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By J. P. Capp

The Federal Bureau of Mines and the Alabama Power Company conducted an experiment in underground gasification of coal at Gorgas, Ala. involving the use of hydraulic fracturing to increase the air acceptance of a coalbed for the introduction of combustion air and removal of product gases. Air acceptance is defined as the flow rate of air which can be injected into the coalbed at 65 p.s.i.g. This was the second time the hydraulic-fracturing technique was used at Gorgas. Sand suspended in a heavy oil served as the fracturing fluid in the first experiment; in the second the sand was two to six times larger and was suspended in a water-starch gel. In addition to providing further tests of the underground-gasification process, the purpose of the second experiment was to determine the effects of the larger sand and greater volumes of a water-base fluid on (1) the extent of the fractured area, (2) the air acceptance of the coal, and (3) the rate at which a gasification path could be carbonized (linked) through the coal, and to compare these results with those of the first experiment. The coal was fractured by injecting 11,000 lb. of sand and 33,580 gal. of water and water-gel at 200 to 600 g.p.m. and 900 to 1,000 p.s.i. The fluid fractured the coal and the sand served as a propping agent to hold the cracks and crevices open. Pressures during the fracturing operation at test boreholes indicated that the fracturing fluid extended only about 150 ft. from borehole H, the point of application of the fracture. Injection of air revealed that the air acceptance of the coalbed within this e t was materially increased. On the other hand, increased air acceptance also was noted at boreholes up to 280 ft. from borehole H and at the electrolinking area 300 to 400 ft. away, indicating that the fracture effects extended considerably farther than was evident from observation. Similar effects were noted at approximately the same distances after the first hydraulic fracture.

Jan 1, 1961

By John E. Bailey

The advent of Nuclear Energy has caused a phenomenal growth in the uranium mining industry. To keep abreast of this surge the mining industry has located many ore bodies, determined the best types of mining adaptable to this particular type of ore and developed a highly specialized type of operation. But, has the mining industry gone far enough in the planning? Has ?built-in? safety been included in the efficient methods of operation? Preplanning safety in the mining industry, as in all industries, takes engineering and ingenuity combined with the experience and cooperation of all concerned. A system of mining can be planned on a map and it will look good. However, when the actual mining takes place, conditions may be such that deviations from the original plans may be required because of excessive water faults or other conditions encountered. With safety we may also be required to change, to conform to the characteristics of a particular operation. People in the mining industry are well aware that loose back has killed miners each year. This condition occurred in practically all types of mines. The condition is not new to us. It is also known that explosives, haulage, machinery and conditions common to all types of mining have taken a heavy toll of human life in mining. In addition to these hazards in the uranium mines, the hazard of radon is also present, Radon is a radioactive gas liberated from ores containing radium. This gas is released into the active workings by the blasting or breaking up of the ore. Sometimes it is caused by radium contaminated water seepage from abandoned workings or from the ore body itself. Until the action of this gas on the human was known, many miners were affected. Un- less adequate precuations are taken to protect the people in these mines,, they may be exposed to this hazard, Health researchers made a study of this substance to determine how it would affect the health of the men, They also studied men who had worked in previous years, in mines known to have contained radioactive materials. All of this research contributed to the present knowledge of radon and its daughter products. It is not flammable nor explosive, but, if allowed to enter the body through the respiratory organs it can cause serious damage. Mines have been operated in the past and are still being operated, which were known to contain explosive and noxious gases, indicating that this problem can be controlled. Several states have instituted laws that make it mandatory to provide adequate ventilation and use of monitoring devices to limit radon and its daughter products to a maximum of 300 micro-microcuries per liter of air. This is considered a safe limit for sustained periods of human exposure. While the findings of research do not prove conclusively that the inhalation of excessive radon or its daugher products cause lung cancer, indications point to this as a possibility, particularly radium A and radium C1 of the daughter products. The threshold limits set by law in most uranium producing states are believed to be safe. In a few years, when tests and data now in the process of collection by interested state officials and laboratories is complete, these limits may be found to be ready for revision. Studies such as these take time. At present, the limits that are used are based upon estimates. The permissible limits of exposure to radon and daughter products include a large safety factor. It is considered that a good supply of fresh air delivered to the working places, adequate dust control, the sealing of unused or abandoned workings, the removal of mine water which is generally contaminated and a safe waiting period after blasting, will hold to a minimum the dangers from this source. There are, of course, problems accompanying each of these procedures. For example, the ventilating of untimbered raises and bringing fresh, uncontaminated air to the working places may be a problem. However, a good mining man can solve these problems as they apply in each particular operation. From the information available at the present time, the daughter products containing polonium and emitting alpha radiation, may be a health hazard. Fortunately, the half life of most of the daughter products is short, however, radium D has a half life of 22 years and presents a problem of contamination in the storage of old tailings. So we can see that failure to comply with the accepted good mining practices may have harmful effects on the health of miners. It is gratifying to note the interest in this potential hazard by the officials in the uranium ore producing states, who are making extensive studies and keeping records of the men who work in this type of mining. This all provide information necessary for preplanning safety. By contrast, little has been accomplished to control the injuries and deaths from some other factors connected with most underground mining operations. I would like to discuss briefly one of the hazards which take an annual toll in our underground mines, this is falls of back and walls. This problem or hazard is present, and will be

