Search Documents

By Michael V. Markel

This report summarizes work performed under USBM Contract No. J0100047 revealing the performance characteristics of a composite-type resilient screen deck. The ability of the composite to perform or compete with steel in noise attenuation and longevity was of interest. Tests were conducted at the River King Preparation Plant of Peabody Coal Company. This facility was chosen because it provided parallel process flow and met standard coal cleaning requirements. Comparisons could be made between the adjacent resilient and steel screen decks under similar operating conditions. Noise reductions of 1-6 dBA were realized in the near field. Although the test period did not determine resilient screen life, indications are favorable for their longevity.

Jan 1, 1981

By Michael P. Hardy

The report described improvements and applications of the Hybrid Computer facility. Improvements implemented under U.S.B.M. Contract H0252035 included expansion of the capability to model nonlinear seam behavior, installation of a color video output display monitor, and further development of software capabilities. To demonstrate the capability of the system, firstly, the influence of nonlinear seam behavior response to the occurrence of coal mine bumps was fully investigated and secondly, the effect of improper mining sequence on bump occurrence was demonstrated. In addition, the system was applied to the analysis of a series of practical coal mine problems. Mines in three coal seams were analysed to investigate the parameters which contribute to the occurrence of coal mine bumps.

Jan 1, 1977

By R. V. Higgins, G. B. Shea

"FOREWORDIn the second year of World War II, the petroleum industry in California was taxed to near capacity to satisfy the expanded war demand for petroleum products, particularly fuel oil. With discoveries of crude oil in California declining and known reserves being depleted rapidly, conditions appeared to warrant study of the possibilities of utilizing the outcropping bituminous sandstone deposits in California for obtaining new sources of oil if the war should he prolonged. At conferences in Washington, D. C., with members of the Petroleum Administration for War and the Geological Survey, Bureau of Mines engineers emphasized the importance of determining the extent of those outcropping deposits of oil-impregnated rocks and of developing a practical process for commercial recovery of the contained bitumen to assure, if necessary, a supplementary supply of fuels. The desirability of such a study was recognized, and in July 1943 the Petroleum Field Office of the Bureau of Mines at San Francisco, Calif., in cooperation with the Geological Survey and the Petroleum Administration for War, initiated a study of the bituminouss sandstone problem. It was agreed that all mapping and geological work in connection with the study would be done by the Geological Survey, all engineering studies in developing a process for extracting the oil would be carried out, by the Bureau of Mines, and that the Petroleum Administration for War would aid in final adoption of the results in the field if circumstances warranted such action.Deposits of bituminous sandstones in California occur principally in the immediate region of the Coast Range mountains, notably at Pt. Arena, in Mendocino County, about 110 miles north of San Francisco; near Santa Cruz, in Santa Cruz County; in the Edna area in San Luis Obispo County; in the Sisquoc area in Santa Barbara County; and in the Ojai and Santa Clara Valleys in Ventura County. 4/ In addition oil-bearing sands outcrop near McKittrick and Maricopa, in western Kern County, and along the east edge of the Kern River oil field. Among the several prominent deposits of these source materials, those occurring near the cities of Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo, and the town of Sisquoc are the largess."

Oct 1, 1948

By N. Dixon

This report summarizes all work performed under U.S. Bureau of Mines Contract J0377014, "Development and Evaluation of Noise Control Techniques for Taconite Processing Equipment." Three areas of taconite processing equipment, grinding mills, fine screens, and crusher screens have been investigated. Extensive noise and vibration measurements have been made on grinding mills in which the process parameters that affect mill noise have been identified, and the level of shell impact noise around the mill defined. A multiplexing telemetry system was used to obtain shell vibration measurements from a rotating mill. Mill noise control methods were investigated and a partial mill barrier was built and tested on a semi-autogeneous mill. A noise reduction of approximately 3 to 6 dBA was achieved on the falling side of the mill. The use of rubber mill liners on autogenous mills has been evaluated. The noise sources on fine screens have been quantified, and noise control treatments developed. Noise reductions of 11 to 13 dBA were achieved at positions around the fine screen and some in-service testing has been done. Noise measurents of crusher screens were obtained and noise control through resilient screen decks appears to hold the most promise. Additional benefits might be lower life-cycle cost, since the service life of resilient decks is claimed to be longer than steel.

Jan 1, 1983

By Raymond B. Ladoo

In order to obtain comprehensive and authentic information on fluorspar mining in the western States , the writer, together with and at the request of representatives of some of the largest fluorspar producers of the Illinois - Kentucky district , spent the month of April , 1922 , in examining all we stem fluorspar deposits ( of which record was available ) believed to be of possible commercial importance .

