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By Larry L. Wischhoefer

The Automated Breathing Metabolic Simulator (ABMS) is a versatile machine capable of performing almost any physiologically appropriate respiratory simulation. The first ABMS was delivered to the Bureau of Mines by IBM in 1973. Since then efforts have been made to refine the systems and components which make up the ABMS including the Breathing Simulator Module (BSM), Gas Analysis Module (GAM), and Supervisory Controller (SC)-each of which are also capable of stand-alone operation. Since September 1980, Reimers Consultants has been testing and modifying the ABMS and its components in order to improve the equipment and to develop simulation criteria and parameters. Changes have been made to the Phase I Design Plan and Performance Specifications; future improvements based on current experience are recommended; and test results of full scale testing conducted by Reimers Consultants in November 1983 on several types of breathing apparatus are reported and illustrated.

Jan 1, 1984

By William E. Sopper

Heat-dried municipal sludge was applied to a barren burned anthracite refuse bank in 1974. Sludge was applied at rates of 0, 40, 75, and 150 dry metric tons per hectare" Ten species of trees were planted and five species of grasses and legumes were seeded for evaluation. One plot was also irrigated with sewage effluent. The 150 t/ha sludge application rate produced the best overall herbaceous vegetation growth response. The 40 and 75 t/ha sludge application rates produced the best tree seedling growth response. Foliar analyses for trace metals indicated no phytotoxity problems. Analyses of leachate water at the three-foot soil depth indicated that the sludge applications did not impair water quality. Results of the study indicate that treated municipal sludge can be used to revegetate land disturbed by mining activities without adverse effects on the vegetation or water quality.

Jan 1, 1978

By Michael J. Beus

This Bureau of Mines report describes the development of load cells for measuring compressive loads in timber and lock-bolt support systems commonly used in. coal; metal, and nonmetal mines Design and evaluation is covered in detail to insure a reliable, accurate, and practical instrumentation scheme. The load cells are relatively inexpensive and adaptable to various size support systems. User-oriented procedures are emphasized, and design equations were reduced to a series of nomographs. Laboratory evaluation, destructive testing, environmental testing, and tests to determine the effect of extraneous loads were conducted. Field performance was evaluated in conjunction with ongoing Bureau projects at a metal mine in North Idaho and a coal mine in Utah. Load cells utilizing a titanium alloy as the cell body and weldable strain gages as the strain-sensing components satisfied the basic design and performance criteria, and with minor design modifications, the load cells can be adapted to many mining applications.

