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By R. D. Leitch

"The pollution of streams has received much attention during the last few years, and although there are many other and more serious forms of pollution, the problem of acid mine drainage is important in certain sections of the country, particularly in Pennsylvania. At the request of the United States Public Health Service the Bureau of Mines undertook to determine some of the factors contributing to formation of acid mine waters, the yearly variations in quantity and quality of drainage, effect of mining methods, and various other questions arising in connection with the problem; some attention was also given to its economic phases.In acknowledgment, the writer wishes to thank Dr. R. R. Sayers, Chief surgeon; A. C. Fieldner, chief chemist; and W. P. Yant, supervising chemist, health laboratory section of the Pittsburgh Experiment Station, all of the Bureau of Mines, under whose direction the work was conducted.Because no data of a like nature had previously been determined, and with the thought that such data would throw additional light on the general subject, a stream having a number of mines draining into it was selected for observation in both high-sulphur and low-sulphur bituminous-coal districts, as designated in commercial rating. These mines and streams were visited in both wet and dry seasons to note the quantity and variations in acidity of mine drainage and the subsequent effect on streams. Maps of these streams with the sampling points are shown in Figures 1 and 2. In a report of this nature a great deal of tabular data is best emitted, but reference to the maps will serve to indicate the factors that determined sampling points, such as tributary streams and gobs."

Sep 1, 1928

This report briefly describes the broad program of research and technologic work conducted by the Bureau of Mines on coal and related subjects during 1966. In addition to n description of investigations on mining, preparation, and utilization of coal, an account is given of the Bureau's work in mine health and safety, coal resources, mine explosives, and environmental conditions relating to coal mining and utilization. Details of most of the projects are reported in publications cited throughout this report. Centers and laboratories conducting the coal research and related investigations appear in appendix A; organizations, institutions , and companies contributing to the Bureau's coal research and technologic program are listed in appendix B.

Jan 1, 1967

By W. W. Adams

With greater production of coal per man-hour of work than ever before achieved, the coal-mining industry of the United States established a better safety record in 1941 than in any year since 1930, the earliest for which complete reports of nonfatal as well as fatal injuries were collected by the Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior. In only one year (1933) of the 12-year period 1930-41 was the fatal-accident rate better than in 1941, whereas the rate for nonfatal accidents was better in 1941 than in any previous year. Accident and employment reports received from mine operators, together with fatal-accident reports received monthly from State mining departments and inspectors, showed that 546,692 men were employed in and about the coal mines of the United States during the calendar year 1941. This number does not include office employees or coke-oven workers. The increase of 1.3,426 over the number of employees in 1940 was accompanied by a gain in man-hours of work performed at the mines and an increase in average number of hours worked per man during the year.

Jan 1, 1944

By Robert E. Wood

The compressibility factors, Z, of helium, nitrogen, and helium-nitrogen mixtures in the three-dimensional space of temperature, pressure, and gas composition have been related to the Leiden form of the virial equation of state. The dependency of virial coefficients through the fifth on temperature and gas composition has been established for the temperature range 133.15° to 748.15° K. Compressibility factors, Z, have been computed from the equation of state and tabulated as functions of gas composition, pressure, and temperature. Tabular values of Z are presented for 30.00 through 100.00 percent helium for temperatures from 240° through 700° R for pressures from 14.696 through 3,050 psia and for temperatures from 720° through 1,300° R for pressures from 14.696 through 1,500 psia. Tabular values of Z are presented at increments of 5.00 percent helium and 20° R, and, for pressures greater than 50 psia, at increments of 50 psi.

