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Jan 1, 1879

By Harrison R. Cooper

This section will outline procedural, statistical, and model applications developed for specific problem solving and for specific applications in beneficiation processes. Iron Ore Processing Introduction of taconite as a basic raw material in the iron ore industry took place with application of high order technical resources for process development and engineering. This investment of resources encouraged computer utilization to maximize efficient use of capital. From this recognition, process control computers have been installed for operations use in the major taconite plants of the iron range. One of these installations, the Minntac Division of U. S. Steel at Mountain Iron, Minnesota, is described in the paper by Chase in these proceedings. Other computer techniques used in taconite processing are outlined by Tuttle, Ahlquist and Carlson, representing Erie Mining. In this volume Tuttle, et al. describe statistical methods for development of information in taconite beneficiation. Statistical methods used in iron ore processing are described by Volin in treating flotation data as outlined in prior proceedings of the symposia and in other publications. 1,2,3 Industrial Minerals The use of linear programming for feed blending at the Carlsbad operation of International Minerals and Chemicals was outlined by Nunnekoven in 1963.4 Subsequent application of this procedure at the Kingston phosphate operation in Florida was described by Loper. Continued development led to installation of an on-line computer in the Kingston plant which reached operational status in 1967.6,7,8 Application of an on-line computer to industrial mineral production accomplished at Kingston is regarded as a milestone in computer use development. Following this achievement, the Cominco potash beneficiation plant near Saskastoon in Canada was automated by installation of an on- line computer programmed to carry out direct digital control functions to effectively operate the plant by process computer. The procedures used in the Cominco operation are described by Madge in this volume. Development of a mathematical model

Jan 1, 1969

By F. F. Sharpless

ARRIVING at Davis Junction, after leaving Portland, we expected to wait for an hour and a half, but found the superintendent of motive power of the Southern Pacific, Mr. Williams, waiting for us with a car, and were immediately taken aboard this and whisked off to Sacramento. After dinner, we were taken to the railroad shops to see their work in reclaiming scrap steel. We saw them draw off the slag from the electric furnace, and later make a casting. At about 11 o'clock, we took the train for Reno. A delegation of the Nevada Section, with Mr. Kirchen and Mr. Rives at its head, met us at the station. Immediately after breakfast, we started for the property of the Comstock Mines Co., where General Bulkeley Wells was to be our host. We had a de-lightful ride out to the mines and through the old city of Virginia, or through what was left of that old city, reaching General Wells' camp at about 10:30. This contains the newest thing in cyanidation and a remarkably fine iron and concrete mill building. After a trip underground, we were called to luncheon, where about 250 sat down. The afternoon was spent in the mill, and we were taken to Gold Hill, which is a part of Virginia City, for dinner, again as the guests of General Wells, who made a consummate toastmaster. Governor Emmet Boyle was the first speaker; he was followed by President Dwight, and then came President William Sproule of the Southern Pacific. A song, "The Engineer," was followed by Senator Key Pittman, Professor Jones of the State University, Mayor Stuart of Reno, and ex-Senator Charles Hend-erson. The president of the Western Pacific and the president of the Pacific Coast Line were there, also many notable operators of Nevada and California.

Jan 11, 1922

By R. J. Schilthuis

In 1929, Coleman, Wilde, and Moore1 undertook an investigation of the theoretical decline in reservoir pressure as related to the production of oil and gas. The most important part of this work was presented in an equation defining the relationship between the reservoir pressure, the quantities of oil and gas produced, the oil and gas content of the reservoir, and the properties of the reservoir fluids. With this equation, it appeared that, with sufficient data, it would be possible to calculate the oil content of the reservoir and predict quantitatively the effect of gas-oil ratio on the decline of reservoir pressure. Needless to say, such an expression would be highly important in evaluating fields and in arriving at a choice of production methods to be used. Unfortunately, at the time these investigators published their work, there were not sufficient data available to permit application of the equation. The technique of measuring reservoir pressures had not been developed, gas measurements were uncommon, oil and water production records were in most cases inadequate, and little was known of the properties of the complex hydrocarbon mixtures making up the oil and gas in the reservoirs. For these reasons, little additional work of a similar nature could be done. However, during the past four years many data have been systematically accumulated on reservoir pressures and the properties of oil and gas, and it is now possible to use these data in furthering the studies on the behavior of oil and gas reservoirs. It is the purpose here: first, to present the derivation of a modified form of the equation given by Coleman, Wilde and Moore, which will permit the calculation of what later will be defined as the "active oil" content of a reservoir; second, to derive formulas for calculating the reservoir-energy changes that occur during the course of production, and finally, to discuss the limitations and application of the equations developed.

