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By The Staff, Explosives Research Center

The principal activities of the Bureau of Mines Explosives Research Center from July 1, 1962, to June 30, 1963, are described briefly in part 1. Part 2 gives short abstracts of publications that appeared during fiscal year 1963; in general, the research reported in these publications antedates the report period.

Jun 24, 1964

Prior to World War I, zinc was universally made by the distillation process. Small plants were operated at Cockle Creek, N.S.W., and Port Pirie, S.A. Then the electrolytic process was developed at Great Falls, Mont., in 1915 and at Trail. B.C. encouraging the Broken Hill companies to investigate the process. England's war-time need for zinc gave impetus to the development, and the site at Risdon, Tasmania, coincided with the developing hydro-electric power there. Experimental work was begun in 1917 by a proprietary company formed and owned by Broken Hill interests. Then in 1920, the principal features of the process having been established, a public company. Electrolytic Zinc Company of Australasia Ltd. was formed, now known as E.Z. Industries Ltd.

Jan 10, 1964

Spencer Gulf takes off from the Great Australian Bight cutting a 200 mile deep wedge of water into the South Australia coastline. A pale winter sun shines yellowly on the choppy surface of this body of water which is progressively more salty as it approaches Port Augusta at the head of the Gulf. Once Port Augusta thrived as a grain port and the speedy clipper ships began or ended their legendary races there. On the eastern shores of Spencer Gulf, farm land spreads away from the water's edge. The western side of the gulf meets marginal grazing land of acacia tree and salt bush. Part way down the gulf, there are two industrial towns facing each other from opposite shores; Port Pirie on the east and Whyalla on the west. These towns are like half brothers, the common parent being the founders of Broken Hill Pty. Ltd., (BHP) who began lead smelting at Port Pirie and discovered iron ore near Whyalla needed for the lead smelting process. The iron deposits later became the inspiration for BHP's iron and steel business.

Jan 10, 1964

By David D. Rabb

Under the auspices of the Atomic Energy Commission, the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory of the University of California analyzed an experiment to provide information as to whether the chimney of broken rock produced by a deeply buried nuclear explosive could be "drawn" by conventional techniques. Since many low-grade disseminated ore-bodies occur in a granite media, the experiment took place in a granodiorite-quartz monzonite intrusive porphyry in the Nevada Test Site as a follow-up to the Department of Defense's Hardhat detonation in February 1962. For emplacement of the nuclear device, a 12 ¼ - in. pilot hole was reamed to a diameter of 44 in. and a depth of 950 ft in one pass using a Hughes multiple-cluster rotary bit. It was then cased to 36 in. ID. The center of the explosive device was located 938.85 ft below the collar. The yield of the device was predicted to be 5 kilotons, or an equivalent of 5000 tons of TNT; the yield was later confirmed by chemical means to be 5.4 kilotons.

