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By Evans E. C.

At first sight, the extinction of a mine fire by the action of some such gas as carbon dioxide would appear to be quite a simple and practicable operation. From a consideration of the theoretical aspects only of the question, it becomes evident that the matter is not so simple as it appears to be at first sight. The fire at the Senghenydd Colliery occurred as the result of the disastrous explosion of October 14th, 1913. This explosion was confined to the west side of the colliery; and as a result the timbers in the main intake on this side were set on fire; but these were soon buried beneath falls, and the tire continued under them. Attempts were made to extinguish it with water, with the aid of chemical extinguishers, and by digging it out; hut these had to he abandoned, and ultimately the fire-zone was sealed off by “ bashings” (stoppings). By December, progress in the decrease of combustion was so slow that it was decided to try the effect of inert gas. The installation, control and operation of the carbon dioxide plant and associated water-gauge are described in detail and conclusions drawn for the extinguishing of mine fires by CO2

Dec 1, 1916

By Gibson J.

The writer hopes to prove that the economical tram is of even greater importance than, say, the economical engine, and as no difficult and involved calculations are required, and all the governing facts are simple and well known, the former is more easily attainable than the latter. In the first section of this paper the factors that determine the size and the construction of the tram are examined; whilst in the second section the road on which it runs is dealt with

Dec 1, 1916

By Mowat D. M., Louis H., Smith W. Mackey W. M., Dron R. W., Ellison C. C., Winmill T. F., Kerr G. L., Haldane J. S., Ashworth J., Garforth W., O'Shea L. T.

Discussion of Winmill's paper, including various anecdotal examples, is presented together with the author's response; topics included: the need to distinguish cubic pyrites from the rapidly decomposing rhombic form known as marcasite; the effects of moisture content in the coal and air; the possible effect of pressure; the heat insulation resulting from heap/stack size; and the means of determining pyrite and moisture contents

Dec 1, 1916

By Fearnsides W. G.

The map shows the sites of collieries and important boreholes in the district, with approximate underground contours of the pre-Permian surface of the Coal-Measures and of the Barnsley Bed

Dec 1, 1916

By Evans E. C.

Discussion of the paper presented at the Manchester Geological and Mining Society' general meeting held in Manchester, March 14th , 1916, with Leonard R. Fletcher, President, in the Chair included contributions by Fletcher L.R., Paton J.D., Orchard A.J.A., Ross A., Gerrard J. and Stephenson H., with the author's responses

Dec 1, 1916

By Briggs H.

Initial discussion of the paper presented at the Mining Institute of Scotland's general meeting held in Edinburgh, 12 February 1916, with D.W. Mowat, president, in the chair, included comments by Masterton J. (HM Inspector of Mines) and Sim J., and the author's reply

Dec 1, 1916

By Simons W.

The object of the paper is to describe the standards of quality that should be specified in ordering material ordinarily required for colliery use, and also the qualities most suitable for particular purposes. Tables are presented of British Standard tests for wrought iron grades A, B and C, Admiralty tests for iron in chain, the quality of material for wheels and axles, and the composition and mechanical properties of wrought iron, Armco (ingot) iron and drawbar-gear steel. (Paper presented at the North Staffordshire Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers' general meeting held in Stoke-on-Trent, March 27th 1916, Mr. John Gregory, President, in the chair)

Dec 1, 1916

By Gibson J.

Written discussion contributions to the paper presented at the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers' general meeting held in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 12th February 1916, with Mr. T.Y. Greener, President, in the chair, comprise comments by Kilpatrick W.M., Routledge W.H., Watson J. and Smith W., along with the author's reply. Also briefly noted are the demonstration of two pieces of equipment, an incline chock and a cage arrestor

Dec 1, 1916

By Winmill T. F.

