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By H. Merton Ruth

THE northern anthracite fields, although facing the same economic problems as the southern fields, are confronted with the additional problem of fast dwindling reserves of anthracite which can be conventionally and economically won. The mining of coal which remains in thin beds and the recovery of pillars from areas heretofore considered unrecoverable, either by reason of cost or surface restriction, pose problems of in- creasing importance to the economic life of the northern field operations. Successful approaches have Been made to this problem and other work is being performed that holds promise. There exists in the northern anthracite field millions of tons of solid coal, the recovery of which has not been too successful due to the following inherent operating faults: inability to concentrate producing areas; the great quantities of rock to be cut and handled, lack of consideration of proper sequence and speed of second mining, and the continued use of the mine car as the basis of payment. A mining system that has successfully solved these major problems has been in operation in the Scranton area since 1944. Over 1% million tons have been produced from veins varying from 3 to 4% ft thick by this method, which is known as the multiple panel-triangular system-conveyor mining.

Jan 1, 1950

By Herbert Clark Hoover, Lou Henry Hoover

GEORGIUS AGRICOLA was not only the author of works on Mining and allied subjects, usually asso ciated with his name, but he also interested himself to some extent in political and religious subjects. For convenience in discussion we may, therefore, divide his writings on the broad lines of (1) works on mining, geology, mineralogy, and allied subjects; (2) works on other subjects, medical, religious, critical, political, and historical. In respect especially to the first division, and partially with regard to the others, we find three principal cases : (a) Works which can be authenticated in European libraries today ; (b) references to editions of these in bibliographies, catalogues, etc., which we have been unable to authenticate ; and (c) references to works either unpublished or lost. The following are the short titles of all of the published works which we have been able to find on the subjects allied to mining, arranged according to their present importance :-De Re Metallica, first edition, 1556; De Natura Fossilium, first edition, 15,46 ; De Ortu et Causis Subterraneorum, first edition, 1546; Bermannus, first edition, 1530 ; Rerum Metallicarum Interpretatio, first edition, 1546; De Mensuris et Ponderibus, first edition, 1533; De Precio Metallorum et Monetis, first edition, 1550 ; De Veteribus et Novis Metallis, first edition, 1546; De Natura eorum quae Effluunt ex Terra, first edition, 1546 ; De Animantibus Subterraneis, first edition, 1549. Of the " lost " or unpublished works, on which there is some evidence, the following are the most important:-De Metallicis et Machinis, De Ortu Metallorum Defensio ad Jacobum Scheckium, De Jure et Legibus Metallicis, De Varia Temperie sive Constitutione Aeris, De Terrae Motu, and Commentariorum, Libri VI. The known published works upon other subjects are as follows:-Latin Grammar, first edition, 1520; Two Religious Tracts, first edition, 1522; Galen (Joint Revision of Greek Text), first edition, 1525 ; De Bello adversus Turcam, first edition, 1528 ; De Peste, first edition, 1554. The lost or partially completed works on subjects unrelated to mining, of which some trace has been found, are:-De Medicatis Fontibus, De Putre¬dine solidas Partes, etc., Castigationes in Hippocratem, Typographia Mysnae et Toringiae, De Traditionibus Apostolicis, Oratio de rebus gestis Ernesti et Alberti, Ducum Saxoniae.

Jan 1, 1950

By James W. Malcolmson

This paper treats of the history and development of the Sierra Mojada mines in the north of Mexico, the character and extent of the ore-deposits, and the methods of mining the ore. The growth of the smelting industry in Mexico in recent years is, to a large degree, due directly to the output of the lead-bearing ores from the Sierra Mojada mines, and at the present time (1901) new smelters are being built, looking to this district for their supply of lead-ores. These mines are located in the southern part of the State of Coahuila, in the Republic of Mexico, in latitude 27 24' N. and longitude 103O 43' W. of Greenwich. The last account of the Sierra Mojada published in our transactions was contributed by Mr. Richard E. Chism, in October, 1886.* Since that time some 3,000,000 tons of ore have been extracted from the mines, and much additional information has been developed regarding the mineral deposits. Since 1886, the Mexican Northern railroad, 78 miles in length, has been built from Escalon, connecting the camp with the Mexican Central railway, a trunk-line from El Paso, Texas, to Mexico City. The distances by rail from Sierra Mojada to the principal smelting-centers are as follows : To Torreon, Coahuila, Mex., 179 miles; to Monterey, Nuevo Leon, Mex., 422 miles; to El Paso, Tex., U. S., 494 miles; to Aguas Calientes, A. C., Mex., 522 miles; to San Luis Potosi, 8. L. P., Mex., 644 miles; to Pueblo, Colorado, U. S., 1158 miles; to Argentine, Kans., U. S.,

