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By N. R. Pillai, T. R. Anantharaman

THE striking alterations in the constitution and structure of cast A1-Si alloys brought about by addition of small quantities of some elements, particularly sodium, have been extensively investigated. Many theories' have also been propounded to explain this so-called lLmodification" process, but their main concern has been more to throw light on the action of sodium than to arrive at general criteria underlying this interesting as well as intriguing phenomenon. Such theories have generally dealt with one or more, but not all, factors that seem to have a direct or indirect influence on the cast structure of A1-Si alloys, e.g.., formation of ternary eutectic, removal of oxides, hydroxides, and so forth, by fluxing, morphological changes in silicon, and inhibition of growth of silicon grains through colloidal action, compound formation, preferential adsorption, or reduction of surface tension. Kim and Heine2 were the first to study the modification of A1-Si alloys in a systematic as well as comprehensive manner and to list the important characteristics of a satisfactory modifier. According to them, an important property of the modifying element is its capacity to form a stable compound with silicon in the appropriate temperature range. Other subsidiary requirements are that the element should get adequately dispersed in the melt at the inoculating temperature and also must not form stable compounds with aluminum. The alkali elements, with the exception of lithium, fulfill these requirements most satisfactorily and have been shown to be successful modifiers by these workers. Sodium is the most effective of these and seems to be in a class by itself for various reasons noted by earlier investigators.37 None of the other elements tried by Kim and Heine, viz., Mg, Ca, Cd, Zn, In, Pb, P, As, Bi, S, and Se, showed any significant modifying action. We wish to report here briefly on substantial modifications in cast eutectic A1-Si alloys brought about by some V group elements, which do not comply with the Kim-Heine requirements. Aluminum and silicon used in the present work were indigenous and had purities of 99.8 and 99.5 pct, re-

Jan 1, 1969

By Howard A. Meyerhoff, J. Earl Frazier

It is not known when silica sand was first noticed along the north coast of Puerto Rico, but the first mention of its occurrence was made in 1922, by N. L. Britton,1 who described its presence in isolated patches extending from Loiza westward beyond Manati. Further observations were made in 1925 and 1926 by Meyerhoff,2 who extended the known occurrences still farther westward to the low hill belt in the Quebradillas limestone immediately south of Hatillo. The extraordinary purity of the sands, which in most localities exhibit no contamination from the non-siliceous materials surrounding them, was quickly appreciated, and the feasibility of utilizing them for the manufacture of glass was investigated, initially by the Committee on Mineral Resources3 and later (1936) by the Puerto Rico Recon-structionAdministration and by H. C. Ray, mining engineer of the Insular Bureau of Mines. In 1934 samples submitted to the Hazel Atlas Glass Co., of Washington, Pennsylvania, were reported to have the composition as shown in the table on column two. Appreciation of the quality of the sand prompted geological and quantitative studies of the deposits, as well as cornmercial investigations to determine the feasibility of utilizing it locally or on the mainland for the manufacture of glass containers. Distribution of the Sands The quartz sands consistently lie within the outcrop area of the Quebradillas limestone, the youngest of the Miocene formations in the Tertiary coastal plain that fringes the northern coast of the Island. Many of the deposits are closely associated with limestone outcrops, but some appear to be embedded in lagoonal sediments at some distance from rock exposures, and at least one deposit, near Dorado, has been reworked by waves and littoral currents. With this single known exception, the deposits consist of irregular, patternless patches of white sand, which have sharply defined contacts with the surrounding material. Although patches of sand are present in a 90-km. belt that is not more than 5 km. wide, extending from Loiza to Hatillo, they attain maximum size, purity and number in the north central coastal area between Dorado and Barceloneta. Fifty separate deposits have been mapped in Lago Tortuguero and to the south of it, some as small as 50 ft. in diameter but

Jan 1, 1948

By J. Earl Frazier, Howard A. Meyerhoff

It is not known when silica sand was first noticed along the north coast of Puerto Rico, but the first mention of its occurrence was made in 1922, by N. L. Britton,1 who described its presence in isolated patches extending from Loiza westward beyond Manati. Further observations were made in 1925 and 1926 by Meyerhoff,2 who extended the known occurrences still farther westward to the low hill belt in the Quebradillas limestone immediately south of Hatillo. The extraordinary purity of the sands, which in most localities exhibit no contamination from the non-siliceous materials surrounding them, was quickly appreciated, and the feasibility of utilizing them for the manufacture of glass was investigated, initially by the Committee on Mineral Resources3 and later (1936) by the Puerto Rico Recon-structionAdministration and by H. C. Ray, mining engineer of the Insular Bureau of Mines. In 1934 samples submitted to the Hazel Atlas Glass Co., of Washington, Pennsylvania, were reported to have the composition as shown in the table on column two. Appreciation of the quality of the sand prompted geological and quantitative studies of the deposits, as well as cornmercial investigations to determine the feasibility of utilizing it locally or on the mainland for the manufacture of glass containers. Distribution of the Sands The quartz sands consistently lie within the outcrop area of the Quebradillas limestone, the youngest of the Miocene formations in the Tertiary coastal plain that fringes the northern coast of the Island. Many of the deposits are closely associated with limestone outcrops, but some appear to be embedded in lagoonal sediments at some distance from rock exposures, and at least one deposit, near Dorado, has been reworked by waves and littoral currents. With this single known exception, the deposits consist of irregular, patternless patches of white sand, which have sharply defined contacts with the surrounding material. Although patches of sand are present in a 90-km. belt that is not more than 5 km. wide, extending from Loiza to Hatillo, they attain maximum size, purity and number in the north central coastal area between Dorado and Barceloneta. Fifty separate deposits have been mapped in Lago Tortuguero and to the south of it, some as small as 50 ft. in diameter but

