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By F. G. Scott

This document is a proposed program plan for mining environmental research to be conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Mines in support of industrial oil shale mining and processing. This program plan is one of three research alternatives being considered by the Bureau, each based on a different level of anticipated funding. This report documents the mid funding level program plan.

Jan 1, 1980

By Russel R. Bohn

The objectives of this study were to: (a) determine the state of the art for the control effectiveness of various chemical dust suppressants, (b) field test the effectiveness of the dust suppressants, and (c) develop technical guidelines for selecting and implementing cost effective tailings pond dust control programs. Chemical stabilizers evaluated under field conditions were: Coherax, Calcium Lignosulfonate, Nalco 656, 655, and Magnesium Chloride. Testing in the field utilized a portable field in-situ wind tunnel. The wind tunnel was placed on the tailings surface and simulated wind speeds of up to 80 mph were used to determine wind erosion threshold velocities. Emission rate testing was performed with the wind tunnel through the use of a real-time cascade impactor. A control cost effectiveness evaluation was performed to determine how efficient the chemical stabilizers were on a dollars expended per acre basis.

Jan 1, 1983

By D. A. Paice

Under the first phase of this contract as reported in the Phase I report it was determined that certain types of commercially available molded case breakers are capable of interrupting mine dc power supplies of nominally 300 volts or 600 volts rating. These circuit breakers incorporate conventional overcurrent trip units but also can be operated by means of low power signals fed to a shunt trip coil. Further development in the Phase I program produced a means whereby a discriminating circuit breaker detector unit could sense the presence of illegitimate loads on the dc electrical system and cause the circuit breaker to trip. The detector unit operated by detecting the presence of 3000 Hz currents which were generated in the illegitimate loads by means of a 12 volt, 3000 Hz signal applied to the dc system. Further development of the program has continued in Phase II with the aim of verifying the practicability of the complete discriminating circuit breaker concept and developing other types of equipments required to implement a system. These other equipments include electronic means for raising the apparent impedance of high power legitimate loads and static filters for smaller loads. The results of laboratory work and limited underground tests have been successful. This report describes the system and the tests that have been conducted on the various equipments that comprise the complete Discriminating Circuit Breaker Concept.

Jan 1, 2012

By Sam S. Taylor

Subsurface disposal of oil-field brines was practiced in Oklahoma on a limited scale as early as 1925. The technique of subsurface injection has been improved immensely and has been applied with varying success in many oil-producing areas in Oklahoma, and elsewhere. This method of disposal, however, is only one of several methods available to operators of oil-producing properties, but, in contrast with usual methods of handling brines on the surface it eliminates the damaging effect of mineralized water on fresh-water supplies, vegetation, and aquatic and other animal life. Other methods of brine disposal approved by regulatory agencies in some States include (1) impounding in impervious ponds and solar evaporation, (2) controlled diversion into surface waters, and (3) recovery of the mineral salts of the brine. In most, States where oil is produced regulatory bodies authorize the use of one or more of these methods of brine disposal. In Oklahoma, for example, the Oklahoma Planning and Resources Board of the Conservation Commission has been authorized to adopt whatever methods or means may be necessary to prevent contamination by mineralization of all potable waters within the State.

Jan 1, 1942

By L. Nahai

Iran's petroleum industry is nearly 50 years old and the oldest in the Near East. According to published figures, Iran ranks third in production and reserves in the Near East. These reserves (including probable reserves) are estimated at 35 billion barrels and constitute about 11 percent of the world's total. Iran is the sixth largest producer of crude petroleum in the world. The 1961 output of more than 430 million barrels was 5 percent of total world output for the year. In the same year, Iran ranked fourth among world petroleum exporters, providing 8.4 percent of total world exports.

Jan 1, 1963

By Dana C. Reinke

Water well drillers are exposed to high levels of noise while working. NIOSH researchers have found that water well drillers are exposed to levels above 85dB (A) while performing certain tasks during a typical drilling job. Noise levels consistently over 85dB (A) during an 8–hour work shift are hazardous and can lead to hearing loss in workers. Finding ways to reduce noise exposure is difficult because of many factors. The work environment is constantly changing due to the location of jobs and environmental factors. The types of drill rigs required for drilling are expensive. Equipment can range from new to used (10 to 30+ years old). Drillers and owners can work together to prevent noise–induced hearing loss, and measures can be taken to reduce exposure to hazardous noise.[ ] Preventing hearing loss occurs through three stages. The first stage is removing noise from the source (i.e., drill rig). Various parts of a drill rig create noise besides the drilling rod. NIOSH researchers have examined noise levels of drill rigs. Some of the loudest parts of the drill rig include the compressor, engine, and cooling fan (Fig. 1). While removing the noise source from a worksite is ideal, the process would be expensive and difficult.[ ]

