Coal Preparation Progress 1n Western Canada
H. WILTON-CLARK
Up TO thirty years ago, coal preparation in western Canada, except at four plants, had not included actual coal washing. The exceptions were at Nanaimo and Royston, B.C., where tub washers and wet tables were in use; at Hosmer, B.C., using . Robin son cones; and at Leitch Collieries, Passburg, Alta., using a feldspar jig. The two last named collieries had a short life and were not operating in 1!120. The industry was divided, as at the present day, into two sections, steam (bituminous) coal and domestic (largely sub-bituminous) coal, the first generally supplying industrial needs and the second l1ouseholcl and other heating requirements. The two sections overlap to some small degree today as prepared sizes, chiefly stoker, and briquettes, from steam coal are shipped for household use, and domestic slacks are used in certain industrial plants. The .domes tic operator, for reasons shown later, was not primarily concerned with actual coal washing as a phase of coal preparation, and bent his efforts to improvement of screening and loading plants, with hand-picking of coarse sizes. The bituminous operator, on the other hand, felt it necessary by 1920 to consider coal washing.
Keywords:
Air, bituminous, Coalspur, specific gravity, Western Canada, WET, Coal, Cost, Costs, Mine, Mines, Specific gravity, Washing
