Search Documents

By M. D. Aldridge

The results of a four-year research effort aimed at developing a practical and effective electronic system for monitoring safety conditions throughout a coal mine by displaying, at a central location, remotely measured parameters are described. This document reports on the design details of the sensor packages and the data processing program used in an experimental monitoring system. The results of special ventilation monitoring experiments and several sub-system considerations are also described.

Jan 1, 1974

By Michael S. Miller

The U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) conducted mineral investigations in the 1,227,000-acre Emigrant Trail study area of Nevada during 1992. During the USBM investigation of 25 areas of development interest, 190 mineral localities were identified and 260 rock and 50 alluvial samples were taken. At least 0.5 million troy ounces of gold, 2.3 million troy ounces of silver, 3.3 million pounds of copper, 10.9 million pounds of lead, 2.4 million pounds of zinc, 500 tons of alunite, 40,000 tons of sulfur, 9,000 pounds of mercury, and 21,000 pounds of tin have been mined from the area and vicinity. Adjacent to the study area, gold is being mined at large, open-pit gold mines, the Hog Ranch and Hycroft Resources, Inc., Sulphur mines, and new production is planned at the Rosebud LAC/Equinox. Hog Ranch mine is nearing depletion, but resources of more than 0.5 million troy ounces of gold and about 5 million ounces of silver are estimated for the Rosebud LAC/Equinox project and more than 0.4 million ounces of gold for the Hycroft Resources, Inc., Sulphur mine. Significant investigations are occurring at SP Ridge and other sites near Scossa and at the Dan claims in the Southern Calico Mountains. Precious opal, placer gold, and geothermal energy resources occur in the study area and vicinity.

Jan 1, 1993

By E. J. Matson

Under the investigation for critical and strategic minerals the Kaiser mine, formerly the Baxter fluorspar property, in northeastern Mineral County, Nev., was explored. The work comprised excavating 32 trenches averaging 90 feet in length, 8 feet in width, and 1 1/2 feet in depth. The trenches were excavated across the strike of the ore body to enable the engineer to spot the diamond-drill holes; 7 such holes were drilled, aggregating 3,276 linear feet. A total of 20 core samples and 107 sludge samples was taken. The work under this program indicated that the fluorspar southwest of the deposit extended laterally and also at depth at least 250 feet below the 400-foot level. INTRODUCTION The Kaiser fluorspar deposit is in the northeastern portion of Mineral County, Nev. Mining was begun about 1928, and the property has been a consistent producer of both Acid- and Metallurgical-grade fluorspar. The mineralized zone has been developed along a strike length of about 2,000 feet and to a depth of over 700 feet along the dip.

Jan 1, 1957

By Marvin W. Wilson

The Federal Bureau of Mines has conducted laboratory experiments simulating underground gasification of coal to study the feasibility and mechanism of the process and determine the chemical and physical characteristics of a coal-bed during gasification. Laboratory and small-scale field experiments also were made to investigate the properties of coal and other factors affecting the electrolinking-carbonization method of preparing a path through a coalbed before gasification. Laboratory experiments simulating underground gasification of coal: Experiments with a laboratory retort indicated that bituminous-coal deposits could be gasified in place to produce a combustible gas.

Jan 1, 1960

By J. B. Zadra

Much has been published by various investigators on the use of activated carbon for adsorbing precious metals from cyanide solution and pulp. For the benefit of the reader, a list of these earlier publications appears at the end of this report. The present paper deals only with a process for extracting gold from gold-laden carbon and re-use of the de-adsorbed carbon. At the Getchell mine, Redhouse, Nev., experiments have been in progress for several years concerning the use of activated carbon to adsorb gold from their slime circuit pulp. The experimental work has been successful. Their practice has been to ship the gold-laden carbon to a smelter for treatment, which meant the total loss of the carbon in addition to smelter and freight, charges, all of which proved costly and wasteful.