May 1, 1923

West Virginia ranks second in the nation in coal production, surpassed only by Wyoming, and usually accounts for 15 to 20percent of the nation's total annual production. Cod occurs in seams of minable thickness in all but nine of the state's 55 counties. There are two coal- producing regions, the northern field and the southern field. West Virginia coal is mined by both underground and surface methods. Underground mines in West Virginia account for a major portion of its coal production. Surface mines are generally contour operations and, especially in the southern field, are in steep slope areas, with slopes greater than 20 degrees. Many of the surface mines remove multiple seams. Recoverable reserves in West Virginia total in excess of 55 billion tons of bituminous coal. West Virginia's regulatory program was conditionally approved on January 19, 198 1. Its Abandoned Mine Land Program was approved February 23,198 1, with emergency authority granted on August 26,1988.

Jan 1, 1992

By Charles E. Larson

Square Butte has no history of mineral development or production. Surface mapping, radiometric surveys and chemical analyses of rock samples reveal no mineral potential. The area has a speculative potential for petroleum and natural gas. INTRODUCTION The Square Butte Instant Wilderness Study Area, in Chouteau County, Montana, consists of 1,946 acres (788 ha) about 35 miles (56 km) southeast of Fort Benton and 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Lewistown (fig. 1). This study was performed under provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (Public Law 94-579, October 21, 1976), in conjunction with the U.S. Geological Survey, which is responsible for regional geological, geochemical, and geophysical investigations, and the U.S. Bureau of Mines, which determines the mineral potential of existing mines, prospects, or mineralized areas.

Jan 1, 1982

By Susan M. White

Increased coal production, wider use of indiscriminate mining techniques, improved cleaning methods, and greater emphasis on clean fuels is increasing the rate at which wastes accumulate Over the next several years, Colorado Plateau underground coal production is predicted to increase. Currently, mine refuse is deposited in canyons or lowland areas near mines. This study presents information on the nature of coal refuse and disposal practices on the Colorado Plateau. Samples were collected and analyzed to provide information to help formulate alternative methods for reclaiming refuse piles. The analyses were based on determining the capability of unmodified refuse to provide a suitable medium for plant growth. Local topsoils which would be used in reclamation were used as standards. Potential environmental hazards were assessed also. A general cost analysis was done for both surface and underground disposal and the advantages and disadvantages of each were assessed. Several problems were identified which, if solved, would increase the effectiveness of state regulatory programs.

Jan 1, 1982

By Launa Mallett, Charles Vaught, Michael J. Brnich

Purpose: This training material focuses on the content of emergency warning messages. Research has shown that when an emergency occurs, people often do not get the information they need for the purpose of taking appropriate action. This safety talk presents a procedure, using mental cues that can be used by senders and receivers of emergency warnings. Intended Use: This material has been developed for use in short safety-training sessions such as start-of-shift safety or Atoolbox@ talks. The information can be presented in approximately fifteen minutes and is appropriate for workers at all experience levels. While the examples and illustrations are taken from the underground coal mining industry, the training can be tailored to any work setting by substituting appropriate examples. Materials Needed: The instructor will need to prepare the figures provided in a form that can be seen by the entire class. Suggested methods include the use of: (1) overhead transparencies, (2) laminated pages that can be held up for small groups, and/or (3) handouts with copies of the figures for each trainee. As a supplement, stickers featuring the communication triangle can be placed on hard hats, telephones or other communication devices to remind workers about the key to effective emergency communication. The Talk: The accompanying script is a guide for presenting this safety talk. Training is enhanced if these materials are covered but not simply read by the trainer. Examples given in this guide are from real experiences. To make training more interesting and effective, the instructor can substitute examples from his/her workplace. Additional Resources: The following references will provide further information about communications during emergencies. Auf Der Heide, E. (1989). Disaster Response: Principles of Preparation and Coordination. The C.V. Mosby Company, St. Louis. Mallett, Launa, Charles Vaught, and Michael J. Brnich Jr. (1993). A Sociotechnical Communication in an Underground Mine Fire: A Study of Warning Messages During an Emergency Evacuation@, Safety Science, 16, pp. 709-728. Nigg, J.M. (1987). A Communication and Behavior: Organizational and Individual Response to Warnings@ in Sociology of Disasters: Contributions of Sociology to Disaster Research, R.R. Dynes, B. De Marchi, and C. Pelanda (eds.), Franco Angeli, Milan, Italy, pp. 103-116.

