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By E. R. Palowitch

This report stems from a study by the Bureau of Mines of the possibility of reducing coal filter-cake moisture by applying radiant heat directly to the filter cake while under vacuum during the drying phase of the filter cycle. One disk of a 4-foot-diameter vacuum filter was equipped with gas-fired radiant-heat generators and the effect of radiant heating on the moisture content of a variety of filter cakes was studied. The results of this investigation show that this process can best be described as a filter aid capable of increasing the effectiveness of conventional filtration approximately 6 percentage points of moisture. The operating cost of removing water by this method is somewhat lower than the average operating cost of thermal drying and is considerably cheaper when the total cost is considered. Removal of water from coal that has been wet-cleaned is an important part of the overall coal preparation process. Water is a contaminant, and it is foolish to wash coal to reduce its ash content and add inert water in the process. In some instances the removal of water is actually more important than the removal of ash-forming minerals; its weight adds to the cost of transportation, and its evaporation during burning or carbonizing absorbs useful heat. Fine coal that contains more than about 10 percent moisture is notoriously difficult to handle. A problem thus exists for which there are sound practical and economic reasons to seek a solution.

Jan 1, 1961

By R. L. Grant

The Bureau of Mines developed two new gap-sensitivity methods for explosives, and especially permissible explosives, to overcome certain disadvantages of the present routine half-cartridge method. The revised methods are based on the statistical up-and-down method and give more useful measurements of the 50-percent' gap values than the nonstatistical routine method. The new methods use full cartridges and incorporate certain physical improvements such as the use of cardboard tubes for containing the explosives and coal dust gaps to simulate actual mining conditions. A total of 60 samples of permissible explosives were evaluated simultaneously with the 2 improved methods and with the half-cartridge method

Jan 1, 1967

By John C. Franklin

A radon survey was made at five different locations in the Twilight mine near Uravan, Colo., to determine chances in radon concentrations in an inactive mine. Data were taken with a continuous monitor set for 1-minute count periods and readings were taken 24 hours a day for 9 days. The 12 readings per station each hour accurately showed how t w radon concentration varied during the day. From the data collected from the intake portal to station 4, the average radon emanation rate was estimated at 18 picocuries per second per square foot (pCi/sec/ft3). A daily cycle in radon concentration was detected that apparently was related to barometric pressure change.

Jan 1, 1976

By M. J. Kirwan

[There have been large increases in the oil production and casing-head gas production of certain wells on the Quinn dome (northern part of the Lyons-Quinn field of Oklahoma) caused by large volumes of gas under high pressure entering Vie productive oil sand, The oil production of sore of the leases in this part of the field temporarily increased over 100 per cent within a few days after gas entered the oil sand among the leases that had the greatest increases in oil production wore those on which no gas wells were drilled but which were located up-elope on the structure in reference to gas wells on adjoining properties. It is conservatively estimated that 1,444,000,000, cubic feet of gas entered the productive oil sand and, up to January 1, 1924, caused an increase of about 950,000 barrels of oil from this sand. The casing-held gas volumes of a number of wells producing between 25,000 and 75,000 cubic feet of gas per day increased to several hundred thousand cubic feet and a few walls increased to nearly two million cubic feet per day after extraneous gas entered the oil sand from which the wells were producing.]

Jan 1, 1924

By James H. Cobbs

The purpose of this study is to investigate the application of boring equipment to the production of anthracite coal from steeply pitching beds. Both raise boring and augering equipment were considered. Previous studies (11) have indicated that boring equipment may have definite applications to the development of steeply pitching anthracite beds. This investigation was to carry forward previous work to determine the possible application of the two different types of equipment being considered. Previous conclusions have been substantiated by the results of this study.

Jan 1, 1975

By R. H. Sprute

Extensive Bureau of Mines laboratory testing has shown that electrokinetic densification can be an effective method for dewatering and consolidating unclassified metal mine mill tailings. The report describes results of a limited field test of this technique. Eighteen-cubic-yard concrete model stopes, 18 feet long by 6 feet deep by 56 inches wide, were filled with unclassified tailings slurry from a metal mine in the Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, district. Five different tests were performed. They showed that a strong, dense, dewatered fill can be obtained in a reasonably short time using electrokinetics, with typical power consumption of 25 to 30 kW-hr/yd3 of densified fill. At present power costs in the Coeur d 'Alene district, this would amount to 10 to 12 cents/yd3.

