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By Lowell Stroud

This report is the third in a series presenting equilibrium vapor-liquid data for helium-bearing natural gases. The first two reports contained phase data for the gases processed for helium at the Bureau of Mines Amarillo and Exell, Tex., helium plants. The present report offers similar information for a lower-helium-content (0.75 mole-percent) natural gas to be processed in the Department of the Interior's long-range helium-conservation program. A windowed-cell apparatus was used to obtain 218 samples of equilibrium vapor and liquid phases at 73 experimental conditions ranging in temperature from -100° F to -275° F and in pressure from 100 to 500 psi. From the phase data, the condensation characteristics, helium solubility, and equilibrium-vaporization-coefficient data for helium, nitrogen, and methane were evaluated. The effect of using a. preliminary hydrocarbon trap upon the subsequent vapor-liquid compositions is reported. A brief comment regarding the composition effect of passing the gas through a gasoline-removal unit is also included.

Jan 1, 1963

By Hideo Ando, Yuka Satou, Tatsuya Ishitake

Whole-body vibration occurs when the body is supported on a surface which is vibrating. Occupational exposures to whole-body vibration mainly occurs in the transportation industry, but also in association with other industrial process. Epidemiological studies have frequently indicated an elevated health risk for the spine in workers exposed to whole-body vibration. With regarding to train or bus operators, a fall of drivers’ wakefulness level because of fatigue is often pointed out. This decrease in wakefulness results in an increase of the occurrence of accidents. However, a study of how whole-body vibration affects people's level of wakefulness has not been done. To test the hypothesis that exposure to whole-body vibration has a certain effects on level of wakefulness, the change of a subjective wakefulness level and changes of electroencephalogram (EEG) were observed under experimental exposure to short-term whole-body vibration. Methods Subjects are ten healthy male university students, with an average age of 20.7 ± 1.8 years old, and they are all nonsmokers. Using the equipment (CV-300, AKASHI) of whole-body vibration generator, we consider an exposure environment of actual driver work, so that set the frequency and the acceleration level as 10 Hz and 0.6ms-2 r.m.s.. The subjects were exposed to whole-body vibration in the seated position and exposure time was fixed for 12 minutes. Subjective wakefulness level was evaluated using the questionnaire of VASS (Visual Analog Sleepiness Scale) and KSS (The Kwansei Gakuin Sleepiness Scale). For the electroencephalogram (EEG) measurement, it was equipped with the electrodes based on the International ten-twenty electrode system (C3-A2, O1-A2, O2-A1). EEG activity in the alpha frequency band (8 – 12 Hz) is one of the most typical physiological indicator which represent the transition from wakefulness to sleepiness. AAT (Alpha Attenuation Test) which repeats three times each opened and closed eye for 1 minute was performed in a seating position with directions of the researcher in the beginning, in the middle and in the end of exposure to whole-body vibration. For analysis, power spectral analysis was conducted over the last 6 min of EEG, and wakefulness levels were defined as the ratio of mean alpha power during eyes closed versus eyes opened. The laboratory was kept at room temperature (21 ± 1.0 degrees C), humidity was 50 ± 5%, noise level was 63.6 dB (A) eq, and illumination 510 lx. Each experiment was started around 10:00 am to minimize the effect of biorhythm.

Jan 6, 2006

By Lloyd A. Morley, Robert Stefanko

A major difficulty encountered during the research was that nation¬al countries (almost world-wide) are in the process of revising their electrical hazard reduction standards. Their principal goal is to align their standards with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Recommendations Publication Series 79. (31-37) Additionally, CENELEC is requiring all Common Market countries to harmonize their standards. (85) However in the coal mining industry some hazard re¬duction techniques are not being accepted because some systems may not be applicable. Therefore, past literature might not directly relate a country's current feeling about explosion-proof standards. An authority in the United Kingdom (which has been a leader in hazard reduction mainly through work at the Safety in Mines Research Establishment) brought up an additional point. (15) He hopes that since revising British standards BS229 into BS4683, with the intention of corresponding with the IEC 79 series, the recent CENELEC harmoni¬zation process will also follow IEC. (8, 9, 10) The past trend in other major Common Market countries prior to CENELEC's requirement results in the authors' speculation that the standards will be pattern¬ed after the IEC Publications. (5,17,60,84,102) Several letters were sent to the East Block countries but, disa¬ppointingly, replies were dispatched only from the USSR and Poland. Recent Polish standards (1973) were received, and a very close match to the IEC Publications has been noted. (76,77) Because of their economic community, it is extremely logical to assume that the East Block stand¬ards are therefore in concurrence with the IEC. Japanese specifications also appear to be compatible with the IEC Recommendations. (42,43)

