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By H. J. Modi, D. W. Fuerstenau

pH effectively regulates the flotation of corundum through its control of the surface charge. Since collector ions function as counter ions in the double layer, the collector must be anionic when corundum is positively charged and cationic when it is negatively charged. Even a long-chained xanthate will float positively charged corundum. Association of the hydrocarbon chains of the adsorbed collector ions gives rise to increased adsorption and increased rate of flotation. Because of this phenomenon, neutral organic molecules aid flotation although the unionized collector cannot promote flotation independently. Na2SO4 was found to depress the flotation of corundum with animic collectors through ionic competition whereas the same salt activates corundum for flotation with cationic collectors. A close connection between ion association, electrokinetic behavior, and floatability is suggested. As part of the increasing interest in the physical chemistry of flotation, strong experimental evidence has been obtained which indicates that organic ions are adsorbed as counter ions by non-metallic oxide minerals mainly because of the electrical forces which exist at interfaces(1-3). Thus flotation of such minerals without activation should then be appreciable only when the mineral and the collector are oppositely charged. Since only limited work has been reported on the effect of surface charge upon flotation behavior(3) this general hypothesis on the flotation of insoluble oxide minerals has not been tested thoroughly. Investigating the flotation of a mineral for which extensive electrokinetic data exist yields a way to test this hypothesis more extensively. The electrokinetic behavior of corundum in solutions containing both organic and inorganic electrolytes has been studied quite thoroughly' Electro-kinetic measurements have shown that in the case of corundum, simply by controlling pH the solid surface can be charged either positively or negatively. For this reason corundum was chosen for study. The object of this paper is to present a study of the flotation of corundum and to explain the results in the light of our knowledge of adsorption mechanisms gained from streaming potential investigations. This paper is concerned mainly with the effect of surface charge on flotation with anionic and cationic collectors, but in addition such flotation phenomena as collector hydrolysis, Van der Waals attraction between hydrocarbon chains, ionic competition, and activation are discussed. While the present paper is confined to a reporting of the data obtained and some of the more immediate conclusions, it will be seen that the results, in combination with those on other systems, do promise a

Jan 1, 1961

By F. M. Morris

A large reserve of thick coal in southwest Virginia was developed by Clinch-field Coal Co. in 1957-1958 to produce a nominal rate of 1500 tph raw coal. Operation features coal cleaning in transit. Refuse removed averages 35 pct. Evolution of plant from initial conception to completion is discussed, selection of means applied is explained, and performance to date us design expectation is described. The long-range plan calls for ultimate handling capacity of 40,000 tpd raw coal with anticipated clean coal capacity of 26,000 tpd on a three-shift basis. From a materials handling viewpoint, the Moss No. 3 operation is principally of interest as an ensemble. Generally speaking, it uses time-tested equipment and ideas but some of these are employed on a scale that may be new in the industry. At present about 20,000 tpd of raw coal are being handled. This is expected to increase to 40,000 tpd as soon as business conditions justify it. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the evolution of the plant as to materials handling practices, to describe briefly the equipment and methods used, and to comment on performance in certain areas. The subject divides itself naturally into four phases: 1) operations at the mines, 2) transportation from mines to plant, 3) raw coal handling into the plant, and 4) transportation of refuse away from the plant. OPERATIONS AT THE MINES The coal reserves for Moss 3 are in southwest Virginia where Dickenson, Russell, and Buchanan Counties come together. This area contains about 15 square miles and over 100,000,000 tons of coal. Here the No. 4 (Tiller) and No. 5 (Jawbone) seams of the Norton Formation lie so closely together that for practical purposes, they constitute one seam of coal. This seam, which is called the Thick Tiller, varies from 10 to 18 ft in thickness and underlies Sandy Ridge, a mountain cresting between 2400 and 3300 ft above sea-level. At 18-ft seam height (which is considered to be the maximum practical mining height) the parting between seams will be about 3 1/2 ft thick and each bench of coal will be about 7 ft thick. Depending on the amount of impurities in the seams Drover. total reject in this height coal may approximate 50 pet by wt. It will average about 35 pet for the property as a whole. The first move in developing this resource was made in 1953 when contour maps of several square miles around Duty, Va., including all the known outcrop, were made by photogrammetry. At this time, it was felt the prospective operation would be served by the Clinchfield Railroad and a photogrammetric route survey was made by this railroad from Haysi to Duty. Study of the resulting maps indicated only one site—adversely owned—which might accommodate the size washing plant to be erected. Water resources of a dependable nature seemed nonexistent. In 1954 bulk washability tests were made on the Tiller Bench at the Moss No. 1 preparation plant. The tests indicated this portion of the seam, mined separately, would wash to 4 pet ash with good recovery. Also in 1954, development of Moss No. 2, south of Sandy Ridge, was begun. This mine is in the Tiller Seam where it is about 100 ft below the Jawbone Seam. The reasons for developing a mine in the normal Tiller Seam before tackling the Thick Tiller seemed compelling: Railroad service could be established quickly, communications were better (though not good!), more was known of the seam (it had been mined in the years 1911 to 19241, and there was no essential property to be acquired. After some legal skirmishing, the Norfolk & Western Railroad was granted the right to serve the new mine. Three decades earlier the old mine had been served by the Clinchfield Railroad. The event which triggered active development of Moss 3 was the Appalachian Power Co.'s decision in 1956 to build a 450,000-kva power plant on Clinch River at Carbo. This solved the problem of marketing the steam coal which inevitably must be a product of a mine in the Thick Tiller. Management promptly decided to build the preparation plant at Carbo where an excellent site was owned; where railroad service existed; where telephone service could be obtained; and where roads, bridges, and water supply were tolerable.

