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By W. J. Pena, C. W. Owings

"Generally, the hazard of cool-dust explosions in tipples and cleaning plants is not given the consideration that is given it underground. This lack of consideration is probably due to failure to appreciate the potential hazard. An explosion in a tipple or cleaning plant is basically little or no different from an explosion underground. If bituminous-coal dust is raised into a cloud in the air and comes in contact with arcs from motor brushes, switches, or open flame, the dust is very likely to ignite, and flame will very probably propagate or extend through it if the quantity of dust per unit of air space is sufficient. The open space in a tipple or cleaning plant may reduce the violence of the explosion, but it is not likely to prevent ignition or propagation of flame.The movement of coal through a tipple or cleaning plant naturally puts into suspension a large amount of dust, which finally settles on exposed surfaces. Any disturbance that will put this dust into suspension in a sense enough cloud can result in the dust being ignited by an arc or open flame if one should be present. An explosion of bituminous-coal dust in a tipple or cleaning plant generally can be prevented either by keeping it thoroughly clean or by removing all sources of ignition, or both.The tests at the U.S. Bureau of Mines Experimental mine have shown that the explosibility of coal dust is proportional (other things being equal) to the ratio of the volatile matter to the volatile matter plus the fixed carbon, indicated thus:The volatile ratio for the Pittsburgh coal bed is calculated as follows:Therefore, as the volatile matter decreases the liklihood of ignition decreases; however, coal-dust explosibility depends on other factors also, such as fineness, dryness, and cloud density; and under some conditions other factors also intervene.Proof of the explosibility of coal dust in the absence of explosive gas has been shown in numerous cases in mines and mine plants and also by a series of tests. In these tests a dense cloud of dust is blown onto an open flame or an electric arc, almost invariably with resultant exploding of the dust. The Safety Division of the United States Bureau of Mines has made a number of demonstrations of the explosibility of Pittsburgh coal-bed dust, using a small gallery or box in which a cloud of coal dust is blown onto a lighted match; larger-scale tests have been made with an electric arc as the igniting agent. Bituminous-coal dust is readily ignited with a medium arc, but with low-volatile coals a larger arc is required. For test purposes, a 100-ampere arc has been used. Ignition has occurred readily under these conditions with Pocahontas No. 5 coal dust with ratios of volatile to total combustible of 0.232 to 0.253, and with Pocahontas No. 3 coal dust with a combustible ratio of 0.242. Lower Kittanning coal dust, with a ratio of 0.187, did not give definite ignitions, and Pocahontas No. 4 dust did not explode, although part of the coal-dust cloud ignited. It is probable that even the low-volatile coal dust will be found to be explosive with a higher-amperage electric arc as the initiating agent."

Jul 1, 1936

By R. V. Ramani, R. Stefanko, G. W. Luxbacher

Comprehensive ventilation surveys are made to review the adequacy of the mine system with regard to both statutory requirements and/or company policy, to evaluate improvements to the current ventilation system and to plan for £stun expansion. If computer simulation is to be used for these purposes, accurate quantity and pressure measurements become an absolute necessity since the validity of the computer generated output is heavily dependent on the accuracy of the input data. Consequently ventilation surveys that are run to generate input data for computer simu¬lation must use the best data collection procedures to guarantee as accurate results as are possible. These requirements have led to modifications in procedures that are used for routine ventilation surveying. McElroy and Kingery (1957) have recommended that pressures be measured independent of quantities since minor changes in mine conditions have a greater effect on absolute pressure measurements than on quantity measure¬ments. They estimate that, for large mines, a pressure survey may take only 1 to 3 days while the corresponding quantity survey would require 1 to 3 weeks. Although this procedure would undoubtedly lead to more ac¬curate pressure measurements, its use for the development of computer input data is not recommended for the following reasons. Atkinson's equation, H = RQ2, is used in computer oriented analysis to develop the airway resistance, R, based on quantity and pressure loss measure¬ments. It can easily be seen that since R a 1/Q2 and R a H, the effect of errors in quantity measurement is, in fact, more significant than those in pressure measurement. If the quantity and pressure measure¬ments are made at different times another problem results. Minor changes in quantity that may occur in the time between the pressure and quantity

