Search Documents

By W. E. Hale, G. J. S. Govett

An orientation survey was conducted over a known disseminated copper deposit and a Au-Cu vein deposit and employed geological, geophysical, and geochemical methods. Geochemical techniques proved the most effective and economical means of locating and defining areas underlain by these types of mineralization. Six additional, widely separated occurrences were also investigated and mineralization was confirmed by determination of cold-extractable copper in stream sediments. The length of anomalous drainage varies from several to 16 km and depends on the type and tenor of mineralization. Despite generally marked relief and extreme physical and chemical weathering, cold-extractable copper anomalies in soils appear to reflect closely variations in the ore mineral content of immediately underlying rocks. Threshold values vary with local geological conditions and type and grade of mineralization. Significant thresholds in stream sediments are about 65 ppm and 10 ppm for cold-extractable copper in disseminated and vein copper occurrences respectively. Similar differences are encountered in soils. This necessitates the use of a scale of threshold values at progressive stages in each exploration program. Dis-seminated copper occurrences are presently the major source of mineral production m the Philippines. Much potentially productive ground remains to be investigated and applied geochemistry appears to offer the best available approach. The Institute of Applied Geology (I.A.G.), a joint project sponsored by the University of the Philippines, the Philippine Bureau of Mines and the United Nations Development Program (Special Fund) undertook during 1965-66 a number of field projects in Northern Luzon Island (Fig. 1). These field operations were of a two-fold nature and involved both orientation and exploration. During approximately six weeks, an orientation survey, involving geological mapping, geophysical surveying and geochemical prospecting, was conducted over a partly developed, disseminated copper deposit at Santo Nino (Fig. 1). This study demonstrated the economic and technical feasibility of geochemical ptospecting, relative to the other methods tested, for the location and delineation of a typical disseminated copper occurrence characteristic of those that represent the major source of metal in the Philippines.' Geochemical techniques, similar to those tested at Santo Nino, were then applied in a second orientation study of a vein occurrence at Suyoc (Fig. 1). The results of these two orientation studies suggest that, in reconnaissance work in this region, stream sediment analyses, combined with the determination of pH in the same streams, can be used to indicate areas underlain by rock containing anomalous concentrations of copper, whether it occurs in the large tonnage, low grade, disseminated deposits or in the comparatively small tonnage, higher grade, gold vein occurrences. Furthermore, the orientation surveys demonstrate that soil sampling and analysis serve effectively to outline more closely the mineralized zones within the generally anomalous areas identified from the stream reconnaissance. To further test the methods selected from the two earlier trials, six additional, widely separated prospects were investigated. The geological and geochem-

Jan 1, 1970

By W. Vickers

SALKOVITZ1 has given a number of useful angles between planes for use with the Laue method in determining the orientation of bismuth single crystals. Bismuth is usually considered as having a face-centered-rhombohedra1 structure with its axial angle 87°34', Fig. 1. A similar figure given by Sal-kovitz appears to be in error in that the angle there marked as 87°34' should be 92°26. The primitive cell is a single rhombohedron of axial angle 570 14. The structure is almost face-centered-cubic and hence high accuracy in measurements is essential if there is to be no confusion in indexing poles or zone axes. It is easier to get this accuracy if zone axes are plotted on the stereogram because they will lie near the basic circle where the net has a more open scale. The zone axes can be read from the film, using a Greninger chart, and can be plotted more accurately than poles. Also, the angles between points near the basic circle can be read more accurately than those between poles near the center. In order to use the zone axes the angles between directions have been calculated from a formula given by Niggli,2 and are given in Table I. Miller indices

Jan 1, 1958

By G. Hasenfus, M. Karmis, G. Goodman

Surf ace subsidence is rapidly becoming an important environmental consideration of active as well as abandoned mining operations. The damages attributed to this phenomenon have been witnessed in both rural and urban areas and include land settlement and fracturing, structural damages to surface buildings or facilities and disruption or contamination of ground water supplies. The problem of mining subsidence has gained considerable emphasis in the Appalachian coalfield. The increased mining activity over the past few years and the particular topographic conditions, lithologic and structural environment, mining methods and hydrological patterns are all factors which have contributed to specific subsidence characteristics in this region. The objective of this paper is to discuss and review the most widely accepted methods of subsidence prediction above longwall as well as partial extraction systems in Appalachia. These include an accurate and easy to apply empirical method, which has been developed entirely from field information pertaining to the Appalachian coalfield and incorporates both geometrical and geological information of the panel in question. The second method is a development of influence functions and is founded on the zone area approach. Both methods, originally derived for longwall mining, have been expanded to include room and pillar applications and have been widely used by the mining industry in the Appalachian coalfield.

