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By James R. Welty

Heat content values were experimentally determined for yttrium metal between temperatures of 400° and 1,300° K and for iron pentacarbonyl between 301° and 380° K. The drop technique was used; that is, a sample of material sealed in a protective capsule was heated to 3 desired temperature in a furnace and then dropped into an ice calorimeter. A revised technique for determining heat content values from calorimetric data is described. Heat content and corresponding entropy-increment data above a reference temperature of 298.15° K are presented in tabular form. Equations for heat content and heat capacity as functions of temperature were derived for each substance. These equations are [Y (c): HT-H298.15 = 1.2041T 1 3.393 x 10-3T2- 0.4176 x 10' T"1 + 739.9 cal/mole Cp = 1.2041 + 6.786 x 10-3T + 0.4176 x 106-T-2 cal/deg mole Fe (CO) E, (1) : HT - H298.15 = 55.636T - 16,588 cal/mole Cp = 55.636 cal/deg mole]

Jan 1, 1963

By C. H. Herty

Intensive work on the deoxidation of steel with manganese-silicon alloys by the U. S. Bureau of Mines has shown that the use of those alloys, which may be produced from our domestic manganese ores, would decrease the ferromanganese requirements of a very large tone of our steel by from 60 to 30 per cent and in some cases by 100 per cent. The open-hearth heats made with these alloys have been of excellent quality. The tonnage of our ferro-grade ores which has been made available by the bureau's ore-dressing studies, combined with the ,products resulting from such processes as those developed by the bureau and by Bradley for Cuyuna ores, should easily fill our reduced ferromanganese requirements Then manganese-silicon alloys and ordinary spiegel are used in the way described in this report. There are no technical difficulties in the application of this practice, and any difficulties involved in its wide and immediate application would only be those arising from habituated ideas of the necessity of ferromangenese. General acceptance of this practice and development of the available sources of domestic ferro-grade material by already proven processes should make this country independent of foreign ores.

Jan 1, 1931

By C. B. Manula, R. L. Sanford, R. A. Rivell

A - Contains the coordinate pair information for deriving the co¬efficients of the 3rd degree polynomial which approximates the loading station equation. C(N) - Coefficients for third degree approximating polynomial. I - General DO LOOP variable. K - Position in BRANCH of next character. L - Format specification in DEFINE FILE statement. X - Uniform displacement for random uniform number. Y - Load increment At. AO-A3 - Coefficients of approximating polynomial for loading station equation. GR - Grade direction, or grade resistance. IQ - Counts quadruples of distance grade speed and end of route for determining total distance. IT - Intersection counter in XXXDEF. Il - Station number trip is leaving. Jl - Station number for trip destination. J2-J8 - Motor assignments and functions for given trip. KK - Location of starting grade and distance in DISTGR KK - Position of decimal point in real number. KZ - DO LOOP variable for motor assignment check. LL - Location of ending grade and distance in DISTGR. Ll - Position in IECB of station satisfied. L3 - Next available position for IECB sort. MM - Flag for printing the failure of sanding to overcome slippage. NN - Trip destination in MOTSER RR - Rolling Resistance. XK - Station level or type.

Jan 1, 1974

By William D. Monaghan, Thomas H. Dubaniewicz, Kenneth L. Cashdollar

Emerging laser technologies are quickly gaining acceptance in the industrial workplace. Besides the risk of human exposure, one safety concern with the more intense lasers is the potential for ignition of flammable gases, vapors, dusts, fibers, or flyings often found in hazardous (classified) industrial settings. In underground coal mines, lasers are being considered for remote measurement of explosive methane gas. Current federal safety regulations for underground mines contain no specific guidance for evaluating the safety of optoelectronic components such as diode lasers. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is conducting research to help provide a scientific basis for developing appropriate safety guidelines for optical equipment in the presence of flammable methane gas and/or coal dust. One phase of the study is an experimental evaluation of methane-air ignition by laser heated small particles. Minimum observed igniting powers for laser energy delivered by 200-, 400-, and 800-um core diameter fiber optic cables and directed onto selected targets in methane-air atmospheres were 0.6, L l, and 2.2 W, respectively. Comparisons are made with other ignition phenomena, including heated wires.

