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By F. G. Schwartz

This circular presents the results of a survey of research on jet fuel thermal stability jointly sponsored by the National Petroleum Refiners Association (NPRA), Tulsa, Okla., and the Bureau of Mines. The development of supersonic planes has led to many problems that did not exist in the operation of subsonic aircraft. One of the most important of these is rapid deterioration of the fuel at the high temperatures to which it is subjected. At higher speeds, aerodynamic heating of the airframe imposes severe thermal problems, and conventional techniques of rejecting the heat to the atmosphere become impractical. The fuel is the only material present in sufficient bulk to be used as a heat sink. Thus, the fuel is subjected to aerodynamic heating and also is used to dissipate heat from lubricating oil, hydraulic fluid, electronic equipment, wheel wells, and cabin air. Consequently, the fuels may have to withstand both moderate temperatures for sustained periods in the fuel tanks and higher temperatures for brief periods during transfer from the tanks to the combustion chamber. Because of high temperatures, insoluble residue or gum may form in the fuel and contribute to heat exchanger fouling and to clogging of the fuel manifolds, nozzles, control systems, and other components of the fuel system.

Jan 1, 1962

1. BOYD, JAMES. Statement on the Investigation of Natural Resources. Hearings before National Re-sources Economic Subcommittee, Committee on Public Lands, U.S. Senate, 80th Cong., 1st sess., on Investigation of the Factors Affecting Minerals, Fuels, Forestry, and Reclamation Projects, May 15, 16, and 20, 1947, pp. 125-131. 2. BUCH, J. W., HENDRICKS, T. A., AND TOENGES, A. L. Statement on the Investigation of Natural Resources. Hearings before National Resources Economic Sub-committee, Committee on Public Lands, U.S. Senate, 80th Cong., 1st sess., on Investigation of the Factors Affecting Minerals, Fuels, Forestry, and Reclamation Projects, May 15, 16, and 20, 1947, pp. 231-235. 3. CONGRESS, U.S. An Act to Provide for the Establishment and Operation of a Research Laboratory in the Pennsylvania Anthracite Region for Investigation of the Mining, Preparation, and Utilization of Anthracite, for the Development of New Uses and Markets, for Improvement of Health and Safety in Mining, and for a Comprehensive Study of the Region to Aid in the Solution of Its Economic Problems and to Make Its Natural and Human Resources of Maxi-mum Usefulness in the War Effort. Public, No. 812, 77th Cong., 2d sess. (S-357), ch. 764, approved Dec. IS, 1942, 2 pp.

Jan 1, 1962

The Tenth International Conference of Directors of Safety in Mines Research was held in the United States from September 28 through October 2, 1959, at Hotel Webster Hall, Pittsburgh, Pa. The Conference was organized by the Federal Bureau of Mines. In accord with the program outlined at the Ninth Conference (1956, Heerlen, Holland), the papers submitted dealt with the following three subjects: 1. Safety of coal mine explosives 2. Explosion hazards in mines 3. Ignition and fires in mines Seventy papers were presented. There were eight technical sessions followed by an extended tour of the Bruceton facility of the Bureau of Mines on October 2. Simultaneous translation was provided in the three official languages of the Conference--English, French, and German.

Jan 1, 1962

THE Synthetic Liquid Fuels Act (30 U.S.C., 321-325, and amendments) became law April 5, 1944, and a period of intensive research and development in this field was begun by the Federal Bureau of Mines. As part of this program, bulletins were published on pressure hydrogenation,3 the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis,4 and nil stifle.5 The. Bureau also has published a short bibliography on coal gasification,6 mostly of a theoretical nature. Because anal gasification is prerequisite to either the Fischer-Tropsch or coal-hydrogenation processes, publishing this sizable collection of technical information in this form Will Ire valuable. The material will he presented in three parts. as follows I. United Stares Patents. II. United Kingdom, Australian, Canadian, and South African Patents. III. Other Foreign Patents. Part I appeared in early 1960. Part II follows.

Jan 1, 1962

By Milford L. Skow

MICA is a group name for a number of complex hydrous aluminum silicate minerals that have a sheet or platy structure and extremely variable and complex compositions containing various metallic ions, particularly those from the alkali group. Muscovite and phlogopite, the two varieties of significant commercial value, are the principal consideration of this report; muscovite has major importance industrially. The mica crystal, because of its laminated structure, can be split easily and accurately into thin films that are transparent, flexible, elastic, tough, and waterproof and have outstanding dielectric and insulating characteristics. This combination of properties is not duplicated in any other known substance. The world production of mica can be divided into two main classifications: (1) Sheet mica and (2) scrap mica (including flake mica). In general, separate divisions of the industry produce these two classes of mica, which differ widely in their uses and in the forms in which they are marketed. A glossary of mica terminology is given in appendix A.

