare were written. Nevertheless it is an essential part of literary English. In editing the `Mining and Scientific Press' I do not insist upon the use of the subjunctive in articles that are contributed from the outside, but it is deemed proper in all our editorial writing. To speak plainly, the subjunctive is I a mark of scholarship; it is ignored by those that are not particular in such matters, and unfortunately it is a source of perplexity to many that are entirely unfamiliar with the use of it. Therefore, as an editor, I think it well to allow the indicative mood to be used by contributors in sentences in which, to be strictly correct, the verbs .should be in the subjunctive mood. The fact that most subjunctives are indistinguishable in form from indicatives is another cause of trouble to the uninitiated.* For example, the verbs in such phrases as "Suffice it to say ", "So help me God ", and "God save the King" Fare in the subjunctive. One reason why the subjunctive is becoming uncommon is the growing habit of expressing the subjunctive meaning by aid of auxiliary verbs that are coupled with the infinitive; thus: "It will suffice' to say" and "May God save the King". The subjunctive is common in subordinate clauses, and that is how it obtained its name, `subjunctive', meaning * The student is referred to `A New English Grammar', by E. A. Sonnenschein, published by the Clarendon Press, Oxford. This textbook (see pp. 60-71 in Part III) discusses the subject luminously.

Jan 1, 1931

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

By Walter Miller

AFter a year's continued impact of war, the task of the petroleum-refining industry stands out clearly and looms up in larger aspect. This time it is not, as it was so largely in the first World War, simply a matter of increased quantity—more and more of the same petroleum products that had substantially been standard for years. In this era the emphasis is largely on newer and improved materials which had been produced, if at all, in comparatively insignificant quantities, and for which manufacturing equipment was not available on a large scale. At the beginning of 1942 four great product needs (besides a number of lesser ones) confronted the industry: 100-octane aviation gasoline, toluene for T.N.T. production, high-quality lubricating oils for aviation and Army equipment service, and petroleum chemicals for synthetic rubber manufacture. The difficulty in presenting a review of engineering progress in petroleum refining during 1942 is that there is so little one is free to say about so much which has been and is being accomplished. At the opening of 1942 the program was to increase the then existing capacity of 50,000 bbl. a day of aviation gasoline to over 150,000 bbl. daily by building new plants at an estimated installation cost of $150,000,000. Later in the year. after the announcement by President Roosevelt of a large increase in the program for war-plane building, additional contracts were made between the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and rehers to raise the capacity to 250,000 bbl. per day. The greatly increased scope of the war activities in all parts of the world, the obligation of the United States as the arsenal of the United Nations, and the greater importance and use of bomber, transport, and cargo planes will undoubtedly bring about plans and installations for a further increase in production of aviation gasoline over the present announced plan. In this connection, Jesse Jones, Reconstruction Finance Corporation Chairman, announced that as of Oct. 31 the R.F.C. had through its subsidiary Defense Plant Corporation entered into contracts for the construction, expansion, or equipping of 28 plants to increase 100-octane aviation gasoline production, but gave no data on 'capacity involved or completion dates. His list did not, of course, include a number of existing plants, and some installations being made by companies who are themselves financing the construction. Production from existing operating installations was materially increased in a number of instances as a result of pooling knowledge of improvements in operation and also by the exchange of Components going into 100-octane blend to enable greater quantities of aviation gasoline to be produced from the over-

