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By A. U. Miller

Definite progress has been made in accident prevention in Illinois during the past few years; the State Department of Mines and Minerals is receiving excellent cooperation from coal companies and employees, the companies are making greater effort to maintain their mines in good condi- tion, and the employees are eliminating more unsafe practices. As a result, some coal companies have made commendable safety records that prove that coal can be mined with a comparatively low accident rate. However, there is need for further improvement, as the accident rate of the State as a whole is much higher than it should be. During the 55-year period 1882-1936, in- clusive, reports of the State Department of Mines and Minerals show a total of 7,005 (an average of 127.36 per year) men killed in and around the coal mines. Of this number, 6,425 (91.7 percent) were killed underground, 346 (4.9 percent) in the shaft, and 234 (3.3 percent) on the surface. Of the fatalities underground, 3,300 (51.3 percent) were killed by falls of roof, sides, or face coal, 1,167 (18.1 percent) by haulage, 639 (9.9 percent) by handling explosives, 579 (9 percent) by explosions, 151 (2.3 percent) by electricity, and 589 (9.1 percent) by other means. Of the fatalities in the shaft, 171 men (46.5 percent) were killed by falling down the shaft, 14 (41.6 percent) by the cage, and 31 (8.9 percent) otherwise. On the surface, 113 (48.2 percent) of the fatalities were due to railroad cars, 51 (21.7 percent) to machinery, and 70 (29.9 percent) to other causes. The fact that 7,005 lives (an average of 127.36 per year) were lost during 1882-1936 is sufficient evidence that in the past too little interest has been taken in safety by either the management or workers. A realization of this deplorable loss of life should act as an incentive to the industry to make greater effort to prevent accidents in the future. After an accident occurs, the facts pertaining to it become history, and anything that may be done afterward cannot change in any way the damage that has already been done, such as loss of life, personal injury, and destruction of property. The main benefit that can be derived from an acci- dent is that suitable procedure may be adopted and some lesson may be learned to aid in preventing a similar accident in the future. All accidents, par- ticularly serious ones, therefore should be investigated and an effort made

Apr 1, 1938

Mine drainage and mine reclamation are topics of major interest to the mining industry, federal and local governments, and the general public. This publication and its companion three volumes are the proceedings of a conference held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 24-29, 1994. There were twelve sessions (69 papers) that dealt with mine drainage, including modeling, geochemistry, prediction, treatment, control strategies, characterization, hydrology, and case studies. These sessions comprise volumes 1 and 2. The six sessions (34 papers) that dealt with reclamation and revegetation of disturbed lands are included in volume 3. Volume 4 includes the six sessions (34 papers) that dealt with such topical issues as fires at abandoned mine sites, subsidence, hydrology, mine wastes, and policy. Poster session presentations are represented by 49 papers and 92 abstracts that have been placed in the back of volumes 2, 3, and 4, consistent with the subject of that volume.

Jan 1, 1994

The wealth of a nation can be measured many ways, but one of the most important measures is its natural resources, particularly minerals. Minerals provide the foundation upon which economic prosperity and defense preparedness rest. Assessing our energy and mineral resources and assuring their development is in the best interests of all our people continues to be an important national goal. Since its founding in 1910, the U.S. Bureau of Mines has established itself as the world's premier minerals information and research agency. Its authoritative, comprehensive data and pioneering research have contributed significantly to a strong U.S. mineral position in the world.

