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By A. M. Stubbs

The Bureau of Mines has devised a procedure to selectively extract and recover chromic oxide (Cr203) from waste high-temperature shift catalysts that contain approximately 6 pct Cr and 62 pct Fe, both in oxide form. The Bureau's procedure consists of roasting the waste catalyst with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or sodium carbonate (Na2C03) followed by water leaching. The chromium from the leach liquor was recovered utilizing an oxidation-reduction reaction with pH adjustment to form a hydrous chromic oxide (Crp3oXHp) precipitate. The roast-leach procedure produced chromium extractions greater than 89.7 pct, with product recovery in excess of 99 pct from the leach liquor. The costs of the NaOH and Na2C03 roast processes, including sizing and equipment-related recommendations, were determined by the Bureau's Office of Process Evaluation. The economic evaluation indicates that producing a Crp3 product, at the present time, is not competitive with the present-day cost of imported chromites. The estimated average operating cost for both processes was $5.44/1b of recovered Cr203 concentrate. However, this procedure offers a potential alternative to the disposal of this waste through landfiIl.

Jan 1, 1988

By Ronald H. Church, Walter E. Pittman, J. T. McLendon

In its role of providing technical assistance to the mining industry, the Bureau of Mines' Tuscaloosa Research Center has conducted research to develop trapped miner location systems which would aid in locating miners trapped by underground mining disasters. Efforts to produce electromagnetic systems for the location of trapped miners underground and to communicate with them were surveyed, from the 1920's to 1981. Theoretical studies of through-the-earth electromagnetic transmissions are described as well as studies of the electrical characteristics of various rocks, minerals, and soil. Several trapped miner location systems are reviewed including the Westinghouse systems, the DEVELCO system, and an automated three-dimensional location system, and the phase difference of arrival technique. Tangential research, relevant to trapped miner location systems is described. A comprehensive bibliography covering all aspects of trapped miner, through-the-earth electromagnetic location and communications systems is appended.

By M. M. Jones

Natural brines are potential domestic resources of minerals. The brines of Searles Lake, CA, for example, contain an estimated one-fourth of our current reserve of tungsten. A key to Bureau of Mines research to recover this critical mineral is the ability to quantitatively measure concentrations of particular constituents in the large number of brine samples and process solutions produced under a multiplicity of test conditions. This paper describes procedures used to determine arsenic, boron, phosphorus, silicon, and tungsten in these solutions by simultaneous inductively coupled plasma spectrometry. A variable in-ternal standard method was used to compensate for tungsten interference on the other analytes in tungsten concentrates, and matching standards were used to determine tungsten in raw brine. Other solutions were analyzed using normal techniques. Analytes were determined down to 1 mg/L with an average precision of 2.5 pet relative standard deviation. Accuracy, estimated using synthetic solutions and by comparison with values obtained by other methods, averaged about 2.5 pet. The methods were rapid, required little sample preparation, and provided the needed sensitivity.

Jan 1, 1985

By John Durkin

Field studies have been conducted in a large number of coal mines throughout the U.S. to determine the effectiveness of electromagnetic techniques in locating men trapped underground following a mine disaster. Data from these tests have been used to generate models of expected signal and noise distributions as found above mines throughout the coal fields. These distributions have aided in placing the expected performance of a through-the-earth electromagnetic communications technique into a probabilistic framework. Results indicate an expected 45% probability of detecting a miner's signal from a depth of 1,000 ft, a depth which exceeds 903 of the coal mines within the U.S. and a 90% probability at a depth of 500 ft, a depth which exceeds 50% of the mines.

By W. M. Myers

[The principle of the application of electrolytes for deflocculation of fine materials in order that impurities may settle out, and the subsequent flocculation of the suspended particles by a different reagent, is well known and has been applied successfully to clays. Flocculation is also applied with success to ore slimes. Thus certain electrolytes, particularly alkalies added to a suspension of colloidal particles cause deflocculation so that, suspension may be-maintained indefinitely. The addition of bother electrolytes particularly acids, on the contrary produce's flocculation and the articles produce's are rapidly precipitated from suspension leaving a clear liquid above: the precipitated mass. Salts of trivalent elements such as aluminum act similarly. Due to its cheapness the double sulphate of aluminum and potassium, ordinary alum, has been used extensively for treating clays. These properties of electrolytes. and. their utilization in the commercial: preparation of clays have been described in publications of the Bureau of Mines.2]

Jan 1, 1927

By J. E. Zeilinger

This Bureau of Mines report describes the preparation characteristics of the significant coalbeds of Clarion County, Pa. Of the 15 samples collected, 1 was of metallurgical quality as received, 4 could be sufficiently upgraded to provide acceptable products, and the remaining 10 samples could not be upgraded to metallurgical quality because their sulfur contents could not be lowered to meet the standard. For steam or power generation, 1 sample was of low sulfur content as received, 1 sample could be upgraded to low sulfur content, and 10 samples could be upgraded to medium sulfur content. The original sulfur content of the remaining three samples can be appreciably reduced by removal of the sink 1.58 specific gravity material; however, these coals would be classified as medium sulfur coals both before and after removal of the sink material.

