The Frasch process is a method to extract sulfur from underground deposits by taking advantage of the low melting point of sulfur. It is the only industrial method of recovering sulfur from elemental deposits. Most of the world's sulfur was obtained this way until the late 20th century, when sulfur recovered from petroleum and gas sources became more commonplace (see Claus process ).
41-463: In the Frasch process, superheated water is pumped into the sulfur deposit; the sulfur melts and is extracted. The Frasch process is able to produce high-purity sulfur of about 99.5%. The Frasch sulfur process works best on either salt domes or bedded evaporite deposits, where sulfur is found in permeable rock layers trapped in between impermeable layers. Bacterial alteration of anhydrite or gypsum , in
82-429: A 3 by 3 tensor. The tensor is realised using a 3 by 3 matrix being both symmetric and positive definite (SPD matrix): The permeability tensor is always diagonalizable (being both symmetric and positive definite). The eigenvectors will yield the principal directions of flow where flow is parallel to the pressure gradient, and the eigenvalues represent the principal permeabilities. These values do not depend on
123-409: A body of water or beneath ice. Unconsolidated surficial materials may also be given a lithology. This is defined by grain size and composition and is often attached to an interpretation of how the unit formed. Surficial lithologies can be given to lacustrine , coastal, fluvial , aeolian , glacial , and recent volcanic deposits, among others. Examples of surficial lithology classifications used by
164-411: A continually-increasing extent of metamorphism. Metamorphic facies are defined by the pressure-temperature fields in which particular minerals form. Additional metamorphic rock names exist, such as greenschist (metamorphosed basalt and other extrusive igneous rock) or quartzite (metamorphosed quartz sand). In igneous and metamorphic rocks, grain size is a measure of the sizes of the crystals in
205-431: A detailed description of these characteristics, or a summary of the gross physical character of a rock. Examples of lithologies in the second sense include sandstone , slate , basalt , or limestone . Lithology is the basis of subdividing rock sequences into individual lithostratigraphic units for the purposes of mapping and correlation between areas. In certain applications, such as site investigations , lithology
246-468: A fraction to several thousand millidarcys. The unit of square centimetre (cm ) is also sometimes used (1 cm = 10 m ≈ 10 d). The concept of permeability is of importance in determining the flow characteristics of hydrocarbons in oil and gas reservoirs, and of groundwater in aquifers . For a rock to be considered as an exploitable hydrocarbon reservoir without stimulation, its permeability must be greater than approximately 100 md (depending on
287-408: A hand lens, the visible mineralogy is included as part of the description. In the case of sequences possibly including carbonates , calcite - cemented rocks or those with possible calcite veins, it is normal to test for the presence of calcite (or other forms of calcium carbonate ) using dilute hydrochloric acid and looking for effervescence . The mineralogical composition of a rock is one of
328-461: A particular depositional environment and may provide information on paleocurrent directions. In metamorphic rocks associated with the deeper levels of fault zones , small scale structures such as asymmetric boudins and microfolds are used to determine the sense of displacement across the zone. In igneous rocks, small-scale structures are mostly observed in lavas such as pahoehoe versus ʻAʻā basaltic flows, and pillows showing eruption within
369-569: A rock describes the relationship between the individual grains or clasts that make up the rock. Sedimentary textures include the degree of sorting , grading , shape and roundness of the clasts. Metamorphic textures include those referring to the timing of growth of large metamorphic minerals relative to a phase of deformation—before deformation porphyroclast —after deformation porphyroblast . Igneous textures include such properties as grain shape, which varies from crystals with ideal crystal shapes ( euhedral ) to irregular crystals (anhedral), whether
410-612: A sample. The colour of a rock or its component parts is a distinctive characteristic of some rocks and is always recorded, sometimes against standard colour charts, such as that produced by the Rock-Color Chart Committee of the Geological Society of America based on the Munsell color system . The fabric of a rock describes the spatial and geometric configuration of all the elements that make it up. In sedimentary rocks
