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By Jacqueline A. McClaskey

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

Jan 1, 1993

By Thomas M. Garland

Reports that set forth the pertinent facts of existing secondary-recovery operations are an integral part of the work of the Bureau of Mines in promoting conservation and efficient utilization of the petroleum resources of the Nation. Knowledge of the success or failure of waterflood projects in an area is very useful to other operators. Although projects will not have identical results, information concerning the flood performance, method of operation, and difficulties encountered on one project will help operators to determine the feasibility of flooding a similar sand and to select the methods of operation most likely to prove successful. The increasing cost of discovering and developing new oil reserves, as well as the unending effort to reduce operating costs and increase ultimate oil recovery from known petroleum reservoirs, has required the petroleum industry to evaluate continuously the performances of various secondary-recovery methods. Waterflooding was recognized early by the petroleum industry as a possible means of increasing oil recovery. From the early accidental floods in Pennsylvania and through many haphazard attempts to inject eater into oil-bearing formations, waterflooding emerged as one of the more important methods of oil recovery. Waterflooding is important not only to the oil industry but also to the economy of the area concerned.

Jan 1, 1962

By Michael J. Sapko, Eric S. Weiss, Kenneth L. Cashdollar

A fundamental safety research area for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is to eliminate the occurrence of coal mine explosions or to mitigate their effects. One approach is to develop and evaluate new and innovative seal designs that provide increased explosion protection for mining personnel. The NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (PRL) cooperated with HeiTech Corp. of Virginia, Barclay Mowlem Construction Ltd. of Queensland, Australia, and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) in three separate research programs to evaluate the strength characteristics and air leakage resistance of numerous innovative seal designs and ventilation control structures for use in underground coal mines. For each phase of the program, various full-scale seals, stoppings, and an overcast design were constructed in PRL's Lake Lynn Experimental Mine near Fairchance, Fayette County, PA. The seals and stoppings were built in crosscuts and were subjected to explosions to evaluate their strengths. Four pumpable cementitious seal designs ranging in thickness from 610 to 915 mm (24 to 36 in) were evaluated in the first cost-reimbursable research program with HeiTech Corp. A simple wooden framework with brattice liner was used as a form to contain the cementitious slurry during the curing period. As the seal designs decreased in thickness, higher compressive strength cementitious grout was used. All four seals withstood an explosion pressure pulse of at least 138 kPa (20 psi) while maintaining acceptable air leakage resistance. In the second cost-reimbursable research program with Barclay Mowlem Construction Ltd. of Australia, several innovative seal and stopping designs and an overcast design were evaluated. Each of the seal designs and the overcast side and wing walls used one or more air-inflated vinyl bladder assemblies anchored to the mine roof and hitched into the ribs and floor. The air within these bladders was displaced with a high-strength cementitious grout. The overcast deck consisted of a 200-mm ('7.8-in) thick reinforced cementitious slab. This was the first time that an overcast structure had been explosion tested under full-scale conditions. All of the seals, stoppings, and overcast design passed the air leakage tests before being subjected to a series of explosions with static pressure pulses ranging from 14 to 475 kPa (2 tab 69 psi). Instrumentation measured seal and overcast wall displacement as a function of time. The 450-mm (1 7.7-in) thick seal in the 2.8-m(9-ft) high third crosscut withstood an explosion pressure of 170 kPa (25 psi), but failed during a later test, which generated a peak static pressure of 475 kPa (69 psi) at the seal location. A similar 450-mm-thick seal in the 2.1-m (7-ft) high second crosscut withstood three explosion tests, which generated peak static pressures of 195, 205, and 370 kPa (28, 30, and 54 psi) at the seal location. Next, the overcast design withstood four explosions, which generated static overpressures ranging from 16 to 47 kPa (2.3 to 6.8 psi). A third program at the request of MSHA evaluated the effectiveness of using pressurized grout bags (Packsetter bags) along the mine roof and ribs in lieu of floor and rib hitching for a standard-type solid- concrete-block seal. This program was initiated to address an urlusual geological mining condition encountered when building seals in entries where required rib hitching is not a viable option due to soft friable coal. Results showed that the use of these quick-setting grout-filled Packsetter bags pressurized internally to 300 kPa (44 psi) not only provides a seal that can withstand a 138-kPa static pressure explosion, but also provides a sealing option where rib hitching is not possible.