Jan 1, 1974

By Lon D. Santis

The Code of Federal Regulations Title 30, Parts 56, 57, 75, and 77 require that detonators and explosives be separated by four inches of hardwood or equivalents when transported together in mines. This standard was developed to protect the explosives from initiation by the more sensitive detonators. The research reported here is an attempt to quantify the fire protection offered by four inches of red oak and other materials. Boxes with a volume of 6.75 cubic feet were made from four-inch thick rough green oak (RGO), two-inch thick RGO plied, two-inch thick #1 common (dried) red oak plied, and a metal/plywood composite. These and boxes meeting the Institute of Makers of Explosives' (IME) Safety Library Publication No. 22 were tested in bonfires. The boxes were instrumented with thermocouples, filled with detonators, and placed over a kerosene fire imparting about 16 kilowatts per square meter heat flux for up to 3 hours. Tests showed that the wood boxes protected the detonators for over an hour with variations between the different trials. In the IME 22 container tests, detonators began exploding in as little as 17 minutes in one test and not for 2-/12 hours in another test. Detonators in the metal/plywood boxes began to explode in about 15 minutes but with minor alterations, were able to contain the detonators. The test results show that the exterior of an IME 22 container significantly affects its thermal properties. Defects in the form of cracks and the manner in which the container is closed have a significant effect on the performance of a detonator container in a fire.

By R. V. Ramani, C. B. Manula, A. Owili-Eger

MINE PROTOTYPE The prototype chosen for application demonstration is from Kingery (1960). The mine and the ventilation plan is presented in Figure 11. A new coal mine is projected with entrance by slope 1,500 feet long. Nine train entries will be standard for development, five as intake and four as return. One return shaft is planned near the slope bottom. The slope will have an area of 150 square feet and a perimeter of 55 feet. The return shaft will be circular with a diameter of 18 feet and will be 500 feet deep. Two hundred feet of the shaft and 500 feet of the slope will be concrete lined. Will it be possible to operate five units per shift with amount of air at each unit not less than 25,000 cfm? Additionally, a shop at the slope bottom will require 10,000 cfm. The problem is completely worked out using standard ventilation formulas and simple manual calculations in the above reference and is reproduced here in Appendix II for ready reference. APPLICATION In this manual, four different applications of the PSU/MVS are outlined. An article by Stefanko et al (1972), outlines how one can move from a mine map to a network for the generation of computer input. Attention is drawn to Figure 12, which is the network line diagram of the mine ventilation system in Figure 11. Note that every roadway junction has been numbered. The dotted lines represent leakage paths and the letter 'R' on a branch denotes that the split is regulated for the quantity shown. For example, there is a leakage

Jan 1, 1975

By G. W. Groove, E. E. Quenon

"INTRODUCTION Uncontrolled mine fires originating in exposed coal beds through the acts of careless or irresponsible persons present a serious threat to buildings, surface property, and the life and health of persons near the affected area. Apparently, the seriousness of such fires is not fully understood by property owners or those residing in the vicinity, as practically nothing has been done to alleviate conditions. In many instances, such fires have been active for several years before property owners or civic organizations have shown any interest toward having the fire extinguished. Recommendations by Bureau of Mines investigators in the interest of controlling such fires are seldom followed, as the Bureau cannot provide the funds for doing the work.Several uncontrolled and widespread fires are burning along the outcrop of coal beds and in underground abandoned mine workings within a 25-mile radius of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pa. If these fires are permitted to continue to burn unabated, the ultimate results may be far-reaching. Most of the outcrop fires investigated are believed to have originated from burning rubbish, forest fires, or workmen, hunters, or others building fires near the outcrop of ,the coal beds. In other instances, smoke and fumes have suddenly appeared in the vicinity of abandoned coal-mine openings, indicating that a fire has either burned its way along the outcrop of the coal bed or has traveled through the abandoned mine from another location. An underground or outcrop coal-mine fire will be very likely to continue to burn as long as an oxygen supply is present.; and, so far as is known, such fires do not stop burning automatically until virtually all combustible matter is consumed."

