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The production and processing of crude petroleum and natural gas are the dominant economic sectors of the Middle East, providing more than 80 % of the region's foreign exchange. In 1992, the 15 countries that constituted the region accounted for 29.5 % of world crude petroleum output, 20 % of world natural gas plant liquid production, and 5 % of world dry natural gas production. Only Cyprus and Lebanon were not crude petroleum producers. A fairly wide range of non fuel minerals is also produced in the region. The most significant are boron minerals, bromine, chromite, gypsum, phosphate rock, potash, strontium, and sulfur. However, the variety of minerals produced, output levels, and the size of the overall non fuel mineral economy of the region is dominated by Iran and Turkey. Turkey, with a diverse mineral production and strategically situated between Europe and the Middle East, was first in world production of run-of-mine boron minerals, second in strontium behind Mexico, and fourth in pumice. It was also a significant world producer of chromite, magnesi'lm compounds, mercury, and sodium sulfate. Turkey was also the Middle East's largest cement and steel producer. Iran continued to expand output of most mineral commodities following the war with Iraq from 1980 to 1988. It was a significant world producer of gypsum and strontium and on its way to becoming a major iron and steel producer in the region. Despite a very small domestic mineral industry, Israel was second in world production of bromine and a significant producer of phosphate rock and potash. In terms of processed minerals, Israel was a major world diamond cutting center and exporter of cut diamond. Jordan ranked sixth in world production of phosphate rock. Saudi Arabia was eighth in world production of sulfur.

Jan 1, 1994

By Michael Gibbons

A method of monitoring roof stability in underground mines by detecting the changes in resistivity of roof material was tested. The device built by the USBM was tested over a 16 month period at the White Pine Copper Mine in White Pine, Michigan. Three falls of ground were monitored by means of as many as 11 sensors. Data indicate a correlation between changes in resistivity and impending structural failure. Problems were encountered with the high roof electrode impedance in the winter and spring due to the drying out of the roof material. Difficulties also developed in obtaining a permanent bond between the roof rock, the conductive epoxy and the electrode plate. Some data were lost due to timer and fuse problems within the unit. These were eventually rectified.

Jan 1, 1979

By K. L. Williams

The Bureau of Mines laboratory tested the response of a commercially available real-time aerosol monitor (GCA RAM-1) to various dusts. Monitor measurements were recorded, averaged, and compared with simultaneous gravimtric measurements of each test dust. Tests usually lasted several hours. The test dusts of various particle size distributions used included coal, limestone, and a commercially available test dust. For each particular dust, the monitor response was linear and correlated well with mass concentration over the range of about 0.5 to 10 mg/m3. The monitor can estimate a 2.0-/m3 respirable coal dust concentration within as little as 26 pct with 95 pct confidence. The monitor must, however, be calibrated with the dust to be measured because the instrument response is affected by the type of dust particle. The average monitor response to same mass concentration of coal dust was approximately twice the average monitor response to the same mass concentration of limestone dust.

Jan 1, 1984

By Joseph Gersic

The U.S. Bureau of Mines assessed mineral resources of the BLM Malheur-Jordan Resource Areas (MJRAs) in southeastern Oregon in 1993 and 1994. The study relied heavily on acquiring and analyzing existing data. In order to efficiently handle and analyze a large quantity of data, a minerals information management program, informally called MINFO, was developed as a frontend for three databases created to store basic information gathered during the minerals resource assessment. The MINFO program will also provide the BLM with a method of tracking and updating minerals information in the future because program modules in MINFO allow the addition of new data and the correction of errors, creation of print files, transfer of data to other database formats, exportation of data to other software packages, and creation of AutoCAD script files to be used in conjunction with AutoCAD to produce maps. The report specifically identifies significant past and present mineral exploration and development activities and possible areas of future mineral exploration and development. These areas are informally designated as areas of development interest or ADIs. The report contains a scenario of what mineral development might reasonably occur in the foreseeable future if the BLM does not substantially change its present resource management plan, and it shows the possible socioeconomic impacts of that development. The uncertainty of the political and economic situation makes it extremely challenging for the USBM to accurately predict a reasonably foreseeable development scenario. The reasonably foreseeable development (RFD) scenario developed by the USBM for the BLM indicates short-term RFD of minerals should have a negligible socioeconomic impact, and longer-term RFD of minerals should have a slight socioeconomic impact on the MJRAs. The mining industry is facing a rapidly changing business and regulatory environment in Oregon. Several signal changes have occurred recently, including State regulations that require significant bonding prior to the startup of "chemical process" mining, an initiative by a special interest group to stop all chemical process gold mining within the State, and an opinion by the Oregon Attorney General (AG) banning all forms of placer mining without exemption. In the AG opinion, not even gold panning is allowed, and the prohibition applies to mining claims on Federal lands. The State legislature may amend the statute to allow small scale placer mining to occur, as was allowed under an AG opinion issued in 1982. These and other changes occurring at the local, State, and National levels are making it more challenging for the mining industry to operate in the United States. Several epithermal gold properties in the MJRAs attracted the mining industry's interest. Only the Grassy Mountain Project of Newmont Grassy Mountain Corporation may be developed in the next few years. It is probable that at least two other properties will be developed if Grassy Mountain is successful. Mining companies are waiting to see the effect recently promulgated State mining regulations and more stringent proposed regulations, particularly bonding regulations, may have on Grassy Mountain. Resources of bentonite, diatomite, and zeolite are abundant. The almost Ubiquitous stone, sand and gravel, and semiprecious gemstone resources also were examined. Little environmental or socioeconomic impact is expected from reasonably foreseeable development of these mineral resources.

