Search Documents

After more than 20 years dependence on bituminous coal as a primary fuel for generating electricity, the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company initiated a one-year study on the economics of building an electric generating station using anthracite as a fuel. The study will be completed in December 1976. If the feasibility study so indicates, PP&L will consider installing four 400,000 kilowatt generating units for scheduled commercial operation in 1985. Each unit would consume up to one million tons of anthracite annually. Anthracite generally is more difficult and expensive to extract than bituminous coal, but it has a significantly lower sulfur content than the bituminous coal currently being used by PP&L, thereby eliminating the costs of installing sulfur emission controls at generating stations. Moreover, significant reductions in transportation costs may be realized because the utility's operating territory is situated in the center of the anthracite region in northeastern Pennsylvania. These advantages may indicate that the use of anthracite is more economical than bituminous coal to PP&L. ASBESTOS -Asbestos production in the U.S. dropped again in 1975 until it was just two-thirds of that in 1973. This was in spite of the very strong demand caused by the Quebec strike. The 7-month strike of the asbestos miners in Thetford Mines, Quebec cut off 55 percent of the normal supply of U.S. consumers. Apparent domestic consumption was less than 75 percent of that in 1974. The wage settlement will probably result in a 20 percent increase in asbestos prices.

Jan 1, 1975

By R. C. Hickman

"INTRODUCTION The largest known deposits of ilmenite and rutile in Virginia are in Amherst and Nelson Counties. Other deposits occur in the State, but their extent is not known. One of the most promising of the latter is the deposit in Roanoke County on the T. M. Bush and the H. L. Hutchins property near Roanoke. A geophysical survey was made of the deposit, followed by core drilling. In April and May 1946, four holes were drilled, totaling 822 linear feet.ACKNOWLEDGMENTSIn its program of exploration of mineral deposits, the Bureau of Mines has as its primary objective the more effective utilization of our mineral resources to the end that they make the greatest possible contribution to national security and economy. It is the policy of the Bureau to publish the facts developed by each exploratory project as soon as practicable after its conclusion. The Mining Branch, Lowell B. Moon, chief, conducts preliminary examinations, performs the actual exploratory work, and prepares the final report. The Metallurgical Branch, Oliver C. Ralston, chief, analyzes samples and performs beneficiation tests.The project was under the immediate supervision of Mitchell H. Kline, chief, Raleigh Division, Mining Branch,. Bureau of Mines."

Aug 1, 1947

By Oren C. Baptist

[Several new oilfields have been developed in northwestern Wyoming during the past 10 years, production is obtained from discontinuous, permeable sands enclosed within impermeable shales. The energy to drive the oil to producing wells in supplied by gas in solution in the oil. Most of the wells had high-initial potentials, but rates of oil production have steadily declined, indicating a dissipation of the driving energy and the possibility that large volumes of oil will remain unrecovered in the reservoirs. The studies reported in this paper were undertaken to develop laboratory data of the type most likely to be needed by persons studying the susceptibility of the Newcastle sand reservoir to secondary-recovery methods.]

Jan 1, 1957

By Willard L. Hunter

A series of steel heats, one low-alloy and nine carbon, was made by the Bureau of Mines in a 1-ton arc furnace from ferrous scrap from incinerated refuse, steel cans, and detinned steel cans, both alone and blended with heavy-melting scrap. Two additional control heats, one of carbon steel and one of low-alloy steel, were made from electric furnace heavy-melting scrap to pro-vide comparative data. The steel products were cast into two 4-by 4-inch nominal 50-pound ingots; in most heats, an 8-by 8-inch nominal 7S0-pound ingot was also obtained. Tests of these ingots indicated that reinforcing bars of acceptable quality can be made from urban refuse components such as steel cans.

