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[~lis is the f'fth in a ~erieG of reports on properties of commercial motor fuels, made in accordance 1,'Vi t:h fl cooperative ae,ree-ment betwGon tho Cooperative Fuel ReRRarch (e.F.R.) Committee and the Bureau of I ines of the Dcpart~ent nf the Interior. The first report gave data on motor r-asolino~ sold during the wintor of 935-36.31 Thi~ report covers 84 brands of ga~oline represented by l,722 samples exclurling the Pacific Coast. T 3)Se J.rom th~. ?~'tcific Coast IV .ro avnrL)f:od b~r tho Pacific Coa!3t tecilnical group "bofore o8ing submi ttcd ruld arc p~.lbl:'shcd GX Gtl~r as they were submi tted. In some areas r~lJort~ . erc roceivod f~om ~ ix to eicht compD.l1ie~ on the same brands of gasoline. whoruar. in other areas only one company reported on a brond. Thut., it CU .. "! be senn that BO .. 0 uf the dnt ;.U'e more rCY>l'c entat vc thM others. The inclusion of r~0rts fro:n several ci tie. w' thin somo of tho di stricts has ir.rpr,)vcd the report by reducinc; tr.e numb~r of brand rcportel by only ono company. ]

Jan 1, 1938

[~lis is the f'fth in a ~erieG of reports on properties of commercial motor fuels, made in accordance 1,'Vi t:h fl cooperative ae,ree-ment betwGon tho Cooperative Fuel ReRRarch (e.F.R.) Committee and the Bureau of I ines of the Dcpart~ent nf the Interior. The first report gave data on motor r-asolino~ sold during the wintor of 935-36.31 Thi~ report covers 84 brands of ga~oline represented by l,722 samples exclurling the Pacific Coast. T 3)Se J.rom th~. ?~'tcific Coast IV .ro avnrL)f:od b~r tho Pacific Coa!3t tecilnical group "bofore o8ing submi ttcd ruld arc p~.lbl:'shcd GX Gtl~r as they were submi tted. In some areas r~lJort~ . erc roceivod f~om ~ ix to eicht compD.l1ie~ on the same brands of gasoline. whoruar. in other areas only one company reported on a brond. Thut., it CU .. "! be senn that BO .. 0 uf the dnt ;.U'e more rCY>l'c entat vc thM others. The inclusion of r~0rts fro:n several ci tie. w' thin somo of tho di stricts has ir.rpr,)vcd the report by reducinc; tr.e numb~r of brand rcportel by only ono company.]

Jan 1, 1938

By Wallace E. Anable

This investigation by the Bureau of Mines was conducted chiefly on Cuban serpentine nickeliferous ores to determine whether these materials would be amenable to direct carbothermic reduction in an electric furnace to produce a low-carbon ferro-nickel. The project was carried out as one of several under a Memorandum of Agreement between the Bureau of Mines and the General Services Administration (Contract GS-OO-B (D)-152l). Two ore samples were received for this investigation. One was a mixture of nickeliferous serpentine from the North Ocujal, South Ocujal, and San Juan claims of the Nicaro Nickel Co. The other sample was a mixture of material from the Ramona and the Lorna Mulo claims of the Cuban Nickel Co. Most of the ore from the Ocujal-San Juan deposits and about 40 percent of the sample from the Ramona-Lorna Mulo deposits were calcined before smelting. The remainder of the sample from the Ramona-Loma Mulo deposits was smelted after drying to about 8 percent moisture. An arc-resistance, selective-reduction smelting technique was employed in these tests. Either bagasse alone or a mixture of bagasse and coke was used for reductants. No flux was used in the furnace charges.

Jan 1, 1957

By Neal M. Muir

The increasing demand for iron ores prompted the Bureau of Mines to investigate the sources of past production in Kentucky to determine whether reserves of usable ore still exist. Preliminary investigation showed that the holdings of the Rose Run Co. were the most promising, inasmuch as the deposit had not been exhausted by past mining and the property was near railroad facilities and but 80 miles from the blast furnaces at Ashland, Ky. The Bureau conducted a churn-drilling and sampling program to investigate the depth, thickness, and iron content of the ore beds so that they might be evaluated as a possible reserve of low-grade iron ores. The Rose Run area in Bath County, Ky., was explored by 74 churn-drill holes totaling 2,059.4 feet of drilling and 4 cuts and test pits. Fifty-seven drill holes and the four test pits penetrated the ore bed at an average depth of 22 feet. The bed had an average thickness of 2.54 feet. Analyses show that the calcium and magnesium carbonate content is more than sufficient to flux the silica and provides an excess that needs an admixture with other siliceous iron ores.

