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By Richard G. Sandberg

The Bureau of Mins, U.S. Department of the Interior, is investigating a hydrometallurgical procedure to conserve cobalt, nickel, and copper by recovering the metals from the matte byproducts of smelting Missouri lead ores. For want of adequate processing technology the mattes are now either unmarketable or marginally so. The procedure involves leaching with manganese dioxide and sulfuric acid to obtain copper, nickel, cobalt, lead, and manganese sulfates, and elemental sulfur as expressed by the following reaction: MS + MnO2 + 2H2SO4 ? MSO4 + MnS04 + S° + 2H2O, where M = Cu, Ni, Co, and Pb. The leach solutions, containing near theoretical amounts of sulfuric acid and manganese dioxide at 85° to 100° C, convert up to 98 pct of the cobalt, nickel, and copper in the mattes to sulfates in less than 2 hr. As they are formed, the cobalt, nickel, and copper sulfates are dissolved leaving a residue of lead sulfate, lead, sulfur, and gangue. The soluble metals are recovered from the leach solutions by caustic and sulfide precipitation, and the residue returned to the smelter for lead recovery. The manganese can be reclaimed from the spent leach liquor as manganese oxide and recycled to leaching.

Jan 1, 1979

By Kenneth Lipman

Auxiliary equipment was assembled around a purchased oscillograph to permit observation of the current and voltage characteristics of low-energy, capacitance-discharge sparks having durations of at least 10 mµ-sec. Circuit details of the assembled apparatus, performance characteristics of the complete system, and some preliminary data from representative self-initiated sparks are given in this report. INTRODUCTION One of the subjects of continuing research by the Federal Bureau of Mines Division of Explosives Technology is the ignition of explosive-gas mixtures by means of low-energy capacitance sparks. Quite early in these investigations it was recognized that understanding the gas-ignition phenomena would be facilitated by detailed information about the performance of the ignition source (spark) under the actual conditions of interest; however, the sparks of practical interest are nonrepetitive transient phenomena whose duration could reasonably be estimated to be in the time range of 1 mµsec. to 1 µsec. As such, the only feasible method of obtaining detailed information was and is oscillographic representation of the pertinent current and voltage transients. It was not until 1947 that a suitable, commercial, dual-channel oscillograph could be obtained as the basic instrument for these studies; the instrument specified in 1947 was delivered in 1950. This paper describes the auxiliary

Jan 1, 1959

By R. E. Heithecker

[The principle of determining volumes of liquid by alternately drawing in and discharging given quantities of the fluid from a confined space or compartment of known volume and mechanically counting the number of displacements is well established. This is true particularly in water measurement. For several years, oil meters employing the same basic principle have beer, used for gaging oil production from individual wells, groups of wells, and in some areas for metering the entire production from a property. Especially in areas where there is town-lot drilling and space for tankage in at a premium, oil meter have been used successfully to gage the oil. This facility has obviated the necessity of installing gage tanks. Oil meters also have been used in pip-line and refinery operations and in loading tankers. Present knowledge of the subject shows that positive-displacement oil meters can be used for measuring crude oil in the field and elsewhere, provided the meter-counter mechanism is in proper adjustment and the oil has been studied sufficiently to determine the proper factor to be applied to the volume as registered by the meter, making possible the adjustment for the shrinkage of the oil caused by liberation of gas from solution.]

Jan 1, 1938

By C. B. Manula

This report is volume 7 of an eleven-volume final report for a Grant completed by The Pennsylvania State University for the Bureau of Mines to develop a dynamic general purpose computer simulation model for underground coal mining. The simulator developed under the Grant has a wide range of possible applications in the design and evaluation of underground coal mining systems from the standpoints of health and safety, productivity, and mine environment. The Master Design Simulator consists of nine free-standing function-oriented subsystem models linked together into an integrated, comprehensive model of an entire mining system. The subsystems comprising the Master Design. Simulator include geology and reserves, methane generation, roof support, subsidence, production, rail haulage, cost, water generation," and ventilation. This volume of the final report describes the Rail Haulage subsystem of the Master Design Simulator. This subsystem can be used as a free standing model or can be linked to the Production subsystem to provide rail haulage capability. Complex rail haulage systems can be realistically simulated with this model. This report includes complete instructions for operating the subsystem as well as a program listing. In addition, a case study is included which illustrates the application of the subsystem when linked to the production subsystem.

