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By Walter Mathesius

The use of high blast heats on furnaces melting Mesaba ores is still the exception, the average blast temperatures carried on Mesaba stacks seldom reaching 1,100" F. Some 15 years ago, when the use of fine Mesaba ores in larger proportions to the total burden first came into practice, it was found difficult to employ even those blast heats which it had been possible ' to carry with the Old Range ores. The furnaces refused to "take" high heats, and would persistently labor with irregular stock movement, which impaired the practice and increased the coke consumption. By lowering the blast temperature, the working of the furnace became smoother, and experience taught that with the softer and more easily reduced Mesaba ores, satisfactory practice could be obtained with comparatively low blast heats. Therefore a large number of Mesaba furnaces have ever since been operated on very low blast temperatures, ranging between 800" and 1,000" F. In the face of these difficulties, furnace men were slow to recognize that furnaces could be so designed as to permit a free movement of the charges in combination with the use of higher heats. Since higher blast temperatures did not seem to offer great advantages in the smelting of Mesaba ores, investments in hot-blast stoves were not as attractive to the furnace man as labor-saving devices and means of obtaining greater tonnages. The effect of this preference is keenly felt at the present time. It has brought about the peculiar situation, that the majority of our furnace plants (among them some of the most progressive) lack modern and efficient stove equipment. The result is that, even where the proper furnace lines have been adopted and conditions are now favorable to the successful employment of higher blast temperatures, the heats required for the greatest fuel economy are not available. In an endeavor to obtain results, even with inadequate equipment, we find that, at many plants, the stoves are worked far beyond their capacity. This leads, in many instances, to a situation in which the coke saving in the

Jan 1, 1915

The ten-year "supply-demand relationship" tables in this chapter for various mineral and metal commodities have been adapted from Minerals in the U.S. Economy, compiled by the Bureau of Mines, U.S. Department of the Interior, published in 1975. Acknowledgment is made to the Bureau of Mines for compilation of the tables. [ ]

Jan 1, 1976

GENTLEMEN : Herewith are transmitted the reports of your Treasurer and the Chairmen of your standing committees on Admissions, Membership, Papers and Publications, and Library for the calendar year 1931. To these reports you are referred for further details of the year's activities. Finances.-Depressed industrial conditions prevailing throughout the year were reflected in a substantial decline in current revenue. Aside from interest on sundry special funds (but including that from the Life Membership, Library, and General Reserve Funds) total receipts amounted to $168,274, compared with $194,636 in 1930. The principal items of decrease were $17,000 in advertising income from the monthly magazine MINING AND METALLURGY, and about $9,600 in dues and initiation fees. Of this shrinkage $4,000 is accounted for by decrease in the number of new members enrolled; and $5,600 by diminished income from current dues and arrearages. This naturally has coincided with an \ increase in delinquency and "drops" or suspensions for nonpayment of dues. The decline in advertising income, amounting to 38 per cent as compared with that of 1930, in general paralleled the experience of all technical and trade publications; and it is problematical whether 1932 will show as large a return from advertising as did 1931.

Jan 1, 1932

Jan 1, 1884

By W. W. Odell

Once it was believed that anthracite or coke were the only fuels generally available and suitable for the generation of water gas, particularly so when this gas was made in the generators of standard carburetted water-gas sets such as are commonly used in the manufacture of city gas. During the past 8 years, practice has changed considerably and it is now common to find gas plants operating without anthracite or coke and using bituminous coal in the generator. This change in fuel has appreciably increased the marketability and sales of certain coal producers' products; accordingly it is of interest to coal operators and others to know the reason for this change, the present trend in practice and the adaptability of various coals for generation of water gas. This paper briefly discusses these conditions and some of the factors relating thereto. Bituminous Coal not Ideal but Cheaper than Coke In spite of many changes which have been made in both process and generating apparatus for using bituminous coal as generator fuel more efficiently, in general it is not an ideal fuel for this purpose. It is supplanting coke because it costs less; it is so much cheaper per ton delivered at the gas works that water gas made therefrom costs less per unit-volume than that made from coke, even though the quantity of generator fuel consumed per therm (100,000 B. t. u.) of gas made is greater with coal. This is the reason why so many city gas plants, as well as others, are using bituminous coal instead of coke. Conditions Favoring Change from Coke to Coal The conditions which have made it possible and feasible, as well as economical, to supplant coke with coal may be summarized as follows: (1) Changes in methods of operating and alteration in generating apparatus; (2) lowering of the calorific standards for city gas, and (3) availability