Jan 1, 1943

By Walter Miller

AFter a year's continued impact of war, the task of the petroleum-refining industry stands out clearly and looms up in larger aspect. This time it is not, as it was so largely in the first World War, simply a matter of increased quantity—more and more of the same petroleum products that had substantially been standard for years. In this era the emphasis is largely on newer and improved materials which had been produced, if at all, in comparatively insignificant quantities, and for which manufacturing equipment was not available on a large scale. At the beginning of 1942 four great product needs (besides a number of lesser ones) confronted the industry: 100-octane aviation gasoline, toluene for T.N.T. production, high-quality lubricating oils for aviation and Army equipment service, and petroleum chemicals for synthetic rubber manufacture. The difficulty in presenting a review of engineering progress in petroleum refining during 1942 is that there is so little one is free to say about so much which has been and is being accomplished. At the opening of 1942 the program was to increase the then existing capacity of 50,000 bbl. a day of aviation gasoline to over 150,000 bbl. daily by building new plants at an estimated installation cost of $150,000,000. Later in the year. after the announcement by President Roosevelt of a large increase in the program for war-plane building, additional contracts were made between the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and rehers to raise the capacity to 250,000 bbl. per day. The greatly increased scope of the war activities in all parts of the world, the obligation of the United States as the arsenal of the United Nations, and the greater importance and use of bomber, transport, and cargo planes will undoubtedly bring about plans and installations for a further increase in production of aviation gasoline over the present announced plan. In this connection, Jesse Jones, Reconstruction Finance Corporation Chairman, announced that as of Oct. 31 the R.F.C. had through its subsidiary Defense Plant Corporation entered into contracts for the construction, expansion, or equipping of 28 plants to increase 100-octane aviation gasoline production, but gave no data on 'capacity involved or completion dates. His list did not, of course, include a number of existing plants, and some installations being made by companies who are themselves financing the construction. Production from existing operating installations was materially increased in a number of instances as a result of pooling knowledge of improvements in operation and also by the exchange of Components going into 100-octane blend to enable greater quantities of aviation gasoline to be produced from the over-

Jan 1, 1943

By J. E. Berg

THE geology of the Coeur d'Alene mining district is so familiar to every one interested in mining that I will only note as an introduction that the main producers are mines whose orebodies lie in the Revett or Burke quartzites ; that the known orebodies in the eastern part of the district all lie north of the Osburn fault; that the Prichard formation is quite generally looked upon as being unfavorable for lead deposits ; that the monzonite intrusive mass extending north from Gem to Sunset Peak, and over into Cedar Creek divide, is considered to have been the prime agent in the crea-tion of our orebodies, and that diabase dikes are a quite common feature at most of the properties with which I am familiar. Some of the exceptions to these statements may be mentioned. The Interstate-Callahan mine is considered the exception disproving the alleged relation between large ore-deposits and the Prichard formation, but this property was primarily a zinc producer, with lead secondary, though of sufficient tonnage to be a valuable product. A second interesting occurrence in the Prichard worth calling to your attention is the Jack Waite property, on Tributary Creek, north of Murray. This vein lies at a low horizon in the Prichard forma-tion, and the ore differs essentially from others in the same horizon elsewhere in that it is a clean, medium to coarsely crystalline, lead ore carrying very little zinc, about one ounce silver to ten units lead, and is accom-panied by a clean quartz gangue or vein filling. I believe that quartz was the primary mineral in the fissure, and that the lead ore was deposited in the vein as a replacement of the quartz.

Jan 7, 1927

By Campbell Hunter

PETROLEUM is found in almost every province in Persia. On the northern frontier, along the southern shore of the Caspian Sea, it is found near Anzelli and Shakhtesar and gas at Khoremabad. Oil is also found at Gumush Tepe, northwest of Astrabad, on the southeastern shore of the Caspian Sea. Further inland, to the south of Astrabad, oil is found at Schahkuh-i-balae, also on the margin of the Khorasan desert at Semnan, 115 mi. (35 m.) east of Teheran. Along the western frontier, from northwest to southeast, oil is encountered at Ouschachi, north of Lake Urumieh; in the province of Azerbaijan, at Zohab, Khanikin, and other places in the district of Kormanshah in the province, of Ardelan. Further south, in the province of Luristan, oil is found east of Mendeli and in the Pusht-i-kuh districts. Considerable quantities of oil are also obtained from Schuster, Maidan-i-Naphtun, Ram-Hormuz, Beheban, which are almost on a straight line, running northwest and southeast along the foothills of the Bakhtiari Mountains. At Ahwaz, in the province of Arabistan, oil has been found along another range of hills whose axis also lies in a northwest-southeast direction. In the Fars province, boring for oil has taken place at Daliki, and indications of oil are found at Kheri, Fasa, Darab, and other places. A gas show is also recorded at Kuhi-Sung-Atush in this province, 30 mi. (48 km.) east of Darab. In the south of Persia, oil is encountered on. Qishm Island, also at Ahmedi and other places north of Bunder Abbas. On the southeastern frontier, oil is found on the Sarhad range of hills. Thus, oil indications have been noted over a distance of approximately 1100 mi. along the western and 700 mi. along the northern frontiers of Persia.