Jan 1, 1948

By W. C. Bednar

In all, 127 producing oil wells, 8 producing gas wells and 212 dry holes were drilled during 1936 in the Central Texas area; 76 wells in Bexar County, 62 in Caldwell County, 44 in Guadalupe County, 22 in Williamson County, 20 in Navarro County and 20 in Frio County. Less than 20 were drilled in each of the other counties and none at all in Ellis, Hill, Bosque, Coryell, Lampasas, Burnet, Llano, Kennedy, Mason, Real, Kinney and Uvalde Counties. The Pearsall-Austin chalk field in Frio County and the Zoboroski field in Guadalupe County were the only new discoveries and there were no important extensions to old fields. In this report Corsicana, Mildred (Elm Ridge), Angus-Edens-Hodge, Burke, and Rice-Oil Ridge, all shallow Navarro County stripper fields, are grouped together under the name of Corsicana. This grouping follows that of the Railroad Commission of Texas, thus facilitating the gathering of production data. A map showing the location of the oil and gas fields in the Central Texas Area was published in Volume 114 of the A.I.M.E. TranBactions, page 380. New Fields Pearsall-Austin Chalk.—The Amerada Petroleum Corporation completed 13 Austin chalk wells during 1936 on the large Amerada-Rycade block in Frio County. Other companies drilled two dry holes to the Austin chalk in this vicinity. Not enough wells were drilled to give control of the structure but it appears to be a nose plunging in a west-southwest direction. A second deep test is being drilled in the Pearsall area and at this writing has cemented off a show of oil and gas in the Edwards limestone. The Humble Oil and Refining Co. is building a 6-in. pipe line from Lytle, Tex., to serve the Pearsall field. Zoboroski.—Actual discovery of the Zoboroski field was made by W. J. Walton et al. in 1931. The discovery well, Anton Zoboroski No. 1, was a small producer making but from 3 to 5 bbl. per day, which was used locally for fuel oil. The discovery of the Darst Creek Extension in

Jan 1, 1937

By Arthur Zentner

The electrolytic zinc plant of today is foreshadowed in the patents issued to Léon Létrange of Paris in 1881 and 1883l. He proposed roasting zinc blende to make the zinc soluble in water or sulphuric acid, thus obtaining a sulphate solution. His purification was apparently that used in the lithopone work of the day. For electrolyzing he proposed anodes of carbon or lead, for cathodes zinc, copper or brass. Numerous patents by other workers were taken out in the first 10 years, most of which dealt with sulphate solutions. It is easy to presume that the formation of chlorine gas in zinc chloride electrolysis caused early emphasis on sulphate work. Lack of success with this invited further work with chloride solutions. Efficient and cheaper oxidizing agents for use in the chloride processes were more generally available. Carbon anodes could be used instead of lead anodes, which were blamed for much of the early electrolyzing troubles and remained in disfavor for many years. Carl Hoepfner received his first zinc patents in 18902. He was the most persistent of those who worked with chloride solutions and met with the largest measure of success. Hc built three plants, only one of which remained in operation. This was built in 1896 at the plant of Brunner, Mond & Co., Winnington, England, now part of Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd. It leached with by-product calcium chloride from the company's Solvay alkali plant and returned to it the chlorine formed in electrolyzing. The zinc plant had a capacity of 5 long tons of zinc, said to have been doubled later, and remained in operation until 1924. No commercial plant using chloride solutions has operated since then. E. A. Ashcroft experimented in the middle nineties with chloride, alkaline and sulphate solutions on materials from Broken Hill, Australia. He built a plant with a rated capacity of 10 long tons of zinc per day, at Cockle Creek, New South Wales, in 1898. This figure was never approached nor was cyclical operation achieved. The work in the plant appears to have been largely with sulphate solutions. The plant suffered from a multitude of troubles: poor roasting, gclatinous silica, liberal use of live steam in solutions to combat the gclatinous silica with considerable