Jan 1, 1994

By Walter R. Storms

"INTRODUCTION Geological examination of the Iron Mountain beryllium deposits was begun by a field part 3/ of the Federal Geological Survey in May 1942. Later in that month the occurrence was examined by the author and C. H. Johnson, of the Bureau of Mines, and a preliminary exploratory program was outlined. Trenching and sampling began about June 15 and were completed in July 1942. A large tonnage of beryllium-bearing material was indicate by this preliminary survey, so that additional funds wore allotted for further trenching and sampling, underground exploratory work, and diamond drilling. This later program was initiated in July 1942 and was completed in May 1943. 4/ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSIn its program of exploration of mineral deposits, the Bureau of Mines has as its primary objective the more effective utilisation of our mineral resources to the end that they make the greatest possible contribution to national security and economy. It is the policy of the Bureau to publish the facts developed by each exploratory project as soon as practicable after its conclusion. The Mining Branch, Lowell B. Moon, chief, conducts preliminary examinations, performs the actual exploratory work, and prepares the final report. The Metallurgical Branch, R.G, Knickerbocker, chief, analyzes samples and performs beneficiation tests."

Mar 1, 1947

By J. D. Davis

"Introduction.Sixty years ago, M. Berthelot found that ethylene could be selectively absorbed from gaseous mixtures by concentrated sulphuric acid, and that the compound formed by the chemical union of the gas and acid was readily decomposed by heating with water, yielding ethyl alcohol. Only within the last few years has there been any attempt to make use of this discovery technically.Bury*, working in England at the Skinningrove Iron Works and on a commercial scale, developed a technical method for converting, the ethylene of coke-oven as into alcohol. With a gas containing less than 3 per cent of ethylene, he obtained a yield of 1.6 gallons of alcohol per ton of coal carbonized.De Loisy** perfected a technical method for treatment of coke-oven as for alcohol. Evidently this work was carried out on a semi-commercial scale. His method is based on the use of catalytic agents for hastening the absorption of ethylene by sulphuric acid. He uses part of the spent acid for drying the gases and pact for the manufacture of ammonium sulphate. Excess acid is reconcentrated by waste heat. Others have worked on the problem, but so far there has been no large recovery of ethylene from coke-oven gases. The chief difficulty seems to lie in the low efficiency (about 50% of methods and tae relatively low concentrations of ethylene in the gases treated. Gas from Trent amalgam*** contains much larger percantages of ethylene than does coke-oven gas, as Will presently be shown, and if it should ever prove practIcal to treat industrial ;as for alcohol, this gas would offer attractive possibilities,* Bury, Ernest, Ethylene as Alcohol from Coke-Oven Gas: Gas Journal' Vol. 148, D. 30, 1919, pp. 718.** DC Loisy, M.E., Sur un procede' industrial de fabrication syntlotique de l'alcool et de l'ether a partir des gaz de distillation de la houil Comp Rend, vol. 170, Jan. 1920, p. 50-3.*** A paste consisting of approximately part oil such as that obtained as for cleaning coal. See Perrott. in cleaning coal, Chem 3 parts finely pulvarized coal and 1 final product in the Trent, process StJ, and Kinney, S.P. The use of oil Vol. 35 August 3, 1921, p, 183.. & Met."