Jan 1, 2003

By James W. Jensen, Aarne Visnapuu

Experimental modifications have been made by the Bureau of Mines on standard pneumatic rock drills to reduce the noise of the air exhaust, drill steel resonance noise, and noise radiated by the drill body. A close-fitting case and muffler around the drill body, consisting of a metallic honeycomb skeleton filled with viscoelastic absorber on the inside and a durable outer shell, provide both exhaust and drill body noise muff ling and absorption. Drill steel resonance noise is reduced by a constrained-layer treatment consisting of a tubular metal cover bonded to the ouside of the sod by a viscoelastic filler. Damping alloy components have been developed to reduce metallic resonance noise. Combined, these modifications have reduced the drilling noise level in granite from 115 dbA to 97 dbA. Data are presented on the individual and combined effects of these modifications on drilling noise and performance.

Jan 1, 1975

By Thomas J. Peters

The U.S. Bureau of Mines studied the 63,9SS-acre Hanson Lakes study area, including the Ten Mile-East and part of the Ten-Mile West RARE II areas, plus additional acreage, all proposed at times for Wilderness designation. The study was part of a Idaho Land Assessment Program with the Idaho Geological Survey and the U.S. Geological Survey, to provide minerals information for land-use decisions, and ensure domestic mineral supplies. The area is at the north end of the rugged Sawtooth Range and includes parts of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area which is closed to mineral location. The Copper Mountain. Elk Mountain, and Observation Peak mineralized areas are in the study area, but only Copper Mountain is open to claim location. It is on the trans-Challis fault zone and contains Tertiary granite which is favorable for mineral deposits of gold, beryllium, niobium, REE (rare-earth elements), tin, molybdenum, copper, silver, and lead. Identified resources are 1.9 million tons of flake graphite at Elk Mountain, but much more graphite occurs in the vicinity REE occurs in 18 black sand placer sites along the lower reaches of study area streams just outside the study area, on Cape Horn Creek, Marsh Creek, and lower Valley Creek flood plains, and at one hydrothermal site near Observation Peak. Hydrothermal REE is commonly low in? by-product thorium. a radioactive disposal problem. Many advanced REE applications enhance the quality of life, and future uses in superconductivity may reduce energy consumption. Seventeen lode, one geothermal, and 11 placer prospects were examined. Workings totaled about 20 adits, one shaft, several open cuts, and numerous small pits. Approximately 500 mining claims have been located or relocated in the study area, including a 200-claim block for disseminated molybdenum.

Jan 1, 1992

By Oliver Bowles

The term "stone" in its broader sense includes not only the well-known limestone, marble, granite, sandstone, and slate but also precious and semi precious stones and many minerals and rocks not included in the principal groups. Stones have long been used for structural and ornamental purposes. To be so used, they must be cut to various shapes and sizes, and some must be polished to bring out their inherent attractiveness.

Jan 1, 1958

By Larry R. Powell

As part of the Bureau of Mines effort to establish a comprehensive subsidence data base for subsidence technology development, subsidence and related data are being compiled for various mining, geological, and environmental situations. This publication presents data for a longwall mining operation in the Northern Appalachian Coal Region. Vertical displacements and relative face positions are tabulated for 110 subsidence monuments. Measurements were taken twelve times during the eight months it took to mine the panel. Brief physiographic and geological descriptions of the mining site are presented along with a general account of the mining and subsidence monitoring methods.

