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By [F. P. ] Stambaugh

Results of research on the hydrothermal precipitation of zirconium oxide from the Bureau of Mines' zirconyl chloride-sulfate strip liquors indicate that nuclear grade material can be prepared by this process. Greater than 99% of the zirconium value can be precipitated at 250-260°C in short (5-10 minutes) reaction time without consumption of acid value of the liquor. Thus, precipitation of zirconium dioxide on a continuous basis, i.e., the zirconium dioxide is precipitated in a continuous mode of operation by pumping the strip liquor through a heated pressurized reactor and recycle of the acidic (spent) liquor to the process stage are favored. The results of accompanying studies of liquod/solid separation, product washing and dewatering, product purity, and chlorination of the product are presented and discussed.

Jan 1, 1980

By F. L. Wideman

This paper lists resources of sulfur in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizons, an area comprising approximately 522,600 square miles, Sources of sulfur occuring within the region are sulfur are, pyrite and pyritic ores, and natural gases and petroleum. Data concerning these sources are presented on a statewide basis. Some of the known deposits of sulfur ore are surficial and of fumerole origin; other deposits have resulted from oxidation of pyrite or sulfide ores of copper, lead, and zinc. The deposits are small and the sulfur is distributed erratically in them. There is a small production from some of the deposits, and the material produced is used as soil conditioner.

Jan 1, 1957

By Paul T. Allsman

This paper describes metal- mining practices at the Harrington -Hickory lead - silver - zinc mine at Milford , Beaver County , Utah . The operations of the Harrington-Hickory incorporate a number of features that should prove of interest and value to other operators of small mines . These features include employee participation in profits , a well- laid -out electrical system, adequate financing , a well - balanced equipment and supply inventory , a well - organized system of bookkeeping , adequate roads , and good management . As crude ore is shipped directly to smelters and mills in the Salt Lake Valley , close attention is paid to see that the ore is segregated by classes and treated where it can bring the greatest not return . A combination of these features has resulted in maintaining relatively low costs, considering the grade and size of ore shoots at a time , during and following the war , when equipment , supplies , and labor were costly and difficult to obtain . The period covered in this report includes two war years and two years following , from April 1, 1944 to June 30 , 1947 .

Apr 1, 1949

By Raymond L. Lowrie

Coal deposits in the Boulder-Weld County coalfield in Colorado are analyzed in relation to economic factors governing the growth, stability, and competitive potential of the coal industry. Recoverable reserves, estimated to be 571 million tons, are discussed in detail, particularly those in the Erie and Frederick Quadrangles. Geology of the coal measures, quantity and quality of water resources, and chemical and physical properties of the coal are described. Coal production factors, including mining techniques and equipment, labor requirements, transportation facilities and rates, and markets, are considered for coal's position in competition with alternate fuels. Growth of the fuels market, through increasing thermal-electric power generation in the Denver Metropolitan Area, will stimulate coal production in Colorado. Reserves of the contiguous Boulder-Weld coalfield, if mined in a sustained, year-round, high-tonnage operation, could be used to supply much of that fuel demand.

Jan 1, 1966

By G. S. Rice

The Experimental Mine of the United States Bureau of Mines is a unique coal mine that serves as a large-scale testing laboratory. It is used primarily for testing the explosibility of coal-dust and gases but is also the workshop for many other kinds of research work of which the chief object is to increase safety in mining. The mine is situated in Allegheny County, Pa., about 13 miles southwest of Pittsburgh among the high hills of the west bank of the Monongahela River, at the northeastern edge of the gas-coal district of the Pittsburgh coal bed which extends south through the Connellsville coking-coal district into West Virginia. The Pittsburgh bed, of the Upper Carboniferous age, is one of the most extensive continuous coal beds in the United States, if not in the world. Throughout large areas it shows remarkable uniformity of thickness, levelness, and character of coal, which is a coking coal of high-grade bituminous rank. Its thickness in the northern part is 5 to 5 ½ feet and in the central and southern part is 7 to 9 feet.

Jan 1, 1933

By Ivor Hawkes

The purpose of the development described in this report and as stated in the contract work statement is to "design, develop, fabricate, test and demonstrate, and deliver to the government permissible low cost cylindrical stress gauges and associated components capable of measuring change of stress as a function of time in underground coal mines. The cylindrical stress gauges shall be suitable for installation in bore holes". The technique adopted for measuring rock stress changes is to preload a steel cylinder diametrically across the sides of a 1-1/2 in diameter bore hole and detect deformation of the cylinder from stress changes in the rock, by means of a vibrating wire transducer. By calibration, changes in the period (time for one wire oscillation at the natural frequency) of a high tensioned wire stretched diametrically across the cylinder in the direction of load application are related to stress changes in the rock. To completely evaluate the stress field change in the plane of the bore hole, three gauges set at an angle to each other are required.

