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By D. P. Harris

This paper examines recent developments and work in progress on the application of quantitative methods and computers to the appraisal of the mineral resource potential of discrete areas by employing reconnaissance geological information and general economic relationships. The perspective of this paper might be that of a firm planning a regional exploration program or of a legislative body seeking to choose between several alternative actions on the basis of their impact upon the regional resources. In addition to this general survey and commentary, an example is presented of the use of geostatistical analysis and computer simulation to evaluate the economic mineral resources of the Seward Peninsula of Alaska.

Jan 1, 1969

By J. L. Schroeder, W. G. Talman

EXPERIENCE has shown that certain known natural conditions and other indefinite characteristics combine to make a mining area vulnerable to mountain bumps. Some of the known conditions are heavy overburden, an overlying stratum of strong non-elastic rock, a structurally strong coal seam that does not crush easily and yet is the weakest stratum in the series, and a floor stratum of more than ordinary firmness. The indefinite characteristics could include resistance of top or bottom of a coal seam to lateral flow, effect of immediate top and bottom strata, nature of the coal seam, and other factors about which very little is known. It is in this area that exhaustive study is needed to achieve positive control of the dreaded mountain bump hazard. In the Gary district, West Virginia, two of the five operating mines have areas known to be vulnerable to mountain bumps.These are the No. 2 and 6 mines, which are working the Pocahontas No. 4 coal seam. In this area the seam is overlain at a zero to 10-ft interval by the massive Eckman sandstone, which is about 100 ft thick in the vulnerable areas. Total overburden, consisting of shale, coal seams, and sandstones, ranges from 700 to 1400 ft where bumps have occurred (Fig. 1). The coal seam is 4 to 8 ft thick and has a weak columnar structure of very soft and spongy or woody coal. The immediate top is either the Eckman sandstone or hard shale, both of which provide generally good roof conditions for mining operations. The bottom ranges from medium to hard gray shale. The incidence of bumps in the Gary district dates from about 1930 and can be correlated to some degree with the increased rate of extraction attained with mechanical mining. During early years of operation at the No. 2 and 6 mines, most of the work was development and under comparatively light cover. As overburden became heavier, together with an increasing percentage of coal coming from pillar extraction, mountain bumps began to occur. Before 1945 they were much less severe than in later years, and because there were no injuries or fatalities, no records were kept. But by 1951 the incidence of bumps had increased to such extent that it became evident a mining system would have to be designed to eliminate or at least minimize these occurrences. Drawing on experience with modified versions of old systems and certain characteristics peculiar to the Pocahontas No. 4 coal seam, the district mining engineer, Martin Hayduk, outlined the essential factors for bump control in the Gary district. These control factors indicated: 1) The highly stressed area, which lies within the limits of convergence effects, moves at approximately the same rate as the retreating pillar line. 2) There is a decided softening of the periphery of blocks which is greatest and deepest on the gob side. 3) Blocks less than 45 ft wide never have been known to bump in the Pocahontas seams. Fig. 2 shows the mining plan based on these observations—a thin-pillar system with a minimum of secondary development. It was recognized from the start that the Hayduk system had certain limitations. When pillar work backed up to an inevitable surrounded block it was no longer applicable; also, burnt bottom and/or unknown factors reduced the system's effectiveness in certain headings. Since there was no way to eliminate the loaded block, it was decided to experiment with auger drilling to attain controlled release of this stored-up energy. The decision to auger was made after consideration of three separate plants, which were: 1) To cut the solid block into pillars of maximum size by driving away from the fracture line and at such a distance outby that development

Jan 1, 1959

By Frederick Laist

AFTER a series of experiments covering a period of about three years, ending from the spring of 19iJ.2 to the spring of 1915, a 2,000-ton leaching plant for the treatment of the accumulated copper concentrator tailing was built and put into operation. During the experimental period, the first step was that of laboratory experiments or beaker leaches. The results on this small scale were so satisfactory that a small operating plant, capable of handling 5 tons of roasted tailing per day, was installed. Again, the results proved satisfactory and an 80­ton plant was built and operated continuously from August until February, 1913. In this plant, full-sized roasting and leaching units were