Jan 1, 1967

Papers presented at a U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) technology transfer seminar describe the causes of violent material failure in U.S. mines, measurement techniques for monitoring events that result in violent failure, and mitigation techniques for controlling failure. Specific factors contributing to violent failure are identified on the basis of geotechnical monitoring in 16 U.S. hard-rock and coal mines and on statistical analyses of 172 coal bump events. New monitoring and analysis techniques developed as tools for assessing violent failure; geotomographic methods that provide new capabilities for the study of material failure and stress changes over large areas; and seismic methods for determining source locations, calculating energy release, and determining source mechanisms are described. Fair correlations have been established among seismic parameters, elastic stresses, face support load, and violent events. USBM studies have identified the advantages using both yielding and stable pillars for coal bump control. A computer program has been developed as an aid for selecting room-and-pillar layouts. The practical aspects of implementing a destressing program is outlined for coal mines, while the importance of mine orientation and timely support installation in controlling buckling-type failure is identified for hard-rock mines.

Jan 1, 1995

By J. Bruce Clemmer

[Gypsum is one of the mo .. t iJf.l)ortant nonmp.tal1.ic T!1inerals, as is indicat-? ed by the fact that tlle Uni ted states cO!1sUl:Ied p, roximn..tely 3,500,000 tons of natura.l and calcinecl e::,j;-psum in 1937. The b\.'.ilr:.in.; traces \"fe.ro the largest users and required 2,520,000 tons of calcine for the r-roductiop. of plaster,]

Jan 1, 1941

By A. B. Hooker

Nineteen of the installations were on rental contracts 1.L."'1der whtch the lamps belong to the lamp company and are rented by t.½em to the mine operatj.nt; company. · The other nine installations had been upon an O\Vnership-rental basis, by which the lamps had become the property of the renter at the end of 5 years. Five of t.11e rentec installations were en a special contract calling for a guaranteed light output. These contr2.cts were based upon certified . initial performance, with the provision that the lamps be replaced whenever periodic tests of fully charged lamps, taken at random from t..h.e charge racks, showed a light output of less than 80 percent of the certified performance.

Jan 1, 1942

By L. D. Tracy

"The first study of this subject has been made in Illinois, but as opportunity affords, similar studies will be made in other States. It is hoped that the data obtained will assist the coal—mining industry to standardise the forms of leases, and so avoid some of the abstruse and ambiguous clauses which may be found in many of then and the consequent liability of costly litigation.In some of the publications of the Illinois Mining Investigations prepared under a cooperative agreement with the U. S. Bureau of Mines, the Illinois State Geological Survey and the Engineering Experiment Station of the University of Illinois, the coal areas of the State have been dividedinto eight geological districts, each district being treated separately.report covers District No. VI of that classification, and it is hopedstudies of the other districts will be completed in the near future and similar results published.The report includes a short description of the geological condition the character and quality of the coal and the nature of the surface, data for which have been taken largely from the Illinois Geological Survey publications.Mining methods and percentages of recovery are mentioned, together physisal conditions, market and transportation facilities, because all of these factors have a bearing on royalties and leasing conditions."

Jan 1, 1926

By R. H. Storch

"A preliminary examination of the Bi-Metallic molybdenum prospect was made in October 1944, as a result of which it was recommended that a trench exploration project be undertaken on the property. This report presents the information obtained from project work done during June 1945.In its program of exploration of mineral deposits, the Bureau of Lanes has as its primary objective the more effective utilization of our mineral resources to the end that they make the greatest possible contribution to the national security and. economy. It is the policy of the Bureau to publish the facts developed by each exploratory project as soon as practicable after its conclusion. The Mining Branch, Lowell B. Moon, chief, conducts preliminary examinations, performs the actual exploratory work, and prepares the final report. The Metallurgical Branch, R. G. Knickerbocker, chief, analyzes samples and performs beneficiation tests. Both these branches are under the supervision of Dr. R. S. Dean, assistant director.With respect to this report, special acknowledgment is due S. H. Lorain, chief, Albany Division, Mining Branch, for aid in preparing the report.The property is situated in the NW1/4, sec. 26, T. 39 N., R. 29 E. about 21 miles northeast of Tonasket. Tonasket (population 643), the nearest town, is a way point on a branch line of the Great Northern Railway. The prospect is reached by a good gravel road through Havillah to Vincent's ranch, about 3 miles northeast of Havillah. From the ranch, an abandoned dirt road extends to the portal of the Moly alit, about 1 mile distant. The mine road could be kept open without difficulty if properly graded and surfaced."

