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By R. A. Franks, G. F. Friel, J. C. Edwards, L. Yuan

Five mine fire experiments were conducted in a 2.08m high and 2.90m wide, ventilated mine entry in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)'s Safety Research Coal Mine (SRCM) to determine the effect of the dispersion of carbon monoxide (CO) on mine fire detection. CO measurements were made at distances from 7.6 m to 45.2 m downwind from the fire with diffusion mode CO sensors positioned near the roof. For small intensity fires, less than 30 kW heat release rate, generated by 14 kg coal in a 0.61 m square tray, it was determined that air flow and sensor spacing were significant for fire detection at the 10 ppm CO alarm level. Within 15.0 m downwind distance from the fire, 10 ppm CO alarm values occurred for volumetric air flows less than 11.5 m3/s. However, the 10 ppm CO alarm value did not occur 30.0 m downwind from the fire for air quantities greater than 6.2 m3/s due to dilutive mixing of the CO in the air stream. The criterion that the mine fire alarms occur within 15 min of the onset of flaming combustion could not be consistently met with the 10 ppm CO alarm. This suggests the use of lower CO alarm values, or reduced CO sensor spacings for mine fire protection. It is demonstrated how computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can be used to model the CO dispersion downwind from the fire in support of a plan to optimize sensor spacings.

By R. F. Abernethy

Recent investigations in the United States and in other countries have produced considerable information on the nature and occurrence of minor elements in coal. The possibility of recovering certain elements, particularly germanium and uranium, from coal ash and other coal products has received considerable attention. Some flue dusts are potential sources of germanium, and certain lignite deposits are potential sources of uranium, but industrial recovery of these elements has been limited to small quantities for technical and economic reasons. Considering the large amount of coal mined annually, a small percentage of a rare element may have industrial significance if an economical method of recovery can be developed. In 1944 information on the occurrence of rare elements in coal was reviewed in Bureau of Mines Technical Paper 669 (46).3 This report is a revision of that paper with the view of summarizing published information available for United States coals, and pertinent information concerning coals of other countries. Selected references from the original paper are retained. New references do not include all preliminary reports when more permanent literature describing complete projects is available. Consequently, the list of references should not be considered complete.

Jan 1, 1963

By C. H. Riggs

This petroleum-engineering study of the Healdton oil field in Carter County, Okla., describes the geology and production history of that field and estimates the oil reserves that could be produced by efficient secondary-recovery methods. The Healdton field, in western Carter County approximately 20 miles west of Ardmore, Okla., was discovered in 1913 and was one of the early important oil-producing areas in the State. Although the volume of oil recovered from the Healdton sands has been comparatively high, studies show that a large reserve remains in the pressure-depleted sand, which can be recovered by efficient water-flood operations. In making this study of the Healdton-sand reservoir, the writers utilized many data already available in company and Government offices. Most of the fluid samples were collected by Bureau of Mines personnel and analyzed in the Bureau's laboratories at Bartlesville, Okla.; but other data, including logs, core analyses, and production records, were obtained from outside sources. These data were examined critically but were not verified, and possible errors in the original data may be reflected in the conclusions. In this study, attempts were made to consider only those aspects of the available information that would contribute to a clear and concise engineering report on the Healdton-sand reservoir. Other phases of the data, as well as those concerning associated reservoirs, were eliminated from consideration as being irrelevant to the particular problem. Cores and drill cuttings of the Healdton sands were analyzed and studied to determine the nature of the reservoir rocks. Analyses of samples of produced oil, water, and gas were studied to fix the different types, the limits of their occurrence, and the suitability of different waters for injection into the Healdton sands. Records of oil, gas, and water produced and of gas and water injected were studied to interpret the production behavior of the field and of certain individual leases. Theoretical calculations were made to predict the probable water-flood behavior and oil recovery, at constant water-injection rates, for individual sands on two leases.

