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By E. C. Lane

"In a previous paper the Bureau of Mines. 3/ presented in condensed tabular form all analyses of Texas crude oils made by the Bureau up to March 193K. This previous report states;The first Al well in Texas was drilled near Oil Springs, Nacogdoches County, in 1863-67. However, the first oil field of major importance in the State was discovered at Corsicana,Navarro County, in 1895. Since that time the petroleum industry try in the State has spread and grown until today petroleum from Texas is an important commodity in world petroleum markets.Since March 1939 samples of Texas crude oils from many new fields, and some older fields not covered in the previous report, nave been analyzed. Those analyses arc reported in the present paper. The annual production by years from 1896 to 1940, inclusive, taken from the figures in the Bureau of Mines Minerals Yearbook, are given in table 1. Production for 1896-1940, inclusive, totals 6,579,715,000 barrels.Various authors reported upon developments and production in the Texas fields in the Transactions of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, Petroleum Division, for 1941. 4/"

Apr 1, 1943

By Wilder D. Foster

In the method used in the Health Branch of the Bureau of Mines for petro-graphic identification of the minerals in a rock, the sample is crushed, ground to a fine powder in a mortar, the powder is put on a slide, a drop of index oil and a cover slip are added, and the slide is ready for examination. The rock should be ground fine enough so that most of the particles consist of only one mineral, otherwise identification is difficult. Finally, the amounts of the minerals present in the sample are estimated to the nearest 5 or 10 percent. When quartz grains are mixed with some claylike minerals) of which by far the most common example is quartz and kaolinite in a shale, grinding in a mortar does not always separate the quartz from the kaolinite; instead, the quartz grains become coated with the kaolinite and are not visible, even after careful search. Talc acts Similarly, but muscovite and pyrophyllite do not. In evaluating the possible silicosis hazard of breathing dust from a shale, it is essential to be able to see and identify all of the quartz grains, as the other minerals present are relatively innocuous.

Jan 1, 1949

By Timothy M. Barton

The U.S. Bureau of Mines is conducting research to assess the effectiveness of different chain pillar designs in maintaining gate entry stability. A particular concern is ground control for deep-cover 1ongwalls located at depths in excess of 1,000 ft. The study described in this report was performed in two experimental sections in one longwall headgate section which contained three different pillar designs. Two of the designs used conventional abutment pillars, while the third was a total-yielding pillar system. Both of the test areas were located under 1,800 ft of cover. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of these three pillar designs for gate road stability. As the longwall mined passed the test areas, Bureau engineers monitored entry convergence, roof sag, and changes in roof quality. The study indicated that the all-yield system performed nearly as well as the better of the two abutment pillar systems; but all of the three designs would have failed to provide acceptable stability for second panel mining without considerable artificial support.

Jan 1, 1989

By Edmund S. Leaver

The selection of a process for treating a gold ore is governed primarily by the characteristics of the ore under consideration. The form in which the gold occurs, its mode of association with other minerals, and the size and surface condition of the gold particles are important factors which influence materially the choice of procedure for recovering gold. A knowledge of these characteristics may be obtained by microscopic and chemical methods combined with experimental testing. Cyanidation and amalgamation, either alone or in conjunction with flotation and gravity methods, are peculiarly adapted to the treatment of gold ores, especially those of relatively low grade. Gold alloys readily with mercury provided both present clean surfaces. The presence of oils and grease, antimony and arsenic minerals, or soluble sulphides have a harmful effect. Very small, flaky particles of gold frequently are lost in amalgamation because of noncontact with the mercury. Fine gold in pyrite, or gold having rusty or contaminated surfaces, is often lost for the same reason. Grinding or some form of abrasion sometimes removes surface films of iron oxide or substances of a similar nature, and alkalies or other chemicals are used to remove grease. Gold is readily soluble in cyanide solution, and this method of treatment is particularly effective in the recovery of gold from the tailings resulting from other types of concentration procedure. Cyanide solutions must contact the gold to insure recovery, and the porosity of the ore treated and the fineness of grinding required are important governing factors. The use of lime in cyanidation is necessary to protect the cyanide, to precipitate undesirable substances, and to settle slimes. Certain substances in ores are harmful in cyanidation; chief among them are those that combine with cyanide, forming cyanides, and carbon which precipitates gold from solution. Arsenic and antimony are also harmful if present in sufficient quantity. These and other difficulties encountered in cyaniding certain ores often are overcome by roasting prior to leaching. Zinc dust is used almost universally for precipitating precious metals from cyanide solutions. The refining and melting of the product may be accomplished by oxidizing the zinc before melting it in graphite pots with fluxes, although sulphuric acid is now used largely to remove the zinc before melting. Straight cyanidation practice is being replaced by flotation as a major process, followed by cyanide leaching of the tailings, but amalgamation is still needed as a primary process for the recovery of coarse gold before either flotation or cyanidation.