Jan 1, 1973

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 John R. Coulson

Each State and the Federal Government was surveyed for existing certification requirements, the industry yes surveyed for the needs for training blasters, and the training that was available. Recommendations for training and certification for blasters were made.

Jan 1, 1980

By R. L. Brown

This report, summarizing the Bureau of Mines research and technologic work on coal and coal products for the period July 1, 1950, to July 1, 1951, is based largely on publications issued during the year. The sixteenth in an annual series, it gives footnote references to publications giving further details of the research and technologic work described, except in a few cases where research data presented herein has not been published previously. During the year, the national fuels situation was generally one of plentiful supply.3/ Mineral-fuel resources appeared adequate for several hundred years at reasonably increasing rates of supply. Coal-production capacity was in excess of demand; petroleum supplies were adequate; and natural gas use was limited only by pipeline capacity. However, it was pointed out that a world war would drastically change this situation of relative plenty, particularly with regard to supplies of petroleum and its products. Conversion to the use of coal on a large scale would be required, and improved methods of mining and of processing and using coal in solid or fluidized form or converted to liquid fuels could materially contribute to our national safety.

Jan 1, 1952

By K. A. Fowler, L. W. Higley

The effect of uranium on the transformation kinetics and the hardenability of a low- alloy steel was evaluated . Isothermal transformation curves were developed from metallographic studies , and hardenability was determined by standard Jominy end- quench tests . For the steels investigated , the addition of 0.15 weight- percent uranium was found to produce a significant shift in the isothermal transformation curve and caused a related increase in hardenability . These effects diminished rapidly when the uranium content was increased above 0.2 weight - percent .

Jan 1, 1964

By T. A. Clancy

Since many new mineral processing systems under development can impose severe corrosive conditions on construction materials, the Bureau of Mines reviewed and assessed the literature on corrosion resistance of ceramic materials. Corrosive conditions were categorized as: (1) acids and aqueous solutions, (2) glass and slag/metal melts, and (3) gases. Information on the corrosion resistance of ceramic materials, generally, is disseminated by many sources, each of which is interested in specific corrosive environments. Based on this survey, it was noted that (I) the development of standardized tests is needed to study solution-type corrosion of ceramics, (2) slag/melt corrosion data are the most comprehensive of the available data, and (3) better definition of corrosion mechanisms In gaseous environments is needed.

Jan 1, 1980

By D. G. Willard

The U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Mines has evaluated the potential resource and annual availability of cobalt from 27 deposits or districts in 11 market-economy countries. More than 95 pct of primary cobalt production from market-economy countries, mainly byproduct output from copper and nickel operations, was analyzed. Approximately 1,200,000 mt of cobalt is potentially recoverable at the demonstrated resource level. Very large additional resources exist, especially in laterite deposits, but are at the inferred level. The producing operations evaluated in this study are expected to produce about 19,000 mt of cobalt in 1989, significantly less than the available capacity of about 31,000 mt. More than 14,000 mt per year of cobalt is produced from copper-cobalt deposits in Zaire and Zambia, of which 11,000 mt can be produced at a copper price of $O.60jlb or less with a O-pct discounted cash-flow rate of return (DCFROR). Approximately 4,400 mt of cobalt is produced annually from nickel-cobalt deposits in six countries, of which about 1,800 mt (in Canada and Brazil) could be produced at a nickel price of $1.50jlb or less at a D-pct DCFROR. Approximately 200 mt per year of cobalt is produced from a cobalt mine in Morocco. Most of the evaluated nonproducing operations and prospects that could potentially produce cobalt as a principal product or byproduct would require a total cost (including a 15 pct-DCFROR) significantly exceeding January, 1989 market prices of the principal commodities. Principal-commodity dependence, transportation routes, cobalt toxicity, and other issues that could affect the availability of cobalt are addressed herein.

Jan 1, 1991

By Richard D. Miller

This publication contains routine analyses and related source data for 434 gas samples from 16 States. These samples were collected during calendar year 1961 as part of the continuous survey for the occurrence of helium in natural gas conducted by the Helium Activity of the Bureau of Mines. The analyses herein were made by mass spectrometer and Frost helium apparatus. The most important helium resource discovery made during 1961 was the Table Mesa field in San Juan County, N. Mex. This field, Which has an estimated recoverable helium reserve of 850 million cubic feet, is now supplying gas containing approximately 5.4 percent helium to the Bureau of Mines Navajo Helium Plant at Shiprock, N. Mex.

