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By W. A. Stickney

As part of a Bureau of Mines program to investigate recovery of manganese (Mn) from low-grade materials, laboratory studies were made of four samples of mill rejects: Three from Montana and one from Peru. These studies demonstrated that certain mill-waste products can be a potential source of manganese. Both manganese oxide and carbonate minerals were recovered by flotation in an acid circuit with a fuel oil-tall oil emulsion as collector. Sintering) required to prepare a physically acceptable product, also was used as a method of beneficiation. In addition to being low-grade, some of the samples presented problems of intimate mineral association and complex textures.

Jan 1, 1960

By Ann Hubbs, Vincent Castranova, Jane Y. C. Ma, De-Hwa Chao, Joseph K. H. Ma

AN OVERVIEW OF THE ACTION OF TETRANDRINE ON SILICOSISBecause of the persistent presence of silica dust in the lungs silicosis is a progressive and irreversible disease. At present, there is no proven effective therapy for silicosis. Limited choices of therapeutic intervention with corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive regimens 1,2 have been accepted for some forms of pulmonary fibrosis. These treatments are only minimally effective, and the results provide little understanding of the disease state due to the lack of correlation between drug activity and the mechanism of fibrosis. Thus, continuing effort must be made in the search for effective antifibrotic agents, which may be used to provide a sequential analysis of the fibrotic process and to open the door for further research and clinical development. Tetrandrine is one of hundreds of drugs screened for antifibrotic activity by Chinese scientists. It has been used in China as a treatment for silicosis in open clinical trials3 and in laboratory animals. The action of tetrandrine on pulmonary fibrosis has been attributed to its ability to inhibit particle stimulation of alveolar macrophages, a key cell type central to the fibrotic process, to release oxygen radicals and inflammatory cytokines. Alveolar macrophages (AM) residing on the alveolar wall, are the predominant phagocytic cells of the lungs responsible for pulmonary defense against inhaled microorganisms and other particles and thus play an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of the lungs. 7 Ample evidence suggests that cells of the monocyte-macrophage series play an important role in the immunopathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. When upregulated by silica, alveolar macrophages generate reactive oxygen metabolites8·9 which can damage lung parenchyma and release fibrogenic growth factors and cytokines, 10,11 such as interleukin 1 (IL-1), which can induce fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis. The cytokine-mediated fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis are key steps in the development and progression of pulmonary fibrosis .11 Previous studies by our group have shown that tetrandrine exhibits strong binding affinity to AM and inhibits particle-stimulated respiratory burst activity (oxygen consumption, superoxide anion release, and hydrogen peroxide secretion) in these cells. 13 In addition, studies by Kang et al. 14 have reported that tetrandrine inhibits silica-induced release of fibrogenic factors such as IL-1 which are capable of inducing fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis. Reist et al. 15 further suggested that the antifibrotic action of tetrandrine may be mediated in part by the direct effect of this drug on the ability of fibroblasts to respond to proliferative agents. These results indicate that the mechanism of silicosis involves activation of AM and fibroblasts by silica, resulting in abnormal collagen production due to miscommunications between the cell types. Tetrandrine may interrupt this process by direct interaction with the lung cells.

Jan 1, 1998

This Bureau of Mines publication presents an overview of mine electrical power systems research currently being conducted by the Bureau. The papers, given at a Technology Transfer Seminar, emphasize the increasing importance of research related to the safety considerations of underground coal mine electrical systems. Selected topics are included that summarize results of research in the areas of electrical shock prevention, explosion-proof enclosures and load centers, discriminating circuit breakers, and trailing cables. Other topics discussed at the seminar are published as separate sections of the Bureau of Mines Hand- book "Application Notes--Mine Electrical Power Systems."

Jan 1, 1982

By W. K. Cunningham, Edwin A. Gee

"INTRODUCTION This paper is one of many reporting on various aspects of the Bureau of Mines program during World War II directed toward alleviation of shortages in certain critical minerals some of these papers are published as technical papers information circulars, and reports of investigations, of the Bureau of Mines or in technical journals.The investigation described in this report was begun as part of the Bureau, of Mines program to develop acid processes for the extraction of alumina from low-grade bauxites and clays. A domestic shortage of high-grade bauxite suitable for treatment by the Bayer process became acute as a result of World War II; and intensive search for a practical acid process using lower-grade alumina-bearing raw materials was therefore warranted.A survey of the various methods for extraction of alumina from clay has been presented in an early Bureau of Mines publication. 4/ The principal barrier to the successful operation of an acid process has been the difficulty experienced in developing a suitable commercial method for purifying the crude aluminum salts after the clay extraction is complete. Iron salts are the foremost contamination influence. A review of the more prominent procedures that have been proposed for separating iron and aluminum salts can be found in the well-known text on aluminum by Edwards, Frary, and Jeffries. 5/The majority of acid processes to extract alumina from clay employ sulfuric acid as the leaching agent, and the purification is thus reduced to the separation of iron and aluminum, sulfates."

