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By F. L. Wideman

This paper is one of a series on mining methods being published by the Bureau of Mines. It describes briefly mining practices at the Sunrise iron mine of the Colorado Fuel & Iron Corp., Platte County, Wyo. The Sunrise mine is in the Hartville iron district in east-central Wyoming (fig. 1). The district covers part of the Hartville Mountains, a region of moderate relief in which erosional features have been formed by the dissection of a low plateau. Altitudes vary from 4,300 feet along the North Platte River to 6,000 feet in the uplift. The climate is semiarid, with hot summers and winter temperatures below zero for short periods. Grasses, cacti, yucca, and low desert shrubs grow at lower elevations. Cottonwood and boxelder trees and willows grow along permanent streams; juniper and coniferous trees are confined to the higher elevations.

Jan 1, 1956

By Dale R. Spangenberg

This Bureau of Mines Information Circular on phosphate is one of a series of minerals availability commodity directories. Nonconfidential information from the Minerals Availability Program data base covering 148 domestic and 103 foreign phosphate properties and deposits has been abstracted for use in this directory. Abstracts include applicable data on location, published reserves and resources, geology, mine and beneficiation systems, and operational information.

Jan 1, 1983

By Thomas E. Lobb, Harry C. Verakis

This article examines the factors related to injuries due to inadequate blasting shelters and blast area security, and identifies mitigation techniques. The key concepts are:(a) accurate determination of the bounds of the blast area, (b) clearing employees from the blast area, (c) effective access control, (d) use of adequate blasting shelters, (e) efficient communications, and (f)training. Fundamentals are reviewed with an emphasis on analyzing task elements and identifying root causes for selected blasting accidents. Mitigating techniques are presented along with discussions and examples.

1. Proposals were submitted to the Western Administrative Center of the US Bureau of Mines, Denver, Colorado on 30th December, 1974 and Contract No J 0255003 was awarded, the effective date being 8th May, 1975. Dames and Moore, Denver, are associated with PD-NCB Consultants in regard to environ-mental problems, surface mining practice and legislation in US. BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY 2. Under the threefold pressures of -increased domestic fossil fuel demand -increased value of domestic energy resources -increased demand for environmental protection and safety

Jan 1, 1976

By Walter D. Holland

This is one of a series of instruction guides developed to help instructors present health and safety training courses to workers in the coal mining industry. This course is intended for training those, usually the safety officers, who perform surveys fur inhalation contaminants in above ground work areas. The handbook entitled ?Handbook for Surveys of Inhalation Contaminants in Above Ground Coal Mining and Processing Work Areas? (NTIS #PB-243-35";) is used as a manual for the course and as a prime reference when performing the actual surveys or interpreting the sampling results. There are six experiments for the students to perform during the course to familiarize them with the sampling devices routinely used during the surveys.

Jan 1, 1976

By A. E. Raddatz

The Bureau of Mines is investigating methods for recovering tungsten from domestic resources. A calcine-quench-leach (CQL) technique was developed for the extraction of tungsten from the Golconda, Nev., hot springs ores. The deposit contains disseminated tungsten that cannot be beneficiated by conventional techniques and must be treated by hydro-metallurgical methods. The CQL procedure consists of calcining the ore at 900° C for 3 hours, quenching in a solution containing 1.5 parts of Na2C03 and 1.5 parts of NaOH per part of WO3 in the ore and at a solution-to-ore ratio of 3 to 1, leaching at 200° C and at 250 psig for 3 hours, and filtering and washing the residue. A series of closed-circuit batch tests showed that 92 pct of the tungsten was extracted from a sample containing 2.32 wt-pct W03. The pregnant solution contained 11 g/l W03.

Jan 1, 1982

By R. S. Dean

[During the past fiscal year the Metallurgical Division has made important contributions along the lines dictated by the Bureau policy of conservation of domestic mineral resources through Its investigations include determining of fundamental data of metallurgically important materials improvement of standard ore-treatment method to eliminate waste and improve the grade or recovery of the products; and development o new metallurgical processes.]

