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By Walter W. Kaufman

The braking performance of underground, rubber-tired, coal mining vehicles is evaluated. Surveys of mining equipment and braking manufacturers and underground stopping tests are discussed as they relate to this evaluation. Stopping performance recommendations are proposed.

Jan 1, 1977

By Jon C. Volkwein

Dust concentrations inside and outside enclosed cabs on several types of mining machinery were measured by the Bureau of Mines. Results indicated that properly enclosed cabs can offer significant dust protection for machine operators. Recommendations for improvements in cab technologies were discussed.

Jan 1, 1979

By Sidney Katell

This report, covering the period January 1966 through December 1966, is a continuation of a series that began with the publication of Information Circular 7516 in October 1944. It is the eighth in a series of reports prepared in cooperation with the American Association of Cost Engineers. The abstracted articles are concerned with all phases of cost engineering in the field of chemical and petroleum plants and related subjects. They are from the following sources: 1. American Association of Cost Engineers Bulletin. 2. Bureau of Mines Information Circulars. 3. Bureau of Mines Reports of Investigations. 4. Chemical Engineering.

Jan 1, 1967

By J. M. Kurtz

Ten Methane Monitoring Systems and Machine Control Circuits were examined and tested per the requirements in CFR Title 30, Parts 18 and 27, the Standard UL 913 and the document "Test Requirements For Instruments or Apparatus to be Considered for M.E.S.A. Intrinsically Safe Certification (Tentative)". The test results indicate that none of the products complied with all parts of all requirements as interpreted by Underwriters Laboratories Inc.

Jan 1, 1980

By Howard Lum, Sergio Valles, John Bednarski, Gordon Enas, Jay Arabshahi

"Water drawn from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta provides water supply to 66 percent of California’s population and supports the state’s agriculture industry. The existing through-Delta water system is outdated and unreliable with environmental risk to some fish and wildlife species. The Bay-Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) has been established to environmentally retrofit and modernize California’s water delivery system through the Delta by restoring habitats, constructing new diversion points in the north Delta and providing a means to transport water supplies under the Delta, rather than through sensitive natural channels.Under BDCP, the Delta Habitat Conservation and Conveyance Program (DHCCP) has developed several alternatives to convey water from the Sacramento River in the north to the existing pumping facilities in the south Delta through an isolated conveyance system. The new conveyance system would become an integral part of the State Water Project (SWP) and the federal Central Valley Project (CVP) by transporting water to the export pumping plants for each of these projects. The DHCCP is managed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), while state and federal water contractors provide technical support to the program.The initial conceptual study efforts on the overall program commenced in 2007 and examined various options for the proposed conveyance system. Several conveyance alternatives were analyzed at that time. The Conceptual Engineering Report published on Oct. 1, 2013 identified the modified pipeline/tunnel option (MPTO) as the preferred alternative to be included in the BDCP environmental documents. MPTO includes three river intakes and pump stations along the Sacramento River, various sizes of pipelines and tunnels, junction structures and two forebays that are capable of delivering up to 4 million gpm (9,000 cfs) from the Sacramento River to the SWP and CVP. The river intakes are located near Hood in Sacramento County approximately 64 km (40 miles) from Clifton Court Forebay (CCF) in Contra Costa County. This route would cross portions of Sacramento, San Joaquin and Contra Costa counties. Figure 1 depicts the configuration of the MPTO alternative."

Apr 1, 2016

By R. R. Sayers

The hazards connected with work under abnormal air conditions are becoming of increasing importance from a financial as well as a physiological stand- point, due to the extension of compensation laws to include diseases caused by dusts, toxic gases, and abnormal temperatures and humidities. The United States, with the excention of California, North Dakota, Wiscon- sin, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, is the only English-speaking country to-day where silicosis is not compensated.3 Cases of permenent total disability or death due to silicosis mar aprear in common-law courts, particularly in the States that have not recognized silicosis as an occupational disease for which compensation should be provided. Such cases have recently been tried in one State, according to a magazine editorial, not providing scheduled commensation for employees affected by silicosis, with results favorable to the claimant. Clearly established cases definitely linked with occupation as the cause may be expected to be recognized as deserving by juries and courts, and awards will be made. In one Atlantic Coast State, according to this editorial, 108 claims for silicosis, including 21 deaths therefrom, are said to have been filed against two small plants engaged in finely pulverizing quartz sand.

