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By Kenneth R. Maser

This report describes a research and development program sponsored by the United State s Bureau of Mines. The purpose of the program was to develop reusable explosion-proof bulkheads for a cross-cut emergency shelter, and to study the implementation of such bulk-heads, and the resulting shelters, as part of an emergency escape plan in a normal coal mining environment. The first part of this report reveals a number of significant conclusions regarding the application of emergency shelters. A study of the cause s of, and the conditions prevailing during a mine emergency indicate s that ideal placement of the shelter s would be midway along developing entries, and at the inter section of butt and main entries. The proper spacing of shelters is based on the travel capability of trapped miners, which is in turn dependent on the height of coal. The life of a given emergency shelter, based on an analysis of the above information, will be anywhere from 6 months to 10 years. Consequently, some shelters are regarded as "temporary?, while others "permanent?.

Jan 1, 1975

By William Gleason

"It is the largest mining exhibition in the world that attracts thousands of attendees from around the world to Las Vegas, NV once every four years. Despite the recent struggles in the mining industry, MINExpo International 2016 promises to be as big as ever. In the following pages, Mining Engineering takes a look what some of the more than 1,800 companies plan to showcase during the three-day exhibition.CaterpillarCaterpillar will support MINExpo 2016 with an exhibit showcasing machines, technology, expertise and practical knowledge that miners can apply to help address their cost, productivity and efficiency challenges in today’s mining environment.Caterpillar will once again occupy the largest space at the event and will showcase both surface and underground machines, but the talk at the booth will focus on how Cat technology and know-how combines to help mining operations address and solve the issues that are most important to them. The main stage in the exhibit will feature presentations describing how mining companies, Cat dealers and Caterpillar work together to improve operations.“The challenge for all in the mining industry now is to optimize operations — to drive costs down while creating sustainable businesses that can weather downturns,” said Caterpillar Resource Industries group president Denise Johnson. “We believe that through our expertise and the knowledge of our dealers —combined with innovative technologies and our growing data analysis capabilities — we can help them not only survive, but thrive in these challenging times.” Johnson was selected by the National Mining Association (NMA) to chair MINExpo 2016. “Chairing this show is a great honor, and it’s a testament to Caterpillar’s partnership with this critical industry,” she said. “We’re proud to be a long-time supporter of the NMA, and we are excited to participate in another MINExpo. It’s an opportunity for us all to learn from each other how to increase productivity, control costs and improve overall operations.”Surface mining displays. The surface mining section of the Caterpillar exhibit will showcase the new MD6420C rotary drill. This is autonomy ready and optionally equipped to leverage the safety and productivity benefits of Cat MineStar Terrain. This high-precision drill management system optimizes utilization and improves drilling and blasting operations by accurately guiding the operator and improving precision of hole placement and drilling depth — and the next step is fully autonomous operation, Command for drilling. The third-generation drill incorporates proven Cat components throughout for superior reliability and durability."

Sep 1, 2016

By R. A. Cattell

The Bureau of Mines actively conducted a well-coordinated research pro- gram during the past fiscal year on problems dealing with the production of oil and gas, transportation of natural gas, chemistry and refining of petrole- um, thermodynamic properties of hydrocarbons, and the processing and utiliza- tion of incombustible helium gas. These particular reserach phases, compris- ing the presently scheduled activities, are integral parts of a broad program selected soon after the war as suitable for Bureau of Mines study, to meet immediate needs for specific information on petroleum and natural-gas problems of national scope. Important progress was made and many technical reports were finished during the year. Several reports were published on gas-condensate production problems, one giving the results of laboratory tests of relative merits of various steels and alloys for rosisting the corrosion that occurs in high-pressure gas- condensate wells. Research was continued, using the Bureau's windowed cell, to determine the characteristics of gas-condensate fluids, and an important paper on the phase relations of these fluids at low temperatures was published. An important part of the Bureau of Mines petroleum production research program for many yoars has been the engineering study of type oil fields. This year reports waro completed on the Lake Creek, Sheridan, and West Rod River fields, Tex.; the Atlanta field, Ark.; and the Bogge field, W.V. Othor fields under study and for which reports will be issued are the Carthage and Now Hope fields, Tex., and the Weber pool, Okla. Spocial studios to determine the characteristics of the oil-gas solutions as they exist within the native reservoir rocks have been in progress in the North Lindsay field, Okla.; the Elk Basin field, Wyo. and Mont.; and the Rangely field, Colo. The North Lindsay study brought to light several un- usual physical proporties of the oil as it is found in this deep-seated reservoir. For instance, its viscosity is less than that of water, and more than 2 barrels of the initial reservoir oil must be produced to yield 1 barrel of "stock-tank oil." In the Elk Basin and Rangoly fields the oil-gas solution varies in composition within the reservoir, depending upon structural location. Engineering studies were continued on woll spacing and on drilling fluids with special emphasis on obtaining uncontaminated cores, or coros for which the flushing action of the drilling fluid can be dotormined accurately. In connection with research on production of oil by secondary recovery methods, progress was made in studies of conditioning water for subsurface injoction, of input ratos and pressures for water-flooding oil sands, and of the selective plugging the more permeable mediurs to prevent or retard channel- ing of the injected fluid. The availability of fuels for all types of internal-combustion engines still is tho primary resoarch project in potroleum chomistry and refining. This rosearch program is subdivided into a sorios of problems under four main topics: (1) Raw-material studios; (2) relationships of fuel consumption, proporties, and performanco; (3) utilization of potroleum products; and (4) analytical mothods, which include chomical and physical property detorminations.