Jan 1, 1968

By Mary S. Esfandiary

This list of organizations that conduct research and development programs on coal has been compiled by the Bureau of Mines with the thought that such a directory may provide a useful guide to worldwide research efforts in the areas designated and may facilitate communication between organizations with similar interests. This list includes government, university, private, and commercial organizations. Many of these groups are conducting comparatively modest but often particularly interesting or specialized investigations. The areas of investigation have been defined in a broad manner--these include analysis and constitution, mining and geology, preparation, combustion, briquetting, high- and low-temperature carbonization, gasification, hydrogenation, Fischer-Tropsch, and health and safety. In some instances such information is not available, but the names of the organizations themselves often indicate immediate arias of interest. Special publications issued by and describing the work of each organization have been cited, when known; almost all of the organizations also publish results of their investigations in the technical press. Several foreign technical and trade publications that include such information and are not published directly by any of the organizations listed are cited in the pages following the list of organizations in each country. This list is not complete. Information that would improve coverage and/or accuracy will be welcomed by the Bureau of Mines.

Jan 1, 1961

By K. O. Bennington

The thermodynamic properties of synthetic acmite, NaFe3+Si206, were determined by the Bureau of Mines. The enthalpy of formation was determined by hydrofluoric acid solution calorimetry. The values of the standard enthalpy of formation at 298.15 K, ?Hf°298.15, from the elements and from the oxides, ?H°298.15, are ?Hf°298.15 = -615.87 ±0.71 kcal/mole, ?H°298.15 (from oxides) = -32.08 ±0.53 kcal/mole. Various experimental data were combined with other data from the literature to calculate all the related thermodynamic properties in the range of 298 to 1,263 K. The standard Gibbs energy of formation is ?Gf°298.15 = -575.8 kcal/mole.

Jan 1, 1981

By Kenneth L. Cashddollar, Terry G. Montgomery, Eric S. Weiss, John E. Going

The Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (PRL) of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) conducted joint research on dust explosions by studying post-explosion dust samples. The samples were collected after full-scale explosions at the PRI, Lake Lynn Experimental Mine and after laboratory explosions in the PRL 20-L chamber and the Fike 1-m3 chamber. The dusts studied included both high and low volatile bituminous coals. Low temperature ashing for 24 hr at 515°C was used to measure the incombustible content of the dust before and after the explosions. The data showed that the post-explosion incombustible content was always as high as or higher than the initial incombustible content. The MSHA alcohol coking test -was used to determine the amount of coked dust in the post-explosion samples. The results showed that almost all coal dust that was suspended within the explosion flame produced significant amounts of coke. Measurements of floor dust concentrations after LLEM explosions were compared to the initial dust loadings to determine the transport distance of dust during an explosion. All of these data will be useful in future forensic investigations of accidental dust explosions in coal mines or elsewhere.

By Robert J. Willard

This chapter includes tables from 1983 that were not available in time for publication of the 1983 Minerals Yearbook, but does not include corresponding tables for 1984. The value of raw nonfuel minerals produced in the United States during 1984 was estimated at $23.2 billion, an increase of $2.1 billion over the value for 1983. This is the second consecutive year that the value has increased, and except for a decrease in 1982, the value for each year has increased since 1971, or 12 out of 13 years. In 1984, 16 out of 21 metal commodities increased in output while 5 metals decreased; 14 metals increased in value and 7 decreased. Of 46 nonmetal commodities. 37 increased in output while 7 decreased and 2 remained unchanged; 35 nonmetals increased in value and 11 decreased. These statistics are grounds for continuing the cautious economic optimism expressed in 1983. Despite the note of optimism, however, numerous problems plague the mining industry, weakening its stability and inhibiting its growth potential. The problems are a complex mix of international and domestic factors that have been building in the recent past, but have become even more troublesome in 1984.

