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By C. T. Malcomson

An elaborate series of experiments has been conducted during the past three years at Irvington, N. J., which has resulted in the perfection of a process for the manufacture of smokeless fuel from high-volatile coals, and for the recovery and refinement of the coal-tar products derived therefrom. These experiments have been financed by Messrs. Blair & Co., of New York, and were conducted under the direction of Charles H. Smith, a member of this Institute, and the inventor of the process. The low-temperature distillation of coal has interested investigators for many years. Sporadic attempts have been made to solve the mechanical problems, but until the Smith process was developed, they were not carried to conclusions of economic value. The present coal shortage and the increasing demand for smokeless fuels make this subject one of timely interest. DescRiption of Plant The following equipment was installed and operated during the experimental period: Four horizontal and two vertical units of commercial size for the low-temperature distillation of the coal; two vertical, two horizontal, and two inclined benches for distillation of the briquets at medium and higher temperatures; presses and auxiliary equipment necessary for making briquets; and a complete byproduct recovery and tar-refining plant. This commercial equipment is provided with gas and electric meters, pyrometers and other apparatus for recording accurately the results of all experiments. There is, in addition to the commercial equipment, a complete chemical laboratory with distillation and recovery apparatus, including facilities far refining and cracking the tar and measuring the yields and calorific value of the gas. This apparatus makes possible a study on a small scale, of the various problems involved in the process. Description of Process Mr. Smith's experiments have resulted in the production on a commercial scale of: 1. A fuel, called Carbocoal, which, for convenience in handling, is prepared in briquet form.

Jan 1, 1920

By H. L. Bridgman

The correct sampling of ores is a subject of far greater importance than is usually conceded to it. Of the little which has been published on this subject, the recent paper by Mr. Glenn, with the accompanying discussion by Dr. Raymond (Trans., xx., 155), is the latest and best, and well worthy the careful perusal of all interested in accurate sampling, whether by hand or by machine. It is doubtless true that thorough hand-sampling gives as good average results as can be obtained; but all hand-sampling is subject to the possible incompetency, carelessness, or dishonesty of the workmen employed. It is, moreover, tedious and expensive, requires large space, and usually entails considerable delay, both in unloading and in sampling. For these and other reasons, machine-sampling is now regarded with more favor than ever before. So-called machine-sampling may be accomplished in two radically different ways: 1. Part of the stream of material is taken for the whole time. 2. The whole stream of material is taken for part of the time. Under the first case the stream, as it issrles from the deliveryspout of the crusher, is cut continuously in any given proportion, such as one-tenth, one-fourth, or one-half, by some fixed apparatus, which, as it contains no moving parts, is strictly speaking not a machine at all, but may be termed an appliance. The principle under which these appliances operate is now pretty generally conceded to be wrong, becanse of the practical impossibility of' cutting such a

Jan 1, 1892

By Jesse O. Betterton

Recently some experimental work was conducted by the author in connection with the direct leaching of certain zinc ores with sulfuric acid with the object of subsequently recovering the zinc by electrolysis. The ores contained relatively large quantities of soluble silica, making it necessary to evolve special methods for handling the silicate solutions resulting from a leach of the ore, and also for the final removal of the silica before electrolysis. The problem was complicated by the presence of vanadium in the ore, the commercial recovery of which was very desirable. This paper, however, deals only with the silica phase of the problem. The zinc in the ore occurs in the form of a silicate (hemimorphite) and, to a very small extent, as the phosphate (hopeite) and carbonate (calamine); the vanadium is found as descloizite and vanadinite but mainly as descloizite. The experimental work was done in a plant producing 50 lb. of zinc = daily, in which the complete cycle of operations, including the final electrodeposition of the zinc, was performed continuously for one year. Some of the conclusions given here are the result of the operations in -this plant; the others are from laboratory tests inaugurated both as a guide to the plant operations and, in certain cases especially, to determine the limits in question. The practice in the 50-lb. zinc plant was to direct leach the ore crushed to pass 40 mesh, with spent electrolyte from the cells containing approximately 3 per cent. zinc and 10 per cent. free acid. This resulted in an acid leach solution and an ore residue. The acid leach solution was ' subjected to a special treatment for subsequent removal of vanadium; then the silica and vanadium in solution were precipitated together and removed as a "silica residue" by pressing through an ordinary plate and frame press. The next step was to treat the filtrate from the silica residue with zinc dust as a final purification step before it went to

