The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-07-01

cradle younger coal tertiary age. II
mas not been altered so much as the
older Appalachian coal and the cell
structure of the original vegetation is
still very clear. Further evidences of
the plant origin Of Ignite coal can be
shown In the occurrence in the coal
seams of knots, limbs and portions of
trees, partially or completely turned
into coal The color of freshly mined
Ignite coal is usually black, but If a
sample be pulveEized the powder will
be found to have brownish red ap-
pearance. The specific gravity of lig-
mite coal is LIE and the weight of one
cubic foot. egg size. is forty five
pounds. Associated with ignite, are
often found the minerals iron pyrites,
gypsum and calcite, and the ignite
from some portions OF tho state Is
frequently impregnated with =osin and
mineral charcoal
The Chemical Standpoint.
Considered from the chemical stand
point, Ignite coal as mined has the
following composition: Moisture. 35,
volatile matter, 49,; fixed carbon, 81. !;
ash, g.; heat units per pound. 1920. 1t
will be observed that the coal contains
S5 per cent by weight of moisture.
That is, for every ton of Ignite coal
marketed, freight and handling are
rquired to be paid for delivering 700
pounds of water. For example, il the
the freight rate from the Ignite coal
fields to Fargo is SLIPS per ton, and
the charge for handling S150, or a total
of 1915 per ton, then 35 per cent of
this amount, or So cents, viii be paid
for delivering 700 pounds of water to
the consumer Further, when Ignite
coal with 80 per cent moisture, is sold,
1t is likely to slack before arriving at
its destination. This Stacking is caus-
ed by the change of volume of the coal
due to eliminating of the loosely held
moisture. Experiments have shown
that the amount of moisture in Ignite
coal can be reduced from 35 per cent
to AZ per cent in three days time sim
ply by the action OF the sun and wind
This tendency of Ignite coal to lose
moisture on exposure is annoying to
the coal dealer, for he pays for say
twenty tons of coal, as weighed at the
mine; then the coal may lose in tran
sit and storage 20 per cent. Such be-
ing true, he he's only sixteen tons
of coal to SELL but does not realize
this fact until he has disposed of the
coal. In this way many coal deal
ers have actually lost money, espe-
cially in the summer months, on the
sale of Ignite coal. The property of
losing moisture is annoying to the con-
sumner as well as the dealer, for all
though the coal has a higher heat
ing value with low moisture content,
still due to Stacking, it is so fine
it cannot be burned economically.
The high percentage of mois-
ture in Ignite coal also so
reduces it's heating value that 1t
can scarcely compete on the heat unit
basis with eastern coal in Fargo and
Grand Forks.
Eliminating the Water.
BY the briquetting process the UNI
desirable water is removed right at
the mine and thus the economic waste
due to the handling Of inert water is
avoided BY removing the water the
composition of the coal is considerably
changed as is shown by the following
comparative analysis;
Ignite Coal as Mined-Moisture
$50; volatile matter. $50; fixed car
bon, BIO; ash, 60; heat units per
pound, 1900.
Ignite Coal, Dry-Moisture, 600;
43.0; fixed carbon. 40; ash,
100; heat units per pound. 1900.
1t will be noted that the volatile
matter or gas has beer. Increased from
% - I
bon from 81 to AZ per cent That is,
the two combustible constituents have
been increased so per cent. Further,
the heating value OF the coal has been
increased from 1900 to 1900 heat
units, or a gain of IS per cent.
The dry Ignite, although It is disin-
tegrated, compares very favorably in
analysis and heating value with the
standard western Goals.
Ignite coal dry-Moisture. O; vol
atile matter, a.; fixed carbon, Al; ash
10; heat units per pound, 1900.
Montana coal, Red Lodge-Mois-
ture, 7.34; volatile matter, 1892; fixed
carbon. AIT; ash, 1857; heat units
per pound, 10,270.
Illinois coal, Carterville Moisture,
itooS tOtdlAc AAdtIoI, o1s9 nASQ CARBON,
51.22; ash. 10.45; heat units per
pound. 11,b01.
Wyoming coal, Moisture,
1890; volatile matter, 1854: fixed car
bon. 42.ss; ash, s.6S: heat units per
pound, lO,096.
On account of the fact that the re-
moval Of the moisture from Ignite
coal causes 1t to disintegrate, 1t can
be seen that the new process does not
require lump coal but on the contrary,
uses fine coal to excellent advantage.
The value Of this feature is incalcul-
able for 1t Is evident then that there
would be little waste in mining since
all the slack coal could be used to good
by the process.
1t is to be observed then that the
very first step in the new process con-
verts the low grade Ignite into fuel
which compares very favorably with
standard western coal. but neither
Illinois or Wyoming Goals
are the best fuel for domestic use.