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By A. J. Fejes

The purpose of this Bureau of Mines report is to provide mining industry personnel and regulatory authorities with a subsidence-reference list and annotated bibliography that will aid them in locating subsidence information and in developing their own subsidence information sources. Over 700 references are listed in the Bureau's subsidence information center bibliography; approximately 600 of these references were obtained for assessment. Of these 600 references, 167 were selected to be rated, categorized, and annotated. All literature referenced in this report was published prior to 1984. Table 1 is a cross - referenced index that classifies and rates selected references with respect to specific keywords. References are rated not on quality of content but rather on applicability to given subject areas. Appendix A is an annotated bibliography of the references listed in table 1 and provides further information of each article to aid the user in selecting articles for specific areas of subsidence technology. Appendix B is a copy of the subsidence information center bibliography.

Jan 1, 1985

By Will H. Coghill, F. D. DeVaney

"Many of the iron ore deposits on the western end of the Mesabi Range Minnesota consist of the so-called ''wash ores."" Because of their high silica content these ores must be washed or concentrated to make them merchantable. Washing plants have been in operation for 20 years, during this period large quantities of tailings have accumulated in tailings ponds. These tailings contain the aggregate millions of tons of iron oxides which, if recovered, would greatly to the available tonnages and to the revenues of the mining companies. It the purpose of this paper to outline give results of concentration tests on tailings.In order that the reader may understand more clearly the type of material under consideration, a short description of the characteristics of the wash ores of the Western Mesabi Range and a brief resume a washing methods that have been are now being employed will be given. Appleby and Newton4 In their description of the district and of the ores say:The Western Mesabi district embraces the territory west of the town of Nashwauk in Itasca County. The territory to the east of this dividing line is known as the Central and Eastern Mesabi district. This subdivision is rot wholly arbitrary. While the ore bodies in the two districts resemble each other in. shape, size, and general structure, there is a marked and very important difference in the character of the respective ores. For purposes of comparison, the western deposits have been called washable ore bodies, and the central and eastern, standard ore bodies. The latter ores are the result of natural concentration processes which have teen carried far enough to produce a large proportion of high-grade ore Wet can be marketed direct; the Western Mesabi ores present a lesser degree of natural concentration and are as a rule of too low grade to admit of marketing without preliminary treatment. In many cases the grade can be improved by washing, hence the material is called washable ore. Exceptions to thin general rule may be noted in both districts. Many of the Western Mesabi ore bodies contain quite a proportion of merchantable ore. There are also portions of central and eastern Mesabi ore deposits which are of low grade and which can be improved by washing."

Nov 1, 1930

By James R. Boyle

The value of mineral production in-creased 13% in 1977. Nearly all commodities registered an increase in production and value, continuing a trend that started in 1976. In addition, practically all commodities registered an increase in unit value. Alabama led the Nation in the production of crushed marble, was second in bauxite and scrap mica third in kaolin and oyster shell, and fourth in bentonite, dimension marble, and fire clay.

Jan 1, 1981

By W. A. Stickney

The Bureau of Mines conducted beneficiation and smelting studies on siliceous offgrade manganese samples to indicate effective methods of manufacturing silicomanganese from materials that cannot be economically beneficiated to meet General Services Administration (GSA) specifications for stockpiling. Laboratory and pilot-plant flotation tests were conducted on 2 samples, 1 from the waste-tailings dump of the Domestic Manganese & Development Co , Butte, Mont., and the other from the Nettie mine in the Butte-Philipsburg area. Smelting tests were made on the combined concentrates from the pilot-plant flotation tests and on part of the tailings sample The flotation scheme found to be adequate in laboratory tests and later in the pilot-plant tests consisted of flotation by a fuel oil-tall oil emulsion in an acid circuit (pH )-1-.8 to 5.0). The oil-emulsion reagent flocculated the manganese minerals and selectively floated them from the siliceous gangue, In the pilot-plant flotation test on Butte-mill tailings 90.1 percent of the manganese was recovered in a concentrate that analyzed 32.6 percent Mn, 4.8 percent Fe and 28.1 percent Si02. In the test on Nettie mine ore 90.8 percent of the manganese was recovered in a concentrate that analyzed 36 6 percent Mn, 5.5 percent Fe, and 26-4 percent Si02.