Jan 1, 1953

By Bill Linville

Producing oil, gas, and coal in sufficient amounts to satisfy U.S. demands for fuels, electrical power, and chemicals promises to be one of the country's major challenges during the 1970's. Adding significantly to this challenge is the urgent task of satisfying soaring fuel and power demands without destroying the natural environment or jeopardizing long-range requirements for resources. The Bureau of Mines, U.S. Department of the Interior, is engaged in a comprehensive program of research to help industry meet this challenge. This report reviews the aims of the research program and accomplishments in 1970; the first 11 sections cover coal programs, nine sect ions are then devoted to petroleum, and the concluding five sections deal with oil shale research. Figure 1 shows the nationwide distribution of Bureau of Mines energy research installations; Full addresses are given in appendix A. Many of the publications resulting from the Bureau?s energy research efforts are discussed throughout the report; others are listed in appendix B.

Jan 1, 1971

By E. C. Baker

Costs of disposing of steel slag are estimated based on the present method and a proposed alternate method for a steel mill in the Pittsburgh area. Estimated cost data were calculated by the Bureau of Mines and do not reflect the investment and operating costs and credits of a specific steel mill and processing plant. The alternate method of steel slag disposal would result in an appreciable cost savings to the mill and concurrently supply the industrial and commercial markets with low-cost, high-quality construction materials.

Jan 1, 1970

By E. P. Youngman

Tantalum is a rare element ; estimates indicate that there is less tantalum than gold in the earth's crust . After remaining a laboratory curiosity for many years , it was used to a limited extent and for relatively few years (1903- 1911) for incandescent electric-light -bulb filaments . Another wave of interest in tantalum appeared when its electrolytic-valve action was taken advantage of in charging storage batteries , especially for radio work . Tantalum chargers were eventually displaced by other types of chargers , but for a time they were manufac tured in sufficiently large numbers to create a demand for the metal and to bring about its production on a commercial scale in the United States . As tantalum became available in larger quantities and at substantially lower prices , and as high prices for platinum encouraged the employment of tantalum as a substitute , the metal was put to many new uses . Ferrotantalum was made and sold before the World War , and patents have been taken out for a number of special alloys for industrial purposes , but probably the largest use for the metal to-day is in vacuum tubes .

Aug 1, 1930

By BUREAU OF MINES

This report is submitted in accordance with the provisions of the Synthetic Liquid Fuels Act of April 5, 1944 (30 U.S C. 321-325, as amended), which require that: "The Secretary of the Interior shall render to Congress on or before the first day of January of each year a report on all operations under this Act." Owing to the broad scope of the content and the diversity of interests represented, the Annual Report for 1953 has been divided into two separate publications. Each has been published by the Bureau of Mines as a Report of Investigations, and the respective titles follow: R. I. 5043, Part I - 011 From Coal. R. I. 5044, Part II 011 From 011 Shale. - Identical in each report, the introduction summarizes research progress made in 1953 under the entire Synthetic Liquid Fuels program. A free copy of each of these publications may be obtained by a written request to the Bureau of Mines, Publications Distribution Section, 4800 Forbes Street, Pittsburgh 13, Pa. The R. I. number and title of the publication desired should be indicated.

Apr 1, 1954

By G. B. Sonneman

This final report summarizes the work done by The Bendix Corporation, Environmental Science Division, under contract to the Bureau of Mines to design, develop and test two improved systems for remote sampling the air at the working face of a coal mine in conjunction with approved portable methane detectors and machine-mounted methane monitors respectively. The work was started in May 1973 with preliminary design studies and was completed in May 1975. Five portable and two machine-mounted sampling systems were delivered. Contract "add-on" requirements for (1) modification of the machine-mounted system to accommodate a flame safety lamp and (2) a study of sensor response time improvement for the machine-mounted system were also completed.

