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By D. W. Butner

This report is concerned with the conditions affecting the methods and costs of mining phosphate rock in that part of the western phosphate field that is in Bear Lake and Caribou Counties in southeastern Idaho ( see fig . 1) . The area was selected because it contains most of the known phosphate reserve and because its geology has been studied more extensively than that of other sections . Deposits of phosphate rock on public land may be leased from the Government under the terms of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 , subject to the regulations of the Bureau of Land Management . Public interest in phosphate production is growing , as shown by an increasing number of applications for leases . Two mines are being operated steadily for the production of phosphate rock by companies that have also the necessary processing plants for the manufacture of fertilizer . Total western phosphate - rock production in 1947 is reported by the Economics Statistics and Division of the Federal Bureau of Mines to have been 1,193,000 long tons , mined in Idaho , Montana , and Wyoming . The average grade was 30.7 percent of contained phosphorus pentoxide (P205 ) ; the average value at the mines was $5.67 per long ton . Idaho contributed 905,000 tons , or somewhat more than 75 percent of western production . Western fertilizer plants took 23 percent of total production; 76 percent was exported . Strip mining accounted for 75 percent of the Idaho tonnage; the remainder was stoped from underground workings . Rock must contain a minimum of 30 percent P205 to be commercially useful for the production of superphosphate fertilizer by current acid treatment methods . Research by corporations and Government agencies has been directed toward the use of lower - grade ore . So far , only by smelting can rock containing as little as 25 percent P205 be used economically . Any development of processing or use pattern that would render the mining of , say , 20 percent rock profitable would have important effects in reducing the unit cost of mining . In the search for metallurgical improvements , consideration should be given to the saving of valuable components of the rock, such as vanadium and fluorine , both of which are present in the beds .

Oct 1, 1949

By Thomas J. Peters

The U.S. Bureau of Mines studied the 63,9SS-acre Hanson Lakes study area, including the Ten Mile-East and part of the Ten-Mile West RARE II areas, plus additional acreage, all proposed at times for Wilderness designation. The study was part of a Idaho Land Assessment Program with the Idaho Geological Survey and the U.S. Geological Survey, to provide minerals information for land-use decisions, and ensure domestic mineral supplies. The area is at the north end of the rugged Sawtooth Range and includes parts of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area which is closed to mineral location. The Copper Mountain. Elk Mountain, and Observation Peak mineralized areas are in the study area, but only Copper Mountain is open to claim location. It is on the trans-Challis fault zone and contains Tertiary granite which is favorable for mineral deposits of gold, beryllium, niobium, REE (rare-earth elements), tin, molybdenum, copper, silver, and lead. Identified resources are 1.9 million tons of flake graphite at Elk Mountain, but much more graphite occurs in the vicinity REE occurs in 18 black sand placer sites along the lower reaches of study area streams just outside the study area, on Cape Horn Creek, Marsh Creek, and lower Valley Creek flood plains, and at one hydrothermal site near Observation Peak. Hydrothermal REE is commonly low in? by-product thorium. a radioactive disposal problem. Many advanced REE applications enhance the quality of life, and future uses in superconductivity may reduce energy consumption. Seventeen lode, one geothermal, and 11 placer prospects were examined. Workings totaled about 20 adits, one shaft, several open cuts, and numerous small pits. Approximately 500 mining claims have been located or relocated in the study area, including a 200-claim block for disseminated molybdenum.

Jan 1, 1992

By D. B. Dow

The presence of sulphur compounds in petroleum and its products is, generally speaking, undesirable, and the problems involved in removing such compounds are of great importance to the petroleum refiner and to the manufacturer of gasoline. There are several types of these compounds which are dissimilar in physical and chemical characteristics, as evidenced by different objectionable features which they exhibit, and special treatments have been developed to meet conditions existing in various products. This paper deals with the treatment of natural-gas gasoline for the removal of certain sulphur compounds which, if not removed, impart on objectionable odor and in addition badly discolor the product. The presence of this particular type of sulphur compounds is detected by the "doctor" test.* In some instances natural-gas gasoline is purchased on "doctor" test specifications, and the ordinary purchaser, while not buying on "doctor" specifications, is insistent in his demand for a water white product. Gasoline which fails to meet the "doctor" test, if not received by the buyer within a few weeks after time Of manufacture, may be "off color" enough to warrant a deduction from the market price.