Nov 1, 1922

By J. W. Miller

This report deals with upgrading of the coal reserves of Raleigh County, VI. Va., to metallurgical standards. The data on samples herein correctly show the characteristics of the bed at the point where sampled and are used to indicate the general quality of the bed in the county. The principal results and conclusions are: 1. Raleigh County contains large reserves of high-quality, high-, medium-, and low-volatile coals. 2. The principal beds from which an increased amount of coal is expected to be mined in the future are: The Eagle, Powellton, No. 5 Block, Hernshaw, Fire Creek, and Pocahontas No.6.

Jan 1, 1954

Oil from shales has long been a source of fuel in foreign countries; however, in the fuel economy of the United States this source is classed as a reserve for future needs. In fad, shale oil has never been produced here in quantities necessary to establish oil-shale utilization as a sustained industry. The first known resources of stored energy that man endeavored to utilize were probably wood and water, and from these he directly obtained heat and power, respectively. With the evolution of man came the search for and the development and use of other natural fuel resources, the series progressing through the solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels until today those of one type can be converted into another, depending upon the use for which they are intended. The most important fuels are those that appear naturally in the most concentrated, conveniently obtainable, and usable forms. With the discovery of each new and more concentrated fuel there has been an appreciable increase in the importance of and number of devices for converting these fuels into energy.

Jan 1, 1938

By R. L. Cosgriff

A commercial, battery-powered mine vehicle has been equipped for remote operation in coal mines. This vehicle is controlled by an operator from the remote station. Command signals originating at the remote station as well as video and data signals originating on board the vehicle are relayed between the remote station and vehicle using a single coaxial line. This coaxial line is normally 2,000 feet in length and is reeled in and out from a drum mounted aboard the vehicle The vehicle has a maximum speed of 6 ft/sec and a minimum speed of 4 ft/sec using 36-volt excitation of the traction motor. If this traction motor is excited by two of the three batteries, 24-volt excitation, the vehicle will travel at approximately 2 ft/sec. The speed can be reduced by the operator to 1 ft/sec. This vehicular system has been tested in coal mines. Presently, the major limitation of this system is associated with fatigue failure of the splices in the coaxial line and lack of mobility caused by its 3-wheel design.

Jan 1, 1974

By Ronald P. Hollenbeck

The value of mineral production in Alabama increased 1 percent above the record high set in 1965. Alabama ranked second among the States in the production of bauxite, third in the production of masonry cement, native asphalt, and scrap mica, sixth in the production of portland cement, ninth in the production of iron ore, and tenth in the production of lime. The mineral industry of Alabama was dominated by the mining and processing of coal and stone, the manufacturing of cement, and the production of crude petroleum. These industries accounted for 87 percent of the State's total value of mineral production, compared with 85 percent in 1965.

Jan 1, 1967

By D. Harrington, C. W. Owings

The mining industry is gradually realizing that safety education and safety inspection are economic factors that may not be overlooked as a means of reducing operating costs . Many mine operators , however , have failed to realize the benefits of safety , and the efforts of the more progressive mining companies are offset by the carelessness of neighboring companies when the accident records of a community or a State or the nation as a whole are considered . This tendency is indicated by the data collected by the safety division of the United States Bureau of Mines . During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1930 , relatively definite information: was secureä concerning 34 mine explosions , 24 mine fires , and 29 miscellaneous accidents ; these accidents are by no means all of the explosions , fires , and miscellaneous accidents which occurred in the mines of the United States during the period; but the data on the fires and explosions constitute a record of all of those types of accidents that were called specifically to the attention of the safety division , and the miscellaneous accidents include those on which definite , detailed data were obtained by the safety division .

Jan 1, 1931

By Charles Sabine

In 1984 and 1985 at the request of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Bureau of Mines studied a 27,420-acre part of the 36,600-acre Southern Inyo Wilderness Study Area, CA-010-056, in order to evaluate the mineral resources. The study area is located in Inyo County, CA, near the town of Lone Pine, about 180 miles north of Los Angeles. The study area takes in most of the western slope of the southern Inyo Mountains. Terrain is steep and rugged; the climate is arid. The study area is underlain by folded and faulted marine sedimentary rocks dating from Ordovician to Triassic, Triassic volcanic rocks, and Jurassic to Cretaceous plutonic rocks. Most mineralization was along faults and shear zones in sedimentary rocks. The study area includes most of the Russ and Lone Pine mining districts which produced over one million dollars in gold, silver, lead, and zinc, mostly between 1860 and 1890. A few mines produced ore as late as 1951. Most production was from the Reward, Silver Spur, Long John, and Pennsylvania mines which are outside the study area. Presently, there is no mining activity in the study area; some development work was done at the Reward mine between 1981 and 1984. Dolomite marble is quarried from the base of the range outside the study area. There are currently about 70 mining claims in the study area.

