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By C. E. Dowker

"IntroductionMechanization underground at the Buffalo Ankerite mine in Deloro township, Porcupine district, had reached a high level by 1944, both in equipment available, and in the use of this equipment, for all stoping operations. Power feed leyners and the latest type of stopers for drilling, slushers for moving ore and fill, and tugger hoists for all servicing, did much to halt rising stope costs, and in some cases decreased them. On the other hand, little beyond the use of mucking machines and power feed leyners had been adopted in the effort to reduce level development costs, or to increase the advance per man-shift.Faced with ever increasing level development costs, caused by rising prices of equipment and supplies, coupled with increasing wage demands for less physical effort, it was realized that more mechanization of development work was essential. The objectives of such further mechanization were:(1) Decreased development costs(2) Increased footage per man-shift(3) Less physical effort by development crews, with greater take-home pay (4) A more satisfied and stable labour force"

Jan 1, 1950

By S. H. Ash, J. J. Forbes

Probably the newest thing in mining safety, or safety for mines, is the apparent dissatisfaction on the part of the mineral industries, as represented by both management and labor, and the general public of the Nation, with the safety record of the mining industry. This is reflected by published comments and papers in the technical press;l-9 in labor periodicals,10,11 in popular journals and periodicals,l2, 13 and in the daily press; also by discussions of the Safety Committees sponsored by the National Safety Council,9, 14-15 the American Mining Congress,l.l6 the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers,2,4 the Mine Inspectors' Institute of Amerthe Coal Mining Institute of America,5 19 the American Standards Association, and others.20.21 Mining safety is a joint problem of management and the individual workman. Safety is not attained and will not be attained solely by laws, decrees, and commands because, if it could be done in this manner, acceptable mining safety would have been achieved long ago by the individual states in our Nation and by the nations abroad. The best safety performance is found at plants where management provides a safe environment for the workers; where supervision is efficient and super- visors, others concerned with promoting safety, and the individual worker know through training, experience, and personal contact the safe and unsafe practices of their field; and where the trained individual worker has become safety-minded by experience, quiet influence, unconscious suggestion, and personal guidance. Despite what may be said to the contrary, progress has been and is being made in mining safety. This is shown in Fig 1 to 4. It is beyond the scope of this paper to give possible reasons for the valleys and peaks in the fatal-injury rates. Some recent factors that appear to be contributing to the improvement in these rates are briefly discussed. Aside from mining equipment, "what's new in mining safety" for some mines has been in effect or was tried by others long ago. A safety pro- gram is a living thing; as such, it must be vitalized and continuously fed with enthusiasm, constructive action, and improvements. Because safety is concerned with human conduct, it is necessary to practice safety at all times; if not, it is soon forgotten, and accidents occur. Mining-safety Records The large employment and production concerned with anthracite contribute much to the mining-safety records of the mineral industry. Approximately 81,000 persons are. employed in this industry having mines concentrated in an area of 480 square miles in northeastern Pennsylvania. Because of the achievement of the anthracite industry in safety during 1948, the other branches of the mineral industry can profit by a study of what has been done to achieve that record. Where one mineral is produced by other large groups having methods of mining that are similar in many respects to the anthracite-mining methods, an achievement in such a large industry is important. Salient factors concerned with safetye in the anthracite industry are: no radical change has occurred in the mining-safety regulations pertaining to anthracite mines. Because anthracite mining is a branch of the coal-mining industry,