451-488: Is a property of porous materials that is an indication of the ability for fluids (gas or liquid) to flow through them. Fluids can more easily flow through a material with high permeability than one with low permeability. The permeability of a medium is related to the porosity , but also to the shapes of the pores in the medium and their level of connectedness. Fluid flows can also be influenced in different lithological settings by brittle deformation of rocks in fault zones ;
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#1732854810681492-482: Is described using a standard terminology such as in the European geotechnical standard Eurocode 7 . The naming of a lithology is based on the rock type . The three major rock types are igneous , sedimentary , and metamorphic . Igneous rocks are formed directly from magma , which is a mixture of molten rock, dissolved gases, and solid crystals. Sedimentary rock is formed from mineral or organic particles that collect at
533-415: Is important in petroleum engineering , when considering the optimal extraction of gas from unconventional sources such as shale gas , tight gas , or coalbed methane . To model permeability in anisotropic media, a permeability tensor is needed. Pressure can be applied in three directions, and for each direction, permeability can be measured (via Darcy's law in 3D) in three directions, thus leading to
574-537: Is impractical, they may be classified chemically using the TAS classification . This is based on the total content of silica and alkali metal oxides and other chemical criteria. Sedimentary rocks are further classified by whether they are siliciclastic or carbonate . Siliciclastic sedimentary rocks are then subcategorized based on their grain size distribution and the relative proportions of quartz, feldspar, and lithic (rock) fragments. Carbonate rocks are classified with
615-477: Is the diameter of the grains and/or clasts that constitute the rock. These are used to determine which rock naming system to use (e.g., a conglomerate , sandstone , or mudstone ). In the case of sandstones and conglomerates, which cover a wide range of grain sizes, a word describing the grain size range is added to the rock name. Examples are " pebble conglomerate" and "fine quartz arenite ". In rocks in which mineral grains are large enough to be identified using
656-577: Is the scalar hydraulic permeability, and 1 is the identity tensor . Permeability is typically determined in the lab by application of Darcy's law under steady state conditions or, more generally, by application of various solutions to the diffusion equation for unsteady flow conditions. Permeability needs to be measured, either directly (using Darcy's law), or through estimation using empirically derived formulas. However, for some simple models of porous media, permeability can be calculated (e.g., random close packing of identical spheres ). Based on
697-471: The Dunham or Folk classification schemes according to the constituents of the carbonate rock. Metamorphic rock naming can be based on protolith , mineral composition, texture, or metamorphic facies . Naming based on texture and a pelite (e.g., shale , mudrock ) protolith can be used to define slate and phyllite . Texture-based names are schist and gneiss . These textures, from slate to gneiss, define
738-466: The Hagen–Poiseuille equation for viscous flow in a pipe, permeability can be expressed as: where: Absolute permeability denotes the permeability in a porous medium that is 100% saturated with a single-phase fluid. This may also be called the intrinsic permeability or specific permeability. These terms refer to the quality that the permeability value in question is an intensive property of
779-460: The QAPF classification , which is based on the relative content of quartz , alkali feldspar , plagioclase , and feldspathoid . Special classifications exist for igneous rock of unusual compositions, such as ultramafic rock or carbonatites . Where possible, extrusive igneous rocks are also classified by mineral content using the extrusive QAPF classification, but when determining the mineral composition
820-526: The 1970s, byproduct sulfur recovery from oil and natural gas lowered the price of sulfur and drove many Frasch-process mines out of business. The last United States Frasch sulfur mine closed in 2000. A Frasch mine in Iraq closed in 2003 due to the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The Frasch process is still used to work sulfur deposits in Mexico, Ukraine and Poland. In the Frasch process, three concentric tubes are introduced into