Jan 1, 1974

By F. E. Cash

"Explosions in bituminous coal mines are preventable. The combination of adequate ventilation, thorough rock-dusting, and water on the cutter bars of mining machines and of empty and loaded cars will certainly reduce the hazard to a minimum, if not remove it entirely. This is the attitude taken by the Woodward Iron Co. in lessening or removing the dust and gas explosion hazard from its Dolomite and Mulga mines.This report was made possible through the willingness of Frank H. Crockard, president of the Woodward Iron Co. to make records available and to authorize their publication for the benefit of the coal-mining industry.The compilation of these data and preparation of maps was facilitated by the cooperation of M. Heard, general superintendent of coal mines, J. B. Whatley, assistant general super-intendent of coal, and R. P. Whetmore, chief mining engineer.The Dolomite and Mulga mines are about 16 miles southwest of Birmingham, Jefferson County, Ala., on a company owned and operated railroad which connects ore mines, coal mines, coke ovens, and furnaces.In the Dolomite property there is a 30°, 860-foot, double-tracked slope for hoisting, three manway and air slopes and one air shaft, all in rock.At Mulga there is a 220-foot hoisting shaft, an air shaft and two manways, and material and air slopes, all in rock to the coal bed.The coal in both mines comes from the Pratt bed, which is the next coal above the Mary Lee bed in the Warrior Basin. The coal is horizontal or slightly undulating, with thickness varying from 36 to 72 inches and averaging 50 inches.The method of mining is essentially room-and-pillar with modifications for mechanized sections. The mines produced approximately 1,100,000 tons with 2,328,309 man-hours exposure n 1929 and 900,000 tons with 1,697,436 man-hours exposure in 1930.Through the work of the safety department the entire personnel in the coal mines, as well as in other departments, makes safety an essential part of efficient operation.Both mines are gassy; Dolomite produces about 334,000 cubic feet and Mulga about 919,000 cubic feet of methane every 24 hours.The ventilation maps, two of Dolomite mines (figs. 1 and 2) and one of Mulga (fig. 3) give as much of the details of ventilation as is practicable to put on maps of such scale. As will be seen from these maps there are two main ventilating fans in Dolomite mine and two in Mulga mine and the general direction of the air travel is indicated by long arrows to fan 1 and short arrows to fan 2 in each mine. Each fan has a gas or steam auxiliary drive and each mine has a complete fan and power unit ready for operation in emergency.In Dolomite, recently taken data show that fan 1 exhausts 82,000 cubic feet of air per minute at 3.2-inch water-gage pressure, with an analyzed methane content of 0.15 per cent, and fan 2 exhausts 115,500 cubic feet of air at 3.8-inch pressure and 0.10 per cent of methane. In addition, a Capell fan at No. 2 air shaft is a standby or emergency unit.In Mulga recently taken data show that fan 1 exhausts 83,000 cubic feet of air per minute at 3.0-inch pressure and 0.18 per cent of methane, and fan 3 exhaust 119,000 cubic feet of air per minute at 5.4 inch pressure and 0.35 per cent of methane. Fan 2 at No. 2 shaft is a standby or emergency unit for the Mulga mine.The ventilation is on a split system in both mines. All part split and total returns are measured, sampled, and analyzed weekly, requiring one man two days each week. During December, 1930, 77 samples were collected and analyzed in Mulga and 78 in Dolomite. Two weekly reports covering part of December, 1930, are given here so that they can be studied to show control of ventilation in the Dolomite and Mulga mines. In the event that a split sample shows more than 0.50 per cent of methane, immediate steps are taken to lower the explosive-gas content. The reports follow:"

Mar 1, 1932

By A. D. Garman

This paper presents one of a series of digests of foreign mining legislation and court decisions which is being prepared in advance of a general report relative to the right of American citizens to explore for minerals and to own and operate mines in various foreign countries . This interpretation of the laws of Japan has been prepared from the best available information in Washington but is released subject to correction and amplification , if necessary , by the proper American diplomatic and consular officers to whom it is being referred through the courtesy of the Department of State . It is based on the law and regulations of 1905 as revised in December , 1915 , and translated by J. de Becker , LL.B. Occasional words and phrases quoted herein are accordingly taken from this translation and have not been checked against the original . The references are to the law ( as distinguished from the regulations ) unless otherwise stated .

Jul 1, 1930

This section of Minerals and Materials analyzes the following three factors affecting the recent performance of the U.S. and world mineral industries: 1) the health of the U.S. and world economies, 2) the level of interest rates and 3) the performance of productivity in both the U.S. mineral industry and the general economy. While these indicators do not exhaust the possible critical factors, they represent an initial attempt to probe some of the considerations underlying the performance of the U.S. minerals and materials industry. The U.S. and World Economies It is essential to analyze the state of the U.S. and world economy because the demand for minerals and materials is a derived demand; that is, since minerals and materials are used in the productive process, the demand for them is a direct function of the demand for the finished products of which they are a basic input. Thus, the demand for minerals and materials is directly affected by changes in present and planned consumption and investment expenditures. The past two issues of this publication have highlighted the generally discouraging performance of the national and inter-national economies. Briefly, the world economy is in the third year of the first long recession in recent history where inflation rates have remained above 5 percent. With many countries either unable or unwilling to support domestic spending while inflation continues, there has been a growing tendency to institute trade-restrictive policies to support domestic demand. The resulting weakened demand conditions in exporting nations have had a direct effect on the mineral industry.