Sep 1, 1932

By S. F. Mauser

This report describes the study of factors which affect medium voltage (661 - 1000 volts) trailing cable splices used in underground coal mines. Improvements in quality, dependability, and design of splice kits and shop splices are presented in the study results and recommended guidelines and regulations. Recommended research programs are included which describe approaches for development of the recommended guidelines and regulations for medium voltage trailing cable splices. The basis for the conclusions and recommendations presented in this report is included in three appendices which describe a survey, splice examination, and general requirements development prepared during the progress of this study.

Jan 1, 1977

By J. E. Amadi-Echendu, F. Stober, J. Ndlovu, L. R. Nelson

The Polokwane Smelter Complex (PSC) relies on a single 68MW high-intensity six-in-line furnace to smelt a planned 650 000 t/a dry concentrate to produce a platinum group metals (PGM)-bearing matte. As typical of a greenfields venture, considerable attention was paid to the project development and implementation stages of design, engineering, construction and commissioning. Somewhat unusual though, was the role of a dedicated multi-disciplinary "Operational Readiness" and support team, comprising the owners team and specialists from the furnace designer, HATCH, to effect a safe and rapid ramp-up to the design smelter capacity of 68MW. The challenges encountered in developing an effective partnership will be discussed. The modus operandi and roles of the "Operational Readiness" team during the design, procurement, construction and commissioning stages as well as that of the operational support team within the overall ramp-up objective will be presented. The "Operational Readiness" team was responsible for:

Jan 1, 2005

By Scott G. Britton

Mine exploitation is a broad subject whose focus is the technical skills or efforts needed for the extraction of mineral from a known ore body. Mine exploitation can be considered the very core of the mining engineering discipline. It begins at the conclusion of the exploration and development stages of mining and ends when the ore body is exhausted and the mine (or mines)closes and is reclaimed. Section 8 on mine exploitation is comprised of seven chapters: (1) classification of mining methods, (2) mine surveying and mapping, 3) systems engineering, (4) computer methods, (5) labor relations and training, (6) management and administration, and (7) mine closure, sealing, and abandonment. Each chapter focuses its efforts towards providing detailed and useful information for the engineer on basic mine exploitation principles. The information can be applied to a broad range of mining problems without regard to mineral type or mining method.

Jan 1, 2008

This specification, along with the drawings, encompasses all designs, materials, products, accessories, tools, equipment, services, transportation, labor and supervision, installation techniques, and testing procedures required for the installation of soil nail excavation support or earth retention systems. This is a Guide Specification designed to assist in the development of project specifications for soil nail excavation support and earth retention systems. This Model Specification is based on generally accepted industry standards but may require modification by the specification writer to accommodate unusual and/or unforeseen site and subsurface conditions and the particular circumstances of the project. Care must be taken to avoid internal inconsistencies. It contains language allowing for a Contractor-Designed Soil Nail Wall, which would be removed if the design is provided by the Owner (e.g. See Sections 1.2 and 4.1).

Jan 1, 2010

By Lorraine B. Burgin

This study by the Bureau of Mines documents the leadtime required for preliminary and detailed exploration, development of the mine, and construction of beneficiation and support facilities for selected copper deposits in Arizona. The time for major exploration ranged from 1 to 15 years, time for open pit development (or construction) was 1 to 4 years, and time for under- ground development was 4 to 8 years; one underground mine presently being developed may require 12 years to achieve production. Construction of the beneficiation plants required 8 months to just over 2 years. The data are supported by historical facts for each deposit during the leadtime stages from location of claims through exploration, construction, expansion, and leaching. The sequence of development and factors contributing to differences in the time spans are discussed. Histories are detailed for the Miami, Castle Dome, Copper Cities, San Manuel-Kalamazoo, and Twin Buttes properties; briefly summarized are the Pinto Valley, Miami East, Esperanza-Sierrita, Pima, and Mineral Park Properties. Each mining operation had its own pattern of development, and together they present a source of planning information for the development of other properties.