Jan 1, 1990

By LeRoy R. Curwick

This Bureau of Mines report presents the results of a study conducted to assess the domestic availability of chromium from superalloy and cast heat- and corrosion-resistant alloy scrap material. Six alloy classes included in this survey were investment cast, hardfacing, and wrought nickel- and cobalt-base alloys, wrought nickel-iron-base alloys, and heat- and corrosion-resistant alloy castings. Data were collected for 1976 on metallic scrap generation, use patterns, and production practices for these alloy producing and using industries. A model was developed that allowed an assessment of the materials flow circuits within the industries that produce these alloys. The types, amounts, sources, secondary products, and ultimate destinations of chromium- containing metallic scrap for the six alloy classes were determined. Regarding the overall recycling efficiency of these alloy producing and using industries, of the 580.9 million pounds of scrap generated from these six alloy classes in 1976, about 72 percent (416.8 million pounds) was remelted by the same alloy-producing industries, about 18 percent (104.9 million pounds) was downgraded into stainless and low-alloy steels, about 3 percent (19.7 million pounds) was exported, and about 7 percent (39.5 million pounds) was lost through landfill or other disposal or service wastage. The lost material is primarily contaminated oxides for which recovery is currently uneconomic. However, the 124.6 million pounds of scrap material downgraded or exported in 197b contained potentially recoverable critical strategic elements. The amount of scrap material lost to the six alloy-producing industries in this manner contained 22.1 million pounds of chromium, 53.4 million pounds of nickel, 5.9 million pounds of cobalt, 35.9 million pounds of iron, and 7.3 million pounds of other alloying elements.

Jan 1, 1980

By F. A. Penning

A number of highly instrumented free fall tests were performed on an arrestment system for a man cage in a vertical shaft. Tests were conducted in the U.S. Bureau of Mines free fall test tower at the Colorado School of Mines. A single tooth safety dog was used to stop on 4x6-in. Keruing (Phillipine mahogany) wet and dry wood guides. The safety dog had a penetration depth of 1 in., an adjustable width from 1-1/2 to 2-1/4 in., and a tooth angle of 80 deg. Twenty-seven free fall tests were performed covering a range in weights from 3-1/2 to 10-1/2 tons, hoisting velocities from 850 to 1350 feet per minute. Average g loads were measured from a low of 0.6 to a high of 3.4. The electronic instrumentation included piezoelectric and seismic mass accelerometers, strain gages on structural and mechanical elements, load cells in the guides, and distance measuring. Computer analysis was used to correlate with experimental measurements used to calculate stress. A statistical analysis gave no indication that the velocity or area affected the wood crushing stress. The instrumentation revealed a chatter occurring during the stop as shown by the accelerometers, strain gages, and load cells. Additional work is required to analyze this newly discovered phenomenon. The chatter imposes loads much higher than the average g load.

Jan 1, 1980

By E. L. Garton

The Bureau of Mines for a number of years bas been conducting an investigation of crude petroleum from producing fields in the United States and the Western Hemisphere and has published a series of reports on these fields. Analyses of crude-oil samples from many oil fields of Oklahoma are given in Bulletin 2915. Analyses of 21 representative crude oils from various producing zones of the Oklahoma City field are given in this report. A close study of the analyses reveals very few differences in the general characteristics and chemical properties of these oils.

Jan 1, 1932

By Llewellyn A. Rubin

ROUTINES AND SUBROUTINES A- 1 Wait Loop (Wait) A- 2 Receiver Processing (RCVP) A- 3 Control Panel Sequence (CPNL) A-4 Interrupt Routine (INTRP) A- 5 Math Processing Routine (PROC) A-6 Input Constants for Math Routine (CONI) A-7 Angle Conversion Routines (LVERT) A- 8 Display Routine (DSPY) A- 9 Message Print Auxillary Routine (MESSO) A-10 Auxillary Subroutines (AFUTC and AGETC)

Jan 1, 1973

The design, specification, and performance evaluation of the Communications and Location portions of a Coal Mine Rescue and Survival System are described. The work was performed as part of a nine month effort to develop a mine rescue and survival system using existing technology and state -of-the -art hardware as recommended by the National Academy of Engineering. Three basic subsystems were developed, one for survival, one for communications/location and one for rescue. This report and related equipment manuals describe only the Communications/ Location Subsystem which was designed, fabricated, and tested by the Westinghouse Georesearch Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado. Two basic technologies were used. Electromagnetic signals propagating through-the-earth provide voice downlink and coded beacon up-link communications. Seismic methods were developed to provide means for locating trapped miners. Seismic signalling also provides a backup means for communications. Parallel development programs for the electromagnetic and seismic portions of the system were conducted. The resulting hardware and software have been partially tested in coal mines and under simulated emergency conditions in order to evaluate system performance. The results of these tests are discussed. Further testing is recommended in order to establish quantitative performance limitations tinder a variety of environmental conditions and to develop methods for improving system performance.

