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By Bureau of Mines Staff

Coal research and related activities in 1964 by the Bureau of Mines resulted in many advances in the production, preparation, and utilization of this valuable natural resource. Mining research during the year was marked by work on hydraulic mining, coalbed degasification, mine drainage control, mine sealing, strip-mine rehabilitation, and quenching of mine-refuse fires. Bureau research continued to produce information leading to increased safety in underground mining. Such research included roof and rib control via bolting and bonding, pressure monitoring of coal and mine rock during mining operations, and development of safety devices for detecting conditions leading to roof falls. Other safety work was continued on methane detectors, coal-dust suppression, and mine venti lation equipment and techniques. Mine explosion and explosives research, mine equipment and materials, safety rule modernization, and safety education and training of mine workmen were continued. Coal storage and preparation work in 1964 ranged from freezeproofing of lignite for rail shipment, through washability studies of coals and washing equipment, to research on new ways to remove ash and sulfur from coal. Electric power production, which ,accounts for a major portion of the market for coal, received further study. Unique power generation systems, inc luding coal-burning gas turbine and megnetohydrodynamic generators, were intensively investigated. Conventional power systems were improved through continuation of work on furnace performance, powerplant stack gas purification, and engineering and boiler water service.

Jun 1, 1965

By A. J. Barry

To determine the torque-load relationship for SIB-inch (nominal)-diameter roof bolts, the Bureau of Mines tested 5 makes of expansion shells and 2 types of bolts (regular and high-strength) in 2 sandstone and 2 shale mine roofs. Unused flat-steel bearing plates in as-received condition were used in these tests. The relationship between torque and load was found to be approximately 50 pounds of load per foot-pound of torque for both the regular and high-strength bolts. This relationship is valid up to 130 foot-pounds for the regular bolts and up to 175 foot-pounds for the high-strength bolts. A torque of 130 foot-pounds on a regular bolt will produce a load of 6,150 ± 1,910 pounds 90 percent of the time, and a torque of 175 foot-pounds on a high-strength bolt will produce 8,050 ± 2,750 pounds 90 percent of the time. Above these values, the torque-load relationship tends to be erratic due to binding between the bolt and plug threads. Binding causes excessive torque to be expended in producing torsion in the bolt rather than tension. This torsion adversely affects the yield load of the bolt. Therefore, the installed torques should not exceed the 130-and l75-foot-pound values. A statistical analysis of the data showed that the torque-load relationship was not significantly affected by the type of bolt or expansion shell unit but might have been affected by the type of rock.

Jan 1, 1956

By D. R. Mathews

The solubility of carbon in electrorefined vanadium was determined to be approximately 0.27 wt pct at the eutectic temperature 1,650° C and 0.03 wt pct at 700° C. The tensile strength and hardness of vanadium increased with car-bon content to the solubility limit, but this effect was small, probably because of the narrow solubility range. Between the solubility limit and 0.3 weight-percent carbon, the second phase had essentially no strengthening effect in vanadium. The second phase, observed metallographically at the grain boundaries and within the grains, was shown by autoradiography to contain high-carbon concentrations. This second phase was identified as VgC by X-ray analysis. The VgC in the grain boundaries contributed largely to the poor cold-and-hot workability of vanadium-carbon alloys. Increased concentrations of V2C occurred at the grain boundaries of the high-carbon alloy ingots as a result of homogenization at 1,600° C for 1 hour. Alloy ingots containing more than 0.36 wt pet carbon (a calculated 2.9 wt pct VaC) following homogenization, cracked severely and failed by intergranular fracture upon swaging at 900° C.

