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By E. C. Lane

[This is the tenth in a series of retorts on properties of commercial motor fuels, made in accordance with a cooperative agreement between the Cooperative Fuel Research (C.F.R.) Committee e end the Bureau of Mines of the United States Department of the Interior. The first report rave data on motor gasolines sold during .e winter of 1935-36.3/ The present report presents analytical data for 1,732 samples, representing the products of approximately 50 companies, which, as in previous surveys, include both lame and stall suppliers. In addition, the Pacific coast is represented by data that were averaged by the Pacific Coast Technical Group before being submitted and are published exactly as they were received. As in previous surveys, the data are divided into the three groups of samples of regular-price, premium-price, and third-grade gasolines, and each group has been averaged separately. he number of samples, items, and brands comprising each groan), exclusive of those of the Pacific coast, are as follows: Regular price, 934 samples, 230 items, and 50 brands; premium price, 465 saris samples, 184 items, 40 brands; third-grade gasolines, 360 samples, 177 items, and of these terms as used in the surveys are follows: Sample: The individual supply of gasoline obtained at the filling station and analyzed in the laboratory.]

Jan 1, 1941

By G. L. Mowrey, S. D. Maksimovic

An important element of the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) mining research program is the development and evaluation of reliable coal interface detection (CID) systems. Commercially available CID sensors based on natural gamma radiation (NGR) are only applicable if the immediate roof is composed of shaley material. The USBM has made numerous underground and laboratory measurements using several NGR systems approved for installation on mining machines by the Mine Safety and Health Administration. In addition, two small handheld NGR instruments were used to make comparative measurements. Underground NGR measurements in 10 different coal seams, potassium-uranium-thorium radiometric analyses on samples from 16 seams, and chemical analyses of coal and rock for correlation with NGR counts were made. Laboratory test results on the effect of air gap and sample thickness, size, and weight on the NGR measurements, as well as general results of the various NGR systems, are discussed.

Jan 1, 1995

By Sabri Ergun

Cost estimates and technical feasibility are compared for six chemical coal cleaning technologies. The comparison is based on conceptual application of the chemical cleaning methods for removal of pyritic and organic sulfur from a utility grade bituminous coal. The process layout includes receipt of 8,000 tpd ROM coal, fine coal pulverizing, desulfurization, and preparation of a compacted clean coal suitable for storage and shipment. The methods are: the Magnex iron pentacarbonyl process, the KVB dry oxidation process, the Battelle hydrothermal caustic leaching precess, the TRW Meyers ferric ion leaching process, the Ledgemont oxygen/water leaching process, and the Bureau of Mines/Energy Research and Development Administration air/water leaching process. Capital costs estimated for the desulfurization operation alone, scaled to 8,000 tpd, range between $14 MM and $122 MM, while estimated operating costs for desulfurization alone on the same scale of operation range between $7 and $17 per ton clean coal produced. Relatively little is known about the chemical cleaning of coal, and present cost estimates indicate that the method might not be competitive at its present state of development when used alone to clean utility grade coals for sulfur removal. The principal attractiveness of chemical coal cleaning lies in its potential for combination with physical cleaning to produce cost competitive compliance coals in a combined process with high-Btu yields.

Jan 1, 1977

The Bureau of Mines annually publishes statistical data reflecting technological trends in the minerals industry (metals and nonmetals except fuels). This report outlines recent developments and trends and the technology outlook for mining practices and metallurgical processing based on a review of the minerals industry during the past 2 years. A historical statistical series which indicates trends in the minerals industry has been extended with 1970 data. In addition, data are given from a 5-year Bureau of Mines cyclic canvass of froth flotation plants. Data for 1970 are compared with those of 1960 and 1965.

Jan 1, 1972

A symposium was held on January 30 and 31, 1973, at Pittsburgh, Pa., to review the state-of-the-art in designing and utilizing diesel-powered equipment in underground mining. The Health and Safety Activity of the Bureau of Mines sponsored the symposium with major assistance from the following four participating organizations: The American Mining Congress J. Allen Overton, President The United Mine Workers of America Arnold R. Miller, President The National Independent Coal Operator's Association Cloyd D. McDowell, President The Bituminous Coal Operators' Association, Inc. Guy Farmer, President Seventeen papers were presented during four half-day sessions devoted to the general subjects of the diesel engine, the place of the diesel in underground mining, health protection using diesels underground, and maintaining safety of diesels underground. Eleven of the speakers were from industrial organizations here and abroad; one represented the Provincial Government of Nova Scotia; two were with the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; and three reported on Bureau of Mines work related to diesels.

