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By Bernard Lewis

This report summarizes fundamental research end technical studies conducted in the Explosives and Physical Sciences Division, Region VIII, of the Bureau of Mines in the 2 years July l, 1950, to June 30, 1952. It is the fifteenth of a series of, ordinarily, annual reports whose aim has been to provide the reader with a resume of the research results that have appeared in published form during each fiscal year under the authorship of members of the staff. These are referred to throughout the report. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Acknowledgments art, made to the following members of the Division wider whose mediate supervision the described studies were carried out. Stuart R. Brinkley, Jr., chief, Mathematical and Theoretical Physics Section, and special assistant to the chief of the division.

Jan 1, 1953

By Brad McBain

Agenda ? Accurassay Laboratories and Automation ? History and experience ? Features and benefits of automation in the lab ? Tata Steel Minerals Canada (TSMC) Iron Ore Laboratory ? State-of-the art systems and design ? The integration of fusion systems and XRF units ? Meeting deliverables: quality, reliability, safety

Aug 1, 2013

By M. A. Schellhardt

In recent years development of instruments and equipment for determining subsurface pressures and temperatures in. gas and oil wells has made it feasible to obtain information that eras not available in the past on many gas-production problems. The material presented in this report illustrates particularly the value of subsurface-temperature data in the study of subsurface leakage from gas wells. An abnormal decline in the shut-in pressure of the Lone Star Gasoline Co. A. Jones No. 1 gas well in the southern part of the Buffalo (Tex.) field was observed during an interval when a negligible volume of gas bras being withdrawn from the reservoir. Wellhead-pressure readings indicated that the shut-in pressure of the well declined from 2,295 pounds per square inch gage on February 3, 1937, to. 1,445 on February 12, 1935. Tests conducted by engineers of the Lone Star Gas Co. suggested that the subnormal pressure gaged on February 12, 1938, probably was not caused by a head of liquid in the well.

Jan 1, 1940

By Jasper L. Stuckey

PYROPHYLLITE, first identified as soapstone,' later as agalmatolite,2 and finally as pyrophyl-lite, has been known to occur in North Carolina for more than 130 years and has been produced intermittently in commercial amounts for the past 100 years. Pyrophyllite mining, however, has become a major industry in North Carolina only during the past 25 years. North Carolina and California are the chief producing states. Current annual production averages 125,000 tons, of which slightly more than 90 pct comes from North Carolina. Distribution and Geologic Setting: All known pyrophyllite deposits in North Carolina are associated with rocks of the Carolina Slate Belt,' which is composed of a vast series of metamorphosed volcanic and sedimentary materials, occurring as two zones extending in a northeast-southwest direction across the state. The larger of these zones, lying in the central Piedmont region, varies from 8 to 50 miles wide. The smaller zone lies along the eastern edge of the Piedmont region and is partly covered by coastal plain sediments. The rocks in both zones consist of a great volcanic-sedimentary series, composed of air-laid and water-laid tuffs and breccias, lava flows, and slates. On the basis of composition, they may be classed into three groups: 1) tuffs, breccias, and lava flows of acid or rhyolitic composition; 2) tuffs, breccias, and lava flows of a basic or andesitic composition; and 3) water-laid slates composed of fine grained materials derived chiefly from the acid tuffs and breccias and

Jan 1, 1959

By Otto L. Schumacher

The Overthrust Belt in portions of Montana, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming, an area that has contributed generously to the Nation's mineral supply, is one of the few remaining oil and gas frontiers on the North American continent. Determination of the oil and gas potential and development of mineral resources of the area have been affected by a variety of land withdrawals and other restrictions, The purpose of this study is to determine the extent of these withdrawals and restrictions and to discuss the mineral resource potential within the study area. Statistics in this report refer to land status on January 1, 1979. At that time, of the 27.3 million acres of Federal mineral lands within the study area, applications tor Federal oil and gas leases for more than 4,4 million acres (about 16 percent) were pending; the average length of time was 2 years. Federal oil and gas leases covering 8.8 million acres were also on record. Although drilling has occurred on some of these leases, others are subject to restrictions that discourage or prevent development. Some in fact contain stipulations disallowing any development.