Jan 1, 1927

By E. DeGolyer

PROSPECTING for new deposits is a part of the ordinary routine business of the petroleum industry to an extent that is not true for any other mineral industry. The health of the industry depends upon whether we are successful or unsuccessful. How many know what it costs to find oil today and what it has cost in the past? Very few, I will wager. The industry is not well informed upon this extremely important point. We cannot deal in averages for lack of information. Does it cost more or less than previously? Prospect wells are increasingly deeper and, since the introduction of the core drill, prospecting techniques have required increasingly expensive field oper-

Jan 1, 1939

By AIME AIME

COUNCIL. PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL. CHARLES KIRCHHOFF NEW YORK, N. Y. (Term expires February, 1912.) VICE-PRESIDENTS OF THE COUNCIL. BENJAMIN B. LAWRENCE NEW YORK, N. Y. JOSEPH W. RICHARDS SOUTH BETHLEHEM, PA. ALBERT SAUVEUR CAMBRIDGE, MASS. (Term expires February, 1912.) B. CHRISTY BERKELEY, CAL. W. A. LATHROP PHILADELPHIA, PA. GARDNER F. WILLIAMS WASHINGTON, D. C. (Term expires February, 1913.)

Sep 1, 1911

The first mention of the occurrence of native copper near Lake Superior is found in a book by Lagarde, published in 1636. The letters of the Jesuit missionaries in the seventeenth century refer to the use of this copper by the Indians. Francesco Bressani, an Italian friar, says, in 1653: "There is a copper ore, which is very pure, and which has no need of passing through the fire; but it is in places far distant and hard to reach. We have seen it in the hands of the barbarians".* Father Jerome Lalemant, writing in 1659, says that the coast of Lake Superior is "enriched with copper of such excellence that pieces as large as one's fist are found, all refined.† These pieces of copper were hoarded by the Indians as mascots. The mention of the metal as having been already refined by nature recalls the fact that the old Greek historians spoke of gold-dust as being apuron, or not needing the fire. Father Claude Allouez,‡ writing in 1666, says: "One often finds at the bottom of the water [of Lake Superior] pieces of pure copper, of ten and twenty livres [pounds] weight. I have several times seen such pieces in the savages' hands; and since they are superstitious [as if the padres themselves were not!], they- keep them as so many divinities, or as presents which the gods dwelling beneath the water have given them, and on which their welfare is to depend. For this reason they preserve these pieces of copper, wrapped up, among their most precious possessions".

Jan 1, 1932

By R. O. Williams

A study utilizing neutron diffraction, electrical resistance, and chemical extraction has been carried out to clarify the chromium-rich part of the miscibility gap previously proposed for this system. This gap appears to be more symmetrical than previously supposed and is very flat. This flatness is believed to be the result of a cooperative phenomenon perhaps of magnetic origin; in particular, it is believed that the chromium-rich phase is antiferromagnetic. The presence of antiferromagnetism is believed to result in an additional strengthening mechanism very sinzilar to that for ordered precipitates. Likewise, it is proposed that the quenched alloys which are known to be ferromagnetic have antiferromagnetic regions which accounts for the maximum in hardness around 75 pct Cr. It is also believed that the existence of antiferromagnetism in other alloys of transition elements might explain some of their anomolous characteristics. THE iron-chromium phase diagram at low temper atures has recently been constructed as shown in Fig. 1(a)1 based upon that work and the work of Fisher, et al2 This system exhibits a number of extraordinary features but perhaps the most striking is the odd shape of the miscibility gap (in the

