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By Frank Cook

In this two-year study, an evaluation of mining and reclamation practices at 159 randomly sampled surface coal mines in the United States was conducted. It is concluded that reclamation practices in most of the 22 coal-producing states were adequate during 1975, but that improvement in reclamation performance was desirable in the acid area of the central U. S. and in mountainous southwestern Virginia. Productivity improvements should result from research to determine efficient or optimal operating procedures for dragline stripping of single and multiple seams, surface mining of lignite, multicut and multiseam haulback mining on steep slopes, mountaintop removal, and surface mining in swampy or deeply glaciated areas. Specific candidate research projects are discussed in this report.

Jan 1, 1976

By Jr. Fish

As a part of a study of iron are resources in the Appalachians, 9 diamond drill holes aggregating 1,580.7 feet were drilled in a portion of the Butt Mountain area of northeastern Giles County, Virginia. Three hematitic sand-stone beds were intersected in the Clinton formation but only one was consistent in thickness and grade in all 9 drill holes. This bed averages 18.9 percent iron over an average thickness of 24 feet. The drill cores were logged and chemical analyses were made on 161 individual samples and 22 composite samples. Beneficiation studies were made of three composite hematitic sandstone samples each representing a separate bed containing 14.6, 19.8 and 20.0 per-cent iron. Major mineral constituents of the samples were hematite, quartz, and sericite.

Jan 1, 1967

By Barry L. Warner

This program involves testing to determine whether a fire hazard exists when the exposed wood surface area of timber in a mine passageway equals 40 percent of the surrounding strata surface, excluding the sill. Twelve full scale fire tests were conducted in a simulated mine passageways, using kerosene pan fires as the ignition source. The tests included three timber sizes, plus one test with roof lagging, two wood types, plus one test with treated timbers, and two ventilation air velocities. The results show air velocity to be an important factor in the occurrence of flame propagation, and that the 40 percent surface area ratio of wood to surrounding strata appears to b0. a valid criteria for fire safety at 150 fpm, but not at 350 fpm.

Jan 1, 1975

By John H. Soule

The Torpedo Copper mine in the Organ Mining District, Dona Ana County, N. Mex., was discovered In 1899. Production was begun immediately and continued until 1907. Since 1907 very little ore has been produced, although Many individuals and companies have been interested in the property at one time or another. Approximately 6,621 feet of diamond-core had been completed on the property before 1949. The results from some of this drilling were unsatisfactory because of the poor core recovery. In addition to its investigation of the Torpedo ore deposits, attention was given by the Bureau of Mines to obtaining better core recovery through the use of special equipment and techniques. This project was begun October 3, 1949, and was completed April 30, 1950. Four diamond-drill holes totaling 2,140.5 feet, which includes 18.2 feet of overlap in a deflected hole, were drilled. All drilling was done with a Government-owned hydraulic-feed drill with some special rods and core barrels, in addition to the usual equipment. The over-all core recovery was 89.5 percent. Omitting the drilling in overburden where little or no core was desired, the recovery was 94.6 percent. Core recovery in the ore zones averaged 95.2 percent. This paper describes the location, the general features of the area, the geology, the Bureau of Mines procedures, and the results attained by these procedures.

Jan 1, 1952

By Stephenson. E. L.

"INTRODUCTION In the spring of 1942 a series of magnetometer surveys on deposits of black sand underlying Pleistocene raised marine terraces along the coast of southwestern Oregon was nada by the Division of Geophysical Exploration of the Federal Bureau of Mines in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. A few preliminary tests had been made in the same area in May 1940 and December 1941.The sands contain fine gold and metals of the platinum group, and, beginning in 1852, extensive, but spasmodic mining and exploration have been done for these precious metals. There are many old placer, mines and prospects, although for the most part the yield of the metals has been small. The sands also contain other minerals of potential value, including ilmenite, magnetite, garnet, zircon, and particularly chromite, and the wartime demand for domestic chromite resulted in extensive testing and development of the known deposits. The purpose of the magnetometer surveys was to determine the efficacy of, magnetic methods in tracing and outlining these known deposits and in prospecting for new ones. The field work was done between March 17 and May 29, 1942, by the author assisted by W.W. Paulsen of the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries."

