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By Herbert Tomlinson

The United States Bureau of Mines has engaged in a study of the conditions under which coal mine accidents, resulting in the loss of life, limb, or time to the injured person, occur from falls of roof and coal. This publication is devoted to the results of a study conducted in the coal mines of the Book Cliffs and Wasatch Plateau coal fields of Utah. To show the necessity of this study, a statement of the fatalities that have occurred during the period 1928-1930, inclusive, in the bituminous mines of the United States and of Utah, is presented (Table 1), followed by a brief description of this Utah district, its coal beds and immediate roof, thickness of cover, dip of coal beds, methods of mining, supervision, roof testing and timbering for roof support, all of which are factors in any plan devised for preventing accidents from falls of roof and coal.

Jan 1, 1932

By E. R. Maize

This report is t e second of s series on roof movement in coal mines. The first (R. I. 3355)4/ dealt with convergence of roof and floor and movement of the surface accompanying and following extraction in a mechanized mine in which retreat of rib lines was rapid. The studies reported herein were made in a mine in which all the coal is loaded by hand, and movement of the rib lines was much slower in consequence. In choosing a site for this work, it was decided that the mine selected should have natural conditions akin to those of the first study and entirely different methods of working. To this end a cooperative agreement was made with the Crucible Fuel Co. through W. J. Whitaker, secretary, for conducting the work in the company?s Crucible mine, operating in the Pittsburgh bed in Greene County, Pa, This paper gives an account of the methods used in the investigation, excerpts from the data obtained, and such generalizations as can be made.

Jan 1, 1939

By Ronald F. Balazik

This Bureau of Mines study identifies and examines the costs of Federal, State, and local environmental protection controls on domestic phosphate rock mining, The costs include the expenditures needed to comply with government regulations and the effects that these expenditures and regulations have on supply. The study analyzes costs of environmental impact assessments, air and water quality standards, reclamation laws, potential solid waste controls, and local government restrictions. In addition, an industry survey and the Bureau's Minerals Availability System (MAS) are used to evaluate land management policies that restrict access to phosphate resources, Conclusions drawn from these analyses confirm that (1) domestic phosphate mining has incurred substantial control costs and may be subject to significant new regulatory costs in the next several years, (2) certain environmental controls can discourage mining investment, (3) environmental policies governing land-use controls affect the disposition of sizable phosphate resources, and are key determinants in the development of those resources on the Federal do- main, and (4) environmental costs could diminish the competitiveness of domestic producers.

Jan 1, 1983

By William H. Pomroy

The potential for large-scale fires in underground fuel storage and fuel transfer areas prompted the Bureau of Mines to study fire hazards in these areas and devise improved fire safety technology for use in these areas. This report describes the Bureau's research to characterize and quantify fire hazards in fuel storage and fuel transfer areas, develop guidelines for safe and efficient fueling system design, prepare specifications for automatic fire sensing and suppression systems for these areas, test prototype systems in the laboratory and in underground mines, and perform cost-effectiveness evaluations of the devised technology.

Jan 1, 1985

By Doris M. Hyde

In the past, mining has represented between 11% and 12% of the gross domestic product (GDP). In 1982, mining contributed over $150 million to the estimated $1.4 billion GDP.2 Overall economic growth for 1983 was projected at about 2%, primarily as a result of increased tourism. The inflation rate remained at or fell below the 1982 level of almost 4%. The Government continued its efforts to strengthen the industrial base by improving infrastructural systems and the establishment of a free trade zone. Laws against property ownership by foreigners or foreign-owned companies were strengthened, but the prohibition was softened to allow for close family inheritance. Otherwise, Government approval must be obtained to retain property acquired through inheritance, court order, mortgage, or other means. Special consideration was granted to foreign investors seeking to promote industries beneficial to the economy.

Jan 1, 1985

By S. J. Anderson

To deftne the capabilities of a nonexplosive excavation concept, the Bureau of Mines conducted reduced-scale laboratory tests of a mechanical excavation tool called a rock splitter. The splitter investigated was capable of applying combinations of radial and axial loads to rock when placed in a predrilled hole. Experiments conducted with the tool in concrete, limestone, and granite proved it capable of excavating all three materials. Break geometry in these three materials was the same, which encourages the prediction of performance in all rocks. The design of the radial-axial loading splitter's feather components significantly affected the tool's performance. It appears the design of this in-hole component should be tailored for the rock to be excavated.