Jan 1, 1950

By C. M. Brinckerhoff

Safety work in mining at the Andes Copper Mining Company, Potrerillos, Chile, is divided into three parts: (1) accident prevention, (2) fire prevention and protection, and (3) silicosis prevention and control. In the company's operations a steady campaign has been waged to reduce accidents and silicosis, and to prevent fires. In the following pages the safety record for the past twelve years will be examined and the methods explained by which the accident rate was reduced. Table 1 contains yearly data pertaining to the scale of the mining operations and the accident record. Block caving is used for all ore production and the tonnage mined has averaged 30,000 short tons per day for the past seven years. Table 2 classifies 44 fatal accidents which have occurred since 1935. The leading causes of accidental death are transportation of ore and use of explosives, followed in order by persons falling, falls of ground, and by asphyxiation. In the case of serious accidents, however, the greatest cause is falls of ground, followed, in turn, by ore transportation, persons falling, explosives, and asphyxiation. Accident Prevention The improvement of the safety record was obtained by a combination of many factors. In surveying the results at Andes for the past twelve years, it is possible to select some features of the present operation which have contributed to the accident record. The most important of these are: (1) good staff planning, (2) good equipment, (3) an alert safety organization, and (4) education and selection of the workmen. GOOD STAFF PLANNING As a result of good staff planning, the mine has good working conditions, namely, good ventilation, moderate temperatures and humidity, and good lighting. These factors not only reduce accidents but also improve efficiency. In haulage work, accidents have been reduced by having traffic move in a forward direction only. The latter makes possible a one-man train crew. Trains are centrally dispatched from loading drifts which are interconnected by signal lights, so that when a train in a lateral drift is given permission to move into a main line drift, a red light signals in all other lateral drifts in that area. Good track is maintained, and safety niches are required at all switch throws. Since safety niches were provided there have been no fatal or serious accidents at such points. All main line haulage drifts are illuminated by electric lights. Haulage drifts are kept clean. Adequate clearance has been provided between cars and between cars and the sides of the haulage drifts. The 4 1/2 ton Cranby type cars are equipped with roller bearings, and the 10 ton loconlotives with trolley shoes instead of wheels. These two features are responsible for improved ore haulage conditions and contribute to greater efficiency and safety.

Jan 1, 1950

By J. J. Forbes

Problems connected with the incidence, effects, determination, and control of dusts are still much before the public, although more information is available to the layman than when Bulletin 400, of which this publication is a revision,5 was issued in 1937. Bulletin 400 attempted to assemble information in convenient form on various phases of the dust problem, largely in the mining and allied industries. This revision includes data that have accumulated since 1937 and some that appeared previous thereto but were not available to the authors at that time. The literature on this subject is so voluminous that no attempt has been made to include all published material or all types of dust diseases, but only to assemble some of the more outstanding data on several aspects of the subject.

Jan 1, 1950

By Kingman, Robert I.

SUFFICIENT testing has been .performed with the Dutch State Mines Cyclone for thickening and desliming flotation feed at the concentrator of the National Lead Co., Tahawus, N. Y., to prove its application for this work. It is the purpose of this article to present some of the test results, operational details and advantages of cyclone thickening and classification. The metallurgy of the mill operation was described by Frank R. Milliken, assistant manager of the titanium division.

Jan 1, 1950

By Robert N. Roby

This report is one of a series based upon investigations made and being made within the Missouri River Basin in Montana by engineers of the Bureau of Mines , Albany Branch , Mining Division . These investigations are made primarily to provide preliminary information to Department of Interior agencies and others concerned with the planning of the proposed Federal power developments within the Missouri River Basin . The present report has been designed to permit public distribution of the factual data obtained . The field investigations in Meagher County were made during tually all 1948 ; Vir- known metallic mineral occurrences within the county were investigated ; some nonmetallic mineral deposits also were investigated . The investigations cannot be considered complete , however , because some long-inactive mines or prospects may have been missed . Most of the old mine and prospect openings are caved; many are completely inaccessible . Many of the claims located years ago have been abandoned ; others have been relocated under different names and ownerships . Because of such conditions , much of the information regarding their development and operation necessarily has been obtained from Federal and State publications , supplemented by information provided by owners and local residents .

