I * o co CD O Technical Paper 1 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FRANKLIN K. LANE, SECRETARY BUREAU OF MINES VAN. H. MANNING, DIRECTOR THE SAMPLING OF COAL IN THE MINE BY JOSEPH A. HOLMES WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1918 The Bureau of Mines, in carrying out one of the provisions of its organic act to disseminate information concerning investigations made prints a limited free edi- tion of each of its publications. When this edition is exhausted, copies may be obtained at cost price only through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. The Superintendent of Documents is not an official of the Bureau of Mines. His is an entirely separate office and he should be addressed: SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. The general law under which publications are distributed prohibits the giving of more than one copy of a publication to one person. The price of this publication is 5 cents. 2 Revised edition. July, 1918. First edition issued, May, 1911. CONTENTS. Page. General statement 5 Need of care in sampling 5 Relation of mine samples to commercial samples 6 Collecting outfit or sampling kit 7 Carrying bag 8 Sampling cloth 8 Portable mortar 8 Pestle 9 Spring balance ^ 9 Screen 9 Sampling scoop , 9 Brush 9 Measuring tape 9 Sample can 9 Adhesive tape 9 Pick and shovel . 10 Preliminary details 10 Selecting places for sampling. . . , 10 Number of samples to be collected 11 Method of sampling 11 Cleaning off the face of the coal 11 What to include in the sample 11 Collecting and preparing the sample 12 The can should be completely filled 13 Labeling 13 Sealing the can 13 Notes 13 Prompt forwarding and analysis of samples 14 Sending notification cards 14 Blank forms for collectors 14 Publications on the sampling and analysisof coal 21 ILLUSTKATIONS. FIGURE 1. Sampling outfit 3 382215 THE SAMPLING OF COAL IN THE MINE. By JOSEPH A. HOLMES. GENERAL STATEMENT. Systematic collection and analysis of coal samples in connection with investigations relating to fuels belonging to or for the use of the United States Government and to the character and value of the fuel in the public lands were begun by the Government in 1904. The method of collecting mine samples, with the various modifica- tions and improvements found desirable through experience, has been continued from that time and is the method followed by those geolo- gists of the United States Geological Survey who have been examin- ing the coal deposits on or near the public lands and by those mem- bers of the Survey arid the Bureau of Mines who have continued the work of analyzing and testing the coal from the various fields in the United States. The following statement of the system of mine sampling in use by the Geological Survey and the Bureau of Mines has been revised by Messrs. M. R. Campbell, George H. Ashley, and David White, of the Geological Survey, and Messrs. G. S. Rice and G. S. Pope, of the Bureau of Mines. NEED OF CARE IN SAMPLING. In dealing with coals no less than in dealing with ores the taking of samples requires fully as much care as does the making of the analy- sis or assay, for if the sampling is not properly done and the sample does not fairly represent the coal, then the analysis, however care- fully and accurately made, is misleading. It may be impossible or impracticable to obtain another sample from the mine, whereas if an analysis is wrong, another analysis can easily be made of the origi- nal sample, as the sample sent to the laboratory is many tunes the quantity required for the actual laboratory test. In the field work of the Bureau of Mines, samples are frequently required of special shipments of coal as it is loaded into railroad cars at the mine or as it is unloaded from railroad cars into bins or ships. Printed instructions regarding methods of sampling such shipments are given in Technical Paper 133, entitled " Directions for Sampling Coal for Shipment or Delivery." The underlying principles, as well as the details of methods given in Technical Paper 133, are printed in Bulletin 116, "Methods of Sampling Delivered Coal"; that bulletin 5 6 THE SAMPLING OF COAL IN THE MINE. also treats of the factors that influence the accuracy of sampling; considers the different constituents of coal in their effects on its value; refers to the results of experimental sampling; describes and illus- trates the mechanical preparation of samples; describes the specifica- tion method for the purchase of coal and gives types of Government coal specifications; and gives specifications and details for the con- struction of sample containers, riffles, etc. The purpose of this paper is to describe