Jan 1, 1987

By James S. Browning

Recovery of fine mica from a sample of impounded tailing from the Dixie Mines, Inc., crushing and screening operations, Heflin, Ala., was investigated to determine if plant losses of mica could be reduced while econmically producing a commercially acceptable mica concentrate. Conventional wet-tabling and agglomerate-tabling methods yielded concentrates assaying about 95 percent mica from the tailing that contained 17 percent mica. Products containing about 98 percent mica and accounting for mica recoveries of 86 percent were obtained by flotation, using as reagents sulfuric acid, kerosene, and coco amine acetate (a mixture consisting chiefly of dodecyl and tetradecyl amine acetates). The results of the batch flotation tests were verified by tests in a small continuous flotation pilot plant.

Jan 1, 1963

By Erle C. Donaldson

A study of subsurface waste disposal in the United States shows that in eight States a wide variety of industrial wastes are being injected into formations ranging in age from Precambrian to Recent. More than 30 wells ranging in depth from 300 to 12,000 feet are used for waste disposal into subsurface formations which include unconsolidated sand, sandstone, vugular limestone, and fractured gneiss.

Jan 1, 1964

By Forrest T. Moyer

Injury experience at coal mines and mechanical-cleaning plants (excluding officeworkers ) in 1967 was 222 fatal and 10,115 nonfatal disabling work injuries during an exposure time of 241.8 million man-hours. These injuries occurred at a frequency rate of 42-75 per million man-hours worked; the severity rate was 7,699 days lost or charged per million man-hours. Each of these general measures of injury experience was lower than similar data recorded for 1966. Employment at 6,885 coal mines and 569 mechanical-cleaning plants, excluding officeworkers, averaged 139,312 men in 1967. The average number of days worked was 220. Coal production totaled 560.8 million short tons, at rates of 2.32 tons per man-hour and 18.32 tons per man-day. A total of 2,779 onsite officeworkers at coal mines and mechanical- cleaning plants worked 5.2 million man-hours in 1967 without a disabling work injury.

Jan 1, 1972

By Erle C. Donaldson

A study of subsurface waste disposal in the United States shows that in eight States a wide variety of industrial wastes are being injected into formations ranging in age from Precambrian to Recent. More than 30 wells ranging in depth from 300 to 12,000 feet are used for waste disposal into subsurface formations which include unconsolidated sand, sandstone, vugular limestone, and fractured gneiss.

Jan 1, 1964

By S. M. Shelton

Tests employing various ore-dressing methods were made on a manganese wad ore from the W. A. Chinn property in the Batesville-Cushman district of Arkansas in an effort to develop a practicable procedure for the production of ferromanganese-grade concentrates. The ore body occurs as a bed approximately 7 feet thick in the residual clay of the Ferndale limestone formation5/. The crude wad ores are soft aggregates of various oxides of manganese, which are loosely bonded together. Hard lumps of high-grade ore are disseminated throughout the wad. Hausmannite, pyrolusite, and psilomelane are the principal minerals. Some clay is present, but most of the gangue consists of leached fragments of the original siliceous and calcareous rocks in which the manganese occurred. In addition, hydrated oxides of iron, which axe present, also must be considered as gangue. Definite phosphate minerals have not been identified.

Jan 1, 1942

By E. F. Ferrell

Electrowon molybdenum powders and a commercial hydrogen-reduced powder, all with different minor impurities, were investigated by the Bureau of Mines with respect to inherent properties, to fabrication techniques, and to proper-ties of the fabricated sheet. Compared with the commercial hydrogen-reduced powder, the electrowon powders had a larger particle size, a greater flow rate, a higher apparent density, and a lower oxygen content. Sheet materials prepared from the two types of powders showed similar mechanical properties, under the same conditions of heat treatments, except for low-temperature ductility. Yield strengths varied with carbon content, heat treatment, and test temperature.