Jan 1, 1958

By George R. Ingham

This paper is one of a buries being prepared by the Bureau of Mines on mining methods and costs at various mines in the United States, and is a description of the mining practice at Ajo, Ariz., where the New Cornelia Branch of the Phelps Dodge Corporation mines copper ore from an open pit, and operates a concentrator for the treatment of the ore thus mined. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors wish to express their appreciation to M. Curley, manager of the New Cornelia Branch of the Phelps Dodge Corporation, for his review of this paper and permission to publish it. They also wish to acknowledge the assistance given by W. C. Lawson, assistant engineer, in the preparation of the paper.

Jan 1, 1932

By R. K. Jonas

"Pressure leaching and pressure oxidation in autoclaves are important alternatives in the extractive processing of gold, copper and nickel ores. The application of advanced control to pressure leach and pressure oxidation autoclaves could achieve significant benefits as has been shown in alumina pressure leaching. This paper compares and contrasts alumina digestion autoclaves to other mining autoclaves with respect to advanced controls. The application of advanced control in alumina with over 30 units controlled worldwide, and its benefits will be reviewed. The design and potential benefits from advanced control for pressure oxidation and leaching will be presented.INTRODUCTIONIt is this author's position and the purpose of this paper to propose that advanced control could be effectively applied to autoclaves in the nickel, gold, and copper mining processes. This is based on the proven effectiveness of advanced control on autoclaves used in the alumina industry for pressure leaching of bauxite ores. Incremental, but significant increases in production could be realized by applying advanced control to autoclaves, as evidenced by the alumina industry, and this not being implemented in other autoclaves in the mining industry.In addition, today the mining industry is being challenged to improve their production methods. In some markets like nickel, there is pressure to improve productivity and reduce the cash cost per ton. While in other markets like copper and gold, demand is vigorous with favourable pricing, and there are advantages to increase production and productivity given limited plant capacity. Advanced control has proven its capability to improve mineral processing operations through increases in throughput, recovery, as well as reducing variability. In today's mines, autoclaves are being used to a much larger scale and with much larger importance, thus it would be beneficial to improve operational performance through the use of advanced control.Accordingly, it is the author supposition that an opportunity exists in the mining industry to use a proven advanced control technology to improve the operations and financial performance of mines using autoclaves."

Jan 1, 2012

By I. A. Ettlinger

DEPRECIATION allowances have become firmly rooted in our income tax structure both by legislation and by court decisions. Secretary of the Treasury Morgenthau has recently stated before the Ways and Means Committee of the House: A taxpayer who did not provide for depreciation of assets used in his business could not long remain in business and the income tax should be levied on the assumption that he will provide for such depreciation. The 1934 Revenue Act has now been enacted, the depreciation provisions of the 1932 Revenue Act having been carried forward without change. However, there has arisen, in connection with the preparation of this new Revenue Act, a determination by the Treasury Department to make certain changes in the future administration of the depreciation allowances that will affect all corporations, and mining companies in particular.

Jan 1, 1934

By B. M. Monaghan

"The developments of the 1950s and 1960s have seen Canada become an international source of iron ore, trading in all geographical areas and hemispheres. Canada's production will significantly increase in the next decade. However, although the outlook is bright, iron ore producers cannot be complacent. Instead, we must weigh the factors that have brought about the development of the Canadian iron ore industry and examine the probable changes for the next decade that will affect its growth.Looking ahead in the 1970s, competition will be severe. Pressure on prices will continue as new sources of supply bid for long-term contracts and as steel producers continue to develop mines around the world. Rising costs will make these pressures more severe. We must balance the growth of the world's steel makers with the emergence of new supplies of iron ore. The iron ore industry is now part of a new era in which demand and supply are intermeshed, and the developments around the world are acting on the Canadian iron ore industry's future."

