THE HAITES AND YOUNG REPORTS OF 1951
In 1942, Mr. W.J. Dick had recommended complete cessation of all coal mining operations in Inverness by the Provincial Government. However, mining operations continued and operating deficits continued to mount. In 1951, at the request of the Minister of Mines, geologists of the Geological Survey of Canada made an intensive study of the coal measures and coal resources of the Inverness area. This study was completed by Dr. T. Bennett Haites and his associates. This survey group gave much consideration to geologic structure irregularities in the coal seams and clay partings and. dip of the coal seams. After careful study of geologic data, mine maps, and other available information he prepared a series cf contour maps of the various coal seams. Th< evidence gathered from the geologic structure of the mines showed that major faulting was occurring ahead of the old mine workings. Also, the study of the data by Dr. Haites demonstrated that the washout observed in No. 6 East Level probably affected the coal down dip of the old workings of No. 4 Mine and, therefore, he believed "the area down dip of the workings of No. 4 and No. 5 Mines should not be considered for further mining." To Haites and his Associates the statistics did not look promising. Major faults, clay partings, coal lying at a depth of not less than 2000 feet below sea level, washouts, the major thrust fault that cut off the 7-Foot and 13-Foot Seams seaward and general geologic conditions all combined to discourage the reopening of No. 1 and. No. 4 Mines. Haites also recommended the closing of No. 5, removing the mining equipment, and salvaging any material of value.
After a series of studies on the various diamond drill holes he reported with the following statement: "By reference to the logs of these diamond drill holes, it can be seer that there is very little workable thickness in the area drilled. The chemical analyses in general indicate high ash and high sulphur content of the coal..."
In 1951, Dr. Haites reported average analyses from the 7-Foot Seam on a dry basis as -
Volatile matter42.6 per cent
Fixed carbon.41.8 per cent
Ash9.6per cent
Sulphur.6.0per cent
B.t.u22.457
For the 13-Foot Seam the average analysis was as follows -
Moisture.8, 7percent
Volatile matter.38.1 percent
Fixed carbon.46.5per cent
Ash13.3 per cent
Sulphur.7.8 per cent
B.t.u11,639
In view of the studies by Dr. Haites it was rather apparent that no commercial mining operator would consider making the large investment required to open a shaft mine and to start mining operations at a depth of more than 2700 feet on any of the Inverness Coal Seams. The Minister of Mines in his Report for 1945 referred to the extensive diamond drilling campaign at Inverness and said, "There are limited reserves of coal at Inverness; nowhere are the unworked seams over three feet in thickness and nowhere has the quality improved." From these statements it seemed obvious that the quality of coal in the Inverness mines was poor and to invest in such an operation would be financial suicide. For example, according to L.E. Young, "Report on the Inverness Coal Field" (1951), the operating record of No. 5 Mine for the period December 1949 to March 1951, inclusive, shows that there were 23,170 boxes of coal hoisted and 11,310 boxes of stone. This means that of the material hoisted, practically one-third was waste. In November 1950 when an effort was made in No. 5 Mine to hold some of the clay in shortwall workings, there were 490 cars of waste handled and 781 tons of coal. In March 1951 when longwall work was used, the mine produced 880 tons of coal and 1220 cars of waste were hauled outside. Under such conditions, the mining cost was, of necessity, very high.