Feb 1, 1948

Maintain good blowing face ventilation while taking deeper cuts with a radio-remote, scrubber-equipped miner. Approach A six week in-mine study of face ventilation effectiveness was made by comparing the existing MSHA-approved blowing curtain setback distance of 25 ft with brattice set back distances of up to 50 ft. Effectiveness was determined by measuring methane levels at the face and in the immediate return. How It Works Blowing ventilation systems are commonly used in mines because the high velocity air stream created by these systems rapidly mixes with and dissipates methane generated during the cutting of coal. A drawback to blowing ventilation is that the work area is placed in return air and this may create dust compliance problems for the shuttle car and mining machine operator. To clean dust from the return a number of mining machine manufacturers supply dust scrubbers built into the machine. Dust-laden air is drawn into ducting at the front of the mining machine's boom and is ducted to a scrubbing unit located on the machine's main frame. The clean air from the scrubber is discharged as a high velocity jet toward the return, generally from the left fender of the mining machine. When taking cuts deeper than 20 to 25 ft with a scrubber-equipped machine, the machine's discharge is in by the mouth of the blowing curtain, creating a concern by mine workers that a loss of air to the face could result. However, Bureau of Mines research found that the push or throw of air toward the return by the scrubber discharge jet allows good face ventilation to be maintained with extended curtain setbacks.

Jan 1, 1984

By Jack Wright

The analysis of water produced with crude petroleum has interested oil producers since inception of the industry. Records of the first analysis of mineralized water produced from an oil-productive formation are obscure, and references to the first use of brine analyses to assist in solving problems of petroleum production are not available in the technical literature. However, many early reports of the Federal Bureau of Mines5-8 and Federal Geological Survey,9-11/ as well as articles in engineer and geological journals12-14/ placed special emphasis on the importance, interpretation, and application of water analyses. One of the earliest applications of water analyses, and still a major one today, is for identification of intrusive waters in oil wells. This may be done by comparing the chemical constituents of a sample of water indigenous to the oil-productive formation with those of samples from upper, water-bearing formations within the same general area. Some earlier investigators recognized the need for Analyzing samples of all waters encountered in drilling operations. Ambrose15/ stated, in part, "In wells being drilled, the engineer should grasp every opportunity to get a true sample of water from each sand. . .," and, "The waters of each oil field are chemically different from those of another field." The validity of the latter observation and the importance of the former one have been borne out by comparing the results of analyses of many samples and noting the differences in relative concentrations of like constituents of waters from the a geological formation in different localities or oil pools.

Jan 1, 1957

By Wilbert J. Huff

[This is the fifth of a series of annual reports of the explosives Division, Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior.3/ It deals particularly with work done during the period July 1, 1939, to June 30, 1939. The writer and the respective unit leader to whom credit is indicated have directed the various studies outlined.]