Jan 1, 1975

"INTRODUCTION These inspection standards have been prepared for use as a guide for the Federal inspection of anthracite mines. They are a revision of ""Tentative Inspection Standards for Anthracite Mines,"" published as Bureau of Mines Information Circular 7231 in January 1943 and used as a guide for Federal inspections. Numerous changes in the original standards have been made, due in part to recognition of shortages of some types of safety equipment due to the war, in part to need of additional standards to cover certain mine conditions and practices, and in part to conditions not foreseen when the original standards were prepared.Throughout these standards reference is made to determining the methane content of the mine air by using a permissible flame safety lamp. The Bureau has approved various electrical devices for the detection of methane, but it is recognized that new devices for determining the percentage of combustible gases as well as the percentage of oxygen, might be perfected for general use in mines, and therefore it may be necessary to revise certain standards to include the use of such equipment if and when the device is accepted as being permissible.About one-fourth of these standards are marked with an asterisk (*) as being of particular importance in preventing accidents in many coal mines; however, failure to carry out the suggestions made in such of the other standards as are applicable may also lead to loss of life.With continuing change in mining methods, some of these standards may become inapplicable, and further revision will be advisable. Therefore, question regarding these standards and suggestions regarding new standards should be brought to the attention of the Bureau, so that changes may be made from time to time. Numerous changes proposed by mine operators and by State mining departments have been incorporated in these standards."

May 1, 1944

By Robert Vinson

This article examines the spatial variability of dust concentrations within a coal miner?s breathing zone and the impact of sampling location at the cap lamp, nose, and lapel. Tests were conducted in the National Institute for Safety and Health Pittsburgh Research Laboratory full-scale, continuous miner gallery using three prototype personal dust monitors (PDM). The dust masses detected by the PDMs were used to calculate the percentage difference of dust mass between the cap lamp and the nose and between the lapel and the nose. The calculated percentage differences of the masses ranged from plus 12% to minus 25%. Breathing zone tests were also conducted in four underground coal mines using the torso of a mannequin to simulate a miner. Coal mine dust was sampled with multi-cyclone sampling cans mounted directly in front of the mannequin near the cap lamp, nose, and lapel. These four coal mine tests found that the spatial variability of dust levels and imprecision of the current personal sampler is a greater influence than the sampler location within the breathing zone. However, a one-sample t-test of this data did find that the overall mean value of the cap lamp/nose ratio was not significantly different than 1 (p-value = 0.21). However, when applied to the overall mean value of the lapel/nose ratio there was a significant difference from 1 (p-value < .0001). This finding is important because the lapel has always been the sampling location for coal mine dust samples. But these results suggest that the cap location is slightly more indicative of what is breathed through the nose area.

Jan 1, 2007

By J. V. Batty

Various ores from deposits in the Boulder Dam Recreational Area, Clark County, Nev., were submitted for ore-dressing tests as part of the Bureau of Mines studies of western manganese ores. The Virgin River manganese deposit is situated on the Virgin River arm of Lake Mead, 5 miles from Bonelli&apos;s Point, which was formerly the junction of the Virgin and Colorado Rivers. It is 20 miles from Overton, Nev., and 26 miles from Boulder City, Nev. The ore body, composed of wadlike manganese in a tuffaceous gangue, is a flat-lying bed overlain with beds of gypsum and basalt. Two ore samples were submitted by engineers of the Bureau for ore-dressing investigation. Low-grade sample 1 was a composite of channel samples cut from outcrops of the ore body; sample 2, of intermediate manganese grade, was taken from the dump-at the exploratory shaft sunk by the Bureau. The Boulder City manganese deposit is situated in the Boulder Dam Recreational Area -3 miles southwest of Boulder City. The ore body is a manganiferous gypsum bed 32 feet thick, slightly inclined from the horizontal. The ore sample submitted-by engineers of the Bureau for-testing was taken from channel cuts in the walls of the shaft, which cuts through the bed vertically.

Jan 1, 1948

To provide a faster means to open and close permissible electrical enclosures. Approach: An inspection and repair port with a multiple start thread which provides a permissible joint has been developed and tested. How It Works: The inspection port screw thread has a large pitch, which allows the port cover to be rotated from fully closed 10 fully open, in less than one revolution. See Figure 1. When the cover is screwed back in. it be-gins engagement within one eighth turn because the screw design has eight separate threads. To prevent Its unauthorized opening, the port cover has a bolt guarded by ears which accept a padlock. The threads are designed to tolerate a reasonable amount of grit without binding, although wipe-off cleanness is necessary during reassembly. Enclosures of two different sizes each fitted with the quick-access port, were

