Search Documents

By John W. Roberts

The Federal income tax law permits as a deduction in determining net income "in the case of mines,... a reasonable allowance for depletion and for depreciation of improvements, according to the peculiar conditions in each case, based upon cost, including cost of development not otherwise deducted: Provided, that in the case of such properties acquired prior to Mar. 1, 1913, the fair market value of the property (or the taxpayer's interest therein) on that date shall be taken in lieu of cost up to that date." The law provides for a reasonable allowance but the regulations provide for a definite method of computation that possesses more the virtue of simplicity than that of reasonableness. Article 210 of Regulations 45 reads: "When the cost or value as of Mar. 1, 1913, or within 30 days after the date of discovery of the property shall have been determined, and the number of mineral units in the property as of the date of acquisition or valuation shall have been estimated, the division of the former amount by the latter figure will give the unit value for purposes of depletion, and the depletion allowance for the taxable year may be computed by multiplying such unit value by the number of units of mineral extracted during the year." This is simple, but is it reasonable? The intent of the law is clearly that the cost of the ore in the ground shall be considered as part of the cost of the same ore when removed and sold. The regulations fail to carry out that intent, because of the unwarranted assumption that all the ore in the mine cost the same amount per ton. This is what gives the Treasury Department's method its simplicity, but at the same time robs it of its reasonableness because the assumption is contrary to fact. It is self-evident that a ton of ore near the surface or exposed by present workings is worth much more than a ton buried so far down in the earth that it cannot be removed for many years. If no improvements in mining methods were expected, the value of deeply buried ore would be further reduced by the greater expense that would be required to

Jan 1, 1922

By J. J. Carrigan

IN all mining operations a considerable portion of the work performed, especially underground; is accomplished under artificial light, yeti this subject is often not given proper attention. Poor illumination decreases mining efficiency, impairs the sorting or grading of ores, and increases the risk of accidents. In the beginning, and for several years afterward in the metal-mining industry of Butte, Montana, candles placed in candlesticks were carried by the men. Sconces or holders for candles were also provided at stations and curves in drifts to furnish better light for men engaged in. hand tramming. It was also common practice to place clusters of candles on the ground, with no provision for guarding against an underground fire other than the exercise of sufficient care by the men themselves. An accumulation of candle grease from this source was the direct result of the first serious fire in the Anaconda mine, in 1889.

Jan 1, 1936

By Kenneth M. Bravinder, Jonathan E. Koogle, Dean H. Sheldon

THE solution of subsurface geological problems requires an analysis of vertical and horizontal dimensional relationships. For many, the ability to visualize structures in three dimensions is not easily acquired, and for areas where the structural conditions are complicated by faulting the need arises for illustrative models. This has led to the many forms of peg models, in which the usual course of construction includes a peg for the well bore, and the suspension of strings from peg to peg to illustrate the formation correlation between wells, thus developing the usual folds and flexures. Such models proved unsatisfactory for the analysis of fault problems. Consideration was then given to the use of transparent materials. A model of the Dominguez oil field was constructed in 1935, which consisted of a series of glass panels from well to well on which the formations were shown in color. This model, though serving its purpose at the time, proved to be impractical from the standpoints of cost, breakage hazard, and extreme difficulty in maintenance. The cost of materials was estimated to be approximately $300, and the construction required the services of one man for a period of from 10 to 12 months. Maintenance after actual construction was an additional expense. Consideration was then given to the use of celluloid, and after some experimental work it was found that the advantages in its use were: (I) a short construction time, (2) ease of handling the material, (3) sections are easily reworked, (4) low cost. CONSTRUCTION It would be of little value to recount here the difficulties encountered in the building of the first celluloid model. The conclusions drawn, however, suggest the following procedure for those who contemplate the construction of such a model: I. Determination of the Scale.-Accurate geological interpretation requires the use of the same scale horizontally and vertically. It should be emphasized that the limited size of the celluloid sheets (20 by 48 in. maximum dimensions), the area to be studied, the maximum depths to be plotted, and area of possible future development are the controlling factors in adopting a scale to be used. 2. Construction of the Base.-A satisfactory base may be constructed by using two pieces of three-ply wood separated by strips of i by 2-in. material. This type of construction prevents warping of the base. The size of the base is determined by the dimensions of the area to be studied plus 5 in. on all sides. A map of the same scale as that adopted for the model, indicating the lines of section to be used, should be fastened to the base. 3. Construction of the Frame (Fig. I).-In the construction of the frame the use of 1/2-in. o.d. pipe welded in a box shape is suggested, with two horizontal rods on each of the four sides, top and bottom. The top rod should be at least I in. higher than the

