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Rapidly identify unstable mine waste embankments and similar dam structures. Approach Aerial photography, geotechnical instrumentation, and telephone or satellite data transmission are used to supplement walk-around inspect ions. How It Works Embankment stability and other indicators of structural integrity are evaluated using aerial photography, and on-site unattended instruments and data transmitting systems. Evidence of external movement and water seepage is obtained from aerial photography and photogrammetric evaluation techniques. Surface points marked by stake- mounted targets are monitored photographically at time intervals of several weeks or months. Photographic measurements of x, y, and z coordinates of these points are obtained from flying a series of photo-runs over the dam.

Jan 1, 1979

By T. R. Taubert, D. H. Carlson, J. H. Johnson

"ObjectiveDevelop a portable emissions measurement apparatus to sample and measure tailpipe concentrations of diesel particulate matter (DPM), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (COJ, nitric oxide (NO), and nitrogen dioxide (NOJ under steady-state engine load and speed conditions during a 1-minute test.BackgroundThe U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) has a comprehensive research program to develop ways to reduce exposure of miners to diesel exhaust pollutants. Engine maintenance has been shown to have important effects on such exposure.Accurate measurements of tailpipe emissions are becoming an essential part of a good maintenance program for underground mines that use diesel-powered vehicles. Past studies of particulates in U.S. underground coal mines have shown that DPM alone may be present at concentrations greater than 1 milligram per cubic meter (mg/m3), half the 2-mg/m3 limit for respirable coal mine dust. A poorly tuned (smoking) diesel engine may be the sole cause for respirable dust concentrations exceeding the limit. Although there is currently no standard specifically for DPM in U.S. mines, regulatory steps are underway, and significant reductions of DPM levels in both coal and metal mines will most likely be required.Tailpipe emission measurements can provide diagnostic information to identify engine malfunctions such as clogged air cleaners, faulty injectors, or incorrect injection timing. In some cases, mine vehicle tailpipe DPM concentrations have been reduced up to 50 percent by engine maintenance and adjustments.An accurate measuring instrument would also be useful for determining the effects of exhaust control devices on tailpipe emissions. Little information is currently available about the overall effectiveness of exhaust controls after long-term use. Raw exhaust concentrations with and without the control device can be measured in underground mines, and from these data a control efficiency can be calculated. Knowledge of the effectiveness of exhaust control devices over time is needed to make intelligent decisions on bow to use and maintain these devices, and when to replace them."

Dec 1, 1995

By Gary L. Mowrey, William D. Monaghan, George F. Persetic, Gregory M. Molinda

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) has been investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Mines Pittsburgh Research Center for its potential to determine rod hazards in underground mines. GPR surveys were conducted at four field sites with accompanying ground truth to determine the value of GPR for roof hazard detection. The resolution of the current systems allows detection of gross roof fractures (>6A mm (>0.25 in) zone) or rider beds in coal measure roof. Data quality is not yet sufficient to detect small bed separations or subtle lithologics changes in the roof. Differences in data quality are discussed, as well as suggestion for collecting improved data.

Jan 1, 1996

By R. S. Conti

The US Bureau of Mines (USBM) has developed an inflatable feed-tube seal (IFTS) for high-expansion foam generators. The IFTS is a lightweight, portable, rectangular inflatable bag that can be used by firefighters to rapidly seal large openings, such as those in underground mines, and to simultaneously provide a feed-tube for a high- expansion foam generator. Thus allows fire-fighting foam to freely flow to the fire site and control or extinguish the fire. Studies indicated that a high-expansion foam plug will travel 183 m (600ft) down an entry with a 4.5% rise in elevation, before leakage of foam from around the inflatable partition.

