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By Forrest T. Moyer

To keep the mineral and allied industries informed of trends in the causes of accidents and to point out the need for corrective measures, the Bureau of Mines collects, analyzes, and periodically published health and safety statistics. This report includes data for 1964 on injury experience, with related employment statistics, at coal mines in the United States. These data are presented in tabular form under the following headings: General Injury Experience Tables 1 to 6: Current data on number of injuries, degree of injury, frequency and severity rates, average severity, and related employment and production data by work location.

Jan 1, 1967

By John H. Johnson

A study of mine air quality was conducted using the latest advanced continuous monitoring instruments. An overview of the various interacting variables in the mine that affect air quality is presented. One effort involves the evaluation of portable instruments, the development of measurement techniques, sample analysis procedures and computer programs for statistical analysis of measurement data, and the application of the instruments and techniques to the measurement of the concentrations of CO, CO2, NO, NO2 and particulate matter in a lead and a copper underground mine. A second effort involves the first application of the Mine Air Monitoring Laboratory (MAML), a mobile trailer containing laboratory type instruments, sampling and data systems for the measurement of CO, CO2, NO, NO2 and particulate matter. The data from the MAML for blasting and for operating diesel equipment are analyzed and presented in various plots.

Jan 1, 1977

By Thomas G. Murdock

The possible contribution of an improved mineral economy to the further advancement of the lesser developed regions of the world is a vital consideration today. Many of the newly independent countries recognize the problems and the challenge involved in orderly development of mineral resources. Some countries are inventorying resources, planning development, and encouraging local and foreign participation. The Malagasy Republic, composed of the island of Madagascar and the immediately adjacent islands, formerly the French Overseas Territory of Madagascar, is one of the members of the French Community which achieved independence in 1960. It is making real progress towards improving its mineral economy, an effort particularly remarkable considering the generally unfavorable geographic location of the area with respect to world markets and what is, after all, a comparatively sparse economic mineralization in the light of discoveries to date. Most of the development of the Malagasy econorny before independence was fostered by French private enterprise, although the State participated in some ventures. Since independence, the Government has encouraged private investment from a variety of sources through favorable legislation and has indicated that legitimate investment projects that will further advance social and economic programs will be welcome.

Jan 1, 1963

By Thomas G. Murdock

The possible contribution of an improved mineral economy to the further advancement of the lesser developed regions of the world is a vital consideration today. Many of the newly independent countries recognize the problems and the challenge involved in orderly development of mineral resources. Some countries are inventorying resources, planning development, and encouraging local and foreign participation. The Malagasy Republic, composed of the island of Madagascar and the immediately adjacent islands, formerly the French Overseas Territory of Madagascar, is one of the members of the French Community which achieved independence in 1960. It is making real progress towards improving its mineral economy, an effort particularly remarkable considering the generally unfavorable geographic location of the area with respect to world markets and what is, after all, a comparatively sparse-economic mineralization in the light of discoveries to date. Most of the development of the Malagasy economy before independence was fostered by French private enterprise, although the State participated in some ventures. Since independence, the Government has encouraged private investment from a variety of sources through favorable legislation and has indicated that legitimate investment projects that will further advance social and economic programs will be welcome.

Jan 1, 1963

The strippable reserves of bituminous coal and lignite in the United States were calculated in accordance with the prevailing conditions of seam thickness and depth of overburden in each of the several coal-producing areas of the Nation. Within defined limits of seam thickness and depth of overburden, it is estimated that there was a remaining strippable resource of 118 billion tons of raw bituminous coal and lignite as of January 1, 1968. Because of topography, natural and manmade features, and other limitations, only 45 billion tons of the resource are strippable reserves. Of this, 32 billion tons is considered low-sulfur (less than 1 percent), 4 billion tons is medium-sulfur (1 to 2 percent), and 9 billion tons is high-sulfur (over 2 percent) coal. Owing to a cleaning loss affecting that portion of strip coal that is mechanically cleaned, the 45 billion tons of strippable reserves are reduced to 39.6 billion tons of marketable coal. A brief discussion is given for each coal-producing State, summarizing past and present production, historical background, and outlook. Appendix A contains reserve data by State, county, seam, and sulfur content. Appendix B contains the general information and requirements necessary to comply with the current strip mining laws covering 20 States.