Jan 1, 1975

By Joseph H. Bilbrey

COBALT is a silvery gray metal which closely resembles nickel in appearance and properties although it is somewhat harder and more brittle. It is rather widely disseminated and is estimated to make up about 0.001 percent of the earth's crust as compared to 0.020 percent for nickel. Cobalt, one of the four ferromagnetic elements, is used for many magnetic applications. It is oxidation resistant, a property which when coupled with its moderately high melting point of 1,495° C., makes it useful in high-temperature applications. Although cobalt had been used by man as a coloring agent for glass and other ceramic products for 4,000 years, it was not isolated as a metal until 1742 and not established as an element until some 40 years later. Early in the 20th century, cobalt began to be used in alloys, and soon these applications displaced ceramics as the major consumer of cobalt. The use of cobalt in alloys gave considerable stimulus to production, and the world output of cobalt increased rapidly, rising from 400 tons in 1920 to 1,400 tons in 1930 and 5,500 tons in 1940. With the advent of the jet plane in the mid 1940's and the consequent increased need for cobalt-bearing high-temperature alloys, cobalt production again increased, reaching 7,900 tons in 1950. The increased demand for cobalt during the Korean war coupled with a large demand for stockpiling caused world production to more than double within the next 10 years, reaching a peak of 17,300 tons in 1959.

Jan 1, 1962

By A. B. Cecala

It has long been known that ventilation is a cost-effective method to lower respirable dust concentrations in all types of mining applications. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has been working on a number of different research techniques that use ventilation as a critical component to lower respirable dust levels at surface and metal/nonmetal operations in the United States. This article presents five such research efforts. The first research area discusses how improving the ventilation flow patterns in an iron ore mill facility lowered respirable dust concentrations by 31 pct throughout the primary grinding area. The second research area examines how respirable dust levels were lowered at a dimensional stone shop by using air cleaning units suspended from the ceiling. A third area discusses how improvements in ventilation at underground limestone mines lowered respirable dust concentrations. The fourth area examines how improvements in dust filtration and pressurization systems significantly impacted the air quality in enclosed cabs of surface mining equipment. The last area presents a newly developed clothes cleaning technique. This technique uses an air spray manifold to blow dust from a worker?s clothing in an enclosed booth, which confines the dust for capture and removal by a baghouse dust collector. These research areas represent an array of different control technologies to lower respirable dust concentrations. Ventilation is an integral part of these control technologies.

Jan 1, 2006

By A. U. Miller

"Ventilation is one of the meet important factors in mining, although until recent years less thought has probably been given to effective ventilation than to any other one phase of mining. In the past, very little, if any, attention was given air courses until they became so constricted by falls that the volume of air was greatly reduced; and, in addition, the stoppings and doors were so poorly constructed that only a very small percentage of air reached the face workings.As a matter of fact, mines have been visited where the volume of air being circulated in certain sections was much larger than in others, and where the management was striving to increase the flow of air in those sections with the least air current, believing the ventilation to be deficient. After sampling and analyzing the return air from the various sections in such mines it has been found that the quality of the air in certain places with the largest flow was more impure than in some of those with the least flow.In past years, practically all mine fans were operated by steam-driven engines supplied with steam from the mire boiler plant. No check was made on the steam consumption or the power cost of operating the fan, therefore the management had very little if any definite information as to cost of ventilating the mine.With the increased use of electrically-driven equipment in mines electricity is being used more and more to drive mine ventilating fans, and since in many instances the current is purchased from central power plants operators have come to realize that in many cases the cost of operating the fans is very high. Some engineers estimate that it ranges from 20 to 50 per cent of the total power cost of the mine. This information, together with the fact that mines are now being developed on a larger scale, requiring larger quantities of air for the men to dilute the gases liberated, has caused the large progressive companies to make, a more comprehensive study of mine ventilation, resulting in a decided improvement in the quality and quantity of air at the face workings, as well as reducing materially the ventilating costs."

Oct 1, 1930

By D. E. Pollock, Andrew B. Cecala

It has long been known that ventilation is a cost-effective method to lower respirable dust concentrations in all types of mining applications. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has been working on a number of different research techniques that use ventilation as a critical component to lower respirable dust levels at surface and metal/nonmetal operations in the United States. This article presents five such research efforts. The first research area discusses how improving the ventilation flow patterns in an iron ore mill facility lowered respirable dust concentrations by 31 pct throughout the primary grinding area. The second research area examines how respirable dust levels were lowered at a dimensional stone shop by using air cleaning units suspended from the ceiling. A third area discusses how improvements in ventilation at underground limestone mines lowered respirable dust concentrations. The fourth area examines how improvements in dust filtration and pressurization systems significantly impacted the air quality in enclosed cabs of surface mining equipment. The last area presents a newly developed clothes cleaning technique. This technique uses an air spray manifold to blow dust from a worker’s clothing in an enclosed booth, which confines the dust for capture and removal by a baghouse dust collector. These research areas represent an array of different control technologies to lower respirable dust concentrations. Ventilation is an integral part of these control technologies.

