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By C. H. Curtis

The Esperanza mine of the Copper Division of Duval Sulphur & Potash Co. is located in the Twin Buttes District, 32 miles southwest of Tucson, Ariz. Records of mining activity in this vicinity date back to the 1850's. The New Year's Eve mine, which was last active briefly during the years of World War II, made the first actual penetration into what is now Duval's Esperanza property. Duval's exploration department became interested in the Esperanza in the fall of 1954. The first test hole was started on May 8, 1955. Two years of intensive exploration work together with metallurgical studies developed the basis for the decision to establish an operation.

Jan 11, 1961

By Robert M. Asimow, Bisuddhi Riddhagni

THE use of back-reflection Laue photographs for crystal orientation is standard in many research projects. The time required for the orientation of any given crystal depends largely on luck and the skill of the investigator. In any case, where large numbers of crystals are used, this time can be quite considerable when the standard methods involving a Greninger chart and Wulff net are employed. For this reason the technique described below was developed. This new procedure applicable for cubic crystals (without preparation of new charts) largely eliminates the skill and luck factors and makes possible the determination of orientation in minutes. The procedure works in the following way: the Laue photograph is examined and arbitrarily an important hyperbola is picked out. An important hyperbola is defined as one which contains some spots through which several hyperbolas pass. Such a hyperbola inevitably corresponds to a low-index zone axis. The angles between the reflection planes causing all the spots on this hyperbola can be read directly from a Greninger chart in the usual manner. If the hyperbola contains more than five spots, these interplanar angles will positively identify the zone axis and the indices of each of the reflecting planes. However, initially since neither the zone axis nor the Miller indices of a diffraction spot are known, there are a very large number of possibilities that must be considered. Using tables of interplanar angles to check out every possibility would be quite tedious, so that this approach is not generally used. Instead, various poles are plotted on a stereographic projection. In the cubic system, however, it is possible to plot out once and for all the angles between all planes of a particular zone axis up to some upper limit of Miller indices. This has been done for all low-index zone axes in Fig. 1. Given these charts, it is quite a simple matter to identify the spots of the unknown hyperbola. All that is necessary is to plot the angles read off the Greninger chart to the same scale as Fig. l(b) on a strip of paper. Then this strip can be slid along each zone axis of Fig. l(a) until a good fit is obtained. Once this is accomplished, the Miller indices of each spot are given and thus the orientation problem is solved. To check, it is possible to pick a second hyperbola and see whether a compatible solution is obtained. This is most conveniently done by picking for the second hyperbola one that contains a spot common with the first. If the specimen axis is chosen parallel to the incident X-ray beam, then usually the [ loo] hyperbola will appear on the film as one of the more important hyperbolas and consequently will be either chosen initially or as a check. Using the [100] hyperbola, after the (001) or (011) spots have been identified, the latitude and longitude of the specimen axis can be read directly from the Greninger chart so that it is unnecessary to use a Wulff net for the entire orientation procedure. This makes the operation not only quicker but more accurate. Of course, if neither the first nor second hyperbolas correspond to [loo] then a third hyperbola can be chosen.

Jan 1, 1967

By J. de la Vergne, L. O. Cooper

The hydrostatic steel mine shaft liner (HSL) Provides a permanent wall lining for drilled shafts. It is watertight and suitable for bad ground conditions. After a shaft has been drilled to its full depth, the HSL is lowered into it and secured in place with cement grout. The liner consists of a cylindrical steel shell usually reinforced with exterior stiffening rings. The shell is basically designed for compressive strength and the rings are provided to give the shell added resistance to buckling. There are no published standards for the correct procedures to design an HSL. This paper gives a method that appears logical. A design solution can be complex with increased opportunity for error. This paper presents simple formulas to produce sufficient accuracy for construction design. Two new concepts are presented, referred to as transition pressure and critical pressure. An example demonstrates use of the formulas and concepts presented. To facilitate comprehension and use of the formulas, Greek letters are avoided and most of the English alphabet symbols used refer by association to their definitions. An appendix shows derivation of the formulas.