briefly the method now fol- lowed by the Bureau of Mines and the United States Geological Survey in an endeavor to take mine samples that fairly represent the beds of coal that are examined and that show, for the places sampled, the commercial possibilities of these beds. It is of the utmost importance that the sampling be done in a systematic manner, according to a prearranged plan, and that the same procedure always be followed where circumstances permit. Wherever it is possible, unless special samples are desired for a particular purpose, only clean, fresh coal should be sampled, and all dried, weathered, or long-exposed coal should be avoided. When weathered coal, either in the outcrop or in pillars, or other special samples are collected, the particular character- istics of each sample should be clearly described. RELATION OF MINE SAMPLES TO COMMERCIAL SHIPMENTS. Experience obtained by the Bureau of Mines during recent years has plainly shown the importance of mine sampling in determining the character of the coal that may be produced by any given mine or district; for example, thousands of mine samples have been taken for the Navy in determining what mines have coal suitable for naval uses. Consistent systematic sampling has shown the value of such procedure. But, on the other hand, the experience thus gained has fully shown that mine samples generally may not represent com- mercial coal, as regards the ash content and heating value, and that great caution must be exercised in estimating, from the basis of mine samples, the grade of coal shipped, for frequently the ash of the commercial coal may be several per cent higher than the ash found in the mine samples, and the moisture in high-moisture coals "as received" may be several per cent lower. The reasons for this difference are as follows : 1 . Care, or lack of care, by miners who may be naturally careful, indifferent, or careless in cleaning from the coal sent to the tipple the bone, "sulphur," or "slate" included in the coal bed. The mixing in of pieces of the roof and floor is often the principal source of much of the impurities in the coal shipped, and this is particularly true where the roof is shaly or there is a " draw-slate, " or the under clay is so soft that it gets picked up in shoveling loose coal from the floor of the working place. COLLECTING OUTFIT OR SAMPLING KIT. 7 2. Degree of discipline and supervision exercised by underground bosses over the miners loading coal. 3. Character of mechanical cleaning apparatus at the tipple and washery. 4. Whether there are enough pickers or trimmers, or washery men, and whether these men are careful or careless in their methods. 5. Whether the coal separates readily from the roof and shale partings, or whether it is " frozen" to them and can not be separated without loosing much of the coal. In other words, the natural condition of the coal, the labor, the mechanical arrangements, and the supervision may cause so great a variation from the results indicated by the mine sampling, that to consider the mine samples as representing commercial shipments might be misleading. This is particularly true of coal from dirty coal beds containing many partings, or coal beds with a friable roof or a soft bottom. The mine sample represents the quality that can be obtained when the impurities can be readily separated from the coal, practically perfect mechanical appliances are used, and extreme care is taken by the men in the mine and at the tipple. Mine samples and delivery samples both must continue to be taken, one as a check on the other. If coal of a particular character is needed, and the mine samples do not disclose that the coal is suitable, it is idle to expect that the commercial coal will be satisfactory. Hence, for large users of coal the mine sampling should be done first and the sampling of delivered coal should follow. The mine operators themselves can benefit by following the two kinds of sampling in order to insure that their product is being so cleaned as to give the best results possible. If the difference between the mine samples and the samples from shipments is too great there is evi- dently need of changing the method or the appliances. Dirty coal not only means a loss of heat and increase of labor to the consumer, but also a great loss to the country through the transportation of worthless refuse and this loss increases with the distance the coal has to be hauled. Mine sampling, therefore, is invaluable in studying the possibilities of improving the quality of coal shipments, and of determining the advisability of installing any cleaning or washing machinery and the type of cleaning machinery best adapted