Jan 1, 1986

By Donald W. Scott

Chemical thermodynamic properties for the ideal gas state from 0 to 1500 K are tabulated for all of the alkane hydrocarbons through C10. These properties are based on correlations of the extant data for the entropy, vapor heat capacity, and enthalpy of formation of individual alkanes and the equilibrium constants of alkane isomerization reactions.

Jan 1, 1974

By Raymond L. Carpenter

The thermal conductivity, electrical resistivity, and Seebeck coefficient for nine compounds, based on the formula for enargite Cu3AsS3, were measured in a search for efficient materials to be used in thermoelectric generators or refrigerators. Results indicate that one of these compounds, Cu3SbSe4, has thermoelectric properties approaching those of bismuth telluride. An investigation of the effect of adding small quantities of tellurium to Cu3SbSe4 and Cu3SbS4 in order to improve their properties also was made. A figure of merit of 2.1 x 10-4 °C-1 was obtained for Cu3SbSe4 + 0.1 percent tellurium.

Jan 1, 1963

By Kung-Lee Wang

FOLLOWING the rapid recovery of previous years, the U.S. economy continued the upward trend and moved forward moderately and sporadically during the first half of 1962. There was a slow-down in the recovery rate, which was especially notable in the third quarter. The economy recovered in the fourth quarter, and by the end of 1962 the gross national product amounted to $555 billion, a new high, 7 percent above that of 1961. Production, employment, personal income, and corporate profits all achieved new peaks, but unemployment continued high and the prospects for improvement remained poor. The economy again failed to us~ its full potential; 1962 was a good year, but not good enough. During 1962, all industrial production climbed from the low in January to a high in late summer which lasted through the fall, and declined slightly at yearend. Mining production followed this pattern closely and most sectors were approaching record highs. Most minerals gained in value and volume of production. The steel-associated minerals group was the only exception, and it sustained a small net loss. The nonfuel minerals industry opened the year at a high level, maintained this high level until late summer, with the peak in May, and drifted downward toward the end of the year. The gains recorded by nonferrous metal mining partly offset the loss of ferrous metal mining, resulting in a small gain for metal mining as a whole. The upsurge of construction material minerals output was primarily responsible for the substantial increase in production of nonmetals other

Jan 1, 1963

By D. Harrington

The fiscal year which ended June 30, 1932, although one of acute financial de ression was, nevertheless, one of distinct encouragement to those who have long struggled against the much too prevalent occurrence of accidents in coal mines, especially of coal mine fire and explosion dis- asters, both of which are now known to be readily preventable. Table 1 summarizes some important information about explosions in the United States coalies for the fiscal year which ended June 30, 1932, insofar as such information is available to the safety division of the United States Bureau of Mines, the personnel of which are under instruction to get in touch with and report on all mine explosions in their respective districts, including not only those occurrences with loss of life but also those in which for- tunately no lives, are affected. Table 1 gives data on 33 ignitions in 10 States with a total of 87 deaths for the year; the number of ignitions (33) is considerably groater than the number (26) for the previous fiscal year, and is exactly the aver- age number for the past four fiscal years; the mumber killed in the 33 ignitions (57) is materially lower than that (217) for the preceding fiscal year or the average (150) for the past four fiscal years. The States with the greatest number of deaths from explosions in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1932, were Virginia; 54; West Virginia, 11; Pennsylvania, 7 (6 being in anthracite mines); Alabama and Colorado, 4 each; Illinois and Kentucky, 3 each; and Maryland, 1. The greatest number of ignitions listod wes that for West Virginia, 7; then came Pennsylvania with 6 (2 being in anthracite mines); Alabama with 5; Colorado, Illinois, Tennessee and Virginia, 3 each; and California, Kentucky, and Maryland, 1 each. The 1931-32 record as given in Table 1 includes several States which were not listed in the previous year: Colorado, Kentucky, Maryland, Tennessee,

