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By Laurence F. Kelley

This paper is one of a series being prepared by the United States Bureau of Mines on shaft-sinking methods and costs at individual operations in various mining districts of the United States. The methods and costs described herein are those of The Consolidation Coal Co. at one of its operations in the Tug River district, McDowell County, W. Va. ACKNOWLEDGMENT The author is indebted to Frank R. Lyon, vice-president, Thos. G. Fear, general manager of operations, and Chas. Enzian, chief engineer, of The Consolidation Coal Co., for valuable assistance and collaboration in the preparation of this paper. W. A. Cole, manager of the E. J. Longyear Development Co. furnished valuable data on methods and performance averages.

Jan 1, 1932

By W. R. Crane

Recent papers on support of roof and top rock in mines representing present practice in so far as it hits been described by engineers in all of the principal mining countries, cover a relatively aide range of topics. The papers abstracted herein include such subjects as the testing of materials of support, failure and movement of rock above workings, effect of excessive pressures on rock masses, axed the application in mines of timber, metal, concrete, packing, and filling support. It is not within the scope of this paper to present a logical and orderly discussion of the elements of support and their application to conditions influenced by the material worked or the method of mining. Only the essential facts of a paper appear in the abstracts, the idea being to give a fairly clear picture of the behavior of various types of support under brows conditions and to put into concise form important information concerning present practice, modifications of practice, and the trend toward new practice. With such valuable facts from others experience made readily available, it Is hoped that the engineer with particular and often trying problems may obtain suggestions that will be immediately helpful.

Jan 1, 1932

By John B. Knaebel

This paper, describing the milling operations of the St. Joseph Lead Co. at Balmat, N. Y., is one of a series of similar papers being prepared by the United States Bureau of Mines on practice at various mills in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company also operates a mine end mill at Edwards, 12 miles northeast of Balmat. Mining practice in the district, as exemplified at the Edwards mine, is described in another information circular of the Bureau of Mines.3 The writer gratefully acknowledges the generous cooperation of the company officials which made this investigation possible, and wishes to thank R. J. Mechin, manager, P. W. Wolf, mill superintendent, and F. G. Kuehl, assistant mill superintendent, for their helpful assistance. Especial thanks are due J. S. Brown, geologist, for supplying information on the characteristics of the ore, and to C. F. Jackson, principal mining engineer, U. S. Bureau of Mines, for helpful suggestions.

Jan 1, 1932

By Will H. Coghill

This paper on milling methods and costs at a flat river (Mo.), mill is one of a series of information circulars on milling methods and costs which is being prepared by the United States Bureau of Mines, The mill under consideration treats 5,000 tons of load ore daily by table concentration and flotation. It is 25 years old, and yet it is a new mill. Research has been in continual progress at the plant since its beginning, and accordingly a day never passes without a record of change for advancement. The changes have been so orderly that no evidence of obsolete equipment remains.

Jan 1, 1932

By J. R. Sweet

The paper describing the raining operations at the Mt. Hope mine, Mt. Lope, N. J., is one of a series being prepared by the United States Bureau of Mines on mining methods, practices, and costs of various mining operations in the United States. Mt. Hope mine produces magnetite ore. It is situated in the general northern part of the State of New Jersey. The towns of Rockaway, Wharton, and Dover lie within a radius of 4 miles from the mine. Dover is 40 miles from New York City.

Jan 1, 1932

By Walter Lang

The year 1931 has shown a marked change over 1930 in New Mexico, with respect to the volume of activities attendant upon the petroleum industry. Although the total production of oil and gas this year exceeds that of preceding years, the results have been attained from established units operating under restriction, but capable of supplying far more than the economic conditions justify. The presidential order of March 12, 1929, that "there will be complete conservation of Government oil in this administration," has merely anticipated a normal consequence of overdevelopment. As a result of the combined economic and legal restrictions imposed, very little new drilling has occurred during the year. Even in proven areas the drilling of offsets has been curtailed to the absolute limit of requirements. Scouting and sample-cutting, which in 1930 were still in a state of feverish activity, are at low ebb, and lease buying has reached a condition of stagnation. A number of the major oil companies have either materially reduced their field and office forces or completely eliminated local office representation. Two tests of particular interest, because correlation shows them to be structurally high although they failed to produce, are the National Securities well drilled six miles west of the town of Hobbs, on sec. 33, T.18 S., R.37 E., Lea County, to a total depth of 4272 ft., which developed a flow of 4,000,000 cu. ft. of gas at 3860 ft., and a show of oil; and the Western Drilling Co. No. 1 State, sec. 16, T.20S., R.32 E., Lea County. The latter test found dead oil at 2575 to 2580 ft., and sulfur water at 2745 ft., increasing to 2780 ft., representing the zone from which production was generally expected. The well was drilled to 4013 feet. The discovery of sulfur at about 950 ft. in the deepening of an old water well (Pearson, NE. 1/4 sec. 8, T.16 S., R.25 E.) drilled in the Little Cottonwood area northwest of Artesia led the Union Sulphur Co. to drill three prospect tests on a block of acreage in the vicinity during the summer and fall. The results of the investigation have not been disclosed. The Kummbaca Oil and Gas Co. drilled the T. J. Kerline No. 1, in sec. 34, T.21 N., R.30 E., Harding County, gaging 3,654,000 cu. ft. of 98 per cent CO² at 940 ft. The Barton structure, 20 miles east of Albu-

