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By M. M. Fine

This report presents the results of laboratory mineral-dressing investigations by the Bureau of Mines of 14 individual or composite character samples from deposits in the Batesville manganese district. It will be noted that some concentrates have met or approached analytical specifications for metallurgical manganese ore although great variations in both physical and chemical composition from once deposit to another make each a new problem. In most cases it is evident that a substantial loss of manganese has occurred in the various slime and tailing products. An important aspect of this work is the research being conducted on manganese-bearing limestones. Recent reconnaissance indicates that this resource constitutes one of the major domestic reserves of manganese. Laboratory study has shown that ferrograde concentrates can be recovered from samples of manganese-bearing limestones from two properties. Research on samples from other areas is still underway.

Jan 1, 1957

By Andrew M. Leszcykowski

In 1984, personnel from the U.S. Bureau of Mines examined the 9,550-acre Yatahoney Creek Wilderness Study Area (WSA) for mineral resources. This study area, in southwestern Idaho, is underlain by tuffs and basalt of Tertiary age. Owyhee County mining records and U.S. Bureau of Land Management records, and other references were examined prior to the field study. There are no known mines, claims, or prospects in or near the WSA. No evidence of mineral deposits or occurrences was observed. Oil and gas leases or lease applications are in the southern portion and northeast corner of the WSA. Although placer gold exists in the Owyhee River drainage, there are insufficient deposits of gold-bearing gravel in the Yatahoney Creek WSA to enable mining. INTRODUCTION The U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conduct mineral surveys of designated wilderness study areas (WSAs) 1/ to ensure mineral values that may be present are considered in wilderness recommendations. The USBM examines known mines, prospects, and mineralized sites, and the USGS performs geologic mapping, and geochemical and geophysical surveys on an areal basis.

Jan 1, 1986

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 Interiors This paper is a continuation of a series made in cooperation with the Coordinating Fuel Research (CFR) Committee of the Coordinating Research Council (CRC), Inc. The first of this series of reports presented data on motor gasolines sold during the winter of 1935-36, and succeeding reports described motor gasolines sold during the summers and winters to and including the summer of 1941.£1 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

Jan 1, 1949

By Edward Thomas

In 1947 the Bureau of Mines, as an accident-prevention measure, decided to advocate the adoption of roof bolting (suspension roof supports) in coal mines where it appeared to be applicable. Subsequent experience has disclosed that the applicability of this support is more general than was first suspected; moreover, comparison of the accident records of mines before and after adoption of the roof-bolting method shows results that more than justify the effort and funds expended. The industry has responded enthusiastically, because roof bolting proved to be not only an accident-prevention measure but also one to increase productive efficiency. In some instances this increase in the productivity of men and machines has been almost incredible and has led many mining men to conclude that through some hocus-pocus they can now cast aside many or all of the time-proven rule of good mining practice. If this tendency is not counteracted, it could easily result in an increase of roof-fall accidents, which may outweigh the benefits of roof bolting and discredit an innovation in roof control that shows great promise of materially reducing our mining accidents. From an economic standpoint it may represent the margin between profit and loss in many mining operations. The purpose of this manuscript is not to propose an inflexible code or set of rules but to summarize the experience to date as a guide for those who have the responsibility for the installation and inspection of roof bolts. This experience consists of approximately 250 investigations of roof failure in which roof bolting was involved either directly or indirectly. It should be pointed out that many of these failures were controlled, occurring during experimental periods, and comparatively few of the accidental failures actually resulted in personal injury, yet a significant number represented potential hazards.

Jan 1, 1951

By A. W. Fahrenwald

Coarse sand flotation, both alone and in conjunction with gravity concentration, is a subject of research at the U. S. Bureau of Mines Field Office, Moscow, Idaho. One of the most important results of this work which is being carried out in cooperation with the University of Idaho, has been the development of a concentration process embodying flotation, classification, and tabling, in the order named. The flow sheet of the process is given in Figure 1. The type of feed desired for this process is coarser than is common in present "all flotation" practice, and is about the size of table feed.