Jan 1, 1971

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) defines an independent contractor as any person, partnership, corporation, subsidiary of a corporation, firm, association or other organization that contracts to perform services or construction at a mine. Contractors that perform specific types of work are required to report the number of employees who work at coal mines and noncoal mines.

Jan 1, 2008

By K. C. Dean

During the investigations of the occurrence of manganese in the Western United States, a Bureau of Mines examining engineer collected samples frame two properties in Beaver County, Utah. As 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. The Steelville property is about 37 miles southwest of Frisco, Utah. The deposit is an example of manganese occurring as a replacement of limestone in a bedded vein or as layers in limestone associated with shale and rock decomposition products. The Susie Q deposit, about 33 miles southwest of Milford, Utah, is also a tabular replacement deposit in limestone, apparently of limited extent. Test work was done on representative samples of 2-ton lots obtained by the examining 'engineer from each of the properties mentioned.

Jan 1, 1951

By L. A. Neumeier

Sound experimental ingots of zinc alloys for use as rolling slabs were cast with a specially constructed, semicontinuous casting machine. Nominal alloy compositions of Zn-1.0 percent Cu, Zn-0.12 and 0.36 percent Ti, and Zn-1.0 percent Cu-0.03 to 0.36 percent Ti were cast. This Bureau of Mines study was conducted to evaluate the suitability of the casting procedure for providing stock for rolling into sheet. Microscopic examination of ingot sections revealed structures in which grain size varied from the outer to center ingot zones. Columnar grains present in the center zone of the Zn-1.0 percent Cu ingot were absent in the titanium-containing ingots. The ingots with titanium displayed a finer grain size and eutectic structure in the center ingot zone than in the outer zone; the transition in grain size between the two zones was quite abrupt in some ingots. The overall grain size of the titanium-containing ingots was finer than that of alloys cast by more conventional methods. Chemical analysis revealed that compositional segregation is not a significant factor in the formation of the ingot structure. Microstructural studies of small ingots of similar alloys solidified at slow, fast, and intermediate rates confirmed that the ingot structure in the semicontinuous-cast ingots is related to cooling rate, which is, in turn, related to the particular casting machine design and the influx of cooling water on the withdrawing ingots. Microstructures of thin sheet hot-rolled from slabs of the semicontinuous-cast ingots demonstrated that the ingot structure does not preclude the rolling of sheet having a uniform microstructure. Results of hardness surveys of the semicontinuous-cast ingots demonstrated that copper and titanium exert essentially additive hardening effects in these cast alloys.

Jan 1, 1968

By R. L. Stein

For the past several years, the Bureau of Mines has been actively engaged in developing two new oxygen self-rescuers through research contracts with private industry. These new oxygen self-rescuers are designed to be carried by a miner while he is at work and are used during emergency escape, supplying high-purity oxygen to the user and, at the same time, absorbing carbon dioxide (C02), The first of the two new self-rescue breathing devices is a 10-minute, self-contained apparatus developed by the Mine Safety Appliance Co, Size and weight of the unit are comparable to the currently used self-rescue devices. The second device, designed and developed by Lockheed Missiles and Space Corp., is 8. 4.5-lb package which supplies 1 hour of oxygen to the miner. Both devices have a canister which contains the oxygen-producing and CO2-absorbing potassium superoxide chemical, a breathing bag, a bite-type mouthpiece, noseclip, goggles, and hoses connecting the canister and mouthpiece. When needed in an emergency, the miner removes the outer protective cover and dons the unit. For both devices oxygen is immediately available once the mouthpiece is placed in the mouth. These two new units have received prototype approval from the National Institute for Occupation and Safety Health (NIOSH) and the Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration (MESA).

