We are losing this rare gas, which is irreplaceable and in the space age getting more valuable all the time. This resource is going out into the air. As soon as we can get these plants on the line doing extracting work, the better it will be for the country. We want you to know that we are very aggressive about this program. That is all.

COAL RESEARCH PROGRAM

I see Senator Byrd is here. I wanted him to know that I discussed the coal research program before he arrived and gave it some emphasis. Senator BYRD. Thank you, Mr. Secretary.

Mr. Secretary, will $1 million be sufficient to carry out the program this year as you have envisioned it?

Secretary UDALL. The point I made earlier is that this is the amount we asked for. This program was authorized only in the late last session. We only got our director installed 2 or 3 weeks ago. We have, incidentally, an extremely able director of this program. He comes from one of the largest coal companies. He used to be in the Bureau of Mines at a high level. He is very able on every count.

We hope to make this a very aggressive program. We are just in the process now of sitting down and laying the program out. It may be as we get on down the road that we can see wisely expending a larger sum than we have included. Sitting here as we were, particularly when the budget request was prepared a couple of months ago, at that time we did not even have a director and the program was just in the process of being launched and we had no way of saying, really, what a proper program would be. We are going through that period now.

I didn't want the committee to be surprised if we should come in later and say we feel we can wisely invest in the interest of the country a larger sum subsequently. We are working on this strenuously right now.

Senator BYRD. I congratulate you on your selection of Mr. Lamb as Director of the Office of Coal Research. Has there been any subsequent staffing of the Office since his appointment?

Secretary UDALL. He is working on that presently. I think if some announcements are not ready right now, they will be this week. That is my anticipation.

RESEARCH CONTRACTS

Senator BYRD. I assume by what you have said that no research contracts have been let as yet.

Secretary UDALL. That is correct.

Senator BYRD. Do you anticipate some research contracts being let in the very near future?

Secretary UDALL. I can't answer you on that, Senator, because the Director and I are going to have some conferences this week with regard to that question. I certainly think we will. He comes from the industry. He is right in the middle of it. He has told me he will have some recommendations for me. I hope we can move as rapidly as possible.

Senator BYRD. How many persons do you have on the payroll right now, Mr. Secretary?

Secretary UDALL. At present there are eight persons on the payroll. Senator BYRD. I want to express my great interest in this program, Mr. Chairman. I think it holds for the coal industry a partial solution to the ills that have confronted that industry for quite a long time. We people who have to live with the coal people and the coal miners every day out of the year feel that there must be expanded uses for coal and we think that the Office of Coal Research holds for us a great deal of hope for the future.

We think that we are not only going to see material progress come from it, but we are going to see human progress develop from it. I congratulate the Secretary again on his choice of a director. I congratulate him, Mr. Chairman, on his interest in this great natural resource and this great mineral resource which will mean so much to this country in a period of emergency as well as in a period of peace. Chairman HAYDEN. Senator McGee could not be here but he sent me a statement.

"The President noted in his special message to Congress on natural resources that by the year 2000 the U.S. population of 300 million will need a greater supply of minerals. Addressing himself to this problem as well as to others included in your overall resources, he said we cannot delude ourselves. We must understand our resource problem. We must face up to it now. The task is large, but it will be done.

"Last year, in response to my request as to what proper opportunities exist for new Department programs which would increase our mineral service and strengthen the economic basis in the Rocky Mountain area, the Bureau of Mines and Geological Survey provided a description of a needed program which we found on page 23 following last year's hearing. They suggested an adequate start to be made in these programs with an additional appropriation of $500,000 for each of these agencies. In light of the President's expressed intention that we should attack our resource problems more vigorously, than did the previous administration, I would like to ask you the following question:

PROGRAMS TO INCREASE MINERAL RESERVES

"What programs in addition to those already spelled out should be started this year in order to increase our mineral reserves and strengthen the economic basis of the Rocky Mountain areas adequately to meet the challenge of providing a satisfactory standard of living and for our area's share of the projected population increase?” That is the first question.

Secretary UDALL. This is a detail that I would rather, if I can, to supply an answer later in the day. I don't know whether I get exactly the thrust of the question.

FUNDS FOR NEW PROGRAMS

Chairman HAYDEN. Very well. In addition, the following question: "What funds in addition to those specified should the Department have during the fiscal year to get these programs started?" Did you ask for anything at all this year?

Secretary UDALL. I can state generally in answer to the question that with regard to our Bureau of Mines and Geological Survey, our general programs, we are stepping up activity in some areas. We

haven't proposed any Rocky Mountain area program. I think I know what the Senator is getting at. He is talking about certain minerals and metals. We are working on new programs for some of them.