Jan 1, 1923

By Jesse O. Betterton

Recently some experimental work was conducted by the author in connection with the direct leaching of certain zinc ores with sulfuric acid with the object of subsequently recovering the zinc by electrolysis. The ores contained relatively large quantities of soluble silica, making it necessary to evolve special methods for handling the silicate solutions resulting from a leach of the ore, and also for the final removal of the silica before electrolysis. The problem was complicated by the presence of vanadium in the ore, the commercial recovery of which was very desirable. This paper, however, deals only with the silica phase of the problem. The zinc in the ore occurs in the form of a silicate (hemimorphite) and, to a very small extent, as the phosphate (hopeite) and carbonate (calamine); the vanadium is found as descloizite and vanadinite but mainly as descloizite. The experimental work was done in a plant producing 50 lb. of zinc = daily, in which the complete cycle of operations, including the final electrodeposition of the zinc, was performed continuously for one year. Some of the conclusions given here are the result of the operations in -this plant; the others are from laboratory tests inaugurated both as a guide to the plant operations and, in certain cases especially, to determine the limits in question. The practice in the 50-lb. zinc plant was to direct leach the ore crushed to pass 40 mesh, with spent electrolyte from the cells containing approximately 3 per cent. zinc and 10 per cent. free acid. This resulted in an acid leach solution and an ore residue. The acid leach solution was ' subjected to a special treatment for subsequent removal of vanadium; then the silica and vanadium in solution were precipitated together and removed as a "silica residue" by pressing through an ordinary plate and frame press. The next step was to treat the filtrate from the silica residue with zinc dust as a final purification step before it went to

Jan 1, 1923

By W. C. Lacy

THE Cuajone porphyry copper deposit is the northernmost of a group of three deposits in southern Peru controlled by the Southern Peru Copper Corp.-Toquepala, Quelleveco, and Cuajone— all within a 20-mile belt. Although small pockets of high-grade copper oxide ores were worked in the Cuajone area in the 19th century, it was not until 1939 that its potentialities as a disseminated deposit were recognized by 0. C. Schmedeman. An exploratory drilling pro- gram was begun in December 1942 and continued until early 1945. The program was revived in November 1952 and completed early in 1954. Early exploration was by diamond drilling. Later exploration was predominantly churn drilling, with diamond drilling used only for wildcat holes. Along this northwest-trending belt of deposits. which follows the western slopes of the Andean Range, quartz-monzonite has invaded earlier dio-rite intrusives and a series of warped and tilted Cretaceous volcanic flows. Little faulting of consequence has been recognized within the mineralized areas. Sulfide minerals were introduced into all these diverse rocks, and mineralization was followed by erosion, oxidation, and enrichment. In Late Tertiary and/or Quaternary time the entire

Jan 1, 1959

Research and Development, once considered a luxury item only for well-heeled companies, has in the last two decades come into its own as a vital contributor to the fortunes of electronic, automotive, chemical and aerospace firms. In terms of money and talent poured into research, the mining industry is still far behind those industries. Although the U.S. Bureau of Mines, plus various mining and manufacturing firms and universities have made notable contributions to mining technology, the historical pattern of mining R&D shows a heavy reliance on the results of research in other industries. It is difficult to tell whether this pattern will change significantly in the future, but there is evidence of a growing awareness by mining officials that greater R&D efforts are going to be required not only to meet the nebulous demands of tomorrow's world but to meet the ever-present, mounting pressures being generated by "intra-metals" and "inter-materials" competition.

