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By William Kent

William Kent, Pi.~t~bIJrQh, Pa.: The steel rnanufac.tnret of this country nlust ever he grateful to Dr. Dudley for his painstaking and conscientious endeavor to estaldish the relation between the chemical analysis and the wearing capcity of steel rails. They tnust thank him for the vast array of $acts he presents, and for having given them sixty-four analyses with which to combat his own conclusions and to establish their own, which are entirely opposite to his. In Dr. Duclley" discussion of his former investigation, at the Pittsburgh meeting, he said, "If you do not like my conclusions, draw your own conclusions." I have studied his last paper as thoroughly as the limited time since I received it would adruit, and have drawn some concluvions which I will first state, and then attempt to demonstrate. Briefly stated, my conclusions are: lst, That as far as these 64 analyses reveal anything of service to railmakers and cotsumera, it is that within the following chemical and physical limits, viz., Carbon,..0.20 to 0.60 Pisovphorue ,..0.026 to 0.146 Silicon,.. 0015 to 0.480 BInnganese.......0.262 to 0 880 Phosl~horus un~ts,..20.3 to 6.72 Bending weight,. 2270 lbs. to 4260 Ibs. Drfl~ctinn,.. 13O to 190° or in other words within the limits of rienrly the whole range of the chenlical and bending testa of these 6-2 mils: the wearing capacity bears no relation at all to mrbon, to phosphorus, to silicon, to mnnganese, to phosphorus units, to bending weight or to deflection or if there is any relation between the wearing capacity and thest! six or sr!ven variables, it is so obscured by the action of other cause or variat~les not yet known, that such relation cannot be expressed by any practical formula. 2d. That the difference in wearing capacity of these 64 rails was not due to unrbon, to phosphorus, to silicou, to manganese, or to anj combinntion of these four elements, but that it was due to some other cause or cornbination of causes, of which Dr. Dudley's whole iuvestigtion furnishes 11s no clue whatever. A few of the nlarry possible causes I lnay name : sulphur, copper, oxide of iron inclossl air or other gases, orerblowing, underblowing, oyrhaiting, undcrIreatinp, too hot-finishing, too cold-finishing, cold-straightening, toc great or too litkle rductiun hlu the rail to the ingot, or the portion

Jan 1, 1881

By John Chipman

HE lecture on 'Thermodynamic Properties of Blast Furnace Slagso prepared in 1959 and published two years later required revision in one particular before it appeared in print. The activity of SiO, was deter mined through studies of the equilibrium: SiO, (in slag) 2C (graphite) = (in Fe) 2C0 (1 atm) The ratio for each experimental temperature was found from the heat of formation of cris-tobalite, the entropies and heat capacities of the re-actants, by virtue of the third law of thermodynamics. Discrepancies between several kinds of data led to investigations regarding other equilibria involving SiO, on the suspicion that there might be an error in the third-law value of its free energy. In particular the equilibrium: was restudied by Kay and Taylor who Confirmed the earlier results of Baird and Tayloron which their SiO, activities depended. The free energy of Sic was also rechecked4 independently. These and other equilibrium measurements led to the conclusion6 that the free energy of SiO, at high temperatures is in error and requires a correction of about -5 kcal. The exact source of the error is uncertain; it could lie either in the entropy of SiO, or in its heat of formation, but it more probably lies in the latter. Adjustment of this free energy lowers the ratio by a factor of approximately 4. Accordingly it will be necessary to multiply by this factor all of the SiO, activities determined by this method.',B Referring to the lecture cited, this correction should be applied in Figs. 8, 9, 10, 19, and 20. It applies also to the experimental data of Fig. 13, bringing these as well as those on the ternary system into good agreement with the work of Taylor and associates. At the same time it eliminates the discrepancy shown in Fig. 11, lowering both lines until the upper

