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By Hiram C. Draper

The Mining Division of the Bureau of Mines, in cooperation with the Obstacle and Demolition Branch, Engineer Research and Development Laboratories, Department of the Army, undertook some extensive tests to determine the effectiveness and limitations of using standard demolition-type shaped charges in underground Mining. The tests proved the shaped charge has no practical application in the functions of mining covered by this report. At an approximate cost of 0 per foot hole plus spall produced by the most efficient single shots with the M3 shaped charge, the cost is over 20 times that of producing a better hole with a rock drill. The concussion would prohibit its use in many mines, and the excess carbon monoxide gas liberated by the pontolite explosive would be an additional hazard when used underground.

Jan 1, 1948

By Robert J. Tuchman

This report presents the origins of the Bureau of Mines and the evolution of the Pittsburgh Research Center from its inception to its present form. Areas of major research emphasis over the years, as well as administrative reorganizations, are discussed.

Jan 1, 1998

By Jr. Hazen

Two statistical techniques, the mean-square-successive-difference test and correlation, are used to investigate the problem of assigning an area of influence to an assay. Data from five hydrothermal deposits, Climax molybdenum, Cebolla Creek titaniferous iron, San Manuel copper, Piedra Hueca copper, and Butte copper, are studied. Two groupings of the assays are used for the mean-square-successive-difference tests. One group involves an increasing sample volume by reaveraging assays to represent a longer sample intervals, the other by regrouping assays to represent longer sample intervals without a change in sample volume.

Jan 1, 1967

By Richard D. Miller

This publication contains routine analyses and related source data for 434 gas samples from 16 States. These samples were collected during calendar year 1961 as part of the continuous survey for the occurrence of helium in natural gas conducted by the Helium Activity of the Bureau of Mines. The analyses herein were made by mass spectrometer and Frost helium apparatus. The most important helium resource discovery made during 1961 was the Table Mesa field in San Juan County, N. Mex. This field, Which has an estimated recoverable helium reserve of 850 million cubic feet, is now supplying gas containing approximately 5.4 percent helium to the Bureau of Mines Navajo Helium Plant at Shiprock, N. Mex.

Jan 1, 1964

By Richard D. Miller

This publication contains routine analyses and related source data for 434 gas samples from 16 States. These samples were collected during calendar year 1961 as part of the continuous survey for the occurrence of helium in natural gas conducted by the Helium Activity of the Bureau of Mines. The analyses herein were made by mass spectrometer and Frost helium apparatus. The most important helium resource discovery made during 1961 was the Table Mesa field in San Juan County, N. Mex. This field, Which has an estimated recoverable helium reserve of 850 million cubic feet, is now supplying gas containing approximately 5.4 percent helium to the Bureau of Mines Navajo Helium Plant at Shiprock, N. Mex.

Jan 1, 1964

By R. S. McClain

Continuous-circuit flotation and batch-scale precipitation tests were made by the Bureau of Nines to determine rejection of carbon and recovery of fluorine and aluminum compounds from aluminum reduction plant residues, About 40 to 60 pounds each of aluminum fluoride and cryolite are lost for each ton of aluminum produced. Gasoline and turpentine were satisfactory for floating carbon from both fresh water and saturated solution systems. Soluble fluorine and aluminum compounds were recovered by precipitation with sodium aluminate and carbon dioxide. Over 99 percent of the carbon was removed by flotation. Fluorine and aluminum recoveries up to 77 and 63 percent, respectively, were obtained in a combined precipitate and nonfloat product, In the fresh water system the combined product was mostly cryolite with some gibbsite. In the saturated solution system the product was mostly sodium fluoride, some cryolite, and minor amounts of gibbsite.

Jan 1, 1963

By Guy A. Johnson

Combining contract and in-house research, the Bureau of Mines has developed and inmine-tested a novel device to improve the field-of-view of operators of off-highway mining equipment. This device utilizes a downward-looking, flat fresnel lens. The lens, plus louvers to reduce glare, is housed in a protective steel structure. The complete unit is called a blind area viewer. The viewer, when mounted on the right- front corner of the deck of most large haulage trucks, will increase a driver's direct field-of-view from about 35 pct (of where he/she has to drive) to about 80 pct. The improved visibility allows the driver to see possible collision hazards and roadway obstacles better, thus improving mine safety and increasing productivity. Economic analysis shows that the blind area viewers, which are now commercially available, pay for themselves in about a month on a 170-ton-capacity truck. The viewers are also applicable to other large mining equipment, such as front-end loaders, draglines, and downhole drills, or any place where seeing around a corner would be advantageous, such as along conveyor flights in processing plants during startups.