Jan 1, 1975

By A. W. BELDEN

Among the investigations that the Bureau of Mines is conducting witha view to increasing efficiency in the utilization of fuels belonging to or for the use of the Government is an investigation of the processesthat take place in a foundry cupola during a melt. Some observations on the results of cupola tests of cokes at the Government fuel-testing plant in St. Louis, Mo., the coke being fromcoal from many coal fields of the United States, have been stated in a previous bulletin.s Especial attention was given to the meltinglosses that resulted from the use of different grades of coke, light and porous or heavy and dense. These losses amounted in one instance to 52.5 per cent of the iron charged and showed, in convincing manner, the need of exact information in regard to conditions in the fuelbed of the cupola.b Melting losses of iron have been fully appreciated but little under-- stood. The fact that these losses were possible with either light or heavy coke led to the belief that by using small charges 80 placed that. melting would take place in that zone of the cupola where the highest heat and the smallest percentage of oxygen prevailed and by confiningall melting to this zone these losses would be eliminated and the economical use of practically any coke produced for metallurgical purposes would become possible. This widening of the field from whichcoke might be drawn for foundry purposes would serve to place the foundryman in an independent position as regards his source of supply, and would tend to conserve the better grades of coking coals, which are being rapidly exhausted, by making the poorer grades available for mixing with them. In order to investigate conditions within a cupola, the Bureau of Mines as a first step decided to install a commercial cupola, to sample the gases during their travel from the tuy~res upward, and to determine the temperature of the fuel bed.

Jan 1, 1913

By J. E. Hamak

This publication contains analyses and related source data for 162 natural gas samples from 15 states and 4 foreign countries. Of the total samples, 154 were collected during calendar year 1992. The remainder were collected earlier, but releases granting permission to publish were not received until 1992. None of the analyses have been previously published in annual reports. All samples were obtained and analyzed as part of U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Bureau of Mines investigations of the occurrences of helium in natural gases of countries with free-market economies. This survey has been conducted since 1917. The analyses published herein were made by mass spectrometer and chromatograph.

Jan 1, 1993

By McHenry Moiser

"SUMMARY This mine, which was discovered in 1846, was active in the 1850's, in the 1870's, and again in 1883. Since this last date, it has been idle. Two parallel bed-veins in lower Silurian limestone, about 50 feet apart, strike N. 70° E. and dip 70° NW. The north vein had an average width of 12 feet to a depth of 50 feet, where it was barren. The south vein had an average width of 16 feet to a depth of 75 feet; on the 110-foot level, although well-defined it carried little or no values. The zinc content of the ore was as high as 12 percent, and some lead and silver were associated with it. A reduction plant for production of spelter and zinc oxide was constructed at the mine. The only available record of production is for 1873 to 1876, inclusive, when 357 tons of smelter was shipped. The mine is caved and inaccessible, and nothing now remains of the treatment plant.Four holes totaling 1,046 feet wore diamond-drilled to probe for extensions of the ore in depth. Core recovery was about 85 percent. No samples were taken for analysis.INTRODUCTION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTSIn its program of investigation of mineral deposits, the Bureau of Mines has as its primary objective more effective utilization of our mineral resources to the end that they make the greatest possible contribution to national security and economy. The policy of the Bureau is to publish the facts devel¬oped by each project as soon as practicable after its conclusion. The Mining Branch, Lowell B. Moon, chief, conducts preliminary examinations, does the actual investigative work, and prepares the final report. The Metallurgical Branch, Oliver C. Ralston, chief, analyzes samples and makes beneficiation tests.The deposit was examined in 1944 by C. B. White, mining engineer of the Bureau of Minos. Diamond-drilling was under the immediate supervision of McHenry Mosier. 2/ The diamond-drill cores were logged by Arnold Brokaw, geologist, Federal Geological Survey, and 'wore filed in the core library of the Bureau of Mines, Mount Weather, Va."

