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By E. Morrice

The Bureau of Mines investigated methods for beneficiating platinumgroup metal ores from the Stillwater Complex , Montana , as part of its program to increase the supply of critical and strategic minerals and metals from domestic resources . This report presents results of a 5- day continuous campaign employing a pilot flotation mill to recover sulfide concentrate containing platinum- palladium values from anorthositic ore . A mercaptobenzothiazole - sulfuric acid reagent suite was used . The pilot flotation mill was operated at an average feed rate of 106 lb/ hr of ore . A rougher concentrate containing 8.5 pct of the feed was prepared ; it assayed 1.1 oz /ton Pt and 3.5 oz / ton Pd . Recovery of platinum and palladium were 91 and 87 pct , respectively .

Jan 1, 1965

By Bernard Porter

The rate of the heterogeneous reaction between high-purity uranium metal and uranium tetrafluoride in molten lithium fluoride was measured. The apparent heat of activation for the reaction is 16.91 kilocalories per mole of UF4. A surface-controlled mechanism is suggested in which UF4 is adsorbed on the uranium metal surface. Additional UF4 reacts with the adsorbed species and the metal site to form an activated complex that decomposes to the product UF3. The reaction is an important source of metal loss in the electrowinning of uranium metal.

Jan 1, 1966

By W. W. Graff

This paper describing the mining practice at Mine No. 5 of the Marquette range, Michigan, is one of a series being prepared by the Bureau of Mines on mining practices, methods, tend costs in the various mining districts of the United States. The top-slicing system of mining, has been used ever since the present operating company took control of the property in 1903, the main level and sublevel layout being chanced only as local conditions required and the use of mechanical equipment increased.

Jan 1, 1930

By Norman G. Foster

The mass spectra of four tertiary butyl substituted thiophenes are reported. A comparison and contrast with earlier structure correlations made by API-RP48 mass spectroscopists is presented. The fragmentation routes of these types of molecules are discussed and explained in terms of existing theories in mass spectrometry. Low ionization voltage data are presented to support the mechanistic picture developed. Structures are inferred about some of the ions, and these are correlated with existing theories. Metastable peaks in the spectra are used to support the fragmentation paths. The presence of doubly charged ions in the spectra is noted and the possible implications toward mechanisms discussed. The general picture of simple, small fragments leaving the ion moiety upon further fragmentation is developed in detail. Some suggestions are presented for further work utilizing isotopically labeled molecules to establish firmly the general picture of fragmentations of the alkylthiophenes.

Jan 1, 1966

By Doris M. Hyde

The economy of Belize continued to be relatively unaffected by activity in the minerals sector. Mining production consisted of limestone, marl, and sand and gravel. All production was used for domestic construction projects. By the end of 1979 the major oil companies had, temporarily at least, ceased active exploration efforts. Esso Ventures, Inc., after drilling three dry holes in southern Belize, planned to reappraise its activities. The Reef Exploration, Ltd., concession was acquired by Anschutz Oil Co. (81.25%). with minority interests held by Anglo Oil Co. and Carolina Oil Co. The Anschutz group drilled offshore in the Gulf of Honduras and in Belize Harbor. Echo Exploration has a con-cession along the Mexican border and Spar-tan Petroleum Corp. obtained seven exploration licenses covering 768,000 acres in northern Belize. Spartan's concessions included about 130,000 acres offshore, with the remainder along the southeastern rim of the Yucatan Peninsula. Placid Oil Co. took an interest in the Spartan acreage and became operator. Seismic exploration was underway in 1979. A Mexican company, Pan American Oil and Gas, S.A., was awarded two exploration concessions, one in southern Belize and one near the Mexican border.

Jan 1, 1981

By Cheryl Hill, Michael Keane, Pamela Mike, Raghoottma Pandurangi, William Wallace, Mohindar Seebra, Val Vallyathan

