How metals pan out for the oil companies.

The article discusses the increased acquisitions of mining companies by oil producers in the U.S. It examines how the two industries are more compatible than other nonfuel operations oil companies have acquired. It details the failure of Mobil Oil Corp. to manage Marcor Inc., a container company. It shows how the 1979 acquisition of Reliance Electric Co. by Exxon and its entrance into information and office systems market proved to be losing enterprises.