Jan 1, 1936

By R. J. Schilthuis

In 1929, Coleman, Wilde, and Moore1 undertook an investigation of the theoretical decline in reservoir pressure as related to the production of oil and gas. The most important part of this work was presented in an equation defining the relationship between the reservoir pressure, the quantities of oil and gas produced, the oil and gas content of the reservoir, and the properties of the reservoir fluids. With this equation, it appeared that, with sufficient data, it would be possible to calculate the oil content of the reservoir and predict quantitatively the effect of gas-oil ratio on the decline of reservoir pressure. Needless to say, such an expression would be highly important in evaluating fields and in arriving at a choice of production methods to be used. Unfortunately, at the time these investigators published their work, there were not sufficient data available to permit application of the equation. The technique of measuring reservoir pressures had not been developed, gas measurements were uncommon, oil and water production records were in most cases inadequate, and little was known of the properties of the complex hydrocarbon mixtures making up the oil and gas in the reservoirs. For these reasons, little additional work of a similar nature could be done. However, during the past four years many data have been systematically accumulated on reservoir pressures and the properties of oil and gas, and it is now possible to use these data in furthering the studies on the behavior of oil and gas reservoirs. It is the purpose here: first, to present the derivation of a modified form of the equation given by Coleman, Wilde and Moore, which will permit the calculation of what later will be defined as the "active oil" content of a reservoir; second, to derive formulas for calculating the reservoir-energy changes that occur during the course of production, and finally, to discuss the limitations and application of the equations developed.

Jan 1, 1936

ALEXANDER, JOHN S, M,'74-6,'81-3 ASHBURNER, C A, M, '85-7 ASMUS, GEORGE, Dl, '78-80 BACON, D H , M, '00-2 BAYLES, JAMES C , M,'80-2,'91-3 P, '84-5, V,'88-9 BIRKINBINE, JOHN, M, '83-5, V, 'S7-J, P, '91-2 BLAIR, THOMAS S , M, '74-43 BLAKE, WILLIAM P , V,'71-4,'76-7,'05-6 BLANDY, JOHN F, V,'71-3,'78-9 BLOW, A A, C, '05-7 BOWIE, A J , JR, V,'93-4 BRAMWELL, J H , A1, '89-91 BROOKS, THOS B , M, '72 BRUNTON, D W , V, 97-8 BUCK, STUART M , M, '83-5 BURDEN, JAMES A, V,'80-1 BURNHAM, WILLIAM, M, '82-4. CAMPBELL, H H, M, '93-5 CHAMBERLAIN, H S , V, '96-7 CHANNING, J PARKE, V,'08 CHRISTY, S B , V. '91-2, '07-8 CHURCH, JOHN A, M, '79-8l,'94-6, V, '07-8 COGSWELL, W B, V, '74-5,'86-7

