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By A. W. Ambrose

The output or oil and gas rrom the producing fields in the United States is rapidly deelining. Coincident with this decline is a steadily increasing demand ror petroleum and its products, but at present there are no commercial substitutes ror gasoline and lubricating oil. Undoubtedly, many new fields will be discovered in this country during the next rew years. Indeed, there may be periods or temporary flush production that ror a rew months or a year or perhaps two years will afford a surplus. Such peaks are temporary and should not be given too much weight in considering the relation between petroleum supply and our national lire. In considering this problem we must regard a long period or time, and, ir we do that we shall see that domestic production will be unable to keep pace with consumption. Hence, the public good demands t~at the highest efficiency obtainable be practiced in the production or oil. To accomplish this end, the operator or to-day should so organize his rorces ror development and production that he recovers every barrel or oil that can be recovered at a profit. This necessarily involves the use or eeonomical and scientific methods or development a:nd production and the elimination or waste. The Bureau or Mines has ror years urged the conservation or petroleum and its products, and has pointed out that -such conservation should start before the oil is brought to the surface rather than arter it is in storage tanks. Losses or petroleum underground have undoubtedly been rar greater than losses in storage, in transportation, and in refining. The quantity lost usually is indeterminate, and hence difficult to express in terms or money, but by remembering that entire oil fields have been ruined by invadIng waters some idea may be gained or the importance or underground waste. The petroleum engineer is coming to be recognized as an extremely important aid in the intelligent development or oil fields. In this paper an effort is made to outline ror the engineer and producer a field or work whereby science and engineering not only can but have been applied practically. The mining engineer has been the direct- ing hand in the development of mines, and it is being recognized more and more that the petroleum engineer has a similar function in developing oil properties. Thispaper aims to show the general method of procedure in studying underground conditions in producing oil fields and how such study may not only correct but even prevent great unnecessary losses. Such work provides the company with maximum insurance for the field against loss and is accompliphed at minimum cost and minimum risk. Throughout the paper reference is made to oil wells and oil fields, but to a certain degree many of the suggestions relating to oil wells are applicable in the care and protection of gas wells and in solving gas problems.

Jan 1, 1921

Domestic Production and Use: In 1976, 12 companies operated 31 primary aluminum reduction plants, with 3 firms accounting for 63% of production capacity. Washington, Oregon, and Montana accounted for 36% of the total production; Gulf Coast States 19%, Northern States 29%, and other Southern States 16%. Based on published producer prices output of primary metal in 1976 was valued at $3.8 billion. Aluminum consumption by 25,000 firms was centered in the East Central United States. Of aluminum consuming industries in 1976 building accounted for about 25%; packaging 22%; transportation 19%; electrical 13%; , consumer durables 8%; and other uses, 13%.

Jan 1, 1977

By George S. Rice

The major purpose of this bulletin, as indicated in the preface by Dr. John W. Finch, Director of the Bureau of Mines, is to give a critical review of the coal-mining methods used in the principal producing countries of Europe, to describe the reasons underlying the adoption of these methods, and to contrast them with coal-mining methods employed in the United States. The report includes discussions of various subjects intimately related to coal mining, such as geology of the principal coal fields; production and resources of the several countries; mine safety and health research; Government mining regulations; mine inspection and rescue procedure; safety lamps; fixed lighting methods under-ground; testing electric motors, mining machines, and mining explosives for permissibility; and special mining hazards, such as explosions of gas and coal dust, mine fires, instantaneous gas outbursts, ground movement and surface subsidence, and bumps. Commercial, economic, and labor problems of European coal mining, including miners' output, wages, and social-insurance schemes, as well as cost of mining, prices of coal, etc., are briefly described. It will be noted that data on most subjects are not given for Russia, which has become an important coal-producing country, owing to the lack of reliable published information concerning Russian coal mining.

Jan 1, 1939

By O. P. Hood, R. H. Kudlich

When a gasoline locomotive is used in a mine there is danger of the noxious gases of the exhaust vitiating the air, but if enough air is circulating in those parts of the mine in which the locomotive is used, these gases are so diluted that they are rendered harmless, and the health of the workmen is not affected. In some mines the use of gasoline locomotives is impracticable, though in the majority of mines where they have been tried they have proved to be safe and economical. To determine the limitations that should surround the use of these machines in mines so that they shall not be detrimental to health and so that their economic advantage may be retained, it is necessary to ascertain the volume and the character of the exhaust gases and the amount of these gases that may be safely allowed in the mine air, and also to determine safe conditions of operation. The problem is primarily one of ventilation and like all ventilation problems must be intelligently computed to meet the conditions of each mine. The investigation described in this bulletin was undertaken 'by the Bureau of Mines in an endeavor to obtain exact information on some of the basal questions involved in the use of gasoline locomotives in mines, this investigation being one of many that the bureau has been conducting in its efforts to increase safety and efficiency in mining.