Jan 1, 1902

By AIME AIME

APPARENTLY unperturbed by any misgiving as to ill luck connected with the mystic number thirteen -for there were exactly that number of Directors on deck-the Board held two sessions on Tuesday, Feb. 21. , . Between the executive session at 5:15 p. m. and the general session at 8:30 p. m., 28 Section and Division delegates were wests of the Directors at dinner. Committee chair- " men and past officers brought the attendance to 75. Messrs. McAuliffe, Merica, Mudd and Tally had expressed their intention to be at the Directors' meeting, but each was prevented unavoidably at the last minute. At the executive session of the Board, J. V. W. Reynders was unanimously chosen to fill the unexpired term of Dr. Becket as Director: and Eugene McAuliffe in like " manner was selected to become Vice-president to fill the vacancy created hy Dr. Becket's assumption of the Presidency. Upon nomination of President Becket the following Executive Committee was appointed: Frederick M. Becket, chairman; Howard N. Eavenson, H. A. Guess, J. V. W. Reynders and William Wraith; and the Finance Committee was appointed as follows: Henry Krumb, chairman; Paul D. Merica and H. G. Moulton. Karl Eilers was reelected Treasurer and A. B. Parsons was re- elected Secretary to serve for the ensuing year, whereupon the executive session was adjourned.

Jan 1, 1933

By Robert C. Temps

The history of iron ore milling in Chile can be divided into two periods: the first, which lasted about 40 years, ended in 1952 and the second continues today. During the first period, Bethlehem Chile Iron Mines Co. was the sole shipper and El Tofo, the only mine. That situation was forever altered in 1952 when several small independent companies began to sell ore. The success of these companies triggered programs of exploration which can only be described as a "boom" during the past five years.

Jan 1, 1963

By CYRIL W., William Campbell, Henry M. Howe

THIS paper gives the results of an investigation of the behavior of the argentiferous cobalt-nickel arsenides of Temiskaming, Ontario, in roasting, made in the metallurgical laboratories of the School of Mines, of Columbia University in the City of New York. The ore was kindly given by the owners of the La Rose and Trethewey properties at Cobalt, Ontario, and Mr. E. J. Hall, Tutor in Assaying in Columbia University, has helped us much. I. OBJECT OF THE INVESTIGATION. The object of the investigation was to learn:- 1. The temperature at which the arsenic is most rapidly expelled; 2. The thoroughness with which it is expelled by prolonged roasting at this temperature; 3. The effect of adding charcoal (a) near the end of the roast and (b) at the beginning of the roast. II. NATURE OF THE ORE. The important ores mined in the Temiskaming deposits are native silver-with small amounts of dyscrasite (Ag6 Sb), argentite (Ag2S), pyrargyrite (Ag3SbS3)-smaltite (CoAs2), chloanthite (NiAs2) and niccolite (NiAs). Mispickel (FeAsS) and cobaltite (CoAsS) also occur in smaller quantities. The average composition of the ore shipped from this district for the first six months of 1905 -was: silver, from 4.1 to 4.8 per cent.; cobalt, from 6.9 to 8.2 per cent ; nickel, from 3 to 4.7 per cent ; and arsenic, from 30.9 to 34.6 per cent. The ore which we treated consists chiefly of smaltite ; In our laboratory-work

