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Develop a method to evaluate the effectiveness of coal scam fire surface seals so that potential problems may be corrected at an early stage, before the integrity of the surface seal is lost. Background Surface seals are the primary coal seam fire abatement method being used in the western United States. Surface seals smother a fire by denying it oxygen. The seal is usually constructed by placing a mantle of soil, four to ton feet thick, over a coal scam fire area to exclude air from the fire. The soil is compacted to increase effectiveness, and a soil cement may be used to augment the soil. In some cases, burning coal may be excavated and separately smothered or otherwise extinguished in another area; in other cases, a trench maybe excavated and backfilled with incombustible material to isolate a fire. More often, a surface seal is simply applied over and around the entire known burning area. In the 1950's, the Bureau of Mines administered a large program to treat numerous coal seam Fires across the western United States. Methods used in this program were described in Bureau of Mines Information Circular (IC) 7932, dated 1959. More recently however, various coal seam fires have been treated with surface seals under the direction of state Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation authorities. It has frequently taken years to evaluate the effectiveness of surface seals. By the time problems become evident, it has often been too late to take corrective action within the scope of the original abatement project. For this reason, the Bureau of Mines developed a means for tracking temperature trends at coal seam fire projects to obtain a better and earlier handle on the effectiveness of surface seals.

Jan 1, 1991

By N. A. Eilertsen, Rolf S. Paine

The Bureau of Mines studied the presplitting technique used for controlling overbreakage in the walls of a vertical shaft at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Littleville Dam project near Huntington, Mass. The periphery of the shaft, the dimensions of which were 16-1/2 feet wide by 21 feet long and 52 feet deep, was presplit (cracked) in the solid to a depth of 48 feet prior to full-depth sinking. Presplitting prevented overbreak in a fairly soft schist and provided sound self-supporting walls which required very little scaling.

Jan 1, 1965

By R. S. Dean

This report, the second of a series of annual reports of the Metallurgical Division to be released in this form covers the fiscal year July 1, 1935, to June 30, 1936. The technological work of the division is performed by sections. Thus, an efficient organization is provided to prosecute the various problems under investigation, and a logical system is set up for presenting the material contained in this report.

Jan 1, 1937

By R. L. Bolmer

Driving long development raises probably is one of the most hazardous and expensive operations in underground mining. The safe handling of men and materials becomes more difficult and more time consuming in the higher sections of the raise. The efficient ventilation of these sections often is a major problem. This information circular describes a unique method by which Resurrection Mining Co, safely and efficiently completed a 622-foot vertical raise at its Irene shaft near Leadville, Colo. The method used by the company involved driving a raw, 6-foot-diameter ventilation raise and emergency escapeway, using a work cage that was suspended on a hoisting rope extended down a small-diameter drill hole. Although the method was new and experimental, the raise was completed in record time. Overall costs were less than they would have been with conventional methods. The company's initial experience suggested improvements both in design and operating technique that should prove of value to others who contemplate using the cage method of raising

Jan 1, 1958

By R. W. Huber

Three arc-melted ingots, two of a titanium-7 percent manganese alloy and the third of unalloyed titanium, were forged and rolled into 3/4-inch plate; comparative data were obtained on these processes. The finished plate, part of which was used by the Naval Bureau of Ordnance, was tested for mechanical and other properties. These properties were correlated with sponge purity, forging technique, rolling temperature, and cooling rate from the rolling temperature. For the alloy material, transformation data were obtained, and their age-hardening characteristics were studied. The temperature-impact relationship was established for rolled sections from all three ingots. INTRODUCTION Arc-melted ingots of unalloyed titanium and a titanium-manganese alloy were fabricated into plate under closely controlled conditions by personnel of the Metals and Alloys Section, Physical Metallurgy Branch, Bureau of Mines, College Park, Md. This program was cosponsored by the Naval Bureau of Ordnance. Bureau of Mines interest lay in correlating the processing procedures with the mechanical properties of the finished plate.

Jan 1, 1955

By Stephen D. Cramer

The solubility of methane, carbon dioxide, and oxygen was measured in brines at temperatures from 0° to 300° as part of Federal Bureau of Mines research on the corrosion of metals in high-temperature geothermal and mineral processing environments. Solubilities were measured by the technique of extracting pure gas, dissolved at pressures where Henry's law was applicable, from known volumes of brine. The results were smoothed with respect to temperature. The solubility, expressed in terms of the Henry's law constant, reaches a maximum at temperatures ranging from 60° to 100° C for methane and oxygen, and from 160° to 170° C for carbon dioxide. The Henry's law constant increases, that is, gases are salted out of the brines, in the presence of dissolved salts. Salting-out coefficients are strongly dependent upon temperature. The temperature dependence of the Henry's law constant for geothermal brines is different from that for sodium chloride brines owing to the more complex chemistry of the geothermal brines. The solubility of oxygen and carbon dioxide in brines exposed to air saturated with water vapor and at a total pressure of 760 mm Hg is reported for temperatures from 0° C to the normal boiling point.