Jan 1, 1935

By David R. Peterson

This report presents a deep ocean mining operational simulation which is capable of describing the response of the bottom collection unit to specified mining ship maneuvers and the corresponding operation of the mining ship maneuvering system. Bathymetry, obstacles, collector and pipe dynamics and ship maneuvering capabilities are included in the simulation. The simulation is capable of evaluating the technical requirements and operating costs for specified mine plans, Results are useful in assessing mine size requirements and provide operating 'cost 'estimates useful as inputs to deep ocean mining economic feasibility assessments, The simulation is used to determine the consequences of obstacles to mining system operations in terms of impact on mine size requirements and reduced production arising from obstacle avoidance maneuvers of a towed (unsteered) collector.

Jan 1, 1979

By W. F. Watts

The U.S. Bureau of Mines has conducted research on methods to reduce and to measure diesel particulate matter (DPM) aerosols in underground coal mines. One objective of this report is to present findings from an investigation of the DPM reductions obtained by an engine-mounted integrated control system consisting of a dry system (DS) and a diesel particulate filter (DPF). Another objective is to present results from the usc of a size selective personal sampler to measure DPM concentrations in an underground coal mine. Bureau laboratory tests of the integrated dry system and diesel particulate filter (DS-DPF) have shown that DPM emissions can be reduced up to 97 pet with little change in gaseous emission concentrations. The DS-DPF is undergoing certification tests conducted by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Subsequent to passing all safety requirements, it will be tested in an underground coal mine. A baseline survey of DPM concentrations and aerosol size distributions in a cooperating mine was completed in August 1988. A prototype DPM personal sampler was tested during this survey. Based on results from this test, an improved unit has been developed. This unit is scheduled for extensive field testing by MSHA in 1989.

