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By Frederick G. Tickell

GEOLOGISTS have been quick to adopt new methods in locating new oil fields and in finding the extensions, laterally or at depth, of the old fields. For most of these new methods he is indebted to the physicist, the engineer, and the chemist, although he has also drawn from such ordinarily unrelated sciences as bacteriology and protozoölogy. These last-named sciences have been of help in problems dealing with the origin of petroleum and, although not of direct application to oil finding, have furnished evidence of value in learning what oil is made from and what are the natural agencies involved in its formation.

Jan 1, 1932

By Kim Beattie

IN spite of the fact that in 1944 Canada experienced a decline in production of all her leading base metals-nickel, zinc, lead, and copper; despite uncured headaches in the coal-mining industry; and cheerfully ignoring a still further drop in gold, the most valuable product of her mines, which had the lowest output of any year since 1931, the Canadian miner retains the traditional optimism of miners everywhere as he looks forward to the postwar period. Some factors should keep the Canadian mining industry from being too optimistic of the coming era of peace, but the fraternity generally holds that its confident attitude towards the future is based on sound reasons. The decline in production in the Canadian mining industry last year can be almost wholly attributed to the serious shortage of labor and the difficulty in obtaining transport and supplies in remote areas. Some falling off occurred in the demand for certain strategic metals, but the diversion of gold miners, especially, without replacements being obtainable, to direct war work or allied pursuits, was certainly the principal cause of the reduced output in 1944. But that is a situation which will right itself at the close of the conflict.

Jan 1, 1945

By Basil B. Zavoico

The symposium on production for the year 1942 contains no papers on the foreign situation except those on Argentina and Mexico. 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 determinable from data available to the author, please insert y; in spaces where the proper entries are determinable by the author, make such entries. y implies a Rope that in some future year a definite figure will be available. The entry of a zero is a positive declaration, and it is 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 such 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 subtracted, should give the approximate thickness of the productive zone. For fields where this is not true because of unusually high dip or for some other reasons, it is suggested that the authors indicate in their text the approximate average thickness of the productive zone.

Jan 1, 1943

By Bieniawski, Z. T.

The importance of understanding the phenomena associated with rock fracture has long been fully appreciated in rock mechanics. This is clearly apparent from the special attention paid to rock fracture in the comprehensive papers published within the past four years. These papers present a picture of how the knowledge of brittle fracture of rock was gradually enriched and also show that what was often taken for granted three or four years ago is no longer considered as valid today.

Jan 1, 1972

Jan 1, 1908

By John A. Gann

WITHIN a very few years magnesium has sprung from oblivion, from classification as a technically unknown, little appreciated, and expensive material to front-page importance in many fields of engineering. Bunsen may be considered the real founder of our present magnesium industry. In 1852; he prepared this metal by the electrolysis of fused magnesium chloride in a porcelain crucible. In the following years the electro¬lytic process became recognized as superior to chemical reduction methods and Germany became the world's chief producer, installing the first electrolytic magnesium plant in 1886. ' Thirty years later, national defense requirements, occasioned by the outbreak of the World War and the cutting off of imports, caused France, England, and the United States to begin production. Most of this magnesium was used for military purposes so the close of the war resulted in a large curtailment in production. A few companies, however, encouraged by the early success of the Germans and by the rapid developments taking place in aeronautics, and confident in the certain future and ultimate value of this metal, undertook extensive re¬searches in its production and utilization. A variety of production methods, both chemical and electrochemical, were investigated and some of them operated on a commercial scale. Reduction of the oxide with carbon at high temperatures and the electrolysis of the oxide in a fluoride

Jan 1, 1932

By AIME AIME

A DOCUMENT of progress and of great interest to engineers is the report of the Military Affairs Committee of 'the Engineering Council, which has just been accepted and sent to the secretary of War. It provides .a plan whereby civilian engineers holding commissions in the Reserve Corps may; with their con- sent, be called into service of the army during peace at any time, either with troops in the field or in a consulting capacity on any government engineering work. The Military Affairs Committee finds ample authority in the military bill passed by Congress on June 4, 1920, for this arrangement and also for extending the privilege to military engineer, officer-s of the regular army to engage in civilian work during times of peace. It is hoped that the Secretary of War will adopt the suggestions and put the program outlined into effect. This is a constructive piece of work comparable to the efforts of the military Committee before the war which developed so much in the way of preparedness, particularly in the program of military lectures which, held in the auditorium in the Engineering Societies Building, became so popular that each lecture had

Jan 1, 1920

By Harlowe Hardinge, R. C. Ferguson

Laboratory and plant data covering 12 different operations show that lower than "standard" ball mill speeds increase grinding efficiency. In the case of high pulp-level mills, the gain is so great that the increase in capital cost of the larger lower speed mill will pay for itself in less than a year's time.

