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Grey River Gold Mining Limited (GRGML) has constructed and largely completed the commissioning of an alluvial gold dredge designed to recover gold from a low grade gold deposit in the Grey River Valley, New Zealand. The most important resource that GRGML has are the people who are employed by the organisation. The low grade of the deposit necessitates the requirement to operate the dredge at optimum efficiency, which in turn requires the work force to be of high calibre and continually motivated. The primary prerequisite for employment at GRGML is for employees to be receptive to new ideas and have the adaptability to develop new skills and apply those skills to the changing demands of the workplace.   A continually changing organisational structure is utilised to meet the needs of a changing work environment. The adoption of an innovative site employment agreement allowing for flexible working hours has aided the achievement of good employee productivity and attendance.   Employees gain a higher quality of life by working a roster pattern involving twelve hour shifts and a four day on, four day off pattern.   Employees and management are communicating very well and working together to achieve organisational goals which will ultimately benefit the employees, the shareholders, the local community and the mining industry generally.

Jan 1, 1989

By M. W. Lewis

A mine's inherent capacity is dictated by factors such as equipment, design, people, processes, and environment. Actual production may approach, but never surpass, the inherent capacity limit. The inherent capacity ceiling can only be increased through re-engineering. Autonomous haulage systems have the potential to significantly increase a mine ’s inherent and realized capacity. Realized capacity may be maximized through the optimization of soft factors such as the processes, behaviours, and organizational systems, controlling asset utilization, availability, and performance. Truck shovel dispatching systems revolutionized the utilization of mobile assets. High-precision global positioning systems (HP-GPS) are increasingly being adopted to optimize equipment performance. Real-time maintenance management systems have the potential to revolutionize equipment availability and significantly reduce cash costs. This paper explores some of the solutions available to mines to increase their inherent capacity and maximize their realized capacity.

Jan 1, 2004

By M. W. Lewis, B. Sambirsky, J. Werner

A mine’s inherent capacity is dictated by factors such as equipment, design, people, processes, and environment. Actual production may approach, but never surpass, the inherent capacity limit. The inherent capacity ceiling can only be increased through re-engineering. Autonomous haulage systems have the potential to significantly increase a mine’s inherent and realized capacity. Realized capacity may be maximized through the optimization of soft factors such as the processes, behaviours, and organizational systems, controlling asset utilization, availability, and performance. Truck shovel dispatching systems revolutionized the utilization of mobile assets. High-precision global positioning systems (HP-GPS) are increasingly being adopted to optimize equipment performance. Real-time maintenance management systems have the potential to revolutionize equipment availability and significantly reduce cash costs. This paper explores some of the solutions available to mines to increase their inherent capacity and maximize their realized capacity.

Jan 1, 2004

The status of remote sensing data availability in New Zealand is outlined and discussed. Currently, two multispectral remote sensing satellites are providing regular data over New Zealand; aircraft scanner services are available from Australia.; operational radar satellite services are yet to materialise. The advantages and disadvantages of the various data types are compared and contrasted. Some image processing considerations are outlined.

Jan 1, 1993

By Axel Sahlin

Jan 1, 1898

"The Morris Island Lighthouse (MIL) is located between the jetties leading to the Charleston Harbor and Folly Beach, S.C. The present structure is the third lighthouse to occupy this location. The first navigational aid was erected in 1673, and consisted of a raised pan filled with pitch, which was set afire at night to guide early ships. The next structure was built in 1767, and constituted the first real lighthouse, standing 42 ft (12.8 m) in height. In 1838, a second lighthouse was built on the site, and it measured 102 ft (31 m) in height and featured a revolving light. This structure lasted until 1862 when Confederate troops, during the Civil War, destroyed it to deny its use to Union troops.Navigators steered these waters without a lighthouse for nearly a decade until 1876, when the current structure was built under the direction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). In 1886, the Charleston area suffered a M7.6 earthquake. Significant damage was caused throughout much of the area, including a slight “list” of the lighthouse to the northeast. As a result, the cast of the beacon was reduced from 18 mi (29 km) to about 6 mi (9.7 km), causing much distress to navigators until the beacon platform was releveled and remains at this list to the present day.Conditions for ConcernThe current lighthouse was originally constructed about 1,200 ft (366 m) from the shoreline. Over the years, USACE has undertaken several programs to meet the increased shipping and navigation demands in the Charleston Harbor. Around the turn of the last century, two jetties were constructed, which drastically changed the approach direction for ships entering the harbor. In subsequent years, the harbor began to experience accelerated siltation."