Jan 1, 1941

By Heinrich Ries

With the rapid development of Canadian industries calling for the use of fire-brick for the lining of furnaces or cement-kilns, for constructing brick-kilns or coke-ovens, for lead-furnaces, etc., the question has often arisen whether the provirices within the Dominion have not the necessary raw materials for the manufacture of such refractory wares. As an indication for the need of such products in Canada, me find that the imports in 1910 amounted in value to $519,454. The materials came in part from Great Britain, and part from the United States. Those supplied by the latter country are obtained largely from Pennsylvania and Ohio, and when shipped to distant points, such as British Columbia, the item of transportation is a serious factor. Scotch fire-brick is used both in eastern and western Canada, but in the latter case the shipments are made by water route to Vancouver. During the past four years I have been investigating the clay-deposits of Canada, for the Canadian Geological Survey, and while all types of clay have been included in the study, special pains have been taken to ascertain the occurrence of refractory clays. As a result of this work we are able to report on the existence of beds of refractory clays at the followiug localities: Inverness and Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia; St. Remi, d'Amherst, Quebec; Dirt Hills and Cypress Hills, Saskatchewan; Sumas Mountain, near Clayburn, B. C., and Kyuquot, on northwestern Vancouver Island. A map of Canada, showing the fire-clay deposits, is given in Fig. 1. It is possible that other deposits may be discovered in the future in districts remotely located from the present lines of railroad.

Jan 1, 1914

By Samuel H. Dolbear

THE value of a mine is basically dependent on its capacity to yield profits. Since the ore must be mined, treated, and sold, some of it in various future years. there is a risk involved as to future costs, selling price, and working conditions. It cannot be expected that the economic condition existing at the time of valuation will continue unchanged for long periods in the future. During the past 20 years, mineral production in the United States has been conducted under a changing economy in many respects more exacting than that applied to other businesses. There have been increased production incentives, technical aid, exploration of privately owned mineral deposits by government at federal expense, and liberal loans for development and equipment, with risk partially assumed by government.. Some of these benefits have been counterbalanced by price ceilings, consumption controls, and stimulation of competition from foreign producers who have been offered the same advantages extended to American operators. For the present, mines will operate under a government policy directed toward reducing federal aid and control. The tenure of this change will depend upon future elections and the status of foreign relations. War and threat of war are now of the most vital significance to the mineral industries. Other factors which influence cost of production, markets, and price of mine output might be classified as Acts of God or Acts of Government. In some countries expropriation and the difficulty of exporting earnings or investment returns are risks that must be considered by foreign capital. Recognizing that this retards American investment in foreign countries, the Mutual Security Agency offers insurance against such expropriation and guarantees the convertibility of capital and profits. Since it is impossible to predict with certainty either cost of production or selling prices of metals for long periods, some assumptions must be made as to profits in the future. The basic assumption must be that the price of the company's product will vary in proportion to changes in operating cost. There is often a lag in this reaction, however, for prices of minerals are generally more sensitive to declines and less sensitive to increases than are costs. This reflects in part the resistance of labor to downward wage revision and a corresponding alertness in realizing its share of price advances. Some labor contracts include automatic adjustments to metal prices. Notwithstanding the complexity of the, problems involved and the difficulty of weighing their effect on value, such risks may be appraised with reasonable accuracy and a rate of earnings adopted that is compatible with the risk. It is, of course, possible to revert to a yardstick of value such as the commodity dollar, which has been advocated from time to time, but while revaluation in 1933 disturbed public confidence, the theoretical gold dollar continues to be the standard of greatest stability. Its gain or loss in purchasing power is reflected ultimately in cost of production and selling price of the mine product. At present 35 dollars are allocated to one ounce of gold. Measurement of Risk In the application of the Hoskold and most other formulae, a yearly dividend rate commensurate with the risk involved is set aside out of annual earnings. If the risk is great, this rate may be 15 to 25 pct of the amount invested. The remainder is placed in a sinking fund invested in safe securities such as high grade bonds or conservative equities, and the interest or dividends from these securities are added to the sinking fund. The sum of these sinking fund payments and the compounded interest at the end of the mine life is taken as the value of the mine. Admittedly the decision as to the size of the risk rate is the most difficult element in valuation and one requiring the most exacting consideration. It is necessary to look years ahead in an effort to determine future costs, market prices, demand, competition which may develop, including that of substitutes, and other influences common to the mine and to the region in which it is situated. Another phase of risk is the enactment of unfavorable legislation, taxes, and what appears to be an alarming spread of nationalization and expropriation. Capital is sometimes borrowed from the government to finance strategic production. Such loans may be collectable only out of production and involve no liability otherwise. Valuation in these cases must recognize the effect of such a reduction in liability. Offsetting some of these risks are the possibilities of mechanization and other cost-reducing discoveries, improvements in mining and treatment methods, new uses for minerals and metals, and normal growth of markets. In this paper, the terms risk rate, dividend rate, and speculative rate are synonymous. Safe rate and redemption rate are also used interchangeably. These alternatives are used here because they are commonly found in the literature on mine valuation. In Michigan, the State Tax Commission has long employed a risk rate of 6 pct in its valuation of iron mines. There the outline of reserves is well established and operating costs and conditions are based on adequate experience. The following comment on rates appears in the report of the Minnesota Interior commission on Iron Ore Taxation submitted to the Minnesota Legislature of 1941.1 Most engineers agree that 7 percent for the specu-lative rate is "an absolute minimum". C. K. Leith in

