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The U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) was established in the public interest to conclude inquiries and scientific and technologic investigations on mining and the preparation, treatment, and utilization of mineral substances; to promote health and safety in the mineral industries; to conserve material resources and prevent their waste; to further economic development; to increaseee efficiency in the mining, metallurgical, quarrying, and other mineral industries; and to inquire into the economic conditions affecting those industries. The organic act of the Bureau, as amended by Congress and approved February 25, 1913, made it the province and duty of the U.S. Bureau of Mines to "disseminate information concerning these subjects in such manner as will best carry out the purposes of this Act." In accordance with this directive, USBM reports the findings of its research and investigations in its own series of publications and also in articles that appear in scientific, technical, and trade journals; in proceedings of conventions and seminars; in reference books; and in other non-USBM publications. The number of these reports, the wide range of subjects they cover, and the variety of mediums in which they appear make this kind of list both necessary and valuable. This edition describes reports and articles published during calendar years 1992 and 1993. It supplements the 50-year list of Bureau publications from July 1, 1910, to January 1, 19602; and these 5-year lists of publications and articles: from January 1, 1965, to December 31, 1969\ from January 1, 1970, to December 31,19745, from January 1, 1975, to December 31, 19796, from January 1, 1980, to December 31,19847, and from January 1, 1985, to December 31, 19898?.

Jan 1, 2007

By Thomas M. Barczak

Wood cribs are used extensively by the mining industry to stabilize mine openings. While the cost per crib is relatively low, their extensive use can result in annual mine costs of over $1 million. In an effort to improve the utilization of these supports and to reduce ground control hazards, the U.S. Bureau of Mines has developed engineering methods to assist mine operators in wood-crib design and employment. Design and employment criteria are established based on the strength, stiffness, and stability of the crib structure in relation to the load conditions imposed by the mine environment. Models have been developed based on full-scale tests in the USBM's Mine Roof Simulator that compute the capacity of wood cribs of various configurations and material constructions as a function of displacement of the crib structure due to roof-and-floor convergence. These models permit the comparison of the loading characteristics and costs of employment of different crib designs, and in conjunction with roof behavior models, provide a means to determine the optimum design and employment strategy.

Jan 1, 1993

By Ellis S. Hertzog

The relatively large amount of phosphorous occurring in many iron ores limits their usefulness aid sometimes renders them valueless under present conditions of nip-iron manufacture. A practical method for removing the phosphorus would be valuable to the iron and steel industry. Gravity concentration has been of little value as far as the removal of phosphorous is concerned, because the compounds of this element are, as a rule, disseminated very finely. Removal of the phosphorous by leaching is not a new idea and has been the subject of some investigation,3,4/ out for data :lave been published. W.R. Crane published analyse of various ore bodies in the Birmingham ham district. The hard or unleached ores a .re much higher in phosphorous than the Soft, leached ores along the outcrops. This fact indicates that as mild a leaching agent as water removes phosphorus effectively if enough time is allowed for it to react. As the forms in which phosphorous occurs in the iron ores are important in the consideration of any leaching operation, much time was expended in devising a method for determining them. According to Professor McVey, University of Alabama, the phosphorous-bearing minerals in the red iron ores of Alabama have not been positively identified by any microscopic methods.

Jan 1, 1935

By Ellis S. Hertzog

[The relatively large amount of phosphorous occurring in many iron ores limits their usefulness mid sometimes renders them valueless under present conditions of pig-iron manufacture. A practical method for removing the phosphorus would be valuable to the iron and steel industry. Gravity concentration has been of little value as far as the removal it of phosphorous is concerned, because the compounds of this element are, as a rule, disseminated very finely. Removal of the phosphorous by leaching is not a new idea and has been the subject of some investigation,3,4/ but few data have been published. W. R. Crane published analyses of various ore bodies in the Birmingham district. The hard or unleached ores are much higher or in phosphorus than the soft, leached ores along the outcrops. Tips fact indicates that as mild a leaching agent as water removes phosphorus effectively if enough time is allowed for it to react.]

Jan 1, 1935

By Suresh K. Bhatt

A mathematically simulated modeling technique is used in this U.S. Bureau of Mines report to represent a hypothetical mining operation with existing mining technology and prevalent mining costs. Mining scenarios were prepared and evaluated for potential benefits and costs available through computer-assisted mining. Base criteria, parameters, and methodology are described.

