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By Richard D. Miller

This publication contains routine analyses and related source data for 350 natural gas samples from 19 States collected during calendar year 1962 as part of a continuous survey of the United States for occurrences of helium in natural gas. This survey has been conducted by the Helium Activity of the Bureau of Mines since 1917. The analyses published herein were made by mass spectrometer and a special helium analysis apparatus. Four previous publications have been made to present the results of 5,648 gas analyses made by the Bureau of Mines, Helium Activity, prior to 1962. The first, Bulletin 486, 3/ contains analyses and data on 2,195 gas samples collected during the period 1917-47. Bulletin 576, 4/ the second publication, includes data and analyses for 1,575 samples collected from 1947 through May 1956. The third bulletin 5/ contains 1,444 analyses and source data of samples obtained from May 1956 to January 1, 1961.

Jan 1, 1964

By George Watkin Evans

The United States Geological Survey has estimated 1 that the State of Washington contains 11,412,000,000 tons of bituminous coal and 52,442,000,000 tons of subbituminous coal, in beds more than 14 inches thick. As the present rate of production is about 4,000,000 tons a year, Washington apparently contains coal enough to supply Pacific coast markets for many years. The character of the coal beds of Washington renders the production of clean coal very difficult, and a considerable proportion of the output is washed before it is marketed. In 1915 Washington ranked fifth among the States in the amount of coal washed, though only twentieth in total output. In that year 37.9 per cent of the coal produced in the State was treated in surface cleaning plants.

Jan 1, 1924

By Kenneth Maas

The Bureau of Mines devoted portions of the 1987-1988 field seasons to investigate the mineral aggregate industry in Juneau, Skagway, Haines, and Gustavus, Alaska, as part of the Juneau Mining District study. Statistics compiled for current suppliers include location, activity, reserve estimates, expected mine life, and types of commodities available. Each population center, except for Gustavus, is well endowed with suitable mineral aggregate to last at least 20 years. The Bureau of Mines quantified the mineral aggregate resource in many large potential sites within each area. Sampling, engineering and soil-index testing, site descriptions, deposit dimensions, and gold recovery information is described. Refraction seismic studies performed at three localities revealed gravel thicknesses in excess of 40 to 80 feet. In the Juneau area the Herbert/Eagle Rivers outwash area, East Fork Lace River. Antler/Gilkey Rivers, and Grizzly Bar (Taku Inlet) individually contain in excess of 60 million yd3 of excellent-quality aggregate with minor accessory gold credits. Haines is also well endowed with aggregate resources; large, quality deposits occur along and at the confluences of the Chilkat, Katzehin, Klehini, Tsirku, and Kicking Horse Rivers. Large deposits of granitic aggregate exist in the Skagway River and East Fork Skagway River.

Jan 1, 2012

By Wm. O. Vanderburg

This paper describing the milling methods at the Hughesville concentrator of the St. Joseph Lead Co., Hughesville, Mont., is one of a series of similar papers being prepared by the U. S. Bureau of Mines on practices at the various mills in the United States. The writer expresses his thanks for the courtesies extended by the officials of the company while visiting the property and acknowledges the assistance and helpful suggestions given by R. H. Willcomb, general manager, and Carl Martin, mill superintendent, of the Hughesville Division f the St. Joseph Lead Co.; and E. D. Gardner, supervising engineer, U. S. Bureau f Mines, Southwest Experiment Station, Tucson, Ariz., in gathering and compiling the data herein presented.