Jan 1, 1910

By J. S. Lasater

Resu1ts of experinmental measurernents of heat capacities and thermal conductivities of some typical porous rocks are presented. Measured heat capacities agree closely with va1ues calculated front known chenlical . compositions of the rocks. On the basis of this agreement, heat capacitir.7 of fluid-satttrated rocks were calc~ililted. Therrnal conductivities of the rock samples were measured under varioits conditions of fluid saturation. From these data therrnal dif-fvsivities were calculated. A significant variation of thermal diflusivity with trnlperature is indicated. Knowledge of the thermal characteristics of fluid-bearing porous rocks has become increasingly important with the development of thermal oil-recovery processes. Reliable thermal data for petroleum reservoir rocks are not available and approximate values are generally assumed for reservoir calculations. 'The effects of temperature, pressure and fluid saturation on thermal properties of porous rocks have not been carefully studied. The purpose of the present work was to measure and report the thermal characteristics of some typical porous rocks. A group of eight sedimentary rock samples, including limestone, shale, sandstone and silt-stone, was selected for the study. Properties reported include heat capacities, thermal conductivities and thermal diffusivities. The effect of fluid saturation on these properties was also considered. Determinations of thermal properties require precise measurements which are time consuming and difficult to reduce to a routine basis. Methods have not been developed for measurement of thermal proper-ties under conditions of pressure, temperature, and fluid saturation, which may be encountered in thermal recovery processes. As one approach to these problems, some preliminary work on methods of estimating thermal properties from other more readily measurable characteristics of the rock-fluid system is reported. The samples selected for the studies were oilfield cores from within, or closely associated with oil-productive zones. Descriptions of individual samples are given in Table 1. Clay minerals present in the samples were determined by differential thermal analysis (DTA). Quartz content was estimated from DTA cooling curves. For all but the thermal conductivity tests, a representative 200-gm sample of each core was disaggregated, thoroughly extracted in diox-ane and oven dried at 100°C. The cleaned and dried sample was care- fully split into appropriate portions for the several tests. Chemical analyses of the samples were obtained to permit calculations of heat capacities by methods which are outlined later. Resuits of chenlical analyses are given in Table 2. Heat contents of the test samples were measured by a Runsen-type calorimeter. The heat content of the unknown sample is measured relative to the known heat content of platinum. The apparatus is referred to as a relative error type because of the comparative measurements, and has the advantage of canceling systematic errors. Experimental results are reproducible within 0.5 per cent. A temperature base of 298.16 K is taken for heat content measurements. Measurements were made at five temperatures (260, 440, 620, 800 and 980° F). It was necessary to preheal the sample above the maximum experimental temperature to eliminate volatile constituents. Assuming the weight loss on pre-heat, ing was mostly water, a correction to the observed heat content was made to account for the water originally present in the sample. This latter procedure was followed in the determination of calculated heat contents as will be described later. The apparatus and the method of measure-

By Ralph Hultgren

FEW phase diagrams of alloys composed of two transition metals have been adequately studied, probably because of the high melting points involved. Transition metals are the elements that have inner shells incompletely filled with electrons. They comprise groups IIIa to VIIIa of the periodic table, including more than half of all metals. We have chosen to study two systems whose comparatively low melting points allowed the alloys to be melted in a molybdenum resistance furnace. The nickel-palladium system proved to consist of a simple series of solid solutions, but iron-palladium manifested several remarkable features. The main characteristics of the latter diagram were decisively established, but lack of time prevented precise determination of phase boundaries. The gamma to alpha transformation in this system is unusual and warrants further study. Grigorjew1 determined the liquidus and solidus of the iron-palladium system by thermal methods. He found a minimum melting point, but no eutectic. He also found that palladium lowered the gamma to alpha and raised the gamma to delta transformation temperatures of iron, with a complete series of solid solutions existing between gamma iron and palladium. His measurements also indicated a compound or super-lattice near the composition FePd3. Jellinghaus2 found that annealing at 500° C. greatly increased the magnetic coercive force of an alloy of composition FePd. X-ray dif-fraction photographs showed that a tetragonal ordered phase had formed during the anneal.

Jan 1, 1939

By A. Boltax

Precipitation processes occurring during both furnace cooling and aging of copper-iron albys were studied by means of electrical and magnetic measurements. On furnace cooling, two distinct stages in the precipitation process were detected; one occurring above and the other below 850° C. The kinetics of precipitation from quenched alloys were studied between 200° and 700°C. The reaction appears to be consistent with the concept of tmcleation of precipitate particles at dislocation loops formed by the clustering of quenched-in vacancies. A study Of in copper-iron alloys is particularly interesting because the combination of magnetic and electrical properties in these allovs provides a quantitative means of following the course of the precipitation reaction. (The details of precip-