Jan 1, 1993

The STATE MINERAL SUMMARIES publication provides estimated data and summaries of mineral activities at the State level for 1993. Most of the estimates are based on nine months data. Individual State summaries are published separately as State Mineral Industry Surveys and copies can be obtained from the appropriate State mineral officer. In an effort to facilitate the rapid dissemination of information and publications produced by the U.S. Bureau of Mine, an electronic document dissemination system is now available for use. MINES FaxBack is a simple-to-operate automated fax response system that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All a user needs is access to a fax machine with a touch-tone telephone. MINES FaxBack can be accessed by calling (412) 892-4088, using the touch-tone telephone attached to the user's fax machine. After calling MINES FaxBack, the requester is guided by a series of voice messages to assist in ordering the desired documents.

Jan 1, 1994

By K. C. Vincent

In the course of, investigation of domestic manganese-mineral occurrences, examining engineers of the Bureau of Mines collected 2-ton lots of ore from properties in the Cleveland-district, Idaho. As only one of the ores was high enough in grade for direct marketing to-producers of ferromanganese, ore-dressing concentration methods were investigated to determine their amenability to treatment. High-grade ore. (38.7 percent Mn) from the Idaho Manganese Mining Co. was taken from a replacement deposit in limestone consisting of several horizontal beds 1 to 5 feet thick, about 1 mile northeast of Cleveland. The manganese minerals occur as an intimate intergrowth of manganese oxides, containing minor amounts of limonite, ?quartz, and calcite as rather fine inclusions. However, the major contaminants are claylike products of rock decomposition, which can be eliminated by thorough washing of the ore at relatively coarse sizes. The Hot Spot property is 1 mile south of Cleveland. The ore occurs as a replacement deposit of medium-grade- ore in limestone, .The sample taken by the Bureau of Mines assayed 26.0 percent Mn. The manganese minerals consist of nodules, principally pyrolusite with some psilomelane and manganite embedded in wad.' The low-grade wad, containing manganese and siliceous minerals in intimate association, was easily rejected by washing.

Jan 1, 1952

By J. R. Thoenen

In Progress Report 1,4/ a number of facto mere demonstrated and conclusions drawn from experimental tests and records made during commercial blasting operations at a number of quarries. For example, the tests showed (1) that vibrations received on outcrops were of comparatively

Jan 1, 1938

By C. M. Harrer

This paper describes the location, features, qualities, extent, and potential of iron occurrences and some associative resources -limestone and dolomite, coal, petroleum and natural gas, power, and water - in New Mexico. Reconnaissance investigations were made of 118 iron occurrences to deter-mine their extent, attitude, and potential; character samples were analyzed to determine their quality and impurities; and pioneer metallurgical investigations were made on character samples to present their metallurgical problems. Some factors influencing past and potential iron markets are discussed. The most abundant iron minerals are magnetite and hematite. The higher grade deposits are extensive contact-metamorphic and pyrometasomatic replacements in calcareous Paleozoic rocks associated with intrusives. Low-grade deposits of considerable potential are the extensive Cambrian oolitic hematites of sedimentary origin and the Precambrian magnetite-hematite taconite iron formation. Iron occurs also as extensive colluvial and alluvial concentrations. A wide variety of accessory elements are indicated and these pose metallurgical and economic problems.

Jan 1, 1963

By W. B. Tarpley

This program was conducted to demonstrate the unique advantages of suppressing methane ignition in underground mines by use of Energy & Minerals Research Company's thixogel fire extinguishing system, which stably suspends dry powder extinguishing agent in thixotropically gelled liquefied gas extinguishant. As anticipated, the project demonstrated thixogel system advantages of: 1) capability to disperse state-of-the-art powders in thixogelled Halons; 2) non-agglomerating stability for dependable expulsion; 3) stability in storage for long shelf life; 4) virtually in¬stantaneous dispersion; 5) expansive cloud formation; 6) reach and re-forming around obstacles; 7) at least twice the extinguishant effectiveness; and 8) compatibility of use with Fenwal bottles and MSHA canisters. Thus, it should prove a superior explosion/fire suppressant for coal face cutters and triggered barriers, as well as for motorized equipment, electrical equipment and the like.

Jan 1, 1981

By W. J. Long

As a part of the strategic mineral exploration program, examining engineers of the Bureau of Mines collected samples of ore from four manganese properties in Yavapai, Yuma, Maricopa, and Mohave Counties, Ariz. As all of the ores were too low in grade to be acceptable by manufacturers of ferromanganese beneficiation studies were made to determine the amenability of the ores to concentration.

