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By O. E. Traubert, E. G. Meiter

"The daily sulphur dioxide content of the air at the Pittsburgh Experiment Station of the Bureau of Mines was determined by the bureau at the request of Committee D-14 on Screen Wire Cloth of the American Society for Testing Materials. The purpose of the investigation was to obtain data for use in interpreting screen-corrosion tests, which were conducted simultaneously and jointly by the committee4 and the Bureau of Mines.The plan of this investigation was to vale a single daily determination, except on Sundays and holidays, of the SO2 content of the atmosphere at the exposed test screens, for a period of one year. No attempt was made to determine the variation during the day, except on the morning of October 15, 1927, when the atmosphere was unusually foggy and smoky. Several successive determinations were made on that date to ascertain changes in the SO2 as the morning haze disappeared. The SO2 determinations were begun on August 11, 1927, and continued until August 11, 1923.The Pittsburgh Experiment Station of the Bureau of Mines is in a residential section about 3 miles east of the central or main business district of Pittsburgh. The air samples were taken on the roof above the auditorium, or the center rear of the building. This was also the place where the pieces of screen were placed for corrosion tests. The height was about 40 feet above ground level. Several sources of considerable smoke and SO2 are in the immediate vicinity. On the west side of the building is a double-track railroad. At this point the line runs through a cat below the level of the building. The horizontal distance between the air-sampling position and the railroad tracks is about 400 feet, and the vertical distance about 70 feet. The power plant for the Bureau of Mines building is about 250 feet south of the sampling position. About 1000 feet farther to the south are the engineering building and power plant of Carnegie Institute of Technology, and 1/4 mile to the southwest is the power and heating plant for the Carnegie Library and Museum. About 1 to 2 miles farther south and also southwest"

Jun 1, 1930

By Frank K. McIntosh

The Hamme tungsten district is in Vance County, N. C., and Mecklenburg County, Va. Principal development has been in Vance County. The district is approximately 8 miles long by 1 mile wide and extends northeast-southwest. Its center is about 3 miles N. 65° W. of Townsville, N. C. The occurrence of tungsten in the district was first reported in 1901, but it was not until the Hamme brothers revived interest in the deposits in 1942 that commercial development began. The Bureau of Mines, as part of the war minerals program, began exploration and development of the district in June 1943 and completed it in December 1943. The Federal Geological Survey cooperated by mapping the topography and geology and logging the drill cores. The program included mapping, trenching, sampling, diamond drilling, and analyses and beneficiation of ore samples, The principal ore mineral is hubnerite, which occurs in quartz veins within the schist and granite. The veins are generally lenticular along the strike and dip. About 50 quartz veins have been noted in the area, but many are barren or slightly mineralized.

Jan 1, 1948

By BUREAU OF MINES

This summary of State laws on explosives was compiled primarily to ascertain what subjects relating to their control have been acted upon by each State legislature and , in general , how they have been treated . It does not include any legislation passed after 1942 , or any proclamations , regulations , or administrative orders . It does not purport or attempt to be authoritative . If any problem arises involving interpretation of the statutes of any particular State , the original source must be consulted for the exact words used by the legislature . This summary , however , will be useful in determining whether relevant statutes exist , and in locating thern quickly, with a minimum of effort . It will be of value also in comparing statutes in one State with similar statutes in other States to determine what construction has been placed upon them by the courts of these jurisdictions or to contrast the varying provisions of many States upon a similar subject . To make these comparisons easier , the statutory provisions for each State have been grouped under several major topics in outline form . Although this sometimes has resulted in disruption of the continuity of individual acts , the increased general clarity and availability of comparable sections have more than justified the procedure followed ,

Jul 1, 1943

By Robert W. Ageton

The Bureau of Mines is currently conducting a comprehensive study to evaluate all aspects of recovering gold from large, low-grade deposits in the Golden Sunlight area, Whitehall mining district, Jefferson County, Mont. Prior to World War II this area produced significant quantities of gold. The study includes geologic mapping, diamond drilling, assaying, computer analysis of assay data, metallurgical research and ore testing, mine and mill planning, and an economic evaluation of all factors bearing on the establishment of a producing gold mine. Preliminary evaluation of the deposit indicates about 31 million tons of submarginal gold resources. American Exploration and Mining Co. (AMEX) has assisted the Bureau in this project by providing drill site preparation, control assays, and geological aid for the Bureau's exploration work and by furnishing comprehensive assay information of the property and copies of base and geologic maps. This report presents the geology and mining history of the area, together with a summary of Bureau work in progress.

