Search Documents

By A. U. Miller

The added hazards to mining incident to oil and gas wells penetrating the coal measures in proximity to mine workings , have long been recognized in those fields where the extraction of oil , gas , and coal , has been in progress for a number of years . The history of these fields is replete with stories of serious mine fires , explosions , and miraculous escapes from both fires and explosions due to either oil or gas finding its way into the mine workings through the strata , or by mining into an unknown or uncharted and abandoned oil or gas well that had not been properly plugged . The Director of the Bureau of Mines , in response to numerous requests from coal operators and oil and gas operators , called a meeting in 1913 to discuss necessary precationary measures to take when drilling oil or gas wells through workable coal beds and to try, if possible . to formulate a set of regulations that might serve as a guide to those persons preparing regulations covering the drilling of oil and gas wells in the various coal producing States . This meeting was attended by representatives of the coal , oil , and gas industries , State geologists , State mine inspectors , and representatives of the Bureau of Mines . A committee was appointed to prepare a set of regulations , which was later published as U.S.Bureau of Mines Technical Paper 53 ; the discussions and results of the meeting werepublished as U. S. Bureau of Mines Bulletin 65 . Later , the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers appointed a committee to draft a model law for the use of the legislature of any State concerned . This committee made its report on April 27 , 1928 . Several of the coal mining States now have more or less comprehensive regulations governing the drilling of oil or gas wells through workable coal beds , others have regulations that are inadequate , while some have no regulations . The State of West Virginia recently enacted a law containing reg lations which are the result of a comprehensive and careful study of the problem .

Nov 1, 1929

As part of its research on advanced mining technology, the U.S. Bureau of Mines emphasizes studies on in situ leach mining. This research enables the Bureau to develop technical information that can allow mining companies to adopt in situ leach mining methods. Research results should help to remove the technical and economic barriers currently hindering the development of commercial in situ leach mining operations. This report contains papers summarizing results of Bureau research on various aspects of in situ leach mining. A featured topic is the cooperative field experiment of the Bureau and Santa Cruz Joint Venture in a copper deposit near Casa Grande, AZ. Discussions in-clude an overview of the entire project, cost modeling, environmental permitting, laboratory core-leaching experiments, petrographic studies, and an evaluation of the geologic structure in the region. In addition, papers describe hydrologic modeling and geophysical studies of solution flow during leaching. Preliminary geochemical modeling studies are also summarized. A final paper describes a nonionic chemical additive with potential for significantly reducing the high costs of drilling in in situ leach mining.

Jan 1, 1989

By A. F. Robertson

"INTRODUCTION This report is supplemental to R.I. 4178 and deals with the work accomplished between June 15, 1945, and September 7, 1945, on the Mitchell-Hodge mine, Grady mine, Albea and York property, and Cuzzort property.ACKNOWLEDGMENTSIn its program or 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. It is the policy of the Bureau to publish the facts developed by exploratory project as soon as practicable after its conclusion. The Mining Branch, Lowell B. Moon, chief, conducts preliminary examinations, performs the actual exploratory work, and prepares the final report. The Metallurigcal Branch, O. C. Ralston, chief, analyzes samples and performs benefication tests.Acknowledgment is due Mitchell H. Kline, chief, Raleigh Division, Mining Branch; Abraham L. Fox, acting chief, Raleigh Division, Metallurgical Branch; and Rowe McCrae, district engineers, U.S. Bureau of Mines, Gainesville,"

Jan 1, 1946

By H. V. Makar

An aluminizing dross which is accumulating as a waste material in substantial quantities was tested for possible use as a steel deoxidizer. This material, consisting mainly of aluminum, silicon, and iron, was used to deoxidize laboratory-scale melts ranging from 7 to 100 pounds. Oxygen analysis showed that the aluminizing dross was effective in reducing oxygen levels in steel. A direct comparison with aluminum wire showed the dross material to be at least as effective. Under similar test conditions with 7-pound melts, 3 grams of aluminum reduced the oxygen concentration from 210 to 175 ppm, while 4 grams of aluminizing dross (equivalent to approximately 2 grams aluminum) reduced the oxygen concentration from 250 to 170 ppm. An additional 4 grams of aluminizing dross produced a final oxygen concentration of 140 ppm.