Jan 1, 1982

By Sheridan J. Rodgers

Improved methods of dust control in the metal and nonmetal mining industries were studied. Preliminary dust surveys were made at selected mines and three mines were chosen for additional studies. Dust control effectiveness was evaluated using full shift gravimetric sampling and GCA Dust Monitor readings. Analyses for free silica content and particle size distribution were conducted. A belt washing system which was used to control dust at a transfer point was evaluated. The average reduction of respirable dust was 48% and the average reduction of total dust was 78%. The belt washing system not only maintained the work place within compliance but reduced maintenance problems along the beltway by 90%. Exhaust ventilation at a crusher was evaluated for control effectiveness. Ventilation along with operation of the crusher control room under slight positive pressure, maintained the work place within compliance. An exhaust ventilation system was designed for use at an underground rotary dump. Although the system was not installed or evaluated, details on the design are given. High expansion foam was used at an ore chute in an attempt to control dust at the draw point and loading point. Results indicated that foam did not effectively control dust.

Jan 1, 1978

By Charles H. Simmons

Two versions of a VF transceiver to aid in location of trapped miners has been developed and tested. The belt worn model was produced in both transmitter and transceiver configurations. In addition, a quantity of the belt worn models were fabricated using aluminum wire instead of copper in order to reduce unit weight. Ten prototypes of a battery cap model VF transceiver were also fabricated demonstrating further unit size and weight reduction while maintaining electrical performance. Samples of- both versions were tested environmentally and the test data is included in this report. While both versions of the VF transceiver are similar electrically, and are constructed using convential manufacturing techniques, the battery cap model realizes a lower total weight, smaller volume and production cost than the belt worn version. Operationally, the battery cap model assures that the VF transceiver will always be with the miner.

Jan 1, 1981

By Sidney Katell

This report, covering the period January 1966 through December 1966, is a continuation of a series that began with the publication of Information Circular 7516 in October 1944. It is the eighth in a series of reports prepared in cooperation with the American Association of Cost Engineers. The abstracted articles are concerned with all phases of cost engineering in the field of chemical and petroleum plants and related subjects. They are from the following sources: 1. American Association of Cost Engineers Bulletin. 2. Bureau of Mines Information Circulars. 3. Bureau of Mines Reports of Investigations. 4. Chemical Engineering.

Jan 1, 1967

By J. R. Thoenen

In the summer of 1937 the authors began a series of time studies of the various processes employed in the' production of crushed stone. These studies, made at quarries scattered over the eastern and southeastern parts of the United States, have not been completed, but to make results available to the industry as early as possible it was decided to publish summaries of the studies made to January 1, 1939, as a series of progress reports. The first of these reports dealt with power-shovel loading and was issued as Report of Investigations 3461 in September 1939. The present circular discusses analyses of the time Studies of the haulage systems at the same quarries. OBJECT OF STUDY The pressure of business problems frequently requires the entire atten¬tion of quarry management and in consequence internal plant economies often are neglected, Also, operating officials absorbed in their local problems are prone to overlook possible economies that would attract attention immediately were they critically examining another plant. The authors felt that similar studies of many plants by impartial engineers would disclose possibilities for cost reduction or greater efficiency in internal plant processes.

Jan 1, 1939

By J. R. Thoenen

In the summer of 1937 the authors began a series of time studies of the various processes employed in the production of crushed stone. These studies, made at quarries scattered over the eastern and southeastern parts of the United States, have not been completed, but to make results available to thee industry as early as possible it was decided to publish summaries of the studies made to January 1, 1939, as a series of progress reports. The first of these reports dealt with power-shovel loading and was issued as Report of Investigations 3461 in September 1939. The present circular discusses analyses of the time Studies of the haulage systems at the same quarries. OBJECT OF STUDY The pressure of business problems frequently requires the entire attention of quarry management and in consequence internal plant economies often are neglected, Also, operating officials absorbed in their local problems are prone to overlook possible economies that would attract attention immediately were they critically examining another plant. The authors felt that similar studies of many plants by impartial engineers -would disclose possibilities for cost reduction or greater efficiency in internal plant processes.