Jan 1, 1969

By D. J. Bauer

The Bureau of Mines has conducted extensive studies on the recovery of alumina from kaolinitic clay by a HCI leaching-HCI sparging process. The current study reports a modification of the process, which involves a double-leaching system. The first leach of the calcined clay is made at as high a HCI acid strength as possible so that the dissolution of aluminum chloride hexahydrate (AlCI3*6H20) is suppressed, Most of the impurities, but very little aluminum, are soluble in the strong acid. After liquid-solid separation and washing, the solids are leached with recycled weak HCI, which dissolves the AICI3'6H2O. The pregnant liquor is separated from the gangue, and AICI3'6H2O is crystallized from solu-tion by injecting HCI gas. A proposed flowsheet is presented, and the effect of bleedstream size on AlC13'6H20 purity is discussed.

Jan 1, 1984

By G. W. Jones

The operation of combustion engines of various types at high altitudes and other combustion processes at reduced pressures have made it desirable to determine limits of flammabilities -under these conditions. Experiments carried out by the Bureau of Mines have shown that although natural gas-air mixtures become more difficult to ignite as the pressure is reduced below atmospheric, with a suitable source of ignition the limits of flammability are as wide at 175 mm mercury absolute as they are at atmospheric pressure.

Jan 1, 1949

By E. C. Lane

This paper is a preliminary report of the results of the Bureau of Mines' twenty-second semiannual survey of motor gasoline marketed in the United States. A more detailed discussion of the whole survey is in preparation and will be published as a companion, report. The second paper, in addition to giving a more complete summary of the data included in this report, will present results of the determination of copper-strip core lion (method 530.22), color (method 10.11), sulphur content (method 520.11) evaporation residue (method 530.1), and gum content as given by the Bureau of Mines steam oven method.9 The retail price at the time the sample was taken and tax will also be stated for each sample. The present paper deals specifically with data relating to gravity, vapor pressure, and distillation. It has been the feeling of some investigators that the practice, followed in previous semiannual surveys, of grouping all types of motor fuel together without discriminating between "competitive price gasoline," benzol blends, Ethyl gasoline, "high-test" fuels, etc., has detracted from their usefulness because the data did not permit drawing conclusions in regard to any one type of fuel, and tended to obscure differences between fuels of the various types. Therefore, in order to remedy this condition, the samples of the present survey have been divided into two groups; one called "competitive-price gasoline" and a second group called "premium-price motor fuels."

Jan 1, 1930

By E. C. Lane

This paper is a preliminary report of the results of the Bureau of Mines' twenty-second semiannual survey of motor gasoline marketed in the United States. A more detailed discussion of the whole survey is in preparation and will be published as a companion, report. The second paper, in addition to giving a more complete summary of the data included in this report, will present results of the determination of copper-strip corrosion (method 530.22),5 color (method 10.11),6 sulphur content (method 520.11) copper-dish evaporation residue (method 520.11),7 and gum content as given by the Bureau of Mines steam oven method.9 The retail price at the time the sample was taken and try will also be stated for each sample. The present paper deals specifically with data relating to gravity, vapor pressure, and distillation.

Jan 1, 1930

By W. J. Fene

A comprehensive study of all bituminous coal-mine fatalities occurring in Pennsyl¬ vania during the 5-year period, 1926-1930, was made to try to determine the factors that in¬ fluence accidents which cause these fatalities. During this study some two thousand reports of fatalities were reviewed, and pertinent information as to causes and influencing factors were tabulated therefrom. These tabulations are discussed in detail, and in some instances recommendations are made with a view to reducing the hazards in certain classes of these accidents.

Sep 1, 1931

By F. S. Kendorski

This report covers the work on developing criteria for determining when a hazard exists when mining stratified mineral deposits beneath bodies of surface water. The nature of water bodies is considered, the disturbance to the strata induced by mining is described, inundation case histories reviewed, reasonable water inflows derived, and methods of mining to prevent or minimize the hazard are presented. Criteria are given whereby effected industries and agencies can recognize a potential hazard and plan a mine accordingly, releasing considerable mineral reserves otherwise considered unminable.

Jan 1, 1979

By L. R. Burdick, J. F. Barkley

The inherent heating value or the amount of heat that will be produced when a coal is completely burned is measured in British thermal units (B. t. u.) per pound of coal . This standard heat unit is the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water 1 °F . at about 60 °F . The amount of inherent heat is determined by burning a small quantity of the coal in a heat meter or calorimeter , which gives results in British thermal units . The exact manner of making this test is standardized by the American Society for Testing Materials.4/ The value so determined is the total heat developed by complete burning, with all the products of combustion cooled down to the temperature of the calorimeter . The calorimeter is kept at about room temperature . This total heat is sometimes called the " high" or gross heat value , because it includes the latent heat given up by the water vapor in the products of combustion when the vapor condenses to water in the calorimeter . The heat as measured is reported as the heat of combustion at constant volume , since the burning is carried out in a tightly closed calorimeter chamber whose volume does not change . In actual use , coal is usually burned in an open - end chamber at constant pressure , generally somewhere near atmospheric . As the heat of combustion of coal at constant pressure is very slightly higher than the heat of combustion at constant volume , it might be considered that the heat at constant pressure should be used as the standard reference base . For an ordinary eastern coal the heat at constant pressure is about 16 B. t . u. per pound higher than the heat at constant volume . Calorimeter corrections , ordinarily not considered , that could have been subtracted from the heating value before reporting , may amount to about as much . Hence , the value reported is apt to be more nearly the true heating value at constant pressure than at constant volume .