By L. A. Haas

The feasibility of removing sulfur dioxide by carbon monoxide reduction in a fixed-bed catalytic reactor was investigated by the Bureau of Mines. The reduction rate of sulfur dioxide with carbon monoxide was significantly dependent upon the iron and alumina content of the mixed catalyst. Maximum catalytic activity was obtained with about 40 percent iron-alumina mixture with a nominal gas mixture of 10 percent carbon monoxide, 5 percent sulfur dioxide, and the balance nitrogen. The synergistic effect of this catalyst mixture was explained by a dual reaction site mechanism, with both iron and alumina augmenting their specific sites at their interparticle contacts. The catalytic activity also increased with decreasing catalyst pellet size. With O.7-mm pellets, the entire pellet appeared to be catalytically active in a 2-gram catalyst bed. The apparent activation energy of the reaction was 18.3 kcal per mole in the temperature range of 350° to 600° C. Carbonyl sulfide (COS) was produced by the interaction of carbon monoxide and sulfur. The amount decreased with decreasing CO concentration. The ratio of COS formed per SO2 removed reached a maximum at about 400° C. The reaction rate appeared to be independent of S02 concentration in the range of 0.2 to 16 percent. The rate, however, increased directly with the CO concentration in the range of 5 to 20 percent. The presence of CO2 (<15 percent) had no appreciable effect on the rate. However, not over 0.5 percent oxygen could be tolerated. This method appears feasible for removing S02 from waste gas if the oxygen is removed prior to the catalytic S02 reduction process.

Jan 1, 1971

Objective A cable bolt can be a strain-measuring device as well as a supporting device in underground mines. Placing instruments on a cable bolt allows certain characteristics of a rock mass, such as high strain and load, to he evaluated during mining and provides a means for mining engineers and mine inspectors to forecast a potential roof fall. Background Thousands of cable bolts are installed in U.S. mines each year. Studies performed by NIOSH researchers show that support loads can exceed the yield point of the steel, which can result in unstable ground conditions that pose direct safety hazards for underground workers. Rock falls can also create secondary hazards, such as caved escape ways and blocked ventilation passages. Development of methods and tools to assist in the evaluation and selection of rock supports could reduce the number of unplanned rock falls significantly. Approach Instrumented cable bolts developed at NIOSH’s Spokane Research Laboratory were used along with existing ground control systems to monitor rock mass loads and movement Axial and shear loads on the cables are determined as these loads are transferred to strain gages embedded in the king wire. In longwall, room-and-pillar, or underhand cut-and-fill mines, rock mass loads and movements can be detected down to microstrains of stress or millimeters of movement. By detecting such small amounts of ground movement and support load, early intervention to prevent a roof fall is possible, and miner safety and health are increased. How it Works Up to 10 strain gages are embedded in the king wire at whatever locations a mine ground control engineer may specify. The gages m either be set in pairs in the same plane to detect shear or set at 90° angles to detect loading in three dimensions. The cables are up to 5 meters long if they arc to be grouted with resin or up to 15 meters: if they will be grouted with cement. They arc capable of holding m ultimate lend of 214 kN and produce reliable readings to 178 kN, as shown in the calibration curve. The cables are fitted with an instrument plug for monitoring the gages and a special head for insertion into the rock. A data acquisition system, such as a Vishay strain indicator box, Campbell Scientific, or Omnidata system, is required to obtain the data for load and displacement calculations.

Nov 1, 1998

By John W. Frey

This paper presents one of a series of digests of foreign mining legisla- tion and court decisions which is being prepared in advance of a general report relative to the rights of American citizens to explore for minerals and to own and operate mines in various foreign countries. This interpretation of the laws of Trinidad has been prepared from the best information available in ashington 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.