Jan 1, 1961

By V. C. Perini

The 1943 designation of districts for the Transactions† has caused some confusion because of the elimination of the West Central Texas district and the allocation of the counties of this district to the North Texas district and the North Central Texas district. The North Central Texas district as herein defined includes the counties of Brown, Callahan, Cole-man, Comanche, Coryell, Eastland, Erath, Fisher, Hamilton, Hood, Jones, Lampasas, Mills, Nolan, Palo Pinto, Parker, San Saba, Shackelford, Stephens, Stonewall, Summerville, Taylor, Throckmorton and Wise. These counties as listed are the counties of District 7B, State Railroad Commission. This district covers the south central crest and the west flank of the Bend flexure north of the Llano uplift. The west flank of the Bend flexure is on the east boundary of the Permian Basin of West Texas. The North Texas district, District No. 9, State Railroad Commission, includes the counties of Archer, Clay, Cooke, Foard, Hardeman, Jack, Knox, Montague, Wichita, Wilbarger and Young. The area of this district covers the crest and south flank of the Red River uplift and the north central crest of the Bend flexure. The greater part of the oil and gas produced in the past from the North Central Texas district has been from Pennsyl-vanian strata. Some oil and gas has been produced from the lower Permian (by the latest selection of the Pennsylvanian-Permian boundary') and minor amounts from the Mississippian and Ordovician sediments. Increasingly important quantities of oil and gas are to be expected from the older sediments by deeper development in proven fields and by new discoveries. Most of the oil and gas in the district has accumulated in localized, well-defined structural traps in limestone and sandstone reservoirs and in traps due to stratigraphic changes in sedimentation, mainly porosity traps in limestone and sandstone lenses, both usually associated with some structural feature. The Stripper Well Premium Plan as adopted by the office of the Federal Price Administrator has been an aid to the producers of stripper wells. The producers are pleased to receive the subsidy to prolong the plugging of wells, but they are not too pleased with the subsidy plan in principle. Most independent operators are in favor of, and think they are entitled to, an increase in the market price for oil. The price is not adequate to meet the requirements of the average independent operator with the continued advance in production, development and wildcatting costs. Old and new pipe lines for oil and gas leading out of the state are removing reserves at an alarming rate. Curves showing the rate of discovery versus production and pipe-line deliveries in and out of the state make a cross that sooner or later will be fatal to the state. Wildcatting not only needs a price increase but every other available incentive and encouragement.

Jan 1, 1945

By G. R. Lehman

The Inspiration Consolidated Copper Co. had an orebody at Miami, Ariz., of close to 100,000,000 tons of low-grade copper ore, and the method of mining this ore most profitably was of great importance. The selection of a method was practically limited to a "top-slicing," a "shrinkage-stope" or a "caving" method. The "top-slicing" method would give a high extraction of the developed ore, at a high mining cost, and the "shrinkage-stope" or "caving" methods a lower extraction of the developed ore, at a lower mining cost. Ore-Drawing Tests To decide on the method to be used it was necessary to know about what extraction of the ore could be obtained by the "shrinkage-stope" or " caving " methods. As no definite information regarding the,question was available at the time, C. E. Mills, the general manager, thought that some information could be obtained by experimenting in drawing ore, covered with capping, from an experimental box. Some work had already been done along these lines by W. C. Browning for the Inspiration Copper Co. and by myself for the Live Oak Development Co. The idea was to represent as nearly as possible, in the experimental box, the conditions within an area of caved stopes of caved ore all ready for drawing. That is, the area was supposed to represent a semibroken mass with the capping above it in the same condition and ready to follow the ore downward as it was drawn out of the chutes under the ore. To represent the above condition, in the experimental box, crushed ore from the mine was placed in it to a given height, and red barren capping from the mine was placed on top of the ore. The Experimental Box The experimental box shown in Fig. 1 was made of wood and glass. The glass was used for the sides so that the drawing action of the outside row of chutes could be seen and noted, the latter being cut in the center by the glass sides. The length of the box was 30 in., width 20 in. and the