Aug 1, 1946

By Harvard Eng

An industrial survey was made for the Missouri Basin Field Committee of the Department of the Interior to determine the type and quantity of water-borne mineral wastes and the water requirements of metal-processing industries in the basin in Kansas and western Missouri. Data are presented on metal-processing plants visited through June 30, 1959. Most of the plants were in the greater Kansas City area. This report is to be supplemented with a similar publication on other industries, including those producing sand and gravel, coal, petroleum, and chemicals. In 1958, 19 million pounds of waste materials was discharged from metal processing industries. Approximately 14 million pounds of this waste was in the form of ferrous sulfate, and 2 million pounds was ferric phosphate. Galvanizing, other hot dipping, and automotive industries contributed the greater part of iron compounds wasted; some of this waste occurred as sludge that was not discharged to water courses but was hauled to refuse dumps, podium was present in nearly all industrial wastes, and the total of more than 900,000 pounds constituted one of the larger material losses. Although small in quantity, electroplating and allied coating wastes contained metals that were expensive when originally purchased.

Jan 1, 1961

By Carl L. Bieniewski

U.S. molybdenum production increased fivefold from 18.2 million pounds in 1946 to 90.5 million pounds in 1966, and constituted 87.3 percent of the total free world supply in the 1946-66 period. Mining development in other free world countries in the next few years may reduce the magnitude of the U.S. position, although similar development planned for the United States may counteract some of the relative gains by those countries. In 1966 two-thirds of the reported molybdenum consumption in the United States by end uses was as an alloying element in steel. Molybdenum also has important use as an alloying element in iron and high-temperature alloys. Consumption of molybdenum metal for making fabricated parts has increased in the past few years, especially in the space and nuclear industries. Molybdenum compounds are used mainly for making pigment, catalysts, and lubricants. Based on producer reports of shipments of primary products to domestic customers, U.S. consumption of molybdenum increased from 16.5 million pounds of molybdenum in 1946 to 65.6 million pounds in 1966. U.S. molybdenum reserves are now estimated to be 5.9 billion pounds of recoverable molybdenum, an increase of 2.1 billion pounds above previous estimates. Molybdenum ores account for 71.4 percent of the reserves, copper ores for 22.3 percent and copper-molybdenum, tungsten, and uranium ores for 6.3 percent. Several methods for predicting future demand are illustrated and estimates of demand using these methods were made for 1975. Based on present capacities and announced company plans for future developments, estimates of annual production were made for 1967 through 1975 for the United States, Canada. Chile, Peru, and the free world. These data indicate that molybdenum production in 1975 for the free world is expected to be 246 million pounds with the United States producing 68.2 percent and Canada, Chile, and Peru 30.3 percent.

Jan 1, 1970

By David Schlain

"INTRODUCTION Electrolytic manganese is produced by electrolysis of a solution of manganese sulfate and ammonium sulfate in a diaphragm-type cell, metallic manganoese being deposited on the cathodes and sulfuric acid produced at the anodes. The spent electrolyte is used to leach fresh ore that has previously been subjected to a reducing roast; the resulting leach liquor is purified and returned to the cell.The leach liquor produced at the Bureau of Mines pilot plant 3/ at Boulder City, Nev., contains 135 to 140 grams of ammonium sulfate and 32 to 36 grams of manganese (as sulfate) per liter, and has a pH of about 2.5. After neutralization to a pH of 6.4 to 6.6 with ammonia and thickening, 0.10 to 0.15 gram of hydrogen sulfide per liter is added to the liquor to precipitate the heavy metals, and after 15 to 30 minutes the precipitate is filtered off. Residual sulfides and colloidal material are removed by ferric hydroxide formed by adding a small amount of ferrous sulfate to the solution at a pH of 6.5 to 7.0 and passing air through it. The solution is then filtered and clarified as a precoat filter. Finally, 0.1 gram of sulfur dioxide per liter is added, and the solution is electrolyzed in an anode-in-diaphragm cell. The spent electrolyte coming from the cell contains approximately 10 grams manganese, 135 grams ammonium sulfate, and 45 grams sulfuric acid per liter."