Jan 1, 1907

By F. H. Gilpin

SINCE Noah pitched his ark within and without with pitch, the use of asphalt in human endeavor has been increasing-for Noah's pitch was asphalt. Asphalt is a bituminous material found in nature, either pure or admixed with smaller or greater quanti-ties of mineral and non-mineral materials, or obtained by the refining of crude asphaltic-base petroleum under proper methods of control. Native or "natural" asphalts are scattered through-out the world, though the commercial value of the various deposits varies greatly, depending upon both their accessibility and magnitude and the quality of the material found. It is an acknowledged fact that such asphalts have been produced through natural causes by practically the same application of tempera-ture and pressure as are used in the modern refining of crude asphaltic-base petroleum. The best known of all the native asphalt deposits are those of Trinidad Lake in the Island of Trinidad, British West Indies, and of Bermudez Lake in Vene-zuela. Asphalt from Trinidad Lake, after refining to remove organic and some inorganic diluents, contains approximately 35 per cent, of inorganic residue, and the asphalt thus produced must be fluxed with lighter asphaltic or semi-asphaltic base oil to make it com-mercially utilizable. The refined asphalt obtained from the Bermudez Lake deposit contains from 4 to 6 per cent. of inorganic material which cannot be removed. This asphalt, also, must be fluxed to produce com-mercial products. Small quantities of similar materials are available in other locations. The best pure native asphalt' is known as. gilsonite and is mined in com-mercial quantities in the State of Utah. In numerous places in the United States, particularly Oklahoma and Kentucky, there are deposits of sand¬stone and limestone impregnated with bitumen, which are known as rock asphalts. These rock asphalts may be used, particularly in the paving industry, either as found or by slight fluxing; from some deposits the asphalt is extracted and marketed commercially.

Jan 2, 1923

By Earl R. Parker, Ralph Hultgren

DURING the past year publications in physical metallurgy have not been abundant when compared with the output of prewar years. Nevertheless, some noteworthy contributions have been made to the literature. Because of the necessity for war production, much of the metallurgical effort has been directed towards the solution of problems of production processes. The limited amount of time devoted to other problems is reflected in the small number of papers devoted to nonapplied research, though a few excellent contributions have been made to the fundamentals as will become evident in the following pages. Results of many of the government-sponsored research investigations have been released to the public and are being published in the technical journals. Many more of these papers may be expected to appear in the 1946 publications.. Public distribution of information obtained in the course of these investigations should be of great value to American industries in the postwar era. Continued activity in research of all kinds is apparently assured because of intense

Jan 1, 1946

B. S. and E. M. from the School of Mines at Socorro, New Mexico, in May, 1912. Immediately after graduating, he began as a practical miner in the U. S. mines at Bingham, Utah, but in November, 1912, he entered the operating department of the Chino Copper Co.'s concentrator at Hurley, New Mexico, where he stayed until July, 1913. During the latter half of 1913, he was employed as chemist in the laboratory of the El Paso smelter, at El Paso, Texas. In December, 1913, he became engineer and geologist with the Empire Zinc Co., at Socorro, New Mexico, which position he held at the time of his admission to the Institute in 1914, and until he entered the army in June, 1918. Before beginning the study of mining, Mr. Ringlund had completed a course in pharmacy, which accounts for his enlisting in the Medical Corps. Lieutenant George Roper, Jr. George Roper, Jr., a Junior Member of the Institute, was killed in an aeroplane accident near Shotwich, England, on Play 25, 1918. He was born at Steubenville, Ohio, in 1893, and at the time of his admi~sion to the Institute in 1916 was a student in mining and metallurgy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, Mass., from which he received the degree of S. B. in June, 1917. In August, 1917, he enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps, and after preliminary training on this side of the water, was sent to England. He was making the final cross-country flight of his course of training when the accident occurred.