Jan 1, 1950

By L. A. Stinnett

An investigation of hazardous surface openings of abandoned and inactive underground mines in the Black Hills area of South Dakota has revealed: (1) tracing legal ownership of mineral claims via county courthouses is confusing, complex, and oftentimes misleading, (2) in general, the selected mine openings in this investigation are to be considered relatively high in risks and hazard potential which poses a threat to the general public, (3) mine closure procedures and designs can generally be categorically implemented depending on the overall situation of the particular mine opening with subsequent unit costs estimates, (4) few preventive state or federal legal measures exist to date concerning mine closures, and (5) liability damages relating to mine opening accidents usually involve expensive and complex common law cases.

Jan 1, 1979

By Albert L. Toenges, Louis A. Turnbull, Alonzo W. Quinn, J. M. Schopf, Arthur Neale, R. F. Abernethy

"INTRODUCTION The fuel requirements for industrial and domestic consumers in New England, in normal times, are supplied almost entirely by fuel oil, anthracite, and bituminous coal. A shortage of these fuels occurred during the war. This shortage was caused by (1) The diversion of oil to military uses; (2) the use of railroad and boat facilities that ordinarily would transport coal for the transportation of war materiel; (3) the inability of coal mines to apply the increased demand for coal which resulted from the conversion from oil to coal by domestic and industrial consumers; and (4) the increased demand of war industries for coal. Because of this critical fuel situation, an investiga¬tion was made of possible sources of fuel nearer to points of consumption in New England. Meta-anthracite, which is a satisfactory fuel for some purposes, had been mined in Massachusetts and Rhode Island many years ago. However, the introduction of freer-burning anthracite and bituminous coal into New England markets resulted in the abandonment of these mines.The coal mined in the vicinity of Portsmouth on Aquidneck Island, Newport County, R. I., had been used successfully for smelting copper ore and for fuel. It is reported that this coal is less graphitic than the material mined at Cranston near Providence, R. I. The coal is meta-anthracite and does not burn freely. However, improved equipment for burning coal has been developed, and if minable reserves of meta-anthracite should be found, methods of burning it probably could be devised.The purpose of this investigation was to determine sources of additional fuel. Since meta-anthracite mined at Portsmouth had been used with some success, an investigation was undertaken to determine the characteristics and continuity of the beds in this area."

Apr 1, 1948

By J. R. Thoenen

The objective of this circular is threefold: First, to describe briefly the various modes of occurrence of sand and gravel. Second, to emphasize the need for adequate prospect¬ ing and exploration prior to the expenditure of funds for development and plant construction. Third, to describe various methods of prospecting and exploration and their application to the several modes of occurrence of sand and gravel. Sand and gravel may be found in nearly every county or township in the United States. Commercial deposits, however, are by no means so widespread. The introduction of concrete and the consequent impetus given to consumption of gravel and sand aggregates has seriously depleted deposits in some congested areas. Increasing re¬ strictions in the specification requirements for marketing sands and gravels have further narrowed the economic areas. On the other hand, the combination of increasing transportation costs and decreasing selling prices has forced the decentralization of gravel production. As a result smaller, intermittently operated, and widely scattered portable or semiportable unit plants have been encroaching on the territory formerly supplied from centrally located pits with large tr.atment plants. Generally speaking, the small portable plant can not produce any great variety of ma¬ terials to as exacting specifications nor as economically as the large permanent plant.

Dec 1, 1932

By W. E. Robinson

Oil-shale kerogen was processed into oil and oil products before the first oil well was completed by Drake in 1859. However, because of economic and other advantages, natural petroleum has been the principal source of liquid fuels and lubricants since 1859 and is a convenient root of many [organic] chemicals in common use today. In recent years the difference has narrowed between the cost of producing liquid fuels from well petroleum and other sources. This narrowing of cost difference has resulted both from the increased cost of finding new sources of petroleum in the United States and the experimental demonstration of lowered costs for synthetic liquid fuels by the Federal Bureau of Mines and by industry. Available petroleum resources of this country are being reduced and eventually may be inadequate to meet the demand. Alternate means of assuring an adequate supply of liquid fuels for this country include the development of processes for utilizing other carbonaceous materials such as oil shale and coal.