Jan 1, 1981

By R. W. Bee

This project, sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of Mines, Division of Environment, addresses two major subjects: refuse removal and subsidence monitoring. The refuse removal task consisted of developing a methodology for selecting the most economical combinations of coal mine breaker refuse and rock banks, disposal sites and material moving systems (trucks, trains, belt conveyers and pipelines). To prepare plans for moving refuse in the Lackawanna Valley of Northeastern Pennsylvania, refuse banks were inventoried, underground disposal sites identified and unit cost data prepared for the various material moving systems. The subsidence monitoring task consisted of defining the phenomenon of coal mine induced surface subsidence, establishing operational requirements, cataloging sensors and techniques to detect and measure subsidence and testing of the most promising techniques (photoelastic patch, tiltmeter, strain gage, microseismic and precise surveying). A preliminary system for a 700 acre area in Scranton utilizing 267 grid sensors, seven microseismic sensors and precise surveying techniques was designed with initial and annual operating costs determined. Two minor tasks supported both main subjects: zoning in the Northern Anthracite Field of Pennsylvania and Technology Transfer of subsidence vulnerability prediction techniques.

Jan 1, 1972

By Shigeru Tsutsumi

The rapid development of transportation facilities in Japan focused the attention of this country on the possibility of converting the existing coal resources (of which there was an abundance) into liquid fuels, for which there was a constantly increasing demand. Previous work had indicated that this could be accomplished by utilizing one of two processes - the Bergius process, in which high temperatures and high pressures were employed to effect direct liquefaction of the coal, and the Fischer-Tropsch process, in which an indirect liquefaction of coal was accomplished by the production of liquid hydro-carbons from hydrogen-carbon monoxide mixtures. This report describes some investigations into the latter process, which was first developed by Fischer and his colleagues in the Coal Laboratory in Muhlheim, Germany, in 1923. By 1932, these investigators had achieved a 60-percent theoretical yield (152 ml. of liquid hydrocarbons per cubic meter of 2H2:ICO synthesis gas) by using a precipitated Co-Th02 catalyst.3/ At the same time (1932), Dr. Kita of Kyoto Imperial University and Messrs. Fujimura and Tsuneoka obtained 145 ml. of gasoline (C5+) per cubic meter of synthetic gas by using a Co-Cu-Th-U catalyst. 4/ This report is a description of the experimental results subsequently obtained at the Fuel Research Institute, Kawaguchi City, Saitama, up to 1935.

Jan 1, 1951

By Andrew McGrath, Geraldine Lyons, Sarah Barcelona

In the dynamic and challenging modern industry landscape, understanding and unleashing the true role and contribution of technical teams is crucial to business success. The cyclical nature of industries has led to shifts in the technical professional’s place within the organization and the technical skills that are desired most. This paper reframes the pivotal role that technical professionals play within complex operating assets to maximize value and realize full potential. This investigation focuses on the Rio Tinto Kennecott Technical group’s cultural journey, which is underpinned by an investment in its people. The conflict between legacy industry beliefs and the necessity for cultural change emerges. This is illustrated by a deep dive into the evolving case study of Kennecott’s Bingham Canyon Open Pit Mine Technical team. Here, a multi-faceted approach to cultural change is helping to unlock the team’s contribution to the life extension of an aging asset. Guided by a vision and strategic roadmap, this approach is part way through a 5-year implementation period and is yielding encouraging business outcomes.

Feb 1, 2024

The value of raw nonfuel mineral materials production totaled an estimated $19.7 billion in 1978. The record 1978 value exceeded by 13 percent the 1977 value of $17.5 billion. This raw mineral output was the basis for approximately $200 billion worth of processed materials of mineral origin. Output of both metals and nonmetals increased about $1 billion each, above comparable figures for 1977. Of the 22 metals produced quantitative output of 11 increased and the value of 13 increased. Among the 48 nonmetallic commodities produced, the quantities for 35 increased, and the values for 40 increased.

Jan 1, 1979

By Jennifer Riefenberg

Research efforts by the U.S. Bureau of Mines include running a series of displacement-discontinuity, boundary-element models to simulate the gateroad design at an underground coal mine in northwestern Colorado. The initial mine design is a yield-abutment chain pillar arrangement in a three-entry, longwall gateroad system. Pressure effects from mining the first and second panel were recorded using borehole pressure cells (BPCs). These field data were then compared directly to the model output. Observed yielding in the field was approximated by reducing material property values and/or removing pillar elements in the model. Model results using this calibration technique mirrored the field measurements consistently. Using the calibrated model parameters, a suite of models was run simulating an experimental entry design: exchanging the yield and abutment pillar locations. These model results reflect a 20¬to 33-percent reduction in core stresses in the yield pillar during mining of the second panel. Improved pillar and entry conditions are suggested by these predictive results. The design modifications were then implemented at the mine along a 150-m (500-ft) test section. Field observations and measurements from the experimental design test site compared favorably with trends of the model predictions.