Jan 1, 1972

By Howard D. Jacobs

A bulk sample of oxidized taconite taken from the western Mesabi Range was evaluated by the Bureau of Mines using the Bureau-developed selective flocculation-desliming-cationic (or anionic) flotation process. The raw ore sample containing 32.3 pct Fe was treated by both cationic and anionic flotation. Using the cationic system the concentrates averaged. 37.2 wt-pct of the feed and contained 62.8 pct Fe and 4.7 pet Si02 with an iron recovery of 72.3 pet. With the anionic system, concentrates averaged 37.7 wt-pet of the feed and contained 63.0 pct Fe and 5.3 pct 8i02 with an iron recovery of 73.5 pct. A comparison of reagent costs showed that the cationic process cost 144.1 cents per long ton of crude ore and the anionic process 178.7 cents per long ton of crude ore. Reclaimed water comprised 86 pct of the total water requirement for anionic flotation and 88 pct for cationic flotation. The ore used in this study was one of three samples representing about 3.25 billion tons of oxidized taconite containing from 32 to 36 pct feed iron. Previous study had indicated that selective flocculation-desliming-cationic flotation would produce concentrates from the other two samples of 61.7 pct Fe and 5.1 pct Si02 at 67-pct Fe recovery, and 63.5 pct Fe and 4.3 pet Si02 at 8S-pct Fe recovery. By developing a successful treatment for these ores, the Bureau has insured the availability of technology for processing an amount of raw iron ore which, by itself, would supply U.S iron needs for 50 to 75 years at expected consumption rates.

Jan 1, 1981

By Walter Kawa

In connection with its research in producing synthetic liquid fuels from coal, the Federal Bureau of Mines studied reactions of iron and iron compounds with hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide in batch autoclaves. The Bureau hoped to gain indirect evidence regarding the chemical changes that iron catalysts undergo when they are used in the hydrogenation of coal. The information obtained may be helpful in identifying the active form or forms of iron catalysts. At 450° C., with hydrogen at hundreds of atmospheres and hydrogen sulfide at 1 or 2 atmospheres, the thermodynamically stable form of iron is ferrous sulfide in the case of the metal, magnetite, ferric oxide, ferrous sulfate, ferrous oxalate, or the chlorides of iron. However, complete conversion to ferrous sulfide was not achieved at temperatures of 400° to 500° C. for kinetic reasons. Extensive sulfiding of iron, magnetite, ferric oxide, and ferrous oxalate occurred below 400° C., and some conversion of ferrous sulfate to ferrous sulfide occurred at 400° C. In the hydrogenation of coal, ferrous sulfide is the form of iron likely to be available for heterogeneous catalysis when starting with the metal, oxide, sulfate, or oxalate.

Jan 1, 1960

By R. J. Leary

A small electronic digital computer employing punched cards has been used to facilitate the solution of a variety of problems in Bureau of Mines pyrometallurgical research. In this work the computer has been found to be economical for solving both simple problems that occur repeatedly and those involving complex or iterative calculations. Each of these classes of problems and their respective solutions are described. These small computers can be used effectively by researchers when they work in consultation with a computer specialist. Close team work produces the required solutions in less time, and, oftentimes, in a more useful form. Participation in programming by researchers develops in them a skill for evaluating the suitability of problems for electronic computing.

Jan 1, 1960

By R. A. Guidotti

The Federal Bureau of Mines has studied the reaction of oxides of columbium, vanadium, and tantalum with ammonia in vertical, gas-solids reactors at temperatures ranging from 300° to 1,300° C with the goal of preparing nitride intermediates for subsequent preparation of the metals by a thermal-decomposition step. The best nitride conversions were obtained in nonmetal reactors. With Cb205, V2O3, and V205 , low-temperature maxima in reaction rates occurred at 800°,800°, and 450° C, respectively, during oxynitride formation (in A1203) at 1 atm of pure ammonia. Conversion of the oxynitride, in a second step, to the mononitride was optimum at 1,200° C for columbium and 1,050° C for vanadium. In the case of Ta205, the rate of reaction to form Ta3N5 (in a single step) was highest at 900° C, where the presence of up to 5 percent methane was found to be beneficial; improved results were obtained by conducting the nitriding in a rotary kiln. Optimum space velocities (in the vertical Al203 reactor) ranged from 5,280 hr-1 for Cba205 to 7,950 hr-1 for V203. Oxide particle size had little effect upon reaction rates. Under fully optimized conditions, products containing less than 1 percent oxygen were readily obtained in under 6 hours.