Jan 1, 1931

By Lloyd A. Morley, Alan M. Christman

Mine One General. The first summer field trip for the purpose of collecting data on open-pit metal mine grounding systems was marred by the fact that the group's ground test instrument was damaged in transit and proved to be inoperative. Fortunately, the mine personnel had a similar instrument which was then used for all tests. System Description. Power is purchased from the utility at either 69 or 100 kV. This is transformed to 4160 V at the pit substations and distributed around the periphery of the pit via a "ring bus." The three phase wires and the safety-ground conductor are carried on a conventional wooden pole and cross-arm support structure. At key loca¬tions, overhead feeders carry power from the ring bus down over the benches and into the pit. Each overhead feeder is terminated at a switchhouse, from which an SHD-GC trailing cable supplies power to the electric loading shovels. Each pit substation has a main or system-ground mat, installed by the utility, and a separate safety-ground mat, which is constructed by mine personnel. Three of the safety-ground mats are quite old, and personnel at the mine could not recall what type of construction was used. However, records are available on the fourth mat and construc¬tion details are shown in Figure 64. Protective circuitry includes a donut or window-type current transformer through which the three phase wires are run. Additional

Jan 1, 1976

By Michael S. Miller

In 1986 and 1987, at the request of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Bureau of Mines studied the 550-acre Carson-Iceberg Wilderness Study Area (NV-030-532), in order to evaluate its identified mineral resources. The Wilderness Study Area is located in Alpine County, CA, 11 mi southeast of Markleeville, CA. Tertiary volcanic and granitic rocks, as well as alluvium, underlie the area. Hydrothermal alteration and faulting have affected some rocks; argillic, silicic, and limonitic alteration are found, particularly near faults. No mineral resources were identified in the Wilderness Study Area. The area has one small pit and no mines or claims. Samples from the Wilderness Study Area and vicinity contained uneconomic amounts of gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, mercury, arsenic, and molybdenum. Mineral occurrences are too small and low grade to be of interest within the foreseeable future.

Jan 1, 1988

By R. B. Bauder

In connection with a Bureau of Mines research program on utilization of Cuban lateritic ores, a comprehensive review was made of the chemical literature on nickel and cobalt. Initially, the review had as its objective the selection, from the voluminous literature dealing with the chemistry of these two metals, of only those references to reactions that were especially pertinent, or at least closely related, to the field of extractive metallurgy. Later, the coverage was extended to include references to the techniques and plant applications of extractive metallurgical procedures for the recovery of nickel and cobalt. In this report, the period from January 1929 to July 1955 has been covered, as it seemed logical that recent literature should be of greatest value. This cutoff date was established in order that the bibiliography could be issued at an early date, inasmuch as currently much work is in progress on the lateritic ores. Later, a supplement will be prepared extending the coverage to about 1900.

Jan 1, 1957

A compilation of papers presented at the Fifth WVU Conference on Coal Mine Electrotechnology in Morgantown, West Virginia, on July 30, 31, and August 1, 1980. Papers cover areas of electromagnetics/power systems, power systems, monitoring and control, and communications.

Jan 1, 1980

By Van H. Manning

Chemical and physical tests of coals for the use of the Government have been made by the United States Bureau of Mines. These tests form part of a general study of the coals in the United States with respect to the manner in which each coal can be utilized most efficiently. As a result of this study, much information of value to all industries using coal has been compiled. Special investigations by the Bureau of Mines of the fuels used by the Government have, until recently, been for the most part limited to coal. In the course of these investigations the bureau has de- veloped new methods for use in the purchase of coal by the Gov- ernment. The application of these methods permits an intelligent selection of the coal adapted to the requirements of particular heat- ing or power plants, and has already resulted in the saving of large sums of money. In addition, these investigations have led to the compiling of a series of carefully made analyses of samples of coal collected in a predetermined manner in the mines of all the impor- tant coal fields in the United States, and these analyses are being published to enable Government purchasing agents and all users of coal to select the coal best suited to their needs. The purpose of this paper is to describe briefly the general char- acter and commercial quality of some of the coals mined in the United States that reach tidewater shipping ports, and to show in a general way the important characteristics of those coals that by reason of transportation facilities and the situation of the coal fields are most available for export. Coals of excellent physical character and of high heating value are available for export. For this reason and because of the modern facilities at the collieries for properly grading large shipments, American producers can supply coals suitable for any kind of service. The transportation system from the mines to tidewater and the coal- handling equipment for loading boats at the various ports are highly developed, so that producers are able to give excellent service to foreign buyers. Enormous quantities of these coals have been used by railroads, manufacturing, illuminating-gas, and coke plants, and seagoing vessels, and for household purposes. Much of the coal available for export is superior to the coals that have been supplied to foreign users from other sources.