Jan 1, 1920

The following is a 'partial list of members and guests who called at Institute headquarters during the period Oct. 10, 1917, to Nov. 10, 1917. Edwin T. Blake, Berkeley, Cal. Alfred C. Lane, Tufts College, Mass. H. M. Boylston, Cambridge, Mass. W. G. Matteson, Houston, Texas. W. B. Cogswell, Syracuse, N. Y. E. Francis M'Crossin, Birmingham, Ala. Paul R. Cook, Zaruma, Ecuador. R. E. Murray, Butte, Mont. F. W. DeWolf, Washington, D. C. Edmund Newton, Minneapolis, Minn. A. Faison Dixon, Venezuela. J. J. Ormsbee, El Paso, Texas. W. H. Dufur,, Oil City, Pa. Pablo Ortega, Havana, Cuba. Maxwell E. Erdofy, Lieut. Engr. Officers'. W. E. Pomeroy, El Paso, Texas Reserve Corps, New York. J. C. Ralston, Spokane, Wash. Evan Fraser-Campbell, Scotland. W. L. Remick, Chrome, N. J. David B. Gemmill, Crown King, Ariz. Howard D. Smith, San Francisco, Cal. F. Lynwood Garrison, Philadelphia, Pa. Harold C. E. Spence, Steeple Rock, N. M. C. J. Hall, Spassky, Siberia. R. K. Stockwell, Salt Lake City, Utah. H. Hamada, Tokyo, Japan. Maurice W. Summerhayes, Timmins, Rush M. Hess, Bouse, Ariz. Ont., Canada. A. Howard Higgin, London, England Malcolm M. Thompson, Morsemere; N. J. A. O. Ihlseng, Joplin, Mo. Nicholas Truschkoff, Petrograd, Russia. T. Ishikawa, Japan. H. J. Wendler, Los Angeles, Cal. C. H. James, Tucson, Ariz. Ira T. Wright, Hurley, N. M. R. R. Landon, Philippine Islands. C. Yabe, Japan. Robert W. Bissell has now become associated with Gunn, Richards & Co., of New York, N. Y. Major Reginald W. Brock is giving a course in a school for commanding officers in England.

Jan 12, 1917

By Arthur L. Crawford

PLAGER gold is perhaps the most difficult of the common mineral deposits to evaluate. Not only are the erratic pay streaks a source of never-ending uncertainty, but the spotty distribution of the gold in iso¬lated nuggets is a perpetual source of error and disappointment to the sampler. Experienced engineers have long realized this difficulty and have been wary in predicting assay values except in the most general terms, and then only after extensive and usually expensive sampling. During the past year I have had the opportunity of checking a number of gold placers, and from the results obtained I believe that the microscope may be employed to advantage in placer sampling.

Jan 1, 1933

Secretary's Note.—M. Beutter's introductory remarks, being simply a resume of Prof. Hone's paper, with a disclaimer of the intention to criticise it, have been omitted, and the remainder of this contribution lias been somewhat condensed, without omitting any essential statements. M. Beutter, St. Etienne, France* (communication to the Secretary†):—Professor Home observes in $ 47 of his paper that the fluid-compression of steel diminishes piping by forcing the liquid and viscous metal, while the pipe is forming, or after it has formed, into the space so produced, and proceeds to study the different systems of compression, alluding to the four principal ones: Whitworth, Illingmorth, Williams, and Harmet. Having now for many years had in use the last-named process, that of M. Henri Harmet, I shall attempt to explain the difference between it and the three other processes named. The Harmet process does not diminish or close the pipe after it has formed, but prevents it from forming; and I may add that it is the only one of the four which produces this result. It is true that the Whitworth process diminishes the interior hollow by localizing it around the central axis of the ingot, which is afterwards removed by trepanning the hollow forg-ings for which this process has been, I believe, always exclusively used. The Illingworth and Williams processes, which, in my opinion, are applicable only to small ingots, of necessity allow the pipe to form, or (to use the expression of Professor Howe) they allow the surface of the lake of liquid steel to sink into the interior of the ingot, since they involve waiting a certain time before compression, so that (in the case of the Williams process) the ingot-mold can be opened without danger, or (in the case of the Illingworth process) so as to avoid the risk that the steel may enter the grooves produced by the removal of the distance-bars. During the time required for

Jan 1, 1908

For the year ending February, 1923 PRESIDENT ARTHUR S. DWIGHT, District 0 NEW YORK, N. Y. PAST PRESIDENTS HERBERT HOOVER, District 4 WASHINGTON, D. C. EDWIN LUDLOW, District 0 NEW YORK, N. Y. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT J. V. W. REYNDERS NEW YORK, N. Y. TREASURER CHARLES F. RAND NEW YORK, N. Y. SECRETARY FREDERICK F. SHARPLESS,. . . . . NEW YORK, N. Y. ASSISTANT SECRETARY PERCY E. BARBOUR NEW YORK, N. Y.