Jan 1, 1950

By Carl Rampacek

The conversion of dilute sulfur dioxide gas into sulfuric acid by autoxidation in mechanical cells of the flotation or gas absorber types was investigated. Bench-scale tests were made with sulfur dioxide-air mixtures to determine the influence of several factors on autoxidation of sulfur dioxide, using iron and manganese salts as catalysts. The laboratory investigation subsequently was extended to pilot plant acid-making tests, using a modified turbomixer gas absorber having a 12-inch-diameter impeller. Sulfur dioxide gas was produced for the tests by roasting pyrite in a fluidized-bed reactor. In the better tests, made with manganese sulfate as the catalyst, the equivalent of 1,000 pounds of anhydrous H2SO4 was produced per 24 hours as a 10-percent solution; power consumption was 0.2 kwhr per pound of equivalent anhydrous acid synthesized. The batch and continuous tests demonstrated the technical feasibility of producing dilute sulfuric acid by autoxidation of sulfur dioxide gas in mechanical cells when converting pyrite roaster or waste smelter gases.

Jan 1, 1963

By P. J. Remington

Field measurements utilizing a seat pad accelerometer were made on 61 surface coal mining machines in order to quantify the vibration levels experienced by the operators. Those data were combined with information on the statistics of the operating times of those machines in order to compare the operator's vibration exposure to the criteria in ISO 2631, ?A Guide for the Evaluation of Human Exposure to Whole Body Vibration.? The comparison showed that about ha]f of all surface coal mining machine operators can be expected to be exposed to vibration exceeding the fatigue decreased proficiency criterion, whereas only on the order of 15% would be expected to experience vibration exceeding the exposure limit. Detailed exposure statistics are presented and the implications of the results are discussed.

Jan 1, 1983

By O. C. Blade

This report is one of a series made by the Bureau of Mines under a cooperative agreement with the American Petroleum Institute on the characteristics of commercial aviation gasolines. The series of Surveys is a continuation of like work conducted under aimil.ar cooperative agreements with the Coordinating Research Council, Inc. by the National. Bureau of Standards from 1940 through 1946 and by the Bureau of Mines from 1947 through 1949. A completed list of the series of surveys is given at the end of this paper.

Jan 1, 1951

By C. A. Herbert

The old fatalistic idea that industrial accidents were a necessary part of industry and that little, if anything, could be done about them has been succeeded by realization that a majority of the hazards causing these accidents were man-made and that if they could be recognized most of them could be eliminated and the accidents prevented. Recognition of these facts has brought about substantial reduction of accidents in many coal dines, as well as in other industries. Knowledge of the hazards and their elimination has been obtained largely through a study of individual accidents and the causes which led up to them. With this thought in mind tae available data on coal-mine explosions in Illinois were studied.

Jan 1, 1934

By Jerry T. McLendon

The proper disposition of phosphatic clays has been the subject of research and debated for years by phosphate producers, State and Federal research agencies, regulatory authorities, and environmentalists. To date, no "universal" solution exists for the ultimate disposl of phosphatic clays. This Bureau of Mines report examines the state of conventional clay disposal technology and reviews the technical progress of innovative alternatives. Twenty impoundment sites were investigated by the Bureau of Mines using geotechnical methods and laboratory analysis of cored samples. In addition, quasi-static cone penetrometer soundings were conducted to define clay and/or sand-clay interfaces en masse. Samples of the top, middle, and bottom hole segments were obtained at each station for laboratory studies of clay densities, pore fluids, plasticity, and mineralogical properties. The results of this study support the continued use of initial clay settling impoundments but emphasize the need for "in-line" systems to reduce the initial volumes of plant-generated phosphatic clays. The effective use of sand tailings is also encouraged to promote further consolidation of clays via self-weight stressing, sand-clay admixtures, and/or surcharging sand caps.