Sep 1, 1930

This Information Circular from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) documents and supplements the information presented in a series of workshops held during 2002 and 2003. The primary intended audience consists of all who are involved in developing and conducting miners&apos; training. According to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), mine operators reported 240,000 full-time equivalent workers and independent contractors reported 42,000 full-time equivalent workers working on mine property during the year 2000. Unfortunately, these workers have a relatively high risk of suffering serious work-related injuries and illnesses. The mining industry has the highest rate of occupational fatalities among all U.S. industries. The fatality rate is 30 deaths per 100,000 workers compared to 4.6 for all private industry (Morbidity and Mortality Week Report, 2001; NIOSH, 2002). Compared to workers in other industries, miners also have a relatively high rate of nonfatal lost-time injuries, and their injuries tend to be more severe (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1999). Many miners are also exposed to significant health hazards, including coal and silica dust, diesel exhaust, and noise. More than 1000 U.S. miners die of lung disease each year (NIOSH, 1999). Mine safety and health professionals have long recognized training as a critical element of an effective safety and health program. Federal regulations (30 CFR, Parts 46 and 48) require mine operators to provide initial safety and health training to all new miners, as well as a minimum of 8 hours of refresher training each year. The time and money being spent to train U.S. miners is substantial, and so there is a strong and steady demand for new and better mine training materials and methods. A growing concern among mine safety professionals regards the training of new workers. A major change in the mining workforce is anticipated within the next decade. In major segments of mining, especially coal, relatively few workers have been hired since the 1970&apos;s. Thus, as an entire cohort of miners in the current workforce nears retirement, the replacement of these employees will require an influx of new workers. New miners may be young people who lack the ability to recognize and respond to mining hazards in an appropriate manner. They may also have had different educational experiences than their older counterparts. Many safety professionals believe that these two cohorts require different approaches to training. The papers in this report should help prepare mine trainers for the changes about to occur in the workforce and acquaint them with strategies they can use to enhance the effectiveness of their training. The first three papers present basic principles for teaching adults. The five remaining papers are intended to illustrate how these principles can be applied to the development and imple¬mentation of effective training for miners. Below is an overview of these papers. 1. Kowalski and Vaught review the process and principles of adult learning. The learning model they present includes a discussion of goals, content, delivery, assessment, and remediation. Adults are viewed as active learners, experienced-based, expert in their own right in specific areas, independent, real-life centered, task-centered, problem-centered, solution-driven, skill-seeking, self-directing, and internally and externally motivated. Basic aspects of curriculum development are briefly reviewed. For further information about adult learning, see Camm and Cullen&apos;s paper. 2. Mallett and Reinke&apos;s first paper discusses issues related to training new miners who have recently or will soon be entering the mining workforce. These new generations of miners have different learning style preferences and training needs than Baby Boomers and other older miners. Even trainers who have been highly effective in the past should reassess their training styles and their classroom materials to determine if they are prepared to meet the needs of these young new workers. This paper provides information that will help mine trainers communicate across the generation gap. 3. Mallett and Reinke&apos;s second paper provide an overview of training evaluation. Trainers and decision-makers are given a framework for planning and assessing training evaluation strategies. The authors present Kirkpatrick&apos;s (2001) model of evaluation categories and discuss how to start an evaluation plan and various ways to collect data. They do not provide detailed instruction in evaluation methodologies, but give trainers a review of the things they need to consider when developing an evaluation plan. A good evaluation plan can inform revisions to a training course, assess trainee learning, and/or answer managers&apos; questions about program effectiveness. 4. Brnich, Derick, Mallett, and Vaught discuss a technique for incorporating worker participation into fire prevention and safe equipment operation training. This technique involves development of short (5 to 7 minutes) videotapes coupled with toolbox talks that ground the content of the videos within the context of a miner&apos;s workplace. An example of one of these training modules is presented, along with the results of an evaluation performed on its effectiveness at improving miners&apos; understanding of what types of information they should be sure to communicate during a mine emergency. 5. Wiehagen, Conrad, Friend, and Rethi discuss on-the-job training (OJT) as a method for teaching miners safety and production skills. Much of the training is done by experienced workers. This paper describes how small investments can help improve the effectiveness of on-the-job training. Effective on-the-job training involves some structure and planning in the transfer of responsibility for task performance from the trainer to the novice. Assisting the trainer could involve helping develop up-to-date job analyses and offering strategies for teaching and evaluating job skills. This paper addresses organizational considerations supporting structured on-the-job

Jan 1, 2002

By E. P. Youngman

Although, an effort has been made to standardize and codify the mining law to apply to the entire German Nation, nothing has yet been accomplished. abstract, which applies only to Prussia, the largest and most important of the German States, is based upon the Prussian Mining Law (Preussisches Berggesetz) of June 24, 1865, which grants to certain provinces, communities, and districts special exceptions, of no particular significance, except locally.

May 1, 1930

Provide longwall operators with an alternative strategy for placement of gob gas ventholes to improve gas production.