Jan 1, 1950

By Lionel C. Piuze

Introduction and Early History The British Canadian Mine is one of four operating properties of Asbestos Corporation, Limited, and is located in the town of Black Lake, Que., five miles southwest of Thetford Mines. In the early days of as1bestos mining, this .property was owned by a few small companies who later became part of the Asbestos Corporation. First .to commence mining operations on the property was the Coleraine Mining Company who, in 1885, began selling part of their large holdings in the area to various asbestos mining interests. Of these, the earliest active companies were Manhattan United Asbestos, the Glasgow and Montreal Asbestos Company, and the Anglo-Canadian, the last named later becoming the Standard and Dominion Asbestos Companies. Extraction of fibre was limited to what is now known as crude asbestos and the methods were primitive. Drilling was done .by hand and the ore was lifted by derricks operated by band winches. These were later replaced by horse power, but it was not until 1887 that the first steam-operated boom derricks were introduced, at the Anglo-Canadian mine. The ore was hand cobbled and the asbestos roughly classified and bagged. The waste rock, which by today's standards contained a considerable percentage of marketable fibre, was dumped near the pit. The first attempt to separate the asbestos from the host rock by mechanical means was made in 1888 by the G1asgow and Montreal Asbestos Company, then known as the Scottish-Canadian Asbestos Company, whose mill, erected in that year, was the world's first asbestos mill. Though the equipment was crude, the principles employed were the same as those used today with much larger units. The next steps were the use of rock drills, the adoption of steam rail transportation for moving mill rock, and conversion to the more flexible cable-derrick hoisting.

Jan 1, 1950

By Russell G. Warncke

"This report is based primarily on a study of safety conditions and practices followed in the coal mines of Japan. Not all of the coal fields in Japan were studied, but typical mines in the largest producing areas and a fair cross section of coal-mine-safety conditions observed during February to April 1948 are described.Information was obtained through investigations conducted in the mines, discussions with mine-management officials and representatives of labor unions of the various mines visited, and examination of records and statistics from the various offices of the Coal Board of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and from the Coal Association of Japan. Statistical data covering the same subject, obtained from different sources, varied in many respects and apparently were reported inaccurately, but such discrepancies can be attributed to different methods of reporting and compiling statistics.It is difficult to correlate the high fatal and nonfatal injury rates that prevail in Japanese coal mines with the conditions observed in the mines. Virtually all mines visited were attempting to prevent accidents and explosions, by apparently following known safety precautions for the prevention thereof. Some commendable safety innovations were observed at several mines; they indicated that mine officials are giving thought and consideration to hazardous conditions that affect their particular mines.Naturally, the operating officials and management were anxious to impress the writer with their interest in accident prevention and safety. Operating officials were found to be receptive to safety and wore interested in formulating definite safety programs. Some nines had well-planned and well-organized safety programs, which, if put into effect, would contribute greatly toward reduction of accidents.The approach to safety in Japan is quite different from that in the United States, especially the concept of personal responsibility for accidents and the extent to which the individual should be protected against hazards. Management is responsible for providing and maintaining safe working conditions. Collaboration between management and worker, as understood in the United States, does not exist in Japan.Increase in accidents since the cessation of hostilities is the result of unsettled economic conditions in the coal industry, influx of inexperience workers, and breakdown of discipline among the miners, who have been organized into unions. Those unions are greatly influenced by ""leftist"" tendencies.It was observed that the Japanese mine worker is fatalistic by nature and has little, if any, noticable safety consciousness. The most urgent major requirements to reduce accidents in the coal mines are to train the worker in accident prevention and instruct him regarding the inherent hazards of his occupation.Revision of the mining laws would help to reduce accidents if the companies would comply with such laws and provide safer working places and if the workers would cooperate with management and observe and comply with such laws as are enacted for their protection."