Jan 1, 1962

By K. P. Wang

The foundation of Japan's growing industrial and economic strength lies primarily in minerals, power, and technical know-how. Domestic raw material resources cannot supply domestic demand, and imports are indispensable. The Japanese are forced to acquire minerals and metals on a global basis, and their activities already have made an impact on international markets. A by-product of these efforts is the development and expansion of mines in many parts of the world to supply Japanese requirements. Japan now has a surplus capacity to produce finished products for consumption and export. Tradition-ally, domestic deficits in minerals have been met by importing crude materials. Because of the rising demand, however, the time has come when semi finished products as well as crude minerals are required. While the domestic market is the mainstay for Japan's industrial products, expanding export markets are essential for balancing trade and for providing economic prosperity and higher living standards for the Japanese people. Japan has a long history of mineral and industrial development, and the best in modern practices abroad has been adopted and modified for use under Japanese conditions of smaller enterprises, cheaper labor, and a more closely knit society. Generations of industrious workmen, technicians, and business-men have been trained in industrial occupations. Devastation of war temporarily slowed progress, but at the same time provided the opportunity for reconstruction, modernization, rationalization, and expansion. The Japanese excel in small and medium-sized operations, but they also have mastered large-scale production. Management is aggressive, practical, and strongly imbued with the concepts of effective utilization of resources. Integrated operations, diversification of facilities, intense competition among concerns in the domestic market, and close cooperation in foreign activities characterize Japanese industrial policies. Available capital has been utilized up to the limit for the establishment of mineral and other industrial facilities at home and abroad. Technology, machinery and equipment, and transport services have been exported along with venture capital, and funds have been advanced against future delivery of foreign raw materials. The Government has been restrained in regulatory functions and has provided technical services to private industry. Thus, Japan's technological foundations are secure, management practices are efficient, and government has stimulated production. The future outlook is bright for the continued rapid growth of mineral and other industries in Japan. Already supreme in Asia in per capita output and living standards, Japan steadily is gaining on the European countries. Steel production has overtaken the United Kingdom and is pressing the level in West Germany. Consumption of fuels and power is expanding at a rapid rate. Construction activities are booming. Japan has built up medium-sized non-ferrous industries. Its ability to produce the exotic metals needed in the nuclear space age is well established. Since Japan makes a great variety of mineral products, her overall posture in mineral extraction and processing is strong. Primarily as a result of intensive efforts in the mineral and other industrial fields, Japan is emerging in world markets as a serious competitor to all industrialized nations.

Jan 1, 1962

What is a conflict, as it is understood by men of the extractive industries? And what are the circumstances out of which these conflicts arise? A start can be made with the notion of economic conflict, which can be defined as rivalry over the use of economic resources. Such rivalry is a central part of all economizing activity. It is present within the individual, within the family, and within the business firm. In each of these units there are multiple goals competing for use of a limited income. And economic rivalry is present among individuals and firms who are competing with one another for use of the limited quantity of economic resources available to us as a society.

Jan 7, 1961

SME's Annual Membership Report - 1961 Membership Directory

Jan 7, 1961

By A. M. Gaudin, J. H. Brown

In a survey of the effects of heat treatment on the comminution of various rocks, it was found that unusual size distributions often characterize the broken products, and that this is related to a great increase in intergranular fracture1. It is the purpose of the present paper to contribute to an understanding of this effect. In a thesis by one of use, critical consideration was given to many mechanisms which could conceivably be responsible for the increased intergran-ular fracture. It was shown that neither gross chemical changes nor intergranular corrosion are required. Among non-chemical mechanisms the most likely appeared to be (1) Uneven expansion due to thermal gradients, giving spalling (2) In a manner similar to that prevailing in metals, the appearance at high temperature of intergranular weakness. (3) Unequal thermal expansion of adjacent grains. Experiments were designed and conducted to permit a choice among the many alternative mechanisms and in particular among the three listed here. EXPERIMENTAL MATERIALS Tests were made on the materials listed in Table 1. Of each material, only lumps similar in composition and grain size were used. The three marbles listed in Table 1 were analyzed to assure that their chemical compositions did not differ greatly (Table 2). On the basis of the chemical analyses, of differential thermal analyses, and of X-ray powder diffraction patterns, it appeared that the marbles were very similar except for their grain sizes.

