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By F. R. Lee

This publication lists permissible equipment approved by the Bureau of Mines during 1965 and 1966 (calendar years), except for breathing apparatus and explosives. The purpose of this publication is to inform the public about approved equipment for safe use in underground mines.

Jan 1, 1968

Helium has probably aroused more varied scientific curiosity than any other single element. Discovered by spectroscopic examination of the sun during an eclipse in 1868, helium is now known to exist not only in the sun and other stars but on earth occluded in minerals, accumulated with natural gases in pockets in the earth's crust, and in the atmosphere surrounding the earth. Astronomers study its presence in the various stars of the universe for clues to their origin and history. Geochemists and geologists study its occurrences in rocks, minerals, and meteorites to determine the age of the earth and the manner of its formation. Pathologists study its effect on living tissues in search for the ideal combination with oxygen for artificial breathing mixtures in medicine, diving operations, and space vehicles. Chemists study its physical properties and use it to trace the sequence of events in reactions in which it does not participate. Geneticists and bacteriologists use it for special studies. Physicists study its behavior when liquefied and the behavior of materials cooled to nearly absolute zero by its use. Nuclear physicists learn more about the universe through study of the nuclear reactions that produce it. Through study of helium and greater knowledge of its origin and properties, science continues to unlock some of nature's more closely guarded secrets. Unknown on earth before 1895, and not discovered as a minor constituent of natural gas until 1905, helium with its simple atomic structure--a nucleus with two electrons orbiting in a closed shell--is a unique element. It is next to the lightest gas, only hydrogen is lighter. It occupies position number 2 in the Periodic Table of the Elements and heads the list of so-called "rare" or ?noble? gases. Most of the naturally occurring helium has an atomic mass of 4.003874 (oxygen = 16). A trace (1.7 x 10-5 mol percent) is the light isotope helium-3 whose atomic mass is 3.0169800 Unstable isotopes of mass numbers 5 and 6 have been authenticated. Isotopes of mass numbers 7 and 8 have been reported, but their existence is less well established. All the heavier isotopes are radioactive and are the product of nuclear reactions.

Jan 1, 1968

By Edward E. Johnson

The principal purpose of this study was the development of an engineering and economic model of a hypothetical large-scale open pit gold mining operation. The guiding concept in developing the model was the idea that, through study of a number of such models, it would be possible to evaluate a mineral property and to make reasonable estimates of the benefits to be derived from research in mining and metallurgy. The model by use of a computer is able to produce results easily and quickly when cost factors are varied. Cost factors may be varied as a result of assumptions of improved technology or of assumptions of assuming different approaches or methods to accomplish a particular segment of the mining or processing operation. The discounted cash flow rate of return was used to measure the effect of changes in costs or expected revenue. In this study, assumptions based on past processing practices were made in an effort to reduce costs of processing the ore These assumptions were: (1) Eliminating the low-grade cyanide circuit; (2) reducing the quantity of material to be processed by screening after crushing; and (3) using a combination of assumptions (1) and (2). All three assumptions resulted in reduced capital investment and operating cost that caused substantial increases in the rate of return.

Jan 1, 1968

By Thomas M. Nasiatka

This report briefly describes the present state of the art and the technological highlights of tunneling from its inception to the present. The discussion is concerned primarily with tunnels driven through relatively competent rock for mine development and various civil purposes. In addition to pinpointing the major technological breakthroughs in tunneling, this report indicates their general effect on the speed of tunneling. The tunneling speeds are based upon data from approximately 80 tunnels listed in the appendix. These data include length; cross section shape and dimension; type of rock; tunneling method; method of breaking, loading, and transporting the rock; average linear progress rate; and cost in values during the period of construction. Most of the tunnels described have diameters of 15 to 30 feet.