Jan 1, 1917

By V. G. Mooradian

THE diffusion of metal atoms into the crystal lattice of another metal and the assumption of regular positions to form a homogeneous alloy are some of the most fundamental phenomena of structural metallurgy. The mechanism of this process has been the subject of a great deal of study from many viewpoints, but the picture is still far from complete. It is generally believed that if one metal is to diffuse into another, the first must have some solubility in the second1. This means that the solvent must be able to accommodate the stranger atoms, either on points of its own lattice or in the interstices between, without losing its own crystal-lographic identity. It is also a general observation that cold-working is a distinct aid in the diffusion process, causing it to take place with greater rapidity at the same temperature or with the same speed at a lower temperature. There is considerable doubt, however, as to the real significance of the deformation in its effect on the diffusion mechanism. Several factors associated with the cold-working may be responsible for the increased diffusion rate. The plastic deformation causes a distor-tion of the solvent lattice, which may be an aid in the assimulation of atoms of another kind. There are many references2 in the literature that suggest that some distortion or "loosening" of the lattice is necessary for atomic migration and that diffusion cannot take place in the undis-

Jan 1, 1935

By Etienne A. Ritter

The Evergreen mine, located at Apex, in the northern part of Gilpin county, Colorado, has opened a very peculiar and interesting copper-deposit, in which both bornite and chalcopyrite occur as rock-minerals. The country-rocks are crystalline schists cut by dikes of granu-lite and of pegmatite. At the Evergreen property they have been cut by a dike of a uew kind of eruptive rock, to which I have given the name " Evergreenite." The rock is composed of quartz, alkali feldspars, orthoclase and albite (often interlocked as microperthite), with augite of the ægirine variety and long needles of enstatite and diallage. For reasons stated below, I believe the dike to be of Tertiary age. It is easily traced on the surface of the ground, from a point in the bottom of Pine creek, about a mile below Apex, to the top of Nevada hill, 1,500 ft. beyond and 600 ft. above it. (See Fig. 1.) It varies from 3 to 12 ft. in width, and is bounded on both sides by contact-zones about 60 ft. wide, in which the crystalline schists have been changed into pseudo-quartzites or pseudo-gneisees, according to the injection of an excess of quartz or of feldspars through the special layer of the schists. The most interesting feature is the presence of the pyroxenes, which are always found, though in very variable proportions from place to place, in the layers of these metamorphosed crystalline schists. The dike has torn from its walls a large number of fragments of the wall-rock. It must have been in a viscous state when that happened, because these fragments of the wall-rock do not show any sign of resorption or of assimilation by the magma. In places they are so distinct and so numerous that the rock looks to the naked eye like a pseudo-breccia, of which, never-

Jan 1, 1908

By W. E. Keck, W. C. Lowry, G. C. Eggleston

The potential iron ores of Michigan can be classified from the stand-point of the predominant impurities into siliceous, sulphurous and phos-pllorous ores. Research on the flotation of each of these classes of ore was carried out in the following manner. The flotative properties of the valuable minerals of iron and of the worthless and deleterious ones were first determined under carefully controlled conditions. This information was then applied to synthetic mixtures of these minerals, which simulated the potential ores. Finally, data obtained during the two foregoing stages of the investigation were used in the flotation beneficiation of samples of the potential ores. Hematite is the most important mineral of iron in each of the above classes of iron ores. This paper deals with a study of that mineral in the very nearly pure state. There are two varieties of the mineral—specular hematite and massive hematite. The latter is the principal variety, but the former is an impor-tant' mineral of iron in some of the potential ores. Because of this condition, flotation research was performed with both varieties. This research consisted essentially of: (I) a survey of the literature on hematite flotation, (2) the preparation of pure massive hematite, (3) the preparation of pure specular hematite, (4) the development of a laboratory procedure and (5) flotation experimentation. For the purpose of this discussion, the results of previous work on the flotative properties of hematite can be summarized as follows: Specular hematite has been readily floated with terpineol and sodium oleate or heptylic acid1. Further, hematite has been likewise floated with a proprietary frother and oleic acid or other soluble oils2. Finally, lead nitrate, copper sulphate, silver nitrate, chromium nitrate, mercuric chloride, ferric