Jan 1, 1975

By H. B. Brunot

One of the many difficult problems that confront the present day coal-mine operator is the safeguarding of his employees and property from disasters such as fires, explosions, squeezes, and inundations. Those operators having gaseous or ev en dusty mines have a double responsibility resting upon them in this respect. The introduction of electrical machinery and appera tus in mining operations has been very rapid, and at the present time it is difficult to mention any kind of mining work in which electrical machinery is not used. This extended introduc- tion of electrical equipment has added not a little to the mine operators' safety problem, and it is the desire of the United States Bureau of Mines to aid the mine operator, and the inspection departments having jurisdiction, in solving their electrical safety problems. With this idea in mind, the Bureau has prepared and published schedules setting forth the qualities it considers essential to the safety of various classes of mining equipment, and the conditions under which it will test and give the stamp of its approval to satisfactory designs. Portable electric lamps of the permissible* type are almost universally used in gaseous mines, but the use of permissible electrical machinery has not been so widespread. Until recently the Bureau had issued approvals for only one class. of machinery involving the use of electric motors that is, permissible coal- cutting machines. However, the day is undoubtedly not far distant when the operator, who so desires, will be able to obtain a permissible room hoist, pump, or coal- loading outfit. During the year 1921 the first of a growing list of storage-battery locomotive approvals was granted by the Bureau, and it is with considerable satis- faction that the Bureau how announces the approval of a third class of motor equip- "merit- namely, slectric drills.

Jan 1, 1923

By Van H. Manning

Of all the war work by the Bureau of Mines none ultimately covered such a variety of processes and equipment, employed as many men, or called for as large an outlay as that started in con- nection with the solution of problems relating to the use of noxious gases in warfare. Beginning with an investigation to develop the best type of gas mask, the scope of the work extended until it included researches relating to a wide range of devices, such as different types of poisonous and irritating gases and smokes, smoke screens, gas shells and gas bombs, flame throwers, trench projectors for firing gas bombs, signal lights, and incendiary bombs. The Bureau of Mines in starting this work selected the necessary personnel, pro- cured the early equipment, and for some months, from the begin- ning to June 30, 1917, paid the cost of the work from its own funds. The Bureau of Mines built up a research staff of more than 700 chemists, including many of the most prominent chemists in the country, and obtained the cooperation of many of the universities and chemical companies. When the results obtained through this research were to be applied by the War Department, the Director of the Bureau of Mines cooperated in the selection of men to have charge of manufacture or further development, recommending chemiste who subsequently received commissions in the Army. The personal cooperation with the War Department was thus very close. The bureau can fairly claim that because it started this work on gas warfare and received the hearty support of the Department of War, the Navy Department, the National Research Council, and State, educational, and private institutions, the country was in July, 1918, months ahead of where it would otherwise have been in the production of gas masks and other devices. The production of toxic gases then far exceeded the supply of shells. In addition the later work in gas-mask manufacture by the Surgeon General's Office of the Army, which resulted in the development of the best mask produced anywhere; in gas manufacture and gas proving-ground tests by the Bureau of Ordnance, and in the chemical warfare pro- gram of the Navy, including the use of smoke screens, shells and toxic gases, were the direct results of the bureau's experimental work. The American charcoal and soda lime, developed through the research work, are the best used by any nation. The Bureau of Mines was instrumental in developing satisfactory methods of manu- facturing chlorpicrin, phosgene, mustard gas, brombenzylcyanide, cyanogen chloride, and other noxious substances on a large scale. The bureau also developed a smoke funnel for the Navy which no doubt saved many ships from submarine attacks, and devised smoke barrages, signal lights, incendiary darts, etc., for the Army. The Ordnance Department of the Army asked for incendiary bombs and were furnished with bombs better than any made previously. Perhaps the greatest single result of the research work has been the demonstration of the value of the services that the chemist and chemical engineer can render in time of need and the recogni- tion of chemical investigations as a necessary function of the Gov- ernment.