Jan 1, 1968

The 1967 Lignite Symposium was held at Grand Forks, N. Dak., on April 27-28, 1967. This was the fifth of these technical meetings and the fourth which was cosponsored by the University of North Dakota and the Bureau of Mines. These symposia have provided a meeting place where current developments concerning technology and utilization of solid fuels (lignite) are presented. There was a registration of 255 persons from 24 States, the District of Columbia, six Canadian Provinces, Germany, and India. Many segments of coal or energy oriented organizations at many levels were represented. During the meeting, 18 presentations were made covering developments in electrical power generation, mining, estimation of reserves, combustion, gasification, and chemical and speciality uses of low-rank coals; these are com-piled in this Information Circular to provide a record of the symposium and to permit wider dissemination of the information. Proceedings of the other meetings have also been published.3

Jan 1, 1968

By Irving Wender

This report describes Bureau of Mines experiments and reviews the work of others on the exposure of coal and coal-derived products to gamma rays and some other types of radiation. Results are presented on tests of three bituminous coals and a lignite that had been pulverized to minus 200-mesh particles and exposed to 1,000 megaroentgens of gamma irradiation from spent-fuel elements of a nuclear reactor. Of about 20 chemical and physical tests in Bureau work, only mass spectrometry of gases evolved during vacuum pyrolysis of the coals to 450° C gave results indicating differences in the irradiated and unirradiated samples. Mass-spectral distribution curves for CO and CO2 evolution showed fewer irregularities (reversals of curvature) for irradiated coals; thus, mass spectrometry appears to be the most sensitive method for determining radio-induced changes in coal. It is concluded that coal is not significantly altered by gamma irradiation owing to the resistivity of its highly condensed ring structure. High-level gamma irradiation, therefore, is unlikely to prove advantageous in coal processing and utilization. Specially treated coals, because of resistivity of coal to radiation damage, may be useful as an absorbent in processing radioactive wastes.

Jan 1, 1968

By Forrest T. Moyer

Injury experience at metal mines and mills (excluding officeworkers) in 1964 was 60 fatal and 3,672 nonfatal disabling work injuries during an exposure time of 149 million man-hours worked. These injuries occurred at a frequency rate of 24.57 per million man-hours and had a severity rate of 3,687 days lost or charged per million man-hours. Employment at 2,363 metal mines and 291 mills, excluding officeworkers, was 68,140 men in 1964. The average number of days worked was 274 The principal cause of fatal injuries at all mines and mills was haulage accidents and in underground mines, only, was falls of ground. The principal cause of nonfatal injuries was handling material accidents. The frequency rate at metal mines and mills in 1964 was slightly below that of 1963, whereas the severity rate was higher. Injury experience at 94 primary nonferrous smelters, refineries, and reduction plants (excluding officeworkers) was 8 fatal and 999 nonfatal disabling work injuries during a worktime of 98 million man-hours worked. The combined injury-frequency rate in 1964 was 10.29 and the injury-severity rate was 1,005. The 36,956 employees worked an average of 329 days during 1964. The principal cause of injuries at these plants was handling material accidents.

Jan 1, 1968

By W. L. Eaton

This report is the second in a series concerning the Bureau of Mines program for microfilming maps of abandoned mines in the Pennsylvania anthracite region; a catalog of the microfilmed maps of mines in the Wyoming Basin of the Northern anthracite field is presented. The first report I.C. 8274, published in 1965, was a catalog of microfilmed maps of mines in the Eastern Middle anthracite field. Additional catalogs will be published as the microfilming of significant mining areas is completed.

Jan 1, 1968

By George Markon

The importance of United States coal exports as a component of the national economy, the potential for growth of these exports, and the inter-national character of this sector of the coal industry are described in this report. The report summarizes some of the many background elements in the rise of United States coals to preeminence in highly competitive world markets. It presents some insight into this important sector of United States industry and the positive contribution of this sector to the Nation's balance of payments. It contains pertinent basic statistics on production, trade, and consumption of coal in most major markets for 1960-66. The report examines the movement of United States coals from mines to export markets, tracing and describing origins, exit ports, prices, and trends as well as inland and ocean freight rates and other data vital to an under-standing of some of the practices and complexities of the United States coal markets abroad. A brief sketch of coal production and consumption in principal importing countries is also presented with a short review of some of the more current practices and problems of these countries. Coal produced in inland areas of the. United States can be moved to and distributed economically within coal-producing countries overseas and in Canada. Quality coals from the United States can successfully compete with foreign coals in nearly any area of the world on a truly economic basis because of their high grade and their low cost which derives from the high productivity of the miner and from reasonable ocean freight rates. Because of tariffs, trade embargoes, quotas, and other restrictions, how-I ever, foreign coal markets are relatively limited. Further limitations are imposed in some countries by economic conditions which restrict all imports as a matter of financial and economic necessity. Despite these obstacles, United States coals have brought lower cost quality coals to a large segment of the foreign energy market.