Jan 1, 1985

By J. H. Weber

This Bureau of Mines publication describes the hardware system and software package for the semiautomatic acquisition and automatic processing of high-resolution mass spectrographic plates. The semiautomatic data acquisition allows a tenfold saving of time compared with manual data acquisition. Automatic processing of the high-resolution data to yield exact masses, intensity, and the corresponding empirical formulas is accomplished by efficient programming on a small, inexpensive, programmable calculator system.

Jan 1, 1974

By Syd S. Peng

The design of retort interchamber pillars is important in determining surface stability over in situ retort mines and to the health and safety of miners, particularly with respect to possible escape of heat and toxic gases from retort chambers. Stress distribution in retort interchamber pillars, roof, and floor was examined with the aid of linear, finite-element analysis using data from experimentally determined mechanical properties. Properties determined included elastic moduli, strength, and creep constants in laboratory tests on core covering a 100-foot depth interval in the oil shale from the Piceance Basin in Colorado. The most critical stress concentration was found in the rib side of the interchamber pillar at a height above the floor line of 1.25 times the width. Guidelines for pillar design that consider pillar strength, creep, and retorting temperature effects are proposed.

Jan 1, 1981

By C. P. Bowie

[Frequent accidents in the transportation and. handling off petroleum and its more volatile products, serve as a reminder that this is indeed a hazardous undertaking and should always be conducted with due caution. On October 4, 1920, vapors in the held of the British tanks steamer G. R, Crowe became ignited and, caused an explosion which, it is reported, killed 5 men, injured. 40 others and endangered the lives of some 300 more. On November 10, 1920 the Morgan, Line freighter El Mundo was almost totally sot destroyed in New York harbor by fire caused by an explosion of gases in a fuel-oil tank. These two disastrous explosions emu emphasize the ever- present danger attending the use of petroleum products. This is also shown by the frequent occurrence of minor fires and explosions, caused by careless handling of baseline, which result in loss of life or serious injury to railroad employees, to oil-tank drivers, and to individuals in various walls of life. Statistics indicate that the lighter cuts of petroleum products, because of fire hazards, are dangerous, and are so considered by the railroad and other transportation companies. According o the Bureau of Explosives (Bar-eau of Explosives Report No. 13 p. 7) during 1919 transportation of gasoline in the United States resulted in 172 accidents, causing 2 deaths and 31 injuries, and a property loss to the extent of $687,966. Among the causes of ignition, an open light in the vicinity of the container stands out most prominently.]

Jan 1, 1920

By Paul T. Allsman

THIS CHAPTER reviews the highlights of developments in mining technology during 1956 and presents a special report on the design of mine openings in stable ground. This special report is presented each year in an endeavor to stimulate use of the scientific approach to the solution of problems related to mining technology. Assuming that the literature on mining technology reflects trends in mining, it appears that two areas of activity were given most attention in 1956. One was research on mining technology,4 and the other was improvement of transportation, particularly trackless transportation, both at surface and underground mines.

Jan 1, 1958

By David A. Monaghan, Kenneth R. Maser, Adi R. Gurdar, D. Randolph Berry

2. Preliminary Study - Initial Probing 2. 1 Introduction Initial probing of the mine passage is required prior to the emplacement of the sealant material or deployment of the seal checker system. Factors which are of interest in sealing and checking include a. size and condition of the mine passage b. location of the borehole with respect to the ribs c. the presence of water flows d. the proximity to an intersection The importance of each of these factors depends strongly on the sealant material. Because the sealant material had not been selected at the time of the initial probing study, a broad survey of probing techniques was conducted. The capabilities and limitations of each technique as they applied to probing through the borehole were identified. To facilitate this comparitive evaluation, Table I was prepared which lists all passage conditions which might affect the emplacement of sealant material in the passage. The most satisfactory techniques for observing each condition of interest are listed together with the effects of the observation on the sealing operation. Table II summarizes the environmental conditions likely to be encountered in the passage being probed and the physical

Jan 1, 1973

By D. B. Dow

The appearance of water in an oil field is the forerunner of various difficulties, and probably represents the greatest technical problem that the producer must face. Water conditions bear-directly on the quantity of oil recovered, and the length of the life of a field. Presence of mater increases the cost of operation, for example, gifting costs. On account of the corrosive action of oil-field waters on pumps and other equipment, frequent replacement of equipment is necessary. Furthermore, water may affect the marketability of the oil produced, as detrimental emulsions of water in oil (?B.S.?, "cut oil", etc.) are often formed. The writer has recently completed a study of oil-field emulsions. The present paper deals with the factors responsible for the formation of emulsions. This will be followed by another dealing with methods now utilized for dehydrating oil-field emulsions, and by a third dealing with the physical chemistry involved in the formation and resolution of such emulsions.