Jan 7, 1922

By A. L. Slaughter

The Homestake mine, located in western South Dakota, was discovered in 1876. The first reported production was in I 878. Total production through 1965 is 6,554,249 troy ounces of silver and 27,961,276 troy ounces of gold, worth $987,000,000 at present prices. Precambrian sedimentary formations at Lead total 20,000 feet. The Poorman Formation, the oldest, is chiefly ankerite carbonate. The Homestake Formation is iron-magnesium carbonate. The younger formations are argillaceous with some quartzites. The Cambrian Deadwood Formation unconformably overlies the Precambrian. All are cut by Tertiary intrusives. Sideroplesite schist of the Homestake Formation was converted to cummingtonite schist in the zones of higher-grade metamorphism. The Precambrian rocks show the effects of extreme isoclinal folding. A second stage of folding ( cross folds) may have been caused by the Tertiary intrusives. All folds plunge to the southeast. The Homestake ore bodies are pipe-like replacements of the Homestake Formation in zones of cross folding. It is believed that dilatation of the schists has increased permeability in these zones. Chloritization of the schists is the most widespread effect of the mineralization which is divided into four stages. Principal minerals of the first stage are quartz, chlorite, and arsenopyrite; in the second stage, quartz, ankerite, and pyrrhotite. In the third stage only pyrrhotite was deposited. The fourth stage followed the intrusions of Tertiary dikes and deposited mostly pyrite and calcite. Gold accompanies all stages and is always the last mineral to be deposited. It is most closely associated with arsenopyrite of the first stage but can be interpreted as having been deposited during the fourth stage and superimposed on the products of the earlier stages.

Jan 1, 1968

By Spencer S. Shannon

This chapter is concerned with the uses, geology, exploration, evaluation, preparation for markets, and future of 90thorium and 39yttrium, along with 14 rare-earth elements. The rare-earth metals or lanthanides were divided into three categories by Berzelius. The cerium subgroup is comprised of 57lanthanum, 58cerium, 59praseodymium, 60neodymium, and 62samarium. 61Promethium does not occur naturally. The terbium subgroup includes 63europium, 64gadolinium, and 65terbium. The remaining lanthanides are placed in the yttrium subgroup. Strictly speaking, yttrium is not a rare earth. Because the properties of yttrium resemble those of heavy rare earths, its name has been used as a designating adjective. The yttrium subgroup includes 66dysprosium, 67holmium, 68erbium, 69thulium, 70ytterbium, and 67lutetium. Rare-earth elements, especially those of the same subgroup, tend to occur together rather than in discrete minerals.