(Paper presented at the Institution of Mining Engineers' general meeting held in London on 8th June 1916.) The conclusions reached in this paper may be summarized briefly as follows: (1) The method of estimating moisture in coal by determining the loss in weight of a sample heated to 105°-110° Cent, in an air-bath for an hour is untrustworthy, the results so obtained being too low. (2) Dried coal has a very considerable power of absorbing moisture, and a sample, after being dried, must be protected instantly if it is to remain free from moisture. (3) A fairly accurate estimation may be made by heating the coal in a current of dry air at 105° to 110° Cent., and collecting the moisture evolved. (4) In cases in which it is proposed to use the dried coal for any further experiments, the drying must be done in the absence of oxygen, and this can be done simply and quickly by the vacuum method now described

Dec 1, 1916

By Hirsch H. H.

The paper, presented at the North of England Institute of Mining Engineers' general meeting held in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 12th February 1916, gives a short description of the Hirsch lamp, which, though largely used in the United States of America, has not yet been adopted in Great Britain. The lamps, which consist of (1) the watchman's lamp and (2) the miner's lamp, are portable, and have been designed to provide a safe and reliable light for use by watchmen, and in mines, rescue-work, powder-works, oil-refineries, and other places where special precautions become necessary on account of the presence of explosive materials or gases. The lamps are in each in­stance operated by a storage-battery contained within a casing, and this supplies the current necessary for a miniature incandescent lamp. Each safety-lamp forms a complete unit and can be carried from place to place or held in any position. Appendices give details of battery cleaning, test results and safety reports

Dec 1, 1916

Discussion of the paper presented at the North Staffordshire Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers' general meeting held in Stoke-on-Trent, March 27th 1916, with Mr. John Gregory, President, in the chair, included contributions by Gregory J., Cadman J., Hartley J.W., Wain E.B. and Henshaw A.M., followed by the author's reply

Dec 1, 1916

By Haldane J. S.

Discussion of a paper presented at the Institution of Mining Engineers' general meeting held in London on 8th June 1916 included oral contributions by Louis H., Mowat D.M., Lupton A., Bailey T.H., Blackett W.C. and Gerrard J., and written contributions by Collis E.L., Carlow C. and Wilson W.B., with the author's oral and brief written responses

Dec 1, 1916

Paper presented at the Mining Institute of Scotland's annual general meeting held in Glasgow, 8th April 1916. Although there is nothing novel or difficult about the sinking described, circular shafts are not numerous in Scotland so the details connected with such a sinking may be of interest. The shaft was sunk at Dykehead Colliery, Larkhall, which has been worked for over 50 years from the upper seams. It became necessary to sink another shaft to serve as a replacement downcast, by which the output might be maintained and some of the lower seams won. As the sandy clays regularly caused bulging into the rectangular shaft and sinking of the surrounding ground it was decided to make the new shaft circular and to enclose its mouth in a foundation-block of concrete resting on the solid clay. Details are given of the sinking, brick seating and lining, kettle strike, water-rings and doorhead lintels as well as the permanent fittings, winding gear and the cages themselves

Dec 1, 1916

By Fearnsides W. G.

The second part of the paper, presented at the Midland Institute of Mining, Civil and Mechanical Engineers' general meeting held in Doncaster on 27th May 1916, addresses the post-Carboniferous and pre-Permian movements which brought about the partition of the area and gave to the North Midland district its individuality as a separate coalfield. As earth-movements of several ages subsequent to the Carboniferous have played a part in the formation of this particular coalfield, the aim is to elucidate the effects which belong to the post-Carboniferous and pre-Permian Period and to disentangle them from those of later date. This is done by comparing the geometry of the folded surface of one of the more important horizons in the Coal-Measures with that of the surface of unconformity which divides the Permian from the Carboniferous rocks in South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire

Dec 1, 1916

Two of the most important economies in coal-washing are in the actual washing of the coal and in a proper lay-out to reduce to a minimum the cost of labour for handling and washing. A guarantee is usually required for turning out a washed coal containing not more than 2% of free dirt and a resulting refuse with not more than 2% of free coal; any plant that gives results within such guarantees can he considered economical, provided that there are no other losses during the washing process. Various drainage arrangements and washery lay-outs are illustrated and discussed with respect to drainage, bunkers, sieves, settling tanks and conveyors and two further points considered: siding accommodation, which may become quite important with washeries of large capacity especially when the coal is brought in railway-wagons; and the irregularity with which the coal arrives. (Paper presented at the Manchester Geological and Mining Society's general meeting held in Manchester, April 11th 1916, with Mr. Leonard R. Fletcher, President, in the chair)

Dec 1, 1916

By Winmill T. F.