Jan 1, 1984

By Dwight K. Smith

A new pozzolanic composition has been developed for cementing oil wells where moderate to high temperatures prevail. This material is an entirely different concept to other oil well cementing materials, such as portland cements, cements containing additives, or liquid resins. Its characteristics are such that it is not, at present, recommended for use at temperatures less than 140º F. It can he either accelerated or retarded across a wide range of well conditions. This new cement is composed of a pozzolanic material, hydrated lime, and a chemical activator to give it early initial strength. This material can be used in wells from 6,000 to 18,000 or more feet where temperature conditions are similar to those along the Gulf Coast. This cement, when set, has no soluble portion subject to leaching or any compounds that should be attacked by sulfate waters or brines. For this reason, it should be permanent when placed adjacent to formations carrying any type of fluid. The compressive strengths in 24 hours are more than adequate for wells where temperatures are 140°F and higher. These values ore in excess of many other types of cementing composition presently in use in the field. This pozzolanic composition does not retrogress in strength at high temperatures as do some other types of cementing materials. The slurry weights of this material will vary slightly according to the specific gravity and water requirements of the pozzolnn itself. The materials covered herein will mix from 13.5 to 14.3 lb/gal, and will have a waiting-on-cement time comparable to other materials used under the same conditions. Economically speaking, this composition is less expensive than either portland cements or retarded cements presently being used under deep well conditions. INTRODUCTION Pozzolans are siliceous material which, though not cementitious in themselves, contain constituents which at ordinary temperatures will combine with lime in the presence of water to form compounds which have a low solubility and possess cementing properties. The use of pozzolanic materials dates back many hundreds of years and both the ancient Greeks and Romans were aware that certain volcanic deposits, if finely ground and mixed with lime and sand, yielded a mortar which possessed special properties. Generally, the early strengths of such materials were rather weak and were considered insufficient for modern commercial usages. Pozzolanic materials have been used extensively with portland cement in mass concrete to obtain special properties. In recent years, large quantities of certain pozzolanic materials have been used successfully admixed into portland cements for oil well cementing. Pozzolans, being reactive silicates, will combine with the free lime that is an inherent component of set portland cements and thereby. becomes cementitious themselves. POZZOLANS FOR OIL WELL CEMENTING There are many types of pozzolans, some of which are more reactive than others. The quality of the pozzoIan depends on the degree of reactivity, chemical composition, fineness, and other less well understood factors. Some of the more widely accepted pozzolans are those classified as fly ashes, while others are certain materials of volcanic origin. pozzolans which require large vol-

Jan 1, 1957

By Walter Kauenhowen

Germany's crude oil production during 1935 totaled 3,007,711 bbl., an increase of 36.6 per cent over the 2,202,214 bbl. produced in 1934. The Nienhagen-Haenigsen field furnished 77 per cent of the total 1935 production. Cumulative production figures for Germany's two most important oil fields, Wietze and Nienhagen, show that during the period from 1872 to the close of 1935 the Wietze field produced 13,325,536 bbl. and the Nienhagen field 9,340,870 bbl. Table 1 gives statistics of German production since 1928, arranged both by fields and by oil provinces. Fig. 1 demonstrates the production of the various German fields since 1890. New Fields Discovered During 1935 five new fields came into production. The first of these, the Moelme-Hoheneggelsen field near Hanover, was opened up in April. This region has been sporadically drilled for oil since 1882, but not until 1935 was production on a commercial scale obtained. The oil comes from Mesozoic sandstones on the flanks of a shallow salt plug. Also during April, oil was found in commercial quantities in the Rhine valley at Forst, near Bruchsal. Tertiary and Mesozoic sandstones cut by faults of the Rhine Graben form the reservoir structures in this area. In July a wildcat well drilled on the Fallstein structure, a broad Triassic anticline near Halberstadt, came in as a producer from Permian (Zechstein) dolomite. In September commercial oil mas found at Gifhorn, near Braunschweig, in Wealden sandstones associated with a shallow, geophysically discovered salt plug. During the same month production was obtained at Heide, in Holstein, from the Permian Rotlie-gendes formation, in a structural high on which oil seepages have been known for years. Drilling Activities Published information indicates that during 1935 drilling totaled 574,000 ft., as compared with 436,000 ft. in 1934; 233,000 ft. in 1933 and 151,000 ft. in 1932. The German Government is subsidizing wildcat