Dec 1, 1941

By Linneas W. Laage

Coal production from underground coal mines has been important to the development of the industrial economy of the United States. Environmental problems have developed from some abandoned operations. These problems include: mine and refuse pile drainage, subsidence, unsafe mine openings and to a lesser extent mine gases, slope stabilities, mine and refuse pile fires and abandoned equipment and structures. Field investigations in three eastern coal mining districts, two in Ohio and one in Illinois, were performed to document the mine closure procedures used and subsequent problems that developed. The purpose was to identify, evaluate, and rank the seriousness of these problems. Based upon this evaluation, the undesirable present day situations could have been avoided or at least minimized by varying certain mining practices or mine closure procedures. It was found that federal regulations address all of these problems during the pre mining, active mining and post mining phases except for abandoned equipment which is the least threatening problem category. Ideally current practice would prevent future problems. However, the extensive and complicated nature of the legislation, environment and mining practices will necessitate adjustments to the law. The investigator recommends the following: 1) Goal oriented legislation encouraging complete resource extraction, standardization and compilation of mining generated hydrological data, periodic review of the coal mining regulations, and improved communication and cooperation between coal interests, regulators and the public. 2) Permitting effluent limitations to accurately reflect natural conditions. 3) Solidly back filling shafts and individual assessment of sealing or capping requirements. 4) Installing shaft vent pipes into the fill material to intercept and vent methane.

Jan 1, 1982

By H. R. Appell

The Bureau of Mines studied the conversion of a variety of cellulosic wastes, for example, sawdust, bovine manure, sewage sludge, urban refuse (free of metal and ceramics), etc., to heavy oils. The objective of the investigation was to determine the scope of the reaction and elucidate the chemistry involved. The reactions took place in the presence of synthesis gas and water or carbon monoxide and water under conditions of elevated temperatures and pressures. Waste conversions above 90 pct, often near 99 pct, with oil yields in the range of 40 to 60 pct, were obtained in the temperature range of 250° to 425° C and pressure range of 1,500 to 4,000 psig. Because mild conditions were sought, most of the experiments were conducted at temperatures of 250° to 350° C and pressures of 1,500 to 3,000 psig. In general, lower viscosity products were obtained at higher reaction temperatures. Conversions and oil yields were significantly increased by operating in the presence of a high-boiling oil; either anthracene oil or oil recycled from the process was satisfactory. Synthesis gas containing 50 pct carbon monoxide gave satisfactory results as a replacement for carbon monoxide. Cobalt molybdate on alumina catalyst, used with sodium carbonate, gave a product of lower viscosity and lower oxygen content than sodium carbonate used as the sole catalyst. The waste-to-oil process has been successfully investigated in continuous flow equipment as well as in batch autoclaves.

Jan 1, 1975

By J. Douglas Causey

In 1986, at the request of the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Bureau of Mines studied the 7,940-acre Southern Otay Mountain Wilderness Study Area (CA-060-029), and the 5,750-acre Western Otay Mountain Wilderness Study Area (CA-060-028) in order to evaluate their mineral resources. The wilderness study areas are located in San Diego County, CA, about 20 miles southeast of San Diego. No mineral resources were identified in the Southern or Western Otay Mountain Wilderness Study Areas, based on literature, field observations, and sample results. The wilderness study areas are underlain by a complex blend of Late Jurassic, moderately metamorphosed sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Evidence of mineralization is not obvious.

Jan 1, 1987

By D. W. Mitchell

This Bureau of Mines report summarizes experience and past research on methods for sealing abandoned areas of a coal mine and areas from which the pillars have been wholly or partially extracted. The Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 requires that such areas be ventilated or sealed with explosion-proof bulkheads, but the present study indicates that bulkheads alone cannot isolate areas in a coal mine in which methane and other dangerous gases have accumulated. Gas-air exchanges between sealed and open areas must be controlled.

