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By Homer J. Ballinger

"SUMMARYDuring December 1945, the Bureau of Mines began churn drilling the Winchester zinc deposit, 11 miles south of Joplin in Newton County, Mo. The deposit lies in a virgin area northwest of the Seneca fault. It is one of several deposits partly proven by drilling but never developed.Logs of 28 privately drilled holes had indicated a substantial tonnage without delimiting the deposit. It appeared that additional drilling might increase this reserve sufficiently to justify mining. A, total of 6,33 feet of churn drilling was completed in 17 holes drilled by the Bureau of Mines. Twelve of the holes penetrated minable ore extending the length of the known deposit and materially increasing its estimated tonnage.INTRODUCTIONDuring May 1943, the Winchester property in Newton County, was visited by an engineer 3/ of the Bureau of Mines, accompanied by Dr. A. N. Winchester, owner, and Charles Keith, lessee of the property. At the request and with the assistance of these gentlemen, examination of the property was undertaken. Logs of 28 churn-drill holes were collected, hole locations were surveyed, and available historical data were obtained. It was concluded that although existing drill holes indicated considerable reserves, additional drilling might increase the tonnage substantially. In addition, it was believed that better knowledge of this ore deposit could be obtained by drilling further, and this knowledge could, in turn, be applied to other less proven deposits in the same field."

Jul 1, 1947

By J. A. Herdlick

"INTRODUCTION The BeVan quartz crystal prospect in the Indian Creek mining district of Lemhi County, west-central Idaho, was examined by an engineer of the Bureau of Mines 3/ on July 9, 1943. As quartz crystals possessing peizoelectric properties were on the critical list of strategic war minerals, further exploration of the deposit was recommended. The Bureau of Mines exploration began in December 1943 and continued through January 1944. Additional trenching was completed during May and June 1944. This report presents the data obtained by this exploration.ACKNOWLEDGMENTSIn its program of exploration of mineral deposits, the Bureau of Mines has as its primary objective the more effective utilization of our mineral resources to the end that they make the greatest possible contribution to national security and economy. The Mining Division, Lowell B. Moon, chief, conducts preliminary examinations, does the actual exploratoiy work, and prepares the final report. The Metallurgical Division, O. C. Ralston, chief, analyses samples and makes beneficiation tests.The quartz crystals found during the exploration were examined and classified at the Bureau of Mines College Park, Md., laboratory and checked at the National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C.Fred BeVan, of North Fork, Idaho, and Edward F. Cenis, of the Montana Coal & Iron Company, Spoane, Wash., provided much information on the history and past production of the property."

Mar 1, 1948

By William Catron

This paper is one of a series being prepared by the United States Bureau of Mines on mining methods, practices, and cuts in the various reining districts of the United States. The mining methods described are those used in the mines of the Cananea Consolidated Copper Co., a Mexico corporation whose holding company in the United States is the Greene Cananea Copper Co. The mines are at Cananea, Sonora, Mexico, 25 miles directly south of the international boundary, approximately in 31° nor to latitude and 110 to 130° west longitude. Cananea is connected with the boundary towns of Naco and Nogales, Ariz., by a standard-gage railroad.

Jan 1, 1930

By Roy H. Poston

The following paper is one of a series on mining methods and practices being published by the United States Bureau of Mines, and deals with the sinking of the Pim shaft (No. 7) of the St. Louis Smelting and Refining Works of the National Lead Co. in the southeast Missouri lead belt. The shaft was sunk in 1922 and 1923 on a tract several miles south of the company's main plant located at St. Francois, Mo., in St. Francois County. The author is indebted to W. H. Comins, local manager of the company, with whose permission this article has been written, for his helpful criticism; and to E. T. Campbell, geologist, and M. Cross, underground shop foreman; and to W. A. Cole, manager of the E. J. Longyear Development Co., who had general supervision of the work and supplied detailed performance and cost data.

Jan 1, 1932

By Hiram C. Draper

The Mining Division of the Bureau of Mines, in cooperation with the Obstacle and Demolition Branch, Engineer Research and Development Laboratories, Department of the Army, undertook some extensive tests to determine the effectiveness and limitations of using standard demolition-type shaped charges in underground Mining. The tests proved the shaped charge has no practical application in the functions of mining covered by this report. At an approximate cost of 0 per foot hole plus spall produced by the most efficient single shots with the M3 shaped charge, the cost is over 20 times that of producing a better hole with a rock drill. The concussion would prohibit its use in many mines, and the excess carbon monoxide gas liberated by the pontolite explosive would be an additional hazard when used underground.