Jan 1, 1984

By Hans Lundberg

IN ORDER to comprehend the help and information that may be expected from electrical prospecting, it is necessary to have at least a general knowledge of the methods and principles involved in preparing and interpreting results obtained in the field. Electrical prospecting is rather complicated, both in theory and practice, and in order to make a brief description clear to the practical mining man it has been necessary to idealize and generalize the problems, at the risk of having such simplification criticized by the theoretical man. This simplification must not be misinterpreted as showing a lack of theoretical knowledge. FIG. 1.-FLOW OF CURRENT IN AND AROUND A CONDUCTING BODY. For its operation, electrical prospecting mainly depends on-the fact that most metallic ores conduct an electric current much more readily than barren rocks. If an electric current flows through a block of ground within which a body of chalcopyrite is enclosed in country rock of schist, the current will find less resistance to its passage through the chalcopyrite than through the schist, even though the passage through the latter be much shorter. This is because the longer path through the chalcopyrite offers less resistance, owing to the superior electrical conductivity of the chalcopyrite (Fig. 1).

Jan 1, 1928

By Richard J. Mainiero

INTRODUCTION Because of the hazards associated with flammable methane gas and coal dust, the shooting of mudcaps (adobes) or other unconfined explosive charges in underground bituminous coal mines is prohibited; all explosives must be fired in stemmed boreholes. However, there are situations where it would be advantageous from a safety standpoint to fire open shots. This would be in the areas of dislodging loose roof slabs, overhangs, rock-fall leveling, slab or boulder breaking, crib removal, and crevice shooting. The Bureau of Mines, U.S. Department of the Interior, has been developing an explosive charge that is non-incendive; that is, detonation of the charge will not ignite a flammable atmosphere. This explosive charge could be applied to the blasting conditions mentioned above. As of this writing, the explosive charge has not yet been certified as "permissible" for use in flammable atmospheres, but the necessary protocol is being finalized with the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), U.S. Department of Labor. The explosive charge described in this paper is merely a prototype sheathed rock-breaker charge (sheathed permissible explosive rock- breaker charge) demonstrating the feasibility of such a device. Industry may modify the design and composition of the charge in producing a commercial product so long as it is still safe, as defined by a testing schedule being developed by the Bureau of Mines and MSHA.

Jan 1, 1984

By D. G. Brubaker

IN the history of geophysical exploration by the electromagnetic method many procedures and types of equipment have been used. Source arrangements for surveying on the ground have included long wires grounded at both ends, large loops laid on the ground, small horizontal loops, and vertical loops of moderate to small sizes. Receivers have ranged from simple direction-finding coils to combinations of coils and a bridge circuit to measure quantities related to both amplitude and phase of the received signal. Primary considerations in choosing a survey method are effectiveness, speed, and economy. In work on the ground in which locating and out- lining conducting bodies is the objective, methods using a vertical coil and a simple direction-finder have been found the most satisfactory. Mason1 and his associates applied such a method by setting up a vertical source loop, fed with low frequency alternating current by an engine-generator set. With a direction-finding receiver they surveyed lines along the ground in the plane of the loop, taking measurements at each station of the azimuth and inclination of the magnetic field direction. Deviations of this direction from the normal direction, that is, from horizontal and perpendicular to the traverse line, indicated a conducting body. Recent advances in design of light-weight generating equipment have encouraged using this and similar methods.

