PILLAR COAL

Grey River Argus, 29 April 1944, Page 4

PILLAR COAL

N.S.W. PLAN TO SAVE IT Hydraulic Pressure Filling I'Aus. & N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec. 7.45) SYDNEY, April 28. Millions of tons of high grade coal will be saved for Australia if experiments which have been begun at the Aterdare Colliery in the Newcastle district, prove that hydraulic stowage can be applied in high seam mines. Hydraulic stowage means the packing, or filling up of space which previously has been occupied by coal, to permit -of the removal of the pillars of coal? Under the present system of mining, the pillars of coal must be left to support the roofs of the mines. Under great water pressure, ash, sand, or crushed soil is forced ; nto the mine, and is tightly packed to ocar the pressure of the roof, in order to prevent movement. Movement not only causes surface subsidences, but also makes the recovery of rich coal close to the areas already worked extremely dangerous. Far-seeing coal authorities have for many years, discussed the prodigal waste of first grade coal that is enentjiiled by the present method of working the thick seams. Some estimates fix the rate of loss "at seventy-five per cent. The present experiments are- being conducted by a technical advisory committee established by the New South Wales State Government, which is bearing the cost. COAL PRODUCTION. SYDNEY, April 28. Australian coal production for 1944 will fall below 11,000,000 tons unless the average production in all fields improves for the rest of the year, said the Secretary of the Southern and Western Collierv Pronrietors’ Association, Mr. W. F. McNallv. Last year Australian coal production exceeded 11,500,0000 tons, and in 1942 production was 12,250,000 tons-—an ill-time record.

Mr. McNallv said that coal production in New South Wales for the first quarter of 1944 was 33,000 tons less than for the first quarter of 1943 : , and 574.000 tons less than for the first quarter of 1942.