Search Documents

This chapter summarizes data on crude nonfuel mineral production for the United States, its island possessions, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Also included are tables that show the principal nonfuel mineral commodities exported from and imported into the United States and that compare world and U.S. mineral production. The detailed data from which these tables were derived are contained in the individual commodity chapters of Volume I and in the State chapters of Volume II of this edition of the Minerals Yearbook. Although crude mineral production may be measured at any of several stages of extraction and processing, the stage of measurement used in this chapter is what is normally termed "mine output." It usually refers to minerals or ores in the form in which they are first extracted from the ground, but customarily includes the output from auxiliary processing at or near the mines.

Jan 1, 1988

By J. W. Town

This report summarizes the results of laboratory investigations made by the Bureau c! Mines on the recovery of mercury from caustic sulfide solutions by aluminum precipitation and by electrodeposition. Statistical methods were used to design the experiments and evaluate the resulting data. Precipitation studies demonstrated tint metallic mercury could be recovered from mercury sulfide-sodium sulfide solutions with aluminum. Other metals and their salts and aluminum, salts precipitated only black mercury sulfide. Over 95 percent of the mercury was precipitated from solutions prepared with reagent-grade chemicals and from cinnabar leach solutions. Two equivalents of aluminum were required to obtain 95 percent precipitation of the mercury. Under optimum conditions 1 gram of aluminum precipitated from 4 to 7 grams of mercury; the excess Aluminum was recovered for reuse. The effects of time and temperature on the precipitation of mercury were minor when compared with the effects of mercury concentration and aluminum equivalents. The particle size of aluminum had no significant effect over the ranges studied. When aluminum was used as a precipitant, the mercury concentration in solution was reduced to below 1.0 grams per liter. Adding arsenic and antimony sulfides to the mercury solution resulted in their coprecipitation with the mercury when the aluminum was added From 95 to 99 percent of both the arsenic and antimony were precipitated as metal, which amalgamated with the mercury.

Jan 1, 1962

Illumination hardware developed in conjunction with previous Contracts H024202l, H0242049, and H0242023 had not been adequately tested in actual underground work situations. The purpose of this contract was to install and monitor this equipment on mining machines and in actual working places of coal mines to gain experience with the use of the lamps and support equipment in the abusive and critical environments for which they were intended. The equipment that was to be tested consisted of the following: a. Lamps -A variety of sizes of permissible fluorescent lamps which operate from 12 volts DC power. These include the following sizes: Model 8, (9 watts) 2" diameter; Model 15/2 (14 watts) 2" diameter; Model 15/3 (21 watts) 3" diameter; Model 20 (25 watts) 3" diameter; Model 30, (28 watts) 3" diameter; and Model 40, (39 watts) 311 diameter. Representative photographs of these lamps are shown in Figure 1-1 and 1-2.

Jan 1, 1976

By Sandip K. Mukherjee

This report presents the results of the economic analysis of several applicable alternatives to increase airflow in four underground coal mines. Pressure-quantity surveys were conducted underground and measurements were also made at the main mine fan(s). The existing ventilation networks were modeled using the modified Penn State ventilation simulator. The applicable alternatives were simulated. Performance data obtained from these simulation runs were utilized to conduct the cost-effectiveness analysis. The costs for each of the alternatives included capital, operating and maintenance costs. These costs were expressed as annual ventilation costs per active section in terms of dollars per elm taking into account the economic life associated with each of the alternatives. The benefits were expressed as increased airflow quantity in the critical sections. A section of this report also deals with comparison of simulator predicted air quantity values against air quantity values measured underground. The computer outputs for each simulation run are presented in Volume II of this report.

Jan 1, 1983

By W. E. Schroeder

Two underground installations of the sprayfan system are described and evaluated. The spray fan proves capable of reducing by 1300 percent downtime due to high methane. Spray fan face ventilation at 20 ft brattice setback is shown to give improved methane control over conventional sprays at 10 ft setback. In addition, this report describes: ? A simple method for determining the most economical application of ventilation for face methane control ? The effect of place variables (primary ventilation, auxiliary ventilation, seam height, etc.) on methane concentrations ? The correlation of methane concentrations with brattice setback. These results are utilized to suggest a safer and more economical approach to face methane control.