Jan 1, 1961

By Charles E. Whieldon

Because of the importance of recovering more oil from known petroleum reserves, increased emphasis has been placed on the application of secondary-recovery methods. It is hoped that these reports will stimulate interest in improved waterflooding techniques, thereby discouraging premature abandonment of oil leases. Previously published reports3 4 5/ have described the results of water-flooding in Roane, Pleasants, and Wetzel Counties, W. Va. (fig. 1). This report describes the South Penn Oil Co. Yawkey waterflood property, Berea sand, Griffithsville oilfield, Duval District, Lincoln County, W. Va. (fig. 2).

Jan 1, 1961

By C. O. Lee, Z. W. Bartlett, R. H. Feierabend

The Grand Isle sulfur mine is located in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately seven miles off the coast of Grand Isle, Jefferson Parish, La. The deposit is on acreage covered by oil, gas, and mineral leases originally issued in favor of Humble Oil & Refining Co. by the State of Louisiana which were continued, maintained, and redesignated by the U.S. Department of the Interior after passage of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. The sulfur deposit was discovered in 1949 when Humble Oil & Refining Co. penetrated more than 200 ft of sulfur-bearing limestone in a zone between 1813 and 2075 ft below sea level. In 1954, Humble drilled ten more sulfur prospect holes, eight of which encountered sulfur ore. On September 19, 1956, Freeport Sulphur Co. acquired from Humble Oil & Refining Co, the sulfur rights underlying the tracts, and the actual design of the installation began the same month. The first structural contract was awarded in December 1957 and offshore erection began in June 1958. The initial phase of construction has been completed and production by the Frasch process commenced in April 1960. The estimated total cost of the project is $30 million, of which $8 million is the extra cost incurred by the necessity of offshore operations. More than $22 million was expended before production was started. GEOLOGY OF DEPOSIT Grand Isle is the third largest sulfur deposit in the U.S. The orebody embraces several hundred acres, but its outer limits are yet to be defined to the northeast, east, and south. Most Gulf Coast sulfur deposits occur in a caprock mantle of calcite (referred to as limestone), anhydrite, and occasionally gypsum, which covers the apex of an intrusive mass of salt. Commercial quantities of sulfur are usually confined to the calcite or limestone member. Most often such limestone is completely enclosed by dense anhydrite below and impervious sediments above, which effectively form a closed reservoir. The depth of the Grand Isle orebody ranges from 1800 ft to 2500 ft below sea level. Within the present boundary, the sulfur-bearing limestone varies in thickness from 220 ft to 425 ft, while the sulfur content varies an average of about 15 pct in the leanest hole to an average of about 30 pct in the richest. Rock containing less than 5 pct sulfur is not classed as ore, and holes assaying less than 20,-000 long tons per acre of sulfur in place are not considered commercial offshore. The sulfur enrich-

Jan 1, 1961

By John J. Reed

Since the beginnings of, the human struggle for survival and improvement, mining has been one of the basic endeavors of life. Until relatively recent times it was classed as an art. Now we are at work trying to, raise mining to the level of an engineering science where it belongs if we are to prosper. It should be self-evident that this goal can be attained only through industrial progress: based on education and research. It is true that our industry, left to itself, will develop a few new ideas and techniques through the years. However, we mining' engineers are relatively few in number compared to the other disciplines, and the rate of our improvement by such "accidental" discoveries is simply tooslow to keep pace with the rest of our technical civilization. It will be evident in the remarks that follow, that the rapid development of mining education, research, and the industry are extremely interdependent, and will be largely controlled by the amount of cooperation, support, and cross-fertilization that can be developed among all three.

Jan 1, 1961

By J. P. McCullough

In 1943, the Federal Bureau of Mines began a program of thermodynamic investigations of petroleum constituents and related compounds. These systematic, long-range studies, which were conducted in the thermodynamics laboratory of the Bartlesville Petroleum Research Center and are still continuing, have resulted in a substantial quantity of data valuable to the petroleum industry and science in general. As separate phases of these studies were completed, the findings were promptly reported in the scientific press. During the past 16 years, 89 journal articles, giving the results obtained for individual compounds and small groups of related compounds, were published, mainly in the Journal of the American Chemical Society and the Journal of Physical Chemistry. In addition, members of the Bureau staff have contributed six chapters to specialized reference books. This circular, prepared in response to many requests, lists these 95 published papers, giving an abstract of the contents of each, as well as titles, authors, and literature citations. The journal articles are listed in the order of their preparation, which closely approximates the chronological order of their publication; hence, the item number to the left of each citation corresponds to the assigned contribution number. For the convenience of the reader, the abstract section is followed by a condensed bibliography, arranged alphabetically by senior author and keyed to the abstracts by appropriate contribution numbers in parentheses after the entry.