Jan 2, 1920

By Henry M. Howe

In my original paper, Piping and Segregation in Steel Ingots, I pointed out1 among other things that, in view of the slighter stretching (virtual expansion) of the crust, and greater opportunity for sagging, there should be less piping in broad than in narrow ingots, and less in slowly-cooled ingots, e.g., those cast in pre-heated sand molds, than in those which cool quickly, e.g., those cast in iron molds. A. A. Stevenson said that neither of these predictions agreed with his own experience. In particular, in a picture which he showed of a wide and of a narrow ingot cast from the same ladleful of steel: the wide ingot had certainly piped much more deeply than the narrow one. At the time I did not see the explanation of these discrepancies, but further reflection makes it evident. One of the most important elements in determining the depth of the pipe is the degree of " top-lag," that is, the degree to which the solidification of the top of the ingot lags behind that of the bottom. Through this lagging the steel of the upper part of the ingot is able to run down and fill the pipe below as fast as it forms. To the importance of this lagging I called attention in my original paper.' Sand us. Iron Molds.—If we compare two like ingots, one cast in an iron and the other in a sand mold, we see that the top-lag is much greater in the former than in the latter, because in the former the lower part of the ingot is cooling off fast while the metal is running into the upper part. It is perhaps easier to look at this as a case of the solidification of the hot-

Jan 1, 1910

By Emil Gathmann

Ik presenting this paper I will attempt to answer certain questions proposed at this meeting and describe and illustrate methods of producing sound steel in an economical and hence commercial manner, which are adaptable to the production of practically all steel manufacturers, by readily effected rational changes in the methods of casting, cooling, and subsequent handling of the ingots. In some of the high-grade mills of America, where it is essential to obtain perfectly sound billets or blooms, it is the practice to discard from 35 to 40 per cent. of the crop- or pipe-end, and even with this excessive discard, secondary pipe or shrinkage-cavities are frequently discovered during subsequent working of the blooms and billets into their various manufactured products. The usual discard of from 10 to 20 per cent, from the crop-end of the ingot, which is made by the present generally employed methods of form and solidifying of the castings, certainly does not give the slightest assurance of the saleable product being physically sound or chemically homogeneous. I am aware that in the past there has been and at the present time there still is a decided difference of expert opinion as to what constitutes physically sound steel. Physically sound steel, as I would classify it, must be free from blow-holes as well as pipe. The line of demarcation between harmless and harmful blow-holes is exceedingly difficult to define. It is certainly the better and safer practice to eliminate blow-holes from the saleable portion of the ingots and to form a well-defined shrinkage-cavity or pipe at the upper crop-end of ingot. The higher grades of steel are all piping-steels. Is not their superior physical quality due to this fact as well as to their better chemical composition ? Such

Jan 1, 1914

By Henry A. Mather

While this device is not new in its inception, its peculiar advantages failed to be of practical utility until furnace-builders instituted the mechanical reform of supporting the upper and lower water-jackets by hanging them from an I-beam frame, independently upheld by iron columns, instead of resting the entire weight of structure on the bottom, as practice formerly prescribed. The Colorado Iron Works were among the first to build copper-furnaces of this description, and the device, illustrated herewith, has been installed by them in three recent plants,—two furnaces for the Westinghouse interests near Ely, Vermont, and one for the Grand Prize Copper Company, of Gila county, Arizona. The jack-screw supports (Figs. 1 and 2) and the familiar iron bottom of former practice are retained as integral parts of this new furnace-bottom. And, instead of resting inert on the tapfloor of the furnace-room, the jack-screws are supported on and bolted to two I-beams the length of the furnace, placed immediately beneath, and parallel to, its sides. These I-beams are bolted to, and supported by, three steel axles equipped with small flanged wheels, the whole constituting a carriage, which runs freely on a track. The entire apparatus is movable or rigid at will, for the wheels are easily braced, if the tension of the tightened jack-screws does not serve to hold the whole in position. The advantages of this design will be at once apparent to those who have had practical experience in barring furnaces provided with stationary iron bottoms. It is a well-known fact that the larger part of the time occupied in cleaning and preparing a frozen furnace for active service is necessitated by working in a confined place where the temperature is uncomfortable, and that in such case the débris must be removed from