Jan 3, 1964

By R. W. Bartlett

The rates of oxidation of tungsten have been determined at temperatures between 1320" and 3170°C and oxygen pressures to 1 amn using a surface -recession measurement technique. Above approximately 2000°C and 10-6 atm the rate is independent of temperature and can be calculated from gas collision theory assuming a constant reaction probability, e, of 0.06. Oxygen molecules react at surface sites where oxygen atoms have previously chemisorbed. This provides a direct pressure dependence at low pressures but at high pressures tungsten oxide molecule s form an adjacent gas boundary layer which lowers the PO2 at the tungsten surface. A correction for this effect using free-convection theory fits the rate data over the entire oxygen-pressure range from 10-8 to 1 atrn as well as data using O2-A mixtures. Below 10-6 atrn and above 2000°C, e decreases with increasing temperature because of desorption of oxygen atoms. Below 2000°C the rate decreases with decreasing temperature at all oxygen pressures following an apparent activation energy of 42 kcal per mole and depending on (Po2)n with n varying between 0.55 and 0.80. MOST of the previous tungsten oxidation studies have employed gravimetric methods and have been limited to temperatures below 1000°C where the weight loss associated with evaporation of tungsten oxides is negligible compared with the weight gain from oxidation.' At higher temperatures, oxygen-consumption rates have been determined from pressure measurements, usually at constant flow rates, by Langmuir,2 Eisinger,3 Becker, Becker, and Brandes,4 and Anderson.5 The sensitivity of this method decreases with increasing pressure and, with the exception of Langmuir's work, these investigations were confined to pressures below 10-6 atm. Above approximately 1300°C, depending on the oxygen pressure, the rate of oxide evaporation is greater than the oxide-formation rate and the recession of the tungsten surface can be measured optically without interference from an oxide layer. This was first done by Perkins and crooks6 who heated tungsten rods in air pressures from 1 to 40 torr at temperatures between 1300" and 3000°C. The present investigation of the oxidation kinetics of tungsten at high temperatures emphasizes oxygen pressures from 10-6 to 1 atm. This is the range of interest for earth atmosphere re-entry applications of tungsten for which little data were previously available. APPARATUS The apparatus is a modification of the type used by Perkins and crooks.' Ground tungsten seal rods, 6 in. long by 0.125 in. diam, were mounted vertically between two water-cooled electrodes, one fixed and the other having free vertical travel. The movable counter-weighted electrode is prevented from undergoing horizontal displacement by three sets of runners mounted at 120-deg intervals. Electrical contact is made by means of a water-cooled mercury pool. A 24-in. vacuum bell jar having a volume of approximately 267 liters was used as the reaction chamber with the sample holder mounted in the middle of the chamber. Power was supplied from an 800-amp dc variable power supply. Temperature readings were made by means of a Latronics automatic two-color recording pyrometer. With this instrument, corrections for emissivity are not necessary provided the spectral emissivi-ties at two closely spaced wavelengths are equal. Supporting measurements were made with a micro-optical pyrometer corrected for emissivity of bare tungsten and window absorptivity. The micro-optical pyrometer was calibrated against a National Bureau of Standards calibrated tungsten lamp and both pyrometers were periodically checked against the melting points of tungsten and molybdenum using the oxidation apparatus. Above 10-6 atm, pressures were measured with an Alphatron gage calibrated against a McCleod gage. At 10-6 atm, a hot-filament ionization gage was employed. A magnified image of the self-illuminated tungsten rod was formed using a 360-mm objective lens mounted outside the bell jar. When the experiment exceeded 1 hr, the image was focused on a ground-glass plate about 10 ft from the tungsten rod at about X8 and the recession of the thickness of this image was monitored with a Gaertner cathe-tometer. When faster rates were encountered, a 35-mm time-lapse cinecamera with a telephoto lens and bellows extension was substituted for the ground-glass plate and cathetometer. Diameter recession rates were determined from the photograph image projected on the screen of an analytical film reader. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE After installing the rod in the apparatus and cleaning it with acetone, the system was evacuated to 5 1 x 10-5 torr. Before oxygen was introduced,

Jan 1, 1964

By D. A. Shock

Utilizing the technology developed for oil well stimulation by hydrofracing, a disposal system which permanently fixes the waste has been proven. Large quantities of radioactive waste can be processed by a single well system making this method an attractive method for permanent radioactive waste disposal. The system depends on locating a relatively thick formation of impermeable, but easily fracturable rock such as a shale, creating a horizontal fracture, pumping the waste into the fracture in a form which will subsequently solidify and seal the fracture from the well system. The paper presents the theoretical considerations from creating and extending horizontal fractures and how these considerations were used in designing a waste disposal system which is now operating.

Jan 1, 1964

By J R. O Walli

Large production shafts can be successfully sunk through the ubiquitous Blairmore formation of southern Saskatchewan by employing the freezing process and by the installation of a cast iron tubbing lining. Although the freezing technique for shaft sinking and the use of cast iron tubbing to preserve the shaft are new to the North American continent, these procedures have been employed in Europe for the past eighty years. More than 200 shafts, covering a wide variety of ground conditions, have been sunk by the freezing process, and most of these have been lined with cast iron tubbing. The No. 1 shaft of International Minerals and Chemical Corporation, near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, comprises the first major example in Canada of the employment of European methods to overcome extremely difficult ground conditions. The Blairmore formation was solidified by the deep freezing process, employing a lithium chloride solution as the refrigerant, with input temperatures ranging to -55°F

Jan 1, 1964

By C. R. Hubbard

The Bureau of Mines investigated the mineral resources of the Upper Missouri River Basin as a part of a comprehensive water and related land resources study by six Bureaus of the Department of the Interior, coordinated by the Department?s Missouri River Basin Field Committee. The mineral resource study covers an area of about 18,000 square miles within the Great Plains physiographic province of central Montana. Exposed formations in the plains are chiefly flat-lying Cretaceous sediments. Plutonic rocks crop out in the central parts of the mountain uplifts, with steeply tilted Paleozoic sediments exposed around the margins. Oil and gas have been produced from several fields in the study area; total value exceeds $45 million. Coal-bearing formations of Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous age cover approximately 45 percent of the study area. Total production of coal since 1880 has been between 40 and 50 million tons, exceeding $75 million in value. Total metal production has been about $52.5 million. Industrial mineral production from 1925 through 1960, is valued at $24 million.

