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By Thomas J. Peters

The Snowbank study area, which had been proposed as Wilderness, lies about 5 air mi southwest of Cascade, Idaho, and about 60 air mi north of Boise. The eastern boundary of the north-south-elongate study area lies 1-to 2-mi east of Cascade Reservoir; the western boundary is contiguous, in part, with the western boundary of Valley county. The 8,200-acre study area is underlain by Cretaceous granitoid rocks of the Idaho batholith. Three prospects were found in or near the study area during a library and field search. Gold occurs at one 30-ft adit, but the gold-bearing structure appeared too narrow to contain resources. Two other prospects appeared essentially unmineralized. No evidence of geothermal activity was observed. Rock in the area is not potentially useful as dimension stone because it does not split into flat slabs. To be used as aggregate, the rock would require crushing and hauling to distant markets. One of 18 alluvium concentrate (placer) samples contained free gold, worth $1.07 per cubic yard of gravel (at a $350 per oz gold price). No alluvial bars were seen; deposits were too small to contain gold resources or be considered gravel resources.

Jan 1, 1993

By George H. Holmes

This paper is one of a series being prepared by the Minerals Division of the Bureau of Mines on mining and milling methods and practices at various mines in the United States. It describes such methods at the Caselton mine of the Combined Metals Reduction Co. The Caselton mine and mill are in secs. 28 and 29, T. 1 N., R. 67 E., M. D. B. & M., Lincoln County, Nev., about 10 miles by paved highway south- west of Pioche, Nev. (fig. 1). the history of the district and company This circular summarizos operations, describes physical features, labor and living conditions, the geology, ore deposits, and the ore. Prospecting and exploration methods are outlined, and shaft sinking, drifting and crosscutting, and raising are covered under development methods. In the soction on mining mothods, stoping and slushing are discussed, following which are descriptions of underground transportation, hoisting, ventilation, drainage and sampling, and surveying. The surface and crushing plants are described, and milling practices are presented in dotail with explanation of the filter plant and assay office. Safoty practices and the company organization are described in the concluding sections of the circular.

Nov 1, 1950

By Keith D. Rosbury

The basic objective of this project was to determine the cost-effectiveness of dust control used on unpaved mine haul roads. Field testing was conducted at three surface coal mines (two in Wyoming, one in southern Illinois) for a total of 20 weeks. The highest control efficiency measured for a chemical dust suppressant, 82 percent, was for calcium chloride two weeks after application. Generally, however, the control efficiencies hovered in the 40 to 60 per-cent range over the first two weeks since application, and then decreased with time. After the fifth week, the limited number of data points suggest a control efficiency of less than 20 percent. Composite watering data were fairly uniform. Watering once per hour resulted in a TSP control efficiency of approximately 40 percent. Doubling that application rate increased the control effectiveness by about 15 percent to 55 percent. Chemical dust suppressants (primarily salts and lignons) can be shown to be more cost-effective than watering under some conditions. Delta summaries and the analysis of data are contained in Volume I. Volume II contains basic data.

Jan 1, 1983

By O. C. Blade

The oil fields of Arkansas, all situated in the southern part of the State, have played an important part in the development of petroleum production in the northern coastal plain region of the Mid-Continent area. From the first discovery of oil in southwest Ouachita County in 1920 to December 31, 1930, a total of 480,167,5604/ barrels of crude petroleum has been produced from' this region. Development of the Arkansas fields proceeded rapidly after 1920. The El Dorado field was discovered in Union County in 1921. Drilling in Ouachita County resulted in the discovery of the Smackover field in 1922 and subsequently in the development of the whole southern area. To November 31, 1938, 6,4595/ producing wells had been drilled in 25 fields, aggregating 53,7356/ acres of proved territory in 6 counties. Peak annual production for the State was reached in 1925, when 80,823,7007/ barrels was produced, resulting largely from flush production from the Smackover field, which rose td an average of 444,9508/ barrel daily during that year. During 1924, 1925, and 1926 Arkansas ranked fourth9/ among the oil-producing

Jan 1, 1940

By Stephen C. Tadolini

The anchorage capacity of four types of bolting systems was investigated in two mines with thick coal roofs. In conjunction with the in-mine tests, a simple axisymmetric finite element computer program was developed. Both the field and computer results indicated that thick coal roofs can be effectively supported entirely by the coal member.