Jan 1, 1954

By P. L. De Bruyn

The adsorption density of dodecylammonium ions at the quartz-solution interface has been Theadsorptiondensitydetermined as a function of collector concentration and pH. A ten thoushasbeenandfold range of amine salt concentration was covered at neutral pH. Experimental results show that over a thousandfold concentration range at neutral pH, the adsorption density (I) is proportional to the square root of collector concentration. Except at high concentrations, I increases with increases with increasing pH, but in general this effect is surprisingly small. . , . . A critical pH curve has been established for the flotation of quartz with dodecylammonium acetate. The conditions along the flotation curve are correlated with the adsorption measurements. THE behavior of collectors at the mineral-solution interfaces is usually explained in terms of an ionic adsorption process. Through the distribution of collector ions between the solid surface and the- co-existing solution phase the mineral is believed to acquire a water-repellent surface coating. Quantitative adsorption studies have been made on simple flotation systems1-4 only within the last few years. Such investigations were made possible by the adoption of the radiotracer method of analysis. As a consequence of these studies a new parameter has been added to aid the understanding of the flotation process. The research investigation to be discussed in this paper was undertaken to obtain a better understanding of the behavior of a cationic-type collector. This objective was approached through the determination of the distribution of dodecylammonium acetate between the quartz-solution interface and the solution as a function of the collector salt concentration and pH. To bring this investigation to focus on the more practical aspect of flotation research, an attempt was also made to correlate the adsorption results with actual flotation tests. Quartz: A —100 mesh ground crystalline quartz was infrasized; the products of the third and fourth cones were mixed together and reserved for experimental purposes. This stock material was cleaned by leaching in boiling concentrated HC1. After leaching the quartz was rinsed with distilled water until the filtrate showed no trace of chloride ian. It was then washed several times and dried. The qwrtz had a specific surface of 1400 cma per g as deterhined by the krypton gas adsorption method. Collector: The distribution of dodecylammonium acetate between the quartz surface and the solution phase was determined by the radiotracer method of analysis with carbon 14 as the tracer element. The radioactive amine salt with C" synthesized into the hydrocarbon chain5 was supplied by Armour and Co. The tracer element was located adjacent to the polar group. The radioactive salt as received had a specific activity of about 0.14 mc per g. When desired, dilution of this activity was effected by addition of non-radioactive dodecylammonium acetate also supplied by Armour and Co. ........ All other inorganic reagents used in this research were of reagent grade. Conductivity water was used for making up all solutions. Adsorption Tests: Two different experimental methods were used. In the first, to be designated as the agitation method, a weighed amount of quartz and a measured volume of amine salt solution were agitated in a 100-ml or 50-ml glass-stoppered pyrex graduated cylinder. The cylinder was filled with solution up to the stopper, since erratic results were obtained when an air space was left over the suspension. Time of agitation varied from 1 to 2 hr. Preliminary tests at different agitation times showed that the amount adsorbed remained constant for all agitation times exceeding 1/2 hr. After this conditioning period, the solids were separated from the solution by filtration through a Buechner fritted-disk funnel. The solution was re-circulated 10 times or more to allow the fused silica disk to come to equilibrium with it. Determinations of the amount of amine adsorbed on the frit itself indicated that this amount was less than 10 pct by weight of the amine acetate abstracted by 10 g of quartz. The funnel with quartz covered by a thin layer of solution was then centrifuged for approximately 5 min, at which time the moisture content of the solids was reduced to about 5 pct by weight. The wet quartz was blown into a tared beaker, re-weighed and allowed to dry at room temperature. A final weighing was then made to determine the moisture content. The second experimental method, similar to the procedure adopted by Gaudinand Bloecher,' will be referred to as the column method. Two liters of solution were passed through a bed of quartz contained in a Buechner funnel attached to a pyrex separatory funnel by means of a ball and socket joint. Preliminary tests showed that increasing the volume of solution above 2 liters does not give a measurable increase in adsorption. From 4 to 4 1/2 hr were required for 2 liters of solution to pass through the column. The moisture content of the quartz was again reduced to a minimum by centrifuging. A slightly modified column apparatus was used for experimenting with alkaline amine solutions. The same basic unit was used, but the underflow from the Buechner funnel was again fed into a Separafory