Jan 1, 2017

By Fred W. Brackebusch

"The use of paste technology for surface tailings disposal may offer economic, technical, safety, and environmental advantages for both underground and surface mining operations. Paste is a non-Newtonian fluid having some shear strength during transport and placement. The strength is augmented after placement by consolidation, water loss, and by addition of chemicals. Economical dewatering systems are necessary to the success of surface paste tailings disposal. In an underground mine, the paste backfill plant can produce paste for surface disposal about 50% of the time because only about 1/2 of the tailings are needed for backfill. The distribution of paste to the surface stack involves expensive pumping equipment and thus a nearby location of the stack is desirable. The viscosity of paste can often be manipulated by modifying pH. Placement of the paste in a designed stack configuration depends on topographic and climatic factors as well as paste properties.INTRODUCTIONThe use of paste technology for mine backfill is becoming accepted for underground mines mainly because of ground control and economic reasons. Paste technology is just starting to be applied for tailings disposal with only a few hardrock metal mines worldwide using the technology; however, it has been used extensively for red mud disposal in the aluminum industry. The disposal of dry tailings is very attractive from environmental and safety points of view because of limited water which might potentially escape and pollute river systems. Dry stacking systems, however, are expensive because of filtration and truck transportation costs. Paste can be produced from most tailings streams by special types of thickeners. Furthermore, it can be transported in pipelines, therefore paste technology may be more economic than dry stacking but still have some of the major advantages. Understanding of paste technology has improved through experience with operating underground backfill systems in recent years and because of testwork and research programs by mining companies, consultants and equipment vendors. Thus we may be on the verge of taking a new look at tailings management using paste technology."

Jan 1, 2002

By Binyon E. O.

The tungsten properties of Lincoln Mines, Inc., and North Tem Piute Mining and Development Co. were first explored by the Bureau of Mines in 1942. Work on the project comprised trenching, sampling, a small amount of road and trail construction, and a small amount of core drilling. From April 13 to December 10, 1944, additional diamond drilling was done by the Bureau of Mines to test the lateral and downward extensions of the various tactite zones along the contact south of the Lincoln mine, including the property of the North Tem Piute Mining & Development Co. Claims leased by the Lincoln Mites, Inc., are in secs. 25 and 36, T. 3 S., R. 56 E.; secs. 30 and 31, T. 3 S., R. 57' E.; and sec. 1, T. 4 S., 56 E., M. D. B. & M., in the Tem Piute Mining District, near the north end of the Timpahute Range in west central Lincoln County, Nev. D. B. Fegles is president of Lincoln Mines, Inc., and general offices are in the Wesley Temple Building, Minneapolis, Minn.

Jan 1, 1950

The two methods for calibrating the parameters K and (alpha) for use in Gy’s equation for the Fundamental Sampling Error (FSE)–, Duplicate Sampling Analysis (DSA) and Segregation Free Analysis (SFA)–, are described in detail. A case study using identical broken reef material from a Witwatersrand-type orebody was calibrated using the DSA and SFA methods and the results compared. Classically, the form of Gy’s equation for the FSE raises the nominal size of fragments given by dN to the power of 3. A later modification of Gy’s formula raises dN to the power (alpha), the latter term being calibrated with the coefficient K in the DSA and SFA methods. The preferred value of for low-grade gold ores used by sampling practitioners in the mining industry is 1.5. A review of calibration experiments for low-grade gold ores using the DSA and SFA methods has produced values of K that vary between 70 and 170 and values of in the range 0.97 to 1.30. The average value for is shown to be 1, rather than 3 as originally proposed in the classic form of Gy’s equation or the industry-preferred 1.5. It is suggested that for low-grade gold-bearing ores the equation for the FSE should raise dN to a power of 1. Such an equation for the variance of the FSE greatly simplifies the characterization of gold ores, now requiring only the calibration of K for a given mass and established fragment size. The implications of the simplified equation for the heterogeneity test are that, provided the fragments have been screened to within a narrow size range, any particular size will return a value for K that is acceptable for use in the sampling nomogram.

