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By J. R. Dunn

Planning quarry operations and control of the quality of rock materials at Hudson Cement Co. at East Kingston, N. Y., are special problems because of multiple uses for the stone and the great structural complexity of the rocks. Problems have been largely solved by detailed geologic work. These geologic studies have paid dividends in long and short range planning, in assessment of reserves, in vastly reduced cost of chemical analyses, and in reduced drilling costs. Limestones of the Hudson Valley outcrop along the Hudson River from Albany to Kingston. Old established cement companies are located just south of Catskill and just east and southeast of Hudson, N. Y. The new Atlantic Cement plant is being constructed at Ravena. Hudson Cement located at East Kingston, is a newcomer and is closest to the New York metropolitan area (Plate I).

Jan 11, 1961

By H. P. Allen

The Achotla mill of the Cia. Minera de Penoles is of special interest in that it is one of the few still employing the chloridization process. The ore milled comes from the Suriana mine and consists of both oxide and sulphide, from neither of which can the gold or silver be extracted by a simple cyanide treatment. The mill was built in 1927, after several years of study in the development of the process1, and operated from December of that year until October 1930. Operations were resumed in February 1935, and have been continuous since, treating approximately 5000 tons per month, while the mine is getting up to full tonnage of 6500 tons per month. Transportation of Supplies The property is in Guerrero, Mexico, some 175 km. by airline southwest of Mexico City. The mill site is at Temisco (Fig. I), 8 km. from the Balsas River and 4.8 km. by aerial tram from the mine. At Temisco are the general office, shops, warehouses and laboratory serving both mine and mill. Here sufficient water is available either from a small creek running through the property or from the Balsas River, also convenient and ample storage space for the tailings. With the exception of the mine timber and a few native building materials which may be obtained locally, all supplies for both mine and mill are brought down the Balsas River from Balsas, the terminal of a Mexican National Railway line out of Mexico City. The method of transportation on the river is interesting. Rapids with very fast water are numerous, prohibiting the use of mechanically propelled boats. Those used resemble large, flat-bottomed rowboats some 22 ft. long by 8 ft. wide (Fig. 2). They are manned by two oarsmen sitting in the bow, each handling one large oar, and usually another man in the stern who, with his oar, assists in steering the boat, especially when the rapids are run. From 3 to 7 tons of freight are carried on each boat, depending upon the stage of the water, which governs also the time

Jan 1, 1939

By J. F. Poland

Location of Basins and Geologic Features of Occurrence: The major ground-water resources of California occur and are stored in the many large alluvium-filled valleys of the state. The deposits of Quaternary age which hold the ground water commonly are called valley fill. Meinzerl has discussed the characteristic features of this fill and showed that for western United States its distribution is concentrated chiefly in western Utah, Nevada, central Oregon, California, southern Arizona, and central New Mexico (see fig. 1). For California the principal ground-water basins are shown on fig. 2. Except for the Mojave Desert and the "Basin and Range" Valleys (fig. 2, Nos. 23 and 23A), which are not shown individually, the basins outlined on fig. 2 contain all the large reservoirs in valley fill within the state. The Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys (fig. 2) together comprise the Great Central Valley of California, which has an area of about 18,000 square miles. The Sacramento Valley contains about 5000 square miles of valley lands, approxi- mately equal to the area of Connecticut; the San Joaquin Valley embraces about 13,000 square miles, equivalent to the areas of Massachusetts and Connecticut combined. Both the area and the ground-water use in the Central Valley is far greater than for all the other shaded alluvial basins of fig. 2 added together. Except for the Sacramento Valley, all the major ground-water basins of the state are south of Sacramento. The valley fill in these ground-water basins has been transported by streams and most of it has been laid down in alluvial fans, producing the typical alluvial-fan structure of aquifers radiating as tongues from a prismatic pile of coarse, permeable debris at the canyon mouths; these aquifers are encased down slope by poorly sorted materials consisting of a clayey matrix with imbedded pebbles and boulders, interbedded with flood-plain silt. In the deeper inland structural valleys, the alluvial deposits interfinger at depth in the valley bottoms with horizontally bedded lacustrine sand, silt, and clay. The San Joaquin Valley is a good example. In the coastal valleys exposed to the sea, such as the Los Angeles coastal plain, the alluvial fans pass coastward into lagoonal and thence to shallow marine deposits. In all these basins, the gravel is coarsest and most permeable near the apexes of the fans, but tongues or lenses of clean gravel and sand may extend for many miles down the fan. Thus, these water-bearing structures are in a position to absorb stream flow near the canyon mouths and to transmit it through the buried radiating conduits.