Jan 1, 1989

By J. L. Eakin, J. P. Powell

"The increased costs of exploration and drilling of new oil fields and the continued success of water flooding in nearly depleted oil fields have created a demand for information on the results obtained from individual projects. The Bureau of Mines has published several reports concerning water-flood activity in the Midcontinent area and at the request of the industry has continued to collect and disseminate this information. This report was written in response to these requests. It describes in detail the water-flooding projects in Anderson, Franklin, Linn, and Miami Counties, Kans., and includes methods of water treating and the results obtained. The production histories of each county and many water-flood projects are shown graphically from the date of the first development. Maps of most of the major projects, showing their status as of January 1, 1953 are presented also.The practice of injecting water to stimulate oil production was legalized in Kansas in 1935, and the first water-flooding project authorized in this four-county area was initiated by the Texas Co. in December 1935 in Linn County. Forty-nine projects2/ initiated in the area to January 1953 are estimated to have recovered approximately 10 million barrels of oil that would not have been produced by methods used previously. About 7,900 productive acres had been, or are, flooded by these projects, and approximately 136 million barrels of water had been injected.These four counties in the eastern Kansas shallow production area3/ were an important factor in the early history of the Kansas oil and gas industry. This position has been maintained from the very beginning through the early period of vacuum and air injection and into the era of water flooding. The location of the area and the relative position of the four counties and water-flooding areas in each are shown in figure 1.The first drilling for oil in this area in 1860 resulted from investigations of the existence, and use by the Indians, of so-called tar or oil springs. The first wells drilled were nonproductive, and the impending Civil War caused the search for oil to be discontinued. In 1884 a few shallow oil wells were drilled near Paola, and completion of several gas wells near that city led to subsequent drilling of an oil well, which was completed in June 1885, having an initial flow of 10 barrels of oil daily.In 1904 the original Paola gas field became a good oil-producing field. In 1905 the Rantoul field in Franklin and Miami Counties was opened; and drilling activity spread throughout the adjoining area, resulting in development of several shallow oil pools in Linn and Anderson Counties. The first ""shoestring"" pool in eastern Kansas to produce oil was probably the Paola or Pressonville shoestring, which was discovered in 1917. The rate of oil production from the area declined until 1919, when the Centerville shoestring pool was discovered. Discovery of the Colony gas field in 1921 was followed within a few months by drilling of the Garnett and Garnett and bush City shoestring pools. The Schermerhorn pool (now part of the Centerville field) s discovered in 1927, and the Kincaid shoestring pool was first drilled in 1931. The oil-production histories of the individual counties are discussed separately."

Jun 1, 1953

By David J. Hoadley

This report describes the development and underground operation of a semi-automatic, raise climber, Man and Supply Hoist System designed for stope access in underground metal and nonmetal mines. Demonstrated capabilities of the system include a 4000-lb payload capacity, control from the traveling cage and from up to five remote stations, operating in vertical or inclined raises 5 ft in diameter and up to 300 ft in length and a travel speed of 50 ft/min. The 'system has the capability of operating in crooked raises because the conveyance climbs two stationary wire ropes suspended down the raise. The drive unit is electrically powered with power and control signals supplied to the drive unit through an armored cable also suspended down the raise. The system has been designed for portability, ease of installation and minimum raise development. The system can be installed by two men in five shifts. The hoist has been demonstrated successfully in two underground applications. The first demonstration was in a 5-ft diam, 60 deg inclined raise over a 2-month period. The second demonstration utilized a vertical 5-ft diam borehole to access a blast-hole stoping area. The system successfully provided two shift-a-day service over a 7-month duration demonstration. This report provides a detailed description of the hoist design and its demonstrated performance in two mine applications.

Jan 1, 1981

By J. H. Welsh

This Bureau of Mines report presents guidelines to be considered in the design, installation, and operation of environmental mine monitoring systems in underground coal mines so as to enhance safety in the U.S. mining industry. A review of the current status of mine monitoring in the United States is also provided.

Jan 1, 1987

By Edmund S. Leaver

The selection of a process for treating a gold ore is governed primarily by the characteristics of the ore under consideration. The form in which the gold occurs, its mode of association with other minerals, and the size and surface condition of the gold particles are important factors which influence materially the choice of procedure for recovering gold. A knowledge of these characteristics may be obtained by microscopic and chemical methods combined with experimental testing. Cyanidation and amalgamation, either alone or in conjunction with flotation and gravity methods, are peculiarly adapted to the treatment of gold ores, especially those of relatively low grade. Gold alloys readily with mercury provided both present clean surfaces. The presence of oils and grease, antimony and arsenic minerals, or soluble sulphides have a harmful effect. Very small, flaky particles of gold frequently are lost in amalgamation because of noncontact with the mercury. Fine gold in pyrite, or gold having rusty or contaminated surfaces, is often lost for the same reason. Grinding or some form of abrasion sometimes removes surface films of iron oxide or substances of a similar nature, and alkalies or other chemicals are used to remove grease. Gold is readily soluble in cyanide solution, and this method of treatment is particularly effective in the recovery of gold from the tailings resulting from other types of concen¬tration procedure. Cyanide solutions must contact the gold to insure recovery, and the porosity of the ore treated and the fineness of grinding required are important governing factors. The use of lime in cyanidation is necessary to protect the cyanide, to precipitate undesirable substances, and to settle slimes. Certain substances in ores are harmful in cyanidation; chief among them are those that combine with cyanide, forming cyanides, and carbon which precipitates gold from solution. Arsenic and antimony are also harmful if present in sufficient quantity. These and other difficulties encountered in cyaniding certain ores often are overcome by roasting prior to leaching. Zinc dust is used almost universally for precipitating precious metals from cyanide solutions. The refining and melting of the product may be accomplished by oxidizing the zinc before melting it in graphite pots with fluxes, although sulphuric acid is now used largely to remove the zinc before melting. Straight cyanidaticn practice is being replaced by flotation as a major process, followed by cyanide leaching of the tailings, but amalgamation is still needed as a primary process for the recovery of coarse gold before either flotation or cyanidation.