Jan 1, 2017

By Joseph J. Larry

In hard siliceous sandstone strata overlying coal seams, roof bolting is often the bottleneck in the coal production cycle. In the past, these strata have been drilled by pneumatically operated stopers. Although slow drilling is cumbersome and uncomfortably noisy, the stoper was the most effective drill in these harder strata. However, because of the (U.S.) Coal Mining Safety Act, which limits noise levels for operating drills, FMC Mining Equipment developed the water-through-the-drill-steel method of drilling high-compressive-strength strata. Although water-through-the-drill steel had been developed earlier, the real impact of wet drilling techniques surfaced when the dual-boom roof drilling machines were installed at the Virginia-Pocahontas Division, Keen Mountain, Virginia, in 1974. This paper covers some of the technical details of the water-through- the-drill-steel design and its application.

Jan 1, 1979

By James H. Savory

"In recent years, there has become a growing interest toward a better understanding of balance rope behaviour. With this in mind, the auth or will present a comprehensive summary of field experience, as well as conclusions. In presenting this overview, it is the intent to stimulate further interest as well as provide a framework from which further in-depth investigation can be initiated.Topics which will be covered include rope cores, lubrication practices, loop dividers, rope failures, etc.IntroductionThe first friction hoist was designed in Belgium in J862 by Lemielle. However, it was not until 1877 when Carl Frederich Koepe installed a friction winder sheave at the Hanover Colliery in Germany, that the design was given serious consideration. The winder consisted of a motor-powered sheave over which a single rope was installed, and the end s attached to two conveyance s. Beneath the conveyances a rope was connected, designed to reduce the chance of slip. This was the first balance rope.This earl y mod el is a far cry from the modern tower or ground mounted Koepe winders employed throughout the mining industry today. There have been vast improvements in all aspects of the Koepe winders. One such improvement is in the balance ropes used. This particular area will be concentrated on, with emphasis on selection, maintenance and field experience.SelectionThe sale purpose o f a balance rope is to counter the head rope weight. Obviously then, in selection o f balance ropes, weight is of primary concern. Usually the head and balance ropes are equal in weight. However, sometimes balance ropes which are 5 to 10070 heavier than the head ropes are employed. These reduce horsepower demands during peak acceleration periods, and assist in overcoming inertia during retardation periods. As well, it is sometimes preferred to reduce the balance rope weight, in order to compensate for the eventual weight buildup of lubricant, dirt and debris."

Jan 1, 1983

By Alan B. Wagner

The River Tower is a proposed 27-story condominium building in the heart of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin (USA). The tower will be over 100 m tall, and will have a ground area measuring 15 m by 40 m. The structure will be constructed of cast-in-place reinforced concrete. Certain transfer girders and stabilizing diagonals will be constructed of post-tensioned concrete. Vertical loads will be transmitted through an arrangement of columns, bearing walls, and elevator and stair cores. A mat foundation will be used to connect and integrate these load-carrying elements. The site's geologic profile includes 8.4 m of compressible estuarine (organic) deposits. To control settlement, the mat will be pile-supported. These deposits are underlain by moderate-strength inorganic deposits that extend to bedrock at 32 m.