Jan 1, 1956

By Robert H. Richards

The object of this paper is to enlarge the field of settling velocities treated by me in my former papers, Close Sizing Before Jigging, and Sorting Before Sizing.' There seemed need of work both on coarser and on finer sizes. Messrs. A. Sidney Warren and M. L. Nagel undertook the investigation for the coarser sizes, from 12.85 mm. down to 2.05 mm. diameter. Their work, because of the closer spacing and because of the increased number of observations and consequent stronger averages, called for a revision of the former work. Messrs. G. A. Barnaby and Ralph Hayden undertook this part of the work, from 2.49 mm. down to 0.28 mm., which is near the limit of sifting. Their work covers the ground much more minutely and comprehensively than the former papers. There remained to be covered the portion of the field too fine for investigation with the sieves. This part, covering the range of grains from 0.48 to 0.03 mm., was undertaken by Mr. E. S. Bardwell. For it he used the elutriation method. 11. The First, or Coarsest, Section of the Field. The first desideratum in this investigation was a series of sieves for sizing the sands preparatory to making the tests. It became necessary, therefore, to decide on a sieve-scale for this purpose. A sieve-scale is a series of sieves in which the dimensions of the holes of the successive members form a series increasing by a definite ratio. There are three natural sieve-scales: 1, progressing by doubling the width of the hole for each suc-

Jan 1, 1908

By S. C. Hollister

An evaluation of the function of the engineer, so that means whereby education can best serve his needs can be adopted. THERE has been a steady increase in specialized branches of engineering during recent years. Some of these are simply specializations in the function of engineering, such as welding engineering, tool and die engineering, petroleum engineering, and refining engineering. Others are associated more closely with the basic sciences, as for example, geological engineering or engineering physics. Still others tend toward the border line of business, such as administrative engineering or general engineering.

Jan 1, 1950

By John Richards

MY remarks will be confined to the experience of our company in mining the No. 8 seam of coal in Ohio, although I believe that the relationship existing here between the method of mining and the method of cleaning will hold true in many of the coal seams throughout the country. The increasing demand for a cleaner and better graded product is being felt throughout the entire coal industry, and the methods of mining are playing an important part in the control of various sizes and quality of coal produced. We have found a definite relation between the mechanical loading of coal and its preparation for the market. In the No. 8 coal seam the location of the non-combustible material is regular. The' marketable coal lies in three benches, separated by streaks or bands of impurities. These impurities must be removed from the coal to properly pre pare the product for the market. Where hand-loading methods are employed, the loader removes as much of this non-combustible material as possible at the working face. The impurities that are missed by the loaders are removed as the coal passes through the preparation plant, by means of picking tables. As this method of cleaning cannot improve the quality of the extremely fine sizes, a practice has been established in the company's hand-loading mines, of undercutting the coal about 2 in. above the bottom of the seam, thereby eliminating any possibility of impurities caused by the cutting machines cutting into the rock bottom below the coal seam.

Jan 1, 1934

By AIME AIME

EUGENE AUSTIN STEPHENSON, better and affectionately known as "Steve," has long been an active and enthusiastic member of the Petroleum Division of the Institute. As its Secretary-Treasurer for several years, he was the spark plug that so successfully carried the Division over the trying period of the early thirties. "Steve" was born at Franklin, Mich., July 27, 1883; graduated from Adrian College in 1905, and later received his Doctor's degree from the University of Chicago where he was an instructor for two years. From 1917 to 1925 he was chief geologist for the South Penn Oil Co. and from 1925 to 1930 he was associated with Ralph Davis, Inc., of Pittsburgh, consulting engineers. In 1930 the Missouri School of Mines called him to Rolla to head a department of petroleum and natural gas engineering. and in 1938 he was invited to build up a similar department at the University of Kansas.

Jan 1, 1941

By R. W. Raymond

Recent literary labors have led me to the compilation of the following tables and estimates, which may possess interest for my colleagues in the Institute, and which are here submitted without comment.