Dec 1, 1949

By William A. Beck

"In 1912 bauxite was discovered in the Andersonville district, which lies in the 28th and 29th land districts of Georgia and comprises parts of Sumter, Macon, and Schley Counties. Mining was begun in May 1914 by the Republic Mining & Manufacturing Co. Considerable ore has been produced in this region since that time by individual interests and by the American Cyanamid & Chemical Corp., which acquired the property formerly owned by the Republic Co.The area was examined in the fall of 1941 by representatives of the Bureau of Mines and the Geological Survey, after which a prospecting program was begun by the Bureau. Drilling was started on December 26, 1941, and continued until November 18, 1943. A total of 1,192 holes was drilled in the district, and 3,679 samples were taken and analyzed.Mineral exploration agreements were signed by 146 property owners covering 42,128 acres. Holes were drilled on 121 of these properties, which have a total area of 38,778 acres.Drilling under this project disclosed several new deposits, of which four have been completely delimited. Previous prospecting in this area by mining companies did not find bauxite, as it lies under heavy overburden. Work by the Bureau indicates 14,412,000 long tons of ore containing 30 percent or more alumina. The total tonnage is divided as follows:Georgia State Highway Routes 26 and 4-9 traverse the district. The Central of Georgia Railroad passes through the center of the entire district (see fig. 1).The project was initiated by J. R. Thoenen, supervising engineer, Non-metals Mining Section, Mining Division, Bureau of Mines. It was under his general supervision until July 1942, after which it was under the general supervision of E. J. Lintner and Rowe McCrae, district engineers for Georgia, South Carolina, and Flordia, respectively.John C. Feeley, Jr., was project engineer from December 1941 to April 1942. Other engineers who assisted in the work on the project are R. E. Babcock, T. M. Romslo, Don M. Coulter, and Walter T. Lewiecki.Acknowledgment is due the metallurgical staffs at College Park, Md., and Tuscaloosa, Ala., for analyses of samples and beneficiation tests.Acknowledgment is also expressed to Alfred D. Zapp, M. W. Harris, Elmer Kneedler,and Parke D. Snavely, of the United States Geological Survey, for their aid, data, and maps.Bauxite was discovered in the Andersonville district in 1912 on lot 187 of the 28th land district, in Sumter County. This lot is situated about 1.5 miles west of the Flint River, on the south slope of the valley of Sweetwater Creek. Mining was started in May 1914 by the Republic Mining & Manufacturing Co. This and adjacent properties were acquired in 1930 by the American Cyanamid & Chemical Corp., which has been operating there since."

Dec 1, 1949

By Donald F. Reed

In the latter half of 1948 the Bureau of Mines investigated the Magnet Cove Rutile Co.'s prerty in northern Hot Spring County, Ark. This work was supplemental to the work done by the Bureau on the same property in 1945.2/ It was undertaken for the purpose of investigating the extent of the ore body toward the south and west and at depth and to obtain representative samples of the ore for metallurgical tests. For the latter purpose, the samples were so taken as to minimize alteration of the physical characteristics of the ore, these characteristics being determining factors in working out processes of bencficiation. During the investigation, 27 holes were drilled, 10 with a diamond-coro drill end 17 with churn-drill rigs using a Baker standard cable-tool core barrel. Drilling developed an extension of the ore deposit westward from the previously mined area but did not disclose the full depth of mineralization. Metallurgical tests to determine methods of beneficiating the ore and utilizing the resultant products are now in progress.