Jan 1, 1929

"INTRODUCTIONMany of the facilities and much of the equipment available to the Generic Mineral Technology Center for Respirable Dust are highly specialized and therefore, unique to the universities associated with the Center as illustrated in FIGURES 30 through 39.For example, a sample bank of 1300 U.S. coal specimens housed in the Coal Research Section, Deike Building of The Pennsylvania State University has been characterized for physical, elemental, mineralogical and maceral compositions. The results of this research have been used to initiate a study of the relationship between pneumoconioses and coal properties. Selected samples from this bank have been used in animal (primate) studies at the Milton S. Hershey (Penn State) and West Virginia University Medical Centers. These laboratory facilities for research in the medical and biological disciplines is state-of-the-art and includes a primate colony where dust research is currently underway. The Materials Research Laboratory and the Rock Mechanics Laboratory at PSU, and the Mechanical Systems Design and Control Laboratory, the Rock Mechanics Laboratory and the Mine Electronic System Laboratory at WVU are equipped for fundamental research on dust generation and characterization. While the majority of respirable dust research projects fall into these two categories, dust generation and characterization and interaction of dust and lung, there are other laboratory facilities available to the Center which are unparalleled in the type of equipment and expert personnel that they contribute to the program. The Mine Particle Laboratory located at the University of Minnesota and the Diesel Engine Laboratory at Michigan Technological University are examples. They house equipment and instrumentation that is unique to these facilities. much of it having been developed specifically for dust research by the research scientists there. The dust collection equipment and the fine particles measurement, characterization and analysis apparatus are essential to research in the areas of dust collection, particle characterization and diesel particulates. In addition to university laboratories, the research facilities of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are available to the Center through its relationship With West Virginia University."

Aug 31, 1989

By William P. Diamond

In this U.S. Bureau of Mines study, production trends have been analyzed for 82 gob gas ventholes on 7 longwall panels in the Lower Kittanning Coalbed, Pennsylvania. Cumulative production from individual holes was found to vary considerably, ranging from 0.03 x 106 to 10.1 x 106 m3. Peak production rates were generally about 0.03 x 106 to 0.06 x 106 m3/d, but rates over 0.10 x 106 m3/d were observed. The variability of gas production from individual holes can be attributed to' several factors, including completion practices and problems, the extent of fracture development in the strata above the extracted panel, water production, and location on the panel. Of particular significance is hole location. Holes on the ends of the panels, where overburden strata are in tension because of the support of the surrounding pillars, were generally the highest and longest producers. This observation led to the experimental placement of gob gas ventholes in the zone of tension along the margin of a panel, instead of in the traditional centerline location, which is in compression. Analysis of 7 months of gas production data indicates that the experimental near-margin holes produced 77 pct more gas than did centerline holes on the same panel.

Jan 1, 2010

By J. Kruttschnitt

This paper, describing milling practice at Mount Ira Minis, is one of a series covering milling methods and cost that is being published by the Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior. The Mount Isa concentrator began operations in day 1931 by treating a mixture of oxidized and sulfide ores. Since March 1935 only sulfide ores have been milled; this change involved major alterations to the flow sheet. The maximum capacity on mixed oxide and sulfide ores was 2,650 tons per day; the present capacity is approximately 1,880 tons of sulfide ore per day. The installation of additional crushing, grinding, and flotation equipment when completed early in 1939 will increase the maximum capacity of the concentrator to 2,240 tons of sulfide ore daily.

Jan 1, 1939

By Robert L. Rough, William E. Eckard

Laboratory data obtained from a Bureau of Mines rotary air core of a well near Sugar Grove , Warren County , Pa . , were instrumental in initiating hydraulic fracturing in the area to stimulate oil recovery from Glade sand oil reservoirs . This report outlines the general geology , lease development , reservoir- rock characteristics , and oil - production history of Glade and Clarendon sand reservoirs in Warren County . The methods of well completion for single- stage and multiple- stage hydraulic fracturing of old and new wells are discussed , and a range of hydraulic fracture treatment data from 29 Glade sand and 10 Clarendon sand wells is presented . A composite decline curve representing oil - production data from six wells shows probable results of hydraulic fracturing . Average cumulative oil production during the first 100 days after hydraulic fracturing with a sand - carrying liquid is compared with production after conventional shooting with liquid nitroglycerin .