Jan 1, 1959

By J. L. Brimhall

Slip-line formation during bending has been studied on neutron-irradiated molybdenum single crystals. For equivalent strains, the slip lines are coarse and distinct in the irradiated molybdenum and not resolvable in the unirradiated molybdenum. The slip lines have been directly correlated with dislocation channels present in the irradiated and deformed thin foils. The heterogeneous distribution of the dislocations during deformation in the irradiated material results from dislocation interaction with the dejects produced during irradiation. Impurities , in the form of' carbides, affected the dislocation channeling Principally by acting as dislocation sources. ALTHOUGH the mechanical behavior of irradiated materials has been studied extensively, the precise mechanism of irradiation hardening has not been established. Some information on the microstructural species responsible for hardening of irradiated materials has been derived from direct and indirect observations. The direct observation of the structure of deformed irradiated metals, particularly by transmission electron microscopy, is a relatively new and unexplored area. Slip-line studies in fcc metals have been restricted primarily to copper.1-3 Very coarse slip lines, representing slip on many closely spaced planes, have been observed in deformed, irradiated copper. Coarse slip lines have also been observed in irradiated aluminum.4 Clear channels in irradiated copper caused by dislocation motion through the defect structure have been seen by transmission electron microscopy and correlated with slip lines.5-6 To date, little work has been reported on the irradiated bcc metals. Eyre described the slip lines around hardness indentations on irradiated iron and found them to be more distinct than lines in unirradiated material.' Mastel et al.' have observed channels in deformed irradiated molybdenum similar to those reported in copper. As part of a program concerned with the effect of neutron irradiation on metals, the slip-line

Jan 1, 1965

By H. A. Bedworth, W. H. Bassett

The amount of oxygen present in refined copper bears an important relation to the effects of various impurities on physical properties of copper, as well as the effects of reducing gases at higher temperatures. It seems fitting at this time, when the effects of reducing gases on copper are being discussed, to describe methods that have proved satisfactory for the determination of oxygen and sulfur, and to present some results obtained by investigation of these methods in the authors' laboratory. The procedure for the determination of sulfur is closely interrelated with that for oxygen and has, therefore, been included. It was first proposed by Hampe1 that oxides in copper could be accurately determined by the loss in weight sustained by finely divided copper when reduced at red heat in pure hydrogen, or by the weight of water produced. Hampe's method was later modified by Archbutt,2 who established the accuracy of the method and demonstrated that equally accurate results were obtained by noting the loss in weight or by weighing the water formed. The determination of oxygen by heating in carbon monoxide has been proposed by West.3 In our hands this method has given slightly lower results than obtained by heating in hydrogen. Heath4 found that the loss in weight after heating in hydrogen did not represent the true oxygen as cuprous oxide but included also gases derived by the metal from the fuel and refining in the furnace, and any trace of mechanically held moisture. He found, further, that the copper after ignition retained hydrogen equivalent to about 0.01 per cent. Heath proposed to determine the amount of occluded gases by preliminary ignition for 20 min. in pure carbon dioxide—and to correct the error caused by absorbed hydrogen by subsequent ignition and cooling in carbon dioxide, finally replacing this gas with air.