Dec 1, 1949

By R. A. Cattell

The Bureau of Mines actively conducted a well-coordinated research pro- gram during the past fiscal year on problems dealing with the production of oil and gas, transportation of natural gas, chemistry and refining of petrole- um, thermodynamic properties of hydrocarbons, and the processing and utiliza- tion of incombustible helium gas. These particular reserach phases, compris- ing the presently scheduled activities, are integral parts of a broad program selected soon after the war as suitable for Bureau of Mines study, to meet immediate needs for specific information on petroleum and natural-gas problems of national scope. Important progress was made and many technical reports were finished during the year. Several reports were published on gas-condensate production problems, one giving the results of laboratory tests of relative merits of various steels and alloys for rosisting the corrosion that occurs in high-pressure gas- condensate wells. Research was continued, using the Bureau's windowed cell, to determine the characteristics of gas-condensate fluids, and an important paper on the phase relations of these fluids at low temperatures was published. An important part of the Bureau of Mines petroleum production research program for many yoars has been the engineering study of type oil fields. This year reports waro completed on the Lake Creek, Sheridan, and West Rod River fields, Tex.; the Atlanta field, Ark.; and the Bogge field, W.V. Othor fields under study and for which reports will be issued are the Carthage and Now Hope fields, Tex., and the Weber pool, Okla. Spocial studios to determine the characteristics of the oil-gas solutions as they exist within the native reservoir rocks have been in progress in the North Lindsay field, Okla.; the Elk Basin field, Wyo. and Mont.; and the Rangely field, Colo. The North Lindsay study brought to light several un- usual physical proporties of the oil as it is found in this deep-seated reservoir. For instance, its viscosity is less than that of water, and more than 2 barrels of the initial reservoir oil must be produced to yield 1 barrel of "stock-tank oil." In the Elk Basin and Rangoly fields the oil-gas solution varies in composition within the reservoir, depending upon structural location. Engineering studies were continued on woll spacing and on drilling fluids with special emphasis on obtaining uncontaminated cores, or coros for which the flushing action of the drilling fluid can be dotormined accurately. In connection with research on production of oil by secondary recovery methods, progress was made in studies of conditioning water for subsurface injoction, of input ratos and pressures for water-flooding oil sands, and of the selective plugging the more permeable mediurs to prevent or retard channel- ing of the injected fluid. The availability of fuels for all types of internal-combustion engines still is tho primary resoarch project in potroleum chomistry and refining. This rosearch program is subdivided into a sorios of problems under four main topics: (1) Raw-material studios; (2) relationships of fuel consumption, proporties, and performanco; (3) utilization of potroleum products; and (4) analytical mothods, which include chomical and physical property detorminations.

Dec 1, 1949

By R. G. Warncke, Stanley M. Walker

The United States Bureau of Mines was created by an act of Congress in 1910 as a governmental agency to work , on a national scale , toward reducing the huge annual loss of life in the production and processing of the Nation's minerals . From 1906 to 1910 , inclusive , nearly 2,500 miners lost their lives in 84 major explosion disasters , and more than 13,000 suffered fatal injuries from all causes in the coal mines of the United States . Also , conditions in the metal and nonmetal mines were proportionately hazardous during this period , and the total loss of life in all mines and quarries exceeded 3,000 annually and approximately 250,000 workers suffered serious injuries . Under these conditions it is readily understandable why Congress took notice of this " high cost of mining" , and from the investigations and hearings of the day emerged the Bureau of Mines charged with the prevention of accidents and the preservation of the health of all those engaged in the mineral industry; this has continued to be a most important part of the work of the Bureau . Throughout its existence the Bureau of Mines has had no legal authority of enforcement , except during war years , when enforcement necessary to the national security was given to it . The Bureau believes that persuasion , with factual evidence , is the proper and best way to obtain compliance with the safety suggestions made by its engineers and scientists . There is no panacea for accidents , nor will any single " approach " , instill safety consciousness in all workers , and without it accidents will occur --and occur again . To persuade men to work safely, numerous forms of appeal are required to reach the various temperaments of workers in many types of mines operating under diverse conditions .