to the character of the coal and the impurity to be separated. . COLLECTING OUTFIT OB SAMPLING KIT. The coal-mine sampling outfit (fig. 1) used by the Bureau of Mines comprises the following articles : Carrying bag, sampling cloth (heavy oilcloth) , portable mortar and pestle, spring balance, screen, sampling 8 THE SAMPLING OF COAL IN THE MINE. scoop, chalk, brush, measuring tape, sample cans, adhesive tape, pick, and shovel. Carrying lag. The bag used for car- rying the sampling outfit and the col- lected samples is of leather, has a shoul- der strap, and meas- ures 13 by 12 by 3 inches. Sampling cloth. For collecting the cuttings chipped from the face of the coal a stout sheet or blanket of water- proof material is used. The heavy enamel cloth known as buggy cloth gives good service. The cloth should meas- ure not less than 6 by 7 feet. The en- ameled side of this cloth should be laid next to the ground to keep out moisture and to prevent frag- ments of the enamel from getting into the coal sample. Portable mortar. A piece of J-inch board, 10 inches square, covered on the upper side with heavy galvanized sheet iron, forms the bottom of the port- able mortar. The collapsible sides are of stout duck, and are fastened at the top to a strap-iron band that is held COLLECTING OUTFIT OR SAMPLING KIT. 9 up by collapsible strap-iron posts fastened with set screws. The sides are 5 inches high, making the contents of the mortar about 500 cubic inches. Pestle. The pestle for crushing samples consists of a steel head, 1 inch thick and 3 to 4 inches square, with a screw socket to receive a wood handle about 14 inches long. Spring balance. A good spring balance of 50-pound capacity, graduated preferably to one-half pound, is used for weighing the samples. Screen. The screen is of galvanized-iron wire and has a J-inch, or preferably f-inch, mesh. It is about 10 inches square and has a wood frame. Sampling scoop. The scoop recommended is made of heavy gal- vanized sheet iron, with flat bottom and vertical sides, and is 8 inches long, 2 inches deep, and 1J inches wide. If such a scoop is not avail- able, a bricklayer's trowel or even a wooden shingle will answer the purpose. Brush. A stiff brush or whisk broom is useful for brushing off loose pieces of coal, stone, or dirt from the face or roof at the place where the sample is to be taken and for removing the rejected quar- terings of coal from the sampling blanket. If such a brush is not available, a piece of cloth or any other suitable material at hand may be used as a substitute. Measuring tape. For measuring coal-bed sections a 20-foot water- proof tape graduated to one-fourth inch is used. A steel tape grad- uated to one-sixteenth inch, though more accurate, is less convenient, as the figures are more difficult to read by the poor light available in mines. Sample can. The vessel ordinarily used by the Bureau of Mines and by the Geological Survey for transporting coal samples is a 9 by 3 inch round can of No. 27 galvanized iron. The can filled with coal should not weigh more than 4 pounds, which is the limit of weight for ordinary transmission by mail. The edges of the can are crimped and carefully soldered to make them tight and strong; the screw top (2 inches in diameter) has a gasket or washer of rubber or other flexi- ble material to exclude the air. As a further protection, the outside of the cap, when in place and screwed down tightly, is wrapped care- fully with several layers of adhesive tape so that the first layer of this tape completely covers the joint between the lower edge of the cap and the neck of the can. It is not advisable to use solder, paraffin, or sealing wax of any kind. Before being filled each can should be carefully inspected as to tightness and freedom from rust. Adhesive tape. For sealing the connection of the cap and sample can, electrician's adhesive tape of the best quality is used. 54333 18 2 10 THE SAMPLING OF COAL IN THE MINE. Pick and shovel. Nothing is better than a miner's pick for cutting samples. A miner's shovel should be taken along for cleaning up the floor, etc. Pick and shovel are not regularly included in the kit, as they can be had at any working mine. The field men of the Geological Survey, because they often work long distances from a base of supplies and travel by horseback, usually carry a simpler outfit than that described above, consisting of a waterproof blanket, a measuring tape, adhesive tape, a screen, a geologist's pick, an improvised shovel, and the necessary number of sample cans. Instead of using a portable mortar and pestle, a man thus equipped must pulverize the coal with his pick, on a board or other hard surface, and