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By John H. Soule

Although known since 1902 , the Capitan iron deposits have not been mined mainly because of the low grade of the ore . A small amount of exploratory work carried on at an early date was reported . C. E. Johnson , district engineer of the Bureau of lines for New, Mexico , visited this propert , and as a result of preliminary sampling and mapping by the Bureau3/ and the Federal Géological Survey , an exploratory project was conducted during March , April , and liay 1944. Further mapping and logging of the vagon -drill samples was done by V. C. Kelly , geologist , of the Survey .

Mar 1, 1947

By X. Chi, J. W. Griffith, C. L. Schengrund, J. Sabol

"Experiments were carried out to determine the long-term effect of instillation of 500 mg of generic bituminous, anthracite, quartz, or titanium dioxide (Ti02) dust on the composition of pulmonary surfactant. Dust was instilled in the caudal lobe of the right lungs of female pigtailed macaque monkeys (Macaca nemestrina). The composition of surfactant isolated from cell-free bronchoalveolar lavage (CF-BAL) samples obtained from right lungs (dust exposed) at various times over the following year was compared with that of surfactant isolated from CF-BAL from left lungs (dust free) . Little change was seen in the amount of surfactant-associated lipid phosphorus as a result of exposure to dust. Exposure to quartz, anthracite, or Ti02 dust induced a significant increase in the total amount of protein in the surfactant-enriched fraction. The relative amount of specific proteins was also altered: surfactant-associated protein A decreased, and the amount of the heavy and light chains of immunoglobulin molecules (identified by NHiterminal amino acid sequence analysis) increased. These changes were visible more than a year after instillation of quartz and at least 3 months after instillation of anthracite dust. Despite variation in the responses of the individual animals, the changes observed might serve as an indicator of the severity of the effect of exposure of the lung to mineral dust and/or to pathogens. IntroductionSurfactant is essential for normal pulmonary function and gas exchange. It functions to reduce surface tension and may help to prevent pulmonary edema [19] and to protect against infection [13]. The importance of surfactant to normal Jung function is illustrated by the fact that neonates lacking appropriate surfactant undergo respiratory distress and do not survive without clinical support."

Dec 1, 1996

By David D. Hottinger

Only a minimum amount of illumination is generally provided for many types of mobile surface mining equipment. This condition presents a hazard to operating personnel working on and around such equipment. To reduce this hazard MSHA has proposed safety regulations requiring minimum levels of illumination for hazardous zones on and in the immediate area surrounding surface mining equipment. This report describes a Bureau of Mines sponsored project demonstrating the feasibility and effectiveness of providing dragline illumination in compliance with the proposed MSHA regulations. A description of the computer aided design, on site installation and field evaluation of individual lighting systems for each of three different size draglines is presented

Jan 1, 1981

By R. M. Becker

THIS IS a progress report on a study of the application of statistical practice to mine and mineral sampling undertaken by the Federal Bureau of Mines to provide sound theoretical and practical data for use of the mineral engineering professions. One of the problems in mine sampling is determining the reliability of the results. For certain types of sampling data (random data) the reliability of the results can be stated mathematically. For other types of data there is no known means of quantitatively expressing reliability. In applying measures of reliability to a set of random data, some knowledge or assumption of the characteristics of the particular data is necessary. In many fields these characteristics are well known. However, in mining, where the data are in assays, these characteristics are not well known.

Jan 1, 1961

By John D. Spencer

Projects aimed at achieving the least disturbance to the Nation's air, water, and land resources in the mining and utilization of coal continued to be a feature of the Bureau of Mines coal program. This reflects the current concern about damage inflicted on the environment by our growing and increasingly affluent society. Mine Health and Safety research, along with investigations related to all other aspects of coal extraction and use, also continued to be implemented and expanded.

Jan 1, 1970

By J. R. Thoenen

This circular is part 3 of the third paper (entitled "Excavation") of a series summarizing the technical problem; involved in the production and preparation of sand and gravel. Part 1 discussed the use of power shovels, draglines, and excavator cranes. Fart 2 discussed the use of power scrapers, slackline cableway excavators, and hydraulic monitors. This circular discusses the use of the hydraulic, clamshell, ladder, and dipper dredge. Part 4 to follow will discus the use of haulage equipment, and subsequent parts will discuss the application of both excavating and haulage equipment to various types of deposits. HYDRAULIC DREDGE Judged by the number of installations and the tonnage produced, as recorded in part 1 of this circular, the hydraulic or pump dredge is the most popular type of underwater sand and gravel excavator.