Jan 1, 1932

By Lucien Eaton

THE use of filling in mines is less common in the United States than it is in Europe, where in some places it is required by law. In most cases the filling is placed by hand, and the material used for this purpose is the waste from development and that sorted from the ore in the stopes. When these sources provide an insufficient supply, additional rock must be quarried on surface or mined underground, or some other material :st be used. In different parts of the world sand, clay, gravel, culm, nulated slag, mill tailings, and even ashes, have been used as filling material in place of or in conjunction with rock. Of all the materials used for filling the best is probably clean sand. Gravel, finely crushed rock, granulated slag and coarse mill tailings are almost as good, and the methods used for placing and confining sand will apply equally well to any of these. The advantages of sand are its comparatively slight compressibility and the ease, economy and convenience with which it may be placed. On account of the voids, which necessarily occur in fills made of coarse waste, such fills will compress 10 to 25 per cent before they develop their full strength, whereas clean sand seldom compresses more than 5 per cent. Sand is especially desirable when practically complete filling is required, and sand derived from mill tailings, especially when not thoroughly cleaned, has been remarkably effective in sealing off and extinguishing mine fires. When natural sand is available on surface, or when it can be obtained from the mill tailings or tailings dump, the cost of using this material for fill will probably be considerably less than that of rock. In this paper it is not proposed to discuss all methods of filling, butt to describe some of the methods used for placing sand fill and to make a brief comparison of their merits.

Jan 1, 1932

By Charles White Merrill

Silver consumption in the arts and industries of the United States during 1930 and 1931 has remained remarkably near the high level established in 1929. Undoubtedly the sharp drop in the price of silver has been an important factor in supporting consumption, but silver's peculiar properties and uses probably have been an even more compelling reason for its sustained utilization. In its most important use - sterling silverware - it seemingly has most serious competition, but well established tradition protects the demand for sterling ware and the law forbids the term "sterling" to be applied to any material not containing at least 92.5 per cent silver. The photographic industry is dependent upon properties of certain silver salts possessed by no other material. Consequently silver is indispensable to all photography, including the huge motion picture industry. Other uses for silver could be listed which, because of special features, likewise have tended to maintain the consumption of silver in the arts and industries of the United States. The figures which this report makes available for the first time are the detailed silver consumption figures for the arts and industries of the United States for 1930 and 1931. These figures have been tabulated with the previously published(3) figures for 1928 and 1929 thus presenting a 4-year statistical record of silver consumption. All quantities are given in troy ounces, 1,000 fine.

Jan 1, 1932

By Charles G. Patmon

This paper describing the methods of dredging and treatment of gold-bearing gravels at the Lancha Plana Gold Dredging Co.'s dredge is one of a series of similar papers being prepared by the Bureau of Mines on mining practices, methods, and costs in the various mining districts of the United States. The dredge is located near the Mokelumne River, 12 miles west of San Adreas, Calif.; it is accessible by an improved dirt road from Jackson, which is about 20 miles distant.

Jan 1, 1932

By R. L. Marek

The number of persons fatally injured in the California petroleum industry in 1931 was 30, a decrease of 20 fatalities or 40 per cent from the number killed in 1930. As a result of the decrease in the number of fatalities for 1931, the fatality curve of tie California petroleum industry reached its lowest point in nine years. Although reductions in personnel--which permitted the retention of a select and experienced class of workmen, decreased active field-development work, and curtailed production--undoubtedly have had a marked effect on reducing the number of fatalities in 1931, the decrease also has resulted from continued accident-prevention efforts. Statistics show that a direct relationship exists between development activity and the number of men accidentally killed in the drilling and producing division of the California petroleum industry. For example, when the average number of drilling wells in 1930 was 29 per cent less than in 1929, the number of men accidentally killed at drilling wells dropped 48 per cent; and when the average number of drilling wells in 1931 decreased 52 per cent from 1930, the number of fatalities at drilling wells decreased 58 per cent. The relationship between field-development work and fatality frequency is significant because each year at least 50 per cent of all the fatalities in the California petroleum industry occur in the drilling and producing division. This relationship should serve to guide the accident-prevention efforts of the industry, especially in the drilling and producing division, toward checking an increase in fatal accidents when development activity again takes an upward trend.