Jan 1, 1962

By Charles H. Thurman

THE data given herein were first included in a paper read before San Francisco Section, A.I.M.E., in October 1940, and are applicable to conditions existing until the gold-dredging industry was temporarily suspended by Order L-208 of the War Production Board in the fall of 1942. There is no doubt that gold dredging will be resumed at some future time, and on a scale equivalent to that of the recent past, but the cost data given herein will be affected to some extent by conditions existing at that time, and by labor rates and prices for materials then prevailing. DRAGLINE VS. BUCKET-LINE Dragline dredges should not be considered for mining large areas of low-grade placer gravel. In such deposits a dragline operator with a 5-cu. yd. dragline would be doing well to maintain an operating cost of 6¢ per cu. yd., while a bucket-line dredge with buckets no smaller than 7 cu. ft. each could be operated for less than 4¢ per cu. yd. By operating costs, I mean only field charges such as direct operating and overhead, which includes pay roll, power or fuel, repairs and maintenance, insurance, land clearing and general expenses, but not including such items as prospecting, depletion, depreciation of equipment, State Franchise Tax, or Federal Income Tax. It is not to be inferred that a dragline dredge cannot make a profit in small low-grade deposits, where the extent of a given property is too small to justify the use of the more costly bucket-line dredge. Consider small deposits of 10¢ gravel. It is obvious that a deposit of 5,000,000 cu. yd. of such gravel could not be mined profitably with a new, 7-cu. ft. bucket-line dredge, costing upward of $250,000, and with operation costs at 4¢ per cu. yd., paying for land or royalties out of earnings; nor could a new combination 5-cu. yd. dragline and washing plant, worth upward of $125,000 and working at 6¢ per cu. yd., make a profit. These comparisons are made because the hourly capacity of both types of dredges is nearly the same. The bucket-line dredge averages 93 per cent operating time in 24 hr., as against about 80 per cent or less for the dragline dredge. These percentages of operating time are important factors in making a comparison of this kind. The bucket-line dredge has greater efficiency in cleaning soft bedrock, usually characteristic of dredging deposits, and a 7-cu. ft. bucket-line dredge can be efficient to a total digging depth of 80 ft. (65 ft. below water, 15 ft. above). A 5-cu. yd. dragline dredge is limited to about 30 ft. of efficient digging depth, 5 ft. of which could be above water. In small areas of gravel not over 30 ft. deep, a 5-cu. yd. dragline dredge could make a profit where a bucket-line dredge could not do so. As an example: compare the dredging of 3,000,000 cu. yd. of 10¢ gravel 28 ft. deep with bucket line, costing 4¢ per cu. yd., and with a 5-cu. yd. dragline dredge operating at 6¢ per cu. yd. Because of small yardage, new equipment is not warranted, therefore we can assume that the dredges of both types are used equipment, fully depreciated. Dismantling, mov-

Jan 1, 1945

By Richard H. Rein, John Chipman

The activity of SiO2, in the entire liquid system SiO2-CaO-Mg0-A12O3 at 1600°C is calculated from the distribution of silicon between these slags and Fe-Si-C alloys saturated with either graphite or silicon carbide, the activity coefficient of silicon in these alloys, and the requisite thermodynamic data. The activities of the other components in the ternary systems SiO2-CaO-A12O3, SiO2-MgO-CaO, SiO2-MgO -A12O3 are computed from these data by the IrON blast-furnace slags can be regarded as consisting of the four major oxide components, SO2, CaO, MgO, and A12O3 along with minor proportions of other oxides and of sulfur. The purpose of this study is to measure the activity of silica in the liquid solutions of these four oxides at iron-making Gibbs-Duhem equation with the aid of the known free energies of several of the interoxide compounds and the accepted phase diagrams. Based on these activities, new data are Presented for the free energy of formation of a number of the interoxide compounds. The free energy of mixing the liquid metasilicates of CaO and MgO shows slight positive deviations from the ideal. temperatures and to obtain activities of the other components by application of the Gibbs-Duhem equation and the properties of several interoxide compounds. Recent investigations on the activity of silica in the SiO2-CaO-A12O3 system1-3 and recogntion of a serious error in older data for the free energy of formation of SiO2 (Ref. 4) have succeeded in bringing a fair degree of concordance into the results of different investigators. In the present study, the activity of silica is obtained from the silicon-distribution experiments described in a previous paper,' the revised activity coefficient of silicon