Jan 1, 1935

The first metal-mine accident-prevention course was prepared and published in 1942-45 as a series of seven miners' circulars (Nos. 51-57). The scope of the course has been broadened, revised, and brought up to date, and it is being published as a similar series of seven miners' circulars (Nos. 51-57, revised) on accident prevention in metal and nonmetallic mines. These circulars are: Accident Statistics (Miners' Circular 51), dealing with general statistics on accidents and injuries at metal and nonmetallic mines, including causes, costs, and the uses of investigations and reports of all accidents.

Jan 1, 1955

By T. C. Campbell

This Bureau of Mines publication presents an analysis of information related to the transportation of bituminous coal by unit trains and slurry pipelines. Even for short hauls from mines to markets, transport costs frequently account for between one-third and one-half of the delivered price of coal. Minimizing these costs has become an even more critical objective for hauls from the western mines than for hauls from farther east. Factors related to minimizing costs and transporting the western coal receive special attention. Although no general rule of preference is likely to be developed that can be applied to all shipments, both rail and pipeline service will be needed on an increasing scale. The study should provide useful background information and analysis for government and industry in approaching investment decisions in the mining and transportation industries.

Jan 1, 1975

By D. G. Foot

The Bureau of Mines investigated energy-efficient methods for recovering potash values from process and waste brines. Laboratory pan evaporation of four chloride brines produced crude salts containing predominantly sylvite, halite, and carnallite. Six sulfate-chloride brines produced crude salts containing primarily schoenite, kainite, leonite, sylvite, carnallite, and halite. Potash grades ranged from 7.2 to 22.2 pct K20, and recoveries from 84 to 99 pct. Sylvite flotation from chloride evaporites, with amine collector, recovered 90 to 97 pct of the potash in a concentrate containing 54.3 to 60.3 pct K20. Fatty acid flotation of the high-sulfate evaporite recovered 78 pct of the sulfate minerals in a 27.8-pct-K20 concentrate. Flotation of the chloride minerals with amine collector recovered 80 pct of the potash in a 59.7-pct-K20 concentrate. Solar evaporation of 10,000 gal of brine recovered 99 pct of the potash in a crude evaporite containing 24.5 pct schoenite and 20 pct sylvite. Continuous flotation in a 100-lb/h process research unit recovered over 95 pct of the potash in schoenite and sylvite concentrates containing 28.0 and 62.3 pct K20, respectively. An economic evaluation suggested a rate of return of 3 pct for a new facility and 9 pct if. the process is adapted to fit an existing plant.

Jan 1, 1984

The Bureau of Mines has sponsored a comprehensive research program to enhance the safe, effective, and efficient use of blasting technology by the mining industry. Recent research results of the surface mine blasting program were presented at a seminar on April 25, 1987, in Chicago, IL. Many of the topics discussed at the seminar are presented in this proceedings. The new research described in these papers includes computer monitoring of rock motion, the influence of blast delay times on rock fragmentation, blasting effects on Appalachian water wells, blast vibration measurement near structures, and the reduction of accidents through improved blasting safety.

Jan 1, 1987

By J. S. Coffman

Wyoming is estimated to have more than 700 million tons and Utah more than 2.5 billion tons of +10 percent P2O6 phosphate rock considered to have some future economic potential. In Wyoming, the +24 and +18 percent P205 rock potential resources total nearly 250 and 450 million tons, respectively. In Utah, the +31, +24, and +18 percent rock total approximately 33 million, 222 million, and 2.2 billion tons, respectively. These resources are all located above the local drainage levels and do not include latent resources. All of the mining and beneficiation of phosphate rock in the two States is done by San Francisco Chemical Co. The facilities include open pit mines at Vernal, Utah, and Leefe, Wyo.; an underground mine in the Crawford Mountains, Utah, and beneficiation plants at Leefe and Vernal. One of the principal markets for the phosphate rock is Western Phosphates, Inc., fertilizer plant at Garfield, Utah. Recent exploration and development has been under-taken by different companies in the Southeastern Wind River Range, Sublette Range, and Crawford Mountains. The facilities at Leefe and Vernal are in the process of expansion. Some of the areas of western Wyoming contain vast quantities of phosphate rock in minable units, but, because of their remote location, are classed as latent areas. In these areas, there are estimated to be about 700 million, 2 billion, and 3 billion tons of phosphate rock in the +24, +18, and +10 percent P205 grade classes, respectively. The Snake River Range of Idaho and Wyoming is also estimated to contain roughly 21, 106, 177, and 214 million tons of potential resources in the +31, +24, +18, and +10 grade categories, respectively. This area also contains a large amount of latent rock in the more remote areas.

