Search Documents

By C. P. Bowie

During the period of 10 years from January 1, 1908, to January 1, 1918, approximately 12,850,000 barrels of oil and 5,024,506,000 cubic feet of gas were destroyed by fire in the United States, entailing a total estimated property loss of $25,254,200. During this period 503 fires were reported. As is shown in Plates I and II, 310 of these fires were caused by lightning and 193 by all other causes. The losses from the fires caused by lightning were estimated to be $11, 148,000, and from those due to all other causes $14,106,200. Directly and indirectly, the fires resulted in the deaths of nearly 150 persons and were responsible for almost as many more being permanently disabled. For the past three years the Bureau of Mines has been conducting investigations to determine the nature and the specific causes of these fires, with a view to suggesting means whereby they may be suc- cessfully combatted and, in some places, perhaps eliminated entirely. As the subject of oil and gas fires is necessarily broad, no attempt is made in this bulletin to treat it exhaustively; rather the bulletin aims to point out what has been done by operators in the past, and to describe various fire-prevention methods and fire-fighting appa- ratus which are being used or adopted by many of the larger oil companies. These methods and apparatus, it is believed, if uni- versally employed by operators, will largely decrease the present enormous annual losses. In the discussion of oil-well fires, the methods used in extinguishing several of the larger and more perplexing ones are described. As the right procedure for extinguishing any oil-well fire must be de- termined largely by local conditions, it is not probable that all of the methods used at some one fire, as described, will be applicable to a future fire. However, the operator, from these descriptions, may at least gain suggestions that will greatly assist him in fighting similar fires.

Jan 1, 1919

By L. R. Burdick

The Smokescope is an instrument recently developed for determining the density of smoke by shade comparison. The instrument is designed so that the smoke is seen adjacent to two shades of gray corresponding to Nos. 2 and 3 on the Ringelmann chart. Data on smoke density are important in the smoke-abatement field. The method that is specified and accepted as standard for smoke-density determination by the majority of city smoke regulations involves comparing the smoke shade with the four shades on the Ringelmann chart as published by the Bureau of Mines.2/ This investigation was made to determine the accuracy and convenience of the Smokescope. It was conducted as a part of the Bureau I s air-pollution work, which includes the study of techniques that will promote smoke abatement. The accuracy of the Smokescope was arbitrarily defined as the difference between the Smokescope determinations and the determinations by the accepted, standard method and was expressed as Smokescope correction. Although the corrections obtained were strictly correct only for the two observers and the Smokescope of the investigation, they indicate what might be expected from any observer who uses a Smokescope with reference shades that duplicate those of the test instrument. The report is devoted largely to the data on Smokescope correction, which were taken from a single stack under controlled smoke conditions. Field work, which was done at various locations with different stacks, is mentioned briefly in connection with the comparison of the convenience of the two methods. The data for estimating Smokescope correction were taken for the three variables that were expected to affect the results, namely, the density of the smoke, the amount of light, and the color of the sky behind the smoke.

Jan 1, 1955

By NIOSH Publication

In 2004, a total of 7,074 sand and gravel mining operations reported employment to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).

Sep 1, 2007

By Foster Fraas

The most important lithium resource in the United States is in the form of the feldspathoid mineral spodumene. This mineral has not been used to any important extent as a source of lithium salts or lithium metal, as other more easily decomposed minerals have b en available in sufficient quantity to supply the relatively small demand. The need for cheaper lithium salts for such promising new uses as air conditioning or dehumidification and of lithium feldspar for use in the glass and [ramic] trades has justified the recent work done by the Bureau of Mines on King available, through improved beneficiation and extractive processes, some of the lower grade but extensive spodumene deposits.

Jan 1, 1937

By Foster Fraas

The most important lithium resource in the United States is in the form of the feldspathoid mineral spodumene. This mineral has not been used to any important extent as a source of lithium salts or lithium metal, as other more easily decomposed minerals have been available in sufficient quantity to supply the relatively small demand. The need for cheaper lithium salts for such promising new uses as air conditioning or dehumidification and of lithium feldspar for use in the glass and [ramic] trades has justified the recent work done by the Bureau of Mines on [king] available, through improved beneficiation and extractive processes, some of the lower grade but extensive spodumene deposits.