"Dipalmitoyl glycerophosphorylcholine (lecithin) dispersed in physiologic saline, a model of the primary component of pulmonary surfactant, is adsorbed by respirable quartz and aluminosilicate dusts. Dust cytotoxicity as measured by erythrocyte bemolysis and pulmonary macrophage enzyme release is suppressed by this adsorption. The degree of suppression of hemolytic potential versus specific adsorption of lecithin from dispersion in saline by respirable quartz and kaolin dusts are compared with dusts' BET specific surface areas to interpret the prophylactic effect of lecithin adsorption. Dust hemolytic potential versus medium pH is presented. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and photo-acoustic spectroscopy of lecithin on quartz and of lecithin on kaolin are presented and reviewed with results of studies of the time course of removal of lecithin adsorbed on mineral surfaces by digestion by phospholipase enzyme. Results are discussed in terms of a model of prompt neutralization of respired mineral dusts by pulmonary surfactant, and a gradual re-toxification by digestive processes acting on the adsorbed prophylactic surfactant coating following phagocytosis. INTRODUCTIONQuartz dust of respirable size is well known to cause fibrotic lung disease, but numerous questions persist in the understanding of the initiation and progression of this disease. Our approach concentrates on physical and chemical aspects of mineral dusts early-on in their interactions with living organisms, and we have chosen simplified models to investigate that interaction.In the alveolar ·spaces of the lung, tissue is coated with a surface-active material (pulmonary surfactant), which, among other functions, mechanically stabilizes the lung from collapse by reducing the surface tension of water in the alveolar sacs.1 This surfactant is also the material that is first contacted by a mineral particle that is transported to an alveolus and is impacted there. This surfactant material has been studied extensively. The primary components are known to be proteins (about 11 % in dog lavage fluid), and phospholipids (about 88%).2 Pbosphatidyl cholines constitute roughly 80% of the phospholipid fraction; about 70% of the phosphatidyl choline fraction is dipalmitoyl lecithin (DPL).2 Respirable aluminosilicate particles are capable of adsorbing dipalmitoyl lecithin from dispersion in physiologic saline, a model for a possible initial event occurring upon deposition of a particle in a pulmonary alveolus. As may be seen from Figure 1, the DPL molecule has several fixed charges at neutral pH; a positive charge on the trimethylamine (choline) moiety, and a negative charge on the phosphate group. Also evident are the two fatty acid residues of palmitic acid, which are bonded through ester likages to the glycerol segment of the molecule. The fatty acid moieties of phosphatidyl choline make the molecule inso1uble in aqueous solutions under normal conditions, but a colloidal unit of aggregated molecules called a micelle is usually formed spontaneously above a certain minimum concentration. Small micellar vesicles are generally formed in the laboratory by using ultrasonic agitation or by solvent evaporation methods."

Jan 1, 1990

By E. S. Longfellow, S. H. Katz

Poisonous hydrocyanic acid gas (HCN) is sometimes evolved in dangerous quantities from cyanides used in metallurgical and chemical operations. This gas is much used for fumigating buildings, ships, greenhouses, and such commodities as grain and cotton to destroy rats, mice and insect pests. Wherever cyanide fumes are evolved, thorough ventilation is necessary in order to render the sur- rounding air safe to breathe. Many persons have been killed by entering tanks and fumigated places too soon, and a simple test for this gas would promote safety. In view of the need for an easy method for quantitatively determining HCN in air, the three color reactions used originally for testing HCN in solution tions *** were modified and adapted. The reactions employ (1) picric acid (CH(NO2)3OH) which is yellow but combines with hydrogen cyanide to form a red- purple dye, isopurpuric acid****; (2) phenolphthalin (CH1604), which is a reduc- tian product of the phenolphthalein (CH4) used for acid indicator, this colorless substance is oxidized***** by presence of HCN to pink colored phenolph- thalin; and (3) guaiacum which oxidized from colorless to blue******. Phenolph- thalin and guaiacum require the presence of copper compounds which catalize the color formation by reduction of cupric cyanide. The chemical processes involved *Associate physical organic chemist, Bureau of Mines, Department of the Interior. **Assistant gas chemist, Bureau of Mines, Department of the Interior. 2014 20 *** Kohn-Abrest, E., Notice toxicologique sur les gas: Arnales des Falsifica- tions, vol. 8, 1915, pp. 215-35. (Tested air with picric acid and guaiacum papers). **** Élasiwietz, H., Ueber eine neue Zersetzungsweise der Trinitrophenylsaure: Anal. der Chemie, vol. 110, 1859, pp. 289-303. ***** Weehuizen, F., Phenolphthalin as reagent for HCN: Pharmaceutrisch weekblad, Utrecht, vol. 42, 1905, pp. 271-2. Abstract, Jour. Chem. Soc., vol. 88, part 2, 1905, p. 489. ****** Schonbein, C. F., Ueber den thatigen Zustand der Helfte des in dem Kupfer- oxydenthaltenen Sauerstoffs und ein darauf beruhendes hochst empfindliches Reagens auf die Blausaure und die loslichen Cyanmetalle: Jour. fur. Praktische Chemie, vol. 106, 1869, pp. 263-70.