Jan 1, 1976

By Charles Sabine

In 1984 and 1985 at the request of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Bureau of Mines studied a 27,420-acre part of the 36,600-acre Southern Inyo Wilderness Study Area, CA-010-056, in order to evaluate the mineral resources. The study area is located in Inyo County, CA, near the town of Lone Pine, about 180 miles north of Los Angeles. The study area takes in most of the western slope of the southern Inyo Mountains. Terrain is steep and rugged; the climate is arid. The study area is underlain by folded and faulted marine sedimentary rocks dating from Ordovician to Triassic, Triassic volcanic rocks, and Jurassic to Cretaceous plutonic rocks. Most mineralization was along faults and shear zones in sedimentary rocks. The study area includes most of the Russ and Lone Pine mining districts which produced over one million dollars in gold, silver, lead, and zinc, mostly between 1860 and 1890. A few mines produced ore as late as 1951. Most production was from the Reward, Silver Spur, Long John, and Pennsylvania mines which are outside the study area. Presently, there is no mining activity in the study area; some development work was done at the Reward mine between 1981 and 1984. Dolomite marble is quarried from the base of the range outside the study area. There are currently about 70 mining claims in the study area.

Jan 1, 1986

By Edward F. Courtney

Loss of life, loss of sight, crippling injuries, and property damage nearly always result from accidents involving explosives. The severity of such accidents has prompted lawmaking bodies to pass laws concerning the transportation, handling, and use of explosives; manufacturers of explosives publish manuals 'describing explosives and practical methods of handling then; and mining companies and others who use large quantities of explosives publish rules based on actual experience for the guidance of their employees. Careless storage of explosives by thoughtless or incompetent persons, particularly if they are left where children or saboteurs have access 'to them, has led to many serious accidents. Many contractors and mining operators who use explosives are extremely careless about storing them. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss the explosive-handling practices of a large western mining company, which are considered better than most.

Jan 1, 1946

By Van E. Shaw, D. J. Bauer

Conversion of euxenite concentrate to sulfates with sulfuric acid and solvent extraction of the yttrium- rare - earth mixture with EHPA were studied to determine extraction and separation characteristics . Digestion with 3.5 pounds of 96 percent sulfuric acid per pound of concentrate at 336 ° C for 4 hours resulted in an easily handled product with a yield in excess of 98 per- A thorium- free product was obtained by calcining the sulfated material for 3.5 hours at 650 ° C prior to leaching with water . Di ( 2 - ethylhexyl ) phosphoric acid solvent is an effective extractant with preference for cerium ( IV ) and heavy - group rare - earth elements including yttrium . Separation of complex rare - earth mixtures into light- and heavy - group fractions is feasible , and these fractions can be further processed to isolate ytterbium , neodymium , and dysprosium by changing processing conditions to obtain separation factors greater than two between these and adjacent elements .