Jan 1, 1971

By Joseph A. Vanous

The inductive communication system was developed under this contract for use in the hoist of deep mines. This program was a four phase program with experimental dual frequency equipment resulting from Phase I, emergency single frequency equipment developed under Phase II, and equipment documentation required under Phase III. An additional emergency system was provided under Phase IV.

Jan 1, 1976

By R. V. Higgins

This report presents computer instructions for calculating the performance of three-phase flow of gas, oil, and water. The calculated results for an illustrative example are presented. The example is the waterflood of a reservoir containing free gas in the reservoir as a result of the partial depletion of the oil by the expansion of the gas initially in solution. The flood pattern for the example is a 5-spot.

Jan 1, 1967

By Sidney Katell

Covering the period from January 1961 through December 1961, this report is a continuation of the series that began with the publication of Information Circular 7516 in October 1949. It is also the third report in the series to be prepared as a cooperative effort by the Bureau of Mines and the American Association of Cost Engineers. The cooperative agreement between the two groups provides for the publication of an annual cost bibliography with the work load involved in the preparation shared equally. The abstracted articles, concerned with all facets of cost engineering in the field of chemical and petroleum plants and related facilities, came from the following sources: 1. A.A.C.E. Bulletin. 2. Bureau of Mines Information Circulars. 3. Bureau of Mines Reports of Investigation. 4. Chemical Engineering. 5. Chemical Engineering Progress. 6. Chemical Week. 7. Coal Age. 8. Coal Utilization. 9. Cost Engineering. 10. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. 11. Nucleonics 12. Oil and Gas Journal. 13. Petroleum Engineer for Management. 14. Petroleum Refiner. 15. World Oil.

Jan 1, 1962

By Van H. Manning

The term war minerals has been applied t.o those ores and minerals that were largely imported. before the war. Among the mon important of these are manganese, essential for making high-grade steel for munitions and industrial use; graphite, for u,.akin1 crucibles; tin, for plating utAmsils and for bearing-met.al; mereury, used as fulminate t.o explode shells; pot.uh, for making fertilizer and explosives; tungsten and molybdenum, for high-speed t.ool steel; antimony, for hardening bul!et lead; chromite, for tool steel, for tan- , ning leather, and as a refractory lining in furnaces; magnesite, for :refract:A>ry linings; mica, as insulating material; platinum, for the manufacture of sulphuric acid and for electrical apparatus. When the United States entered the war it was clear that every ship would be needed and that the number available for importing minerals would be small. Hence a quick and thorough survey of domestic resources was necessary. . Throughout the war the scope and volume of the war-minerals work increased until it covered practically every mineral that was known t.o be or was liable to be in short supply.

Jan 1, 1919

By A. H. Shoemaker

This paper describing the mining practices at the Old Dominion mine, Globe, Ariz., is one of a series being prepared by the United States Bureau of Mines on mining practices, methods, and costs in the various minim districts in the United States. The Old Dominion mine is situated in the eastern port of the Globe-Miami district, about 1-1/2 miles north from the center of the town of Globe. An average of nearly: 1,200 tons per day was mined during 1928. The prevent production is about 1,500 tons per day; of this amount,, approximately 100 tons is direct-smelting ore that is shipped to the smelter at Miami and 1,400 tons milling ore which is treated in the company?s concentrator at Globe. About 600 men are employed at the mine.

Jan 1, 1930

By P. G. Pigott

The lack of technical information regarding the physical characteristics of kaolins and bauxitic kaolins, rejected during the mining of bauxite near Eufaula, Ala., has retarded their commercial utilization. This investigation was undertaken to determine their behavior when used in refractories. Ores were evaluated as refractory raw materials by compounding dry-press mixtures and specialties following procedures common to the industry. Products now on the market were used for comparison in laboratory evaluation.