Jan 1, 1935

By Donald A. Voigt

This publication is intended as a guide for persons responsible for obtaining classifications and approvals Tor explosive compounds, mixtures, or devices from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). It deals with the procedures for obtaining a recommendation for classification of an explosive compound, mixture, or device through the Bureau of Mines. Completion of the procedures detailed in this guide is necessary to obtain a final classification of an explosive compound, mixture, or device and assignment of an "EX" number by DOT, which will allow the producer to offer the explosive for shipment within the United States. This guide also gives procedures for obtaining United Nations (U.N.) classification for shipping outside the United States.

Jan 1, 1990

By J. P. Powell

Since the beginning of waterflooding in the Midcontinent area, the Bureau of Mines has published many reports3-6/ describing in detail the results obtained on individual waterflooding projects in the area. These are intended as guides for operators in the selection of well-spacing, water-treating, and other techniques, as well as an indication of the results being obtained in waterflooding in various areas, fields, and horizons. In addition, Bureau personnel has arranged a tour of selected waterflooding projects each year for the past several years so that actual operating conditions may be observed and an additional opportunity provided for exchanging information. Each of these tours has been supplemented by a published

Jan 1, 1959

By Charles E. Glass

The purpose of this report is to demonstrate the flexibility of rte sensing techniques for providing data with which to implement mined-lands reclamation in an efficient and cost-effective manner. An operational program is presented for using satellite remote sensing data, collateral data, and automated image analysis to provide: 1) an inventory of coal and copper mines and mine waste in Arizona, 2) techniques for periodic monitoring of mining areas using multitemporal classification and image prediction techniques, and 3) delineation of high priority areas for future reclamation and current land-use planning of Arizona mining areas based on environmental hazards indices computed using classified scenes and collateral data.

Jan 1, 1980

Construction workers may be exposed to hazardous dust containing crystalline silica during site preparation when drilling systems are used. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found that drill dust could be decreased by using wet or dry dust reduction engineering controls, enclosed cabs, and implementing a dust control program.

Jan 1, 2009

By E. P. Ferrero

Analyses of 38 crude oil samples from 25 fields in Algeria, Libya, and Nigeria are presented in this report. The 38 crude oils are listed alphabetically by country and field. Also shown are the geographic and geologic sources of the samples analyzed, the companies that supplied the samples, the general characteristics and analytical and computed data, and the production for the fields from which the samples were obtained.