Jan 1, 1903

Resistant Tape A new oil-resistant tape for rapid insulation build-up on splices in large power cables has been announced by Minnesota Mining & Mfg. Co. Designated Scotch brand electrical tape No. 25 is made of synthetic rubber providing greater dielectric strength and resistance to high temperatures. The chemical-resistant qualities of the tape make it suitable for use in oil drilling, mining and underground [ ] cable operations, while the 40-mil thickness and extreme stretch (1500 pct breaking point) make possible smooth insulation wraps on irregular surfaces. Dielectric strength is 15,000 v and 10,000 v at 500 pct elongation. It has an electrolytic corrosion factor of 1.0 and an insulation resistance of 100,000 megohms. Circle No. 1 Hydra-Lift The Pitman Mfg. Co. announces that is now has in production a new model of the Pitman hydra-lift, recently-developed crane with hydraulically-powered boom that can be mounted on the frame of any truck, 1 ½ tons or larger. According to the manufacturer, the new model hydralift model B features a variety of improvements over the original production model, introduced late in 1950. Changes incorporated in the new model, according to officials, not only have resulted in improved crane, but also have given the unit a new profile which distinguishes it sharply from the original model. The two chief improvements in the new model are: a big increase in the unit's safety margin and the fact that it is now shipped almost completely preassembled, cutting the time and cost of installation. Rated capacities of the hydra-lift are based on the tipping factor of a 1 1/2 ton truck, with outriggers down, and thus have not been increased. Circle No. 2

Jan 1, 1952

Through the generosity of Sir Robert Hadfield, Honorary Member, the Directors of the American Institute of Mining Engineers are enabled to announce the Hadfield Research Prize of $1,000 for the best contribution to the publications of the Institute upon the general subject of The Different Forms and Combinations of Carbon with Iron, including those in Iron Alloys. The prize will be awarded at the Annual Meeting of the Institute in February, 1916, to the best paper upon this subject which is presented to the Institute before Nov. 1, 1915, provided such paper is deemed worthy by the Institute's Iron and Steel Committee. The following suggestions are also added for the guidance of those who may take part in this research. While it is not desired to define closely the exact lines or scope of the proposed research, as it is advisable to make these as broad as possible, the object in mind may be said to be generally as follows: To elaborate and find out the best methods of determining the forms of carbon in steel or iron, including those in iron alloys. A portion of the work would probably be a continuation of the researches which have in the past been carried out by Jullien, Abel, Muller, Ledebur, T. Sterry Hunt, Akerman, Arnold, Stead, E. D. Campbell, Hogg, Parry, Upton, and others.Through the generosity of Sir Robert Hadfield, Honorary Member, the Directors of the American Institute of Mining Engineers are enabled to announce the Hadfield Research Prize of $1,000 for the best contribu¬tion to the publications of the Institute upon the general subject of The Different Forms and Combinations of Carbon with Iron, including those in Iron Alloys. The prize will be awarded at the Annual Meeting of the Institute in February, 1916, to the best paper upon this subject which is presented to the Institute before Nov. 1, 1915, provided such paper is deemed worthy by the Institute's Iron and Steel Committee. The following suggestions are also added for the guidance of those who may take part in this research. While it is not desired to define closely the exact lines or scope of the proposed research, as it is advisable to make these as broad as possible, the object in mind may be said to be generally as follows: To elaborate and find out the best methods of determining the forms of carbon in steel or iron, including those in iron alloys. A portion of the work would probably be a continuation of the researches which have in the past been carried out by Jullien, Abel, Muller, Ledebur, T. Sterry Hunt, Akerman, Arnold, Stead, E. D. Campbell, Hogg, Parry, Upton, and others.