Jan 1, 1993

Aluminum Production. -By October 1, Aluminum Company of America will restart a 35,000-ton-per-year unit at its aluminum smelter at Rockdale, Tex., restoring that facility to its full capacity of 325,000 tons annually. Primary Ingot Price Increase. -Most U.S. aluminum producers in mid-September were quoting a price of 72 cents per pound for primary aluminum ingot. On September 19, Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. announced that it would increase the price of primary aluminum ingot 4 cents to 76 cents per pound.

Jan 1, 1980

By M. Visser

Keywords: Pyrometallurgy, furnace, ferrochrome, Samancor, ferrochrome process Samancor Chrome has been, and continues to be, a major player in ferrochromium production. The company has a proud history and possesses benchmark technology and operations. Currently five business units are operating: two sets of mines and three smelter plants. Samancor Chrome produces around one million tons of charge chrome annually. Chrome ore, intermediate-carbon ferrochrome, and low-carbon ferrochrome, form part of the portfolio. Electrode paste is also manufactured through a joint venture with Highveld Steel and Vanadium. Samancor Chrome has a balanced approach towards operational strategy, and has entered into a number of joint venture partnerships. Through its access to quality raw materials, knowledge, and experience of various production technologies, and its strategic abilities, Samancor Chrome is well positioned to reap the benefits from opportunities in the current and future industry context.

Jan 1, 2006

The 1981 Review: In the late 1970s there was an upsurge of interest in the prospecting and mining of this countryÆs mineral resources. That upsurge of interest was accompanied by a mounting public concern over the damage mining operations might do to the environment. Concern was also expressed about what some people perceived as inadequacies in the legislation which regulates mining and the grant of mining privileges, and inconsistencies in the relationship of that legislation to other legislation regulating land use and the use of resources.

Jan 1, 1984

By Peeler P. K

The recent renewal of interest in hydrometallurgical routes for copper production has been brought about by the possible future reliance on mixed ores and lower grade deposits, environmental aspects, and energy considerations.A number of hydrometallurgical processes for the recovery of copper have recently been proposed. Flowsheets are developed for two processes which incorporate several treatment methods being experimentally studied in Australia.In the first process a cupric chloride leach is followed by electrowinning whilst the second is based on the formation of cuprous ions, stabuized by acetonitrile and subsequent disproportionation to cupric ions and metallic copper. For the purpose of comparison, flowsheets were also developed for the Arbiter and Cymet processes.Process economics are estimated for the four processes and the results are discussed in relation to competitive pyrometallurgy. None of the four hydrometallurgical processes, with possible exception of the Cymet process, appears to be competitive with established large scale and newly developed pyrometallurgical processes for chalcopyrite.However, because the economics of the individual hydrometallurgical processes depend strongly on specific conditions, a "tailored" process may be competitive with pyrometallurgy in particular circumstances.

Jan 1, 1977

These proceedings consist of papers presented at Bureau of Mines Technology Transfer Seminars in August 1983 for the purpose of disseminating recent advances in mining technology in the area of large mobile surface mining equipment safety and health. The Bureau of Mines conducts several of these seminars each year in order to bring the latest results of Bureau research to the attention of the mining industry as quickly as possible.

Jan 1, 1983

By Po-Ming Lin

Stress has a significant effect on the stability of pillars. In order to get an accurate picture of pillar stability, one needs information not only on the primary Stress distribution but also on all the Subsequent Stress changes as time passes. Sonic methods are some of the fastest, most economical and least destructive means of stress prediction. The wave propagation velocity has long been applied to the investigation of the upper mantle and crust stress. Recently, it has also been applied to the prediction of rock bursts and to mine site investigations. Another parameter for investigating stresses in rocks is the attenuation coefficient. Attenuation has been observed to be more sensitive to stress changes than wave velocity; however, the measurement of attenuation is more difficult than that of wave velocity. In this paper, the mechanism of sonic attenuation in rock is reviewed. Both the velocity and the attenuation of sound waves in five different rock types under various stress fields were examined in the laboratory. It was found that for a specific rock type the relationship between the velocity ratio and stress, as well as that between the attenuation coefficient ratio and stress, can be expressed by simplified second order polynomial equations.Research showed the attenuation coefficient to be more sensitive to stress change than the velocity ratio. A field investigation method was proposed using a Schmidt hammer as a repeatable energy source. Initial trials appeared to show that monitoring by the wave attenuation method gave more repeatable data than monitoring wave velocity.