By Edward A. Mihok

Laboratory batch-flow tests conducted on a highly ferruginous acid mine water with an activated carbon showed that ferrous iron is rapidly oxidized. This indicates that air oxidation of ferruginous acid in mine waters is catalyzed by activated carbon. The ferrous iron content of an acid mine water flowing through an aspirated activated carbon column was reduced from about 700 to about 10 parts per million in less than 1 minute. Highly efficient ferrous iron oxidation was achieved by conditioning the activated carbon by repeated treatment with acid mine water and air. The reaction proceeds rapidly in the acid environment (pH about 2.5) engendered by ferrous iron oxidation. The activated carbon was used repeatedly with little loss in efficiency, no discoloration, or solids deposition. In these batch tests, about one-third of the iron was adsorbed by the carbon, but with continuous flow, little iron adsorption is expected. Incorporating a catalytic oxidation step in the treatment of acid mine waters containing ferrous iron would greatly facilitate neutralization--precise control of pH, lower reagent costs, elimination of aeration equipment, and smaller holding ponds.

Jan 1, 1969

By W. P. Rumancik, C. P. Lazzara, A. C. Smith

The United States Bureau of Mines (USBM) developed SPONCOM to aid in the assessment of the spontaneous combustion risk of an underground mining operation. A prior knowledge of the spontaneous combustion risk of the coal and factors that increase that risk can be useful in the planning and development of proactive monitoring, ventilation, and prevention plans for the mining operation. Interactive data input screens prompt the user for information about the coal's chemical and physical properties, the geologic and mining conditions encountered in the mining of the coal, and the mining practices employed. During the input process, 'expand' screens provide the user with specific information on each input parameter. This information includes a description of the parameter and its effect on the overall spontaneous combustion risk. The program logic determines the coal's relative spontaneous combustion potential, based on the coal's proximate and ultimate analyses, and heating value. The program then evaluates the impact of the coal properties, geologic and mining conditions, and mining practices on the spontaneous combustion risk of the mining operation. The program output provides details on each factor that increases the risk of spontaneous combustion.

By Robert P. Vinson, Fred N. Kissell, Edward D. Thimons

Because of the high number of accidental methane gas ignitions in metal and nonmetal mines, the Bureau of Mines searched for a simple guideline that would allow mine personnel to evaluate the methane hazard in a given mine. Air samples were collected by the Bureau in 53 metal and nonmetal mines and analyzed for trace evidence of methane gas. Samples were collected in the returns and at the working faces. Those mines classified as gassy by the Mine Safety and Health Administration had a significantly higher average methane concentration than those classified as nongassy. Of the 9 gassy mines sampled, 7 had methane concentrations above 100 ppm, whereas only 1 of the 44 nongassy mines had a concentration above 100 ppm. The 100-ppm concentration may be used as a simple and convenient guideline for forecasting the methane hazard in a mine, whether or not the mine is classified as gassy. There was no consistent correlation between commodity mined and methane concentration, nor was there a correlation between mine depth and methane concentration. Neither of these factors can be considered a guideline for predicting methane hazards.

Jan 1, 1979

By D. E. Seizinger

Analytical methods for oxygenates in exhaust gases were studied, and emissions of these compounds from automotive engines were measured with and without an oxidation catalyst in the exhaust system. Hydrocarbons, simple mixtures of hydrocarbons, and a single gasoline were used as fuels. With the more complex gasoline, successful analysis was possible only with exhaust from the catalytic system which preferentially converted and thus removed interfering hydrocarbon species. However, it was shown that an estimate of the oxygenate yield from gasoline used in a noncatalytic system can be synthesized from data obtained with simple fuels. Such synthesized data were used for comparison of noncatalytic with catalytic systems. Compared with those of previous studies, results of this work indicate that the action of the catalyst introduced no new oxygenates and reduced both the carbonyl and the total of oxygenates. It is concluded that the compositional character and class distribution of oxygenates in exhaust from catalytic systems may differ significantly from the composition and distribution for oxygenates not subjected to catalytic conversion. The findings also support previous estimates that noncarbonyls may constitute a significant fraction of exhaust oxygenates and may warrant attention in procedures for measurement of the oxygenates.