Jan 1, 1965

By Lloyd A. Morley, Robert Stefanko

1 Abaibanel, S , "Deflection of Confining Walls by Explosive Loads," Israel Jour. Technology, vol. 4, n. 1, Feb 1966. 2 Albertoni, S and others, "Numerical Computation Methods for Implosion Processes," EURATOM Proc. of the Conf. on Megagauss Magnetic Field Generation by Explosives and Related Experiments, Milan (Italy), July, 1966. 3 Alexander, S. J , and Hambly, E. C., "Design of Structures to Withstand Gaseous Explosions," Concrete, vol. 4, n 2, Feb. and March, 1970. 4 Anonymous (Belgium Institute of Extractive Industries), "Report for 1968 (covering approved equipment for Belgiums gassy coal mines)," (in French and Flemish), Amales des Mines de Belgigue, n. 6, June, 1969. 5. Anonymous (Ghent Univ., Belgium), "The Welding of Very Thick Steels. Margin of Uncertainty of the Robertson Test," EURATOM Contract 042-61-9-RDB, May 20, 1965. 6. Anonymous, "Inportance of the Nature and Size of Weld Defects with Regard to the Mechanical Strength of Pressure Vessels, (in Flemish), A. Sys. Rev. Soudure, vol. 27, n. 3, 1971. 7. Anonymous (Raentgen Technische Dienst N V., Rotterdam), "Non¬Destructive Welding," Quarterly Report No 13, EURAEC - 1342, March 30, 1965. 8. Anonymous (Staff, USBM Safety Research Center), "Research and Technologic Work on Explosives, Explosions, and Flames: Fiscal year 1969," USBM IC8492, 1970. 9. Anonymous, "Symposium on Flameproofing Intrinsic Safety and Other Safeguards in Electrical Instrument Practice, April 27, 1962," IEEE Conf. Report Ser. 3, 1963. 10. Anonymous, "Unfired Pressure Vessels," ASME Pressure Vessel Code, Sec. 8, 1965. 11. Anonymous, "Unusual Pressure Relief Devices," Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, vol 54, n. 1, Jan., 1962. 12. Archer, G. L., "Design to Avoid Brittle Fracture in Welded Structures," Paper No. 4, Improving Welded Prod Design, vol. 1, Welding Inst., Cambridge, England, 1971. 13. Bailey, F. C., "Buckling and Failure Strength of Plating Panels Loaded in Shear," Final Report NASA Contract NObs-72290, Lessels and Assoc., Inc., Waltham, Mass., Sept. 20, 1963.

Jan 1, 1974

By Edward L. McHugh

The appraisal of mineral resources of the Challis National Forest, Idaho, by the U.S. Bureau of Mines, was made so that the mineral resources of the forest could be appropriately considered in land use planning. Information from this study is intended to help the U.S. Forest Service to incorporate mineral resource data into forest plans. The study was done in conjunction with the U.S. Geological Survey, which released a companion report on the geology and mineral potential of the Challis National Forest in 1989. Mineral development activity in and under the Challis National Forest has been of great economic significance to Idaho and the United States. Since the 1960's, mines within the forest have produced mineral commodities worth more than $590 million A current (1989) commodity prices. Identified mineral resources have a gross value of about $2 billion at current prices, including 8 strategic or critical minerals. The U.S. Bureau of Mines study identified and described 723 active and inactive mineral properties within the forest. Mineral properties with identified resources were evaluated to determine their economic significance, and an assessment was made of the feasibility of mineral development. Of the 2,516,191 acres in the Challis National Forest, about 390,000 acres were classified as having mining development interest commercially important mineral production, mainly of molybdenum, gold, and silver from the Challis National Forest is likely for the foreseeable future.

Jan 1, 1991

By Ernest Ph. Hérivel

The mine and treatment plant of the Teziutlan, unit of the Mexican Corporation, S. A., are located at Aire Libre, in the District of Teziutlan, near the northwest edge of the State of Pueblo, Republic of Mexico. The property is leased from the Teziutlan Copper Co. The town of Teziutlan is the terminus of a branch railroad starting from Oriental Junction or the Mexico-Jalapa-Veracruz narrow-gage system of the National Railways of Mexico. A branch line 18 km in length from Teziutlan to Aire Libre belongs to the Teziutlan Copper Co. and is leased and operated in conjunction with the mine.

Jan 1, 1933

By M. Hayashi

The Bureau of Mines conducted laboratory studies on low-grade vanadiferous silicates from the Pumpkin Buttes and Nine Mile Lake deposits of Wyoming to examine techniques for extracting vanadium and uranium. Recovery from low-grade sources such as these could contribute to future vanadium production and reduce reliance on vanadium imports. The Pumpkin Buttes samples contained 0.03 to 0.04 pct V205 and 0.06 to 0.12 pct U308; the Nine Mile Lake samples contained 0.02 to 1.0 pct V205 and 0.06 to 0.19 pct U308" Leaching the Pumpkin Buttes samples for 18 h at 800 C with addition of 200 lb/ton H2S04 resulted in recoverey of 80 pct of the vanadium contained in the samples. The Nine Mile Lake samples were readily leached, yielding 78 to 94 pct of the vanadium after 3 h at 800 C with addition of 100 lb/ton H2S04, A solvent extraction procedure was used to selectively recover urani-um from Pumpkin Buttes and Nine Mile Lake leach solutions and to recover vanadium from the raffinates. In batch shakeout tests, Alamine 336 recovered over 95 pct of the uranium from leach solution adjusted to pH 1. Di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid and Cyanex 272 recovered vanadium from the uranium raffinate after reduction and adjustment to pH 2; vanadium extractions of up to 96 pet and 92 pct, respectively, were achieved.