Jan 1, 1961

Factors of importance in the ntilization of coal fines are mentioned, and the results of flotation tests on coal fines from three important coal seams in New South Wales are presented.INTRODUCTIONEconomic utilization of fine coal is an important problem in the Australian coal industry, particularly as the proportion of fines mined is increasing with progressive mechanization.While the use of uncleaned coal fines may be economic, it may be preferable to beneficiate them, but the most economic process must be selected.For beneficiating coal finer than about 28 mesh, froth flotation can be applied, but mining engineers should avoid practices that may be detrimental to flotation. Such practices include the indiscriminate use of water, particularly that containing a wetting' agent, for dust suppression. In addition, clay stemming in wet conditions may produce slimes which could adsorb on coal surfaces, while the use of oils and greases as well as the application of stone dust and chlorides in roadway consolidation may influence adversely fine coal beneficiation.This paper deals with the application of flotation to samples of fine coal from the Bulli, Greta, and Victoria Tunnel seams. In addition a discussion is given of the mineralogical constitution, size analysis, and degree of liberation of ash constituents of the various samples.COAL SAMPLESRepresentative samples of coal from the Bulli, Greta, and Victoria Tunnel seams were obtained for testing.

Jan 1, 1961

By Joseph A. Sutton

This study was undertaken by the Bureau of Mines to determine whether the sulfur-oxidizing bacterium Thiobacillus thiooxidans could use sulfur compounds to produce sulfuric acid in sufficient quantities to leach valuable metals from low-grade ores. The results of extended tests indicated that the bacterium is capable of extracting appreciable amounts of copper and cobalt from ore and mineral samples when sulfur is available in a state that can be readily assimilated by the organisms. Under the conditions of these tests, this organism was not able to assimilate and oxidize the sulfur as it occurred in the ores and minerals. Ores containing copper minerals in the silicate, carbonate, and oxide forms, in the presence of elemental sulfur, were more susceptible to bacterial action than ores containing copper minerals in the sulfide form. Thiobacillus thiooxidans remained active on elemental sulfur in the presence of some of the ores which were tested, but could not tolerate others. Therefore, strains of the bacterium were progressively adjusted to increasing concentrations (0.5 to 10 grams) of the individual ores until they could remain active on 10-gram portions of all ores being tested.

Jan 1, 1961

By R. K. Linn

The New Idria Mining and Chemical Co. owns and operates the New Idria mine in southern San Benito County, Calif. During 1957-59, the New Idria mine was the largest producer of mercury in the United States and its alltime production of over a half-million flasks was exceeded only by one mine. It is one of the oldest and most consistent producers in California. With the exception of 1921-22, the mine has an annual production of mercury dating back to 1854. This paper by the Federal Bureau of Mines describes the exploration, development, mining, and furnacing of mercury ore at the New Idria mine. Figure 1 is a view of the furnace plant of the New Idria mine. The purpose of this report is to promote the development and conservation of our mineral resources by dissemination of technological information on mining and processing procedures, and related practices at operating mines.

Jan 1, 1961

By Paul L. Campbell

Investigations by the Federal Bureau of Mines of methods of upgrading tar obtained by low-temperature carbonization of lignite showed that ß,ß?-oxydipropionitrile, ß,ß?-iminodipropionitrile, and ß,ß'-thiodipropionitrile were effective solvents for extracting aromatics (aromatic hydrocarbons plus polar compounds) from coal-tar neutral distillate fractions. Batch extraction showed that these solvents extracted approximately the same percentage of aromatics from various neutral oil fractions boiling between approximately 170° and 350° C. In continuous countercurrent extractions using oxydipropionitrile and iminodipropionitrile, approximately 30 to 35 vol.-pct, and 65 to 70 vol.-pct, of the aromatics in 170° to 350° C. neutral distillate oil were extracted at room temperature when solvent-to-oil ratios were 2:1 and 12:1, respectively. As the concentration of aromatics in the neutral distillate oil fraction decreased, the capacities and, to some extent, the selectivities of these solvents for the remaining aromatics decreased. Aromatics were isolated from the extracts and the solvents recovered by washing the extract fractions with a low-boiling paraffinic hydrocarbon such as heptane, using hydrocarbon-to-extract ratios of at least 2:1. The heptane wash removed most of the aromatics but only part of the polar compounds (compounds containing oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen) from the extracts. The recovered oxydipropionitrile and iminodipropionitrile, containing polar compounds, were effective in extracting aromatics from neutral distillate oils. The contaminated solvents showed essentially the same capacities and selectivities as the pure solvents.