Nov 1, 1949

By Bertha R. Klahold

"In response to numerous inquiries regarding tests and analyses of minerals and related inorganic materials; Bureau of Mines Information Circular 6999, ""Laboratories That Make Fire Assays, Analyses, and Tests on Ores, Minerals, Metals and Other Inorganic Substances,"" by C. W. Davis and M. W. von Bernewitz, was published .in 1938 and revised in 1939 (I. C. 6999R). In this paper on analytical and testing laboratories, the original text has been rewritten and expanded, and a table has been added, in which are listed laboratories prepared to offer a number of special testing services in addition to ordinary assays and chemical analyses. The arrangement of laboratories on, a geographical basis has been maintained.This circular is compiled as a public service, and none of the laboratories listed herein is recommended over any other,These lists were compiled from questionnaires sent to organizations whose work is connected with mineral and metallurgical testing. The response in general was very satisfactory, and the author takes this opportunity to express her appreciation to the officers of the listed laboratories for their cooperation.Acknowledgment is also made of the valuable assistance of the members of the technical staff particularly Morris Slaving/ of the Eastern Experiment Station of the Bureau of Mines at College Park, Md., in the preparation of the questionnaire and technical descriptions.Many mineral samples are sent to government agencies in the National Capital with the request that they be assayed or chemically analyzed. It should be emphasized that there is no place in Washington D. C. where assays and quantitative analyses are made for the public b the Federal Government.Virtually all of the States maintain a bureau of mines, a geological survey, or some similar organization, frequently at the State University, where minerals found by residents of the State will be identified free of charge. Usually, a charge is made for assays. Specific tests, as on clays, are made by some of these offices.The Federal Bureau of Mines, although it attempts to avoid duplication of services rendered by State Bureaus, is always glad to give advice as to prospective markets. It does not compete with private assayers and chemists, but with respect to samples sent to its field laboratories, it does offer to identify them as far as this can be done by inspection and simple optical and chemical tests. This examination is usually sufficient to indicate whether the material has commercial value, or at least if the expense of an assay would be warranted. Except in connection with its own technical investigations, no assays or other special tests are made by the Bureau of Mines.The Federal Geological Survey and the National Museum also make simple tests of specimens as a public service. Neither of these bureaus nor the Bureau of Mines, however, can afford to render such services on long suites of specimens submitted by mineral dealers, well drillers, or others, when such work can be done regularly by commercial concerns."

Oct 1, 1949

By Cloyd M. Smith

Progressive mine management is placing increased emphasis on improved ventilation as a contribution to better safety , health , and productivity of miners . Management is on the alert for means of bettering the working environment by increasing the flow of air and distributing it more effectively to the working places , having in mind the necessity of avoiding exorbitant ventilation costs . A basic need in planning betterments of this kind is knowledge of existing rates of flow and air pressures , infCoorrmmaattiicon that is supplied through ventilation surveys . Some companies make partial surveys from time to time , but few make complete surveys on a routine basis . This report describes the practice of a large British anthracite -mining company , which operates 24 collieries in South Wales , in carrying out a routine program of ventilation surveying . Ventilation characteristics and climatic conditions in the working places of its collieries are determined at frequent intervals with a view to increasing the effectiveness of ventilation and protecting the health of workers . It is thought that many of the points of the procedure used in making the surveys and in compiling and reporting the results will be applicable to American practice and that a discussion of the program may be helpful to colliery managers who are planning similar work .

