Search Documents

By R. G. Warncke, D. Harrington

"INTRODUCTION The use of black blasting powder as an explosive in coal mines has long been recognized as hazardous and has been responsible for many of the worst disasters in American coal mines. One of the most pressing of the numerous problems confronting the Bureau of Mines, upon its creation in 1910 was to determine methods that would lessen the hazards created by the use of explosives in coal mines. The Bureau continued the study begun by the Technologic Branch of the Geological Survey as to the nature of explosives and made numerous tests to determine types of explosives suitable for blasting in coal mines. The Bureau has tested and approved hundreds of types of explosives and has disseminated information on methods and conditions for use underground to make them permissible as to safety. The Bureau of Mines has encouraged the use of permissible explosives for coal-mine blasting, and its experts both in the laboratory and in the field believe that the use of black blasting powder in any form (granular or pellet) is hazardous in any underground coal mine. Despite the information published at various times and innumerous ways and the general knowledge of the hazards that the use of black blasting powder in any form creates in the blasting of coal, the coal mines in the United States, during 1947 used approximately 34 million pounds of black blasting powder (granular or pellet), or approximately 11.8 percent of the total quantity of explosives used by the coal-mining industry.Many coal mines of the United States, for various and sundry reasons, probably will continue the use of black blasting powder, and this circular has been written for the benefit of such users, not that any suggested method or methods will make the use of this explosive safe, but it has been found that methods and conditions of use of black blasting powder can be improved so as to lessen, though not eliminate, the hazards created by its use."

Mar 1, 1949

By E. G. Baglin

The Bureau of Mines devised a procedure for selectively extracting platinum-group metals (PGM) and gold from Stillwater Complex flotation concentrate. The Stillwater Complex is the only major U.S. PGM resource. Development of a suitable extraction technique will contribute to its exploitation. The concentrate was roasted at 1,050° C to convert host base-metal sulfides to oxides and the PGM from sulfide minerals to their elemental states. The roasted concentrate was preleached with dilute sulfuric acid to remove easily soluble gangue minerals. After pre-leaching, the concentrate was slurried with 6M HCI and leached at ambient temperature and pressure with a strong-oxidizing agent. Hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, sodium hypochlorite, nitric acid, and a persulfate salt were the oxidants investigated. The two-stage leaching scheme ex-tracted up to 97 pct of the platinum, 92 pct of the palladium, and 99 pct of the gold from the roasted concentrate. The base metals were not solubilized and reported to the residue. No attempt was made to devise a procedure to recover the copper and nickel because they comprise less than 5 pct of the value of the concentrate. Viable techniques for recovering the precious metals from the pregnant solution were sulfide precipitation, cementation with nickel, or adsorption on activated carbon.

Jan 1, 1985

By H. L. Riley, B. W. Gandrud

"INTRODUCTION The Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior, with the cooperation of the University of Alabama and coal producers, has made a series of washability studies to obtain technically and commercially important data regarding the productive coal beds of the State. Based on the system followed in these studies, this report consists principally of screen-sizing and float-and-sink data on the Clark and Gholson beds at Boothton, Ala. A previous washability study 4/ has been made on the Clark bed at Marvel, Ala.SAMPLING AT MINESThe coal from the Gholson and the Clark beds was sampled at the tipple which receives the output,the Boothten No. 3 and No. 4 mines. These two mines are on the Gholson and Clark beds, respectively, but the coal. from both mines is mixed on the tipple and washed in the same washery. The samples taken were minus 4-inch raw coal. The plus 4-inch raw coal is hand¬picked and not washed. AS the 4-inch screen had a capacity in excess of the output of the mines, it was stopped at the end of each mine-car trip. By Observing from which mine incline each trip was hoisted, a separate sample from each bed was cut from the discharge stream of an endless belt which conveys the through 4-inch raw coal to the bin ahead of the washer. The output from each bed was sampled uniformly over the period of a working shift. The two washability samples weighed approximately 3,000 pounds each."