Jan 1, 1960

By Robert N. Roby

This report is one of a series based upon investigations made and being made within the Missouri River Basin in Montana by engineers of the Bureau of Mines , Albany Branch , Mining Division . These investigations are made primarily to provide preliminary information to Department of Interior agencies and others concerned with the planning of the proposed Federal power developments within the Missouri River Basin . The present report has been designed to permit public distribution of the factual data obtained . The field investigations in Meagher County were made during tually all 1948 ; Vir- known metallic mineral occurrences within the county were investigated ; some nonmetallic mineral deposits also were investigated . The investigations cannot be considered complete , however , because some long-inactive mines or prospects may have been missed . Most of the old mine and prospect openings are caved; many are completely inaccessible . Many of the claims located years ago have been abandoned ; others have been relocated under different names and ownerships . Because of such conditions , much of the information regarding their development and operation necessarily has been obtained from Federal and State publications , supplemented by information provided by owners and local residents .

Jan 1, 1950

By A. F. Jolly

In an effort to better predict the useful service life of friction rock stabilizer mine roof bolts in coal mine environments, the Bureau of Mines has evaluated the corrosion resistance of stabilizer steels in air-saturated and deaerated waters from seven Eastern and Midwestern underground coal mines. Accelerated electrochemical corrosion tests were used to estimate corrosion rates for the two high-strength, low-alloy (HSLA) steels used to fabricate Split Set stabilizers and for galvanized steel. Long-term static-immersion weight-loss tests were also conducted with the HSLA steels. Corrosion rates developed from the weight-loss tests (steady-state air dissolution) were roughly comparable to rates determined from electro-chemical testing in aerated waters. Although the highest rates occurred in waters with the highest chloride contents, rates in the other waters were low (<2.0 mpy) and exhibited little correlation to the widely varied chloride contents of the waters. The generally low corrosion rates are attributed in part to the tendency to deposit a protective CaC03 film, reflecting susceptibility to carbonate precipitation as indicated by positive Langelier (saturation) index values for the waters. With one exception, corrosion rates for the galvanized steel were (2.0 mpy. Rates with aerated waters were higher than those with deaerated waters. Pitting tendencies of the steels were also estimated.

Jan 1, 1987

By V. F. Parry

[Approximatel~r 7-1/2 illion tOlls of subb1tnminous coals are mined an-nuall in Colorado, Wyo~ing, and Montana, of which 50 percent probably reaches dome ,-tic conswno:os. r:L&apos;he moi s t&apos;_re of the se subbi t1.Uninous coal sis high, averae;:t.:ug about 25 :!,)ercent \-Then they are :nined. T&apos;ne coals are non-caking d ~~ack to a vari ble degree when exposed to nornal atmospheric conditions. ~hey a~e gpod domestic fuels, are considered to be smokeless in most furn~ces, and have been used. f, r f!1an: y ars in hand-fired domestic furnaces in hich tnc practice i~ to e~ploy large lureps for efficient com-]

Jan 1, 1941

By T. F. Anstett

The Bureau of Mines evaluated the potential availability of chrysotile, amosite, and crocidolite asbestos from 42 properties in market economy countries. This resulted in the development of tonnage-cost relationships indicating the quantity of grades 3 through 7 asbestos at various average total costs of production at 0% and 15% rates of return on invested capital. The availability of grades 2 and 8 was also evaluated, but since each is produced at only one property, no analytical results were given. Total demonstrated recoverable chrysotile fiber potentially available of grades 3 through 7 from the 42 properties evaluated follow: 1.59 million t, 21.00 million t, 16.74 million t, 15.54 million t, and 19.27 million t, respectively. The total amount of crocidolite is 1.69 million t. Owing to the good potential for discovery and development of new deposits, long- term availability of fiber of all three types is not in jeopardy. However, many of the crocidolite properties evaluated in the northern Cape crocidolite field of South Africa have relatively small demonstrated resources, and new deposits will have to be exploited by the late 1990&apos;s to sustain projected levels of production.

