Mineral Facts and Problems: 1960 Edition Page: 58
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MINERAL FACTS AND PROBLEMS, ANNIVERSARY EDITION
RESEARCH
Research, to improve technologies and pro-
vide new uses and products, h1s been recog-
nized as an elemental step in reinvigorating the
anthracite industry. Advances in extracting
and preparing anthracite lead to better con-
servation practices, lower costs, and improved
products. Utilization research fosters an ex-
pansion of current uses and the development of
new ones.
Some producing companies and equipment
manufacturers are now collaborating, on a lim-
ited basis, in the development and adaptation
of mining and loading machinery, roof-sup-
port, and haulage equipment to anthracite min-
ing. Similar limited collaboration is carried
on with manufacturers of preparation equip-
ment. Utilization and marketing research by
trade associations is directed on a small scale
toward further improving combustion equip-
ment so as to better meet competition from
other fuels. A major company is investigating
the production of synthesis gas and chemicals
from anthracite and has announced tentative
plans for construction of a large plant to pro-
duce such products.
Institutional research in anthracite has in-
creased recently under the sponsorship of the
State government, with some assistance from
producers. These limited efforts have been
largely in utilization and marketing research
with some activities in work on the basic char-
acteristics of anthracite. Studies of the effects
of thermal shock on anthracite decrepitation,
grindability, distribution and nature of min-
eral matter content, and use of anthracite in
making metallurgical coke are the principal
projects underway at institutions. Marketing
research has been concerned primarily with the
export market for anthracite in Western
Europe.
The Bnreau of Mines has a comprehensive
anthracite research program. Mining research
is largely done cooperatively with producing
companies. It is concerned primarily with the
development and adaptation of high-produc-
tivity coal mining machinery to moderately
and steeply pitching beds and with the devel-
opment of new methods of roof control so as
to improve safety of the workers and attain a
greater recovery of coal from the deposits. The
development of a mechanized longwall mining
system, the adaptation of continuous mining
machines and augers, improved loading and
haulage equipment and techniques, hydraulictransportation, and mechanized and yielding
roof-support systems are some of the continu-
ing projects under investigation.
Conservation research is concerned directly
with studies of the mine-water problem and
with the effective installation of the measures
carried out jointly with local government and
the producing companies in alleviation of this
problem. Mine-fire investigations and control
work are a part of the activities on conserva-
tion.
The Bureau's experiment station at Schuyl-
kill Haven, Pa., carries out research on the
cleaning and sizing of coal. Work has begun
on the washability, heavy-medium separation,
cyclones, froth flotation, grindability, and fine
grinding of anthracite. Basic research on the
fundamental chemical and physical properties
and characteristics, the mineral-matter distri-
bution and the chemical constituents of an-
thracite also are being investigated. Studies of
the effects of irradiation on the chemistry and
properties of anthracite have developed prom-
ising leads, and research in this new area will
be developed.
Bureau research in the utilization of anthra-
cite has been directed largely toward develop-
ing large-tonnage uses. Studies of anthracite
decrepitation by thermal shock were followed
by the development of a calcined anthracite
which, in commercial tests, was found to be a
satisfactory iron-foundry fuel under certain
operating conditions and a possible substitute
for foundry coke. The development of a satis-
factory fuel from anthracite for general metal-
lurgical use led to the formulation of an an-
thracite briquet which with later calcination
had some properties equal or superior to metal-
lurgical coke. Combustion research is concerned
with the efficiencies of automatic equipment
(stokers) in burning the various sizes and
grades of anthracite. Commercial-scale gasi-
fication of anthracite in Lurgi gasifiers have
demonstrated the feasibility and costs of using
anthracite for the production of either high-
B.t.u. or synthesis gas.
Marketing research is concerned with the pro-
duction, distribution, uses, and economic prob-
lems of anthracite. The position of anthracite
in the overall energy market of the country
and especially in the energy requirements of
the Middle Atlantic and New England States
is of particular interest. Other facets of eco-
nomic research are concerned with studies of
particular markets and uses in competition
with other fuels.58
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United States. Bureau of Mines. Mineral Facts and Problems: 1960 Edition, report, 1960; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc38790/m1/66/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.