March 27, 1914.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

677

HELIUM IN FIREDAMP AND THE RADIO-
ACTIVITY OF COAL.

In a paper read before the Academie des Sciences, C.
Moureu and A. Lepape, who had previously discovered
the presence of helium in firedamp, gave particulars of
their experiments in estimating the amount of helium
contained in the gas of several collieries.

A “ blower” at Anzin, which furnished the gas for the
earlier researches, after continuing to give out a regular
quantity of firedamp for 12 years, is now exhausted;
but an estimate of the average volume of pit gas set free
in the Anzin collieries gives 30,000 cubic metres of fire-
damp per diem. Then, assuming this gas to contain
the same proportion of helium as that previously
analysed by the authors (0'04 per- cent.), the volume of
helium thus liberated daily would be 12 cubic metres, or
4,380 cubic metres per annum. The “ blower ” at
Frankenholz, which has been in active operation for
seven years, furnishes 7,200 cubic metres of firedamp
daily, and the total quantity liberated throughout the
whole of the mine daily is 37,000 cubic metres. With a
helium content of 0'027 per cent, (as shown by analysis),
a volume of 10 cubic metres of helium is produced per
diem, or 3,650 cubic metres per annum. These quantities
are enormous, and far in excess of those found in the
richest thermal springs—e.g., 18 cubic metres per annum
at Santenay and 34 cubic metres at Neris.

In view of the close relationship between helium and
the radio-active bodies, the natural course to follow for
obtaining information on the origin of the helium in
firedamp was to study, in the first place, the radio-
activity of these gaseous mixtures and of the coal in
which they originate. For the purpose in view it was
sufficient to investigate the emanation of radium in
firedamp, and that of the radium and thorium in samples
of coal taken from the vicinity of gas “ blowers.”
These investigations were carried on with the aid of the
Oheneveau-Laborde electroscope, but the results were
practically nil, the emanations being too small to reach
the minimum (2'10"11 curies) the apparatus was capable
of detecting.

For determining the radium and thorium in the coal
samples, the mineral constituents of the coal were first
isolated, by incineration, and then dissolved by the
action of hydrochloric acid and aqua regia, fusing the
residue with alkali carbonates, &c. The solution was
then kept for a certain time in a closed vessel, and
examined for radio-activity to ascertain by calculation
the amount of radium in the coal. The thorium was
next determined by drawing the thorium emanations
over an electroscope by means of a constant current of
air.

The following table shows the results of the measure-
ments obtained:—

Radium and Thobium in Coal

Origin.	Weight of sample.  Grammes.	Ash content (in per cent, cf the coal).	Radium (IO-12 grammes).		Thorium (10"5 grammes).	
			In 1 gramme of ash.	In 1 gramme of coal.	In 1 gramme of asb.	In 1 gramme of coal.
Lievin 		200	46	<0'5	<002	—	—
Anzin 		2,000	35	<0'5	<0 01	<05	<0 01
Lens		500	11	8'8	0 97	3	0'33
Frankenholz 		2,000	2	2	004	1'5	0'03
Mons 		2,000	23	<0'5	<0 01	1'2	0'02

It is thus evident that coal contains certain propor-
tions of radium and thorium. With regard to the
problem whether these proportions are able to account
for the enormous yields of helium mentioned above, the
following calculation, relating to firedamp from the
Frankenholz Colliery, may be given.

This mine emits a daily quantity of 10 cubic metres
of helium, and, assuming that it continues to do so for
20 years, the total quantity of helium given off into the
atmosphere in that period will be 73,000 cubic metres.
Taking the radium and thorium content as set forth in
the table, and in view of the known laws of the produc-
tion of helium and thorium, this coal will have produced
since the carboniferous period—that is to say, during
about 100 million years—2 cubic millimetres, 2T0"3 of
helium per gramme of coal, and consequently the weight
of the coal furnishing the 73,000 cubic metres of helium
would be 33 milliard tons, occupying a space of
22 milliard cubic metres, or about 1,000 times the
annual coal output in France. It is, however, not
improbable that a large portion of the helium remains
occluded in the coal, and that only a small fraction is
liberated, so that the mass of coal really necessary for
the disengagement of 73,000 cubic metres of helium in
the mine in question would be very much greater than
33 milliard tons—perhaps 100 times that figure. It
would seem, therefore, that only a small fraction of the
helium in firedamp originated in the radio-active con-
stituents of the coal.