Jan 1, 1968

By John P. Cosgro

THE increasing use of internal furnace-boilers for mining power-plants (doubtless due to the facility with which they may be installed by reason of their portability; the fact that they require no masonry setting, cast-iron fronts, buck-stays, etc., and practically no foundation; and the successful maintenance of their claim to equal and even superior economy, as compared with boilers of other types) warrants this description of a method of remedying an injury which may occur, to such a furnace, even though it satisfies the requirements of the formula adopted by the U. S. Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steam Vessels.2 I refer to the sagging and deformation which may result from overloading the boilers for a considerable period-say, several days. This is sometimes unavoidable under the exacting conditions of continuous day-and-night service, and (in spite of all rules and precautions, the occasional careless or unskillful work of attendants. Such a trouble is by no means unknown on shipboard, where this type of boiler is so largely employed. In the case here described, two Morrison suspension-furnaces, of half-inch steel, 14 ft. long and 45 in. in mean diameter, with ? dry-back ? boilers, were necessarily operated somewhat beyond their rated -normal capacity for several months, while a third similar unit was -in process of installation, and during this period, though the boilers were kept perfectly clean, heat seems 'to have been generated slightly faster than it was absorbed by, the water in the boilers. The corrugations of this.

Mar 1, 1905

By C. E. Turner, J. R. Elenbaas, R. D. Grimm, J. A. Vary, D. L. Katz

A technique is presented by which well samples and core plugs of dolomite formations are classified by microscopic examination into seven different porosity grades. Quantitative values of porosity and permeability are determined for each grade by a statistical correlation of the core plug test data with the porosity grading system. These quantitative values are applied directly to the grades exhibited in the well samples for the purpose of estimating the reservoir void space for wells that were not cored. The procedure is described for estimating the gas reserves per unit area lor the South Hugoton gas field. but a reserve estimate for the field is not given. INTRODUCTION The miscroscopic examination of well sample; and the graphic recording of their lithologic qualities and other distinguishing characteristics of various geologic formations drilled is both a science and an art of long standing and wide application. Usually the primary objective of a geologist who "sits on the well" and examines the samples are: to identify the formation being drilled, determine the total depth, casing point. and completion interval. In most cases the porosity is described. if done at all, in general terms. such as: trace, scattered, fine, poor, fair, medium. good, excellent, or in some other relative terms. In fields where various geologists have examined samples and recorded observations on many wells considerable variations in lithologic terms and porosity descriptions occur unless there is primary effort to establish uniformity of logging observations and standards of recording observable porosity. When an estimate of the pore volume of a reservoir is made a geologic concept of the processes that control the magnitudes of porosity and permeability is developed by microscopic examination of well samples. The characeristics and appearances are then mentally related to rather general quantitative units of porosity based on physical core data from the same reservoir or on such data or experience in other reservoirs that have similar qualities. The reliability of such estimates depends largely on the variations of the lithology of the formations, the geometric properties of its void system. the extent of comparisons of sample appearances with porosity data, as well as the uniform recording of all relevant characteristics. This statement is particularly significant for dolo-mitized limestone formations of substantial thicknesses and heterogeneity such as the Permian Dolomites of the Hugoton gas field. Jn this field, as well as in most of the Permian Dolomite fields, the producing formations are of relatively great thicknesses in which the porosity and permeability of the reservoir varies substantially in all directions, depending on the crystalline structure. degree and kind of impurities, kind of fossils anti cementation thereof, degree of dissolution. and fracturing. The variations of the lithologic texture of the dolomites and post deposition alterations have resulted in porosities and permeabilities of such magnitudes that only a part of the gross thickness can be counted as "pay." At the time of this study insufficient gas production had been experienced to apply the pressure decline production method in the South Hugoton Field and the electric logs are not definitive enough. The problem of estimating gas reserves in the south part of the Hugoton Field is primarily one of determining the pay thickness and porosity from well samples and core data. The area studied embraced all that part of the field lying south of an east-west line through Guvmon, Okla., anti containing approximately 1.000,000 acres. This paper describes a technique of correlation of physical core data with well samples so that quantitative values of pay thickness, porosity. Permeability, and connate water may be assigned to well samples that are representative of a given interval, and thereby permitting the estimation of gas reserves lor a given unit area. The procedure was developed by a uniform microscopic qualitative porosity grading of the dolo. mite core plugs.. and relating these grades to the respective physical core data on a statistical basis The well sample-were also graded in a Similar manner in order that the quantitative values established lor the core plugs could be applied to the well Sample for wells that were not cored. GRADING OF DOLOMITE A group of experienced geologists was given the assignment of examining the samples on all wells in South Hugoton in order that they could log their observations in a uniform and standardized manner and grade the observed porosity so that it could be related quantitatively to the core data. The group initiated the study 011 chips from cores which bad been tested for porosity and permeability. This study continued until all of the geologists developed a common knowledge of lithologic terms and of the characteristic appearances of the samples and their relations to measured porosity. The characteristic appearances of the dolomite samples under twelve-power magnification as related to their qualitative porosities afforded a classification of the dolomite into :even grades of porosity, ranging from dolomite of no-visible porosity under twelve-power magnification to dolomite of excellent porosity. The assigned grade for a specific 10-ft interval is a weighted average of all visible grades of porosity exhibited by the cuttings representing that interval. The porosity characteristics were recorded by a color graph adjacent to the lithology column in conjunction with a numerical system for further definition of relative porosity as shown in Fig. 1. The three vertical lines to the right of the lithology column each represent 33 1/3 per cent. which lines were used to record the percentage of the samples, for any particular interval. that showed porosity under the microscope. The colors were used to denote actual pore size. i.e., orange. blue and I-ed for pore diameter of one-fourth or less. one-fourth to one-Ilalf. and greater than one-half millimeter, respectively. The area colored 1)). one or more colors represents the percentages of the samples exhibiting pores of the respective size or sizes. The numerals from one to six inclusive shown on the log in