Jan 1, 1964

By A Palynchuk

The development of welded pipe has paralleled the general industrial development and, in particular, that of the petroleum industry. The petroleum industry's need for high-grade, economical pipeline material to make many 'of its projects feasible has been a significant factor in the development of light-wall, high-grade welded pipe. The modern welding processes, such as high-frequency, electric resistance, flash, submerged arc, etc., have some basically different characteristics. The modern high-frequency weld mill is a complex of specialized equipment that is integrated into a production unit. Each component in the unit performs a specific function in the production process. Quality control must be built into the process on an operating basis and, to maintain the quality required for pipeline standards, must be more than a policing operation. The further development of the welded pipe industry will be determined by changing and increasing demands. The technical and economic views and requirements that will influence the development have to be resolved.

Jan 1, 1964

By L. C. Brown, J. S. Kirkaldy

Measurements have been made of carbon diffuswn in the five ternary austenites Fe-C-Si, Fe-C-Ni, Fe-C-Co, Fe-C-Mn, and Fe-C-Cr in which the carbon (component 1) diffuses through interstitial sites and the ternary addition (component 2) diffuses substitutionally. Values of the diffusion-coefficient ratio, D12/D11 were determined for each system with finite couples using the transient equilibrium method. The effect of temperature and of concentrations of both the carbon and substitutional component upon D12/D was examined and was found to agree with the theoretical predictions. It is concluded that within an experimental uncertainty of 10 to 15 pct, it is possible to calculate the ratio D12/D11 from purely thermody-namic data. Difficulties of measuring the other off-diagonal coefficient, 4,, are discussed. Any quantitative attack on the fundamentals of the hardenability problem in steel must begin with the multicomponent diffusion formalism and with the accumulation of data pertaining thereto. In a recent paper Kirkaldy and purdy 1 employed the formalism derived from irreversible thermodynamics to treat the problem of diffusion in ternary austenites. In the latter solutions, carbon diffuses through interstitial sites and the substitutional component diffuses through the lattice. Examples were given of diffusion in the systems Fe-Mn-C and Fe-Si-C. In the present paper, we present new results on and discuss their agreement with the thermody-namic theory. Since the theory has been slightly modified from the original presentation of Kirkaldy and Purdy, their results on Fe-Si-C and Fe-Mn-C have been recalculated and are presented here for completeness. The flux of the interstitial component with respect to a fixed lattice framework can be written as a linear expansion in the independent concentration gradients, where X1 and X2 are the independent thermody-namic forces in the lattice fixed frame of reference. These forces can be obtained from the general statement for forces in a volume fixed frame2 if the partial molar volume of carbon atoms is set equal to zero and that of the substitutional component 2 is set equal to unity, viz where the are the chemical potentials and the N's are mole fractions. Introducing into [3] and [4] the function If, as suggested by statistical arguments, the off-diagonal interaction L12 is sufficiently small, [6] reduces to i.e., the coefficient ratio becomes purely thermo-dynamic. The activity of components 1 and 2 in a dilute ternary system (standard state at infinite dilution) may be represented by the expansion3

Jan 1, 1964

By W J. Riva

This paper reviews the circumstances that led to the development and construction of a commercial-scale vertical shaft carbonizer at Conmore, Alberta. This form coking process may be regarded as having potential application in other areas. Coal pelletizing offers a promising method of decreasing coal agglomeration costs under certain circumstances. Pellets can be rolled easily from -35-mesh coal, provided that a minimum of -200-mesh coal is present. Bentonite was found to be the best binder and was most effective when added in amounts of about 2 per cent. The water content of the coal pellets was observed to vary from 18 to 23 per cent. As a by-product of this investigation, it seems possible that fine coal could be converted into stoker feed by this process. A short investigation of the effect of heating rate on the carbonization of pellets was conducted. The low maximum heating rates in certain temperature ranges, necessary to avoid crack formation in the pellets as reported by other