Jan 1, 1936

By Walter Kauenhowen

Germany's crude oil production during 1935 totaled 3,007,711 bbl., an increase of 36.6 per cent over the 2,202,214 bbl. produced in 1934. The Nienhagen-Haenigsen field furnished 77 per cent of the total 1935 production. Cumulative production figures for Germany's two most important oil fields, Wietze and Nienhagen, show that during the period from 1872 to the close of 1935 the Wietze field produced 13,325,536 bbl. and the Nienhagen field 9,340,870 bbl. Table 1 gives statistics of German production since 1928, arranged both by fields and by oil provinces. Fig. 1 demonstrates the production of the various German fields since 1890. New Fields Discovered During 1935 five new fields came into production. The first of these, the Moelme-Hoheneggelsen field near Hanover, was opened up in April. This region has been sporadically drilled for oil since 1882, but not until 1935 was production on a commercial scale obtained. The oil comes from Mesozoic sandstones on the flanks of a shallow salt plug. Also during April, oil was found in commercial quantities in the Rhine valley at Forst, near Bruchsal. Tertiary and Mesozoic sandstones cut by faults of the Rhine Graben form the reservoir structures in this area. In July a wildcat well drilled on the Fallstein structure, a broad Triassic anticline near Halberstadt, came in as a producer from Permian (Zechstein) dolomite. In September commercial oil mas found at Gifhorn, near Braunschweig, in Wealden sandstones associated with a shallow, geophysically discovered salt plug. During the same month production was obtained at Heide, in Holstein, from the Permian Rotlie-gendes formation, in a structural high on which oil seepages have been known for years. Drilling Activities Published information indicates that during 1935 drilling totaled 574,000 ft., as compared with 436,000 ft. in 1934; 233,000 ft. in 1933 and 151,000 ft. in 1932. The German Government is subsidizing wildcat

Jan 1, 1936

By J. D. A. Morrow

THIS discussion relates to the distribution of coal under the direction of the U. S. Fuel Administration beginning Apr. 1, 1918. At that time a definite method of ' controlling and directing distribution was put into effect. Prior thereto, although some of the machinery utilized was in operation, especially in the few weeks immediately preceding Apr. 1, distribution had not been effectively and comprehensively organized. The writer was called to the Fuel. Administration by Dr. Garfield about the. first of February, 1918, to assume general direction of the distribution of coal for the Fuel Administration, to develop the general plans, and to obtain practical men to assist in this work and in carrying through the program finally devised. A study of the situation and conferences with the Fuel Administrator and leading men in the business made it plain that it would- he necessary to begin at the bottom, measure the undertaking, develop plans to meet the need thus shown, and build an organization to effect the distribution required. This work had to be done under war pressure in the midst of a bad coal shortage. The successful performance of such a task is always primarily a matter of putting competent men in the right places and giving, them the power and opportunity to function properly together. In the Distribution Division of the U. S. Fuel Administration, the men who were chiefly responsible for whipping plans into practical form and then for carrying out these plans were A. W. Calloway, of Baltimore, President of the Davis Coal & Coke Co., who served as the Director of Bituminous Coal Distribution; S. Lovell Yerkes, of Birmingham, Alabama, Secretary of the Grider Coal Sales Agency, who assumed general charge of distribution while the new plans and organization were being perfected and then became the Assistant Director of Bituminous Coal Distribution; Warren S. Blauvelt, of Detroit, who was Director of Coke Distribution; A. S. Learoyd of New York, Director of Anthracite Distribution, in connection with the Anthracite Committee, consisting of Joseph

Jan 3, 1919

(Under this heading will be published notes sent to the Secretary of the Institute by members or other persons.) The governing body of the Imperial College of Technology, London, S. W. (Royal School of Mines), will shortly proceed to the appointment of a Professor of Metallurgy. This important Chair has been filled in the past by such eminent metallurgists as John Percy, Sir William C. Roberts-Austen, and others. Inquiry has been received at the office of the Institute for an engineer to examine a mica, deposit in one of the New England States. The position of converter blower at. a side-blow Bessemer steel casting plant is vacant.

Jan 4, 1913

Australian research scientists at the University of Melbourne's Institute of Materials Research have discovered two methods of extracting metals from raw ore, using brown coal. The discoveries could lead to extensive new markets for the brown coal producers of Australia (boasting the world's largest brown coal deposits in the Latrobe Valley region of Victoria), the United States and West Germany. Research on the extraction processes began at the University's Department of Metallurgy in mid-1969 under the direction of Geoffrey Cullen, manager of the Materials Research Institute. In June of this year. Cullen announced that both metal extraction processes, using brown coal, had proven successful.

Jan 1, 1971

(Members are urged to send in for this column any notes of interest concerning themselves or their fellow-members.) Members and guests who registered at Institute headquarters during the first half of March: James C. H. Ferguson, San Francisco, Cal. Capt. A. F. Lucas, Washington, D.C. Henry Adams, Stamford, Conn. Dexter P. Cooper, New York, N. Y. H. A. Wheeler, St. Louis, Mo. L. D. Moore, Chatham, N. J. John M. Sherrerd, Easton, Pa. Hennen Jennings, Washington, D. C. R. T. White, formerly General Manager of the Braden Copper Co., Chile, is to take charge of a copper company in Caucasus, South Russia.