Jan 1, 1952

By R. S. Archer

THE binary aluminum-silicon alloys have certain characteristic advantages which are now well known, and these alloys have come into considerable use during the past several years.1 Their field of application has been limited to a certain extent, however, by their low yield point and hardness, low endurance limit, and relatively poor machining characteristics. These properties are improved by the addition of copper, and the ternary aluminum-silicon-copper alloys constitute an important class. The addition of copper decreases the corrosion resistance of the aluminum-silicon alloys and increases specific gravity. Magnesium is a hardening addition which seems to have relatively little effect on corrosion resistance, and which, of course, reduces specific gravity. The object of the work described in this paper was the development of alloys and heat treatments for the production of sand castings and permanent-mold castings having substantially all the advantages of the binary aluminum-silicon alloys together with mechanical properties improved to a degree permitting wider application.

Jan 1, 1930

By Gieskieng, D. H.

Published tables of jaw crusher capacities are compiled for the most part from field performance data, interspersed with interpolations, extrapolations, various safety factors, and other modifications. Such a table attempts to balance and equalize field data from widely different materials, with differences of crushability, efficiency of feeding, sizing of the feed, and so on. The tests described in this paper were undertaken with the objectives of checking previously reported capacities; of studying the effects of various factors upon the capacity, including jaw plate curvature; and, if possible, of deriving a general capacity equation. Such an equation has been derived from the data obtained in these tests. It is given together with factors for its use. While more accuracy than is usually required may be obtained by careful application of the equation, it is of simple form and provides a convenient reference plane upon which the potential capacity of various crushers may be compared, and with which operating adjustments may be made on existing installations. The principal deviation in these tests from the usual approach consists of a laboratory technique which has been developed for the production of selected