instead of a scoop he must use a trowel or shingle. He does not weigh the coal; and instead of using a brush or broom, he removes loose coal, etc., from the face and roof, and cleans the quarterings off the sampling blanket with a piece of cloth or any other suitable means. He will ordinarily use a miner's pick, if found in the mine, instead of his geologist's pick for cut'ting down the coal. PRELIMINARY DETAILS. SELECTING PLACES FOR SAMPLING. A map of the mine should be obtained from the company's office for use in studying the layout of the mine with a view of selecting the points at which each sample is to be collected. These points should be so selected that the samples will represent the character of the coal available in the mine as a whole, for future as well as for present shipment. Exceptional features, such as "faults," etc., should be avoided unless special studies of the coal at such places are thought desirable. Where possible wet places should be avoided, as samples from such places may not represent the coal as shipped. If wet coal must be collected, the surplus moisture should be drained off the sampling cloth before mixing the sample and the fact should be stated on the card sent to the chemical laboratory. The collector must necessarily rely on the mine officials for infor- mation regarding the extent and direction of the present and future developments of the mine and the situation in the mine* of excep- tional features, such as "faults," etc., for ordinarily time does not permit him to make an extensive survey and a detailed study of the mine so as to familiarize himself well enough with all conditions, to enable him to select the most advantageous points for sampling. The points selected, however, should be subject to change as the collector's work in the mines progresses if he finds that the sections of the bed at the points selected do not represent the bed or that operations in certain parts of the mine are liable to be suspended or permanently abandoned. METHOD OF SAMPLING. 11 NUMBER OF SAMPLES TO BE COLLECTED. More samples should be collected from mines in which the quality of the coal varies greatly than from mines in which the variation is small. Where only a part of a bed is being mined, and the remainder (1 foot or more in thickness) is being left underground, separate samples should be collected at each sampling place of both the worked and the unworked parts or benches of the bed. In sampling coal beds exposed in ordinary prospect openings, where the coal is usually more or less weathered, one sample from each opening is considered enough unless the openings are far apart; in that event, occasional second or check samples are highly desirable. From any mine that is shipping coal not less than three samples should be taken and the number to be taken should increase with increase in the daily output of the mine not less than three samples for out- puts up to a daily average of 300 tons, four samples for average outputs of 300 to 500 tons, five samples for outputs of 500 to 1,000 tons, six samples for an output of 1,000 to 1,500, and an additional sample for every 500 tons daily output over 1,500 tons. METHOD OF SAMPLING. CLEANING OFF THE FACE OF THE COAL. At each selected point, before a sample is cut, the face of the bed should be cleared of burned powder, dirt, or loose coal from roof to floor for a width of about 5 feet. This is done to prevent any loose fragments or foreign matter from falling off the face of the coal onto the sampling cloth. Insecure pieces of the roof should also be taken down in advance for the same reason. In the middle of this cleared area on the face, the coal should be cut away with the pick from the roof to the floor for a width of 1 foot and a depth of at least 1 inch or to a greater depth as may be required with a view to removing any discolored, altered, or otherwise inferior coal that might be near the surface, and also to square up this portion of the face in preparation for the sampling cut. WHAT TO INCLUDE IN THE SAMPLE. There should go into the sample as it is cut from the face all the material that ordinarily goes into the daily shipments of coal. There should be omitted from the sample only such material as is ordinarily discarded by the miner. Usually partings more than three-eighths of an inch thick and lenses or concretions of " sulphur" or other impurities more than 2 inches in maximum diameter and one-half of an inch thick are excluded, if in the judgment of the sampler they are being excluded by the miner from the coal as loaded out of the mine or as shipped. If such impurities, or other impurities, are not 12 THE SAMPLING OF COAL IN THE MINE. generally