Jan 1, 1976

By D. E. Wolfson

As a part of its overall program of coal carbonization, the Bureau of Mines is studying the coking properties of coals that may be used for metallurgical purposes. The objectives of this study were given in detail in a previous report.2/ The inherent suitability of coal for metallurgical use depends primarily on (1) chemical composition, (2) preparation characteristics, and (3) carbonization behavior. The first two factors, as well as the available reserves, are considered in selecting coals for carbonization tests. According to the estimate of reserves by Dowd,3/ the recoverable coal in Floyd County in beds 28 inches or more thick, in thousand tons, is as follows: [ ]

Jan 1, 1958

By Francis C. Lincoln

"INTRODUCTION As part of a general investigation of the zinc-producing area of southwestern Wisconsin, the Bureau of Mines undertook a limited amount of exploratory drilling in the immediate vicinity of the New Dale Rundell mine, in the Mifflin District of Iowa County, Wisc.The work was carried out during the early part of 1945, at a time when all effort was being directed toward increasing production of metals important to the Nation's war program. Bureau of Mines engineers decided to conduct exploration at the New Dale Rundell mine after a preliminary study of available data showed a reasonable possibility of indicating an important deposit. Before the Bureau of Mines investigation, 50 holes had been drilled in the vicinity. Of this number, 18 encountered ore of minable grade. Subsequently the mine was developed and operated for a brief period; however, work was stopped before all of the ore disclosed by drilling had been mined. There appeared to be a correlation between the ore shown by the drilling in the New Dale Rundell mine and another disclosure some 1,500 feet to the northwest. The Bureau of Mines exploration was pinned to explore this possible correlation. Of the 7 holes drilled by the Bureau of Mines, 3 disclosed minable ore beyond the limits of previous drilling."

Aug 1, 1946

By Robert L. Lagace

The purpose of the work reported herein was to investigate whether available telephone multiplexing equipment offered a means to rapidly upgrade the traffic-handling capacity of present mine telephone systems and provide for selective calling for safer and more efficient mine operation. Common sense was used to decide whether or not an item could be termed "available." Since conventional telephone gear is not designed to interface pager phones for example, existing shelf items would require adapters to compatibly interface these two types of gear for independent operation over the present single twisted pair used in mines. These and similar small items were allowed, but if a system required any extensive design work to adapt it for the mines, we ruled it "not available."

Jan 1, 1975

By E. D. Gordner

Irrespira ble gutses issuing from the rock fofflb tions ere tJ source of expense ond danger in some metGLl mines. There is a great Variation in the compos i-· tion of such gdses and, os shown 'by recent sampling by the Bureau of ines, the gas rr;;,.y consi$t mostly ct carbon dioxide, (Rocle Strata Gtsses in the Mines of the East Tintic Mining District, by G. E. McElroy, Bu.retau of Mines Serial 2Z75) or f methone (Metruine in Ccalifornia C.old Mines, by B. 0. Picl-Q:lrd i:lnd !.. D. ("iordner, Bure, cf Mines Serial 2303), or nitrogen, sin the present instonce. A nl.liilber of unventilated rt:t.ises in some of the mine of l:l Neva&. district conuin «i'ccumulCltions of l;i hih-nitrogen gas the1t will not supi:ort life or combus­tion. The rdises ore in different geologiecil formations and in widely sep1:1rated. loecslities in the mining district. One ot" two ri::lises in the sme fc.rtr.ation may be full of the gos cand einother nec-r'by be t'ree ot· it. Lives have been lost t:lnd a number of men heave been overcome on enteing unvetilated rtsises in which their­respircable tss hcsd c1ccuni..1.l1::1ted between sldfts. Gener1:1lly, however, the gas see:ns to noozett from the .t'onrbtio:1 ond to ecc1: .. ,i.-1,;.1:.1te so slowly tMt its presence is not suspected t the tfr.1e, bu.t discovered. ed:'t&.c' the raise is t)band.oned. OcCE.isionelly 1 t issues from a ne•.,ly cut cre·tice or fissure under considerca ble pressure and in lar!?e enough '3.'16ntities to overcome or drive 011t men working in unventilated places.