Jan 1, 1985

By Ned H. Snyder

In recent years the Government and other large consumers of coal have appreciated more and more the desirability of definitely determining by chemical analysis and test the character and quality of the coal they purchase. Higher prices for coal point forcibly to the need of giving more study to engine room and boiler room efficiencies and economies; this implies an intimate knowledge of the character and quality of the fuel used. Analyses and tests of delivered coal furnish data whereby power plant results can be comprehensively studied and a continuous check maintained on the coal and on the conditions of plant operation. Under authority of acts of Congress making appropriations for technologic investigation of fuels and the analyzing and testing of fuels belonging to or for the use of the United States Government, a laboratory is maintained at the Pittsburgh station of the Bureau of Mines, where samples representing deliveries of coal purchased for Government use are analyzed and tested.

Jan 1, 1923

By Raymond B. Ladoo

In order to obtain comprehensive and authentic information on fluorspar mining in the western States , the writer, together with and at the request of representatives of some of the largest fluorspar producers of the Illinois - Kentucky district , spent the month of April , 1922 , in examining all we stem fluorspar deposits ( of which record was available ) believed to be of possible commercial importance .

May 1, 1923

By James P. Bennett

The U.S. Bureau of Mines investigated the role of imported natural flake graphites in dolomite-carbon refractories used in steelmaking processes and evaluated carbon fibers as a potential substitute. Varying quantities (1.5-30 pct) of natural flake graphite and carbon fibers were added to test samples. The effect of the additions on modulus of rupture (75°-2,750° F), deformation under load (2,750° F), and air-slag-metal resistance (3,000° F) was studied. Carbon purity of natural flake graphite additions did not influence hot strength, deformation under load, or air-slag-metal resistance. When the quantity of 90-pct-carbon graphite addition varied between o and 30 wt pct, hot strength was highest, deformation under load lowest, and air-slag-metal wear the least at 10 wt pct. As test temperature increased from 500° to 2,750° F, the hot strength difference became less. Carbon fiber additions were limited to 1.5 pct in dolomite-carbon brick. At this level, physical properties were generally comparable to those obtained with natural flake graphite, but were below values obtained with 10-pet-f1ake graphite additions. Carbon fibers are not considered a satisfactory substitute for natural flake graphite.

Jan 1, 1989

In 2005, a total of 2,063 coal mining operations reported employment to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Coal mines comprised 14.1% of all mining operations. ? Bituminous mines comprised 92.6% (n=1,911) and anthracite mines 7.4% (n=152) of coal mining operations. ? Approximately 70% of all coal mines were located in three states: Kentucky (28.0%), West Virginia (21.8%), and Pennsylvania (20.6%).

Jan 1, 2008

By V. Castranova, T-M. Ong, V. Vallyathan, M. J. Keane, W. E. Wallace Jr.