Jan 1, 1932

By H. M. Cooper

Many analysts have had difficulty in obtaining accurate and consistent determinations of the volatile matter in low-temperature coke when the usual standard method for coal was followed. The tendency is toward too-high results, due to mechanical losses which are extremely difficult to avoid or control. With cokes there also may be an error due to excessive oxidation of the fixed carbon. Much of the earlier experimental work on the volatile-matter determination in coal, such as that of Parr,5 Fieldner and Davis,6 and others, 7 has been on the effect of time, temperatures, shape and size of crucibles, method of applying heat, and type of furnace, all of which data has evolved the present A.S. T. M.8 standard method for volatile matter in coal and coke. It is not the purpose of this investigation to deal directly with the above phases of the procedure, but rather to study some of the factors affecting she results in those types of fuel which give erroneous results due to mechanical losses.

Jan 1, 1932

By C. E. Sims

THE following presentation is more a summation of observations made and conclusions drawn over a period of three to four years than a report of experiments made with a definite objective. Tests were made, of course, to verify hypotheses, but the large mass of data was collected incidental to other work. Lack of space forbids the presentation of more than a few of those data. On the other hand, it is unfortunate that some of the most illustrative examples are not available. The work is admit¬tedly incomplete but is presented in the hope that it will stimulate further work along a similar line. The answers to many of the questions left unanswered by this paper will be found only after long and painstaking study, such as is scarcely possible in a commercial laboratory where problems of immediate importance consume most of the time. It is also hoped that this study will in some measure throw light on some of the dark spots of steelmaking, and help to clarify some of the annoyingly vague references to "good practice." Only cast steel was studied and the conclusions apply to cast steel, but it is the authors' opinion that the quality of rolled or forged steel is largely dependent on the quality of the ingot, which is a casting. Although this discussion deals almost entirely with inclusions, it is important that the reader understand that only those natural inclusions which owe their origin to the solubility of certain materials in steel and to the chemical reactions of steelmaking are considered. Accidental inclusions, such as entrapped particles of slag, nozzle, runner, or mold are outside its province and are not considered. Such accidental inclusions are always dangerous and should be carefully avoided.

Jan 1, 1932

By John M. Devine

The severe corrosion of equipment that is caused by the presence of hydrogen sulphide in oil and gas has been described in detail by several authors.5 Such corrosion, termed "low-temperature hydrogen sulphide corrosion", presents a somewhat different problem from the "high-temperature hydrogen sulphide corrosion" that is encountered in refinery operation and

Jan 1, 1932

By A. J. Kraemer

The twenty-fourth of a series of semiannual surveys pertaining to motor gasoline marketed in the United States was made by the Bureau of Mines in August, 1931, The first part of a report giving the results of that survey as they pertain to specification data is given in this paper. A companion report, Part II, is in preparation and will discuss the results off other determinations made on the samples, including octane number ratings on the individual samples (to be made by the Bureau of Standards) and results of the determination of gravity, color, doctor test, and "gum" content by the copper dish method and the Bureau of Mines steam-oven method. The retail price and the tax at the time Each sample was taken will also be retorted. History of Survey The Bureau of Mines made its first survey of motor gasolines sold throughout the United States in 1915,4 a second in 1917,0 and a third in April, 1919.0 These three surveys showed that during each 2-year interval the motor gasoline had become notably less volatile. In order

Jan 1, 1932

GENTLEMEN : It is my privilege to transmit herewith the reports for the calendar year 1932 of your Treasurer and the Chairmen of the following Standing Committees: Finance, Admissions, Membership, Papers and Publications, Library, and Mining and Metallurgy. To these reports you are referred for additional details of the year's activities. Finances.-Continuation of depressed conditions in the mining industry (in common with other industries) caused the income of the Institute to decline from $168,274 in 1931 to $138,331. However, economies were effected so as to reduce expenditures from $171,198 to $135,977. As a consequence the net result of the operations for the year was a-surplus of income amounting to $2,354 compared with a deficit of $2,924 in 1931. This gratifying result is accounted for in large measure by the foresight of the Finance Committee in anticipating a substantial decline in income and preparing the budget accordingly. Incidentally, the tentative budget for 1933 has been balanced at $125,000.