Jan 4, 1914

ENGINEERS AVAILABLE (Under this heading will be published notes sent to the Secretary of the Institute by members or other persons introduced by members.) A member of the Institute who has had many years' experience in office management for prominent mining engineering and metallurgical companies, and who is now located in the West, would like to secure an executive position with a firm or company engaged in mining or metallurgy, located in the East, and preferably in New York. No. 139. Member, aged 36, married, graduate mining engineer, 14 years' active experience as engineer, superintendent, and manager of large coal-mining operations. Wide experience in development and operation of

Jan 10, 1914

By Toyohiko Hirota, Fukuo Itoh

Oil and natural gas aside, sea floor mineral resources currently being exploited in Japan are offshore sand and gravel and deep-sea manganese nodules. The mining of sand and gravel has already started. With regard to manganese nodules, the geophysical investigation and the study of the mining method are also underway. This report outlines the activity of a few Japanese firms, the Deep Ocean Minerals Association formed by some 30 private firms, Government agencies, a public corporation and two government research institutes. Researches on new exploration instruments, properties of deep-sea sediments and the mining method currently conducted by the National Research Institute for Pollution and Resources are described in detail.

Jan 1, 1976

By Peter J. Szabo

Introduction This is the Pacific Rim. Nearly three fourths of the world's population live on or near its border. In the recent past, on any given day, one could find traversing its„ borders pirates, smugglers, gunrunners, missionaries, slave traders, tourists, and businessmen. If one were not too observant, he would notice that over the last several years the ocean traffic in the Rim has pretty much stayed the same--Polynesian outriggers, passenger ships, general cargo vessels, ore carriers, and oil tankers. If he were to look a little closer, he would notice some coal colliers. A still closer look would reveal that most of them were hauling metallurgical coal destined for the steel mills of Japan, Taiwan, or Korea. If his senses were keen, he would observe that not only were the number of colliers increasing dramatically, but also that a relatively new cargo was being carried to those countries as well as additional areas in the Pacific Rim., This new cargo thermal coal holds the promise of not only exceeding the metallurgical coal trade, but significantly cutting into and decreasing the already vast oil tanker business throughout the Pacific Rim. The high price of crude oil as a result of the oil embargo in the Middle East in 1973-74 has forced the Pacific Rim countries to convert to coal, and as a result, the coal resources of the Rim are being exploited at an ever-increasing rate. Although coal produced outside the Pacific Rim does enter its borders for ultimate consumption from such places as South Africa and the East Coast of the United States, the vast majority of thermal coal that will enter this booming market place will be sourced from countries within the Pacific Rim. Accordingly, this paper will provide an overview of those sources with particular emphasis on the non-communist block nations. This is not to say that countries such as China and Russia will not be players in the Pacific Rim thermal coal arena, but that -most consuming countries in the Rim are basing the majority of their near-term sourcing requirements from countries that provide a stable source of supply. Pacific Rim Coal Resources Figure 1 is a map of the Pacific Rim countries and identification of major coal resource locations within its border. Going in a clockwise direction, the following countries will be the major suppliers of thermal coal through the year 2000: Australia, Indonesia, China, Russia, Alaska (U.S.), Canada, United States (Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana), and Colombia, South America. Other countries such as New Zealand, Malaysia, Philippines, Korea, etc., will play a role in supply, but compared to the ones previously mentioned, will only have a minor impact. When one looks at the vast stretch of ocean that separates the sourcing countries from the consuming countries (Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, etc.), one realizes that costs of transportation will play a significant role in determining which countries and in what quantities coal will be purchased. Figure 2 for comparative purposes, shows

