i STEAM COAL - Clpdigital.org

DEEP DRILLING IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Diamond drilling as a means of locating the
gold bearing reefs of the Transvaal has been in
general practice for many years. Unusual interest
attaches to it at the present time owing
to the large number of deep holes which are being
sunk to prove the existence and position of the
ore bodies at increasing distances from the outcrop.
For this work larger and larger drills have
been used and within the last year or two numerous
bore holes have been bottomed in ore at
depths of from 4,500 to 5,000 feet.
Upward of 300 diamond drills are now in use
in South Africa, the prevailing types being the
DRILL OUTFIT AT WORK (JN THK VKI.DT.
Sullivan and Bullock, manufactured by the Sullivan
Machinery Co., of Chicago. For the deep
holes the favorite drill is the Sullivan improved
class "P," rated capacity 4,000 feet. The mining
companies as a rule let the work to contractors,
who furnish all the equipment and expert operators,
and deliver the core into the hands of the
company. American contractors have recently
broken all records for depth. James Tobin completed
a bore hole at Doornkloof, near Randfontein,
at a depth of 5.560 feet. This hole was
sunk to prove the main reef series, and it is understood
that the results are conclusive although
they have not been made public. The deflection
was very slight. The first 3,200 feet were bored
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
with a Sullivan size "N" drill, rated capacity 2,000
feet. A size "P" drill of latest improved pattern
with a rated capacity of 4,000 feet was then put in
commission and continued the hole until its completion
at 5,560 feet; 700 feet of size "N" rods removing
2-inch core were used, the remaining 4,860
feet being B, removing a 1%-inch core. The total
load of these rods was between 15 and 16 tons,
which was handled by the engine without difficulty.
The actual running time of this hole was
14 months, or an average of nearly 400 feet per
month. For the first two months two ten-hour
shifts were used and for the rest of the time the
work was carried on during the 24 hours, divided
into three eight-hour shifts. The rods were
pulled in lengths of 50 feet, the height of the tubular
steel derrick being 66 feet over all. The
time required to lower the rods at a depth of 5,000
feet was from 3 to 3 f, hours and from 3V_. to 4
hours was required to lift them.
This record has since been bettered by a hole
sunk near Springs, East of Johannesburg, by John
Skenke. This hole was begun May 1, 1904, and
completed February 2, 1905, at a depth of 5,582
feet. A size "P" drill was also used here, power
being supplied oy a 30 I. H. P. boiler; 1 000 feet
of "N" (2-inch core) rods were used, the remainder
of the equipment being similar to that used by
Tobin.
RECENT COAL TRADE PATENTS.
The following recently granted patents of interest
to the coal trade, are reported expressly
for THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN, by J. M. Nesbit
patent attorney, Park building, Pittsburgh, Pa.,
from whom printed copies may be procured for
15 cents each:
Miner's pick, Martin Hardsocg, Ottumwa, la.;
784,044.
Detachable tool handle, William Ashert, Des
Moines, la.; 784,772.
Coal separator, F. H. Emery, Scranton, Pa.;
784,783.
Mechanism for hauling and controlling mine
cars, J. G. Scott, Girardville, Pa.; 784,898.
Miner's pick, W. F. Gillooly, Coalton, W. Va.;
786,207.
Mining car brake, J. C. Jones, Coffeen, 111.; 786,-
361.
Car haul, L. J. Robb, Pittsburgh, assignor to
Heyl & Patterson, same place; 786,517.
Machine for drawing coke, F. D. Buffum, Newton,
Mass.; 786,623.
Coking oven, J. M. Sullivan, Chicago, assignor
to American Coal Converting Co., same place;
786,694.
Ui