Jan 1, 1981

By J. Roth

The purpose of the present study is to increase the safety of explosive storage. This was accomplished by: a) review of the histories of recent and past magazine explosions to define causes and trends; b) observation of present-day explosive storage conditions and practices at active mines; c) examination of existing Federal regulations on explosive storage to determine whether they address all conceivable safety problems, whether they contain redundant or obsolete standards, and whether their intent is clearly stated; d) recommendation, for safety improvements and for revision and clarification (if necessity) of governmental regulations. Magazine explosions are rare. A recent increase in magazine explosion frequency must be attributed to a large increase in deliberate (criminal or malicious mischief) explosions. Fires of various origins account for the remaining explosions of the past decade. During 1884-1926 several lightning-generated explosions occurred in non-metal magazines, but none recently. It appears that the contents of a well-constructed, metal magazine are immune to direct lightning strikes, regardless of whether the magazine is grounded or not grounded. Grounding a metal magazine cannot be harmful, but it may well be superfluous. Magazines were observed at 34 widely separated mines and storage problems were discussed with personnel at these mines. In general, storage conditions and practices were found to be satisfactory. Usually, only small quantities of explosives are stored on mine property since most explosives are brought in by suppliers when needed. MSHA and BATF standards on explosive storage appear to cover safety aspects adequately. However, certain revisions are recommended to clarify some of these standards and to reduce inconsistencies in their enforcement.

Jan 1, 1983

By R. H. Lien

The Bureau of Mines has conducted research on a flue gas desulfurization (FGD) process as part of its goal of minimizing the undesirable environmental impacts associated with sulfur dioxide (S02)-bearing waste gases. This FGD process, referred to as the modified citrate process, involves absorption of S02 in a buffered citric acid solution. The absorbed S02 is subsequently stripped from the solution using steam, which regenerates the solution and produces a wet S02 product. This product can be further processed to make sulfuric acid or liquid S02. Economic evaluations showed the process to be expensive when the stripper was operated at or near ambient pressures because of the large amounts of steam required for solution regeneration. Research was directed at reducing steam consumption in the stripper. The effect of stripper pressure on steam consumption was investigated. A process research unit (PRU) was operated with the stripper pressurized in the range of 5 to 150 psig. Test results showed that steam consumption decreased with increased stripper pressure. For example, when operating the PRU stripper at 150 psig, 4.1 grams of steam per gram of S02 was required to remove 90 pct of the S02 from a 1.0-vol-pct-S02 gas. This compares to 7.1 grams of steam per gram of S02 required for 90-pct S02 recovery at 5 psig.

Jan 1, 1982

By E. P. Youngman

In the absence of any subsequent enactment of mining legislation, the Turkish mining law in effect in 1914, when Iraq became a British mandate, is still operative. The Constitution, or Organic Law, of Iraq, adopted by the Constituent Assembly on July 10, 1924, in articles 113 and 114, provides that:3 Ottoman en laws date and thao remained and lave pub- lished on or after that date and which have remained in force in Iraq u to the time of the publication of this law shall remain in force in Iraq' so far as circumstances permit, subject to any modi- fication or repeal in conformity with the proclamations, regula- tions, and laws referred to in the following article, and until they are altered or repealed by the legislative power or the High Court issues a decision rendering them null and void in accordance with the provisions of article 86. (Art. 113.) All proclamations, regulations, and laws by the Commander-in- Chief of His Britannic Majesty's Forces in Iraq, the Civil Commis- sioner, and the High Commissioner, and those issued by the Govern- ment of His Majesty King. Faisal, during the period between Novem- ber 5, 1914, and the date of the coming into force of this Consti- tution, shall be considered to be valid as from the date on which they came into force... (Art. 114.) 4 According to a German authority, it is the Turkish law of March 26, 1906, that, with a few modifications, is still in force. This law (similar to the French law of 1810) is discussed in a separate section of this paper.