Jan 1, 1926

By Charles H. Snow

In vol. xxxviii. (1889) of the American Journal of Science, under the heading " Pseudomorphs of Native Copper after Azurite from Grant County, New Mexico," Mr. W. S. Yeates describes a most interesting mineral form. His account is, that a material having the appearance of native copper, but brittle and much lighter than native copper (its specific gravity being but 4.15), was submitted to him by the United States National Museum for examination. The substance was reported to him as occurring in masses, varying in weight from one ounce to seventy pounds, and composed of tabular crystals, variously grouped. The specimens, when submitted, ex hibited on the outride a covering of clay; and they were subse quently found to consist of particles of the same clay, intimately mixed with others of native copper, producing the aspect, without the weight, of pure copper. The forms of the azurite crystals, found at Bisbee, Arizona, having been suggested by the specimens, actual goniometer-measurements were made; and the two crystallizations were thus proved to be identical. To these statements I may be permitted to add some further in formation, derived from personal examination, and illustrated with a suite of characteristic specimens collected by myself (Fig. 2).* Grant County, New Mexico, in which these specimens were found, is a region noted for variety of mineral species. The sixth edition of Dana's Mineralogy mentions many of the silver, copper, and lead minerals, and also turquois, aragonite, wulfenite, barite, fluorite, vanadinite, etc. I have noticed also green and red garnet, molybdenite, native alum, smithsonite, bornite, etc., some of which presented peculiar modes of occurrence. The green garnet, for instance, was in masses formed of separate crystals, each of pea-size and not unlike that vegetable in tint and smooth opaqueness. The crystallization was

Jan 1, 1893

By A. A. Smith, J. S. Smart, A. J. Phillips

The preparation of a sufficient quantity of high-purity copper for extensive laboratory use in the study of impurity effects has been an integral part of a research program in progress at the Central Research Laboratory of the American Smelting and Refining Co. for the past several years. Initially the degree of purity desired was that necessary to meet two essential requirements for experimental accuracy: (I) no impurity was to be present in the copper in an amount capable of producing a detectable effect on the properties to be studied, (2) even the minor changes in propertties caused by the addition of extremely small amounts of individual elements were to be measured without significant interference from contaminants. In the course of the investigation, evidence has accumulated to justify the conclusion that this copper is of exceptional purity; in fact, no impurity can be detected by any chemical method or spectrographic technique known to the authors. The present paper describes the method of production of the copper and presents some of its properties. Preparation oF High-purity Copper The elimination of impurities from commercial electrolytic copper is accomplished by a three-step purification process. The first operation consists of an electrolysis through a purified CuSO4-H2SO4 electrolyte using bagged anodes, low current density (5 amp. per sq. ft.) and low tem- perature (25°C max.). The electrolyte is prepared from commercial Cu2SO4 and is purified by heating the solution and adding I gram Fe as Fe2(SO4)3 to each 100 grams dissolved copper; sufficient hydrated oxide of copper, prepared from Cu2SO4 and NaOH, is supplied to precipitate Fe(OH)3, which carries down arsenic, antimony, tin, selenium, tellurium and other minor constituents. Silver and remaining traces of lead are removed by addition of Na2S to the acidified filtrate, which is then reatered after standing hot overnight. The cold solution is made up to 30 grams per liter Cu and 150 grams per liter H2SO4 and introduced without addition agents into the electrolytic system, which consists of a double row of hard-rubber battery boxes with the inside webbing and partitions removed, arranged in seven steps of ascending height. Electrolyte is uniformly supplied to the two highest cells by glass siphons operating from a constant-level reservoir, and flows by gravity through the bank of seven cells, entering each at the bottom and leaving at the top. Glass air lifts continuously supply the returning liquid to the constant-level reservoir for recirculation. Each cell contains three 4 3/4 by 4 3/8 by 1-in anodes cast from high-quality electrolytic wirebar copper, various lots of which have been used with equal success. The anodes are pinned to sheet copper hangars shaped to prevent crawl of the electrolyte to the multiple-wired bus bars—which would result in fouling of the contacts—-and hang inside wool flannel bags stretched over open wood frames. The deposit