Jan 1, 1937

By George W. Hezzelwood

THE Balatoc mine, one of the Haussermann group,[t] is on the Island of Luzon, the largest of the Philippine group, about 260 km. north of Manila, and 12 km. from the city of Baguio. The Baguio district is the most important gold-mining area of the Philippines, with 14 producing mines in 1939, milling 2,3;8,894 tons of ore, yielding [P]40,881,048, approximately 55 per cent of the total Philippine production of [P]74,131,216. PRODUCTION HISTORY The Balatoc mine began production in January 1929 with a 150-ton cyanide mill. Increases in mill capacity have taken place as follows: March, 1932, to 350 tons June, 1933, to 470 tons December, 1933, to 515 tons July, 1934, to 700 tons December, 1934, to 1000 tons May, 1935, to 1200 tons October, 1938, to 1300 tons April, 1939, to 2000 tons January, 1941, to 2150 tons Production during the period of expansion has steadily increased in total value in spite of the fact that grade of ore milled has dropped-from $31.06 in 1929 to $5.78 in 1940. Annual reports give production as shown in Table 1, the average values being based on gold at the old price of $20.67 per ounce. [ ] GEOLOGY The ore occurs in quartz-calcite veins that vary in width from narrow stringers to mineralized zones 40 to 50 ft. wide. Wall rocks consist largely of diorites, with some andesite, and a fragmental breccia called locally the "Balatoc plug." Texture of the ore varies widely in the different veins-from a soft, highly altered, gouge material filled with quartz fragments through a soft, unaltered quartz-calcite to a hard, massive quartz ore. Three major vein systems have been extensively developed, and smaller amounts of work have been done on several others. These veins strike east-west to N. 60°, dipping south from 50° to 90°, and are essentially tension breaks between a series of faults or shears striking N. 30°E. to N. 50°E. and dipping southeast from 50°to 90°. The shear veins and tension veins probably formed more or less simultaneously,

Jan 1, 1942

By J. Chipman, J. C. Fulton

Reduction of silicon from blast-furnace-type slags by carbon-saturated iron is a very slow reaction even under conditions of rapid stirring. Equilibrium under atmospheric pressure of carbon monoxide was approached from both sides, and the silica-silicon relation was established at temperatures of 1425º to 1700°C for slags containing up to 20 pct Al2O3. Silicon carbide is formed by reaction of graphite with high silica slags and the conditions for its formation were determined. Activities of SiO2 and of CaO in their binary solutions at 1600°C were determined. The effects on the activity of SiO2 were established for additions of 10 to 20 pct AI2O3 and of 10 pct MgO. STUDIES of chemical reactions between blast-*>-5 furnace slags and metal have been focussed on the transfer of sulphur from metal to slag. The important role which silica reduction plays in this process' has led to a study of the transfer of silicon from slag to metal and the equilibrium represented by the equation SiO2 (in slag) + 2C (graphite) = Si + 2CO (g). [I.] The authors2 have published an account of the experimental method employed in attacking this problem and of three series of experimental results at 1600°C. This paper contains data on some additional compositions and extends the observations to cover the temperature range 1425° to 1700°C. The data are used to determine the activity of silica in the slags. As in the earlier experiments, the atmosphere was carbon monoxide which flowed through the furnace at 150 ml per min. In certain heats designated in the tables and figures, the gas was bubbled through the melt using a graphite tube. The latter increased in porosity during a run and in some cases bubbling ceased as indicated by cessation of surging. Some results were discarded for this reason. Experimental Results The new data are shown in Tables I through V and both old and new data are plotted in Figs. 1

Jan 1, 1955

By D. J. Mottern, F. Wald

SEVERAL systems have been investigated by Bates, Wald, and weinstein&apos; to determine the compatibility of pure PbTe with various metals. This was accomplished by experimentally determining the direction of the reaction given by Eq. [I]: The direction of this reaction is very important if alloys of the PbTe system are to be used in thermoelectric generators because the presence of free lead in the matrix, followed by incipient melting in the vicinity of the hot junction, could cause a bonding failure. According to anssen,&apos; the Au-Te system contains only one stable compound, AuTez. The initial alloy which was reacted was therefore of the composition AuTez + 2Pb. Ten-gram samples of PbTe plus 1, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 70 at. pct Au were encapsulated in carbon-coated quartz capsules in vacuo. All materials were of semiconductor (99.999+ pct) purity. Carbon coating was used to prevent reaction of the quartz with any of the alloying constituents (the solubility of carbon in the constituents of the alloys is negligible). Each capsule was then placed in a thermal analysis furnace, melted, and cooled through the transformation region. Thermal arrests were monitored on a strip chart recorder. Each sample was subsequently examined microscopically after standard grinding and polishing techniques were applied. For better contrast between the phases, the samples were etched in Murakami&apos;s etch; however, both phases could be identified without etching. Several of the samples were ground into powder, stress-relieved, and X-rayed in a Debye-Scherrer camera using nickel-filtered Cu-Ka radiation. The phase diagram shown in Fig. 1 indicates that the pseudobinary system exists as a simple eutectic with no measurable (<I pct) solid solubility at either limit. Figs. 2,3, and 4 are photomicrographs of the structures obtained with 20, 40, and 50 at. pct Au, respectively. At higher concentrations of gold (>40 pct) slight divorcement of the eutectic occurred, apparently due to a) the difference in density between gold and PbTe (19.6 and 8.25 g per cu cm, respectively) or b) the nonideality of the liquid as noted by the curvature of the liquidus lines. The eutectic temperature was determined to be 742° ± 5°C. The composition of the eutectic was determined by extrapola-