Jan 1, 1933

By Richard L. Fowler

An automatic steering control system was designed, installed and tested on a coal mine shuttle car. The system utilizes sensors and associated signal processing electronics developed under a previous phase of this contract. The automatic steering system performs the routine guidance functions of turning corners and straight-through tramming. The shuttle car driver retains full authority of speed, braking, load and unload functions and at any time may exercise his option with manual override or steering. Steering information is generated from signals derived from the existing Lateral Guidance sensor subsystem, and all operational features of the previously developed open-loop system are retained. Above ground system tests were conducted in a simulated mine constructed of wood panel ribs. Results were in good agreement with prior hybrid computer simulations undertaken to validate the basic control system over a broad range of conditions and to select system parameter values. The automatic steering system was successfully demonstrated in the above ground simulated mine to USBM technical representatives. Designed to meet USBM permissibility requirements, the system is ready for a Phase II underground testing program. Testing in actual underground mine environment is expected to provide additional data regarding recommended performance improvements and implementation techniques.

Jan 1, 1975

By L. D. Tracy

This paper represents work conducted by the Bureau of Mines in cooperation with the Illinois Geological Survey and the Engineering Experiment Station of the University of Illinois.

Jan 1, 1926

By Gerald T. Homce, James C. Cawley

This paper updates an earlier report by the authors that studied electrical injuries from 1992 to 1998. The previous information is expanded and supplemented with fatal and nonfatal injury rates and trends through 2002. Injury numbers and rates were used to compare and trend electrical injury experience for various groups and categories. This information allowed identification of at-risk groups that could most benefit from effective electrical safety interventions. The data presented in this paper are derived from the U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), Survey of Occupational Illnesses and Injuries (SOII) and Current Population Survey (CPS). Between 1992 and 2002, 3,378 workers died from on-the-job electrical injuries. Electricity remained the sixth leading cause of injury-related occupational death. From 1999 through 2002, 4.7% of all occupational deaths were caused by electricity, down from 5.2% in the 1992 to 1998 time period. The cause of death was listed as electrocution in 99.1% of fatal cases. Contact with overhead power lines was involved in 42% of all on-the-job electrical deaths. The construction industry accounted for 47% of all electrical deaths between 1992 and 2002, but showed overall improvement from 1995 through 2002 by reducing its electrical fatality rate from 2.2 to 1.5 per 100,000 workers. An additional 46,598 workers were nonfatally injured by electricity. Contact with electric current of machine, tool, appliance, or light fixture and contact with wiring, transformers, or other electrical components accounted for 36% and 34% of nonfatal electrical injuries, respectively. Contact with underground, buried power lines was involved with 1% of fatal injuries and 2% of nonfatal injuries. NIOSH research aimed at evaluating commercially available overhead power line proximity warning alarms is described. This research is expected to be the initial step for eventual development of a performance standard for such systems.

By C. E. Wood

A special appropriation made by Congress in July 1940 provided funds for the investigation of methods for recovering manganese from low-grade [ ] domestic deposits. These funds were assigned to the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines. A committee, identified as the Technologic Committee on manganese of the National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences, was appointed to recommend the allocation of the funds for investigation of the more promising projects.

Jan 1, 1942

By C. E. Wood

A special appropriation made by Congress in July 1940 provided funds for the investigation of methods for recovering manganese from low-grade [ ] domestic deposits. These funds were assigned to the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines. A committee, identified as the Technologic Committee on Manganese of the National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences, was appointed to recommend the allocation of the funds for investigation of the more promising projects.

Jan 1, 1942

By J. Vance Batty

The Permian Red Bed copper deposits of the South Central States are a potentially important resource. Only the higher grade, near-surface ores are now exploited because conventional froth flotation does not recover oxidized copper minerals which comprise 10 to 15 percent or more of the copper content of typical ore. Laboratory-scale beneficiation studies were initiated to devise a method capable of recovering both sulfide and oxidized copper mineral. Testing established that the high clay and gypsum content of typical ore prevented effective flotation of the oxide mineral using sulfidizing, fatty-acid, or oil emulsion techniques. A modified leach-precipitation-flotation (L-P-F) procedure recovered over 90 percent of the copper, compared to a recovery of 77 percent obtained by conventional sulfide flotation. The higher costs of the L-P-F method would reduce the increased revenue from higher copper recovery. An increase in copper price and/or an increase in oxide copper content of the ore would make the L-P-F process comparatively more attractive.