Jan 8, 1916

By Herbert J. French

ALLOY steels have become essential to industry in meeting the rigid requirements on materials imposed by our, advanced technology. In comparison with the total ingot capacity of the steel industry, the volume of alloy steels is relatively small although for many years annual alloy-ingot tonnage has, been in seven figures. However, the monetary value of the alloy-steel production is exceedingly high and the benefits derived from the products are relatively great. The trend in total ingot production since 1932 has been generally upward with only two major interruptions. That of the year 1938 was due to a decrease in general business activity whereas that of 1946 resulted largely from work stoppages. Traditionally, the tonnage of alloy-steel ingots produced was in the neighborhood of 5 to

Jan 1, 1948

By F. B. Harris

MINE surveying and engineering at the various properties of the United States Smelting Refining and Mining Company has developed and increased in importance steadily as mining methods have changed and expanded, both in the development of ore bodies and in the methods and styles of stoping. Most important to satisfactory engineering practice, and secondary -only to accuracy and precision, is the preservation of all data relative to surveys and calculations so that it is readily available for use at all times and in -such form that it is permanent, easily found, and usable. The first consideration for a proper, accurate, and practical start for surveys and efficient engineering at any property is an accurate triangulation net and system of co-ordinates. This has been our practice and the first step seas to select a base line, readily accessible and easily measured, situated preferably on an even grade where the difference of elevation between the two -end monuments was not too great and -the distance was long enough for practical use. Permanent concrete monuments were built for these base-line points so constructed that they could be easily recognized and were visible. Precise levels were run on this base 'line and the elevation (sea level datum) if possible was established at each end monument. The distance was carefully measured many times, back and forward, by using a tape that had been standardized by the National Bureau of Standards. The tape was supported at ,each 25-ft interval on stakes which had been brought to grade between each measuring point. All conditions were

Jan 1, 1948

By John V. Beall

When a mine has ore averaging 5% lead, 7% zinc, 0.60% copper, 1/4 oz gold, and 6 oz of silver, adequate reserves, power and water, easy access to market, and is situated in beautiful natural surroundings with the advantages of a big city within a few hours drive, there is little left to be desired. Such a mine is the Mayflower mine of the New Park Mining Co. situated 30 miles from Salt Lake City in the Wasatch Mountains near Keetley, Utah.

Jan 1, 1949

Erwin S. SperRy, Bridgeport, Conn.: The analysis of refined copper is a subject of great importance, and has not received the attention it deserves. Copper metallurgists, therefore, will welcome the paper of Mr. Heath with satisfaction. The state of the art of the chemical analysis of copper has been such that consumers, if they could not afford to run any risk, have been obliged to buy copper from the smelter having the best reputation, and a specification for copper to meet certain requirements could not be drawn up by the mere giving of the chemical constituents. Mr. Heath has brought the analysis of the copper to such a state that when a specification calls for copper " equal to Lake copper " one will know immediately what percentage of the pure metal to expect. It seems to be a pretty well established fact that the copper of Lake Superior is practically free from antimony and bitmuth ; and, with the exception of arsenic, the other elements are easily separated from copper by electro-deposition in an acid solution. The authorities differ in regard to the question whether antimony is deposited with the copper in an acid solution. Classen* recommends the employment of a solution containing 10 per cent. of free nitric acid, sp.gr.1.21, and the strength of the current from 0.3 to 0.4 ampere, in order to prevent the other metals from being deposited with the copper; and for this reason, I presume, the method has been generally used. I, myself, have been accustomed to use such a solution for the analysis of copper-alloys, but have found that for such alloys only a small quantity of nitric acid is necessary, if sulphuric acid is present in sufficient amount to give the solution the required conductivity.