Jan 1, 1995

By John D. Sullivan, Edward P. Barrett

The experimental work on the utilization of tin-plate scrap at the North- west experiment station of the U. S. Pireau of Mines in cooperation with College of Mines, University of Washington, necessitated the selection of a simple method for the determination of tin in the iron produced. Some of the standard methods for the determination of tin which were tried are given below: 1. Dissolving in acids and precipitating the tin as sulphide, igniting and weighing as Sn02. 2. Dissolving in aciis, reducing with nickel, cooling in an atmosphere of carbon dioxide, end titrating with standari iodine solution. 3. Dissolving in acids, precipitating the tin as sulphide, dissolving this sulphide in H3 and H2S04, heating until fumes of 503 are evolved, reducing with nickel or sheet lead, cooling in an atmosphere of carbon dioxide, ani titrating with a standard iodine solution.

Mar 1, 1923

The dust exposure of the longwall shearer operator is usually determined by his position relative to the cutting drums. The dust generated during cutting may travel up-wind, against the primary airflow, and be carried out into the walkway where it can contaminate the intake air for as much as 10 feet outby the shearer operator&apos;s controls. Thus, both head and tail drum operators are exposed to un-acceptably high levels of air-borne respirable dust. One Solution The latest generation of long-wall shearers has features that make the use of radio remote or umbilical (hard wire) remote control relatively easy to implement. Remote control can enable shearer operators to control machines from positions that are less dusty than normal control stations. With either type, the head-drum operator can now control the shearer from a position up to 20 feet on the intake-air side of the shearer, while the tail-drum operator&apos;s station is now located across from the head drum.

Jan 1, 1984

Increase the safety of operators of front-end loaders by providing a means of monitoring the machine&apos;s stability. Approach Through a research contract, the Bureau of Mines developed a front-end loader stability indicator which provides the machine operator with a reliable, easily interpreted display assessing the stability of the machine. How It Works Statistics show that front-end loader accidents are the largest single category of machinery-related accidents in the surface mining industry. Many of the fatalities resulting from these accidents occur when front-end loaders rollover and either crush the operator who is trapped within the cab or strike the operator who is trying to jump to safety. Although rollover protective structures (ROPS) are required by law on front-end loaders to protect operators in the case of a rollover, these do not prevent the actual rollover from occurring. In fact, the operator has no way of evaluating the stability of the machine except by using personal judgment. The Bureau of Mines responded to this problem by developing a front-end loader stability indicator whose primary function is to Indicate to the operator when the machine is approaching an unstable situation which may trigger a rollover. The device bases Its interpretation on measurement of the normal loads on the machine&apos;s wheels. Strain gage instrumentation located on the machine is used to monitor the magnitude and change of forces acting normal to the front-end loader&apos;s wheels. These forces are direct indicators of the machine&apos;s center of gravity relative to its position on the ground. The strain gages are connected to electronic circuitry which amplifies and processes the signals. Stability or instability of the loader is relayed to the operator through a display of green, amber and red lights.

Jan 1, 1986

By Lippe D. Sadwin

A high-speed streak camera method for making equation of state measurements (shock and particle velocities) on samples of rock under dynamic load conditions is described. Experimental data are given for tests on 12 samples representing 5 rock types. Analysis of these data shows that the method is practical and that good reproducibility of results can be obtained. The pressure range covered in the tests was from 1 to 50 kilobars.

Jan 1, 1966

By Arno C. Fieldner

Forty years have elapsed since the Bureau of Mines was established on July 1, 1910, by Act of Congress. The convocation of this Sixth International Conference of Safety in Mines Research Directors, 24 days after our 40th birthday, seems to be an appropriate time for reviewing our contributions to mine safety research and the problems yet to be solved from the American point of view. Actually research on safety in coal mines was started by the United States Government in the Technologic Branch of the U. S. Geological Survey of the Department of the Interior in 1908, as a result of a succession of disastrous coal mine explosions in which many lives were lost. In 1910 this work was transferred to the newly created Bureau of Mines. 394 lives were lost annually per 100,000 men employed in the coal mines of the United States in the 5-year period ended in 1910, as compared to 203 lives lost annually in the 5-year period ended with 1949. In 1908 no safe, permissible types of explosives and no certified permissible equipment of any kind were used in American coal mines. Black powder was in universal use and open oil or acetylene lights were common in all but mines known to be gassy. Rock dusting was not practiced to limit propagation of explosions, nor was ventilation in many mines adequate, Our safety practice lagged behind that of foreign coal- mining countries and therefore one of the first steps in carrying out the Congressional Authorization of 1908 to investigate the causes of mine explosions was to obtain assistance from the leaders of mine safety research in foreign countries. At the request of Dr. Joseph H. Holmes, director of the Technologic Branch of the Geological Survey, James R. Garfield, Secretary of the Interior, obtained the cooperation of the Governments of England, Belgium and Germany in sending Captain Arthur Desborough, Inspector of Explosives in England, Mr. Victor Watteyne, Inspector-General of Mines in Belgium, and Mr. Carl Meissner, Counselor for Mines in Germany, to visit American mines and make recommendations for increasing safety and efficiency in mining coal in the United States.