Jun 1, 1923

By W. A. Jacob, E. W. Dean

The Pittsburgh petroleum laboratory of the Bureau of lines has recently developed an improved method for the determination of water in pctroleum emulsions. It has been described in detail in an article entitled "A convenient method for the determination of water in petroloum and other organic emulsions" by E. W. Dean and D. D. Stark (Jour. Ind., and Enc. Chem. Vol. 12, ſay, 1920, page 436). It is essentially a modification of the familiar procedure of "distillation with an iniscible solvent", the improvement consisting in the use of apparatus that is rºck more convenient than any previously employed. The method has been used with marked success in the Bureau's laboratories for a period of about a year and has also been tried with equal satisfaction by a number of other laboratories. It has been most extensively employed for determining the water content of heavy fuel oils but has been applied also to several other types of emulsions, including shale oils, tars derived from coal, greases, and mixtures of powdered coal, oil and water. The Bureau has received a number of requests for information regarding commercial sources for the apparatus used, and having been assured of the value of the method, has taken steps to render it available for general use. - The equipment is, with the exception of two items, made of parts that are obtainable from the ordinary stock of chemical supply houses. The two exceptions are (1) the so-called "distilling tube receiver" and (2) the electric heater. The former is an essential part of the equipment; the latter is a convenient ac cessory but it can if necessary be roplaced by a gas burner. Efforts on the part of the Bureau staff to ronder these two items of apparatus available for purchase from supply houses, or for production by the user are hero described.

Sep 1, 1920

By Nadia C. Miller

In situ stope leaching is an innovative mining system that reduces the surface impacts of conventional underground mining. As in any leaching operation, stope leaching requires hydrologic site characterization and control of leaching solutions. Several tracer tests, using sodium chloride (NaCl) in various concentrations, were conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) in an underground experimental stope to simulate a leaching environment. The tests were conducted in fractured crystalline rock that was partially water-saturated. As tests progressed, the surrounding fractures became more saturated. A predominant flow direction away from the stope was found during testing. Testing procedures, results, and a remediation plan for in situ leaching based on field observations are presented in this report.

Jan 1, 2010

By D. K. Ingram

In situ horizontal stresses were measured to determine the influences of geologic anomalies on the regional horizontal stress field in two coal mines in southern Illinois. Stress measurements were obtained near a normal fault having a 121-ft displacement at the AMAX Wabash Mine and a large coalbed want at the Kerr-McGee Galatia No.5 Mine. Horizontal stress measurements were completed using a Bureau of Mines borehole deformation gauge. The average maximum and minimum horizontal compressional stresses at the Wabash Mine were 1,400 and 800 psi, with the direction of maximum stress ranging from N 78° W to N 83° E. At the Galatia No.5 Mine, the averages were 1,500 and 500 psi, with the direction of maximum stress ranging from N 85° E to N 75° E. Generally, the geologic anomalies appear to have no dramatic effect of the regional horizontal stresses. However, subtle differences between stress measurements suggest an influence by the fault zone at the Wabash Mine. The larger anisotropic stress conditions at the Galatia No.5 Mine could be responsible for the increase in kink zones and directional roof failures.

Jan 1, 1988

By A. W. Ambrose

A few years ago, (March 3, 1915) Congress passed a law providing for the establishments of ten mining experiment stations under the supervision of the Bureau of Mines. In 1917 the Secretary of the Interior decided that one of these stations should be devoted to Petroleum, and in the early part of 1918, approved the establishment of the Petroleum Experiment Station at Bartlesville, Oklahoma, upon the condition that the city furnish the site for the buildings and guarantee $50,000. for the erection of the buildings. A building site of 5 acres and the necessary building fund was furnished by the Bartlesville Chamber of Commerce.The buildings consist of an administration and laboratory building, both of brick construction. The former is a two-story structure of eight rooms. A large room occupying over half of the main floor is devoted to the library, reception room, and clerical force. The remaining rooms comprise a drafting room and six offices occupied by the staff assigned to this station. The laboratory is a one-story brick building and contains a well-equipped chemical and physical laboratory, also a machine shop and mechanical laboratory. In addition to the main buildings there now are on the property an experimental refinery, a blue-print house, and a store house. These latter buildings are all of sheet-iron construction.