Jan 1, 1964

By D. H. Polonis, M. B. Kasen

AN unusual thermal etching phenomenon has been observed on the surface of a Cu-Si alloy. The observations were made during studies of vacancy condensation pit formation which were reported in previous papers.1,2 Figs. 1 and 2 are photomicrographs of the surface of a Cu-4.8 pct Si alloy after heating in vacuo (3 x X mm Hg) to 525°C and subsequently holding at that temperature for 16 hr in an impure (air-contaminated) argon atmosphere. Under these conditions preferential removal of silicon from the matrix by oxidation results in a surface which is entirely a phase overlying an a plus y structure. The light areas of Fig. 1 are regions in which very little thermal etching has occurred, while the majority of the surface has experienced severe etching. Similar regions in Fig. 2 are seen as plateaus above contours produced by net transfer of material from the specimen surface. Twin boundaries are also visible in Fig. 2. The difference in matrix mi-crostructure between Figs. l and 2 reflects the par- ticular orientation of low-index planes with respect to the surface of observation. Thermal etching contours of this type have been studied in detail by Hondros and Moore Both of the photomicrographs show that one or more dark spots are located approximately at the center of every protected area; where two spots are in close proximity, the protected areas have merged. The microstructures indicate that the anomalous resistance to thermal etching is related to the presence of these spots. Williams and Hayfield have shown that local regions of unusually high oxidation resistance can be caused by a surface monolayer of atoms with a work function higher than that of the base material. The result is an inhibition of the rate of electron removal from the base material and a decrease in the oxidation rate. The source of the protected layer may be either surface diffusion from contaminants on the specimen surface or pipe diffusion of solute atoms followed by migration across the surface. In the latter case the driving force is a difference in chemical potential resulting in a Gibbs adsorption phenomenon. In the present case, chemical polishing of the specimen surface precluded contaminants of a strictly surface nature. Consequently, diffusion of impurity atoms from within the lattice appears to be the most tenable explanation of the observed phenomena. The authors propose that the structures of Figs. 1 and 2 reflect the diffusion of impurity atoms along extended dislocations within the individual a phase grains prior to surface oxidation. The central spots within the protected regions are seen as sites of dislocation emergence which have become locally decorated with oxide in the manner discussed in Ref. 1. Williams and Hayfield observed protected regions adjacent to the grain boundaries of iron-contaminated copper which they attributed to the segregation of iron to the grain boundaries coupled with high dif-fusivity along the complex dislocation array at such boundaries. No evidence of such grain boundary protection was observed in the Cu-Si alloy; this

Jan 1, 1964

By Alan Jessop

A small group has been set up at the Dominion Observatory, Ottawa, to make a survey of terrestrial heat flow throughout Canada. Terrestrial heat flow is the heat rising from the interior of the earth and escaping at the surface, and is calculated from a knowledge of under-ground temperature distribution and the thermal conductivity of rocks. A small number of diamond drill holes are being sunk for the purpose of measuring temperatures below the surface, but the program is inadequate for a thorough survey. Mines and holes drilled for other purposes are being sought by the Dominion Observatory group to supplement their own drilling program. F ROM January, 1.962, to December, 1964, geo-physicists of many nations will be cooperating in the "International Upper Mantle Project." Unlike tl1e International Geophysical Year, which was mainly concerned with the fluid layers surrounding the earth, the Upper Mantle Project is an intensive study of the solid earth. Canada, with its large land area and extensive Precambrian Shield, is an active participant in the project.

Jan 1, 1964

By Walter Kawa

Bureau of Mines research on the hydrogenation of coal has been concerned with developing processes that could be used to supplement the Nation's petroleum and natural gas resources. Motor fuel was produced in a subsidized coal hydrogenation industry in Europe prior to 1945, but the process used is still not economical and other methods of producing liquid and gaseous fuels from coal are being investigated. As an aid to the planning of coal hydrogenation research, a literature survey was made of processes or methods of hydrogenating coal that differ from the subsidized or conventional process. This report contains a bibliography of unconventional methods of hydrogenating coal and a brief discussion of the economics of the conventional method. A general discussion of unconventional methods is included, and the advantages and disadvantages are pointed out where possible. The survey supplements a previous Bureau of Mines survey3 and a comprehensive review published in 1930.4