Jun 1, 1950

"The Generic Mineral Technology Center on Respirable Dust was established in August 1983, at the request of the Bureau of Mines, to conduct research that affords ""...each miner the opportunity to work underground during the period of (his/her) adult working life without incurring any disability from pneumoconiosis or any other occupational disease"". The Center consists of the Mining and Mineral Resources Research Institutes (MRI) of The Pennsylvania State University (PSU) and West Virginia University (WVU) in association with the MRIs of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Minnesota (UMN). (FIGURE 34) Michigan Technological University (MTU) is also affiliated with the Center in the area of diesel particulates.The Center brings together experts concerned with particles causing potentially disabling or fatal diseases including pneumoconiosis (""black-lung""), silicosis, and asbestosis. The latter is of deep concern not just to workers in the mineral sector of the economy but also to the general populace. The primary goal of the Center is to reduce the incidence and severity of respirable dust disease through advancing fundamental understanding of all aspects of respirable dust associated with mining and milling, and the interaction of dust and lungs. The research program of the Generic Mineral Technology Center explores these scientific, engineering or medical concerns with the objective of refining existing strategies and developing new respirable dust control techniquesand technology that are consistent with the fundamental dust-lung interaction processes that lead to mine worker disability. The work concentrates on five areas (FIGURE 35):"

Nov 1, 1988

By A. Gene Collins

Some of the geochemical relationships that exist between subsurface fluids and the associated geologic strata in petroleum producing areas of Louisiana have been determined. Samples of petroleum-associated water were obtained from 126 wells in Louisiana that produced from sediments of three geologic ages: Tertiary, Cretaceous, and Jurassic. The samples were trans-ported to a central laboratory for analysis of chemical composition, using standard methods, to determine if the compositions varied with the geologic strata of their source and, if so, why. The dissolved constituents were com-pared with those of a brine that was concentrated by evaporation. The concentrations of bromide, calcium, and strontium were useful in distinguishing the brines produced from sediments of a late age from those of an earlier age. The concentration ratios of Mg&apos; (total equivalent magnesium) and bromide indicated that dolomitization probably had occurred and altered the composition of the brines. A principal-components analysis of the data indicated an inverse relationship between depth and concentrations of bromide, strontium, calcium, and lithium.

Jan 1, 1970

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 Haiti 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 .

Sep 1, 1930

By Raymond M. Stateham

Microseismic noise rates and slope movements were measured in an unstable area along the north wall of the Tripp-Veteran pit, Kennecott Copper Corp., Ruth, Nev. Low-noise, wide-band microseismic geophones were located at various points in the wall, and the change in distance across open fractures, resulting from instability, was determined by repeated measurements between fixed points set on each side of the fractures. The microseismic noise rate increased and decreased with corresponding increases and decreases in the rate at which the fractures opened. The microseismic noise rates and changes in width of the fractures show excellent agreement, and the two types of measurements complement each other in monitoring the progress of pit wall failure.

Jan 1, 1971

By F. W. Lee

Operating engineers and mining executives are interested in the science of applied geophysics, but are looking for a simple and understandable exposition of its problems, instead of dissertations which are becoming more and more involved and increasingly difficult to comprehend. It may be well to discuss the goal, the attempted methods of reaching it and the psychological motive, if any, tack of the science. Where does the subject of applied geophysics stand from the viewpoint of (1) the physicist, (2) the mathematician, and (3) the geologist? Fundamentally, the science aims at a differentiation of subterranean geology with the object of finding useful mineral products by the study of gravitational, magnetic, seismic, electric, and other fields which may be associated with the materials naturally or which may be applied to them. The more skillfully these fields are recognized, applied, and analyzed the greater will be the possibility of interpreting results in a way that will be remunerative both economically and scientifically.

Oct 1, 1931