Jan 1, 1948

By Hugo E. Camargo

In an effort to reduce Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) in the mining industry, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is conducting research to develop noise controls for mining equipment whose operators exceed the Permissible Exposure Level (PEL). The process involves three steps: 1) Noise source identification (NSI), 2) development of noise controls, and 3) evaluation of the developed noise controls. For the first and third steps, microphone phased array measurements are typically conducted and data are processed using the conventional beamforming (CB) algorithm. However, due to the size and complexity of the machines, this task is not straight forward. Furthermore, because of the low frequency range of interest, i.e., 200 Hz to 1000 Hz, results obtained using CB may show poor resolution issues which result in inaccuracy in the noise source location. To overcome this resolution issue, two alternative approaches are explored in this paper, namely the CLEAN-SC algorithm and a variarion of an adaptive beamforming algorithm known as Robust Capon Beamformer (RCB). These algorithms were used along with the CB algorithm to process data collected from a horizontal Vibrating Screen (VS) machine used in coal preparation plants. Results with the array in the overhead position showed that despite the use of a large array, i.e., 3.5-meter diameter, the acoustic maps obtained using CB showed "hot spots" that covered various components, i.e., the screen deck, the side walls, the I-beam, the eccentric mechanisms, and the electric motor. Thus, it was not possible to identify which component was the dominant contributor to the sound radiated by the machine. The acoustic maps obtained using the RCB algorithm showed smaller "hot" spots that in general covered only one or two components. Nevertheless, the most dramatic reduction in "hot" spot size was obtained using the CLEAN-SC algorithm. This algorithm yielded acoustic maps with small and well localized "hot" spots that pinpointed dominant noise sources. However, because the CLEAN-SC algorithm yields small and localized "hot" spots, extra care needs to be used when aligning the acoustic maps with the actual pictures of the machine. In conclusion, use of the RCB and the CLEAN-SC algorithms in the low frequency range of interest helped pinpoint dominant noise sources which otherwise would be very hard to identify.

Jan 1, 2009

The principal activities of the Bureau of Mines Explosives Research Center from July 1, 1962, to June 30, 1963, are described briefly in part 1. Part 2 gives short abstracts of publications that appeared during fiscal year 1963; in general, the research reported in these publications antedates the report period.

Jan 1, 1965

The principal activities of the Bureau of Mines Explosives Research Center from July 1, 1962, to June 30, 1963, are described briefly in part 1. Part 2 gives short abstracts of publications that appeared during fiscal year 1963; in general, the research reported in these publications antedates the report period.

Jan 1, 1965

By Walter E. Lewis

A mothod of cutting St. Poter sandstono by streams of water under pressuro from nozzles and pumping the resulting, sand to the surface has roduced the cost of storm-sowor construction in the Minneapolis-St. Paul aroa. The hydraulic tunneling method, has boon in uso since 1934, and it is adaptable only to the lower part of tho St. Potor, sandstone, which lios within or just abovo the ground-wator levol. Tho upper part of the formation, immediately bolow tho Plattoville limestone, 18 comonted and camot bo mined by hydraulic mothods. The tunnel oporation observed in this instance is a main storm sowor starting at tho Mississippi Rivor below the 10th Avenuo SE bridge and will be drivon 6,000 foot at a grado of 1 foot por thousand undor the city of Minneapolis to Konnody and Arthur Stroots NE. A lateral storm sowor, which branchos from the main sovor at 8th Street SE, will oxtond from 10th Avonuo SE to 15th Avonuc SE. Tho tunnele are being drivon with the floor approximately at ground-wator lovol. All waters ontoring the main storm sower vill drain into the Mississippi Rivor. Tho main storm sewer cross soction is excavated to a roughly hox- agonal shapo 10 foot high by 10 foot wido at the contor. The upper half of the tunnol soction is solidly lined with either timber or stool. After all oxcavation is completed, the tunnel will be finished with a concrete circular lining 8 feet in inside diameter. The lateral storm sewer is excavated to a 5-1/2-foot by 7-1/2-foot section and will event- ually be finished with concrete to a modified horseshoe-shaped section 6 feet by 4 feet. Where the back or walls are considered unsafe during excavation, the upper half of the tunnel is lined solidly with timber. The equipment used by the Sower Division, City of Minneapolis, has been selected to meet a number of applications in storm-sewer work with diversified usage in mind. The sand pumps used on this job are rubber-lined, designed to work against a head of 100 foet. Either 4-inch or 6-inch diameter suction and discharge openings may be used. Other equipment, such as pipe, mine rail, flexible hoses, compressors, and general surface shop equipment, is drawn from a contral warohouse. It may be either new or used, depending on what is available at the warehouse. Much of the pipe and mine rail has been used for many years on several different tunnol jobs.

