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By J. J. Dowd

1. The Pittsburgh bed is the most important bed in Marshall County, and virtually the entire production of coal in the county comes from this bed. 2. Known measured and indicated reserves in all beds, based on a minimum thickness of 14 inches and 1,800 tons per acre-foot of coal in place, were estimated at 3,158 million short tons as of January I, 1954. Of this total, 3,071 million short tons is in beds 28 inches and more thick. Areas in each bed except the Pittsburgh were omitted from the estimate because available data relative to the bed characteristics are too meager to make an estimate that conforms with the definitions of measured and indicated coal adopted for this study. Should future drilling or development prove reserves in these areas, such reserves should be added to the total estimated reserves.

Jan 1, 1956

By William W. Adams

The stone-quarrying and related industries of the United States made large gains in employment in 1936 over 1935, according to reports furnished by operating companies to the Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior. Not only were more men employed, but also increases were made in the number of man-days of labor performed and in the number of man-hours worked in 1936. The increase in employment, however, was accompanied by an increase in the number of accidental deaths and injuries among the workers and by a slight increase in the accident-frequency rate per million man-hours worked. The fact that the larger number of accidents resulted in only a slight increase in the accident rate is explained by the large gain made in the number of man-hours worked during 1936. The accident rate in 1936, although higher than in 1935, was the lowest and therefore the best that the industry has experienced in any previous year except 1932 since complete and comparable figures first became available in 1916, a period of 21 years. Operators' reports to the Bureau of Mines showed that the industry as a whole employed an average of 80,022 men in 1936 and that the men worked a total of 18,874,254 man-days or 147,064,448 man-hours. Accidents in and about the plants caused 91 deaths and 5,717 nonfatal lost-time injuries among the workers. The number of injuries and deaths represented an accident-frequency rate of 39.5 per million man-hours worked, compared with a rate of 38.2 in 1935.

Jan 1, 1938

By Jonnie M. Estes

A two-constant equation is presented for helium from 30° = T = 1,473° K. This equation is developed by modifying a generalized equation of state originally presented by Redlich and Kwong (20).3 The modification consists of setting B = 0.06372 Tc/PeT. This modified equation represents the compressibility factors of each of 80 isotherms tested in this temperature range to less than 1 percent average deviation.

Jan 1, 1967

By E. C. Lane

This paper is the first putt of a report giving the results of the Bureau of Mines' twenty-third semiannual survey of motor gasoline marketed in the United States. A companion report, Part II, is in preparation and will give a more detailed discussion of the whole survey. Results of the determination of copper-strip corrosion, color, sulphur content, copper-dish evaporation residue, and gum content as given by the Bureau of Mines steam-oven method will be presented in the second paper, which will also include the prevailing retail price and the tax at the time the sample was taken. This paper deals specifically with data relative to gravity, Reid vapor pressure,' and distillation (method 100.13).6 The samples tested were divided into "competitive-price gasolines" and "premium-price motor fuels," a method of presentation that was begun with the twenty-second semiannual survey. A total of 312 samples were collected from service station pumps in 20 cities throughout the United States. Of this number of samples, 207 were "com-petitive-price gasolines" and 106 were "premium-price motor fuels." All of the samples were collected in March, 1931, and analyzed at the Petroleum Experiment Station of the United States Bureau of Mines at Bartlesville, Okla. "Competitive-price gasoline" includes those fuels that are sold at the generally recognized local base price and all fuels that are sold below that price. All fuels that are sold at an advance over the generally recognized base price are placed in the class of "premium-price motor fuels." These fuels include Ethyl gasolines, benzol blends, "high-test" fuels, and those fuels that owe their "anti-knock" rating to the process of manufacture rather than to the addition of other material such as Ethyl fluid or benzol. The term "high-test" is generally applied to motor fuels that are more volatile than the regular competitive-price gasolines. "High-test" fuels may also have a high anti-knock rating.

Jan 1, 1931

By C. C. Knox

In Kiowa County, Okla., extensive deposits of clay are closely associated with pre-Cambrian anorthosites and gabbros. Investigation by the Bureau of Mines, including 1,723 feet of auger drilling, has shown the presence of very large quantities of clay containing between 20 and 25 percent alumina. All of the material contains large amounts of impurities, and even the best clays, selected for their relatively low content of iron, titanium, and magnesium, are unsuitable for the production of alumina by the sulfuric-acid process The soda-lime process gave somewhat better results, the product being nearer specification for commercial alumina. The clays are not amenable to beneficiation by simple sedimentation processes, and the alumina content could not easily be increased to produce material suitable for any alumina process.