Jan 1, 1964

By Larry A. Haas

The Bureau of Mines constructed a torsion effusion apparatus to measure the equilibrium vapor pressure of pure metals, alloys, and compounds at temperatures up to 1,500° K. The reliability of the apparatus was established by determining the vapor pressure of silver. The data obtained on solid and liquid silver in the temperature range 1,200° to 1,500° K can be expressed by the following equations:

Jan 1, 1965

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. This paper i8 a continuation of a series made in cooperation with the Coordinating Fuel Research (CFR) Committee of the Coordinating Research Council (CRC), Inc. The first of this series of reports presented data on motor gasolines sold during the winter of 1935-36, and succeeding reports described motor gasolines Bold during the summers and winters to and including the summer of 1941 Y. 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.

Jan 1, 1951

By Thomas J. Peters

The U.S. Bureau of Mines studied the 63,9SS-acre Hanson Lakes study area, including the Ten Mile-East and part of the Ten-Mile West RARE II areas, plus additional acreage, all proposed at times for Wilderness designation. The study was part of a Idaho Land Assessment Program with the Idaho Geological Survey and the U.S. Geological Survey, to provide minerals information for land-use decisions, and ensure domestic mineral supplies. The area is at the north end of the rugged Sawtooth Range and includes parts of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area which is closed to mineral location. The Copper Mountain. Elk Mountain, and Observation Peak mineralized areas are in the study area, but only Copper Mountain is open to claim location. It is on the trans-Challis fault zone and contains Tertiary granite which is favorable for mineral deposits of gold, beryllium, niobium, REE (rare-earth elements), tin, molybdenum, copper, silver, and lead. Identified resources are 1.9 million tons of flake graphite at Elk Mountain, but much more graphite occurs in the vicinity REE occurs in 18 black sand placer sites along the lower reaches of study area streams just outside the study area, on Cape Horn Creek, Marsh Creek, and lower Valley Creek flood plains, and at one hydrothermal site near Observation Peak. Hydrothermal REE is commonly low in? by-product thorium. a radioactive disposal problem. Many advanced REE applications enhance the quality of life, and future uses in superconductivity may reduce energy consumption. Seventeen lode, one geothermal, and 11 placer prospects were examined. Workings totaled about 20 adits, one shaft, several open cuts, and numerous small pits. Approximately 500 mining claims have been located or relocated in the study area, including a 200-claim block for disseminated molybdenum.

Jan 1, 1992

Coaxial cable structures form the subject of substantial theoretical and experimental investigations either directly related, or which can be extrapolated, to the communications needs and environments of U.S. coal mines. Communication systems based on "guided" waves, of which "leaky" coaxial cables are one implementation, are attractive candidates for providing a range of communication functions primarily along haulage ways, and possible also within sections up to the working face. (However, there are still strong reservations as to whether a practical coaxial cable sys tem could provide sufficient communications coverage within a section. ) In this Part, we present the results of some theoretical calculations of the performance of leaky coaxial cable communication systems. We also analyze the applicability of the theoretical and experimental results obtained by other researchers to the needs of U.S. coal mines. In particular, this investigation has been focused on the utility of relatively low cost, conventional, flexible, coaxial cable at frequencies covering the LF through HF bands and extending into the lower part of the VHF band, as opposed to relatively high cost, special semi-rigid, coaxial cable* at frequencies in the VHF and UHF bands. There are three major design alternatives for coaxial cable communication systems considered in this chapter: • Base station feeding a coaxial cable with high surface transfer impedance (holes in outer conductor, e.g., braid construction). • Base station feeding a coaxial cable with repeaters (U.K. experiments). • No base station, direct communication via a coaxial cable with periodic radiative structures.