Dec 1, 1949

By G. Bonin, A. Jamal, G. Preciado, S. Gillis

"Accurate, easy to obtain, and reliable methods of measurement are the cornerstone of shaft and tunnel developments - during their sinking, operation and maintenance, or in some cases, remediation. This paper presents a new methodology to capture existing shaft conditions in such a manner that they can be transferred from the field to a digital copy, where they can be stored and used for engineering design purposes in a space not directly affected by the costs associated with schedule and equipment performance. The methodology utilizes basic principles of excavation alignment (plumb lines and survey instruments) while adding modern LiDAR, geolocation and survey control tools that can more completely capture the surrounding environment. The complete cycle of collection, processing, and delivery of pertinent information underground can take under an hour. During sinking, capturing data as a live stream measurement and being able to assess the alignment of the shaft liner can be critical to meeting rigid design tolerances. As sinking progresses, small changes in alignment or liner deviations can be captured and immediately corrected. Likewise, post-construction as-built conditions can be recorded and digitized, which will allow the mine personnel to compare the proper working condition to the actual condition years later. Observed changes can be identified and planned as future shaft repair works. This methodology has been developed and successfully deployed during the on-going sinking works of the two shafts at the Jansen Potash Project in south-central Saskatchewan and is described in greater detail in this paper.INTRODUCTION Light Detection and Ranging (or LiDAR) scans of the BHP Jansen Production and Service shafts during construction identified sections of both shafts where the internal radius of the temporary primary liner was insufficient to accommodate the tolerances of the permanent liner that was to be installed inside the temporary liner. These locations are referred to as “tights”. The “Tights Removal Program” was designed to collect high resolution point clouds of the shaft, using stringent survey control, that could be compared to the design profile to generate a heat map of locations for removal of up to 75 mm of steel-fiber-reinforced, 70 MPa concrete liner. This work was all on critical path, which made it valuable to save time on the schedule. Because concrete removal was a time-intensive task, it was essential to locate and remove only the concrete that would encroach on the planned permanent liner, while attempting to maximize the amount of cutting time. Removal was carried by a road header attached to a Brokk(R) 160, a small multi-attachment demolition machine."

Jan 1, 2019

By IPMI Educational and Scientific Foundation

It is with great pleasure that we announce the availability of this fourth issue of the IPMI Journal, a publication of the International Precious Metals Educational and Scientific Foundation. This digital peer reviewed publication has been created as a vehicle for the sharing of technical information related to the science and technology of precious metals. Since 1976, the International Precious Metals Institute has championed the exchange of information of critical importance to the precious metals scientific and commercial communities through its various communications vehicles. This has included instructional videos, annual conference symposia, special topic committee meetings, regional seminars, and professional and student achievement awards. Due to the breadth of important topics related to all aspects of precious metals, it has been the vision of the IPMI to provide a publication available to the general public that would become a key source of pertinent topics containing high quality publications by experts in their fields of study. Historically, the IPMI has attracted world renowned experts in many fields (including Nobel Laureates Henry Taube, Ei-ishi Negishi, Robert Grubs, Professor Ben Feringa, and David MacMillan) in the dissemination of discoveries, inventions, and industry proven practices. Such information has a total value greater than the sum of its parts as seemingly unrelated innovations from distinct focus areas can be adapted to solve problems. Because of this important characteristic of information exchange, we have decided to create a digital journal, available to the general public, that will not only communicate state of the art discoveries and sound practices, but will also review historical communications from the IPMI’s archives that have value and use even in today’s environment. On behalf of the members and leaders of the IPMI, we hope you will find value in this new publication.