Jan 1, 1984

By Ed Mchugh

NIOSH researchers collected basic data from two blast rounds at the SSX-Steer Mine as a component of a larger study on controlled blasting, the goal of which is to reduce injuries from falling rocks in underground mines. Drilling and blasting procedures at the mine were observed. Rock mass property data were collected, a program of seismic monitoring and analysis was conducted, and 3-D laser survey scans of the workings before and after each blast were performed. The geologic data showed that the rock mass quality was characterized as poor to very poor. It was essentially uniform within the panels examined. The recorded seismic data indicated that fill material acted as an effective damper to seismic energy. The pre- and post-blast laser scans showed both over-break and under-break conditions, highlighting the problems associated with blasting a weak rock mass. By comparing the achieved results to the intended design, potential improvements in the drilling and blasting practices can be identified. Comparison of these data with similar data from other mines will help define how various combinations of rock and fill behave during blasting. Through studies such as these, data collection procedures and analysis techniques can be refined. An ultimate goal is to develop blast procedures tied to rock mass characteristics that can minimize damage to rock in the perimeter of the opening, limiting the amount of loose rock and improving the safety of miners.

Jan 1, 2007

By Michael D. Dunn

The Bureau of Mines evaluated a quartz schist formation within the Blue Joint Wilderness Study Area which was identified as having a "high potential" for copper-silver-cobalt-barium resources. Stratiform and remobilized copper occurs near, and bedded barite within, the study area. In addition, the black to gray Proterozoic quartz schist may correlate with the Yellowjacket Formation which contains cobalt-copper-gold-silver deposits at Blackbird, ID, about 30 miles to the south. Eighty soil and 43 rock samples collected across the quartz schist formation were analyzed for gold, silver, copper, cobalt, and barium. During the reconnaissance and sampling, particular attention was given to looking for malachite (copper carbonate) and erythrite (cobalt arsenate, also known as "cobalt bloom"). The sample analyses and geology in this localized area do not provide enough evidence to support the "high potential" designation for copper-silver-cobalt resources. Barium potential still appears high, however.

Jan 1, 1987

By Charles Will Wright

The purpose of this paper is to present briefly certain preliminary results of the study of mining methods by the United States Bureau of Mines; to show the relative importance of each method in terms of tonnages mined and man-hours consumed; to give to the mining engineers and particularly to the young student of mining a better understanding of the principal mining methods; and to indicate changes now in progress and to present suggestions for improvements in the art of mining. Questions of mine development and details of underground practice such as drilling and blasting, loading, hauling, hoisting, ventilating, pay systems and mine management are omitted, as these have been or will be discussed in other bureau publications.

Jan 1, 1931

By L. R. Burdick

This paper presents a review of published investigation dealing with the importance of sulfur compounds in the deterioration of materials or providing some basis for estimating the extent of loss shareable to such air pollution. Materials included are cement, stone, metals, paint, leather, paper, sand cloth. The investigations may be divided into two classes, one of the laboratory type in which the sulfur content and the humidity of the air were controlled and the other dealing with the exposure of materials to atmospheres not under control. The first type of work has shown that cement is subject to deterioration by the action of sulfur dioxide gas. The experiments with stone indicate that although limestone takes up sulfur dioxide, from the air, moist sulfur dioxide-air mixtures alone cannot be used for establishing- the comparative weathering- qualities of the different types of stone by accelerated test methods. Laboratory tests indicate that sulfur compounds in the air accelerate the corrosion of iron, steel, zinc, copper, and nickel at normal air temperatures and at certain relative humidities. It has also been indicated that certain types of paint are, affected by high sulfur dioxide concentrations, and that paper is attacked by sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere. The investigations of the second type show the amount or variation of corrosion in different localities and under different types of exposure. The investigations (10) (18)4/ during which sulfur determinations were made indicate that sulfur dioxide is a main controlling factor in the corrosion of iron and steel but according to Quick (18) may not be for some nonferrous metals. In general, the laboratory tests do not Jive definite data on the loss due to sulfur compounds at the concentrations normally found in the air. The data from atmospheric exposures are not complete from the standpoint of the exact effect of the sulfur compounds. Damage to materials so exposed is affected by factors such as other chemical contaminants, humidity, rainfall, solid deposits, and sunlight. A simple scheme has been devised in Great Britain which is considered to provide a measure of the attack of sulfur compound, on building materials (1). Small cylinders coated

Jan 1, 1939

By A. L. Engel

This report is a compilation of results of preliminary concentration tests of nine manganese-ore samples in 1953-1954. Three samples were from Nevada and the other six from California. These samples represent marginal or low-grade ores from deposits that have been mined selectively in the past. The present interest lies chiefly in the possibilities of concentration of the remaining low-grade ores for economical exploitation. The treatment methods included gravity concentration and flotation in most cases. Results were sometimes unsatisfactory, particularly when the ore was too fine grained for liberation of the minerals within economical grinding range. The contaminating gangue minerals, such as quartz and iron oxides, were locked with the manganese to an extent that prevented separation of high-grade concentrates with satisfactory recovery. In cases where fairly good concentrates were made, it was at the expense of recovery, a condition typical of low-grade ores.