Jan 1, 1956

By D. E. FOCG, A. E. Wells

When the United States entered the World War governmental agencies found little definite knowledge available as to the exact capacity of each sulphuric acid plant in the United States to manufacture acid under the stress of a great emergency. It is true that on account of the demand for acid for the manufacture of munitions for the Allies, prior to the entrance of this country into the war, most of the acid plants near industrial centers in the Eastern and Northern States were running at or nearly their maximum capacity, but, . for various reasons, many plants in these States and plants in other districts were not. For a number of years statistics as to the production of acid by the plants of the country were compiled by the United States Geological Survey, but obviously such figures did not give information as to the maximum capacities that might be available for meeting the he.a vy war ·requirements, or as to the steps that would have to be taken to bt-ing these capacities into use. During the summer and early fall of 1917 various attempts were made to obtain the desired information, but no satisfactory or complete data were obtained. Late in 1917, under the authority granted to the Bureau of Mines by the explosives act, the Director of the Bureau of Mines directed A. E. Wells, metallurgist of the bureau, to uiake a complete survey of the situation. Mr. Wells personally conferred with officials of the acid companies and visited most of the acid plants in the North that are east of the Mississippi River. The information obtained through this personal survey, together with that obtained through the ready cooperation of the subcommittee on ncids, and the subcommittee on fertilizers of the Committee on Chemicals of the Council of National Defense, enabled the preparation of a report containing the desired data concerning the sulphuric acid industry. This report was made immediately available to the War Industries Board and to those offices in the War and Navy Depart- ments that were most directly concerned in planning the explosives program and in obtaining the necessary supplies to produce the explosives. Beginning with this survey and report, the sulphuric acid section of the war minerals investigations of the Bureau of Mines took an active part in all matters pertaining to the sulphuric acid industry during the remainder of the war. Mr. Wells, the chief of the section, was appointed an associate chief of the sulphur, pyrite, and sulphuric acid sections of the War Industries Board. .Also, by this direct contact with the War Industries Board, the data obtained by Messrs. R. R. Hornor, H. A. Buehler, a.nd 0. Lindstrom, who were in charge, for the bureau, of the investigations concerning the supplies of pyrite and sulphur, were constantly made available to all interested Government agencies. D. E. Fogg, of New York City, was appointed chemical engineer to the sulphuric acid section to make special investigations relating to the acid industry, especially the possible utilization, in an emergency, of those sources of raw material.not then being used. Mr. E. E. Corbett, of Brooklyn, N. Y., was appointed chemical engineer to make investigations concerned primarily ,vith the conservation of acid. Direct and intimate contact with the industry was had through the close cooperation with the committee on acids of the Chemical Alliance, this committee during the greater part of 1918 occupying rooms with the acid section of the bureau. With the ending of the war and the close o:f the active work of the acid section of the bureau, the suggestion was made by many interested parties that a bulletin be prepared giving some qf the fun. damental and most important facts regarding the sulphuric acid industry, including a discussion of the technical :features of the manufacture of acid. During the war the bureau received -a vast number of inquiries in regard to various phases of the industry, a.nd this fact also made such a bulletin seem desirable. Therefore, the present bulletin was prepared to cover the main facts in regard to the industry in this country, including a discussion of the supplies of sulphur-bearing raw materials, the situation of the acid plants, the principal points in regard to manufacturing processes, and the uses of the acid. No attempt has been ma.de to discuss at length the manufacturing processes, as details differ more or less at the different plants and in general are carefully guarded by the acid ·companies. A great deal of the data given in this bulletin may be found in various pub]ications, but this is the first publication in which such data have been assembled and made readily available. Most of the data were obtained directly from observation and from cooperating acid companies or from individuals who had been or are now engaged in acid manufacturing and were liberal and generous in making their information available for publication. Care has been exercised to publish no data that were obtained as confidential by the bureau's representatives. The average acid manufacturer may be already more or less acquainted with most of the information presented in this bulletin, yet it is believed that the bulletin will be of value to those who wish to obtain a. general review of the present condition, both the economic and technical, of the sulphuric acid industry in the United States.

Jan 1, 1920

By A. E. Back

[Several processes for recovering manganese from low-grade ores have been proposed3/4/5/ in which an aqueous slurry of the ore is leached with gas containing nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur dioxide as obtained from burning sulfur or roasting sulfide ores. The manganese dioxide is dissolved, and most of the sulfur dioxide is oxidized to sulfate, but an appreciable quantity of dithionate is usually formed, together with acid from oxidation of the sulfur dioxide. The over-all reactions may be represented as follows: (1) Mn02 + S02 = Mn++ + S04--. (2) Mn02 + 2S02 = Mn++ +S206--. (3) H20 + So2 + 1/2 02 = 2H+ 5S4--. (4) H20 + 2S02 + 1/2 02 = 2H+ + S206---.]