Jan 9, 2005

By R. B. Stotelmeyer

Mineral resources, or a potential for their discovery, occur at 34 localities in the Glacier Peak Wilderness and adjacent areas of the north Cascade Range of Washington (see plate). Eighteen of the mineral deposits are in the established Wilderness, four are in or partly in contiguous RARE II (Roadless Area Review and Evaluation) lands recommended by the Forest Service for addition to the Wilderness (A, D and G6031.), three are in adjacent RARE II lands excluded from wilderness consideration, and nine are in nearby roaded areas excluded from the RARE II inventory. Mineral commodities that might be produced from the Wilderness and recommended additions are gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, molybdenum, arsenic, cadmium, tungsten, cobalt, limestone (marble), pumice, and volcanic cinders. Mineral production from adjacent lands might include most of these commodities, plus antimony, decorative stone, pyrite, silica, and garnet.

Jan 1, 1982

By J. W. Jensen

This report was prepared as a background reference for future publica¬tions concerning the damping capacity of metals and alloys. It contains a broad description of the theory and methods of measuring damping capacity and correlates the developments of the past decade in terminology, units, and techniques. Damping-capacity instrumentation at the Mississippi Valley Experiment Station, Rolla, Mo., is described. The bibliography contains over 150 references to recent articles, each tabulated as to material investigated and test variables, such as frequency, stress, mode of vibration, and temperature. INTRODUCTION After it discovered high-damping manganese-copper alloys before World War II, the Bureau of Mines began research on the damping capacity of alloys and has continued to expand this activity to the present time. In physical metallurgy, damping capacity has become an important research tool in the Bureau. The physical measurement of the damping properties of alloys was begun at the College Park laboratories, and later conducted at Salt Lake City under the direction of Dr. E. V. Potter. Among the many articles resulting from this work, Damping Capacity of Metals (108)3/ has received frequent men¬tion in more recent literature and describes briefly the methods of measurement employed at that time.

Jan 1, 1959

By R. H. Hiltz

One of the major hazards in underground coal mining is fire. The inherent hazard of fire is exaggerated by the nature of coal mining restricted areas, the highly combustible nature of coal itself, and a potential for explosive concentrations or dust and gas in the air it becomes imperative therefore to make every effort to eliminate the causes of fires, while providing the most effective means possible to control and extinguish those fires which may occur it has been demonstrated by prior work that the problem of control increases in proportion to the time necessary to institute control procedures. There are several areas of underground coal mining with obvious fire potential. Some of these, like belt heads, have reliantly undergone improvements in standby fire control devices Others, although having fire suppression systems available to them, have not received as complete a systematic study of their problems. Face machinery, particularly those without a water supply, falls in this latter category.

Jan 1, 1973

By Richard L. Rains

The Bureau of Mines made a study of mines and prospects of the Benton Range RARE II area (No. 5056), Mono County, California in October and November 1980. The study area is west of Owens Valley and 30 mi (40 km) north of Bishop, California. The mineral deposits were evaluated by examination of mines, prospects, and mining claims by the Bureau of Mines. Geological, geochemical, and geophysical studies were conducted by the Geological Survey. The principal mineral commodities of the Benton Range RARE II area are gold and silver but tungsten deposits may also extend into the area. Properties with resources are listed in table 1; their locations are shown on figure 1.

Jan 1, 1982

By R. Stefanko

This first Annual Report covers the work on Contract No. H0377043 "Cable for Face Equipment", from August 1, 1977 to July 31, 1978. It reports the progress in the three areas of over-and short-circuit protection, cable ampacity research and cable couplers. Field trips have established many interesting facts related to circuit breaker settings and cable size. For example, the determination of cable sizes depends on the RMS duty cycle current determined by a particular piece of equipment, but the actual selection of the cable to be used is often a function of the maximum allowable circuit breaker instantaneous settings as specified in Title 30. In order to avoid nuisance tripping as a result of instantaneous starting current field, laboratory and analytical studies are being conducted to determine proper settings and cable sizes Also an extensive program has been established to monitor the performance of high voltage cable couplers and determine their modes of failure. Various equipments are being designed for laboratory testing, and an extensive reeled cable experiment is also under way.