Jan 1, 1970

By J. J. Wallace

This report describes the initial phase of Bureau of Mines research in the hydraulic mining of bituminous coal. The mining site and equipment are described, and the test procedures and results obtained with a bar-mounted monitor are given. Tests showed that hard Pittsburgh-bed coal can be mined hydraulically from a solid face at water pressures of 4,000 pounds per square inch.4 Coal was penetrated to a depth of 4 feet in 20 seconds with 225 gallons of water per minute coming from a 3/8-inch nozzle at 4,000 pounds per square inch pressure. Some difficulty was encountered in cutting the binders occurring in the coal; it was not possible Lu penetrate directly the overlying draw slate.

Jan 1, 1961

By Sidney Katell

The present report, a continuation of the series of Bibliography of Investment and Operating Costs for Chemical and Petroleum Plants, is concerned with articles published from January 1958 through December 1958. The periods covered in previous reports are as follows: January 1930 - August 1948 I. C. 7516 September 1948 - June 1952 I. C. 7705 July 1952 - June 1954 1. C. 7751 July 1954 - December 1956 I. C. 7847 January 1957 - December 1957 I. C. The following sources were used to obtain the references to and the abstracts of the published articles included in this report: 1. Bureau of Mines Information Circulars. 2. Bureau of Mines Reports of Investigations. 3. Chemical Engineering. 4. Chemical Engineering Progress. 5. Coal Age. 6. Coal Utilization. 7. Cost Engineering. 8. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. 9. Nucleonics. 10. Oil and Gas Journal. 11. Petroleum Engineering. 12. Petroleum Refiner. 13. World Oil.

Jan 1, 1959

By Eugene T. Sheridan

The 22d annual survey of the packaged-fuel industry by the Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior, revealed that 26 plants in 8 States were in operation and reported production in 1956. The demand for packaged fuel in the United States has declined gradually since the end of World War II, and the number of operating plants has decreased from 70 in 1946 to 26 in 1956. Annual productive capacity of the industry has decreased also during this period, and the decrease in capacity was about proportional to the decrease in operating plants. Packaged-fuel plants are relatively small, and 85 percent of the active plants in 1956 had an annual capacity of less than 10,000 tons. The same situation prevailed in 1946, when 84 percent of the plants had a capacity of less than 10,000 tons. Total capacity for the 26 active plants in 1956 was 174,600 tons, an average of 6,715 tons per plant. Operating rates in 1956 were the highest since 1951, and the rate of production for the industry averaged 37 percent of capacity.

Jan 1, 1958

By William N. Patterson

Drive systems for mining machines are usually sized to accommodate anticipated peak loads. Usually, the average power requirements are considerably less. Energy storage and power averaging are attractive concepts for mining machinery and could have far-reaching implications. The purpose of this program was to: ? Identify truly feasible concepts, ? Identify advantages/disadvantages, limitations, and constraints, ? Evaluate feasibility based on today?s technology, ? Identify anticipated safety problems, and ? Provide the designer with a comprehensive literature base. Concepts evaluated include flywheels, high energy batteries, gas charged accumulators, inductive storage, capacitive storage, springs and counterweights, thermal, closed cycles, internal combustion engines, trolley systems, and hybrid systems. A comprehensive reference index is provided. Included is an appendix containing abstracts of the pertinent literature.

Jan 1, 1980

By August J. Kwitowski

This Bureau of Mines report summarizes the development of a protective operator compartment for a new generation thin-seam mobile bridge carrier. The developed compartment is commercially available and is currently employed on approximately 15 bridge carriers used in the mining industry. The design of the compartment, which employed human factors engineering and small- and full-scale mockup models, is fully described. Details of the compartment's fabrication, evaluation, and demonstration in a commercial low-seam coal mine are also provided.

Jan 1, 1986

By Henry C. Meeves

The Bureau of Mines, between 1956 and 1963, examined 18 major pegmatite districts in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming to evaluate their content of beryllium, a material in short domestic supply that has become increasingly important to modern industry. This examination report includes the salient statistics on the production of pegmatite minerals other than quartz and feldspar; and brief descriptions of 170 specific pegmatite deposits.

Jan 1, 1966