Jan 1, 1898

By Jack Washburn, E. R. Parker

Kinking in zinc single-crystal tension specimens was observed under conditions of low stress and high temperature. Kinking is discussed in relation to other plastic bending phenomena on the basis of dislocation theory. Experiments on the stress-induced motion of small angle boundaries are reported. KINKING was first reported by Orowan1 as a new deformation mechanism. He observed the phenomenon in cadmium single crystals loaded in compression. Glide lamellae in a local region of the rod were observed to snap over suddenly to a tilted position, resulting in a sudden shortening of the specimen. Between the tilted portion and the rest of the crystal there were fairly sharp boundaries, with the slip plane assuming approximately mirror image positions on opposite sides of these boundaries. Orowan considered the boundaries to be regions where dislocations had concentrated. Hess and Barrett' observed the formation of kinks in critically oriented zinc compression specimens. It was found that the sudden snapping over of the tilted region was not an essential part of the kinking phenomenon but rather was associated with the method of loading. Kinking was explained on the basis of the accepted mechanisms of slip and flexural glide. It was also suggested that a kink can be considered as a special type of deformation band. During a recent investigation of the effect of surface condition on creep of zinc single crystals," a similar phenomenon was observed in crystals which were loaded in tension. The specimens were 0.4 in. diam cylindrical rods with a free length of 4 in. between end connections. All of the crystals were tested at a constant load. adjusted to give an extension rate of approximately 0.05 pct per hr. Kinking, as shown in Fig. 1, occurred in some of the tests performed at temperatures above 200°C. Kinking was observed in specimens varying widely in initial orientation, scattering about a 45" angle between the slip plane and the specimen axis. The condition leading to kinking in tension appeared to be non-uniform distribution of flow along the gage length combined with the restraint imposed by the tensile load. At low temperatures and fast strain rates, the distribution of strain throughout the midsection of tension specimens was generally quite uniform; therefore, bend planes developed only near the ends as described by Miller.4 However, at high temperatures under creep conditions it was difficult to obtain specimens in which the distribution of flow was uniform. Some of the factors which may have caused differences in flow stress along the length of the crystals are: Nonuniform distribution of impurities, accidents of growth (lineage structure), slight bending or other damage during handling, surface conditions, and strain-aging characteristics due to dissolved nitrogen." Plastic flow, once started in a local region, often continued to a relatively large strain before other parts of the gage length became active. Under these conditions a series of kinks, such as those in Fig. 1, were produced. Fig. 2 illustrates how a nonuniform distribution of slip produces bending moments which- are responsible for kink formation. If no plastic bending were to occur while the rod extended by pure slip in two separate sections of the rod, it would assume a shape such as that in Fig. 2a. A specimen having this shape and being subjected to a tension load would have concentrations of stress at the concave surfaces C and lower than average stress would exist at the convex surfaces D. Therefore a bending moment is superimposed on the average stress in the regions between C and D. The positions of potential bend planes under these conditions are shown as dotted lines. Actually no such shape as Fig. 2a develops because plastic bending in the region C-D occurs simultaneously with pure slip in the intervening regions. The observed structure of a tension kink is indicated by Fig. 2b. Perhaps the best approach to an understanding of kinking as well as other related plastic bending phenomena, such as the bend planes discussed by Miller,' cell formation studied by Wood et al.,6 and polygonization,7 is consideration of the dislocation model of a bent lattice. Current theories of the slip process postulate generation or multiplication of dislocations at certain lattice imperfections. The mechanism proposed by Frank and Read8 results in continuous generation of concentric dislocation loops which spread out

Jan 1, 1953

By Oliver Bololes

UNDER the able leadership of Samuel H. Dolbear, the Committee on Nonmetallic Minerals furnished a program of sixteen papers comprising three sessions. An outstanding accomplishment in technology presented at the first session by Benjamin L. Miller and C. H. Breerwood is the application of flotation to the purification of limestone used in cement manufacture. In place of selective quarrying to provide high-grade raw material, the quarry-run stone is pulverized and treated in froth flotation cells for removal of free silica and mica. Some advantages are cheaper quarrying, more complete utilization of quarry rock, avoidance of purchasing high calcium stone, lower fuel cost and improvement in the finished cement. Paul M. Tyler presented the general subject of milling methods as applied to nonmetal lies. He pointed out the importance of some of the more recent refinements in ore dressing, and urged the need of a wider appreciation of their possibilities. The gypsum industry of Canada was described by L. H. Cole. Crystal growth during the setting process was illustrated by moving pictures. The Coastal Plain and interior salt