Jan 1, 1940

By R. S. Dean

[During t!~c past f isc.~l y~:-.r the Xetzllvz-gicd 3ivi oion has made im- portant contribution-, don,- tlie lines rlictnteil by the Bureau policy of con- servation of domestic rnker~l rcsoul-ces throui;h use. During t!~c past f isc.~l y~:-.r the Xetzllvz-gicd 3ivi oion has made im- portant contribution-, don,- tlie lines rlictnteil by the Bureau policy of con- servation of domestic rnker~l rcsoul-ces throui;h use.]

Jan 1, 1940

Advances were made during 19b5 in many phases of a broad program designed to increase efficiency in the mining, preparation, and utilization of coal. Also recorded were achievements in activities devoted to mine health and safety, coal resources, and mine explosives. Featured in this report is a review of progress in environmental studies relating to coal mining and utilization. Environmental projects comprise a comprehensive program to facilitate mine reclamation and reduce air and water pollution associated with extraction and use of coal. Publications cited throughout this report present results of the coal program in greater detail. Organizations, institutions, and companies contributing to the program are listed in appendix A. Centers and laboratories conducting the coal research and related investigations appear in appendix B.

Jan 1, 1966

Advances were made during 19b5 in many phases of a broad program designed to increase efficiency in the mining, preparation, and utilization of coal. Also recorded were achievements in activities devoted to mine health and safety, coal resources, and mine explosives. Featured in this report is a review of progress in environmental studies relating to coal mining and utilization. Environmental projects comprise a comprehensive program to facilitate mine reclamation and reduce air and water pollution associated with extraction and use of coal. Publications cited throughout this report present results of the coal program in greater detail. Organizations, institutions, and companies contributing to the program are listed in appendix A. Centers and laboratories conducting the coal research and related investigations appear in appendix B.

Jan 1, 1966

By R. H. Oitto

To determine whether reflectors could substitute for the trip lights referred to in the Federal Mine Safety Code, the Bureau of Mines studied trip safety devices under simulated haulageway conditions. The noticeability of reflectors compared with trip lights and fluorescent panels was evaluated from distances of up to 850 feet with light source intensities of up to 1-6 foot-candles (ft c). Reflectors tested consisted of a reflective lens in a holder secured to a frame that can be attached to a trip. Reflectors were found to be suitable for use as a trip safety device. In fact, for the conditions in many underground haulageways some reflectors would be more effective than a permissible trip light.

Jan 1, 1968

By Frank E. Chase, John L. Ellenberger, Christopher Mark

The nature of competition in the coal market tends to deplete the most favorable coal reserves first, and forces subsequent development of mines in more extreme ground conditions such as those associated with multiple-seam mining. In fact, 70% of the United States coal reserves are in multiple-seam situations. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is conducting research to develop mine design algorithms that will result in safer multiple seam mines. This paper presents an overview of multiple seam issues in the central Appalachian coalfields. To date, more than 50 case histories have been analyzed from 20 operating mines in Eastern KY, Western VA, and Southern WV. Each case history is classified according to the degree of multiple-seam interaction, ranging from no apparent interaction to severe interaction with direct impacts on mine safety and resource recovery. The case histories are also examined with regard to amount and geologic characteristics of interburden and overburden, and design stability factors. The sequence of mining has also been found to be critical when the lower seam is fully-extracted. This paper compares current case histories to traditional rules of thumb. In addition two situations were modeled using LaModel software. LaModel has been upgraded to import pillar grids and topographic data from AutoCAD files. The cases presented demonstrate vertical stress capabilities of LaModel.