Jan 1, 1976

By Lawrence K. Requa

The property being worked by the Lewiston dredge of Placer Development (Ltd.) is on the Trinity River in Trinity County, Calif., about 9 miles north of the town of Lewiston (see fig. 1). The nearest rail point is at Rending, Calif., which is exactly 50 miles bar road from the dredge camp. Recently a very good section of State highway has been constructed from Redding to Weaverville, and it is now possible to use this highway for 35 miles of the distance between the dredging property and Redding. The remaining 15 miles, however, are over ordinary dirt road. No trouble is experienced in reaching the property except for a few weeks during the middle of the winter when snowstorms may make travel difficult but not impossible. At present the property consists of about 500 acres of patented land, which extends for about 3 miles along the main Trinity River and Stuart's Pork. It is being worked with one 7-cubic foot, Bucyrus-type dredge, which has an average monthly capacity of about 100,000 cubic yards. To the end of 1931 approximately 10,000,000 cubic yards of gravel had been dredged.

Jan 1, 1932

By Wilbert J. Huff

The work of the Explosives Division, Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1939, is described in the following pages. This paper is the fourth of a series of annual reports covering the activities of the division since July 1, 1936. The studies outlined in this and preceding reports of the series have been conducted under the direction of the author and the respective unit leaders to whom specific credit is indicated.

Jan 1, 1940

By D. E. Sullivan

The Bureau of Mines investigated the availability of potash from 68 mines and deposits in 12 market economy countries (MEC's) containing, at the demonstrated resource level, approximately 11.7 billion metric tons (mt) of potash in assay terms of contained K2O; K2O as used by industry as a standard of comparison for the different forms of potash. These resources include almost 190 million mt in the United States, 9.63 billion mt in Canada, approximately 430 million mt in Western Europe (France, Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom), 1.24 billion mt in the Middle East (Israel and Jordan) and over 220 million mt in other countries (Brazil, Chile, and the Congo). This analysis his determined that future production of potash in MEC?s will most likely continue to be from the large resources associated with producing operations in Canada. Based solely on the demonstrated resources included in this study, potash mining in the United States would decline while overseas production from MEC's can continue into the next century at near current production levels. However, timely development of new or inferred resources would offset any such decline. Producing mines in Canada have the resources to increase and maintain increased production well into the next century. For U.S. potash users, Canada is a long-term stable and secure source.

Jan 1, 1986

By A. F. Jolly

In an effort to better predict the useful service life of friction rock stabilizer mine roof bolts in coal mine environments, the Bureau of Mines has evaluated the corrosion resistance of stabilizer steels in air-saturated and deaerated waters from seven Eastern and Midwestern underground coal mines. Accelerated electrochemical corrosion tests were used to estimate corrosion rates for the two high-strength, low-alloy (HSLA) steels used to fabricate Split Set stabilizers and for galvanized steel. Long-term static-immersion weight-loss tests were also conducted with the HSLA steels. Corrosion rates developed from the weight-loss tests (steady-state air dissolution) were roughly comparable to rates determined from electro-chemical testing in aerated waters. Although the highest rates occurred in waters with the highest chloride contents, rates in the other waters were low (<2.0 mpy) and exhibited little correlation to the widely varied chloride contents of the waters. The generally low corrosion rates are attributed in part to the tendency to deposit a protective CaC03 film, reflecting susceptibility to carbonate precipitation as indicated by positive Langelier (saturation) index values for the waters. With one exception, corrosion rates for the galvanized steel were (2.0 mpy. Rates with aerated waters were higher than those with deaerated waters. Pitting tendencies of the steels were also estimated.