Jan 1, 1959

By H. M. Lawrence, E. Roca

"INTRODUCTION Of the phosphate rock deposits of the United States that are being exploited actively at present, the land-pebble area in Florida is the largest producer. In recent years the land-pebble district, in Polk and Hillsborough Counties, has produced about 80 per cent of the raw phosphate rock that has supplied the requirements of the several national industries based on this essential commodity.In the land-pebble deposits sizes finer than 16 to 22 mesh are below the commercial limit in phosphate content, and washing-plant practice has been directed to the recovery of the coarser material. Recently, more extensive control of the washery plan has resulted in the saving of additional amounts of phosphate, the loss of which had been considered unavoidable. However, strict requirements of the trade regarding the lowest acceptable grade of phosphate rock prevent the inclusion of more than a very small proportion of the low-grade phosphatic sands with the washery output of phosphate roe:. Further advances in practice resulting in larger recoveries of phosphate can only be effected by the application of processes that are based on other principles than merely a difference of particle size. Research is be conducted actively along these lines by the industry and by cooperating agencies.Flotation has been studied for several years by the International Agricultural Corporation and its allied company, the Phosphate Recovery Corporation. J. T. Burrows, vice-president of the International Agricultural Corporation, in a letter dated July 10, 1929, states:"

Aug 1, 1931

By Sara Jane Boles

In recent years the interest in rare-earth compounds as refractory materials has exceeded the available literature on the subject. While some basic properties, such as density and melting point, of the more readily available rare-earth compounds have been reported in the literature, relatively few papers can be found that deal comprehensively and primarily with high-temperature refractory properties and applications of rare-earth oxides, carbides, sulfides, and nitrides. Therefore, this bibliography has been pre-pared for the use of the ceramic industry as a guide for locating and utilizing the scattered and frequently fragmentary information available. The term "rare earths", as applied in the literature search for this bibliography, is understood to include the following elements: cerium, dysprosium, erbium, europium, gadolinium, holmium, lanthanum, lutetium, neodymium, praseodymium, samarium, terbium, thorium, thulium, uranium, and ytterbium. (On the periodic chart, these elements appear as numbers 57 through 60, 62 through 71, 90, and 92.) It is emphasized that many of the abstracts included are from papers in which the rare-earth compound or compounds are treated along with several other ceramic materials, are mentioned only secondarily, with primary interest placed on a more commonly used refractory material, or are used as part of a mixture of materials formed experimentally and reported on in the paper. As the better known rare-earth materials, such as the oxides of uranium, thorium, and cerium, appear more frequently in the literature, they also appear more frequently in this collection. Articles abstracted include only information on the basic properties that are of interest to the refractories investigator. References to crystal lattices and related topics are generally excluded from this publication. The temperature 1,500° C. has been set arbitrarily as the lower limit for reported data on thermal properties. However, because of the scarcity of information, some reports are included in which data are limited to those obtained at lower temperatures. Many of the articles abstracted include lists of references that will be of additional assistance in pursuing specific lines of investigation.

Jan 1, 1962

By Sam S. Taylor

The disposal of oil-field brines by injection into subsurface formations other than fresh-water-bearing strata is a positive method of eliminating the harmful effects of mineralized water on fresh-water supplies, vegetation, and aquatic and other animal life. The methods used most generally for the disposal of brines produced with oil are (1) impounding in evaporation ponds, (2) controlled diversion into surface streams, and (3) injection into subsurface formations. Various States recognize one or more of the methods as legally authorized procedure. As a general rule, impounding brine in ponds and solar evaporation have not been entirely successful, principally because of the large volumes handled; the porous nature of the soil, and the low rate of evaporation. Likewise, the diversion of brine into freshwater streams by controlled dilution has not proved satisfactory in some areas, especially in parts of Kansas and Oklahoma where the rainfall is relatively low, because it has been impossible to obtain enough fresh water for such dilution.

Jan 1, 1939

By A. S. Swanson

The Babb fault vein in Crittenden and Livingston Counties, Ky. (fig. 1), is one of an extensive series of such veins in the Western Kentucky and Southern Illinois fluorspar district. First operated in 1904, the production to May 1, 1944, was estimated at 143,000 tons of fluorite ore. There are five mines (fig. 2) on the Babb fault zone - Guill ,Kentucky Babb, Delhi-Babb, Eagle-Babb and Howard-Barnes. The Bureau of Mines developed four of these properties by core drilling from July 9, 1943, to May 1, 1944. During that period a total of 8,177.8 feet of diamond drilling was completed in 28 holes.