Jan 1, 1969

By B. L. Dunic, Terkel Rosenqvist

rr has long been suspected that sulphur has a small but finite solid solubility in iron, but up to the present more accurate data have been lacking. The survey given by Hansen&apos; illustrates the divergence of data and opinions. Solubilities between 0.01 and 1.5 pct have been suggested, and opinions vary regarding the effects of temperature and phase transformations in iron on the sulphur solubility. The extent of solid solution and its variation with temperature might be expected to be an important factor in the occurrence of hot shortness in steel. Therefore, the object of the present investigation was to study this problem more systematically. It was furthermore hoped that solubility data for sulphur might contribute to an understanding of the factors which determine solid solubilities in general. Experimental Procedure The present work was based on the measurement of the chemical activity of sulphur in the solid solution by means of equilibrium with a mixture of hydrogen and hydrogen sulphide. When the solid solubility limit is reached, the sulphur activity in the iron becomes equal to that in the coexisting sulphide phase. A gas mixture of a controlled H,S/H, ratio was passed over pure metallic iron heated to a temperature in the range 900" to 1500". The amount of sulphur absorbed by the iron was determined by analysis, and from a plot of percentage of sulphur vs. gas composition the sulphur activity and the solubility limit were determined. As the rate of diffusion of sulphur in solid iron is very small, often several days were needed to be sure that equilibrium conditions had been established. To produce a gas flow with less than 1 pct H,S of constant composition for several days, was in itself a problem. The most satisfactory arrangement was obtained by a continuous synthesis of hydrogen sulphide from the elements. This was done in the part of the apparatus shown to the left in Fig. 1. The hydrogen used was first purified in tank batches by passage through activated charcoal cooled in liquid nitrogen under a pressure of 150

Jan 1, 1953

By J. Earl Frazier, Howard A. Meyerhoff

IT is not known when silica sand was first noticed along the north coast of Puerto Rico, but the first mention of its occurrence was made in 1922, by N. L. Britton,1 who described its presence in isolated patches extending from Loiza westward beyond Manati. Further observations were made in 1925 and 1926 by Meyerhoff,2 who extended the known occurrences still farther westward to the low hill belt in the Quebradillas limestone immediately south of Hatillo. The extraordinary purity of the sands, which in most localities exhibit no contamination from the nonsiliceous materials surrounding them, was quickly appreciated, and the feasibility of utilizing them for the manufacture of glass was investigated, initially by the Committee on Mineral Resources3 and later (1936) by the Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration and by H. C. Ray, mining engineer of the Insular Bureau of Mines. In 1934 samples submitted to the Hazel Atlas Glass Co., of Washington, Pennsylvania, were reported to have the composition as shown in the table on column two. Appreciation of the quality of the sand prompted geological and quantitative studies of the deposits, as well as commercial investigations to determine the feasibility of utilizing it locally or on the mainland for the manufacture of glass containers. [ ] DISTRIBUTION OF THE SANDS The quartz sands consistently lie within the outcrop area of the Quebradillas limestone, the youngest of the Miocene formations in the Tertiary coastal plain that fringes the northern coast of the Island. Many of the deposits are closely associated with limestone outcrops, but some appear to be embedded in lagoonal sediments at some distance from rock exposures, and at least one deposit, near Dorado, has been reworked by waves and littoral currents. With this single known exception, the deposits consist of irregular, patternless patches of white sand, which have sharply defined contacts with the surrounding material. Although patches of sand are present in a 90-km. belt that is not more than 5 km. wide, extending from Loiza to Hatillo, they attain maximum size, purity and number in the north central coastal area between Dorado and Barceloneta. Fifty separate deposits have been mapped in