Jan 1, 1948

By D. L. Yopps

In research conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Mines, platinum-group metal (PGM) flotation concentrate from the Stillwater Complex, MT, was subjected to biooxidation using Thiobacillus ferrooxidans in an effort to break down the sulfide minerals and liberate the associated PGM's for subsequent chemical leaching. Bacterial preleaching oxidized up to 94 pct of the sulfide present, destroyed the PGM-bearing pentlandite [(Ni,Fe)9S8] mineralization, and dissolved most of the nickel in the concentrate. Cyanidation at 80° C proved to be the most attractive chemical leachant, removing 34 pct of the platinum, 76 pct of the palladium, 94 pct of the rhodium, and 97 pct of the gold from the biooxidized concentrate. Research also indicated that increased sulfide oxidation during the preleach phase led to improved PGM recovery in the subsequent chemical leaching phase.

Jan 1, 2010

By V. E. McKelvey

Any discussion of growth and future requirements has to begin with people--both their number and their needs. Both have been rising ever since any American can remember. Together, the number of people, which has been increasing rather modestly, and their wants and desires for material things, which have been increasing very sharply, seemed to have comprised a growth imperative in mineral consumption in the United States, especially during the last several decades. While the Nation's birthrate is now well below the replacement rate and still falling, the built-in momentum of the post-World War II population boom will continue to be felt well into the 21st century. Even using the modest projection of a 0.8 percent yearly increase, we are still looking at the possibility of 265 million Americans being around by Year 2000.

Jan 1, 1975

By A. A. Berk

The Bureau of Mines devised a test nipple for the field study of corrosion in the condensate-return lines of Federal heating plants. Corrosion surveys, made with this device, showed that the deterioration of the piping was caused principally by carbonic acid in the steam condensate. Corrosion problems were brought under control when the carbonic acid concentration in the condensate was decreased. In many instances, this was effected by decreasing the total carbon dioxide content of the feedwater; in others, the condensate acidity was neutralized with volatile, alkaline chemicals. Filming treatment with octadecylamine, reported successful in controlling return-line corrosion in industry, was much less effective in Federal area-heating plants. Laboratory study by the Bureau disclosed that octadecylamine is unstable in heating systems. Analytical methods were developed for this chemical and its degradation products in heating-plant condensate. Field surveys, in using these methods, confirmed the instability of the filming material. Laboratory tests showed that the degradation products are not useful film formers. Since filming treatment has little effect on condensate corrosivity, the piping was corroded where it was not coated by the treatment chemical.

Jan 1, 1962

By J. C. Gerdeen

A new analytical model for the shear stiffness at a joint of the fully-grouted resin roofbolt is developed using the Theory of Elasticity and an analogy to a beam on an elastic foundation, Gerdeen [2]. The model developed in this study treats the elastic foundation modulus of the resin as being composed of both an elastic rock and an elastic resin. All previous attempts have neglected the elasticity of the rock and treated only the resin. A three dimensional finite element model of the bolt-resin-rock system is developed also and comparisons are made between the predictions made by it and the analytical solution. It is found that the agreement between the two representations ranges between 1.2% and 10.5%, with the greater differences being observed for systems of very large or very small bolt diameters and resin annulus thicknesses. Since such configurations are not the rule in practice parameter studies are performed using the analytical solution with the finite element solution being used as a check. For a 0.75 in. bolt, a resin annulus thickness of 0.1375 in., a resin with E = 7 x 105 psi and -1) = 0.210, and a rock of modulus E = 6.8 x 106 psi and V = 0.159 the shear stiffness is found to be 1.220 x 106 lb,/in, from the analytical solution and 1.245 x 106 lb,/in, from the finite element model. Applying the finite element model to the problem of the axial stiffness of the fully-grouted resin roofbolt a value of 6.002 x 106 lb./in. is obtained which proves to be at least 50% higher than any of the now existing analytical predictions.

Jan 1, 1976

By W. E. Cooper

The International Intercalibration and Intercomparison Program (HIP), consisting of several selected laboratories from four countries, held a radon progeny intercomparison measurement at the U.S. Bureau of Mines experimental Twilight Mine on September 12-14, 1988. Grab samples were taken at four different conditions of low and high radon progeny and condensation nuclei concentrations, respectively. The results showed good agreement among all seven participants. The coefficient of variation of all measurements was 4.7%; after minor corrections for flows and some systematic biases, it was reduced to 3.2%.