Jan 1, 1973

By J. B. Gayle

The Bureau of Mines sole-heated oven has been used for studying coal expansion for some 20 years. During the period before 1940 emphasis was placed on studies of the mechanism of coal expansion and the effects of variations in operating conditions on the results. Since 1940 emphasis has shifted to a survey of the expansion properties of various coking coals. Because additional information concerning a number of unsolved problems in connection with the earlier studies appeared highly desirable, this investigation of the use of sole-heated ovens for studying coal expansion was undertaken. The principal findings, in order of their discussion in the text, may be summarized as follows. 1. Expansion results for binary blends of coking coals exhibit nonadditive behavior, both positive and negative deviations from additive behavior being noted, depending on the particular coals tested. Additive behavior can be achieved, however, either by charging the blend components in separate layers (which indicates that the observed phenomena are not characteristic of the particular expansion oven used) or by testing relatively coarse sizes of coal (which suggests that the effects of crushing on the expansion properties of coking coals may be even more complex than is generally recognized).

Jan 1, 1959

By L. C. IlsLey

It is most unfortunate that a few must often suffer , and perhaps die , that many may benefit from a fuller appreciation of the dangers surrounding mining operations , and the proper use of safeguards designed to offset these dangers . This has been the case during the last few months in the anthracite field , where several explosions , resulting in burnings and fatalities , were undoubtedly caused by the use of defective or improperly assembled flame safety lamps . Had this same lack of understanding regarding the proper assembly of this safety device , and had the same indifference on the part of the user in keeping the lamps locked at all times and in proper condition , been permitted in a region where the coal dust was explosive , a terrible disaster would surely have resulted . In nearly every coal -mining country , including the United States , the Davy and Clanny type of lamp has been superseded , and rightly so , by some kind of bonneted lamp . Bonneted lamps , especially of the naphtha type , while much safer than the unbonneted , have more parts and need more care in assembling . For this reason the burden of responsibility for their being properly assembled rests with the lamp man ; therefore , it is extremely important that only competent , conscientious men be given this work .

Dec 1, 1921

By M. H. Stanczyk

Bench-scale laboratory tests were made by the Bureau of Mines of a segregation-flotation concentrate, assaying 20.43 percent copper, to investigate the influence of various ratios and concentrations of ammonia and carbon dioxide on copper extraction. Leaching the concentrate with a solution containing 900 pounds of ammonia and 360 pounds of carbon dioxide per ton of feed, followed by washing the leach residue with 1.75 tons of a 10-percent solution of ammonium carbonate and about 1 ton of water (as steam) per ton of solids, resulted in a copper recovery of 96.3 percent. Resegregation and flotation tests of the washed residues revealed that 85 percent of the copper in the residue could be recovered. Steam distillation tests of a typical ammoniacal leach liquor, assaying 39 grams copper, 105 grams ammonia, and 77 grams carbon dioxide per liter, recovered over 99 percent of the copper as a mixed oxide-carbonate precipitate. The ammonia losses in leaching, filtering, washing, and distillation were 0.12 pound per pound of copper recovered in the precipitate. Calcination and subsequent hydrogen reduction of the precipitate yielded a metallic copper powder assaying 98 percent Cu, 0.87 percent Si02, 0.10 percent MgO, 0.54 percent CaO, and 0.41 percent R203.

Jan 1, 1961

By C. E. Reistle

[In producing crude oils of paraffin base and of mixed base the producer is often confronted with the problem of preventing and removing paraffin that settles out of oil and accumulates in the well. This paraffin consists of heavy waxes with some sand and asphalt, and varies in. consistency from a soft semifluid wax to hard gummy wax. This problem is by no means a new one as troubles have been encountered with it since the earliest days of the industry. However, with the discovery of the panhandle, Texas, field and other large fields in which extensive troubles have been encountered, the problem has assumed added importance. In new fields the most serious trouble with paraffin is in the flowing wells the paraffin accumulates in the casing and tubing of such wells and unless removed will completely plug the well. This condition also develops in wells which are produced by gas lift, and often presents a serious problem when, this method of producing the oil is used. In older fields paraffin is also deposited on the face of the producing sand that on the walls of the hale or within the interstices of the sand near the hole, and this materially affects the amount of oil that can enter the well.]