Dec 1, 1947

By Edwin M. Murphy

Methods are described for filling underground cavities remotely with dry material pneumatically injected through a borehole to seal openings, prevent air movement, and reduce subsidence; this often brings underground fires under control by limiting the access of air. Large-scale tests were made in the Bureau of Mines Experimental Coal Mine, Bruceton, Pa., in an operating mine, and in an abandoned Pennsylvania mine. Supplemental trials were made aboveground in galleries and in the laboratory. The parameters studied include horizontal and inclined passageways, obstructions in the entry, water leakage into the borehole, dry material, and grout and slurry mixes. The materials studied were fly ash, crushed and pulverized limestone, and sand. Best results were obtained with dry fly ash, though satisfactory seals were obtained with the other materials. When a borehole is dry and ends at an open void, casing is not necessary. If more than 5 gpm of water flows in the borehole, if the void contains loose debris, or if coarse material is injected, a material feedpipe should be inserted through the borehole. Fly ash was most suitable for remote filling because of its low angle of repose (8°) and its good flow characteristics. The depth of borehole through which the fly ash is injected has no appreciable effect on the filling operation.

Jan 1, 1968

By H. E. Powell

A laboratory mineral-dressing investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Mines on four limonitic and four sideritic iron ores from the North Basin of the east Texas iron-ore district. The samples, composited from drill cores, were considered representative of the iron-ore reserves of the area. The objectives of this research were twofold: (1) To devise a mineral-dressing method whereby the yield from currently mined east Texas iron ores might be increased and the grade improved, and (2) to extend such treatment to include the lower grade ferruginous materials that are not amenable to beneficiation by simple washing and, therefore, are not being exploited. Of the mineral-dressing methods used in this investigation, magnetic separation of roasted are was shown to be the most effective. Results show that, by this method, a laboratory recovery of 82 percent of the iron is attainable at a grade surpassing that obtained by current plant practice and that both limonite and siderite are amenable to concentration by the process. The existence of large deposits of iron are in eastern Texas has been recognized for over 100 years. These ores were first exploited during the Civil War and were mined intermittently until about 1911. From that time until 1944 when the Defense Plant Corporation financed the erection of three blast furnaces to use these east Texas ores, production was almost at a standstill.4/

Jan 1, 1960

By Howard F. Carl

"INTRODUCTION Talc is a hydrous magnesium silicate mineral found throughout the world in deposits of economic importance. This mineral occurs in different physical forms and varying degrees of purity, both of which affect its ultimate commercial usage. Talc is used in finely ground condition by the ceramic, paint, paper, rubber, cosmetic, and other industries. Most domestic talc production is of this type. Talc also occurs, although much less frequently, in massive, fine-grained, fairly homogeneous bodies; the impure varieties are the familiar soapstones, and the purer form is frequently called ""steatite."" Because of certain properties, the purest grades of this massive variety have a monetary value about 20 times that of the ground talc.One desirable property of this massive talc is its amenability to accurate cutttng, machining, and working in many ways, similar to a hard wood or soft metal, and then firing without warping or appreciable shrinkage into a hard, refractory ceramic body. Consequently, shapes that cannot be formed conveniently by molding and pressing can be produced readily with ordinary machine tools. When talc is fired to about 1,100° C., it is converted to a ceramic body with certain very desirable physical properties. This fired material has a hardness and toughness frequently superior to steel. It is a refractory and an exceptionally good electrical insulator. When formed from a high-grade talc essentially free from iron, it has unusually low dielectric losees, even at very high frequencies."

Feb 1, 1945

By Lloyd Williams

1. The investigation shows that the Wilder (locally known as the Bon Air No. 2) is the only known bed of commercial importance in Putnam County, although at least 5 coal horizons are known. All of the coal production now reported comes from this bed, which is found In a basin with no known coal outcrops. Further drilling in the east end of the basin should disclose the location of the eastern end of the axial trough and the lateral extent of the basin in Putnam County and adjoining areas in Cumberland County. Continuity of this deposit with that in the area in Putnam County north of Monterey is not conclusively established but may exist. 2 Known (measured plus indicated) reserves of coal, based on a minimum bed thickness of 14 inches and on 1,800 tons per acre-foot in place, are estimated at 29 million tons, as of January 1, 1953. Of this total, 28 million tons are in beds 28 inches and more thick. All born coal reserves in Putnam County me under less than 400 feet of overburden.