Jan 1, 1965

By Charles H. Thurman

The data given herein were first included in a paper read before San Francisco Section, A.I.M.E., in October 1940, and are applicable to conditions existing until the gold-dredging industry was temporarily suspended by Order L-208 of the War Production Board in the fall of 1942. There is no doubt that gold dredging will be resumed at some future time, and on a scale equivalent to that of the recent past, but the cost data given herein will be affected to some extent by conditions existing at that time, and by labor rates and prices for materials then prevailing. Dragline vs. Bucket-line Dragline dredges should not be considered for mining large areas of low-grade placer gravel. In such deposits a dragline operator with a 5-cu. yd. dragline would be doing well to maintain an operating cost of 6¢ per cu. yd., while a bucket-line dredge with buckets no smaller than 7 cu. ft. each could be operated for less than 4¢ per cu. yd. By operating costs, I mean only field charges such as direct operating and overhead, which includes pay roll, power or fuel, repairs and maintenance, insurance, land clearing and general expenses, but not including such items as prospecting, depletion, depreciation of equipment, State Franchise Tax, or Federal Income Tax. It is not to be inferred that a dragline dredge cannot make a profit in small low-grade deposits, where the extent of a given property is too small to justify the use of the more costly bucket-line dredge. Consider small deposits of 106 gravel. It is obvious that a deposit of 5,000,000 cu. yd. of such gravel could not be mined profitably with a new 7-cu. ft, bucket-line dredge, costing upward of $250,000, and in operation costs at 4¢ per cu. yd., paying for land or royalties out of earnings; nor could a new combination 5-cu. yd. dragline and washing plant, worth upward of $125,000 and working at 6¢ Per cu. yd., make a profit. These comparisons are made because the hourly capacity of both types of dredges is nearly the same. The bucket-line dredge averages 93 per cent operating time in 24 hr., as against about 80 per cent or less for the dragline dredge. These Percentages of operating time are important factors in making a comparison of this kind- The bucket-line dredge has greater efficiency in cleaning soft bedrock, usually characteristic of dredging deposits, and a 7-cu. ft. bucket-line dredge can be efficient to a total digging depth of 80 ft- (65 ft. below water, 15 ft. above). A 5-cu. Yd. dragline dredge is limited to about 30 ft. of efficient digging depth, 5 ft. of which could be above water. In small areas of gravel not over 30 ft. deep, a 5-cu. yd. dragline dredge could make a profit where a bucket-line dredge could not do so. As an example: compare the dredging of 3,000,000 cu. yd. of 10 gravel 28 ft. deep with bucket line, costin 4¢ Per cu. yd., and with a 5-cu. yd. dragline dredge operating at 6¢ Per cu. yd. Because of small yardage, new equipment is not warranted, therefore we can assume that the dredges of both types are used equip-ment, fully depreciated. Dismantling, mov-

Jan 1, 1946

By Eugene E. Ayres

The centrifuge has come into general use in the oil fields and in the establishments where lubricating and fuel oils are used. Probably centrifugal machinery will be found more useful in the refinery when the operators are more familiar with'the principles of modern centrifuga-tion and when centrifugal engineers better understand the refinery emulsion problems. It is not generally realized that centrifugal force and gravity have two distinct functions: First, subsidence wherein the suspended globules are brought into contact; second, coalescence (when this is possible) by rupturing the films around the globules. In the case of a water-in-oil emulsion, an exercise of the former function alone would yield: (1) oil, free, or as free as desired, from water; and (2) a concentrated water-in-oil emulsion—concentrated in the sense that it contains a relatively large percentage of the internal phase. An exercise of both functions will yield: (1) water-free oil and (2) oil-free water. Centrifugal force is much better than gravity for subsidence because, in the case of industrial emulsions where the suspended globules are visible under a microscope, subsidence is directly proportional to the force applied. Centrifugal force is only slightly better than gravity for coalescence. A minute trace of a proper reagent will immediately do more to nullify the interfacial surface tension opposing coalescence than an indefinite application of the highest attainable centrifugal force. No mathematical analysis has been made to explain the failure of high centrifugal force to induce a decidedly more rapid and more complete coalescence than is obtained by gravity. The adjustment of the centrifuge rotor depends more on the extent of coalescence that is desired or is possible than on any other factor. One reason for this dependence is to be found in the curious relation between the specific gravity and the hydrostatic pressure of emulsions. The continuous centrifuge works on the U-tube or Florentine flask prin-

Jan 1, 1924

By J. S. Kirkaldy, R. C. Dorward

The solubilities of copper and gold in silicon and germanium have been determined by equilibration of the solid semiconductors with coexisting liquidus phases. The experimental results were combined with estimated activity coefficients of the liquidus alloys to determine the following partial molar enthalpies and excess entropies of solution for the systems: Solubility measurements were also carried out below the eutectic temperature of the copper-silicon system. The partial molar enthalpy and excess entropy of copper in silicon with respect to Cu3Si were determined to be 40.2 ±0.5 kcal per mole and 9.7 i 0.5 cal per mole — OK, respectively. It has been dentonstrated that nu-cleation and growth of intermediate compounds are retarded in copper-silicon diffusion couples. This points out the dangers of determining equilibrium solubilities by dijjusion methods. THE thermodynamic requirement for equilibrium between contiguous phases at constant pressure and temperature is that the chemical potential of each component be constant throughout the system. Equating expressions for the chemical potential of solute, component 2 say, in two phases, alpha and beta, gives

Jan 1, 1969

By Bernard K. Asdell

Georgia, a state seldom considered to be an important mineral producer, has one surprising feature-it is the nation's largest producer of kaolin. Kaolin is a highly important raw material in the paper, rubber, ceramic whiteware, paint and chemical industries. In 1965, more than 2.7 million tons of kaolin were produced in this state, a 150,000-ton increase over the preceding year, and production continues to climb. Strictly defined, the term "kaolin" applies to a group of hydrous aluminum silicates in which kaolinite is the predominant mineral. Kaolinite is inherently white, non-abrasive, chemically inert, and of a very fine particle size, ranging from sub-micron to 40-microns equivalent spherical diameter. An electron-micrograph of kaolinite is shown in Fig. 1. The particles finer than about 2 microns are thin, elongated plates, hexagonal in outline. The larger particles, coarser than 2 microns, are predominantly vermicular in outline with a foliated structure. Table I shows a typical chemical analysis of commercial, wet-processed kaolin compared to pure kaolinite.