Jan 1, 1941

By A. J. Phillips, A. A. Smith, J. S. Smart

The preparation of a sufficient quantity of high-purity copper for extensive laboratory use in the study of impurity effects has been an integral part of a research program in progress at the Central Research Laboratory of the American Smelting and Refining Co. for the past several years. Initially the degree of purity desired was that necessary to meet two essential requirements for experimental accuracy: (I) no impurity was to be present in the copper in an amount capable of producing a detectable effect on the properties to be studied, (2) even the minor changes in propertties caused by the addition of extremely small amounts of individual elements were to be measured without significant interference from contaminants. In the course of the investigation, evidence has accumulated to justify the conclusion that this copper is of exceptional purity; in fact, no impurity can be detected by any chemical method or spectrographic technique known to the authors. The present paper describes the method of production of the copper and presents some of its properties. Preparation oF High-purity Copper The elimination of impurities from commercial electrolytic copper is accomplished by a three-step purification process. The first operation consists of an electrolysis through a purified CuSO4-H2SO4 electrolyte using bagged anodes, low current density (5 amp. per sq. ft.) and low tem- perature (25°C max.). The electrolyte is prepared from commercial Cu2SO4 and is purified by heating the solution and adding I gram Fe as Fe2(SO4)3 to each 100 grams dissolved copper; sufficient hydrated oxide of copper, prepared from Cu2SO4 and NaOH, is supplied to precipitate Fe(OH)3, which carries down arsenic, antimony, tin, selenium, tellurium and other minor constituents. Silver and remaining traces of lead are removed by addition of Na2S to the acidified filtrate, which is then reatered after standing hot overnight. The cold solution is made up to 30 grams per liter Cu and 150 grams per liter H2SO4 and introduced without addition agents into the electrolytic system, which consists of a double row of hard-rubber battery boxes with the inside webbing and partitions removed, arranged in seven steps of ascending height. Electrolyte is uniformly supplied to the two highest cells by glass siphons operating from a constant-level reservoir, and flows by gravity through the bank of seven cells, entering each at the bottom and leaving at the top. Glass air lifts continuously supply the returning liquid to the constant-level reservoir for recirculation. Each cell contains three 4 3/4 by 4 3/8 by 1-in anodes cast from high-quality electrolytic wirebar copper, various lots of which have been used with equal success. The anodes are pinned to sheet copper hangars shaped to prevent crawl of the electrolyte to the multiple-wired bus bars—which would result in fouling of the contacts—-and hang inside wool flannel bags stretched over open wood frames. The deposit

Jan 1, 1941

By William Rawles

THIS report is the first of a series planned by The Mineral Inquiry, organized by the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers to make factual studies of the world's mineral resources in their political and international relations. The efforts of The Inquiry are directed toward filling certain notable gaps in available information, without duplication of many other investigations touching this field which are being conducted by other organizations, public and private. Much of its work is indirect-suggesting topics for study by other individuals and organizations and aiding in their planning and correlation. The present report is designed to show the nationality of the commercial control of mineral resources, in addition to the geographic distribution of production by nation-in other words, the overlapping of political and commercial control. Detailed accuracy cannot be claimed for the figures presented. For some companies division of ownership by nationality has been very difficult to ascertain, as many companies are reluctant to dis-close the extent of their holdings in other corporations, and the impossi-bility of tracing all stock ownership is obvious. Also there are frequent changes in the distribution of stock control. The percentages given rep-resent only the participation that has been identified definitely, even though it is known in some cases with fair certainty that larger interests exist, as, for instance, American participation in foreign chromite companies. In bringing together these figures we have had the cordial co-operation of the United States Bureau of Mines, the United States Geologi-cal Survey, the Mineral Division of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, the Brookings Institution, and of many specialists connected with the mineral industries covered. The report does not cover the entire list of minerals. Coal, although it is one of the most important minerals, was omitted because, not more than one or two per cent of the world's production comes from mines that are owned by companies foreign to the countries where the coal is produced. Others, such as gold, are omitted because sufficient data have not yet been accumulated. It is hoped that some of these may be covered in subsequent reports. It is not our purpose here to discuss the significance of the figures sub-mitted, but only to point out the general nature of the problems on which they have a bearing.