By Louise Barton Freeman, Iley B. Browning, Coleman D. Hunter

During 1942, production of oil in Kentucky reached a total of 4,169,163 bbl. of which 1,807,809 bbl. came from eastern Kentucky. This was more than a million barrels less than in 1941, owing partly to the low price of crude oil, which almost eliminated wildcatting, and partly to spacing regulations, which limited the number of wells drilled in small, shallow pools where the pressures are not sufficient to maintain maximum recovery in widely spaced wells. In eastern Kentucky much of the oil was produced from outliers of the Mauch Chunk series at the disconformable contact of the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian. Although wells producing from this horizon, known as the Maxon, are sprinkled over the entire area, the greatest concentrations are in Martin, Floyd, Knott and Pike Counties. A new 30 to 40-bbl. well has been completed in this formation in ,Pike County, where the carbon ratio is so high that ordinarily oil would not be expected. Pike County is one of the largest producers of Maxon gas, and the offset well to this oil well produced gas. Of the 412 gas wells drilled in Pike County, 12.2 per cent produced gas from the Maxon horizon. During 1942, the old Menifee " Cornif-erous" field, the Mariba-Denniston field, was redrilled between old wells, and although it did not produce any large amount of oil it did contribute 2018 bbl. In the oldest oil field in eastern Kentucky, the Ragland pool, operators are cleaning out abandoned wells and are using this oil for fuel oil. There is a possibility that some of this may be used in the future as distilled fuel oil. Eight wells were completed in 1942 in the Jackson County gas field. The development of Jackson County, which was started in 1934 and in which commercial quantities of gas were encountered at a depth of 1100 to 1200 ft., has become of importance in 1942 with the completion of eight wells, making a total of 24 commercial producing wells with an average rock pressure of 140 lb. At this time the gas is not being marketed. In the last year it has been found that these wells, which produce from the Niagaran dolomite ("Cornif-erous"), respond to acidizing and the production has been thus greatly increased. There has been less development in Estill and Lee Counties than for several years. Two wells were drilled in Greenup County, one of which had a show of oil in the Berea sandstone. One deep test, drilled by the Owens-Libbey-Owens Co. in Lawrence County, was dry. This well was drilled to a depth of 4975 ft. into the top of the Clinton shale sequence. Of the 202 wells completed in Floyd, Martin, Knott and Pike Counties, 187 were gas wells, 3 oil wells and 12 dry holes. In Floyd County 66 per cent of the gas production was from the Devonian-Mis-sissippian black shales, 53 per cent in Martin, 79 per cent in Knott and 65 per cent in Pike. This is probably the largest continuous gas field east of the Mississippi

Jan 1, 1943

By Iley B. Browning, Louise Barton Freeman, Coleman D. Hunter

During 1942, production of oil in Kentucky reached a total of 4,169,163 bbl. of which 1,807,809 bbl. came from eastern Kentucky. This was more than a million barrels less than in 1941, owing partly to the low price of crude oil, which almost eliminated wildcatting, and partly to spacing regulations, which limited the number of wells drilled in small, shallow pools where the pressures are not sufficient to maintain maximum recovery in widely spaced wells. In eastern Kentucky much of the oil was produced from outliers of the Mauch Chunk series at the disconformable contact of the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian. Although wells producing from this horizon, known as the Maxon, are sprinkled over the entire area, the greatest concentrations are in Martin, Floyd, Knott and Pike Counties. A new 30 to 40-bbl. well has been completed in this formation in ,Pike County, where the carbon ratio is so high that ordinarily oil would not be expected. Pike County is one of the largest producers of Maxon gas, and the offset well to this oil well produced gas. Of the 412 gas wells drilled in Pike County, 12.2 per cent produced gas from the Maxon horizon. During 1942, the old Menifee " Cornif-erous" field, the Mariba-Denniston field, was redrilled between old wells, and although it did not produce any large amount of oil it did contribute 2018 bbl. In the oldest oil field in eastern Kentucky, the Ragland pool, operators are cleaning out abandoned wells and are using this oil for fuel oil. There is a possibility that some of this may be used in the future as distilled fuel oil. Eight wells were completed in 1942 in the Jackson County gas field. The development of Jackson County, which was started in 1934 and in which commercial quantities of gas were encountered at a depth of 1100 to 1200 ft., has become of importance in 1942 with the completion of eight wells, making a total of 24 commercial producing wells with an average rock pressure of 140 lb. At this time the gas is not being marketed. In the last year it has been found that these wells, which produce from the Niagaran dolomite ("Cornif-erous"), respond to acidizing and the production has been thus greatly increased. There has been less development in Estill and Lee Counties than for several years. Two wells were drilled in Greenup County, one of which had a show of oil in the Berea sandstone. One deep test, drilled by the Owens-Libbey-Owens Co. in Lawrence County, was dry. This well was drilled to a depth of 4975 ft. into the top of the Clinton shale sequence. Of the 202 wells completed in Floyd, Martin, Knott and Pike Counties, 187 were gas wells, 3 oil wells and 12 dry holes. In Floyd County 66 per cent of the gas production was from the Devonian-Mis-sissippian black shales, 53 per cent in Martin, 79 per cent in Knott and 65 per cent in Pike. This is probably the largest continuous gas field east of the Mississippi

