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By T. J. Rohrbacher

This report presents a U.S. Bureau of Mines methodology developed to incorporate factors of coal production (mining and cleaning methods, recoveries, economics, etc.) into the definition of recover-ability of a coal resource. Project procedures and computer models that were developed to include mine and preparation plant production rates, recoveries, and costs are explained. The results of these procedures and models are reviewed and compared to the Energy Information Administration estimate of U.S. coal resources-the "demonstrated reserve base." The Matewan 7-1/2-minute quadrangle in eastern Kentucky was selected to demonstrate the methodology.

Jan 1, 1993

By L. Stein

A simplified radiochemical method has been developed for quantitatively analyzing; radon gas in underground uranium mines. In this method, a measured volume of air is drawn by a pump through a drying tube and a cartridge containing dioxygenyl hexafluoroantimonate reagent. Radon is captured as n nonvolatile product. After radioactive equilibrium has been established between radon and its short-lived daughters (approximately 4 hours), the gamma-emission of the cartridge is measured with a scintillation counter. The amount of radon is then calculated from the gamma-emission rate. The effect of cartridge geometry, reagent load, and air flow rate upon collection efficiency and counting efficiency is reported.

Jan 1, 1977

By C. H. Riggs, Kenneth H. Johnston

The application of modern secondary-recovery methods has made possible the the extraction of more than 13 million barrels of crude petroleum from the eastern part of the Delaware-Childers field Nowata County, Okla., over and above the production that might have :been expected by continuing primary production methods, including the use of vacuum. Foremost among the secondary-recovery methods used in this foil was the repressuring of the Bartlesville sand with air and gas through injection wells spaced on sym-metrical patterns. Between 1925 and 1945, about 51 billion cubic feet of air and gas were injected into the producing formation, and the total recovery was increased from, 25 million to about 40 million barrels of oil. To produce as much as possible of the 28 million barrels of recoverable oil remaining in the sand will require the initiation of systematic water-flooding projects on many properties and the continuation of air and gas injection on others.

Dec 1, 1946

By Eric R. Bauer

This Bureau of Mines manual is intended to provide a better understanding of ground movement and the technology available for measuring it, The manual deals with convergence, strata separation, lateral roof movement, stress, and support load in underground mines. The instruments that measure these ground control parameters are described in detail. Step-by-step procedures for selecting the appropriate instrument are presented, which consider such factors as approximate cost, installation procedures, data collection, and data interpretation; and an instrument selection worksheet is provided to facilitate the instrument selection process. Actual instrument case studies and a list of instrument suppliers are presented in the appendixes.

Jan 1, 1985

By Charles Will Wright

This paper is one of a series dealing with mining problems and summarizing the data contained in the Information Circulars on individual mines that have been prepared by the managers or superintendents and published by the Bureau of Mines. The purpose of this paper is to present the problems encountered in the development of an efficient mine organization and to show the means used by certain mining companies in promoting efficiency. There is also a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of the various systems of paying and handling labor and a description of their application at the individual mines.

Jan 1, 1932

A major domestic aluminum producer raised its price for primary aluminum metal from 44 cents per pound to 48 cents per pound, effective August 5, 1976. Other major producers have increased their list prices by equivalent amounts COAL: The strike which began July 19 in southern West Virginia enlarged by early August to involve approximately 80,000 miners in nine States. As of August 4, the aggregated loss of production is estimated to be 5.8 million tons. Reportedly, at this time, the railroads which serve the struck areas are feeling the largest impact with coke plants and electric utilities relying on stocks which are generally high.

