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By Thomas C. Ruhe

The Bureau of Mines conducted research to determine the safe operating conditions for using recycled (used) lubricating oil from mining equipment as a partial replacement for diesel fuel to make ANFO-type blasting agents. The use of recycled oil (RO) saves energy, reduces oil imports, and reduces mining costs. Low ambient temperatures may cause these recycled oils to become too viscous for proper absorption by ammonium nitrate (AN) prills and result in poor blast performance, safety hazards, and environmental problems. To help quantify and resolve these issues, viscosity, mixing, and performance tests were conducted at various temperatures. Diesel fuels No. 1 and No. 2 were studied separately and in blends with 25,50, and 75% RO. Good quality ANFO mixes (94-6) were produced with dry absorbent prills and blended fuel (No. 1 diesel plus RO) at temperatures as low as -40°F (-40°C) with 75% No. 1/25% RO, and at -20°F (-29°C) with 50/50. Diesel fuel No. 2 also made good mixes as low as -30" F (-34°C) with 75% No. 2/25% RO, and at 0°F (-18°C) with 50/50.

Jan 1, 2008

By David E. Siskind

The U.S. Bureau of Mines and the State of Indiana cooperated with AMAX Coal Co. and its consultants to determine the effects of coal mine overburden blasting on nearby pipelines. Five pressurized 76-m pipeline sections were installed on the Minnehaha Mine highwall near Sullivan, IN, for testing to failure. Four 17-to 51-cm-diameter welded steel pipes and one 22-cm PVC pipe were monitored for vibration, strain, and pressure for a period of 6 months while production blasting advanced up to the test pipeline field. In contrast to previous studies of small-scale, close-in blasting for construction, these tests involved overburden blasts of up to 950 kg per delay in 31-cm blastholes. Analyses found low pipe responses, strains, and calculated stresses from even large blasts. Ground vibrations of 120 to 250 mm/s produced worst case strains that were about 25 pct of the strains resulting from normal pipeline operations and calculated stresses of only about 10 to 18 pct of the ultimate tensile strength. No pressurization failures or permanent strains occurred even at vibration amplitudes of 600 mm/s.

Jan 1, 2010

By Llewellyn A. Rubin

ROUTINES AND SUBROUTINES A- 1 Wait Loop (Wait) A- 2 Receiver Processing (RCVP) A- 3 Control Panel Sequence (CPNL) A-4 Interrupt Routine (INTRP) A- 5 Math Processing Routine (PROC) A-6 Input Constants for Math Routine (CONI) A-7 Angle Conversion Routines (LVERT) A- 8 Display Routine (DSPY) A- 9 Message Print Auxillary Routine (MESSO) A-10 Auxillary Subroutines (AFUTC and AGETC)

Jan 1, 1973

The objective of this handbook is to provide the inspector with guidance for recognizing hazards from inhalation contaminants in above ground work areas of underground and surface metal and nonmetal mining and processing facilities and evaluating these hazards by collecting samples or making field determinations and interpreting the analytical results. Portions of the handbook that should prove most useful to the inspectors include a survey check list, rules for determining if sampling is required, list of most frequently encountered contaminants, list of candidate contaminants and their sampling conditions, interpretation of results, and a procedure for a health and safety inspection.

Jan 1, 2011

By Robert J. Tuchman

This report presents the origins of the Bureau of Mines and the evolution of the Pittsburgh Research Center from its inception to its present form. Areas of major research emphasis over the years, as well as administrative reorganizations, are discussed.

Jan 1, 1998

By L. E. Cardwell

This publication contains routine analyses and related source data for 299 natural gas samples from 22 States and three foreign countries. All of the samples were collected during calendar year 1972 as part of a continuous survey of the free world for occurrences of helium in natural gas. This survey has been conducted in the United States by the Bureau of Mines since 1917. In late 1965, the survey was expanded to include foreign gasfields. The analyses published herein were made by mass spectrometer and a special helium analysis apparatus, which are described in Bureau of Mines Bulletins 4863 and 576.4 Fourteen previous publications have presented the results of 9,902 gas analyses prior to 1972. The first three, Bulletins 486,5 576,6 and 617,7 contain analyses and related source data on 5,218 gas samples collected from