Jan 1, 1950

By John C. Holtz

Interest in the possibility of using Diesel6/ engines for haulage power in mining and tunneling is increasing in the United States, owning largely to the reported successful use of Diesel locomotives in European coal mines and to the comparatively recent development of automotive Diesel engines in this country. The extent of this interest has been evidenced to the Bureau of Mines by numerous requests for information as to the factors that must be considered if Diesel engines are to be used safely underground.

Jan 1, 1940

By John C. Holtz

Interest in the possibility of using Diesel6/ engines for haulage power in mining and tunneling is increasing in the United States, owing largely to the reported successful use of Diesel locomotives in European coal mines and to the comparatively recent development of automotive Diesel engines in this country. The extent of this interest has been evidenced to the Bureau of Mines by numerous requsts for information as to the factors that must be considered if Diesel engines are to be used safely underground.

Jan 1, 1940

By W. H. Tomlinson

The fourteenth National First-Aid and Mine Rescue Contest we;; held at the State fairgrounds, Columbus, Ohio, October 2, 3, and 4, 1951. The meet, the first such event in 21 years, was under the auspices of the Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior, and the Joseph A Holmes Safety Association and was sponsored by the National Coal Association, the United Mine Workers of America, and various State mine-inspection departments. The cooperating agencies that contributed to make the meet a success, in addition to the National Coal Association and the United Mine Workers of America, were the Kentucky Department of Mines and Minerals, Ohio Division of Mines, West Virginia Department of Mines, Pennsylvania Department of Mines, and the Columbus Convention Bureau. SUMMARY Fourteen teams from 6 States participated in the mine rescue contest, and 55 teams from 9 States competed in the first-aid contest. Only one of these teams entered as a combination team, that is, participating in both the mine rescue and first-aid contests. The States represented and the number of teams from each State are listed in table 1.

Jan 1, 1953

By Gregory Molinda

Historically, coal miners have known that roof shales can deteriorate in contact with humid mine air, causing massive roof falls and injuries from falling rock. It is critical to recognize rocks prone to weathering and to adequately support these rocks in order to ensure the long-term stability of the openings. In a recent study, NIOSH has used a wet/dry cycling test to determine the moisture sensitivity of over 800 specimens of roof rock from 25 U.S. coal mines. Fireclays and some gray shales are the most moisture-sensitive. Rocks with disturbed bedding, in contrast to flat-bedded rocks, are also more sensitive to water. Black shales are relatively un-reactive to moisture and serve to protect more reactive gray shales above. Mines that have roof rocks with moisture-sensitivity indexes above 40% can experience slaking roof conditions, and many require high coverage surface controls. Three case studies are presented in which the moisture-sensitivity index is correlated to roof conditions underground, and can be used to indicate long term deterioration. Engineering measures are described to control moisture-sensitive roof. In one case, roof screen not only reduces injuries from rock fall but also is shown to reduce roof falls. Keywords: coal mining, roof control, slaking, roof support, rock falls

Jan 1, 2008

By Anthony J. Miscoe, William M. McKewan, Richard C. Wang

The behavior of wire ropes used in hoisting is not well understood. In an effort to improve this understanding, the structure of round-strand wire ropes was analyzed. This report provides a generalized mathematical model that completely describes the geometry of the wires. It consists of two sets of vector equations and is valid for any round-strand wire rope. One set of equations is used to trace the paths of wires that have the form of a single helix; the other is used for the paths of double helical wires. The specific model for a 33-mm 6×19 Seale, independent wire rope core (IWRC), right regular lay wire rope was presented as an example. The paths and the geometric properties of the wires, which include the path length per lay of strand, the curvature, and the torsion, were determined from this model. The effects of strain deformation were analyzed, resulting in a system of equations for determining the structural parameters of the deformed rope. In future work, the model could be used to analyze wire ropes of different constructions so that a more scientifically based understanding of rope behavior can be established.

Jan 9, 1998