Jun 1, 1948

By Gopala N. Krishnan

The most promising candidate for the recovery of alumina from non-bauxitic sources is the leaching of clay by HCL acid followed by crystallization of aluminum chloride hexahydrate (ACH) by hydrogen chloride sparging. Hydrothermal precipitation of boehmite ( ?-A100H) from aluminum chloride solution will simplify the process, will reduce energy consumption and will eliminate corrosion problems involved in calcination of ACH to obtain alumina. This report summarizes the results of Phase I of a program to study the precipitation of boehmite from AlC13 solutions. The amount of boehmite precipitation from dilute A1C13 solutions (5 wt%) is . negligible below 200°C. Above 200°C the precipitation increases with increasing temperature approaching 40% at 300°C. Addition of HCl acid to the dilute A1C13 solution even in small quantities drastically reduces boehmite precipitation. Solution impurities such as Fe, Ca, Mg, or Na substantially promote the precipitation of boehmite. No precipitation is observed from concentrated A1C13 solution (30wt%) representing the leach liquor.

Jan 1, 1980

By D. Harrington

Before the present century there existed a fairly persistent demand for the establishment of a Federal Department of Mines, but relatively little was done about it until a considerable number of very serious coal-mine disasters in 1906, 1907, 1908, and 1909 created what might almost be termed a national scandal and virtually forces the Federal. Government to take action to try to solve the problem of the cruse and prevention of such disastrous occurrences. Instead of a Department of Mines, the mining people had to accept a bureau, which was created on July l, 1910; and while the Bureau of Mines was given numerous functions, unquestionably the promotion of safety in the mineral industries was and continues to be one of its main "jobs." The Bureau's organic act was approved in 1910 and amended in 1913. Both the original and amended acts indicated that promoting; the health and safety of the mine workers constituted the chief function of the Bureau, and that this was the construction placed on its activities by those put in charge in 1910 is shown very definitely by the fact that as soon as the Bureau came into existence on July 1, 1910, both health end safety activities were started in its Mine Accidents Division. Before the end of the first fiscal year (June 30, 1911) 6 mine safety stations had been established in various parts of the United States, add 6 nine safety cars had been put into the field; by October 1910 first-aid-training work was being done in mining regions. The Bureau eras able to function so promptly in its safety work largely because sections of the Geological Survey, which had been doing some coal-mine safety work since 1907 or 1905, were transferred into the Bureau when it began to operate in July 1910. On October 30, 1911, a national First-Aid Meet was held at Pittsburgh, Pa., at which first aid and mine rescue were demonstrated. During the fiscal year 1910-11, the first year of the Bureau's existence, 509 persons were given certificates indicating completion of the Bureau's training course in first aid.

Jan 1, 1939

By Charles N. Speltz

Coal resource data from public and private sources, in conjunction with previously published data, were used by the Bureau of Mines to determine the location and extent of strippable coal resources in Colorado. Total strippable resources of approximately 18 billion tons were estimated in 12 separate coal regions, fields, or deposits. Coal recoverable by contour mining techniques was not included. Criteria used in defining strippable resources were a minimum coalbed thickness of 2 feet and a maximum overburden thickness of 150 feet, except where the coalbeds are of exceptional thickness. Ail Colorado coal is either Cretaceous or Tertiary in age. Cretaceous coals occui In the Dakota Sandstone, the Mesaverde Group, and equivalent formations while Tertiary coals occur in the Dawson Arkose, the Fort Union and the Wasatch Formations, and equivalent formations. The strippable coal ranges in rank from bituminous in the Yampa region to ligniferous in the Denver basin. Ali this coal is low in sulfur content (less than 1 percent); ash content is low to high; heating value ranges from 3,000 to 12,000 Btu's per pound. Ash from the lignite of the Denver basin was found to contain an abnormally high percentage of kaolinite which conceivably could be recoverable as alumina.