Jan 1, 1973

By W. F. M. GOSS

For the purpose of procuring data that could be used in estimating the value of the briquetting process as applied to American fuels, the United States Geological Survey, in cooperation with other interests, began in 1904, at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, certain experiments involving the production and use of bituminous-coal briquets. It installed at St. Louis, and later at Norfolk, machines for the manufacture of such briquets, and the output of these machines has been tested in locomotive service on several different railroads in comparison with natural fuels. An elaborate and carefully executed series of tests involving the use of natural coals and of briquets made from the same coal, previously crushed, was carried out on a locomotive mounted at the testing plant of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Altoona, Pa.; and some preliminary experiments involving the use of briquets in marine service were made in connection with one of the Government's torpedo boats. A description of these tests is presented herewith. The results sustain the following general conelusions: 1. The briquets made on the Government's machines have well withstood exposure to the weather. and have suffered but little deterioration from handling. 2. In all classes of service involved by the experiments, the use of briquets in the place of natural coal appears to have increased the evaporative efficiency of the boilers tested. 3. The smoke produced has in no test been more dense with the briquets than with coal; on the contrary, in most tests the smoke density is said to have been less when briquets were used. 4. The use of briquets increases the facility with which an even fire over the whole area of the grate may be maintained.

Jan 1, 1911

By C. Özgen Karacan

Gamma ray, density, sonic and core logs obtained from two boreholes drilled over a longwall panel in Southwestern (SW) Pennsylvania were analyzed for formation boundaries, log-derived porosities and densities and for rock elastic properties from sonic transit times. Gamma ray (GR) and density logs (DL) were analyzed using univariate statistical techniques and fractal statistics for similarity and ordering of the log data in depth. A Fourier transformation with low-pass filter was used as a noise elimination (filtering) technique from the original logs. Filtered data was tested using basic univariate and fractal statistics, rescaled range (R/S) and power spectrum (PS) analysis to compare the information characteristics of the filtered logs with the original data. The randomness of log data in depth was analyzed for fractional Gaussian noise (fGn) or fractional Brownian motion (fBm) character. A new prediction technique using radial basis function (RBF) networks was developed to calculate shear and Young?s moduli of the formations when sonic logs are not available. For this approach, the filtered logs were used as input to an RBF based upon a combination of supervised and unsupervised learning. The network was trained and tested using rock elastic properties calculated from the sonic log of one of the boreholes. The network was used to predict the elastic and shear moduli of the coal-measure rocks over a longwall coal mine in SW Pennsylvania. This approach demonstrated that it could be used for prediction of elastic and shear moduli of coal-measure rocks with reasonable accuracy.

Jan 1, 2009

By M. J. Sapko

The pressure and flame development of the methane-air-nitrogen system was investigated in the Bureau's l2-foot-diameter sphere to define buoyancy effects and to develop relationships for predicting venting requirements. Pressure rise (?P) is defined as a function of time (t) and nitrogen dilution and is shown to deviate noticeably from the cubic law (?P = kt3), depending upon the period of combustion and the mixture composition. Corresponding flame speed (Sf) and burning velocity (Su) data are given which show that Sf is time dependent and that Na dilution has a greater effect than air dilution in inhibiting the flame propagation. The Su data agree with "accepted" values and are unique in that they are based on much larger flames than those used in other investigations. Downward propagation limits are shown to depend mainly upon buoyant forces, which can affect the burning of even stoichiometric CH4-air systems. Theoretical expressions, based on the mixture burning velocity and expansion ratio, are given for predicting the venting requirements for ignitions of hydrocarbon-air-nitrogen mixtures in spherical or cubical enclosures.

Jan 1, 1976

By William W. Aljoe

The hydrologic characteristics of two abandoned underground coal mine sites, near Latrobe, PA, and Uniontown, PA, were investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Mines for possible implementation of alkaline injection into the mine pools as a means of abating their acid discharges. The Latrobe site was chosen for a one-time application of alkaline injection to achieve a partial, short-term neutralization of a limited portion of the mine pool. A quantity of alkaline reagent (sodium hydroxide) sufficient for a one-time neutralization of the water in this portion of the pool was added. Although nearly all of the neutralizing reagent had moved away from the injection wells within 6 weeks, no evidence of neutralization was noted at the mine discharge during the study period. This lack of neutralization probably occurred because the injection wells did not intercept a primary flow path through the mine. Criteria for successful application of alkaline injection at this or other sites include (1) positive identification of the primary flow paths through the mine pool and (2) addition of quantities of alkaline reagent sufficient to neutralize the entire volume of the pool along the primary flow path.