excluded by the miner, they should be included in the sample. If pillars are being " pulled/' careful note should be made not only of partings but of materials from the roof that are not rejected by the miner. Where the impurity to be rejected, like bone or slaty coal, does not show conspicuously, it is advisable to outline the impurity with chalk in advance so as to prevent its being over- looked when the sample is cut. Imitating the miner in excluding impurities is the best method, but this requires care and judgment, especially where the partings are soft and friable. No two miners can be relied on to discard the same partings to the same extent, even at mines where the most rigid regulations for cleaning the coal are in force. As it is desired to obtain samples that represent as nearly as possible the coal that is produced commercially from the mine under examination, the method given in the above paragraph should be followed as closely and as uniformly as possible. The carrying out of this method demands the exercise of judgment and experience on the part of the sampler, and he must familiarize himself with the impurities in the coal bed and their relation to the coal which is shipped. COLLECTING AND PREPARING THE SAMPLE. The collector should smooth and clean the floor and spread the sampling cloth on it close to the face of the coal. Then he should make a perpendicular cut 2 inches deep and 6 inches wide (or 3 inches deep and 4 inches wide in the softer coals) from the roof to the floor down the middle of the foot-wide cut previously made in the coal face. He should be careful to make this cut uniform in width and depth and should chip off enough coal to make a sample weighing at least 6 pounds for each foot of the thickness of the bed; so that the sample collected on the cloth from a 6-foot bed will weigh not less than 36 pounds. Inexperienced collectors should weigh their samples (by spring balance or otherwise) as a check on the accuracy of their work. As soon as the cutting of the sample has been completed, if the full outfit previously described is available, the finer portions of the sample should be put through the J-inch or f-inch screen and the lumps should be broken in the mortar until all the coal passes through the screen. The sample should then be thoroughly mixed by two men grasping the opposite corners of the sampling cloth and rolling it diagonally by raising one .corner at a time, and after being thoroughly mixed should be formed into a conical pile by gathering together the four corners of the cloth. Then the cloth should be laid on the floor and the top of the pile flattened with a clean dry shovel, trowel, or board. The sample is then quartered and two opposite quarters are discarded and brushed off. The remainder is mixed as before, METHOD OF SAMPLING. 13 and if the sample is still too bulky for convenient handling it is again quartered down. The material finally remaining is spread into a circular mass about 2 inches deep on the cloth, and the sam- pling- scoop is used to fill the sample can compactly with portions from opposite quarters. The entire operation described above, from the cutting of the sample to the sealing of the can, should be done in the mine so as not to expose the coal to the outside atmosphere. THE CAN SHOULD BE COMPLETELY FILLED. It is important that the coal be well packed in the can, so as to occupy as much of the space as possible, for in that way the air is more nearly excluded. This is best accomplished by shaking or jarring the can repeatedly and vigorously while filling it. LABELING. Each sample can when sent out should have a number printed on it. This number is to be used by the coUector as the field number for the sample placed in that can for analysis, and is to be recorded in his notebook and on his cards. Before the can is sealed, a folded label should be placed in it on the top of the coal. This label should bear the can number, the name and location of the mine, the name of the collector, and the date. Each can should be wrapped with several thicknesses of heavy manila paper which should be care- fully and securely tied. Then the addressed franked wrapper should be pasted on or tied around the wrapped can, the collector filling in the blank spaces on the addressed wrapper with information showing the name of the collector and date of collection. SEALING THE CAN. As soon as the can has been filled and the label (described above) placed inside, the cap should be screwed on so that the top of the screw fits tightly into the rubber or other flexible material in the cap ; adhesive tape should then be carefully wrapped around the lower outer edge of the cap in such a manner as to cover the joint and increase the thoroughness of the sealing. NOTES. To facilitate the gathering and recording of data concerning the samples of coal and the mines from which they are taken, blank forms have been prepared for the use of collectors. These forms can be had upon application to either the Director of the Bureau of Mines or the Director of the Geological Survey. The forms, which are of convenient size for the pocket, indicate what information is desired a Copies of the forms are appended to this circular. 