Jan 1, 1978

By R. R. Lowery

An analysis of three 1-1/4-diam manufactured wire ropes of 6x19 classification was done to identify and describe reference conditions of new rope. Reference condition is of value when examining tested or retired ropes. Measurements of strand and rope pitch and of wire and rope diameter confirmed adherence of all ropes to those construction specifications. Mechanical properties of strength and ductility were determined by accepted methods for the ropes and wires from the ropes. Individual wires from one rope failed to meet minimum wire ductility values. Wire chemical composition varied in average carbon levels, from 0.70 to 0.78 wt pct, and in manganese content, from 0.45 to 0.80 wt pct. One manufacturer's product contained 1 to 3 wt pct Ni and Cr. Heavily wrought pearlitic steel microstructures were porous and contained inclusions. Cold work variations were evidenced by wrought grain width. Recorded anomalies reflected the condition of the manu-factured products. The report provides data that compare the three wire ropes studied, but cannot verify the effects that these conditions or anomalies have on rope service life.

Jan 1, 1983

By J. L. Holman

The Bureau of Mines has extended its previous development of cast Mn-Cu damping alloys to powder metallurgy (P/M) consolidation of alloys containing 55 to 75 wt-pct Mn. Blends of minus 200-mesh elemental powders were compacted cold in directional and isostatic presses. With 1 pct binder, typical green densities ranged between 76 and 80 pct of theoretical when pressing at 30 or 48 tsi. Green strength increased with compacting pressure and copper content. As-sintered tensile strengths ranged to 60,000 psi fox a hydrogen, sintered 60Mn-40Cu alloy, along with 5-pct elongation. Sintered densities ranged between 90 and 96 pct of theoretical. Sintering (a as effective when holding for 1 hr at maximum temperatures of 900° to 1,040` C, dependent on composition. Strength and ductility were considerably lower than for equiva¬lent cast alloys. When aged to the damping condition, alloys containing 60 to 70 pct Mn exhibited >40 pct specific damping capacity (SDC) at 5,000-psi stress, considerably higher than values reported for equivalent cast material. Effects of 1 or 3 pct Sn or Zn additions on SDC and other properties were assessed. Trials were conducted on consolidating rings and gears of the 65Mn-35Cu alloy on industrial-type P/M equipment.

Jan 1, 1979

By Leslie S. Rubin

A ventilated helical boost pump was developed that can handle varying flow rates and/or solids concentrations while operating at a single rotational speed and without computer assisted feedback controls. The boost pump developed and briefly tested during this program was designed to accomodate flows suitable for a 3-in. diameter pipeline. The boost pump's ventilated design provides the automatic pressure regulation needed to meet the system's requirements for supporting transient pipeline flow.

Jan 1, 1984

By E. E. Ungar

Criteria applicable to noise in coal cleaning plants are presented, and the generally applicable noise control principles and approaches are discussed. The operating characteristics and equipment of coal cleaning plants are described. Considerations entering in the selection and design of noise control means are delineated, and specific means for equipment noise reduction are described. The limited utility of acoustically absorptive materials in plant spaces is indicated, administrative means for reducing worker noise exposure are pointed out, and ear-protective devices are described briefly. The reduction of plant noise reaching nearby communities is discussed. Programs leading to quieter machines an coal cleaning plants are suggested.

Jan 1, 1974

By Forrest T. Moyer

INJURY experience and related employment information are presented in the chapter for the coal-mining, coking, oil and gas, peat, and native asphalt industries in the United States for 1964. No attempt has been made to combine these data and present injury-frequency rates reflecting the mineral-fuel industries because the hazards of the separate industries are not comparable. All rates in the text are calculated separately on data before rounding, hence component rates may not add to the total rates shown in the tables. Tabulations showing the trend of injuries and employment for all mineral industries are presented in Volume III. COAL Injury experience of the coal mining industry was improved in 1964, as measured by the declines of 1 and 14 percent, respectively, in the frequency and severity rates. Although the total number of injuries increased in 1964, a slightly greater proportional increase in man-hours worked caused the frequency rate to drop to 44.65 per million man-hours. The injury-severity rate in 1964 was 7,832 days lost per million man-hours of exposure. Employment and injury data for 1964 are based on final data for anthracite mines and preliminary data for bituminous coal and lignite mines. Fatality experience improved significantly with a record low number of 240 deaths in 1964. This total was 44 less than in 1963. The Nation's coal mines during 1964 were free of major disasters (a single accident resulting in the death of five men or more) for the first time since 1956. The