Jan 1, 1981

By F. W. Cox

Exhaust emissions were measured from 25 aircraft turbine engines using Jet A fuel. Analytical apparatus, procedures, and results are described. Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and aldehydes were measured at engine operating modes representing power levels used in airline operation. Carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, and aldehyde emissions were highest at idle and lowest at takeoff; oxides of nitrogen were lowest at idle and highest at takeoff. Of the total oxides of nitrogen emitted, nitrogen dioxide constituted from 10 to 100 pct, depending on the exhaust gas temperature. Engines retrofitted with smoke-reducing burner cans produced less carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, and aldehyde emissions, and slightly more oxides of nitrogen then engines with standard burner cans.

Jan 1, 1972

By Mark S. Sanders

The purpose of this work was to develop and field test improved knee protection for underground coal miners working in low seam mines. In a previous phase of this contract (Sanders, 1982), experimental knee pads were developed and field tested. The field test revealed several design deficiencies with the knee pads, and suggestions for improving the design were made. The work summarized in this report, therefore, consists of modifying the design and method of fabrication of the knee pads originally describes by Sanders (1982), and of field testing the improved design. The new prototype was shorter and wider than the original design, and used a neoprene pass-through strap design rather than a cloth strap molded into the pad itself. The new prototype was constructed by slush molding a hollow bladder that was then filled with foam. Initial reactions to the pads in the field test were very positive. However, after two months, the opinions about the new prototype became less positive. They were judged, generally, to be no better or worse than the pads usually worn by the field-test participants. Problems were encountered in the field with respect to durability. Water seeped into the inner cavity of many of the pads and caused the foam to deteriorate. It was concluded that it would not be cost-effective or feasible to significantly improve upon current commercially available knee pad designs.

Jan 1, 1986

By Lester G. Morrell

THE WORLDWIDE economic expansion that has characterized the first 3 years of the 1960's continued through 1964 and was reflected in North America by strength in the industrial economy of the United States, which again was dominant. Advances in production were recorded in virtually all industries, including the mineral industry; 1964 mineral production established a new high, 5.4 percent above the previous peak recorded in 1963. However, the percentage increase in value of North American mineral production was slightly below overall economic growth. For industry in general, consumer demand held firm throughout the year and overall commodity prices averaged 2 percent higher than in 1963. Wages and salary payments also were up. With the single exception of the dock strike in the United States, the year was free of serious labor troubles and unemployment in both Canada and the States was at a low level. Despite the Viet-Nam situation, relatively tranquil international relations contributed to the forward movement of North American business. Total gross national product (GNP) for Canada and United States, in current dollars, was estimated at US$672.2 billion; 6.8 percent above the previous year's figure. Combined national income in 1964 amounted to US$546.9 billion, which was nearly 7.0 percent more than in 1963. In 1964, gains were recorded in each of more than 50 metals, nonmetals, and fuels commodities that comprise the North American output. The greatest category increase was 13 percent in metals, which was in part attributable to the 14 percent rise to a new record in value of iron and steel in United States, a 29 percent higher value of Canadian iron ore and a 57 percent rise in Canadian zinc. Despite a moderate decline in prices of iron ore and iron and steel products, generally favorable markets and rising prices for metallic ores and metals were a stimulant to the metals industry. Nonmetallic materials, with a total value in excess of US$5.25 billion were 7.3 percent higher than in 1963. High levels of highway and building construction and expanding demand for fertilizers and chemicals continued throughout the year. Noteworthy output increases were recorded for lime,

Jan 1, 1966

By F. L. Wideman

Output of ore and waste from metal and nonmetal mines in the United States continued an upward trend and established a new high. The tonnage of ore handled increased 6 percent over that moved in 1964 and the tonnage of waste rose almost 10 percent. Earth moving by these two activities exceeded 3.2 billion tons, an increase of 7 percent over the 1964 total. Crude material from which metal or nonmetal products were derived continued to be about 75 percent of the total material handled. In 1965, surface mining methods were used to produce about 93 percent of the ore, 99 percent of the waste, and 95 percent of the total material handled. These percentages have remained almost constant since the beginning of this decade.