Jan 1, 1961

By J. Peperakis

Coal mine bumps are normally associated with pillar mining under moderate or deep cover. Severe bumps at Sunnyside, however, have not been confined to pillar lines. Many have occurred in virgin development and in localities a long way from active pillar workings. As early as 1918 bumps in virgin territory were attributed to the faulted structure in the Sunnyside area.' Sunnyside is an old property, mined for more than 60 years. Both man-made and natural conditions contribute greatly to bump occurrences, and loss of life and great destruction of workings have resulted from some unusual bumps in recent years. Before Kaiser Steel acquired the Sunnyside Mines in 1950, about 21 million tons of coal had been extracted. Large areas had been worked out and equally large areas first-mined. As demand for coking coal gradually diminished, extensive blocks were shut down, and during the low production period of the 1930's mining on a very limited scale was confined to a section of the property close to the coal tipple. Following purchase of the property Kaiser Steel developed the mines into a fully modernized operation. The worked out and first mined areas covered about four square miles extending five miles along the strike and up to one and a half miles down dip from the outcrop. The sections with favorable mining conditions and clean coal had been largely extracted under the selective mining system imposed by economic conditions and the lack of cleaning plant facilities. Large reserves remained on the fringes of the worked out sections and in areas under deep cover and difficult roof. There were also considerable reserves in first-mined areas. In recent years much of Sunnyside's daily output of 7000 to 8000 tons has been derived from the partially mined localities. Many bumps have occurred when pillars have been pulled within the first-mined areas and on the fringes. The bumps have been associated with retreating pillar lines backing up against old workings and pillar lines in old first-mined areas backing up against highly stressed oversized barrier pillars surrounded by smaller pillars. In some parts of the property the upper Sunnyside seam was extensively worked in the past, and sizable areas of old works overlie the present lower seam workings. Abutment pressures from barrier pillars and pillar remnants are transmitted to the lower seam, contributing to bumps and squeeze conditions. Cover: The terrain is exceedingly rough, and cover varies considerably over relatively short horizontal distances. For example, at No. 1 mine the 2000-ft cover line is ony 2700 ft from the coal outcrop, and at No. 2 mine the cover over the main hoisting slope increases from 1000 to 2000 ft in a horizontal span of 1200 ft. Cover over the present mining sections ranges from several hundred feet in the valleys to 2500 ft under the crest of the divides. A short distance ahead of Sunnyside's deepest development down dip the cover reaches 3000 ft or more.