Jan 1, 1951

By Henning Nielsen

SIX weeks ahead of schedule, the International Nickel Co. of Canada Ltd. has brought a 30-mile rail line into the newly born town of Thompson, Manitoba. Its construction spurs the development of a rich new mining region slated to become the world's second largest nickel-producing area-exceeded only by Inco's Sudbury, Ont., workings. Two mines, the Thompson and the Moak Lake, will be opened to meet International Nickel's scheduled annual production goal of 385 million lb of refined nickel by 1961. Accomplishment of this aim will mean an additional 75 million lb of the metal available to consumers. In addition, stepped-up out- put of Inco's Sudbury holdings may increase this figure by another 25 million lb. (For an earlier report on these developments see MINING ENGINEERING News, January 1957).

Jan 12, 1957

By J. M. Neilson

The occurrence of iron ore deposits in the State of Western Australia has been known at least since the 1930's,3 but the true significance of the deposits has only come to light within the past four years. Although they are widely distributed throughout the State, it is now known that more than 90% of the available iron ore reserves are located in the "Hamersley Iron Province". Western Australia may well contain the world's largest known reserves of iron ore. Recent reports place this reserve at 15 billion tons and an even higher figure may appear in the future. LOCATION, CULTURE AND COMMUNICATIONS It is difficult to comprehend the immense size of Western Australia (Fig. 1). The State occupies almost one million sq miles and it is more than 2000 miles from north to south. More specifically, it stretches from the 14th to the 35th parallel of latitude south. The Ophthalmia Region in the Hamersley Iron Province is barely halfway up the long dimension of the State. Nevertheless, the region is 800 miles north of Perth, a distance comparable to that from New York to Chicago or to that from Chicago to New Orleans. The Hamersley Iron Province (so named in 1963 to distinguish it from the Pilbara mineral district adjacent to it on the north) covers an area of approximately 30,000 sq miles in the northwestern part of the State. It extends in a roughly oval form from the Indian Ocean to the Gibson Desert of the interior, a distance of about 300 miles. With the exception of the small coastal towns of Onslow, Roebourne and Port Hedland and a few other communities such as the asbestos-mining town of Wittenoom, the region is very sparsely populated. Sheep and cattle stations are scattered thfough the region and these and the main towns are connected by truck tracks and a few main highways. Voice communication is almost entirely by the short-wave radio net operated by the Royal Flying Doctor

Jan 1, 1965

By G. P. Boomslitter

In previous discussions on stresses in hoisting ropes, little has been said concerning the effect of the elasticity of the rope itself on the stresses due to acceleration. Laschinger1 has calculated acceleration stresses for several cases but he has ignored the elasticity of the rope as a factor, except as it compresses the drum and stretches itself as it winds thereon. He also deals with steam plants and he shows the effect of the "jerky" start of the engine. This effect would actually be reduced by the elasticity of the cable. With the advent of the motor-driven hoist, new conditions have arisen. The jerk mentioned by Laschinger has been eliminated and smoother starting made possible. But the elastic properties of the rope seem to introduce considerable periodic acceleration stresses in the rope. The following discussion of acceleration stresses is based on the assumption of a constant acceleration at the drum. To be exact, the mathematical work is based upon the assumption that the top is moving upward with a constant acceleration, and ignores the fact that the cable is shortening as it winds. However, the effect of the shortening would be inconsiderable during the first part of the acceleration period. Most hoisting engineers make the assumption of constant acceleration at the drum. Under the older method of calculating acceleration stresses, this would be true with a constant torque motor. But if stresses vary, as this paper attempts to show that they do, constant torque would not give constant acceleration, although the velocity-time curves obtained in the full size test herein described showed that they approach rather closely to this condition, at least as nearly as could be measured. Theoretical Discussion According to elementary physics, the force required to accelerate a Wf body of weight W at the rate of f ft. per sec.2 is wf . To raise the body Wf with acceleration of f ft. per see.2 the total force required is I + Wf, in if