Oct 1, 1920

By Byron M. Bird

"The prevailing practice of washing unsized coal, 1/2-inch and finer, to 1/8-inch and finer, on a table is subject to certain limitations which are commonly overlooked. In some instances good results are obtained by this method, but often the opposite is true and the efficiency of the washing operation is low. Although the separation taking place on a concentrating table is not fully understood, the actual distribution of particles of various sizes and specific gravities was determined a number of years ago by ore-dressing investigators. Hence this paper consists of an analysis of an old problem by new methods. The experimental data on which the discussion is based were obtained in the course of coal-washing investigations conducted by the U. S. Bureau of Mines at the Northwest Experiment Station in cooperation with the University of Washington and with certain coal operator: of that State.Experimental WorkThe general method of study has been to take a large number of zonal products from the table, and separate them according to specific gravity and size into their component parts. The table used is one of the standard commercial sizes with a diagonal deck. The coal to be washed is split into representative portions, which are stored in separate bins. One portion is used for ""timing as"" the table; the products are collected continuously in the same turned to the feed bin, and thus a closed circuit is completed. When the despite conditions on the table are obtained, coal is fed from one of the re. After the table is operating smoothly the entire product is minute; such a sample is sufficiently large to represent accurately the work of the table and at the same time to minimize the effect of beginning at the end next to the head motion, separate samples are made for each foot along the edge of the deck."

Jun 1, 1926

By H. D. Baylor

This is the first of a series of papers describing mining methods and costs at cement plant quarries throughout the United States and deals directly with those methods employed and costs obtained at the quarry of the Louisville Cement Co. located at Speed, Ind. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author wishes to acknowledge the assistance of Mr. J. M. Buohheit, superintendent of quarries, and Mr. H. E. Schoonover, quarry engineer, in furnishing data and in compiling this report.

Jan 1, 1930

By C. M. McCulloch

As part of the Bureau of Mines methane control program, the Pittsburgh coalbed was studied in Washington and Green Counties, Pa., and in Marion and Monongalia Counties, W. Va., where this coalbed is now being mined at its greatest depth. The coalbed thickness appeared to be structurally controlled; the bed was generally thinner near the axes of anticlines and thicker near the axes of synclines. The overburden isopach shows a similar relationship. Most of the clay veins in coal occur in the synclinal troughs, generally under sandstone roof. Cleat orientations measured in 18 underground mines showed that face cleats are perpendicular to the axial trends of the folds, and the butt cleats are parallel to the axial trends, indicating structural control of the cleat. Measurement and analysis of surface joint orientations provide a method for predicting the cleat orientations of the coalbed, but linears measured from infrared photographs and photoindex sheets helped only to determine regional trends. The results of these investigations provide a geologic framework for rational planning for underground mine development to use the best available technology to cope with methane emissions, coalbed discontinuities, and related ground support problems.

Jan 1, 1975

By D. W. Frommer

As one phase of a general problem of recovering sulfide slimes, mineral-dressing research was conducted on flotation tailing from the St. Joseph Lead Co., Bonne Terre, Mo., mill to recover a significant portion of the residual, finely divided galena. Production of a high-grade concentrate was not part of the immediate objective. Only a reasonable ratio of concentration of lead sulfide slime was sought, since the problem of upgrading by mechanical or extractive processes would be considered in the later stages of this study. The results show that, from a feed material averaging 0.20 percent lead (about 70 percent finer than 400-mesh), a recovery of up to 45 percent could be effected by flotation in rougher concentrate analyzing up to 6.5 percent Pb. These results were obtained by using larger quantities of various xanthates and sodium sulfide than used customarily in mills. Sodium sulfide, which is ordinarily detrimental to flotation of galena, was beneficial in this case.

Jan 1, 1959

By Marvin E. Lane

This paper , which describes the mining methods and practices at the Hayden Creek lead mine of St. Joseph Lead Co. in southeast Missouri , is one of a series being prepared by the Bureau of Mines on mining methods , practices , and costs in various mining districts of the United States . The Hayden Creek mine is in the W 1/2 sec . 7 , T. 36 N. , R. 4 E. , St. Francois County , Mo. , about 1 mile southwest of the town of Frankclay ( fig . 1) . The mine is on the west edge of the mining district known as the Lead Belt . However , neither the ore body nor the underground workings are connected with those of any other mine in the district . In contrast with most operations in the district , underground haulage is entirely trackless , and nearly complete delineation of the large , well -defined ore body by drilling permitted comprehensive planning of development and mining in advance of shaft sinking . The ore differs in character and occurrence from that of the main ore deposits in the Lead Belt in that the lead mineral , galena , occurs in the dolomitic matrix enclosing granite boulders instead of in dolomite limestone .