Jan 1, 1965

By B. W. Gandrud

This report, consisting mostly of float-and-sink data and washability curves, has been prepared in connection with an exhaustive study of coal preparation in Alabama conducted, by the U, S. Bureau of Mines and the University of Alabama with the cooperation of the different coal operators On the basis of the float-and-sink data, an attempt has been made to determine approximately the extent of ash and sulphur reduction obtainable under given conditions on coal from the mines which were sampled, In the coal-producing districts of Alabama a great deaf of attention has been given in recent years to the problem of improving preparation methods so as to obtain from various coal beds the best possible grade of washed coal. This is especially so where the washed coal is used for the making of metallurgical coke in by-product plants or where there are possibilities of using the coal for this purpose. In the manufacture of metallurgical coke, the sulphur content of the coal is a very important consideration. It is quite often the determining factor as to whether or not a certain coal can be used for coke making. In the studies which form the basis for this report, all samples have been analyzed for sulphur in order to obtain information regarding the possibilities of sulphur elimination as well as ash reduction, and the samples on which reports are made were obtained from beds that are characterized by rather high percentages of sulphur. In connection with the present investigations of coal preparation in Alabama a standardized method of interpreting float-and-sink data has been used extensively for predicting the ash and sulphur reduction and yields obtainable in a commercial washing plant from various sizes of raw coal and from the raw coal as a whole after a certain degree of crushing. This method, which will be explained in subsequent chapters, was used in interpreting the data contained in this report. The samples used for these washability studies were obtained from the following mines in the Warrior field of Alabama: Beltona mine on the Jefferson bed; Dolomite and Mulga mines on the Pratt bed; Coal Valley No. 163 and Coal Valley No. 11 mines on the Corona bed; Cedar Cove mine on the Carter bed.

Jan 1, 1932

By B. W. Candrud

This report, consisting mostly of float-and-sink data and washability curves, has been prepared in connection with an exhaustive study of coal preparation in Alabama conducted by the U. S. Bureau of Mines and the University of Alabama with the cooperation of the different coal operators on the basis of the float-and-sink data, an attempt has been made to deter-mine approximately the extent of ash and sulphur reduction obtainable under given conditions on coal from the mines which were sampled. In the coal-producing districts of Alabama a great deal of attention has been given in recent years to the problem of improving preparation methods so as to obtain from various coal beds the best possible grade of washed coal. This is especially so where the washed coal is used for the making of metallurgical coke in by-product plants or where there are possibilities of using the coal for this purpose. In the manufacture of metallurgical coke, the sulphur content of the coal is a very important consideration. It is quite often the determining factor as to whether or not a certain coal can be used for coke making. In the studies which form the basis for this report, all samples have been analyzed for sulphur in order to obtain information regarding the possibilities of sulphur elimination as well as ash reduction, and the samples on which reports are made were obtained from beds that are characterized by rather high percentages of sulphur. In connection with the present investigations of coal preparation in Alabama a standardized method of interpreting float-and-sink data has been used extensively for predicting the ash and sulphur reduction and yields obtainable in a commercial washing plant from various sizes of raw coal and from the raw coal as a whole after a certain degree of crushing. This method, which will be explained in subsequent chapters, was used in interpreting the data contained in this report. The samples used for these washability studies were obtained from the following mines in the Warrior field of Alabama: Beltona mine on the Jefferson bed; Dolomite and Mulga mines on the Pratt bed; Coal Valley No. 16B and Coal Valley No. 11 mines on the Corona bed; Cedar Cove mine on the Carter bed.

Jan 1, 1932

By BUREAU OF MINES

This report is submitted in accordance with the provisions of the Synthetic Liquid Fuels Act of April 5, 1944 (30 U.S C. 321-325, as amended), which require that: "The Secretary of the Interior shall render to Congress on or before the first day of January of each year a report on all operations under this Act." Owing to the broad scope of the content and the diversity of interests represented, the Annual Report for 1953 has been divided into two separate publications. Each has been published by the Bureau of Mines as a Report of Investigations, and the respective titles follow: R. I. 5043, Part I - 011 From Coal. R. I. 5044, Part II 011 From 011 Shale. - Identical in each report, the introduction summarizes research progress made in 1953 under the entire Synthetic Liquid Fuels program. A free copy of each of these publications may be obtained by a written request to the Bureau of Mines, Publications Distribution Section, 4800 Forbes Street, Pittsburgh 13, Pa. The R. I. number and title of the publication desired should be indicated.

