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By Ralph L. Windrow

This paper is one of a series being prepared for and published by the United States Bureau of Mines describing methods and costs of mining and preparing sand and gravel for market at various plants throughout the United States. These papers are designed to disseminate technical information regarding the methods used. The cost tabulations represent operating expenditures only and not total costs. It is recognized that publication of total costs might in many instances cause embarrassment to individual producers as well as to the industry as a whole. On the other hand, operating costs are essential to the technical discussion and study of the methods employed. The attention of the reader is specifically called to this differentiation in order that no misunderstanding of the scope of the cost tabulations shall ensue. The Clowdy plant, with which this paper deals, is located 7 miles west of Dallas, Tex., and has a rail connection with the Texas and Pacific Railway. In addition to the rail outlet there is a paved road over which materials produced at this plant can be moved into Dallas by truck.

Jan 1, 1932

By Edward W. Parsons

The explosive-anchored rockbolt was field tested in six mines where rock conditions varied from incompetent shale or mudstone through fairly soft sand-stone to firm sandy shales. The purpose of the testing was to document, under a wide variety of conditions and in comparison to other rockbolt anchors, the quality of the anchorage produced by the explosive-anchored bolt. In addition, the length, strength, and design of the explosive charge necessary to produce positive anchorage up to the yield strength of the weakest component of the bolt were determined. A l4-inch length beaded explosive charge was found to be suitable, in general, in relatively weak strata, and the length can be reduced in more competent strata. Of the 127 explosive?-anchored bolts tested, 118 bolts produced an evaluated anchorage in excess of 17,000 pounds. Only 4 of 43 expansion-shell bolts and 4 of 14 wedge bolts produced anchorage this good. In preliminary tests, properly coupled explosive-anchored bolts did not ignite an explosive gas mixture. Some minor phases included in the investigation were as follows: (1) effect of explosive-anchored rockbolt on surrounding rock; (2) effect of time on anchored bolts based on torque tests; (3) effect of submersion in water on rockbolt anchorage; (4) pull tests to higher loads; and (5) ignition tests.

Jan 1, 1965

By J. B. Cunningham

Lithium in the form of metal, salts, and alloys is particularly important because of increasing industrial uses resulting partly from wartime developments. Lithium carbonate and lithium strontium nitrate, which impart a brilliant red color to a flame, are used in pyrotechnics. Lithium chloride and fluoride are used in fluxes for welding aluminum to dissolve the oxide coating on the aluminum and prevent oxidation of the molten metal. Lithium carbonate is used in ceramics in raw alkaline glazes because of its unusual fluxing properties. The use of 9 to 12 percent lithium carbonate permits a marked increase in the amounts of alumina, calcium, and silica that may be Used and results in a more stable glaze with sufficient alkalinity to produce vivid copper blues and other typically alkaline colors. Lithium stearate is used as a grease in airplane engines because of its ability to withstand wide changes in temperature. In view of its great affinity for nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, phosphorus, carbon, and silicon, lithium has an excellent scavenging action on molten metals. It forms stable nonmetallic compounds of low specific gravity or gases that are eliminated at pouring temperatures. Lithium is generally added to the melt in the form of a lithium-calcium alloy consisting of 50 percent of each ingredient or as an alloy of 98 percent copper and 2 percent lithium. The lithium-calcium alloy added to cast iron before pouring, acts as a scavenger and increases the fluidity of the melt. This alloy also is said to increase the corrosion-resistant properties of stainless steel alloys and to improve their polishing qualities.

Jan 1, 1948

General economic conditions continued to improve in the second quarter of 1984 as real gross national product advanced at an annual rate of 7.5 percent (table 1). This followed an even larger first quarter annual rate increase of 10.1 percent. The slower second quarter growth was greeted as a sign that the economy is not over-heating. The signs of slowed growth in some sectors suggest that the recovery may continue well into 1985 without the inflation symptomatic of a rapid recovery. Most of the slowdown in growth was absorbed by business inventories, personal consumption of durable goods, and residential fixed investment. Business inventories grew by only 68 percent as much as in the first quarter, personal consumption for durable goods grew by 58 percent of the first quarter rate, and residential fixed investment slowed to only 44 percent of the first quarter growth. Sectors with accelerated growth in the second quarter included personal consumption of nondurable goods and of services, which increased at annual rates of 9.6 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively, and Federal purchases of goods and services, which increased at an annual rate of 47.9 percent.