Jan 1, 1939

By Larmon J. Heath

The Bureau of Mines explored the use of air or natural gas for recovering additional oil from natural water-drive reservoirs with little or no original gas saturation. Engineering and production data for a field in the Mid-Continent area, results of limited laboratory experiments, and data shown in the literature were considered. Injecting air into a water-coned well could seriously damage the well. Injecting natural gas into the watered-out zone could improve the producing water-oil ratio. In the reservoir studied, oil recovery can be increased by injecting natural gas to decrease water-oil ratios. Laboratory tests on a core from the field show an increase in oil recovery of 7.6 percent of the original oil in place as a result of increasing the free gas saturation. This recovery could amount to as much as an additional 6 million barrels of oil from this field.

Jan 1, 1966

By B. J. Moore

This publication contains analyses and related source data for 352 natural gas samples from wells and pipelines in 18 States and 5 foreign countries. All of the samples were obtained and analyzed during calendar year 1974 as a part of Bureau of Mines investigations of the occurrences of helium in natural gases of countries with free market economics. This survey has been conducted in the United States by the Bureau of Mines since 1917. In late 1965, the survey was expanded to include foreign gasfields. The analyses published herein were made by mass spectrometer and a special helium analysis apparatus, which are described in Bureau of Mines Bulletins 4862 and 576.3 The results of the investigation of the occurrences of helium are published annually to make the information available as soon as possible to the gas industry and the public in general. Sixteen previous publications have presented the results of 10,479 gas analyses prior to 1974. The first three, Bulletins 486,4 576,5 and 617,6 contain analyses and related source data on

Jan 1, 1975

By Peter de Bakker

The objective of this contract was to develop a simple, reliable, economical, remote-control roof bolting module for installation of mechanical and resin bolts. It was to be capable of placing longer than seam height bolts, up to 10 ft lengths, from a seam height of 36 to 72 in., while keeping the operator under supported roof. The resulting machine, called REM-Bolter, is a low profile unit that utilizes Foster-Miller Flexible Shaft Roof Drill, a Bendix Roof Bolt Inserter and a newly designed. Roof Bolt Lifter/Torquer. Every effort was made to strike a compromise between complete automation and complete manual control. In a controlled laboratory environment the REM-Bolter remotely installed 1000 bolts. Subsequently the machine was tested in an operating coal mine where 500 holes were drilled (and an equal number of bolts were installed) remotely, over a 4 month period. The results of all tests Live shown that the operator of a machine of this kind can quickly, and repeatedly, install rootbolts remotely from his operator compartment some 8 ft away from the drilling/bolting action. The report includes recommendations for improvements to the present REM-Bolter design that would translate the present test bed into a second generation test bed and a potential first generation production unit.

Jan 1, 1983

By T. M. Garland

This report presents a more extensive perspective of the calculated profitability of developing and producing crude oil and associated natural gas by primary methods from selected onshore areas of the United States. Estimates were made for cost of drilling, completing, equipping, and producing oil wells at four depths in seven onshore producing areas. A computer program was developed for calculating the discounted cash flow rate of return for the 64 different models in each area resulting from varying the oil-producing rate and production decline rate. The results of these calculations provide data that vividly illustrate the change in rate of return to changes in well depth, initial producing rate, and production decline rate, as well as to variations in development cost and operating expense. Cost per barrel of oil produced in terms of annual cost and total cost is also discussed. Included in the report are explanations of the method of determining costs and the procedure used for profitability analysis. Summaries of all cost estimates and results of profitability analyses are presented in the appendix in tabular form for each of the seven producing areas.

Jan 1, 1972

The United States Bureau of Mines frequently receives requests for information regarding the details of its organization and the nature of its activities. In response to such an inquiry a series of articles outlining the work of the bureau as a whole and of its different divisions was prepared and published in the United States Daily, Washington, D. C., during November, 1929. These articles are reprinted here in the hone that they may assist in giving the public a more complete understanding of the aims and purposes of the bureau and the methods by which it is laboring for the attainment of safer conditions and more efficient methods in American mineral industries. An index of these articles, with the dates of 'their publication in the United States Daily, is given below.