Jan 1, 1940

By George H. Holmes

The water situation in Nevada mineral and related industries is described in this report. It contains information on the sources and adequacy of supply to current operators, requirements and uses, quality and costs, geography, hydrography, precipitation and evaporation characteristics, and Nevada water laws. Also, information is given on the water requirements of one public utility powerplant, and the source and consumption of water in four major cities. Water distribution at 24 operations is shown on schematic waterflow diagrams. The mineral industries of Nevada in 1962 used 8.6 billion gallons of new' water and reused 3.8 billion gallons for a total usage of 12.4 billion gallons. The copper industry was the major water user. The 1962 value of all mineral production in Nevada was $85.5 million. The large amount of water required to maintain thin high production is obtained principally from ground-water sources in alluvial valleys and the permeable rock formations of some mountain ranges. Some water is also obtained from perennial streams and springs. Sources of water utilized by existing industry ire near most mineral industry operations; however, seven companies are forced to pipe water distances ranging from 2 to 8 miles. Although water supplies of presently operating companies are adequate at most operations, several companies resort to large-scale reuse of water as a matter of conservation and economics. Acquisition of water by new operators is possible but takes considerable negotiation. Water rights, surface and underground, are controlled by the State. The quality of the water is satisfactory for most purposes. Analyses of 19 samples, listed in the appendix, show the range in water quality at various plants throughout the State. Costs of delivering new water to current operations range from 2 to 26 cents per 1,000 gallons with an average of 10 cents per 1,000 gallons for power and maintenance. No firm costs for recirculating water were available; estimated costs range from 1.5 to 2.5 cents per 1,000 gallons. The mineral-product value of the entire Nevada mineral industry in 1962 was equivalent to $10 per 1,000 gallons of new water and $26 per 1,000 gallons consumed. Projection of the 1962 water requirements of the Nevada mineral industry indicates that the demand For new water will increase from 8.6 billion gallons in 1962 to 11.9 billion gallons in 1980, a 43-percent increase. Water requirements in the year 2000 are estimated as 14.8 billion gallons, an increase over 1962 water demand of 78-percent.

Jan 1, 1966

By F. S. Crawford

This study was made to find methods of preventing back strains, among workers in brick plants, however, the information should apply to other industries that employ hand labor too process materials. The report is based on information in letters from. Bureau of Mines engineers and other safety men in the United States who visited numerous brick plants. Back strains, as wall as hernias and other muscular strains, result when certain body structures are subjected to strains greater than, they can withstand. Such breakdowns may be prevented simply by not straining these body structures. This is simple in theory but complicated in practice. It requires primary education of new workers and reeducation of older workers in the best method of lifting, preemployment physical. examinations to select employees for the jobs that require constant lifting, all possible mechanization of material-handling operations, relocation of machinery, and elevation of working surfaces to reduce to a minimum the muscular effort the workers must exert to perform operations impossible to mechanize. Accidents of any kind are a total bee for the American economy and decrease productivity; whereas mechanization raises the level of productivity and constitutes progress toward total safety. Heavy lifting should be done mechanically whenever possible, saving the men to direct the machines. This is an essential step in preventing strain accidents.

Jan 1, 1953

By H. F. Feldmann

This work was done to provide thermodynamic, electrical, physical, and compositional data on the seeded combustion plasmas of seven coals for the design of MHD generators. The systems were assumed to be at equilibrium, and the design data were generated by solving for the composition of both gas and liquid phases with a digital computer. The coals reported in this study include a western subbituminous, a Pennsylvania anthracite, and five representative bituminous coals. The data include dewpoint temperatures of both slag and seed. A Mollier diagram for each coal is given to allow graphical generator calculations.

Jan 1, 1970

By MINE SAFETY BOARD

Mining men and State officials in their efforts to make mining safer are confronted from time to time with various complicated questions . In recent years these questions have tended to increase with the use of mechanical appliances . Twenty- five years ago electricity had hardly been used in mines . To - day there is practically no other means of transmitting energy employed in American mines , except in metal mines where compressed air is used for drilling and small portable hoists . In coal mines there has been a great increase in mechanization and a tendency to concentrate the mining operation , which has resulted in attendant difficulties of ventilation and intensified the danger of coal - dust in bituminous and subbituminous mines . The answers to the questions which arise are not always obvious , as is shown by the fact that even able , experienced men differ in their opinions of the best way to overcome a particular mining hazard . The difficulty of solving the problems is also demonstrated by the varying provisions in mine safety rules , both in official regulations and in the rules of those mining companies who are endeavoring to do more than follow the letter of the law . Such differences of opinion on the best way of meeting a difficult situation are often found within the same mining organization , and so it has been in the Bureau of Mines .

Nov 1, 1929

Overexposure to noise is a widespread, serious health hazard in the mining industry, and causes hearing losses to a large percentage of the mining population. Recognizing this fact, the Bureau has a major on-going research effort to address this problem area. These proceedings include an overview of the Bureau noise control program and summarize nine selected noise control research programs.