We have to formulate the program and get authorization and then we come to you for money. If we can get over those hurdles, that is. I don't have anything startling to report in answer to that. (The following was subsequently submitted:)

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

There is included in the 1962 budget for the Geological Survey, in addition to the funds appropriated for the current fiscal year, $925,000 for the following work that can be expected to increase the known mineral reserves of the Nation and strengthen the economic base of the Rocky Mountain area:

(1) Geochronology and stable isotope studies.-Age measurements to determine the time of metamorphism or of the intrusion of igneous rocks are necessary for a fuller understanding of geologic relationships and of geologic processes such as ore deposition, mountain building, and others. Stable isotope studies likewise contribute invaluable information on geologic processes for they help define the source of materials contained in rocks, minerals, and ores, and aid in the interpretation of ore deposition. About $260,000 is included in the 1962 budget to expand present facilities for making absolute age determinations and stable isotope studies. (2) Distribution of elements in the earth's crust.-A knowledge of the distribution of the elements in the earth's crust, a geochemical census, is fundamental to satisfactory progress in finding new reserves of mineral raw materials. The elements and their distribution are a basic part of the geologic processes that bring about changes in the earth's crust. It is only by research on these processes that we add to our knowledge of the elements, learn their distribution and behavior under changing environments, and learn how to find raw material substances in sufficient concentration to enable economical extraction. About $300,000 is included in the 1962 budget for an intensified geochemical census program, including expanded studies on the abundance and distribution of the elements, on fundamental geochemical processes, and on applied geochemical investigations. (3) Geologic and topographic mapping.-The geologic and topographic mapping activities of the Survey provide the basic background data essential for systematic and fruitful pursuit of mineral exploration and a large variety of land development programs. The 1962 budget includes increases of about $500,000 and $1,337,000 for expanded geologic and topographic mapping, respectively. Of the $500,000 $300,000 is to match cooperative funds from the State of Kentucky, and of the remainder, about $65,000 is planned to accelerate geologic mapping in the Rocky Mountains region. Of the $1,337,000, about $300,000 tentatively is planned for topographic mapping activities in the Rocky Mountain region.

The following additional programs totaling $835,000, though not included in the 1962 budget, could be carried on by the Survey in fiscal year 1962 if funds were available, and would result in important contributions that would benefit the economic base of not only the Rocky Mountain area, but also the Nation as a whole.

(1) Nature of ore solutions.—In order to increase our knowledge of the fundamental mechanisms involved in the weathering, transportation, and deposition of ore minerals, it is necessary to gain a real understanding of the aqueous ore-bearing solutions. To do this, it is vital to ascertain the configuration of the dissolved complex metallic ions. This problem is best approached by new methods of spectrographic analysis, especially nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, for which highly specialized equipment is required that is not presently available in the Survey.

A fully integrated program of the study of the physical chemistry of ore solutions requires a vigorous program in the crystal chemistry of solids. Although the Survey has been very productive in this field, we are lagging behind in our up-dating of the X-ray equipment necessary for these studies. In order to keep pace with the increasing demands for crystal chemical data, our equipment should be fully automated so that digitized data can be obtained from crystals in a form suitable for immediate high-speed computation.

To obtain the needed spectrographic equipment and to automate X-ray equipment for the study of the crystal chemistry of minerals would require $135,000.

(2) New mineral exploration techniques. It has become increasingly difficult to locate new mineral deposits by conventional methods and the pressing need for rare or little known elements has compounded this difficulty. Research is urgently needed to develop new electromagnetic methods of mineral exploration. In recent years, solid state and electron multiplier sensing elements developed primarily for specialized military applications now permit us to detect the infrared and ultraviolet parts of the spectrum hitherto beyond our reach. We know that certain minerals emit infrared radiation when excited by visible light and it seems reasonable that other minerals may emit ultraviolet radiation under proper conditions of excitation. Research is needed to determine whether we can incorporate the new electromagnetic detectors into radiation sensing systems that ultimately could lead to new mineral exploration techniques based upon luminescence phenomena. The estimated cost of this study the first year will be $100,000.

(3) Electrical properties of rocks and temperature measurements and instrumentation. Additional studies should be undertaken to stress the evaluation of data on natural variability of electrical properties of rocks, the effect of pressure on electrical properties of rocks, and the determination of electrical properties deep within the earth's crust. The results of these studies would have application in the exploration for mineral deposits.

In addition, the program for study of earth temperatures should be moderately expanded to include the development of instrumentation for the accurate measurement of temperature and thermal conductivity in deep drill holes, and to include development of unattended temperature recording equipment suitable for reliable and continuous recording of temperature data for periods of several months. Such developments and subsequent interpretations will make it possible to study more effectively the heat flow from the deep interior of the earth, which controls the deposition of vein minerals, and to study the thermal regime in regions of anomalous temperature conditions, such as Yellowstone National Park.

The studies indicated above would require an increase of about $50,000 in fiscal year 1962.

(4) Geologic and topographic mapping.-Additional support should be made available to the Survey's geologic and topographic mapping activities, which provide the groundwork essential to orderly development of the Nation's mineral

resources.