Jan 1, 1976

By Gary A. Kingston

This examination of Pacific Northwest (Idaho, Montana, Ore on, and Washington) ferrous scrap-industry opera ions, principally those in Oregon and Washington, points out factors influencing the supply and consumption of scrap materials, such as the complete dependence of steel ingot producers in these States on scrap as a metal raw material and the sizable quantity of scrap exported from Seattle and Portland to Japan. The pattern of the industry is presented as a movement of materials from their diverse sources to the consuming market. The geographic locations of the consuming industries in relation to the area generating scrap materials and the movement pattern of the supply from source to destination strongly influences the cost of the commodity. The best measure of the scrap supply available in an area is experience in terms of how much scrap was withdrawn at a given price. Scrap availability is not finite, because the return of materials as scrap is secular and influenced by constantly varying market conditions. Steel ingot producers use 75 percent of the approximate 500,000 tons of scrap consumed in Oregon and Washington; steel foundries take 15 percent of the total; and iron foundries, ferroalloy plants, and other miscellaneous consumers utilize the remainder. Also, from 1955 to 1960 an average of about 200,000 tons has been exported annually from Oregon and Washington. The foreign exports are supplemented by lesser .shipments to other steel producing States, principally in the western United States. From 1955 to 1960 the preferred and higher value heavy melting scrap grades accounted for about 60 percent of total withdrawals which varied between 600,000 and 950,000 tons annually. Total scrap withdrawals from Oregon and Washington are projected to 1.8 million tons by 1985, 60 percent (1.1 million tons) of which will be heavy melting grades. No. 1 heavy melting scrap is most attractive to scrap consumers at $35 per ton or less. Price-supply relationships compared with projected scrap requirements indicate future prices possibly over $35 per ton. High prices over a long period could motivate the Pacific Northwest scrap consumers to produce steel from iron ore. However, technologic changes taking place at integrated steel plants could reduce scrap withdrawals from the Pacific Northwest, which might keep the scrap price sufficiently attractive to obviate production of competitive iron products by the Pacific Northwest scrap consumers.

Jan 1, 1964

By A. R. T. Denues

This investigation was made under a cooperative agreement between the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, and the Pittsburgh Testing Laboratory. Funds were supplied by the Chile Exploration Co., whose executive offices are in New York City. The support, cooperation, and services of these agencies made the work possible and are acknowledged gratefully. The writer wishes to express his particular indebtedness to the staff of the Explosives Division of the Bureau of Mines for services and assistance, particularly Dr. Wilbert J. Huff, consulting explosives chemist, J. C. Holtz, J. E. Tiffany, and A. B. Coates; to F. O. Gardner, treasurer of the Pittsburgh Testing Laboratory; to G. B. Holderer, consulting engineer in connection with liquid-oxygen explosives for the Chile Exploration Co.; to the Enos Coal Mining Co. of Oakland City, Ind., particularly to G. H. Utterback of the staff of the mine for providing facilities that made field tests possible; and to full-time assistants J. W. Rothhaar and J. G. P. Weinheimer and to W. S. Hiller, part-time assistant, who were employed under the cooperative agreement.

Jan 1, 1940

By F. E. Armstrong

This Bureau of Mines publication reviews 237 papery on radiometric prospecting, which is the measurement of naturally occurring radioactivity in the earth's surface and its application to petroleum and natural gas exploration. Many theories and documented surveys are listed in both support and refutation of this reported phenomenon, and the Bureau of Mines is conducting research to obtain direct field information in order to determine the statistical credibility of a radiometric method of predicting petroleum accumulation.

Jan 1, 1973

By Carroll W. DeKock

Thermodynamic data for selected metal sulfates were critically evaluated and compiled as part of the Bureau of Mines program to provide a scientific base for use in developing new technology and predicting the feasibility of new processes. Values for Cp°, S°, H° - H°298, -(G° - H°298)/T, ?Hf°, ?Gf°, and log Kf as a function of temperature are given in tabular form. Thermodynamic data were compiled for VOSO4, Cr2(SO4)3, MnSO4, FeSO4, Fe2(SO4)3, CoSO4, NiSO4, Cu2SO4, CuSO4, CuO-CuSO4, ZnSO4, and ZnO-2ZnSO4, together with their stable hydrates.