Jan 1, 1990

By L. L. Oden

The Bureau of Mines analyzed vapor-aluminum-diffused stainless steels prior to conducting corrosion measurements in severely sulfidizing environments. These studies were conducted in response to the national need to better control the environmental and economic costs of corrosion. Specimens of a ferritic alloy and austenitic alloys types 316 and 310 were treated by a proprietary vapor-aluminum diffusion process and a dual vapor-aluminum diffusion process. Weights and dimensions were recorded before and after treatment, and comprehensive metallographic, X-ray, and electron micro-probe analyses were conducted for both single-and dual-vapor-aluminum-diffused specimens. Surface aluminum concentrations ranged from 26 to 34 wt-pct for all alloys. Dual treatment increased the quantity of aluminum per unit area by a factor of 2 and increased the depth of penetration by a factor of 3. The aluminum-diffused region of the ferritic alloy was single-phase aFe solid solution that was ordered on the surface, whereas two distinct diffusion layers were ob-served on the austenitic alloys. The outer layer comprised aFe solid solution that was ordered on the surface, and the inner layer was a two-phase mixture of aFe solid solution and the interrnetallic compound AINi.

Jan 1, 1982

By Arnold O. Tanner

The recession that took hold of the domes-tic mining industry in 1981-82 finally abated somewhat in 1987, resulting from increases in many commodity prices, especially in the metals sector, and from continuing success in lowering operating costs. By no means was the work finished; the mining industry was in a sense entering a new era. The struggle for survival was still very evident for many companies and various commodities, but increasing productivity and profits were accompanied by indications that these trends were more long term than short term. Raw nonfuel minerals produced in the United States during 1987 had an estimated value of $26.3 billion, an increase of $2.9 billion over the 1986 value. This is the fifth consecutive year that the value has increased. Except for a decrease in 1982, the value each year has increased since 1971, or 15 of 16 years. The value of raw metals production increased by an estimated 28%, an impressive improvement since the drastic fall in 1982. Industrial minerals growth was comparatively flat, with an estimated in-crease in value of 0.1 %, continuing a trend of the previous 2 years. Metal mine production dropped considerably in 1982 and maintained its resultant lower level until 1987, when production significantly recovered.

Jan 1, 1989

By Jr. Frost

Helium used as a tracer gas in petroleum reservoirs continues to show great promise as a new tool for the oil and gas industry, according to tests conducted jointly by the Bureau of Nines and The Pure Oil Co. in-the Cabin Creek field, Boone and Kanawha Counties, W. Va. Helium, when used as a, tracer gas, is mixed with natural gas being injected into a reservoir for secondary recovery of oil, recycling, pressure-maintenance, or other purposes. Three separate experimental helium tracer-gas tests were run in the Cabin Creek, W. Va., field, wherein helium was added as a tracer to the natural gas that was being injected into the oil-bearing Berea sandstone. The results obtained in each test permitted determining the direction and rate of travel of the injected gas, calculating the volume of injected gas in the gas produced at the various wells, and determining the nature of the transition from natural gas to injected gas during a gas-injection program. Data were obtained on the effects obtained from waves of injected gab containing 1 percent and containing 5 percent helium and from a wave of essentially pure helium injected into the formation.

Jan 1, 1950

By D. Harrington

Metal-mine fires in the United States are not of frequent occurrence and relatively for of those that do occur result in loss of life, although many cause heavy property loss or are costly to extinguish. Over a span of years, however, more lives are lost in metal Trines from fires than from any other of the untoward occurrences which afflict metal mining, such as electrical storms, floods, cave-ins, magazine explosions, or strikes. In perhaps more than 90 per cent of the fires. in metal mines' there is no loss of life; hence, the general public, even the general mining public, seldom hears of these fires, though the property loss frequently reaches hundreds of thousands of dollars; on the other end, in some instances the property damage from an underground metal-mine, fire has been negligible and the loss of life comparatively high. In any comprehensive study of metal-mine fires, ventilation is certain to be found a vital factor. The influence of ventilation on fires and the influence of fires on ventilation are of vital importance. In metal-mine fires very few persons meet death from actual contact Pith heat or flame; nearly all fatalities are duo to asphyxiation or suffocation. A well-planned, well-installed, and well-operated mechanical ventilation system is unquestionably one of the best available present-day protections from loss of life and property in case of fire in a metal mine; that this is true is attested by the usual helplessness of mining officials in trying to handled underground fires in a mine that has not had the foresight to install mechanical equipment to control underground air flow. On the other hand, the establishment of high-velocity air currents without sufficient day by day attention to such details as the method of coursing, or controlling, or confining them most certainly tends to increase dangers from fires rather than to aid in the avoidance or elimination of these dangers; the truth of this latter statement is shown by the fact that the greatest, loss of life in metal-mine fires during the past 20 years has been in relatively well-ventilated workings, and in every case the life loss has been due to some more or less trivial or easily remedied defect in the Ventilating system - usually a defect that has had some reference to doors used or supposed to be used to deflect or control air currents.