Jan 7, 1957

By Rodolfo V. de la Cruz

The in situ deformability of rock masses is determined by relating the applied load to the radial displacements of points on the borehole wall that are outside of the loaded surfaces. The external displacement method includes the steps in which: a) radial displacement sensors are installed to measure the change in length of a diameter of a borehole; b) unidirectional self- equilibrating pair of forces perpendicular to the direction of radial displacement measurements are applied on opposite sectors of the borehole wall, and; c) using elastic theory, the in-situ deformability of the rock mass can be related with the applied loads and measured radial displacements. The displacements outside the loaded surfaces are comparatively smaller in magnitude than displacements inside the loaded surfaces. These displacements, however, are sufficiently large and can be measured precisely by commercially available linear displacement sensors. Loads are applied by a conventional borehole jack. Existing methods for measuring the in situ deformability of rock masses yields unreliable results due to complex boundary stresses, small and varying contact areas, and the existence of fractures. It was shown that in the external displacement method, the effect of boundary pressure distribution and contact area are negligible. Also, since the displacements measured in the external displacement method were due to materials that are deeper inside the rock mass, borehole fractures have less influence on the calculated deformation modulus.

Jan 1, 1982

By Hans Lundberg

In order to comprehend the help and information that may be expected from electrical prospecting, it is necessary to have at least a general knowledge of the methods and principles involved in preparing and interpreting results obtained in the field. Electrical prospecting is rather complicated, both in theory and practice, and in order to make a brief description clear to the practical mining man it has been necessary to idealize and generalize the problems, at the risk of having such simplification criticized by the theoretical man. This simplification must not be misinterpreted as showing a lack of theoretical knowledge. For its operation, electrical prospecting mainly depends on the fact that most metallic ores conduct an electric current much more readily than barren rocks. If an electric current flows through a block of ground within which a body of chalcopyrite is enclosed in country rock of schist, the current will find less resistance to its passage through the chalcopyrite than through the schist, even though the passage through the latter be much shorter. This is because the longer path through the chalcopyrite offers less resistance, owing to the superior electrical conductivity of the chalcopyrite (Fig. 1). The good conductor, chalcopyrite, in the poor conductor, schist, thus attracts the current and deflects the normal flow far outside the conduct-

Jan 1, 1929

By Juptner von Jonstorff

A discussion of the paper by Messrs. Jüptner von Jonstorff, Blair, Dillner and Stead, read by title at the Lake Superior meeting, but presented first at the New York meeting of the Iron and Steel Institute (October, 1904), and here published under a mutual agreement between the two Institutes. Correspondence. MR. R. HAMILTON (Glengarnock) wrote to say that it was known for many years, that unless certain precautions were taken in dissolving the sample, there was a liability to obtain a solution from which the ammonium-molybdate solution would not precipitate the whole of the phosphorus. In 1877 Blair and Finkiner independently attributed this interference to the presence of carbonaceous matter in the solution, derived from the action of acids on the combined carbon of the metal, and they directed that the solution should be prepared in such a manner as to destroy these carbonaceous compounds. This was practically effected by evaporating the acid solution to dryness and roasting the residue. Adolf Tamm, in 1884, accentuated the same view. There are methods founded on the above-mentioned observations which leave nothing to be desired in point of accuracy, but the evaporation to dryness with subsequent roasting and re-solution consumes much time, besides the minor inconvenience caused by large amounts of acid fumes. In 1888 P. W. Shinier suggested that the incomplete precipitation of phosphorus was due to incomplete oxidation of -.the phosphorus, and proposed to render all the phosphorus precipitable by oxidizing the solution with potassium permanganate, etc. Experiments were made to test the accuracy of this view (details will be found in the Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry, vol. x., p. 904), and the results obtained seem to-prove that it is the correct one. It was first proved that carbonaceous matter in solution did not prevent the precipitation of properly oxidized phosphorus

Mar 1, 1905

By Lyon F. Terry

INCREASING domestic demand for products, a sharp reduction in exports to Europe, and a rise in imports from South America were the chief features of the economic side of the industry in 1940. As the war progressed it became evident that exports to former European customers were being cut off or drastically reduced, leaving heavy inventories of products in the hands of many American refiners who had anticipated larger demands from the belligerents. Stocks of motor fuel reached burden-some proportions early in the year for the added reason that refining operations were stimulated by heavy demand for heating oils. Excessive tanker rates for Gulf to Eastern Seaboard movements during the first part of 1940 contributed to the accumulation of products on the Gulf Coast, where refinery gasoline prices were forced to extremely low levels by midyear. Tanker rates receded to normal during the summer but have since risen again to the approximate equivalent of pipe-line tariffs from the Mid-Continent.