Jan 1, 1974

By V. M. Benson

A simplified, routine method for determining lithium in lithium-bearing rock is presented. The sample is decomposed by repeated treatments with nitric, hydrofluoric, and perchloric acids. Since this procedure does not appreciably dissolve beryl, interference by beryllium (the principal interfering cation) is minimized for most samples. The salts are brought into solution with water and enough citric acid-ammonium citrate buffer is added to make the final volumetric dilution 0.20 M with respect to citrate. The addition of citrate greatly reduces anion interference in the hydrogen-oxygen flame, slightly increases the intensity of the lithium 671 millimicron emission line, and reduces the effect of most of the interfering cations to the extent that analytical separations are not necessary. The accuracy of results of single determinations of lithium in a pegmatite containing spodumene, lithium-bearing mica, and beryl are approximately equal to that obtained by other flame methods, INTRODUCTION This investigation was undertaken in Bureau of Mines laboratories to develop a reliable, rapid, routine analytical method for determining lithium in lithium-bearing minerals. The requirements of the procedure were that the method should be applicable to the analysis of a variety of lithium-bearing ores and test products, and the results would be reasonably accurate for materials containing 0.05 to 8 percent Li20.

Jan 1, 1961

By G. L. Neumann

Owing to the need for additional sources of supply of both zinc and lead following World War II, the Bureau of Mines investigated many abandoned lead-zinc mines in the eastern United States. A series of shallow veins in south-western St. Lawrence County has long been a subject of speculation. These veins, which average about 4 feet in width and cut across the bedding of the country rock at right angles, are filled with calcite-carrying galena and sphalerite. The deposits have been worked sporadically during the last 115 years. From 1837 to 1852 the Coal Hill, the North, and the Victoria mines near the village of Rossie were at their peak of activity. Other calcite veins were prospected and a small production was realized. The Bureau of Mines began diamond drilling May 1, 1950, under the general supervision of McHenry Mosier, chief, Mining Branch, Bureau of Mines, Region VIII, and under the immediate supervision of the author) who was project engineer, following the preliminary examination by Robert S. Sanford. A total of 3,870.2 feet was drilled in 18 holes on four of the numerous deposits scattered over Macomb and Rossie townships. Drilling was completed September 21, 1950.

Jan 1, 1952

By Don M. Coulter

"INTRODUCTION The Lookout Mountain coal deposits were examined by J.L. Stratton, an engineer of the Bureau of Mines in April and May 1943. The area investigated includes that part of southern Lookout Mountain in townships 4 to 8, south, ranges-9 to 11 east, and contains approximately 140 square miles in DeKalb and Cherokee Counties in northeastern Alabama (fig. 1.)Six coal seams having a minable thickness of 18 or more inches are represented in the area. The third seam, known locally as the Hill seam, has been correlated with the Upper Cliff No.1 seam and is referred to as such throughout this report. The preliminary investigation indicated that the Upper Cliff No. 1 seam is a low-volatile, high-grade coking coal. The work done on this project was confined principally to determining the amount and grade of coal in this seam.The only existing maps of mines in the area were one of the Lookout Fuel Co. at Lahusage, Ala. (fig. 2), and one of the Lookout Mountain Iron Co. at Battelle, Ala. (fig. 3), Consequently, to gain some knowledge of the grade and tonnage mined, surveys of the other mines were necessary. Many of them were caved, and many were filled with water, necessitating considerable preliminary work."

Feb 1, 1947

By Albert L. Toenges

The production of coal from underground mines in Washington declined during the recent war owing to shortage of manpower, and coal was shipped to the Pacific Northwest from mines in the Rocky Mountain region. The movement of this coal into Washington required the use of railroad equipment that otherwise could have been used for transporting war materiel and personnel. Strip mining uses a minimum of manpower, and the development of coal areas in the Pacific Northwest that can be mined by the strip method should increase production in the area, thus releasing railroad equipment from the necessity of transporting coal long distances and also providing consumers with a lower-cost product. The development of a strip mine to supply the demand at low cost requires a large investment in heavy equipment. In order that the fixed charges due to large investment in plant and equipment may be kept at a minimum, large reserves of coal must be proved. A reconnaissance of an area near Toledo, Lewis County, Wash., indicated a large bed of lignite that could be mined by strip methods. The area is approximately midway between Portland, Oreg., and Tacoma, Wash. (refer to fig. 1), and the opening of a large mine in the area would supply fuel to these and other nearby centers.