Jan 1, 1916

By J. M. Seward, W. D. Dietzman, M. E. Hawkins

Analytical studies of formation waters are widely used by the petroleum industry as an aid in solving problems such as identifying intrusive waters , corrosion studies , treating injection water , and choosing open or closed water- injection systems . The solution of a problem is often simplified when reliable analyses of the waters under consideration have been made previously . Chemical analyses and electrical resistivity measurements are presented on 267 samples from 74 fields in south Arkansas , and 199 samples from 80 fields in north Louisiana .

Jul 1, 1960

By Robert L. Lagace, Michael A. Grossman, Alfred G. Emslie

This supplement to the final report is a collection of interim and monthly reports and working memoranda prepared during the course of this program to document the progress, methods and results of the work. The supplement is divided into the self-contained sections briefly described below. I. SELECTED MONTHLY TECHNICAL LETTER REPORTS - This section is a collection of selected monthly technical letter reports that briefly summarizes the chronological development of the analyses and results, including the different concepts, theoretical approaches, and methods of data reduction and analysis explored, and the discoveries, insights and findings made along the way. More detailed treatments of the key developments and results are presented in the interim reports and working memoranda reproduced in subsequent sections of this supplementary report, and in the separately published final report. II. BACKGROUND THEORY FOR MEASUREMENT PROGRAM ON MEDIUM AND HIGH FREQUENCY RADIO TRANSMISSION IN COAL SEAMS - Working Memorandum - This working memorandum gives the initial background theory needed to guide the planned measurements and data analyses of this program to describe the propagation of radio waves-in coal seams for the frequency range of 50 to 5000 kHz. III. MODELLING AND DATA ANALYSIS OF IN-MINE ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE PROPAGATION - Interim Report - This interim report presents detailed treatments of the data analysis and modelling techniques used, and the associated results obtained from conductor-free area propagation data measured by T. Cory in the first set of six coal mines. The mines were located in three highcoal seams; the Pittsburgh seam in northern West Virginia, the Pocahontas No. 3 seam in Virginia, and the Herrin No. 6 seam in Illinois. IV. ANALYSIS OF MF PROPAGATION DATA FROM MARGARET NO. 11, NANTY GLO, EHRENFELD, AND ADRIAN COAL MINES - Interim Report - This interim report presents detailed treatments of several improved data analysis and Modelling methods applied to, and results obtained from, conductor-free area propagation data measured by T. Cory in the second set of four coal mines. These mines were located in three low-coal seams; the Upper Freeport seam in Pennsylvania and West Virginia and the Lower Freeport and Lower Kittaning seams in Pennsylvania. In addition, this report contains a reprint of two papers presented at a Bureau of Mines sponsored EM Guided Waves in Mine Environments Workshop held in Boulder Colorado. One paper describes the three-layer theoretical model and its application to the conductor-free data from the first six mines, while the second paper describes the theory developed for the coupling of loop antennas to a cable in a mine tunnel in a coal seam, and the model's application to data in the vicinity of cables taken at the Margaret No. 11 mine. V. A METHOD FOR NONINTRUSIVE, IN-SITU MEASUREMENT OF COAL AND ROCK CONDUCTIVITIES IN A COAL MINE TUNNEL - Working Memorandum - This working memorandum briefly describes a possible direct method, and its potential advantages and shortcomings, for performing in-situ measurements of coal and rock conductivities. VI. MODELLING AND DATA ANALYSIS OF IN-MINE ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE PROPAGATION FROM 50 to 5000 kHz - Interim Report - This interim report presents a summary comparison of theoretical and experimental results for conductor- free areas in eleven coal mines located in seven coal seams. It also summarizes the findings and their implications for intrinsically-safe, portable radio communications between roving miners.