Apr 1, 1954

By R. W. Huber, R. C. Wiley, V. C. Petersen

"Three arc- melted ingots, two of a t itanium-7 percent manganese all oy and the third of unalloyed titanium, were forged and rolled into 3/ 4-inch plate; comparative data were obtained on these processes. The finished plate, part of which was used by the Naval Bureau of Ordnance, was tested for mechanical and other properties.These properties were correlated with sponge purity, forging technique, rolling temperature, and cooling rate from the rolling temperature. For the alloy material, transformation data were obtained, and their age-hardening characteristics were studied. The temperature-impact relationship was established for rolled sections from all three ingots.INTRODUCTIONArc -melted ingots of unalloyed titanium and a titanium-manganese alloy were fabricated into plate under closely controlled conditions by personnel of the Metals and Alloys Section, Physical Metallurgy Branch, Bureau of Mines, College Perk, Md. This program was cosponsored by the Naval Bureau of Ordnance. Bureau of Mines interest lay in correlating the processing procedures with the mechanical properties of the finished plate.Considerable data have been published recently on constitution diagrams and properties of titanium-manganese alloys in genera1. 3/ 4/5/6/ However, little if any correlation between processing schedules and end results has been published, particularly with respect to the present commercial production of the proprietary titanium manganese alloys . Several factors in the production of titanium and titanium alloys have a pronounced influence on the physical and mechanical properties of the finished product: (1) The degree and nature of impurities in the base materials, ( 2) the amount of impurities introduced during the melting cycle and their distribution, (3) the homogeneity of the alloy, (4) forging, (5) rolling, and ( 6) final heat-treating cycles. All of these item£ are important from a metallurgical standpoint in producing the desired end properties in the metal."

Mar 1, 1955

By Herbert H. Einstein

Appendices A through M contain information that is the basis for many developments reported in the main text (Parts I through V); this information is, however, not needed in applying the research results. Specifically the appendices contain: A: Geology of Sampled Sites B: Comparison of Distribution Forms with Observed Trace Length Frequencies C: Joint Attitude Pole Diagrams D: Resistance and Deformability of Rock Discontinuities E: Resistance and Deformability of Joints - Details of Data Recording Procedure F: Documentation and Details for Simplified 2-Joint Wedge Analysis G: Generalization of the Stiffness Approach H: Inadequacy Due to Simplifying Assumptions in Wedge Analysis I: Rock Slope Reliability Analysis: State of the Art J: Resistance Derivations for Mechanical Model K: Supporting Derivations for Analysis Method DAYLITE L: Supporting Derivations for Simplified 2-Plane Reliability Analysis M: Plots of SLOPESIM Runs

Jan 1, 1979

By D. L. Bickel

This report presents a Bureau of Mines study intended to determine if horizontal stress trends exist and if the stresses can be projected for improved mine design in a selected coalfield. The horizontal stresses were determined in three mines in the Yampa Coalfield and one mine in the adjacent Danforth Hills Coalfield of northwestern Colorado. Stresses were determined from stress-relief measurements using a three-component borehole deformation gauge and overcoring techniques developed by the Bureau. A least-squares method of calculating the average rock stress components in the horizontal plane was performed. Physical properties of the rock from the test sites are also included. For the Yampa Coalfield, the maximum horizontal compressive stress in the floor ranged from 363 to 1,956 psi, and the maximum horizontal compressive stress in the roof ranged from 235 to 875 psi. For the Dan-forth Hills Coalfield, the maximum horizontal compressive stress in the floor ranged from 360 to 1,494 psi, and the maximum horizontal compres-sive stress in the roof was 1,033 psi. Results indicated a trend of low horizontal stresses in the Yampa Coalfield that have not impacted ground control conditions in mines less than 1,000 ft deep.

Jan 1, 1988

By D. R. Mathews

Electrorefined vanadium was evaluated with respect to tensile properties and the effects of interstitial contaminants in the temperature range of 77° to 273° K. The yield strength of 18,500 psi and hardness of 63 diamond pyra-mid hardness (DPH) of electrorefined vanadium are approximately equal to that of iodide crystal bar vanadium. The ductile-brittle transition temperature was found to be below 77° K, but with 0.175 weight-percent oxygen or 0.10 weight-percent nitrogen, it increased to between 123° and 190° K. With carbon content up to 0.11 weight-percent, the transition temperature remained below 77° K. The yield strength of the interstitial-containing alloys can be expressed by: au = 7.5 + 480 (pct N) + 290 (pct 0) + 280 (pct C), where au is the upper yield stress in 1,000 psi at 273° K. Profuse deformation twinning occurred in the alloys tested at 77° K. However, twinning could be suppressed by dissolved oxygen or nitrogen in excess of 0.15 and 0.086 weight-percent, respectively. Carbon, even though present in excess of the solubility limit, did not affect twinning.