Jan 1, 1971

By R. M. Goldhoff, J. W. Spretnak, R. Speiser

IT has been observed by Grange and Garvey' that the homogenization of boron-treated steels could lead to complete elimination of the hardenability effect caused by boron. The experimental conditions leading to this conclusion involved the heating of steel specimens with and without boron at 2350°F for 24 hr. To prevent oxidation and decarburization, the specimens were encapsulated under vacuum in silica tubes. This observation of permanent deterioration of boron effect was noted in both a 0.63 pct plain carbon steel and a 0.25 pct C low alloy steel, both of which had been treated with ferroboron and homogenized at 2350°F for 24 hr. In another series of boron-treated steels which had been homogenized for shorter times, the effect was to reduce, but not completely eliminate, the boron effect. Under these circumstances, it was presumed that longer heating times would cause permanent deterioration of the boron effect in this series of steels also. Since the characteristic grain boundary constituent could not be formed in any of these steels after homogenization, it was concluded that possibly boron was being converted into an ineffective form through chemical combination resulting from prolonged heating at high temperatures. Assuming the validity of this observation, a series of experiments to establish the relationship between temperature of homogenization and kinetics of deterioration was contemplated. Initially an attempt was made to reproduce the results just described. For this purpose commercial lots of AISI 8640 and AISI 86B40 steels were used. The analyses of these steels appear in Table I. Hardenability evaluation was on the basis of the hardness of normalized sections. Grange and Garvey' pointed out that these steels are air hardening to some extent and such a technique can be used. For these tests the specimens were held for 20 min in a salt bath at 1600°F and then cooled in still air. Several evacuated silica capsules containing pairs of the test steels were made up and heated for 24 hr at 2350°F. A number of failures occurred among these capsules, but evaluation of the specimens successfully treated indicated a complete deterioration of the boron effect. However, examination of the surface of the treated specimens showed that some reaction, probably with the silica tube, had taken place, since none of the specimens was bright. One further test was made at 2350°F for 12 hr, using a pair of specimens wrapped in tantalum foil prior to encapsulation. These specimens appeared bright after treatment, and their hardenability evaluation showed that no deterioration had taken place. Since these steels are extremely sensitive to de-boronization at high temperatures and particularly at long times of holding, the experimental observations raised some doubt as to the real occurrence of the permanent deterioration effect. To resolve this question an experiment was undertaken in which the high temperature portion of the treatment was completed in vacuum. For this purpose a molybdenum wound resistance furnace capable of maintaining good vacuum was used. All the pertinent accessories to this furnace were machined from molybdenum stock in order to withstand the high temperature involved in the experiment. With this equipment a temperature of 2400 °F was obtained and held under a pressure of 5x10-" mm Hg for 24 hr. A specimen of each of the two test steels was suspended in the furnace and both were heated simultaneously. Temperature was measured with a standardized Pt—Pt-13 pct Rh thermocouple, whose millivoltage at 2400°F was extrapolated from the standardization equation, good up to 2200°F. The complete evaluation of these specimens is shown in Table 11. The hardness values attained by each steel after normalizing, both before and after the prolonged high temperature treatment, remain the same. A microscopic study of the decomposition products present in the microstructures of specimens at various points in the heat treatment correlated with the hardness values observed. It seems that no permanent loss of boron hardenability effect occurs, at least in these Grainal-treated steels, when deboronization is circumvented. Acknowledgments This work was conducted under the sponsorship of the Aeronautical Research Laboratory, Wright Air Development Center, under Contract No. AF 18(600)-94, and their support and permission to publish is gratefully acknowledged. A note of thanks is also extended to the Republic Steel Corp. for supplying the materials used in the work. References ' R. A. Grange and T. M. Garvey: Factors Affecting the Harden-ability of Boron Treated Steels. Tro.ns. ASM, 1946, vol. 37, p. 136.