Jan 10, 1999

By John R. McDonnell

The Valle Vidal Unit comprises 100,000 acres In Taos and Colfax: Counties, New Mexico. The unit was donated to the American public In 1982 by the Pennzoll Co. and is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service as an addition to the Carson National Forest. During 1990-1991, the Bureau of Mines conducted a mineral Investigation of the unit as authorized by an Interagency Agreement (1987) Intended to assist the Forest Service to incorporate mineral resource data In forest plans. The Bureau reviewed literature and records concerning mineral resources and mining activity, and performed a field examination of mines, prospects, and mineral occurrences in and near the Valle Vidal Unit. The La Belle mining district encompasses most of the western part of the Valle Vidal Unit. The district was most active between 1893 and 1902, after the land grant was opened to prospecting and gold discoveries were reported. The discoveries were low grade, and eventually were abandoned. The Bureau's appraisal of the district determined that lode gold occurs primarily in fissure veins in volcanic rocks, and placer gold occurs In weakly cemented sedimentary rocks and alluvial sediments; but at a grade that is currently considered subeconomic. If the price of gold increases in the future, prospecting and exploration in the area may be renewed, but the activity would likely be limited due to "acquired land status" restrictions, which require mineral leasing and prohibit claim location in the Valle Vidal Unit.

Jan 1, 1992

By Lester M. Adams

In 1980, the Bureau of Mines surveyed a group of mine seals in Randolph County, WV, to evaluate their effectiveness for reducing toxic pollutants in mine water discharges. The survey focused on 11 block wet mine seals, but mine seals of several other types were also examined. The seals were installed in 1966 and 1967 in abandoned drift portals by the Federal Water Quality Administration (FWQA), a predecessor of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in cooperation with the Bureau of Mines and other Federal and State agencies, in a project known as Elkins Mine Drainage Pollution Control Demonstration Project. The seals were designed to prevent air from entering the mine portals while allowing mine water to flow out. It was believed that by preventing air from entering inactive or abandoned mines, the formation of toxic pollutants and acid mine drainage (AMD) could be reduced. Evaluation of the seals was based on water flow measurements, water analyses, and visual observations. The Bureau's 1980 data were compared with past data collected by the EPA. Several leaks and failures were observed in the clay seals, as evidenced by apparent blowouts and the absence of vegetation where the mine water surfaced. Analyses of the 1980 data indicated some improvement in the quality of water discharged from many of the wet air seals.

Jan 1, 1984

By Klaus L. Cappel

In 1972, the Bureau of Mines of the U. S. Department of the Interior commissioned the development and design of a Simulator for research and testing of mine roof supports used in long-wall mining. The purpose of the Simulator is to reproduce forces and displacements of a section of a mine roof in contact with one or more supports. This report is an account of the design process that resulted in the final configuration of the Simulator presented here. It includes discussions of engineering considerations that led to major changes in important details of the Simulator. These changes, however, did not substantially alter the basic design originally proposed, except for the elimination of certain originally-specified features that were adjudged as insufficiently cost-effective by both the Bureau of Mines and the design agent at an intermediate stage of the design.

Jan 1, 1974

By Bruce McDonald

This report contains the Phase I findings of a study to select and test devices for preventing lack of alertness in haulage truck drivers. The extent of the problem was determined by visiting surface metal and nonmetal mines, interviewing drivers and safety personnel and reviewing accident reports. A number of devices for detecting a lack of alertness were considered and three were recommended for testing in actual operation.

Jan 1, 1977

By Sidney Katell

This Bureau of Mines study estimates typical capital investments, operating costs, and selling prices for two bituminous coal strip mines in the Eastern and Interior provinces and a subbituminous coal operation in the Northern Great Plains province. The annual productions were based on tonnage required to fuel a 250-MM-scfd, high-Btu gas plant. The annual tonnage for the Eastern province mine is 4.8 million tons; for the Interior province mine, 6.72 mi 11 ion tons; and for the Northern Great Plains province mine, 9.2 million tons. It is assumed that the mines have a 20-year life. Wages and union welfare payments are considered as of May 12, 1974, under the terms of the Bituminous Wage Agreement of 1971, and costs for material and equipment are based on 1973 and early 1974 indexes . Initial capital investment varies: $45,358,600 for the 4.8-million- ton-per-year (MM tpy) mine in the Eastern province, $54,603,000 for the 6.72 MM tpy mine in the Interior province, and $29,871,000 for the 9.2 MM tpy mine in the Northern Great Plains province. Total capital invest-ments for the Eastern province mine, the Interior province mine, and the Northern Great Plains province mine are $61,070,000, $76,753,000, and $56,286,000, respectively. Corresponding selling prices for the coal, per ton, are $4.79, $4.23, and $2.66, assuming a 12-percent discounted cash flow rate of return after Federal income taxes. These studies are considered typical for the areas involved. Costs will vary depending on specific locations in these areas.