Jan 1, 1948

By Thomas M. Barczak

The initial Support Technology Optimization Program (STOP),Version 1.0, was released at the 19th Ground Control Conference. This original program has since been updated to Version 2.3 which was released in May, 2001. This paper describes the additional features of Version 2.3, focusing primarily on the following three aspects: (1) including uncontrolled convergence into the design requirements for standing roof supports, (2) the addition of design procedures for cable bolts as an alternative secondary roof support, and (3) the addition of new standing roof support technologies. Another new feature which should facilitate the development of design criteria for standing roof support is the capability to define ground reaction curves through convergence measurements alone without having to make support loading measurements. There are several other new features provided in Version 2.3 which are only briefly addressed in the paper. These include: (1) additional graphics capabilities to facilitate rapid assessment of support comparisons, (2)an East-West designation for support selection to more accurately provide cost and support availability data, (3) additional safety measures including a safety factor to identify support design near the peak support capacity, checks to see if the support dimensions comply with aspect ratio requirements, and a measure of roof coverage for the design layout of the support system. These new features of STOP provide more capabilities to design and analyze secondary roof support systems for conditions which could not be fully analyzed in the original version of the program.

By George B. Clark

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the feasibility of designing and testing the elements of a small charge blasting system which will eliminate, or reduce to acceptable levels, most of the undesirable features of current underground drill and blast systems, i.e., 1) air blast, 2) ground vibrations, 3) flying fragments, 4) overbreak and fracture of surrounding rock, and 5) the cyclic nature of drill and blast operations. The experimentation was conducted in tunnels in granite and the results indicate that the basic technical concepts of the project were achieved. The next step is to design, construct, and test a prototype machine.

Jan 1, 1976

By C. P. Bowie, George L. Gates

"INTRODUCTION Experience in drilling oil and gas wells has shown that the voidance of blow-outs, twist-offs, fishing jobs, loss of circulation, and heaving and caving of shale formations into the drill hole depends largely on how well the drilling-mud fluid serves its purpose. A possible method for the control of the drilling fluids may be seen from a study of the relation between the particle-size distribution and some of the important drilling-fluid properties, such as the ability to build quickly a relatively impervious mud sheath on the wall of the hole in the porous formations penetrated by the bit during drilling operations. In a wartime economy, which urgently requires conservation of steel, proper functioning of the drilling fluid is particularly important because, as Parks 4/ has stated, intelligent use of good drilling fluids makes possible drilling of wells for thousands of feet in open holes without the necessity of setting protective strings of casing to control the movement of salt water, gas, and troublesome formations into the borehole; consequently, especially in deep wells, of proper drilling fluids materially reduces the need for casing and lowers the cost of drilling and completing the wells."

May 1, 1942

By William O. Vanderburg

This paper gives the results of a reconnaissance of the mining districts in Pershing County, Nev., made from March 9 to April 1, 1936. During the field work nearly all of the mining districts in the county were visited, and considerable data were obtained on active and inactive properties. The report covers the location of the various mining districts, nature of the deposits, information on past

Jan 1, 1936

By Dean H. Ambrose

This paper presents the results of a study using computer human modeling to examine machine appendage speed. The objective was to determine the impact of roof bolter machine appendage speed on the likelihood of the operator coming in contact with. A contact means two or more objects intersecting or touching each other, e.g., appendage makes contact with the operator?s hand, arm, head or leg. Incident investigation reports do not usually contain enough information to aid in studying this problem and laboratory experiments with human subjects are also not feasible because of safety and ethical issues. As an alternative, researchers developed a computer model approach as the primary means to gather data. By simulating an operator?s random behavior and machine?s appendage velocity, researchers can study potential hazards of tasks where it is not possible to perform experiments with human subjects. Analysis information is helpful to the mining industry in terms of making recommendations that reduce the likelihood that roof-bolter operators experience injury due to contact with a moving boom. Data analysis of roof bolter simulations show that the virtual-operator?s response time has little effect on the number of contacts experienced. Based on frequency and cross-tabulation, regardless of other variables, contact incidents were always greater when the boom was moving up, were always greater on the palm, and were always greater for the boom part of the machine. Also, regardless of boom speed, the 25th-percentile-sized operators experienced more contacts than did other operator sizes. Furthermore, regardless of boom speed, the 152-cm mine seam experienced more contacts than did other seam heights tested. Results of a survival analytic approach suggest that controlling the boom speed is the most important factor in determining the risk of an operator making contact. Based on the data collected, boom speed greater than 41 cm/s results in a substantial increase in risk to the roof bolter operator and should probably be avoided. At speeds less than or equal to 25 cm/s are associated with a more modest relative risk, which represents an acceptable level of risk. Also, at speeds between 25 and 41 cm/s, there could be a particular boom speed in this range at which a significant inflection point in the relative risk estimates occurs. Based on the results, this issue needs to be addressed by future research.