Jan 1, 1941

By J. C. Cook

In solution-mining of underground salt and similar minerals, using drilled wells for access, it is desirable to monitor the lateral growth pattern of the resulting fluid-filled cavern. Therefore, a process of seismic surveying from the surface of the ground has been conceived in which the amplitudes of waves reflected from and transmitted through the soluble formation are measured. The large acoustic impedance contrast between solid and fluid should produce striking amplitude anomalies, especially if shear waves are employed, since thick fluid bodies are opaque to shear waves. Horizontally-polarized (SH) shear waves are best for preventing conversion to P waves at the numerous horizontal interfaces in the ground. Field tests to date have shown that a truck-mounted, half-ton hammer striking horizontally against the end of a trench produces usable SH-wave energy at lateral distances up to about 850 ft. Horizontally-directed explosive wave sources were effective to about 2000 ft. Conventional magnetic-tape recording and processing were used, but with the detecting geophones oriented to favor SH waves. An irregular solution cavity in bedded salt at 500-ft depth has apparently been located by SH-wave and SV-wave reflections. Further field work is planned to corroborate and extend this result. The Brine Cavity Research Group, an association of 11 chemical and salt producing companies, is supporting this work. Major deposits of salt in tabular beds lie beneath some 300,000 sq miles of land in the central and northeastern U.S. This salt is a basic source of soda ash and chlorine, and has been extracted as brine from drilled wells for about a century. During the past two decades, the U.S. solution-mining industry, following the lead of European operators, has greatly improved the extraction process through the application of engineering and science.' In 1957, the Brine Cavity Research Group, an association of 11 chemical and salt producing companies, was formed. This group proceeded to attack certain common problems through the support of research. An outstanding problem has been that of determining the shape and location of the growing solution cavities in the underground salt, so that measures can be taken to maintain operating efficiency. The problem has been partially solved by the Dowel1 sonar mapping service, which employs a pulse-echo device lowered into the cavity through the well.2 However, the working range of this equipment is at present insufficient for large cavities, and echoes are not returned from highly sloping walls nor from behind such obstructions as rock debris. Therefore, an independent means of mapping the cavity, for example, from the surface without interfering with operation of the well, would be desirable. THEORY OF THE METHOD Seismic waves are the only physical agent known to be capable of sufficient resolution and penetration to define typical solution cavities from the surface of the ground. The geometry is unfavorable: cavity widths are generally less than half their depths below the surface; resolution and lateral location of boundaries and channels to within 50 ft at depths of 500 to 3000 ft is desirable. Conventional seismic surveying, as used for petroleum prospecting, is probably not the answer: isopach mapping, for example, is not thought accurate enough to define the cavity by the slight additional delay time it would introduce (of the order of 0.005 sec for a 50 ft-thick cavity in hard Paleozoic rocks). Refraction surveying has also been considered, but seismic specialists see little promise in it for this problem. In 1957, in correspondence with industry personnel, the writer suggested a seismic method based upon careful measurement of reflection amplitudes. As Table I illustrates, seismic reflection coefficients r for typical brine-rock interfaces are considerably higher than those for typical interfaces between different kinds of solid rock. This fact can be utilized in two ways, illustrated in Fig. 1: 1) If the cavity roof is reasonably flat (which it may sometimes be since the unsaturated top brine will be in contact with an insoluble rock stratum), extra-strong seismic reflections will be received from the salt stratum where the solid has been replaced by liquid.

