hydrogen sulfide.634 
MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1967 
 
ber of limestone-producing counties remained at 56; Sandusky County was the
foremost area for production, supplying 11 percent of the total limestone
tonnage. Other leading areas were Erie, Wyandot, Mahoning, Ottawa, and Lucas
Counties. 
 Dimension sandstone production and value were below those of 1966 totaling
l?6,000 tons valued at $4.7 million. Most of the dimension sandstone was
sawed and dressed architectural stone but some was fabricated for steel furnace
linings. Quantities of construction, curbing, and flagging stone also were
produced. Crushed and broken sandstone production was 742,000 tons valued
at $2.2 million compared with 560,000 tons valued at $1.8 million in 
1966. Fifteen percent of the crushed sandstone was sold for concrete aggregate
and roadstone but quantities also were marketed for refractory (ganister),
riprap, glass manufacturing, foundry, and other uses. Of the 14 sandstone-producing
counties, Lorain and Geauga Counties were the leading areas for production.

 For the third consecutive year, the Barberton, Summit County, underground
limestone mine of Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co., Chemical Division, won the
Sentinal of Safety trophy in National Safety Competition sponsored jointly
by the Bureau of Mines and the American Mining Congress. Workers at the mine
acheved the notable safety record by working 286,518 man hours without sustaining
any disabling injuries. The mine has been in safety competition for 7 years.
In the quarry group of National Safety Competition, American Aggregates Corp.,
J. E. Baker Company, East Ohio Limestone Company, The France Co. (four quarries),
National Gypsum Company, National Lime & Stone Co., (four quarries),
Ohio Lime Company, Standard Slag Company, Toledo Stone & Glass Sand Company,
and United States Gypsum Company all won Certificates of Achievement in Safety
for their respective safety records. 
 
 Sulfur (Recovered Elemental).—Sun Oil Company recovered elemental
sulfur at its Toledo Refinery. While production, shipments, and value were
below that of 1966, a 9-percent increase in the average unit price was reported.
The company recovered sulfur by the catalytic oxidation of 
 Vermiculite (Exfoliated).—Crude vermiculite shipped from out of State
was exfoliated at the Cleveland plant of The Cleveland Gypsum Company, Division
of Cleveland Builders Supply Company. The exfoliated vermiculite was marketed
for plaster and concrete aggregate, horticultural and other industrial applications.

 
MINERAL FUELS 
 
 Coal (Bituminous).—Production of bituminous coal reached a record
high, exceeding by 136,000 tons the previous high of 45.9 million tons established
in 1920. For the sixth consecutive year production increased and was 6 percent
greater than that of 1966. The average value per ton also continued to increase—$3.84
per ton compared with $3.79 in 1966. Output from strip mines accounted for
63 percent of the total tonnage; 33 percent came from underground mines and
the remainder from auger mines. The total number of active mines producing
1,000 tons or more declined from 426 in 1966 to 401. Underground mines decreased
by 22; strip and auger mines decreased by one and two, respectively. Output
was reported in 25 counties; Harrison and Belmont Counties with 10.8 million
and 10.6 million tons, respectively, were the leading coal-producing areas.
Production from strip mines was 29.2 million tons, 2 percent greater than
that of 1966. Average value per ton increased from $3.54 in 1966 to $3.59.
Harrison County which produced 5.7 million tons, was the leading area for
strip-mined coal. Jefferson, Belmont, Coshocton, and Tuscarawas Counties,
each with production exceeding 2 million tons, also were leading producing
areas. Equipment used by strip mine operators included 43 electric, 17 diesel-electric,
460 diesel, and 16 gasoline shovels or draglines. Most of the power equipment
had dipper capacities of less than 3 cubic yards; 15 shovels and 16 draglines
had capacities greater than 12 cubic yards. 
 
 
Table 1O—Bltuminous coal production 
(Thousand short tons and thousand dollars) 
 
Year 
Quantity 
Value 
1963___                 
36,790 
$136,113 
1964___.                
37,310 
137,776 
1965_ - - -               
1966_                   
1967                    
39,390 
43,341 
46,014 
146,028 
164,444 
176,921