Oct 1, 1949

By Arthur Metcalfe, Edward Thomas, A. J. Barry

"Early in 1947 the Bureau of Mines became interested in adapting suspension roof support to coal mining 5/ as a possible means of reducing the high rate of accidents from falls of roof. For a time the program made little progress be¬cause of the shortage of steel products after the end of World War II, but during the past 8 months this restriction has eased, and as of May 1, 1949, 114 mines had either started experimental work or had ordered materials and equip¬ment in anticipation of trial installations. It is estimated that 30 linear miles of roof in underground passageways have been secured by this method in recent months, and no lost-time roof-fall accident has been reported in these areas up to that date.Many coal-mining companies in widely separated localities have cooperated in making experimental installations. In very few instances are these companies entirely satisfied that they have arrived at the best solution in determining the most efficient adaptation to suit their particular conditions. Moreover, new ideas and modifications of the basic principle are constantly being brought to light and are being tested. Available test data is far from complete, and it is conceivable that some new idea will be developed to alter the present concept of proper technique; therefore, this progress report does not attempt to answer all questions that might arise in connection with this method of roof support; it simply recounts the experience acquired to date. Consequently, few references to costs are made. Up-to-date quotations on material and equipment used in suspension roof-support installations may be obtained from numerous mine-supply companies.The authors gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of mining companies whose personnel made possible collection of the information contained in this circular: Bethlehem Collieries Corp., Barrackville, W. Va.; Berwind-White Coal Mining Co., Windber, Pa.; Consolidation Coal Co., (Ky.); Jenkins, Ky.; Consolidation Coal Co. (W. Va.), Fairmont, W.Va.; Clinchfield Coal Corp., Dante, Va.; Consolidated Coal Co., St. Louis, Mo.; Hanna Coal Co., St. Clairsville, Ohio; Missouri Portland Cement Co., Sugar Creek, Mo.; Pocahontas Fuel Corp., Pocahontas, Va.; Reppert Coal Co., Dola, W. Va.; St. Joseph Lead Co., Bonne Terre, Mo.; and Tennessee Coal, Iron, & Railroad Co., Birmingham, Ala.The fundamental theory of suspension roof supports is not new; in fact, its application in the construction of beams predates mining itself. The basic principle involved is the reinforcement of roof rock with steel rods inserted in the roof and anchored therein at points where the rock is least likely to be affected by stresses resulting from mining. Such roof supports have been used in mines for many years in widely separated localities. The St. Joseph Lead Co., operating in southeastern Missouri, apparently was the first large mining company to prove the practicability of the principle by applying it in a systematic manner for securing roof for more than 20 years (fig. 1)."

Sep 1, 1949

By John W. Taber

The Bohemia mining district is a small but intensely mineralized area in western Oregon . For its size , it has made a substantial although somewhat sporadic production of gold throughout a long period of years . The veins also contain lead, zinc , and copper, but in the past these metals have not been recovered in important amounts . In reviewing the progress of mining activity in the district , an effort has been made to gather under one cover all available information on former operations , including methods of mining , production, and geology pertinent to the ore deposits , problems encountered, and other factual data that may affect future mining in the district . A special effort has been made to assemble as many maps of former workings as possible in order that these may be preserved and readily available to assist in future exploration. The data presented herein are based on brief reconnaissance examinations made during several weeks spent in the field in September 1946. These are supplemented by information obtained from various individuals actively or formerly connected with operations in the district . Only the principal properties and several of the more outstanding prospects were actually examined. Many of the older workings were inaccessible.

Aug 1, 1949

By A. C. Fieldner, SIDNEY GOTTLIEB

This report summarizes the research and technologic work of the Bureau of Mines on coal and coal products from July 1, 1947, to July 1, 1948. It is the thirteenth of a series presenting resumes based largely upon publications issued during the year . In some instances , research and testing results , not otherwise available in published form , are presented . The individual publications given as footnote references herein will provide further detail to the interested reader . The period covered by this report was marked by an ever -mounting concern for the adequacy of the Nation's fuel resources and for fuel shortages arising from an increasing demand for fuels at home and abroad . Several reports appeared which delineated the place of synthetic liquid fuels in the future fuel technology and economy of the Nation , emphasized the fact that eventually the principal raw material for the production of such fuels will bet,5,6 coal, and described the progress made by the Bureau of Mines in developing processes for the production of synthetic liquid fuels . heard testimony along similar lines . Increased awareness of the fuels problems confronting the Nation led to an authorization by the 80th Congress for the erection of an anthracite research laboratory at Schuylkill Haven , Pa . , to house expanded Bureau of Mines research on anthracite . Design of the structure was well under way by the end of the fiscal year . ( See fig . 1. ) Looking forward to expansion of Bureau research on lignite , the 80th Congress heard testimony on the problems and programs of lignite research10, 11 as a prelude to authorizing the construction of a lignite research laboratory in North Dakota .