Jan 1, 1965

By A. G. Loomis

Although secondary-recovery methods have not been applied widely in California, it is apparent that increasing attention and effort must be given to this phase of recovery if the State is to maintain its high rank as a petroleum producer. Steadily increasing demands for petroleum products and decreasing rates of discovery of new oil fields, with rapid depletion of existing reserves, emphasize the prospect of an adverse situation of supply and demand in the not-far-distant future. If the trend of discoveries becomes more favorable or if more complete economic recovery of the oil in place can be obtained by secondary recovery, this situation can be averted. Not only are these reserves of economic importance to the petroleum industry for meeting increasing market demands; but economic reclamation of such reserves is an important conservation measure, which will prolong the productive life of many fields. Accordingly, progressive operators in California are alert to the possibilities of secondary recovery and have done much to implement such operations wherever feasible. Most current operations are of the pressure-maintenance type, in which the reservoir pressure is maintained or partly maintained by injecting natural gas to in-crease oil recovery. The possibilities of recovering additional oil from stripper fields by gas drive and water flooding (including water disposal) also are being tested in experimental field projects. Table 1 summarizes current gas-and water-injection projects in California.

Jan 1, 1952

By Sabri Ergun

This report gives the result of investigations of coals of different rank, coal com¬ponents, chemically and thermally treated and irradiated coals, and sedimented organic matter. In most studies the arbitrary parameters obtained from the usual quantitative profile analyses are not given largely because they lack physical meaning. Instead comp interpretations are offered. X-ray patterns of high-volatile bituminous and lower rank coals are not self¬-sufficient for structural interpretation by the methods of analysis developed to date. The patterns of hydrogenated and dehydrogenated coals indicate that the basic change in the structure of bituminous coals with increase in rank is the conversion of alicyclic structures into aromatic layers. In low-rank anthracites the aromatic layers are about 10 A in size. The increase in rank is the result of coalescence of layers. High-rank anthracites have layer sizes of 25 to 40 A and exhibit the development of three-dimensional (hkl) reflections of graphite, indicating ordering of adjacent layers. In meta-anthracites the layers are > 1000 A and the basic structure is that of defective crystalline graphite. The well-known petrographic components in low-rank coals have different structures; the differences dissappear in low-volatile bituminous and higher rank coals. The patterns of sedimented organic matter, except impsonites, differ from those of coal hydrogen contents are high, and their X-ray patterns are consistent with those of structures. In contrast to normal coals, the patterns of uranium-bearing coals show increased diffuseness with decrease in hydrogen content. The diffuseness is accompanied by increase in the uranium content of the coal. It is very likely that high uranium-bearing coals have predominantly tetrahedral structures.

Jan 1, 1968

By R. A. Beall, S. L. Ausmus

The development of a completely water - free expendable graphite mold material , useful for reactive metal castings , has been detailed . Mixing and curing variables have been evaluated both by physical testing of the material itself and by castings of titanium , zirconium , and hafnium . The blend of powdered graphite , cornstarch , dextrin , cereal binder , linseed oil , and Carbowax -4000 is a successful mix when mulled in a carbon dioxide atmosphere , and properly cured and fired . The primary advantage of this material is its adaptability to standard foundry techniques ; i . e . , core blowing and hand ramming . Temperatures in the curing and firing cycles do not exceed 960 ° C , and no vacuum firing is required .

Jan 1, 1964

By Bill Linville

During fiscal years 1967-68, the Bureau of Mines produced 185 technical papers and reports about petroleum and oil-shale research, which were published either by the Bureau or by others as referable scientific literature. Numerous other reports were prepared for Government agencies, State agencies, and organizations of the petroleum and natural gas industry engaged in cooperative research programs with the Bureau. Research performed during the reporting period by the Bureau on petroleum, natural gas, and oil shale was classified by 71 active projects. A basic appropriation of $3,575,000 was supplemented by $1,300,000 in fiscal year 1967, and that of $4,043,000 by $1,402,000 in fiscal year 1968, making the appropriated-to-supplemental fund ratios about 2.8 to 1 for fiscal year 1967 and 2.9 to 1 for fiscal year 1968. In fulfillment of the mission of the Bureau, through planned research programs, methods for producing and utilizing petroleum were improved. The continued conservation of this natural resource of petroleum, including crude oil, natural gas, and oil shale, was pursued through research performed by some 350 personnel at two petroleum research centers and two petroleum research laboratories supervised and supported by administrative personnel of the Bureau and the Department of the Interior.