Jan 1, 1964

By T S. Cochrane

This paper is based on observations made during a recent visit by the writer to three of the dust research laboratories .in West Germany, each .of which is mainly concerned with studymg the composition and character of the respirable dust produced in mines or at industrial sites. The three institutes are discussed as regards their orgamzat10n and duties, their methods of dust sampling and analysis, and recent trends in research and development. An extensive bibliography completes the paper. Introduction A RECENT trip to Europe to attend international conferences m Austria and m Belgium gave the writer the opportunity to visit a number of research laboratories and mines in Western Europe. The visits to the dust research laboratories in West Germany are the basis of this report. In Germany, cooperative associations formed prior to and since the turn of the 20th Century to promote the safety and welfare of their workers have recognized the effects of airborne dust on the general health of the labour force.

Jan 1, 1964

By W. G. Diamond

Lightweight aggregates have become increasingly important to the construction industry. From 1953 to 1960, the quantity of the aggregates used in concrete block, precast and prestressed concrete, and monolithic structures increased about 92 percent. The present study was conducted in Bureau of Mines Area IV which encompasses the South-Central States of Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. This is an administrative area and does not delimit a market area or imply an economic unit. Because of the increasing importance of metropolitan areas in evaluating economic growth, significant data showing relationships between growth of the metropolitan areas and the lightweight aggregate industry are included.

Jan 1, 1964

By Northcutt Ely

This chapter deals with the systems of laws by which governments regulate the exploration for and production of the minerals within their jurisdictions. It is a summary, restricted by necessary space limitations, of material assembled by the author for a publication of the United States Bureau of Mines, "Summary of Mining and Petroleum Laws of the World," (Information Circular 80 1 7, 196 1. ) The present study is organized in three parts, dealing with (1) the historical background of these legal systems, (2) laws of the United States, and (3) laws of other countries of the world. The reader's attention is invited to the acknowledgments at the end of the chapter, which inadequately express the appreciation due those who have assisted in the collection of this material. Part I. Historical Development of Major Western Systems of Land Tenancy with Respect to the Ownership and Control of Minerals The use of metals in primitive societies was largely confined to the manufacture of weapons for self-preservation. The ruler's control over copper, then bronze, then iron, was essential to maintenance of his own ascendancy at home and his group's position against neighbors who had access to similar metals. Ancient societies were thus characterized by the ruling group's ownership of minerals and metals. The Egyptian civilization, which emerged in the fourth millenium B.C. upon the agricultural subjugation of the lower valley of the Nile, was responsible for extensive development of the upper valley as a source of mineral wealth. The production of gold during the height of that civilization has been estimated at $30,000,000 per year, thus equaling the early placers of California and Australia. The mines of Egypt were the property of the Pharaohs and were controlled at their direction. Greek mining developed a different scheme of land tenancy which more closely resembled modem concepts. Development of mineral resources was

Jan 1, 1964

By W. T. Millar

Field reconnaissance and laboratory tests an clay from South Windsor, Hartford County, Conn., indicate that the clay is suitable for lightweight aggregate raw material. Exploration of the deposit supports the conclusion that the reserves of clay are sufficient for economical mining operations to produce lightweight aggregate. Preliminary tests indicated that the clay has a short bloating range. Initial expansion occurred at 2,000° F, and at 2,100° F the clay was slightly overfired and sticky. Rotary kiln tests verified the preliminary data, and these tests showed that the clay would make a good lightweight aggregate if the processing temperature and the kiln feed sizes were closely controlled. Lightweight concrete made from the processed aggregate had properties comparable to those of concrete made from a commercial clay aggregate.