On the other hand, it appears from the author’s
researches that the helium in firedamp is always accom-
panied by the other four rare gases—neon, argon,
crypton and xenon. Now these are certainly not
produced by the coal, and, since previous experiments
have shown that the five rare gases are always found
associated in firedamp, it is evident that the radio-
active substances in coal play only a very small part in
the production of the helium in firedamp.

The problem may also be approached by taking into
consideration surrounding rocks, which also contain
radio-active substances. According to the latest

researches, the average radium content in sedimentary
rocks is 1'5 gramme, 5'10"la per gramme of rock, and
that of thorium 1'16 gramme, 10"5 per gramme-—that
is to say, 49 times as much as in coal.

However this may be, there is no doubt that only a
small portion of the helium in coal is of recent forma-
tion. nearly the whole being fossil, and there is also no
doubt that most of the helium has not originated in the
radio-active substances in the coal. The manner in
which this extraneous helium has been introduced into
the coal, together with the other rare gases accom-
panying the helium in firedamp, is under investigation.

Institution of Mining and Metallurgy.—The annual
dinner of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy took
place on the 12th inst. at the Savoy Hotel. The president
of the institution (Mr. Bedford McNeill) presided, and was
supported by a numerous company. The Marquess of
Crewe, K.G. (Secretary of State for India) submitted the
toast of “ The Institution of Mining and Metallurgy.” He
was concerned, he said, with the institution as chairman of
the Governing Body of the Imperial College of Science and
Technology at Kensington. The college buildings were now
slowly rising, and some of them approached completion;
and great advantages were anticipated from the new
arrangements at the School of Mines. He believed they
were carrying out and would carry out to still more purpose
the objects for which the college was founded—namely, the
supply of the most advanced teaching in science and the
most profound and thorough scientific research. They had
experienced some degree of tension in connection with the
Royal Commission on University Teaching in London,
which dealt with the University of London. For the
College of Science and Technology the question throughout
had been : What should be the nature of the link uniting
it to any reformed London university ? He would have
preferred that there should be created in London, as repre-
senting the Empire, a separate Technological University—
quite unconnected with any body devoted to other branches
of study no less imperial and no less important, but in no
way connected with those subjects with which a techno-
logical university would deal. His sentiment arose from
doubt as to the possibility cf combining on the enormous
scale which a great London university must inevitably
reach, a complete encyclopaedia, so to speak, of all kinds of
human knowledge. He recognised the great authority of
the Royal Commission, and he was prepared, like others, to
do his utmost to assist in carrying out the recommendations
made in the report of the Commission. They in the
Imperial College did feel entitled to claim in some form to
maintain complete independence in regard to the organisa-
tion of studies and in dealing with their own endowments.
There was no need for him to dwell upon the importance of
the work of the institution. He was told that they were
applying for a charter of incorporation, and he would do
what he could to assist in any way in setting forward the
claims of this great institution. He coupled with the toast
the name of the president, Mr. Bedford McNeill.—The
president, in his reply, referred to his visit to Canada to
represent the institution at the International Geological

Congress. It was true there were some, he said, who were
disposed to regard geology as a “ culture subject,” and signs
were not wanting that the mining men were disposed to
resent in a measure the encroachment of their domain by the
geologist. They all knew that of necessity a mining man
must be, to a very large extent, a geologist, but the geologist
need not be, and oftentimes was not, a mining engineer.
Certainly the metalliferous miner could claim for his
science a most respectable antiquity. They now had a
house of their own, with ample accommodation for all needs,
and the institution could make still further progress. They
realised that the advancement of the great industries with
which they were connected—industries which were funda-
mental to the progress of civilisation—largely depended on
higher technological education, not only in their own
particular sciences of mining and metallurgy, but also in
the allied sciences, and they had done all that lay in their
power to secure that such higher technical education
should be available for the student. A credential he was
specially anxious that they should be in a position to
produce, was a royal charter, and it was with the greatest
satisfaction he announced that their petition for a charter
was now before the Privy Council. The grant of a charter
would enable them still further to elevate their profession,
and more effectively insist, not only upon a high standard
of practical and scientific proficiency, but also on the
observance of strict rules with regard to professional
conduct.—Mr. John H. Cordner-James (member of the
council) proposed the toast of “ Our Guests,” for whom
Sir Archibald Geikie, K.C.B., O.M., F.R.S., and Sir
Thomas H. Elliott, K.C.B., responded.—The Right Hon.
Lord Joicey then submitted the toast of “ The Chairman.”
—The chairman, in expressing his thanks, gave another
toast—that of the health of the secretary, Mr. C. McDermid.
—Replying to the toast, Mr. McDermid said that while
the institution had done something, much remained to
be done, and they had many worlds to conquer before they
realised their ideals. One of the ideals they had had for
some time was the enjoyment of a Royal Charter of
Incorporation, which would enable them to regulate more
effectually the conduct of men who posed as professional
mining engineers, and to ensure that only men really
qualified to act as mining engineers should practice as such
in London and other great centres of mining.