Jan 1, 1949

By EDWARD B. DURHAH

(San Francisco Meeting, UCtober, 1911.) THE refinery at the San Francisco Mint takes the bullion purchased by the receiving department, and carrying more than 200 parts of precious metals in 1000, or, in mint parlance; over 200 fine, and separates and refines the various metals contained therein, using electrolytic processes exclusively. Bullion containing silver is treated in cells charged with a nitric electrolyte. These cells produce fine silver and leave a residue rich in gold. The residue from the silver-cells, together with crude gold-bullion, is treated in cells having a chloride electrolyte. These produce fine gold and leave a residue containing silver chloride. The latter is reduced to the metallic state with zinc and is then treated in the silver-cells. The various waste solutions and the wash-waters, after being freed from the bulk of their precious metals, still contain copper and other metals. These are removed by scrap-iron, and are then treated in the copper-cells, having a sulphate electrolyte. These cells produce pure copper, and collect a residue containing lead, some gold and silver, and all the metals of the platinum group that were in the bullion. This residue is relatively small, and is melted into bars and stored until sufficient accumulates to warrant treating it for platinum, etc. The refinery occupies three large and three small rooms. The large ones are, a melting-room, 30 by 34 ft.; a cell-room, 39 by 46 ft.; and a wash-room, 30 by 33 ft. The small rooms are used as foreman's office, laboratory, and generator-room, respectively. The methods here described are those in use in December, 1909, when notes for the present paper were taken.

Oct 1, 1911

By James S. Browning

For the past several years, USBM has conducted laboratory and continuous process development work on the weathered mica pegmatites ores of Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina to determine the feasibility of recovering commercial-grade mica concentrates by flotation. The research has resulted in the development of two processes for flotation of mica: 1) an acid-cationic method for recovery of coarse mica and 2) an alkaline-anionic-cationic method for recovery of fine mica. The research indicated that the two processes may be effectively utilized separately or in combination for flotation of mica from weathered pegmatite ores. This report summarizes the process development work, and demonstrates the feasibility of producing commercial-grade concentrates with a high recovery of the contained mica. Mica mining in the United States is confined largely to pegmatites and schists in a few well-defined areas. The largest region extends from central Virginia southward through western North and South Carolina, northern Georgia, and east-central Alabama.'" Whereas in western North Carolina, these pegmatite dikes are weathered to only a shallow depth, they are deeply weathered in the Carolina Piedmont and in Georgia and Alabama. Particularly in Georgia and Alabama, mica is found in the decomposed slates and schists adjacent to the pegmatites, and in deeply weathered granites. Most flake mica is obtained as the major marketable product by crushing and milling pegmatites4 To a lesser extent, mica is produced as a byproduct of feldspar" and spodumene. Past research by U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) has developed two methods for mica flotation. One method utilizes acid-cationic flotation for recovery of mica.' This method requires thorough desliming of the ore with consequent fine mica losses. The other utilizes an alkaline-anionic-cationic process for recovering fine-size mica from pegmatite ores after desliming sufficiently to remove clay materials but not so drastically as to remove the fine mica.8-18 The latter process has also been successfully applied to a micaceous schist ore from California.' This report summarizes the results of these research studies. Both of the flotation processes developed by USBM have been adopted by the mica industry and are being commercially utilized separately and in combination for flotation of mica from weathered pegmatite ores. Description of Ores The weathered mica pegmatite ores used in the investigations were obtained from commercial mica operations in Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina. The