14 THE SAMPLING OF COAL IN THE MINE. concerning the nature and operations of the mine, the number, depth, and character of the beds of coal, the specific location from which each sample was taken, and the exact character of the bed at the point of sampling, and make specific mention of bands of " sulphur" (pyrite, etc.), shale, or other objectionable material that should be excluded in shipment. The record of the coal-sample section should be made in the mine from actual measurements, immediately after the collection of the sample and the sealing of the sample can. PROMPT FORWARDING AND ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES. The cans containing the samples should be delivered by the col- lector in person to the nearest post office for forwarding by the first mail to the laboratory. It is expected that each sample on its receipt at the laboratory will be placed in a dark, cool place, and that the analysis will be completed within two weeks. SENDING NOTIFICATION CARDS. The cards, supplied in advance to each collector, are in two forms, A and B. After entering certain data called for in the forms the col- lector forwards, in sealed envelope, one card A for the mine and a card B for each sample, to the Bureau of Mines chemical laboratory. As soon as these cards and the corresponding sample are received at the laboratory a statement of the receipt of sample is then sent to the chief of the field party, in order to give notice of the arrival of the sample. Copies of these cards are shown on pages 15 and 16. Special attention should be given to filling out and promptly for- warding these cards. Failure to fill out a card properly or to for- ward it promptly may cause indefinite delay in making the analysis of a sample. METHOD OF SAMPLING. 15 : : : ::::::::::::: Oi 1 1 i I i i Mlililjli iliii III i i i i . . }! ic , i* :j :Y ;1 i a ; : : ' 1 : Ijvj o & o ;l .:!!:!; :1 i? ': :| i j j i i i i :! : : : : j* jj j j : : s : :f : : : : : : : : : : :. : : ; : : : : : : . . d . . . . jj . a . . : .8 . . . : , eenings, crushed, wash an is given here.) (Office.) Put remarks, if z : :| ::::? :::: g :: :-S : i g i i ^ a! . 3 S H 00 w v 1* * & . 1 . a . , 3 oa T! : o p S: f& J | 1 tt S ! i 3: il:1: i|l ?'! 'J ' J ||g g 1 : : 8 ::!:: :^S : : 3. 1 a 3 . pq a * ' ' 1*2 "."* J '^"^ ' ^ fcj +Z : : o '& : M a Ik 1 cicnt, use back of card, Nos. of all samples fon | 1 1 1 1 00 ' ^ ' *2 V ft fl "~" G- ' ' ' ' ' ' ei P 3 1| * -8 ^^ o O5 ^ c^ ^ (Indicate after !:.> - g S2 s c3 y to fill in nurr (Collector. line. Mai ! c . q * 8 x-^ 2 *s : ' : i| 'I :i ^ ^^i CO 1 3^ (If this si (Laboratoi H 1 5 c^ s - . '$ ' j> s ^ 7 S -9 5 ^ 1 s i t J' jj ;l| : : J : "S a g ^ ^ O t i ^ O ' 'CJ Q r-M Q^ ^ O C. sr B 1 "o i o o . _ 41 t < . 5 o i 3 2 &- : :: 'UcB o3' ?Q g^^ e o| S"^ ' ' ' ^* ^ - PI >H CJ gTJg CQ^C ' 'S bs '^-^">,^' 4 ~'^Q^ fd) aJ ' '.S 1 ^^ S oow |1| 1 1 - 1 ^ 1 1 'i I J. 1 s J oo^o^ O^WOOh-l^PHHPHa: ( ,|".f II S o o> 1 8 SH PH # ^^ I_H PH H P: I i i ^ I . a > e s i! H ' S 3 ' o =* fc r- 1-^flOt^ OO O5 i 1 C^T CO V a C' X v^. 3 D 16 THE SAMPLING OF COAL IN THE MINE. .5 2 c ^c a "? ? r^ a 1 HH J 1 _^ :;;;;; 1 1 S (Lab. (5) Operator... t sampling (Describe if other ths fim Date (Of sampling i fresh or weathered coal (Description and thickness.) I Total thickness of bed Thickness in sample 1 a 6 1 I i i.| ' N? e i a ll 3 1 CO Tt< 1C CO 1 1 1 1 T 1 1 t c^ C^ v_ A f ^ 5 o 5 & s i w S JfH '** g S 2 Q> p, . co c L, o ^ g ^-, 8 S 1 i -*j n^ 3 - C c S C 1 m f PN 1 Z -^ "> a ^ * 1 a> 3 S ^ r S LI PH S S 8, a S "S a c ct. 2 s 43 fe -g 8 OQ t? . -> t3 O ^ o 5 S PH * p2 "^ " i 73 ctf t> -^ ~ *S K. 2 9s >H c r P pfi ; W ^ o -u o g *-! O B3 S * > ^5 F 8 w WCQ A Q) s C *5 a 1 o ffi IX "~ : c 1 r^ ^H -S d 3 >. rt -^ N^ t H a a t3 d "e *S ^j g 5 "3 S l" 3 t 1 & 4 O t jij 1 t^ 00 OS O i 1 C^ 1 1 1 1 f 1 E -I- *1 C3 U forations S i-O ^ s ^ ^ S ^S O VH -f^ -*T^ A x x S *s, p " QQ %4 1^ tdD^S O ""-'' .2 "^ ' M .S'> 1 ^ | .