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By B. W. Gandrud

[The Bureau of Mines is conducting an extensive investigation of coal preparation in the Alabama coal fields in cooperation with the University of Alabama coal-mine operators. In this investigation the drainage characteristics of typical coals from the Warrior and Cahaba fields were studied]

Jan 1, 1941

By George A. Morgan

The production and processing of crude petroleum and natural gas are the dominant economic sectors of the Middle East. The 15 countries that constitute the region accounted for 28% of world crude petroleum output, 17.2% of world natural gas plant liquid production, and 5.3% of world dry natural gas production. Only Cyprus and Lebanon were not crude petroleum producers. About 66% of total world crude petroleum reserves and 31 % of total world natural gas reserves are in the Middle East. Transportation and port facilities in the region are geared to expediting efficient and rapid shipment of these materials. Export sales of these fuels provide funding for further diversification of the mineral industry. Additional development of downstream facilities for producing energy-intensive metals such as aluminum and byproducts of the fuels such as petrochemicals and fertilizers can be expected. Earnings from the industry are also channeled by several Governments in the region to mineral industry projects in Africa and elsewhere. Several countries in the region own major petroleum refineries and distribution facilities worldwide. Petroleum prices rose overall during the year owing to the invasion by Iraq of Kuwait in August 1990. Output from both countries, the fourth and fifth largest producers, respectively, in the Middle East, was negatively affected by the war. Kuwaiti crude oil wells and pipeline facilities suffered extensive war damage while exports of petroleum and petroleum refinery products by Iraq ceased owing to a U.N. embargo. The embargo also impacted Jordan, an exporter of phosphate and potash. Shipments of crude petroleum by pipeline from Iraq through Saudi Arabia and Turkey and by vessel through the Persian Gulf were terminated. However, the loss in production from Iraq and Kuwait was more than made up by accelerated output from other Middle East and world producers. Saudi Arabia, in particular, with its excess production capacity, accounted for the largest portion of the increase.

Jan 1, 1992

By John Paul Gries

During World. War II, when the curtailment of imports led to an unprecedented demand for domestic mica, beryl, spodumene, and other pegmatite minerals, the Bureau of Mines and the Geological Survey entered upon a program designed to expedite mining of these minerals from the Black Hills area of South Dakota. The program involved napping, sampling, and drilling of many pegmatite dikes in the southern portion of the Black Hills and beneficiation conducted in the field and in the Bureau of Mines laboratories at Rapid City, S. Dak., Rolla, Mo., Salt Lake City, Utah, and College Park, Md. This report describes the occurrence and sampling of the Beecher No. 2 pegmatite, which was investigated as part of the general pegmatite study in South Dakota. Investigation of the Beecher No. 2 pegmatite was started on November 20, 1943, and terminated in the spring of 1944. During this period, the Bureau of Mines took a series of trench samples across the pegmatite at the surface for grain-count studies and chemical analyses. The Geological Survey mapped the geology of the deposit after it was exposed by trenching and stripping.

Jan 1, 1950

By E. R. Palowitch

Coal wasted with mine refuse represents losses in overall recovery of merchantable coal to the mine operator and a concomitant reduction in domestic reserves of available coal. Fraser, Kelley, and Graham3/ in studying the available coal in mine refuse in the Pittsburgh district of western Pennsylvania have estimated that at least 1 ton of mine refuse is produced for each 10 tons of merchantable coal and that 20 percent of this mine refuse might be recovered as salable coal by mechanical cleaning. SUMMARY This investigation dealt with the mechanical recovery of coal from wine refuse by a dense-medium washery employing pulverized mine rock as the dense medium and operating at a rate of 175 tons per hour. Two types of mint refuse were tested: Freshly mined and that .which had been mined 2 years before and piled on a waste dump.

Jan 1, 1955

By J. M. Mutmansky, L. Xu

"This paper outlines the results obtained when sampling twenty underground coal mine sections, each in a different mine. The sampling effort was oriented toward a detailed characterization of coal mine dusts and thus eight-stage Anderson Model 298 impactors were used as the primary collection instrument. This instrument allowed a rather detailed size distribution for each of the particulates sampled. Because four of the mines used diesel outby equipment and/or diesel shuttle cars at the face, it is possible to make some comparisons on the particulate distributions in diesel versus non-diesel mines.One of the more interesting results is the pattern that exists in mines that contain only diesels used for outby utility haulage. Particulate in these mines seem to be consistently heavy in the fine size ranges, perhaps being of significant concern to the industry. While no definite conclusions can be achieved from the limited data collected in this study, the data indicates that more detaile~ study of particulates in diesel mines is needed so that some idea of the particulate loadings in diesel mines can be achieved."