Jan 1, 1959

By Gregory M. Dexter

Recent litigation in Pennsylvania between three coal-mining companies and a private water company resulted in the payment by the coal companies of the equivalent of about $500,000 to buy a new water supply to replace that which had been damaged by acid drainage from strip mining. An investigation of the relevant facts indicates that the water could have been treated by spending about $40,000 on equipment and $15,000 yearly for chemicals, labor, and power until the contarnination could be reduced about 80 pct. The water company's supply, furthermore, had deteriorated largely by reason of dry weather before stripping was begun by the coal companies. Payment to the water company should not have exceeded $300,000 and could have been as low as $100,000. Strip mining of coal is common in Pennsylvania. The most important objection to it in Pennsylvania is generally acid pollution of runoff water. An outline of the methods, therefore, that could be used to reduce such pollution, to compare acid-contaminated waters. and to treat such waters to make them satisfactory for public and industrial use is worth-while. The watershed of the West Penn Water Co. covers about 4.5 square miles, 20 miles west of Pittsburgh, and has two 90,000,000 gal reservoirs supplying about 1,300,000 gal daily for public and industrial use of which 450,000 gal daily are for two railroads. The pollution arises from weathered derivatives of typical'" Coal Measures"' rocks, the principal source being pyrite (and marcasite) in Pittsburgh and Rooster coals. Springs and seeps on hillsides issue from sandstone and limestone formations intersecting shale or clay land surfaces, or from perched water tables. The two reservoirs create an artificial permanent water table. Soap-hardness tests on three seepage samples taken in a dry summer ranged from 150 to 500 ppm. Water sampled came from aquifers above Pittsburgh and Rooster coals, obviating the possibility of contact with pyrite-containing coal. Since acid contamination of mine waters is the result of chemical reactions of oxygen and water with pyrite, it will be reduced by the exclusion of either air or water. The Sunnyhill Coal Co. has applied this principle in its "contouring" method of strip mining by burying contaminated coal-waste material under a compact, smoothed-up surface of top-soil, gravel, clay, and sand at a cost

Jan 1, 1950

By A. W. Hesse

The trend of American construction toward permanence and longevity is noticeable in the more recent coal plant installations; also, the policy of many coal operators has changed from seeking to obtain the desired tonnage from several plants of small capacities to designing a single installation to produce the whole amount. The mine openings and plant of the Nemacolin mine of The Buckeye Coal Co., are located on the Greene County side of the Monongahela River, 73 miles south of Pittsburgh. The map (Fig. 1) shows the general location, also the Lambert syncline. This syncline partly accounts for the selection of the site; the other reasons were the possibilities of rail and river shipments. Two shafts and a slope were sunk to the coal, work starting on all three in the second half of the year 1917. The air shaft was sunk to a depth of 243 ft. and completed in February, 1918; the slope was completed in November, and the skip shaft was stopped at a depth of 21 ft. below the coal, then the concrete lining was stopped 8 ft. above the coal August, 1918. Work on the skip shaft was resumed May, 1923, and sunk to a depth of 60 ft. below the coal by September, but it was not until May, 1924, that the lining was poured. Max. Min. WateR Water during after Sinking, Crouting, Depth or Cu. Yd. Cu. YD. Gal. per GaL. per Opening Size Length Excav. Conc. Min. Min. Air shaft..... 20 ft. diam. 251 ft. 8 in. 4788 1902 475 2 Slope........ 11 it. by 19 it. 1 in. 857 ft. 11500 5200 50 2 Skip shaft.... 32 ft. 8 in. by 12 it. 8 in. 296 ft. 6042 2293 300 3 Fig. 2 shows sections of these openings. The surface plan shows the relative positions of the openings. Coal was first hoisted from the air shaft May 7, 1918, and entry driving was continued; but the coal had to be stored, as the railroad had not been extended from Crucible to Nemacolin. As soon as the slope was driven to the coal and the linings concreted, the entries were driven along projected lines to connect with those advancing from the air shaft, and skip shaft. As soon as the underground connections had been made between the two shafts, the hoisting by buckets was inaugurated at the skip shaft and construction on the fan at the air shaft started.