Jan 1, 2002

By Henry G. Morris

The use of compressed air for the transmission of power has reached so great a development that we find numerous large establishments devoted to the manufacture of machinery for its production and application, and special periodicals published for the dissemination of information on the subject. Moreover, its employment is so general in mining operations that no apology is needed for the presentation to the Institute of such a paper as the present. The admirable articles of Mr. E. A. Rix, published in Conzpressed Air, show a wide range in the mechanical efficiency of air-compressors, varying, under different conditions, from 15 to 60 per cent.; and it is evident that any

Jan 1, 1902

By Muhammad Azeem Raza, Samuel Frimpong

Underground mining environments are inherently hazardous and can lead to emergencies where effective rescue and self-escape become critical. Missouri University of Science and Technology is pioneering new technologies for effective self-escape. The rescuers and miners need to be trained in these new technologically driven environments. Previous research in fields like aviation, medical surgery, and oil and gas drilling has demonstrated the effectiveness of virtual simulation training, but the mining sector has yet to fully adopt advanced tools such as eye-tracking and immersive training modules. This research proposes a comprehensive training infrastructure incorporating these technologies to enhance situational awareness and decision-making during emergencies. The novelty lies in the application of advanced miner escape and communication technologies, specifically designed to monitor and enhance cognitive responses in high-stress situations. By leveraging these technologies, the proposed training infrastructure aims to prepare the next generation of underground miners and operators, by equipping them with the necessary skills to manage emergencies effectively.

Feb 1, 2025

In recent years it has been more and more recognised that applied geology can be of service to the mining industry, and many mining companies overseas now have permanent geological staff as part of the operating organisation.Most of these companies insist that the geological department must pay for itself by the savings it can make in operating cost, and the growing use of the geologist is proof that such savings are made.The geological problems in every district are different, and a description of the problems and method of attack in a specified district is a useful addition to the literature of mining geology. Very few contributions, from the standpoint of the mining company geologist, have appeared in the Australian literature so that, although the operations of Bendigo Mines Limited are still in the development stage, and its geological work newly established, a description of the routine geological work at Bendigo should beof interest.Although most Bendigo mining companies have not employed permanent geologists, they have utilised geological guidance wherever possible, and a great body of data has grown up. Acknowledgment is made here to the valuable work of the Geological Survey of Victoria, especially the writings of E. J. Dunn, H. Herman, and H. S. Whitelaw, and the maps of Caleb Thomas and H. S. Whitelaw; and also to the work of independent investigators, notably Chief Geologist, Bendigo Mines Ltd.