Jan 1, 1927

By Raymond Ward

Jan 1, 1945

By H. P. Allen

The Achotla mill of the Cia. Minera de Penoles is of special interest in that it is one of the few still employing the chloridization process. The ore milled comes from the Suriana mine and consists of both oxide and sulphide, from neither of which can the gold or silver be extracted by a simple cyanide treatment. The mill was built in 1927, after several years of study in the development of the process1, and operated from December of that year until October 1930. Operations were resumed in February 1935, and have been continuous since, treating approximately 5000 tons per month, while the mine is getting up to full tonnage of 6500 tons per month. Transportation of Supplies The property is in Guerrero, Mexico, some 175 km. by airline southwest of Mexico City. The mill site is at Temisco (Fig. I), 8 km. from the Balsas River and 4.8 km. by aerial tram from the mine. At Temisco are the general office, shops, warehouses and laboratory serving both mine and mill. Here sufficient water is available either from a small creek running through the property or from the Balsas River, also convenient and ample storage space for the tailings. With the exception of the mine timber and a few native building materials which may be obtained locally, all supplies for both mine and mill are brought down the Balsas River from Balsas, the terminal of a Mexican National Railway line out of Mexico City. The method of transportation on the river is interesting. Rapids with very fast water are numerous, prohibiting the use of mechanically propelled boats. Those used resemble large, flat-bottomed rowboats some 22 ft. long by 8 ft. wide (Fig. 2). They are manned by two oarsmen sitting in the bow, each handling one large oar, and usually another man in the stern who, with his oar, assists in steering the boat, especially when the rapids are run. From 3 to 7 tons of freight are carried on each boat, depending upon the stage of the water, which governs also the time

Jan 1, 1939

By Henry M. Howe

The object of the present paper is to suggest injecting into the hearths of iron blast furnaces, whose temperature has become unduly lowered, some form of fuel whose calorific intensity, under the peculiar conditions existing there, is considerably higher than than of liquid petroleum, the rose of this substance for melting out chills having grievonsly disappointed the high hopes which were at first entertained of it. A chill being a fall of the temperature below that needed for the complete liquefaction of the slag, which requires, according to Plattner, about 1800' C., one would suppose that the chief thing to be accomplished in curing it would be to raise the temperature in the crucible of the furnace. The most obvious ways of doing this seem to be to raise the temperature of the blast, and to increase the amount of fuel in the crucible itself. Simply increasing the rate at which the blast enters the furnace, if carried beyond a certain point, should lower the temperature in the crucible. The existence of a chill shows that the fuel is arriving too slowly at the tuyeres. If air be introduced so rapidly as to he in excess of that required for the combustion of the fuel, all that excess will simply lower the temperature around the tuyeres, carrying the region of intense heat upwards, and weakening its intensity by increasing its size. Up to a certain point, increasing the rate of introducing the blast will increase practically pari passu the rate at which the fuel reaches the tuyeres. But when mechanical obstructions, which so often accompany chills, retard the descent of the fuel, there must be a point beyond which this does not hold good, and beyond which farther