Jan 1, 1943

By Arch J. Alexander

Coal is produced, in commercial quantities, in thirty-five of the fifty-five counties of West Virginia. Oil and gas are produced, commercially, in forty-two counties. So, you may readily see that coal, oil and gas arc closely related as to production areas. Many of the West Virginia coal mines are studded with oil and gas wells, as drilling has been done in thirty-two of the coal bearing counties. When the drilling of oil and gas wells was placed under the regulatory control of the Department of Mines on June I, 1929, it was estimated, by the State Geological Survey, that 64,000 wells had been drilled in West Virginia and that 34,000 wells were then being operated as oil and gas producers. No records of many of these remaining 30,000 abandoned wells exist and some of them remain a standing menace to safety as our coal extraction continues. Of a total of 13,100 new wells drilled since June 1929, approximately 5200 have been drilled through coal measures. Approximately 7000 wells, which were drilled through coal measures, have been abandoned in the same period of time. Many of these wells were drilled prior to the enactment of the oil and gas laws. Prior to the enactment of the Oil and Gas Law, which established the Oil and Gas Division of thc Department of Mines in 1929, there had been several mine ex-plosions attributable to cutting into un- charted wells and the improper plugging of other wells. The most serious explosion was that of Mines No. 47 and No. 49 of the Consolidation Coal Co. in Marion Co., when one of the so-called plugged wells leaked or seeped through some 80 ft of strata to the coal bed elevation, filling the mine with gas, the gas being ignited, killing a good many men and wrecking two coal mines. Legislation, to combat well hazards to coal mines, was slow in coming. In 1928, R. M. Lambie, then Chief of the Dept. of Mines, got sufficient support from coal, oil and gas interests to get the legislature to pass our present oil and gas laws. These statutes not only protected the coal industry but went a long way toward conserving the oil and gas resources of our state. Before drilling for oil or gas on any tract of land, known to be underlaid with one or more workable seams of coal, the well operator is required to submit a map of the area showing the location of the proposed well, and to send a copy to the Dept. of Mines and a copy to the coal operator. If no objections to the location of the proposed well are made by the coal operator within ten days, a drilling permit and a number for the well are then issued and work may proceed. If, however, the location of the proposed well is objected to by the coal operator, on the grounds that the location of the well will interfere with present mine operations, projected workings, or otherwise cause a dangerous condition, the operator may file a written objection with the Dept. of Mines.

Jan 1, 1949

By Arch J. Alexander

COAL is produced, in commercial quantities, in thirty-five of the sty-five counties of West Virginia. Oil and gas are produced, commercially, in forty-two counties. So, you may readily see that coal, oil and gas are closely related as to production areas. Many of the West Virginia coal mines are studded with oil and gas wells, as drilling has been done in thirty-two of the coal bearing counties. When the drilling of oil and gas wells was placed under the regulatory control of the Department of Mines on June I, 1929, it was estimated, by the State Geological Survey, that 64,000 wells had been drilled in West Virginia and that 34,mo wells were then being operated as oil and gas producers. No records of many of these remaining 30,000 abandoned wells exist and some of them remain a standing menace to safety as our coal extraction continues. Of a total of 13,100 new wells drilled since June 1929, approximately 5,200 have been drilled through coal measures. Approximately 7,000 wells, which were drilled through coal measures, have been abandoned in the same period of time. Many of these wells were drilled prior to the enactment of the oil and gas laws. Prior to the enactment of the Oil and Gas Law, which established the Oil and Gas Division of the Department of Mines in 1929, there had been several mine explosions attributable to cutting into un- charted wells and the improper plugging of other wells. The most serious explosion was that of Mines No. 47 and No. 49 of the Consolidation Coal Co. in Marion Co., when one of the so-called plugged wells leaked or seeped through some 80 ft of strata to the coal bed elevation, filling the mine with gas, the gas being ignited, killing a good many men and wrecking two coal mines. Legislation, to combat well hazards to coal mines, was slow in coming. In 1928, R. M. Lambie, then Chief of the Dept. of Mines, got sufficient support from coal, oil and gas interests to get the legislature to pass our present oil and gas laws. These statutes not only protected the coal industry but went a long way toward conserving the oil and gas resources of our state. Before drilling for oil or gas on any tract of land, known to be underlaid with one or more workable seams of coal, the well operator is required to submit a map of the area showing the location of the proposed well, and to send a copy to the Dept. of Mines and a copy to the coal operator. If no objections to the location of the proposed well are made by the coal operator within ten days, a drilling permit and a number for the well are then issued and work may proceed. If, however, the location of the proposed well is objected to by the coal operator, on the grounds that the location of the well will interfere with present mine operations, projected workings, or other- wise Cause a dangerous condition, the operator may file a written objection with the Dept. of Mines.