Jan 1, 1947

By H. Reginald Hardy

This report is Volume I of a three volume final report on the micro-seismic monitoring of a longwall coal mine. Volume I deals for the most part with the detailed aspects of the microseismic field study itself, however, brief references are made to other secondary studies described in Volumes II and III. During this field study a mobile microseismic monitoring facility and associated transducers were employed to detect and record microseismic activity above a longwall panel at Greenwich Colleries, Barnesboro, Pennsylvania. The fundamental objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the feasibility of detecting microseismic activity originating from longwall mining operations using an approximately planar, near-surface, geophone array installed above the longwall and (2) to attempt to locate the sources of the various microseismic events. This investigation has proven that, using the techniques developed it is possible to detect microseismic events at depths of more than 400 ft and at horizontal distances in excess of 800 ft from the source. The majority of the observed events were found to have frequencies on the order of 10 to 100 Hz, and particle velocities of 50 to 300 µips. When a suitable velocity model was utilized, most of the events located were computed to be within ±100 ft vertically of the coal seam and ±50 ft horizontally of the longwall face. The results of the overall research project suggest that additional research should be undertaken in a number of associated areas.

Jan 1, 1978

By L. C. Brichta

The Melrose zinc-lead. deposit is in an area of structural disturbance of sedimentary rocks in the Melrose mining district in Cherokee County, Kans., 25 miles west of Joplin, Mo., adjacent to the northwest limits of the Tri-State district. Mining and milling in the Melrose district has been sporadic and. very limited, largely due to the high cost of exploration through great thicknesses of barren rock, 350 to 440 feet overlying the ore deposits. No mining has ever been done on the Melrose zinc-lead tract, but it has been drilled extensively. The drill-hole logy indicate extensive structural deformation, silicification, and zinc-lead deposits in the Boone limestone-chert formations of the Mississippian series, which is overlain by thick-bedded Pennsylvanian shale and sandstone. Analyses of samples from Bureau of Mines drilling indicate the ore minerals are sphalerite and galena with no evident oxidation. During the period from November 2, 1949, to March 13, 1950, the Bureau of Mines investigated the deposit by churn drilling and sampling 23 holes aggregating 10,405 feet of bore. Factual data on the investigation and logs of holes drilled by private parties and the Bureau of Mines are presented in this report.

Jan 1, 1951

By H. B. Humphrey

In the 39 years from 1891 to 1929 , gas and dust explosions in the coal mines of Tennessee caused 413 deaths , or one- third of the fatalities in the mines for that period . Inasmuch as explosions caused but about 15 per cent of mine fatalities for the whole United States for this same period it is evident that the Tennessee coal mining record is by no means good , as far as explosion fatalities are concerned . Since 1926 , Tennessee has had a clear record as to fatalities from explosions ; this fact may be credited very largely to the improved conditions and safer practices in Tennessee's coal mines which have been brought about by the work of the State Inspection Department and of the Southern Appalachian Coal Operators Association directed toward adoption of safety precautions and practices most of which are advocated by the United States Bureau of Mines . Chief among these improvements are the replacement of black powder and dynamite by permissible explosives , improved ventilation , and the installation of rigid methods of inspection for gas . With the present tendency for operations to pass into the hands of responsible and informed management , and with unrelaxed care and inspection , the good record of the past several years should be maintained .

Apr 1, 1931

By Will H. Coghill

[The supply of gravel spar and of acid spar is not well balanced. Gravel spar -- 85 per cent flourspar, 5 per cent silica -- gluts the market, whereas acid spar -- 98 per cent fluorspar, 1 per cent silica -- is somewhat scarce. Hence it is desirable to convert some of the gravel spar into acid spar. Knowledge of this condition prompted the Franklin. Fluorsrar Co. at Paducah. Ky., to enter into cooperation with the U. S. Bureau of Mines and the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy to improve the methods of fluorspar, milling so that morn acid spar would be available. The fluorspar company detailed Mr. Omar Greeman for the work. During the course of the investigation, while Mr. Greeman was also doing work for a master's degree in the School of Mines? an extensive study was made of gravity concentration of fluorspar ores. Decrepitation by heat treatment was also given a laboratory try-out. A part of tie time was spent on flotation; these notes relate only to the flotation. The results of one of the flotation runs is appended. The test was made in a 500-gram mechanical-agitation machine. The sample was ground to 100-mesh in a pebble mill.]