Jan 1, 1974

By W. W. Adams

The extent to which coal mines have installed various types of haulage systems and mining machines is a subject about which there is little definite information available in convenient form for the country as a whole . A few State mine inspectors include in their annual reports such information for their respective States , but uniform data for the United States have not until recently been compiled . Several years ago the Bureau of Mines compiled from one of the standard mining directories * a statement showing the kinds of machines and haulage used in coal mines . The first statement was prepared from the 1918 edition of the directory in which detailed descriptions of coal mines were given . The information presumably related to the calendar year 1917. Similar statements have been compiled from the directories for 1919 , 1920 , and 1922 , the statement for 1921 having been omitted because the directory for that year did not become available . The latest statement is given below and is based upon the directory for 1922. It relates to conditions prevailing in 1921 , and covers a total of 7,088 coal mines . Of these , 5,064 mines . or more than 71 per cent , were using animal haulage . As compared with the total number of all classes of mines , those in the animal - haul age group constituted 71.4 per cent , the percentage having remained practically stationary during the past four years , although the actual number of mines in the group has increased . Rope haulage was reported by 1,066 mines , or 15 per cent of the total , representing a larger number of mines than in 1918 , but a decrease of 2 in the percentage for the group as compared with all classes of mines . Electric haulage was reported by 3,274 mines (46.2 per cent ) , and the number of motors in use was 11,265 . The percentage of mines in this class has not changed materially, but the actual number of mines has shown a gain of about 900 during the past four years . Compressed-air locomotives have not increased either in actual or relative number , the percentage for the past year being but 1.2 . The number of mines using storage- battery locomotives has increased from 3.6 per cent of the total shown four years ago , to 9.8 per cent for last year, the latest figures showing 693 mines with 1,428

May 1, 1922

By C. W. Owings

Available literature published or abstracted in 1953 and 1954 relating to dust prevention and suppression has been summarized and reviewed in this report, and un-published information also is included to outline current practice for those interested in dust control in and around mines, tunnels, and quarries. More and more companies are realizing the value of controlling dust by incorporating suitable methods and devices in the planning stage. In preparation and crushing plants preliminary tests have been made of the fine materials to determine the best type of dust-control equipment to use, and the details of the quantities of air, the number of sprays, the dust-allaying fluids, and the location of hoods or enclosures have been determined in advance. Such planning has paid for itself in more effective control. Similar planning in a tunnel resulted in healthful conditions and low dust concentrations.

Jan 1, 1956

By J. G. Schoning

The Holmes Safety Association is an offspring of the Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association which was organized in Washington, D. C., in 1916 at a meeting of representatives of twenty-four leading mining associations connected with every branch of the United States mineral industries. The purpose of the meeting was to do honor to the memory of Joseph A. Holmes, one of the founders of the United States Bureau of Mines and its first director, whose death had occurred the year before on July 12, 1915. In deference to what was believed would have been the expressed wish of this great humanitarian and benefactor of the mineral industries, it was decided to establish a national safety organization to cover the mineral indus¬tries exclusively; out of respect for his memory and service, the organization was named the Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association. On receiving requests from several mining districts, in 1922 a number of chapters ware established in several mining States.

Jan 1, 1929

By Lloyd A. Morley

This Bureau of Mines publication presents a comprehensive review of mine electrical power-system theory and practice. It discusses fundamental theory and the vital aspects to be considered in planning and designing mine electrical power systems. The report is divided into three major sections. The first presents the history of electricity in mining and the fundamentals of electrical phenomena and components. The second focuses on power-system components: motors, grounding systems, cables, and protective equipment and devices. The final section includes mine power-center equipment, switchhouses and substations, batteries, and mine maintenance.

Jan 1, 2003

By R. G. Burdick

The problems presented by old mine workings affect both present day mining and land development. An automated method of locating these old mines from the surface using electrical resistivity techniques was de-veloped earlier under a Bureau of Mines contract. Subsequent Bureau research has refined the techniques and expanded the area of study to a variety of geologic provinces. During this research, six mining areas in the United States were in-vestigated with the Bureau's automated resistivity method. This report describes the mining areas involved and the results of the resistivity investigations, which showed a high rate of success in detecting old mines. It also describes the field measurement techniques and data analysis procedures.

Jan 1, 1986

By Michel C. Frippel

This section of the Minerals Yearbook reviews the minerals industries of 45 countries: the 12 nations of the European Community (EC) (Belgium, Denmark/ Greenland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom); 6 of the 7 nations of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) (Austria, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Sweden); Malta; the 11 Eastern European economies in transition (Albania, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, and Slovenia); and the countries of Central Eurasia (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan).

Jan 1, 1994