Jan 1, 1970

By Margaret R. Egan

The Bureau of Mines experimentally burned Pittsburgh Seam coal and other combustible materials found in mines in order to obtain a better knowledge of their emission products. These experiments were conducted in the Bureau's intermediate-scale fire tunnel, which simulates environ-mental conditions in underground mines. Smoke characteristics, gas concentrations, mass loss, and ventilation were measured. From these values, heat-release rates, particle sizes, obscuration rates, combustion yields, and production constants were calculated. This information was sought as part of a comprehensive study of combustible materials that will ultimately advance the design of more efficient fire detection and suppression systems. The coal combustion measurements presented in this report, together with previous analyses of wood and transformer fluid fires form a data base by which future studies of other mine combustibles can be compared.

Jan 1, 1987

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Jan 1, 1980

By S. H. Ash

THIS REPORT covers the second in a series of five projects into which the Conowingo tunnel system has been divided for geographical and practical reasons. It outlines the construction work contemplated-to sink two shafts on the line of the main tunnel that are designated the Nos. 9A and 11 shafts, to turn off from the No. 9A shaft the Lansford and Lykens laterals, and to drive portions of the main tunnel. An emergency pumping plant, consisting of 2 separate pumprooms, each containing 3 horizontal-type centrifugal pumps of 100,000-gallons-per-minute (g. p. m.) capacity, will be constructed at the No. 9A shaft. From the No. 11 shaft will be turned off the Trevorton lateral and portions of the main tunnel, which will connect with the section driven from the No. 9A shaft. Under the proposed project, the Lansford lateral will be driven for a distance of 2 miles, the Lykens lateral for a distance of 10.56 miles, and the Trevorton lateral for a distance of 20 miles. To drive the Lykens and Trevorton laterals for the distance indicated, several construction shafts and slopes must be sunk to permit efficient and safe construction.

Jan 1, 1955

By David A. Andrews

Coal occurs at many scattered localities in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon, but in most of the known occurrences thick coal beds are of small extent and the coal generally contains a high percentage of impurities. The coal beds occur at many different horizons in strata of Cretaceous and Tertiary age. Bituminous coal has been found in several areas, the most extensive of which is the Eden Ridge field of Oregon. Lignite also occurs in many places, but the only extensive deposit is in the Goose Creek field of Idaho, Nevada, and "Utah. The coal reserves of the region are largely of subbituminous rank; most of the subbituminous coal is in the Black Mesa field of northeastern Arizona and the Coos Bay field of Oregon. The Black Mesa field contains more than 80 percent of the coal reserves of all ranks but is remote from both transportation facilities and centers of consumption. Substantial reserves ill the Coos Bay field are favorably situated with respect to transportation and markets. ARIZONA Subbituminous coal occurs in the Black Mesa, Pinedale, and Gallup coal fields in Apache, Navajo, and Coconino Counties, Ariz. (fig. 1). Bituminous coal occurs in the Deer Creek field in Pinal and Graham Counties and in a small area in Apache County at the north-east corner of the State. All the coal beds are in strata of Cretaceous age. The coal in the Gallup field and at the northeast corner of the State lies in the Western edge of the San Juan structural basin. "Vest and south of this basin the coal-bearing strata have been removed by erosion except in high mesas.

Jan 1, 1947

By Walter Kawa

Coals of various rank were reacted by the Bureau of Nines in plasma jets generated from argon and argon-hydrogen mixtures containing up to 33 volume-percent hydrogen. Average plasma temperatures ranged from about 3,400° to 12,000° C. Products were a solid residue and a gas containing hydrogen, methane, acetylene, diacetylene, and oxides of carbon. The highest yield of acetylene obtained with argon plasmas was 15 percent by weight of moisture- and ash-free coal. The data indicated that acetylene yields of 40 percent or higher can be obtained from the reaction of coal in argon-hydrogen plasmas, although results from these experiments could not be correlated with operating variables because of low recoveries plasma contained sufficient energy to heat the coal to temperatures as high 9,000 or 10,000° C, but complete devolatilization did not occur in any experiment.

Jan 1, 1966

By C. E. Dobbin

The coal fields of Montana are widely distributed through the plains region in the eastern and northern parts of the State, and the mountain regions in the central, southern, and southwestern parts of the State. (See fig. 1.) SURFACE FEATURES The Fort Union region in eastern Montana is a broad plain of almost horizontal rocks, characterized by extensive "bad lands" along the larger streams and by red hills, benches, ridges, and buttes which represent shale and sandstone that have been fused by the burning of an underlying coal bed.

Jan 1, 1932