Jan 1, 1976

By D J. Brake

The importance of mine ventilation to health and safety in both coal and metalliferous mines has been long recognised. The primary and secondary ventilation systems in most metalliferous mines incur 50 per cent or more of the total mine electrical power consumption and frequently about 10 per cent of total underground mine operating costs. The requirements for ventilation-related horizontal and vertical development, fans and cooling have a significant impact on mine capital costs and also on mine schedules and start-up times and hence cash flows. There are increasing pressures on regulators and miners to reduce airborne contaminants such as diesel particulatematter, nitrogen dioxide and heat (wet bulb temperatures), and significant pressures to reducegreenhouse gases such as fugitive methane emissions from coalmines and the carbon dioxide footprint of both coal and metalliferous mines. Many previously Australian miners are now globaloperators and have extensive overseas mining operations where local ventilation standards and expertise may not be consistent with Australian practices. The role of the site ventilation officer is also changing with strict new requirements for the statutory position being introduced into Queensland metalliferous mines and the potential for this to become more widespread. Recent regulator and parliamentary review committees have identified systematic shortcomings in mine ventilation compliance, and statutory certificates in both Queensland and NSW now require continuing professional development to maintain currency. Public and investor support for mining are also increasingly contingent on safe, healthy and environmentally responsible practices and the standards for these are frequently tightening. Good ventilation design and operating practices that are consistently well executed therefore contribute significantly not only to a safe and healthy mine but also to a productive and cost-effective operation and the ongoing social licence to operate. There are a variety of ways of providing technical design and oversight into a mine’s ventilation systems; this paper explores some current trends in ventilation standards and statutory requirements, as well as ways to support and develop mine ventilation staff for both domestic and international operations and also the emerging senior technical roles of Group/Principal/Corporate mine ventilation engineer.

Oct 12, 2022

By A. L. Moore

KAISER Bauxite Co., a subsidiary of Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., has been mining and shipping Jamaican bauxite for over a year. On Feb. 10, 1953 the first boat load of bauxite left Port Kaiser, Jamaica, for the company's alumina plant at Baton Rouge, La. To provide its own source of the aluminum ore, a Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. exploration party started initial reconnaissance in 1947. This work, and subsequent exploration, led to the acquisition of reserves sufficient to warrant a full-scale mining operation for several decades.

Jan 3, 1954

By P C. Miclea

Transportation networks extend every day around the world, requiring safe and well-maintained structures for efficiency and for users’ safety. Due to specific features of the infrastructure, such as longer tunnels, increased traffic and marginal safety rules, fire safety in rail and road tunnels becomes more challenging.The situation becomes more critical due to the global economy and increasing worldwide tourism, with multi-national companies often involved in both design and construction of transportation routes or systems in other countries. Tourism brings the risk of visitors becoming victims in a foreign land; thus, international law becomes more and more applicable to transportation projects all over the world, requiring a consistent approach to safety (UN Economic and Social Council, 2001; US DOT Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) 2006; US Transportation Research Board, Committee on the Role of Public Transportation in Emergency Evacuation, 2008; UK Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, 1997).There are significant differences between rail and road tunnels, both in their functionality and safety requirements. Most tunnels over a certain length are equipped with emergency ventilation systems capable to control the spread of smoke by creating an air stream in the desired direction. Besides ventilation, fire-life safety (FLS) includes smoke and heat detection by linear or spot detectors, closed-circuit television (CCTV) and public address systems with prerecorded announcements, as well as evacuation signage and monitoring capabilities (Vägverket – Swedish National Road Administration, 2004).There isn’t a consistent, worldwide approach to the design of emergency ventilation systems for tunnels, with significant differences from continent to continent (US DOT Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), 2004, US Federal Transit Administration, Transportation Research Board, 2006). In North America US NFPA 130 and 502 standards for rail and road tunnels, respectively, represent the main criteria, however, they are continually revised and new versions issued every three years. For road tunnels the World Road Association PIARC issues guidelines, but they are not truly enforceable. There are no similar international guidelines for rail tunnels, except general recommendations by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) (IAPT, 2003).In Europe the Directive #54/EC adopted by European Community Parliament in 2004 requires a minimum level of safety for road tunnels users in all existing and proposed tunnels in the Trans-European road network that are greater than 500 m in length. Authorities having jurisdiction in many other individual countries, such as Australia, Austria, Germany, Japan and others, enforce specific safety regulations (Miclea et al, 2007). While it is impossible to summarise all aspects of this topic in a short paper, a review of the design approach, the existing differences in safety requirements, as well as applicable design solutions to meet safety codes for both rail and road tunnels are discussed below.