Jan 1, 1948

By N. A. D. Parlee, E. M. Sacris

OVER 55 years ago, Sieverts and Hagenacker1 and Donnan and shaw2 made determinations of the solubility of oxygen in liquid silver, over a rather short range of temperatures (973° to 1125°C), using quartz bulbs, mainly at 1 atm. From the results of their investigations, Mizikar, Grace, and parlee3 plotted % O vs 1/T and obtained the following straight-line equation for solubility at 1 atm: log % O = 723.7/T - 1.0949 Recent work on the kinetics of the Ag-O2 system394 indicated there might have been some error due to reaction with the direct heated silica bulbs. Thus it became important to redetermine the solubility with the silver contained in a better refractory such as alumina, and by induction heating where the walls of the container were not so strongly heated. It was also desirable to extend the temperature range. A modified Sieverts apparatus of fairly standard type was used except that a special type of reaction tube was employed, Fig. 1. Dried argon with a guaranteed purity of 99.9 pet, and dried medical-grade oxygen with a guaranteed purity of 99.6 pet containing a little nitrogen, were the gases used. The measuring system consisted essentially of a manometer and a water-jacketed 100-cc gas buret with an open-end vertical tube parallel to the buret. This tube has the same diameter as the buret in order to give the same capillary effect on the mercury. A screw leveling device was used with the buret leveling bulb to help provide accurate pressure readings. A 2-mm ID capillary line connected the buret to the reaction chamber, helping to reduce the dead volume, which was determined with argon. The heating medium was a 2.5-kw output induction furnace. The induction coil was made of a 3/16-in. copper tubing with eight turns and an inside diameter of 4 cm. The reaction bulb was made of a quartz tube 18 cm long and 3 cm in inside diameter, Fig. 1. Inside the quartz tube were two alumina crucibles (Mor-ganite Triangle RR, XN10 and XN5) one inside the other. Below these two was an alumina disk. The disk prevented the corners of the outer crucible from expanding against the quartz tube. The solid sample (99.994 + pet Ag), which had been previously cleaned by air oxidation and repeated removal of scum, was placed inside the inner crucible. An alumina disk with a hole at the center covered the two crucibles. In order to decrease the dead volume, an evacuated quartz "filler" tube was placed on top of the crucible cover. The part of the reaction tube above the spherical joint was made up of Pyrex glass with a flat glass top. It was here that a prism was placed to facilitate the use of an optical pyrometer, previously calibrated at the freezing point of silver. This type of reaction bulb and furnace assembly was specially designed for this work, and used in preference to the relatively new water-

Jan 1, 1965

RUSSIA was the United States Number One source of manganese ore in 1948 when 34 pet of imports were received from that source, stated Norwood B. Melcher, assistant chief, ferrous metals and alloys branch, Bureau of Mines. In 1949, this country received only 20 pet of 1948 shipments from Russia, and only token amounts are now being received. Aggressive programming by industry and government resulted in prompt increases in shipments from major, producing sources; India, Gold Coast, and the Union of South Africa all increased exports to fill the vacuum left by Russia and provided an excess adequate to increase total imports approximately 290,000 short tons in 1949. Again in 1950, and with, even less ore from Russia, imports increased another 290,000 short tons. Since the shift from Russia as a source of manganese, the United States has received in total about 85 pet of its imports from India, Union of South Africa, Gold Coast, and Brazil in that order of importance. Producers of both home consumed and merchant ferromanganese have been able to adjust downward the manganese content of the home-consumed product and so obtain partial relief. Millions of tons of steel were produced in 1951 with a relatively low grade ferromanganese. This adjustment has been made without decreasing the quality of the steel, although with some increase in cost through introduction of new problems, including increased hand- . ding of material and additional removal of carbon. Forced into a pattern of price and grade structure such as exists today, the producer of ferromanganese must adopt one of three possible courses as a short-range program: 1-He may continue to deplete his stocks by producing standard (78 pet) ferromanganese and hope that the future will bring some form of relief; 2-he may attempt to produce 78 pet ferromanganese by paying higher prices for premium ores; or 3-he may drop the grade of ferromanganese and stretch stocks and future supplies of ore as far as possible. The present rundown condition of Indian railroads is attributed to the fact that the service has had no opportunity to recuperate since the beginning of World War II, while the demand for the movement of commodities has probably increased. The Union of South Africa has expanded its exports to the United States greatly since 1948, but, the showing of that country in 1951 was disappointing. Efforts have been made for some time by firms in the United States, at the urging of the manganese miners in the Union, to prevail on the railroad authority to grant and make available larger allocations of cars for manganese ore movement. As a whole, such efforts have been unsuccessful. Although the allocation of rail shipping has been the obvious factor in the decreased movement of ore, many other less determinate factors appear to be involved. Brazil, long an important supplier of manganese to the United States, has important manganese deposits in three areas, all of which are significant to this country. The Gold Coast is an important source of supply. Its metallurgical ore is particularly of significance because of its unusually high grade which permits considerable latitude in blending with the lower grade materials of South Africa and India. The Belgian Congo should have an output of 100,000 tons or more annually beginning this year. R. S. Dean presented two papers. One with K. M. Leute on hydrometallurgical methods for recovery of manganese from domestic ores and one as sole author on the so-called carbamate or Dean process. The two papers tied into each other. In the first mentioned he reviewed the various processes applicable to oxidized, and nonoxidized and reduced ores. The advantages of each .were pointed out. So far the only process tried on a substantial scale on oxidized ores was the SO2 process used at Las Vegas, Nev., on Three Kids ore during World War II. Many problems were encountered. Some of them were whipped while some of those remaining perhaps would have been whipped had time permitted. Since then work has been done elsewhere to avoid the formation of the troublesome thionates encountered at the Three Kids plant. Dean discussed the thionate and NO, processes as applied to oxidized ores. The only commercially used process on reduced ores is that of making electrolytic manganese. Among others that have been considered are the nitric acid process, the Bradley-Fitch ammonium sulphate process, and Dean's ammonium carbamate process. Dean's thesis was that extremely large tonnages of so-called low grade manganese ores are available, and that these should not be depleted in attempting to simulate a foreign metallurgical grade ore. He pointed out that the grade of the domestic manganese ores would be considered high if the same grade were found in copper ores. The selling price of electrolytic manganese and electrolytic copper are roughly the same. In addition to electrolytic manganese, he believes that domestic ores should be used to make exceptionally high grade products. These might be battery grade oxide or substantially pure oxide sinter, which might be used for high manganese alloys or for upgrading metallurgical grade manganese to produce a high manganese ferroalloy. The carbamate process is based on the fact that manganous oxide is readily soluble in concentrated ammonia solutions containing ammonium salts. In solutions of sufficiently high concentration the manganese exists as an anion. Lixiviants of ammonia and ammonium carbonate permit extraction of the manganese from reduced ores and the manganese can be recovered as carbonate by heating or by driving off ammonia. R. V. Lundquist presented a paper on upgrading high-silica ores or concentrates with sodium hydroxide to extract silica and to yield a product with a more favorable manganese: silica ratio. The NaOH is, regenerated in part by CaO.