Jul 1, 1950

By A. B. Hooker, L. C. IlsLey

"The last previous Bureau of Mines publication relative to details of permissible electric mine lamps is Bulletin 332, which describes 16 lamps approved prior to May 1930. Some of the lamps have become obsolete through the development of improved models which, with several new types, make it desirable to supplement the Bureau's published data relative to permissible electric mine lamps.In the following descriptions, lamps approved since May 1930 and prior to July 1, 1935, are placed in the three following groups: (1) Electric cap lamps, (2) electric hand lamps, and (3) lamps for miscellaneous applications,ELECTRIC CAP LAMPS APPROVED UNDER SCHEDULE 6B1. Edison model J lamp, approval no. 24. - The features that distinguish this lamp from earlier models of Edison electric cap lamps are:(a) The battery consists of two F-2 cells of square cross section and about 1-1/4 inches higher than M-14 cells in the model H lamp, making the battery narrower and higher than any of the earlier models of Edison cap lamps.(b) The cells are insulated from each other and the Monel-metal casing by enclosure in vulcanized-rubber baglike enclosures. Both cell terminals are insulated from the cell jar.(c) The battery is equipped with rubber-tube Bunsen-valve-type gas vents.(d) The battery casing is secured by a new-type magnetic lock.(e.) The battery and cover terminal clips have been redesigned to give a wiping contact."

Jun 1, 1936

By G. L. Oldright

The first Report of Investigations of the present series (No. 4562) was on the fundamental properties of lead compounds, and the manner in which they set limits to the richness of lead products treated in the usual sintering-blast furnace units. These properties of the compounds were emphasized, as' it was desired, also, to learn the limitations of smelting the same compounds in present ore hearth practice; the hearth has a competitor in these "usual" units, even with the rich lead feeds best adapted for the hearths. Operating conditions that were followed in older metallurgical processes, when rich products, were treated, were outlined. The second report of the series (R. I. 4563) was on the development of the ore hearths of the types now used in the Tri-State from the viewpoint of the features, functions, and dimensions of the earlier hearths that had been most changed. Experimental data, for both well and poorly desulfurized charges being considered, were given to show the relative changes in the sizes and compositions of the charges after they were added to the ore (Scotch) hearths. A general picture was given of the charge column and of the conditions prevailing there when the operation was satisfactory. In this third paper, the composition of the gases prevailing in the charge column at various elevations will be correlated with what has been learned of the nature of the charge column in order to trace the steps of operation by which lead sulfide is converted into metallic lead. The metallurgical factors that govern operation and the lines along which improvements may be made will be noted.

Jan 1, 1949

By Clarke E. Schuetze

This project had as its objective the experimental investigation of water capsule production utilizing the Southwest Research Institute's submerged nozzle encapsulation apparatus (U.S. Patent 3,389,194). Initial efforts on this project involved nozzle configuration and shell formulation optimization. The shell formulation developed on a prior program was modified during the course of the project to obtain the best balance of capsule breakage resistance and water retention. Subsequent effort centered on determining operating conditions which would produce the best quality capsules for each candidate shell formulation as determined by laboratory tests. Some preliminary work was done to increase the production capacity of the encapsulation equipment. The program was extended with major emphasis concerned with scale-up studies of capsule production capacity and the treatment of problems associated with grouting cartridge fabrication. During the course of the program, water-containing capsules were produced which have good long-term water retention, block resistance and adequate strength. Using a single-nozzle design, a production capacity of 15.9kg (35 pounds) per hour was demonstrated to give acceptable capsules based on initial results.

Jan 1, 1978

By Robert F. Chaiken

The U.S. Bureau of Mines conducted an experimental and theoretical study of coupled chemical kinetic and mass transport processes during leaching of pyrite from coal in a counterflow, "trickle-bed" column reactor. Spatial and temporal data on reactant and product concentrations were used as solutions to appropriate continuity equations, which in turn define chemical kinetic reaction rates. Data from four 180-by 30-cm column leaching experiments using coal, coal waste, and air-water and air-FeC13 lixiviants have been analyzed. The rate of leaching was found to be diffusion limited (probably by Fe3+) and not controlled by bacterial action. Rates of pyrite oxidation were found to vary with elapsed time (80 to 225 days) and followed a bell-shaped curve, sometimes with a delay before start of reaction. Maximum rates of reaction ranged from 3 to 10 (mmol/d)/L (column) for coal waste and 0.4 (mmol/d)/L (column) for coal. Reaction was 30 to SO pct complete, probably due to precipitation of product salts (e.g., jarosites), which impede transport of oxidant through the coal. An absorption-desorption model of solids leaching, which considers the role of heterogeneous porosity in solids leaching, was used to describe time-dependent leaching rates.