Jan 1, 1952

By Mark S. Sanders

The purpose of the present study was to develop and test improved Type V workvests for use on dredge operations. The goal was to design workvests that would be more comfortable to wear, would interfere less with task performance, and would better meet the needs of dredge workers. It was hypothesized that by attaining these goals, the resulting vests would be worn more often and would be kept buckled more of the time than traditional vests. The study involved three major phases. In Phase I, visits were made to dredge operations and a definition of the problem was developed. Problems with current vests were identified and working conditions and tasks surveyed In Phase II, prototype vests were developed and laboratory tests were per-formed to assess comfort and interference. In Phase III, the prototypes were modified and field tested with actual dredge operators and workers.

Jan 1, 1985

By J. A. Herdlick

"INTRODUCTION The BeVan quartz crystal prospect in the Indian Creek mining district of Lemhi County, west-central Idaho, was examined by an engineer of the Bureau of Mines 3/ on July 9, 1943. As quartz crystals possessing peizoelectric properties were on the critical list of strategic war minerals, further exploration of the deposit was recommended. The Bureau of Mines exploration began in December 1943 and continued through January 1944. Additional trenching was completed during May and June 1944. This report presents the data obtained by this exploration.ACKNOWLEDGMENTSIn its program of exploration of mineral deposits, the Bureau of Mines has as its primary objective the more effective utilization of our mineral resources to the end that they make the greatest possible contribution to national security and economy. The Mining Division, Lowell B. Moon, chief, conducts preliminary examinations, does the actual exploratoiy work, and prepares the final report. The Metallurgical Division, O. C. Ralston, chief, analyses samples and makes beneficiation tests.The quartz crystals found during the exploration were examined and classified at the Bureau of Mines College Park, Md., laboratory and checked at the National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C.Fred BeVan, of North Fork, Idaho, and Edward F. Cenis, of the Montana Coal & Iron Company, Spoane, Wash., provided much information on the history and past production of the property."

Mar 1, 1948

By Pete G. Kovalchik, Lynn A. Alcorn, Rudy J. Matetic, Adam K. Smith

Over-exposure to noise remains a widespread, serious health hazard in the U.S. mining industries despite 25 years of regulation. Most other categories of illnesses and injuries associated with mining have improved, with the exception of hearing loss. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) coal noise sample data collected from 2000 to 2002 show that 65% of the equipment whose operators exceeded 100% noise dosage is comprised of seven different types of machines. The continuous mining machine is first among all the equipment with 35% of the noise overexposures. The ational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is conducting research to reduce excessive exposure for operators of continuous mining machines and preventing additional cases of oise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) by developing low-cost retrofit noise controls for mining equipment. This paper describes a noise control for reducing the noise overexposures of continuous mining machine operators. Underground results show a 26.4% and 27.4% noise exposure reduction for the continuous mining machine operator. This research is providing the mining community with an additional noise control to be utilized on continuous mining machines, therefore reducing operator noise overexposure. Utilizing this newly developed noise control, along with previously proven controls for the continuous mining machine chain conveyor, will provide operators of these machines an opportunity to be within the MS HA-Permissible Exposure Limit (MSHA-PEL).

By Bruce McDonald

This report contains the Phase I findings of a study to select and test devices for preventing lack of alertness in haulage truck drivers. The extent of the problem was determined by visiting surface metal and nonmetal mines, interviewing drivers and safety personnel and reviewing accident reports. A number of devices for detecting a lack of alertness were considered and three were recommended for testing in actual operation.

Jan 1, 1977

By R. August Heindl

[A proposes process for recovering manganese from open-hearth steel-plant slogs is indicated by the flow diagram shown in figure 1. Investigation of the process, the laboratory development of which was reported previously,4/ was expanded to a larger scale. Mixtures of flush slags and limestone were proportioned to have molar [SiO2] ratios of 1.5 to 2.2 and were fired at temperatures up to 2,400° F. In an oxidizing atmosphere. This produced clinker consisting principally me various combinations of the oxides of manganese, iron, aluminum, and magnesium aloe with a dicalcium silicate phase containing the phosphorus. Some tests were made with a continuous sintering machine of the traveling-grate type, but a rotary kiln was the most satisfactory apparatus for this operation. Material was fed at 150 to 200 pounds per hour after first being agglomerated either on the sintering or else binder extruding and drying finely ground mixture of the sing, limestone, binder, and water. Tests with slag; from tree different source indicated overkill manganese recoveries of 65 to 80 percent by ammoniacal-ammonium-carbonate leaching.]