^ ^J fc o3 > fl T3 O *3 Gi p> ( JH oJ M *-\ M Jx' O o 3 1 o I - ""i s H g .S ^o^g x s. o *d j ^ QH C$ C^ Q ^ v^x ifl -g f "" "~" d ^~* 9 S M K Q O 9 M ^ q C^ -^j . .15 ^ tt a QD T TJ t? S ^ 1 1 s O """ i^ "j3 cd o cc t *^ g $ QQ 8 c o S M Q^ M C g $ O +-* S P 1 c n ^Js *3 -S l ~ l o j^ ac "f G h 1 ^ ^ ^ f-l o a o p f-M F rt ZH ^> ^^ a l S &j 'S rt 1 c3 1 3 & 1 *- t B ^ S $ 3 c ? CO CO ^ o i 1 (M CO Tf 1TD CO 1 CO ^e * u i-i co a ) I 1 ut ^ o: = a > ^ x > x^. X X^ o BLANK FORMS FOR COLLECTORS. 17 BLANK FORMS FOB COLLECTORS. Copies of some of the blank forms carried by the engineers of the Bureau of Mines for recording the information desired regarding a sample of coal and the mine from which it is taken are given here- with. These forms are printed on separate sheets that are perforated, and are intended for use with a loose-leaf binder. They make a note- book measuring about 4J by 7J inches. (See folio wing pages, forms B, C, D, and E being omitted as not relating to character of coal.) DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. BUREAU OF MINES. A. Physical features of the mine. Name of collector Mine Date State County Township S T It Mine location (distance and direction from nearest railway station) Mine railway connections Operator of mine Address of operator Address of mine Superintendent ' Pit boss Selling agent Address Trade name of coal Coal-bed name Geologic formation Kind of coal Average thickness of coal bed feet inches. Dip of bed Direction of dip Has coal "faces' '? Direction of Faults ; frequent? Rolls or horse backs ; frequent? Does mine make methane? from coal, roof, or floor Quantity evolved maximum in return per cent. Entrance to mine : Drift, cross-drift, slope, shaft Elevation of entrance above sea, barometric reading Actual feet. Vertical depth to bed (below entrance) feet. System of mining Is mine laid out with reference to "butts' ' and "faces' '? Entry width, main feet; side entry feet; stub feet. Pillar width, main feet; side entry feet; stub feet. Room pillar width feet; barrier pillar width feet. Room width feet; room length feet. Room pillars pulled? Entry pillars pulled? Proportion of coal taken in advance work Per cent recovery excluding roof coal per cent including per cent. 18 THE SAMPLING OF COAL IN THE MINE. F. Mining conditions. Range in thickness of coal as mined : From feet inches. to feet inches. Average feet inches. Variability of partings or other impurity in character and thickness? Roof (a) "Draw slate" (coming down with coal) thickness. (6) Shale, quality, color, etc (c) Roof coal Quality Thickness (d) Sandstone or limestone Is immediate roof smooth or does coal stick? Does immediate roof fall in rooms? 1 Is there a cap rock or main roof above? Height of cap rock, etc. , above coal feet. Do particles of roof get mixed with coal in loading? Vertical height to nearest workable coal above feet. Vertical depth to nearest workable coal below feet. Floor or underclay: Kind Softness Smooth or rough Do particles get mixed with coal? Is coal undercut in clay floor orin coal? Undercut by hand or machine? Are machine cuttings loaded with coal? FUTURE OUTPUT AND PRODUCTION. Approximately what unmined area is to be taken out from present opening? acres. What is probable lifetime of mine? years. Is the tonnage to be derived from advance work or pillars In what proportions? Present average daily output of mine tons (2,000 pounds). Maximum day's run To what extent is daily output to be increased or diminished in future? G. Preparation for market. Proportion of output shipped as "run of mine" What percentage of coal going to screens passes through?. Type of lump screens, bar, shaking, etc.: Size of opening (a) Bar, length feet. Spaces, width inches. (6) Shaking screen, area feet by feet. Diameter of holes inch. Type of small-coal screens, if any: (a) Bars, length Space, width inches. (6) Shaking screens, area feet by feet. Diameter of holes inch. (c) Revolving screens, length feet. Diameter of holes inch. Diameter of mesh inch. BLANK FORMS FOR COLLECTORS. 19 IB coal picked on belt or on car? Numbers of pickers (or trimmers who pick) Are screenings washed? Maximum size washed inch. Sizes produced by washing Type of washery Average daily tonnage tons (2,000 pounds). Are screenings coked? Are they crushed? Average daily tonnage coal coked What storage-bin capacity? tons. Appearance of lump coal on cars. Lumps, large or small? Appearance of screenings on cars Loading tracks, number of Track capacity for empty railway cars Track capacity for loaded railway cars REMARKS: H. Coal sample section. Mine Date, , 191. . . State - Can No County Township Name of bed of coal Location of mine Total (vertical) depth from surface at point of sampling feet. [In describing the beds and character of the members note any member that is rejected by the miner. Note all clay and "sulphur" partings, whatever their thickness. Exclude from sample all clay and "sulphur" partings f inch thick or over (and even those of less thickness) if they are rejected at mine or tipple.] Section of bed at point sampled. Description. Roof (main) Roof (immediate) . Feet. No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Total Floor. Inches. 