Jan 1, 1950

By D. C. Porterfield

ProUuction of crude oil in Venezuela increased from 186,134,000 bbl. in 1940 to 2~8,131,ooo bbl. in 1941, or 22.6 per cent, to establish a new all-time high for the country. While the average production for the year was 625,000 bbl. per day, production during the month of December 1941 averaged 751,000 bbl. per day, and during the last week of the year, 766,000 bbl. per day. Production from the Lake Maracaibo basin averaged 454,000 bbl. per day during the year, or 72 per cent of the total for the country, compared with 73 per cent of the total produced in 1940. Drilling during the year was approximately on the same scale as in 1940, with 438 wells completed in 1941 as compared with 429 the year before. Exploratory completions decreased from 18 in 1940 to 6 in 1941. Of the drilling operations in 1941, 56 per cent was concentrated in the Lake Maracaibo basin and 44 per cent in eastern Venezuela, success being 98 per cent in the Lake basin and 83 per cent in the east. Successful completions for the country as a whole amounted to 92 per cent of the total wells drilled. Exploratory drilling in 1941 resulted in the discovery of three new fields, all in eastern Venezuela; viz., Guara, about II km. to the northeast of the Oficina field but on a separate structure; Santa Rosa, which is east of El Roble field on a structure forming a part of the major Santa -Ana- San Joaquin-El Roble uplift; and Santa Barbara, which is southwest of the Jusepin field on an extension of the main Jusepin anticline. At the close of the year three wildcats were drilling, all of which showed prospects of obtaining production; that is, Mercedes No, 2 in central Guarico, Las Ollas No. I on the Anzoategui-Guarico border near the town of Zaraza, and Quiamare No. I in Anzoategui northeast of the town of San Mateo. In spite of heavy withdrawals and the resultant natural decline in the potentials of older producing areas, new drilling during the year increased the potential production of the country from an estimated 780,000 bbl. per day at the end of 1940 to an estimated 810,000 bbl. per day at the end of 1941, or approximately 4 per cent. Since domestic consumption of petroleum products is insignificant compared with total production, exports of crude and products during the year increased in line with production. Crude exports totaled 196,800,000 bbl., compared with 158,400,-000 bbl. in 1940, and exports of products were 26,100,000 bbl., compared with 21,900,000 bbl. the year before. Exports of crude from Venezuela to the United States amounted to 36,500,000 bbl. In addition, about 2,200,000 bbl. was imported in bond into the United States for transfer to Canada. Total refining capacity of the country in 1941 was approximately 125,000 bbl. per day, including a crude-conversion plant with a capacity of 32,000 bbl. per day, capable of making fuel oil only. Three plants with a capacity of 121,000 bbl. Per

Jan 1, 1945

By W. Tempelaar Lietz

The Ten Section oil field is located in the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. about 12 miles southwest of Bakersfield in Township 30 South, Ranges 25 and 26 East. The accumulation is in a low relief anticlinal dome and has a productive area of approximately 2,200 acres. Discovered in 1936 as a result of seismic work, it was the first field on the floor of the Valley to obtain production. It had a small primary gas cap, and since its inception has been produced by depletion with controlled withdrawal from the gas cap to minimize blowthrough. STRUCTURE AND STRATIGRAPHY The Ten Section structure is an elongated anticlinal dome with flank dips of only about 7 degrees. A map of the field, now fully developed, and a composite log are shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Contours shown on the map are on the top of the first zone, or Marker XA as indicated on the composite log. As shown, the field has a productive closure of only some 350 feet, and there apparently is no faulting in the reservoir. The productive measures in Ten Section are of Upper Miocene age and are known as the Stevens sand. They contain thin, irregular shale or siltstone streaks which vary considerably in stratigraphic position and thickness and apparently are rather discontinuous. As a result, individual sands and shales cannot be correlated over any appreciable area, which makes it difficult to subdivide the sand body into separate zones which are distinct throughout the field. However, there are two fairly persistent siltstone bodies that at the time of development were considered to divide the productive measures into three - zones. The first, or uppermost zone is productive over the entire field and has an average thickness of 180 feet, of which some 65 per cent is sand. It had a primary. gas cap in the crestal area with an areal extent of 930 acres. The second zone has a productive area somewhat smaller than the first zone, but it did not have any original gas cap. It has an average thickness of about 360 feet, of which 55 per cent is sand. The third zone has a very limited areal extent and a maximum productive thickness of 100 feet, of which 80 per cent is sand. Recently, a deeper oil accumulation, termed the "53" sand, was discovered, but it is not discussed in this analysis. In the first and second zones the water table was at 7,980 feet subsea, while in the third zone it was at 8,080 feet subsea. RESERVOIR CHARACTERISTICS Sand Characteristics The Stevens sand in Ten Section is hard and well consolidated, and numerous wells were cored for core analysis. Core data on four representative wells are shown, plotted beside the electric logs in Figs. 3 to 6. The average porosity is 20 per cent, with porosities ranging from 15 to 30 per cent. It is estimated, from cores taken with oil base muds, that the interstitial water content is about 40 per cent. The average weighted permeability is approximately 140, with measured permeabilities ranging from 10 to 3,000 md. As might be expected with practically no correlation of individual sand