Jan 1, 1982

[This Report represents the culmination of work perfomed under Contract No. .,JG1551A8 for the U.S. Bureau of Mine.The &apos;.:o-< embeded a site evaluation, engineering E:-y- ,, esign, and preparation of specifications for construction of a Transport Research 7 :4 (HTRF)The HTRF is designed as a research facility J evaluate the hydraulic transport of large lump coal at a prototype ;e scale. The HTRF is to be constructed and operated by the Pittsburgh and Safety Research Center of ;. re U.-AN a*, their Bruceton, Pennsylvania test center. In terms of technical capability, the HTRF will have transport pipeline:: of -, twelve-, and eighteen-inch diameter _&apos; with supporting coal handling n , water forage a.^ &apos;d conveyance, mixing, pumping, and dewatering equipment, plus instrumentation and controls. Maximum design velocity 13 20 ft/sec.; solids concentration, by, volume, will; 1 be a maximum-- of sixty, percent. Each test loop is designed to accommodate solids of up to one-third the diameter e - of the pine. The Final Report Pr.-&apos;I-rents information of t HTHF,. including the site evaluation, design criteria, a description of the a description of the procedure to be used for operation of the facility, an estimate of the cost to construct the f^Cilit:r, 1 p el_~lli.&apos;iU construe`, icn Schedule, and a construction suicJ_iicaT.l_ccn&apos;. T e c011SLr?Jc&apos;.ion soecl_ i.on _ccnta_i:s technic.&apos;..i re7,uir: (-n`,s for !&apos;urr1S~ &apos;~latcr..al. and ec-uipr,ent for :":C1 C_`:_C ti on of ti,_ H ice&apos; u:&apos;.:i ._II u s(-.6 for ~.Iir: .3!7 soliciting bids. `.l_o included n cc&apos;;,art_- c?r~.air sV:et..: :s ^nd rr^.?]

Jan 1, 1976

By GJ Hundman

The Multiple Unit Continuous Haulage (MUCH) System was designed to provide the capacity to continuously convey coal from the mining machine to the main haulage belt. The MUCH System has an operator who steers the lead vehicle, ever following the mining machine. All the remaining vehicles follow the path of the lead vehicle, with their conveyors automatically lining up between the lead vehicle and mine section panel belt. This is accomplished by mechanical linkages on the vehicles which are interconnected by steering bars between vehicles (patent pending). The MUCH System has an operator who steers the discharge vehicle when outby travel is required. Outby travel is just like inby, with each vehicle following the path of the preceding vehicle. Surface tests overwhelmingly indicate the "UCH System should track/retrack successfully in square pillar underground room and pillar coal mines with 18 ft. wide entries and slopes up to 10 percent. For 60 degree pillar plans the minimum entry width required is 15 ft. Surface tests also indicate the MUCH System will convey over 8 TPM of coal around 90 degree corners without excessive spillage.

Jan 1, 1983

The Bureau of Mines is establishing design criteria for effective roof support systems and is developing technology to improve mine planning and design. Geologic studies, surface and underground mine monitoring, and laboratory evaluations were conducted. The seven papers in this proceedings Information Circular present results of several investigations. Addressed are problems existing in both longwall and multiple-seam mines. Discussions include the effect of dewatering at a longwall mine site in the Pittsburgh coal seam and the effect of chain pillars on subsidence. Other results are measurement and characterization of longwall rock mass movement and an integrated design for stability in multiple-seam mining.

Jan 1, 1987

These proceedings consist of papers presented at two Bureau of Mines Technology Transfer Seminars in early 1980 for the purpose of disseminating recent advances in mining technology related to surface coal mining reclamation.

Jan 1, 1980

This report provides the results of an industrial engineering study that assessed the safety and efficiency of underground ore handling in U.S. metal mines. One of the primary findings of the study was the improvement needed in controlling muck size in the ore handling stream. Oversize ore causes much additional labor, creating work stoppages and is a principal cause of accidents in metal mines. This report includes data on block caving, back cut and fill room and pillar, shrinkage stoping, and sublevel stoping.