Jan 1, 1933

By Jr. Blake

This work was done to determine the technical feasibility of using the Pedersen process to produce cell-grade alumina and an iron byproduct from the high-silica and titania bauxites of the Pacific Northwest. Smelting of these bauxites with lime and coke at about 1,750° C in an electric arc furnace produced calcium aluminate slags in which at least 80 percent of the alumina was leachable by sodium carbonate solution. After a lime-desilication of the sodium aluminate leach liquors, neutralization of these solutions with carbon dioxide resulted in precipitation of an alumina hydrate of sufficient purity for calcination to cell-grade alumina. Recoveries of byproduct iron averaged over 90 percent; however, the iron contained about 1 percent phosphorous and would require additional refining. Additional small scale tests on these slags showed the following: (1) Titania had little effect on leachability if sufficient additional lime was added to form calcium titanate (CaO.TiO 2); (2) a slag containing about 14 percent silica required a slower cooling rate than one containing 7 percent silica for formation of high percentages of soluble aluminates; and (3) high-silica slags leached better at room temperature for long periods than at 65° C for shorter periods, but low-silica slags leached well by either method.

Jan 1, 1967

By William I. Nissen, Richard Havens

Continuous flotation studies were made at a 50 - lb - per - hr feed rate to confirm the effectiveness of a batch - scale procedure for concentrating phenacite and bertrandite minerals from Mount Wheeler ores that contained , in percent , 0.47 , 0.78 , and 4.7 BeO . The procedure for selective froth flotation of the beryllium minerals from a gangue composed chiefly of calcite , fluorite , and mica comprised closely controlled preconditioning with sodium fluoride and sodium hexametaphosphate in a series of small mechanically agitated tanks and use of a mixture of oleic acid with kerosine , fuel oil , or turpentine as a collector . It was difficult to adapt the laboratory flotation procedure to continuous operation . The principal problem of achieving adequate conditioning to depress calcite and fluorite ultimately was resolved by conditioning in series . Thereafter , three ore samples of different grades treated on a continuous basis yielded concentrates containing from 12 to 25 percent Beo from these relatively complex and difficult ores . Recoveries , on a BeO basis , ranged from 75 to 88 percent . Losses , which primarily were due to incomplete liberation , probably could be lowered in a commercial operation .

Jan 1, 1964

By Wm. O. Vanderburg

This report on the mining and milling of tungsten ores is the second part of a general study of the domestic tungsten industry. The first part, comprising general information on tungsten, has been printed as Bureau of Mines Information Circular 6821. The purpose of these papers is to increase efficiency in the mining, preparation, and utilization of the tungsten resources of the United States. The tungsten industry forms so small a part of the vast mining and metallurgical operations of the illation that private metallurgists have not had enough inducement to give special attention to the recovery of tungsten minerals from the ores, and many of the small companies are financially unable to undertake research work. A study of the milling of tungsten ores reveals that further improvement is possible, especially in the treatment of slimes. Recent experimental work by the Bureau shows that the flotation process is applicable to certain tungsten ores. The future of the tungsten industry it the United States depends to a great extent on utilization of the low-grade deposits of the contact-metamorphic type.

Jan 1, 1935

By Scott W. Hazen

This report describes exploration for lead-zinc ores at the Madonna mine between 1945 and 1953 by the Utze Lode Co., the Bureau of Mines, and the company with Government financial aid under the Defense Production Act of 1950. The Madonna mine yielded silver, lead, and zinc with a net smelter value of over $5,000.000. from 1882 to 1924. The mine was inactive from 1924 to 1942 when the Utze Lode Co. acquired the property. Possibilities for finding ore in the mine, especially at depth, were considered favorable. The Utze Lode Co. began rehabilitating the Madonna mine in 1945. An exploration program, which consisted of winze sinking and drifting, failed to produce commercial are.

Jan 1, 1956

By G. R. FITT, S. R. B. Cooke, C. W. Davis, V. H. Gottschalk, C. G. Maier, C. E. Wood, R. S. Dean, S. B. THOMAS, John Gross, E. P. Barrett, T. L. Joseph

Lack of funds has prevented publication of much of the metallurgical work of the Bureau of Mines during the past 2 years . The present progress report covers studies in the direct production of iron and steel . The experimental work was carried out in cooperation with the universities of California , Minnesota , and Missouri . Complete reports will be published when funds are available .

May 1, 1934

By B. W. Gandrud

[The Bureau of Mines is conducting an extensive investigation of coal preparation in the Alabama coal fields in cooperation with the University of Alabama coal-mine operators. In this investigation the drainage characteristics of typical coals from the Warrior and Cahaba fields were studied]

Jan 1, 1941