Jan 1, 1985

By O. C. Blade

This report on the properties of motor fuels sold through service stations in the United States was made in accordance with a cooperative agreement between the American Petroleum Institute and the Bureau of Mines of the United States Department of the Interior. By agreement with the American Petroleum Institute, identification of the items is confidential. It presents analytical data for 4,680 samples, representing the products of 130 companies. The samples were collected during December 1953 and January and February 1954. As in previous surveys, the gasolines covered by this survey include those from both large and small suppliers. The data were obtained by laboratories of various refiners, motor manufacturers, and chemical companies and submitted to the Bureau of Mines for compilation. A list of the National Motor-Gasoline Survey reports published during the past ten years is given on page 5.

Jan 1, 1954

By V. Castranova, T-M. Ong, V. Vallyathan, M. J. Keane, W. E. Wallace Jr.

"Inhalation of certain forms of silica, asbestos and some other respirable dusts can result in pulmonary fibrosis, characterized by destruction of the surfaces of alveoli and respiratory bronchioles. Fibrous thickening of the alveolar septa decreases the lung's capacity for gas exchange.Pulmonary macrophage damage by respired dust may initiate the fibrotic response.In one proposed mechanism, dust particles interact with the plasma membrane of a macrophage. This damages the cell or induces some hyperactivity of the cell, resulting in excessive release of lysosomal enzymes and reactive forms of oxygen (1). These reactive enzymes or radicals then damage the alveolar surface epithelial cells. A second mechanism has also been pro¬posed (2,3) in which dust damage to the macrophage causes the release of mediator substances which induce pulmonary fibroblast cell proliferation and increased collagen synthesis. This produces fibrous tissue in the terminal air spaces (4,5).Mineral surface interactions with plasma membrane lipoproteins have been proposed as a mechanism of lytic damage of pulmonary cells by silica dust in numerous models (6,7). The significance of dust surface proper¬ties has been further revealed in studies showing significant changes in dust induced cytotoxicity as a function of dust surface crystallinity and organic or inorganic contamination or coating of mineral surfaces (8,9). Such modification of the mineral surface might interfere with surface sites responsible for the toxicity of dusts for pulmonary macrophages, thus interrupting the early stages of the process of fibrosis.In vitro cellular assay systems using erythrocyte hemolysis or the release of macrophage cytosolic or lysosomal enzymes following dust challenge, have been used to analyze the initial mechanism of dust damage to cells. However the ability of these assays to predict the pulmonary disease producing potential of various dusts is imperfect owing to some ""false positive"" results. These assays as performed are therefore questionable models for the initial lesion in pneumoconiosis or silicosis. In particular, kaolin frequently is found to have comparable biological activity to silica quartz in these assays (10,11).Silica and kaolin have distinctly different fibrogenic potentials. Silica is highly fibrogenic, resulting in both acute and chronic silicosis (12). Some epidemiological data and animal experimentation data have indicated that long term exposure to kaolin can result in pneumoconiosis; however, kaolin is relatively benign as compared to silica (13-18). Kaolin is also of interest because it is one of the major mineral inclusions in Eastern U.S. bituminous coals. We have observed that exposing respirable sized native silica or kaolin for two hours to pulmonary macrophages results in a greater enzyme release for kaolin exposures, on a dust mass basis. Exposure of erythrocytes to the dusts also results in greater levels of hemolysis by kaolin for equal mass respirable dust doses. Therefore, these results do not correlate positively with known disease inducing potentials of the two dusts.Characterization of physical and chemical surface properties of dusts involved in occupational exposures, and characterization of the alteration of those surface properties which are likely to occur upon deposition of the dust in the lung, should improve the identification of respiratory disease hazards.Inhaled dust particles deposited in the lower respiratory tract will come in contact with pulmonary surfactant. This surfactant forms a surface film on and emulsion in the liquid hypophase coating of the alveoli and respiratory bronchioles. The primary constituent of this pulmonary surfactant is the lipid diacyl glycerophosphorylcholine, lecithin (19). Because this lipid is also a major component of cell membranes, it is possible that surfactant can interact with mineral dust to alter its Interaction with macrophages and other pulmonary cells and, thus, it"