By M. M. Fine

Research on the solid-fuel reduction of Knob Lake iron or was conducted to upgrade lean and high-grade ores and recover metallized products suitable for ironmaking or steelmaking. The program included bench-scale tests plus a number of continuous campaigns in a 34-inch by 36-foot rotary kiln. In the laboratory, metallizations in excess of 90 percent were achieved by reduction of crushed ore with lignite at 950° C. Subsequent grinding (to minus 200 mesh) and wet magnetic separation yielded concentrates analyzing less than 3.0 percent SiO2 and more than 90 percent Fe. Virtually complete recovery of the iron occurred. During early continuous tests the crushed ore created a serious ringing in the kiln which was solved by balling the fines with bentonite. Unfortunately, at this temperature (950° C) the bentonite militates against the concentratability of the metallized product. For example, a run on direct-shipping ore produced concentrates of 89.5 percent Fe and 4.5 percent SiO2. At 500° C the adverse effect of bentonite disappeared and concentrates of 88.4 Fe and only 2.5 percent SiO2 resulted. However, with comparable feed r Los, the metallization dropped to 73 percent.

Jan 1, 1969

By F. A. Rutledge

"The chromite deposits of Red Mountain, 10,miles southeast of Seldovia, Alaska, are in an intrusive of ultramafic rocks. The earliest reference to the deposits was made by U.S. Grant3/; J.B. Mertic, Jr. 4/ made a brief examination in 1917; and A.C. Gill5/ spent 7 weeks studying the ore bodies and geology of the region in 1918. The Federal Geological Survey had a field party in the region from July until September 1940 and the Red Mountain area was mapped and geological data were assembled by P.W. Guild.6/A preliminary investigation of the Kenai chromite deposits was made in July 1941 by R. S. Sanford,7/district engineer of the Bureau of Mines, accompanied by P. W. Guild, assistant geologist of the Geologi¬cal Survey. This was followed by surface sampling and core drilling, which were completed in September 1942 under the direction of John W. Cole,8 associate engineer of the Bureau of Mines. G. O. Gates, associate geologist, and A, B. Unkelsbay, junior geologist, of the Geological Survey, logged cores and interpreted geologic features revealed by Bureau of Mines drilling and trenching.9/J. C. Roehm, associate engineer of the Territorial Department of Mines; examined the Red Mountain area in august 1941.10/Additional exploration of other deposits in. the Red Mountain area was completed during the summer of 194. Work consisted of surface sampling, core drilling, and mapping. G. O. Gates, associate geologist of the Geological Survey, spent 4 days in August investigating results of the Bureau of Mines program.Throughout the exploratory work conducted by the Bureau of Mines the cooperation of Red Mountain Chromite, Inc., and especially of John Blodgett, Jr., and Collis 2, Druley, president and superintendent, respectively, was greatly appreciated. Use of their camp in the Windy River cirque and shops at Kasitsna Bay facilitated the Bureau of Mines program."

Apr 1, 1946

By Robert F. Randolph

Introduction This paper is a descriptive analysis of injuries and fatalities at small surface bituminous coalmining companies in Pennsylvania. The purpose of analyzing a specific industry sector and location is to identify issues that might be missed in a wider analysis. Other studies of small mine safety (e.g., Peters and Fotta, 1994, Randolph and Boldt, 1997) have shown that the relationship between safety and mine size is not a simple one. Some injury types occur at higher rates at small mines, while others occur at lower rates. Consequently, an analysis limited to a specific type of mining can help identify hazards and issues specific to that sector. The results of this analysis will be useful for directing training, intervention, and research efforts towards the most prevalent causal factors and incident types. Procedures and Definitions Data sources The primary sources of data for this analysis were files provided by MSHA containing information collected under Title 30 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 50. These files, commonly referred to as “Part 50 data”, are provided though MSHA’s Program Evaluation and Information Resources directorate. Two primary types of injuries were selected from the Part 50data: Fatalities (MSHA “degree of injury” code 1) and lost-time injuries, otherwise known as nonfatal with days lost (MSHA “degree of injury” codes 2 through 5). Lost-time injuries involve either actual days away from work or days of restricted activity or both. Fatality and lost-time injury incidence rates were calculated using the standard MSHA formula: Number of injuries per 200,000 employee-hours. Additional information on company sizes and mine ownership was provided by the Pennsylvania State University College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Time span A five-year time span was selected for this study. More than a single year of safety experience is usually needed to capture a broad range of incident types. Many types of injuries, especially fatal injuries, can be extremely rare, and may be missed if too short a time span is selected. However, a time span that extends too far back may begin to suffer historical threats to validity. That is, incidents that occurred several years ago may be caused by hazards that have since been remedied or may be related to mining practices and conditions that no longer exist. A five-year span offers a practical compromise between these two concerns. Consequently, the MSHA Part 50 data files from 1993 through 1997 were used. The 1997 file was in “preliminary” form at the time of the study, so small variations from the final 1997 “close out” file can be expected. Based on past experience, we do not expect the close-out variations to have a significant impact on the findings.