Jan 1, 1923

By A. W. Ambrose

A few years ago, (March 3, 1915) Congress passed a law providing for the establishments of ten mining experiment stations under the supervision of the Bureau of Mines. In 1917 the Secretary of the Interior decided that one of these stations should be devoted to Petroleum, and in the early part of 1918, approved the establishment of the Petroleum Experiment Station at Bartlesville, Oklahoma, upon the condition that the city furnish the site for the buildings and guarantee $50,000. for the erection of the buildings. A building site of 5 acres and the necessary building fund was furnished by the Bartlesville Chamber of Commerce.The buildings consist of an administration and laboratory building, both of brick construction. The former is a two-story structure of eight rooms. A large room occupying over half of the main floor is devoted to the library, reception room, and clerical force. The remaining rooms comprise a drafting room and six offices occupied by the staff assigned to this station. The laboratory is a one-story brick building and contains a well-equipped chemical and physical laboratory, also a machine shop and mechanical laboratory. In addition to the main buildings there now are on the property an experimental refinery, a blue-print house, and a store house. These latter buildings are all of sheet-iron construction.

Oct 1, 1920

By C. S. ROBINSON, T. M. Romslo

This investigation was conducted jointly by the Bureau of Mines and the Geological Survey to obtain further information on the source and economic possibilities of the copper mineralization exposed on the Copper Giant group of claims, Ajo mining district, Pima County, Ariz. The Copper Giant group of claims was first brought to the attention of the Bureau of Mines by Joseph Hunter (deceased), Phoenix, Ariz., part owner of the claims. In December 1942 these claims, and an adjoining group, were investigated by T. C. Denton, mining engineer, formerly with the Bureau of Mines, and Nels P. Peterson, geologist, Federal Geological Survey. It was concluded the area could not be considered as a source of copper for immed- iate emergency needs and that further investigation of the area, at the time, was not warranted. In the spring of 1948 the lessee, J. H. Greenway Albert, requested Bureau of Mines assistance in developing the property. J. H. Hedges, former chief, Tucson Branch, Mining Division, and Lincoln A. Stewart, mining engineer, Bureau of Mines, made a cursory examination of the property and noted that at numerous places, low-grade copper mineralization appeared on fractures and bedding of the Locomotive fanglomerate and Ajo volcanics, which are thought to be of Tertiary age. During the period of May 11 through 14, 1949, Bureau of Mines engineers3 mapped and sampled two areas of mineral- ization. On June 2 and 3, 1949, the areas selected by the Bureau and three other nearby mineralized areas were investigated by C. A. Anderson and R. S. Cannon, Jr., of the Federal Geological Survey. As a result of these examina- tions, further investigation of certain areas was believed to be merited. The Copper Giant area was selected as the most favorable in which to carry out exploratory and development work. The field work on the project was started in October 1949 and completed in December 1949. It consisted of road building, trenching, sampling, topo- graphic and geologic mapping, diamond drilling, and logging of core. Samples taken on the project and during preliminary examinations totaled 64, of which 63 were surface samples. Diamond drilling, started October 10 and completed December 7, consisted of two holes for a total depth of 1,542 feet.