Jan 2, 1980

By Wallace W. Key

This report concerns types, quantities, specifications, and uses of non-metallic minerals as a basis for improving their supply, conservation, and utilization. Supply-demand details concerning mineral fillers, rooting granules, and roofing rock used in asphalt are incorporated in this report, along with highlights on production and sales of rooting, floor tile, and other related asphalt products of California. Comparable data for the United States are included. Although large quantities of commercially prepared mineral fillers are used in asphalt for paving and related applications in other States, addition of commercial fillers for these uses rarely is required in California because of the natural tines available. On the other hand, California manufacturers of asphalt products other than having utilize about 300,000 tons of asbestos, diatomite, limestone, mica, soapstone, and other nonmetallic minerals as filler, mainly for reeling and flooring. Also about 500,000 tons of roofing, granules is produced in California, most of which goes into roofing manufacture in California. In addition. A significantly large and growing tonnage of relatively coarse mineral aggregates Ire used on low-angle, built-up, asphalt roofs to produce in attractive surface and offer protection against the clements. Clearly ill minerals used in asphalt products manufactured in California come from local sources, except asbestos and mica--and there are indications that local deposits of those commodities could be utilized in some use categories.

Jan 1, 1966

By M. S. Seehra, R. S. Pandurangi

"Investigations of the infrared spectra of crystalline and amorphous silica particles of different sizes (0.05, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, and 260 um) in the range of 400-4000 cm-1 using Fourier transform infrared/photoacoustic spectroscopy we reported. The change in the intensity I of the signal with porosity e of powders follows the e/(1 - e) dependence for strong bands and e dependence for weaker bands as pre¬dicted by the theory of McGovern of al. For strong bands, I also follows the empirical relation I ~ D-n, where D Is the particle diameter in cm and n = 0.34-0.42. The anomalous positive frequency dependence of I on the modulation fre¬quency f observed for the stronger bands in the 45-pm and 260-pm particles Is believed to result from saturation. Some observations on the effect of changing the background from (carbon black) powder to pellet are also made.INTRODUCTIONSince the publication of the Rosencwaig—Gersho (RG) theory on the photoacoustic effect in solids (1, 2), Fourier transform infrared/photoacoustic spectroscopy (FTIR/PAS) has become an important technique for obtaining the IR spectra of surfaces and materials in their natural state (1-12). In the one-dimensional RG theory, the incident radiation, modulated at frequency f, is absorbed by the material to a depth pp = 1/B (B = absorption coefficient), thus setting up temperature variations in the material. These variations heat the adjacent gas/solid interface leading to the pressure fluctuations of the gas above the sample, which in turn is detected by microphone as a PA signal. The thermal wave originating from no deeper than the thermal diffusion length(2k/npcf) 1/2 in the material contributes to the PA signal (here k, p, and c are respectively the thermal conductivity, density, and specific heat of the material). Since u2, can be varied by varying the experimental parameter f, depth pro¬filing by PAS is possible and a number of papers on this subject have appeared in recent years (2-10). Another im¬portant phenomenon is saturation which occurs when the material thickness 1> u> us (1-12).The original promise of PAS for use with powder samples, without the need to ""prepare"" samples as in FTIR spectros-copy, has not yet been fully realized because of several com¬plications. Theoretical works by Monchalin et al. (13) and McGovern et al (14) showed that the interstial gas in the voids of the powders can act as amplifier and that, for the same mass, a finer powder is expected to yield higher PA signal than a coarser powder. Although in a number of earlier studies (15-21) an increase of PA signal with decreasing particle size has been observed, a quantitative check on the equations developed by McGovern et al. (14) has not yet been made. It is necessary to understand the particle size effects in PAS if the promise of PAS for IR spectroscopy of powders is to be realized. In this paper, we report results of a detailed study on the PAS of silica powders for the particle size range of 0.05-260 um and compare the results with theory (14). We have also investigated the frequency dependence of the variousIR modes in these powders and show that the saturation phenomenon affects at least some of the observations. Some observations on the effects of pellet vs powder background are also reported (22-24). Details of these findings are presented and discussed in this paper."