By Jack Wright

The analysis of water produced with crude petroleum has interested oil producers since inception of the industry. Records of the first analysis of mineralized water produced from an oil-productive formation are obscure, and references to the first use of brine analyses to assist in solving problems of petroleum production are not available in the technical literature. However, many early reports of the Federal Bureau of Mines5-8 and Federal Geological Survey,9-11/ as well as articles in engineer and geological journals12-14/ placed special emphasis on the importance, interpretation, and application of water analyses. One of the earliest applications of water analyses, and still a major one today, is for identification of intrusive waters in oil wells. This may be done by comparing the chemical constituents of a sample of water indigenous to the oil-productive formation with those of samples from upper, water-bearing formations within the same general area. Some earlier investigators recognized the need for Analyzing samples of all waters encountered in drilling operations. Ambrose15/ stated, in part, "In wells being drilled, the engineer should grasp every opportunity to get a true sample of water from each sand. . .," and, "The waters of each oil field are chemically different from those of another field." The validity of the latter observation and the importance of the former one have been borne out by comparing the results of analyses of many samples and noting the differences in relative concentrations of like constituents of waters from the a geological formation in different localities or oil pools.

Jan 1, 1957

By J. R. Thoenen

In Progress Rerort 1,4/ a number of facto were demonstrated and conclusions drawn from experimental tests and records made during commercial blasting operations at a number of quarries. For example, the tests showed (1) that vibrations received on outcrops were of comparatively

Jan 1, 1938

By K. E. Stanfield

[Asphalt ~~d road oil ar8 the principal products manufactured from Wyor.1in~ Ilblack oilo" \r,hich, beca.use of th?lir hig.~ E\.sphal t and hig} sulfur COi.1Jce~1t, .!?re difficult e':ld costly to refine into hi?;h-gra.de motor f 101s, burning oils. and lucri ants by presont mothods. Accordin~ly. the demand for truHle asphaltic renidl urn for the construction of roade aJ1.d other uses is 3. controlling factor in the quantity of crud~ oil prod ICed. The increasiilg -u.tilization of special aST>ha.lts as ine}""Pensive bonding, in-]

Jan 1, 1941

By K. E. Stanfield

[Asphalt and road oil are the principal products manufactured from Wyoming ?clack oils? which, because of their high asphalt an high sulfur content, are difficult and costly to refine into high-grade motor fuels, burning oils, and lubricants by pre sent methods. Accordingly, the remand for these asphaltic residuums for the construction of roads and other uses is a controlling- factor in the quantity of crude oil produced. The increasing utilization of special asphalts as inexpensive bonding, insulating, and waterproofing materials indicates the desirability of obtaining information on the yield and properties, of asphalts from Wyoming black oil to promote a wider and more stable caret for these asphaltic materials.]

Jan 1, 1941

By A. George Stern

The literature dealing with the drilling of oil wells has become extensive during the last few years, and oil men can find much information relating to drilling muds in the technical literature of the petroleum industry. Although large tonnages of clay are used in preparing drilling mud (also known as drilling fluid), almost no information has been published to apprise the clay industry of the types of minerals used, with their requirements and limitations. It is from this point of view that the present report has been prepared.

Jan 1, 1941