Jan 1, 1930

By Leonard Obert

The ultimate object of this investigation is to develop a method for determining the pressure, in- situ, on rock mine pillars, arches, end other mire structures. The preliminary investigations of Bureau of Mines engineers, as well as those of other investigations4/ have shown that, the velocity of sound depends on the pressure if it is dependent to such an extent that a measurement of the velocity might be used as a means of determining the pressure, a sonic method of measuring the pressure on rock mine columns is possible. Briefly the method would require, first, laboratory determination of the variation of the velocity of sound with pressure in samples of rocks taken from mine pillars to establish a. velocity-pressure relationship for the type of rock and, next, measurements of the velocity of sound in the mine pillars from which the laboratory samples were taken. The pressure on the pillars could be determined by correlating the velocity in the pillar with the velocity-pressure relationship established in the laboratory. Obviously the success of the method depends on the extent to which the velocity of sound varies with pressure in rock.

Jan 1, 1939

By F. A. Penning

Improved skips, with lightweight cylindrical bodies, have made a significant contribution to advancing mine hoisting technology. New concept skips of aluminum bodies with rubber lining; fiberglas bodies with polyurethane liners have been designed and fabricated for field testing at an operating mine. New design, adjustable guide rollers have shown improved ride characteristics with noticeably less wear. Major reductions have been made in stress levels and stress concentrations. Field experience has shown the practicality of the approach. Guide alignment has been measured using the Guide Alignment Measuring System (GAMS). Analysis has been applied to interpret the data. Field measurements in an operating shaft and a test tower have shown the agreement in data from GAMS and plumb wires. Reproducibility has been demonstrated. The data are useful to realign shafts, to use as s maintenance tool, and to evaluate the maximum safe hoisting speeds. The surveys are made at several hundred feet per minute and the system is self-contained. Dynamics of skip-guide interaction has been analyzed using the computer program SKIP II. The effects of speed, weight, type of guides, kind of misalignment have been studied. Resonance has been demonstrated and factors that eliminate resonance have been identified. Data from the GAMS surveys are applicable to the SKIP II program. Interaction between the hoist rope and the mine conveyance has also been studied. Computer programs and closed-form solutions are presented. Economic impact of lightweight skips is presented for an existing mine and for a new mine. Reduction in rope size has a profound effect when using a lightweight skip for the same capacity. Increased productivity can be realized by keeping maximum rope pull the same while increasing skip capacity. Examples and charts project the significant savings in capital expenditure for new installations.

Jan 1, 1985

By Laurance L. Oden, Jack C. White, Alan D. Hartman

The U.S. Bureau of Mines, under a Memorandum of Agreement with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), established design criteria for a facility to field residues from municipal waste combustion. This facility, which is available to potential users on a cost-sharing basis, is also applicable to a variety of inorganic waste materials from smelting or melting operations. The design consists of a mechanical feed handling system, electric arc melting furnace, fume-off gas handling system, and thermal oxidizer for final off gas treatment. Screw conveyors and a bucket elevator deliver up to 2,000 Ib/h of minus I-in material to a three-phase electric arc melting furnace. This unique 800-kVe A furnace has a water-cooled shell and roof to minimize interaction of the melt with the refractory lining. The volume of the hearth below the slag taphole is approximately 1.2 st of steel. The furnace is sealed, allowing atmosphere control within the furnace and fume duct by nitrogen or inert gas injection. A jet-pulsed baghouse removes particulate from the off gas and serves as an acid gas scrubber. The clean off gas is heated to 1,800' F for 1 s in a propane-fired thermal oxidizer before being vented to the atmosphere.

Jan 1, 1993

By William A. Hustrulid

A technical and economic evaluation of the potential for improving mining productivity through the use of underreamers in blastholes, specifically in relation to Minnesota taconite, Arizona surface copper and in situ mining operations is presented. Included are (1) a review of the drilling and blasting practices presently being used, (2) a discussion of current underreamer technology. (3) the presentation of a general economic cost model for underreaming, (4) the application of the model to surface taconite, surface copper and in situ mining, and (5) a summary discussion including required performance specifications, potential overall benefits, and recommendations for further development.

Jan 1, 1977