Jan 1, 1883

By C. S. Blair

THE development of a geological department as an integral part of the Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Co. in the Birmingham district, Ala-bama, in 1908 was an innovation probably unique for any mining organ-ization south of the Ohio River, At that time a few of the oil companies were starting geological departments, but there were no geologists among the larger industrial organizations. The Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Co. had been a substantial producer of pig iron for many years and was just getting a start in the manufacture of steel products from the pig iron. It had large acreages of coal land, ore land and timber land, but there was lacking the detailed knowledge of the possible mineral resources of much (of its territory, and this territory at that time covered an area in the neighborhood of 500,000 acres in the states of Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia. Those responsible for the operations of the mining properties, not being familiar with the kind of help that might be expected from geologic work, were decidedly skeptical of the utility of the work. Therefore it was necessary to develop cooperation with the mining organization, by not infringing upon its functions, and by developing the work in such a manner as to demonstrate to the mining department its practical utility. In the first instance the man responsible for a mining operation is apt to assume the attitude that the geologist is a blockader, because the geologist, unfortunately, is obliged to point out difficulties in the carrying out of mining operations in the way originally planned. He points out the dangers of mining out one coal or metal seam at the ultimate expense of an upper or lower seam, and he develops structural features, such as faults and folds, which call to the attention of the mining operator diffi-culties in his future operations, which the latter had not anticipated. Eventually, however, -the value of having these data became ap to the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Co., and the operators not only welcomed the geological work and cooperated fully in its acquisition of essential information, but reached the point of asking assistance and advice; and complete coordination of the two activities has existed for many years.

Jan 1, 1933

By Samuel B. Christy

" The man is always greater than his work." The training of the men who are to develop the mineral resources of the world is the most important problem connected with mining engineering. It becomes ever more important to civilization as the mineral wealth of the earth approaches exhaustion. I have therefore decided to consider a few of the more important problems arising in the training of the mining engineer, and especially those arising in America. , The Peculiar Nature of Mineral Wealth. Mining and Agriculture are the two fundamental arts. Without the latter our existence would be precarious; without the former, our civilization impossible. Agriculture furnishes that regular supply of food and raiment which leads to the growth of large communities in which cultivated leisure first becomes possible; while mining furnishes the metallic thread from which is woven that complex fabric we call civilization. But in these two arts the conditions for success are widely different. Most of the crops that the farmer reaps may be harvested year after year, and the proper fertilizers being added, he may continue the annual harvest indefinitely, while, as a result of cultivation, his farm becomes yearly more valuable. But the crop the miner reaps can be harvested but once in the history of the race. Our mineral wealth has taken unknown ages to mature in the bosom of the earth. The ripened fruit can be plucked but once. There are no fertilizers for worked-out mines. It never pays to work over a mine that has been

Jan 1, 1906

By J. F. Poland

Location of Basins and Geologic Features of Occurrence: The major ground-water resources of California occur and are stored in the many large alluvium-filled valleys of the state. The deposits of Quaternary age which hold the ground water commonly are called valley fill. Meinzerl has discussed the characteristic features of this fill and showed that for western United States its distribution is concentrated chiefly in western Utah, Nevada, central Oregon, California, southern Arizona, and central New Mexico (see fig. 1). For California the principal ground-water basins are shown on fig. 2. Except for the Mojave Desert and the "Basin and Range" Valleys (fig. 2, Nos. 23 and 23A), which are not shown individually, the basins outlined on fig. 2 contain all the large reservoirs in valley fill within the state. The Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys (fig. 2) together comprise the Great Central Valley of California, which has an area of about 18,000 square miles. The Sacramento Valley contains about 5000 square miles of valley lands, approxi- mately equal to the area of Connecticut; the San Joaquin Valley embraces about 13,000 square miles, equivalent to the areas of Massachusetts and Connecticut combined. Both the area and the ground-water use in the Central Valley is far greater than for all the other shaded alluvial basins of fig. 2 added together. Except for the Sacramento Valley, all the major ground-water basins of the state are south of Sacramento. The valley fill in these ground-water basins has been transported by streams and most of it has been laid down in alluvial fans, producing the typical alluvial-fan structure of aquifers radiating as tongues from a prismatic pile of coarse, permeable debris at the canyon mouths; these aquifers are encased down slope by poorly sorted materials consisting of a clayey matrix with imbedded pebbles and boulders, interbedded with flood-plain silt. In the deeper inland structural valleys, the alluvial deposits interfinger at depth in the valley bottoms with horizontally bedded lacustrine sand, silt, and clay. The San Joaquin Valley is a good example. In the coastal valleys exposed to the sea, such as the Los Angeles coastal plain, the alluvial fans pass coastward into lagoonal and thence to shallow marine deposits. In all these basins, the gravel is coarsest and most permeable near the apexes of the fans, but tongues or lenses of clean gravel and sand may extend for many miles down the fan. Thus, these water-bearing structures are in a position to absorb stream flow near the canyon mouths and to transmit it through the buried radiating conduits.