Jan 1, 1988

By S. J. Aresco

The Bureau of Mines has been active in promoting the purchase of coal for Government use under specifications that define the requirements in terms of heating value of the coal, expressed in British thermal units, and the composition as shown by proximate analyses. To these, when required, are added the ash-softening temperature, the free-swelling index, and the Hardgrove grindability index. Under most of these specification contracts the bidders guarantee the quality of the coal, and that guaranteed by the successful bidder becomes the standard of his contract. The deliveries are sampled in accordance with instructions5/ issued by the Bureau of Mines; the samples are analyzed in the Bureau laboratory to determine whether the coal is of the quality guaranteed by the contractor and, if it is not, a price adjustment is made. Analyses of the delivered coal and tipple samples (samples collected at mine tipples as coal is being loaded into railroad cars or trucks) provide valuable data for use in evaluating future bids. In addition, the continuous sampling of coal as delivered is a check on the practical results obtained in burning the coal.

Jan 1, 1961

By M. C. Irani

This Bureau of Mines survey of methane emissions indicates that total daily emissions have declined from 227 MM ft3 in 1971 to 214.7 MM ft3 in 1973. The highest average daily emissions in million cubic feet per day observed in U.S. bituminous coal mines were, in decreasing order, Monongalia County, W. Va., 40.7; Marion County, W. Va., 23.1; Buchanan County, Va., 22.1; Washington County, Pa. , 12.4; Greene County, Pa. , 11.7; McDowell County, W. Va. , 11.4; Cambria County, Pa., 9.8; Jefferson County, Ala., 9.5; Wyoming County, W. Va., 6.0; Marshall County, W. Va., 4.8; and Indiana County, Pa., 4.8.

Jan 1, 1974

By C. F. McCarroll

[Laboratory research and, control in the production an. utilization of petroleum and it 3 products have expanded greatly during the past decade, and much of the routine control and experimental equipment now rewires the constant daily use of liquid mercury. In spite of this ;;renter use, very little consideration has been given to the hazard that might be occasioned by the toxic vapors of mercury unavoidably spilled' of otherwise exposed to the atmosphere during the normal procedure of laboratory open at ions. A simple visual examination ).'.' son-,, r° the laboratories reveal the presence of a considerable quantity of mercury in the cracks of floors, on work tables, and on ark, around equipment stands. Usually this mercury is contaminated with oil3/ and dirt so that it remaining in a finely divided state and a ;mall amount pre presents a relatively large surface for evaporation. Since :mercury shows measurable volatility at a temperature v,.^ lo.! 5o F., mercury vapor will be present in, the mercury _3 exposed promiscuously.]