Jan 1, 1957

By AIME AIME

THE John Fritz Medal Board of Award, at its annual meeting on Jan. 21, 1921, awarded its gold medal and diploma to Sir Robert Hadfield for the invention of manganese steel. On June 1, announcement was made that the Board of Award had awarded its gold medal and diploma to Charles Prosper Eughe Schneider for "achievement in metallurgy of iron and steel; for development of ordnance, especially the 75-mm. gun, and for notable patriotic contribution ' to the winning of the war." The award to Sir Robert Hadfield is for the year 1921; the award to Mr. Schneider is for 1922. The latter was made at this time in order that the medal might be presented by the group of American engineers now visiting England and France.*

Jan 1, 1921

By Spencer S. Shannon

This chapter is concerned with the uses, geology, exploration, evaluation, preparation for markets, and future of 90thorium and 39yttrium, along with 14 rare-earth elements. The rare-earth metals or lanthanides were divided into three categories by Berzelius. The cerium subgroup is comprised of 57lanthanum, 58cerium, 59praseodymium, 60neodymium, and 62samarium. 61Promethium does not occur naturally. The terbium subgroup includes 63europium, 64gadolinium, and 65terbium. The remaining lanthanides are placed in the yttrium subgroup. Strictly speaking, yttrium is not a rare earth. Because the properties of yttrium resemble those of heavy rare earths, its name has been used as a designating adjective. The yttrium subgroup includes 66dysprosium, 67holmium, 68erbium, 69thulium, 70ytterbium, and 67lutetium. Rare-earth elements, especially those of the same subgroup, tend to occur together rather than in discrete minerals.

Jan 1, 1975

By W. A. Thomas

Steam is, and doubtless always will be, the basic power in the anthracite industry, either directly applied through engines and pumps or electrically. The rapidity with which electric power is being applied to the mining and preparation of anthracite leaves little doubt as to its utility and economy. There is practically no operation, except possibly the drilling of hard rock, that has not been successfully electrified and the matter of drilling is handled economically with electrically driven compressors and the standard compressed-air drills. Conservation and the seemingly ever-increasing cost of production, justify careful consideration of the possible results of the more extensive use of electric power in the industry. It is not planned to discuss, herein, the relative economies of individual applications but to consider the relative economy and flexibility of steam and electric power. The reports available for the year 1920 indicate a production of slightly over 80,000,000 tons of anthracite, of which 8,843,500 tons were used for power and heating purposes; in other words, over 11 per cent. of the production was used at the mines. Some of this was used to generate electric power at the mines, about 160,000,000 kw-hr., while 150,000,000 kw.-hr. was purchased from the public utility companies. One large producer, who is buying some electric power and generating some, used over 13 per cent. of the production for power and heating at the mines. Another producer, where considerable electric power is generated on the properties, is using less than 9 per cent. of the output for power and heating. One of the largest producers has a fuel consumption of over 15 per cent. of the output, besides which considerable power is purchased. A careful study of the field indicates that steam-operated plants use upwards of 13 per cent. of the production for power and heating, while electrically operated plants use about 1 per cent. for heating; so that, for steam-power purposes at least 12 per cent., or 268.8 Ib., are used for power out of each ton produced. In the complete electrification of anthracite mining operations, no set rule can be given for the power requirement, in kilowatt-hours per ton, as conditions vary widely in the matter of pumping, ventilation, and transportation, but the following cases are given as a basis of determining a range and a possible average power requirements:

Jan 1, 1922

By D L. Reid, G Nwaila, J Petersen, J-P Franzidis, Y Ghorbani, M Becker, F C. de Beer, L C. Bam

Traditional methods of gold extraction have involved comminution and processing via cyanide leaching, all of which are associated with energy, cost and environmental implications. Subsequently, numerous opportunities for improvement and optimisation strategies in gold mining and processing have been explored, including heap leaching, which has significantly lowered comminution costs. This paper explores the effect of the more energy efficient high-pressure grinding rolls (HPGR) on the comminution behaviour (especially on the crack density) and cyanide leaching performance of laboratory reactors study on run-of-mine gold ore comprising the Ventersdorp Contact Reef (VCR) and the Elsburg Reefs (ER), sourced from Carletonville in the Witwatersrand Basin in South Africa. The ore was comminuted using HPGR at three different pressure settings (120, 90 and 60 bar). Large (-16/+11.2 mm) and small (-5.6/+4 mm) particles of the HPGR product where then mineralogically characterised using optical microscopy, quantitative evaluation of minerals by scanning electron microscopy (QEMSCAN) and X-ray computer tomography (CT) before cyanidation. The results of the leach experiments indicated a correlation between gold extraction, particle size and crack density. Mineralogical characterisation of the ore indicates that the Fe-sulfides present in the VCR are likely to be more reactive than those in the ER, thus having a more favourable influence on gold cyanidation. Overall, the results show promise for the heap leaching of Witwatersrand gold ores prepared using HPGR and demonstrate the value of a multi-disciplinary geometallurgical approach.CITATION:Nwaila, G, Becker, M, Ghorbani, Y, Petersen, J, Reid, D L, Bam, L C, de Beer, F C and Franzidis, J-P, 2013. Morro do Ouro geological model with a metallurgical view, in Proceedings The Second AusIMM International Geometallurgy Conference (GeoMet) 2013 , pp 75-84 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 29, 2013