Jan 11, 1967

By James O. Elton

This paper covers, besides laboratory work, a study of actual operation at the Washoe Smelter over a considerable period of time, together with the results of a visit to the Midvale plant of the United States Smelting & Refining Co., near Salt Lake. For the latter privilege, as well as permission to publish the resulting data herein given, I am indebted to George W. Heintz, General Manager of the Midvale plant, and here take pleasure in expressing my appreciation for the many courtesies extended to me by Mr. Heintz and members of the technical staff at the smelter. Almost all of the world's supply of arsenic is recovered as a byproduct in the smelting of other metals. It is seen 'on the market in various forms, the most common being arsenic trioxide, the " white arsenic " of commerce, which is sold as a heavy white powder, or in white, glassy, translucent masses. The trioxide is used in the manufacture of pigment, glass, and insecticides. About 50 per cent. of the domestic consumption is supplied by imports. Statistics of Arsenic Trioxide in United States.' Production. Consumption. Price Per Pound. Year. Tons. Tons. Cents. 1907..........1.010 5.471 5 1908,.........1,302 6,098 33/4 1909,.........1,007 4,600 2 7/8 1910,.........1,526 5,428 2 1/2 1911,.........3,081 6,539 2 1912,2........ 2,926 Closed at 4 7/8 Arsenic occurs in combitlation with sulphur and the metals in a large number of minerals. It is present in small amounts in many ores. In the roasting and smelting furnaces many of its compounds break down, liberating arsenic trioxide, which is volatilized and carried by the gases into the flue system, where a part is condensed and settles with the flue dust.

Jan 1, 1914

George H. Abeel, Hurley, Wis. (communication to the Secretary) : Doubtless Mr. Boss did not mean to be understood as saying that the dikes of this range are everywhere overlaid with iron-ore. I know of places where the dark, massive dike is found near the surface, but no ore is found on it. And his statement (p. 557) that a wherever the slightest inclination is shown it is always to the east," should be modified to " usually." There are several instances of a westward pitch, e.g., at the Palms, Newport and Odanah properties, and also at the Montreal mine, where we encountered in the ore a small dike pitching west. Mr. Boss's statement (p. 559) that. the ore of the Pence mine lens " has all been removed from the Pence and Father Hennepin lands, and practically from the Montreal property, and is now being wrought by the Montreal Mining Company on the ' Sec. 33' property," does not convey the exact state of the latter company's operations. We are still mining ore on the Montreal property from the lens referred to, and expect to continue doing so for some little time to come. On the other hand, we are getting a shaft down to the ore on the " See. 33 " property, but ye have not yet encountered the dike. This can hardly be considered as working the ore. I do not understand upon what evidence Mr. Boss can consider the correctness of a previous hypothetical location of the dike to have been established " within 2 feet," when the dike has not yet been reached. Possibly he has been misled by hearsay reports.

Jan 1, 1898

THE morning session on non-metallic minerals was opened briefly by the chairman, Oliver Bowles, giving the usual instructions and then turning immediately to the introduction of the speakers. "Min-ing and Preparation of the St. Peter Sandstone in' Arkansas" by D. D. Dunkin was first presented by W. M. Weigel, mining technologist for the Missouri Pacific R. R. The paper covered a discussion of the geology of the sandstone, correlating it with the sand-stones at Klondike, Mo., and at Ottawa, III. Its physical appearance, structural characteristics and thickness; the mining methods, blasting, loading, haulage and classification were taken up. A series of slides aided in clarifying the details. The discussion consisted of questioning Mr. Weigel on operating details. The second paper, "Geology and Mining of Diaspore and Flint Fire-Clays of Missouri," written by H. S. McQueen, geologist with the Missouri Bureau of Geology and Mines, and C. R. Forbes, professor of mining, Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, was presented by Mr. Forbes. It thoroughly covered the geology, stressing the peculiar sink formations in which all diaspore clay deposits of the region occur. The crudeness of the mining methods was mentioned and believed justifiable because of the small size of the indi-vidual deposits. It was stated that the diaspore and flint clay deposits of Missouri were confined to an area 60 mi. square and it was found in a survey that the average deposit had dimensions comparable to the fol-lowing: 100 ft. long, 75 ft. wide and 50 ft. deep. The largest deposit found was 800 ft. long. 500 ft. wide and 20 ft. deep. It is estimated that the known reserve of clays is from 750.000 to 1,500,000 tons. Mr. Forbes stressed the fact that in mining clays the major problem is entirely one of sorting. This is done under the supervision of a pit foreman trained to make this classification by eye. The mine-run clays are sepa-rated into diaspore clay ranging in alumina content from 70 to about 85 per cent, first grade Burly clay 00 to 70 per cent, and Flint clay 52 to 60 per cent. Discussion of the paper consisted in questioning Pro-fessor Forbes on labor. cost, haulage, drilling, and geology.