Jan 1, 1982

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

"INTRODUCTION During the early 1920's world-wide attention was attracted to a group of oil fields (Mexia, Wortham, Currie, Richard, and Powell) later known as Mexia-Powell fault-line fields in Limestone, Freestonne, and Navarro Counties, Tex. Enormous yields of high-gravity oil from the wells in these fields resulted in drilling campaigns that quickly surpassed all previous records for rapid, intensive development of productive areas. The discovery of oil in the Mexia filed in September 1921 was followed quickly by the finding of oil in the Currie field in October. In January 1923 oil was discovered in the Powell field; in February 1924 the Richland field, midway between Currie and Powell fields, was brought in; and in November 1924 oil was discovered in the Wortham field, situated between Mexia and Currie fields. Each of the fileds was developed rapidly: wells were spaced closely and had high initial production; production peaks were reached early in the producing lives of the fields; subsequent decline was rapid, and there was early and rapid encroachment of edge water.In 1927 Bureau of Mines engineers, in their investigations a engineering conditions in oil,completed a preliminary study and published a mimeographed report 4/ on underground conditions in the Wortham field, and in 1928 they reported on production and development problems in the Powell Field. 5/ field."

Aug 1, 1943

By W. E. Robinson

Sixty samples, selected from a 2,300-foot core of the Green River Formation in Colorado, were studied to ascertain differences in the structure of the organic material present in the oil shale samples. Emphasis was placed upon relating differences in the aromatic content of the insoluble kerogen and the alkane content of the extractable material obtained from the selected samples. The methods used in determining these differences consisted of fractionation of the soluble material, carbon and hydrogen analysis, volatile material determination, carbon residue determination, oxidation rate determination, and infrared analysis. In general, it was concluded that the organic material in this core does vary in chemical structure and that same of these variations resulted from factors related to depth of burial. Other observed changes in structure of the organic material were not depth-dependent and resulted from other factors such as source material variations, biological alterations, or ecological differences.

Jan 1, 1971

By James H. Russell

The Bureau of Mines used a statistical approach to evaluate the effects of temperature, current density, and composition of the electrolyte on the purity of boron prepared by electrolysis of a fused mixture of boric oxide in potassium fluoborate. The quadratic equation which best fits the data was calculated for a temperature of 650° to 850° C, a cathode current density of 40 to 1,150 amp/ft2,and a boric oxide content of 0.3 to 7.1 molal. The best products, better than 95 percent boron, were obtained when the current density was less than 2 amp/ft2 and the boric oxide content was less than 2 molal.

Jan 1, 1967

By P. Yant, A. C. Fieldner

"IntroductionIn its investigations relative to reducing the hazards of carbon monoxide poisoning, the Bureau of Mines recently had its attention drawn to a compound2a sold under a trade name for which claims are reported to have been made regarding its efficacy in reducing that type of poisoning in automobile garages. Accordingly, some of the product was obtained and analyzed for its power to absorb, oxidize, or destroy carbon monoxide; and the results are herein reported.Description of ""Compound"" (quoted from manufacturer's circular)While the circular does not actually state that the ""compound"" protects against carbon monoxide, the inference is therein, because each of the two following quotations is below these respective headings; ""Carbon-Monoxide Poisoning,"" and ""Chronic Gassing Among Garage Workers.""The ""compound"" holds chlorine and oxygen gases in solution with formaldehyde, which unites with the hydrogen to form hydrochloric acid., giving an over-supply of oxygen which burns up carbon just as a piece of wood is burned in the fire. The formaldehyde in the composition of the ""compound"" is a great affinity for ammonia and hydrogen sulphide."

Apr 1, 1924

By Bill Linville

During fiscal years 1967-68, the Bureau of Mines produced 185 technical papers and reports about petroleum and oil-shale research, which were published either by the Bureau or by others as referable scientific literature. Numerous other reports were prepared for Government agencies, State agencies, and organizations of the petroleum and natural gas industry engaged in cooperative research programs with the Bureau. Research performed during the reporting period by the Bureau on petroleum, natural gas, and oil shale was classified by 71 active projects. A basic appropriation of $3,575,000 was supplemented by $1,300,000 in fiscal year 1967, and that of $4,043,000 by $1,402,000 in fiscal year 1968, making the appropriated-to-supplemental fund ratios about 2.8 to 1 for fiscal year 1967 and 2.9 to 1 for fiscal year 1968. In fulfillment of the mission of the Bureau, through planned research programs, methods for producing and utilizing petroleum were improved. The continued conservation of this natural resource of petroleum, including crude oil, natural gas, and oil shale, was pursued through research performed by some 350 personnel at two petroleum research centers and two petroleum research laboratories supervised and supported by administrative personnel of the Bureau and the Department of the Interior.