Jan 1, 1966

By R. V. Lundquist, H. Leitch

The solubility characteristics of three calcium aluminates , 12Ca0 · 7A120½ 3Ca0 A1203 , and 4Ca0 A12 03 Fe2O3 , were determined in water and in solutions of NaOH and Na₂ CO₂ to more clearly define their role in relation to the recovery of aluminum by the lime sinter and the lime - soda sinter processes . The calcium aluminates were prepared by sintering stoichiometric mixtures of CaCO3 , Al2O3 3H20, and Fe 0 at 1,375 ° C. The rates and extent of aluminum extractions were determined . The aluminum extractions from the aluminates were dependent on the presence of carbonate ions in the leach solutions , temperature , time , leach solution composition , and solid - liquid ratio of the slurry . The aluminum extracted from the calcium aluminates in water and in NaOH solutions varied from 4.6 to 22.9 percent . Virtually , complete extraction could generally be obtained for 12Ca0.7A120 and 4Ca0.A12 03 • Fe₂ 03 ; in one instance it was obtained for 3Ca0.A1203 , when an excess of carbonate ions was present over that required for the conversion of all of the calcium in the aluminates into CaCO3 . In some cases of poor aluminum recoveries , extractions could be improved by regrinding and releaching the solid residues .

Jan 1, 1964

By E. P. Ferrero

Analyses of 38 crude oil samples from 25 fields in Algeria, Libya, and Nigeria are presented in this report. The 38 crude oils are listed alphabetically by country and field. Also shown are the geographic and geologic sources of the samples analyzed, the companies that supplied the samples, the general characteristics and analytical and computed data, and the production for the fields from which the samples were obtained.

Jan 1, 1966

By R. A. Beall

This paper summarizes the development of a furnace for producing titanium castings. The general problem is outlined and chronological details are given on the construction and operation of four different casting furnaces, all utilizing consumable-electrode arc heating and water-cooled copper crucibles. Of the two methods of pouring, the tilt-pour technique has been more satisfactory than bottom tapping. Mold design, electrode fabrication, and deep-pool production are discussed. INTRODUCTION In the early summer of 1953 the Bureau of Mines was contacted by the Department of the Army through Watertown Arsenal to explore the possibility of conducting research on casting titanium metal. The objective of the program was "to develop a technique for producing formed castings of titanium metal not less than 40 pounds in weight and without introduction of deleterious contamination."

Jan 1, 1956

A system to continuously measure the concentration of radon in mine ventilating air has been developed and tested in a uranium mine. In use, the air/radon mixture to be monitored is pumped through filters into a scintillation cell where nuclear decay of the radon produces flashes of light. These are electronically counted, giving a quantitative measure of the radon present. Air is continuously drawn from the mine atmosphere into the radon sensor box. This air sample passes through two filters into the detector cell as shown in the schematic diagram. A portion of the radon in the detector cell will experience nuclear decay, producing polomium 218 and an alpha particle. The alpha particles from the fraction that decays strike a zinc-sulfide coating on the inside wall of the cell and produce flashes of light. These enter a photo-multiplier tube which records each flash as an electrical pulse. An amplifier increases the voltage of each pulse, allowing electronic screening to remove noise and other undesirable pulses. The remaining pulses are counted by a conventional data acquisition system.

Jan 1, 1978

The panic bars (and associated linkage's and electrical circuitry) that are defined in this document are a machine operator-actuated control for the emergency deenergization of the tram motors on Self-propelled, electric and diesel face equipment; including haulage equipment such as shuttle cars. There are nine basic types of panic bars (and several variations) that are recommended in this document, but all of the panic bars are characteristically of the "fire door" type that is frequently encountered on outside exit doors of many public and soma commercial buildings. It is also the intent of the following panic bar designs that, when emergency brakes are added to the face equipment machinery for which they are required, that they be designed and hooked up so that actuation of the panic bar will result in automatic application of the emergency brakes (immediately following the deenergization of the tram motors). The following panic bar design requirements are a restatement of the proposed requirements defined in the Federal Register, requirements cited in 'Guidelines for the Design and Installation of Devices for Deenergization of Self-Propelled Electric Face Equipment/Automatic Emergency Brakes" by C. E. Lester and J. D. Greenhalgh of MESA, and Bendix recommendations that were formulated as a result of discussions with personnel at the various machine manufacturers and underground coal mines that we surveyed, discussions with G. L. Judy (our consultant), etc:

Jan 1, 1974