Jan 1, 1982

By G. B. Walker, S. A. Falconer, S. J. Swainson, H. H. Vogel

During the past few years much interest and attention has been focused on a relatively new method of ore concentration, which utilizes the principles of sink and float and employs as the heavy medium a suspension in water of a finely ground solid, such as galena or ferrosilicon. Although a relatively recent development, much progress has already been made in applying heavy-media separation processes to a considerable number of ores. Eight plants in this country and abroad are now treating approximately 10 million tons of ore annually by heavy-media separation (sink-float) processes, including lead-zinc, lead, iron, garnet, tin and tungsten. At the annual meeting of the A.I.M.E. in 1941, three interesting papers (unpublished) dealing with heavy-media separation (sink-float) processes of ore concentration as practiced in four commercial units in the United States were presented by Victor Rakowsky, Grover Holt, Elmer Isern and Robert Ammon. These papers gave an excellent exposition of the principles of sink and float, as well as the operating practice in two iron-ore-beneficiation plants, the Harrison and the Merritt, of Butler Brothers, in Minnesota; the Central mill of the Eagle Picher Mining and Smelting Co.; and the Mascot mill, of the American Zinc, Lead and Smelting Co. Augmented by pictorial descriptions and a working model demonstrating the processes, these papers evoked a great deal of interest and discussion. In fact, in reporting the high lights of the meeting in the April 1941 issue of Mining and Metallurgy, Professor Taggart made the statement that " preconcentration by heavy suspension was Miss A.1.M.E 1941 so far as milling is concerned." Although to date the greatest application of heavy-media separation from the tonnage point of view has been for the treatment of lead, zinc and iron ores, these processes have a much wider field of usefulness. In this regard, it is to be noted that recently new heavy-media separation plants for treating cassiterite ore and garnet ore have been placed in successful operation. Moreover, numerous other types of ores have been found to respond well to these processes when tested on a semi-commercial scale, and it is expected that in the near future a considerable number of new plants will be erected. In view of the fact that heavy-media separation processes offer such attractive possibilities, particularly now, when the mining industry is being called on for an even larger production than ever before has been attempted, despite shortages of labor and supplies, it was felt that a description of some of the successful separations that have been worked out during the past year in the Ore Dressing Laboratory of the American Cyanamid Co. on a variety of ores of strategic importance would be of interest. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to present the essential data relating to investigations of heavy-

Jan 1, 1943

By G. B. Walker, S. J. Swainson, S. A. Falconer, H. H. Vogel

During the past few years much interest and attention has been focused on a relatively new method of ore concentration, which utilizes the principles of sink and float and employs as the heavy medium a suspension in water of a finely ground solid, such as galena or ferrosilicon. Although a relatively recent development, much progress has already been made in applying heavy-media separation processes to a considerable number of ores. Eight plants in this country and abroad are now treating approximately 10 million tons of ore annually by heavy-media separation (sink-float) processes, including lead-zinc, lead, iron, garnet, tin and tungsten. At the annual meeting of the A.I.M.E. in 1941, three interesting papers (unpublished) dealing with heavy-media separation (sink-float) processes of ore concentration as practiced in four commercial units in the United States were presented by Victor Rakowsky, Grover Holt, Elmer Isern and Robert Ammon. These papers gave an excellent exposition of the principles of sink and float, as well as the operating practice in two iron-ore-beneficiation plants, the Harrison and the Merritt, of Butler Brothers, in Minnesota; the Central mill of the Eagle Picher Mining and Smelting Co.; and the Mascot mill, of the American Zinc, Lead and Smelting Co. Augmented by pictorial descriptions and a working model demonstrating the processes, these papers evoked a great deal of interest and discussion. In fact, in reporting the high lights of the meeting in the April 1941 issue of Mining and Metallurgy, Professor Taggart made the statement that " preconcentration by heavy suspension was Miss A.1.M.E 1941 so far as milling is concerned." Although to date the greatest application of heavy-media separation from the tonnage point of view has been for the treatment of lead, zinc and iron ores, these processes have a much wider field of usefulness. In this regard, it is to be noted that recently new heavy-media separation plants for treating cassiterite ore and garnet ore have been placed in successful operation. Moreover, numerous other types of ores have been found to respond well to these processes when tested on a semi-commercial scale, and it is expected that in the near future a considerable number of new plants will be erected. In view of the fact that heavy-media separation processes offer such attractive possibilities, particularly now, when the mining industry is being called on for an even larger production than ever before has been attempted, despite shortages of labor and supplies, it was felt that a description of some of the successful separations that have been worked out during the past year in the Ore Dressing Laboratory of the American Cyanamid Co. on a variety of ores of strategic importance would be of interest. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to present the essential data relating to investigations of heavy-

Jan 1, 1943

By Paul A. Bailly

Geology is not the problem. Because of inflation, taxation, and politics more reserves are being reconverted to uneconomic resources than there are new reserves created by exploration and extraction technology.

