THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN AND JOURNAL OF THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Vol. CX. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1915. No. 2870. The Drumheller Coal Field, Alberta.* Company, the Rosedale Coal and Clay Products Com- pany, the Star Coal Company, -the Red Deer Valley Coal Company Limited, and the Rose Deer Coal Mining By D. A. MACAULAY. Company. While in The mines in operation in the Drumheller coal fields are situated in the valley of the Red Deer River, about 85 miles north-east of Calgary, Alberta, along the Saskatoon to Calgary branch of the Canadian Northern Railway. The approximate elevation of the valley is 2,300 ft, above sea level, and the width ranges from 300-400 yds. to more than one mile, the ground rising on both sides with a steep slope to about 250 ft., when was opened by a tunnel driven in the coal under the steep slope of the valley on the south side of the river. The overlying border at this point is about 200 ft. The seam averages 4 ft. 4 in. of clean coal, with the exception of one parting, which is from 1-4 in. in thickness. 1 he roof is of hard green sandstone, and requires but little timbering. The floor consists of tough fireclay about 9 in. thick, which is removed in the entries to make some cases these mines are several miles apart, and considerable difference is shown in the sections of the seams, roof and floor, yet there is enough similarity to lead to the conclusion that they are all working on the same seam, a characteristic parting being found in all. It averages about 15 in. thick, and is composed of a band of grey clay from 3 to 6 in. thick, overlaying a very hard granular coal. Between this and -the good coal of the bottom bench is a band it develops into rolling prairie land. The strata over- lying the upper coal seams are exposed all along the valley, and can be traced for miles without showing any sign of folding or faults. The measures lie almost horizontal, with, in places, a slight inclination towards the west. These measures belong to the Edmonton series. The coal beds are generally assigned to the £jiau X) i * r * .L Fig. 1.—Sections of Seam in Different Mines. rfedtieer /Wne /Vf'cy/anc/ /V/rio Fig. 3.—Self-dumping Cage at Red Deer Valley Colliery. V-V Dia Fig. 2.—General Arrangement of Tipple at Red Deer Valley Company’s Colliery, Drumheller. & 3 i q 4 e? Pit Scale I EE Laramie formation. While four different seams of coal are known to exist, as yet but two are being worked, namely, No. 2 (Newcastle) and No. 4. Both seams produce -an excellent quality of domestic coal, as well as a good steam fuel, the calorific power ranging from 9,400 to 15,000. The first workable seam in the series is No. 2, operated by the Newcastle Coal Company Limited. The mine is located 1| miles west of the village of Drumheller, and * Bulletin, Canadian Mining Institute, a greater height. The mine is worked on the double entry system, with rooms and pillars. Though no gas has been found, safety lamps of the Koehler type are in use. The mining is done by hand picks, and loose black powder is used in blasting. The workings are above the river level, and the mine is free from water. The maximum output per day is 500 tons. No. 4 seam, which is about 70 ft. beneath No. 2, is operated by the Midland Collieries Limited, the Drumheller Coal Company Limited, the Stirling Coal of bone about 3 in. thick. The coal in the bottom bench varies in thickness at the different mines. Where it is thin it would not pay to remove the parting in order -to mine the bottom bench; consequently at several of the mines the top bench only is worked. Though none of the workings cover a very large area, no faults or erosions similar to those found in the Lethbridge district have been encountered. The roof is much better, and the floor does not show the same -tendency to heave. The Midland mine is located opposite the Newcastle, on the north side of the river. The seam was opened by a slope about 400 ft. long, driven at a pitch of 19 ucgs. A three entry system was started from the foot of the slope. Rooms 15 ft. wide and 35 ft. centre to centre, are broken off both back entries for about 200 ft., and then cut off by parallel entries 10 ft. wide. The roof and floor are both good, and very little timber is required. The mine is ventilated by a 7 ft. Stine fan. At first, a large quantity of firedamp was given off, but this has gradually decreased until at present no difficulty is found in keeping the mine clear. Safety lamps and permitted explosives are used, and all shots are fired by electricity. The seam at this point is below the river level. At first about 500 galls, of water per minute had to be handled, but now the quantity has decreased to about 35 galls, per minute. Operations in this seam were com- menced in September 1914, and the mine is now capable of producing 500 tons in two shifts. At the Star Mine, which is about 9 miles south-east of the Midland, the coal outcrops in the east bank of the river about 40 ft. above its level. This mine was opened in June 1914 by two entries 55 ft. apart, starting at the outcrop and following an easterly direc- tion. Rooms are broken off both the main and back entry. Some of the rooms are 25 ft. wide, with a 13 ft. pillar between; others are 35ft. wide, with two tracks and two room necks driven narrow for 30 ft. back from the entry. Only the top bench is worked. It is 5 ft. 6 in. high, including about 3 in. of clay. Mining is done in the bottom clay and in the coal immediately above it. The top has to be spragged to keep it from