Jan 1, 1964

By W. F. Holbrook, C. E. Wood, E. P. Barrett

The high-frequency laboratory induction furnace with a rotating liquid crucible enables research workers to conduct certain investigations heretofore very difficult or impossible to realize because vessels are not obtainable that are capable of resisting the physical conditions or the chemical actions to which they are subjected. Applications for patents covering commercial uses of centrifugal liquid crucibles were filed in the United States in 1919,' in France in 1925, in the United States and Germany in 1926,2 and in France in 1927.3 In 1928, Schuette and Maier,4 of the Bureau of Mines, reported the construction of a whirling table beneath a high-frequency induction furnace. Shape and Size of Centrifugal Liquid Crucibles When a vessel containing a liquid is rotated, the inner surface of the liquid takes the shape of a paraboloid under the simultaneous action of centrifugal force and gravity. The internal dimensions of the paraboloid rotating liquid crucible are governed by the diameter of the container and its speed of rotation. Melted Wood's metal was poured into cylinders 2 1/2 in. in diameter, which were rotated at 180, 300, and 468 r.p.m. When the metal was solid, a slurry of plaster of Paris was added, and rotation continued until the plaster had set. Fig. 1, a photograph of sections of the cylinders, shows the effect of speed of rotation of the containers upon the shape of the inner surface of the rotating liquid crucibles. Types of Furnaces Three types of high-frequency induction laboratory furnaces using liquid-metal crucibles were designed and constructed by the Blast

Jan 1, 1939

By W. F. Holbrook, C. E. Wood, E. P. Barrett

The high-frequency laboratory induction furnace with a rotating liquid crucible enables research workers to conduct certain investigations heretofore very difficult or impossible to realize because vessels are not obtainable that are capable of resisting the physical conditions or the chemical actions to which they are subjected. Applications for patents covering commercial uses of centrifugal liquid crucibles were filed in the United States in 1919,' in France in 1925, in the United States and Germany in 1926,2 and in France in 1927.3 In 1928, Schuette and Maier,4 of the Bureau of Mines, reported the construction of a whirling table beneath a high-frequency induction furnace. Shape and Size of Centrifugal Liquid Crucibles When a vessel containing a liquid is rotated, the inner surface of the liquid takes the shape of a paraboloid under the simultaneous action of centrifugal force and gravity. The internal dimensions of the paraboloid rotating liquid crucible are governed by the diameter of the container and its speed of rotation. Melted Wood's metal was poured into cylinders 2 1/2 in. in diameter, which were rotated at 180, 300, and 468 r.p.m. When the metal was solid, a slurry of plaster of Paris was added, and rotation continued until the plaster had set. Fig. 1, a photograph of sections of the cylinders, shows the effect of speed of rotation of the containers upon the shape of the inner surface of the rotating liquid crucibles. Types of Furnaces Three types of high-frequency induction laboratory furnaces using liquid-metal crucibles were designed and constructed by the Blast

Jan 1, 1939

By Waldemar Dyrssen

BEFORE discussing the relation between air pre-heaters and waste-heat boilers in conjunction with the open-hearth furnace, it is necessary to have a clear idea about what a preheater can accomplish and what effect it has on the open-hearth furnace, especially from a thermal point of view. It is generally recognized now that the heating of the combustion air in the checker chambers of the open-hearth furnaces is not as efficient as it is-desirable to make it. It is also generally recognized that heating of the air in checker chambers of ordinary construction has its limitations. These limitations are mostly the .space occupied and the cost that would be involved if checker chambers were made larger than according to present practice. There are, however, other. reasons why checker chambers cannot give the highest possible air temperatures. Checker chambers are capable of heating air to very 'high temperatures by using waste gases of extremely high temperatures and, in fact, higher temperatures can be reached with checker chambers than with any other means available. The temperature to which we can heat, air, however, is limited very materially by -the temperature at which the air enters the checkers, be-cause of the fact that checker chambers, as at present constructed, are not efficient in heating air through a wide range of temperatures. In other words, if air in-stead of entering the checker chambers at atmospheric temperatures could enter at about 1000 to 1200 deg. F., the resultant air temperature at the top of the checker chambers would be materially increased. There are now on the market metallic air preheaters which are ex-tremely efficient for preheating air to about 1200 deg. F. Such heaters occupy very little space and can usually be installed at a relatively low cost.