Jan 1, 1949

By W. Tempelaar Lietz

The Ten Section oil field is located in the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. about 12 miles southwest of Bakersfield in Township 30 South, Ranges 25 and 26 East. The accumulation is in a low relief anticlinal dome and has a productive area of approximately 2,200 acres. Discovered in 1936 as a result of seismic work, it was the first field on the floor of the Valley to obtain production. It had a small primary gas cap, and since its inception has been produced by depletion with controlled withdrawal from the gas cap to minimize blowthrough. STRUCTURE AND STRATIGRAPHY The Ten Section structure is an elongated anticlinal dome with flank dips of only about 7 degrees. A map of the field, now fully developed, and a composite log are shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Contours shown on the map are on the top of the first zone, or Marker XA as indicated on the composite log. As shown, the field has a productive closure of only some 350 feet, and there apparently is no faulting in the reservoir. The productive measures in Ten Section are of Upper Miocene age and are known as the Stevens sand. They contain thin, irregular shale or siltstone streaks which vary considerably in stratigraphic position and thickness and apparently are rather discontinuous. As a result, individual sands and shales cannot be correlated over any appreciable area, which makes it difficult to subdivide the sand body into separate zones which are distinct throughout the field. However, there are two fairly persistent siltstone bodies that at the time of development were considered to divide the productive measures into three - zones. The first, or uppermost zone is productive over the entire field and has an average thickness of 180 feet, of which some 65 per cent is sand. It had a primary. gas cap in the crestal area with an areal extent of 930 acres. The second zone has a productive area somewhat smaller than the first zone, but it did not have any original gas cap. It has an average thickness of about 360 feet, of which 55 per cent is sand. The third zone has a very limited areal extent and a maximum productive thickness of 100 feet, of which 80 per cent is sand. Recently, a deeper oil accumulation, termed the "53" sand, was discovered, but it is not discussed in this analysis. In the first and second zones the water table was at 7,980 feet subsea, while in the third zone it was at 8,080 feet subsea. RESERVOIR CHARACTERISTICS Sand Characteristics The Stevens sand in Ten Section is hard and well consolidated, and numerous wells were cored for core analysis. Core data on four representative wells are shown, plotted beside the electric logs in Figs. 3 to 6. The average porosity is 20 per cent, with porosities ranging from 15 to 30 per cent. It is estimated, from cores taken with oil base muds, that the interstitial water content is about 40 per cent. The average weighted permeability is approximately 140, with measured permeabilities ranging from 10 to 3,000 md. As might be expected with practically no correlation of individual sand

Jan 1, 1949

By David R. Mitchell

Many of the difficult operating problems of the preparation of coal for market, of sampling coal shipments and in the utilization of coal are caused by segregation in the coal mass. Segregation may be of two kinds: i.e., "size segregation," in which particles of the same size in a mass of coal containing a range of sizes collect together and "density segregation," in which particles of the same density or specific gravity in a mass of particles of varying density gather together. Mechanics of Segregation Size segregation cannot take place with closely sized coal. As the size range increases, the tendency for size segregation increases. Similarly, cleaned coal with particles of approximately the same specific gravity have very little tendency for density segregation. The wider the density range of particles and the more particles of different density, the greater the chances are for density segregation. The following discussion deals primarily with coal of a wide size range as screenings and of wide density differences as uncleaned or run-of-mine screenings. If a mass of coal containing particles of a wide size range is subject to the stream action of a moving current of water, the small particles are transported farther than the coarser. Particles of different density in a stream of moving water are subject to the laws of classification, the heavier settling out first. The familiar sluice box of the gold miner and the action of rivers and other streams in classifying material according to