Jan 1, 1937

By Mark K. Larson

A constitutive model for rock interfaces based on the principles of static fatigue is proposed. The model is applicable to weak rock or joints with cohesion. Friction and dilation are decreased as plastic work increases. At equilibrium, the creep time increases by one time-step interval, and interface cohesion at each node decreases according to a power function. A constant-load, direct-shear simulation showed that the model is cap- able of mimicking constant-rate and tertiary creep and predicting failure. Tests on core from a coal mine showed constant-rate and, sometimes, tertiary creep, but also weak transitory creep. The cohesion deterioration function may need modification to simulate primary-phase creep. If model parameters are known for a site, the model can predict the onset of tertiary creep and failure. Such predictions can help engineers make better entry design and support decisions, which will reduce the likelihood of roof falls and increase safety for underground miners.

This is the seventh in a series of reports on properties of commercial motor fuels, made in accordance with a cooperative agreement between the Cooperative Fuel Research (C.F.R.) Committee and the Bureau of Mines of the United States Department of the Interior. The first report gave data on motor gasolines sold during the winter of 1.935-36.3/ The present report covering 1,87 samples represents the products of 83 companies plus those from the Pacific coast, which were averaged by the Pacific Coast Technical Group before being submitted and are published exactly as they were submitted. For the regular grade 985 samples consisting of 73 different brands are averaged. The premium grade consists of 489 samples of 40 different brands. The third grade has 401 samples averaged from 51 different brands. In this report the districts have been reduced to 21 by combining North and South Texas into one district. El Paso samples are reported with the South Rocky Mountain district, and. Amarillo, Tex., has teen included with the Middle Rocker Mountain district. In the present survey samples from Fort Smith, Ark., have been included in the Tulsa area, Indianapolis has been included in the St. Louis district. Cleveland represents the State of Ohio. Samples from Little Rock, Ark., and North Carolina have been included in the Memphis district. The Pittsburgh district includes samples only from this State and Wheeling, W. Va. The actual sampling points in each area are indicated on table 1.

Jan 1, 1939

By J. J. Forbes

The activities of the Bureau of Mines include the development and testing of self-contained oxygen breathing apparatus and other devices for respiratory protection, the development and tasting of devices for detecting dangerous or noxious mine atmospheres, and the training of men in the mineral industries in the use and care of this equipment to enable them to render effective service in mine rescue and recovery operations following mine fires and explosions, or under other conditions where irrespirable gases may be found in mines or mining plants. The first use of self-contained oxygen breathing apparatus for com- bating mine fires and explosions in the United States dates back about 30 years. Previous to that time, exploration for any distance ahead of fresh air was virtually impossible without great risk to life; moreover, the men called upon to render service at mine disasters were not well-versed in the properties and physiological effects of gases likely to be encountered. It was also impossible to work ahead of fresh air to restore ventilation, and if many stoppings were blown out by an explosion, air had to be introduced into whole areas or sections at once without knowledge of the conditions ahead; moving an explosive mixture of methane and air over live fire had to

Jan 1, 1938

By C. Özgen Karacan

Methane emissions from a longwall ventilation system are an important indicator of how much methane a particular mine is producing and how much air should be provided to keep the methane levels under statutory limits. Knowing the amount of ventilation methane emission is also important for environmental considerations and for identifying opportunities to capture and utilize the methane for energy production. Prediction of methane emissions before mining is difficult since it depends on a number of geological, geographical, and operational factors. This study proposes a principle component analysis (PCA) and artificial neural network (ANN)-based approach to predict the ventilation methane emission rates of U.S. longwall mines. Ventilation emission data obtained from 63 longwall mines in 10 states for the years between 1985 and 2005 were combined with corresponding coalbed properties, geographical information, and longwall operation parameters. The compiled database resulted in 17 parameters that potentially impacted emissions. PCA was used to determine those variables that most influenced ventilation emissions and were considered for further predictive modeling using ANN. Different combinations of variables in the data set and network structures were used for network training and testing to achieve minimum mean square errors and high correlations between measurements and predictions. The resultant ANN model using nine main input variables was superior to multilinear and second-order non-linear models for predicting the new data. The ANN model predicted methane emissions with high accuracy. It is concluded that the model can be used as a predictive tool since it includes those factors that influence longwall ventilation emission rates.