Jan 1, 1927

By G. G. Sarkar

SHARPNESS of separation and washing efficiency are often confused. The sharpness index indicates the precision of a washing unit; the washing efficiency takes into account not only the unit's precision but also the washability characteristics of raw coal and the near-gravity materials at the effective density of cut. A sound basis for evaluating the sharpness index is essential in comparing the sharpness of separation attained by different cleaning units. Sharpness Index and Related Criteria: Washing plant sharpness of separation has been well represented by Hancock's efficiency chart and Tromp's curve of migrated materials. Some useful coefficients derived from Tromp's curve—the error area, probable error, and imperfection value—have been widely used to measure sharpness of separation. These are defined in a number of papers presented at the first and second International Coal Preparation Colsference held in Paris (1950) and Essen (1954).1-5 In evaluating the performance of a dense medium separator at four different gravities, Yan-cey and Greer6 bserved that even with similar operating conditions and the same size grading of feed, the imperfection value of a washing plant varies through a greater range than the probable error. The present writer also observed the same type of anomalies in comparing the imperfection values of one plant which were determined under almost identical conditions. He therefore devised a graphical method to evaluate a washing unit's sharpness of separation and define it by a single coefficient, which is substantially independent of coal characteristics under normal operation of the unit. Unlike imperfection value, the new coefficient can be expressed on a percentage basis. Coal preparation engineers generally agree that the amount of misplaced material resulting from any separation in a washing plant is almost directly related to the amount of +0.10 sp gr (near-gravity) materials. In actual practice, however, misplacement is not restricted to the 20.10 sp gr range. It will be evident from a study of Tromp curves that this misplacement often extends over unequal specific gravity ranges on the two sides of the actual density of separation. The same condition exists for near-gravity ash distribution and the resultant misplacement of ash units during any separation. But so far as the same unit is concerned, the total misplacements bear a definite ratio to the amount of near-gravity zone materials that is affected by misplacements. This ratio should be constant not only for various densities of separation but also for different qualities of feed coal treated in the same plant. This ratio, multiplied by 100, directly represents the inefficiency of the plant. When the plant inefficiency value is subtracted from 100, the re- ' sult is designated as sharpness index. Evaluating the Sharpness Index: The method of evaluating the sharpness index is explained here with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a reproduction of the familiar diagram used by Cerchar of France to represent the inefficiency of a separation in terms of "triangle of errors," which is a measure of organic loss. It will be observed that the characteristic (yield/fractional ash) curve of the raw coal represented by GHAPR

Jan 1, 1958

By D. S. Kingery, D. W. Mitchell

The authors attended the 11th International Conference of Directors of Safety in Mines Research held in France, July 1963. In addition to Conference discussions pertaining to control of coal dust they had the added assignment to study present European practices for neutralizing the coal-dust explosion hazard. Information was obtained through discussions with the Research Directors, by visits to testing stations and observations of operating mines in various countries. This paper tells what the current practice in this field is in Europe, and how effectively coal dust explosions are controlled. The method is rock dust barriers. CONTROL OF COAL DUST DISSEMINATION Experience in Europe indicates that the control of dust production and dissemination by water or foam systems is not successful except during undercutting. Cybulski, Dawes, and DeBraaf - respectively Director, Mines Research Establishment "Barbara", Katowice, Poland; Principal Scientific Officer, Safety in Mines Research Establishment, Sheffield, England; and Chief, Central Mines Research Establishment, Hoensbroek, Treebeek, The Netherlands - believe that wetted dust becomes readily dispersible and abatement measures should be considered only as a temporary means for reducing the health hazard. In an effort to reduce the health hazard, calcium chloride is used on the floor of main haulageways in Dutch mines and water infusion is practiced in Germany in mines where the coal is relatively porous. With respect to wet coal dust, the Belgians, British, Dutch, French, and Russians reportedly have accepted the results of research from the Polish and American experimental mines on the effectiveness of water as an inert in arresting explosion propagation. The Polish use the two test methods proposed by the U.S. Bureau of Mines1 for evaluation of the adequacy of wetness of mine dust; they require that water be added to the wet dust to maintain a minimum of 50% moisture by weight if dependence is placed on water alone. GENERALIZED ROCK DUSTING The general attitude with regard to protection against coal dust explosions throughout Europe is that generalized rock dusting is a vital primary step to inhibit initial ignitions but definite emphasis is also placed upon the efficiency of rock dust barriers. Those exceptions to generalized rock dusting are Germany and Austria where some rock dusting is done but principal reliance is placed upon rock dust barriers. The rock dust used in Belgium, Holland, Russia, and Poland is coarser than that used in the U. S.; 50% of the dust is through a No. 200 sieve (75 microns). Recent research by the Polish indicates that the portion finer than 20 microns is ineffective in arresting explosion propagation, and that the rock