Jan 1, 1976

By A. T. Coumbe, I. F. Avery

The Bureau of Mines has completed a survey of petroleum pipe - lines by direct correspondence with the oil companies and the use of the records of the Interstate Commerce Commission in order to cover both interstate and intrastate systems . The review shows that crude petroleum and product pipe -lines in the United States had a total length of 152,814 miles on January 1 , 1950 , an increase of 25,463 miles since May 1 , 1941 , the time of the last previous survey . The expansion in pipe -line systems was due largely to new trunk-line construction , as the mileage built to carry refined products increased by 11,880 miles , and those intended for crude -oil transportation gained 6,193 miles . Trunk lines represented 60 percent of all pipe -line mileage on January 1 , 1950 , compared with 58 percent in 1941 . The average diameter of trunk -lines for crude oil , as calculated on the various sizes and weighted according to their respective lengths , increased to 9.8 inches on January 1 , 1950 , compared with 8.4 inches on May 1 , 1941. The mileage for lines up to 8 inches used in crude trunklines has decreased since the 1941 survey , while those of larger sizes have increased . The extensive use of large- diameter oil pipe -lines has developed since the construction of two major lines from Texas to the East Coast at government expense as a World War II emergency measure . The successful operation of these lines proved their economic advantages over smallerdiameter lines as well as their effectiveness in moving unprecedented volumes of oil during the period when tanker movements were restricted by submarine action in the Atlantic Ocean . The 24-inch diameter " Big Inch " line carries over 300,000 barrels daily of crude oil , and the 20 -inch " Little Big Inch " carried over 230,000 barrels daily of gasoline and light fuel oils to destinations where they were urgently needed . Hence , Although these lines were sold and converted to natural -gas service in December 1946 , after fulfilling their wartime mission , their record proved to the industry that significantly lower operating and investment costs per barrel -mile of oil moved could be achieved than were possible with the comparatively small lines in general use up to that time . the several major oil pipe -line projects that have been constructed since the late war are of large diameter pipe . To assure supplies and market outlets of sufficient magnitude to support such lines and provide adequate flexibility , ownership is often shared by several large companies whose transport needs are served in common . The principal recent expansion in facilities has been from supply points in Southwestern States toward markets in the North and East and to Gulf tidewater .

Dec 1, 1950

By P. G. Barnard

The Bureau of Mines investigated the effects of various additions of rare-earth metals or rare-earth oxides on the mechanical properties of cast and wrought plain-carbon steels. Rare-earth metals, as misch metal, were added to medium-carbon steel in amounts to 0.70 weight-percent; rare-earth oxides, as a commercial mixture, were added in amounts to 1.50 weight-percent. The melting and casting of conditioned steels were done in a vacuum-induction furnace, to avoid formation of oxides from the melting atmosphere and to pro-vide better control over chemical composition. At room temperature, data for tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, and hardness of cast and wrought steels were obtained by standard testing equipment and procedures. Impact tests were conducted on as-cast steel specimens. The greatest amount of tensile ductility and impact strength was obtained in as-cast steel with 0.50 to 0.70 weight-percent misch metal additions. No significant improvement on mechanical properties was indicated in wrought steels containing rare-earth metal additions in the range from 0.10 to 0.70 weight-percent. In general, the rare-earth oxide additions up to 1.50 weight-percent had little effect on the tensile properties of steel in the cast, wrought and annealed, or wrought and normalized condition.

Jan 1, 1967

By E. J. Lintner, J. R. Thoenen

During the period 1937-40 and until peacetime research was superseded in 1941 by wartime activities , the junior author was engaged in studies regarding the relative efficiency of operating methods in quarries producing crushed stone for mineral aggregates . The results of some of these studies were published as reports of investigations in 1939 and 1940 ; / others were discontinued due to war demands on personnel and time . The published reports discussed the efficiency of particular quarry operations with respect to the time consumed and without reference to costs or mechanical factors . • At the time , the field data were collected for the published reports other data were collected relative to the relationship of the numerous variable factors inherent in the operation of a churn drill to the ability of the drill to produce blast holes . The churn drill is essentially a crusher and depends. for its performance upon the foot-pounds of energy it can impart to the cutting edge of its bit . The gravity stamp mill , so well-known in western gold mines , is essentially the same type of crusher . The ratio of foot- pounds necessary to crush the rock , to the total theoretical energy developed by the falling churn- drill tools , affords a good means of evaluating the efficiency of the tool . This does not include to tal over-all efficiency involving the mechanical equipment of the drill itself or its power unit .