"Inhalation of certain forms of silica, asbestos and some other respirable dusts can result in pulmonary fibrosis, characterized by destruction of the surfaces of alveoli and respiratory bronchioles. Fibrous thickening of the alveolar septa decreases the lung's capacity for gas exchange.Pulmonary macrophage damage by respired dust may initiate the fibrotic response.In one proposed mechanism, dust particles interact with the plasma membrane of a macrophage. This damages the cell or induces some hyperactivity of the cell, resulting in excessive release of lysosomal enzymes and reactive forms of oxygen (1). These reactive enzymes or radicals then damage the alveolar surface epithelial cells. A second mechanism has also been pro¬posed (2,3) in which dust damage to the macrophage causes the release of mediator substances which induce pulmonary fibroblast cell proliferation and increased collagen synthesis. This produces fibrous tissue in the terminal air spaces (4,5).Mineral surface interactions with plasma membrane lipoproteins have been proposed as a mechanism of lytic damage of pulmonary cells by silica dust in numerous models (6,7). The significance of dust surface proper¬ties has been further revealed in studies showing significant changes in dust induced cytotoxicity as a function of dust surface crystallinity and organic or inorganic contamination or coating of mineral surfaces (8,9). Such modification of the mineral surface might interfere with surface sites responsible for the toxicity of dusts for pulmonary macrophages, thus interrupting the early stages of the process of fibrosis.In vitro cellular assay systems using erythrocyte hemolysis or the release of macrophage cytosolic or lysosomal enzymes following dust challenge, have been used to analyze the initial mechanism of dust damage to cells. However the ability of these assays to predict the pulmonary disease producing potential of various dusts is imperfect owing to some ""false positive"" results. These assays as performed are therefore questionable models for the initial lesion in pneumoconiosis or silicosis. In particular, kaolin frequently is found to have comparable biological activity to silica quartz in these assays (10,11).Silica and kaolin have distinctly different fibrogenic potentials. Silica is highly fibrogenic, resulting in both acute and chronic silicosis (12). Some epidemiological data and animal experimentation data have indicated that long term exposure to kaolin can result in pneumoconiosis; however, kaolin is relatively benign as compared to silica (13-18). Kaolin is also of interest because it is one of the major mineral inclusions in Eastern U.S. bituminous coals. We have observed that exposing respirable sized native silica or kaolin for two hours to pulmonary macrophages results in a greater enzyme release for kaolin exposures, on a dust mass basis. Exposure of erythrocytes to the dusts also results in greater levels of hemolysis by kaolin for equal mass respirable dust doses. Therefore, these results do not correlate positively with known disease inducing potentials of the two dusts.Characterization of physical and chemical surface properties of dusts involved in occupational exposures, and characterization of the alteration of those surface properties which are likely to occur upon deposition of the dust in the lung, should improve the identification of respiratory disease hazards.Inhaled dust particles deposited in the lower respiratory tract will come in contact with pulmonary surfactant. This surfactant forms a surface film on and emulsion in the liquid hypophase coating of the alveoli and respiratory bronchioles. The primary constituent of this pulmonary surfactant is the lipid diacyl glycerophosphorylcholine, lecithin (19). Because this lipid is also a major component of cell membranes, it is possible that surfactant can interact with mineral dust to alter its Interaction with macrophages and other pulmonary cells and, thus, it"

Jan 1, 1988

By A. E. Gooch

The Bureau of Mines conducted research in an attempt to provide a more sound basis for recommending improved artificial support during deepening of the main shaft of the Lucky Friday mine in the Coeur d&apos;Alene mining district of northern Idaho. Field measurements of closure across the short axis of the 13-by 26-foot shaft were as high as 16 inches. Elastic/plastic finite-element (F/E) analyses were made, reducing the values of large-scale in situ rock mass properties until field closure measurements generally corresponded to displacements in the F/E analyses. Resulting plots of rock mass displacements, stresses, and areas of plastic failure display the results of creating openings (shaft, in this case) in deep mines in difficult ground conditions requiring artificial support.

Jan 1, 1976

By C. J. Hall

Twenty eight pulse release sulfur hexafluoride tracer gas field tests were run in a multi-level multi-vein hard rock mine to measure leakage ventilation. The mine had numerous underground booster fans and gob filled old stoping areas and consequently numerous leakage paths. The tests proved that the equipment and methods developed by the USBM can be used successfully in complicated ventilation circuits. The leakage quantities varied each time a major change was made in the main ventilation circuit. Usually leakage quantities had to be remeasured after a main ventilation change, but measurements could be duplicated for anyone configuration except under certain defined circumstances. The characteristics of an individual leakage path could be determined from the difference between the measured sum of two paths and the calculated characteristics of one of the paths. Many leakage paths could not be evaluated accurately on one shift. Comments are made on equipment performance and field techniques. Programs for the calculation of gas concentrations and recirculation from measured data and for the mechanical integration necessary for a calculated leakage characteristic have been written for an HP 9810 and are included.

Jan 1, 1975