Jan 1, 1967

By E. Don Dilling, Wm. F. Hergert, J. W. Pennington, C. E. Wood, M. J. Slendlove, H. A. Doerner

"INTRODUCTION The Bureau of Mines began a study of various methods for producing magnesium metal from magnesite ores in 1936 at Pullman, Wash., with the cooperation of Washington State College. This work included a study of the basic principles involved in the reduction of magnesium oxide by carbon, which soon led to the development of a continuous process. In May 1939, a small pilot plant was operated, which included a small single-phase arc furnace with a hydraulic feed mechanism and an oil-spray device for shock cooling the metal vapor. 5/Subsequently, the Ford Motor. Co., Dearborn, Michigan, began a study of this process on a larger scale. A pilot plant with a nominal capacity of 10 pounds of magnesium metal per hour was constructed and operated intermittently. A larger unit with a nominal capacity of 100 pounds of magnesium per hour was partly constructed when war activities prevented experimental work.In the meantime, the process was greatly improved through continued investigation by the Bureau of Mines at Pullman, and these improvements were successfully tested by continuous operation in a small pilot plant having a normal capacity of 4 pounds an hour."

Aug 1, 1945

By Arno C. Fieldner

From July 1, 1949, to July 1, 1950, the Bureau of Mines conducted the research and technologic work on coal and coal products that is summarized in this report. The research, described in this fifteenth of a series of resumes, is presented in more detail in publications (see footnote references) that appeared during the fiscal year, though in some cases research data are given that have not been published elsewhere. Results of research in the experimental coal mine, on explosives, and on gas and dust explosions will be found in Bureau of Mines Report of Investigations 4228, Annual Report of Research and Technologic Work on Explosives, Explosions, and Flames, Fiscal Year 1950. An over-all view of our coal, oil, end natural-gas reserves was presented, and the future possibilities for the, production of synthetic liquid fuels from coal were delineated.3/

Jan 1, 1951

This report provides the results of an industrial engineering study that assessed the safety and efficiency of underground ore handling in U.S. metal mines. One of the primary findings of the study was the improvement needed in controlling muck size in the ore handling stream. Oversize ore causes much additional labor, creating work stoppages and is a principal cause of accidents in metal mines. This report includes data on block caving, back cut and fill room and pillar, shrinkage stoping, and sublevel stoping.

Jan 1, 1974

By J. F. Neill, O&apos

[The Cartersville mining district is in Bartow County, Ga., about 40 miles northwest of Atlanta. Barite, limonite, ocher, amber, hematite, and, manganese oxide ores have been produced from the strict since about 1840. In the search for a possible source of manganese ore, Bureau of Mines engineers made a preliminary study of the district from September 1950 to January 1951. During this study 139 deposits were examined, and many mineral exposures were sampled. Manganese mineralization occurs as fine oxide and concretionary pellets in residual clays, as fine oxides in umberous clay, in brown-iron deposits, and in a limited quantity in mud ponds and Jig-tailing piles. The future supply of ferrograde manganese ore from the district, using current mining and benefication methods, appears limited to the recovery of the hard manganese ores deposits. Rough estimates indicate a reserve of manganese-bearing clays of about 8,000,000 long tons. This type of deposit has been extensively exploited and the larger deposits mined out to depths of from 50 to 200 feet. The remainder of these deposits are low grade, are covered with deep layers of colluvium, or lie below the ground-water table. Any future production from this source will require systematic prospecting, improved concentration, and an increase in the price of concentrate.]

Jan 1, 1954

By Y. H. Cheng, D. M. Lewis, V. Castranova, M. W. Barger, J. K. H. Ma, J. Y. C. Ma, W. F. Xin