Jan 1, 2010

By Sarkis G. Ampian

Extraction of alumina was correlated with the sinter and leach products from the lime soda sinter process for anorthosite. The effect of composition and grain size of reactants, time and temperature of sintering, and techniques of sample preparation were investigated. Greater than 90 percent Al2O3 extractions were obtained from dry-mixed minus 200-mesh anorthosite sinter mixes having mole ratios of CaO/SiO2 = 1.8 and Na2O/Al2O3 = 0.8. These sinter mixes were briquetted at 15,000 psi and fired between 1,200° C and 1,320° C for 20 to 60 minutes. The sinter phases that contribute to low alumina recovery were determined by X-ray diffractometry, optical microscopy, and electron probe X-ray spectrography. The mechanism of the sintering reaction was investigated by high-temperature X-ray diffractometry. The contrast in the lime soda sinter process for clays and for anorthosites are discussed. Explanations and suggested solutions are presented for problems such as gelation and variable alumina recovery encountered by previous investigations.

Jan 1, 1967

This volume constitutes the final report for the Rescue Subsystem portion of the Coal Mine Rescue and Survival System program conducted by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation under contract to the United States Bureau of Mines (Contract Number H0101262 dated Jung 17, 1970). The program was directed by the Special Systems Department of the Westinghouse, Baltimore, Maryland facility. The basic objectives of the CMRSS program were to develop and test hardware to determine the efficacy of a variety of coal mine rescue and survival concepts and techniques. These concepts were drawn from two major- sources: the Request for Proposal from the Bureau of Mines and the final report on the Mine Rescue and Survival Study conducted by the National Academy of Engineering (NAE).

Jan 1, 1971

By B. J. Moore

This publication contains analyses and related source data for 256 natural gas samples from wells and pipelines in 17 States. All of the samples were obtained and analyzed during calendar year 1977 as a part of Bureau of Mines investigations of the occurrences of helium in natural gases of countries with free market economies. This survey has been conducted in the United States by the Bureau of Mines since 1917. In late 1965, the survey was expanded to include foreign gasfields. The analyses published herein were made by mass spectrometer and a special helium analysis apparatus, which are described in Bureau of Mines Bulletins 4862 and 576.3 The results of the investigation of the occurrences of helium are published annually to make the information available as soon as possible to the gas industry and the public in general. Nineteen previous publications have presented the results of 11,317 gas analyses prior to 1977. The first three, Bulletins 486,4 576,5 and 617,6 contain analyses and related source data on 5,218 gas samples collected from 1917 through 1960. The other 16

Jan 1, 1978

By Walter R. Storms

This paper , which describes the mining methods and costs at the Atwood copper mine in the Lordsburg ( Virginia ) Mining District of Hidalgo County , N. Mex . , is one of a series being prepared by the Mining Division of the Bureau of Mines on mining practices , methods , and costs in various mining districts of the United States . The mine and surface plant are situated in the west half of sec . 7 , T. 23 S. , R. 18 W. , about 3 miles by road southwest of the center of Lordsburg , near the old abandoned townsite of Valedon ( see fig . 1 ) . The main line of the Southern Pacific Railroad passes through Lordsburg , as does the paved eastwest U. S. Highway 70-80 . A spur line of the Southern Pacific ends near the mine . A good graded road connects the mine with Lordsburg . The following pages present a brief history of the district , describe the geology , and outline methods of prospecting and exploration, including sampling and estimations of tonnages and values . Development, and mining methods are explained , and transportation , ventilation , drainage ,. safety measures , and organization are described . The wage scale and costs of development and mining comprise the corrcluding sections of this circular .