Jun 1, 1945

By Clarence Hall, S. P. Howell, W. O. SNELLING

The explosives used in coal mines not only occasion accidents such as occur in the use of explosives elsewhere, but they frequently cause widespread disasters by igniting explosive mixtures of mine gas and air and of coal dust and air, or both. In addition, the firing of ex- plosives so shakes the walls and roofs of the mines as to cause falls, with their attendant casualities. Considering the large number of explosives and their wide range in composition and properties, it is obvious that certain of them should prove more suitable for use in coal mines than others. The problem is to determine which explosives are the most suitable for this purpose and the precise conditions under which they may be used with the greatest safety. Of course this problem could be worked out in actual mining, but experimental investigations when accompanying commercial opera- tions are hazardous and slow. To obtain the information sought, in the speediest and most economical manner, laboratory methods must be resorted to. The adoption of such methods began about 30 years ago with experiments in an iron gallery mounted on wheels, at Zwickau, Germany. This laboratory method of attacking the prob- lem has so commended itself that it has not only been repeated else- where in Germany but has at intervals been officially adopted, with many modifications and additions, by the Governments of Belgium, Austria, France, and Great Britain. Such was the status of coal-mine investigations in Europe when in 1904, an organization in the Geological Survey, which in 1907 be- came the technologic branch, was created to investigate the mineral- fuel resources of this country. At that time no division of the Na- tional Government had official cognizance of conditions existing in our mines, but through its system of collecting fuels for tests the technologic branch was forced to recognize that coal-mine accidents are a factor that must be reckoned with in determining the extent and availability of our mineral-fuel resources. This became so apparent, and it was so obviously a function of this branch to make a systematic research as to the cause and prevention of such acci- dents, that in July, 1907, experts were appointed especially to deal with this problem. As a result, not only was Bulletin 333, on Coal- Mine Accidents: Their Causes and Prevention, prepared and pub- lished, but through personal inspection of foreign testing stations, and a study of their reports and the critiques of their methods and operations, definite plans for the establishment of such a testing station in this country were formulated. In the latter part of 1907, four grave disasters occurred in close succession consequent on explosions in the Monongah mines in West Virginia, where 368 men were killed, the Darr mine in Pennsyl- vania, where 160 were killed, the Naomi mine in Pennsylvania, where 34 were killed, and the Yolande mine in Alabama, where 61 were killed. These frightful disasters so quickened the public con- science, and so plainly demonstrated that both humanitarian and economic needs demanded that steps be taken to prevent the re- currence of such accidents, that in 1908 Congress made a special appropriation for an investigation as to the "causes of mine ex- plosions." A similar appropriation was made in the following year. By act of May 16, 1910, the Bureau of Mines was created "to make diligent investigation of the methods of mining, especially in relation to the safety of miners, the use of explosives, the prevention of accidents," and other matters relating to mining. Therefore, these investigations are at present conducted in obedience to an organic act instead of being dependent solely upon special appropriations. The first appropriation became available July 1, 1908. Through the courtesy of the War Department a portion of the grounds and buildings of the arsenal at Pittsburgh was granted for the use of the technologic branch of the United States Geological Survey. Work was immediately begun in procuring and erecting the necessary instru- ments and appliances for carrying out the desired tests and inves- tigations and in adapting the existing buildings or in erecting new structures to contain the apparatus. The Pittsburgh testing station was officially opened and regular work was commenced on December 3, 1908, the apparatus and appliances having been tested, the force drilled in their use, and the equipment and methods inspected and passed upon by foreign experts.