Jan 1, 1919

By Xinquan Zhou, Rudolf E. Greuer

MFIRE, written in Fortran 77, is a computer program for ventilation state simulation in the steady state or transient state condition. It can be applied for the calculation of normal ventilation system planning or the analysis of the dynamic state variation in a ventilation system under thermal or mechanical disturbance. The state simulator MFIRE is a useful tool for mine fire fighting. In the case of a mine fire, mine ventilation engineers want to get some help to obtain more information, such as what is happening in the underground mine and how to control the mine fire, for correct decision making. By use of program MF'IRE, forecasts can be made on the variation of airflow, temperature, and contaminant distribution in a ventilation system during a mine fire. The paths which the contaminant takes at each time interval can be traced. The program MFIRE can be of assistance in the preplanning of escape routes. It can also be helpful during a mine fire emergency and mine recovery operation. Besides of offering the information of state simulation during a mine fire, MFIRE can be applied for state control by pretesting the suitability of the selected state control measures. It is to simulate the effects of the state control measures on the airflow distribution of a dynamic ventilation system. The testing result can be used for fire fighting in a similar real case of a mine fire. By employing empirical methods or a qualitative analysis like Budryk approach, ventilation engineers can choose different combinations of locations and sizes of control devices as samples of state control for an underground mine fire. Program MFIRE can simulate the different combination samples, that consist of a certain mine fue, the corresponding different control measures, and obtain the control effects. After the different control results are compared, the state control measure, which creates the best effect among the different state control measures, will be chosen for that fire case. When a mine fire, which is similar to one of the pretested cases, breaks out, the corresponding choice of the state control measure is applied to the ventilation system. It means that the simulator MFIRE has the function of indirect state control [10]. To achieve the above two functions, state simulation and state control, the mine ventilation system condition, sometimes, should be changed in a wide range to meet the requirement of the fire fighting. These wide system condition changes, such as adding operating fans, stopping or reversing fans, changing fan characteristics, adding regulators and making airflow shortcuts are represented in the time table of the input data set When the data files are changed in a wide range, however, an iteration divergence and some other computing errors in the distribution of airflow, temperature, and contaminant may occur. More serious logical programming and flexible selection on the algorithms are wanted to meet the request of the different data sets, to achieve correct state distribution simulation and improve the iteration convergence. To enhance the reliability and common suitability of program MFIRE, it is necessary to make investigation, analysis, and modification for the formal versions of MFIRE. The version 1.29, permitting dry .calculation, and versions 2.01/v2.0, permitting dry and humidity calculation, are widely applied

By L. C. Brichta

The Canyon Diggings zinc-lead deposit is in an area of structural deformation of sedimentary rooks in Newton County, Mo., 14 miles southeast of Joplin, within the southern limits of the Tri-State district. Mining and milling on the several tracts covering the area had been carried on sporadically since 1900, and incomplete records show a production of 1,341 tonsof zinc and lead concentrates. On the northern part of the deposit the predominant metal is which occurs as galena, cerrusite, and pyromorphite in broken chert near the surface. On the southern part, lead is subordinate to zinc, which occurs mainly as carbonate and silicate minerals in brecciated chert to a maximum depth of about 150 feet. Analyses of samples from Bureau of Mines drilling indicate that approximately 77 percent of the zinc and 50 percent of trio lead i8 in nonsulfide minerals resulting from the oxidation of sphalerite and galena. Between August 12, 1948, and October 5, 1949, the Bureau of Mines investigated the deposit by churn drilling and sampling 85 holes aggregating 10,571 feet of bore and sampling two mill-tailings dumps and three mine dumps. Factual data on the investigation and the logs of Bureau of Mines drill holes are presented in this report.