Jan 1, 1984

By P. V. Fillo

This paper describes Mohave Mining and Milling Co. methods of mining and milling manganese ore in Arizona. It is one of a series of publications prepared by the Bureau of Mines on methods and costs in various mining districts in the United States. Production of manganese ore, as such, in Arizona began in 1915. Before this time manganiferous ores had been mined primarily for silver content and used as a smelter flux. From 1916 to 1918 approximately 69,000 long tons of manganese and mangsniferous ores were mined. After World War I production dropped to almost nothing until World War II, during which period more than 24,000 long tons were produced. A lull in mangonese mining occurred after World War II, having production rates of only a few hundred tons annually through 1952.

Jan 1, 1963

By Edward E. Johnson

The Bureau of 'Mines publishes in its ?Minerals Yearbook? a series of indexes on the domestic minerals industry. Among these are the index of physical volume of mineral production, indexes of stocks, and indexes of average unit mine value and implicit unit value, This report describes the material coverage of these indexes and the methods used in their construction. Detailed descriptions are given for several other mineral-oriented indexes regularly published by other government agencies. These descriptions give the index user a better understanding of what each index purports to measure and aids him in selecting the most appropriate index for his purpose.

Jan 1, 1965

By Albert L. Toenges

The Deep River coal field is in Chatham, Lee, and Moore Counties, N. C. The coal-bearing part of the basin is about 35 miles long and 5 to 10 miles wide. Sanford, the county seat of Lee County, is the largest town in the area, with a population of 10,000. Four railroads provide transportation to the area, and four United States highways and improved county roads provide easy access to the field. The Carolina mine at Farmville is the only operating mine in the field. The mine was opened in 1921 by two rock slopes driven from the surface to the Cumnock bed. Mining operations continued intermittently until 1945 and then stopped. In the fall of 1947 the mine was reopened by the newly organized Raleigh Mining Corp.

Jan 1, 1952

By H. D. Bemis

This paper describing the milling practice of the American Metal Co. at its Pecos con¬centrator is one of a series on milling methods and costs being prepared by the United States Bureau of Mines. ACKNOWLEDGMENT The author acknowledges the assistance rendered by Guy Martin, metallurgist, H. E. Brown and J. H. Hastings, chemists, and Thomas J. Fahey, accountant, in gathering and pre¬paring the data presented in this paper.

Jan 1, 1932

By W. P. Yant, R. R. Sayers, G. W. Jones

In the treatment of any illness the early diagnosis is of very great importance . This is especially true in cases of carbon monoxide poisoning , whether acute or sub-acute in character. A diagnosis of CO poisoning is usually made from a correlation of the history , the possible place of exposure , and the symptoms produced . This , however, is not positive evidence because CO often is present in unsuspected places and can be absent in suspected places . Also , the symptoms of this type of poisoning are common to other causes . In many such cases the correct diagnosis may be very difficult , if not impossible by this method and as a result little or no treatment is given . Sub- acute cases , those in which the subject is exposed to concentration sufficient to cause only headaches , malaise , feeling of weakness and dizziness , may be incorrectly diagnosed and as a result , improperly treated . Probably the best method of diagnosis is by examination of the subject's blood . Many methods for the detection of CO in the blood have been developed , but owing to their various individual disadvantages have never come into common usage . Some of the quantitative methods are satisfactory with regard to accuracy but require elaborate and expensive apparatus , special technique and training, or are too delicate and cumbersome for field use . It is of vital importance in all industrial and domestic accidents occuring at places where CO might be suspected or where the symptoms are typical of CO poisoning that a qualitative and preferably a quantitative determination be made the extent of poisoning being of importance in deciding whether CO was the direct or contributary cause) to show the presence or absence of 0. This is indeed essential from a medical standpoint as it aids in prescribing treatment and from a legal standpoint to insure justice in the claims that are often unjustly decided for want of positive evidence.