Jan 1, 1977

By J. C. Kerkering

The Bureau of Mines used mathematical reliability theory to define, for use in the mining industry, the concepts of risk, safety, reliability, hazard, and mean time between accidents. In this report, the definitions are explained theoretically and illustrated by application to actual underground mine accident data extending over a 9-1/2-year period. The theoretical development proceeds along two parallel analytical paths. For each line of reasoning, the data are presumed to be independent. If they are not, the analysis stops, although there are interesting implications when dependency is demonstrated. The first method uses the elapsed times between accidents as the basic data. These elapsed times are fitted to a negative exponential distribution function using least squares and yielding the function parameter, P1 The P1 is used to form the Poisson distribution function for the data, which is then used to define the safety-related concepts. The second method uses the maximum likelihood estimator to formulate a Poisson distribution function for the data. The function is tested for adequacy by a goodness-of-fit test; if the fit is acceptable, the Poison function is used to define the concepts. Both methods were applied to the data base, yielding nearly identical results.

Jan 1, 1987

By E. Chin

Natural gas was the only economically significant mineral produced. A significant amount of the gas output was consumed in the production of nitrogen fertilizer and electric power. Proved reserves of natural gas were abundant and at least sufficient to supply most of the country's industrial and domestic needs for many decades to come. Other mineral production was of little importance to the Bangladesh economy, although there were prospects for developing some of the nonmetallic minerals. The flat river-delta terrain comprising nearly all of Bangladesh made the potential for discovering major, economically exploitable mineral deposits poor. The deep sediments, however, have good potential for crude oil or additional natural gas discoveries.

Jan 1, 1985

By Charles L. Kimbell

Following the pattern established in the 1989 edition of this study, the concept of data availability must be addressed, because there are perceptible changes from year to year, and the availability of accurately reported, precisely defined statistics and nonstatistical information provides the only sound basis for analytical studies of any type. As the countries of eastern Europe, including the numerous states that formerly comprised the U.S.S.R., undergo the transition from centrally planned economies' to market economies, there has been a perceptible increase in information availability for rather obvious reasons. Any industrial operation seeing economic assistance from government and/or private sources outside the country in which the facility is sited must provide some appraisal of its operations at the time it seeks assistance, as well as some information on previous performance to serve as tools in evaluating its potential under the proposed development scheme for which it seeks financial assistance. This situation, coupled with governmental recognition that concealment of much of the national mineral production, trade, and consumption data for purposes of national security probably never was really necessary and certainly proved unnecessary with the end of the so-called cold war, has led to the publication of increasing amounts of both statistical and nonstatistical information in the countries undergoing economic transition.

Jan 1, 1993

By Isaac A. Zlochower, Kenneth L. Cashdollar

The Pittsburgh Research Laboratory of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health conducted a study of the explosibility of various metals and other elemental dusts dispersed in air, with a focus on the experimental explosion temperatures. The data are useful for understanding the basics of dust cloud combustion, as well as for evaluating the explosion hazards in the minerals and metals processing industries. The dusts studied included boron, carbon, magnesium, aluminum, silicon, sulfur, titanium, chromium, iron, nickel, copper, zinc, niobium, molybdenum, tin, hafhium, tantalum, tungsten, and lead. The dusts were chosen to cover a wide range of physical properties - from the more volatile materials such as magnesium, aluminum, sulfur, and zinc to the highly "refractory" (very low volatility) elements such as carbon, niobium, molybdenum, tantalum, and tungsten. These flammability studies were conducted in a 20-L chamber, using strong pyrotechc ignitors. The experimental data obtained included the minimum explosible concentrations, maximum explosion pressures, and maximum explosion temperatures. A unique multiwavelength infrared pyrometer was used to measure the temperatures. For the elemental dusts studied, all ignited and burned as air-dispersed dust clouds except for nickel, copper, molybdenum, and lead. The measured maximum explosion temperatures ranged from -1 550 K for tin and tungsten powders to -2800 K for aluminum, magnesium, and titanium powders. The measured temperatures are compared to the calculated, adiabatic flame temperatures. In general, the dusts whose experimental temperatures were closer to the adiabatic values were those with the finer particle sizes, those that were more easily vaporized, and/or those that were intrinsically more reactive.