Jan 1, 1939

By G. C. Eggleston, W. E. Keck, W. C. Lowry

The potential iron ores of Michigan can be classified from the stand-point of the predominant impurities into siliceous, sulphurous and phos-pllorous ores. Research on the flotation of each of these classes of ore was carried out in the following manner. The flotative properties of the valuable minerals of iron and of the worthless and deleterious ones were first determined under carefully controlled conditions. This information was then applied to synthetic mixtures of these minerals, which simulated the potential ores. Finally, data obtained during the two foregoing stages of the investigation were used in the flotation beneficiation of samples of the potential ores. Hematite is the most important mineral of iron in each of the above classes of iron ores. This paper deals with a study of that mineral in the very nearly pure state. There are two varieties of the mineral—specular hematite and massive hematite. The latter is the principal variety, but the former is an impor-tant' mineral of iron in some of the potential ores. Because of this condition, flotation research was performed with both varieties. This research consisted essentially of: (I) a survey of the literature on hematite flotation, (2) the preparation of pure massive hematite, (3) the preparation of pure specular hematite, (4) the development of a laboratory procedure and (5) flotation experimentation. For the purpose of this discussion, the results of previous work on the flotative properties of hematite can be summarized as follows: Specular hematite has been readily floated with terpineol and sodium oleate or heptylic acid1. Further, hematite has been likewise floated with a proprietary frother and oleic acid or other soluble oils2. Finally, lead nitrate, copper sulphate, silver nitrate, chromium nitrate, mercuric chloride, ferric

Jan 1, 1939

By H. H. Hausner, H. S. Kalish

IN recent years zirconium and beryllium have become of great interest because of their special properties. Zirconium is known for its remarkable ability to absorb the gases oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen, has extensive use as a getter in electron tubes and has indeed become the primary metal in the manufacture of photoflash bulbs. Beryllium is of interest because it is light metal and as such could supplement aluminum and magnesium in light metal applications. The late development of zirconium ductile at room temperature produced by both the iodide and calcium reduction methods has stimulated frequent articles on this metal in the recent literature. Beryllium is so closely akin to zirconium crystall-ographically that some investigators are of the opinion that beryllium should be ductile at room temperature if it were pure enough. The crystallographic relationship of beryllium and zirconium, the interest created in Be-Zr alloys where the zirconium is believed to function as a remover of solid solution gas in beryllium and thus increase the ductility of the beryllium rich alloy, and the amenability of these metals to powder metallurgy methods stimulated this approach to an investigation of the system Be-Zr. Preliminary work showed that a zirconium compact melted when pressed in contact with a beryllium compact and sintered at 1250°C, without any apparent final bond between the two. A search of the literature revealed nothing pertinent about the Zr-Be system or about any zirconium - beryllium alloys. In 1936 Misch³ vaguely identified the compound ZrBe2 and reported that it has a deformed cubic structure. Two patents," , were issued to Mach-lett Laboratories in 1943 and in 1946 regarding the addition of small amounts of zirconium to beryllium in order to improve the ductility of beryllium so that it may better be used for X ray windows. In considering the alloy formation of beryllium with other metals Raynor thought it unlikely that zirconium would have any solid solubility in beryllium. From this indefinite information nothing could be ascertained about the possible use of Zr-Be alloys or the use of these metals intimately. A brief preliminary study of the system Zr-Be by powder metallurgy methods was undertaken to provide regions for more intense studies of Zr-Be alloys and as a guide to a formal phase diagram determination. The investigation described in the following pages was completed in less than three weeks. The usefulness of this rapid method to facilitate phase diagram studies and new alloy investigations will be shown. Materials and Procedure Zirconium powder was produced from crystal bar stock of high purity supplied by Foote Mineral Co. The crystal bar was converted to hydride at 730°C, crushed, and the hydride decomposed in purified argon at 850°C. 60 pct of the powder passed through a 325 mesh screen, 40 pct of the powder was —140 mesh, +325 mesh and the average particle size of the total was 8 to 12 microns. The beryllium powder was used as re-