Jan 1, 1935

By K. Barron

The glass insert stressmeter, or photoelastic stressmeter, is an instrument designed to determine stress changes occurring in rocks. It has several potential advantages over other such devices in that it is a biaxial device, it is simple and it is cheap to make. The object of this study was to assess the behaviour of the meter under biaxial loads and to examine some of the problems associated with measurement and interpretation of the fringe pattern. This assessment has been carried out by comparing theoretical and laboratory behaviour of the meter. It has been shown that: a) There are certain optimum measuring points in the meter at which measurements should be made for best accuracy. The position of the points depends on the ratio, n, of the biaxial stresses. b) The meter&apos;s sensitivity can be assumed to be independent of the rock modulus E provided that the rock modulus is < 2.5 x 106 psi and not, as previous workers have assumed, if E < 5 x 106 psi. c) There are several methods of separating the principal stresses; some of these are unsatisfactory. A new method is proposed and discussed. d) The meter sensitivity decreases as the ratio of the biaxial stresses approaches unity; the accuracy thus also decreases. e) The axes of symmetry of the fringe pattern give an excellent indication of applied stress direction. f) Laboratory calibrations are in good agreement with theory. The glass insert or photoelastic stressmeter is an instrument designed to determine stress changes occurring in rocks. It has several potential advantages over other such devices in that it is a biaxial device, it is simple and it is cheap to make. This stressmeter has been described in detail.l,2 Basically it is a hollow glass cylinder that has at one end a light source and filters producing circularly polarized light. The glass cylinder and source are grouted into a borehole in rock and the face of the cylinder is viewed through a quarter wave plate and an analyser. If, after installation, a stress change occurs in the rock, then a distinct colored isochro-matic fringe pattern is seen in the meter. The fringe order at any point in the meter can be determined by counting the fringes and measuring the fractional fringe orders by the Tardy compensation method. The relation between the fringe order at any point and the applied stress change can be determined either by calculation or by calibration. The object of this study was to assess the behavior of this stressmeter under biaxial loading conditions and to examine some of the problems of interpretation of the fringe pattern. THEORY Hiramatsu et a14 have determined the stress distribution in a hollow cylindrical inclusion in an elastic host material when subject to uniaxial stress. Using this solution, the biaxial case of stress p in the x direction and stress q in the y direction (Fig. 1) can be solved by superposition. This has been done in Appendix 1. It is shown that the principal stress difference (s1 -s2) at any point (r,?) in the cylinder is given by:

Jan 1, 1965

By D. M. McFarland

IN mining, quarrying, and construction, drilling and blasting have an important influence on the operations that follow. If the fragmentation of material being disrupted is inadequate, loading and transportation equipment will not operate at or near full capacity. Any operator faced with this difficulty should not be satisfied until he is convinced by a careful study of his methods of drilling and blasting that no improvement can be made. Rock in a certain quarry in Ohio seemed to defy any grade of explosive or means of detonation that the explosives industry had to offer. The average result of a blast was that a great part of the burden would be pushed out from the face in a number of large sections that would jokingly be referred to as "boxcars." These were no credit to the explosives man and a costly problem for the quarry company. Such blocks retard shovel operation as they have to be uncovered and subjected to secondary drilling and blasting which, if extensive, is an expensive operation. It was an attempt to improve the fragmentation obtained in primary blasts that led to the development of milli-second-delay electric blasting caps. The reasoning that prompted the trial was that even with wide spacing of the drill holes it seemed that the burden was separated too quickly from the face by the cutting action of the explosives from hole to hole. If the time of firing of the holes could be regulated so that