By Leon E. Esparza

The Bureau of Mines studied 780 acres of the 24,130-acre Sheldon Contiguous Wilderness Study Area (CA-020-1012) in 1985. The study was done at the request of the Bureau of Land Management and authorized under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (Public Law 94-579, October 21, 1 976) in order to evaluate the mineral resources. The study area is located in Washoe County, NV, about 35 miles northeast of Cedarville, CA. A search of county courthouse records and an examination by foot traverses through and adjacent to the study area did not reveal evidence of any mining or mining exploration activity past or present. In addition, evidence of any form of rock alteration was not observed. Evidence of mineral resources is not apparent. Although basalt, the only rock-type present in the study area, can have some limited industrial applications, sources closer to potential markets probably would preclude rock from this area being economically competitive. INTRODUCTION This report describes the USBM (U.S. Bureau of Mines) portion of a cooperative study with the USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) to evaluate mineral resources and potential of the Sheldon Contiguous study area at the request of the BLM (U.S. Bureau of Land Management). The USBM examines individual mines, prospects, claims, and mineralized zones, and evaluates identified mineral and energy resources. The USGS evaluates potential for undiscovered resources based on areal geological, geochemical, and geophysical surveys. Results of the investigations will be used to help determine the suitability of the study area for inclusion into the National Wilderness Preservation System. Although the immediate goal of this and other USBM mineral surveys ;s to provide data for President, Congress, government agencies, and the public for land-use decisions, the long-term objective is to ensure the Nation has an adequate and dependable supply of minerals at a reasonable cost.

Jan 1, 1986

By W. W. Adams

luring the past two years the Bureau of ?,lines has been receiving from 100 to 150 coal mines in various States a report of each accident causing death, permanent total disability, permanent partial disability, or temporary disability lasting beyond the remainder of the day or shift on which the accident occurred. For each 100 accidents in these groups, there are perhaps from 35 to 45 accidents that do not disable the employee beyond the remainder of the day, and of these fraction-of-a-day accidents the Bureau has compiled no statistics. Information revealed by the reports is to the effect that falls of roof and coal in bituminous coal mines are responsible for 28 per cent of the temporary injuries to underground workers and 33 per cent of the days lost from all temporary injuries underground; they also indicate that falls caused 59 per cent of the deaths from all causes underground. Figures compiled by R. N. Hosler, of the Pennsylvania. Mine Rating Bureau, and covering accidents in bituminous; minis in that State, chow that 61 per cent of the deaths underground during the years 1917-1921 wore due to falls. Neither of these percentage figures includes deaths in major explosions; figures for all bituminous mines in the United States during the five years 1920-1024, inclusive of deaths in major explosions, show that 52 per cent of the deaths underground and in shafts were due to falls of roof and coal.