On April 1, 1982, the Bureau of Mines and the Department of Energy entered into an Interagency Agreement to develop an enhanced computer cost model for uranium in situ leach mining. The original computer cost model contained data base information related to two regions; the Wyoming basin region and the South Texas trend area. The enhanced cost model contains additional information on San Juan Basin type deposits. This addition is significant because it expands the model's capabilites to include one of the largest uranium producing areas in the United States and developes costs related to uranium production from in situ leach mining. The data base was expanded and modified to include changes necessary for San Juan basin type deposits. These changes included, but were not limited to, state and local taxes, royalty payments, depth of deposits, drilling costs, and electrical costs. Also site visits were taken to verify many of the base case parameters. Consequently, the data base has been incorporated into the computer program and existing software was modified to provide for the additional data. Information was obtained on drilling coats and therefore the current program more accurately reflects these costs to depths of 2500 feet. This depth parameter has been expanded to include Wyoming Basin and South Texas scenarios also. Verbal communications were held with one operator in the Crownpoint, New Mexico area as well as the state regulatory agencies to help validate the expanded model. As a result of these changes, several tables have been included, summarizing changes in the new default parameters and the overall range of input parameters.

Jan 1, 1982

By P. H. Mutschler

The Bureau of Mines studied the costs of transporting fossil fuels, coal, and residual fuel oil from areas of production to consumer regions. Transportation data were stratified by type of carrier, size of shipment, and distance to determine what general effects these variables have upon transportation costs. Economics of haul for coal exist for longer versus shorter distances, and for larger versus smaller trainload sizes. Tanker and barge transportation of residual fuel oil does not show economies of haul for longer distances. It is shown that tanker size and seasonal variation are primary factors influencing the cost of shipping. Railroad transportation data show that coal from western coalfields could be competitive with foreign residual fuel oil in selected midwestern fossil fuel markets. However, the western coal would not be competitive in the New England and the eastern seaboard energy markets.

Jan 1, 1973

By H. L. Gibbs

A portable radon monitoring instrument capable of making on-the-spot measurements of the radon gas content of uranium mine atmospheres was designed and constructed. The monitor was tested in the laboratory and in operating uranium mines. Good correlation was obtained between the monitor readings and radon measurements made on mine atmosphere samples taken in radon bottles.

Jan 1, 1973

By A. B. Coates, J. E. Crawshaw

"The use of such methods and apparatus as the Dautriche method and the Mettegang recorder for the determination of the rate of burning of black blasting powder and other strictly burning explosives has been found to give such erratic results that no reliance can be placed on the data thus obtained. Consequently, investigators of those factors which may affect the burning rate, such as size of grain, absolute density, chemical composition, and means of ignition have had to rely mainly on observations made during practical use for determination of the part played by each. Such tests are very difficult of interpretation.The purpose of this paper is to describe a method used by the explosives division of the Bureau of Mines for the investigation of such explosives and to present the results of an investigation using that method.The investigation was concerned with the effect of grain size, initial pressure, and means of ignition on the rate of burning or rate of pressure development of black blasting powder as compared with pellet powder.The Bichel pressure gauge was used for these tests, with the slight modification to the apparatus and method described in U. S. Bureau of Mines Bulletin 15.4 These modifications consisted of reducing the speed of the revolving drum on which the time-pressure record is taken, measuring the speed of the drum by a belt-driven tachometer, and introducing an induction coil in series with the electric squib or electric detonator to mark on the time pressure record the instant at which the squib or detonator was fired."

May 1, 1929

By Loren R. Anderson

A probabilistic slope stability computer model was developed at Utah State University and independently evaluated by CH2M Hill Consulting Engineers as a design and analysis tool. Volume I of this report describes the model and Volumes III and IV are users manuals for the computer programs. This volume (Volume II) constitutes the report by the CH2M Hill. It includes a description of a field investigation and stability analysis of an existing tailings dam. Based on the results of the analysis, the tailings dam was evaluated for redesign using probabilistic considerations. Conclusions are made regarding the usefulness of the model as a design tool.

Jan 1, 1982

By Edwin B. Cook

Studies of flame and combustion phenomena at the Bureau of Mines have been facilitated by computer evaluation of the thermodynamic properties of gases formed by constant-pressure burning.4 5 This report is the sixth of a series6-10 presenting results of such calculations; it deals also with constant-volume deuterium-air flames.