Bis-basic ethers off fluorene and fluoren-9-substituted derivatives such as tilorone have been reported to inhibit silica-induced fibrosis in rats. The potential antifibrotic potency of 2,7-bis (diethylamino) ethixy fluorine fluorenone (F-9-H.H), fluorenoxime (F-9-one), and fluorenol (F-9-ol) was F-9-axime > F-9-one ~ F-9-H,H > F-9-ol. Since the release of reactive oxygen species and growth factors from alveolar macrophages (AM) in response to silica exposure has been linked to the development of pulmonary fibrosis, the present study was carried out to determine the inhibitory effects of these compounds on rat AM activity in vitro. The following parameters were monitored: (1) cellular viability; (2) zymosan-induced respiratory burst activity (superoxide and hydrogen peroxide release, chemiluminescence, and oxygen consumption) of AM; (3) drug binding to AM; and (4) lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated interleukin- I (IL-1) release from AM. The bis-basic ethers, at 40 did not affect cell viability when incubated with AM for 30 min, but significantly inhibited zymosan-induced macrophage respiratory burst activity. The inhibitory effect of these agents was F-9-oxime > F-9-one ~F-9-H,H > F-9-ol. Binding of these drugs to AM was time and dose dependent, and exhibited the following binding affinity: F-9-oxime > F-9-one > F-9-H,H > F-9-ol. F-9- oxime was shown to inhibit LPS-stimulated IL-I release by AM in a dose-dependent manner. This inhibition of IL-1 release by AM cannot be explained as a decrease in viability. In addition, these drugs were also shown to impair human fibroblast proliferation in response to serum stimuli without impairing cell viability. These results indicate a positive correlation between drug binding to AM or other cell types and their inhibitory effects on cellular activities including oxygen consumption, superoxide release, hydrogen peroxide secretion, chemiluminescence, IL-I release, and proliferation. The ability of-these bis-basic ethers to modify AM and fibroblast functions in vitro suggests that further investigation of their reported antifibrotic potency in vivo is warranted.

Dec 1, 1996

By Raymond P. Miller

This two volume report addresses slope stability of surface mine spoils within the Interior Coal Province. Sixteen (16) mines were visited, pertinent data and samples collected, and reported spoil instabilities back-analyzed. Laboratory test results are compared to back-analyzed material properties. Available methods of slope stability analysis are reviewed and evaluated with respect to application to mine spoil stability evaluation and prediction. Correlation and tentative relationships among spoil material properties, highwall conditions, mining equipment and procedures and empirical observations are presented. Slope stability sensitivity plots illustrate the relative significance of various input parameters on stability. Slope stability input parameters are correlated with site and mining conditions to identify the primary factors controlling spoil stability. Investigative methods, spoil stability enhancement techniques, spoil stability prediction procedures and future study areas are discussed. Appendices include a glossary of terms, annotated bibliography, details of mine visits, and detailed laboratory test procedures and results.

Jan 1, 1979

Study to develop a new and more cost effective equipment system, incorporating a winch-pulled dozer blade, for leveling spoil and performing reclamation of area strip mines.

Jan 1, 1975

By Peter G. Chamberlain

The surge in gold and silver prices during the 1970's attracted many new mining operators and has rekindled interest among experienced ones. With its low capital investment requirements and fast payout, leaching has attracted many operators--particularly those with small or low- grade deposits. Although in certain situations leaching offers many advantages over conventional mining methods, many operators are uncertain how these relatively new techniques should be implemented. Consequently the Bureau of Mines has prepared this circular to disseminate information on gold and silver leaching practices, techniques, and problem. Engineering data gathered from 26 operations indicate that most ores are leached in heaps following crushing and distribution on pads. Metal values are recovered from cyanide leach solutions using either zinc precipitation or charcoal adsorption. Potential problems that my hamper on block development of a leaching operation are poor percolation characteristics of the ore, calcium salt buildup, low temperatures, and solution losses. An extensive bibliography on gold and silver leaching is appended.

Jan 1, 1984

By W. F. Wyman, S. F. Ravitz

"INTRODUCTION By far the greater part of the high-grade manganese ore used in the United States is imported from overseas. During the early part of the recent World War importations of manganese ore were seriously threated, and it appeared that it would be necessary to utilize low-grade domestic ores to the fullest possible extent. Among the processes that appeared to offer the best possibilities for beneficating low-grade domestic oxide manganese ores, which ordinarily are net readily amenable concentration by ore-dressing methods, were those involving leaching with sulfur dioxide. The Bureau of Mines therefore investigated the amenability of a large number of such ores to sulfur dioxide leaching.Several sulfur dioxide processes for beneficiating low-grade oxide manganese ores have been proposed. 3/ One of these, based on a patent by Van Arsdale and Maier, 4/ was used recently in a plant constructed to treat 1,000 tons per day of 20-percent manganese ore from the Three Kids deposit near Las Vegas, Nev. 5/ In this process the ore slurry is leached with sulfur dioxide gas, the resulting solution is evaporated to crystallize the manganese sulfate, the crystals are decomposed thermally to produce high-grade manganese oxide and regenerate sulfur dioxide, and the manganese oxide product is nodulized. The Bureau of Mines has recently developed a process 6/ in which a suspension of the ore in calcium dithionate solution is leached with dilute S02 gas, the manganese is recovered from the resulting solution by a simple lime precipitation, and the precipitate is nodulized or sintered to form a high-grade manga¬nese oxide product."

Jun 1, 1947