Jan 1, 1947

By R. R. Sayers

"Health hazards in the mining industry may be attributed to (1) abnormal conditions of the air, (2) improper sewage disposal, (3) bad drinking water, (4) bad illumination, and (5) local mechanical irritation.Abnormal conditions of the air may be due either to physical or chemical changes. The physical changes are (1) abnormal temperature, (2) abnormal humidity, (3) air movement, and (4) presence of dusts. Dusts may be either poisonous, as salts of lead, arsenic, zinc, or mercury; or nonpoisonous, as dust from coal, silica or quartz, limestone, gypsum, or silicates. Chemical changes may be due to changes in the normal constituents, as lowered oxygen or increased carbon dioxide; or to the addition of abnormal constituents, as carbon monoxide (white damp), hydrogen sulphide (stink damp), sulphur dioxide, methane (marsh gas, fire damp), hydrogen, and nitrogen.Effects of High Temperatures and Humidities The effects of various temperatures and relative humidities have been studied in mines in many countries. Harrington and myself studied them in the metal mines of this country and, in a report written recently, they have been summarized as follows:A. Remaining at rest in saturated air at 91 1/2° F, for one hour, With no air movement caused -1. An increase in body temperature;2. A moderate increase in pulse rate;3. Profuse sweating;4. After effects of dizziness and weakness with air movement caused ¬1. Slight or no increase in body temperature"

Dec 1, 1924

By R. D. Currie

Haulage accidents in the anthracite region cause fewer fatal and lost-time accidents per million man-hours than similar accidents in bituminous mines, a fact that may be accounted for in several ways, but primarily because haulage, in a large part of the region, is restricted to haulage crews operating only on the gangways where most of the miners seldom come in contact with movement or handling of cars and locomotives. Generally in underground mines the number of men injured compared with the number killed is greater for haulage than for roof-fall accidents, while the number of men killed by haulage is second only to the number killed by roof falls.

Jan 1, 1939

By O. C. Blade

This report on the properties of motor fuels sold through service stations in the United States was made in accordance with a cooperative agreement between the American Petroleum Institute and the Bureau of Mines of the United States Department of the Interior. This paper is a continuation of a series made in cooperation with the Coordinating Fuel Research-(CFR) Committee of the Coordinating Research Council (CRC), Inc. The first of this series of reports presented data on motor gasolines sold during the winter of 1935-36, and succeeding reports described motor gasolines sold during the summers and winters to and including the summer of 1941. 2/ No reports were made on motor gasolines sold during the winter of 1941-42 and during the summer of 1942. However, starting with the winter of 1942-43. the semiannual reports were resumed.

Jan 1, 1950

By John B. Knaebel

This paper, describing the milling operations of the St. Joseph Lead Co. at Balmat, N. Y., is one of a series of similar papers being prepared by the United States Bureau of Mines on practice at various mills in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company also operates a mine end mill at Edwards, 12 miles northeast of Balmat. Mining practice in the district, as exemplified at the Edwards mine, is described in another information circular of the Bureau of Mines.3 The writer gratefully acknowledges the generous cooperation of the company officials which made this investigation possible, and wishes to thank R. J. Mechin, manager, P. W. Wolf, mill superintendent, and F. G. Kuehl, assistant mill superintendent, for their helpful assistance. Especial thanks are due J. S. Brown, geologist, for supplying information on the characteristics of the ore, and to C. F. Jackson, principal mining engineer, U. S. Bureau of Mines, for helpful suggestions.

Jan 1, 1932

By C. A. Pearson, W. D. Dietzman, M. E. Hawkins

Results of chemical analyses and electrical resistivity measurements of 422 samples of oilfield brines from 120 east Texas fields in Railroad Commission of Texas Districts 5 and 6 are presented in tabular form . These samples represent water from all of the major petroleum- productive formations in the area . Water analyses and electrical resistivity data , when fully utilized by proper study techniques , are useful tools in the solution of many engineering problems such as detection of well leaks , identification of water sources , and interpretation of electrical well logs . In the area included in this study , these representative data should facilitate the solution of problems in which water analysis and water resistivity are factors .

Jan 1, 1964