Jan 1, 2010

The following pages discuss the objectives, the background, and scope of work of an industrial engineering analysis of far-,n haulage systems in underground retreat coal mining. This study ran concurrently with an existing industrial engineering study of methods of improving safety and production efficiency in underground pillar extraction. 1. OBJECTIVES The objective of this project was to provide basic data inputs that will inpart knowledge as to the major constraint to pillar extraction sections. Furthermore, the industrial engineering study will suggest ways to optimize haulage systems and to develop more efficient work practices and operational techniques that will maximize equipment utilization.

Jan 1, 1975

By L. M. Demers, D. C. Kuhn, N. El-Ayouby, C. F. Stanley

"Oxygenated metabolites of arachidonic acid (MJ are produced by the alveolar macrophage (AM) and have been shown to mediate inflammatory reactions. We therefore assessed the production of eicosanoids by AM harvested from the lungs of rats ex· posed to a bituminous coal dust for 2 wk in an inhalation chamber in order to determine if AA metabolism was altered in a manner that may promote an inflammatory response in the lung. Exposure to coal dust resulted in a 66% increase in the number of AM harvested, an increase in thromboxane A2 (TxA;i) and leukotriene 84 (LTB,j) production to 222% and 181% of control values, respectively, and a decrease in prostaglandin E2 (PGE:i) production to '62% of control values. In AM harvested from rats allowed to breath clean air for 2 wk following coal dust exposure, PGE2 production returned to control levels but TxA2 and LTB4 production remained elevated. The TxA2 synthesis inhibitor UK 38,485 reduced TxA2 production in dust-exposed AM both immediately and 2 wk following exposure. Thus, exposure of rats to coal dust significantly alters the metabolism of AA in AM, with potentially important aspects of AA metabolism remaining altered even after a 2-wk recovery period. Based on the established role of eicosanoids in inflammatory and fibrotic processes, these results suggest that the alteration of AM eicosanoid production as a result of the inhalation of coal mine dust may be an important factor in the pathophysiology of coal workers' pneumoconiosis.The authors are grateful to Joan Greenwood and Barbara Scheetz for their excellent technical assistance and to Brenda Pavone for the preparation of the manuscript. This research was supported by the U.S. Department of The Interior's Mineral Institute Program administered through the Generic Mineral Technology Center for Respirable Dust under grant 1135142.Request for reprints should be sent to Douglas C. Kuhn, Ph.D., Department of Pathology, The M.S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033.INTRODUCTIONPulmonary alveolar macrophages (AM) are activated by foreign particles and microorganisms that enter the small airways (Kass et al., 1966; Herscowitz, 1985). This defensive reaction involves phagocytosis, lysosomal enzyme release, and the generation of reactive oxygen species by the AM (Snella, 1986; Rich et al., 1987). A number of agents, including phorbol esters, zymosan, adenosine diphosphate, organic hydroperoxides, and calcium ionophore, have been shown to activate the AM in vitro (Badger, 1986; Marshall and Lands, 1986; Snella, 1986). The AM response to these activators appears to be mediated in part by the oxygenated metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA) (Bertram et al., 1988; Demers et al., 1987; Mcleish et al., 1987).The AM may metabolize AA through cyclooxygenase- and lipoxygenase- catalyzed pathways to produce a variety of eicosanoids including prostaglandin (PG) E2, thromboxane (Tx) A2, leukotriene (LT) B4, LTC4, LTD4, and several hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid derivatives (HETEs) (Willis, 1970; Camp et al., 1983; Poubelle et al., 1986). The production of these eicosanoids may enhance the. defensive ability of the challenged lung since they stimulate chemotactic cell recruitment to the site of invasion, enhance extravasation of circulating immune cells, and promote local vasodilatation. However, continued stimulation of the AM population, with the consequent production of proinflammatory eicosanoids, may ultimately enhance the disease process by contributing to chronic bronchoconstriction, fibrosis, and the persistent release of toxic oxygen species."