Mar 8, 2011

By John Ramsay, Frederick A. Edwards, J. Eric Belford, Clarence V. Amyotte

"DEVELOPMENT of the underground mine is carried out from a main ramp driven from surface to the 800 and 1200 levels and from a shaft sunk to 3050 ft. Sub-levels at approximately 100-ft vertical intervals, starting 300 ft above the 800 level, were collared from the ramp as it advanced and a considerable amount of development work was pursued. The lateral and ramp work provided an opportunity to train drift crews, test equipment and methods, assess ground conditions and advance the initial stope development. The development of an exhaust ventilation raise system closely followed the extension of the level development to the south end of the orebody (Fig. 26) . On completion of the shaft, temporary lip pockets were installed at the shaft stations on the 800, 12.00, 1600, 2000 and 2400 levels. The permanent loading pocket had been installed on the 2860 level as part of the shaft-sinking contract and the level had been connected to the 2800-level station by a small muck transfer raise. Development of the 2800-level area was given top priority at this stage. This included a 1000-ft cross-cut to the crusher location, the crusher excavation, storage bins, conveyor ways and a ramp to connect the 2800 level to the loading pocket, the rope changing station and the shaft sump. The development and installation of the rock handling system between the 2400 level and the shaft bottom was contracted to Macisaac Mining and Tunnelling Company, of Sudbury, Ontario."

Jan 1, 1974

By A. Brown

This report details work performed and results obtained in a study of the water management aspects of oil shale mining and retorting in the Piceance Creek Basin. Three specific sites were investigated, and optimal water management systems for both conventional and in-situ extraction processes were generated. Water-related legal and environmental constraints on development were identified and the water management schemes were developed in compliance with these regulations. Limitations on shale oil production implied by limited water supplies were evaluated. Potential Basin-wide effects of development were evaluated using a computer model, and mitigation strategies were developed. Recommendations for additional investigation and analyses were presented.

Jan 1, 1977

The Environmental Session will consist of five papers dealing with various aspects of trace elements associated with coal. Analytical procedures to determine the amounts of trace elements will be discussed. Other papers will deal with trace elements in streams downstream from coal mines, potential pollution from wastes from coal preparation plants, potential recovery of trace elements, and potential pollution from trace elements as a result of the combustion of coal.

Jan 1, 1979

1. Domestic Production and Use: In 1977, 12 companies operated 31 primary aluminum reduction plants, with 3 firms accounting for 65% of production capacity. Washington, Oregon, and Montana accounted for 31% of the total capacity; Gulf Coast States 23%, Northern States 26%, and other Southern States 20%. Based on estimated producer prices output of primary metal in 1977 Has valued at $4.6 billion. Aluminum consumption by 25,000 firms was centered 'in the East Central United States. Of aluminum consuming industries in 1977, building accounted for about 25%; packaging 22%; transportation 21%; electrical 11%; consumer durables 9%; and other uses, 12%.

Jan 1, 1978

By R. J. Hundermark, K. van der Merwe, L. R. Nelson

Taphole integrity is critical to all furnaces, but it is especially important in high intensity electric furnaces processing matte and metal of high superheat. Key furnace dimensions are the electrode proximity to the taphole, hearth sump below the taphole and the shape and location of the taphole in the furnace wall (e.g., circular versus rectangular furnace). In addition, electric furnace power density needs to be matched appropriately to any configuration to achieve operational reliability and furnace integrity. The role of furnace dimensioning is generically reviewed across many pyrometallurgical processes to explore potential impact on furnace taphole performance. Some empirical furnace dimensions and power density ratios of industrial furnaces are then compared to explore to what extent they may indeed influence taphole integrity.

Jan 1, 2015

The 1965 Lignite Symposium, the fourth in a series and the third sponsored by the University of North Dakota and the Bureau of Mines, was held at Bismarck, N. Dak., on April 29-30, 1963. Them 7 symposia provide a forum for those interested in the technology and utilization of solid fuels, especially lignitic coals. As part of the meeting, a 200-mile field trip was taken including inspection of (1) the 200-megawatt, pulverized Lignite-fired Leland Olds plant of Basin Electric Power Cooperative, under construction near Stanton, N. Dak.; (2) the site of the Glenharold mine of the. Truax-Traer Goal Co., Division of Consolidation Coal Co., where a wheel excavator was being assembled; (3) the operating Beulah mine of Knife River Coal Mining Co., subsidiary of Montana-Dakota Utilities Co., near Beulah, N. Dak.; and (4) the 400-megawatt, hydro-electric Garrison Dam powerplant, near Garrison, N. Dak.

Jan 1, 1966