Jan 1, 1945

By Walter M. Small

Austria produced approximately 800 cisterns of 10,000 kg. each (56,000 bbls.) of crude oil of a 0.9428 sp. gr. during 1935. Of this Gosting II well near Zistersdorf, owned by the Erdolproduktions-Gesellschaft m.b.H., produced 86 per cent of the total, averaging a little over 1.8 cisterns, or about 125 bbl., per day. Gosting IVa of the same company was put in production early in December and produced a total of about 70 cisterns (4900 bbl.). Gosting IV was a failure, but a directional hole drilled from the same derrick produced Gosting IVa. Gosting I, a well owned jointly by the company above mentioned and the Raky-Danubia, was deepened late in the year and made about 2800 bbl. of oil at the rate of 70 bbl. per day. Completions during the year were as follows: In the Gosting pool, Gosting IV and IVa, drilled with rotary tools, the latter producing from Sarmat at a depth of 934 meters (3065 ft.); Kronberg I, of European Gas & Electric Co. with cable tools in Flysch at a depth of 566 m. as a dry hole; in the Oberlaa gas pool, one cable-tool well of the same company at a depth of 266 m. as a dry hole and one Fauck-Haiek system well of the Vacuum Oil Co. at a depth of 483 m. as a dry hole; one rotary hole of the European Gas & Electric Co. at Enzersdorf a/d. Fischa plugged and abandoned in Sarmat after a blow out and gas eruption at a depth of 699.5 meters. The status of drilling wells at close of the year is as follows: In the Gosting pool, Erdol Bohr- und Verwertungs G.m.b.H., north of the producing area, was drilling with rotary at 990 m., Raky-Danubia is rigged up to deepen the old Windisch-Baumgarten hole, Rohoel-Gewin-nungs A.G. (Vacuum-Shell combination) rigging up rotary south of the production, and Steinberg-Naphta G.m.b.H. (Musil) was deepened with light rotary to 830 m.; at Enzersdorf a/d. Fischa, the European Gas & Electric Co. E-2 rotary-drilled hole stood at 1533 m. in Miocene waiting

Jan 1, 1936

By Walter M. Small

Austria produced approximately 800 cisterns of 10,000 kg. each (56,000 bbls.) of crude oil of a 0.9428 sp. gr. during 1935. Of this Gosting II well near Zistersdorf, owned by the Erdolproduktions-Gesellschaft m.b.H., produced 86 per cent of the total, averaging a little over 1.8 cisterns, or about 125 bbl., per day. Gosting IVa of the same company was put in production early in December and produced a total of about 70 cisterns (4900 bbl.). Gosting IV was a failure, but a directional hole drilled from the same derrick produced Gosting IVa. Gosting I, a well owned jointly by the company above mentioned and the Raky-Danubia, was deepened late in the year and made about 2800 bbl. of oil at the rate of 70 bbl. per day. Completions during the year were as follows: In the Gosting pool, Gosting IV and IVa, drilled with rotary tools, the latter producing from Sarmat at a depth of 934 meters (3065 ft.); Kronberg I, of European Gas & Electric Co. with cable tools in Flysch at a depth of 566 m. as a dry hole; in the Oberlaa gas pool, one cable-tool well of the same company at a depth of 266 m. as a dry hole and one Fauck-Haiek system well of the Vacuum Oil Co. at a depth of 483 m. as a dry hole; one rotary hole of the European Gas & Electric Co. at Enzersdorf a/d. Fischa plugged and abandoned in Sarmat after a blow out and gas eruption at a depth of 699.5 meters. The status of drilling wells at close of the year is as follows: In the Gosting pool, Erdol Bohr- und Verwertungs G.m.b.H., north of the producing area, was drilling with rotary at 990 m., Raky-Danubia is rigged up to deepen the old Windisch-Baumgarten hole, Rohoel-Gewin-nungs A.G. (Vacuum-Shell combination) rigging up rotary south of the production, and Steinberg-Naphta G.m.b.H. (Musil) was deepened with light rotary to 830 m.; at Enzersdorf a/d. Fischa, the European Gas & Electric Co. E-2 rotary-drilled hole stood at 1533 m. in Miocene waiting

Jan 1, 1936

By R. C. Canby

The difficulty of exact neutralization by ammonia of the acid solution obtained in the determination of arsenic by the method of fusion with carbonate of soda and nitrate of potassium, led me to try the effect of neutralization by oxide of zinc. I obtained most satisfactory results, and found a great saving of time. The oxide of zinc being added in excess, there is no delicate testing with lit? mils paper and tedious alternate adding of dilute ammonia arid acid until the proper point is reached. The excess of oxide of zinc, too, seems to hold, from the filter, the gelatinous silica and alumina, which are usually precipitated upon neutralization, and thus to render the washing of the precipitated arseniate of silver almost invariably much more rapid. Except the substitution of the neutralization by oxide of zinc for the more tedious method by ammonia, the details of the process are practically the same as those published by Mr. Richard Pearce, of Argo, Colorado (Proceedings of the Colorado Scientific Society, vol. i.), who shows what very accurate results can be obtained by the fusion process. I have made numerous tests of comparison between the two methods of neutralization, and find that those by the oxide of zinc agree almost exactly with the old method. Increasing the quantity of nitric acid, even to considerable excess, to be neutralized by the oxide of zinc did not affect the precipitation of arseniate of silver. The process may be outlined as follows : Take 4 to 1 gramme finely pulverized ore, and mix in a porcelain crucible with eight to ten times its weight of a mixture of equal parts of carbonate of soda and nitrate of potassium (Kerl. Metallurgische Probirkunst gives 4 to 5 nitre to 14 soda). Gradually bring to fusion and keep so, three to five minutes. Cool. Disintegrate in hot water. Filter and wash with hot water. Acidify the filtrate with nitric acid, and boil to expel carbonic acid and nitrous fumes. Cool. Add an excess of an emulsion of oxide of zinc. The bottom of the beaker should have quite a layer of oxide of zinc, after stirring.