Jan 1, 1936

By A. H. Daane, R. L. Myklebust

The yttrium-manganese system has been investigated by thermal, metallographic, and X-ray diffraction methods. There are three intermetallic compounds present: YMn2 which melts congruently, YMn4, which undergoes syntectic decomposition, and YMn,, which undergoes peritectic decomposition. The compound YMn4 is ferromagnetic at room temperature with a Curie temperature of 214°C. There are eutectics at 25.2, 60.9, and 82.0 wt pct Mn which melt at 878°, 1100°, and 1075°C, respectively. Crys-tallographic data are given for YMn4, and YMn12 . The terminal solid solubilities are low. In a general program of study of yttrium metal in this laboratory some alloy systems of this metal with elements of the first transition period have been examined. This work was originally instigated by experiences in cladding yttrium with jackets of some protective metals such as Inconel for high-temperature service in air.' In some cases a low-melting phase was observed to form between the Inconel and the yttrium resulting in failure of the samples. In characterizing this reaction, a survey was made of the systems of yttrium with chromium, manganese, iron and nickel,, and it was found that a eutectic was formed between these metals and yttrium on the yttrium-rich side of the system. This present study of the Y-Mn system was carried out to examine in more detail the alloying nature of yttrium, and to correlate trends that have been observed in previous related studies. It was observed by Voge13 that in the systems of lanthanum, cerium, and praseodymium with each of the metals in the first transition series, the tendency to form compounds diminished in the order nickel, cobalt, and iron while no compounds were formed with manganese, chromium, or titanium. Beaudry and Daane4 observed a similar behavior in the systems of yttrium with some members of the first transition series except that the tendency for compound formation was greater. Both the Y-Ti5 and Y-Cra systems consist of simple eutectics, while in the Y-Fe,7 Y-CO, and Y-Ni4 systems, there are four, eight, and nine compounds, respectively. In addition to the above trends, the similar atomic radii and electronegativities of yttrium and thorium invite a comparison between their alloying behaviors with a common element such as manganese. In crys- tallographic studies, Florio et al.' have identified three intermediate phases in this system which are ThMn2, Th6Mn23, and ThMn,,. Gschneidner and Waber10 have examined published information on alloy systems of the rare-earth metals and have correlated this information with current alloying theory. From their study, they predicted that the Y-Mn system would contain one intermetallic compound. On the basis of this prediction, the trend in the alloying behavior of yttrium with the elements of the first transition series and the alloying behavior of thorium with manganese, one might expect from one to three intermetallic compounds to form in the Y-Mn system. A consideration of Hume-Rothery's rules of alloying based on size-factor, electronegativity, and valency suggested a small terminal solubility and possible compound formation. The present study was undertaken to confirm these predictions of low terminal solid solubility and compound formation and to establish the general alloying behavior of yttrium with manganese. EXPERIMENTAL Materials. The manganese used in this investigation was obtained from the Foote Mineral Co. as electrolytic plates of 99.9 pct stated purity; the yttrium metal was prepared in this laboratory. Table I gives the analyses of these materials. For the solubility studies at the yttrium-rich end of the alloy system, distilled yttrium, whose major impurity was 200 ppm Ti, was used. Preparation of Alloys. The alloys were formed by comelting the two metals in an are-melting furnace under an atmosphere of argon. The buttons thus formed were inverted and remelted three to five times to promote homogeneity. Due to the high vapor pressure of manganese, it was assumed that the weight lost during are-melting was all manganese. This assumption was based on the very good agreement observed between calculated compositions and chemical analyses of several alloys. The compositions of the dilute alloys used for solid solu-

Jan 1, 1962

By P J. Terbrugge

The concept of vertical pit mining has been developed as an alternative mining method for the exploitation from surface of small, vertical or near-vertical, massive orebodies down to depths of some 200 m, where ore extraction from conventional open pit excavations is rendered uneconomic due to high associated waste:ore mining ratio. Systematic lateral support maintains vertical pit sides, thereby minimising waste mining volumes. Stability analysis techniques have been developed for design of this lateral support, with the support quantum, primarily comprising long cable anchors, dependent upon country rock strength characteristics and pit configuration. Where the cost of support is less than the cost of the comparable conventional pit waste excavation, vertical pit mining becomes an economically viable alternative, additionally providing the benefit of reduced environmental impact and rehabilitation requirements for the mining area. The technique has been successfully applied for the mining of a chrome deposit in Zimbabwe to an 80 m depth, believed to be unique in the world, and a full feasibilty study for a 3000 m2 diamond pipe has been carried out for mining to 200 m depth.