861-492: The Earth's surface and become lithified . Metamorphic rock forms by recrystallization of existing solid rock under conditions of great heat or pressure. Igneous rocks are further broken into three broad categories. Igneous rock composed of broken rock fragments created directly by volcanic processes ( tephra ) are classified as pyroclastic rock . Pyroclastic rocks are further classified by average fragment ( clast ) size and whether
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#1732854810681902-439: The associated energy cost is significant. A working demonstration model of the Frasch process suitable for the classroom has been described. Permeability (earth sciences) Permeability in fluid mechanics , materials science and Earth sciences (commonly symbolized as k ) is a measure of the ability of a porous material (often, a rock or an unconsolidated material) to allow fluids to pass through it. Permeability
943-414: The effect of temperature on the viscosity of the fluid flowing though the porous medium and to address other fluids than pure water, e.g. , concentrated brines , petroleum , or organic solvents . Given the value of hydraulic conductivity for a studied system, the permeability can be calculated as follows: Tissue such as brain, liver, muscle, etc can be treated as a heterogeneous porous medium. Describing
984-450: The flow of biofluids (blood, cerebrospinal fluid, etc.) within such a medium requires a full 3-dimensional anisotropic treatment of the tissue. In this case the scalar hydraulic permeability is replaced with the hydraulic permeability tensor so that Darcy's Law reads Connecting this expression to the isotropic case, κ = k 1 {\displaystyle {\boldsymbol {\kappa }}=k\mathbb {1} } , where k
1025-422: The flow of water through a porous medium is called the hydraulic conductivity ( K , unit: m/s). Permeability, or intrinsic permeability, ( k , unit: m ) is a part of this, and is a specific property characteristic of the solid skeleton and the microstructure of the porous medium itself, independently of the nature and properties of the fluid flowing through the pores of the medium. This allows to take into account
1066-483: The fluid properties; see the table derived from the same source for values of hydraulic conductivity , which are specific to the material through which the fluid is flowing. Lithology The lithology of a rock unit is a description of its physical characteristics visible at outcrop , in hand or core samples , or with low magnification microscopy. Physical characteristics include colour, texture, grain size , and composition. Lithology may refer to either
1107-440: The fragments are mostly individual mineral crystals , particles of volcanic glass , or rock fragments. Further classifications, such as by chemical composition , may also be applied. Igneous rocks that have visible mineral grains ( phaneritic rocks) are classified as intrusive , while those that are glassy or very fine-grained ( aphanitic ) are classified as extrusive rock . Intrusive igneous rocks are usually classified using
1148-536: The ground conditions of a site are suitable for construction. Permeability is part of the proportionality constant in Darcy's law which relates discharge (flow rate) and fluid physical properties (e.g. dynamic viscosity ), to a pressure gradient applied to the porous media: Therefore: where: In naturally occurring materials, the permeability values range over many orders of magnitude (see table below for an example of this range). The global proportionality constant for
1189-453: The interface with the solid when the gas mean free path is comparable to the pore size (about 0.01 to 0.1 μm at standard temperature and pressure). See also Knudsen diffusion and constrictivity . For example, measurement of permeability through sandstones and shales yielded values from 9.0×10 m to 2.4×10 m for water and between 1.7×10 m to 2.6×10 m for nitrogen gas. Gas permeability of reservoir rock and source rock
1230-454: The main visible fabric is normally bedding , and the scale and degree of development of the bedding is normally recorded as part of the description. Metamorphic rocks (apart from those created by contact metamorphism ), are characterised by well-developed planar and linear fabrics. Igneous rocks may also have fabrics as a result of flow or the settling out of particular mineral phases during crystallisation, forming cumulates . The texture of
1271-483: The major ways in which it is classified. Igneous rocks are classified by their mineral content whenever practical, using the QAPF classification or special ultramafic or carbonatite classifications. Likewise metamorphic facies, which show the degree to which a rock has been exposed to heat and pressure and are therefore important in classifying metamorphic rocks, are determined by observing the mineral phases that are present in