Jan 1, 1964

By A. F. Meger

Coal treatment by oil spraying receives special attention at the Georgetown plant for the dividends it pays in satisfying present customers and attracting new markets. Customer satisfaction requires care, quality control, and use of suitable oils. REPRESENTED here are the ideas and varied experiences of many people in the Hanna Coal CO. who have helped develop, over a number of years, an efficient and flexible method for spraying controlled amounts of oil on coal. Since the Georgetown preparation plant began operations early in 1951, oil treatment of coal has received special attention. It is believed that oil treating will satisfy present customers and also attract new markets. The first step in developing the new method of oil spraying was the construction of a dust cabinet for testing 50-lb samples of treated coal with the available oil sprays on the market. Tests results were tabulated for both indoor and outdoor storage. The graph, Fig. 1, shows results of the original tests made with a 700-sec residual blend and a 500-sec lubricating oil on Georgetown stoker coal of 1¼x3/8-in. size.* The advantages of better price, improperly blended can raise havoc. Some.,pale oils also, although odorless when delivered, give off a sweet sickening odor when atomized under pressure. It is recommended that all products be tested before they are used. There is a specific place for all spraying oils. For example, at a power plant a severe dust condition exists around the stockpile area and in parts of the plant. The cheapest spraying oil made, regardless of odor, will do an excellent job in this case and will save the company 3 to 5c per gal or more. Domestic trade, on the other hand, must be carefully handled to prevent complaints about odor, and the only way to do this is to stay with the proved products after the odor tests have been made. The preparation plant at Georgetown has facilities to handle either tank car or tank truck deliveries. Steam is available at the unloading point if the weather is severe, and there is an indicator at the unloading point to prevent overflowing the 20,000-gal underground storage tank. Systematic test samples are removed from each delivery and sent to the lubrication engineer to insure quality control. Fig. 3 illustrates the chutes in which smaller sizes of coal are treated. Fig. 4 shows the entire spraying system. Buried in the ground is a 20,000-gal tank with immersion heaters grouped around the feeder line to insure adequate gravity flow to the pump under all conditions of weather. Oil flows to a 500-gal preheating tank where the temperature is kept about 150°F by six 1½-kw immersion heaters thermostatically controlled. Hot oil is fed through a self-cleaning disc-type filter to the hydraulic pump. Valves and piping make it possible to transfer oil from one tank to another or to drain the lines for maintenance purposes. All this equipment is below ground level in a covered pump room,

Jan 1, 1955

By Orville R. Lyons, A. C. Richardson

F. X. Ferney—We are pleased that this paper was presented at this meeting and thank Mr. Richardson and Mr. Lyons for their effort and work in preparing it. We agree with the authors that it was unfortunate that more comprehensive data were not available when the paper was prepared, this being particularly true since we had no knowledge that the paper was being written and could not make available data which were in our process files. Further, it is our opinion that because the data are not sufficiently comprehensive the results which are presented are erratic and will lead to false conclusions. As we see it, there are three Specific reasons why the data which are presented cannot be considered accurate. 1. The preparation plant was not at equilibrium while the samples were being taken. This is indicated by the fact that the percent of solids in the circulating water varied from 3.9 pct to 10.7 pct during the period when the plant was sampled. 2. We do not believe that the samples of Bird feed which were taken were representative and could indicatc the true feed to the filter. Evidence of this is shown in the data where the dewatered product leaving the centrifuge contains more coarse material than the feed to it, that is, material which is +6-mesh in size. 3. We question if the data concerning screen analysis in the fine sizes is accurate and would conclude (from the data) that these tests were made by a dry-screen method. We have found that wet screening is always necessary to obtain a true picture of the quantity of —200-mesh fines which is present. The test work described in the Lyons-Richardson paper was conducted some time ago and the tests were carried on during a period when the preparation plant had not ironed out all of their start-up problems. Since that time most of these problems have been corrected and now this is a smooth running, well-operated prep-