Jan 1, 1951

By Robert C. Linares

Cubic zinc sulfide has been grown from molten salt solutions substantially below the hexagonal-cubic phase transition of 1020°C. Crystals free of birefringence have been grown from molten lead chloride at temperatures from 500° to 800°C. Factors affecting the optical transmission and the birefringence are discussed. CUBIC zinc sulfide is of interest for electrooptic devices and as an optical coating material. However, it cannot readily be produced as large crystals which are free of birefringence. The birefringence arises from the fact that the cubic ZnS is usually grown as the high-temperature hexagonal phase and is transformed to the lower cubic phase by annealing.' This results in stacking faults, stress, and birefringence. A requirement for the growth of cubic ZnS is that it be grown below the phase transition of 1020°C.2 Crystals of cubic ZnS have been grown below 1020°C by the hydrothermal,3 flux,4 and vapor transport5 techniques. However, these all appear to have limitations in size or quality of material produced. It was felt that a new flux method might have a good chance of overcoming some of the previous problems. Mita6 reported the growth of hexagonal ZnS from molten NaCl and wilke7 reported the growth of iron sulfides from molten lead chloride solution, indicating that molten chlorides make good solvents for sulfides. An investigation of a number of possible molten chlorides as solvents showed that molten PbCl2 has an appreciable solubility for zinc sulfide and that crystals can be grown at temperatures from 500° to 800°C. EXPERIMENTAL Crystal growth was performed in open or sealed Vycor or fused silica tubes, in an argon atmosphere or vacuum. There were no deleterious effects due to using vacuum; however, a sealed essentially isothermal system must be used to prevent vapor transport mechanisms from dominating. This will be discussed later in detail. Noble metal containers were not usable as they were severely attacked by these melts. The materials used were: reagent-grade PbC12, reagent-grade ZnS, optical-coating-grade ZnS, and Irtran 2 (ZnS). Crystal growth was accomplished by both slow cooling techniques and gradient growth techniques. In the slow cooling techniques, 15 g of ZnS and 100 g of PbCl2 were used. The components were placed in the silica tube, heated at 800°C for 2 hr, and then slowly cooled (l° to 10° C per hr) to 500°C. The furnace was constructed so that the tube could be inverted, thus allowing the liquid to drain off the crystals at the end of the run. The gradient runs were made by placing the above mixtures in a silica tube at 550° to 600°c, Fig. 1. A temperature gradient was maintained such that the floating mass of undissolved sulfide was 10° to 50°C warmer than the bottom of the tube. Growth occurred on spontaneously nucleated sites at the cooler bottom. RESULTS When using high cooling rates (5° to 10°C per hr), crystals form in thin sheets perpendicular to the {111} face. Crystals 5 by 5 by 1.2 mm, Fig. 2, have been ob-

Jan 1, 1969

By Samuel L. Hoyt

THIS paper gives a short account of plastic deformation as observed in single crystals of zinc, zinc having been selected for the experiments described herein because the phenomena are comparatively so simple and can be studied throughout such a wide range. It is hoped that the paper will serve to show the type of information which studies of single crystals afford and will contribute toward the solution of the general problem of metallic behavior. PRODUCTION OF ZINC SINGLE CRYSTALS The method of Czochralski,1 as modified by von Gomperz,2 was used to produce the crystals studied. The equipment is shown in Fig. 1. Molten zinc is held in a crucible at a temperature which is not far above its melting point, as measured by a pyrometer. A lava disk floats on ,the melt, and is provided with a central hole about 1 mm. in diameter. A glass tube, drawn into a capillary at the lower end, is suspended from a string which is wound up by an electric drive at the speed desired. At the start, the glass capillary is let down into the melt and the hoist is started.. The capillary brings up a small quantity of molten metal with it to a point just above the lava disk. At this point, a jet of hydrogen cools it and causes it to crystallize, with the result that a small crystal forms. As the hoisting is continued, more molten metal is drawn up, in turn to be solidified by the jet of hydrogen. This additional metal continues the growth of the crystal already formed, and a long, cylindrical crystal results. The speed of hoisting used was generally between 0.1 and 0.5 mm. per sec., and the crystals were from 4 to 6 in. long and about 1 mm. in diameter. By varying the conditions, crystals of quite different orientations were obtained and were used in the study of the phenomena to be described.