Jan 1, 1925

By T. J. Driscoll

In this Bureau of Mines investigation, the electrochemical polarization behavior of Fe and Fe-1BCr has been characterized in rigorously controlled 1[N] H2S04 solutions stirred with oxygen or an inert gas. Samples that under-went various levels of corrosion or passivation were examined using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and ion sputtering. Passivation of iron occurred at a potential of approximately 0.6 volt (1) in poorly stirred, oxygen-saturated solutions for forward polarization (scanning from cathodic to anodic potentials); (2) in pH-adjusted (increased), well-stirred, oxygen-saturated solutions for forward polarization; and (3) in well~ and poorly stirred, oxygen-and helium-saturated solutions for reverse polarization. Passivation of Fe-18Cr occurred at a potential of approximately -0.1 volt in helium-, nitrogen-, and oxygen-saturated solutions for all cases of forward polarization and most cases of reverse polarization. Elemental depth profiles obtained from AES sputtering measurements indicated that films or adsorbed species were present on iron samples in solution subjected to open-circuit, active, and transpassive corrosion, cathodic reduction, and passivation. This conclusion was reached by considering the distribution of the solution species, primarily sulfur, in the films, which were composed primarily of iron and oxygen. Sulfur was present throughout the films on actively corroding samples, in the outer regions of films of passive and transpassive samples, and on the film surfaces of open-circuit and cathodically reduced samples. For Fe-18Cr, sulfur was found on the surfaces of films on passive samples only, indicating that only the passive samples had films on their surfaces in solution. The films on electropolished and passive Fe-1BCr samples had the largest chromium concentrations, estimated to be approximately 45 at. pct, with less chromium in films of cathodically reduced, active, and open-circuit samples, in that order.

Jan 1, 1979

By Thaddeus B. Evans

This information circular is one of a series describing mining methods and costs, being published by the Bureau of Mines. The Sunbright mine of the Foote Mineral Co. at Sunbright, Va., is the southernmost underground limestone mine in the State. It is a comparatively recent operation, and a description of its rapid development to production stage may have particular interest for the limestone-mining industry. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Acknowledgment is made to the executives of the Foote Mineral Company including F. B. Shay, vice president in charge of production, W. B. Towner, general production manager; and to the members of the company staff at Sunbright for their assistance in preparing this paper.

Jan 1, 1957

By Liming Yuan

In order to reduce fire hazards caused by spontaneous combustion in longwall gob areas, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study is being conducted by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to simulate the spontaneous heating of coal in longwall gob areas. A CFD model was first developed to model the spontaneous heating process in a two longwall panel district using a bleeder ventilation system with a stationary longwall face. The spontaneous heating is modeled as the low-temperature oxidation of coal in the gob using kinetic data obtained from previous laboratory-scale spontaneous combustion studies. Heat generated from coal oxidation is dissipated by convection and conduction, while oxygen and oxidation products are transported by convection and diffusion. CFD simulations were then conducted to model the spontaneous heating in longwall gob area with a bleederless ventilation system. A single longwall panel with a bleederless ventilation system was simulated. The effect of gob permeability on the spontaneous heating was also investigated.

Jan 1, 2009

By H. Billmayer

This report covers the period from June 17, 1974 to February 20, 1975, and describes the work performed in compliance with the requirements of Contract No. H0346102 and Modification No. 1 thereto. The purpose of the contract was to design protective canopies for an Elkhorn Scoop, a Lee Norse Miner, a Wilcox Miner and a Wilcox Bolter; to construct mockups of the canopies; and to obtain machine operator evaluations of the canopy designs by assessing the mockups while installed on their machines in the mines. The overall program objective was to achieve protective canopy designs for the four machines which would be acceptable to the operators.

Jan 1, 1975

By By Staff

"This publication summarizes, for potential contractors and all other interested parties, the research, development, and demonstration of in-house and contract projects programmed by the Bureau of Mines for fiscal year 1982(October 1, 1981-September 30, 1982) under its Minerals Health and Safety Technology program. The objective of these projects is to provide an ordered and sequenced series of advance toward the Bureau's overall goal of providing the systems technology required to create a more healthful and safer working environment for the Nation's mining and minerals processing workersINTRODUCTION The Bureau of Mines conducts a balanced, continuing in-house research and development program to accelerate systematic improvements in health and safety conditions in U.S. mines. Part I of this report outlines the Bureau's present in-house effort to all interested parties; in particular, potential contractors can refer to it when submitting USP's (unsolicited proposals), thus avoiding proposing research that duplicates work being performed by the Bureau.It is the policy of the Bureau of Mines to utilize as fully as possible the capabilities of the private sector in minerals research, and to that endPart II of this report outlines the Bureau's current projected contract research needs.The projects presented were planned at the beginning of the fiscal year and are subject to change based on emerging priorities and availability of funds. Contingencies may require that a significant portion of the program be deferred into fiscal year 1983 (FY 83) or beyond. It is important to realize that since this is a summary document, the project descriptions related to a design, fabrications, and demonstration effort do not necessarily imply total package procurement."