Jan 1, 1948

By S. A. Mersol, C. T. Lynch, F. W. Vahldiek

The microhardness of single crystals of tungsten disilicide has been investigated by the Knoop method. The average random room-temperature hardness of the WSi, matrix was 1350 kg per sq mm. Hardness crnisotropy was noted with respect to plane and indenter orientation as determined by single-crq.stal X-rny studies. Annealing at 1600" and 1800°C decreased the average hardness to 1310 and 1230 kg per sq tnm, respectively, and produced a second phase identified by X-ray diffraction and electron-microprobe analysis to be wSio.7. Ball-impact experiwzents produced rosettes at 850°C. Optical and electron microscopy showed evidence of slip and cross slip and twinning produced by microhardness indentations. Prismatic (100), [001] slip was found and cor~elated with hardness data. THE present study was undertaken to investigate the hardness anisotropy of as-grown and annealed single crystals of tungsten disilicide. The existence of the silicide WSiz in the W-Si system has been well-established and its structure thoroughly investigated zachariasen2 found WSi, to have a tetragonal C type of structure, similar to that of MoSi, with lattice parameters a = 3.212A, Kieffer et al. studied the W-Si system and measured the density and microhardness (at a 100-g load) of both polycrystalline WSi, and WSi,.,. The values found were 9.25 g per cu cm and 1090 kg per sq mm for WSi,, and 12.21 per cu cm and 770 kg per sq mm for WSi0.7, respectively. According to Samsonov et a1.5 the microhardness of polycrystalline WSi2 is 1430 kg per sq mm (at a 120-g load). EXPERIMENTAL The WSi, single-crystal boules investigated in this paper were grown by a Verneuil-type process using an electric arc by the Linde Division of the Union Carbide Corp.6 The largest specimens were 8 mm in diameter by 16 mm long. The crystals had an average density of 9.01 g per cu cm with a tungsten • silicon content of 99.9 wt pct. The major impurities were: 87 ppm O, 41 ppm N. 54 pprn C, 500 ppm Zr, 50 ppm Na, and 50 ppm Mn. The crystals were silicon-poor, the average silicon content being 22.20 pct (stoichiometric value is 23.40 pct), and tungsten-rich, the average tungsten content being 77.70 pct (stoichiometric value is 76.60 pct). As-received single crystals were ground and analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction technique using Cu Ka radiation. Laue and layer line rotation patterns were obtained on cleaved sections of WSi, single crystals. Electron-microprobe traverses of representative crystals were done using a Phillips-AMR electron microanalyzer. Carbon replicas were used to prepare electron micrographs. This work was done with a JEM-6A electron microscope. Prior to the metallographic examination, the specimens were mounted in Lucite and then polished for short times on polishing wheels using 9-, 3-, and 1-p diamond-grade pastes. Finally they were fine-polished with Linde A powder for 24 hr on a Syntron vibratory polisher. The samples were etched with 4H 2 O:1HF:2HNO3, which is a medium fast-acting etchant. The combination 1HF:2HNO3:5 lactic acid is also a satisfactory etchant. Annealing runs for selected specimens were made at 1600" and 1800°C for 3 hr at 1.0 to 3.0 x 10-5 mm Hg. A Brew tantalum resistance furnace with WSi2 powder for setters was used. The WSi2 powder was the same as that used for the crystal growth. Temperatures were measured with a calibrated W, W-26 pct Re thermocouple and a microoptical pyrometer. Powder X-ray diffraction, emission spectrographic, and electron-microprobe analyses were done after the annealing runs. For microhardness measurements a Tukon Microhardness Tester Type FB with a Knoop indenter was used. Although measurements were taken at loads ranging from 25 to 1000 g, the 100-g load was chosen as the standard load. All measurements were taken at room temperature. Only indentations of cracking classes 1 and 2 were considered.&apos; DISCUSSION OF RESULTS Powder X-ray diffraction analysis showed the as-received crystals to be single-phase WSi2. Laue and layer line rotation patterns obtained on cleaved sections of WSi2 single crystals proved them to be tetragonal WS 2 2 The results also indicated that the c axis of the crystal was oriented parallel to the boule or growth axis. Electron-microprobe traverses across the matrix of the as-grown crystals showed them to be homogeneous WSi,. Optical and electron microscopy of etched crystals, however, revealed that they contained minute amounts of the "golden" and the "blue" second phases as opposed to the "white" or WSi2 phase. These two second phases were concentrated in inclusion and etch-pit