Jan 1, 1950

By William A. Beck

Bauxite was discovered in the Springvale district in 1916. About 16, 000 tons was mined in the period 1916 to 1922, but no bauxite mining has been done since that time. The Bureau of Mines explored for bauxite in the district from September 5 to November 18, 1943. During the life of the project, the Bureau of Mines obtained mineral exploration agreements covering a total of 11,330 acres from 50 property owners. A total of 388 holes were drilled on five of these properties and 164 samples were taken and analyzed. The Springvale bauxite district includes an area of about 30 square miles in the northwestern part of Randolph County, Ga. The village of Springvale is in the west central part of the district, and Cuthbert is 8 miles southeast of it (fig. 1).

Jan 1, 1949

By Gary A. Kingston

Rolled steel, steel forgings, and steel castings in the Pacific Northwest (Washington and Oregon) are produced principally in the Seattle, Wash., and Portland, Oreg., metropolitan areas. Steel-mill products are rolled from carbon and some alloy &eels by three companies into shapes such as reinforcing bar, rods, rounds, squares, flats, and hot-rolled strips; structural shapes, - such as angles, channels, and I-beams, also are rolled. Carbon and alloy steel ingots are poured and forged at a Seattle plant into ship shafting, drive shafts, billets, slabs, bars, rings, hooks, and other items. Static, shell, investment, and centrifugal castings are produced at 19 steel foundries in a wide range of steel specifications. All Pacific Northwest steel output is based on remelting steel scrap. Local iron ore might be used in the future to supplement steel scrap as a metal source. Ore reduction would probably be achieved by methods other than the blast furnace. Current melt-shop practice and problems are basically the same in Pacific Northwest steel plants as in cold-melt shops in other parts of the country. Quality steel production is receiving more emphasis in this region with the installation of modern analytical equipment and vacuum pouring and melting facilities.

Jan 1, 1962

By Robin B. McCulloch

No producing mines are in the study area. Sample results indicate the only resources in the study area are low grade phosphate deposits associated with Cuyama Phosphate Mine (fig. 1). Within the study area, are more than 21.4 million tons of inferred subeconomic phosphate rock resources which would be reserves at an 80 percent higher phosphoric acid price; weighted average grade is 4.84 percent phosphorous pentoxide (P205). About 17.6 million tons of similar grade are outside the area to the northwest. The South Cuyama Oil Field, adjacent to the study area (fig. 1), produces petroleum from the Vaqueros Formation which underlies parts of the study area. Oil and gas potential was evaluated by U.S. Geological Survey. INTRODUCTION Location, Size, and Geographic Setting The U.S. Bureau of Mines conducted a mineral survey of the Fox Mountain RARE II area (No. 5120) during the summer of 1981. The area was examined to determine the presence or absence of mineral resources and reserves, and to estimate tonnage and grade where possible.

Jan 1, 1982

By F. E. Griffith

[Unquestionably mine fires new constitute one of the chief causes of sabotaging the effort to produce maximum quantities of mineral products essential to the prosecution of the war. This applies more particularly to coal than to noncoal mines, and presumably the main reason for this is the fact that coal production in maximum quantity is still very much a "must", while the demand for much of the product of noncoal mines has eased materially in recent months.]

Jan 1, 1944

By M. P. Board, J. K. Whyatt, T. J. Williams

The U.S. Bureau of Mines has been conducting a series of rock mechanics investigations at the Lucky Friday Mime in the Coeur d'Alene Mining District of northern Idaho. In the present study, the energy release rate (ERR) index was used to evaluate three underhand stope backfill parameters--cement content, density, and placement gap-to determine their influence on rock bursts. This index provides a relative measure of the likelihood of rock bursting for a given rock mass. It is known that the elastic idealization of the rock mass inherent in this method causes underestimation of stope closure and hence underestimation of the influence of backfill on rock bursting. However, this evaluation still showed that (1) changing from present practice to one in which backfill was omitted altogether would increase the ERR by 42 pct and (2) perfect placement of backfill would reduce the ERR below present practice levels by 28 pct. The easiest step toward perfect placement would be elimination of the placement gap, which accounted for half of the difference in ERR between present practice and ideal placement conditions. There was no indication that increasing initial fill strength through increased cement content would affect the ERR.