Jan 1, 1915

On November 9, the Reynolds Metals Company cut production by 12 at its primary aluminum smelters at Troutdale, Oreg., and Longview, Wash., as a result of an earlier 25% power cutback by the Bonneville Power Administration due to lower than normal stream flow in September, the Aluminum Company of America had closed one potline at its Vancouver smelter because of the power cutback. Nearly 700 union workers at Anaconda Aluminum Company's primary aluminum smelter at Sebree, Ky., walked off the job when their contract expired or, November 15, after rejecting a proposed 3-year contract. The smelter has an annual capacity of 180,000 tons mid accounts for 50% of Anaconda's aluminum production. No talks are scheduled.

Jan 1, 1979

By Robert S. Hill

"In November 1942, a preliminary report on the Swartz Mining District by John H. Soule, an engineer of the Bureau of Mines, recommended an exploratory program of diamond drilling. The existence of zinc and lead deposits in this region had been known for many years. In 1943 and 1944, the Federal Geological Survey made a detailed study of the same area. Later work done by the Bureau of Mines in this district followed the suggestions made by these geologists.3/In the latter part of 1944, Felix A. Vogel, Jr., another Bureau engineer, made a study of the Grey Eagle mine in the Kingston Mining District, a few miles northeast of the Swartz district, and his recommendations for diamond drilling were followed in so far as funds permitted. Drilling was started in October 1943 and was completed in June 1945.4/In its program of exploration of Mineral deposits, the .Bureau of Mines 'Ms as its primary objective the more effective utilization of our mineral resources to the end that they make the greatest possible contribution t 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 of ore and performs beneficiation tests. Both these branches are under the supervision of Dr. R. S. Dean, assistant director.With respect to this report, special acknowledgment for assistance is due to C. H. Johnson, chief of the Rolla Division, Mining Branch, and to various members of the Geological Survey."

Sep 1, 1946

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Jan 1, 1985

By Ronald D. Rothchild

This report describes the results of a study of longwall ignition hazards and specific suppression systems to minimize each of the major hazards. The major ignition hazards were identified by conducting a literature search and conversing with knowledgeable individuals in the United States mining industry. Three classes of potential ignition suppression systems are discussed: triggered suppression systems for face ignition, passive suppression systems, and control of ignition hazard in the gob. The triggered suppression systems included protection for the shearer, head and tail gates, welding equipment, and the shearer power cable. Passive systems include improved ventilation and water sprays, and charges in the shearer head. Gob protection can be improved by isolating the gob from working areas and by introducting inerting agents into the gob.

Jan 1, 1976

1. Domestic Production and Use: In 1974 twelve companies operated 31 primary aluminum reduction plants, three firms accounting for 64% of production. Washington, Oregon, and Montana accounted for 32% of the total production; Gulf Coast States, 24%; Northern States, 33%, and other Southern States 11%. Output of primary metal in 1974 was valued at $3.4 billion. About 80% of the secondary recovery was from new aluminum base scrap and 20% was from old scrap. Aluminum consumption by 25,000 firms was centered in the East Central United States. Of aluminum consuming industries in 1974, building accounted for about 27%; transportation 19%; electrical, 13%; packaging, 15%; and consumer durab1es, 9%.

Jan 1, 1975

The Black Hills Mineral Atlas briefly summarizes all important data available on the mines and mineral deposits in the Black Hills that have been explored, developed, mined, or located. The purpose of the atlas is threefold; First, from available data the general potentialities of the Black Hills region can be determined, although it is not possible to calculate actual ore reserves; second, it will provide the necessary basic information regarding a given property or commodity for further detailed study; and third, the compilation is a comprehensive directory of Black Hills deposits.

Jan 1, 1955

By William P. Stroud

Chemical alteration of the compressive strength of sandstone has been investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM). Successful development of this technology would offer an attractive alternative to the methods now used for stress control in mines. Sandstone cores were stressed to failure under uniaxial compression at two different strain rates. Specimens saturated with either distilled or tap water showed an average 14% reduction in stress at failure compared with those dried in vacuum. Samples saturated with dilute solutions of aluminum chloride, hydrochloric acid, and polyethylene oxide showed no statistically significant difference in failure stress compared with those saturated with water. By contrast, compressive strength of the cores was increased some 7% by saturation with the nonpolar solvent carbon tetrachloride. No correlation was found between zeta potential and compressive strength.