Jan 1, 1964

By Edward L. McHugh

The appraisal of mineral resources of the Challis National Forest, Idaho, by the U.S. Bureau of Mines, was made so that the mineral resources of the forest could be appropriately considered in land use planning. Information from this study is intended to help the U.S. Forest Service to incorporate mineral resource data into forest plans. The study was done in conjunction with the U.S. Geological Survey, which released a companion report on the geology and mineral potential of the Challis National Forest in 1989. Mineral development activity in and under the Challis National Forest has been of great economic significance to Idaho and the United States. Since the 1960's, mines within the forest have produced mineral commodities worth more than $590 million A current (1989) commodity prices. Identified mineral resources have a gross value of about $2 billion at current prices, including 8 strategic or critical minerals. The U.S. Bureau of Mines study identified and described 723 active and inactive mineral properties within the forest. Mineral properties with identified resources were evaluated to determine their economic significance, and an assessment was made of the feasibility of mineral development. Of the 2,516,191 acres in the Challis National Forest, about 390,000 acres were classified as having mining development interest commercially important mineral production, mainly of molybdenum, gold, and silver from the Challis National Forest is likely for the foreseeable future.

Jan 1, 1991

By Timothy A. Clancy

To help reduce the Nation's dependence on imported chromite, the Bureau of Mines is conducting research on the use of dolomites as an alternate material. Dolomite is a plentiful domestic resource and offers certain advantages as a refractory raw material. A review of the literature has indicated that there are many sources of high-purity dolomite in this country and that European nations use a greater proportion of dolomite refractories, primarily in steelmaking, than the United States, The Bureau of Mines characterized 14 domestic dolomites as to chemistry, density, mineralogy, microstructure, and thermal behavior, to develop baseline data on their suitability as refractory raw materials.

Jan 1, 1983

By E. J. Kloos, R. H. Schutz, B. I. Ferber

To Assist users in the selection of reliable and satisfactory respiratory protective devices, the Bureau of Mines has established five schedules of minimum performance requirements for the approval of respirators . The current revisions of these schedules include 13D for self-contained breathing apparatus, 14F for gas masks , 19B and the amendments to 19B for suppliedair respirators , 21B for dust , fume, and mist respirators , and 23B for chemical cartridge respirators . Copies of these schedules may be obtained from the Bureau of Mines, Publications Distribution Section, 4800 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh , Pa . , 15213 . Approval tests on respirators are performed only at the request of the manufacturer of the respirator and at his expense. If the device meets the approval requirements , a certificate of approval is granted on the complete respirator. This certificate states that as long as the respirator is manufactured as originally approved, or in accordance with any changes covered by an extension of the original approval, the manufacturer may advertise and sell his respirator as being approved by the Bureau of Mines. Many industries and regulatory agencies require that respirators approved by the Bureau of Mines be used where respiratory protection is needed. The Bureau of Mines, however, has no regulatory power over the use of the respirators that it approves. It acts as an impartial testing agency to insure the availability of suitable and safe respirators. At frequent intervals, the Bureau of Mines purchases approved respirators and replacement parts on the open market. These are examined for conformity to the approved status, and are checked to insure that the manufacturer's production facilities are maintaining a satisfactory quality control .

Jan 1, 1966

By J. J. Jakosky, D. H. Zellers

"IntroductionThis paper is the seventh of a series describing an investigation being conducted by the Bureau of Mines on underground communication. A review of past work and results obtained has been published. The present paper deals with a study of line-radio or wired-wireless methods of communication, herein electrical energy is transmitted by metallic conductors.The use of line-radio over metallic conductors has been practiced for a number of years, and at present is being used on a large scale in long-distance carrier-current telephone and telegraph. The early work of the U. S. Army Signal Corps and the Bureau of Standards in using ordinary radio transmitting and receiving apparatus for communication over metallic conductors was been descried. Later publications describe commercial applications, and an excellent treatise and resume is given by E. Colpitts and C. B. Blackwell.Scope of ReportThis report contains (1) a discussion of the chief factors affecting carrier-current transmission, with particular reference in application to underground communication for mines; (2) a description of typical underground circuits used for power and lighting; and (3) description of apparatus used and results obtained in line-radio experiments in coal mines near Pittsburgh, with circuit diagrams, and conclusions as to power requirements and limitations for mine use."

Apr 1, 1925

By Allan J. Clark

This paper, describing the milling practice of the Homestake Mining Co., is one of a series being prepared by the Bureau of Mines. The author acknowledges the assistance of T. G. Chapman, one of the consulting engineers of the Bureau of Mines, in arranging this paper for publication.

Jan 1, 1931

By Harold M. Smith

This publication summarizes the literature on the composition of petroleum, with special emphasis on naphtha and gas oil, and provides a source book for the known qualitative and quantitative facts on crude oil composition. The discussion points out the known facts from supposition, and suggests new researches needed in various areas.

Jan 1, 1968

By Eric Cather

A mineral investigation of prospects in the Sawtooth Mountains B Wilderness Study Area (WSA) by the U. S. Bureau of Mines in 1983 revealed none had mineral production, resources, or development potential. The area is underlain by tonalite and smaller amounts of schist, One developed prospect and one prospect pit are in the WSA. They are in schist similar to host rock which has yielded gold in nearby mining districts, Sand and gravel deposits in the WSA are large but too far from markets to be considered resources. No energy (oil, gas, coal, or geothemal) resources were identified in the USA.

Jan 1, 1984