By H. J. Chalmers

THE H.B. MINE and concentrator are located in the Nelson Mining Division of British Columbia, on the north side of the Sheep Creek valley about seven miles southeast of the town of Salmo. It is an operation of The Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada, Limited (Cominco), which has its metallurgical plants at Trail, about 25 miles west. The property was originally staked about 1907 by Horton and Benson, whose names are commemorated in the designation "H. B." Up until 1927, a considerable amount of development work was done in the upper levels by various companies. Cominco purchased the ?property in 1927 and carried out intermittent work until 1946. Following this, an extensive surface diamond drilling programme and a subsequent underground exploration were undertaken. Sufficient ore was outlined 'to warrant the construction of a 1,000: ton concentrator. This was started in April, 1952, and completed by the spring of 1953. However, because of adverse base metal market conditions, operation was deferred until May, 1955.

Jan 1, 1957

By W. E. Lamont, R. E. Perry, I. L. Feld

The Bureau of Mines conducted research to determine the conditions required to sinter a pyrrhotite calcine into a product suitable for iron blast furnace feed . The calcine , a fine - grained iron oxide produced by roasting sulfide flotation concentrate , analyzed about 60 percent iron and 1 percent sulfur . Sintering of the calcine without prior pelletization was not successful whereas firing of preformed calcine charges yielded acceptable sinter products . Batch tests were made to study the effect of the following variables on the sinter quality : Size of green pellets in the charge , quantity and type of internal carbonaceous fuel used , depth of sinter bed , moisture content of the charge , flux additions , and binder additions . The batch and continuous sinter tests showed that minus 1 / 4 - inch pellets prepared from a mixture of the calcine , coke , dolomite , and water gave sinter cakes analyzing 57 to 61 percent iron and 0.05 to 0.02 percent sulfur .

Dec 1, 1963

By H W. Wu

Occupational exposure limits for diesel particular matter (DPM) are progressively being adopted in a number of countries. Many of these follow the lead of the US Mine Safety and Health Administration initiated in 2008. In line with adoption of best practice it is accepted that all exposures should be reduced to as low as reasonably achievable. The management of diesel emissions and occupational exposures to those emissions requires an integrated strategy incorporating efforts from all key departments on a mine, including management, production, maintenance, supply and occupational health and safety.Australian coalmine longwall moves rely on the use of high-powered diesel equipment such as chariots and other machines that produce exhaust pollutants of gases and DPM. To reduce mine personnel’s exposure levels to DPM a hierarchy of controls can be followed. Minimising the use of diesel equipment, better operator positioning in relation to exposure source, using efficient engineering methods and adopting better ventilation to reduce concentrations through dilution are some of the controls that can eliminate exposures. Approaches generally adopted in Australian longwall mines currently rely on a combination of strategies such as optimisation of ventilation, use of diesel particulate filters and use of diesel tag boards that minimise the number of vehicles through recording entry and exit into working panels.A study has been undertaken into the mine ventilation systems currently in use during longwall moves within Australian modern longwall extraction mines. This paper reviews current longwall section ventilation systems and discusses evolving changes being adopted to address the more complex problems in dealing with section DPM during phases of the operational moves. The effects of DPM on crew members as well as the diesel equipment operators within a longwall section are examined. Issues that should be considered in designing the longwall section ventilation during the moves are discussed.CITATION:Wu, H W and Gillies, A D S, 2015. Review of ventilation optimisation strategies during longwall moves, in Proceedings The Australian Mine Ventilation Conference, pp 133–140 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 31, 2015

By Chengjia Shang

Aiming at greatly increasing efficiency and saving budget, higher strength and larger-diameter pipes have been developed and applied for constructing long distance pipeline projects in China. At the same time, in order to produce pipeline steel with high strength, high toughness and excellent DWTT performances, it is critical to refine austenite grain by static recrystallization rolling. Therefore, this paper focuses on the brief introduction of development of pipeline projects in China and also on the basics research in the field of static recrystallization during austenite processing of Nb-bearing steel.