Jan 1, 1932

By Albert W. Cox

This paper, one of a series prepared for the United States Bureau of Mines discussing the methods used in mining, crushing, and grinding materials for cement manufacture, deals particularly with the methods used at the Security plant of the North American Cement Corporation. These papers are designed to disseminate technical information regarding the methods used. The cost tabulations represent local operating expenditures only and not total production costs. It is recognized that publication of, total production costs might in many instances cause embarrassment to individual producers as well as to the industry as a whole. On the other hand, operating costs are essential to the technical discussion and study of methods employed. The attention of the reader is specifically called to this differentiation in order that no misunderstanding of the scone of the cost tabulations shall ensue.

Jan 1, 1932

An active list of permissible explosives was published in July, 1931, as part of United States Bureau of Mines Report of Investigations 313, under the title of "Active List of Permissible Explosives and Blasting Devices Approved Prior to June 30, 1931." Changes in that list were authorized in August, September, October, November, and December, 1931, and. January and March, 1932, as published in Reports of Investigations 3l40, 3147, 3l50, 3155, 3158, 3161, and 3163, respectively. By these changes the following explosives were added to the active permissible list: [Austin Red Diamond No. 1, L. F. Gel-Coalite W. L. F. Austin Red-Diamond No. 5, L., F. Gen-Gel No. 2. Black Diamond Nu-Gel No. 1 Genite C-1 Burton 1, L. F. Liberty No. 4 Burton 2, L. F. Liberty No. 5 Burton 10, L. F. Peerless D Burton 12, L. F. Permigel 1, L. F. Burton F, L. F.]

Jan 1, 1932

By H. D. Baylor

This paper, describing the operations of the Louisville Cement Co. in quarrying limestone for the manufacture of quicklime, is one of a series being prepared for and published by the United States Bureau of Mines on stone quarries throughout the United States. Those papers are designed to disseminate technical information regarding the methods used. The cost tabulations represent operating only and not total costs. It is recognized that publication of total costs might in many instances cause embarrassment to individual operators as well as to the industry as a whole. On the other hand, operating costs are essential to the technical discussion and study of the methods employed. The attention of the reader is specifically called to this differentiation in order that no misunderstanding of the scope of the cost tabulations shall ensue. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author acknowledges the assistance of J. H. Lemmon, plant superintendent, Charles Taylor, plant engineer, and F. H. Compton, chief engineer, of the Louisville Cement Co. in the compilation and preparation of this paper.

Jan 1, 1932

By A. B. Campbell

The mines in the eastern part of the now active region of the Tri-State zinc district of Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma have unusually acid water, which during periods of moderate or no rainfall As used in the mills to replace losses from evaporation, seepage, and tailings disposal. Its use has caused difficulties by corrosion of equipment and by interference with flotation. The growing importance of flotation- Which requires good water, and the increasing troubles caused by the corrosion of the milling equipment have prompted the Mississippi Valley Experiment Station of the United States Bureau of Mines, in cooperation with the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, Rolla, Mo., to investigate the action of the waters on flotation and to undertake to develop means of obviating their harmful effects.

Jan 1, 1932

By R. D. Leitch

"INTRODUCTION The character of mine drainage from areas of low pyritic coal3 and from average pyritic coal4 has been investigated, and to complete the study it seemed desirable to select a number of mines situated in high pyritic are as to determine whether or not this variation determines the relative acidity of drainage from mines operating in these characteristic coal fields. Advantage has been taken of some worked on in 1918 by Henry Leighton 5, then Professor of Economic Geology, University of Pittsburgh. He visited and has reported certain areas of high pyritic coal which we also visited during this study. Many of the mines were found to be idle in 1930 and a few were caved shut, apparently for several years. However, samples of the outflow from all mines visited were collected if possible and analyzed, and some general information was gathered for each mine. The map (fig. 1) shows the location of these areas as given by Leighton.ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThe information and assistance obtained from officials and others at the mines visited during this study are gratefully acknowledged, as well as the original suggestion from Dr. Glenn V. Brown of the State Sanitary Water Board who called attention to the desirability of such a study.Thanks are also especially due the coal laboratory of the United States Bureau of Mines, under the direction of H. M. Cooper, for the analyses and determination of sulphur forms in the large number of solid samples necessary to the work reported,This study has been carried on under the direction of R. R. Sayers, chief, health and safety branch, and W. P. Yant, supervising engineer, Pittsburgh Experiment Station, of the U. S. Bureau of Mines."

Jan 1, 1932