Jan 1, 1982

By J. J. Demeter

A tube-wall reactor with a Raney nickel catalyst deposited on the outer wall of the tube by flame spraying is effective in the practically complete conversion of 3H2+1CO synthesis gas to a high-Btu gas (methane) at an hourly space velocity of 7,000 volumes of gas (NTP) per hour per volume of annular volume. Partially reacted synthesis gas containing an appreciable amount of methane can also be treated in this reactor to increase the heating value to over 900 Btu per cubic foot. Excellent heat removal through the metal wall to a coolant and temperature control were obtained. The heat transfer co-efficient from the catalyst to the coolant was about 275 Btu per hour per square foot per ° F. Synthesis tests were conducted with tubes 1.2 inches in ad by 6 inches long, and 1.3 inches in od by 36 inches long. When operating at a synthesis gas rate of 100 to 120 scfh per square foot of catalyst-coated tube, catalyst life was long enough to realize a catalyst cost for the raw Raney nickel alloy of about 0.3 cent per 1,000 cubic feet of pipeline gas (900 to 950 Btu per scf). Gas recycling at ratios of 1:1 to 3:1 was effective in increasing conversion and in extending the life of the catalyst to about 16 weeks. In cost and in operating characteristics the tube-wall reactor compares favorably with the fluidized-bed and hot-gas-recycle reactor systems for the synthesis of high-Btu gas from H2+CO.

Jan 1, 1967

By Forrest T. Moyer

Injury experience in the mineral mining and processing industries during 1968 was slightly improved in the nonfatal-injury record but worse in the fatality record. The resulting frequency rate of all injuries was slightly better, whereas the injury-severity rate retrogressed appreciably from the figure for 1967. Overall operating activity, as measured by man-hours of worktime, was slightly higher in 1968. However, there were several major segments of the mineral industries in which activity was lower owing to reduced demand for mineral products and to several major work stoppages. These statistics comprise the injury and work experience of all personnel engaged in production, exploration, development, maintenance, repair, and force-account construction work, including supervisory and technical personnel, and working partners and owners at mineral-producing and mineral-processing establishments in the United States. Data concerning officeworkers are excluded except for the oil and gas industry for which such information is not separable. All injury rates and totals are calculated from data before rounding. The data for 1968 are preliminary except for the anthracite, coke, petroleum and natural gas, native asphalt, peat, and slag industries, which are final. The figures represent full coverage for all industries except oil and gas for which coverage is not complete, particularly with respect to small companies.

Jan 1, 1970

By Noel N. Moebs

Coal mine roof failure is categorized according to character, trend, or pattern of occurrence. Two principal categories of failure are proposed--geology related and stress related. Geology-related failure includes both lithology and structure. Each of several subcategories reflects the probable cause of failure and thereby provides a basis for the selection of appropriate techniques for reducing the incidence of failure. These control techniques, depending on local conditions, may include supplementary support, destressing, reduction of mine air humidity, or a change in the customary support methods.