Jan 1, 1971

By Linn Bradley, W. W. Strong, H. D. Egbert

A hot-dry method of cleaning the gas from blast furnaces has been shown1 to conserve the sensible heat energy of the gas, and in general it thus permits of a higher flame temperature. The electrical method of cleaning gases removes from 98 to 99 per cent. of the suspended matter in one operation when operating properly, thus making possible the use of a very clean gas for burning in the stoves. The use of such clean gas thus makes feasible a different type of hot-blast stove construction from that being used at present. It therefore seems advisable to construct the stoves from the viewpoint of getting the maximum amount of heat energy into the products of combustion. By preheating the air added to the top gas and obtaining a better mixture of the air and top gas, less excess air will be required and a higher flame temperature obtained from the combustion of the top gas. The interior of the stove should be provided with a kind of brick that will withstand a high flame temperature, will conduct the heat energy along certain directions, insulate the flow of heat along other directions and at the same time store heat energy so as to make the flow of such energy more uniform. It is quite likely that these results can be best obtained by using several kinds of bricks: one type which is a good insulator of heat energy to be used for lining the stove and for making partitions through the stove to restrain the flow of heat; another type of brick or material with high refractory qualities; and a third type which will be a good conductor of heat energy. The surface of the stove exposed to the atmosphere should be a minimum in comparison to the mass of checkerwork which it is possible to obtain, due regard being paid to other conditions. With clean and hot furnace top gas it will be advisable to consider a rearrangement of the checker work in the stoves. One season for the present size and shape of checker openings is to provide facility for

Jan 1, 1917

By Arthur F. Daily

13.5-1. Placer Deposits-Definitions. Placers are defined for this chapter as unconsolidated deposits of detrital material containing valuable mineral, and placer mining is defined as surface exploitation of placer deposits. Unconsolidated marine deposits containing industrial minerals, such as the very large pebble phosphate beds in Florida, pelletal phosphate beds in the Sechura Desert in northwestern Peru, oyster shell beds occurring at many places, and nodules resting in the sea floor, are not classed herein as placer deposits, though methods commonly used for mining placers may be employed for their exploitation. The natural processes that may form placers range from chemical weathering to stream, marine, and wind action, and combinations thereof, resulting in some degree of concentration of valuable mineral. One or more cycles of erosion and deposition may have occured. In relation to mining, placers include unconsolidated barren or near-barren overburden and underlying weathered bedrock. Placers of any origin subsequently may become drowned by the sea and then partly or entirely covered by marine deposits; or they may become covered with alluvium, eolian deposits, or lava. The mining of placer deposits for valuable mineral content usually is followed immediately by primary concentration using wet (rarely dry) gravity methods, succeeded by secondary concentration employing both gravity and other methods. 13.5-2. Classification of Placers. A fundamental classification of placers according to genetic types follows; some degree of concentration occurs during formation of all except saprolite and some moraines. 1. Saprolite and residual placers, consisting of mineralized rock decomposed in situ principally by chemical weathering; respectively either without change in volume, or slumped because of dissolution of some constitutent.

Jan 1, 1968

By R. J. Watson

IN an earlier paper, Ehrenburg and Watson1 published the develop-ment for a potential function by which it is possible to obtain the electric potential at points on the surface of the ground when a current I passes between two electrodes and the subsoil is composed of parallel, homo-geneous layers. In view of the continued interest in the resistivity method of electrical prospecting, the author has considered it desirable to publish the results of a number of theoretical studies making use of this potential function, and also the results of a considerable number of tests with models designed to show the soundness of the mathematical theory. It is hoped that these results will prove how erroneous the various empirical rules for depth determination may be. It has always seemed puzzling to the author that one can find, in papers published comparatively recently, statements upholding empirical rules for depth determination, and attributing most of the irregularities of resistivity curves to vertical discontinuities in resistivity in the subsoil. It would indeed be fortunate for the geophysical investigator if such a simple rule held. However, numerous investigators have proved both theoretically and by the success of their field work that such a rule does not hold, even by a" rough approximation" in many cases. On the other hand, as is shown in the development to follow; if the underground conditions are favorable it is possible for such empirical rules to give a satisfactory depth determination. Authors should be more careful about making such sweeping state-ments about the accuracy of these empirical rules because the relative simplicity of the field work places the method in the hands of any inter-ested experimenter, and he is likely to become completely disgusted with the method after he has made several obviously wrong interpretations by empirical rules.