Jan 1, 1970

By Joseph M. Pugliese

The U.S. Bureau of Mines has produced a generic in situ copper mine design manual, which contains a computerized cost model for in situ copper oxide mining. The model specifies (1) site-specific parameters, which must be quantified for mine design, (2) a method for minesite design based on those parameters, and (3) a procedure for assessing economic viability for the mine design. The menu-driven computer program performs calculations for developing commercial mine design specifications, as well as capital and operating costs. The default values are based on 1986 dollars, and indices for updating costs are included. The program also provides discounted-cash-flow rate of return (DCFROR) and allows for sensitivity analyses for an in situ mining operation at any specific undisturbed copper oxide deposit. This report is to be used with the 1990 version of the computer program, which has been made user friendly. It describes the flies, tutorial, input phase, help function, and monitor display of all calculated values and of the DCFROR table. The monitor-displayed discounted initial value of investment and annual operating costs are defined. The dual rate-of-return situation and sensitivity analyses are also briefly discussed. Information is provided on obtaining the computer program on diskette.

Jan 1, 1991

By S. P. Holt

The Salt Chuck mine is on the east bank of the Salt Chuck, a salt-water inlet at the head of Kasaan Bay, Prince Edward Island, Southeestern Alaska. The deposit was worked at intervals from 1905 until. 1941. Early ship-ments of hand-sorted ore are reported to have assayed about 4 percent copper, 0.15 ounce gold, and 0.15 ounce silver. The total mine production up to 1941 is reported to have been 326,000 tons containing 6,200,000 pounds of copper. During December 1942 the Bureau of Mines cut a 15-foot channel sample on the surface and channel samples from headings on the 300-foot level. In July 1943 a development project was started. Thirteen diamond-drill holes totaling 1,550 linear feet were drilled from underground stations on the 200- foot and 300-foot levels.

Jan 1, 1948

By Joseph A. DeCarlo

The annual survey of the oven-coke industry by the Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior, described in this report shows that 79 plants were operating in 22 States December 31, 1956. On that date 15,923 serviceable ovens existed, with a maximum total annual coke capacity of 79,965,100 net tons, and 631 new ovens were under construction. Their annual coke capacity was 3,307,300 net tons. The number of serviceable ovens in existence relates only to those capable of producing coke and does not include (1) any ovens that were blanked off or retired permanently in batteries that were operating December 31, 1956, and (2) ovens that had been demolished and were being rebuilt on that date. For this reason, the number of ovens at furnace plants reported by the Bureau of Mines at the end of each calendar year differs from the number reported for the same group by the American Iron & Steel Institute, as the institute includes ovens being rebuilt.

Jan 1, 1958

By Thomas J. Peters

The U.S. Bureau of Mines studied the 63,9SS-acre Hanson Lakes study area, including the Ten Mile-East and part of the Ten-Mile West RARE II areas, plus additional acreage, all proposed at times for Wilderness designation. The study was part of a Idaho Land Assessment Program with the Idaho Geological Survey and the U.S. Geological Survey, to provide minerals information for land-use decisions, and ensure domestic mineral supplies. The area is at the north end of the rugged Sawtooth Range and includes parts of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area which is closed to mineral location. The Copper Mountain. Elk Mountain, and Observation Peak mineralized areas are in the study area, but only Copper Mountain is open to claim location. It is on the trans-Challis fault zone and contains Tertiary granite which is favorable for mineral deposits of gold, beryllium, niobium, REE (rare-earth elements), tin, molybdenum, copper, silver, and lead. Identified resources are 1.9 million tons of flake graphite at Elk Mountain, but much more graphite occurs in the vicinity REE occurs in 18 black sand placer sites along the lower reaches of study area streams just outside the study area, on Cape Horn Creek, Marsh Creek, and lower Valley Creek flood plains, and at one hydrothermal site near Observation Peak. Hydrothermal REE is commonly low in? by-product thorium. a radioactive disposal problem. Many advanced REE applications enhance the quality of life, and future uses in superconductivity may reduce energy consumption. Seventeen lode, one geothermal, and 11 placer prospects were examined. Workings totaled about 20 adits, one shaft, several open cuts, and numerous small pits. Approximately 500 mining claims have been located or relocated in the study area, including a 200-claim block for disseminated molybdenum.