Jan 1, 1955

By M. J. Waller

Surface resistivity techniques were used at four field sites to monitor changes in apparent resistivities with variations in soil moisture content in the vadose zone. Apparent resistivity values were correlated with gravimetric moisture contents from soil samples taken at each site. Tensiometer readings were taken at two sites and correlated with the results of gravimetric moisture contents and apparent resistivities. Moisture at two of the sites was added by extensive watering; rainfall events were monitored at the other two sites. A recharge event at a dewatering program was monitored at a fifth site. A Ghosh-Koefed multi-layer computing algorithm was used to derive true resistivities from bulk or apparent resistivities. An automated data acquisition system was developed to measure resistivity changes and to process the data in the field. These studies are the first to evaluate measurement of moisture migration in clay rich soils using surface resistivity techniques. Results indicate that surface resistivity techniques readily measure changes in moisture contents in the vadose zone in clay rich soils. Correlation of apparent and true resistivity values with gravimetric moisture contents is more complex and requires additional research.

Jan 1, 1986

By W. H. Young

The thickness of the coal seam is one of the more important items influencing the productivity and general overall efficiency of operation 1 of a coal mine. The average thickness of coal seams mined in the United States decreased 2 inches between 1950 and 1955 to an average of 62 inches, which also is 3 inches less than the 65 inches in 1945. The decrease in thickness is due partly to the increased production from strip mines with thinner seams and partly to the increased percentage of total production at underground mines in certain States having thinner seams. The thickness of seams at auger mines was measured for the first time in 1955 and was 53 inches. Though bituminous coal and lignite is mined today from seams of exceedingly variable thickness -less than 2 feet to ore than 50 feet -a large majority of the production, 65 percent in 1955, came from seams 3 to 6 feet thick. This is not surprising since the coal seam of moderate thickness presents the least mining difficulties.

Jan 1, 1957

By W. H. Blackburn

This paper describing the milling practice at the Tybo concentrator is one of a series of similar papers being prepared by the United States Bureau of Mines on milling methods and costs at the various mills in the United States. ACKNOWLEDGMENT A large part of this paper way prepared by H. M. Lewers, mill superintendent of the Tybo plant of the Treadwell Yukon Co., Ltd.

Jan 1, 1931

By Frank E. Williams

This Bureau of Mines report deals with the urbanization of Tucson, Ariz., a southwestern city with an arid environment. Zoning regulations concerning known aggregate sources are described, and information relating to projected needs for the urban area is furnished. History of growth is outlined not only for the local aggregate industry, but also for the entire urban area. Past conditions are pointed out and background material for future conditions is provided.

Jan 1, 1967

By D. S. Kingery

Owing to changes in State mining laws, the Maryland Bureau of Mines requires all mine foremen to have a thorough, practical knowledge of mine gases and the limitations and use of recognized gas-detecting devices. This requirement involves immediate training of second-grade mine foremen and aspirants to qualify them for certification under the new law. Cooperation of the Federal Bureau of Mines was requested, and a plan for training was discussed and adopted. The methods used in Maryland aroused unusual interest by participating individuals, and the final results were very satisfactory. Consequently, it is thought that this plan will be of interest and assistance to other organizations faced with the need for such training.

Jan 1, 1952

By F. S. Karn

Measurements were made of the flow of helium, methane, ethane, butane, and toluene through thin disks of coal. All measurements were made on a dense layer in the Pittsburgh seam identified as attritus. Flow increased with pressure differential and temperature. At room temperature and a pressure differential of 1 atmosphere flow rates along the bedding plane of Pittsburgh seam coal were helium 881 X 10-10 cm2 sec-1, methane 1.2 X 10 -10 cm2 sec-1, ethane 0.54 X 10-10 cm 2 sec-1, n-butane 0.35 X 10-10 cm2sec-1, and toluene 3.8 X 10-10 cm2sec-1. Flow rates were 50 percent lower across the bedding plane of the coal than along the bedding plane. Activation energies were 3.9 kcal mole-1 for helium and 13.6 kcal mole-1 for methane, with diffusion measured either along or across the bedding plane.

Jan 1, 1970