By T. M. Barczak, S. C. Tadolini

Pumpable roof supports provide an alternative approach to secondary support in underground mining. Unlike all other supports that are either partially or fully prefabricated prior to being transported into the mine, the pumpable support is fabricated in place in the mine entry. This reduces the underground material handling efforts and thus the injuries historically associated with in-mine support construction. On-site fabrication also facilitates application of the support in areas that are inaccessible to transportation equipment such as scoops or rail cars, making it ideal for many bleeder applications. One of the main advantages of the pumpable support is that it fully bridges from the mine floor to the roof, thereby eliminating the requirement of “topping off” the support with wooden wedges or crib blocks that soften most other support responses. This report examines the development of modern pumpable roof support technology and provides a full description of the performance capabilities of each of the support products now on the market.

By Joel N. Van Sant

THIS REPORT describes the occurrence, mining, and use of refractory clay in Colorado within Region III of the Federal Bureau of Mines, which includes the States of North arid South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona. Field work by the Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior, included examination of active and abandoned refractory-clay mines as well as a reconnaissance survey and sampling of numerous clay-bearing formations exposed in Colorado. Information from the survey and the sampling will help guide private industry in its search for virgin sources of refractory clay. Library research of published and unpublished reports from various Federal, State, and private sources was conducted during the early phase of the investigation. Most of the refractory clay mined in the Denver-Golden district of Colorado is not used for refractory purposes but is blended with other clays in the manufacture of structural clay products. The predominantly flint-clay de-posits in the Pueblo and Fremont County districts are mined and utilized chiefly in fabricating refractory products.

Jan 1, 1959

By S. J. Anderson

To deftne the capabilities of a nonexplosive excavation concept, the Bureau of Mines conducted reduced-scale laboratory tests of a mechanical excavation tool called a rock splitter. The splitter investigated was capable of applying combinations of radial and axial loads to rock when placed in a predrilled hole. Experiments conducted with the tool in concrete, limestone, and granite proved it capable of excavating all three materials. Break geometry in these three materials was the same, which encourages the prediction of performance in all rocks. The design of the radial-axial loading splitter's feather components significantly affected the tool's performance. It appears the design of this in-hole component should be tailored for the rock to be excavated.

Jan 1, 1987

By Parviz F. Rad

This Bureau of Mines report reviews laboratory and in-mine techniques for determining mechanical properties of coals, with special emphasis on the relationship between these properties and the minability of coal. An extensive bibliography is included.

Jan 1, 1973

By Michael A. Anuta

This report describes the potential for utilization of satellite observations for remote sensing of mine waste disposal areas. Four study sites consisting of metal and nonmetal mining areas in different climatic and physiographic regions of contigous United States were used in this investigation. The mine waste disposal sites consisted of mining of phosphates in Florida, copper in Arizona, silver in Idaho, and coal in West Virginia. Landsat satellite multispectral scanner observations were used together with aerial photographs, ground surveys, U.S. Geological Survey maps, and other ancillary information. Landsat digital data were categorized using automated supervised classification algorithms and an image analysis system. Detailed description of automated classification techniques employed and the accuracy attained is provided together with the results of manual interpretations. The inventory of areas distrubed for phosphate mining and a change detection investigation for-Polk County Florida were also undertaken during this study.

Jan 1, 1982

By M. W. Von Bernewitz

The Bureau of Mines receives frequent requests for information on the treatment of mercury ores, but as its own and almost all other publications on mercury are out of print, the Bureau has prepared this circular on the metal for the prospector and operator of small mines and plants. Mercury, commonly though improperly termed ?quicksilver?, is the only common metal that is liquid at ordinary temperatures. Mercury is used in the amalgamation of gold and silver, in power boilers, explosives, friction-less bearings, laboratory apparatus, lamps, medicine, paint, rectifiers, and for ?silvering.? The last mentioned is being superseded by silvering with silver. The use of mercury boilers may increase when they are thoroughly understood, but amalgamation is -being replaced to some extent by the use of corduroy and other collecting mediums, such as jigs and flotation cells.