Jan 1, 1983

By Jack I. Paige

The Bureau of Mines conducted studies to provide data on the room temperature mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V alloy cast in waterglass-bonded zircon sand and to determine the effect of hot iso-static pressing (HIP) on these properties. Data on the cast and annealed Ti-6Al-4V alloy were compared with published data for forged and investment-cast Ti-6Al-4V alloy. The average Charpy V-notch impact strength compared favorably with the typical values of 17 ft?lbf for wrought material and 19.2 ft?lbf for investment-cast material. The room temperature mechanical proper-ties of cast and annealed material compared favorably with published values for investment-cast Ti-6Al-4V alloy and exceeded the specifications for (1) titanium and titanium alloy castings, grade C-5 according to ASTM B367-69, and (2) titanium alloy bars and forgings as specified in AMS4928H, except for the AMS4928H minimum requirement for reduction in area (25 pct). The minimum requirements are: tensile strength, 130 ksi; yield strength, 120 ksi (0.2 pct); and elongation, 6 pct. None of the specimens tested met the AMS4928H minimum requirement for reduction in area. The HIP process healed the internal casting porosity in the test specimens, but the fatigue strength was not significantly improved. The fatigue properties of both the cast and cast plus hot isostatically pressed castings were significantly lower than those of wrought products.

Jan 1, 1984

By Hal J. Kelly

A picture of the ceramic industrial potential of the Pacific Northwest States is presented by reviewing the present ceramic industries, raw-material resources, and current market demands. A resume is given of the industrial plants manufacturing ceramic ware as well as available information on raw-material resources. No attempt was made to prospect for new deposits but rather to evaluate, insofar as possible, those already known. Since much of the industry is concentrated on the Pacific coast, most of the information available on resources concerns deposits in that area. Large, undeveloped districts in Montana and Idaho, however, offer promise of larger reserves of ceramic raw materials. Average annual production, some operating costs, and annual power consumption are given for each of the plants. Production and some cost figures are listed to show the limited nature of the present industry and to suggest fields open for new development.

Jan 1, 1956

By Vernon O. Markworth

This report contains the results of tests performed on three large diesel engines to determine their ability to meet selected criteria of the Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration Regulations for equipment used in gassy, non-coal mines. Study efforts were first directed toward determining the types of equipment expected to be used in underground oil shale mines. Three typical engines in the 800-1200 horsepower range were then selected for testing. Intake flame arresters, exhaust scrubbers, and water jacketed exhaust system were designed and built for each engine. During testing, each engine was evaluated for its gaseous emissions output, adequacy of the exhaust gas cooling system, ability to withstand internal explosions, and adequacy of the flame arresters. Surface temperatures of the engine and exhaust cooling system were determined under full load operation.

Jan 1, 1978

By W. H. Coghill, B. W. Gandrud, F. D. DeVaney

"The self-fluxing iron ores of Alabama are the foundation of the thriving iron and steel industry of that State. In addition to these deposits of self fluxing ores there are seams containing practically the same percentages of iron but too much silica. These ores at present are valueless, but if they could be concentrated by reducing the silica content, the ore reserves of the Birmingham district would be greatly augmented. A detailed report on the iron-ore deposits of the district, describing the types of ore and their extent, has been published.In forwarding its mineral conservation policies the United States Bureau of Mines has given some attention to the siliceous ores of this district.The low cost of gravity concentration gives this process first rank in the beneficiation of iron ores. For this reason many experimenters have tried to concentrate the Alabama iron ores on tables. In the face of the early failures a new trial has been made and the results have justified the effort.In this work more attention than formerly has been given to the physical, properties of the ores. The removable siliceous gangue is in the form of oolitic grains which ""shell"" out like corn, leaving the hematite as rich high-grade ""slime"" and as clean granular grains. The ""slime concentrate"" may be recovered by well known desliming processes. The oolitic grains and granular hematite are separated on tables."

May 1, 1929

By M. S. Oudenhoven

The Bureau of Mines conducted an investigation to determine the theoretical stress distribution in the vicinity of explosively expanded rock bolt anchors independent of their bolts. Plane-strain solutions applicable to this problem were obtained by combining the field pressure with the uniform pressure that would be produced by vertically placed anchors having 2-, 3-, and 4-foot spacings. High rock stress which would be produced by an anchor was localized, as would be expected from St. Venant's effect, and increased as the field pressure decreased.