Jun 1, 1923

By M. M. Gilkey

This report on water requirements for the New Mexico mineral industry includes data on industrial operations closely related to mineral production. It contains general information concerning public water supplies at five principal cities and a short discussion of water needs for agriculture. Background data are presented regarding the geography, hydrography, and water laws of New Mexico, as well as precipitatton and evaporation characteristics of the State. Most of the information on source, quantity, distribution, cost, and treatment of water was obtained in interviews with company representatives. Water systems at 46 operations are illustrated by schematic waterflow diagrams. The study revealed that the New Mexico mineral industry in 1962 used about 16 billion gallons of new water and reused 152 billion gallons, a total usage of 168 billion gallons. Consumption amounted to 7.6 billion gallons. Of the 16 billion gallons of new water, 11.9 billion gallons was "self- supplied" from ground water sources, and 2.6 billion gallons was self supplied from surface sources. Approximately 1.5 billion gallons was purchased. Some of the water from company-owned wells is piped as far as 30 miles. Reported costs of the self-supplied new water range from 1 to 20 cents per 1,000 gallons and average 8 cents per 1,000 gallons for power and maintenance. Inadequacy of the supply of new water at many operations necessitates large-scale recirculation. Reported costs for recirculating water (power and maintenance) average 1.8 cents per 1,000 gallons. For the entire New Mexico mineral industry in 1962, the value of product was $42 per 1,000 gallons of new water intake and $88 per 1,000 gallons consumed. Analyses of 40 water samples, listed in the appendix, show the wide range in water quality at plants throughout the State. Projection of the 1962 water requirements of the mineral industry indicate that the total demand for new water will increase from the 16 billion gallons used in 1962 to 24 billion gallons in 1980, a 50 percent increase; and to 36 billion gallons in 2000, which is 125 percent more than the 1962 intake of new water.

Jan 1, 1965

By H. F. Yancey

The investigations described in this bulletin are confined to a study of the washing characteristics of bituminous coals. The major part of the work was conducted by the Bureau of Mines in cooperation with the Engineering Experiment Station of the University of Illinois and the State of Illinois Geological Survey Division between 1918 and 1924, in accordance with the provisions of an agreement between these agencies. The washing characteristics of coals from many of the important coal-producing fields of the Eastern and Central States were examined. The coals of the Pacific Northwest States and Alaska have been studied separately by McMillan and Bird of the Northwest Experiment Station of the Bureau of Mines at Seattle in cooperation with the College of Mines of the University of Washington.2 OBJECT OF INVESTIGATION The object of the investigation of coal preparation by the Bureau of Mines has been to promote the production of better prepared coal and to facilitate the correct selection and design of coal-preparation plants by obtaining as complete information as possible regarding the washability of the various types of American coals and the treatment best suited to each. In addition, some attention has been given to the development of new methods of washing coal. The work naturally divides itself into three rather distinct steps: (1) Development of a systematic method of examining and testing a coal; (2) classification of the American coals on a basis of the occurrence of the impurities associated with the coal in the beds; (3) examination of one or more representative coals of each type.

Jan 1, 1929

By Henry Kreisinger

Some of the investigations conducted by the Bureau of Mines have for their object the collecting and disseminating of information regarding methods by which the fuels of the country may be most efficiently used. As the analysis of flue gases tends to develop better methods of firing, which in turn reduces waste of fuel, the Bureau of Mines in this bulletin presents for the benefit of those in charge of boiler plants and all other persons interested detailed information on methods of sampling and analyzing flue gases, and on the utilization of the analyses in promoting boiler-room economy. This bulletin is intended to be a companion to Technical Paper 80,a and is written in plain and nontechnical language, as far as possible, so that it may be readily understood by persons who have not had the advantage of a technical education. Whenever possible, illustrations of apparatus and methods of handling have been used rather than elaborate descriptions.

Jan 1, 1915

By R. S. Dean

"It has long been recognized that the properties of polycrystalline substances are not the same as those of single crystals. These differences are especially marked in metels and metallic minerals, and are of greatest practical importance in metal working and ore treatment. The property changes encountered in passing from a metal single crystal to a poly-crystalline aggregate are the same as are produced by cold-working a metal or by the precipitation of a disperse phase. Hence, we may logically assume that the property changes are all due directly or indirectly to the formation of interfacial area or internal surface. Our problem, then, is to ascertain the physicochemical state of the metal atoms at such internal surface and show how this physicochemical condition accounts for the pronounced changes of mechanical, magnetic, and electrical properties that accompany increased internal surface.GENERAL CONCEPT OF INTERNAL SURFACEIn 1678, Huyghens attempted to explain the double refraction of calcite by postulating that crystals were built from a regular arrangement of ellipsoidal particles. Over 100 years later, Abbé Hauy concluded from his studies of cleavage that crystals might be built from small units, but the units were of the same shape as the entire crystal. This idea, which was prevalent in mineralogical thought before the advent of X-ray spectrometry, was discarded when the great success of Bragg made it appear that the chemical atoms were in reality the elements of structure. In the further development of X-ray technique, however, C. G. Darwin, in England, and P. P. Ewald, in Germany, found it necessary to postulate crystal units con¬taining many atoms. The latter gave the name of mosaic crystals to those so constituted. The individual units are supposed to Possess the ideal atomic arrangements revealed by the X-ray but are not oriented with respect to one another."