Dec 1, 2022

Mine waste and mine reclamation are topics of major interest to the mining industry, the government and the general public. This publication and its companion volume are the proceedings of a conference held in Pittsburgh, April 19-21, 1988. There were nine sessions (50 papers) that dealt with the geochemistry, hydrology and problems of mine waste and mine water, especially acid mine drainage. These comprise Volume 1. The nine sessions (43 papers) that dealt with reclamation and restoration of disturbed lands, as well as related policy issues, are included in volume 2. Volume 2 also contains the ten papers that pertained to control of subsidence and mine fires at abandoned mines. Poster session presentations are, in general, represented by abstracts; these have been placed in the back of both volumes.

Jan 1, 1988

Welina mai to the 40th Underwater Mining Institute, UMI 2011 - Marine Minerals: Recent Innovations in Technology. Since the first conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1970, the UMI Founder Professor Robby Moore always insisted on actively seeking the participation of industry, academia, and government. History has proven the wisdom of this approach, which is probably the key to its survival for so many years. The UMI is very much influenced by the cyclical pressures of the minerals commodity markets. When minerals demand and prices are rising rapidly, industrial participation in the Institute dominates the agenda, and participants share optimistic and aggressive views of the commercial prospects of the day. When metals prices are falling and world economies lethargic, academic experts continue to provide guidance and breakthroughs in the concepts and practices of exploration, technology, and environmental protection. Throughout the ups and downs, government participants provide a stabilizing force with conservative and environmentally sensitive policy statements, patient development efforts with long-term objectives, authoritative resource assessments and, sometimes, much needed regulatory clarity.

Jan 1, 2011

By The Staff

THE gold mining industry in Canada is today the most important stabilizing influence in the country. This factor was brought out particularly during the 'depression' years, when steady employment was given to men in that industry and the monies spent in supplies and power in turn benefited the country to a great extent. At the same time, a commodity was produced which was saleable in any market of the world, thus maintaining Canada's credit in foreign markets and keeping her trade balances equalized. We have a vast area known as the Precambrian Shield. The agricultural possibilities of this area are practically negligible and it will depend entirely upon the mineral and forest resources to make this district an economic factor in the life of Canada. To date, from the mineral point of view, we have been highly successful. There are, however, still vast areas to be explored. It is tedious and laborious work, entailing great individual hard-ships and the expenditure of much energy and money. During my thirty years' experience in the search for, and operating of, gold mines, I have come to the conclusion that although individuals may give all their time, energy, and money, Governmental assistance is absolutely necessary in the development of hydro-electric power sites and roads. The Governments, to date, have given splendid co-operation along these lines, but in order that this great industry may go ahead they should continue their good work and, if possible, give greater relief from taxation to mines situated at a considerable distance from the railway.

Jan 1, 1938

By J. A. Ehler

Speed and torque control of standard A.C. induction motors can be accomplished using a variety of devices ranging from mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical. Also, the motor can be specified as an A.C. wound rotor or D.C. motor using the associated controls. Normally, any one of these drive types can be adequately used to provide the torque control necessary to accelerate a conveyor belt system. The selection will depend on the economics, experience, and preference of the designer or end user. These drive types will be presented from a functional and performance viewpoint to assist in the understanding of the available technology.

Jan 1, 1998

By R. Boom

Corus Umuiden, formerly Hoogovens, was the first steel plant in Europe after Voest to introduce oxygen steelmaking. In the decision-making process contacts with Dofasco in Canada about the production of formability steel grades were crucial. In developing oxygen (LD-) steelmaking high liquid steel output rates had to be combined with accurate process control. For ingot casting static models with input control and sampling during interrupted blowing were sufficient to deliver liquid steel within the required carbon, phosphorus, sulphur and temperature windows. Computers were introduced to perform the complicated charge calculations. Continuous casting called for strict control of composition and temperature at process end point and made predictable timing crucial. Dynamic control was introduced based upon sub lance measurements and waste gas analysis. Reliable disposable measurement sensors were developed in a concerted international action. Dissolved oxygen at blow end deteriorated the quality of low carbon aluminium killed steel grades. Blowing gases through the converter bottom improved process kinetics, resulting in lower carbon-oxygen products, yield increase and better phosphorus removal and generated new families of hybrid blowing processes. Introduction of secondary metallurgy facilities such as argon stirring stations, vacuum degassers and ladle furnaces relieved the demands for strict BOF end point control. Desulphurisation of hot metal became standard practice. In regions with scrap shortage hot metal desiliconisation followed by dephosphorisation, was introduced in the blast furnace cast house and hot metal transfer ladles. Later redundant converter vessels were used for pre-treatment, resulting in a two-stage process. The fundamentals of oxygen steelmaking are described and a vision on the future is presented.