Jan 1, 1889

By H. W. Camp

In attempting to summarize and pick out the outstanding development,s in refinery engineering during the past 12 or 13 months, one is immediately impressed by the great strides that have taken place. It is, of course, difficult to obtain the proper perspective with the old year so fresh in our minds, and if relatively minor improvements seem to be given equal recognition with those of magnitude, it will be because the nature of the human mind causes us to place the trivial incidents of today with the important things of yesterday. For instance, the Twenly-Second Semiannual Motor Gasoline Survey (December, 1930) of the U. S. Bureau of Mines shows that the total gasoline yield per barrel of crude increased from 39.6 per cent.. in 1929 to 41.99 per cent. in 1930. This latter fact may appear rather confusing since the production of high-gravity crudes has been steadily increasing. However, during the past yew there has been a reduction in gasoline end point of approximately 8" F. which roughly corresponds to about 1.0 per cent. yield from the crude oil. It appears, therefore, that, if the gasoline mere based on a corresponding distillation basis 1930 would show better yields from the crude than 1929. Cracked gasoline increased from 14.83 per cent. in 1929 to 17.46 per cent. in 1930. Percentage of total gasoline from cracking stills has doubled since 192.5, thus indicating the extent to which this phase of refining has advanced over past years. Replacement of the old shell still batteries by a pipe still and single flash system, with an efficient fractionating tower, has proved advantageous both in fuel consumption and in decreasing space required for the installation. Considerable activity has been shown in the field of vapor-phase cracking, with the development of several new types of units. The production of a product with a high antiknock value makes the vapor-phase processes particularly attractive. Cracking equipment has shown a marked advance with the development of corrosion-resisting alloys. Nickel, chromium and vanadium have shown interesting possibilities, but as yet are fairly expensive. Ceramic material for lining reaction

Jan 1, 1931

THE increased demand for titanium alloys with improved high-temperature creep strengths has stimulated interest in silicon as an alloying addition to titanium. Silicon is a potent solid-solution strength-ener and, if added in sufficient concentration and properly heat-treated, can also dispersion-strengthen titanium by eutectoid decomposition.&apos; However, better understanding of the nature and distribution of the resulting silicide dispersion in more highly alloyed titanium matrices is necessary for the development of useful titanium alloys which utilize the latter strengthening mechanism. This note describes the chemical and crystallographic characteristics of the silicide phase as it occurs in a typical high-temperature near-a titanium alloy matrix. Several Ti-6A1-3Sn-3Zr a11oys containing various amounts of silicon ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 pct were melted as 10- to 20-lb ingots and processed into 1/2-in.-diam bar stock. The microstructures of specimens annealed at various temperatures were conveniently summarized by the (Ti-6Al-3Sn-3Zr)-Si pseudobinary phase diagram illustrated in Fig. 1. Comparison with the Ti-Si equilibrium diagram indicates the substitutional solutes (Al-Sn-Zr) increase the eutectoid temperature and decrease the a terminal solubility. Annealing at temperatures sufficiently high to dissolve the silicon in a ß solid solution and cooling rapidly enough to preclude coarsening generally produced a uniform dispersion of fine silicide particles, whereas annealing at temperatures near but below the ß transus produced relatively coarse silicide particles. Annealing in the limited a, plus 3 region produced a duplex coarse and fine silicide array. Several a-annealed specimens were examined by X-ray diffraction to determine the crystallographic identity of the precipitate phase. Copper Ka X-ray diffraction patterns of bulk specimens which contained 0.5 and 0.8 pct Si were virtually identical to that of the silicon-free Ti-6Al-3Sn-3Zr base alloy except for a slight shift in some of the high-angle diffraction lines. Apparently the silicide volume fraction was too low to be detected in bulk specimens. X-