Jan 1, 1974

By O. C. Blade

The oil fields of Arkansas, all situated in the southern part of the State, have played an important part in the development of petroleum production in the northern coastal plain region of the Mid-Continent area. From the first discovery of oil in southwest Ouachita County in 1920 to December 31, 1930, a total of 480,167,5604/ barrels of crude petroleum has been produced from' this region. Development of the Arkansas fields proceeded rapidly after 1920. The El Dorado field was discovered in Union County in 1921. Drilling in Ouachita County resulted in the discovery of the Smackover field in 1922 and subsequently in the development of the whole southern area. To November 31, 1938, 6,4595/ producing wells had been drilled in 25 fields, aggregating 53,7356/ acres of proved territory in 6 counties. Peak annual production for the State was reached in 1925, when 80,823,7007/ barrels was produced, resulting largely from flush production from the Smackover field, which rose td an average of 444,9508/ barrel daily during that year. During 1924, 1925, and 1926 Arkansas ranked fourth9/ among the oil-producing

Jan 1, 1940

By Frank J. Wiebelt

As a result of the examination of many copper-zinc properties in the West Belt area of California, nine were chosen for exploration projects by the Bureau of Mines. This was part of the Bureau's wartime mineral-development program aimed at maintaining production of essential metals and increasing ore reserves. The properties explored were the El Dorado, El Dorado County; Copper Hill, Newton, and Gray House, Amador County; Constellation, North Keystone, and Collier, Calaveras County; and American Eagle and Akoz, Mariposa County. In addition to surface sampling and mapping, 41 holes, aggregating 18,134 linear feet, were diamond-drilled. Detailed results of the work done on all properties except the El Dorado and Akoz are given in this report. The El Dorado and Akoz were discussed in Reports of Investigations 3896 and 4144, respectively. Figure 1 is an index map showing the location of the mines covered in this publication.

Jan 1, 1951

By Spencee L. Willett

In 1984, at the request of the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Bureau of Mines conducted mineral surveys of the 20,508-acre Blue Lakes (NV-020-600) and 5,142-acre Alder Creek (NV-020-600D) Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) in northwestern Humboldt County, Nevada. The WSAs are part of an upthrown, north-south trending fault block associated with the Basin and Range province. Both areas are predominantly underlain by the Cretaceous Duffer Peak pluton which intrudes Triassic metasediments and Jurassic plutonic rocks to the east and Permian Happy Creek volcanics to the south. In the Alder Creek WSA and in the southwest portion of the Blue Lakes WSA, Duffer Peak granodiorite and Happy Creek volcanics are overlain by Tertiary basalt. No active mines exist within the Blue Lakes WSA; but, several prospects, claims, and mineralized outcrops are in the south and northeast portions. No mineral resources were identified but samples from discontinuous, vein-type deposits contained anomalous amounts of gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, molybdenum, antimony, and uranium. Very fine, residual gold was detected in nine alluvial samples collected from a small deposit in the southwest corner of the WSA; average gold value was $3.58 per cubic yard (at $350/ounce). Two mines, several prospects, and mineralized outcrops adjacent to the Blue Lakes WSA contain mineralized, irregular structures which do not appear to extend into the Blue Lakes study area.

Jan 1, 1986

By M. C. Irani, Maurice Deul, M. G. Zabetakis, T. G. Bobick

This survey was conducted to determine the magnitude of the methane emission and control problem in U.S. bituminous coal mines. The resultant data indicate that the emission rate for any given coalbed depends primarily on the coal production rate and on mine depth, as well as on the nature of the coalbed and the surrounding strata. An excellent correlation was found between (1) the methane emission rate and (2) the product of coal production rate and mine depth for the mines in the Pittsburgh, Pocahontas Nos. 3 and 4, and the Illinois Nos. 5 and 6 coalbeds. The highest total emission rates found in U.S. bituminous coal mines were as follows, in million cubic feet per day: Monongalia County, W. Va., 39; Marion County, W. Va., 30.4; McDowell County, W. Va., 13.1; Washington County, Pa., 11.9; Greene County, Pa., 11.4; Buchanan County, Va., 21.6; Jefferson County, Ala., 10.3; and Franklin County, Ill., 6.6.