Jan 1, 2010

In this issue, the Bureau of Mines announces the availability of the latest of its Mineral Perspectives series: ?MP-4, mineral Industry of Western Europe." This publication describes the mineral industries of 19 Western European countries. For readers unfamiliar with this new series, reproduced below and on the two succeeding pages, is the section dealing with the mineral industries of France. Information regarding acquisition of this publication is found inside the back cover of this issue. FRANCE France is a moderately important producer of minerals, including iron ore, coal, potash, fluorspar, and uranium. In addition, France is a significant processor of imported minerals, chiefly for its own consumption. In general, it has exportable surpluses only of a little iron ore (low-grade ore exported to Luxembourg) and some nonmetallics.

Jan 1, 1977

By E. H. Burroughs

This bulletin is the fifth in the series of petroleum bibliographies publis:\:l.ed by the Bure.au of Mines, Bulletins 149, 165, 180, and 189 being compilations for the years 1915, 1916, 1917, and 1918, respectively. In this bulletin the same general plan has been followed in arranging the references, but a few changes and additions have been made in the classification.

Jan 1, 1923

The Bureau of Mines human factors research program is directed toward reducing accidents and improving the overall efficiency of the person-machine environment interface found in surface and underground mines. The focus of the hum factors program therefore, is to insure that sound knowledge is available concerning human capabilities and limitations, and that this knowledge is applied to the design, of mining equipment, work tasks, and management procedures. The papers presented in these proceedings summarize some of the recent Bureau research in hum factors. The papers focus on two broad areas, human resource issues and human engineering of equipment, tools, and work procedures found in mines.

Jan 1, 1987

By Ernest A. Hersam

"INTRODUCTION.Luring the year 1923 a complete survey was made of the condition of research in the reduction (milling) and concentration of ores and nonmetallic minerals - that is, up to the stage where the ores or concentrates were ready for hydro- or pyro-metallurgical treatment. This survey was carried on under the general supervision of L. A. Lyon, assistant director and chief metallurgist of the Bureau of mines, in cooperation with the milling committee of the American Institute of mining and metallurgical Engineers, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of California. Other institutions, including the National Research council, were of assistance and outlined recommendations during the study.While this report is on ""ore dressing"", it contains short sections on coal and clay. The mechanical handling that these minerals undergo is ""dressing"", so that ore dressing is inclusive of metallic and nonmetallic minerals. ""milling"", in its broadest sense, includes with ore dressing certain other metallurgical treatment which the report is not designed to cover.The survey revealed that considerable experimentation is being carried on great cost to the mining industry, but that the research is in general poorly coordinated while companies and firms are adequately taking care of routine tests and the mechanical features involved in their own operations, no comprehensive study of the fundamental principles of ore reduction is now in progress or contemplated. Many industries, besides mining, are interested in the preparation of materials for final treatment, rendering this investigation of value also to them. This class of fundamental research is neglected by industry unless there is some agency which can bring together at least a majority of this interested in a cooperative effort. It can not be effectively handled by a single company; and, moreover, no company can be expected to bear the whole burden of an investigation to benefit the entire industry or a number of industries hence there is need for concerted study within reasonable limits. Furthermore, co-operation eliminates duplication, which is largely a waste of effort and capital."

Mar 1, 1925

By Joseph M. Kurtak

The Bureau of Mines (Bureau) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted a 4-year (1979-1982) mineral assessment study of the Chugach National Forest (CNF), Ak, as part of the Roadless Area Review and Evaluation (RARE II) Program. The USGS remapped the geology and distribution of mineral resources. The Bureau investigated mines, prospects, and mineral occurrences. This report describes the results of Bureau work in the central 790,880 acres of the Forest. Copper, with by-product zinc, silver, and gold, has been the major metal produced from the study area as well as from the entire Chugach National Forest. The majority of the copper deposits are concentrated within basaltic rocks on Knight Island but the major producers are hosted by sedimentary rocks on Latouche Island. Approximately 182.6 million lb of copper, 1.5 million oz of silver, and an unknown but substantial amount of gold were produced during a 30 year period. Currently no mines in the area are producing. Inferred, indicated and measured reserves having mineral development potential total 4.6 million tons, with weighted average grades of 1.6% copper, 0.30 oz silver/ton, and 0.04 oz gold/ton.

Jan 1, 2011

This report summarizes the results of a research project entitled "Fatal Accident Data Base Development." This project is the last project under Contract No. S0110601. Volumes I and 1I, "Industrial Engineering Study of Hazards Associated with Underground Coat Mine Production," summarize the original industrial engineering project and the Fatal Accident Report Analysis project. These projects were completed and accepted by the U.S. Bureau of Mines on December 10, 1971. Both volumes of the report have been made available by the Bureau to the public through the U. S. Department of Commerce technical information service. Another project under the same con tract, entitled "Equipment Operations Safety Study, &apos; was completed in January 1972 and the report was accepted by the U. S. B. M. at that time. The analysis in this Natal Accident. Data Lose Development report is closely related to analysis in both of the earlier reports. The original project involved an industrial engineering and safety of production operations for a representative sample of underground bituminous coal mines. The contactor was required to make recommendations &apos;in work practices, mining methods, equipment, and safety practices which can effectively reduce the fatality rate from rib and roof falls.&apos; (Longwall mining methods were excluded from the study.) Time study and work element analyses were performed in over 50 mines as part of the field data gathering effort. Another requirement of the study was to develop sets of multiflow. Process charts, which are diagrammatic illustrations of the time-related interaction of mining, cycle job elements.