Jan 1, 1986

By Andrew Allan

During recent years underground production for the Pennsylvania anthracite region has reached the lowest output per man per day figure of the last decade and a half. This fact, combined with increased unit costs for labor and material, has forced the market price of anthracite ever higher. Over the years the mines have become deeper, and haulage distances have increased, thus adding to the mining costs. The industry now recognizes the need for new mining techniques to offset increasing costs. The Federal Bureau of Mines, through its Anthracite Research Laboratory, is engaged in a program of underground-mining research in cooperation with anthracite-producing companies to aid in reestablishing the economy of the region by introducing methods and/ or machines that will reduce underground-mining costs and, at the same time, enhance the safety of the workmen.

Jan 1, 1953

By Russell R. Trengove

In order to extend or delimit the known ore reserves adjacent to the Comet Coalition property on the western slope of the Highland Peak Range about 8 airline miles west of Pioche, Nev., the Bureau of Mines undertook an exploration project of diamond drilling. Production figures from this property, formerly known as the Schodde, are not available, but it has been reported that small amounts of rich silver and gold ore were Shipped by wagon to a smelter in the Salt Lake valley during 1900-1910. Small shipments were reported for the period 1915-1927, also. A study of the Pioche District by the Federal Geological Survey in 1942 and 1943 was the basis for the exploration program of the Bureau of Mines in 1947 This program consisted of diamond-drilling three holes. The total footage was 2,967 feet. No. 1 hole was drilled 1,260 feet, a record depth for diamond drilling in the Pioche District. Silver-bearing lead-zinc sulfide ores are found in the Combined Metals limestone, known locally as the C.M. bed, These deposits have been formed by replacement of the limestone that is inclosed in the Pioche shale.

Jan 1, 1949

By D. A. Rice

As part of its mission, the U.S. Bureau of Mines continues to develop technologies that will enable cost-effective compliance with environmental requirements. To this end, investigations to improve the kinetics of chalcopyrite dissolution by simultaneous grinding-leaching in ferric sulfate solution were conducted using the Bureau-designed turbo mill. The development of such a hydrometallurgical process would provide a nonpolluting alternative to conventional smelter technology. The effects of mill rotational speed and volume percent solids on the leaching time and energy required for copper extraction from chalcopyrite were evaluated. The results of this laboratory study have shown that the simultaneous grinding-leaching of chalcopyrite concentrate using the turbomill is technically feasible with essentially 100 pet extraction of copper being possible at 90° C. An optimal energy consumption of 1,153 kW?h/st of copper leached was found in batch testing with the mill operating at 400 rpm with a slurry containing 35 vol pet chalcopyrite. This energy consumption, while higher than other proposed leaching processes (about 600 kW?h/st), is of the same order of magnitude. Further refinement of the energy requirements would require additional testing using a continuous circuit. Leaching times of less than 1 h, for 80 pct copper extraction, are achievable using the turbomill grind-leach process.

Jan 1, 2010

By Carlon S. Land

The Bureau of Mines investigated the influence of a free gas saturation on oil recovery by water drive. A digital computer was used to calculate the combined oil recovery from solution-gas drive to various states of depletion. Results of these calculations are compared and optimum conditions for the maximum oil recovery are found for various fluid-rock systems. For most of the fluid-rock systems, the calculations show an optimum gas saturation other than zero. Using fluid and rock properties as parameters, graphs are plotted showing the optimum gas saturation and increase in oil recovery brought about by the gas saturation. The effects of fluid properties and relative permeability on the optimum gas saturation are seen in these graphs. The graphs can be used as guides in connection with other considerations in determining the optimum time to start a waterflood. They should also be helpful in determining the MER of a water-drive reservoir. The effects of compressibility and solubility of the trapped gas saturation are investigated for select cases using a backward difference scheme to solve the partial differential equation of three-phase flow. From these calculations, it is observed that some benefit of a gas saturation remains for injection pressures up to 1.5 times the original bubble-point pressure.