Dec 1, 1922

By L. J. Prosser, Robert Anderson

Advance knowledge of roof conditions can lead to improvement in roof control strategies that will reduce roof falls and ultimately will reduce injuries to mine workers. J.H. Fletcher and Company, in cooperation with West Virginia University, has been developing a system to meet these needs by collecting torque, thrust, and rotation speed data during drilling operations. Recent improvements in analysis algorithms to detect anomalies in the roof structure as well as various display enhancements for real time mapping and evaluation of roof structures have been incorporated into current Fletcher Information Display system. The unit has also been housed in an explosion-proof container to allow use in coal mine applications. Recently, the system has undergone extensive field trials in several limestone mines and one coal mine. During these trials, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health assisted Fletcher in verifying the accuracy of the roof mapping capability of the system by comparing the display information to bore hole scoping observations and drill corings. It was concluded from this assessment that the intelligent drilling system can complement scoping and core analysis to provide a more complete picture of roof strata and is capable of seeing features or conditions that are not always obvious in these more traditional methods.

By A. U. Miller

Since coal -mining records have been kept , reports of all mining States show that each year the lives of many workers have been sacrificed in the production of coal , and Illinois has contributed its share , Illinois reports for the 50 years 1882 to 1932 , inclusive , show that 6,673 men were killed -- 6,121 underground , 340 in the shaft , and 212 on the surface . Of the fatalities underground , 3,116 were caused by falls of roof or sides , 1,111 by haulage , 630 by explosives , 577 by gas explosions , 139 by electricity, and 548 by other causes ; 166 of the shaft fatalities were caused by falling down the shaft , 143 by the cage , and 31 by other causes ; 108 of the surface fatalities were caused by railroad cars , 46 by machinery , and 58 by other causes . Most of those engaged in mining are still of the opinion that it is an extremely hazardous occupation and that it is practically impossible to operate without accidents ; however , students of safety in mining now believe that with the proper attention to accident prevention mining may be conducted with little , if any , greater accident rate than that of other supposedly hazardous industries . There is no mystery connected with accidents in mining ; reports show that the majority are due to two main causes , falls of roof and sides and haulage . Mining companies in Illinois , as well as in other States , have proved in the past few years that the hazards of mining , like those of other industries , can be controlled to a large extent and the mines operated with few if any accidents , provided a great enough effort is made by employer and worker . Although the past accident rate of Illinois may compare favorably with that of other mining States it is higher than it should be ; the fact that 6,673 men (an average of 133.46 per year) were killed in and around the mines of the State between 1882- and 1932 indicates that accident prevention should receive more consideration in the future than in the past .

Nov 1, 1934

By G. S. Scott, W. J. Huff, G. W. Jones, R. E. Kennedy

"INTRODUCTION This report gives preliminary results of field and laboratory investigations made at the request of the War Production Board relative to causes that have occurred during the last 8 months in acetylene-generat72,r plants in shipyards on the Pacific coast.Six acetylene-generator explosions have occurred in four shipyards. These explosions killed five operators, injured six others, and extensive damage to the plants involved and curtailmnent of vital defense Although the occurrence of acetyiene-generator explosions in other section of the United States is not known, it appears, at least, that if such have occurred, they have caused only minor damage and no loss of lives.The use of acetylene in shipyards on the west coast has expanded tremendously during the past 2 years. These shipbuilding, companies erected aletylene-generatcr equipment, which was soon found to be entirely inadequate to meet the needs of their expanding acetylene requirements for welding, cutting, shrinking, and other purposes, and instances found it necessary to operate their equipment at rates greater than deemed consistent with safe operating practice."

May 1, 1944

By H. F. Yancey

One of the important duties of the Bureau of Mines is to sample and analyze coals and to publish the results of such analyses for the information of producers, consumers, and the general public. Numerous publications containing such analyses have been Issued from time to time. Although the chemical properties of a coal as revealed by its proximate and/or ultimate analysis and heating value aid one considerably in visualizing its probable behavior and in determining its usefulness and value for a specific purpose, they do not furnish complete information. The physical properties of a coal, such as its ability to retain its original form without undue breakage or degradation in size under the various conditions of storage and usage, are also of importance in determining its suitability, technically or economically, for a given purpose.

Jan 1, 1932