Jan 1, 1937

By Walter C. Lorenz

In connection with its renewed study seeking solutions to problems created by release of acid water from bituminous coal mines, the Bureau of Mines recently surveyed reports already written on the subject. This publication is based on that search. The Problem Poor distribution of water is evident on an ordinary geographic map of the United States. The more abundant supplies of surface water appear to be centered in the northeast, the southeast, and the central humid areas of the country. It is in the midst of this abundant surface water, in the Ohio River Valley, that most of the bituminous coal is mined. Varied industry has located in the valley to use the coal and the river. The coal is a source of power and o raw material. The river provides transportation for raw and finished materials; equally important, it provides the water that is used for cooling and processing in manufacturing. It also serves as a vehicle for the disposal of waste.

Jan 1, 1962

Research personnel from the Bureau of Mines, a representative of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, and research contractors for the Bureau of Mines met with other Government and industry representatives at three seminar locations in December 1980 to discuss the findings and products of Bureau research on mine safety training. The research program is aimed at providing assistance to the mining community in its efforts to reduce industrial-type, human-error accidents through research establishing performance based methods and media for employee training. Research emphasis is directed toward development of baseline materials and instructional models; development of methods for structuring and evaluating health and safety, supervisory, and occupational training; and the continued investigation and application of current learning and simulation technology that could significantly enhance the effectiveness of training opportunities.

Jan 1, 1981

By M. B. Boyer, C. H. Herty, F. A. Hartgen, G. L. Frear

"DEFINITION OF VISCOSITYViscosity has been defined as the resistance experienced by one portion of a liquid moving over another portion, such as one molecular plane moving over an adjacent plane. A measure of viscosity is the force required to keep one plane in motion at Unit velocity, the other plane being considered stationary. Figure 1 illustrates the general idea that the surface friction between two adjacent areas will be greater the larger the molecules. Therefore it may be assumed that viscosity will be increased by molecular association or agglomeration, and likewise dissociation rill decrease viscosity. According to Maxwell (1)6 the unit of viscosity, the poise, is the tangential force per square centimeter of area of either of two horizontal planes 1 centimeter apart, one of which is fixed while the other moves with unit velocity, the space between being filled with viscous liquid of unit viscosity.The need for a satisfactory apparatus and experimental procedure for the determination of viscosity of high-melting materials at temperatures corresponding to those in pig-iron and steel making has been recognized during the past few decades. The condition of the slag during the smelting and refining periods in the iron- and steel-making processes exerts an important influence on the metal product obtained, this slag condition really meaning the state of viscosity or, vice versa, fluidity, which the slag attains under certain conditions."

Jun 1, 1934

By H. A. Dierks

Implementation of the joint Federal-State control program established in 1955 to cope with the mine water problem in the Pennsylvania anthracite region is described in this report. The increasing severity of the water problem in the anthracite mines has necessitated major adjustments as this continuing program has progressed. Since 1941 the Federal Government has recognized the mine water problem as an important factor in the worsening economic condition of the anthracite region by initiating scientific and technologic investigations and establishing the Anthracite Flood-Prevention Section in the Bureau of Mines in 1948. On the basis of comprehensive investigations and studies, the results of which were published in numerous reports and bulletins, the Anthracite Mine Drainage Commission of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania formulated a plan that served as a background for legislative action in 1955, resulting in Public Law 162, 84th Congress (Act of July 15, 1955 (69 Stat. 352; 30 U.S.C. 571-576)), for the Federal Government, and Act No. 82 of the General Assembly, July 7, 1955, for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The report covers 29 mine flood control projects approved and executed in implementing the aforementioned legislative acts. Essential engineering and cost details for each project are given, together with an evaluation of the effect that the installed facilities have on alleviating the mine water problem as it concerns individual mines and the anthracite industry as a whole.

Jan 1, 1962

By Daniel I. Carey

Current and potential dragline reclamation usage was evaluated for the U.S. coalfields based on data gathered and analyzed during field surveys, literature reviews and contacts with manufacturers. It was concluded that current wining plans have been adapted to federal and state strip mine and reclamation laws in ways which limit the potential for drag line reclamation systems at active mine sites. At abandoned conventional contour mine sites in steep-sloping areas such as central Appalachia, however, it was found that dragline reclamation systems have great potential application and may be the only practical solution to many reclamation problems. Alternative dragline systems were examined for restoring abandoned sites, and it was concluded that a tower excavator system offered superior characteristics and should be evaluated and developed under field conditions. A testing program was developed to provide a framework for the monitoring and analysis of cost, production and environmental data during a field demonstration of a tower excavator system.

Jan 1, 1981