Jan 1, 1952

The centenary of Julia Ward Howe, author of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," is of particular interest to the members of the Institute because of the very active part that has been taken in the affairs of the Institute by her son, Dr. H. M. Howe. By an order of the Board of Education, the one hundredth anniversary of Mrs. Howe's birth, May 27, was observed in the public schools of New York City with the singing of the fatuous battle hymn. Boston, the city of her adoption, celebrated her centenary by a service in the Church of the Disciples, where Governor Coolidge made an address, and in which John Andrew Post took a prominent part. General Pershing sent a letter, which was read by the Rev. Abraham Mitrie Rihbany, in which he said: "It is a great privilege to bear witness to the widespread effect of ?The Battle Hymn of the Republic? on the morale of the fighting men. It is unique in its religious fervor and enthusiasm and whenever sung it can have but the same effect which it produced when it was first sung in the Civil War."

Jan 7, 1919

By Robert H. Merrill

During the period from 1960 through 1966, the U.S. Bureau of Mines and Kennecott Copper Corp. performed an experiment to determine the changes in stress, strain, and displacement created by changes in slope angles. The experiment was performed at Kennecott's Kimbley pit near Ely, Nev. The supporting laboratory studies were made in the Bureau's Denver Mining Research Center, where final reduction of the data and summary reports are now in progress. The experiment was divided into two phases. The first consisted of the laboratory and field investigations required to select a new slope angle and configuration; the second phase consisted of a full-scale instrumented study in the west wall of the pit. The west slope was changed from an average of 45º to a slope angle that started at 45º on the south wall and gradually in- creased to 57 ½ º at the center of the west wall, and to 61 º on the north wall. The pit was deepened from 500 to about 550 ft, and approximately 2.55 million tons of waste and ore were removed from the wall.

Jan 9, 1969

At the Kidd Creek mine operated by Ecstall Mining, Ltd. near Timmins, Ontario, Honeywell has installed a sophisticated new quick- thinking computer system that keeps tabs on conditions along three separate processing streams at once and relays continuous 60-second data to the mill operator. Believed to be the first of its kind, the system picks up data from two independent x-ray spectrometers simultaneously. A digital computer from Honeywell's Computer Control Division receives and interprets real-time information gathered by online x-ray analyzers, and the system then advises control room operators of the relative amount of each of five elements at five points in each of the three process streams. The system is reported to provide a quantitative analysis of the five elements at a given point in the process within one minute-which is about 120 times as fast as a chemical laboratory assay could be performed. With this instant data at his command, the mill operator can make timely process adjustments to correct any deviation from optimum flotation results, thus salvaging valuable minerals that would inevitably be lost with slower detection methods. The minerals recovered at Kidd creek are copper, lead, iron, silver and zinc.

Jan 8, 1968