Jan 3, 1928

By K. H. G. Ashbee, J. W. Heavens

One consequence of the distribution in orientation of Bragg diffracting planes in an elastically bent foil is that simultaneous diffraction occurs from ±g pairs, where g is the reciprocal lattice vector to a diffracting plane. If such Bragg contour pairs are indexed, then the variation in orientation with respect to the incident electron beam is known. This note describes a construction by means of which Bragg contour pairs may be indexed by inspection. Referring to Fig. 1, the Ewald sphere radius is l/h, where is the wavelength of the electron beam, and the half spacing of first-order reciprocal lattice planes is l/d, where d is the corresponding spacing in direct space. The angle subtended by the zero and first-order planes at the center of the Ewald sphere is a = sin-' Thus, to represent a pair of first-order Bragg contours on a stereographic projection, measure ±a from, and along the normal to, the zero-order plane. The traces of the required Bragg contours pass through these points and parallel to the zero-order trace. In practice, it is desirable to enlarge a stereographic projection of the zero-order planes before making the construction. As an example, a stereographic projection of first-order Bragg contours up to line 27 for an fcc crystal is given in Fig. 2; if required, higher-order contours can easily be added. Fig. 2 is, of course, a map of first-order Brillouin zone boundaries. One use of this construction is the measurement of large elastic fields in electron microscope specimens. Fig. 3(a) shows a pattern of Bragg contour pairs due to lattice distortions near a large precipitate. This particular example is of a T-phase precipitate in Hidu-minium 54 (A1 + 6 wt pct Cu, 0.5 wt pct Mn). Foil buckling is produced by annealing during observation and may be evidence for evaporation from the precipitate.' Comparing Figs. 2 and 3(0), it is evident that the axis of high symmetry in Fig. 3(a) is [lll]. The strain in a bent foil is approxinlately t/2r, where / is the foil thickness and ? the radius to which the foil is bent. From the projections of grain boundaries and of helical dislocations, it was estimated that ( - 3000A, and values for ? were obtained from the

Jan 1, 1968

By J. M. Lohr

A COMMERCIAL development requiring a suitable alloy or alloys for sealing into various grades of glass made it desirable to have a more exact knowledge of the expansion characteristics of the nickel-iron alloys than appeared in the published literature. The expansion of the more common. FIG. I.-EXPANSION CURVES OF SEVERAL FIG. 2.-EXPANSION CURVES OF TWO TYPES OF GLASS. (Courtesy of R. C. A.) TYPES OF GLASS. (Courtesy of R. C. A.) types of glass under consideration varies from 2.7 to 10.4 X 10-6 per degree Centigrade, over the range 20° to 400° C. For reference, the thermal expansion curves f several types of glass used for sealing by the lamp and tube industries are given (Figs. 1 and 2). This paper covers a detailed investigation of the thermal expansion of a series of nickel-iron alloys in which the nickel content varies from 30 to 70 per cent. Particular stress is laid on the alloys that contain between 40 and 55 per cent Ni.