Jan 1, 1967

By N. S. Dalal, Xiaoya Sun, Xianglin Shi

"The in vivo toxicity of vanadium(V) has been found to correlate with the depletion of cellular glutathione and related non-protein thiols. With a view to understanding the mechanism for this observation, we have investigated the oxidation of glutathione, cysteine N·acetylcystcinc and pcnicil· lamine by vanadium(V), using electron spin resonance (ESR) and ESR spin trapping methodology. The spin trap used was 5,5-dimethyl-l-pyrroline I-oxide (DMPO). It is found that the oxidation of these thiols by vanadium(V) generates the corresponding thiyl radicals and vanadilim- (IV) complexes. The results suggest that free radical reactions play a significant role in the depletion of cellular thiols by vanadium(V) and hence in vanadium(V) toxicity. 1. INTRODUCTIONThis communication reports on the identification of thiyl radicals formed as intermediates in the reaction of vanadium(V) with glutathione (GSH) and related nonprotein thiols. This study was undertaken because the biochemical mechanism of vanadium toxicity is still not fully understood,. despite being a topic of current research activity [1-20). As to possible clues, it is known that vanadium is most toxic when administered in its pentavaient state [21), and that vanadium(V) administration into laboratory mice reduces cellular levels of NAD(P)H and GSH [22). While the oxidation of NAD(P)H by vanadium has been studied extensively [16-20), that of glutathione and related non-protein thiols has been paid less attention. On the other hand, GSH and related thiols are important cellular antioxidants [23). Their functions include decomposing lipid peroxides and protecting cell membranes [23-25). Thus any reduction in the cellular contents of such nonprotein thiols after vanadium exposure may result in the accumulation of lipid peroxides which might ultimately lead to tissue injury. With a view of finding the mechanism for this thiol depletion process, we have investigated reactions of non-protein thiols with vanadium(V). Particular attention has been paid to the detection of thiyl radicals, since it has been postulated [l] (but not experimentally proven) that the glutathionyl radical (GS·) might be an intermediate in the reaction between vanadium(V), NADH and GSH. We have used electron spin resonance (ESR) and ESR spin trapping methodology for investigating the reactions of GSH, cysteine, N-acetylcysteine and penicillamine with vanadium(V). The results show that the corresponding thiyl radicals are indeed formed in the one-electron reduction of vanadium(V) by all of the above mentioned thiols."

Jan 1, 1990

By John Nagy, Austin R. Cooper, Murray Jacobson

Data obtained in the Bureau's study of dust explosions of 313 elemental metals , alloys , catalysts , and ores comprising 54 types of material are summarized . Information is given on ignition temperature , spark energy for ignition , minimum explosion concentration , explosion pressure , rate of pressure rise , and in some instances , the admixed inert dust and oxygen concentration in an atmosphere required to prevent ignition of dust dispersions . The effects of particle diameter on explosibility and pyrophoricity are also discussed .

Jan 1, 1964

By G. W. Jones, F. E. Scott, R. E. Kennedy

Methylene chloride , dichloromethane CH2C12 , a low - boiling and highly volatile organic chlorinated compound, is used extensively as a refrigerant in air conditioning installations , as an intermediate in organic synthesis , and as a solvent for cellulose acetate and other materials . As its vapors are not inflammable in air at ordinary temperatures , it can be used to advantage where it would be highly dangerous to use ordinarily inflammable solvents . The question has been raised as to its inflammable range in pure oxygen and in air enriched with oxygen . To find the answer to this question, tests were carried out with various mixtures of methylene chloride , oxygen, and nitrogen mixtures . It was found that methylene chloride has wide limits of inflammability in pure oxygen . Additional tests were then made to establish the complete range of inflammability of these gases . The methylene chloride employed in the tests was cbtained from the Eastman Kodak Co. It had a reported boiling range of 40.5 ° to 42.0 ° C. and a density of 1.322 at 20 ° C.

Oct 1, 1943

By Will H. Coghill, I. L. Feld, G. D. Coe

"INTRODUCTION During the course of research on the beneficiation of the Big Seam iron ores of Birmingham, Ala., an urgent need was felt for quick iron assays of grab samples for mill control. Since the gangue minerals in these ores - quartz, limestone, and clay - all have about the same specific gravity, the use of a specific-gravity method was anticipated as a means of measuring the iron content. The idea of estimating the composition of a mineral mixture by measuring its specific gravity is by no means new. However, the usual method of carry in out this idea proved unreliable when applied to the Big Seam ores. The usual rapid method of determining specific gravity consists of measuring the volume of a known weight of sample that has been dried at high temperature. The inadequacy of this method led to the development of the rapid, modified, specific-gravity determination described in this paper.This work- was an incidental development resulting from research on beneficiation of iron ores by the Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior, in cooperation with the University of Alabama and ore producing companies of the Birmingham district."