Jan 1, 1988

By R. D. Leitch

The work of the United States Bureau of Mines on stream pollution by coal-mine drainage has included a study of seasonal variations in acidity and volume of several streams in Pennsylvania. The acidity of these streams has been determined during the two or three years prior to 1930 and the results may be considered to represent "normal" low water conditions. The summer of 1330, however, was unusually dry and represents what may be termed "extreme low water conditions on these streams. This report is a comparison of the results obtained for extreme low water of 1930 and for other years. The streams investigated were Buffalo Creek in Somerset County, Indian Creek (lower 5 miles) in Westmoreland County, Little Toby Creek in Elk and Jefferson Counties, Daguscohonda Run in Elk County and West Creek in Elk and Cameron Counties. These will be treated separately in the order given. Most of the descriptive matter and physical data pertinent to the streams and drainage basins are taken from published reports of the Pennsylvania State Water Supply Commission, 1917.

Jan 1, 1931

By H. R. Batchelder

The Bureau of Mines Gas Synthesis Demonstration Plant at Louisiana, Mo., includes apparatus for the gasification of pulverized coal with oxygen and superheated steam. A pebble heater constructed by the Babcock & Wilcox Co. is used to superheat nominal 5-pound steam for the gasification process, usually to temperatures of 1,600° to 2,300° F. with flow rates of 1,400 to 2,300 pounds per hour. Heaters of this sort have been described. So far as is known, the Babcock & Wilcox Co. is the sole commercial manufacturer of equipment of this type. Units have been built with capacities above 18,000 pounds of steam per hour.

Jan 1, 1951

By Carlton E. Brown

Impinger dust-counting methods are used by industrial hygienists for determining the number concentration of unhygienic siliceous dusts in industrial atmospheres. Various statements have been made regarding the size of the smallest particles revealed by the microscopic employed in such determinations. Published data on the subject are quite limited. This report presents information on the size of the smallest particles revealed by light-field and dark-field techniques applied to impinger and electric precipitator samples collected from experimentally established aerosols of silica dust and bituminous-coal dust. Size distribution and number concentration of particles of the various sizes in the aerosols were determined from samples collected by thermal precipitation simultaneously with the impinger and electric precipitator samples. The size of the smallest silica and bituminous-coal dust particles determined in the light-field counting method used was about 1./1, . There was relatively little variation in the values from 8 impinger and 33 A.-C. precipitator samples of silica dust and 13 impinger and 13 A.-C. precipitator samples of coal dust. The coefficients of variation of the values from the four sets of determinations were low, ranging from ± 7.7 to t 10 percent. This size of 1,14 is close to the limit of resolution of the microscopic method used and to various previously suggested values. The size of the particles determined in the dark-field counting method used was smaller than the size (about 0.28A ) of the smallest particles determined in the light-field, oil-immersion method used for the thermal precipitator samples.

Jan 1, 1951

By Jerry E. Olson

In 1985 the U.S. Bureau of Mines conducted a mineral survey of 68,458 acres of the Clan Alpine Mountains Wilderness Study Area (NV-030-102) which covers 196,128 acres in Churchill County, NV. Most of the area studied is underlain by Tertiary volcanic rocks. In the northeast corner of the study area, an upthrown block of Triassic sedimentary rocks partially extends into the area. The study area is probably part of a large eroded caldera. No major mines or active claims are within the study area. Field investigations included examination of workings in Starr Canyon, historical and recent mining activity near the mouth of Florence Canyon, other mining claims, and anomalous zones delineated by data from Great Basin GEM Joint Venture studies. No mineral resources were identified, but sample results indicate one significant mineralized zone situated along a northwest trend between the head of Starr Canyon and the head of Cherry Creek may contain precious metal resources. Further investigation of this zone is warranted.