Feb 1, 1948

By Richard J. Mainiero, Sapko, Marcia L. Harris

Since 1988, there have been thirteen documented incidents in the United States and Canada in which carbon monoxide (CO) is suspected to have migrated through near surface strata into structures or other enclosed spaces as a result of nearby trench blasting or surface mine blasting. From these incidents, there are thirty suspected or medically verified CO poisonings and one fatality associated with these incidents. To better understand the variables contributing to this hazard, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) carried out a small-scale field study to identify key factors that may contribute to the migration of CO through the ground. NIOSH conducted single-hole heavily confined experimental test shots to measure the radial pressure pulse as it propagated through surrounding monitoring holes to determine if a relationship existed between the pressure pulse and resulting CO measurements afterwards. NIOSH also monitored blasts at an airport construction site. Following the detonations, the concentrations of CO, nitric oxide (NO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were monitored for several days in the surrounding satellite holes. The peak CO measurements relative to distances from the shots were compared. Pressure histories and peak particle velocities (PPV) were measured at monitoring boreholes. It was found that the differential pressures recorded within the boreholes give some indication as to the likelihood of CO appearing, whereas the PPV measurements do not seem to be as good an indicator for potential CO migration. In this limited study, changes in barometric pressure had very little influence on removing the trapped detonation products, whereas applying a vacuum to the monitoring holes was effective in reducing the entrapped CO concentration.

By Charles L. Kimbell

Annual global steel industry investment is partly mirrored in the data for selected market economy countries that appear in table 13 for 1988-90. No reasonably comprehensive 1991 data were available for inclusion in this study, and the partial reporting available was so incomplete that it was impossible to demonstrate whether the level advanced or declined from the 1990 level of nearly $15.5 billion. Moreover, with the radical changes that are now being effected in the steel industries of the states that were the U.S.S.R. and its CMEA partners, it is most regrettable that comprehensive and comparable data, both current and historic, on investment in this area are not available. Updated information on market economy country petroleum industry capital and exploration expenditures by geographic area has been included in table 14, and it is evident that there was a substantial upturn in investment in 1991. The level of almost $74.5 billion was 14.5 % above the 1990 level and included gains in every topical category and geographic area. The source of information for this table has been changed to the Oil and Gas Journal Database from the previously used Chase-Manhattan Bank study of Capital Investments of the World Petroleum Industry, which has been discontinued. Because of this source change, it has been necessary to modify the structure of the table somewhat, but its total scope of coverage is regarded as basically unchanged. It should be noted that the grand total, as well as some of the detail appearing for 1987, corresponds precisely with those in the previous source.

Jan 1, 1993

By R. K. Clifford

Chalcopyrite (CuFeSz) concentrates produced on the Lead Belt of Missouri typically contain 28 pct Cu and from 0.5 to 1.5 pct each of nickel and cobalt. Most of the nickel and cobalt are present as the mineral siegenite, (Ni,Co)3S4, almost none of which is recovered presently. The Bureau of Mines, U.S. Department of the Interior, has been conducting research on the chalcopyrite to produce a marketable fraction enriched in cobalt and nickel. Ferric chloride leaching of various chalcopyrite (copper) concentrates has yielded residues containing from 10.2 to 16.2 pct Ni and 8.3 to 11.4 pct Co with recoveries of approximately 79 pct. In another approach, laboratory froth-flotation tests have been conducted to investigate the effects of regrinding, roasting, baking, and steaming prior to flotation, with a variety of reagents. The best laboratory results were obtained after regrinding the copper concentrate to 94 pct minus 400 mesh and floating the chalcopyrite at natural pH (6.5) with 0.48 pound of sodium diethyldithiophosphate and 0.01 pound of sodium cyanide per ton of concentrate. This procedure yielded a tailings assaying 20.4 pct Cu, 5.2 pct Ni, and 3.45 pct Co. The tailings contained 67.2 pct of the nickel and cobalt and 15.9 pct of the copper originally in the copper concentrate; the remainder of the values reported to the flotation concentrate, which analyzed 29.6 pct Cu. To verify the laboratory flotation results, a 60 kg/hr process demonstration unit (PDU) was constructed in the Cominco American Magmont mill, Bixby, Mo.

Jan 1, 1978

By By Staff

"This publication summarizes, for potential contractors and all other interested parties, the research, development, and demonstration of in-house and contract projects programmed by the Bureau of Mines for fiscal year 1982(October 1, 1981-September 30, 1982) under its Minerals Health and Safety Technology program. The objective of these projects is to provide an ordered and sequenced series of advance toward the Bureau's overall goal of providing the systems technology required to create a more healthful and safer working environment for the Nation's mining and minerals processing workersINTRODUCTION The Bureau of Mines conducts a balanced, continuing in-house research and development program to accelerate systematic improvements in health and safety conditions in U.S. mines. Part I of this report outlines the Bureau's present in-house effort to all interested parties; in particular, potential contractors can refer to it when submitting USP's (unsolicited proposals), thus avoiding proposing research that duplicates work being performed by the Bureau.It is the policy of the Bureau of Mines to utilize as fully as possible the capabilities of the private sector in minerals research, and to that endPart II of this report outlines the Bureau's current projected contract research needs.The projects presented were planned at the beginning of the fiscal year and are subject to change based on emerging priorities and availability of funds. Contingencies may require that a significant portion of the program be deferred into fiscal year 1983 (FY 83) or beyond. It is important to realize that since this is a summary document, the project descriptions related to a design, fabrications, and demonstration effort do not necessarily imply total package procurement."