Jan 1, 1928

By Godfrey T. Vivian

Very often important discoveries are made in one industry that may be used to advantage in another, but, owing to the rarity that men step out of one industry into another, these discoveries remain unknown outside of the trade or profession in which they are made. The present paper is written solely with the object of bringing to the notice of mining and metallurgical engineers a centrifugal ore-concentrator which eventually may have a great application. Ore- Grading. Fig. 1 represents the action which takes place when solids of different dimensions are stirred up in a box and allowed to settle as minerals of the same size but of different specific gravity. This principle is applied practically in grading china-clay and in enriching tin-slimes. In the latter case the slimes are stirred around in a tub with water and allowed to settle while at the same time the side of the tub is struck with a hammer. The colloidal slimes are then poured off and various slices taken off horizontally. The great drawback of this process is that the particles are deposited horizontally and all the colloids are lost. Fig. 2 represents the action in which the particles are deposited side by side. Here the drawback is the great length of the box needed in order to prevent excessive loss. The alternative to lengthening the box is to increase the force of gravity. Centrifugal force may be regarded practically as the force of gravity augmented. Fig. 3 illustrates the Gee centrifugal machine for grading ores. The drum, A, fitted with a box, B, is mounted on a shaft or spindle, C, the whole being suspended from a ball-bearing of special design at D, supported between girders, E. Rota-

Jan 1, 1913

By T. M. Chance

The first bituminous coal cleaning-plant to use the sand-flotation process1 was placed in operation on Oct. 1, 1925, at the tipple of the East Broad Top Railroad & Coal Co., at Mt. Union, Pa. The general principles governing the design of plants of this type and typical operating results of anthracite sand-flotation units have been previously outlined.2 I will, therefore, confine myself to a description of this particular plant and to some of the elements of design it incorporates. The Original Mt. Union Tipple The plant was installed to transfer coal.from steel narrow-gage cars of 60,000 and 70,000 lb. capacity to standard-gage equipment. The coal was hauled about 30 miles from the East Broad Top field. This coa1, mined by the Rockhill Coal & Iron Co. and other operators, is a low-volatile slow-coking coal with ash of high-fusion point. It is normally a high-grade coal that does not contain an excessive amount of free impurities, but it requires careful handling to secure a fair domestic yield, and, naturally, the need for narrow-gage transshipment increases the difficulty of the problem. The narrow-gage cars were discharged into an 8-car track hopper equipped with two feeders passing the coal to two 42-in. apron intake conveyors. Twin units were installed throughout the original plant, two lump-and-egg shaking screens, two lump picking-tables, two egg picking-tables and two stoker conveyors. The stoker coal was loaded without cleaning. The loading tracks and booms were in duplicate and, with the layout as originally installed, either unit could be run independently, each unit shipping a different class of coal or both units making the same product.

Jan 1, 1927

By Portland P. Fox, Berlin C. Moneymaker

THE development, within recent years, of core drills capable of drilling holes up to 72 in., or even more, in diameter, has made possible an entirely new and valuable method of geologic exploration. Although little used until recently as an exploratory tool except in the United States, by the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Corps of Engineers of the U. S. Army, for the exploration of damsites, the large-diameter core drill may be used to good advantage in other types of geologic exploration. Its principal utility is that of supplementing, rather than replacing, other means of exploration. Although core is frequently recovered intact, the greatest advantage of large-diameter drilling is that the holes produced are large enough to be entered by the geologist and engineer, and thus afford an excellent means of examining undisturbed rock. The walls of the holes are smoothly cut, and in some rocks nearly or quite polished, so that the most minute details of structure and stratigraphy are clearly disclosed. Such features as faults, joints, bedding planes, weathered "seams," and beds or layers of soft materials, which are not always amenable to disclosure by cores recovered from small-diameter holes, are conspicuously displayed in the walls of large holes. Frequent reference to the drilling of large-diameter holes is made in engineering literature, but comparatively little emphasis has been placed on their value in geologic investigation. It is, therefore, intended that the present paper acquaint the geologist, as well as the engineer, with the large-diameter core drill and the technique involved in its use, and also with its advantages, disadvantages and limitations as an implement of geologic exploration. THE EQUIPMENT The equipment generally employed in the drilling of large-diameter holes consists of a trunnion-type drill head mounted on a sliding base, which allows it to slide clear of the hole and thus permit the introduction