Jan 1, 1928

By Thomas V. Falkie, R. Venkataramani

1. Summary This investigation is concerned with description of the loading function at the underground coal face, and the identification of varia¬bles - geological, geometric, mechanical, and operational - that affect the loading function. The immediate objective of this work was to provide information for operations-research studies as applied to underground coal mining, and the broad objective was to provide guide¬lines for planning and equipment selection in underground coal mining. The loading function was expressed as -a statistically-developed linear mathematical model. Originally, fifteen independent variables were considered which potentially could have influenced the loading function. These variables were constructed on the basis of measurable or estima¬ble geometric and geological properties at the working face, mechanical characteristics of the mining machine, and certain operational proce¬dures of mining. The original model explained 64.0 percent of the experimental variation. The final condensed model explained 54.1 percent of the experimental variation in terms of only five indepen¬dent variables, namely: 1. Ratio: width of cut/total width of cutter 2. Ratio: height of cut/diameter of cutter 3. Total horsepower of cutter-drive motors 4. Rotation speed (RPM) of cutter 5,. A subjective estimate of machine quality and operator skill Certain limitations were found to exist in the evaluation of the variables. Principle among these limitations was the impossibility of precise measurement of tonnage loaded in certain instances.

Jan 1, 1972

By Maria I. De Rosa

Table 28 and figure 10 show the number of fires and fire injuries for surface sand and gravel mines by state during 1990-2001. Table 28 also shows the injury risk rates, employees' working hours, and lost workdays. At surface sand and gravel mines, a total of 70 fires with 60 injuries occurred in 29 states during 1990-2001. Fifty-nine of the fires caused 60 injuries (none of the fires involved contractors). The yearly average was 5.8 fires and five injuries. The Ewhr value was 741 x 106 hr (Irr = 0.016), and the LWD value was 6,921. California had the most fires (nine fires and five injuries), followed by Michigan (six fires and six injuries) and Pennsylvania (five fires and five injuries). Of these states, Pennsylvania had the highest injury risk rate value (Irr = 0.052). Table 29, partly illustrated in figure 11, shows the number of fires, fire injuries, risk rates, employees' working hours, and lost workdays by time period. The number of fires and fire injuries show an increase during the second period followed by a decrease during the fourth period followed by a small increase during the fifth period and a sharp decrease during the last period. Employees' working hours increased during most of the periods. The Irr values follow patterns similar to those shown by the injury values.

Jan 1, 2004

By E. C. Lane

[This is the eleventh in a series of reports on properties of commercial motor fuels made in accordance with a cooperative agreement between the Cooperative Fuel Research (C.F.R) Committee and the Bureau of Mines of the United States Department of the Interior. The first report contained data, on motor gasolines sold during the winter of 1935-36.3/ The present report presents analytical data for 2,020 samples, reprecenting the products of approximately 120 companies, which, as in previous surveys, include both large and small suppliers. In addition, the Pacific coast is represented by data averaged the Pacific Coast Technical Group before being submitted and' are published exactly as they were received. As in previous surveys, the data are divided into the three groups of samples of regular-price, premium-price, and third-grade gasoline each group has been averaged separately. The number of samples, items, and old brands comprising each group, exclusive of the of the Pacific coast, axe as follows: Regular price, 1,071 samples, 29 items, and 77 brands; premium price, 608 samples, 235 items, and 72 brands; third-grade gasoline, 341 samples, 196 items, 78 brands. The meanings of these terms as used in tae surveys are as follows:]

Jan 1, 1941

Control shearer-generated airborne respirable dust on longwall mining sections. Approach Previous Bureau studies have shown that using high-pressure water can have a significant impact on the amount of airborne dust released into the face airflow while cleaning and controlling the airflow in the immediate cutting zone. The basic concept to improve the drum water spray system was to utilize high-pressure (1,200 psi) inward-facing drum sprays to improve the dust knockdown efficiency of the spray system and confine the dust to the face area. This system would minimize the exposure of the shearer operator through dust avoidance and decrease face dust levels by suppressing the amount of respirable dust that becomes airborne. System Design In-mine tests were designed to provide information that would permit evaluation of the operation with different spray orientations and water spray pressures. This was achieved by comparison with a conventional baseline wet-cutting system consisting of 26 low-pressure bit sprays, located on the hit blocks to provide pick-point flushing. Total drum water flow was 60 gpm and was maintained continuously throughout all tests. The high-pressure inward-facing drum water spray system consisted of sprays located in each bit block, oriented 15° and 30° toward the face. The inward-facing water spray system was operated at either 800 or 1,200 psi.