Jan 1, 1982

By J. D. Davis

From the chemist's point of view it would be ideal if specifications for coke for any stated purpose could be written on the basis of chemical composition and burning characteristics. Unfortunately this is not possible. In fact, the physical properties of a coke are often of such major importance as to render any specified chemical requirements totally inadequate to show the quality of coke desired. For example, a furnace coke may admirably fill all chemical requirements, such as for low phosphorus, sulphur, moisture, and high fixed carbon, and still be too soft to support the burden of the furnace without excessive crushing. Again, a domestic coke though a good fuel as judged from Chemical analysis, may be of unmarketable size. Thus one can not define the quality of a coke for a specified purpose without taking into account both its chemical and physical characteristics even when this has been done the specification may fail because neither coke user nor producer can accurately define by quantitative tests the qualities most desired. In other words, there is need of accurate test methods for measuring the properties of coke and, what is equally important, for correlating the results with the behavior of the coke in use. Coke quality is determined by the kind of coal used, the coking process, and the type of equipment used in the coking process. Chemical analysis of the coals, together with small-scale coking tests, will give a good indication of their suitability; but, in general, coke must be produced on an industrial scale and tested in the equipment for which it is intended before conclusive information as to its quality is obtained.

Jan 1, 1928

By D. R. Tesarik, F. M. Jones, J. B. Seymour, L. A. Martin, T. J. Williams

Determining backfill stress is an important part of evaluating mine safety, whether personnel are working in proximity to backfill or in other areas of the mine where backfill is an integral part of regional support. To assist in determining stress in backfill more accurately, researchers from the Spokane Research Laboratory of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Placer Dome, Inc. (Turquoise Ridge Mine), Peabody Energy Co. (Foidel Creek Mine), and Hecla Mining Co. (Lucky Friday Mine) used temperature readings recorded by thermistors to correct for the influence of temperature on stress data. These thermistors were positioned in the stems of earth pressure cells installed in backfill. Corrections were then calculated and compared using four different methods: polynomial equations fit to temperature-versus-stress plots before the pressure cells were loaded by overburden, a factor provided by the manufacturer, a theoretically derived factor, and a linear correction factor based on information collected during periods when no mining was taking place. To evaluate the accuracy of these methods, corrected stresses were calculated using each method and results compared to cumulative stresses caused by blasting at one of the mines. Results indicated that only a small percentage of the temperature effect on stress was corrected using the factor from the manufacturer because that factor accounted for only the pressure transducer and not the entire instrument body. Stresses adjusted with a linear correction factor based on information collected during periods when no mining was taking place were the most accurate. Stresses recorded at two other mines were corrected using the theoretical method and the polynomial equations method; the two methods produced similar results. For some time intervals, the results were identical.

Jan 4, 2006

By T. H. Jeffers

The Bureau of Mines conducted a laboratory investigation of copper electrowinning from electrolytes produced by solvent extraction. The purpose of the research was to gain a better understanding of the fundamental relationship between copper electrowinning conditions, anode corrosion, and cathode purity. Processing variables were evaluated in a cyclic semicontinuous system in which the depleted electrolyte was used to strip copper from loaded organic extractant. For the production of high quality copper cathodes, the electrolyte was dosed with cobalt and stripped of organic solvent extraction reagent. An optimum cobalt addition of 60 ppm, and removal of the entrained extractant with activated carbon provided the best conditions for electrowinning copper containing the least amount of lead and controlling anode corrosion. As little as 13 ppm of the entrained organic extractant, LIX 64-N, significantly accelerated anode corro-sion. However, the addition of 1,000 ppm of organic diluent kerosine did not affect anode corrosion. After cobalt dosing and removing the entrained extractant, cathodes containing less than 2 ppm lead were consistently electrowon at widely varied current densities, electrolyte copper and acid concentrations, and temperatures. Dosing of the electrolyte with selected impurities including magnesium, aluminum, manganese, and iron did not affect the cathode purity. However, 0.05 giL of chloride ions markedly increased anode corrosion and the sub-sequent transfer of lead to the cathode copper.