Jan 1, 1966

By David C. Oyler, William P. Diamond

Three long horizontal holes were drilled from a directionally drilled sur¬face hole at the Emerald Mine near Waynesburg, Pa. The purpose was to adapt the technique of directional drilling for use in draining methane from coalbeds. A 504-m (1,652-ft) long, 76-mm (3-in) diam¬eter, circular arc pilot hole was drilled, using a downhole mud motor, to enter the Pittsburgh coalbed at a verti¬cal depth of 305 m (1,000 ft). The hole was reamed to 222 mm (8-3/4 in) and was cased to a measured depth of 486 m (1,595 ft). Three 76-mm (3-in) diameter horizontal drainage holes were then drilled, totaling 2,909 m (9,544 ft) of horizontal hole. Improvements in drilling methods increased the average drilling rate from 20.4 m (67 ft) to 64.9 m (213 ft) per day. The cost of drilling the directional and horizontal holes (using a Government-owned drill rig) was $1,169,530, a figure inflated by inexperience and by delays caused by lost-circulation problems and fishing operations. An estimated total drilling cost of $960,000 (including rental of a drill rig) for an improved system, was determined by a detailed cost analysis. Initial gas and water production from November 1979 through May 1980 was low because of caving of the horizontal holes drilled in shale near the bottom of the casing.

Jan 1, 1982

By R. H. Thompson

Six different types of blasting caps, mainly of the type used in coal mines, were evaluated to determine both their 1lF and DC characteristics. Two of the caps were of foreign manufacture. All the American made caps had "no-fire" (0.1% firing probability with 95% confidence, as determined by the Bruceton test) levels above 0.04 watts. One of the caps of foreign manufacture had a "no-fire" level of 0.023 watts. A worst case analysis of blasting cap pick up of RF power in coal mines was performed and safe distance curves were generated.

Jan 8, 1973

By James J. Olson

The Bureau of Mines recorded both particle accelerations and velocities from one-stick and production blasts at Eagle-Picher Industries' Shullsburg mine, Shullsburg, Wis., to test the effectiveness of square root scaling in grouping underground blast vibrations and to determine the effects of rock type and mine geometry on blast vibrations. Although the charge weights of subsequent delay periods sometimes exceeded the charge weight of the zero-delay period, both acceleration and velocity records showed that the zero-delay portion of the Shullsburg production blasts produced the highest vibration amplitudes. Because of the restricted range of charge weights in the Shullsburg experiments, no statistical determination of an appropriate scaling factor could be made. However, the square root scaled peak particle velocity data from the Shullsburg production blasts grouped well within the approximate band-width of vibration data obtained by the Bureau from quarry blasts in many different rock types. This indicates that scaling by some factor, perhaps the square root or cube root of the charge weight, may be an effective way to group and study vibration data from underground blasts. Further research is needed to determine which scaling factor is best for underground blasting.

Jan 1, 1970

By Maust. E. J., W. R. Crane

"IntroductionIn the study of mine drainage in the red iron ore mines of the Birmingham district of Alabama, an extensive series of measurements were made in order to determine the drainage from the area overlying and adjacent to the mines. Gaging rods were generally used in measuring streams, and weirs in ditches and sometimes as a check on rod work. These tests in turn were checked by current meter tests. In all, 725 separate stream gagings and 97 weir measurements were made. Certain relationships were worked out, particularly between rod and weir tests, which permitted obtaining results that are much more accurate 'under the existing conditions, than any available formula would give. The large number of weir measurements and the period covered by the tests made it impracticable to construct a weir for each observation so portable, adjustable weirs were built. The methods used are described here for the benefit of those interested in measurement of streams in connection with a study of mine drainage or otherwise. The Drainage AreaThe area draining the mining district lies between the crest of Red Mountain and Little Shades Creek, and for convenience was divided into sub-districts adjacent to certain groups of mines. Gaging stations were established on Little Shades Creek at the upper and lower boundaries of each sub-district, also at points on the tributaries near their junction with the creek. The difference between the volumes of water flowing in Little Shades Creek as it entered and left the sub-districts represents the flow from the tributaries on both sides of the creek. Since the flow coming from the sub-districts was measured direct, the inflow from the tributaries on the opposite side of the creek can be computed from the three volumes determined."