Jan 1, 2000

By W. E. Stiles

A method is presented for predicting the performance of water flooding operations in depleted, or nearly depleted, petroleum reservoirs. The method makes use of permeability variations and the vertical distribution of productive capacity. From these two parameters can be calculated the produced water cut versus the oil recovery. Derivations of the mathematical analogy is shown and sample calculations and curves of prediction are presented. Comparison is made of the predicted and actual performance of a typical 5-spot in an Illinois water flood. INTRODUCTION The use of water as a flooding medium in both depleted and "flush" oil reservoirs is gaining greater recognition and acceptance. Many of the shallower fields, depleted by primary production, have been and are being subjected to water injection in order to obtain some part of the large volume of oil remaining after primary production. Some of the earlier water flood installation proved highly discouraging and the value of water flooding was often questioned. Many of these earlier floods were haphazardly selected and developed as little was known of the physical characteristics and contents of the producing formations. The prior evaluation of the flood performance was impossible. During the past decade the development of the required reservoir engineering tools-—core analysis, reservoir fluid analysis, electric logs, fluid flow formulae, etc.—has allowed the engineer to construct and apply the methods which are presently being used to evaluate the economic and mechanical susceptibility of a reservoir to flooding. This discussion will present a method for taking into account the effect of permeability variations in predicting the performance of water floods in depleted reservoirs. PERMEABILITY AND CAPACITY DISTRIBUTION It is generally agreed by most investigators that in a single phase system fluid will flow in a porous and permeable medium in proportion to the permeability of the medium. Producing formations are usually highly irregular in permeability, both vertically and horizontally. However, zones of higher or lower permeability are often found to exhibit lateral continuity. Thus, while structurally comparable stringers in adjacent wells may differ several fold in permeability values, they usually bear resemblance as being part of a general continuous higher or lower permeability section. It is generally agreed that where such stratification of permeability exists, injected water sweeps first the zones of higher permeability, and it is in these zones that "break-through" first occurs in the producing well. It is a basic assurnption of the presently described method that penetration of a water front follows the individual permeability variations as if such variations were continuous from input to producing well. This is admittedly not rigorously true, but can be justified as making possible a simplifying mathematical approach to an otherwise extremely complicated three dimensional flow problem. As a basis for study of the lateral flow of fluids in formations of irregular permeability, the irregularities may be conveniently represented by a permeability distribution curve and a capacity distribution curve. In obtaining these curves, the permeability values, regardless of their structural position in the formation, are rearranged in order of decreasing permeability. If these permeability values so arranged are plotted against the cumulative thickness, a permeability distribu- tion curve is obtained. This curve may then be likened to a "smoothed" permeability profile of the formation. In making comparison between different distribution curves it is convenient to state the permeabilities in terms of the ratio of the actual permeability values to the average permeability of the formation. These ratios termed "dimensionless permeabilities", are used in this paper rather than the permeabilities in terms of millidarcys. The capacity distribution curve is a lot of the cumulative capacity (starting with the highest permeabilities) versus the cumulative thickness. The capacity and thickness are given as fractions of the total capacity and thickness. Mathematically, the capacity distribution is the intergration of the permeability distribution curve. In practice it is convenient to first obtain the capacity distribution curve and derive from it a smoothed dimen-sionaless permeability curve. The method of obtaining the capacity distribution curve is illustrated in the successive column of Table 1, in which capacity and thickness are derived as fractions of their respective totals. If only a small number of permeability values are available, it is generally desirable to smooth the resultant curve. This has been done to give the capacity distribution curve shown in Figure 1. The differentiation of the capacity distribution curve to obtain the permeability distribution curve is shown in Table 2. Here, the capacity values are read from the smoothed curve at intervals of cumulative thickness, and the increments of capacity are divided by the increments of thickness to obtain the dimensionless permeability, K. Due to this stepwise procedure of calculation these premeability values must be plotted at the midpoints of the successive increments of thickness. The curve so obtained from these data is shown in Figure 1. The total area under the K' curve is equal to unity.