May 1, 1949

By B. J. Moore

This publication contains analyses and related source data for 234 natural gas samples from wells and pipelines in 21 States and 1 foreign country. All of the samples were obtained and analyzed during calendar year 1975 as a part of Bureau of Mines investigations of the occurrences of helium in natural gases of countries with free market economies. This survey has been conducted in the United States by the Bureau of Mines since 1917. In late 1965, the survey was expanded to include foreign gasfields. The analyses published herein were made by mass spectrometer and n special helium analysis apparatus, which are described in Bureau of Mines Bulletins 4862 and 576.3 The results of the investigation of the occurrences of helium are published annually to make the information available as soon as possible to the gas industry and the public in general. Seventeen previous publications have presented the results of 10,831 gas analyses prior to 1975. The first 3, Bulletins 486,4 576,5 and 617,6 contain analyses and related source data on 5,218 gas samples collected from 1917 through 1960. The other 14

Jan 1, 1976

By William O. Vanderburg

Tis paper describing the mining practices at the Cold Springs mine of the Wolf Tongue Lining Co. at Nederland, Colo., is one of a series of similar papers prepared by the Fureau of kines on mining practices, methods, and costs at various mines in the United States. The writer acknowledges the assistance of William Leach and William T. Todd, manager and mine superintendent of the Wolf Tongue Mining Co., respectively, in the preparation of this paper.

Dec 1, 1932

By Lloyd Williams

1. The investigation shows that the bed identified as Wilder in this report is the only bed in Overton County that has produced commercial coal and is the only bed in which coal reserves were estimated for this report. Three other coal horizons were recognized but lacked enough data for reserve estimates. 2. Known measured and indicated reserves of coal, based on a minimum bed thickness of 14 inches and on 1,800 tons per acre-foot of coal in place, are estimated to be 19 million short tons, as of January 1, 1953. Of this total, 10 million tons represents coal 28 inches and more thick. Areas of the Wilder bed were omitted from the estimate because available data relative to the bed characteristics were too meager for making an estimate that conforms with the definitions of measured and indicated coal adopted for this study. Should future drilling or development prove reserves in these areas, such reserves should be added to the total estimated reserves.

Jan 1, 1955

The Bureau of Mines has sponsored a comprehensive research program to enhance the safe, effective, and efficient use of blasting technology by the mining industry. Recent research results of the surface mine blasting program were presented at a seminar on April 25, 1987, in Chicago, IL. Many of the topics discussed at the seminar are presented in this proceedings. The new research described in these papers includes computer monitoring of rock motion, the influence of blast delay times on rock fragmentation, blasting effects on Appalachian water wells, blast vibration measurement near structures, and the reduction of accidents through improved blasting safety.

Jan 1, 1987

By Constantine C. Popoff

This report reviews and analyzes, by a simple analytical and logical reasoning, the conventional methods of reserve computations of mineral deposits described in various domestic and foreign publications. It brings together, formulates, and evaluates the principles underlying interpretation of exploration data; and ties such principles to the proposed classification of methods. The material is discussed in sufficient detail to allow general application.

Jan 1, 1966

By John F. Papp

International and U.S. chromium material flow, losses, and environmental releases and transfers from mining through industrial processing, end use, and recycling are identified and quantified. Average (1983-92) U.S. consumption has been: metallurgical industry, 87 pct; chemical industry, 10 pet; and refractory industry, 3 pct. Average chromium content of aluminum, cobalt, copper, nickel, and titanium alloys and alloy, carbon, and stainless steel alloys was estimated. Anthropogenic chromium consumption was estimated for the cement and copper industries. N on-commodity cycle anthropogenic chromium mobilization resulting from U.S. fuel and fertilizer use was estimated. Commodity cycle anthropogenic world chromium loss from mining and primary consumer industry was estimated to be equivalent to about 56 pct of chromium contained in chromite ore production and represented a loss rate of 181 kt-Cr/Mt-CrOre. Chromium released to the atmosphere from natural and from anthropogenic sources were comparable in magnitude. Chromium released to soil was mostly from anthropogenic sources, and aquatic releases were all anthropogenic. Domestic product chromium losses exceed process losses by more than a factor of 10 showing the importance and potential environmental impact of post-consumer recycling. The location of historical and current domestic chromium industry processing sites in 23 States were reported. Chromium releases and transfers to the environment were estimated from 1973 through 2002 by primary consumer industry. A decrease in chromium releases and transfers to the environment was anticipated.

Jan 1, 1995