Jan 1, 1972

By John L. Nieber

This information circular describes a computer program called VARSAT2D, a comprehensive unsaturated fluid flow simulator developed by the U.S. Bureau of Mines. VARSAT2D solves for either a vertical or horizontal, transient or steady-state solution in variably saturated, heterogeneous, anisotropic porous media using the Galerkin finite-element approach. Simplex triangular elements are used. Moisture retention characteristics are described by specifying either the Brooks and Corey, Brutsaert, or Van Genuchten power functions, with hysteresis described using the Maulem independent domain model. Boundary conditions may include any combination of time-varying seepage, pressure along solution domain, boundaries and/or at internal node points, unit hydraulic gradient at the lower boundary, and a uniform source and/or sink. This program should be a welcome addition for mining and environmental hydrologists, researchers, and engineers interested in modeling unsaturated fluid flow.

Jan 1, 1994

By Steven J. Schatzel, Gerrit V. R. Goodman, Robert B. Krog, C. Özgen Karacan, Gabriel S. Esterhuizen

Although longwall mining productivity can far exceed that of room-and-pillar mining, the total methane emissions per extracted volume associated with longwall sections are generally higher than those for continuous miner or pillar removal sections. Increased face advance rates, increased productivities, increased panel sizes, and more extensive gate road developments have challenged existing designs for controlling methane on longwalls. Methane control research by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently examined a number of practices designed to maintain concentrations in mine air within statutory limits and consistently below the lower explosive limit. These included a reservoir modeling approach to predict methane inflows in gate road entries. The outputs sug­gested that emission rates in the gate roads decreased with the use of shielding boreholes and increased degasification time. Also, mining perpendicular to the face cleats liberated more gas into the mine workings, emissions were almost a linear function of Langmuir pressure and volume, and emissions were inversely related to sorption time constant. Subsequent simulations predicted changes in methane drainage using in-seam boreholes. The results showed that longer degasification times resulted in lower face emission rates. Premining degasification produced more methane than that produced during panel extraction, a fact attributed to the already decreased methane content of the coalbed. This work concluded that longer premining degasification periods would be more advantageous to the operator. The industry trend toward increasing longwall face width can produce increased methane emissions from the face due to a higher volume of cut coal on the face conveyor. Two methods were used to estimate face methane levels on longer faces. In the first method, segmented methane data were extrapolated for greater face widths. The second method estimated emissions contributions from the shearer, face conveyor, panel belt, longwall face, and ribs, and summed these for wider panels. Permeability changes in the gob behind the longwall shields were estimated using a NIOSH-developed numerical model. The results showed that permeability was highest near the edges and corners of the gob.

Jan 3, 2008

By H. E. Perlee

Mathematical expressions are derived for the histories of the pressure, flame radius, mass fraction burned, and burned and unburned gas temperatures associated with a spherical flame propagating concentrically in a spherical vessel. The equations are solved numerically for a 9.5 pct CH4/air mixture using the best available information for the burning velocity, expansion ratio, and specific heat ratio. Calculated histories are in complete accord with experimental measurements. The accuracy of calculated histories is determined relative to errors in the system parameters, and it is found that 10 pct errors in either the burning velocity or the expansion ratio results in a 40-pct error in the pressure history. A 10-pct error in either burned or unburned specific heat ratio results in a 22-pct error &apos;in the pressure history. It was further established that the usual assumption of constant specific heat ratio is unacceptable, but equating the burned and unburned specific heat ratios result in no apparent error in the histories. The cubic law (P = Kt3 + Po) is derived and discussed, and it is found that the law is valid only during the early period (P<2 atm) of flame growth.

Jan 1, 1974