Jan 1, 1927

By Norman Weiss

IF we were to measure progress this year in terms of large new mills and discoveries of fundamental significance we should certainly be disappointed. Outside of the uranium field there was little of a spectacular nature. San Manuel and Reserve completed their first year of operation; Erie approached readiness; the Toquepala project in southern Peru broke ground and gained speed. Important mill enlargements occurred at Inspiration, Anaconda, Ray, and Climax Molybdenum. A 3000-ton copper concentrator was completed at Pima, near Tucson. The Republic Mill of Marquette Iron Mining Co. started up in April. Abroad, the great developments in the African Copper Belt can be likened to the rapid growth of the porphyry coppers in this country. Fundamental research was confined nearly entirely to iron ore flotation and recovery of metal values from leach solutions, particularly uranium. The large number of review articles this year reflected a desire to take stock and consolidate past gains before taking the next bold steps. Undoubtedly a shortage of competent young engineers and technicians is stunting the natural growth of theoretical investigation in the field of minerals beneficiation, as well as the conversion of ideas into action. We find our small stock of talented young scientists concentrated in a few centers of erudition because there are not enough to diffuse through the industry. It is safe to say that among mine administrators and managers there is more interest in the education, training, and welfare of the young engineer than ever before.

Jan 2, 1957

By C. Stansfield Hitchen

THE introduction of the logarithmic sector method of quantitative spectrography by Scheibe and Neuhäusser in 1928, and the subsequent .modification and improvement of the method by Twyman and Simeon, would seem to have marked yet a further advance in quantitative spec-trum analysis and its industrial application, inasmuch as it offers a simple means of eliminating some of the uncertainties inherent in the older methods based upon mere visual comparison of line intensities. In their recent admirable review of the position and capabilities of industrial spectroscopy, Brownsdon and van Someren1 say: Ways and means of facilitating the comparison of line-intensities so as to give them numerical values are helpful, and of these a logarithmic sector rotating in front of the slit appears to he one of the most promising; . . . the success recently experienced by the author in using this method for the examination of steels and solutions of metallic salts prompted him ,to investigate its possible use in estimating the impurities commonly present in crude and refined tin. The results of this investigation are submitted in the present paper. Details of a number of spectrographic analyses of tin for various impurities have already been published. Thus, Schweitzer2 describes the spectrographic examination of tin for lead, bismuth and cadmium, and was able to distinguish between such atomic percentages as 0.01, 0.05, 0.10, 0.30, 0.60, 1.20, 3.00 and 10.00. Negresco3 investigated the bismuth content of tin over a range of from 0.0005 to 35 per cent. Meggers, Kiess and Stimson4 compare spectrographic and chemical analyses of tin metal for copper, lead, iron, zinc, silver, nickel and bismuth. They stress also the value of spectrum analysis in the examination of tin used for boiler plugs, where the requirements that only minute quantities of impurities shall be present render the chemical analysis both tedious and difficult.

Jan 1, 1933

GENERAL COMMITTEE GERALD F. G. SHERMAN, Chairman. ARTHUR NOTMAN, Secretary. NORMAN CARMICHAEL, JOHN C. GREENWAY, W. L. CLARK, W. G. McBRIDE, B. BRITTON GOTTSBERGER, FOREST RUTHERFORD. General Committee on Transportation WALTER DOUGLAS, Chairman. CLEVELAND E. DODGE, Secretary. ARTHUR S. DWIGHT, JOHN C. GREENWAY, JULIUS KRUTTSCHNITT, JR. Committee at El Paso W. D. GORDON, ROBERT McCART, JR., W. W. ROSE. Committee at Santa Rita JOHN M. SULLY, Chairman.