Jan 1, 1933

By S. B. Robertson, D. R. Dolinar, G. E. Hinshaw, G. M. Molinda, D. M. Pappas

Rock falls in coal mines cause many injuries each year. Most of these injuries are not caused by major roof collapses, but from falls of smaller rocks from the immediate top or roof skin. Even though safety professionals and mine operators strive to reduce these types of injuries, there has not been a substantial decrease in the rock fall injury rate over the past decade. Various surface controls are used in mines to control the roof skin. One control that has proven to be very effective is roof screening. Roof screen effectively controls roof skin and provides a high roof surface coverage. Although many mines are reluctant to use screen for primary skin control because of the additional costs of time and materials, others are having great success at controlling both the costs and surface rock. In this study, injury data are presented that show a dramatic reduction in roof skin injuries when screening is used. Much of this success is due to the protection from falling rock that the operators receive from roof screen. Five case studies in which roof screen was used are presented along with the associated costs of materials, impact on bolting advance rates, and potential ergonomic risks. The effects of roof screening on skin control and safety are also included. Finally, this paper provides information about best practices and features of roof bolting machines that affect production and safety.

By Oliver Bowles

The United States has never attained importance as a producer of asbestos, the domestic output being only 1 to 3 percent of the quantity required to supply raw material for its extensive asbestos-product manu- facturing industries. Production is centered in four principal countries-- Canada, Rhodesia, Union of South Africa, and the Soviet Union. Since asbestos first became an important commercial commodity the Province of Quebec, Canada, has led in tonnage produced, but a large proportion of the output of this province is shorter, nonspinning grades. Since 1916 the Union of South Africa and Rhodesia have become increasingly important as sources of the higher-grade spinning fibers. Before the World War Russia ranked next to Canada as a producer of asbestos, but during the revolution- ary period the industry in that country was almost at a standstill. In 1926, however, activity was revived, and each year since then production and exports have increased greatly. Minor quantities of asbestos are produced in Cyprus; Australia, Finland, and several other countries. Chrysotile is the leading product in all the producing countries, but substantial quantities of both blue (crocidolite) and brown (amosite) asbestos also are produced in the Union of South Africa. Minor quantities of anthophyllite and similar amphibole varieties are mined in the United States, Italy, Bulgaria, Finland, and several other countries.

Jun 1, 1934

By Gary M. Larwood

A study was conducted to determine the amount of transportation equipment required to move 1.2 billion tons of coal in 1985. The Federal Bureau of Mines has investigated a majority of the various practices associated with coal transportation and has gathered information on the regional origin-destination patterns, methods of movement, equipment stocks, rate structures, and operational capacities of the most important modes of coal haulage currently in use. Models employing this information were developed to establish the origin-destination pattern for 1985 coal shipments, estimate practical tonnage capacities for selected coal hauling rivers, develop modal shares for both unconstrained (by river capacity) and constrained cases, and present a range of coal transportation equipment requirements for given sets of constraints. Projected transportation shares for rail ranged from 63.7 to 72.3 percent, and for river, from 8.8 to 16.4 percent. Other coal transportation modes (truck, conveyor, Great Lakes, and tidewater) are expected to retain their historic shares of coal traffic. Equipment estimates were made for 1985 rail and water transportation based on 1973 average and best practice. Average practice estimates ranged from 675,000 to 710,000 hopper cars (100-ton) and 3,100 to 5,940 barges (1,400-ton equivalent). Best practice estimates ranged from 126,000 to 142,000 hopper cars and 1,750 to 3,450 barges. Full implementation of 1973 best practice by 1985 is unlikely.

Jan 1, 1976

By James R. Boyle

The value of Alabama's nonfuel mineral production in 1978 and 1979 was 8831.8 million and $336.4 million, respectively. In 1978, nearly all commodities registered an increase in production and value; unit value increased for all commodities, with the exception of native asphalt and sand and gravel. Alabama led the Nation in the production of crushed marble and was second in bauxite, third in masonry cement, kaolin, native asphalt, and oyster shell, and fourth in bentonite, dimension marble, fire clay, and scrap mica. Trend; and Developments.-The Alabama State Docks at the Port of Mobile handled more than 10 million tons of bulk material in fiscal year 1978; volume dropped slightly to 9.8 million tons in fiscal 1979. Bulk materials comprise the major activity at the facility, with iron ore and bauxite being two of the major materials handled. The movement of these ores is vital to the operation of many heavy industries in the State.

Jan 1, 1981