Jan 1, 1986

By Louis A. Panek

This report deals with the combined friction and suspension effects in the reinforcement of horizontally bedded mine roof by bolting. Other reports have treated these two effects separately. Friction effect refers to the reduction of bending in a laminated roof due to the clamping action of tensioned bolts. If the beds tend to have unequal deflections, the bolts oppose this tendency, thus creating a suspension effect, which consists of a transfer of part of the weight of weaker or thinner beds to the flexurally more rigid beds within the bolted unit. The combined effects of friction and suspension on the bending of the beds, whether an increase or a decrease, are difficult to generalize because they depend on the bedding sequence and the bolt pre-tension. Some analysis of the bedding sequence usually is required to determine the critical bed within a set of bolted beds. However, if the suspension effect is substantial and if the bolts are pre-tensioned, then the greatest bending stress is likely to occur in the thickest bed. Findings are based partly on theory and partly on tests of mine-roof models in a centrifuge, which were found to verify the theory. Mathematical formulas are obtained for the change in maximum roof bending stress and for the change of roof deflection due to the combined friction and suspension effects. The maximum bending stress is needed for designing a roof-bolting system and the deflection for evaluating its effectiveness.

Jan 1, 1962

By Charles L. Kimbell

Annual global steel industry investment is partly mirrored in the data for selected market economy countries that appear in table 13 for 1988-90. No reasonably comprehensive 1991 data were available for inclusion in this study, and the partial reporting available was so incomplete that it was impossible to demonstrate whether the level advanced or declined from the 1990 level of nearly $15.5 billion. Moreover, with the radical changes that are now being effected in the steel industries of the states that were the U.S.S.R. and its CMEA partners, it is most regrettable that comprehensive and comparable data, both current and historic, on investment in this area are not available. Updated information on market economy country petroleum industry capital and exploration expenditures by geographic area has been included in table 14, and it is evident that there was a substantial upturn in investment in 1991. The level of almost $74.5 billion was 14.5 % above the 1990 level and included gains in every topical category and geographic area. The source of information for this table has been changed to the Oil and Gas Journal Database from the previously used Chase-Manhattan Bank study of Capital Investments of the World Petroleum Industry, which has been discontinued. Because of this source change, it has been necessary to modify the structure of the table somewhat, but its total scope of coverage is regarded as basically unchanged. It should be noted that the grand total, as well as some of the detail appearing for 1987, corresponds precisely with those in the previous source.

Jan 1, 1993

By Thomas C. Miller, Charles E. Mongan

"This publication is a progress report on Bureau of Mines studies in applying sonar techniques to roof-control problems in coal mines. Preliminary tests in the laboratory were made on layers of roof rock. To apply the experience thus obtained, a unit was designed and constructed and was used underground.The term ""sonar technique"" refers to the system of generating a beam of sound waves, shaping and directing the beam, introducing the beam into a medium to be studied, and examining any returning waves with a view of inferring the nature of the material traversed by the waves and the presence of interfaces or obstacles in the medium.The theory and actual underground experiments indicate that the sonic method is feasible. Information from physical tests made in the Bureau's Experimental mine confirmed the validity and potential usefulness of the sonar method. Lighter and more compact apparatus is desirable, and permissible equipment suitable for use in gassy or dusty mines must be developed. However, no particular difficulties are anticipated; consequently, this scientific approach to the exploration of roof strata shows definite promise. INTRODUCTIONThe problem of roof control in the coal-mining industry is of major importance. More than 50 percent of all coal-mine fatalities and 25 percent of all nonfatal serious injuries are caused by falls of roof, face, or ribs. The Bureau estimates that more than $128 million was spent by the coal-mining industry in 1958 for supporting roof."

Feb 1, 1960

By J. J. Forbes

The rapid increase in the quantity of coal being mined by stripping methods is one reason for the increased interest evinced by safety and other agencies in the hazards that are inherent in this Method of mining. The coal-mining laws of some States contain general provisions governing the mining of coal by open-cut methods, but none contains a complete list of specific safety regulations or laws for-the safe operation of such mines. The cool-mining laws of one State empower the head of the coal-mining inspection organization to proscribe regulations for coal-stripping operations and gave him the authority and power to enforce the rules and regulations promulgated by him.

Jan 1, 1944