Mar 1, 1952

By D. G. Lee

Diesel particulate matter (DPM) often contains small amounts of metal as a minor component but this metal may contribute to adverse health effects. Knowledge of the mechanism for particle formation as well as the size preference of the trace metals is critical to understanding the potential for health concerns. To achieve this, the size and the composition of each particle should be optimally measured at the same time. Single particle mass spectrometer (SPMS) would be the best tool for this objective. In this paper, we therefore will introduce new findings about the mechanism and distribution of the trace metals in DPM, derived from a study where an SPMS was used to analyze freshly emitted DPM. KEY WORDS : Single particle mass spectroscopy, Diesel particulate matter, Characterization, Metal contents

Jan 1, 2006

By Chas. F. Jackson

The annual reports of the supervising engineering of the nine sections comprising the Mining Division are assembled in the following pages and constitute the annual report of the division. In planning activities, the aim is to adapt them to changes in conditions, in the needs of the mining industries, and in the public interest; those current activities that contribute most to problems of present concern are emphasized, investigations of less immediate importance being recessed, if necessary.

Jan 1, 1940

By Chas. F. Jackson

The annual reports of the supervising engineers of the nine sections comprising the Mining Division are assembled in tie following pages and constitute the annual report of the division. In planning activities, the aim is to adapt them to changes in conditions, in the needs of the mining industries, and in the public interest; those current activities that contribute most to problem of present concern are emphasized, investigations of less immediate importance being recessed, if necessary.

Jan 1, 1940

By Charles D. Litton

An overview of state-of-the-art technology in fire detectors is presented by the Bureau of Mines regarding their use in the mining industry. Detectors are categorized according to the characteristics of a fire to which they respond. Operating principles of the various detectors, their application, and the advantages and disadvantages of each are discussed.

Jan 1, 1979

By G. W. Birge

The Bureau of Mines investigated the effect of temperature on the mechanical strength of cokes of the type normally used in blast furnace operations. Eight samples of industrially produced cokes were subjected to ASTM tumbler tests at temperatures as high as 1,100° C (2,012° F); these temperatures had no significant effect on tumbler results for cokes with stability indexes of 40.6 to 59.9. Two foundry cokes which were tested at only one elevated temperature (900° C) decreased slightly in tumbler stability. Iron are pellets made from a variety of ores and by various industrial methods were not significantly affected by temperature when tested in an oxidizing atmosphere at 1,000° C (1,832° F) by the tentative standard ASTM method.

Jan 1, 1966

By H. B. Brunot

One of the many difficult problems that confront the present day coal-mine operator is the safeguarding of his employees and property from disasters such as fires, explosions, squeezes, and inundations. Those operators having gaseous or ev en dusty mines have a double responsibility resting upon them in this respect. The introduction of electrical machinery and appera tus in mining operations has been very rapid, and at the present time it is difficult to mention any kind of mining work in which electrical machinery is not used. This extended introduc- tion of electrical equipment has added not a little to the mine operators' safety problem, and it is the desire of the United States Bureau of Mines to aid the mine operator, and the inspection departments having jurisdiction, in solving their electrical safety problems. With this idea in mind, the Bureau has prepared and published schedules setting forth the qualities it considers essential to the safety of various classes of mining equipment, and the conditions under which it will test and give the stamp of its approval to satisfactory designs. Portable electric lamps of the permissible* type are almost universally used in gaseous mines, but the use of permissible electrical machinery has not been so widespread. Until recently the Bureau had issued approvals for only one class. of machinery involving the use of electric motors that is, permissible coal- cutting machines. However, the day is undoubtedly not far distant when the operator, who so desires, will be able to obtain a permissible room hoist, pump, or coal- loading outfit. During the year 1921 the first of a growing list of storage-battery locomotive approvals was granted by the Bureau, and it is with considerable satis- faction that the Bureau how announces the approval of a third class of motor equip- "merit- namely, slectric drills.