Jan 1, 1938

By Portland P. Fox, Berlen C. Moneymaker

The development, within recent years, of core drills capable of drilling holes up to 72 in., or even more, in diameter, has made possible an entirely new and valuable method of geologic exploration. Although little used until recently as an exploratory tool except in the United States, by the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Corps of Engineers of the U. S. Army, for the exploration of damsites, the large-diameter core drill may be used to good advantage in other types of geologic exploration. Its principal utility is that of supplementing, rather than replacing, other means of exploration. Although core is frequently recovered intact, the greatest advantage of large-diameter drilling is that the holes produced are large enough to be entered by the geologist and engineer, and thus afford an excellent means of examining undisturbed rock. The walls of the holes are smoothly cut, and in some rocks nearly or quite polished, so that the most minute details of structure and stratigraphy are clearly disclosed. Such features as faults, joints, bedding planes, weathered "seams," and beds or layers of soft materials, which are not always amenable to disclosure by cores recovered from small-diameter holes, are conspicuously displayed in the walls of large holes. Frequent reference to the drilling of large-diameter holes is made in engineering literature, but comparatively little emphasis has been placed on their value in geologic investigation. It is, therefore, intended that the present paper acquaint the geologist, as well as the engineer, with the large-diameter core drill and the technique involved in its use, and also with its advantages, disadvantages and limitations as an implement of geologic exploration. The Equipment The equipment generally employed in the drilling of large-diameter holes consists of a trunnion-type drill head mounted on a sliding base, which allows it to slide clear of the hole and thus permit the introduction

Jan 1, 1941

By Portland P. Fox, Berlen C. Moneymaker

The development, within recent years, of core drills capable of drilling holes up to 72 in., or even more, in diameter, has made possible an entirely new and valuable method of geologic exploration. Although little used until recently as an exploratory tool except in the United States, by the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Corps of Engineers of the U. S. Army, for the exploration of damsites, the large-diameter core drill may be used to good advantage in other types of geologic exploration. Its principal utility is that of supplementing, rather than replacing, other means of exploration. Although core is frequently recovered intact, the greatest advantage of large-diameter drilling is that the holes produced are large enough to be entered by the geologist and engineer, and thus afford an excellent means of examining undisturbed rock. The walls of the holes are smoothly cut, and in some rocks nearly or quite polished, so that the most minute details of structure and stratigraphy are clearly disclosed. Such features as faults, joints, bedding planes, weathered "seams," and beds or layers of soft materials, which are not always amenable to disclosure by cores recovered from small-diameter holes, are conspicuously displayed in the walls of large holes. Frequent reference to the drilling of large-diameter holes is made in engineering literature, but comparatively little emphasis has been placed on their value in geologic investigation. It is, therefore, intended that the present paper acquaint the geologist, as well as the engineer, with the large-diameter core drill and the technique involved in its use, and also with its advantages, disadvantages and limitations as an implement of geologic exploration. The Equipment The equipment generally employed in the drilling of large-diameter holes consists of a trunnion-type drill head mounted on a sliding base, which allows it to slide clear of the hole and thus permit the introduction

Jan 1, 1941

By Samuel M. Cassidy, John A. Garcia

In some districts of the bituminous coal field the problem of constructing bulkheads to seal off water under pressure is becoming increasingly important. Recently this matter has been brought very much to the front by the loss of a large Illinois mine due to failure of a bulkhead that separated it from several old, flooded mines. As this great misfortune has provoked much inquiry about proper bulkhead design, it is felt that a description of the successful and extensive water-sealing practice at three mines that have different natural conditions will be of considerable interest to those connected with properties having a present or future water problem and to engineers that may have to design safe bulkheads of economical construction. These three mines are the Saxton and Dresser, near Terre Haute, Ind., and the Hegeler, near Danville, Ill. All three have water conditions that make it necessary to regularly seal off all worked-out sections of the mine, and there are considerably over a hundred bulkheads in each. AS far as the writers know, these three mines are the only ones in the bituminous coal fields of the United States with anything like so large a number of water seals and experience, although a number of other mines are known to have a few bulkheads. More detail will be included herein on the Saxton mine than on the others, as the writers are more familiar with it. General Mining System All three of the mines use the same general panel room-and-pillar system, which consists of rooms turned both ways off room entries and a solid block of coal left on all sides of the completed panel except on the cross-entry side, where a heavier pillar is pierced by two entries for haulage and air. On completion of the panel the two entries arc sealed and the panel is then isolated from the rest of the mine. Owing to water conditions, no pillars are pulled; recovery inside the panel barrier pillars is approximately 65 per cent.

Jan 1, 1938