Jan 1, 1925

By Raymond B. Ladoo

"The increasing realization of the fire hazards involved in the use of wooden shingles caused the National Lumber Manufacturers' Association to beginsome five years ago a search for a suitable fire-resistant paint. The problem was submitted to the Educational Bureau of the Paint Manufacturers' Association of the United States and work was started by Mr. Henry L. Gardner at the Institute of Industrial Research, Washington D.C. in collaboration with Dr. Herman von Schrenk, a timber expert of St. Louis.The results of this,work have been described by Heckel, in ""Asbestos"", (Heckel G.B., Asbestos in the Paint Industry, Asbestos, Vol. 2, July, 1920,pp.- 5-10).,,who gives the following formula for one of the colors as typical: It will be noted from this formula that ""asbestine"" forms 33% of the total liquid pigment by weight or 31.8% of the solid constituents. Hockel in the article referred to describes this paint,as ""asbestiform"" and assumes since ""asbestine"" is magnesium silicate it must be the chrysetile variety of ""Asbestine"", however, is not asbestos but is a trade name for a fibrous variety of talc mined in the Gouverneur district, St. Lawrence County, New York. This rather natural error persists through the article and credits asbestos with many desirable properties which are characteristics of talc."

Aug 1, 1920

By Murray Jacobson

The Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 established mandatory dust sampling of coal mines according to procedures prescribed in the Mandatory Health Standards, title 30, Code of Federal Regulations, part 70, published in the Federal Register on April 3, 1970. A laboratory was established in the Pittsburgh Field Health Group of the Bureau of Mines to process the coal mine dust samples collected by the mine operators. This paper describes the laboratory and presents the equipment and procedures used in processing these samples.

Jan 1, 1971

By W. C. Hudson

"The McLeod sand pits, on the northeast side of the Little Ocmulgee River in Wheeler County, Ga., opposite Lumber City in Telfair Co., were examined by the Bureau of Mines under its war program of Investigation of Critical and Essential Minerals. The pits are about a quarter of a mile above the bridge, which is half a mile above Lumber City. Mrs. A. T. McLeod of Lumber City owns the land, including the pits. The property was inspected by an engineer of the Bureau of nines on March 8, 1945, on recommendation of Capt. Garland Peyton, director, Division of nines, Mining, and Geology of Georgia.The Mcleod pits are at the northwestern extremity of a mile-long series of old pits that were worked from about 1900 until the 1920's. The burning of the spur railroad bridge connecting the pits with the Southern Railway at Lumber City stopped mining operations. The pits on the south-east, or opposite, side of the Glennwood Road from the McLeod pits were first worked by F. L. Hinson and later, in 1921, by Mrs. n. H. Mobley. The glass sand was shipped to Tallapoosa, Ga., and Chattanooga, Tenn., where it was used in the manufacture of bottles for soft drinks. Some of the sand was used as molding and construction material. The sand was mined by hand shoveling it into wheelbarrows, which were unloaded on freight cars. The pits were partly refilled with overburden, so that it is impossible to estimate even roughly the amount of sand excavated.Analyses of samples of glass sand made years age3/ and later in 19404/ roughly check those made by the Bureau of Mines laboratory, except that in the former the iron oxide content usually was greater, attaining a maximum of 0.72 percent.The sand pits are in a valley slightly more than a quarter of a mile wide that lies along the northeast side of the Little Ocmulgee River. The land is either flat or marked by ridges only a few feet high. . A rather thick growth of scrub trees covers most of the valley. The surrounding country consists of gently rolling farm lands. The altitude of the valley is not known, but, judging by its distance from the seashore, it probably is about 200 feet. In addition to the Glennwood highway, which crosses the valley, several old sand roads lead to the pits."

Apr 1, 1946

By W. E. Robinson

Sixty samples, selected from a 2,300-foot core of the Green River Formation in Colorado, were studied to ascertain differences in the structure of the organic material present in the oil shale samples. Emphasis was placed upon relating differences in the aromatic content of the insoluble kerogen and the alkane content of the extractable material obtained from the selected samples. The methods used in determining these differences consisted of fractionation of the soluble material, carbon and hydrogen analysis, volatile material determination, carbon residue determination, oxidation rate determination, and infrared analysis. In general, it was concluded that the organic material in this core does vary in chemical structure and that same of these variations resulted from factors related to depth of burial. Other observed changes in structure of the organic material were not depth-dependent and resulted from other factors such as source material variations, biological alterations, or ecological differences.

Jan 1, 1971