Jan 1, 1934

By Lester Uren

WITH the depletion of our older, and relatively shallow, oilfields and the necessity for securing new production from deeper horizons, much attention is being given to the improvement of oil-well pumps in order that they may function satisfactorily under the more difficult conditions imposed by increased depth. Until recently, practically all of the world's petroleum was secured from wells less than 3000 ft. deep, whereas horizons are now being explored to depths of from 5000 to 7000 ft. in some of the more prolific fields, and it seems probable that the greater part of the future supply must come from depths in excess of 3000 ft. While much of the early production in a new field is obtained by natural-flow methods, when the stimulus of high gas pressure fails, recourse must be had to some method of pumping. The perfection of a pump capable of economically and efficiently lifting oil from depths ranging from 3000 to 7000 ft. is therefore a matter of prime importance to the oil-producing industry. This paper is offered as an estimate of the present state of development of the oil-well plunger pump and as a review of the general principles involved in its operation in deep-well pumping. A design for a new type of oil-well pump embodying several novel features, is also described.

Jan 9, 1925

By W. R. Crane

The effect of mining in the red-ore mines of the Birmingham district has been observed for some time, but, except in a few localities, little difficulty has been experienced from disturbance of cover. Cave-ins near the outcrop and fracturing of the surface at greater distances are the most pronounced manifestations of disturbance, while limited areas at points distant from the outcrop and under greater depth of cover have actually subsided. were it not that the orebed is overlain by one or more water-bearing formations, the fracturing or settlement of the surface would not be serious; but because of these formations, fracturing of the top rock may in itself be of sufficient importance to warrant the adoption of protective measures. Further, the collapse of pillars over a wide area may develop squeezes that, if not controlled, may jeopardize the integrity of the mines and necessitate a change in development, from slopes to vertical shafts, at a much earlier period than is now contemplated. Drainsge in these mines has been discussed in papers on mining practice,' but the fact that water, varying from 0.16 to 3.46 and averaging 1.43 times the amount of ore mined, has to be pumped from the mines daily, indicates the importance of the problem and the advisability of making a thorough investigation of the source of mine water, its mode of entry into the mines, its effect upon mining conditions, and consideration of means of improving the conditions.

Jan 1, 1927

By F. B. Plummer, R. B. Newcome

The practice of introducing acid into oil wells to increase production of oil and gas has been in use since 1894, when it was first used in the Pennsylvania oil fields30.‡ It is only since 1928 that it has been used to any extent in the Mid-Continent18. The process has proved successful in increasing production, at least temporarily, in depleted oil fields where the producing formation is highly calcareous and where water drive is not too pronounced. In the Zwolle field in Louisiana, where the producing horizon is a chalk, increases of 100 per cent have been recorded25. In north-central Texas, where the oil is produced from the Marble Falls limestone, equally pronounced increases have resulted3. The production also in some fields yielding oil from quartz sand cemented with calcitc has been benefited. The evidence of actual increase in total recovery of oil, however, has been questioned by some engineers18. It has been pointed out that the results of the treatment of a well in a now district, where the process has never been tried out, can never be predicted with certainty, since other factors besides percentage of calcareous content of the oil sand play a large part in determining the success of the method. Numerous articles have been published on acid treatment and on the effects of acid on limestone1-35, yet very little has been written concerning experimental work on the actual effect of acid on capillary pores and larger oil-coated voids of oil sands. This is due partly to difficulties in duplicating field conditions in a laboratory and partly to the fact that the process has been carried out largely by contracting companies that have been unwilling to publish details of their results for fear of loss of business to competitors. The authors, using equipment developed to measure the radial permeability of oil-sand cores2', have developed a method of investigating the results of acid treatment which has enabled them to test numerous cores and to study in some detail the action of acid on the different types of rocks, particularly fine-grained rocks.