Oct 1, 1946

By Parry. V. F., John B. Goodman

"INTRODUCTION The Denver region coal field, covering an area of approximately 7,640 square miles, extends from the Wyoming State line to the middle of El Paso County, Colo. The coal in this region is subbituminous in rank. Much of it is used as domestic fuel. During the last decade the production of coal in this field has remained fairly constant at an average of 2,600,000 tons per year. This production has come from 50 to 60 mines, 88 to 90 percent of the production being from the section of the field north of Denver.According to the Standard Specifications for Classification of Coal by Bank of the American Society for Testing Materials 4/ the coals in this region are classified in the Subbituminous B and C group. On the as—mined basis, they contain about 22 percent moisture and average 9,600 B.t.u. per pound. They are noncoking and slack to a variable extent when exposed to the weather. This is characteristic of subbituminous coals."

Aug 1, 1939

By M. Kanda, W. D. Bensema, J. W. Adams

Two different techniques were used to make measurements of the absolute value of electromagnetic noise in and above an operating coal mine, McElroy Mine, located near Moundsville, Nest Virginia. The electromagnetic environment created by 300 volt dc and 480 volt ac machinery was measured. In one technique noise was measured over the entire electromagnetic spectrum of interest for brief time periods. The noise was recorded using broadband analog magnetic tape. The noise data was later transformed to give spectral plots. In the other technique, noise amplitudes were recorded at several discrete frequencies for a sufficient length of time to provide amplitude probability distributions. The specific, measured results are given in a number of spectral plots and amplitude probability distribution plots.

Jan 6, 1974

By Walter J. Huff

"INTRODUCTION The technical studies conducted by the Explosives Division of the Bureau of Mines have been summarized in a series of publications issued annually for the past 10 years. 3/ The following account covers studies undertaken from July 1, 1944 to June 30, 1945. The work is set forth under a number of main headings to correspond to the organizational structure of the division, the various activities being under the immediate direction of unit chiefs, who report to the author. Specific credit it due to the unit leader and his assistants.Determination of Ignition TemperaturesThe ignition temperature of mixtures of isobutane and air were determined by the static method using a 131-cc. quartz bull. 5/ The results obtained follow: Prevention of Benzene-Air Explosions by Addition of Nitrogen and Carbon Dioxide The elimination or mitigation of the explosion hazards of combustible gases is a part of the work undertaken by the Bureau of Mines in promoting safety. Explosions can be prevented by the maintenance of concentrations that lie outside the inflammable limits. A procedure has been developed whereby the inflammable limits of many complex gaseous mixtures may be calculated in a rather simple manner without requiring toilsome laboratory experiments. This procedure has been outlined in a number of previous publications. 6./ During the fiscal year under review, essential data required for the calculations of complex combustible gas mixtures containing varying percentages of benzene were obtained. Benzene vapor is a normal constituent of many manufactured gases and is widely used in the solvent industry and in the manufacture of high explosives."

Oct 1, 1946

By James E. Norman

[The flotation of mica is mentioned frequently in the literature, but most of the references have dealt with the recovery of mica by the old anionic collectors. The first use of the new cationic reagents indicated their superiority as collectors in the flotation and agglomerate tabling of micas, feldspars, guartz, clay, and other acidic minerals, but the separation of these minerals from each other necessitated of the study of the flotation of each mineral.]