Jan 1, 1989

By Larry G. Stolarczyk

1.0 FRAMEWORK FOR COMPARISON This document describes the decision factors that bear on the selection of the modulation process for the wireless underground medium frequency (MF) communication system. The selected modulation process must satisfy the Bureau of Mines stated objective of improving general communications within an underground mine. The improvement being sought includes the development of a wireless communication technology of measurable benefit to both mine safety and mine productivity. The improvement will allow wireless communications paths to exist between roving miners. The wireless communication paths will also be made compatible with the existing underground telephone system to extend paging and voice communication throughout the underground mine. The new wireless equipment will include man-pack, vehicular, repeater, and base station transceivers. Repeaters and base stations will feature coupling networks for interfacing with the existing telephone circuits. Frequency modulation (FM) and single sideband (SSB) modulation processes are analyzed in view of the special conditions associated with underground mining. Of primary importance is the tremendous electrical noise generated in an operating mine that could adversely affect communications quality. High noise coupled with high attenuation rate of near field signals forces the communication system to be inherently short range. Fortunately, near field signals can propagate over great distances on underground wires and cables. The framework for comparison is generated by presenting all factors that

By T. W. Goodman, J. Cervik

The Bureau of Mines conducted studies to compare the effectiveness of the cross-measure borehole system with that of surface gob holes on two successively mined retreating longwalls in the Lower Kittanning Coalbed. Only the cross-measure system was in operation on panel A; on panel B, both systems were in operation. In addition, the cross-measure bore-holes on panel B were drilled parallel to the face, whereas those on panel A were drilled at a 45O angle with respect to the longwall axis. The studies show that the cross-measure system captured 71 pct of the methane generated by longwall mining on panel A. On panel B, the sur- face gob hole dominated over the cross-measure system for about 700 ft (213 m) after it was intercepted. Beyond that point, the cross-measure system dominated. About 93 pct of the methane generated on panel B was captured by the two systems. Cross-measure boreholes that were drilled parallel to the face were as effective as boreholes oriented 45" with respect to the longwall axis. In addition, they are shorter and require less drilling time. Comparison between observed gas pressure differentials in boreholes and calculated values indicate that boreholes can be shortened further to 140 ft (43 m). Additional studies are needed to verify these calculations.

Jan 1, 1986

By G. A. Burrell, G. W. Jones

As a part of the work which the Bureau of Mines carried out in 1916 and 1917 pertaining to the compressibility of natural gas , it became necessary to de termine the pressure -volume relations of several of the paraffin hydrocarbons of which natural gas is composed . Results of the work on natural gas were published in Technical papers 131 (Burrell , G.A. , and Robertson , I.W. , The compressibility of natural gas to high pressure , Bureau of Mines Tech . Paper 131 , 1916 , 12 pp. ) and 158 (Burrell , G.A. , and Robertson , I.W. , Compressibility of natural gas and its constituents with analyses of natural gas from 31 cities in the United States , Bureau of Mines Tech . Paper 158 , 1917 , 12 pp . ) , and curves were given of pressure volume deviations of the gases , methane , ethane , propane , and carbon dioxide at high pressures . original experimental data on these gases , however , were not published . The In view of many inquiries which the Bureau has received with reference to the original data on the se gases , and the importance of the pressure -volume relations from which it is possible to calculate the deviation of any natural gas who se composition is known , the original data as determined by Burrell and Robertson are pre sented below .

Aug 1, 1921

By G. W. Marks, A. H. Roberson

"Previous investigation 4/ has demonstrated that some of the aliphatic amines are suitable absorbents for 302, This paper reports the results of physical studies of a number of such amines with the object of determining which is most favorable as an absorbent.Monoethanol amine, diethylene triamine, and triethylene tetramine appear to be the most promising of all the amines studied, and most of this report has been devoted to studies of the physical properties of their aqueous solutions, which contain varying amounts of SO2.PURITY OF MATERIALSAll of the amines used were of commercial grade, because the primary object of this research was the investigation of a proposed works process rather than the accumulation of scientific data.The aminoethyl derivitives of ethylene diamine, namely, diethylene triamine, triethylene tetramine, and tetraethylene pentamine, only recently have been produced commercially. The chemistry of aliphatic amines is complex, and these newer derivitives have not been investigated, completely. Chemically pure material is not on the market, and since definite physical standards have not been published, one could not be assured of a pure product even if the commercial material was refined.The compilation of physical constants for the pure amines would involve much time—consuming effort without materially enhancing the value of this paper, as this work was not devoted to the development of fundamental standards."

Oct 1, 1938