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1312-595: The mechanisms by which this occurs are the subject of fault zone hydrogeology . Permeability is also affected by the pressure inside a material. The SI unit for permeability is the square metre (m ). A practical unit for permeability is the darcy (d), or more commonly the millidarcy (md) (1 d ≈ 10 m ). The name honors the French Engineer Henry Darcy who first described the flow of water through sand filters for potable water supply. Permeability values for most materials commonly range typically from
1353-405: The medium, not a spatial average of a heterogeneous block of material equation 2.28 ; and that it is a function of the material structure only (and not of the fluid). They explicitly distinguish the value from that of relative permeability . Sometimes permeability to gases can be somewhat different than those for liquids in the same media. One difference is attributable to "slippage" of gas at
1394-585: The nature of the hydrocarbon – gas reservoirs with lower permeabilities are still exploitable because of the lower viscosity of gas with respect to oil). Rocks with permeabilities significantly lower than 100 md can form efficient seals (see petroleum geology ). Unconsolidated sands may have permeabilities of over 5000 md. The concept also has many practical applications outside of geology, for example in chemical engineering (e.g., filtration ), as well as in Civil Engineering when determining whether
1435-648: The presence of hydrocarbons, produces limestone and hydrogen sulfide in the sulfur cycle . The hydrogen sulfide then oxidizes into sulfur, from percolating water, or through the action of anaerobic, sulfur-reducing bacteria In 1867, miners discovered sulfur in the caprock of a salt dome in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana , but it was beneath quicksand , which prevented mining. In 1894 the German-born American chemist, Herman Frasch (1852–1914), devised his Frasch method of sulfur removal using pipes to bypass
1476-542: The quicksand. This replaced the inefficient and polluting Sicilian method . The process proved successful, on December 24, 1894, when the first molten sulfur was brought to the surface. The Union Sulphur Company was incorporated in 1896 to utilize the process. However, the high cost of fuel needed to heat the water made the process uneconomic until the 1901 discovery of the Spindletop oil field in Texas provided cheap fuel oil to
1517-599: The region. The Frasch process began economic production at Sulphur Mines, Louisiana in 1903. When Frasch's patent expired, the process was widely applied to similar salt-dome sulfur deposits along the Gulf Coast of the United States. The second Frasch-process mine opened in 1912 in Brazoria County, Texas . The Gulf Coast came to dominate world sulfur production in the early and middle 20th century. However, starting in
1558-401: The rock shows highly nonuniform crystal sizes (is porphyritic ), or whether grains are aligned (which is described as trachytic texture). Rocks often contain small-scale structures (smaller than the scale of an individual outcrop). In sedimentary rocks this may include sole markings , ripple marks , mudcracks and cross-bedding . These are recorded as they are generally characteristic of
1599-478: The rock. In igneous rock, this is used to determine the rate at which the material cooled: large crystals typically indicate intrusive igneous rock, while small crystals indicate that the rock was extrusive. Metamorphism of rock composed of mostly a single mineral, such as quartzite or marble , may increase grain size ( grain growth ), while metamorphism of sheared rock may decrease grain size (syntectonic recrystallization ). In clastic sedimentary rocks, grain size
1640-407: The sulfur deposit. Superheated water (165 °C, 2.5-3 MPa) is injected into the deposit via the outermost tube. Sulfur (m.p. 115 °C) melts and flows into the middle tube. Water pressure alone is unable to force the sulfur into the surface due to the molten sulfur's greater density, so hot air is introduced via the innermost tube to froth the sulfur, making it less dense, and pushing it to
1681-531: The surface. The sulfur obtained can be very pure (99.7 - 99.8%). In this form, it is light yellow in color. If contaminated by organic compounds, it can be dark-colored; further purification is not economic, and usually unnecessary. Using this method, the United States produced 3.89 million tons of sulfur in 1989, and Mexico produced 1.02 million tons of sulfur in 1991. The Frasch process can be used for deposits 50–800 meters deep. 3-38 cubic meters of superheated water are required to produce every tonne of sulfur, and