Jan 1, 1974

By B. M. Harra, O&apos

Zinc smelting is frequently termed a backward art. The term is hardly true, for great progress has been made in recent years in the design and in the thermal efficiency of the retort furnace, in the quality of retorts, in the recovery of zinc, and in the ability to treat more impure and complex ores. The fact remains, however, that the peculiar physical and chemical properties of zinc have delayed such immense advances-large smelting units, high recovery, low-unit costs, and ability to treat low-grade ores-as have been made in the metallurgy of lead and copper. In current retort-smelting practice, the ores, if carbonates, are calcined to remove carbon dioxide; or, if sulphides, are roasted to remove sulphur. The sulphur must be eliminated as completely as possible, usually to less than 1 per cent. This means that the roast must be continued for a long time at a high temperature, with resulting high cost and small capacity per furnace. The roasted ore is mixed with about 50 per cent of its weight of reducer, which may be fine coke, anthracite, or nonbituminous coal. This mixture is charged into horizontal fire-clay retorts. The retorts used in this country are about 8 inches in internal diameter by 4 feet in length and hold 50 or 60 pounds of ore. The diameter of the retort is limited by the time required for the heat to penetrate to the center of the charge; the length by the strength of the retort, which at the high temperature employed can not support the weight of the charge if the span is more than about 50 inches. The retorts are heated externally by coal, natural gas, or producer gas to a temperature of 1,200° C. or more. The zinc oxide is reduced to zinc, which is volatile at this temperature, and passes into a conical fire-clay condenser attached to one end of the retort, where it condenses to liquid zinc and is removed. Twenty-four hours are required for distillation, and because of the low heat conductivity of the retort walls and of the ore charge itself, the heat efficiency even of the most modern regenerative furnaces is only about 12 per cent. The retorts have a short life, 30 to 60 days, at the high temperature required; zinc

Jan 1, 1923

A concise country-by-country summary of the mineral industry of Africa is presented. Reserves, resources, role of the country in the world mineral supply, and developments in the mineral industries are reviewed. The data on each country are accompanied by a map showing mineral location and transportation facilities.

Jan 1, 1976

By Robert H. Ridgway

This circular outlines salient facts regarding the sulphur industry of the United States and the world. It is founded chiefly upon published information available in the literature of the subject. The Bureau of Mines has in its files additional, more detailed data upon many of the topics presented very briefly here, and will endeavor to assist the mineral industries and the public by giving further information in response to individual inquiries. It will welcome comments, criticisms, and contributions of data that may assist in making later editions of this circular more accurate, or in developing more fully the bureau&apos;s mineral files pertaining to sulphur. Throughout this paper sulphur is used to designate crude sulphur or brimstone, not sulphur produced from pyrites or&apos; smelter gases.

Jan 1, 1930

By P. L. Michael

Several evaluations were made by Modified Rhyme Test (MRT) word lists transmitted through various simulations of the Trapped-Miner Communication System being developed by the U.S. Bureau of Mines. The tests were performed in a "single blind? situation so that the evaluators would not be biased by knowing the characteristics of the system being simulated. A computer program was developed to provide a simulation of the electrical aspects of the communication system and to provide an evaluation by calculation of the articulation index (AI). The study indicates that communication through the presently proposed system will be somewhat unreliable at depths as great as 300 metre even with the system operating at maximum effeciency.

Jan 1, 1977

By Harry E. Brownlow

The United States Bureau of Mines contracted Norecol to prepare a report identifying the regulatory processes associated with metal mine development in British Columbia using the Snip Mine as a case study. The intent of this study is to assist industry and regulatory agencies in developing understanding as to differences in objectives, perspectives and operating methods. The case study will be incorporated into a larger report summarizing the comparative advantages and disadvantages of metal mine permitting in British Columbia and Alaska. The purpose of the report is to identify the development schedule and permitting process at Snip which will assist the U.S. Bureau of Mines in suggesting improvements in environmental review and permitting processes for mine developments. The report provides an abstract of the environmental assessment review processes in Canada and the Mine Development Review Process in British Columbia and provides an understanding of the linkages between policy, legislation, and environmental review.

Jan 1, 1992