Jan 1, 1972

By Norman G. Foster

The mass spectra of four tertiary butyl substituted thiophenes are reported. A comparison and contrast with earlier structure correlations made by API-RP48 mass spectroscopists is presented. The fragmentation routes of these types of molecules are discussed and explained in terms of existing theories in mass spectrometry. Low ionization voltage data are presented to support the mechanistic picture developed. Structures are inferred about some of the ions, and these are correlated with existing theories. Metastable peaks in the spectra are used to support the fragmentation paths. The presence of doubly charged ions in the spectra is noted and the possible implications toward mechanisms discussed. The general picture of simple, small fragments leaving the ion moiety upon further fragmentation is developed in detail. Some suggestions are presented for further work utilizing isotopically labeled molecules to establish firmly the general picture of fragmentations of the alkylthiophenes.

Jan 1, 1966

By D. K. Ingram

In situ horizontal stresses were measured to determine the influences of geologic anomalies on the regional horizontal stress field in two coal mines in southern Illinois. Stress measurements were obtained near a normal fault having a 121-ft displacement at the AMAX Wabash Mine and a large coalbed want at the Kerr-McGee Galatia No.5 Mine. Horizontal stress measurements were completed using a Bureau of Mines borehole deformation gauge. The average maximum and minimum horizontal compressional stresses at the Wabash Mine were 1,400 and 800 psi, with the direction of maximum stress ranging from N 78° W to N 83° E. At the Galatia No.5 Mine, the averages were 1,500 and 500 psi, with the direction of maximum stress ranging from N 85° E to N 75° E. Generally, the geologic anomalies appear to have no dramatic effect of the regional horizontal stresses. However, subtle differences between stress measurements suggest an influence by the fault zone at the Wabash Mine. The larger anisotropic stress conditions at the Galatia No.5 Mine could be responsible for the increase in kink zones and directional roof failures.

Jan 1, 1988

By Raymond B. Ladoo

Talc is a hydrous magnesium silicate having the chemical formula H2Mg3 (SiO8 ) 4 ; it is often called steatite, soapstone or potstorie, and by the trade names talc clay, agalite, asbestine, and verdolite. The term talc may be used to include all forms of the pure mineral, whereas steatite denotes particularly the massive, compact variety, and soapstone the impure, massive form that often contains only 50 per cent of talc. Merrill 1 says: The name soapstone is given to dark-gray and greenish talcose rocks, which are soft enough to be readily cut with a knife, and which have a pronounced soapy or greasy feeling; hence the name. Such rocks are commonly stated in textbooks to be compact forms .of steatite, or talc, but as the writer has elsewhere pointed out, and as shown by the analyses here given, few of them are even approximately pure forms of this mineral, but all contain varying proportions of chlorite, mica, and tremolite, together with perhaps unaltered residuals of pyroxene, granules of iron ore, iron pyrites, quartz, and, in seams and veins, calcite and magnesian carbonates. When pure, talc is soft, having a hardness of 1, but when impure or when it grades into its varieties, the hardness increases to 3 or 4. Talc ranges in color from pure white and silvery white through gray, green, apple green, gray green to dark green, nlso yellow, brown, or reddish when impure. It is rarely, if ever, found in wellformed crystals, but often occurs in foliated plates or in fibrous aggregates. It is commonly compact or massive or in fine granular aggregates. Several analyses of talc from different regions ·are given in Table 1. Talc has several varieties, the most important of which is Rensselaerite. This variety, found in a small area near Gouverneur, St. La.wrence County, N. Y., is a hard, fibrous, -waxlike mineral having the same chemical composition as talc, but lacking its softness and its peculiar greasy feel. Its hardness and its peculiar fibrous form, even when ground, have made its grinding and separation a separate problem. In addition to the varieties of talc and soapstone, the mineral pyrophyllite or agalmatolite, a hydrous silicate of alumina, with the formula H2Al2 (Si08 ), is also mined and sold as talc. It resembles talc in color, feel, luster, and structure, and may be successfully substituted for true talc for most uses. In this paper it will be considered as one of the commercial forms of talc.

Jan 1, 1923