Jan 1, 1984

By Joseph J. Feiler

Fires in underground coal mines are persistent problems anywhere in the world that coal is mined. Coal fires pose safety and health hazards in the form of mine subsidence, loss of energy reserves, destruction of property and surface improvements, and air pollution. In 1995, the US Bureau of Mines (US-BM), in cooperation with the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (CDMG),entered into a contract with Goodson & Associates Inc. (GAI) to design and field test the effectiveness of a new foamed grout technology called ThermoCell. GAI is a Lakewood, CO geotechnical and mining reclamation engineering firm. The company developed ThermoCell to control and extinguish underground coal fires. The viability of the special grout and the technology of application were established during a full-scale field demonstration at the abandoned IHI Coal Mine fire, near Rifle, CO. Following acquisition of additional funding by CDMG in 1999, Goodson returned to the site in April to continue the grouting to fully extinguish the IHI fire.

Jan 1, 2000

By McKenzie A. M

The Corridor ore body is so named because it occurs in an east-west zone or corridor of schist bounded on the north by the siliceous conglomerates of Mount Lyell, and on the south by similar conglomerates of the Tharsis ridge (Fig. 1). It was discovered after the geophysical prospecting methods described below had defined a target zone for diamond drilling.Since the proving of copper mineralisation by drilling, the corridor orebody has served the vital function of a convenient known target body for the orientation of more recently developed geophysical methods. Traversing of the orebody by these new methods has provided experience for the evaluation of anomalies elsewhere.Some of the methods applied had not been used in Australia before, and were introduced to the west coast of Tasmania through the undertaking there of modern regional exploration programmes. The authors feel that the information gained could be of assistance to others engaged in geophysical prospecting.HISTORY OF DISCOVERYProspecting in the Mount Lyell district has been more or less continuous since 1881. The first geological report was published by Thureau (1886).In 1934, Blazey and Douglas (1934-38) commenced geophysical surveys at Mt. Lyell using the equipotential method.They obtained anomalous indications in several discrete zones and actually detected the south-east half of the corridor orebody but their work never became the basis for...

Jan 1, 1961

By G. S. Pauley

Paper presented at a meeting on: Artificial intelligence in the minerals sector, held in Nottingham, UK, 20 April 1993 (original title: Case-based reasoning can be a catalyst for improvement). A new computer software technology known as Case Based Reasoning (CBR) can be used to produce small decision support systems that are economically viable. This is because the knowledge that they contain can be owned and maintained by their users. A CBR tool has been used to perform a pilot study with Anglesey Aluminium Metal Ltd. The results are encouraging. They suggest that a combination of CBR and participative design and implementation techniques (such as Checkland's Soft System Methodology) can achieve sustainable improvement in mineral processing functions. An explanation is presented of why traditional, rule based systems are often an ineffective way to implement support systems. It is shown that CBR may provide an appropriate technology solution. Methods of achieving sustainable benefit are indicated. The pilot study with Anglesey Aluminium Metal is used as a practical illustration of the development of a CBR application. A review of potential application areas and some observations about the implementation are presented

Apr 1, 1994

By Carl Tom Blevins

Resin was first introduced to U. S. mines in 1971 and first produced in 1973. The original polyester roof bolt resin was very expensive and limited to a single cartridge size and a single slow gel time. Early resin applications were limited to very difficult ground conditions. Today approximately 80% of the over 100 million roof bolts installed in U.S. mines, tunnels, and construction projects employ polyester roof bolt resin. The industry has evolved from hand packing samples for trial testing to producing enough resin, if converted to a .9 inch (22.9mm) diameter cartridge, to encircle the world at the equator approximately three (3) times each year. Manufacturing and design improvements allow for a more consistent product with a wide range of applications at a price that is approximately 30% below our 1974 sales price. An inflation adjusted dollar buys six (6) times more resin in 2006 than in 1974. Modern gel times range from a few seconds to over 15 minutes. Viscosity is matched to bolt type and drilling machine characteristics. Multiple cartridge diameters and a wide range of cartridge lengths are offered by two operating companies. Resin manufacturers have also gone through a period of restructuring and change to meet the challenges of the mining industry. DuPont Fasloc has become Fasloc, Inc., a stand-alone company. Celtite became Fosroc then Minova, as it is known today. During this transformation, several manufacturers have either discontinued production or were absorbed. The industry led the development of the chemical grouting materials specifications contained in ASTM F432-95, Standard Specifications for Roof and Rock Bolts and Accessories. A history of the industry will be presented within a discussion of the evolution of the strength index, speed index, cartridge volume, class designation, and product marking requirements of ASTM F432-95.

Jan 1, 2006