Jan 1, 1912

By F. M. Jenkins

Longwall mining systems are used to mine approximately 50 pet of the world's total underground coal production. Single entries are the predominant method of longwall development in Europe and Asia, where mining conditions are more severe than those encountered in the United States. During the 1970's and early 1980's, the U.S. Bureau of Mines and the U.S. mining industry invested nearly $20 million in single-entry and related research. This report reviews the accomplishments of single-entry research in the United States and describes two U.S. single-entry field projects: the Sunnyside single-entry project in central Utah and the tunnel-boring project in northern West Virginia. Also discussed are a single-entry study conducted by North American Mining Consultants (NAMCO) and a single-entry design study conducted by Ketron, Inc. This Bureau report compares the resulting technology with European counterparts to further assess the utility and efficiency of U.S. systems.

Jan 1, 1990

By Leonard F. Heising

At the Groveland mine iron ore is mined by open-pit methods and concentrated by means of spirals and flotation. A brief history of the mine and its early development is given. The ore deposit is described, with emphasis on those physical characteristics that affect the choice of mining and milling methods. Development and mining, which include breaking ground, loading, transportation, engineering, and operating control, are explained, and the milling method is described Mining and milling costs are given in percent of total cost.

Jan 1, 1963

By Loren R. Anderson

This volume documents the use of the probabilistic slope stability program PROBISH. The probabilistic slope stability program is an interactive program and is essentially self-tutorial. It prompts the user for the required input data as it is needed, and allows the user to correct mistyped data before analysis is initiated. The program computes safety factor probable Width of failing and probability of failure for a given circular failure surface. Four example problems are included to illustrate its use.

Jan 1, 1982

By George S. Koch

A mathematical simulation model has been devised to guide the layout of underground mine workings, drill stations, and drill holes that are established in order to search for tabular ore bodies. Developed and tested for elliptical ore shoots in fissure veins in the Galena mine, Coeur d'Alene district, Idaho, the model can also be applied to ore bodies contained within sedimentary beds (for instance, many types of uranium, copper, and gold ore bodies) or other tabular structures. Programed for a time-shared digital computer, the model contains both stochastic and deterministic variables. Stochastic or natural variables include the number of ore shoots and their sizes, orientations, locations, and values. Deterministic or controllable variables include (1) locations and costs of workings; (2) drill-station locations and costs; and (3) drill hole azimuths, inclinations, lengths, and deflections, if any. For various assumptions about the stochastic variables, the model is run while the controllable variables are changed deliberately. Thus, layouts are devised to determine the percentages of the total number of assumed ore shoots found at different costs. In order to choose among the various layouts, cost-effectiveness measures are calculated.

Jan 1, 1974

By F. W. Lee

List of GEOPHYSICAL ABSTRACTS

Jul 1, 1932

By Northcutt Ely

This volume summarizes mining and petroleum legislation in 30 jurisdictions of the Western Hemisphere. Within these jurisdictions, primary attention is given to requirements that must be met in each country for acquisition of rights to permit development of mineral resources. Coverage includes: First, identification of the controlling laws or statutes governing minerals acquisition and reference to the administrative authority; second, analysis of the laws governing mines and quarries and their products; and third, analysis of laws applicable to natural gas, petroleum, and related materials. Where pertinent, sections dealing with historical background or administration have been added. In countries where minerals are subject to control of States or Provinces, those areas are considered separately from the central government.

Jan 1, 1970

By Gerald A. Muson, Fremont F. Clarke

"INTRODUCTION The use of scrap mica as an industrial raw material has grown rapidly during the past two decades. Demands by various industries for ground mica for use in the roofing, paint, rubber, plastics, and wallpaper trades as well as for less extensive uses in insulation, oil-well drilling, welding, pipeline enamel, decorative material, and for other purposes exceed present (1947) supplies.A small proportion of the raw material used comes from the Black Hills of South Dakota, where casual recovery has been practiced in the exploitation of pegnatite deposits for more valuable minerals. The annual production of scrap mica in the Black Hills for the years 1939 to 1946 is shown in figure 19. 4/Although small, this production of scrap mica materially augments the incomes of numerous operators.Volume production of mica would offer attractive opportunities for obtaining steady and more economical supplies of the rare minerals as byproducts. Appreciable supplies of beryl, lithia minerals, sheet mica, tantalite-columbite, and cassiterite could accrue. Furthermore, a stable scrap-mica production would complement the production of quality feldspar, for which the Black Hills pegmatites are noted, and would help balance the economy of pegmatite mineral production.Mechanical methods of separation are requisite to production of enough scrap mica to be generally profitable. Various phases of the characteristics end treatment of mica have been investigated by the Bureau of Mines. A bibliography of these reports is appended.In 1945 the Bureau of Mines conducted pilot-plant tests to recover scrap mica by selective screening of crushed pegmatite. More recently the problem has boon studied in the Pegmatite Research Laboratory to aid in developing technological methods by which scrap mica may be separated from crushed pegmatite."