Jan 1, 1969

By M. C. Cheney

The active development of the vast East Texas oil field, the attendant effects of the rapidly increasing flow from its prolific wells and the efforts to bring order out of chaos precluded or dwarfed other oil development in Texas during 1931. In a paper by Dr. F. H. Lahee1 presented at the October, 1931, meeting, the early history of the East Texas oil field is described and the sequence of events in connection with its development and efforts to control its production up to Sept. 25 is narrated. At that time the Railroad Commission of the state reduced the production of the field to a maximum of 400,000 bbl. per day by restricting the allowable daily production per well to 185 bbl. By further reduction in the daily production per well to 100 bbl., the field was held below that maximum figure during the remainder of the year. Meanwhile, as a result of an injunction against the Railroad Commission, its authority in the field was superseded on Oct. 13 by the Governor of the state, and after that date production was controlled directly by his orders issued under authority of martial law. Suits to contest this authority were brought in the Federal courts and were pending at the close of the year. On March 5, 1931, as a result of the East Texas production, posted prices for Mid-Continent 40&apos; A.P.I. crude slumped from $1.07 to $0.67. As East Texas production continued to mount, posted prices in East Texas were reduced to $0.37 on June 3 and $0.22 on July 8, although in that field most of the oil was sold for much less, bringing the producer and royalty owner as low as $0.025 per barrel. Northeast Texas To the information contained in Dr. Lahee&apos;s paper, it can now be added that the East Texas field has produced over 105,000,000 bbl. and registered about 3700 successful completions during 1931. There may be some merit to the recent prediction that a large part of the field will have passed its flowing period by the middle of 1932 unless

Jan 1, 1932

By A. E. Perkins

fractured ingot will show a complete diagonal structure. If the temperature is lowered, the equi-axed zone is larger and the pine tree growth is less. A small ingot, though, is prone to this columnar structure, even though the casting temperature is kept down. The speed of cooling after solidification is slower in the hollow ingot than in the solid, therefore the granulation, which takes place after the crystals have formed from the liquid metal, is apt to produce larger grains than in the solid ingot. This is not a detriment. The original crystal size is of much more importance. The size of the grains due to this granulation constantly varies in response to mechanical work and subsequent heat treatment. Surface weakness, as shown by seaming and checking on the exterior when working or by cracking in hardening, is in some measure the result of the surface stresses of the ingot when cast. The temperature of the ingot mold or speed of freezing of the exterior of the ingot is of great importance and much seamy and cracked steel is caused by a too quickly cooled skin. Ingots that are turned or milled all over will not seam very much in working, in fact they are practically free from seams, whereas an ingot rolled without a preliminary machining operation is full of seams and cracks, some long and some short. It has been said that these short seams and cracks in the surface of the bar are the result of elongated depressions in the surface of the ingot and that if an ingot is cast very smooth it should give fewer surface defects. This is partly true, but an ingot cast very hot and having a very smooth skin will crack and seam very badly in the mill, as will the surface of an ingot poured very cold, which is very crinkly, because of the low temperature of the metal. The cause of the cracks and seams in one is not the cause of the cracks and seams in the other. The tube method of hollow drill steel manufacture is superior to the older method because of: (1) Greater freedom from external and internal straining; (2) the inherent small crystal size; (3) absence of harmful segregation, resulting in weakness of wall of hole. (4) less liability for steel to crack in inside of hole during forging or hardening; (5) toughening effect, arising from mild steel wall of hole limiting the intense hardening on quenching. Breakage and Heat Treatment or Rock-drill Steel By A. E. Perkins, Pittsburgh, Pa. Actual figures showing the superiority of one section or another are difficult to obtain. In a given size of steel, however, the cruciform sec -tion shows the most breakage; it is inherently a weak section. It contains less steel per foot than any other standard section of the same size and when rolled the wings tend to cool off setting up cooling stresses.

Jan 1, 1922

In an address delivered at Atlantic City, N. T., Dec. 5, 1918, M. L. Requa, General Director, Oil Division of the United States Fuel Administration, said: We face a new era with all its uncertainties. We have arrived at the period of reconstruction and are face to face with the problems concerning which we have so often speculated during the past four years. In all this reconstruction work the United States must bear an important part. We are looked upon to lead the way, to blaze the trail and our actions will have a profound influence upon the rest of the world. If we are to succeed, even in part, we must not be ashamed to practise economy; we must not despise the clay of small things; the little savings; we must have the closest cooperation between Government and industry. Just as truly do we need civic awakening. All that we have ever fought for, the liberty of the world, is comprehended in the ballot; and yet how lightly we have held this great privilege! We need, if we are to reap in full the benefits of the past 18 mo., an awakened civic consciousness; a jealous guarding of government; a resolution that we will, each and all, perform to the full the duties imposed upon us by Democracy; that we will perform more completely the obligations resting upon us as citizens. During the war, industry, through sane cooperation and intelligent effort, has accomplished results possible of attainment in no other way. Government and industry have worked hand in hand and pointed the way o to future activities which, if realized, can but be most highly beneficial to all. If Government and industry are to fulfill their respective duties satisfactorily, it is obvious that there should be complete mutual confidence. Industry must not attempt to "put something over"-and Government must treat with industry upon the high plane that has characterized the public utterances of the President during the war. The individual who cannot conform to these high ideals should have no place in industry, and equally no place in Government. If the dignified and broad princi-