Jan 1, 1938

By R. W. Lai, I. Iwasaki

Some physical as well as chemical aspects of the methods of dispersion of various corn starches and their derivatives are investigated and their effects as depressants in anionic silica flotation of iron ores ascertained. The adsorption behavior of starches on hematite and quartz is strongly affected by their molecular sizes as inferred from viscosity measurements. The implication of this behavior on flotation and flocculation is discussed. Mechanical treatment of causticized starch solutions is shown to reduce the starch requirements in flotation appreciably. Starches and starch products have been used as depressants for iron oxides both in amine flotation of siliceous gangue and in soap flotation of activated silica from iron ores. Cooke and his associates1,2,3,4 extensively studied the effects of certain starches and their derivatives in the amine flotation of iron ores at near-neutral pH and found that although most starches were good flocculants for hematite and de- pressed that mineral more or less selectively1,3 they did not flocculate quartz suspensions. Further, that replacement of active groups in corn starch modified its behavior as a flocculant for hematite or quartz suspensions1 and as an iron oxide depressant. Schulz and cooke2 showed that many starches and their derivatives, except aminoethyl starch, were abstracted more effectively by Brazilian hematite than by quartz and that the adsorption of a starch product was strongly dependent on pH and on the presence of calcium ion. In soap flotation of calcium-activated quartz, certain starches and their products have been used to depress iron oxides.5'6 The behavior of these substances in flotation appears at times to be at variance with those previously reported and especially with results obtained in the Mines Experiment Station laboratories. This is attributed, at least in part, to differences in flotation procedure and flowsheets and in the method of preparing the depressant. Most of the investigators referred to above, solubilized the starch products by autoclaving at 120°C. Others have used acid,7 alkali8 or oxidizing agents.9 In view of the limited knowledge of the depressing action of starches and their derivatives in iron ore flotation, particularly in soap flotation of calcium-activated silica at high alkalinity, an extensive study

Jan 1, 1965

By Harry Seltz

SEVERAL investigators have measured the heat capacity of cementite, using different methods of attack, but the agreement between the values obtained cannot be considered good. Naeser1 has made measurements of "average heat capacities" of iron carbide between 1026° and 85° K., using a water calorimeter. His computed true specific heat at 78.1° K. is 11.22 cal. per gram-formula mass, which, if correct, is much too high for any reasonably accurate extrapolation to 0° K. The cementite used by Naeser was obtained from a steel containing 0.9 per cent carbon, by electrolytically dissolving out the iron in a neutral bath of ferrous chloride. The cementite remained as a coarse, crystalline, gray powder. Andes" has measured the specific heat of iron carbide, from 102° to 323° K., as it exists in steel. The specific heats of several slugs of steel of known iron carbide content were determined, and the specific heat of the iron carbide (Fe3C) calculated by plotting specific heat versus percentage of carbon, and extrapolating to pure Fe3C (6.7 per cent C). The heat-capacity values for temperatures below 100° K. were obtained by comparing the temperature-specific heat curve for Fe3C to that of Fe. Since the two were very similar in the range examined experimentally and approach more closely at low temperatures, it was assumed that near the absolute zero the form of the curve for Fe3C would be similar to that of Fe. Andes calculates for the entropy of Fe3C, S298 = 23.55 e.u. The heat of formation of Fe3C has been studied by several workers. Kelley' has reviewed these measurements and calculations, and selects those of Roth4 and Naeser5 as worthy of most consideration. Roth has given ?H = 5400 cal. ± 30 per cent as a result of his own and other work. Naeser has determined the heat of formation from Fe and different forms of carbon, and for graphite (ß) he finds OH = 5600 cal. Kelley accepts the rounded figure ?H = 5500 as the heat of formation at 298.1° K., but this value is quite uncertain.

Jan 1, 1939

By R. E. H. Pomeroy

THE statistical data given in this paper are taken from the actual performance of the No. 2 reverberatory furnace of the Nevada Consolidated Copper Co., Me Gill, Nev., for a period of four months, from April to July, 1914. The principal furnace dimensions are: Length, 132 ft. ½ in. at the skim-line level; average width, 18 ft., 10 in. at the skim-line level. The roof is 7 ft. above the skim-line level at the firing end. The average area in the uptake flue is 36 sq. ft., and the area above the skim line under the vulcatory arch is 24.3 sq. ft. Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic plan and sectional elevation of this furnace. The furnace is equipped with two 400-b.h.p. Stirling waste-heat boilers set in parallel. California crude petroleum is used for fuel and has a specific gravity of 16.5° B., flashing in open test at 199° F. The oil is heated to about 200° F. in a steam heater before going to the burners, requiring about 9 b.h.p. per furnace day to heat it from the line temperature to the burning temperature. Measurement is made by oil meter, checked daily by reservoir readings. The oil is fed by gravity (34 lb. static pressure) to seven low-pressure blast burners of the Steptoe type (Fig. 2). The blast for these burners is supplied at about 40-oz. pressure by a motor-driven Connersville blower of 42 cu. ft. capacity per revolution. The air supplied by the blower through the burners for atomizing the oil amounts to about 10 per cent. of the theoretical air necessary for complete combustion of the oil. The remainder of the necessary air enters the furnace through the burner openings in the firing wall. No checker holes are provided, and the charge holes in the roof are equipped with slide gates and "dog houses? to minimize air leakages. The combustion of the fuel, as shown by gas analysis at the front of the furnace, is practically complete, the carbon monoxide in the gases being less than 0.5 per cent.