Jan 1, 1961

The instrumentation specification in the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) report of March, 1970, set forth some rather general guidelines that the seismic surface system should follow. The fact that there was no comparable equipment in existence at that time, and the need to produce a system from presently available equipment, was spelled out in that document. The features that the system should include were listed, and included: • Quick and simple deployment • Portability • Battery-powered operation • All-weather operation • Computational simplicity and speed • High reliability and long shelf-life • Dual service for location and communication • Adaptability to widely varying seismic velocities. topography, and geologic structures • Minimum maintenance • Capability of continuous operation for extended periods, and • Reasonable cost Since that report, there has been a substantial amount of field work addressing the trapped miner detection and location problem carried out by Westinghouse Corporation under contract with the Bureau of Mines. Two complete surface systems have been designed, built, and field tested and substantial documentation has been produced on the mine environment and background noise using these systems. These systems, built from off-the-shelf equipment, have been designed with maximum flexibility in mind in order to explore what con¬figuration a field unit should have.

Jan 1, 1974

PURPOSE: Evaluate practical technological advances in level-dependent hearing protectors and inexpensive personal acoustic monitors. RESEARCH SUMMARY: The results of previous NIOSH research show that miners develop hearing loss much more quickly than nonoccupationally noise-exposed individuals and that miners experience a greater severity of hearing loss than would be expected for nonoccupational noise-exposed persons of the same age and gender. Using hearing thresholds at 4,000 Hz as an indicator, coal miners experience hearing loss 2.5 to 3 times greater than would be expected for persons not exposed to occupational noise. At age 50, 90% of coal miners and 49% of metal/nonmetal miners were found to have a hearing impairment. In comparison, only 9% of a nonoccupationally exposed control group had a hearing impairment at age 50.

Jan 1, 2000

By d&apos, Kathleen J. Amico

This summary appears in Minerals Yearbook volumes I-II, and III, which cover mineral production in the United States, its island possessions, the Canal Zone, and the Commonweath of Puerto Rico, as well as the principal minerals imported into and exported from the United States. The sections of this chapter and the area chapters in volume III contain further details on production. A summary table comparing world and U.S. mineral production also is included. Mineral production may be measured at any of several stages of extraction and processing. The stage of measurement used in the chapter is normally what is termed "mine output." It usually refers to minerals in the form in which they are first extracted from the ground, but customarily includes for some minerals the product of auxiliary processing operations at or near mines.

Jan 1, 1967

This report is the 23d in a series summarizing research and technologic work by the Federal Bureau of Mines on coal and related investigations; it is the fifth report to be issued on a calendar-year basis.2/ Publications by Bureau personnel in 1958 are cited;3/ in addition work in progress during the year is briefly described. To conserve our reserves of coal the Bureau of Mines conducts a program concerned with the development of fundamental information on coal characteristics and behavior, and the improvement of technology related to its production and utilization. The ability to anticipate and meet future demands for coal depends on a number of factors: (1) Knowledge of reserves from a stand- point of both quantity and quality; (2) the development of improved mining methods, health and safety measures, and preparation techniques that will insure its most efficient exploitation; and (3) knowledge of the controlling factors in efficient use of coal in combustion, carbonization, gasification, direct and indirect hydrogenation, and other new processes. The Bureau is concerned with each of these areas.4/,5/

Jan 1, 1960

By H. W. Kilau

The U.S. Bureau of Mines examined the wettability of bituminous and subbituminous coals before and after exposure to ambient air atmosphere, as part of an ongoing project investigating the coal-wetting abilities of surfactant solutions intended for the suppression of dust during coal mining operations. Exposure periods were generally 7 days or less, and the changes in wetting response were measured with a capillary penetration apparatus. Wetting solutions tested included a nonionic surfactant, two anionic surfactants, and pure distilled water. After exposure, higher ranked bituminous coals treated with nonionic surfactant solution and pure water showed increased wettability, but lower ranked subbituminous coals showed decreased wettability. With the anionic surfactants, the coals demonstrated opposite responses. The wettability changes appeared to be related to the coal moisture content. These changes may be amplified by specific, but incompletely understood, interactions between surfactant polar groups, absorbed water, and the coal surface.

Jan 1, 1989