Oct 1, 2019

By Timothy A. Clancy

To help reduce the Nation's dependence on imported chromite, the Bureau of Mines is conducting research on the use of dolomites as an alternate material. Dolomite is a plentiful domestic resource and offers certain advantages as a refractory raw material. A review of the literature has indicated that there are many sources of high-purity dolomite in this country and that European nations use a greater proportion of dolomite refractories, primarily in steelmaking, than the United States, The Bureau of Mines characterized 14 domestic dolomites as to chemistry, density, mineralogy, microstructure, and thermal behavior, to develop baseline data on their suitability as refractory raw materials.

Jan 1, 1983

By F. Rosenblum, P. Spira

A laboratory test has been developed for assessing the patential hazard from self-heating of sulphides. The technique consists in measuring the rate of self-heating, from near ambient temperature, of a 1-kg sample in an insulated chamber controlled at standard atmospheric conditions. The rate of oxygen consumption is monitored simultaneously. The paper describes the apparatus and test procedure, and reports data on various ores and mill products. Tailings known to have caused problems underground when used as backfill have shown heating rates of over 3°C/h. A preliminary hazard rating guide for backfill based on the known behaviour of several sulphide materials is presented.

Jan 1, 1981

By D J. Kilkenny, D A. O’Toole, P B. Hills, K L. Seah

An investigation was undertaken to critically analyse the use of fibre reinforced shotcrete (FRS) for a variety of applications in large diameter shafts. Those applications included the use of FRS with or without the addition of subsequent rock bolting in the temporary support cycle prior to the installation of a permanent lining, most likely cast in situ concrete or as the final lining medium.Numerous authors have considered the early re-entry and strength characteristics of FRS in recent years. The current study has investigated the practical application of the recommendations of many leading authors in an endeavour to establish practical and acceptable risk-assessed procedures for the use of FRS for rapid, safe, efficient and cost-effective shaft sinking.Shaft sinking is regarded as a specialist and potentially higher risk activity due to the confined work environment, exposure to ground conditions and a high degree of manual handling associated with getting materials to the sinking face. The use of robotically applied FRS as a primary lining in shaft sinking has significant safety advantages in reducing manual handing associated with mesh safety support and bolting, as well as reducing direct exposure to ground conditions.The study involved both field testing and a literature review. The study established an initial set of criteria for the use of FRS in the development of large diameter shafts and demonstrated a number of scenarios where the technique of robotically applied FRS provided significant safety and cycle time advantages. The opportunity for a fully sprayed single pass lining was also investigated as part of the project.CITATION:Hills, P B, O’Toole, D A, Kilkenny, D J and Seah, K L, 2014. Exploring the use of fibre reinforced shotcrete in large diameter shafts, in Proceedings AusRock 2014: Third Australasian Ground Control in Mining Conference , pp 295–306 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 5, 2014

By Elio Ferreira

This report describes the design, and development work performed to reduce the volume and weight of the miners caplamp battery, as well as a headpiece with a swivel mechanism containing a halogen bulb with two filaments. Work was also conducted in the development of a maintenance free battery. The design concept is based on non-sintered Ni-Cd technology, with an energy density of 22 Wh/lb. The cap lamp system developed has been approved by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and can be manufactured for mine use.

Jan 1, 1988

By R. E. Heithecker

The Zwolle oil field of Sabine Parish, La., is different from most oil producing areas of the State in that the oil is obtained from marl and chalkrock formations. The thickness of the reservoir rocks averages 500 feet; but production is not continuous throughout this thickness, as the oil apparently is localized in vertical and nearly vertical solution cavities and channelways or in porous zones of limited horizontal extent. The nature of the oil accumulation has caused two outstanding peculiarities of the field: (1) About 60 percent of the tests drilled were dry holes and (2) there were many instances of well interference. Commercial production was discovered in November 1928, after 17 years of prospecting in and around the present limits of the area now developed which has a length of about 22 miles and a maximum width of 4 miles. The field had produced 10,266,896 barrels of oil to January 1, 1934. The oil ranges in gravity from 400 to 420 A.P.I.

Jan 1, 1934