Aug 1, 1949

By GEORGE T. Harley, Walter R. Storms

This paper, which describes mining mothods at International Minerals & Chemical Corp, 'e. potash mine. in. Eddy. County, N. Mex., is one of a sories being prepared by the Mining Branch of the Bureau of Minos. on mining method a and practicos in, various mining districts of the United States. The mine shafts and. surface plant or International Minerals & Chemical Corp. are situated. in. sec.. 12, T. 22 S., R. 29 E., N. M. P. M., about 26-1/2 miles by paved highway east of the city of Carlsbad (figs. 1, 2, and 3). A spur line of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad connects the mine with the Clovia-Pecos branch of the same road near Loving, a few miles south of Carlsbad. This spur also serves the refinery of United Staics Potash Co. This report gives. the history and describes the geology of the district. Methods of prospecting, exploration, sampling, and estimation of tonnage and values are explained; development and mining methods are discussed in con- siderable detail; transportation, ventilation and drainage are outlined; safety measures are noted; and the wage scale and organization are mentioned.

Jun 1, 1949

By R. A. Cattell

With the surrender of the Japanese Imperial Government as a climax to the capitulation of the German High Command , the main objective of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Division pivoted from war assignments to its main normal functions . One of these functions is to give wide public distribution to valuable technical facts which the Division has obtained through research on petroleum , natural gas , helium , and related subjects . During the war years many engineering data and scientific facts could be released only on a restricted basis as reports to war agencies and others immediately concerned . Moreover , many of the wartime reports contained masses of detailed data that were prepared under stress to meet emergency schedules . For peacetime publication and application , these data must be reviewed , correlated , and rearranged so as to present the essentials in proper form . To illustrate , a wartime report of 50 pages might be resolved into one curve in a composite graph for a peacetime publication . Another factor affecting the orientation of the work of the Division is the broader horizon of research revealed by its war activities . Fundamental research and careful engineering analyses are just as important in time of peace as in time of war; in fact , they should be more important to the forward view , because under peace conditions disrupting influences that distract from the orderly acquisition of knowledge are minimized . Therefore , the concerted effort has been not to " salvage " the results of the war activities , but to evaluate them on the basis of their relative importance in the future economy of the country . Where wartime investigations have pointed to peacetime accomplishments , the effort has been to give the corresponding type of work additional emphasis . This adjustment can not be made hurriedly , but many of the necessary preliminary steps on the new course have been taken ..

Jun 1, 1949

By John C. Feeley

The methods used and the funds available for the development and oper- ation of shall mines and the reopening of small abandoned mines frequently present problems that tax the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the mining engineer far beyond that required in the mass production from large deposits. The objective of this paper is to describe in considerable detail the means whereby engineers have solved local problems in reopening an abandoned mine at which equipment, facilities, and funds were limited... The Etowah Coal & Iron Co. Gadsden red-iron-ore mine at Gadsden, Ala., 18 of interest in this category since it is the only independent red-ore mine under active development in the State. All other red-ore mines in Alabama are owned or controlled by the large iron or steel companies. The The mine, located on the southwest end of Shinbone Ridge in the outskirts of Gadsden lies in an ares once productive. but now idle, for many years. ore is relatively highgrade compared with that in the Birmingham area, but the bed is thin and somewhat lenticular. The presence of a large blast furnace at Alabama City, 3 miles from Gadsden, and the growing scarcity of red-iron ore supplies for it offered inducements for reopening the mine in 1946. Up to the time this circular was prepared (1947) only a small quantity of ore (about 1,500 tons) has been produced and shipped to the furnace. A force of 14 men was employed in sinking the main slope and developing a third "lift" (a local term for level) 100 feet below the old mine workings.

May 1, 1949