Oct 1, 1926

By H. Schultz

Urban refuse that was mechanically separated at the U S Bureau of Mines pilot plant in College Park, Md., was successfully evaluated for its fuel values using standard coal analysis methods. Analyses performed on refuse samples taken from five sample points included moisture, ash, sulfur, chlorine, and heating value. It was recommended that characterization of the combustible portion of urban refuse by standard coal analysis procedures should be widely adopted.

Jan 1, 1975

By W. J. Wenger

Results of the analyses of 151 crude oils from 123 oilfields in the Williston basin are presented. Production statistics are compiled by geographical areas within the basin, by geological age of the producing zones, by States, and by field for the nine fields with the greatest production. Characteristics of the oils are tabulated, and correlations are included to show relationships between properties of the oils and some factors in the environment. Properties of the oils in some instances imply that there has been migration and mixing of the oils between productive formations of different geological time periods.

Jan 1, 1968

By John D. Corrick

Three species of chemosynthetic iron- and sulfur-oxidizing autotrophic bacteria have been isolated from the leaching waters of copper mining areas. These species are: The sulfur-oxidizing Thiobacillus concretivorus, the iron-oxidizing Ferrobacillus ferrooxidans, and a sulfur- and iron-oxidizing bacterium closely resembling Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, INTRODUCTION Among several suggested new processes for treating marginal ores in the United States, none is more intriguing than the possibility of extracting metals from low-grade materials by the action of microorganisms One phase of a Federal Bureau of Mines investigation toward developing such a procedure was to isolate and identify specific chemosynthetic iron and sulfur. oxidizing autotrophic bacteria native to certain domestic copper deposits where leaching is practiced. The bacteria or microorganisms considered important to this investigation are those capable of producing solutions of ferric sulfate and sulfuric acid. Solutions of this type are excellent solvents for some copper minerals By establishing the presence of these bacteria at certain copper-leaching areas, strength would be given to a theory that microbial activity is partly responsible for the oxidation that takes place at these areas. Their presence also advances possibilities for controlled use of microbial action in metal extraction processes. Leathen4/ has demonstrated that one of the chemosynthetic iron-oxidizing bacteria, Ferrobacillus ferrooxidans, can oxidize 200 parts per million of ferrous iron to the ferric state in 3 days,

Jan 1, 1961

By V. E. Homme

This report describes methods of using sodium for reducing titanic chloride, developed as part of Bureau of Mines activities at Boulder City, Nev., to improve the extractive metallurgy of titanium. Theoretical indications pertaining to the major chemical reactions and possible side reactions of the process are compared with experimental observations. Low-temperature reduction equipment is described, in which titanic chloride was reduced with sodium at temperatures between 97.5° C., the melting point of sodium, and 200° C. Techniques employed in making reductions in ball-mill and high-surface sodium reactors are given.

Jan 1, 1958

By Robert C. Ellman

The Bureau of Mines studied lignite pulverization in a laboratory ring-roller mill. Both moisture content and the source of lignite were found to be important factors in pulverizer operation. Reduction of moisture content increased capacity and reduced power consumption, but predrying is more effective than in-the-mill drying in improving pulverizer operation. A combination predrier-crusher system produced significant improvements but other efforts to improve in-the-mill drying in the test mill were unsuccessful. Pulverization of frozen lignite was found to seriously reduce pulverizer capacity and increase power requirements.

Jan 1, 1972