Jan 1, 1954

By M. L. Skow

Large tonnages of the manganese ores found in Aroostook County, Maine, are refractory to conventional mineral-dressing techniques and to the common chemical- extraction procedures. The Maple Mountain-Hovey Mountain ores are typical of this type. Because the most promising method of recovering the manganese from these ores has been a chloridizing roast in which the ground ore is in contact with gaseous hydrogen chloride, preliminary batch tests were made with a fluidized bed. On the basis of these tests, it was concluded that fluidization, with careful control of operating conditions, could be employed for this cloridization and warrants further study. Selective volatilization of the iron at 600° C. was unsuccessful. An operating temperature of approximately 950° C. was necessary for a practicable rate of volatilization of manganese chloride. Hydrogen chloride contents of 10 to 100 percent of the fluidized gas gave essentially equivalent manganese recoveries with an 80- minute retention time, For shorter periods reaction was more complete with the higher hydrogen chloride concentrations. At the 80-minute retention period the lower hydrogen chloride concentrations volatilized somewhat less iron and also improved the physical operation of the process. Fluidization gave results superior to comparable tests on chloridization in a fixed bed.

Jan 1, 1956

By William W. Odell

Certain gas-making processes are in use in Europe, particularly in Germany, which differ radically from those in common use in America. A number of them are of particular interest because they are different. The questions naturally arise: Are any of them applicable to the making of gas in this country and, if so, with what particular type of solid fuel? It is a fact that some of them were developed with consideration of a particular set of conditions and for the utilization of solid fuels available in Germany. The latter fuels, in certain characteristics, are unlike the high-rank fuels commonly used for making gas in the United States; therefore, in attempting to evaluate the various foreign- developed processes with regard to usefulness here, one must give attention to the particular conditions that will prevail in any specified case and also the characteristics and requirements of the process and generator under considera- tion. Three of the processes that were developed and put into commercial operation in Germany, and which have some characteristics in common, are con- sidered in particular in this publication; they are: 1. Lurgi pressure gasification process. 2. Winkler process. 3. The Leuna slagging-type producer-gas process. Each of these processes requires steam and oxygen as gas-maiding fluids. For a number of years, oxygen, has been used in a relatively pure state,. along with steam, in making gas in Germany, and many of the difficulties initi-. ally encountered have been overcome. Although it appears that oxygen recovered from air was first used in this manner as a method of utilizing a byproduct in a plant that used the nitrogen complement in the manufacture of ammonia; more recently, the oxygen was made particularly for the purpose. The fuels - brown coal or lignite used in processes 1 and 2 were not suitable for use in the older and commonly used intermittent-type water-gas generators, and it was necessary, therefore, to devise a different process for gasifying them. A gas of higher heating value than producer gas, was desired, and the use of oxygen (not air) along with steam made possible the production of the desired gas without nitrogen dilution, which characterizes producer gas. Operating data presented herein are based upon observations by, members of the Technical Oil Mission at plants in Germany, on records, and on information vocally given to members of the lässion, including the author, while visiting those plants, and they are believed to be reasonably correct; however, certain hasic observations, comparisons, and conclusions are. made by the author.

Nov 1, 1947

By G. E. Bobeck

The first year's work of a proposed three-year study of the effects of the exposure of coal mine roof rocks to the mine atmosphere has been completed. The project has been terminated. The goal of the project was to determine if possible the mechanism or mechanisms by which coal mine roof rocks interact with the mine atmosphere and weaken, and coupled with mechanical stresses, ultimately fail. The scope of the study was limited to the effects of environmental factors on the deterioration of the rocks. While mechanical stresses may play an important role in the interaction of environmental factors, stress effects were excluded from the study. In order to study the effects of environment on coal mine roof rocks, samples were obtained from several coal mines in the western states. The rocks forming the roofs of most of the mines visited were shales of varying composition. These shales were subjected to numerous tests to determine how the rocks changed with time after exposure. In addition, the identity of the minerals present in the shales was determined by x-ray diffraction analysis and by thermal analysis as well as by optical microscopy