Jan 1, 1917

COUNCIL OF ECONOMICS OF AIME Formerly Mineral Economics Division Established as a Division December 15, 1948 Established as a Council February 26, 1957 Douglas Donald, Chairman Sheldon Wimpfen, Vice-Chairman (Mining) A J Phillips, Vice-Chairman (Metals) E Connaughton, Vice-Chairman (Petroleum) J S Vanick, Contact AIME Director A H Lindley, Jr Secretary-Treasurer Lehman Brothers 1 William Street New York 4, N Y COUNCIL OF EDUCATION Formerly Mineral Industry Education Division Established as a Division January 15, 1932 Established as a Council February 26, 1957 L E Shaffer, Chairman J D Forrester, Vice-Chairman O Cutler Shepard, Past Chairman , Contact AIME Director

Jan 1, 1959

By F. B. Plummer

PERHAPS the greatest progress made in the technical methods of oil production during the last year has been in handling gas from the new fields that yield light distillate fractions. At least sixteen recycling plants have been perfected and installed in South Texas fields alone during 1939 having a daily capacity of more than one billion -2 cubic feet of gas and capable of producing more than a million gallons of distillate daily. The process consists of running the gas under pres- sure through especially designed plants, separating out the condensate, then compressing the gas to 3000 lb. or more, depending on the subsurface pressure in the formation, and injecting gas back into the reservoir to be produced again later, along with more of the liquid hydrocarbons, and again recycled. Hence production in these distillate fields in sense has changed from that of producing a constantly diminishing and much-wasted product to a more or less continuous manufacturing process, in which practically all the gas is conserved-a real triumph in engineering practice.

Jan 1, 1940

By AIME AIME

THE best meeting ever held, was the opinion expressed by a number of those who attended the annual meeting of the Institute in New York, Feb. 18 to 21, and there was an atmosphere of friendliness and good fellowship about it that fully justified the feeling. In numbers it was not quite so large as last year and unless the Engineering Societies should build for themselves a new building it is probable that no meeting can be larger, in respect to numbers, than that held in 1928, which was only made possible by the circumstance that the eighth floor of the building happened to be, temporarily vacant at the time. The number of rooms available for -sessions that were provided when the building was built long ago proved inadequate, and it is only by the expedient of obtaining the temporary use of the board and committee rooms of other societies that it is possible to arrange for the over 40 sessions that must be spread over the four days of the meeting. The-fifth floor, where. a buffet lunch is served each-day, has reached its full capacity and it seems quite evident that any future development of Institute meetings must be along the lines of quality, not size.

Jan 1, 1929

By Jan D. Miller

Under the name given to this column, I almost feel obliged to write about some aspect of grinding, but I have decided instead to comment on the future of chemical processing. In recent years, I have seen a tremendous interest in extractive metallurgy develop among undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Utah. For example, of the 12 graduating seniors this year, over half seem to prefer extractive metallurgy to physical metallurgy. In particular, they seem to be most interested in hydrometallurgy, or chemical processing, obtaining industrial exposure to the phenomena they study via part-time employment at the Kennecott Research Center and the USBM Metallurgical Center in Salt Lake City. The stimulus has been generated by society itself. Many students are dedicated to the proposition that new technology can circumvent the destruction of our environment, a concept which provides considerable motivation. At the governmental level, the recent concern for the quality of our environment has created action in the area of chemical processing both through imposition of stringent air and water quality standards, and through increased funding for technological research in this area. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) gave impetus to this movement when it pointed up the need for development and support of such disciplines as extractive metallurgy, particularly chemical processing, in a recent report on Mineral Science and Technology. The recommendations in the NAS report have prompted governmental action on many fronts, including the Bureau of Mines, and have also given rise to direct legislation in the form of two bills -H. R. 3492 and S. 635- presently before Congress to a mineral engineering education. The report recommends that chemical processing technology (more generally extractive metallurgy) be developed by both new engineering techniques and unconventional chemical techniques such as application of the chemistry of nonaqueous liquids to mineral systems.

Jan 1, 1971