For the Rocky Mountain area alone, an additional increase of $400,000 in fiscal year 1962 would make possible

(a) Acceleration of geologic mapping through acquisition of needed additional subprofessional assistance in the field and laboratory, through improved logistical support for field parties, and through purchase of drillhole records.

(b) Expanded ground and airborne geophysical surveys to provide needed background information on subsurface conditions in areas where surface studies are now in progress or are planned for the near future.

(c) New topographic mapping in selected areas in support of geologic mapping and resource studies.

The ex

(5) Geochemical prospecting studies. An expanded program of geochemical exploration should be undertaken to increase known mineral reserves. panded program would be designed to accelerate field and laboratory investigations now underway in the development and application of geochemical prospecting methods, and to provide needed new equipment and laboratory space.

The development of field analytical methods for the detection of trace amounts of important elements in rocks, soils, water, and plants would be intensified, and such problems as the relation of soil gases to ore deposits and the possibility of halos of volatile elements around ore deposits would be studied. An infrared spectrometer should be acquired to increase the capability of studying various metals in an organic environment. In addition, provision should be made for a new laboratory needed in Denver to facilitate study of the distribution of elements in plants.

An increase of $150,000 would be required in fiscal year 1962 to support the expanded work, new equipment, and laboratory space described above.

BUREAU OF MINES MINERAL PROGRAMS-ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA

The 1962 budget estimate for the Bureau of Mines includes $2,963,000 for mineral resources programs. In the bituminous coal program the Bureau will conduct basic and applied research and process development in coal constitution, carbonization, gasification, preparation, and utilization of low-rank coals and byproducts. The petroleum program will be directed toward finding ways to obtain a larger ultimate recovery from the Nation's oil fields, and research on the nature and reactions of sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen compounds. The research work on oil shale will provide technological data on oil shale, shale oil, and their products. This research will deal primarily with the vast deposits of Green River shale in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.

In the minerals and metals program the Bureau will conduct basic and applied research on the benefication, concentration, and reduction of ores, the development of technical processes of metallurgy; chemical and physical metallurgical research; and mineral synthesis. Research will be conducted on the technology of mining with emphasis on sampling theory and techniques, the prediction of rock conditions, or quantities and ore qualities in place and rock mechanics. Resource studies will be aimed at a comprehensive understanding of the area's minerals in relation to the Nation's needs. Also, operation-research-type studies will be conducted to determine those factors contributing to efficient mine operations. An additional $1,500,000 would provide for research and development on coal, petroleum, and minerals in the Rocky Mountain area, as follows:

BITUMINOUS COAL

1. Development of methods of mining thick beds of coal with high percentage recovery The Rocky Mountain area contains tremendous deposits of coal, much of which is deposited in thick beds. However, the percentage of extraction is as low as 25 percent. It is evident that this valuable natural resource is available to supply all the fuel requirements that may be imposed on the area by industrial expansion. However, thickness of the coalbeds imposes problems of extraction, if a high percentage of recovery is to be achieved. Studies of methods of mining especially adapted to thick, steeply pitching beds would be desirable. The estimated cost of this program is $125,000.

2. Development of supplies of coking coal

Strongly coking coals for special-purpose use in the Rocky Mountain area are scarce. To overcome this deficiency it is technologically possible to upgrade certain low-rank western coals by carbonization and briquetting procedures. While the operating techniques for one of these processes are known, the operational variables should be refined further and additional study is needed to determine those coals of the West that are best adapted to the carbonization process. Other approaches to the production of special-purpose metallurgical fuels merit extensive study to improve the overall economics. The estimated cost of this program is $100,000.

3. Survey of coking-coal resources of the Rocky Mountain area

Although reserves of coal in the Rocky Mountain area are large, the high-quality strongly coking coals, necessary for the development of large metallurgical industries, are not as widely disbursed or as well identified as would be desired. Reserves of these premium coals should be more adequately delineated so that sufficient reserves for the establishment of industries depending on a supply of coke could be made known to potential users. The estimated cost of this program is $75,000.

PETROLEUM, NATURAL GAS, AND OIL SHALE

1. Relationship of reservoir fluids and rock characteristics to the occurrence, extraction, and utilization of petroleum

The unprecedented requirements for crude oil in the future will place heavy demands on Rocky Mountain liquid fuel resources. To meet this challenge scientists in the Bureau of Mines have concluded that, in the Rocky Mountain area, the key is to obtain the greatest possible fund of basic data concerning the fluids and rocks of Rocky Mountain area petroleum reservoirs in order to insure a firm foundation for: (1) Improving methods of finding oil still undiscovered, (2) recovering much greater portions of the oil found, and (3) more efficiently utilizing petroleum that is produced. Thus, a "total knowledge" concept applied to meeting these related development goals will involve a coordinated and combined