Jan 1, 1951

By Orville R. Lyons, A. C. Richardson

F. X. Ferney—We are pleased that this paper was presented at this meeting and thank Mr. Richardson and Mr. Lyons for their effort and work in preparing it. We agree with the authors that it was unfortunate that more comprehensive data were not available when the paper was prepared, this being particularly true since we had no knowledge that the paper was being written and could not make available data which were in our process files. Further, it is our opinion that because the data are not sufficiently comprehensive the results which are presented are erratic and will lead to false conclusions. As we see it, there are three Specific reasons why the data which are presented cannot be considered accurate. 1. The preparation plant was not at equilibrium while the samples were being taken. This is indicated by the fact that the percent of solids in the circulating water varied from 3.9 pct to 10.7 pct during the period when the plant was sampled. 2. We do not believe that the samples of Bird feed which were taken were representative and could indicatc the true feed to the filter. Evidence of this is shown in the data where the dewatered product leaving the centrifuge contains more coarse material than the feed to it, that is, material which is +6-mesh in size. 3. We question if the data concerning screen analysis in the fine sizes is accurate and would conclude (from the data) that these tests were made by a dry-screen method. We have found that wet screening is always necessary to obtain a true picture of the quantity of —200-mesh fines which is present. The test work described in the Lyons-Richardson paper was conducted some time ago and the tests were carried on during a period when the preparation plant had not ironed out all of their start-up problems. Since that time most of these problems have been corrected and now this is a smooth running, well-operated prep-

Jan 1, 1951

By Elmer R. Kaiser

Industry Adopts Research: Seventy-Ave years ago Thomas A. Edison began in a modest way and with limited funds to gather about him men of various talents to form the first industrial research laboratory. His laboratory at Menlo Park, N. J., became famous for many discoveries and inventions, but possibly the most important of all may yet be the industrial research laboratory itself. Today, private industry operates 2500 research laboratories in which 135,000 persons' are directly and indirectly creating new processes and products and improving old ones, as well as developing new information to help keep the fountain of knowledge from running dry. In this change-making function, the scientific personnel comprises 41 pct; the technical personnel 26 pct; and the balance, 33 pct, nontechnical. The term "industrial research" has become so broad as to include almost everything beginning with the search for and discovery of the laws governing the properties of matter and energy to the development and testing of processes, methods, and equipment. These classes of investigation commonly merge so that no sharp boundary can be traced between them. The National Research Council therefore defines industrial research as "the endeavor to learn how to apply scientific facts to the service of mankind."' Currently, expenditures for research by industry are variously estimated at between $450,000,000 to $700,000,000 a year,' or about twice the expenditure for 1940. The President's Scientific Research Board" estimated that the national research and development for 1947 (excluding atomic energy) was as follows: A few companies spend as much as 5 pct of their gross receipts for research, but 1% to 2 pct is considered a good proportion by many." Shortages: Commendable as is the record of growth and accomplishment of science in industry, it is only a beginning. America and the rest of the world have merely sampled the fruits of industrial research; most industries have yet to make research the key to their future. A top research consultant, T. A. Boyd, of General Motors, states ". . . perhaps 90 per cent of all companies still have no research laboratories."Y or example, of more than 17,000 manufacturing concerns whose gross sales exceed $500,000 a year, less than 2500 have research laboratories. A still smaller proportion of the 184,230 manufacturing establishments in 161 industriese have or could afford their own research facilities. Yet, the small and mediurn-sized com,panies with less than 250 employees each, produce one half of the dollar volume of manufactured products.' How are these companies to participate in and share the benefits of research? Boyd gives two reasons for the inadequate number of laboratories in industry: Many people still do not appreciate the importance of research, nor understand its tremendous potentiali-