Feb 1, 1949

By R. F. Stewart

A key step in changing coals to fluid fuels and chemicals is the conversion of coal to synthesis gas by gasification with steam and oxygen. As oxygen represents one of the largest single expenses in gasification, its cost is a vital factor in the economy of the process. At present, the most economical method for producing tonnage oxygen is by the conventional rectification of liquefied air. Several alternate methods have been proposed for producing oxygen from air: (1) methods based on physical or chemical sorption of oxygen from air by liquids or solids or (2) the oxidation of certain inorganic com-pounds to higher oxides unstable at higher temperature levels. Economic limitations are discussed by which these methods may be evaluated. Chelated metals of the salcomine type are promising chemical sorbents of oxygen from air. This report covers a study of the reversible sorption of oxygen by salcomine and other chelates. The presence of water in the salcomine structure was verified; it is the loss of this water that causes slow deterioration of salcomine during cycling.

Jan 1, 1959

By Kenneth H. Johnston

For the past several years, Bureau of Mines petroleum engineers have arranged tours of selected waterflooding projects for the spring meetings of the Kansas-Oklahoma Waterflood Association. These tours are conducted to demonstrate unique operating methods and new field equipment and to provide additional opportunities for exchanging information. Each of these tours has been supplemented by a published report describing in detail the projects visited. This report has been prepared for distribution during the 1960 spring tour of four waterflooding projects in Greenwood County, Kans. (fig. 1). Three of the projects produce oil from the Bartlesville sand, and one produces from the Cattleman sand. The Bartlesville-sand floods have been in operation from 4 to 12 years and have produced about 3,910,000 barrels of waterflood oil from the injection of approximately 64,715,000 barrels of water, a cumulative water-injected to oil-produced ratio of 17 to 1. The Cattleman- sand flood, which has been operating for 3-1/2 years, has produced about 842,000 barrels of waterflood oil from the injection of approximately 9,305,000 barrels of water, a cumulative water-injected to oil-produced ratio of 11 to 1.

Jan 1, 1960

The panic bars (and associated linkage's and electrical circuitry) that are defined in this document are a machine operator-actuated control for the emergency deenergization of the tram motors on Self-propelled, electric and diesel face equipment; including haulage equipment such as shuttle cars. There are nine basic types of panic bars (and several variations) that are recommended in this document, but all of the panic bars are characteristically of the "fire door" type that is frequently encountered on outside exit doors of many public and soma commercial buildings. It is also the intent of the following panic bar designs that, when emergency brakes are added to the face equipment machinery for which they are required, that they be designed and hooked up so that actuation of the panic bar will result in automatic application of the emergency brakes (immediately following the deenergization of the tram motors). The following panic bar design requirements are a restatement of the proposed requirements defined in the Federal Register, requirements cited in 'Guidelines for the Design and Installation of Devices for Deenergization of Self-Propelled Electric Face Equipment/Automatic Emergency Brakes" by C. E. Lester and J. D. Greenhalgh of MESA, and Bendix recommendations that were formulated as a result of discussions with personnel at the various machine manufacturers and underground coal mines that we surveyed, discussions with G. L. Judy (our consultant), etc:

Jan 1, 1974

By H. M. Lavender

This paper describing the inclined cut-and-fill, and the semishrinkage methods of mining at the Campbell mine of the Calumet and Arizona Mining Co. at Warren, Ariz., is one of a series being prepared by the United States Bureau of fines on mining methods, practices and costs in the various mining districts in the United States. The major portion of the production from the Bisbee mines of the company is mined by these methods. The total average yearly production for the last two years has been 493,612 tons of 5 per cent copper ore. The average employment in the mining department eras 940 men. With the exception of a small tonnage mined for the high iron and sulphur content, the ore is direct-smelting and is mined for its copper con¬tent and associated gold and silver values.