Jan 1, 1992

By O. C. Blade, Elizabeth Hughes

Conservation in the utilization of any product is always subject to improvement if the composition and properties of the product are known. Petroleum is no exception, and knowledge of the characteristics of crude oils, even when given on the broad basis of routine type analyses has proved useful to chemists, engineers, and geologists in improving pro- duction and utilization of petroleum. For a quarter of a century the Bureau of Mines has sought to provide such information regarding crude oils and has analyzed many samples of petroleum by its standardized rou- tine method. Most of these analyses have been published, sometimes in special compilations, other times in connection with reports of research on petroleum. This report is a finding index for all analyses published up to January 1, 1948. The routine method used for all these analyses is basically the same as that described by Dean, et al.. Briefly, the procedure consists of testing by standard methods, small samples of a crude oil for gravity, sulfur, color, and viscosity, and of distilling a sample of the crude oil by a standardized procedure and determining certain properties in the sep- arated fractions and residuum. Careful records are made during the proce- dure, and the distillation data obtained are used to calculate the approx- imate amounts of products present in the sample such as percents of gas- oline, kerosine, gas oil, and lubricants. The data obtained are recorded on a standard analytical report form. An analysis of a sample of typical midcontinent crude oil is shown in table 1. Compilation of these analyses, sometimes in tabular form and usually for specific geographic areas, are published from time to time. Analyses are often shown in connection with other studies, such as engineering field reports. This bibliography is a compilation of references to 115 publications, which contain analyses of crude oils by the Bureau of Mines. References may be found to analyses of crude oils from the United States, Canada,

Jun 1, 1948

By M. Carrales

This Bureau of Mines publication presents short-range projections of domestic liquid hydrocarbon production through 1980. Appraisal of future crude oil production was made by evaluating the relationship between primary and enhanced oil recovery and the total crude oil producing trends in each of the oil-producing areas of the United States. Future natural gas liquid production was generally estimated by projecting historical production. Estimates of production were prepared for each of the oil producing areas and summarized for the Petroleum Administration for Defense (PAD) districts and total United States. From 1975 to 1980, crude oil production for the conterminous United States is expected to decline from 7.8 to 6.4 million barrels of oil per day (BOPD), and it is expected to increase from 8.0 to 8.2 million BOPD for the total United States. However, these estimates do not include additional production expected from the Elk Hills field in California and the Yates field in Texas. If included, 1980 production for the conterminous United States would be 6.7 million BOPD and 8.4 million BOPD for the total United States.

Jan 1, 1977

By C. H. Larsen

A 9-month study of the uses of wire rope associated with U. S. underground coal mining is reported. Rope applications are broken down into hoisting and nonhoisting applications where "hoisting" refers to transport in vertical and inclined shafts. The former receives the greatest emphasis since it represents the most critical rope application from the stand-point of production and safety. The discussion of hoisting practice includes aspects related to the mine operators as well as those related to the equipment builders and wire rope manufacturers. U. S. state and Federal laws regulating hoisting and wire rope use are also presented and discussed. Canadian and other foreign hoisting practice and laws are included. The state of the art in electromagnetic nondestructive inspection of hoist ropes is presented. Capabilities and use of one Canadian electromagnetic device are discussed in great detail. Conclusions are drawn regarding the present state of wire rope and hoisting technology in U. S. coal mines. Recommendations are made for improving rope practice, in general, and hoisting, in particular, consistent with greater safety.

Jan 1, 1971

By John J. Sammarco

This report details the testing and evaluation of a modular azimuth and positioning system (MAPS) to provide navigational information for a continuous mining machine. Vehicle navigation is part of the U.S. Bureau of Mines research program in computer-assisted mining serving as a tool to increase mining health, safety, and productivity. The Bureau is investigating other navigation systems, but MAPS seems to have the most promise. MAPS was installed on a continuous mining machine. An operator used the machine to cut coal while researchers collected machine and MAPS data. A comparison of MAPS data for xy position and data obtained with an electronic transit showed an increasing error for MAPS. After 30 min of operation, the easting position error was -0.02 m, and the northing position error was 0.019 m; after 60 min of operation, the easting position error was -0.19 m, and the northing position error was -0.26 m. Modifications to MAPS software and to the operational procedure of the machine significantly reduced this error by a factor of 3.7. Researchers continue to reduce these errors.

Jan 1, 1993

By Charles R. Harrison

The purpose of this study and resulting development of the training program, "Safety--Let's Make It Happen" was to determine the relation of concepts to the development of desired Health and Safety behavior. After extensive pre-contract study, it was hypothesized that improved acceptance and understanding of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 could possibly contribute to the reduction of accidents. Second, in order for an individual to accept and understand the Act, he or she must have a working knowledge of its purposes and application. Third, acceptance and understanding of the Act, necessary to protect the individual from negligence, was imperative. Fourth, an actual operating company could provide the base in which to test these hypotheses in a meaningful manner and develop this type of training program. Six assumptions were agreed upon before embarking on this study and training program development. (1) In the cognitive process, a concept introduction into an individual's personality may result in a behavior quite different than if he or she had been exposed to a different concept.

Jan 1, 1977