Jan 1, 1941

By James E. Norman

[The flotation of mica is mentioned frequently in the literature, but must of the references have dealt with the recovery of mica by the old anionic collectors. The first use of the new cationic reagents indicated their superiority- as collectors in the flotation and a. agglomerate tabling of micas, feldspars, quartz, clay, and other acidic mineral, but the separation n of these minerals from each other necessitated study of the flotation of each mineral.]

Jan 1, 1941

By J. W. Jensen

EXTENSIVE research and development was performed on the manganese-copper vibration-damping alloys to determine the relationship between the properties of the alloys and variations in composition, fabrication, Mid heat treatment. Mn-Cu alloys with unusually high specific damping capacity, 20 to 25 percent at a stress of 5,000 psi, have also the following useful properties: Tensile strength, 90,000 to 110,000 psi; yield strong, 60,000 to psi; elongation, 20 to 25 percent; hardness, 90 Rockwell B; and fatigue limit at, 28,000 to 30,000 psi. Both standard and special methods of testing were employed to obtain data on strength, modulus, hardness, resistivity, dilatation, micro-structure, crystal lattice, and damping capacity. The extensive tabular and graphical data on these properties are presented for alloys containing 50 to 85 percent as quenched d solution) and after various aging treatments. Expansion coefficients for all Mn-Cu solid solutions are graphed and a dilatometer study of contraction during aging is reported. Although high damping capacity is associated with aging to precipitate a-Mn from solid solution, with a cubic-tetragonal transformation and with the occurrence of antiferromagnetic ordering in Mn-Cu alloys, a tenable theory of the damping mechanism has not been reached.

Jan 1, 1965

By N. L. Wimmler

"INTRODUCTION The Southern Cross district in Deer Lodge County, Mont., has been chiefly a gold producer. Most of the production has come from gold-bearing hematite-limonite ores. Some of these ores were mined and shipped to smelters for use as flux in smelting copper ores. A magnetite deposit in the Pomeroy property, containing no gold or other economic nonferrous minerals, was mined from 1921 to 1923, the ore being shipped to smelters for flux.The iron-bearing deposits in the Southern Cross area were examined by Bureau of Nines engineers/ on June 28, 1943, and October 14, 1943. As a result, a Bureau exploration project was recommended; it was conducted during 1944. A magnetometer survey was first made of the magnetite-bearing area at and in the vicinity of the Pomeroy property. Exploration by diamond core drilling was then conducted within this area, and in the Southern Cross and Hold Fast properties. The cyanide tailings dump at the Hold Fast mill was sampled by auger drilling.This report presents the data obtained by the Bureau of Mines exploration."

Dec 1, 1946

By M. C. Malamphy

A general description of the activities and results of bauxite investigation by the Bureau of Mines at its bauxite project in Saline and Pulaski Counties, Ark., has been given in Report of Investigations 4251. The factual data obtained during the project are reported in a series of Reports of Investigation beginning with No. 4251, of which this is the thirteenth. The data are accompanied by maps showing the location of holes drilled and the deposits developed. Each area upon which work was done is reported by half townships. Each bauxite deposit investigated was assigned a name and a number for ready reference and identification, and its location and name are shown on the appropriate half-township map. The description of each half township is followed by a description of each deposit developed in that half township. The 14 half-township maps and 77 detail maps of the bauxite deposits in this series of reports give the locations and numbers of all the holes drilled on the project, except the deep holes drilled to test the geophysical anomalies. The locations of those holes show on figure 13 in volume 1. The description of the deposits developed is followed by complete detailed logs of the drill holes. Many of the widely spaced exploratory holes did not discover bauxite of minable thickness and grade. The pertinent information obtained from the widely spaced exploratory drill holes has been summarized and tabulated and a table for each half township is given with the discussion covering that area.

Jan 1, 1948