Jan 1, 1987

By R. R. Sayers

A series of coal- mine catastrophes in the latter part of the first decade of this century focused public attention on the need for safety in mines and resulted in the establishment of the Federal Bureau of Mines , whose primary function was to promote safety and improve hygienic conditions of workers in the mineral and related industries . These activities are carried out by the Safety Division of the Bureau's Health and Safety Service . In general , the work performed by the Safety Division personnel may be classified as educational and investigative . Instruction is given in accident prevention for mine officials and miners ; first aid to the injured ; the use and care of oxygen breathing apparatus ; and advanced mine rescue and recovery operations . A specialized safety course is offered to the petroleum and gas industries . Division personnel also aids in or directs rescue and recovery work after mine fires and explosions ; assists at first - aid and mine rescue contests ; conducts safety exhibits and demonstrations ; and presents safety talks , often accompanied by sound safety motion pictures or latern slides , before employee and official groups , at meetings of Holmes safety chapters , at mining institutes , and at other safety or technical gatherings . Coal - mine fires and explosions are investigated , as well as quarry or metalmine explosions and fires , miscellaneous accidents , health and safety hazards , and safety conditions at mines and plants ; safety devices are investigated and developed . Field studies cover ventilation , methods of allaying suspended coal - dust particles , prevention of dust accumulations , the proper use of rock dust to prevent or limit explosions , explosives practices , and the care and use of underground equipment . The results of these studies and investigations are widely applied in the various training courses and are prepared as reports and recommendations , which are submitted to interested persons or are combined and distributed to the public as bulletins , technical papers , miners ' circulars , information circulars , and reports of investigations . These studies also afford a basis for the development of new or modification of old Safety Decisions of the Mine Safety Board of the Bureau of Mines . The following pages review the accomplishments of the division as regards safety during 1942,2/ with like information for a series of recent years and summaries to date . A striking feature of the division's work has been the safety education of more than 1-1/2 million persons who have taken first -aid and mine rescue training courses . That these efforts over a period of 3 decades have been successful is revealed by the decline in coal - mine fatality rates and a somewhat smaller decrease in metal - mining and quarrying fatality rates .

Apr 1, 1943

By William Seymour, L. D. Schmidt, J. W. Myers, W. T. Reid

"This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Mines as part of a program of the Solid Fuels Administration to encourage the utilization of anthracite fines, the objective being to determine the practicability of using anthracite fines in the manufacture of packagedThe experimental loss of packaged fuel covered by this report were made at a commercial plant using the Glenn Smith process and ordinarily making packaged fuel from Pocahontas screenings. These lots included several made from straight antimacite mines and others made from various blends of anthracite fines with four different bituminous coals. In all cases an asphalt binder was used. Determinations of the physical properties and the cobustion characteristics o the various samples of packaged fuel were made by the. Bureau of Mines at the Central Experiment Station.The physical tests indicated that a packaged fuel of sufficient strength for ordinary handling can be made from straight anthracite coal or from a wide variety of blends of anthracite fixes with bitunimous coal, using asphaltic binder. However the combustion tests indicated that packaged fuel made from anthracite alone tended to crumble excessively during burning and that as much as 30 to 50 percent of a caking coal may be required In the mixture to produce a block having satisfactory combustion characteristics.The authors wish to acknowledge the. splendid cooperation of Messrs. H. W. Kelly, J. L. Mooney and C. H. Stoss of Columbus, Ohio, who were chiefly responsible for obtaining the materials and making all the arrangements necessary for the production of the packaged fuel for testing.Thanks are due to the officials of Carnegie Institute of Technology for the use of their Olsen. Testing Machine and to H. M. Cooper and W. A. Selvig of the Bureau of Mines for analyses and tests."

May 1, 1946

This status report contains 39 individual reports on health and safety research projects now being conducted or recently completed by the Bureau of Mines. The Reports on health research cover industrial hygiene, respirable dust, ventilation, noise control, and radiation hazards. The safety research reports cover industrial hazards, ground control, fire and explosion prevention, and methane control. Each report includes background information, a discussion of research progress, and an assessment of each project&apos;s current status.

Jan 1, 1979

By William N. Hale

This Bureau of Mines report gives a detailed study of water usage in the Montana mineral industries, along with projections for the future. The mineral industry of Montana in 1963 used 36.5 billion gallons of new water, and reused or recirculated an additional 53.5 billion gallons for a total water requirement or usage of 90 billion gallons. The petroleum industry was the major water user, followed by the copper and zinc industries. Many mineral industry operators provide their own water, and new water is withdrawn largely from surface sources. At present, sufficient water is available in rivers, streams, and reservoirs in Montana; however, shortages do exist locally near mineral industry operations using large quantities of water. Some is supplied from sources up to 44 miles distant. New water withdrawn by the State of Montana mineral industry is expected to increase from 36.5 billion gallons in 1963 to 51.1 billion gallons by the year 2000. The total-water requirement is expected to more than double, or reach 182 billion gallons by the year 2000.

Jan 1, 1966