Jan 1, 1930

By G. L. Gates

The Bureau of Mines studied the scales formed in producing wells in the Wilmington field, California. The scales were primarily barium sulfate and resulted from the mixing of injected sea water and formation waters; there was excess sulfate in the injection water and the formation waters contained appreciable barium. After breakthrough, the produced brines were supersaturated with barium sulfate. Laboratory tests indicated that barium sulfate precipitated quickly When the supersaturated brines were agitated with crystals of barium sulfate and fairly rapidly when more sulfate solution was added. Precipitation occurred slowly on standing or under nonturbulent conditions. Both the apparent and equilibrium solubilities of barium sulfate in these brines were determined and compared with equilibrium solubilities in distilled water and sodium chloride solutions.

Jan 1, 1965

By C. R. Nisewanger, F. W. Brown

"The velocity of detonation of an explosive is one of its most important properties, because its performance depends markedly on the rate at which it releases its energy. Fortunately, the velocity of detonation is one of the few properties of an explosive that can be measured precisely. However, the velocity of detonation of an explosive may depend on several factors other than its chemical composition, such as density, physical state, degree of confinement, nature of confinement, and magnitude of initiating impulse. Presumably for an explosive of fixed chemical and physical properties there are certain limiting conditions of confinement and initiation under which the explosive will detonate at a maximum constant and uniform velocity. This velocity is its ""ideal"" velocity of detonation. It is obvious, however, that in order to evaluate performance properties of an explosive in all of its applications it may be necessary to measure its velocity of detonation under a number of conditions in which the velocity of detonation is far from the maximum ""ideal"" velocity.. Under certain-conditions the velocity of detonation may even,be,different at different points in the explosive.It is .relatively simple to determine the velocity of detonation of an explosive under a. standard set of conditions if one is free to use large quantities of the explosive and to form it into a convenient shape. Under these circumstances; one can use a thin column of explosive a meter or more in length. The time required for an explosion to travel the length of the column will not be less,of the order a few ten-thousandths of a second and can be readily and accurately measured .by means of the standard spark chronograph or by photographing the explosion with a rotating-drum camera. However in many applications the explosive charge may be of relatively small dimensions arid may not be in a form convenient for making velocity measurements and often may be enclosed in a case or other confining medium. It may be necessary to determine the velocity of detonation over distances of the order of a few centimeters, in which case the time intervals to be measured will be extremely small. For example, the time required for an explosion to traverse 1 centimeter of tetryl is of the order of 1.5 microseconds.Since no satisfactory method of determining time intervals of the order of magnitude of a few microseconds within an explosive charge was available,, at least not for all conditions that might be encountered in practice, it was necessary to develop a special electronic chronoscope which is capable of measuring time intervals as small as a microsecond with a fair degree of accuracy. This report describes the chronoscope and its application to measurements of velocities of detonation in explosives."

Mar 1, 1946

By John C. Machisak

Employment and related injury experience of the coking industry in the United States for 1956 contained in this publication is summarized under three general sections: (A) General injury experience: Tables 1 to 9: Current and comparable statistics on operating data, number, frequency, and degree of severity of injuries and major accident agencies involved in the cause of injuries. Data are presented for the industry as a whole, for each type of oven, and for the States in which coke was produced. (B) Selected injury experience: Tables 10 to 15: Comparable injury data covering 5- and 10- year periods on the number and degree of severity of injuries and major accident causes.

Jan 1, 1958