Jan 1, 1933

By L. F. Engle, M. A. Hewedi

SUMMARY Initial interest in using solutions of ammonium salts to leach native copper was documented in notes from an AIME meeting in 1871; By 1916-1917, application of the NH3-CO2-H2O system to recover nonferrous metals attained commercial significance, when it was used as a process for copper recovery by Kennecott Copper Corporation and Calumet & Hecla Mining Company. The Caron work in the early 1920s, Freeport Sulphur Company’s achievements leaching Cuban laterites during World War II, out- standing accomplishments in both eastern and western Canada, recovery of manganese related to the work of Dean -- all serve as landmarks as this One Century Review surveys a base for future technology. Current emphasis on compatibility of metals-producing systems with the need to meet environmental protection criteria provides special encouragement to researchers and engineers to find accept- able ways of recovering metals. The ever-present demand of management to design, build and operate facilities on a profitable basis provides additional impetus to apply information from the technical literature to that need. Examination of the general approach to this paper will reveal much that is firm and positive with respect to empirical results -- extractions, recoveries, amenability to familiar proven equipment and materials of construction common to the industry. Although there are many references, there are gaps in the basic scientific data that if filled could lead to even more usefulness; the paper attempts to indicate where further information is needed.

Jan 1, 1973

By P. H. Dudley

A quarter of a century of service of steel rails on our oldest railroads, many of which have changed their standard sections three or four times, has furnished, and is furnishing, excellent opportunities to study their wear and behavior in the track. Such experience is valuable for the design of new sections, now required to meet the constantly increasing severity of railroad service. Before presenting the new sections for consideration, I will briefly call attention to some features of past experience. For convenience of study, rails may be separated according to their weight and height into four groups, viz.: 1. Hails weighing per yard from 52 to 60 pounds, and 34 to 4 inches high. 2. " " " " " 60 " 72 " " 46 to 44 " " 3. " " " " " 72 " 90 ' 41/8 to 5 4. " " " " " 85 or more " " over 5 " I Experience in this country is confined mainly to sections in groups Nos. 1, 2 and 3. • During the past few years I have had the opportunity to run my car over many thousands of miles of railway laid with the principal sections in use, and to obtain diagrams showing their deflections, permanent set, and, in a great measure, their manner of wear. The First Group.—The first steel rails imported, and those manufactured here, were light sections—included in the first group—and many of them, being rolled in rolls used for rolling iron sections, have pear-shaped heads, 2 3/8 to 2 1/2 inches wide, the base being heavy and from 1/4 to 1/2 inch narrower than the height. These rails were laid upon ties of solid timber, at least 8 inches face, spaced 2 feet from center to center. The moments of inertia of these rails were low, only ranging from 8 for the lightest sections to 12 for the heaviest. The deflections were, of course, great; but the quality of the metal was excellent. It was physically hard and

Jan 1, 1890

By N. A. Richard, A. E. Austin, R. E. Maringer

AS part of a detailed study of the structure of metallic meteorites, the concentration and distribution of iron and nickel in the various phases of meteor -itic iron have been measured using an electron-probe microanalyzer. The specimen used was cut from a position about 3 in. below the surface of the Grant meteorite, a one-half-ton iron specimen (containing 9.35 pct Ni) found in New Mexico some years ago. A photomicrograph showing the general Widmanstztten structure, somewhat typical of iron meteorites, is shown in Fig. 1. The line across which the analyses were made is indicated by arrows. This area was chosen so as to evaluate the iron-nickel concentration in the three principal phases visible in Fig. 1. These phases, in the language of meteoritics, are kamacite, taenite, and plessite. Kamacite is the a-