Jan 2, 1915

By G. L. Chierici

Starting from Muskat's theory of water and gas coning, maximum permissible oil production rates without water and/or free-gas production have been determined, in a broad range of reservoir and well parameters, using the potentiometric model technique. The main assumptions made are as follows: (1) the reservoir rock is homogeneeous (either isotropic or anisotropic); (2) the volume of the aquifer underlying the oil zone is very small, so that it does not contribute to reservoir energy; and (3) the gas cap expands at a very low rate, so that it can be assumed to be in quasi-static conditions. The results obtained are presented in the form of diagrams which can be used for solving two types of problems: (1) given the reservoir and fluids characteristics, as well as the position and length of the perforated interval, determine the maximum oil production rate without water and/or free-gas production; and (2) given the reservoir and fluids characteristics only, determine the position and length of the perforated interval which optimize the maximum permissible oil production rate, without water and/or free-gas production. INTRODUCTION In oil reservoirs where the oil-bearing formation is underlain by an aquifer which does not participate in the production mechanism, water-coning is a limiting factor to the flow rates of producing wells. Production rates are usually kept to a value that will prevent the water from entering the wells. The entry of water into a well lowers its productivity by increasing the weigbt of the fluid column; moreover, the separation of water from the effluent, at the surface, may constitute a very difficult problem in cases of heavy viscous oils. A similar situation is encountered in oil reservoirs with a gas cap overlying the oil-saturated zone; here a downward gas cone is induced by the flow of oil towards the producing wells. Production rates must be low enough to prevent the gas from being produced; producing gas from the gas cap would be a waste of energy. Of course, water-coning and gas-coning phenomena can occur at the same time in the same reservoir if the oil-producing formation is both overlain by a gas zone and underlain by a water zone. Due to its relevant practical importance, the mechanism of coning was studied by many people.2,3,5-8 Defining the conditions for getting the maximum water-free and/or gas-free oil production rate is a difficult problem, often encountered under one of the following aspects: 1. Predict the maximum flow rate that can be assigned to a completed well without the simultaneous production of water and/or free-gas. 2. Define the optimum length and position of the interval to be perforated in a well, in order to obtain the maximum water and gas-free production rate. A systematic study of these problems was made by means of the electrical analog technique. The results of this study are presented here, under the form of a set of curves providing solutions for the above stated problems. These curves are valid only for homogeneous forrnations, either isotropic or anisotropic. Should the formation be non-homogeneous (by horizontal or vertical variation of permeability, shale diaphragms, fractures, etc.), a specific potentiometric study would be required for each specific case. Especially when shale diaphragms of some radial extension are present, the critical rates observed are much larger than would be expected from the diagrams. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM In the present study the aquifer is supposed to be of such limited volume that it does not contribute to the energy of the reservoir. Moreover, the gas cap is supposed to expand at such a low rate that the potential gradient in the gas cap is negligible. Under static conditions water-oil and gas-oil interfaces (T1 and T2) are both horizontal. When the reservoir production starts, below each well these interfaces take a cone-like shape (Fig. 1) having as an axis the axis of the well. This shape results from the equilibrium between potential gradients in the oil zone and gravitational forces due to density differences between oil and water and between oil and gas. Assuming the oil-bearing formation to be homogeneous and the oil to be incompressible, the analysis of the problem (see Appendix) shows that the oil-water and gas-oil interfaces are stable only if the oil production rate of the well is not higher than the following values.

Jan 1, 1965

The following letter has been received from Prof. Alfred C. Lane, of Tufts College, who is now in charge of the department, of mining in the College of Engineering, American E. F. University, Beaune, France. My DEAR MR. STOUGHTON: I have had a very interesting time here. We were received fast Saturday with great courtesy by the Schneiders at the Creusot plant, and saw many interesting things, from the mammoth guns clown. In one trip I saw a coal mine, an iron mine, an oilshale mine, a gypsum mine, and a most beautiful fluorspar mine. So you see we were not badly located. A mine like Epinac, which has a washery, a briquetting plant, and great central electric plant where coal that might otherwise be waste is converted into electricity and shipped away at 30,000 volts pressure, is of interest mechanically as well as geologically. Many of the French coal seams are very thick here and have especial mining methods. The Department of Mining has been manned by men with whom it was a pleasure and an honor to be associated, as well as with Dean Reber who was in charge of the College of Engineering as a whole. Names like Captain H. C. Ray, former professor at the University of Pittsburgh, on leave in the army, Captain Archbald of the Colliery Engineer at one time, whose work in the Pennsylvania coal mines is well known, Captain Vail of the Engineering and Mining Journal staff and Captain E. C. Dietrich of the Southwest, are familiar to members of the Institute, and Are guarantees of competent instruction.