Jan 1, 1965

By D. R. Corson

The Bureau of Mines instrumented an operating stope in a deep vein mine to determine the amount of wall closure and the magnitude of loads imposed on a backfilled stope. Hydraulic pressure cells used to monitor pressures in the fill) with bolt closure points to measure vein-wall movement and the procedure for their installation) are described) and the results of the laboratory calibration analysis of the reliability of these cells are given. An attempt to monitor density and moisture changes in the backfill with a nuclear density-moisture device was only partly successful) owing to either deformation of access tubing or relative displacements of the vertical vein walls relative to the emplaced tubes. Data from the instrumentation indicate vein-wall closure in excess of 20 inches and pressures within the fill approaching 600 psi. Analysis) incorporating field data with results of laboratory tests of the compressibility of timber and tests defining the constrained moduli of the fill) points out the limited restraint to vein closure offered by timber sets. Ground movement induced by mining activity could be more effectively con-trolled by the use of densely compacted backfill.

Jan 1, 1967

By W. W. Adams

"The seventh National Safety Competition, that for 1931, conducted by the United States Bureau of Mines, was participated in by 350 mines and quarries operating in 34 States. Tables 1 to 5 show the relative standing of the various plants, Bronze trophies, known as the ""Sentinels of Safety,"" which were provided by The Explosives Engineer magazine to be awarded annually by the Bureau of Mines were awarded to five companies, each company having established the best accident—prevention record within one of the five classes into which all companies were divided — namely, anthracite mining companies, bituminous—coal mining companies, metal—mining companies, operators of nonmetallic mineral mines other than coal mines, and quarries or open—cut mines. The trophies are awarded for one year and are then transferred to the winners of the succeeding year's contest.The outstanding feature of the contest of 1931 was the operation of a bituminous coal mine without a lost—time injury to any employee. While accident—tree records had previously been made by certain quarries, metal mines, and nonmetallic mineral mines, never before has such a feat been accomplished by a bituminous coal mine in the National Safety Competition. Whether or not such a record has been made by a bituminous—coal mining company not enrolled is the competition the writer does not know, but it is believed that the case referred to is unique among large coal—mining companies. The mine to which reference is made is No. 1 mine of the Phelps Dodge Corporation, at Dawson, N. Mex. To that company belongs the distinction not only of being the first coal—mining company among those enrolled in these yearly safety contents to operate its mine without an accident but also of occasioning the 'Sentinels of Safety' trophy for a bituminous mine to take its first journey west of the Mississippi River. For the past six years the trophy has been in West Virginia, Alabama, or Pennsylvania."

Jun 1, 1932

By Robert D. Perry

This report describes methods of reclaiming abandoned or inactive tailings ponds and dams. The investigated sites were selected tailings deposits adjacent to metal mines in the southwestern United States and the Pacific Northwest. The basic data developed for each site consisted of the following: a review of existing literature: a site visit that included sampling of the tailings and surrounding materials; laboratory and engineering studies; and development of reclamation plans. Laboratory tests determined the gold and silver content of each tailings deposit and the chemistry of the tailings and surrounding materials. Reclamation plans that include approximate costs were developed for five tailings deposit sites. These ranged in size from 52,000 to 103,000,000 tons. Our conclusions on the remining potential of each site are based on the tailings assay and other technical data. This study concludes that remining as a reclamation tool is feasible at certain sites. Included in this report is a remining program as part of the overall reclamation plan for two sites. Our preliminary results indicate that remining as a reclamation tool is feasible for only one of them.

Jan 1, 1981

By Terry J. Close

U.S. Bureau of Mines personnel studied the 33,900-acre Silver Peak Range North Wilderness Study Area (NV-060-338), in order to evaluate its identified mineral resources. The area studied lies between the towns of Silver Peak and Dyer, about 40 miles southwest of Tonopah, in Esmeralda County, Nevada. There are no producing mines in the area studied. However, development of Sunshine Mining Company?s Sixteen-to-One silver-gold mine, located in the Silver Peak mining district near the eastern edge of the study area in the early 19801s, has stimulated recent interest. The Sunshine Mining Company claimed two sites within the study area in 1985. Also, Intermountain Resources, Incorporated, located a group of claims at a prospect along the west side of the study area in the Dyer mining district, and in 1986, began drilling. Other claimants are holding two other claim groups by assessment. At the five currently (1987) held sites, precious metals occurrences are being investigated. There are no patented mining claims or mineral leases in the study area.

Jan 1, 1987