Jan 1, 1951

PORPHYRY mining in the Bisbee district in Arizona did not begin until 1923, though Bisbee had been the scene of profitable copper-mining operations since 1880, and during the interval had contributed roughly 2,000,000,000 lb. of copper to the world's supply. At that time it ranked third among the copper districts of the United States, first place for total production going to Butte, Montana, and second to the district centering around Calumet, Michigan. Bisbee's production had come from the so-called "limestone" mines operated principally by the Phelps Dodge Corporation and the Calumet & Arizona Mining Co. Each of these companies had a large smelting plant at Douglas, 25 miles southeast of Bisbee on the Mexican border. The town of Douglas owed its existence primarily to the copper mines of Bisbee, the particular location having been determined, first, by the fact that water in adequate supply could be obtained by sinking wells; and, second, by its position about equally distant from Bisbee and the mines in Sonora, Mexico, of the Moctezuma Copper Co., a Phelps Dodge subsidiary. Three partners, Martin, Reilly, and Ballard, conducted the first operations of consequence at Bisbee about 1880; and in 1881 a smelting plant consisting of two 36 in. water-jacketed blast furnaces was erected near by. The ore came from open-cut workings on the later-to-be-famous Queen orebody. The furnace charge is said to have averaged 23 per cent copper-twice as rich as the concentrates from the mills and four times as rich as the smelting ore shipped from Bisbee in recent years. As early as 1881, disputes arose among owners of various claims, and groups of claims, over the ownership of orebodies under the law of apex and extra-lateral rights. This law gives a miner the right to follow his vein downward on its dip, even

Jan 1, 1933

By Eugene N. Cameron

Pegmatites of these areas have become important sources of beryl and lepidolite and have yielded cassiterite, columbite-tantalite, and other minerals. Examination of about 60 of these pegmatites leads the author to question the opinion of earlier investigators that the concentrations of beryl, lepidolite, and columbite-tantalite found have mostly formed by hydrothermal or pneumatolytic replacement of previously formed quartz-feldspar pegmatites. The author concludes, on the contrary, that present knowledge of the occurrence of minerals in zoned pegmatites can be applied to prospecting and mining of pegmatite deposits in these two areas of South West Africa. PEGMATITES occur in abundance in certain areas of South West Africa and in adjacent parts of northern Cape Province in the Union of South Africa. Some of the pegmatite deposits were prospected before World War I, and intermittent mining was done during the period between the two World Wars. The deposits of the Jooste lithium mines became an important source of lepidolite, and beryl, columbite-tantalite, wolframite, and other minerals were produced. Since World War II prospecting and mining have been carried on vigorously, with the result that South West Africa produced nearly 3000 tons of beryl during 1949 through 1953, together with more than 40,000 tons of lithium minerals, chiefly lepidolite and petalite. Small amounts of tantalite, columbite, and other minerals have also been produced during the postwar period. Most of this mineral production has come from two pegmatite areas roughly outlined in Fig. 1. One is the Karibib-Omaruru area of north central South West Africa. The second is the northeastern part of the Orange River pegmatite area, which extends into adjacent parts of Namaqualand, in northern Cape Province of the Union of South Africa. The writer visited the two pegmatite areas in July 1951. The visit was brief. but it gave an opportunity to compare some of the' pegmatites of these areas with those studied and described in detail by many investigators in the U. S., Brazil, and Canada during and since World War 11.'-l' The writer has attempted to determine, in a preliminary way, whether the concepts of internal structure and distribution of minerals in pegmatite bodies developed out of these studies are applicable to prospecting and exploration of pegmatites in South West Africa. Previous Work In an important series of papers (1929 to 1942) T. W. Gevers, H. I?. Frommurze, S. H. Haughton, G. K. Joubert, and other geologists of the Geological Survey of South Africa described and discussed the pegmatites of the two areas.*-" These works are the principal sources of information on the pegmatite mineral deposits of South West Africa. The investigations showed that in the two areas pegmatites are profusely distributed in pre-Cambrian rocks. These rocks are meta-igneous and metasedimentary units that have been folded and subsequently invaded by younger pre-Cambrian granites and by other igneous rocks. The pegmatites are considered to be genetically related to the pre-Cambrian granites. Pegmatites occur in the granite bodies themselves but are most abundant in the surrounding metamor-phic rocks, a pattern repeated in many pegmatite districts of the world. The origin of the pegmatites and the factors controlling the occurrence of mineral deposits in them were discussed at length by Gevers and Frommurze (1929)" and later by Gevers 14, 15 pp. 41-51, Ref.