Jan 1, 1990

In 1987 Wyoming became the largest coal producing state in the country. The state is known for its extensive coal resources and extremely thick coal seams. Wyoming's coal reserves total about 69.3 billion tons, or 14.2 percent of the U.S. coal reserve. Coal seams range generally from 10 to 80 feet in thickness, although one seam is 220 feet thick. The coal-bearing areas of Wyoming underlie approximately 41 percent of the state's total land area. Wyoming's coal ranges from lignite to high volatile bituminous. Most of the coal produced is subbituminous from the Powder River coal region near Gillette. The presence of coal in Wyoming was discovered before 1834 on the Belle Fourche River. The state's first mine opened in Carbon County in 1865, and with the completion of the trans- continental railroad, the demand for coal increased. Currently approximately 80 percent of Wyoming's coal production is shipped out-of-state to meet the growing demand for low- sulfur coal to fuel electric generating plants. Wyoming received conditional regulatory approval November 26, 1980. Its Abandoned Mine Land Program was approved February 14, 1983.

Jan 1, 1992

By Wallace W. Key

This report concerns types, quantities, specifications, and uses of non-metallic minerals as a basis for improving their supply, conservation, and utilization. Supply-demand details concerning mineral fillers, roofing granules, and roofing rock used in asphalt are incorporated in this report, along with highlights on production and sales of roofing, floor tile, and other related asphalt products of California. Comparable data for the United States are included. Although large quantities of commercially prepared mineral fillers are used in asphalt for paving and related applications in other States, addition of commercial fillers for these uses rarely is required in California because of the natural fines available. On the other hand, California manufacturers of asphalt products other than paving utilize about 300,000 tons of asbestos, diatomite, limestone, mica, soapstone, slate, and other nonmetallic minerals as filler, mainly for roofing and flooring. Also, about 500,000 tons of roofing granules is produced in California, most of which goes into roofing manufacture in California. In addition, a significantly large and growing tonnage of relatively coarse mineral aggregates are used on low-angle, built-up, asphalt roofs to produce an attractive surface and offer protection against the elements. Nearly all minerals used in asphalt products manufactured in California come from local sources, except asbestos and mica--and there are indications that local deposits of these commodities could be utilized in some use categories.

Jan 1, 1966

By Joseph M. Kurtak

The Bureau of Mines conducted a four year (1985-1988) mineral assessment of the Juneau Mining District in southeast Alaska as part of its ongoing statewide mining district evaluation program. Following an extensive literature search, the Bureau investigated mines, prospects, and mineral occurrences in the area. This report describes the results of Bureau work in the Eagle River area of the Juneau gold belt; a component of the Juneau Mining District comprising 87,000 acres between the Mendenhall Glacier and Berners Bay. Gold and silver have been the only metals having significant production from the area and occur mainly in quartz stringer and fissure type veins hosted by phyllites, greenschists, greenstones, altered diorite dikes and quartz diorite gneiss. Gold also occurs in several small placer deposits. Approximately 21,100 oz of gold and nearly 9,000 oz of silver were produced over a 60 year period. Currently, the only mining activity consists of some exploration and minor placer gold production. Inferred and indicated lode gold resources having mineral development potential total approximately 796,000 tons with a weighted average grade of 0.22 oz/ton gold.