Jan 1, 1938

By David R. Mitchell

Many of the difficult operating problems of the preparation of coal for market, of sampling coal shipments and in the utilization of coal are caused by segregation in the coal mass. Segregation may be of two kinds: i.e., "size segregation," in which particles of the same size in a mass of coal containing a range of sizes collect together and "density segregation," in which particles of the same density or specific gravity in a mass of particles of varying density gather together. Mechanics of Segregation Size segregation cannot take place with closely sized coal. As the size range increases, the tendency for size segregation increases. Similarly, cleaned coal with particles of approximately the same specific gravity have very little tendency for density segregation. The wider the density range of particles and the more particles of different density, the greater the chances are for density segregation. The following discussion deals primarily with coal of a wide size range as screenings and of wide density differences as uncleaned or run-of-mine screenings. If a mass of coal containing particles of a wide size range is subject to the stream action of a moving current of water, the small particles are transported farther than the coarser. Particles of different density in a stream of moving water are subject to the laws of classification, the heavier settling out first. The familiar sluice box of the gold miner and the action of rivers and other streams in classifying material according to

Jan 1, 1938

By Cloyd M. Smith

A few years ago, the Ventilation Committee established the practice of resenting one topic each year for discussion at the annual meeting. The practice has met good response on the part of committee members and I suggest that it be continued. The topic chosen for this year, "Underground Anemometry," is a topic which has bothered me for more than 20 years. It seems to me that the coal industry is content to rely on slipshod methods for measuring the rate of flow of air underground, so I prefaced my discussional charge to committee members with the statement that I regard air measnrements made in the usual way, with hand held anemometer, as no good. Agreements and disagreements came in from more than a dozen engineers, some of whom are with operating companies, coal and metal; some with manufacturers; others with government agencies. The statement was accompanied by a questionnaire on the use of the rotating vane anemometer and by one describing two methods of using a mechanically held anemometer. The questionnaire will be considered first. The questionnaire and statement are as shown on pages 5 and 6, the committee members and respondents are given on page 4, and the general comments of the latter on page 5. Questionnaire 1. Has your company or agency issued written instructions for care and use of anemometers? If so, please enclose a copy with reply. Only one answer, McElroy's, was affirmative. It gave reference to Bureau of Mines publications1'5 which recom- mend the hand held anemometer for rough measurements and indicate that am accuracy of 5 pct can be had if calibration and method factors are used. Mathews said that instructions are principally oral while Maize reported that state inspectors of his department are well trained in use and care of anemometers. 2. Are your anemometers calibrated periodically? If so, by their manufacturer? or by? Are calibralion corrections applied to all observed mean velocity readings? Only one respondent, Lee, answered negatively as to calibration. This means that anemometers are generally calibrated but the questionnaire failed to ask how often this is done. As no one volunteered the information, we have no data on this point. In six cases the instruments are sent to their manufacturers for calibration. but Krickovic reports that his company limits manu-facturers' calibrations to anemometers which are used by operating personnel; those used by the engineering department being calibrated by U. S. Bureau of Standards. The Anaconda Copper Mining Co. has its ventilation engineers calibrate its anemometers. Most of the respondents say that a calibration correction is applied to each mean velocity reading, but Krickovic limits this to surveys made by the engineering department. Since Lee does not calibrate, he has no correction to apply. Maize reports that his department has its anemometers calibrated but does not apply corrections. 3. Do your men hold the anemometer by hand in measuring air flow? for 1 min? or traverse the section? for 1 min? or at? points for 5 sec each? Of 10 replies, 6 were "yes," 3 were "no," and one was "seldom" with respect to holding by hand. Among the six hand holders, four hold in a central position in the measuring section for a minute, except that two of them, Krickovic and Matthews, traverse the section by hand for survey or fan test. Their operating personnel hold by hand, centrally, for routine measurements. McElroy sometimes traverses with hand-held anemometer in rapid survey work. 4. If the anemometer is not held by hand, how is it supported? Augustadt supports the anemometer on an adjustable rod, Condon on "a rod of sufficient length to reach all points with observer standing in one position throughout traverse and at arm's length from plane of traverse." I presume that arm's length must be interpreted liberally enough to allow for arm movement, otherwise it would be impossible to manipulate the anemometer throughout the traverse section. Mancha upholds Condon in this method of traversing. Glanville hangs the anemometer on the end of a 4-ft staff by the hasp at the top of the anemometer frame. McElroy mounts it on the end of a rigid square shaft, 12 in. long, the staff being at right angles to the axis of the instrument. He traverses the section in two halves, holding the anemometer 3 feet from his body.