Jan 1, 1951

By Elmer R. Kaiser

Industry Adopts Research: Seventy-Ave years ago Thomas A. Edison began in a modest way and with limited funds to gather about him men of various talents to form the first industrial research laboratory. His laboratory at Menlo Park, N. J., became famous for many discoveries and inventions, but possibly the most important of all may yet be the industrial research laboratory itself. Today, private industry operates 2500 research laboratories in which 135,000 persons' are directly and indirectly creating new processes and products and improving old ones, as well as developing new information to help keep the fountain of knowledge from running dry. In this change-making function, the scientific personnel comprises 41 pct; the technical personnel 26 pct; and the balance, 33 pct, nontechnical. The term "industrial research" has become so broad as to include almost everything beginning with the search for and discovery of the laws governing the properties of matter and energy to the development and testing of processes, methods, and equipment. These classes of investigation commonly merge so that no sharp boundary can be traced between them. The National Research Council therefore defines industrial research as "the endeavor to learn how to apply scientific facts to the service of mankind."' Currently, expenditures for research by industry are variously estimated at between $450,000,000 to $700,000,000 a year,' or about twice the expenditure for 1940. The President's Scientific Research Board" estimated that the national research and development for 1947 (excluding atomic energy) was as follows: A few companies spend as much as 5 pct of their gross receipts for research, but 1% to 2 pct is considered a good proportion by many." Shortages: Commendable as is the record of growth and accomplishment of science in industry, it is only a beginning. America and the rest of the world have merely sampled the fruits of industrial research; most industries have yet to make research the key to their future. A top research consultant, T. A. Boyd, of General Motors, states ". . . perhaps 90 per cent of all companies still have no research laboratories."Y or example, of more than 17,000 manufacturing concerns whose gross sales exceed $500,000 a year, less than 2500 have research laboratories. A still smaller proportion of the 184,230 manufacturing establishments in 161 industriese have or could afford their own research facilities. Yet, the small and mediurn-sized com,panies with less than 250 employees each, produce one half of the dollar volume of manufactured products.' How are these companies to participate in and share the benefits of research? Boyd gives two reasons for the inadequate number of laboratories in industry: Many people still do not appreciate the importance of research, nor understand its tremendous potentiali-

Jan 1, 1951

Filter aids are currently used in many industries to increase filtrate clarity and filtration rates. In other industries filtration could be improved if accept- able filter aids could be obtained cheaply. The present paper describes a simple thermal process for making filter aids from coal, outlines the effects of coal properties and major operating variables, and discusses the properties of satisfactory products. Several possible variations in reactor design have been used experimentally, involving fluidized beds of carbon or inert material, reaction of the particles while entrained in air, and a combination of entrainment and fluidization. The limits imposed on product yields by the composition of the parent coal are considered in relation to a range of Australian coals and one New Zealand coal; and the effects of temperature, residence time, and reactant flow rates have been studied in relation to product yields and characteristics.

Jan 1, 1969

Standard petrographic profiles for many Permian seams from New South Wales and Queensland have been drawn up. The standard profiles of seams of the same age and from one or more coalfields were used to compile an idealized or type seam sequence for those coals in which more than half the seam profiles were similar to one another. A marked similarity existed between at least 7 of the 10 type seam sequences formed. The configurations of the vitrite-plus-clarite contents of the plies of 95 per cent of the seams could be formed from different arrangements of 3 basic sequences: (i) a two-ply sequence with a lower vitrite-rich and an upper vitrite-poor ply; (ii) a two-ply sequence with a lower vitrite-poor and an upper vitrite-rich ply; and (iii) a four-ply sequence of 3 plies with vitrite-plus- clarite decreasing upwards, terminating in a vitrite- rich ply. The third basic sequence was very similar to a succession described for some British Carboniferous coals. Eighty per cent of the Australian Permian coal seams studied began with the first (i) basic type of sequence and are interpreted as originating in peat- forming areas which became progressively drier. More than half the seams were formed in an area with a stable depositional surface level which was subject to oscillations of small amplitude.. Many (30%) were formed in an area with a steadily rising depositional surface level.