Jan 1, 2011

By J. Shawn Peterson, David S. Yantek, Adam K. Smith

Occupational noise-induced hearing loss continues to be one of the most pervasive health problems in the mining industry, despite over 25 years of regulation. One of the loudest pieces of equipment used in underground mining is the continuous mining machine. Noise sample data collected by the Mine Safety and Health Administration indicate that 42% of noise overexposures between 2000 and 2005 involved continuous mining machine operators. Previously conducted field and laboratory tests have determined that the continuous mining machine conveyor system is a dominant noise source. Loud impacts occur as the conveyor chain flight bars, used to move the mined aggregate, traverse their path from the top to the underside of the conveyor deck. Various noise control treatments have been applied to abate noise caused by the conveyor system. A durable polyurethane coating has been developed for the conveyor flight bars, resulting in a time-weighted average reduction of 3 dB(A) for an eight-hour work shift. In an attempt to further reduce continuous mining machine operator overexposures, a similar urethane coating has been applied to the tail roller component of the conveyor system. Laboratory results showed a 2 dB(A) reduction in sound power levels, but the component failed during underground durability testing. An outer steel sleeve has been added to the urethane coating of the tail roller to enhance wear resistance during mining. The urethane jacketed tail roller is the latest effort, combined with previous noise treatments, to bring the continuous mining machine into compliance with federal noise regulations.

By Vibration Research Group, Natasha K. Lee Shee, Tammy R. Eger, James P. Dickey, Paul-Émile Boileau, Lana M. Trick, Michele L. Oliver

Introduction Industrial exposure to whole-body vibration is associated with injury and discomfort. Certain industries, notably mining, construction, and forestry, involve complex 6 degrees of freedom vibration. Laboratory-based studies of vibration are essential for controlled and systematic evaluation of the human responses to vibration2. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate whether the duration of the vibration exposure, and rest between vibrations, significantly influence the subjective ratings of comfort during laboratory-based studies of vibration. Methods Subjects: The cumulative vibration dose was calculated, and was below the health guidance caution zone recommended by International standards3. The experimental procedures were approved by the University of Guelph Research Ethics Board. Ten adult subjects participated in this pilot experiment. All subjects completed the entire experimental paradigm; no subjects complained of pain during or after the experiment. Experimental Design: The experiment consisted of four blocks of vibration exposures; either 15 or 20 seconds of vibration (1 df:Z axis, 3 df:XY plane, 3df:YZ plane, or 6 df) alternating with either 5 or 10 seconds rest. The order of presentation of the four blocks was randomized. Each of the blocks was composed of 37 individual sinusoidal vibration exposures in randomized sequence. This abstract focused on ten identical trials, (6.3 Hz vertical vibration, 0.55 m/s2 RMS) interspersed within each block, in order to assess whether the subjects’ comfort ratings systematically varied between the 15 or 20 vibration exposures, the 5 or 10 second rest between vibrations, or within each block. The experiment involved 43 minutes of vibration within the 62 minute experiment. Vibration Apparatus: A commercial parallel robotic platform was used to apply the specific vibration exposures (R2000, Parallel Robotics Systems Corporation, Hampton, New Hampshire). The subjects sat on a passenger seat from a 1992 Honda Accord that was rigidly mounted to the robotic platform (Figure 1). This robotic system performed the specific vibration exposures operating under closed-loop displacement control. A custom-written Matlab program automated the testing sequence.

Jan 6, 2006

By L. A. Morley

Volume IV of the final report examines the problem of indirect contact of overhead high-voltage power lines by mining personnel. This refers to the contact of energized lines by workers through some intermediate conductor such as a metallic tool or a piece of high-reaching mobile equipment, thus the term "indirect contact." The shock hazard presented by such contact has been a major cause of electrical fatalities associated with mining operations. The report volume is divided into three major areas. The first gives a general background of overhead lines, basic characteristics, and associated hazards, and continues to describe presently used techniques and devices which attempt to alleviate the contact problem. The second area narrows the discussion to the mining industry by presenting a detailed analysis of 39 overhead-line contact accidents in mining since 1970. The third major section uses the information from the first two areas to formulate recommendations to prevent these accidents and subsequent electrocutions at mining operations.

Jan 1, 1982

By R. S. Handy

This paper describing the milling practices at tae concentrators of the Bunker Hill and Sullivan Mining and Concentrating Co. is one of a series being prepared by the United States Bureau of Mines on milling methods and costs in the United States. The possibility of useful comparisons has prompted the description of all five of the mills operated by the Bunker Hill and Sullivan Company in northern Idaho. The general features of these mills are tabulated below: [ ]

Jan 1, 1930