Jan 1, 1973

By C. A. Herbert

Information Circular 6746 reviewed the fatalities in Indiana coal mines. for the fiscal year October 1, 1951 to September 30, 1933. Since then Indiana has changed its fiscal year to the period July 1 to June 30, but as most statistical data on accidents are arranged according to calendar years, the data in this paper are for the last 3 months of 1932 and the calendar year 1933, rather than for the new Indiana fiscal year. Tables 1 and 2 list the fatalities in Indiana coal mines3/ by cause and occupation for the last 3 months of 1932 and for the calendar year 1933. The fatalities for the small wagon mines employing fewer than 10 men are separated from those employing 10 or more men to call attention to the ex- tremely high fatality rate in small mines, largely because the State mining law does not apply to them nor do they come under the jurisdiction of the Indiana mine inspectors; as a result health and safety conditions are ex- tremely bad. During the last 3 months of 1932, 5 (approximately 42 percent of the total) fatalities occurred in the small mines, while for the calendar year 1933, 12 (approximately 32 percent) of the fatalities occurred in them. The Indiana Division of Mines and Kining estimates that these small mines have an annual production of approximately 325,000 tons, or about 4.5 percent of the total coal-mine production of the State. In other words, for these small mines the fatality rate per tons mined during 1933 was about 10 times as great as for the mines employing 10 or more men. Another lamentable feature in connection with the fatalities in small mines is that very few carry any compensation insurance and the owners are not worth enough financially for dependents of victims to collect anything under the common law; as a result, the dependents of those killed usually are left penniless and subjects of public charity.

Feb 1, 1935

By David Schlain

A small alumina reduction cell with a graphite crucible and boron nitride liner was developed by the Bureau of Mines as the initial phase of a study of the reactions which occur in the reduction of alumina by the Hall-Heroult process. Operating conditions in the cell such as temperature, time, current density, electrolyte composition, and electrode materials may be varied easily. Aluminum was produced in the cell at a current efficiency of about 75 percent and a cell voltage of 2.7 volts. Although the data are not wholly conclusive, the operation of the cell did not appear to be greatly affected by large changes in temperature, electrode spacing, current density, and alumina concentration in the electrolyte.

Jan 1, 1963

By PHILIP A. ZANG

The rapidly increasing use of motor vehicles in the United States has introduced an entirely new problem in the proper ventilation oftunnels , subways , and other confined spaces through which such machines must pass . This problem was brought to the attention of the Bureau of Mines by the New York and New Jersey State Bridge and Tunnel Commissions with reference to the ventilation of the proposed vehicular tunnel under the Hudson River . This tunnel , consisting of twin tubes 29 feet in diameter and 8500 feet long between entrance and exit , presented an unprecedented problem in ventilation both on account of its length and on account of the traffic density , which is expected to reach a maximum of 1900 vehicles per hour . An exhaustive study by the tunnel engineers of all available data on the amount and composition of automobile exhaust gas disclosed very little information on the percentage of carbon monoxide in motor exhaust gas from the average run of automobiles and trucks under actual operating conditions on the road. It was well known that carburetor adjustment and other operating factors changed the percentage of the poisonous constituent , carbon monoxide , from practically 0 to 12 or 13 per cent ; but no safe estimate could be made of the most probable figure without further investigation .

Mar 1, 1921

By Ernest W. Johnson, F. E. Cash

"INTRODUCTION Mine operators have long realized the importance of providing a satisfactory and dependable means of giving prompt warning to underground mine workers at the occurrence of a mine fire or other threatened disaster.Most underground mines of the Lake Superior district are prepared to inject a stench liquid into the compressed-air system quickly to give such warning. The liquid evaporates quickly and gives off an intense and easily recognizable odor even when present in minute quantities in the mine air. Workers in the mines studied have been fairly generally familiarized with the odor and instructed as to evacuation procedure when the warning odor is detected.In some mines provided throughout with electric lighting, including working faces, a prearranged light-flashing signal is given as a warning supplementary to that received from the stench.In a few mines, workers have been instructed to evacuate the mine immediately in the event the compressed-air supply is cut off, regardless of whether mechanical failure may be involved.Information obtained in observing a number of stench-injection tests is compiled and presented in the hope-that it will serve as an incentive to provide means of making stench injections at mines not now so equipped and for making similar tests at other underground mines, so that in case unsatisfactory results are obtained rectifying adjustments or changes may be made in time. It is further hoped that this paper will bring out the real importance of repeating these tests from time to time, at least once a year on each operating shift, so that in the event of an actual emergency, underground employees will receive a prompt warning."