Jan 1, 1936

By M. T. Simnad, G. Derge, Ling Yang

STUDY of diffusion in molten substances is important in at least two respects. Diffusion data, combined with thermodynamic and kinetic information, throw light on the structure of the liquid state. Moreover, a knowledge of diffusion coefficients and their temperature dependence is useful in ascertaining the controlling step in many metallurgical reactions. Although diffusion measurements have been made on a number of molten salts, slags, metals, and alloys,'-'" the results available are still limited and widely scattered, especially for the high temperature melts. It is the purpose of this investigation to establish reliable procedures for the measurement of self-diffusion coefficients in high temperature melts and to use these procedures to determine the self-diffusion coefficients of iron in molten Fe-C alloys of different carbon contents. Experimental Measurement of self-diffusion coefficients in high temperature melts is usually carried out by using one of two methods. In the first, diffusion takes place between two cylindrical samples of the same material, one of which is made radioactive. The diffusion coefficient is calculated from the radioactivity penetration curve in the solidified sample after the diffusion. In the second method, samples contained in capillaries of an inert substance are immersed in an infinite reservoir of the same material. Either the material in the capillary or that in the reservoir is made radioactive and the diffusion coefficient is calculated from the change of the radioactivity of the sample in the capillary after the diffusion. The second method is simpler because a radioactivity penetration curve is not needed for the calculation of the diffusion coefficient; however,.it is valid only when no convection has occurred in the capillary during the diffusion. A radioactivity penetration curve is therefore always useful in indicating that the required conditions for the diffusion are ful- filled. Towers and Chipman" recently studied the self-diffusion of calcium and silicon in CaO-Al,O,-SiO, melts by using the capillary method. Instead of measuring the change of the radioactivity of the sample in the capillary, they autoradiographed the sample after the diffusion and calculated the diffusion coefficient from the intensity distribution of the autoradiograph. Their method is useful when the radioactive isotopes are weak ß-emitters, but is very difficult, if not impossible, to apply to cases involving strong ß or y-emitters. For such cases, sectioning of the sample according to the method of Morgan and Kitchener' may be used for the construction of the radioactivity penetration curve. The self-diffusion of iron in molten Fe-C alloys has been studied in this manner and the experimental procedures are described as follows: The diffusion apparatus is shown schematically in Fig. 1. The bath consisted of about 200 g of an Fe-C

Jan 1, 1957

By G. L. Oldright

THE upper limit of richness of concentrates that can be smelted by means of the blast furnace without added diluents is fixed by the opera-tion of sintering. A sinter feed with normal gangue constituents, con-taining more than about 50 per cent of lead, tends to fuse; as a result, air does not come sufficiently into contact with the sulphides at roasting temperatures, and sulphur elimination is poor. Since most lead con-centrates now contain 55 to 80 per cent lead, it is necessary to add diluents to lower the grade of such sinter feed to about 50 per cent or less. This not only entails the expense of providing barren diluents when adequate diluents containing precious metals are not available but also appreciably lowers the capacity of the blast furnace to produce lead and increases slag losses. Attempts to desulphurize rich lead concentrates by methods other than sintering have not proved successful. Flash roasting, for example, converts much of the lead sulphide to lead sulphate rather than to oxide. However, this suggested the possibility that deliberate flash roasting of the concentrates to sulphate, followed by sinter roasting of the resulting product, might prove promising, particularly inasmuch as the elimination of sulphur from lead sulphate requires heat alone and not contact with atmospheric oxygen. The sintering of lead sulphate products has additional interest because important amounts of such products are now treated by lead smelters. Considerable quantities of lead sulphate are present in rich lead flue dusts and other by-products; lead-chamber sulphuric acid plants and other

Jan 1, 1940