Jan 1, 1968

By Jerry J. Gray

Transportation charges for mineral commodity movements in western Oregon and western Washington were determined mainly by a stratified random sample canvass of producers. Total 1965 mineral production value for this area was $53.3 million; the cost or charge to move this production from the mine to the consumer or to the point of consumption was determined to be an additional $38.7 million. Thirty seven companies were contacted as a sample out of a total population of 349; the statistically expanded sample production value deviated 3.6 percent from that obtained by the Bureau's annual canvass. The agreement between the sample results and the canvass totals demonstrated the effectiveness of the sampling method for obtaining data with a predesigned level of accuracy. For comparison, the north-central Idaho and western Montana area was studied, A random sample experiment was designed, but because of the dominance of a few major companies, a random sample technique would have required more visits to producers than if only the larger firms were contacted. Eighty-four percent of the 1966 mineral value ($198.6 million) was accounted for by interviewing 27 firms out of a total population of 199. Total transportation costs or charges for the area were $26.7 million. The significant difference observed between the relationship of minerals production value and transport charges between the two areas investigated can be attributed to the difference in the minerals produced. The western Oregon and western Washington region is a nonmetals-producing area as opposed to the predominance of metals production in the Idaho-Montana region.

Jan 1, 1968

By William S. Miska

The study is an economic evaluation of historical, current, and projected refractory uses in the iron and steel industry of the United States. The first part of the report presents a refractories classification and identifies principal trends in the refractories industry; such as, value and volume of shipments, prices of finished refractory products, the number of manufacturers and plants for refractories production and marketing. The main part of the report treats refractory use patterns and technologic developments affecting refractories usage in the iron and steel industry. Changes in use patterns in each furnace type, refractory, and installation costs and the future outlook for refractories in ironrnaking and steelmaking are covered. The last part of the report identifies the principal raw materials used in refractories production and treats trends in refractory raw material consumption. An appendix to the report contains historical time series graphs of shipments of refractory types used primarily by the iron and steel industry and principal refractory raw materials sold or used by producers. An equation of the line of best fit was calculated from the earliest to the latest year in each time series, usually 1950 to 1965; these were extrapolated in order to derive volume estimates for the year 1975.

Jan 1, 1968

By H. E. Powell

The magnetic susceptibility, the geographical source, and associated minerals are given for 44 copper-, 26 lead-, and 19 zinc-bearing minerals. Of the 44 copper minerals/ all had a susceptibility of less than 15 X 10-6 cgs, and about 20 percent of them were diamagnetic. Of the 26 lead minerals, all had a susceptibility of less than 11 X 10-5 cgs, and almost half of them were diamagnetic. And, of the 19 zinc minerals, all except four had a susceptibility of less than 9 X 10-6 cgs, and about one-fourth of them were diamagnetic.

Jan 1, 1968

By Warren E. Morrison

A simplified energy model for the United States is quantified for a recent historical period. The basic model and calculated quantified structures are used for a number of analytical case studies that estimate midterm and long-range shifts in patterns of energy resources demand and required supply. Historical data series are presented for the years 1947 to 1965 in the form of integrated energy balances by source, form, and consuming sector. In case studies I to XII, conditional projections of historical trends of energy demand and required supply are made for the midterm period 1966 to 1980. The projections are carried out by correlation of major energy components with relevant independent variables such as major economic indicators. Simulations of the medium-range projections to 1980 are carried out by varying the assumptions for the determining variables to produce high-and low-range projections for the midterm period. Case studies XIII to XXII are long term contingency or technological forecasts to the year 2000. These cases assume technological changes or innovations that produce major shifts in the long term pattern of energy consumption and the mix of required resources. The domestic resource base is assessed in its ability to meet projected or forecast demand for energy resources under the midterm and longrun assumptions made in the various case studies. Various energy issues or problems identified from the analyses of the case studies are discussed, and possible alternative approaches to solutions to these issues or problems are suggested.

Jan 1, 1968

By John D. Spencer

Air and water pollution and land reclamation relating to coal mining and utilization continued to be featured in research and technologic work on coal by the Bureau of Mines in 1967. Details of the environmental studies are given in this report, along with accounts of other research relating to the mining and utilization of coal. Other studies that were continued during 1967 included health and safety, mine explosives, coal preparation and transportation, coal utilization processes, chemistry and properties of coal, inspection and analysis, and inter-national activities. Publications issued in 1967 are cited throughout the report and in appendix C. Bureau of Mines research centers and laboratories are listed in appendix A, and organizations contributing to or cooperating in the work, in appendix B.