Jan 1, 2004

By Jeffrey S. Newman

This report establishes a methodology for the evaluation of gas detection devices and is the result of a critical investigation into the basic principles defining gas detector performance. A scheme is presented to evaluate the performance of a test sample of gas detectors based on the detector type and intended application. Test procedures, worksheets, test apparatus, glossary and statistical methods for handling test data arc given. In addition, evaluation standards and test parameters are identified. It is intended that this report serve as a comprehensive framework for the eventual certification of all gas detectors for mine applications. A plan is proposed and recommended for the quantification and implementation of evaluation standards for gas detection device certification.

Jan 1, 1980

Several primary ingot producers have introduced price changes for July. Howmet Aluminum Corp., Revere Copper and Brass, Inc. and the Anaconda Co, will increase late-July prices of 99.5 percent unalloyed aluminum ingot by 3 cents to 56 cents per pound, Prior to this, Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp. had advanced June ingot values by 4 cents to 57 cents and Consolidated Aluminum Corp., 4.5 cents to 57.5 cents. Domestic merchants held June quotes at a range nearing 50-50.8 cents per pound. ANTIMONY Although NL Industries, since April of this year, stopped publishing prices for RMM and Lone Star antimony grade, values of domestically-refined antimony in alloy are being made available to industry, The current price of this material is $1.75 per pound of antimony contained in alloy, New York dealer-marketed metal was available in June at $1 -13-$1 .20 per pound. Important industrial uses of antimony are for flame retardants, storage batteries, chemicals, pigments, rubber, plastics, glass, ceramics and machinery.

Jan 1, 1978

By Gregory J. Chekan

This Bureau of Mines report presents three methods for designing bulkheads to impound water underground: (1) thin and thick plate design; (2) South African plug design; and (3) single and double bulkhead seal design. Related areas critical to the long-term effectiveness of underground water impoundments are also addressed. These include bulk-head anchorage, concrete specifications and placement, the grouting of permeable strata, and the sizing of barrier pillars. A case study involving hydrostatic tests conducted on a single bulkhead seal constructed in the Safety Research Coal Mine of the Bureau's Pittsburgh Research Center is presented in an appendix.

Jan 1, 1985

By J. W. Thompson

AN ACT prescribing the mode of maintaining and defending possessory actions on lands belonging to the United States. The People, etc. SEC. 1. Any person now occupying and settled upon, or who may hereafter occupy and settle upon any of the public lands belonging to the United States, unoccupied, except upon lands containing mines of any of the precious metals, may commence and maintain any action for interference with, or injuries done to his possession of said land, against any person or persons so interfering with or injuring such land or such possession. SEC. 2. On the trial of any such cause, the possession or possessory right of the plaintiff shall be considered as extending to the boundaries embraced by the claim of such plaintiff, so as to enable him to have and maintain any action as aforesaid, without being compelled to prove an actual inclosure; provided, that such "claim" shall not exceed in any case one hundred and sixty acres of land. SEC. 3. Every such claim, to entitle the holder to maintain any action as aforesaid, shall be marked out, so that the boundaries thereof may be readily traced, and the extent of such "claim" easily known, and no person shall be entitled to maintain any such action for possession of, or injury to, any claim, unless he occupy the same, or shall have made improvements thereon to the value of $100. SEC. 4. A neglect to occupy or cultivate such "claim," for the period of three months, shall be considered such an abandonment as to preclude the claimant from maintaining any action as hereinbefore mentioned. Sec. 5. Any person or persons claiming the right of possession to land under this act shall have the right to defend said possession and the claim thereto, and all the rights and privileges given them by this act.

Jan 1, 1918

By HARRINCTON EMERSON

UNEMPLOYMENT is the most ominous shadow ahead of the industrial nations today. Only two great industrial countries are free from unemployment, France and the Soviet Commonwealth. In France the social unit is the family, not the individual. This has saved France. In the Soviet Commonwealth, development is proceeding so rapidly from agricultural to industrial that there is still a dearth of muscle workers in the non-agricultural enterprises. In the other industrial countries unemployment results both from acute temporary recession in industrial activities and from the rapidly increasing substitution of the machine for the man. Temporary recessions can be mitigated, alleviated by makeshifts, often ill considered. Secular recessions due to a fundamental change in the way of accomplishing physical, chemical results cannot be cured by any makeshift. There must be a period of transition. There is therefore before us the three- fold problem, immediate, prosimate and ultimate.