Jan 1, 1939

By John Nagy

Tests were conducted in the Experimental coal mine to study some of the factors that should be considered in fighting mine fires and to obtain data on the effectiveness of different types of extinguishing agents. The investigation was confined to class "A" fires in a zone 20 feet long, involving coal burning on the floor, on the floor and ribs, and on the floor, ribs, and roof of the mine entry. It was determined that the time elapsed between ignition and attack of the fire is very important. A fire in the early stages was found to be controlled more easily and quickly than a similar fire that had burned longer. It was also found that, under suitable conditions, a fire in the floor, ribs, and roof develops very rapidly and consequently might spread over a considerable area if not brought under control quickly. The ventilating current affects fire-controlling operations markedly. Attack in intake or fresh air is highly advantageous, the chief inconvenience being the radiant heat from the fire. Attack in direct return air was impossible for the fires tested in this investigation, because of the high temperature. Universal-type gas masks for noxious gases and smoke offered no protection against the intense heat. Approach to a fire in the return air behind a water-fog curtain is not feasible unless the direction of air flow can be reversed. In one" test fresh air was carried to the fire area with a line brattice. Although the entire controlling operation was in fresh air and masks were not necessary, it was considerably more difficult to control the fire than when a similar fire was attacked in intake air.

Jan 1, 1950

By Oliver Q. Leone

Electrorefining tests using titanium-nitrogen alloys as anode material showed that no significant quantity of nitrogen was transferred to the cathode deposit. The nitrogen of the anode remained in the scale, and the titanium-nitrogen alloy was anodically insoluble in the electrolyte when the nitrogen content was 11 weight-percent.

Jan 1, 1966

By O. C. Blade

"INTRODUCTION This report on the properties of motor fuels sold through service stations in the United States is a continuation of a series of reports made in accordance with a cooperative agreement between the Coordinating Fuel Research (CFR) Committee of the Coordinating Research Council (CRC) 3/ and the Bureau of Mines of the United States Department of the Interior. The first of these reports presented data on motor gasolines sold during the winter of 1935-36.4/ Further reports were issued describing motor gasolines sold during the succeeding sum¬mers and winters to and including the summer of 1941.4/ No reports were made on motor gasolines sold during the winter of 1941-42 and during the summer of 1942. However, starting with the winter of 1942-43, the semiannual reports were resumed.!The present report presents analytical data for 4,544 samples, represent¬ing the products of 124 companies. The samples represented in this report were obtained during December 19146, January and February 19-(. As in previous surveys, the companies covered Ly the survey include both large and small suppliers. Conforming to former reports, the data cover three groups of samples - regular-price, premium-price, and third-grade gasolines.As the number of analyses submitted for samples of third-grade gasoline are not considered adequate to represent this type of motor fuel, data for the analyses have not been averaged, but the individual items are tabulated. The number of samples, items, and brands comprising each group is as follows: Regular-price, 2,368 samples, 319 items, and 113 brands; premium-price, 2,172 samples, 289 items, and 106 brands; third-grade, 4 samples, 4 items, and 4 brands. The meanings of these terms as used in the surveys are as follows:"

Aug 1, 1947

By A. T. Coumbe

During 1953-55, 31,105 miles of pipe for transporting crude petroleum and refined products was laid in the United States, a total slightly below that of the prior 3-year period, according to data compiled by the Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior. The added mileage consisted of 22,571 miles of new pipe, representing about 2,163,807 tons of steel, plus 8,534 miles of secondhand pipe, equivalent to about 419,849 additional tons of steel. During the 3-year period, 13,069 miles of pipe was taken up. By January 1, 1956, the Nation had 188,540 miles of pipeline, an 11-percent gain over the 1952 total of 170,504 miles. The greater use of larger diameter pipelines indicated in recent surveys has continued, as the mileage for sizes 12 inches and over increased from 13 percent of the total mileage at the close of 1952 to 16 percent 3 years later. Crude-oil trunklines 12 inches and over in diameter gained 24 percent during 1953-55, and these larger lines represented 30 percent of the total mileage compared with 25 percent at the close of 1952. Furthermore, the mileage for crude-oil lines less than 12 inches in diameter declined 2 percent and made up only 70 percent of the 1955 total against 75 percent n the previous survey. Product Lines 8 inches and over increased 43 percent from 1952 through 1955 and composed 70 percent of the total mileage compared with 66 percent in 1952.

Jan 1, 1956