Jan 1, 1992

By Roger J. Morrell

Bureau of Mines laboratory experiments with reduced scale cutter and cutter forces were performed to (1) define the fundamental relationships governing disk cutter performance and (2) to develop a method of predicting disk cutter performance in soft, medium, and hard rocks. The rock cutting experiments were performed in four igneous and metamorphic rocks that ranged in compressive strength from 38,000 to 67,000 psi. A special testing machine called a linear cutter apparatus (LCA) was used to load and traverse a free rolling disk cutter across a smooth rock surface. Each pass of the disk produced a single crater, and runs were spaced to avoid breakage between craters. During each run the normal and tangential cutter forces were measured and recorded. The soft and medium rock data were obtained from previous Bureau experiments with disk cutters. Crater depth, tangential cutter force, crater volume, specific energy versus normal cutter force, and crater width versus depth are defined within this study. With the use of standard physical properties, performance prediction equations were developed using stepwise linear regression analysis techniques. A method of using these prediction equations to calculate the boring rate, the cutter spacing, and the torque and energy requirements of a full-scale boring machine was also developed.

Jan 1, 1974

By Thomas E. Lobb, Harry C. Verakis

This article examines the factors related to injuries due to inadequate blasting shelters and blast area security, and identifies mitigation techniques. The key concepts are:(a) accurate determination of the bounds of the blast area, (b) clearing employees from the blast area, (c) effective access control, (d) use of adequate blasting shelters, (e) efficient communications, and (f)training. Fundamentals are reviewed with an emphasis on analyzing task elements and identifying root causes for selected blasting accidents. Mitigating techniques are presented along with discussions and examples.

By Y. H. Cheng, D. M. Lewis, V. Castranova, M. W. Barger, J. K. H. Ma, J. Y. C. Ma, W. F. Xin

Bis-basic ethers off fluorene and fluoren-9-substituted derivatives such as tilorone have been reported to inhibit silica-induced fibrosis in rats. The potential antifibrotic potency of 2,7-bis (diethylamino) ethixy fluorine fluorenone (F-9-H.H), fluorenoxime (F-9-one), and fluorenol (F-9-ol) was F-9-axime > F-9-one ~ F-9-H,H > F-9-ol. Since the release of reactive oxygen species and growth factors from alveolar macrophages (AM) in response to silica exposure has been linked to the development of pulmonary fibrosis, the present study was carried out to determine the inhibitory effects of these compounds on rat AM activity in vitro. The following parameters were monitored: (1) cellular viability; (2) zymosan-induced respiratory burst activity (superoxide and hydrogen peroxide release, chemiluminescence, and oxygen consumption) of AM; (3) drug binding to AM; and (4) lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated interleukin- I (IL-1) release from AM. The bis-basic ethers, at 40 did not affect cell viability when incubated with AM for 30 min, but significantly inhibited zymosan-induced macrophage respiratory burst activity. The inhibitory effect of these agents was F-9-oxime > F-9-one ~F-9-H,H > F-9-ol. Binding of these drugs to AM was time and dose dependent, and exhibited the following binding affinity: F-9-oxime > F-9-one > F-9-H,H > F-9-ol. F-9- oxime was shown to inhibit LPS-stimulated IL-I release by AM in a dose-dependent manner. This inhibition of IL-1 release by AM cannot be explained as a decrease in viability. In addition, these drugs were also shown to impair human fibroblast proliferation in response to serum stimuli without impairing cell viability. These results indicate a positive correlation between drug binding to AM or other cell types and their inhibitory effects on cellular activities including oxygen consumption, superoxide release, hydrogen peroxide secretion, chemiluminescence, IL-I release, and proliferation. The ability of-these bis-basic ethers to modify AM and fibroblast functions in vitro suggests that further investigation of their reported antifibrotic potency in vivo is warranted.

Dec 1, 1996