WorldWide Drilling Resource

54 JUNE 2013 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Frequently-Used Geological Terms Part 20 Glossary adapted from the Dictionary of Geological Terms F - Continued Field - Used to describe an area, out- side of a laboratory, usually outdoors, where scientists make observations and collect data. Also a specific area known for a particular mineral source. Field Capacity - The amount of water held by rock or soil against gravitation- al pull. Field Classification - The beginning analysis of specimens such as fossils, minerals, and rocks, usually done with a hand lens. Field Geology - The practice of geology by direct observation in the field. Field Well - An oil or gas well, drilled with- in an area which has already proven to be productive. Fill - A man-made deposit of rock, soil, and similar material used to extend a shoreline or embankment, or to fill an abandoned mine. Also, loose material that fills a cave. Fines - Describes finely crushed coal, ore, or other material. Finger Lake - A long, narrow lake, usu- ally connected to a group of lakes, caus- ing lakes to look like fingers on a hand. Firedamp - An explosive gas in coal mines consisting of mainly methane. First Law of Thermodynamics - Describes the internal energy of a sys- tem and states the change of energy in a system is equal to the amount of ener- gy received from the external world. Fishing - The recovery of drilling equip- ment from a borehole that was broken off or lost during the drilling process. Fissure - A deep break, crack, or fracture in rocks which may contain mineral-bear- ing material. Fissure Vein - A veinlike shaped min- eral deposit with clearly defined walls. Fixed Carbon - The solid combustible matter that remains in coal and other bituminous materials after ash, moisture, and volatile matter have been removed. Fixed Groundwater - Groundwater that cannot be pumped because it is held in small, saturated material. Flame Test - Analyzation of a mineral by the color flame it gives off when heated. Flat - A piece of low-lying wetland. Also, a nearly leveled surface, or horizontal orebody. Flats and Pitches - A phrase used to describe a structure of lead and zinc deposits, usually found near the Upper Mississippi Valley region of the United States. Flexible - The description of a mineral which can be bent without breaking, but will not return to its original form. Float - Term used to describe isolated, displaced rock fragments, usually on a hillside. Flood Basin - Area of land covered by The color of a miner- al’s flame will help distinguish which ions it possess- es. Photo courtesy of California State University Stanislaus Flame Test water during highest point of flood. Also, the flat area between a sloping plain and a levee of a river, usually with heavy soils and swampy vegetation. Flooding - Term used in the oil industry for waterflooding. In Memoriam Daniel Gerhardus “Danie” Krige (1919~2013) Daniel Gerhardus “Danie” Krige passed away earlier this year in Johannesburg, South Africa. His was an international name known to anyone who studied or practiced the science of evaluating mineral resources for mining purposes. Born in 1919 in Bothaville, South Africa, Danie went through school quickly. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree in mining engineering from Wits University in Johannesburg, at the young age of 19. He began his career doing surveying, sampling, and ore valuation in gold mines. In 1943, he joined the de- partment of the Government Mining Engineer where his work included designing the uranium pricing formula. It was during this time he began his pioneering work on applying insights in statistics to the valuation of new gold mines, using a lim- ited number of boreholes. His ideas of applying mathematical statistics to the spatial evaluation of orebodies and the processes he developed were eventually called “kriging”. This approach helped improve ore evaluation techniques and reduce the financial risk of investing in mining projects. His work was significant to the global mining industry. The Moscow State Mining University awarded him an honorary doctorate, and he was the first South African ever elected a foreign associate in earth resources engineering by the United States National Academy of Engineering. Retiring from the private sector in 1981, he accepted a post as professor of mineral economics at the School of Mining Engineering at Wits University, staying until 1991. His research continued, leading to the publication of nearly 100 technical papers worldwide over the course of his career. The management and staff of WorldWide Drilling Resource ® express their sympathies to Danie’s family and friends. Coal Facts Coal is mined in 25 U.S. states and is responsible for over 550,000 U.S. jobs. The U.S. has more coal reserves than any other country in the world. Next month, we will finish the letter F.