Jan 1, 1961

By W. L. Dare

This publication is one of a series prepared by the Federal Bureau of Mines on methods and costs of producing uranium ore on the Colorado Plateau. The information it contains was gathered in 1955-58 and applies to eight small operations. (See fig. 1.) Mining costs have increased since the data were I collected, but the information should be helpful in estimating future costs I at similar deposits. The Bureau of Mines had early experience in the production of carnotite-type ores on the Colorado Plateau.3 4/ Under a cooperative agreement with the National Radium Institute in 1914-16, the Bureau mined and concentrated carnotite ore for recovery of radium, uranium, and vanadium. The ore was taken from claims in or near Long Park Montrose County, Colo., about 3 mi. south of La Salle Mining Co.'s La Salle mine, which is one of the mines described in this report. The Bureau leased the claims from Crucible Steel Mining & Milling Co., a subsidiary of Crucible Steel Co. of America, and from 1914 to 1916 produced 990 tons of high-grade ore, containing 2.6 pct. U308, and about 2,000 tons of mill-grade ore, containing 0.85 pct. U308. The high-grade ore was shipped directly to a radium-recovery plant built in Denver in 1914 under the cooperative agreement. There, commercial methods of extracting uranium, vanadium, and radium from carnotite ores were developed by Bureau personnel. The lower grade ore was concentrated at a small mill in Long Park before being shipped to Denver. The final recovery was 69,000 lb. of U308 and 8.8 g. of radium. The direct mining cost of producing the high-grade ore, including the labor to hand sort and sack it, was $35.96 per ton. Freighting the ore 58 miles to Placerville, Colo., the nearest rail point on the Rio Grande Southern Railway, cost $25.28 per ton, which included $4.55 per ton for ore bags and twine. Four-or six-horse teams pulled two wagons in tandem and made the

Jan 1, 1961

By C. G. Cheriton

The Bathurst mining district is located near the town of Bathurst on the north shore of the province of New Brunswick in eastern Canada. This region is the northeasterly extension of the Appalachian mountain system. The area is heavily forested and covered with a fairly uniform layer of glacial gravels and boulder clay. The relief is low, increasing to a few hundred feet in the north west and several hundred feet in the extreme southwest. Thus, rock outcrops are scarce and occur mostly along streams and ridges. These factors made conventional prospecting difficult and resulted in the district becoming an excellent place for the application of regional geological studies, air photo techniques, airborne and gound geophysical methods and soil sampling. Late in 1952, The Brunswick Mining and Smelting Company discovered a very large base metal sulphide body presently known as their No. 6 orebody. Early in 1953, another and even larger sulphide body was discovered and is known as the No. 12 ore body. Mining exploration was very active thoughout 1953 and in 1954, The American Metal Company discovered the orebodies which have been developed into The Heath Steele 'Mines. The location of these deposits is shown on figure one. In the latter part of 1954, The Anaconda Company became interested in the district and decided to make a geological study of this new and promising base rrietal area. The following paper presents the story of the application of modern geological and geophysical techniques, leading to the discovery of a large sul-nhidp liodv. The Bathurst district is generally underlain by the Tetagouche group of Middle Ordovician rocks.

Jan 1, 1961

By F. D. Everett

The Federal Bureau of Mines reviewed the status of tungsten deposits of Utah in 1959. Industrial requirements of tungsten during emergencies have exceeded the domestic supply, and a knowledge of the sources of this strategic element may be helpful in the future. Tungsten occurs as the mineral scheelite in deposits that have been developed or explored on approximately 60 properties in 10 of the Great Basin ranges of Utah, none of which were being worked in 1957-59. Ores from most of the productive areas are similar in that they are contained in tactite deposits on or near the contact of calcareous and acidic intrusive rocks. The tactite ores consist predominantly of the silicate minerals garnet, epidote, and diopside and the carbonate rocks limestone or dolomite. Scheelite, where present, is disseminated irregularly in the tactite. Tungsten ores from Utah mainly have been produced from small deposits worked in World Wars I and II and the Korean campaign. The ores were either hand sorted to a grade ranging from 0.5 to 1.0 percent tungsten trioxide (W03) or were beneficiated in small mills to higher grade concentrates. The largest reserve appears to be in the area of the Notch Peak intrusive in the House Range, Millard County. A large part of the reserve in the House Range is mineralized tactite containing 0.2 to 0.3 percent W03. Research on flotation by the Bureau of Mines has indicated a method of concentrating scheelite in tactite ores that average 0.25 percent W03, with at least 85 percent recovery. The concentrate assays more than 5 percent W03 and can be processed into artificial scheelite ready for industrial use.

Jan 1, 1961