Jan 1, 1949

By W. E. Stiles

A method is presented for predicting the performance of water flooding operations in depleted, or nearly depleted, petroleum reservoirs. The method makes use of permeability variations and the vertical distribution of productive capacity. From these two parameters can be calculated the produced water cut versus the oil recovery. Derivations of the mathematical analogy is shown and sample calculations and curves of prediction are presented. Comparison is made of the predicted and actual performance of a typical 5-spot in an Illinois water flood. INTRODUCTION The use of water as a flooding medium in both depleted and "flush" oil reservoirs is gaining greater recognition and acceptance. Many of the shallower fields, depleted by primary production, have been and are being subjected to water injection in order to obtain some part of the large volume of oil remaining after primary production. Some of the earlier water flood installation proved highly discouraging and the value of water flooding was often questioned. Many of these earlier floods were haphazardly selected and developed as little was known of the physical characteristics and contents of the producing formations. The prior evaluation of the flood performance was impossible. During the past decade the development of the required reservoir engineering tools-—core analysis, reservoir fluid analysis, electric logs, fluid flow formulae, etc.—has allowed the engineer to construct and apply the methods which are presently being used to evaluate the economic and mechanical susceptibility of a reservoir to flooding. This discussion will present a method for taking into account the effect of permeability variations in predicting the performance of water floods in depleted reservoirs. PERMEABILITY AND CAPACITY DISTRIBUTION It is generally agreed by most investigators that in a single phase system fluid will flow in a porous and permeable medium in proportion to the permeability of the medium. Producing formations are usually highly irregular in permeability, both vertically and horizontally. However, zones of higher or lower permeability are often found to exhibit lateral continuity. Thus, while structurally comparable stringers in adjacent wells may differ several fold in permeability values, they usually bear resemblance as being part of a general continuous higher or lower permeability section. It is generally agreed that where such stratification of permeability exists, injected water sweeps first the zones of higher permeability, and it is in these zones that "break-through" first occurs in the producing well. It is a basic assurnption of the presently described method that penetration of a water front follows the individual permeability variations as if such variations were continuous from input to producing well. This is admittedly not rigorously true, but can be justified as making possible a simplifying mathematical approach to an otherwise extremely complicated three dimensional flow problem. As a basis for study of the lateral flow of fluids in formations of irregular permeability, the irregularities may be conveniently represented by a permeability distribution curve and a capacity distribution curve. In obtaining these curves, the permeability values, regardless of their structural position in the formation, are rearranged in order of decreasing permeability. If these permeability values so arranged are plotted against the cumulative thickness, a permeability distribu- tion curve is obtained. This curve may then be likened to a "smoothed" permeability profile of the formation. In making comparison between different distribution curves it is convenient to state the permeabilities in terms of the ratio of the actual permeability values to the average permeability of the formation. These ratios termed "dimensionless permeabilities", are used in this paper rather than the permeabilities in terms of millidarcys. The capacity distribution curve is a lot of the cumulative capacity (starting with the highest permeabilities) versus the cumulative thickness. The capacity and thickness are given as fractions of the total capacity and thickness. Mathematically, the capacity distribution is the intergration of the permeability distribution curve. In practice it is convenient to first obtain the capacity distribution curve and derive from it a smoothed dimen-sionaless permeability curve. The method of obtaining the capacity distribution curve is illustrated in the successive column of Table 1, in which capacity and thickness are derived as fractions of their respective totals. If only a small number of permeability values are available, it is generally desirable to smooth the resultant curve. This has been done to give the capacity distribution curve shown in Figure 1. The differentiation of the capacity distribution curve to obtain the permeability distribution curve is shown in Table 2. Here, the capacity values are read from the smoothed curve at intervals of cumulative thickness, and the increments of capacity are divided by the increments of thickness to obtain the dimensionless permeability, K. Due to this stepwise procedure of calculation these premeability values must be plotted at the midpoints of the successive increments of thickness. The curve so obtained from these data is shown in Figure 1. The total area under the K' curve is equal to unity.

Jan 1, 1949

By F. E. Bedale

STUDY of several severe mine explosions that occurred during the winter of 1907 led to the belief that coal dust was a definite explosion hazard. The Consolidation Coal Co. was a pioneer in the early work to' eliminate this hazard and to combat the dangers incident to poor ventilation and the presence of methane. Maintenance of high humidity throughout the mines was one of the first measures adopted, later to be superseded by rock-dusting. In the twenty years from 1907 on, many safety measures were developed and adopted, and several prizes were won, though the practice was crude by present-day standards. But in 1927, the company went to work in earnest, and organized a Department of Safety with adequate personnel and with authority to enforce all approved rules for the prevention of accidents and the preservation of company property. All plans for new construction work, changes in mining systems, and proposals for the purchase of new mining equipment had to receive the approval of this Department. A set of operating- and safety standards was written to govern the activities of all employees, and physical examinations for them were required.

Jan 1, 1938