Jan 1, 1974

By Glenn C. Reed

This report is one of a series describing mineral investigations within the Missouri River Basin in Montana. The primary purposed of these investigations is to provide information to agencies of the Department of the Interior and others concerned with the planning of Federal power developments in the basin. This report is limited in score to consideration of mineral deposits of presumed inventory value within Gallatin County, Mont. The field investigations were made during the fall of 1948.

Jan 1, 1951

By L. C. IlsLey

The United States Bureau of clines has been conducting Investigations of electrical equipment during a period of more than 25 years in an endeavor to encourage the development of safer electrical equipment for coal mines. In order to conduct these investigations in an orderly manner they are carried out under a published schedule of tests known as Schedule 2C, which specifies detailed requirements for motors, controllers, etc., and fees covering the various inspections and tests made as part of a routine investigation.

Jan 1, 1937

By Lucien Eaton

This paper describing the mining practices at Mine No. 1, Menominee Range, Mich., is one of a. series being prepared by the Bureau of Mines on mining practices, methods, and costs in the various mining districts of the United States. It is felt that the publication of this information will be of interest and value to the mining industry at large and especially to operators whose mining conditions are similar to those described. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author is indebted to the superintendent, engineer, and mining captain of Mine No. 1 for much of the information presented.

Jan 1, 1929

By L. D. Tracy

"IntroductionOne of the problems which the coal-mining industry must solve in the next few years is the redaction of its ever-increasing timber bill. This includes pit posts, mine tees, timber sets, and brattice boards. As an example of this increase, the following table of timber prices from the records of a coal company in western Pennsylvania, in a district where the supply of most of the different kinds of timber used can be shipped from points within the State, is self-explanatory: Present conditions seem to indicate the continued upward trend ox the cost of mine timber, although the regrettable calamity that has visited the chestnut timber in Pennsylvania may temporarily hold the price of some types of mine timber on a level basis. On account of the chestnut blight, many farmers will undoubtedly begin to convert their chestnut trees into timber before they become a total loss. This may provide, for the time being, a sufficient supply of mine timber to check the steadily rising prices.The local lumber producers are turning their attention to the production of the larger sizes of timber and lumber on account of an unfavorable price on mine ties. From the foregoing table, it is seen that the average advance in the price of ties during the period 1914 to 1920 is 52 per cent, while timber sets and mine car plank increased in value 60 per cent. Amore striking illustration is the fact that a 6 by 8 inch by 6 foot tie sells for 42 cents or at the rate of $17.50 per 1000 board feet; yet mine car plank and timber sets have a value of $48 per 1000 feet, an advantage of $30.50 in favor of the heavier timber.The supply of coal in Western and Central Pennsylvania will last for a long period and it is for the possible future demand for timber that the coal companies must provide. While steel, concrete, and other materials may, in many cases, prove an acceptable substitute, there is no doubt that timber will always be in demand."

Nov 1, 1926

By Guy A. Johnson

To improve productivity and cut costs, modern underground mining operations have become more mechanized. This mechanization has increased the usage of fuels, hydraulics, and electrical equipment associated with diesel-powered vehicles, thereby also increasing the hazards of underground mine fires. The Bureau of Mines evaluated the fire hazard problem and assembled prototype components for a system that would automatically sense and extinguish fires on mobile underground equipment. The prototype system and alternative designs were in-mine-tested and proved effective. This report summarizes this technology, which can cost effectively help solve the problem of fire hazards on underground vehicles.