Jan 1, 1984

By W. B. Berwald, T. W. Johnson

"The United States Bureau of Mines, in cooperation with the Natural Gas Department of the American Gas Association, has been studying actively for the past several years the flow of natural as through high-pressure pipe lines. 4 This report deals with that part of the study involving the design of pipe-line systems consisting of lines laid parallel to each other. The lines are referred to as the original line and the parallel line. The paralleling lire may or may not extend the entire length &f the original line; however, the parallel line is connected at its two ends to the original line.As a result of the large expansion of the natural-gas industry almost all markets within economic distance, from the developed as fields have at least one pipe line supplying them with natural gas. Small increases in the consumers' demand for natural-gas can be met usually by increasing operating pressures, but any marked increase in demand necessitates paralleling sections of the existing systems. It is believed that to a large extent future expansion in the natural—gas industry will consist of paralleling the present lines. The several formulas given in this report have been developed to aid in the design of such systems. Curves and tables were prepared from these formulas to simplify the calculations materially and to facilitate determination of the sizes of pine to be used in paralleling various diameter lines to give the most economical design. The formulas are presented without detailed derivations, as a complete report on the flow of natural gas through pipe lines is being prepared which will contain the derivations of these formulas. Examples included here show the detail of application of the several formulas to problems of design of parallel lines."

Jun 1, 1934

By J. W. Paul, J. N. Geyer

"GENERAL STATEMENTThe purpose of this report, which is the first of a series of three covering mines in the Fairmont district of West Virginia, is to give the result of a' study conducted in seal mines to ascertain the nature of the safeguards employed to prevent injury to the workmen from falls of roof and coal. In presenting the subject matter, consideration must necessarily be given to factors, features, and conditions such as method of mining, timber regulations and practices, supervision and natural conditions; and, for comparative purposes, a certain amount of statistical matter bearing upon the relation of fatalities and injuries to their causes, tonnage produced, men employed, days worked, and time lost.Those features and practices found to promote safe protection are summarized and suggestions made for such additional safeguards and practices as appear to give greater protection against injury from falls of roof or coal.ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThis study of falls of roof and coal in mines in Harrison County has been conducted by the U. S. Bureau of Mines in cooperation with R. M. Lambie, chief of the Mining Department of the State of West Virginia who assigned L. W. Brown, a district mine inspector, to assist in the field work and in the preparation of individual reports on each mine visited in this study. The writers acknowledge the helpful suggestions and cooperation given by these officials, the latter of whom assisted in the field work and prop red most of these sketches for the individual reports which wore submitted to the operator by the chief of the department. Thin report is a summary of the contents of the individual reports heretofore furnished the individual operator."

Aug 1, 1931

By C. B. Manula

Simulation continues to hold the spotlight among the Operations Research applications in the operational side of mining. One reason for this is the need to solve the many waiting line and storage problems common to the industry. A second reason for using simulation is the central requirement of retrospect testing. Acceptance of a model by management is more likely to depend on its tested performance rather than on the underlying validity aspects of the model itself. Mathematics have not been and may not be developed that will allow all desired system elements to be considered simultaneously. It is in this realm that simulation bridges the gap between theory and useful design procedures. One of the earliest published accounts of simulation at work in the coal industry is demonstrated by the application cf Monte Carlo methods to explore changes in future operating policies for an existing track system (Manula, 1963). By modifying certain control parameters, revision in design changes were evaluated in the computer rather than in the actual production section. A second application which has found wide use in practice is the VFI-OCR Face Simulator (Prelaz et al., 1968). The model developed here has the purpose of allowing the comparison of methods for room-and-pillar face operations end observing their effect on mining prior to actual installation. Proposed changes are tried in the model and the best of these are selected as a guide for better mire management: IBM's own simulation package, the System 360 General Purpose Simulator, has experienced heavy use in solving similar problems and other steady-state situations.

Jan 1, 1974

By A. J. Farstad

The principle objective of the research effort described herein was to identify as rapidly as possible a practical trapped miner location system. Much effort has been expended in the past on the development of a highly sophisticated seismic location system [1] for trapped miners. Field tests of this system have shown that the location accuracy is limited by a combination of seismic velocity anomalies, timing errors, and in general by the relatively weak nature of the signals received at the surface. It was first felt that similar propagation anomalies would be experienced by electromagnetic systems, but to a greater extent than the seismic. However, preliminary tests performed by Westinghouse on the Operations and Maintenance Program, Contract No. H0210063 in 1971 and 1972, indicated that an electromagnetic solution to the location problem may be more feasible than a seismic solution. Thus a more concentrated effort was launched in 1972 and 1973 to more completely determine the feasibility of electromagnetic location systems for trapped miners. Two different approaches to the location problem were undertaken on this program: (1) A pulsed electromagnetic system was developed by the Special Systems Division of Westinghouse in Baltimore, and (2) a Continuous Wave (CW) System was developed by Westinghouse Georesearch Laboratory (WGL) in Boulder, Colorado. Part I of this report will deal only with the development and results of CW Location System developed by WGL. The CW Location System was field tested at three eastern coal mines and at one western hardrock mine. The maximum overburden depth penetrated during these tests was 990 feet at the Robena No. 4 mine near Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. The earth conductivity at this mine was measured to be 1. 1X102 mhos/m, which combined with the deep overburden make this mine representative of expected worst case conditions for a coal mine EM location exercise.