Jan 1, 1923

By Roy L. Wilfong

The linear expansion of high-purity oxides of yttrium, cerium, samarium, europium, and dysprosium was determined by the interferometric method for the temperature range 25° to 1,000° C. Single-crystal magnesium oxide and single-crystal aluminum oxide were used as reference materials. The bulk density and crystal form of the nonreference materials also were determined. The coefficients of linear expansion in the range 25° to 1,000° C were found to be 8.10 x 10-6 for yttria, 12.10 x 10-6 for ceria, 10.81 x 10'6 for samaria (monoclinic), 10.35 x 10-6 for europia (monoclinic), and 8.13 x 10-6 for dysprosia, each given in centimeters per centimeter per degree Centigrade. A detailed investigation of the interferometric technique for measuring thermal expansion in this temperature range was made. The interferometer was found to be a precise tool but only when adequate precautions were taken. These precautions are described.

Jan 1, 1963

By W. Wallace, T. Ong, M. Gautam, M. Keane, S. Xing, J. Harrison

"Diesel exhaust soots were assayed in the Ames Salmonella typhimurium histidine reversion assay system using TA 98, the soots being applied as the following preparations: dispersion in dipaimitoyl glycerophosphoryl choline (DPL), dispersion in dipalmitoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DPP!), and dispersion in dipalmitoyl phosphatidic acid (DPPA) in physiological saline, and in physiological saline without added surfactant. The extracts of soots by dichloromethane / dimethylsulfoxide (DCM/BHSO) were also assayed. Studies were performed both with and without :IQ microsomal activation of the soot preparations. The DPP! and DPPA surfactants were chosen as phospholiridz with two palmitic acid moieties esterified to a glycerol as is the case with DPL, but with hydrophilic groups having different electrophilic characters. The soots, without S9 activation, showed mutegenic activity when extracted in the conventional procedure with DCM/DMSO. The mutagenic activity of soots dispersed in DPL was quantitatively comparable to, and in some cases greater than, the activity expressed by an equal mass of soot extracted by DCM/DMSO. Soots in other surfactantpreparations, DPP! and DPPA, also expressed positive mutagenic activity. Praincubation with S9 microsomal enzyme fraction reduced the activity of solvent extracted soots, and greatly diminished the activity of DPL dispersed soots. Initial sister chromatid exchange (SCE) assays using the Chinese hamster V79 cell line indicated DPL dispersed soot also can cause SCR in mammalian cells. Results thus far suggest that surfactant suspended or ""solubilized"" respirable soot particles could provide a mechanism for transport and expression of mutagens in the lung."

Jan 1, 1989

By David A. Monaghan, Kenneth R. Maser, Adi R. Gurdar, D. Randolph Berry

9. Remote Sealing System Sensitivity 9. 1 Introduction In the previous sections a description of the overall system has been presented along with detailed descriptions of the equipment and techniques employed with the preliminary probing system, the seal em¬placement system and the seal checking system. In addition, the use of these subsystems in a specific mine application has been described in considerable detail. A broad range of parameters of interest was specified in the contract, as summarized in Section 1. 3. Most of these are a function of the general location; i. e. , the location of the mine, and the specific location; i. e. , the location of the boreholes. These parameters of interest include passage size, shape, depth, slope and water con¬ditions. The length, diameter and location of the boreholes within the mine passage and on the surface are critical parameters as well. A few additional parameters may affect one or more of the remote sealing subsystems. These include temperature, topography, rock and soil conditions, and underground water. While variation in these parameters will not render the system inoperative, consideration of them in the planning stages will simplify and expedite the field operation. In the following sections the effect of the various parameters on the remote sealing operation will be discussed. For clarity, the several tasks, borehole drilling and casing, preliminary probing, fly ash delivery, foam topping and seal checking, will each be considered separately.