Jan 1, 1975

By H. C. Gatos, J. T. A. Pollock, V. Sadagopan

PREVIOUS investigations on the effect of neutron irradiation on the superconducting properties of bulk transition metals indicated that little or no change occurred in poly crystalline disordered materials, particularly if cold-worked prior to irradiation. Only the superconducting properties of ordered intermetal-lic A15 compounds were found to be sensitive to irradiation, and the observed reduction in Tc and increased magnetic hysteresis or critical current densities were attributed to the introduction of flux pinning vacancy clusters and disorder in the lattice. Since the former would also be expected to be present after irradiation in disordered alloys, the general conclusion was that the disordering effect of the irradiation was the primary reason for the changes observed. The present note reports some unusual effects of neutron irradiation on cold worked Nb(Cb)-Ti-V alloys. Specimens with nominal composition as given in Table I were prepared by repeated arc melting, taking the usual precautions, and homogenized at 1000°C for 24 hr prior to a reduction of 15:l by cold rolling. Samples of size 1 by 1 by 25 mm were sliced from the rolled strips. The sarmples chosen for irradiating were sealed in a cadmium tube (wall thickness 1 mm) prior to exposure in a fast neutron flux of 3.7 x 1019 neutrons per sq cm in the swimming pool reactor of Union Carbide Corporation&apos;s Sterling Forest Reactor. During irradiation the temperature of the samples was maintained below 70°C. The irradiated samples were stored at room temperature for approximately 1 year allowing the radiation levels to reach a safe handling value. Tc measurements were made employing a self-inductance coil technique. Jc data at 4.2"Kwere obtained using a four lead resistivity method. The latter measurements were made at the Francis Bitter National Magnet Laboratory by setting the perpendicularly applied field and increasing the direct current through the sample until a potential of about 10-6 v was detected. Tc values for the nonirradiated samples are listed in Table I together with the change in Tc after irradiation. A decrease in Tc of 0.25 or 0.3"K was measured for three of the four samples, the exception being the Nb-30 at. pct V-20 at. pct Ti alloy which showed a decrease of 0.5K. Jc vs applied field data are plotted in Fig. 1 for the Nb-20 at. pct V-30 at. pct Ti alloy. These curves are typical of the four alloys and surprisingly indicate that a degradation occurred in all the samples after irradiation. Hc2 values, obtained by extrapolation to zero current, are 8 to 15 pct lower than those measured for the nonirradiated specimens. The reasons for the degradation of Tc and jc ob-served in the alloys on exposure to neutron irradiation are not immediately apparent. The temperature at which the samples were maintained during bombardment (<70°C) and stored (20°C) make it highly unlikely that any significant change in the dislocation density of the materials through thermally activated migration and annihilation would occur. The explanation must lie in the type of damage produced by the bombardment. McEvoy et a1. reported no change in superconduct-

Jan 1, 1970

By M. Cohen, C. Wagner, J. E. Reynolds

If the total volume of a diffusion couple changes during the diffusion, the measurement of distance becomes ambiguous. Use of distance parameters as suggested by Hartley and Crank is discussed. For small concentration differences, the standard form of Fick&apos;s second law is retained with conventional length units and the in- terdiffusion coefficient D. It is shown how D can be calculated from experiments involving large concentration differences and analyzed in terms of distance parameters. &apos;The merits of incremental diffusion couples involving small concentration differences are emphasized. THE conventional form of Fick&apos;s second law for one-dimensional diffusion of component B in a binary solution of A and B is where c, is the concentration of component B; x, the distance; t, the time; and D, the interdiffusion coefficient which may depend on ca. Hartley and Crank&apos; have pointed out that Eq. 1 applies only if the total volume of the diffusion couple does not change during the diffusion process; otherwise, the definition of x becomes ambiguous. No change in total volume takes place if the specific volume of the solution is a linear function of the weight fraction Wb, or if the molar volume is a linear function of the mol fraction N. In some alloys, however, these relationships do not hold, and then it is necessary to introduce a modified measure of distance, 4 in order to retain the general form of Eq. 1. The application of Hartley and Crank&apos;s suggestions to diffusion in alloys has been discussed by Wagner.&apos; Relation Between Measure of Distance and Units of Concentration The definition of [ depends on the choice of units for the concentration c,, as follows: 1—If the concentration ca is measured as the weight fraction W, (or weight percent), [ = 5, has to be defined so that equal increments of contain equal increments of mass m of the solution, e.g., dm = pSdx = Sdw [2] where p is the local density of the solution, and S is the cross-sectional area in sq cm which is taken to be constant in this problem of one-dimensional diffusion." * da Silva and Mehla have demonstrated the constancy of the cross-sectional area in the usual type of diffusion couple. However, experiments involving diffusion into thin wires4, 5 may exhibit changes in cross-sectional area, and therefore are excluded from the present treatment. Thus and the unit of is gram per sq cm instead of cm. 2—If the concentration c, is the mol fraction N, must be defined so that equal increments of contain equal numbers of mols of solution, e.g., dn= (S/V)dx= Sd [41 where V is the local molar volume of the solution. Thus dt, = dx/V [51 and the unit of is mols per sq cm. 3—If, as may be advisable in the case of interstitial solutions, the concentration C is measured in terms of the molar ratio of components B and A (c,, = Y, = nH/nA, where n and nl are numbers of mols of B and A), = Y has to be defined so that equal increments of contain equal numbers of mols of A, e.g., dnA= (NAS/V)dx = Sdf [6]