Jan 1, 1973

By Michael S. Miller

In 1986 and 1987, at the request of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Bureau of Mines studied the nine separate parcels that comprise the 4,330-acre South Warner Contiguous Wilderness Study Area in order to evaluate their identified mineral resources. The nine parcels are along the east side of the South Warner Wilderness. They are, from north to south, the Granger, Milk, Cottonwood, Owl, Hornback, Eagle, Emerson, Barber, and Van Riper parcels. The Wilderness Study Area is underlain by basaltic, andesitic, and rhyolitic volcanic rocks and by sand and gravel deposits. Low-grade metamorphism is widespread in the volcanic rocks, with quartz, zeolites, datolite, chlorite, and calcite locally abundant in veins and amygdules. The rocks have been displaced by the mountain-front Surprise Valley fault and by crosscutting high-angle faults.

Jan 1, 1988

By Walter L. Finlay

The Bureau of Mines has developed prototype instruments promising to improve the ability to warn of imminent roof falls. An unusually good opportunity to test these comparatively under natural caving conditions was afforded by the forecasted caving in August 1977 of a mined-out region of the White Pine Mine. The latter's rock strata closely resemble those in many coal mines. The anticipated cave was of the competent-roof/weak-pillar type. It occurred as, and when, predicted. Automated convergence and bed separation gages agreed well with the standard manual convergence gage measurements. A micro seismic gage was found to be insensitive to the fall and may require different test conditions for effectiveness. A roof resistivity unit was tested under a separate Bureau of Mines contract. (No. H02720J7). An unplanned addition showed interesting potential.

Jan 1, 1978

By Charles L. Kimbell

Although virtually every available indicator of world mineral industry activity demonstrated a gain in 1983 relative to the 2 very poor years of 1981 and 1982, the overall prospects for future years seemed far from bright. There were significant upturns in the quantity and value of mineral commodities produced, traded, and consumed in 1983, and many nonfuel mineral prices advanced, although the price advances in current dollars in most instances barely compensated for inflation. The pattern of investment in exploration and development of new mining ventures and new plant construction reflected virtual industry-wide concern that substantial upturns in demand for mineral commodities in the near future were unlikely, at least for most large volume products. The world oil glut continued despite cutbacks in production, and substantial stocks of many other mineral commodities mitigated against growth in total productive capacity, at least among market economy nations. In these countries, development activity at both mines and plants was confined largely to programs aimed at substituting new, more efficient installations for old, uneconomic or marginally economic plants. Among the centrally planned economy countries, the pattern was somewhat different on the whole, but even there, growth in total productive capacity was evidently somewhat restrained, although it seemed questionable whether the restraint was a function of intentional planning or simply an inability to accomplish planned programs on schedule. International political events, particularly the Iran-Iraq war and the unstable situation in the eastern Mediterranean countries (Lebanon, Israel, and Syria), continued to adversely affect mineral industry activities in those areas. Similarly, the internal and international conflicts in Central America negatively influenced mineral industry operations there. In Afghanistan, it appeared that there was some upturn in the very modest mineral industry operations, but industry activities there undoubtedly continued to be affected by confrontations between the Soviets and the local citizenry.

Jan 1, 1985

By Robert C. Merritt

This report describes laboratory as well as pilot heap leaching investigations of low-grade sandstone ores from Wyoming, New Mexico, and Colorado. Sodium carbonate-bicarbonate solutions containing sodium hypochlorite extracted up to 86, 54, and 16 percent U308 from Wyoming, New Mexico, and Colorado ores, respectively. Ammonium carbonate-bicarbonate solutions containing sodium hypochlorite were less effective at leaching these ores. Acid leach in replicate pilot plant testing resulted in U308 extractions of 96, 88, and 81 percent from the Wyoming, New Mexico, and Colorado ores. The development of cost-effective processes for extracting uranium from low-grade ore is essential to the assurance of a continuing domestic supply of uranium.

Jan 1, 1977