May 1, 1938

By H. M. Urban

This paper, one of a series being prepared for and published by the United States Bureau of Mines on methods and costs of mining at various mica mines in the United States, describes the methods now in use in the principal mica mines of the Southern Appalachian States. Those papers are designed to disseminate technical information regarding the methods used. The cost tabulations represent operating expenditures only and not total costs. It is recognized that publication of total costs might in some instances cause embarrassment to individual producers as well as to the industry as a whole. On the other hand, operating costs are essential to the technical discussion and study of methods employed. The attention of the reader is specifically called to this differentiation in order that no misunderstanding of the scope of the cost tabulations shall ensue.

Jan 1, 1932

By R. G. Warncke

In the 1953 National First-Aid and Mine Rescue Contest, 58 teams from 9 States participated, 14 teams from 6 States in mine rescue and 47 teams from 9 States in first aid. Three of the teams were combination teams in that the same team participated in both the mine rescue and first-aid contests. The States represented and the number of teams from each State are shown in table 1. [ ] The contest was conducted in accordance with the general rules prepared by the Rules Committee and approved by the General Committee of the National First-Aid and Mine Rescue Committee.

Jan 1, 1955

By Dennis A. Long

Slip and fall accidents are a major cause of lost-time injuries associated with large mobile equipment in surface mines. An evaluation of the safety hazards associated with getting on and off large surface mining vehicles showed that most of the accidents occur at the point where personnel attempt to mount or dismount the machine at ground level. The major hazardous design conditions were identified as excessively flexible supports for lower steps or rungs, inappropriate ground-level-to-first-step distances, poor step designs, access designs that use vehicle components as steps or walkways, and inadequate hand- rail and guardrail designs, Additional hazards are introduced by the lack of proper maintenance of ladder hardware and the work practices of operators in carrying articles while mounting and dismounting the vehicle. This Bureau of Mines report describes the design and in-mine testing of improved access system for large mobile mining equipment.

Jan 1, 1984

By E. P. Buxton, W. P. Yant, G. W. Jones

"Introduction. The data obtained in recent research work by the Bureau of Mines show that the analysis of the gases dissolved in underground waters may be used by the prospector or geologist as an additional aid in discovering new oil or gas fields. The hydrocarbons present in the water serve to indicate whether oil or gas sands exist in the region through which the waters have passed. A portable field apparatus has been developed by the bureau which can be used for removing and analyzing the gases dissolved in the waters. This apparatus and the method of u are described in this paper. Results are given of analyses made on waters from various localities, and the significance of these waters with reference to the detection of oil and gas.Any liquid, with the exception of mercury, if permitted to come in contact with eases or vapors will absorb a definite amount thereof. This action depends on the following factors: (1) The kind of gas; (2) the percentage composition of the eases in contact with the liquid; (3) the pressure of the gas; and (4) the composition and temperature of the liquid. For our present purpose it is only necessary is consider two of these factors - namely, the gas or vapor (natural gas and light petroleum vapor), and the liquid (water).If water of underground origin traverses a gas or oil sand it will absorb a definite quantity of hydrocarbon vapors, and will carry these vapors to the surface when tapped by a well. When the water is exposed to the air at the sur¬face, the eases and vapors will be given off and their place taken by oxygen and nitrogen from the air. Therefore, an analysis of the gases in waters reaching the surface from an underground source should be of value in determining whether these waters have traversed or came in contact with hydrocarbon-bearing strata. With the apparatus herein described it is possible to determine whether the vapors are mainly of natural gas on sition (methane CH1) and ethane (C2H6 ), or are come posed mostly of heavier petroleum vapors (ethane, propane (C3E8) and buttane (C4H10)."