Jan 1, 1955

By Fred C. Turin, Jasinder S. Jaspal, Alan G. Mayton, William J. Wiehagen

This report describes serious injuries occurring to bulldozer operators working at U.S. coal, metal, and nonmetal mines. The period covered is 1988-97. The data were collected by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). A total of 873 injury records are examined. These injuries resulted in 18 fatalities and 31,866 lost workdays. All of these injuries occurred to dozer operators while they were doing common production tasks. An injury classification system was developed to code the narrative information that describes the circumstances surrounding the injuries. Injury records are categorized by activity (task being done), incident result (what apparently happened to the dozer), and operator impact (how the operator was injured). Where information is available, contributing factors are identified. This classification system supplemented the standard injury/illness data classification system compiled by MSHA. The results of the study indicate that, from 1993 to 1997, the number of serious injuries to dozer operators declined by 30%. The reduction in serious injuries was accompanied by a decrease in days lost due to injury. Although the number of reported injuries has decreased, dozer operators being jolted and jarred accounts for the largest percentage (70% of the incidents) and severity (75% of the workdays lost) of serious injuries while operating the equipment. Vertical jars (while backing up the dozer) resulting in injury to the operator accounted for a sizable percentage of jolting and jarring injuries. Working near an edge carries significant risk for fatal injuries. Of 116 incidents where the dozer fell over an edge, rolled over, or fell into a hidden void, 14 (12%) resulted in fatal injuries. In cases where the dozer operator either jumped or was thrown out of the cab in a fall over or rollover, 7 out of 26 were killed. Overall, 80% of the fatalities occurred while working near an edge or hidden void or on a steep slope. Further reductions in injury risk will require more widespread use of seatbelts, field and laboratory research interventions to better assess the effect of alternative engineering (e.g., seat and seat suspension) designs to dampen or isolate the effects of shock and vibration, and continued focus on hazard awareness, recognition, and response.

Jan 4, 2001

By Leonard Obert

THE CRACKING AND POPPING of rock, often heard by men working underground, for years has been interpreted as a warning of danger and unstable ground. However, not until 1939 was it discovered that rock under stress generates subaudible and sometimes audible seismic disturbances (referred to as "micro-seismims" 4), which can be detected with the use of a suitable seismic apparatus. Since that date laboratory and field investigations have been in progress to ascertain to what extent this phenomenon can be utilized to detect, localize, and determine the magnitude of areas of instability in and around mine openings and to predict if and when failure will occur. These investigations have included a determination of the types of problems to which the method is applicable and the effect of rock type, geological defects, such as joints, fractures, faults, and other uncontrollable factors, on the reliability of results. Six reports have been prepared covering the investigations conducted between 1940 and 1952 (4-9). 5 These reports describe some of the characteristics of micro-seismims, as determined from both laboratory and field tests; the equipment used to pick up and record micro-seismims; the general test procedure and method of analyzing results; and applications of the method to specific mining problems.

Jan 1, 1957

By V. Castranova

"A pneumoconiosis is best defined as the accumulation of dust in the lungs and the tissue's reaction to iu presence. Thus, silicosis is the name given to the fibrotic disease of the lungs caused by inhalation of dust containing silicon dioxide, primarily in the free crystalline form. Coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), which was originally thought to be a variant of silicosis, results from inhalation of coal mine dust that usually contains relatively small amounts of free crystalline silica.HISTORYSilicosis is the older and more well known of these mineral pneumoconiosis. In contrast, CWP was not recognized as different from silicosis until the pivotal work of Collis and Gilchrist. 26 They noted that coal trimmers, i.e., special stevedores who leveled coal in the holds of ships at the Cardiff and Swansea docks in Wales, developed identical nodules on the chest radiograph to those of underground miners. The difference was that these men had never worked underground and that the coal was washed before it was loaded into ships; thus, it was unlikely that these men were exposed to silica. Gough54 examined the lungs of coal trimmers who died and found that the histologic appearance of the pulmonary lesions was distinctly different from the whorled nodules seen in silicosis. Gough,"" and subsequently Heppleston,"" then showed that the lung lesions in coal trimmers were similar to those in underground coal miners and different from those of classical silicosis. Nagelschmidt 78 analyzed the mineral content of miners' lungs that became available at autopsy. These studies caused him to propose a scheme in which the relative proportions of silica, other minerals, and/or coal deposited in the lungs determined the type of pulmonary response which develops, i.e., classical silicosis, mixed-dust disease, or CWP."