Jan 1, 1927

By Forrest T. Moyer

OVERALL data for 1963 on injury experience and the levels of employment, worktime, and operating activity of the mineral industries are shown in the statistical tables of this chapter. The general groupings of the industries are presented in greater detail in Volumes I and II of the Minerals Yearbook. A corresponding chapter in Volume I contains additional breakdowns of the data on metal, nonmetal, sand and gravel, slag, and stone mines and quarries together with separate information on the related processing mills and plants including primary nonferrous smelters. The more specific information on the anthracite and bituminous-coal, petroleum and natural gas, peat, and natural asphalt industries is given in the similar chapter of Volume II. Injury and employment data were collected from coal producers on the mandatory basis required by the Federal Coal Mine Safety Act (30 U.S.C., sec. 455). Producers of all other minerals (fuel and nonfuel) voluntarily reported the requested injury and employment data. The figures for 1963 are preliminary except for anthracite, coke, petroleum and natural gas, native asphalt, and slag which are final. Data for earlier years are final. The figures represent full coverage for all industries except the oil and gas industries for which coverage is not complete, particularly with respect to small companies.

Jan 1, 1964

By Lawrence L. Davis

This chapter includes tables for 1981 that were not available in time for publication of the 1981 Minerals Yearbook, but does not include corresponding tables for 1982. The value of raw nonfuel minerals produced in the United States during 1982 was estimated at about $20 billion, a decrease of $5 billion compared with that of 1981. The decline in value is the first since 1971 and is the largest percentage drop since 1938. Although the domestic mining industry continued to be troubled by difficulties in attracting capital and by import competition from countries with lower overall production costs, the principal cause of the decline was sharply decreased demand brought on by the worldwide economic slowdown. Metal commodities were impacted most severely with only 4 of 21 metals registering production value gains and only 3 of 21 showing production quantity increases. Overall metal production value decreased 37% from that of 1981, a reflection of the domestic slowdown in the automobile and construction industries, which are major metal users, Overall production value of nonmetals decreased 12% compared with that of 1981, with only 14 out of 44 nonmetals showing increases. Nonmetal production quantities increased over 1981 for only 6 of the 44 nonmetals.

Jan 1, 1983

By Charles L. Kimbell

For 1991, the aggregate value of world international export trade in mineral commodities was roughly estimated at $685 billion in current 1991 dollars. The estimated level was about 6 % higher than that for 1990, but still more than 3 % below the record high set in 1980, and the year was the fifth in a row in which the value of exported minerals advanced. Table 8 provides a data series for the estimated value of world export trade in all mineral commodities from 1979 through 1991, as well as a breakdown of this total into fuel and non fuel commodities. The data shown are based on the historically more traditional and realistic (from the viewpoint of data availability) practice of reporting trade values for the year before the year of review. Despite the considerable increase in the dollar value of mineral commodity exports, their share of total export merchandise trade declined to 19.1 % in 1990 from 19.7% in 1989. At 19.1 %, this share was very near the recent year record low of 19.0% reached in 1988. Comparable 1991 figures were not available in time for inclusion here, but it is expected that the mineral commodity share of the total will be little altered from that of 1990.

Jan 1, 1993

By A. C. Watts, C. A. Allen

In the No. 3 Sunnyside mine of the Utah Fuel Co. a disastrous fire started on the afternoon of August 17 , 1920 , the effects of which are still present in the mine . On account of the extent of the fire , the expense involved in reopening the mine and the opportunities afforded for determining the effects of depleted air , a description of it is worthy of record . This paper is a summary of a more complete report , prepared by the writers , which will be published by the U. S. Bureau of Mines .

Feb 1, 1922

By Robert J. Hundhausen

This paper describes the methods and costs of sinking a 2-compartment shaft at the Hope mine, Clark Fork, Idaho. The Hope mine is owned by the Hope Silver-Lead Mines, Inc. Albert E. Nash, of Clark Fork, is president and manager.