Jan 1, 1965

Jan 1, 1952

By J. F. Wilson

An experimental investigation has been made of gas-driven slug displacements in a system of high gas saturation to evaluate the process for use in a California reservoir. Fluid compositions, temperature, pressure and core permeability duplicated reservoir conditions as closely as possible. The temperature was above the critical of the slug materials. The slug composition required for 100 per cent oil recovery in the linear flow systems was found to agree with that determined from equilibrium phase studies. A qualitative theory for the slug displacement of two-phase systems is proposed and found to be in general agreement with the observed flow behavior. The theory predicts that the length of the reservoir fluid-slug transition Zone will increase with increased initial gas saturation and decrease with increased oil swelling accompanying the composition change from reservoir oil to the critical composition. The precipitation of small amounts of an asphaltic phase during the formation of the transition zone had no adverse effects on the flow behavior of otherwise miscible systems. INTRODUCTION Despite the large number of recent publications relating to oil recovery by miscible displacement, little information is available concerning the behavior of crude oil-natural gas systems at conditions likely to be encountered in field application. The laboratory data reported here were obtained during an investigation of the possibility of using a gas-driven LPG slug in a partially depleted California reservoir. Seven gas-driven slug displacements employing slugs of different compositions and sizes were made in 26- to 27-ft long sandstone cores. The equilibrium phase behavior of the systems was also determined. The features of primary interest in this study are the following. 1. Data were obtained on the displacement of reservoir fluids at reservoir conditions. 2. A high gas saturation existed in the long cores at the start of the displacements. 3. The temperature of the studies was above the critical of the slug materials. 4. A comparison between the flow behavior and equilibrium phase behavior, as illustrated by a pseudo-ternary phase diagram, is afforded for a system of considerable complexity. THEORY Phase Behavior The use of the pseudo-ternary phase diagram to illustrate the phase behavior in miscible displacements has been discussed by Clark, Schultz and Shearin. Sie-vert, Dew and Conley and Arnold, Stone and Luffel&apos; have presented both phase equilibrium and flow data for true ternary systems. For the true ternary, the application of the theory is straight-forward; for a reservoir system represented as a ternary, the theory undoubtedly gives a qualitatively correct picture. One purpose of this investigation was to see if the pseudo-ternary phase diagram could be used to predict with reasonable accuracy the conditions necessary for miscible displacements with actual reservoir systems. MiscIBLE Displacement of Two-Phase System A large number of papers "I3 have treated the miscible displacement of a single-phase fluid from both an experimental and a theoretical viewpoint. However, the normal field application of the process will be in a partially depleted reservoir. Often the state of the system will be such that the mobility of the gas phase is greater

Jan 1, 1950

By Russell G. Haworth

Three companies, United States Potash Company, Potash Company of America, and International Minerals and Chemical Corporation, are now operating potash mines and refineries in the Carlsbad, New Mexico, area. The three mines are located approximately twenty miles east of Carlsbad. The deposits have been found ideal for mechanized mining methods. This summary has been compiled from information made available by the three operating companies.

Jan 1, 1949

By E. P. Klier, S. M. Grymko

The transformations in eutectoidal systems have been extensively studied as they occur in steels.&apos; As a consequence of these studies the martensite, bainite and pearlite reactions found for most steels are widely recognized. Further, because of the work of Smith and Lindlief2 and of Greninger and Troiano3 these reactions, except for the bainite reaction, are considered as typical for all eutectoidal systems. The primary alloy studied by Smith and Lindlief2 was a CuAl alloy of near eutectoid composition as was the alloy more recently studied by Mack.4 The transformations in these alloys were, for the most part, studied metallo-graphically, while an X ray analysis of structures was essentially wanting. It has appeared desirable, therefore, to investigate selected CuAl alloys at and slightly away from eutectoid composition. For this purpose three alloys were prepared containing 10.5,11.9 and 13.5 pct A1 respectively. The results of a metallographic and X ray analysis of structures obtained for isothermal transformation of the ß-phase are reported here for the 11.9 and 13.5 pct A1 alloys. Introduction The phase equilibria in the CuAl alloys of immediate concern are indicated in the equilibrium diagram section presented in Fig 1.5 The equilibrium and transition structures which have been reported in this system are as follows: a = copper rich terminal phase (f.c.c.) ß = high temperature eutectoidal phase (b.c.c.) r2 = aluminum-rich intermediate phase (r-brass structure) a&apos; = modified a-phase postulated by Bollenrath and Bungnrdt.26 ß1 = ordered ß (b.c.c.) ß&apos; = martensite structure: A1 < 13 pct (near h.c.p.) ß" = ß&apos; of Smith and Lindlief2 7&apos; = martensite structure: A1 > 13.5 pct (h.c.p.); ß2 of Bollenrath and Bungardt.26 The eutectoid transformation can be suppressed at sufficiently high cooling velocities. The ß-phase is then retained to about 500°C where ordering sets in. The ordering interval is not satisfactorily known but indirectly appears to be non-suppressible. Subsequent to the ordering reaction and consequently at lower temperatures, the ordered ß1 decomposes to a marten-sitic structure. The kinetics of these reactions and in particular those of the martensite reaction have an important bearing on the results obtained in this investigation. Since some confusion exists concerning certain reported aspects of these reactions, they will be considered in some detail. THE MARTENSITE REACTION The martensitic structure is formed on cooling through a critical range6