Nov 1, 1923

By R. K. Guthrie, H. B. Hill

"INTRODUCTION The Rodessa oil field in Marion and Cass Counties, Tex., Miller County, Ark., and Caddo Parish, La., was discovered in August 1930, when a well drilled to a depth of 5,506 feet in Caddo Parish, close to the surface trace of the Rodessa fault, produced gas in commercial quantities. During the next 5 years 21 gas wells were drilled, and a large reserve of natural gas was developed in the high part of the Rodessa structure underlying the Massive Anhydrite member of the Glen Rose formation.In July 1935 oil was discovered on the flank of the structure when a well drilled to 6,048 feet also in Caddo Parish, was completed as an oil well. The discovery of oil in the Rodessa structure initiated art intensive development program of more than usual interest to geologists, engineers, and operators in the petroleum and natural-gas industry. The complex nature of the different reservoirs, the large volume of ""free"" gas under high pressures and temperatures in the upper part of the reservoirs, and the high gas:oil ratios of some of the wells during the early production of oil presented many problems the solution of which taxed the ingenuity of those responsible for the development and exploitation of the Rodessa field.Early waste of gas and resultant dissipation of reservoir energy led to State intervention, which brought about effective regulation of the quantity of gas blown to the air. Oil production from wells producing more than 2.000 cubic feet of gas per barrel of oil was restricted, and oil allowables generally were based equally upon acreage and upon reservoir pressures. Consequently, oil-production statistics of the field are closely associated with gas:oil ratios and reservoir pressures.The primary object of this report is to present factual and statistical data on well performance in the Rodessa field and to show established trends under certain operating methods and practices in high-pressure gaseous reservoirs, which have been carefully developed and outlined by modern technique and exploited under close engineering supervision.The large size of the Rodessa field, it’s fairly well defined gas caps, and a somewhat definite water table in a part- of the oil- and gas-producing region are of special interest and importance in a study of the fluid and energy relationships in reservoirs. Consequently, the results of much of the authors' work in collecting and compiling date are presented in the form of tables, maps and cross sections to show the relative thicknesses of the different oil-and gas-producing members and their permeability and porosity relationships, and, when possible, the variations in stratigraphy are exhibited in cross sections. Results of a detailed analysis of cores from a number of wells also are presented in tabular and graphic form."

Aug 1, 1943

By Leonard F. Heising

At the Groveland mine iron ore is mined by open-pit methods and concentrated by means of spirals and flotation. A brief history of the mine and its early development is given. The ore deposit is described, with emphasis on those physical characteristics that affect the choice of mining and milling methods. Development and mining, which include breaking ground, loading, transportation, engineering, and operating control, are explained, and the milling method is described Mining and milling costs are given in percent of total cost.

Jan 1, 1963

By H. A. Doerner

The Rare and Precious Metals Station of the U. S. Bureau of Mines has investigated several cases in which widely divergent amounts of molybdenum were reported by a number of custom laboratories to which quartered portions of the same sample had been sent for analysis . On an oxidized lead ore containing considerable vanadium and a little molybdenum , the amount of the latter reported ranged from 3.14 to 0.24 per cent M003 . The high results were due to the fact that vanadium was estimated with , and reported as , molybdenum . When analyzed by the method described in this paper , 0.15 per cent Moog was found, which is a fair agreement with the lowest figure previously reported . In another and more unusual example , a fine- grained rock containing considerable graphite was submitted for analysis . As a white residue could not be obtained by treating this material with acid , several chemists decomposed the ore by a prolonged fusion with soda ash and nitre and leached the melt with hot water in crder to insure the dissolution of any and all the molybdenum present . After precipitating and filtering the silica from the solution , acetic acid , ammonium acetate , and lead acetate were added to precipitate lead molybdate . The solution contained phosphorous derived from the ore , which precipitated as lead phosphate . The latter was mistaken for , and reported as , molybdenum. As two different chemists used essentially the same procedure , their results , although incorrect , checked . Other chemists using different methods found no molybdenum . From these and other instances it is evident that reputable and conscientious assayers may make serious errors in determining molybdenum, and even duplication of results by different chemists does not necessarily insure against error . The elements most likely to cause trouble are vanadium, tungsten, uranium , arsenic , antimony , titanium, tin , phosphorous , and chromium . The precautions necessary to eliminate these and other impurities vary with the type of ore and the method of analysis . Most texts present methods of limited application and omit or fail to emphasize adequately such precautions . No one method can be given that will best fit every case , but the following procedure has been selected as being the simplest reliable method for such occasional determinations of molybdenum in an ore as are encountered in customs work.

Sep 1, 1930