Jan 1, 1964

By E. E. Thurlow

The Geology Div. of Northern Pacific Railway Co. has adapted to its exploration efforts field procedures for geochemical sampling and semi-quantitative analysis which have been developed through research by the U. S. Geological Survey. The sampling is done in conjunction with reconnaissance geologic mapping on aerial photographs or during field checking of maps which have been prepared largely by photo-geologic interpretation. Stream sediment or soil samples are taken and readily soluble combined heavy metals are extracted with ammonium citrate followed by colorimetric titration with dithizone at the sample site. The effectiveness of this approach has been demonstrated both in positive and negative results, thereby assisting in the elimination of large areas of land from further immediate attention and in providing targets for followup exploration. An occa sional sample is submitted for spectrographic analysis as a check on the possible presence of other elements of economic significance. Field laboratory procedures are also being implemented for determining molybdenum, mercury, and other metals which may be valuable in themselves or useful as pathfinder elements in outlining mineralized areas. A lead-zinc occurrence in Oregon and a copper deposit in Montana were readily detected and outlined by stream sediment and soil sampling and a heavy metal anomaly that lacks obvious interpretation has been found in northwestern Montana. Detailed mapping and additional sampling are followed by other exploration techniques if warranted. Northern Pacific's program of reconnaissance mineral evaluation of company-owned lands and adjoining areas was outlined in a paper presented at the American Mining Congress meeting in Las Vegas four years ago. That report included policies and procedures with respect to mineral development on Railway Co. lands and may be referred to for information on these matters.1 In a sense this paper is a progress report on the use of geochemical prospecting in Northern Pacific's continuing mineral evaluation program. At this time there are positive results but as yet there is no real success story in the form of a minable ore body. GEOCHEMICAL PROSPECTING PROCEDURES The decision to use geochemistry as a reconnaissance exploration tool must be followed by research into sampling and analytical methods and into the interpretation of results. Various analytical methods were tried and evaluated by the Geology Div., including hot and cold acid extraction with and without fusion of the sample, panning and magnetic separation followed by dithizone testing of the magnetite, and cold aqueous extraction of metallic ions followed by indicator tests. Samples were first sent to the laboratory for analysis; later field laboratories were established and now virtually all testing is done at the sample site. It was concluded that, where applicable, the quickest dependable methods for reconnaissance use are the dithizone field tests for readily extractable heavy metals. This involves the simultaneous treatment of a sample, usually of soil or stream sediment, with two immiscible liquids; one a cold aqueous extractant (ammonium citrate) and the other a solution of dithizone in toluene or xylene.2 Dithizone is a colorimetric indicator that reacts quantitatively with copper, lead, zinc, and several other metals to form colored complexes in organic solvents. Results may be expressed in ml of 0.001 pct dithizone that are required to reach the blue end point, or calibration of the test results can be carried out with standard solutions of zinc; conversion factors would then be expressed in ppm, zinc equivalent. Calibration of dithizone solution with zinc standards indicates that 1 ml of 0.001 pct dithizone is equivalent to approximately 0.25 ppm of zinc. An authoritative report on dithizone field tests authored by H. E. Hawkes in the June-July 1963 issue of Economic Geology* states "The appeal of these techniques has been the simplicity and speed of the determinations as compared with more tedious laboratory determinations of trace metals in weathered rocks, soils, or plant materials. This obvious appeal, however, has often been more than matched by misuse of the method in such a manner that the results are

Jan 1, 1964

By Hindmarsh J. W, McCoy A. E R

Instantaneous outbursts of coal and gas have occurred at various times in several working districts of Metropolitan Colliery, N.S.W.They have occurred in headings only, under both hand and mechanised conditions, and with seam gas ranging from mainly methane to nearly pure carbon dioxide. A modification of inducer shotfiring using a shear cut was introduced in 1955, and in 1961 full face firing both to a machine cut shear and off the solid was introduced. The current series of outbursts -1961 to 1963 - has been induced under these systems with full control of the time of outburst, but without prediction, and with some disappointing production features.Various aspects of current conditions and practices at Metropolitan are considered singular, such as the coarse granulometry of outburst coal, the prevalence of floor heave, the absence of strong structures at outburst sites, the possibility of outburst at any stage in pillar formation up to the last few yards, the effect of rate of advance on outburst occurrence, and the mildness of many outbursts experienced.It is concluded that inducer shotfiring is a reliable control but it suffers by comparison with outburst-free conditions, and that control by preyention would be preferable.INTRODUCTIONThe phenomenon of instantaneous outbursts of coal and gas has been described in detail previously (Hargraves, 1958). Briefly, it is a combined gas and stress hazard of deep coal mining, usually occurring in virgin work and during active face advance, when coal and seam gas burst from the face into the workings.Instantaneous outbursts have occurred sporadically at Metropolitan Colliery, N.S.W., since 1895. Early outbursts were recorded as firedamp and recent outbursts are of blackdamp.Mining methods used have been conventional hand work, with progressive and relatively complete mechanisation over the past 25 years to substantially conventional...

Jan 1, 1964