Jan 1, 1950

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

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

Jan 1, 1959

By William P. Shinn

IT seems proper to present in the Transactions of the Institute, from time to time, formal record of the advances made in the arts and sciences to which our organization is devoted-milestones in the highway of progress-from which our successors may measure what they in their turn have gained. The admirable address of the Hon. Abram S. Hewitt, then president elect of the Institute, on "A Century of Mining and Metallurgy in the United States," read at the opening of the meeting held in this hall in June, 1876, forms a point of departure, and the conclusion of the eighth decade of the nineteenth century and the end of the first five years of our country's second century seem to offer a fitting time for again making up our record. The period since 1875 has been marked by a degree of activity in mining and metallurgical industry never before equalled in our history, while the progress made in the science and art has been, if possible, still more noticeable. Whether we consider the mining of iron, ore, and coal, or of the precious metals,-the advances made in smelting the former and in reducing the latter, the extraordinary increase in the production of Bessemer steel, or the science of Thomas and. Gilchrist, which makes the hitherto rejected phosphorus the corner-stone of success,-the past five years are alike memorable for the progress they have shown and to some of the most marked features of this progress I will now oriefly call your attention. It may be of interest in this connection to note the following figures, showing the growth of the population of the United-States during the last three decades :

Jan 1, 1881

By B. A. Rogers

ACCORDING to petrographic investigations, 1-4 cooled steel furnace slags contain a number of substances that have been shown to be ferro-magnetic5,6 and hence capable of undergoing appreciable changes of susceptibility with temperature. Since any alteration of the suscepti-bility of a constituent affects the average susceptibility of the sample, information concerning the nature of the substance should be deducible from its magnetic behavior. The possibility of obtaining information concerning slags in this way led to the construction of the apparatus to be described. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF APPARATUS The most convenient method of observing changes in mass suscepti-bility? with temperature is the one employed by Curie7 in his original investigation of the changes in magnetic properties of substances at elevated temperatures. As the method has been described frequently in the literature and in textbooks, only a brief review of the fundamental principles need be given here, but the particular arrangements used in the present work require a more detailed description.

Jan 1, 1939

Jan 1, 1880

By J. F. Myers

AT the Regional meeting in Columbus, Ohio, in September 1949, the authors presented a progress report of the first year's operation with a Hardinge tricone mill in closed circuit with a Dorr hydroscillator. The present report covers our findings on this grinding circuit to January, 1950. In order to clarify our position, the authors wish to state that no invention or discovery is claimed. The Tennessee grinding circuit is simply an engineered arrangement of known equipment arranged to incorporate all of the recognized efficiency factors of comminution as they are known today. As we concluded our first report, it was not clear how effective the Tennessee mode of operation would be on harder ores. The only information we had at that time was that the Bond grindability test at 48-mesh gave 6.04 g of undersize per revolution. A later test on the same sample at 100-mesh reduced this to 2.04 g, which is definitely in the harder ore class, and which makes the reported 8.80 kw-hr per ton of -200-mesh produced a very creditable figure.

Jan 1, 1950

By Carl Zapffe

JUST as 85 per cent of the total ore produced annually in the United States comes from the Lake Superior region, so does one of its six producing districts-the Mesabi --dominate that region both as to production and total reserves; also in ore Treatment, Mesabi practice is dominant. Therefore, in discussing future reserves or ore treatment one may visualize one big district with five smaller districts as so many satellites. In considering the future less thought need be given to processes than to, economic policies. For thirty years experimental work has now been in progress and every possible ore-treatment process now known has been given attention. This work was started when there was no recognizable danger of running short of ore because of rapid consumption. Thirty years ago the annual production had just progressed beyond the twenty-million bracket for the first time. Today fifty million tons is considered a small production, and last year the aim was for 65 million. At the recent rate of production the life of the estimated reserves of good ore is about 35 years. All who know the local terrain are convinced that, unlike thirty years ago, the chances for discoveries of new big deposits are nil; treatment of lean ores obviously is to become an all-important topic.

Jan 1, 1938