Jan 1, 1956

By James Terry Duce

The symposium on production for the year 1940 contains few papers on the foreign situation. It is probable that the foreign part of next year's symposium will be even shorter. This is due to rigid censorship in various countries, as the question of the volume of petroleum supplies has become one of great strategic importance. This is even more true than in the last war, owing to greater mechanization of armies. 'It has always been the policy of officers in charge of the symposium to refrain from publishing information that might possibly injure national or private interests. At the close of the war we hope again to publish full and accurate records of production abroad. Excerpts from Circular to Authors In order to facilitate interpretation of the data in this chapter, we print the following excerpts from the Circular to Authors. The field is the unit in this tabulation. In cases of fields extending across State boundaries, such as Rodessa, it is suggested that each State author treat the section of the field in his State as a unit, and by a footnote indicate that the field extends into an adjacent State. Each space in Table I may represent one of four possibilities; either it is not applicable to the particular field, or the proper entry is not determinable, or the proper entry may be determinable but is not determinable from data available to the author, or the proper entry is determinable. When spaces are not applicable, leave blank; in spaces where the proper entries are determinable but not de-terminable frod data available to the author, please inserty; in spaces where the proper entries are determinable by the author, make such entries. y implies a hope that in some future year a definite figure will be available. The entry of a zero is a positive declaration, and an important declaration where it is in order. Inability to determine precisely the correct entry for a particular space should not lead the author to insert merely y. Contributions of great value may be made by the author in many cases where entries are not subject to precise determination. In sucli cases the author should use his good judgment and make the best entry possible under the circumstances. For many spaces the correct entries represent the opinion of the author (for example, "Area Proved') and in such cases the entry need not be hedged to such extent as when the quantities are definite yet can be ascertained only approximately by the author. In cases under definite headings but where figures are only approximate, the author may use x. It is thought that the nearest whole numbers are sufficiently accurate for our purposes except as to percentage of sulphur in oil. If an author desires to report any other figures to tenths, he may do so. The quantity of gas produced should include, where possible, gas sold or otherwise marketed, and gas blown into the air, burned as flares or otherwise wasted. Segregation of these figures would be interesting if the authors can make such segregation. In any event, the figures should represent as nearly as possible the total quantity of gas removed from the reservoir. Under the columns on "Depth," the average depth to the top of the productive zones and to the bottom of the productive wells, when

Jan 1, 1941

By John Birkinbine

Through the partiality of my fellow-members I have been able, during seven years' service on the Council of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, to note the development of technical societies, a subject which commends itself as an appropriate theme for me, in retiring from the office of President, at a time when we meet in convention with Canadian technical societies. Our next assembly, called at Chicago at the time fixed for an International Engineering Congress, offers additional reason for the selection of this topic. If subsequent statements appear to give to the American Institute of Mining Engineers greater prominence than to kindred organizations, they may be excused upon the ground of long association with and loyalty to its members, and to a personal knowledge of their work. Besides, data as to its growth and development are more accessible; and at a meeting of the Institute features connected with it may be considered as of greater immediate interest than those affecting other organizations. The purpose of this address is, however, to use the record of the Institute as indicating a similar development of other technical societies, rather than to claim preeminence for any organization; the work of each must speak for it. There is a general tendency to form associations at the present time. Organizations have been created and are active in every profession and in all branches of labor, trade, industry, commerce, manufactures, science and art. A record of such associations and their aggregate membership would be startling, and would show how large a percentage of the population of North America is connected with one or more of them; but the figures cannot be even approximately estimated. The class of associations representing national, state, or local trade interests, such as boards of trade, chambers of commerce, etc., may be used as an illustration. A late report shows that in the

Jan 1, 1893