Jan 1, 1930

By Michael F. Dunn

Since crushing of rock to a smaller size is an integral part of almost any mining and quarrying operation, a study was carried out to identify and develop improved techniques for alleviating a major cause of accidents and work stoppages arising when an oversize luck or boulder lodges in the throat of the crusher. The configurations and operations of various crusher types is described, sources of boulders in the mining operation, and a detailed review is made of mining, quarrying, and construction regulations for all states, Canada, and the Federal Government for applicable provisions. Representative mines were visited and other operations contacted for their boulder handling techniques where it was found that blasting techniques used included mudcapping, bombs, and blockholing, often done very crudely and inefficiently with poor practices and various mechanical systems were used such is hooks of, overhead cranes, impact hammers, and grapplers. Safety analyses of all methods pointed out the hazards associated with blasting in the open and the dangers of entering a crusher. Boulder blasting can be done in a safer fashion if a planned step-by-step procedure is followed, and inherently safer blasting products such as exploding bridge wire blasting caps and improved blockholing techniques. In general, though, the installation of a suitable mechanical system such as an impact breaker will prove safer and cost effective even in a smaller mine or quarry.

Jan 1, 1981

By L. C. IlsLey, H. H. Clark

In various publications relating to safety in mining the Bureau of Mines has called attention to the hazards attending the use of openBame lamps. An open-flame lamp is a potential source of danger in any coal mine. It may start a fire in a dry mine or an explosion in a gaseous mine. The type of open-flame oil lamp now used in mines is the product of long evolution; its principal merit is simplicity. That such a light is unsafe in an atmosphere containing gas (methane) is evident, and Sir Humphrey Davy immeasurably increased safety in coal mines when he found means of protecting a lamp flame so that it would not readily ignite gas. The safety lamp, however, gives less light than the open-flame lamp, is not as simple in construction, is more cumbersome, and must De carried in the hand .. Consequently, some miners are reluctant to abandon the open-flame lamp for the safety lamp, and risk their own lives and the lives of their fellow workers with the one rather than to be hampered by the other. When small electric bulbs, with their clear, white light, and small electric storage batteries became available, the advantage of combining these elements for a miner's lamp seemed manifest. The combination looked simple and safe, but was soon found to have elements of danger and weakness peculiar to itself. The Bureau of Mines showed, in 1911, that the breaking of a miniature electric bulb in an inflammable mixture of gas and air might ignite the mixture, so that only the fragile glass of the lamp bulb might stand between the miner and injury or death. There Was also a possibility that sparks from the small battery would ignite gas, and the accidental spilling of the contents of a battery on the miner's clothing or skin was a possible source of injury. The first portable electric miner's lamps that were carried in the hand, or with the battery strapped to the back and the light carried on the head, were exceedingly crude and were designed without appreciation of the sources of danger. The possibility, however, of producing a safe and practical miner's lamp by the proper combination and design of the elements available promised to increase safety so greatly that the Bureau of Mines attemr>ted to stimulate better design and construction by careful investigations and the establishment of an approval system that would be an assurance to the miner and an advantage to the maker of the lamp. As a result various manufacturers submitted types of lamps, cords, and bulbs for test and cooperated with the bureau in efforts to so improve the safety features of these devices that the lamps would P&$ specific tests for approval.

Jan 1, 1917

By Jr. Denton

This U.S. Bureau of Mines report presents the documentation for HEAPREC, a methodology for calculating reclamation performance bonds for cyanide heap leach operations. HEAPREC is a template developed for use with Lotus 1-2-33 release 2.01 or newer software. The report is presented in step-by-step "user's manual" format. Appendices contain detailed background and reference material on performance bonding, cyanide detoxification regulation, cyanide detoxification methods, general mine reclamation procedures, and an example bond calculation.

Jan 1, 1992

By R. S. Nutter

The results of designing, constructing, and laboratory testing of a modular, distributed, microprocessor-based mine monitoring and control system are presented. A standard computer communications protocol (DDCMP) was utilized throughout the system. Tests were performed on the utilization of a high-level language for programming mine monitoring and control systems. Laboratory tests were run on a combined air velocity/methane sensor.

Jan 1, 1980

By Joan K. Kuenzi

This Information Circular brings together for consideration recommendations from U.S. Bureau of Mines research in the area of surface mine mobile equipment maintenance for the period 1982 through 1991. It updates the 1982 contract report by Baker and Alves that formed the basis for much of the work described in the present report. Recommendations for hazard abatement during work on mobile one equipment are presented and stem from the results and recommendations of the research in two areas: (1) equipment and workplace hazard reduction, and (2) management of maintenance information. Recommendations included in this report apply to both the operators and maintainers of mobile mining equipment as well as to the manufacturers of that equipment.

Jan 1, 1995