Jan 7, 1919

By T. S. Taylor

THE development of the linear hot-wire anemometer has been chiefly clue to the efforts of L. V. Kings1 and A. E. Kennelly and H. S. Sanborn.2 The anemometers used by these investigators consisted essentially of a fine heating wire having attached leads for resistance measurements at distances of 10 or more centimeters from each other. In using such an anemometer, the current is measured that is necessary to maintain the resistance of the wire, between the two leads, constant for different air velocities. Thus resistance is always so chosen that the temperature of the heating wire will be sufficiently high to make the observations practically independent of small variations in the temperature of the gas in which the anemometer is placed. The measurement of the resistance of the anemometer wire requires a Kelvin bridge set up, which for commercial work is not altogether desirable. The cooling effect clue to different air velocities depends on the temperature difference between the wire and the gas and the total quantity or mass of gas passing the wire per unit tine. Since the temperature of the wire is maintained constant, the effect observed in the change in the heating currentfor a given change in air velocity is a measure of the difference between the gas flow in the two cases. Such an anemometer, therefore, measures the average gas flow for a length depending on the distance between the two resistance leads. Therefore the instrument in the form used thus far is not very satisfactory for measuring gas velocities in small tubes or in places where the velocity varies rapidly across the line of flow. For the purpose of measuring gas flow through relatively small tubes, where the velocity changes rather rapidly across the tube, the hot-wire anemometer has been modified in the manner shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1. It consists essentially of a platinum heating wire H about 0.007 in. (0.178 mm.) in diameter and ½ to 1 in. (12.7 to 25.4 mm.) long stretched across a suitable framework, say of glass. This wire has

Jan 9, 1919

By William H. Spice

Exploratory drilling in South Central Texas for the year 1944 showed a marked increase over that of 1943 and resulted in a similar increase in new fields discovered. In this area, which comprises the 30 counties included in district No. I, Oil and Gas Division, Railroad Commission of Texas,? 61 exploratory wells were drilled during 1944 as compared with 29 exploratory wells drilled during 1943, or an increase of over 100 per cent. Three new oil fields, two new gas fields and one gas-distillate field were discovered during the year, as compared with one new oil field and one new gas field discovered during 1943. These new fields were the result of exploratory drilling throughout the district along the Wilcox trend and the deeper Edwards lime trend, which was started during the previous year. The Wilcox trend yielded the new Loma iilta-Wilcox oil field and the San Caja gas-* tlistillate field, both in McMullen County. The Charlotte field, in Atascosa County, was discovered along the deeper Edwards lime trend. These three discoveries were of considerable importance and subsequent development should indicate the desirability of continued exploration along these trends. The other three discoveries, United oil field in Guadalupe County, Pederson gas field in Milam County and Van Cleve gas field in Zavalla County, were of minor importance. Charlotte Field, Atascosa County, was discovered by the Humble Oil and Refining Company's No. 3 Pruitt, completcd on Aug. 9, 1944, flowing 176 bbl. per day, 3/16-in. choke, 710 lb. tubing, 475 lb. casing pressures, 37.7º A.P.I. gravity, from the top of the Edwards lime from 6917 to 6923 ft. Two oil wells were completed during the year in this field. This discovery is 14 miles southwest of the same company's Imogene field, also producing from the Edwards lime but with considerable difference in reservoir characteristics. The discovery of this field is the result of surface geology and subsequent seismograph survey of the area. Loma Alta-Wilcox Field, McMullen County, was discovered by the Atlantic Refining Company's No. I Atkinson, completed on June I, 1944, flowing 102 bbl. per day, 9/64-in. choke, 1900 lb. tubing pressure, 37º A.P.I. gravity, from Wilcox sand from 6866 to 6869 ft. after being drilled to a total depth of 7185 ft. This discovery is the result of subsurface geology and an extensive seismograph survey of the entire area. Sun Caja Field, McMullen County, was discovered by Edwin M. Jones No. 2-C Ezzell, completed on June 2, 1944 as a dual completion in the Wilcox sands, flowing 1,740,000 cu. ft. gas with 53 bbl. distillate, 1/4-in. choke, 2035 lb. tubing pressure, 53.2º A.P.I. gravity, from sand 6416 to 6453 ft. and flowing 2,000,000 cu. ft. of gas with 127 bbl. distillate, 1/4-in. choke, 2500 lb. tubing pressure, 50º A.P.I. gravity, from sand 6889 to 6916 ft., after being drilled to a total depth of 7264 ft. Three gas-distillate wells were completed during

Jan 1, 1945