Jan 1, 1973

By Jan M. Mutmansky, Christopher J. Rise

"One of the most serious long term health problems associated with underground,mining is Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis (CWI'), more commonly known as Black Lung Disease. It occurs in some coal workers, normally after 15 or more years of exposure to coal mine dust, and leads to a variety of respiratory problems. Two types of pneumoconiosis are recognized simple CWP, which has been estimated to affect 6.9 percent of miners and is a condition that does not impair the miner's ability to work nor reduce life expectancy; and a more severe form of black lung (called progressive massive fibrosis) that occurs in about one percent of the cases and results in severe lung damage.Although the relationship between coal dust and CWP has long been recognized, detailed knowledge of the relationship is insufficient for setting up authoritative guidelines to reduce the health risks for those employed in dusty,underground environments. CWP is not only a health problem for workers that causes considerable distress, it is also a very expensive problem the total annual costs associated with CWP approach two billion dollars.As part of its efforts to combat CWP, the U.S. Bureau of Mines in 1983 established a Generic Mineral Technology Center to carry out basic research into all aspects of respirable coal dust:— control of dust generation — the behavior of dust in the mine — characterization of dust particles interaction of dust and lung— the relationships among dust generation and mobility and the mine environment, geology, and seam characteristics,Penn State, West Virginia University, the University of Minnesota, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are involved in this research, which is administered from the Department of Mineral Engineering at Penn State.Our work is one of the seven projects to be conducted at Penn Slate. We are concerned particularly with the characterization of dust and its relationships with the mine environment, and our main goal is to establish standard procedures for describing and measuring these variables.Coal DustCoal dust is a very complex material that varies greatly in chemical and mineralogical properties. Moreover, it is not the only constituent of respirable dust in the mine. When a coal seam is mined, it is inevitable that rock particles other than coal are included in the material. This rock comes from the mine roof, the floor, and the partings and inclusions within the coal scams. Since the roof and floor strata, the partings and inclusions are often stronger than the coal, mining them frequently causes more dust than mining the coal itself. One of the objectives of our research is to find the relationships between a specific coal's characteristics before it is mined and the respirable dust characteristics after it is mined. We are particularly interested in the size distribution of particles, the chemical properties, and the mineralogical properties."

Jun 1, 1988

By E. P. Youngman

A new mining law for the Recublic of Polend was promulgated by presiden- tial decree dated November 29, 1930, published in the Journal of Lews (Dzienni stex) No. E, text 654, December E, 1530, and wes to become effective January 1, 1932, in all Polend except Silesie. Its adoption in Silesia wes dependent pon the action of the Silesian Diet. As the new law is considered an im- provement over the old Austrian Mining Lew, which is operative in the Silesian districts of Bielsk and Cieszyn, and the Prussian Kining Law, which is opera- tive in Upper Silesia, no delay in its adoption for Silesin was looked for. This new law codifies the various juridical regulations pertaining to ines existing in different parts of the Polish Republic but does not include legislation with respect to the extraction of minerel oil, especially crude oil. Petroleum legislation was postponed to a later date in order to facili- tate codification in other fields. Koreover, as the oil industry exists in Galicia elone, deley will not be detrimental.

May 1, 1932

By Kenneth L. Rubow, Virgil A. Marple, Zhigun Zhang

"A theoretical technique has been developed and verified experimentally for determining the aerodynamic diameter of irregular shaped particles. The aerodynamic diameter of a particle is a very important parameter for determining where that particle deposits in the respiratory tract. Many instruments, such as impactors and cyclones, will determine the aerodynamic size distributions of aerosol particles but few analyze the particles individually. The theoretical approach of our technique is to solve, by use of high speed computers, the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations to obtain the flow field around an irregular shaped particle of any contour. The computer program will then determine the drag on the particle, and thus the aerodynamic diameter of the particle can be calculated. The experimental approach has been to pass the particles through a centrifuge and collect the particles upon a collection foil. The position of a particle on the foil is an indication of its aerodynamic diameter. These particles were then shadowed in two orthogonal directions and inspected under an scanning electron microscope (SEM). The top view of the particle in the SEM plus the views of the two orthogonal shadows allows one to determine the three-dimensional shape of the particle. Studies have been performed on silica, coal and talc particles with aerodynamic diameters in the 1 to 4 µm size range. The three-dimensional shape, as is determined from SEM analysis, was used in the theoretical computer program and the results compared. It was found that in most cases the agreement between the experimentally and theoretically determined aerodynamic diameters was within 5%. INTRODCJCTIONThe equivalent aerodynamic diameter (EAD) of a particle, defined as the diameter of a unit density sphere with the same falling speed as the particle in question, is an important size measurement of the particle. This is especially true when attempting to predict where particles may deposit in the respirator tract. Therefore, EAD is an important parameter when considering respiratory diseases caused by particles, such as coal workers pneumoconiosis (CWP).Many instruments will measure the EAD size distribution of the aerosol particles, but few analyze the particles individually. Impactors, cyclones and virtual impactors normally collect particles upon substrates or filters which are · then analyzed gravimetrically to determine the mass concentration of the particles in that size classification. The EAD of particles can be measured on an individual basis with centrifuges, inertial spectrometers and the TSI Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS). Centrifuges are most ideally applicable for studying individual particles as the particles are deposited, on long removable foils, at locations dependent upon their EAD."