Jan 1, 1960

By Walter S. Lutz, J. T. Griffith

The rainfall during the last six months of 1942 in Scranton and vicinity was 24.06 in.—only 4.35 in more than the average for this district in any equivalent period—yet that rain forced The Hudson Coal Co. to handle 38.8 tons of water for every ton of coal mined. It filled to overflowing, or to a higher level, 14 flooded mine areas holding, in total volume, 8.3 billion gallons of water in storage; brought about a pumpage of 11.4 billion gallons in the months of December 1942 and January, February and March 1943 Half of the total energy generated or purchased (44,322,980 kw-hr.) was required to keep the mines sufficiently free of water to permit the mining of coal during a period of much needed output. Fig. I shows the extent to which this flooding of exhausted and idle properties has proceeded, and is known to be proceeding further, at the upper end of the Northern field. This rainfall (24.06 in.) means 80,559,444 tons of water on approximately 46.2 sq. miles of area tributary to the pumping plants. During the high rainfall period, 72,687,661 tons went underground, being pumped at the stations in this territory. This means an inflow of 88per cent, a runoff of 12 per cent compared with 64 per cent during normal conditions in a normal region. During this period no floods, either surface or underground, had to be dealt with, although the streams and rivers were high on several occasions. In general, the rainfall for the first three months of 1943 can be described as heavy but not abnormal.9 These figures not only indicate the large volumes of water to be handled but, by their very size, they also emphasize that the mine-water problem is not to be conquered, at least from an economical standpoint, by merely buying and installing more and more pumps. Into the solving of this water problem must go much planning, adhering to the principle of keeping the highest percentage of water at the highest possible level for the longest period of time; the storage of huge volumes in sumps capable of being reduced after the flood inflow and at rates less than the inflow; plans for prevention of surface inflow; provision of the minimum of pumping capacity arranged to as nearly 100 per cent pumping load factor as is possible; intercompany joint pumping plants; the conducting of water from one plant to another and from one property to another over distances measured in miles; priorities in power to the threatening situations; and. balance of the necessities and dangers existent in one colliery over another, day by day, when quantities of water are running high. Despite these astronomical figures of water volumes, their disposal to the surface is accomplished reasonably cheaply because, although the annual cost of $575,020 is a large sum, the cost per ton is about 0.1168 cents. Credit for this goes

Jan 1, 1947

By J. T. Griffith, Walter S. Lutz

The rainfall during the last six months of 1942 in Scranton and vicinity was 24.06 in.—only 4.35 in more than the average for this district in any equivalent period—yet that rain forced The Hudson Coal Co. to handle 38.8 tons of water for every ton of coal mined. It filled to overflowing, or to a higher level, 14 flooded mine areas holding, in total volume, 8.3 billion gallons of water in storage; brought about a pumpage of 11.4 billion gallons in the months of December 1942 and January, February and March 1943 Half of the total energy generated or purchased (44,322,980 kw-hr.) was required to keep the mines sufficiently free of water to permit the mining of coal during a period of much needed output. Fig. I shows the extent to which this flooding of exhausted and idle properties has proceeded, and is known to be proceeding further, at the upper end of the Northern field. This rainfall (24.06 in.) means 80,559,444 tons of water on approximately 46.2 sq. miles of area tributary to the pumping plants. During the high rainfall period, 72,687,661 tons went underground, being pumped at the stations in this territory. This means an inflow of 88per cent, a runoff of 12 per cent compared with 64 per cent during normal conditions in a normal region. During this period no floods, either surface or underground, had to be dealt with, although the streams and rivers were high on several occasions. In general, the rainfall for the first three months of 1943 can be described as heavy but not abnormal.9 These figures not only indicate the large volumes of water to be handled but, by their very size, they also emphasize that the mine-water problem is not to be conquered, at least from an economical standpoint, by merely buying and installing more and more pumps. Into the solving of this water problem must go much planning, adhering to the principle of keeping the highest percentage of water at the highest possible level for the longest period of time; the storage of huge volumes in sumps capable of being reduced after the flood inflow and at rates less than the inflow; plans for prevention of surface inflow; provision of the minimum of pumping capacity arranged to as nearly 100 per cent pumping load factor as is possible; intercompany joint pumping plants; the conducting of water from one plant to another and from one property to another over distances measured in miles; priorities in power to the threatening situations; and. balance of the necessities and dangers existent in one colliery over another, day by day, when quantities of water are running high. Despite these astronomical figures of water volumes, their disposal to the surface is accomplished reasonably cheaply because, although the annual cost of $575,020 is a large sum, the cost per ton is about 0.1168 cents. Credit for this goes

Jan 1, 1947