Jan 1, 1968

By Sidney Katell

This report, covering the period January 1967 through December 1967, is a continuation of a series that began with the publication of Information Circular 7516 in October 1949. It is the ninth in a series of reports prepared in cooperation with the American Association of Cost Engineers. The abstracted articles are concerned with all phases of cost engineering in the field of chemical and petroleum plants and related subjects. They are from the following sources: 1. American Association of Cost Engineers Bulletin. 2. Bureau of Mines Information Circulars. 3. Bureau of Mines Reports of Investigations. 4. Chemical Engineering. 5. Chemical Engineering Progress. 6. Chemical Week.

Jan 1, 1968

The principal activities of the Bureau of Mines Explosives Research Center during fiscal year 1967 (July 1, 1966, to June 30, 1967) arc reviewed in a part 1. Part 2 presents short abstracts of the publications issued during this period in the Bureau series and in other media. Part 3 describes a short study on the shock initiation of hydrogen peroxide not destined for publication elsewhere. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Bureau of Mines gratefully acknowledges the support received through cooperative agreement in fiscal year 1967 from The Dow Chemical Company Manufacturing Chemists' Association, Inc.

Jan 1, 1968

By Robert E. Barieau

A list of 163 references to original experimental PVT data on helium is presented for the period 1895 to 1968. The list is complete as of the start of the Helium Centennial Year, 1968, to the best of the author's knowledge. Citations were keypunched for easy updating and are listed alphabetically by author.

Jan 1, 1968

By Forrest T. Moyer

Injury experience in the coal-mining industry was worse in 1965 as both the frequency and severity rates of injuries increased 2 and 6 percent, respectively, over comparable data for 1966 (tables 1-8). The retrogression in the safety record during; 1965 resulted frog the less favorable record at bituminous-coal mines, which more than offset the improved injury experience at anthracite mines. The 259 fatal and 11,138 nonfatal injuries occurred at a rate of 45.77 per million man-hours of exposure and resulted in a severity rate of 8,960 days lost per million man-hours. Although the number of fatalities was the second lowest annual total in the recorded history, it was 17 higher than in 1964. At anthracite operations the total of 6 fatalities in 1965 was the lowest annual figure in statistical history. The annual numbers of nonfatal injuries at ill coal mines and the resulting rates of occurrence have varied little in the past 5 years (table 1). The total days lost from all injuries rose from 2.1.3 million in 19b4 to 2.23 million in 1965 (table 5). Fatal and permanent total injuries, with a standard time charge of 6,000 days each, accounted for 1,650,000 days; Permanent partial injuries, 191,932 clays; and temporary total disabilities, 383,911 days. The severity rate for fatal injuries was 6,241, 8 percent higher than in 1964, and the nonfatal severity rate of 2,718 days lost per million man-hours was 2 percent higher than in the preceding year. The average severity of permanent partial injuries ire; 730, or 48 days fewer per injury than in 1964. The average days lost for each temporary total injury was 36 days in each year.

Jan 1, 1968

Reports by researchers in government, industry, and universities of the United States are given for various projects on basic coal research concerning, the metamorphism, physical and chemical properties, and reactions of coal, and how many of these studies can lead to better utilization of coal.

Jan 1, 1968

By William R. Barton

Dimension stones, with their almost infinite variety, have a broad range of properties and uses. Natural stone was beyond doubt the first mineral commodity used by man. Today dimension stone has widened to encompass building exteriors and interiors, decorative and ornamental modes, statuary, monuments, paving, curbing, flagging, roofing, and miscellaneous categories such as blackboards, surface plates, and honestones. For many purposes, it competes with greater or less success with alternate materials such as concrete, metal, brick, plastic, or glass. The almost ubiquitous geographic distribution of stone resources is the basis for a dimension stone producer industry in almost every State and in almost every land. In the United States, alone, dimension stone sold or used by quarries is valued at 2 million to 3 million dollars annually. Mining, finishing, transportation, and use technology have been modernized, resulting in a broader spectrum of stone products and new adaptions in use. Increased efficiencies also have been reflected in costs and prices and, coupled with gains that should be realized from current research, auger well for continued vitality of the ancient and honorable dimension stone craft.

Jan 1, 1968