Jan 1, 1990

By L. Cheng, M. S. Seehra, P. S. Raghoottama

The four major IR bands of a-quartz at 1080, 797, 693 and 488 cm-1 are studied at room temperature by FTIR-Photoacoustic Spectroscopy. Using Rosencwaig-Gersho theory, equations for the PAS signal q for the thermally thin and thermally thick cases are derived and it is shown how thin to thick transition occurs and leads to saturation as the sample mass is increased. For sample mass < 2 mg, q is proportional to sample mass thus defining the region for quantitative analysis. The dependence of q on the chopping frequency f is found to vary as q f-n with n ? 0.9 for quartz, in good agreement with the RG theory.

Jan 1, 1989

By L. L. NAUS, R. D. Currie

Hazards in connection with the use of compressed-air jets for ventilating gassy mines are given little consideration by most mine officials largely because compressed air is considered the safest means of transmitting power for operating various types of mining machinery, and the inherent dangers in its use for this purpose are virtually negligible . The installation of compressed-air lines in coal mines leads to the utilization of compressed air for ventilating working places , with the result that , although the primary ventilation systems may be adequate to meet existing needs , proper conduction of normal ventilation has been neglected , so the working faces receive only a small amount ofthe total air circulated through the mine . Reliance in part on compressed air or other auxiliary means for ventilation is always attended by danger that gas will accumulate , due to intermittent operation , and the tendency is to operate auxiliary schemes only. during the working shift ( or possibly only part of the shift ) and to dispense with them during off- shifts or at times during the working shift when gas may accumulate because of lack of ventilation . When the men come on shift the auxiliary ventilating device often may be started without a preliminary examination of the working place , or .. the examination may be made sometime before the oncoming shift arrives , the gas being allowed to accumulate in the meantime. This may result in uncontrolled movement of a body of gas if proper precautions are not taken . Several mine explosions have been caused by the movement of a known body of gas by compressed air into the haulageway, where it was ignited by an arc from a passing locomotive . This danger is more pronounced where supervision is lax .

Aug 1, 1937

By D. Harrington

More or less unconsciously and from sheer force of habit human beings do many things they probably would not do if the possible consequences of their acts were fully recognized and appreciated. Such carelessness ordinarily could be condoned if human life were not at stake, but it is difficult to understand why intelligent men engaged in the hazardous occupation of mining indulge with the utmost indifference in some habit or continue some custom in violation of State leas and company regulations and under circumstances that may jeopardize not only their own lives but those of scores, even of hundreds, of their fellow workers as well. The old adage that stolen sweets are the best may or nay not have some foundation, but when applied to the practice of smoking surreptitiously in a coal mine, more especially a gassy mine, it is without even remote justification. Although a relatively harmless habit in the proper environment, smoking has been the cause or suspected cause of many gas explosions and black-powder ignitions and has resulted in numerous instances of bodily injury, loss of life, and destruction of property. Likewise, many fires in both coal and metal nines, causing loss of life, have been started by smoking.

Jan 1, 1941