Among the various theories proposed to account for the spontaneous ignjtion of coal, one which has at times been very strongly held is that the initial heating is due to the oxidation of iron pyrites. From the results described in this paper, it is possible to calculate roughly the rate of spontaneous heating of a specimen of finely-divided pyrites, on the assumption that all the heat developed is used in raising the temperature of the pyrites, and that none is lost. It is clear that where finely-divided pyrites occurs in considerable proportion among coal, it may be the chief factor in originating combustion, but that pyrites can only be the cause of a heating when it is present in considerable proportion, and in a very finely-divided state

Dec 1, 1916

By Briggs H.

The illustrated device uses the principle that the lamp can burn with a smaller inlet passage if the air is rich in O2 and that the size of the inlet can be made a measure of O2 percentage. The appliance consists of an adjustable cut-off applied to the inlet of a safety lamp of the improved Gray pattern. Precision is assessed from tables of calibration tests in air contaminated with blackdamp of CO2:N2 composiiton 1:5.67 at temperatures of 40-70 degrees F. Results are presented of tests at St. Germain's colliery, of tests in air contaminated with pure CO2 and of air contaminated with both blackdamp and inflammable gas; published ranges in mine-air blackdamp compositions are tabulated as ranging from 90.06% N2 to 43.90% CO2. When firedamp is present at 1.25-2.5%, its content must first be estimated by means of the cap and a fifth of its value then deducted from the lamp reading for O2

Dec 1, 1916

By Stainier X.

The connexion between the Kent and the Continental coalfields on the one hand and the western British coalfields on the other has been for many years a controversial subject between geologists. These coalfields were once considered as detached portions of a former extensive sheet of Carboniferous deposits, but some geologists seem now to incline to the view that they were never connected. The writer hopes to show that the problem is one of the most difficult of geological investigations; that we are still far from a perfect solution; and that both of the extreme theories must be set aside. The physiography of NW Europe during the Carboniferous, with its various generations of earlier folds, is outlined and the features of the Lower and Upper Carboniferous anticlines and synclines discussed, followed by consideration of the denudation of the coalfields and local descriptions of the Malvernian range and Usk anticline, the Pennine chain, the Shropshire coalfield and the Kent coalfield. An attempt is made to trace the transverse Midland anticlines southwards and to deal with the intervening syncline: for example, if the dissymmetrical profile of the Pennine Chain holds good at its southern end then the syncline west of the chain must be deeper than the syncline east of it (the Kent syncline), and in this syncline the deepest part must be at its south-eastern corner, and therefore south of the diagonal ridge. T here is some actual evidence of the existence of Coal-Measures in this syncline, as the results of the Batsford and Burford borings prove. The hypothetical character of most of the conclusions will prove, beyond any doubt, how fa r geologists still are from a perfect settlement of this problem, and how much this settlement is dependent on the more or less advanced state of knowledge regarding all the geological features of these coalfields and of the surrounding country

Dec 1, 1916

The paper, presented at the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers' general meeting held in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 8th April 1916, presents experimental work undertaken to observe the quenching effect of different substances, to find the most efficient of these substances, and to arrive at a possible explanation of their preventive action. The coal-dusts experimented with were such as passed through a 100-mesh sieve (10,000 holes to the square inch), and were obtained by grinding the coals. The quenching substances, used in as fine a state of division as possible, included gypsum, dried Chance mud, quicklime, magnesia, magnesia alba (levis), anhydrous sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, soda-crystals, Glauber salts, ground shale and boiler-ashes

Dec 1, 1916

By Groom P.

Discussion of the paper presented at the Midland Institute of Mining, Civil, and Mechanical Engineers' general meeting held in Leeds, March 21st, 1916, with T. Beach, vice-president, in the chair included contributions by Beach T., Fearnsides W.G., Lloyd W.D., Gill J. and Nadin R.

Dec 1, 1916