Jan 1, 1950

By Mi Chung

T HE ore-dressing problem at Tul Mi Chung is complicated by the unusually complex nature of the ores. These come from replacement ore- bodies in limestone at the contact with a granite batholith, and contain copper, gold, silver, bismuth, molybdenum, iron, arsenic, zinc, and lead, the first two metals constituting the principal sources of profit. Iron is present as pyrite, magnetite, and hematite. Arsenic occurs both as mispickel and lollingite (FelAsa), the latter carrying a certain amount of finely divided gold. The gangue minerals are those typical of limestone con- tact-metamorphism and include a large percentage of garnet, together with diopside, serpentine, calcite, epidote, zoisite, actinolite, &apos;mica and other minerals. A part of the gold occurs in a free state; some is combined with chalcopyrite and lollingite, and a consider- able proportion is contained in the pyrite. Researches towards the improvement of recovery have been energetically conducted since 1915. Amalgamation, gravity concentrating tables, vanners, can- vas plants, etc., have all been tried and discarded in favor of flotation. It was very quickly established that fine grinding was essential for satisfactory recovery. This was and is still accomplished in Hardinge ball and pebble mills. A comparative test showed that when the ore was crushed to the point at which it contained 20 to 26 per cent. coarser than 100 mesh, the gold recovery was only 55.9 per cent., whereas when crushed so that only 11 to 15 per cent. was coarser than 100 mesh, the gold recovery was increased to 82.5 per cent. No particular difficulty was ever experienced in making a satisfactory recovery of copper but the losses in gold were considered serious and led to the investigation described in this paper.

Jan 1, 1924

By H. NORTON JOHNSON

THE oil industry in California during 1929 reached new heights and new depths in the discovery and development of the oil resources of the State. The discovery of new fields, and more especially the discovery and development of deeper prolific sands in known fields has, for the first time in its history, brought the potential production of completed wells within the State to over 1,000,000 bbl. oil per day. Constant improvement in equipment and technique has made possible economic development to depths unheard of but a few short years ago. Commercial production from a depth of over 4000 ft. was considered quite an accomplishment in 1923 when the Meyer sand at Santa Fe Springs was developed, and when later oil was successfully raised from this depth.

Jan 1, 1930

By C. D. Dolman

Since the outbreak of the war we have discovered in the united States minerals of which there was no general knowledge, and which compared very favorably with anything that could be found in any foreign country. One of these was magnesite, or the carbonate of magnesium as it occurs in nature. This mineral crystallizes in the rhombohedra1 form, has a specific gravity of 3.00, molecular weight of 84.4, molecular volume of 28.1, and a hardness of 3.5 to 4.5.1 Had it not been for the development of the California deposits of this mineral and the discovery of immense new deposits in Stevens County, Wash., the production of steel during the war would have been more seriously handicapped than it was. Now that the war is over, we face the possibility of competition with the cheap Austro-Hungarian magnesite; and while that may not be so cheap as it was before the war, adequate protection should be given the producers in this country to insure the full development of our own resources. The consumption of magnesite in the United States in 1913, the year preceding the war, was 172,591 tons of calcined and 22,872 tons of crude magnesite. Less than 3 per cent. of this amount was produced at home. At the present time, practically all of the magnesite used in the United States is produced at home. Expensive plants have been constructed, extensive exploration work done, and production pushed to the utmost to supply the necessary requirements of the war. Thus a considerable industry has been built up within our borders. Some magnesite has been imported from Canada and Mexico, but the Canadian ore was of an inferior grade and could not be used satisfactorily. During the year 1918, production decreased in both the United States and Canada; the production in the United States was 225,000 tons in 1918 as against 315,000 in 1917, and in Canada 39,365 tons in 1918 as against 58,090 in 1917. This decrease was mainly due to over-production during 1917, the domestic demand being only 300,000 tons. The material produced and sold in the United States must contain, in the crude form, not more than 3.5 per cent. silica and 2 per cent. lime;

Jan 1, 1920