Jan 1, 1987

By Thomas C. Mowatt

Preliminary Bureau of Mines studies of mafic igneous rocks collected from the Rabbit Creek area, northwestern Alaska, indicated concentrations of platinum (412 to 1,406 ppb) and palladium (343 to 892 ppb) in five of eight samples analyzed. The samples represent boulders and cobbles of mafic/ultramafic rocks from this locality. They are not from outcrop. Petrologically, (on the hand specimen scale) the samples are crudely to well-layered and are troctolitic ± gabbroie in character, with primary igneous mafic minerals strongly altered. Small patches of interstitial sulfide minerals, including chalcopyrite, bornite, pyrrhotite, pyrite, and covellite are associated with these altered zones and elsewhere through the specimens. Copper values ranged from 0.1 to 0.3 pct in samples analyzed semiquantitatively; nickel, cobalt, and chromium contents are low. Chemical, mine alogic, and petrographic relationships suggest that the rocks of similar character outcropping in northwestern Alaska could also be considered as prospective for- concentrations or platinum, palladium, and copper.

Jan 1, 2011

By Robert H. Bedford

The New Almaden mine was discovered in 1824, and since that date production of quicksilver has exceeded 1,000,000 flasks. Because of this high production record, the New Almaden area was, upon passage. by Congress of the Strategic Minerals Act of 1939, immediately considered by the Bureau of Mines as a promising location for exploration. In 1941, the Federal Geological Survey undertook a survey of the entire district. R. R. Trengove, an engineer of the Bureau of Mines, made a preliminary study for a project in 1942, and in August 1943 the Bureau, in close cooperation with the U. S. Geological Survey, began the development project described herein. The Bureau of Mines drilled 36 holes, totaling 6,807 feet of diamond drilling, along the contact between the serpentine and Franciscan, sandstones and other sedimentary formations. The ore bodies are found along this contact and occur in the carbonate-silica rock. This report briefly describes the location, history, and ore deposits of the property. The recent operations are outlined, and the work performed by the Bureau is explained in detail.

Jan 1, 1950

In 2005, a total of 4,490 stone mining operations reported employment to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Stone mines comprised 30.6% of all mining operations. ? Mines producing the primary commodity of limestone (crushed and broken) comprised the largest number of operations (n=2,039; 45.4%). ? Stone mining operations were located in all states and territories except Delaware and North Dakota. ? Of all states, Pennsylvania had the most stone mines (n=379; 8.4%).

Jan 1, 2008

By R. N. Roby

In the course of the Bureau of Mines investigations for suitable sources of high-aluminum clay for the production of alumina, the Whiteware clay deposit was examined in August 1942 by G.N. Bennett, mining engineer, Bureau of Mines, Montana District Office. This report presents the factual data obtained by the investigation, which also includes data on trenching and drilling, and the results of some refractory tests and chemical analyses of representative samples of the clay later taken from some of the best trench exposures and from adit dumps.

Jan 1, 1949

By J. A. Herdlick

"INTRODUCTION The BeVan quartz crystal prospect in the Indian Creek mining district of Lemhi County, west-central Idaho, was examined by an engineer of the Bureau of Mines 3/ on July 9, 1943. As quartz crystals possessing peizoelectric properties were on the critical list of strategic war minerals, further exploration of the deposit was recommended. The Bureau of Mines exploration began in December 1943 and continued through January 1944. Additional trenching was completed during May and June 1944. This report presents the data obtained by this exploration.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. The Mining Division, Lowell B. Moon, chief, conducts preliminary examinations, does the actual exploratoiy work, and prepares the final report. The Metallurgical Division, O. C. Ralston, chief, analyses samples and makes beneficiation tests.The quartz crystals found during the exploration were examined and classified at the Bureau of Mines College Park, Md., laboratory and checked at the National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C.Fred BeVan, of North Fork, Idaho, and Edward F. Cenis, of the Montana Coal & Iron Company, Spoane, Wash., provided much information on the history and past production of the property."

Mar 1, 1948

By Albert E. Keller

This paper describing the timekeeping and pay-roll methods of the Britannia raining and Smelting Co. (Ltd.) is one of a series being prepared for and published by the United States Bureau of nines regarding office procedures in connection with mining operations. The general office of the Britannia Mining and Smelting Co. (Ltd.) is located at Britannia Beach, B. C., a town of about 600 inhabitants at tidewater on the east side of Howe Sound and about 30 miles from Vancouver, B. C. The Beach, as it is locally termed, is a company town consisting largely of about 250 employees of the company and their families. Here is the milling and concentrating plant of over 6,000 tons daily capacity- the main service units comprising the electrical, mechanical, blacksmith and woodworking shops and the local electric-furnace foundry; the central-heating steam plant; the air and electric generating units; the ball-manufacturing plant; the warehouses; and the general store, which serves this community and also acts as distributor for the general stores located elsewhere on the property.