ASBESTOS COVERINGS FOR STEAM PIPES
IN SHAFTS.

Considerable losses are sometimes created in carrying
high-pressure steam pipes through wet shafts, and, in
such conditions, it is a provident measure to prevent
condensation by covering the pipes with some non-
conducting material; it is a further advantage if such
a covering is of the sectional and removable order.

Our attention has been called to some coverings that
are specially made for this purpose by Messrs. Toope’s
Asbestos Covering Company Limited, of Stepney-
square, Stepney, E. One type, suitable for high-
pressure steam pipes, is composed of a proportional
thickness of asbestos fibre, which lines the interior of
the covering and comes next to the hot surface; the
outer layers are composed of waterproof felt, which is
saturated with a special preparation for the purpose.
This covering is made in thicknesses of 1 in. and in lengths
of 3 ft. A covering for medium or low-pressure steam
is composed of an inner thickness of asbestos millboard,
with one thickness of hair felt surmounted by a
proportioned thickness of waterproofed felting. This
covering is made in the thicknesses and lengths
mentioned above.

A third type of covering is made in thicknesses of
1| in. and is specially suitable for hot water pipes
exposed to wet or for cold water pipes, placed in such
positions to prevent freezing. It is composed entirely
of felt and is also suitable for brine and ammonia pipes,
used in sinking through water-bearing strata.

Flange covers are supplied in similar materials and
Messrs. Toope’s make a large variety of coverings for
various purposes. One of the materials used is a
combination of infusorial earth and asbestos fibre,
giving great structural strength and durability. Where
it is desired to render the covering fireproof pure
asbestos is woven between confining layers of asbestos
paper. Mention may also be made of a “ dead air-space ”
covering ; this contains internal rings of the same
material as the outer covering, which leaves an air
space between the pipe and the covering.

FAST AND LOOSE PULLEYS.

We illustrate herewith a new type of fast and loose
pulley, which has been placed on the market by Mr.
John Jardine, of Nottingham.

The loose pulley runs, as illustrated, upon a cast iron
sleeve fixed to shaft by a grub screw. The boss of the

pulley is recessed to form an oil reservoir. A tube for
oiling is inserted so as to almost touch the shaft, thus
preventing the oil being thrown out by centrifugal
force. When the pulley is at rest the oil runs to the
bottom of the recess. When the pulley is restarted oil
drips upon the cast iron sleeve until full speed is
attained, when the oil by centrifugal force is kept to the
outward diameter of the recess.

The pulleys arejnade in six standard sizes from 6 to
24 inches diameter, the smaller sizes having 3 in. faces
and 11 in. bores, and the larger 4 in. faces and 2 in. bores
respectively.

A meeting of the Parliamentary Committee of the
Waterways Association was held on Wednesday, 18th inst.,
at the House of Commons to consider how best the
Government may be induced to bring in legislation to give
effect to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on
Canals and Waterways. Mr. H. Terrell, K.C., M.P.,
presided. The secretary, Mr. Frank Impey, of Birmingham,
reported that resolutions generally approving the recom-
mendations of the Royal Commission and the policy of the
Association had been passed by 99 county councils, 60
borough councils, 77 urban district councils, 22 chambers of
commerce, and eight chambers of agriculture and kindred
associations; also the Association of Municipal Authorities,
the Association of District Councils, the Association of
Midland Local Authorities, the Trade Unions Congress, the
Miners’ Federation of Great Britain, the Central Chamber
of Agriculture, and numerous trading, employers’ and
workmen’s associations. In all 217 resolutions had been
forwarded to the Prime Minister. One hundred and
twenty members of Parliament had joined the Committee.
The President of the Board of Trade had consented to
receive a deputation on March 31. A deputation was
appointed.