Jan 1, 1971

By R. L. Grayson, S. S. Peng

"Abstract. Sampling of respirable dust and analyses of samples have been partially completed for a longwall panel. Physical and compositional properties which have been characterized include:l. Respirable mass concentration, 2. Mineral composition,3. Particle size distribution by mineral,4. Particle shape distribution by mineral,5. Particle angularity distribution by mineral, and6. Respirable size distribution.Analytical techniques used in the characterization of samples are described, and results are reported with emphasis placed on relationships between the various characteristics and worker locations. Details of existing mining conditions, equipment arrangements, dust control methods and operating system parameters are presented.INTRODUCTIONThrough the work of many researchers worldwide, the health of coal miners in modern societies is now protected from dangerous exposure to respirable coal mine dust. A vast amount of research culminated in the exposure-response model of Jacobsen, et al. (1971) whi3h has been used to establish the 2mg/m exposure limit in the United States. According to the model, exposure to respirable dust for 35 years at this level or less would prevent the occurrence of a clinically significant case of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP). The exposure limit, of course, must be adjusted whenever greater than five percent free silica exists in the respirable dust.The Jacobsen model was built around a mass concentration exposure, which showed the highest correlation with incidence and progression of CWP. As Morgan; et al. (1973) noted, howev.er, the quantity of respirable dust inhaled is not the only significant factor. It is noted that although mass of respirable dust correlates highest with the incidence of CWP, it is not a causal factor. Indeed, the insidious processes causing the disease occur on the cell-particle scale, requiring microscopic investigation."

Mar 1, 1989

By J. Alton Burks

When acoustical materials are used in a mining environment for noise control purposes, they are subject to environmental deterioration from hydraulic fluid, moisture, and dust. These and other factors can cause physical degradation of the material, which can lessen its ability to absorb sound. In this study, the Bureau of Mines measured the sound absorption properties of 16 different acoustical materials after 4 sample treatments: (1) being kept clean and dry (as received from the supplier), as a control or reference standard, (2) immersion in water and draining, (3) immersion in lOO-pct-petroleum-type hydraulic fluid and draining, and (4) exposure in a coal mine. The last three treatments were used to approximate the type of physical degradation that can be experienced in actual use. The impedance tube or standing wave method was used to measure the normal absorption coefficient. It was found that the absorption coefficient of most materials was adversely affected by the retention of either oil or water, with oil having the greater effect. The only class of materials that was affected by neither oil nor water was neoprene foam.

Jan 1, 1990

By Benjamin W. Haynes

Analytical procedures are described for the quantitative determination of 16 elements (As, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, TI, and Zn) and 7 ionic species (NH4, C032-, CI-, F-, NO3-, P043-, SO42-), identification of major and minor mineral components, and measurement of physical properties associated with manganese nodules and nodule processing reject waste materials. Compound identification methods discussed include X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, selective area electron diffraction, and optical and reflected light microscopy. Methods for elemental analysis include atomic absorption spectrophotometry, inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy, neutron activation analysis, fluorescent X-ray spectrography, and ion chromatography. Thermal gravimetric analysis, ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, ion specific electrodes, and standard wet chemical procedures are briefly discussed. Physical properties determined in manganese nodule materials include grain size distribution, specific gravity, triaxial shear, permeability, maximum density, Atterberg limits, and slurry density. The results of a round-robin analysis of an ammonia process waste material and manganese nodule standards demonstrate the applicability of the discussed methods. Tests discussed for the evaluation of the waste materials for disposal options include the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) EP toxicity test, the ASTM shake extraction test, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers EPA seawater elutriant test.

Jan 1, 1983

By Robert W. Ageton

Optimal planning for mining the deep, lead-zinc-silver deposits of the Coeur d'Alene mining district, Shoshone County, Idaho, could be facilitated by a knowledge of the magnitude and direction of the pressure acting in the virgin rock. The distribution of primary stresses should be considered in order to prevent possibly destructive mining-induced stress concentrations. This particular investigation was concerned with determining stress in a zone 4,000 feet below the surface and known to be ender stress concentrations due to mining operations. Disking of the stress-relief cores obtained in a vertical down hole permitted qualitative evaluation from visual observations; the results indicate that a high lateral stress existed at the time the measurements were made. Stress-ellipsoid determinations gave a compressive principal stress of -13,000 psi oriented about N 45° W and nearly horizontal, a compressive principal stress of -11,000 psi oriented about S 45° W and abut 60° off the vertical pointing away from the vein, and a compressive principal stress -5 -7,000 psi oriented N 45° E and about 60° off the vertical, pointing toward the vein. Subsequent to the overcoring stress-relief drilling, a rock burst occurred about 100 feet northwest of the test site.

Jan 1, 1967

By Wing G. Agnew

[This report presents the results of tests made by the Mining Division, Bureau of Mines, on the relative durability of manganese-steel drill rods and carbon-steel drill rods for use with detachable bits.]

Jan 1, 1941