Jan 1, 2003

By Dean H. Ambrose

This paper presents the results of a study using computer human modeling to examine machine appendage speed. The objective was to determine the impact of roof bolter machine appendage speed on the likelihood of the operator coming in contact with. A contact means two or more objects intersecting or touching each other, e.g., appendage makes contact with the operator?s hand, arm, head or leg. Incident investigation reports do not usually contain enough information to aid in studying this problem and laboratory experiments with human subjects are also not feasible because of safety and ethical issues. As an alternative, researchers developed a computer model approach as the primary means to gather data. By simulating an operator?s random behavior and machine?s appendage velocity, researchers can study potential hazards of tasks where it is not possible to perform experiments with human subjects. Analysis information is helpful to the mining industry in terms of making recommendations that reduce the likelihood that roof-bolter operators experience injury due to contact with a moving boom. Data analysis of roof bolter simulations show that the virtual-operator?s response time has little effect on the number of contacts experienced. Based on frequency and cross-tabulation, regardless of other variables, contact incidents were always greater when the boom was moving up, were always greater on the palm, and were always greater for the boom part of the machine. Also, regardless of boom speed, the 25th-percentile-sized operators experienced more contacts than did other operator sizes. Furthermore, regardless of boom speed, the 152-cm mine seam experienced more contacts than did other seam heights tested. Results of a survival analytic approach suggest that controlling the boom speed is the most important factor in determining the risk of an operator making contact. Based on the data collected, boom speed greater than 41 cm/s results in a substantial increase in risk to the roof bolter operator and should probably be avoided. At speeds less than or equal to 25 cm/s are associated with a more modest relative risk, which represents an acceptable level of risk. Also, at speeds between 25 and 41 cm/s, there could be a particular boom speed in this range at which a significant inflection point in the relative risk estimates occurs. Based on the results, this issue needs to be addressed by future research.

Jan 1, 2003

By R. F. Zaffarano

Data presented on the physical characteristics of the reservoir oil, Aneth field, represent the initial phase of a study of Paradox basin reservoir oils being made by petroleum engineers of the Federal Bureau of Mines, Petroleum Research Center, Laramie, Wyo. The purpose of the study is to determine the original reservoir-oil characteristics in several important new discoveries in the Paradox Basin and to investigate correlations between the properties of these reservoir oils and structural or areal position within the basin, If migration is limited and oil accumulates near its source, then it seems probable that few differences should be found in the composition and characteristics of reservoir oils occurring in given age rocks and within the confines of a geological basin. Within these limits, conditions that effected the formation of oil and its transfer from parent to storage rocks probably were rather uniform in an area the size of most of our geological basins. However, if oils should migrate considerable distances, it seems logical to expect that the relative quantities of gas and liquid components may differ in traps occurring along the direction of migration, corresponding with the theory of differential entrapment (5).4/

Jan 1, 1959

By Alexander May

This report describes a new method of weighing based upon observing the apparent weight of an object ill two separate pure gases. The method is presented in terms of experimental data which prove its soundness, but does not attempt to show the maximum accuracy possible with this technique. The new method incorporates the underlying principle that the apparent weight of an object is a linear function of the density of the atmosphere in which the object is weighed. The coefficients of this linear function are the true mass and volume of the object. From this functional relationship the true mass and volume of the object may be determined.

Jan 1, 1970

By Dennis R. Kasper

This study evaluates selective environmental impacts of two distinct in situ mining techniques. In situ leaching of uranium, porphyry copper and native copper and in situ borehole (slurry) mining of uranium, sandstone, and pebble phosphate ores are the techniques and minerals investigated. The potential impacts onsite in the desert southwest (porphyry copper), Michigan (native copper), Texas and Wyoming (uranium), and Florida and North Carolina (phosphate) are addressed and discussed. The study emphasizes those impacts which are unique to in situ solution leaching and borehole slurry mining. Impacts which are characteristic of all construction projects in the general geographical areas investigated, such as socioeconomic effects on surrounding communities and site-specific impacts, such as rare and endangered species, are beyond the scope of this study. For each of the in situ processes and associated ores investigated, the physical and chemical characteristics of the systems are described, the toxicity of the leaching solutions are presented, and the potential impacts on the environment are developed.

Jan 1, 1979