20 THE SAMPLING OF COAL IN THE MINE. Is coal sample wet or dry? Time exposed hours minutes. Weight gross net. What are the impurities and how do they occur? What impurities are shipped with the coal? What impurities are excluded from the sample? Collector. . PUBLICATIONS ON SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS OF COAL. 21 PUBLICATIONS ON THE SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS OF COAL. A limited supply of the following publications of the Bureau of Mines has been printed and is available for free distribution until the edition is exhausted. Requests for all publications can not be granted, and to insure equitable distribution applicants are requested to limit their selection to publications that may be of especial inter- est to them. Requests for publications should be addressed to the Director, Bureau of Mines. The Bureau of Mines issues a list showing all its publications available for free distribution as well as those obtainable only from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, on payment of the price of printing. Interested persons should apply to the Director, Bureau of Mines, for a copy of the latest list. PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR FREE DISTRIBUTION. BULLETIN 28. Experimental work conducted in the chemical laboratory of the United States fuel-testing plant at St. Louis, Mo., January 1, 1905, to July 31, 1906, byN. W. Lord. 51pp. BULLETIN 85. Analysis of mine and car samples of coal collected in the fiscal yeara 1911 to 1913, by A. C. Fieldner, H. I. Smith, A. H. Fay, and Samuel Sanford. 1914. 444 pp., 2 figs. BULLETIN 119. Analyses of coals purchased by the Government during the fiscal years 1908-1915, by G. S. Pope. 1916. 118 pp. BULLETIN 123. Analyses of mine and car samples of coal collected in the fiscal year 1913 to 1916, by A. C. Fieldner, H. I. Smith, J. W. Paul, and S. Sanford, 1918. 478 pp., 2 figs. TECHNICAL PAPER 8. Methods of analyzing coal and coke, by F. M. Stanton and A. C. Fieldner, 1913. 42 pp., 12 figs. TECHNICAL PAPER 64. The determination of nitrogen in coal, a comparison of various modifications of the Kjeldahl method with the Dumas method, by A. C. Fieldner and C. A. Taylor. 1915. 25 pp., 5 figs. TECHNICAL PAPER 76. Notes on the sampling and analysis of coal, by A. C. Field- ner. 1914. 59 pp., 6 figs. TECHNICAL PAPER 133. Directions for sampling coal for shipment or delivery, by G. S. Pope. 1917. 15 pp., 1 pi. TECHNICAL PAPER 148. The determination of moisture in coke, by A. C. Fieldner and W. A. Selvig. 1917. 13 pp. TECHNICAL PAPER 172. Effects of moisture on the spontaneous heating of stored coal, by S. H. Katz and H. C. Porter. 1917. 25 pp., 1 pi., 8 figs. PUBLICATIONS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED ONLY THROUGH THE SUPER- INTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS. BULLETIN 11. The purchase of coal by the Government under specifications, with analyses of coal delivered for the fiscal year 1908-9, by G. S. Pope, 80 pp. 10 cents. BULLETIN 22. Analyses of coals in the United States, with descriptions of mine and field samples collected between July 1, 1904, and June 30, 1910, by N. W. Lord, with chapters by J. A. Holmes, F. M. Stanton, A. C. Fieldner, and Samuel Sanford. 1912. Part I, Analyses, pp. 1-321; Part II, Descriptions of samples, pp. 321-1129. 85 cents. 22 THE SAMPLING OF COAL IX THE MIXE. IN 41. Government coal purchases under specifications, with analyses for the fiscal year 1909-10, by G. S. Pope, with a chapter on the fuel-inspection laboratory of the Bureau of Mines, by J. D. Davis. 1912. 97 pp., 3 pis., 9 figs. 15 cents. BULLETIN 63. Sampling coal deliveries and types of Government specifications for the purchase of coal, by G. S. Pope. 1913. 68 pp., 4 pla., 3 figs. 10 cents. BULLETIN 116. Methods of sampling delivered coal, and specifications for the purchase of coal for the Government, by G. S. Pope. 1916. 64 pp., 5 pis., 2 figs. 15 cente. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY BERKELEY THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW Books not returned on time are subject to a fine of 50c per volume after the third day overdue, increasing to $1.00 per volume after the sixth day. Books not in demand may be renewed if application is made before expiration of loan period. . FEB 1 9 1968 ; REC'D LD FEB 50m-7,'16