Jan 1, 1946

By R. G. Knickerbocker

[The Electromet l'.ur.::ic'l.l LC:tt:n~ to:!'"' of' the BUl~6au 0: M_nes, Boulder City, ..rev. I invest~.f-'8tes th~ r.: nc= I (l.op itr. in tr.e redon around Boulder Dam, and thi" p2pe:.. ., 'est.3nttl t rt") d.c-velo !l'\CtltR of n seriAl of studies on "Joron uineral~ mario n.~ t~l"'t f1tn.: ... o]

Jan 1, 1940

By John Ward Smith

The potential economic value of oil shale depends on the products from thermal degradation of the rock, because no other practical method for producing valuable material from oil shale has been found. Detailed study of thermal degradation behavior can aid in characterizing oil shales and their deposits and in evaluating oil-shale processing methods, Numerous publications describe various pyrolysis properties of oil shales (see surveys 3, 9, 11 and articles 1, 2, 4-8, 10, 12),4 but they do not describe a generally applicable analytical procedure for detailed evaluation of thermal degradation products. The analytical method presented here for such evaluations is designed to provide for: 1. Control of retorting conditions--temperature, heating, rate, reaction atmosphere--plus some control over retort pressure and carrier-gas flow, 2. Precise direct gravimetric measurement of the thermal degradation products--oil, water, gas, and spent charge (residue after thermal treatment of the charge). 3. Samples of all products. 4. Determination of the identities and amounts of gaseous compounds produced. 5. Elemental analysis and gross heating value of all products. 6. Determination of the distribution in the retorting products of the elements present in the original samples.

Jan 1, 1962

By F. Chen, L. J. Gaydos, L. M. Demers, D. C. Kuhn, S. C. Sun

"In this report, we demonstrate that NF-KB, a ubiquitous transcription factor, plays an essential role in silica-induced inflammatory mediator production in the mouse macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. Compared to the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), silica mediated a stronger activation of NF-KB p50/p50 homodimer at early phase of poststimulation. Furthermore, activation of NF-xB by silica and LPS appears to be mediated by different signal transduction pathways. Both silica and LPS increased mRNA expression in these cells for cyclooxygenase II, inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumor necrosis factor-a and interleukin- I a. This expression was attenuated along with the inhibition of NF-KB activation. It is well documented that exposure of alveolar macrophages to silica can initiate excessive production of inflammatory mediators and cytokines from several early response genes (1-3). At the DNA level, a common structural characteristic of these genes is the presence of one to five NF-lCB binding sequences (KB) in the 5'-flanking region (4-6). In resting cells, NF-KB is retained in the cytoplasm in an inactive form by binding to inhibitory protein known as hcBcx, hcB~. p 105 (precursor of p50) and p 100 (precursor of p52) (7-9). Upon cellular stimulation, these inhibitory proteins are proteolytically degraded or processed by certain proteases, which allows the liberated NF-KB to translocate into the nucleus as an activated form to initiate or regulate early response gene transcription by binding to its consensus element (GGGRNNYYCC)(7).In this report, we demonstrate that silica can efficiently induce NF-lCB activation in RAW 264.7 cells, and that silica displays different characteristic from LPS in the activation of NF-KB, both with respect to NF-KB subtype composition and the signal transduction pathway that leads to the activation of NF-KB. In addition, abrogation of NF-KB activation by inhibiting the protease can dramatically reduce the mRNA expression of cyclooxygenase II, inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumor necrosis factor-ex (TNF-o.) and interleukin-lex (IL-lex). These findings strongly suggest that NF-KB plays an essential role in silica-induced inflammatory mediator production in the monocyte/ macrophage cells."

Dec 1, 1996

By F. K. McIntosh, A. F. Robertson, T. J. Ballard

"INTRODUCTION Molybdenum deposits occur in Halifax County, N. C., near the eastern border of the Piedmont province. The deposits are associated with a small granite body about 2 miles long and half a mile wide. Molybdenite is the principal ore mineral and is found as disseminations or thin stringers in quartz veins and occasionally in the enclosing granite or schist wall rock.The deposits were investigated by Almon F. Robertson and Charles J. Cohen, engineers of the Bureau of Mines, in 1942 and 1943, who recommended that the deposits be explored to supplement reserves of critical war minerals.The Bureau made the initial exploration of the deposits in July 1943 and continued its work to January 1944. Drilling was resumed from July to December 1946 to test the deposits at &eater depth than had been attempted during the previous exploration."

Dec 1, 1947