Jan 1, 1948

"Minimizing Particle Contamination During Generation of Fresh Dust for Inhalation Studies J. Abraham, MS, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, West Virginia University, 1995Correlating Lung Crackle Using Holographic Interferometry Ali Afshari, MS, West Virginia University, 1989Effect of Bit Wear on Dust Generation Mudassar Ahmad, MS, West Virginia University, 1992 The Effect of Surfactants on Suppression of Non-Wettable Particles Ali Alaboyun, MS, Mineral Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 1989 Geochemical Characterization of Kerogens, Shales, and Coal Refuse Associated with Allegheny Formation of Cases of Northern West Virginia Dick Andre, MS, West Virginia University, 1987Size and Mass Characterization of Airborne Particulate Matter in Underground Coal Mines Using Diesel-Powered Equipment Indranil R. Bardhan, MEM Report, The Pennsylvania State University, 1992Size and Mass Characterization of Airborne Particulate Matter in Underground Coal Mines Using Diesel-Powered Equipment I. Bardhan, R. V. Ramani, and J.M. Mutmansky, Mining Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, Final Report to the U.S. Bureau of Mines, April, 1994Particle Concentrations in a Hazelton Inhalation Chamber Shahram Bavani, MS, West Virginia University, 1985Use and Potential of Lazer Holographic Interferometry and Subsidence Model- Study of an Underground Room and Pillar Mine Richard Begley, MS, West Virginia University, 1984Development of a Mechanistic Model for Prediction of Subsidence in a Longwall Mine Richard Begley, PhD, West Virginia University, 1990Redesign of Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor Steve Behm, MS, University of Minnesota, 1991Evaluation of a Two-Phase Spray System for Dust Suppression B. Belle, MS, The Pennsylvania State University, 1996Evaluation of a Two-Phase Spray System for Dust Suppression B. Belle and R.-V. Ramani, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, Final Report, September 9, 1996A Fracture Mechanics Study of Crack Propagation Mechanism in Coal: The Mechanics of Fine Fragment Formation Z.T. Bieniawski and R. Karl Zipf, Jr., Mining Engineering Department, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. Final Report, October l, 1988A Mathematical Model for the Prediction of Ambient Dust Concentrations in Mine Atmospheres R. Bhaskar, MS, Mining Engineering and Operations Research, The Pennsylvania State University, 1984Spatial and Temporal Behavior of Dust in Mines-Theoretical and Experimental Studies –R. Bhaskar, PhD, Mining Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 1987"

Jan 1, 1998

By Fred D. Wright

A drill unit designed by Bureau of Mines engineers for testing various types of rotary bits has been in use since April 1950 at the experimental oil-shale mine near Rifle, Colo. The unit has a hydraulic drill and feed system, which provides the wide range of operating conditions necessary for adequate testing of drill bits and for obtaining data needed for the design of production scale equipment. Through the use of this unit, it has been proved that rotary drilling of vertical holes for mining the benches of the oil-shale mine is much cheaper than percussion drilling, and it is believed that in the near future the rotary drilling of horizontal blast holes in the top heading of the mine will prove equally economical.

Jan 1, 1952

By Jr. Harty

Intensive work on the deoxidation of steel with manganese-silicon alloys by the U. S. Bureau of Mines has shown that the use of those alloys, which may be produced from our domestic manganese ores, would decrease the ferromanganese requirements of a very large tonnage of our steel by from 60 to 80 per cent and in some cases by 100 per cent. The open-hearth heats made with these alloys have been of excellent quality. The tonnage of our ferro-grade ores Which has been made available by the bureau's ore-dressing studies, combined with the products resulting from such processes as those developed by the bureau and by Bradley for Cuyuna ores, should easily fill our reduced ferromanganese requirements when manganese-silicon alloys and ordinary Spiegel are used in the way described in this report. There are no technical difficulties in the application of this practice, and any difficulties involved in its wide and immediate application would only be those arising from habituated ideas of the necessity of ferromanganese. General acceptance of this practice and development of the available sources of domestic ferro-grade material by already proven processes should make this country independent of foreign ores. This paper resents the results of work done under a cooperative agreement between the Pittsburgh Experiment Station of the United States Bureau of Mines and the Carnegie Institute of Technology, the Metallurgical Advisory Board, and the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa.; between the Mississippi Valley Experiment Station of the United States Bureau of Mines and the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, Rolla, Mo.; between the North Central Experiment Station of the United States Bureau of Mines and the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn.; and between the Rare and Precious Metals Experiment Station of the United States Bureau of Mines and the University of Nevada, Reno, Nev.

Jan 1, 1931