Jan 1, 1954

By T. D. Jones

MUCH the same story can be told for the lead industry for the year 1945 as for the three previous years. In response to inquiries as to new developments, invariably the answer has been, "No new developments-our men either too busy with the man-power problem or trying to get production out." Time and efforts of industry have been concentrated for the most part on war or readjustment problems. Now that V-E and V-1 day have passed, the lead industry can justly be proud of its record in World War II. As in previous wars, lead played an important role and one of its most spectacular uses was in the production of the atomic bomb. We read that the part lead played was rather obscure, but as a protective agent, lead played a most significant role. "Since the materials in the Pile Plant are intensely radioactive, all storage and handling must be done behind thick concrete walls or lead shields. The material is never seen and all operations are auto matically controlled by a foolproof remote control system especially designed for this purpose." (Chews. & Met., Sept. 1945.) When our armies invaded the European theater of war and made a landing on Normandy beach, gasoline and oil for the motive power were furnished through miles of armored lead pipe. This amaz-

Jan 1, 1946

By Joseph A. Holmes

I. INTRODUCTORY. THE plans for the investigation of fuels and structural materials now being conducted by the Technologic Branch of the United States Geological Survey were, before being decided upon by the Director of the Survey, submitted for consideration to the National Advisory Board, upon which there are nine representatives from the membership of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, viz.: Messrs. John Hays Hammond, Robert W. Hunt, B. F. Bush, and E. V. d&apos;Invilliers (representing the Institute); Messrs. Julian Kennedy and C. S. Robinson (representing the Iron and Steel Institute); Dr. Charles B. Dudley (representing the American Society for Testing Materials); Mr. F. H. Newell (representing the U. S. Reclamation Service); and Dr. Richard Moldenke (representing the American Foundrymen&apos;s Association). It seems fitting, therefore, that a report of these investigations of the past three years should be submitted to the Institute for publication in its Transactions. The above, together with other representatives of the national engineering societies and allied organizations, were invited by President Roosevelt to serve, along with the Chiefs of the several Government Bureaus who have charge of public works and large. fuel purchases, on the National Advisory Board to give advice concerning these investigations. The appointment of this National Board grew out of a wish on the part of the President, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Director of the Geological Survey not only that the appropriations for these investigations be expended in a manner most beneficial to the several branches of the government

Jan 7, 1908

In the past few years the hydraulic aspects of rotary drilling have received considerable attention. It is generally recognized that accurate prediction of circulating pressures is desirable, particularly in those areas where a delicate pressure balance is necessary to prevent both blowouts and lost circulation. For calculation purposes the standard hydraulic equations for the pipeline flow of Newtonian fluids have been altered to facilitate similar calculations for non-Newtonian or plastic fluids.&apos;.&apos; This latter classification includes most colloidal types of drilling muds. Two properties: plastic viscosity, un, and Bingharn yield value, Y,, are commonly used to define the flow characteristics of a plastic fluid. These are commonly obtained with multispeed viscosimeters such as the Fann V-G meter.3 Normally these measurements are obtained at some surface temperature, and are not corrected to circulating temperatures for calculation purposes. This may result in considerable error, particularly in the laminar flow calculations which comnlonly apply to the drill pipe-borehole annulus. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of temperature on the flow properties of some water-base muds. A laboratory model Fann V-G meter was used for measurement of viscosities, yield values and gel strengths. An aluminum water jacket with O-ring seals was machined to fit around the mud cup of the Fann meter. All mud samples were prepared by thorough mixing in a Hobart mixer. Viscosity and gel strength measurements were made with the Fann meter using standard procedures. Flow properties of muds were studied at 80, 120, 160 and 180°F. The compositions of the test samples are given in Table 1. The typical effect of temperature on the flow properties of these drilling muds is illustrated by Fig. 1. It was found that plastic viscosity and apparent viscosity decreased with an increase of temperature. However, the curves were not linear, and did not appear to follow any definite trends or patterns. Yield point data showed much more scattering.&apos; Since a usable method for predicting drilling mud flow behavior with temperature was desired, an attempt was made to find a simple relationship between these variables. The basic approach used by Havenaars for predicting the same effect on turbulent viscosity resulted in Fig. 2, which shows that