Nov 1, 1945

By H. Tomlinson

Fatalities from falls of roof and coal are responsible for the death of more than 1,000 miners annually in the bituminous coal mines of the United States, or practically one-half of the total fatalities in and about these mines. The men are killed by falls singly or in small groups and little or no publicity is given these accidents as they lack the spectacular features of gas and dust explosions. As a result, the public and even the miners have the impression that accidents from falls of roof and coal are just one of the unavoidable hazards of the coal-mining industry. This belief is not true. Accidents caused by falls can be avoided largely by the application of sound engineering principles, by education, and by proper leadership in the industry, just as gas and dust explosions and accidents caused by explosives have been reduced in recent years.

Jan 1, 1933

By George A. Morrison

This paper describing the methods of mining and crushing limestone at the West Winfield, Pa., limestone mine of the West Penn Cement Co., is one of a series being prepared by the Bureau of Mines on mining practices, methods, and coats in the various nonmetallic mining districts. HISTORY The limestone deposits of western Pennsylvania have been exploited for many years and have been quarried extensively at West Winfield in Winfield. Township, which lies in the southeastern corner of Butler County.

Jan 1, 1931

By H. Tomlinson

Fatalities from falls of roof and coal are responsible for the death Of more than 1,000 miners annually in the bituminous coal mines of the United States, or practically one-half of the total fatalities In and about these mines. The men are killed by falls singly or in small groups and little or no publicity is given these accidents as they lack the spectacular features of gas and dust explosions. As a result, the public and even the miners have the impression that accidents from falls of roof and coal are just one of the unavoidable hazards of the coal-mining industry. This belief is not true. Accidents caused by falls can be avoided largely by the application of sound engineering principles, by education, and by proper leadership in the industry, just as gas and dust explosions and accidents caused by explosives have been reduced in recent years. The necessity for studying falls of roof and coal becomes apparent by referring to the following data from a table by Adams and Chenoweth:3

Jan 1, 1933

By Larry A. Haas

The chemistry of current or potential SO2 removal processes can be placed into four categories: (1) reduction, (2) Liquefaction, (3) direct dissolution, and (4) oxidation. Methods that involve reducing SO2 to elemental sulfur appear promising since this product can be easily handled, shipped, and stock- piled. Unfortunately, SO2 cannot always be reduced directly when other oxidizing agents are present. Thermodynamic data indicate that some oxidizing reagents will also consume reductant at the reduction temperature. A two- stage process can be applied to waste gases that contain excessive quantities of oxygen, nitrogen oxides, and water vapor. The best sorbent for the first stage appears to be a nonalkali or nonalkaline earth medium since this medium more readily releases the SO2 for reduction in the second stage.

Jan 1, 1973

By Homer J. Ballinger

The Mary Arnold Mining Co. in 194.3 owned 292 acre s of mineral land in Christian County, Mo., and was one of two companies with milling facilities in southern-central Missouri. Production from this property between 19.37 and 1941 amounted to 1,718 tons of zinc in the form of zinc concentrate. Because of the urgent war requirements for additional zinc and the existing facilities for treatment of zinc-lead ores at these mines, in the winter of 1943-44, the Bureau of Mines investigated the deposits by churn drilling in an endeavor to outline enough ore to maintain production of zinc from this district. Five holes aggregating 1,043 feet were bored.

Jan 1, 1948

By Jacqueline A. McClaskey

The U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) Information and Analysis Directorate collects worldwide data on virtually every commercially important nonfuel mineral commodity. These data form the base for tracking and assessing the health of the minerals sector of the U. S. economy. The USBM's data collection activity was instituted by the 47th Congress in an appropriations act of August 7, 1882 (22 Stat. 329), which placed the collection of mineral statistics on an annual basis. The most recent authority for the USBM survey activity is the National Materials and Minerals Policy, Research and Development Act of 1980 (Public Law 96-479, 96th Congress). This act strengthens protection for proprietary data provided to the U.S. Department of the Interior by persons or firms engaged in any phase of mineral or mineral-material production or consumption.

Jan 1, 1994