Jan 1, 1932

By R. A. Cattell

The Bureau of Mines recently observed its fortieth anniversary, and with the close of the fiscal year 1950 it completed 36 years of close cooperation with and helpfulness to the petroleum and natural-gas industries, whose technical problems it studies. Petroleum people likewise observed the ninetieth anniversary of the start of this truly American industry when "Colonel" Drake drilled the first well at Titusville, Pa., in 1859 (see fig. 1). Throughout the period, during which there have been many changes in the fuel and related economy of the country, this work has been carried on systematically by an organized entity of the Bureau first known as the Petroleum Division and in recent years as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Branch. Changes in the industries have been brought about partly by economic forces, partly by advances in technology, and in some measure by the impact of two world wars. As the needs of industry and the Nation have changed, so have the studies of the Bureau changed to meet these needs. Consistently, Bureau technologists and scientists have tried to keep in step with progressive movements; frequently, in fact, have taken the lead. Wherever possible, they have looked far ahead in their program of research, at the same time recognizing the needs of the hour.

Jan 1, 1951

By J. F. Barkley

[There 1 s [\ general conce:!?t in the coal trade tha t the ;noi sture-and ash-free B. t.'I. of coal from t.he oome seam, and surely from the same mine, is substantially a cor.stant: that calculatio!: of the ::1oisture-and ash-free B. t. u. value f~~oJl t he proxima te ru:al~rsi sand. 3. t. u. determined in tl19 laboratory 111ill reveal v:?letller a coal came f~'om a. given : area or seam; and that, having this constant, the 3.t.u. value of a coal sample can be c lculatcd fairl...' closely 11:0on a? dry or as~received basis from the r.lois]

Jan 1, 1941

By Walter R. Storms

"INTRODUCTION Geological examination of the Iron Mountain beryllium deposits was begun by a field part 3/ of the Federal Geological Survey in May 1942. Later in that month the occurrence was examined by the author and C. H. Johnson, of the Bureau of Mines, and a preliminary exploratory program was outlined. Trenching and sampling began about June 15 and were completed in July 1942. A large tonnage of beryllium-bearing material was indicate by this preliminary survey, so that additional funds wore allotted for further trenching and sampling, underground exploratory work, and diamond drilling. This later program was initiated in July 1942 and was completed in May 1943. 4/ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSIn its program of exploration of mineral deposits, the Bureau of Mines has as its primary objective the more effective utilisation 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, R.G, Knickerbocker, chief, analyzes samples and performs beneficiation tests."

Mar 1, 1947

By C. E. Brechtel

This project describes the design and testing of large face ventilation systems for oil shale mining. A design data base was generated by reviewing general industry practice, oil shale industry planning, and technical literature. Conceptual designs for seven different systems were developed and evaluated for suitability. A large, free-standing, jet fan and reversible fan with rigid duct were selected for fabrication and testing. The two systems were field tested in a dead-end heading 55 ft wide by 30 ft high and 320 ft long. System performance was optimized using measurements of air flow direction and air velocity. Total system performance was then measured using SF6 tracer gas released to simulate blast fumes, hot diesel exhaust, methane layering and methane from a blasted muckpile. Field testing indicated that both systems delivered similar performance. The jet fan offered some clear advantages because of its mobility, ease of oper-ation and lower power requirement. It also offered some functional advantages in ventilating for methane because of it high average velocity.

Jan 1, 1985

By J. F. Barkley

[There is a general concept in the, coal trade that the moisture- and ash-free B.t.u. of coal from the same seam, and. surely from the same mine, is substantially a constant; that calculation of the -moisture- and ash-free B.t.u. value from the proximate analysis and B.t.u. determined in the laboratory will reveal whether a coal came from a given area or sears; and that, having this constant, the B.t.u. value of a coal sample can be calculated fairly closely upon a dry or as-received basis from the moisture and ash values of its proximate analysis.]

Jan 1, 1941