Jan 1, 1990

By D. W. Boley

This report contains the results of an analysis of the Logan oilfield, Hocking County, Ohio, and predicts the recovery of oil from the Clinton sand by waterflooding. Core analyses, electrical and radioactivity well-survey logs, reservoir-fluid analysis, and geologic and production data were used for this study. Considered in the evaluation were the reservoir geometry, depth, lithology, continuity of the rock properties, fluid saturations, fluid characteristics, rock wettability, and relative permeability-fluid saturation relationships. The study indicates that a properly engineered waterflood should recover approximately 135 barrels per acre-foot of effective sand. The predicted recovery warrants the initiation of a pilot waterflood in this field.

Jan 1, 1965

By W. J. Fene

Ventilation is undoubtedly the greatest single safety factor in the operation of a coal mine. Any condition or occurrence that interrupts the ventilating current or changes its normal course through the mine workings is a distinct hazard and should be considered as such by every coal-mine owner, operator, and worker. The hazard, of course, is much greater in a mine that is emitting gas, as an explosive mixture can accumulate in a very short period if the ventilating current is interrupted. It is common to find one or more entries producing 600 cubic feet or more of methane per hour. If the ventilating current were short-circuited from these entries for 15 minutes, there would be an accumulation of 150 cubic feet of methane, which, when mixed with enough air to dilute it to the lowest explosive point, would make about 3,000 cubic feet of explosive mixture; this gas could be ignited in almost any normally operated mine by a cutting machine or other electrical equipment. The ignition of this quantity of an explosive gas-air mixture can readily cause an explosion of coal dust that would completely wreck the underground workings and possibly some of the surface structures. In fact, the ignition of one-tenth of the above quantity of an explosive mixture of gas and air might readily start an explosion that would, extend through every part of a large mine. The possibility of occurrence of interruptions to the ventilating current has received comparatively little consideration from mine owners, operators, and workers in many parts of the United States. Such a possibility should be considered in connection with every mine that gives off explosive gas, and steps should be taken to prevent it.

Jan 1, 1943

By C. E. Julihn

In the past few years the advance of the Sunshine mine to national prominence as the chief silver-producing mine of the United States has revived interest in the area in which it is situated. Although this area lies between the great lead-Zinc-silver mines at Kellogg and those in the vicinity of Burke and Mullan it was generally presumed to be almost barren, as little ore had been found there until substantial ore bodies were developed on deep levels of the Sunshine mine. In early days it was called the "dry belt" because its ores were siliceous and contained little lead; but the classification of ores in smelting as wet or dry, although once customary, has long been obsolete The area will therefore be referred to in this paper as the silver belt of the Coeur d'Alene district because the value of its ore is due chiefly to silver, the current production of which is large, providing over 60 percent of the silver output of Idaho. Silver Belt - Its Limits and Character With a daily production of half a ten of silver or more from the Sunshine mine, the silver belt has become the scene of extensive exploration at many properties, and the outlook for its future seems promising enough to warrant the lively interest now being displayed in the area by the public.

Jan 1, 1936

By James A. Wasson

This Bureau of Mines report summarizes the application of pilot flooding in the evaluation of a potential waterflood project. Aspects of pilot flooding discussed include choice of pilot location, confined and unconfined waterfloods, operational precautions, and comparison of predicted with observed performance. Summaries of published methods of pilot flood data analysis for determination of full-scale waterflood feasibility are presented and their use illustrated for example pilot flood data.

Jan 1, 1974

By W. H. Kerns

The Taylor Creek lead-zinc deposit is on Taylor Creek, approximately 1-1/2 miles from tidewater, at the head of Duncan Canal, on the east side of Kupreanof Island, Petersburg district, southeastern Alaska. The property was located in 1903, and a 30-foot discovery cut was put to the west tank of the creek. Very little prospecting end developing has been done since that time. The property was examined by J. C. Roehm, associate mining engineer, Territorial Department of Mines, Juneau, Alaska, in June 1946. From exposure n the creek, a mineralized zone with possible dimensions of 1,700 feet by 1,000 feet was indicated. The general strike was northwest, and the dip was low and variable to the northwest. During September through November 1948, the Bureau of Mines conducted a project on the property. Four diamond-drill holes, totaling 770.5 linear feet, were drilled from the surface and 280 lineal feet of hand trenching done. The mineral deposit was found to occur as patches that appear to be a replacement in dolomitic limestone. The patches of mineralization are small, irregularly shaped, and irregularly distributed. Maps showing the location of the drill holes and trenches, analyses of the cores from the drill holes, and anal lee of the samples from the trenches accompany this report (see, also, appendixes A, B, and C).

Jan 1, 1950