Nov 1, 1995

By J. A. Holmes, EDWARD C. FRANKLIN, RALPH A. GOULD

The commission may be permitted to express its earnest hope that the litigation which comes to an end with the findings and recom- mendations herein set forth will be considered by both parties to the action as definitely and equitably decided. The commission trusts that its work will show the value of the commission form of settlement and that its work will serve as a prece- dent to be followed in disputes relative to technical subjects. If the work of the commission is productive of a tendency on the part of technical litigants to avoid the use of the courts for the settlement of disputes it will not have been done in vain. Such tendency will surely grow and ultimately such differences will be arbitrated by technically trained men without recourse to the courts of law. Appended to the report of the findings of the commission are to be found the detailed reports covering the several lines of inquiry and investigation carried on by the commission and upon which its findings are based, and also a detailed statement of the fiscal affairs of the commission. A word of explanation is necessary in regard to the fiscal statement. While each party to the litigation has agreed to bear one-half of the expense of the investigations of the commission, it will be noted that the Selby Smelting & Lead Co. is credited with $21,000, while Solano County is credited with but $6,000. In order that the investigations of the commission might go forward without interruption the Selby Smelting & Lead Co. has generously supplied funds at the times they were needed. This assistance has been

Jan 1, 1915

By Thomas P. Mucho

Cable bolts are emerging as the newest ?twist? for roof support in U.S. underground coal mines. For decades cable bolts installed in underground metal mines in the United States and Canada used cement-based grouts for anchoring. The cement anchoring process, because of the time and expense for installation, made cable bolts impractical for use in coal mines. Today, the introduction of resin-anchored cable bolts provides a system more consistent with tradi­tional U.S. coal mine roof bolting practices and requirements. Expecta­tions are that the utilization of cable bolts for a number of U.S. mining applications will expand, particularly in coal mining.

Jan 1, 1998

By A. B. Needham

Graphite is a raw .material of considerable importance in both waxy and peace. Two types of graphite, classified according to particle size as flake and fines, are used, but the former is in much greater demand. The principal wartime use of graphite is in the manufacture of crucibles for melting brass and special alloys of copper and steel. Other uses in both peace and war are as lubricants, for foundry facings, and in paints, electrodes, batteries, motor and generator brushes, and a variety of other commodities. . This paper describes the operations of the Southwestern Graphite Co. of Los Angeles, Calif., which produces both flake and fine graphite from a property in Burnet County, Tex.

Jan 1, 1946

By E. J. Matson

This report covers the investigation of the MacArthur copper deposit and several adjacent claims in the Mason mining district; Lyon County, Nev. (fig. 1). As a part of the Bureau of Mines program of investigation and development of domestic mineral deposits, a project was begun first on the MacArthur claims. Work was done later on some adjacent claims in the immediate area, as shown by figure 2. Field work was begun by the Bureau of Mines on January 16, 1950, and completed on October 25, 1950. Eight diamond-drill holes were completed, for an aggregate of 3,414 linear feet, Analyses were made of' each drilling interval. The report includes a brief history of the district and a description of the deposits and of the work done by the Bureau of Mines.

Jan 1, 1952

By P. A. Wasson

Drill cores from 15 holes in the West Central Mesabi Range were studied as part of the Lake Superior iron resource investigation begun in 1957 by the Bureau of Mines. Chemical, petrographic, and metallurgical analyses were made to determine grade, mineralogy, magnetic characteristics, and response to beneficiation. Data in this report were developed to provide a better under-standing of the nature and character of low-grade iron ore occurrences, to measure potential of usable ore, and to provide a basis for comparison with bank samples previously taken in the same general area. The average iron content of 4,445 feet of core was 31.8 percent. Iron oxides present were hematite, goethite, and magnetite; the gangue minerals were chiefly quartz, iron silicate, and iron-bearing carbonates.

Jan 1, 1962

By G. S. Knoke

This report presents the results of a demonstration of the technical, economic, and environmental feasibility of hydraulic borehole mining of shallow oil sands. Borehole mining offers a method for extracting the oil sands with minimal disturbance to environmental quality because (1) no overburden is removed, (2) no waste rock piles are required, (3) the tailings can be backfilled into the borehole cavity, (4) the ground water quality should be undisturbed, (5) a closed-loop water system can be employed so that no surface streams are polluted, and (6) surface subsidence can be minimized by backfilling the mined cavities. This project consisted of two concurrent tasks: mining operations and environmental monitoring. To generate the environmental impact, nearly 1000 tons of oil sands were mined from two boreholes. Water quality and ground subsidence were monitored. No significant changes occurred in the chemical composition of the process water, indicating that the borehole mining process does not dissolve the mined material. The average subsidence in the immediate vicinity of the boreholes was about 1/2 inch, although some points were noted to be slightly elevated. In general, the amount of subsidence increased with time and decreased with distance from the bore-hole. A mining cost analysis was used to project an estimated cost for production mining of about $38 per barrel of oil.

Jan 1, 1980