Jan 1, 1976

By G. B. Walker, S. J. Swainson, S. A. Falconer

DURING the past few years much interest and attention has been focused on a relatively new method of ore concentration, which utilizes the principles of sink and float and employs as the heavy medium a suspension in water of a finely ground solid, such as galena or ferrosilicon. Although a relatively recent development, much progress has already been made in applying heavy-media separation processes to a considerable number of ores. Eight plants in this country and abroad -are now treating approximately 10 million tons of ore annually by heavy-media separation (sink-float) processes, including lead-zinc, lead, iron, garnet, tin and tungsten. At the annual meeting of the A.I.M.E. in 1941, three interesting papers (unpublished) dealing with heavy-media separation (sink-float) processes of ore concentration as practiced in four commercial units in the United States were presented by Victor Rakowsky, Grover Holt, Elmer Isern and Robert Ammon. These papers gave an excellent exposition of the principles of sink and float, as well as the operating practice in two iron-ore-beneficiation plants, the Harrison and the Merritt, of Butler Brothers, in Minnesota; the Central mill of the Eagle Picher Mining and Smelting Co.; and the Mascot mill, of the American Zinc, Lead and Smelting Co. Augmented by pictorial descriptions and a working model demonstrating the processes, these papers evoked a great deal of interest and discussion. In fact, in reporting the high lights of the meeting in the April 1941 issue Of MINING AND METALLURGY, Professor Taggart made the statement that "preconcentration by heavy suspension was Miss A.I.M.E. 1941 so far as milling is concerned." Although to date the greatest application of heavy-media separation from the tonnage point of view has been for the treatment of lead, zinc and iron ores, these processes have a much wider field of usefulness. In this regard, it is to be noted that recently new heavy-media separation plants for treating cassiterite ore and garnet ore have been placed in successful operation. Moreover, numerous other types of ores have been found to respond well to these processes when tested on a semi-commercial scale, and it is expected that in the near future a considerable number of new plants will be erected. In view of the fact that heavy-media separation processes offer such attractive possibilities, particularly now, when the mining industry is being called on for an even larger production than ever before has been attempted, despite shortages of labor and supplies, it was felt that a description of some of the successful separations that have been worked out during the past year in the Ore Dressing Laboratory of the American Cyanamid Co. on a variety of ores of strategic importance would be of interest. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to present the essential data relating to investigations of heavy-

Jan 1, 1943

By Forbes K. Wilson

Dick Hunt is known for having said, "Ore bodies are found but mines are made." This was certainly true of the Ertsberg-it was stumbled upon, literally, by a group of mountain climbers, but to develop it into a mine took 12 years of concerted effort. For more than a century, explorers had attempted to penetrate the jungles of New Guinea and climb the snow-covered Mt. Carstensz, named for a Dutch navigator who first saw it in 1620. But the first to succeed was the Colijn expedition which reached the 5030-m (16,500-ft) pinnacle in December 1936 after starting out from the south coast57 days earlier. Members of that expedition were A. H. Colijn and Jean Jacques Dozy, employees of Shell Oil Co., and Lt. Wissel, a pilot in the Royal Dutch Navy.

Jan 6, 1977

By Brij M. Moudgil

Disposal of fine coal refuse is one of the major technical problems which could adversely affect growth and development of the coal industry. At present one of the most: common methods for disposal of fine coal refuse slurry involves impounding the slurry behind dams. However meeting new federal and state government regulations for building, maintaining and reclaiming these impoundments in addition to terrain and space considerations render this technique to be only marginally competitive with other disposal methods. The coal industry has been actively engaged in developing alternate disposal techniques which are economically feasible and environmentally acceptable. A review of coal refuse disposal problem and current refuse disposal practice both in the eastern and western coal fields is presented. Various promising techniques being developed for economical and safe disposal of fine coal refuse slurry are also discussed.

Jan 1, 1980

By C. W. Schulties, W. J. Mallio, L. J. Petrovic, J. A. L. Campbell

Roof control comprises about 35% of direct and indirect underground mining costs. In addition, difficulties in estimating roof control costs for new areas lead to the greatest uncertainties when negotiating coal contracts. And obviously, coal cannot be mined if the roof can't be held. Accordingly, there are strong incentives to attack this problem on as many fronts as possible. One successful geological modeling technique for predicting future roof conditions was recently applied at Peabody Coal's Simco mine No. 5, located in Coshocton, Ohio. Benefits derived from it included: - A better identification of areas where poor safety conditions may be encountered. - Improved roof control cost estimates for contract negotiations. - Estimates of time-duration while mining in bad roof areas. - Labor and materials cost predictions in an existing mine. - Productivity increases through prior knowledge of areas to avoid.

Jan 10, 1975