Apr 1, 1957

By W. A. Young

Bull Lake is one of several saline lakes situated a few miles north of Rawlins, Carbon County, Wyo. (figs. and 2).. The Bureau of Mines conducted preliminary investigations of sodium sulfate deposits in many of the lakes and performed detailed work on Bull Lake. This investigation consisted of drilling 11 vertical holes through salt beds using diamond core bits and Iwan-type auger bits. Bull Lake lies in a shallow, closed depression in loosely consolidated sand. The salt beds, ranging in thickness from 2.5 to 26 feet, occur above a thick bed of shale of upper Cretaceous age. The salts appear to have been deposited in the lake from surface and subsurface drainage. The source of salt is undoubtedly the enclosing sedimentary rock's exposed to the west of the basin. Sodium sulfate in the deposits probably is present as mirabilite or Glauber salt (Na2SO4-10H2O). Chief impurities in the deposits arc mud and sand. Other soluble salts present average approximately 1 percent combined. Cores from the 11 holes were analyzed in the Bureau of Mines laboratories at Salt Lake City. Drilling totaled 512 feet. Results of analyses are given in the appendix.

Jan 1, 1951

By David J. Kusler

This report describes a rapid, reliable, and relatively simple method developed by the Bureau of Mines Pyrometallurgy Laboratory at Bruceton, Pa., for determining lime (calcium oxide) and magnesia (magnesium oxide) in various materials containing these constituents in greater than trace amounts. Optionally, titania (titanium dioxide) may be determined for the same sample. The accuracy of the method, suitable for most purposes, is shown by comparing the Bureau results with those obtained by accepted procedures. The method has been applied satisfactorily to the routine analysis of blast-furnace slags, for which purpose it was primarily developed, and to other calcareous compositions. In the Pyrometallurgy Laboratory it has replaced the standard methods previously used to determine lime and magnesia, and has been in general use by that laboratory for the past several years. The analysis time, generally under 3 hours, is considerably less than required by standard methods.

Jan 1, 1960

By D. Bienstock

In connection with air-pollution studies, the Bureau of Mines is cooperating with the U.S. Public Health Service in investigating the use of solids for removing sulfur dioxide in concentrations of less than 0.5 percent from combustion and waste gases. Removal of sulfur dioxide at flue-gas tempera¬tures would no longer result in the cooling of scrubbed gas, which is inherent to liquid scrubbing processes used exclusively in industry today. Results are reported of extensive investigation, using metallic oxides as absorbents, adsorbents, and oxidation catalysts at 130° and 330° C. (temperatures at which flue gas may be treated in powerplant practice). The most active absorbents tested were the oxides of manganese, cobalt, copper, and alkalized alumina; 23 to 33 grams of sulfur dioxidn were removed by 100 grams of absorbent at 130° C., while scrubbing more than 90 percent of the sulfur dioxide from a simulated flue gas, and 19 to 61 grams of sulfur dioxide were removed at 330° C. A more detailed study is reported on absorption and regeneration, using manganese oxides and alkalized alumina. Adsorption of sulfur dioxide on activated carbons and molecular sieves at elevated temperatures is considerably less efficient than removal by absorption--a maximum of 7 to 8 grams of sulfur dioxide could be removed with 100 grams of adsorbent at 130° C. A potash-promoted vanadium pentoxide is effective in converting sulfur dioxide to trioxide; complete conversion in a simulated flue gas containing 0.35 percent sulfur dioxide was obtained at 365° C. Pilot-plant and cost studies are being made by the Bureau to determine the economic feasibility of removing on an industrial scale the sulfur dioxide present in gases in low concentrations.

Jan 1, 1961

By Oliver Bowles

"Score of the Bureau's Investigations.There has been outlined in a previous report* the results obtained regarding the adaptability of pulverized waste slate as a filler in road asphalt mixtures. As pointed out in that report the percentage of waste at slate quarries is very high, and the Bureau of Mines has undertaken the problem of discovering new and enlarged outlets for the waste material.Many products such as paper, rubber, road asphalt, floor coverings, paints, etc., require as one of their important constituents a considerable percentage of finely pulverized inert mineral matter to give ""body"", to obtain the desired consistency, or to supply the necessary wearing or other qualities demanded. Such materials are known as ""fillers"". The possibility that slate flour might be used as a filler with advantage in several products other than road asphalt led the Bureau to undertake further investigation.The Importance of Discovering Advantageous UsesIt has been found that in some products slate may be substituted for materials now in use without any marked effect on the quality of the products. A wider use of slate in such products could result only from a definite price advantage as compared with other fillers. Mile it is probable that waste slate may be placed on the market at prices which will encourage its wider use, it is evident that a waste slate utilization industry can never attain sufficient magnitude to definitely assist the slate producers unless it is demonstrated that some definite advantage in quality may be gained when slate is substituted for fillers now in use. The main purpose kept in view throughout the inquiry has been, therefore, to find advantageous uses for waste slate in order that both producer and consumer may be benefited."

Sep 1, 1921