Jan 12, 1916

By Reinhardt Thiessen

UNDER sulfur in coal, is usually understood that form of sulfur which is combined with iron and known as pyrite. It occurs in the form of halls, lenses, nodules, continuous layers, thin sheets, or flakes, both in horizontal planes and vertical cleavage fissures. But pyrites also occur as very fine microscopic particles, or nodules, disseminated through the compact coal. This form has had but very little consideration. Finally, there is sulfur in coal in an amicroscopic form (not visible with an ordinary microscope), probably combined with the organic matter that exists -in tile coal. This form has had considerable attention from a scientific standpoint, but has probably not been recognized enough on the economic side. One or the other, or both, of these two latter forms may comprise the larger part of the sulfur content of coal, especially after it has been washed or otherwise prepared for use.

Jan 9, 1919

By G. W. Jones

THIS paper describes experiments in which eight test samples of gelatin dynamite were fired in three different types of apparatus and the quantity and composition of the gaseous products of detonation determined. The special dynamites were so prepared that the oxygen balance of the samples varied from -35.0 to +6.0 g. per 100 g. of explosive, including the wrapper. By means of this graded series of explosives, the relation between oxygen balance and gaseous products of detonation could be studied explicitly. The effect of varying oxygen balance on explosive strength has been discussed in another paper.1 The apparatus employed in the work described in the present paper included (1) the Bichel gage, a steel bomb of 15-1. volume; (2) the Crawshaw-Jones confined detonation apparatus, a steel cannon from which the explosive is fired into a pipe of 90-1. volume; and (3) the Hercules tank, an apparatus in which the explosive is confined in a quartz block which is placed in a steel tank of about 4500-1. volume. A full description of the apparatus is given later. VARIABLES AFFECTING COMPOSITION OF DETONATION PRODUCTS The character of the detonation products of commercial explosives is governed in part by the same factors that affect the combustion products from explosive mixtures of air with gases or vapors. In either case, combustible materials-namely, carbon, hydrogen, and sometimes sulfur-are present and combined variously. In an exploding gas mixture the combustibles are oxidized by oxygen in the admixed air, whereas with explosives the necessary oxygen is provided by oxygen-carrying materials in the explosive ingredients.

Jan 1, 1928

By Stephen Krickovic

THERE is today no proven continuous mining machine that can be used under all the varying conditions found in most bituminous coal mines. During the last five years, however, both the machines and methods of using them have been improved. Coal operators can now exercise a fair degree of selectivity, except those who must struggle with thick and hard partings and operate in seams less than 40 in. thick. It must be realized, then, that more than one type of continuous miner may be used advantageously in the same coal mine. Although this appears to violate the standardization generally sought after, the gain can more than offset added maintenance and, to a lesser degree, operating problems. It is equally important to realize that most coal mines will require one or more conventional loader setups in the plan of total mechanization. Seam variations, adverse physical conditions, and special designs of main headings for haulage and ventilation, to name only three reasons, may render 100 pct use of continuous miners uneconomical. Of course, this situation may change. In one mine, prior to 1954, machines that ripped coal from the face achieved only average results, as compared to the impressive performance of boring-type units in another coal mine. A boring-type unit was therefore selected for the first mine in the belief that the chance of success would be greater if it were used in a combined cutting and wedging operation, cutting a full face in its forward movement. The miner was located in a part of the mine where a special projection could be readily developed, a solid area scheduled for mining according to the overall progress plan. All openings surrounding the particular area were carefully investigated for the presence of sulfur balls. Fig. 1 (opposite) shows the representative seam section, containing the several pyritic bands 1/4 to 1/2 in. thick; a characteristic Pittsburgh seam parting averaging 5 to 6 in. of slate, coal, and slate; and the occasional py-rite lenses 2 to 3 in. thick. Under normal conventional mining methods, the top 10 or 12 in. and the bottom 4 in. are left in place to offer roof protection

Jan 1, 1958