Jan 1, 1969

By Diessel C. F K, Ng N

The commonly used Stopes-Heerlen coal petrographic classification and nomenclature has over the years been subject to variable interpretations. This paper discusses the problem with specific reference to the inertinite maceral group. The effect of various interpretations of the Stopes-Heerlen system on maceral analysis is discussed and illustrated by means of comparative analyses conducted by a number of laboratories in Australia. An attempt is made to define the reflectance thresholds used by the authors to subdivide the inertinite group; the genetic and technological significance of these thresholds are compared. The difficulties of distinguishing structured and non-structured macerals of the inertinite group is discussed in terms of possible improvements to the present Stopes-Heerlen system by extending the classification to include transitional maceral types.

Jan 1, 1969

A new test coke oven of seven cubic foot capacity is described. The oven was designed to simulate conditions in a central section of a battery oven and a special feature is the achievement of unidirectional heating from the flues on either side of the charge. The method of charging permits close control of charge conditions'such as bulk density and moisture content. These conditions, as well as coking conditions (e.g. flue temper- atures., coking time) must be varied to simulate conditions in different batteries, The effects of several variables on coke quality are discussed. Using test oven conditions corresponding to those of Newcastle steelworks batteries, good agreement was obtained between strength indices of test oven and battery cokes; for 17 tests, the average A.S.T.M. stability and hardness indices for the test oven coke were 38,5% and 69.7%, while those for the battery coke were 37.1.% and 67.6%.

Jan 1, 1969

Knowledge of coalfield geology has evolved rapidly over the past few years. Recent advances ranging between exploration, mining geology and seam variation studies have enabled application of geological techniques commensurate with technological changes in the coal industry.

Jan 1, 1969

By Wilson R. G

The Bulli and Wongawilli Seams, the two principal sources of coking coal for the Port KKembla steelworks of Australian Iron and Steel Pty. Ltd., vary in rank and in type over the Southern and -South Western Coalfields. The Bulli Seam, ranging widely in type, produces coke varying from weak to strong. The Wongawilli Seam, more consistent in type, produces coke of more consistent strength, but considerably less strong than that from the best Bulli Seam coal. Plans of seam variation show the regional trends in rank and type for each sear. The strongest coke is derived from coal containing between 45 and 55 per cent vitrinite, m.m.f. This is obtainable from the Bulli Sean in a zone embracing Bulli and Appin Colleries.

Jan 1, 1969

By Taylor G. H

The proposed classification scheme is based on two primary parameters, one for petrographic composition and the other for rank, both being determined with microscopical techniques. The scheme has been applied to a wide range of Australian coals and found to provide a useful means of relat- ing their inherent properties to properties such as volatile- matter yield, crucible swelling number, and calorific value, which will determine how these coals might be used coimierciallyti,

Jan 1, 1969

By Johnson M. W

Factual data about the sedimentation in the Newcastle Coal. Measures are presented. Data concerning the total coal measure sequence (isopachs, sand /shale ratio and total coal thickness variation), data about three coal seams (Borehole, Dudley and Victoria Tunnel) and data about interseam con- glomerate units are discussed. From this data conclusions are drawn about the coal measure environment. The western edge of the coal basin, the Lochinvar Dome, although a high feature was apparently stable during coal measure time. Despite its height it apparently supplied little sediment to the basin. The northern and north-eastern edge, which was unstable, suppl- ied most of the coarse detritus including the conglomerates to the basin. The conglomerates show patterns of fluvial origin but after a period of "normal" variations in pattern they become restricted to two parallel zones evidently tectonically controlled. Deposition of conglomerates is episodic and separated by periods of coal formation when deformation was apparently slight. Formation of each of the three seams considered followed a rather similar pattern - each shows development of thick coal around the basin edge and poor thin coal in the "axial" region of the present synclinal structure. Evidence of in-situ formation of some areas of the seams is discussed and periodic deformation of the basin during coal measure time is postulated.

Jan 1, 1969