Jan 1, 1985

By Eleanor Abshire

This bibliography is the second in a series that covers the current technical literature relating to the metallurgy of zirconium. The rapid advance in zirconium technology makes it mandatory that abstracts be prepared and compiled as soon as possible to have maximum value; therefore, the information in this volume is not arranged chronologically. As a service to research and production groups, succeeding bibliographies will be issued as new acquisitions accumulate in the Zirconium Information Center sponsored by the Department of the Navy, Bureau of Ships and the Bureau of Mines at the Bureau's Northwest Electrodevelopment Laboratory, Albany, Oreg. The initial volume, Information Circular 7771, Bibliography of Zirconium, covering 969 abstracted reports and 645 United States and foreign patents, was published in April 1957.

Jan 1, 1958

By Gordon T. Austin

The combined value of production of natural abrasives, which includes tripoli, special silica stone, garnet, staurolite, and emery, increased about 9% in 1988. In the case of emery, the increase was due to an increase in unit value of the material produced. The increase in the value of garnet and staurolite production was simply the result of an increase in the quantity of materials produced. However, special silica stone experienced both an increase in unit value and quantity produced. The nonmetallic manufactured abrasives industry, which includes only silicon carbide and fused aluminum oxide in the reported statistics, enjoyed the best production year since 1981 in terms of total quantity produced. Production increased 22% in quantity and 16% in value com-pared with those of 1987.

Jan 1, 1990

By James M. Link

Underground coal mining is the most hazardous industrial occupation in the United States.. Haulage accidents in underground coal mines contribute substantially to the occupational hazards of this type of work. In an effort to improve mine safety, a completely hydraulic transport system has been designed to move coal from the mine face to the preparation plant. The capital investment for the hydraulic haulage system is great, and the size of the mine developed for this study is large. Mine production for the conventional haulage mine is 1. 1 million tons of clean coal per year, while the hydraulic haulage mine will produce over 1.6 million tons of clean coal per year. Safety statistics for a number of mines of this size are shown.

Jan 1, 1975

By Ronald D. Rothchild

This report describes the results of a study of longwall ignition hazards and specific suppression systems to minimize each of the major hazards. The major ignition hazards were identified by conducting a literature search and conversing with knowledgeable individuals in the United States mining industry. Three classes of potential ignition suppression systems are discussed: triggered suppression systems for face ignition, passive suppression systems, and control of ignition hazard in the gob. The triggered suppression systems included protection for the shearer, head and tail gates, welding equipment, and the shearer power cable. Passive systems include improved ventilation and water sprays, and charges in the shearer head. Gob protection can be improved by isolating the gob from working areas and by introducting inerting agents into the gob.

Jan 1, 1976

By Leonard Obert

Subsidence to surface occurs in a large proportion of underground mines. Preliminary to any indication of subsidence on the surface, there is usually a breaking up and sloughing of the cover into the mine opening which, in a period of time ranging from minutes to many years, progresses to the surface, This process is referred to as subsurface subsidence. In many mining operations, information regarding the process of subsurface subsidence is important, For example, if there are buildings or other improvements on the surface, or if the direction of the subsurface subsidence might threaten other underground workings--such as shafts--or if the subsidence might be progressing in a direction which would fall outside the anticipated subsidence limits, the problem could assume special significance.

Jan 1, 1961

By W. Hermanson

This report, which covers the period from January 16 to October 21, 1974, describes the work performed in compliance with the requirements of contract no. H0242028 and modifications 1 and 2 thereto. The purpose of the contract was to further reline and modify three of the canopies (shuttle car, loader, and roof drill) which were developed under contract no. H0220031, and to conduct further testing and demonstration of the relined designs. Modifications I and 2 involved conducting further in-mine evaluations of the face. drill and cutter canopies, also developed under contract no. H0220031. In addition to the canopy modifications, the contract involved an evaluation of an operator's seat concept for a shuttle car which was developed for the USBM by another contractor.

Jan 1, 1974

By C. H. Riggs

This report describes the geology and reviews the oil-production history of the Dutcher sands of Pennsylvania age in the Muskogee oilfield. The geology and production history are presented not alone as a review of the past behavior of the field but also to interpret the possibilities for future production of oil from semidepleted sands in this and similar areas. The Muskogee field, one of the oldest oil-producing areas in Oklahoma, yields paraffin-base oil of 40° API gravity -a gravity higher than that of most Oklahoma oils. Oil was discovered in the townsite of Muskogee in 1894 but was not produced in commercial quantities until 1904. A peak yearly rate of 1,340,000 barrels of oil was attained in 1910 (see table 1).

Jan 1, 1959