Jan 1, 1983

By John K. Alley, Robert C. Johnson

The primary objective of the research was to grow aluminum borate whiskers or fibers and to determine their properties . Molten salt bath and vapor deposition methods were used for synthesis . Whiskers exceeding 25 mm in length were grown . The best results were obtained by vapor deposition and most of the data presented were determined on whiskers produced by this method of synthesis . Three different aluminum borate compositions ( 4.8A1203 B₂03 , 3.8A1203 B203 , and 2.5A120, B203 ) were identified by X- ray and chemical analyses . The aluminum borates 4.8A1203 B20, X- ray diffraction pattern was indexed . Optical data were obtained on the three aluminum borates . In addition the following whisker properties and growth factors were determined : ideal atmospheric dewpoint for vapor deposition method , near 65 ° F ; temperature range of whisker formation , 1,000 ° to 1,400 ° C for the molten bath method of synthesis , > 1,000 ° to < 1,400 ° C for the vapor deposition method ; whisker growth rates by the vapor deposition method , maximum 12 mm per hour ; raw material vaporization , 50 to 60 percent of the fluoride lost in 1 hour ; tensile strength , maximum obtained 174,162 psi ; melting points , ranged from 1,675 ° to 1,795 ° C.

Jan 1, 1965

By Francis X. Cannaday

The purpose of this investigation was to find whether the moduli of elasticity obtained were the same for the following methods : ( 1 ) Deformation of a borehole in a prism subjected to uniaxial stress ; ( 2 ) deflection of a thin beam of uniform cross section uniformly loaded ; ( 3 ) sonic - pulse velocity measurements , and ( 4 ) strain measurements on a prism under uniaxial stress . The rock tested was chosen for its good elastic behavior and relatively good homogeneity and elastic isotropism . The same rock was used for all methods . Results indicate that for given environmental and stress conditions the moduli obtained by each of the four methods check one another within the limits of experimental error and that the differences introduced which are characteristic for each method are smaller than physical variations within the rock tested .

Jan 1, 1964

By R. E. Perry

To develop new or improved flotation methods for beneficiating low-grade red iron ores, the Bureau made many bench scale and continuous anionic flotation tests on ferruginous sandstones and calcareous iron ores from the north-eastern part of the Birmingham, Ala., iron district. The ores contained about 21 to 36 percent iron, a to 11 percent lime, and 22 to 64 percent silica. Production of iron concentrates containing 48 to 52 percent iron was technically feasible in batch tests, and the iron recoveries ranged from 85 to 92 percent. In continuous tests 49 to 51 percent iron products were obtained with 80 to 90 percent recovery.

Jan 1, 1962

By F. E. Griffith

Cost data are given for five methods of secondary backfilling of strip mines previously partially backfilled. The operations were conducted in north-central Pennsylvania; an average of 600 linear feet of highwall were backfilled in each trial. Major obstacles and the relative merits of the methods are discussed.

Jan 1, 1966

By H. S. Kalman

A table of factors, for rapid, accurate calculation of the volume of pure helium in cylindrical steel containers, is presented. By use of the table the volume of helium in a container, at base conditions of 14.7 psia and 70° F, can be calculated from the observed pressure and temperature of the helium and the known internal volume of the container. The table covers a pressure range from a to 4,500 psia in 10 psi increments and a temperature range of 0° to 120° F in 2° increments. The calculation of volume requires a single multiplication, using a factor from the table and the known internal volume of the container. A discussion and evaluation of the accuracy obtainable and a derivation of the formula used (which takes into account compressibility of helium, thermal expansion of steel containers, and the stretch of steel due to internal pressure) are presented. An example showing how the table can be used is given also.

Jan 1, 1963

By H. S. Kalman

A table of factors, for rapid, accurate calculation of the volume of pure helium in cylindrical steel containers, is presented. By use of the table the volume of helium in a container, at base conditions of 14.7 psia and 70° F, can be calculated from the observed pressure and temperature of the helium and the known internal volume of the container. The table covers a pressure range from 0 to 4,500 psia in 10 psi increments and a temperature range of 0° to 120° F in 2° increments. The calculation of volume requires a single multiplication, using a factor from the table and the known internal volume of the container. A discussion and evaluation of the accuracy obtainable and a derivation of the formula used (which takes into account compressibility of helium, thermal expansion of steel containers, and the stretch of steel due to internal pressure) are presented. An example showing how the table can be used is given also.

Jan 1, 1963