Jan 2, 1919

By T. I Harkins, J. Brian Eby

This paper outlines the geophysical investigation of the area covering the Darrow salt dome, Louisiana. Surveys with the refraction seismograph and torsion balance failed to disclose the dome, but reflection dip shooting was successful and was confirmed by later drilling. Introduction The Darrow salt dome and oil field lies in western Ascension Parish, Louisiana, on the outside of a sharp bend and on the east bank of the Mississippi River. The dome occurs about 30 miles south of Baton Rouge and 80 miles northwest of New Orleans. Its geology, shape and structure have been ably described in detail by Carroll E. Cook1 and, except for the general features, will not be repeated here. The purpose of this paper is to record some of the interesting and pertinent geophysical data contributing to the discovery of the dome and eventually the oil field. The salt dome is circular in outline and comes to within about 4625 ft. of the surface. At this depth the diameter of the salt plug is approximately 4800 ft. The dome has only a thin cap rock of less than 75 ft. Some oil has been found and is being produced in Miocene sands above the cap rock, but most of the field&apos;s production comes from a narrow ring of wells around the east and south flanks of the dome. Producing horizons on the flank are found at 5670 to 5840 ft. in the Miocene and 6890 to 6985 ft., 7028 to 7060 ft. and 8260 to 8270 ft. in the Oligocene. The deepest well that has been drilled is the Humble Oil and Refining Company&apos;s Community B-5, on the south flank of the structure, which reached a depth of 10,013 feet. The size and shape of the field and the area of production are indicated on Fig. I. The line showing the area of production encloses all wells now producing and all abandoned producers, both on the top and flank of the dome. This line of production is shown on all subsequent geophysical maps as a direct means of comparing the early geophysics to later drilling development. Darrow dome occurs on the low, flat flood plain of the Mississippi River; it is protected from flood overflow by high artificial levees. The rich loamy soil supports a high degree of cultivation, principally sugar cane. Drainage is secured by many small canals and the water table of the area is at or near the surface. These particular conditions of topography, drainage and top soil greatly influenced the early geophysical picture, and the influence was always unfavorable. Surveys with Refraction Seishograph and Torsion Balance A reported oil show in a water well drew attention to the lands of the Belle Helene

Jan 1, 1943

By J. Brian Eby, T. I. Harkins

This paper outlines the geophysical investigation of the area covering the Darrow salt dome, Louisiana. Surveys with the refraction seismograph and torsion balance failed to disclose the dome, but reflection dip shooting was successful and was confirmed by later drilling. Introduction The Darrow salt dome and oil field lies in western Ascension Parish, Louisiana, on the outside of a sharp bend and on the east bank of the Mississippi River. The dome occurs about 30 miles south of Baton Rouge and 80 miles northwest of New Orleans. Its geology, shape and structure have been ably described in detail by Carroll E. Cook1 and, except for the general features, will not be repeated here. The purpose of this paper is to record some of the interesting and pertinent geophysical data contributing to the discovery of the dome and eventually the oil field. The salt dome is circular in outline and comes to within about 4625 ft. of the surface. At this depth the diameter of the salt plug is approximately 4800 ft. The dome has only a thin cap rock of less than 75 ft. Some oil has been found and is being produced in Miocene sands above the cap rock, but most of the field&apos;s production comes from a narrow ring of wells around the east and south flanks of the dome. Producing horizons on the flank are found at 5670 to 5840 ft. in the Miocene and 6890 to 6985 ft., 7028 to 7060 ft. and 8260 to 8270 ft. in the Oligocene. The deepest well that has been drilled is the Humble Oil and Refining Company&apos;s Community B-5, on the south flank of the structure, which reached a depth of 10,013 feet. The size and shape of the field and the area of production are indicated on Fig. I. The line showing the area of production encloses all wells now producing and all abandoned producers, both on the top and flank of the dome. This line of production is shown on all subsequent geophysical maps as a direct means of comparing the early geophysics to later drilling development. Darrow dome occurs on the low, flat flood plain of the Mississippi River; it is protected from flood overflow by high artificial levees. The rich loamy soil supports a high degree of cultivation, principally sugar cane. Drainage is secured by many small canals and the water table of the area is at or near the surface. These particular conditions of topography, drainage and top soil greatly influenced the early geophysical picture, and the influence was always unfavorable. Surveys with Refraction Seishograph and Torsion Balance A reported oil show in a water well drew attention to the lands of the Belle Helene

Jan 1, 1943