Jan 1, 1970

By Frank B. Fulkerson

Aluminum production in the Pacific Northwest has a new potential for expansion and increased stability of operation. This new potential results from greater availability of power; lower freight rates on alumina and aluminum; good market prospects for the metal, including western aluminum market expansion following a decline in defense requirements in the 1950's; and possibility of developing bauxite deposits in the Pacific Basin as well as other mineral resources. INTRODUCTION This is a report of a special study by the Bureau of Mines of the primary aluminum industry of the Pacific Northwest. It outlines developments relative to the United States as a whole.

Jan 1, 1962

By James H. McCutchan

The small and remote mine operators must comply with the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration regulation requiring them to train and maintain mine rescue teams. The alternative is for the operators to contract with established teams within two hours travel time of their mine. Many of these remote operations are too far away from established teams and have too few employees to make up the necessary teams. Many cannot comply with the regulation either from a manpower or economic standpoint. The Office of Arizona State Mine Inspector, under the direction of the Honorable James H. McCutchan, State Mine Inspector, entered into a contract with the Bureau of Mines to develop the concept of a volunteer mine rescue program. This program with the assistance of the mining industry and volunteer rescue organizations, has planned and instituted a statewide volunteer mine rescue organization. The trained and equipped volunteers are stationed throughout the state and can respond to a mine emergency within the time constraints.

Jan 1, 1984

By Eric H. Brown

One of the best methods by which the results of accident-prevention work can be measured for any particular period is to keep an accurate record of the accident experience, which may then also be compared with the experience of others. The purpose of this report is to compare records of the salt-mining companies operating in Louisiana, and their assistance in making available their accident records is gratefully acknowledged. PRODUCTION Four companies produce salt in Louisiana -Avery Salt Co., Avery Island; Jefferson Island Salt Mining Co., Jefferson Island; Myles Salt Co., Weeks; and Carey Salt Co., Winnfield. Three of these companies operate within 30 miles of each other in the southern part of the State, and the other operates in the central part.

Jan 1, 1938

By Howard W. Wainwright

The Bureau of Mines is engaged in a research program on the characterization of tars produced by low-temperature carbonization of coal and their economical upgrading to more valuable materials, Throughout the years, hydrogenation has played an important role in the treatment of these tars, mainly as a means of converting the whole crude tar or selected fractions to motor fuels; diesel oil, lubricating oil, or various solvents. In some instances, production of specialty chemicals has been the objective. The purpose of this report is to summarize, without critical review, the information of the past 25 years on the hydrogenation of low-temperature tars and related substances as presented in the literature or its English translation. Published articles and patents not abstracted in the main body of this report are included in a bibliography at the end. HYDROGENATION REACTIONS The hydrogenation of tar follows three general types of reactions; 1. The removal of oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen in the tar to form water, hydrogen sulfide, and ammonia, respectively: [ ]

Jan 1, 1961

By H. D. Kline

This publication describes methods and techniques of mining and crushing limestone at 3 of 11 small quarries operated by Anderson-Oxandale Rock Co. in northeast Kansas in 1959. It is one of a series of reports by the Bureau of Mines on methods and costs of mining in various mining districts in the United States. The three quarries selected for study -Bosse quarry, Pottawatomie County; Hansen quarry, Morris County; and Huston quarry, Dickinson County (fig. 1) -were in many respects similar to many others that had been developed solely to fill local and usually transitory demands for crushed limestone for use as concrete aggregate, roadstone, and soil conditioning. Factors governing the choice of quarry sites were quality of limestone, shallow overburden, and proximity to points of consumption of the crushed stone.

Jan 1, 1962

By Walter C. Lorenz

In connection with its renewed study seeking solutions to problems created by release of acid water from bituminous coal mines, the Bureau of Mines recently surveyed reports already written on the subject. This publication is based on that search. The Problem Poor distribution of water is evident on an ordinary geographic map of the United States. The more abundant supplies of surface water appear to be centered in the northeast, the southeast, and the central humid areas of the country. It is in the midst of this abundant surface water, in the Ohio River Valley, that most of the bituminous coal is mined. Varied industry has located in the valley to use the coal and the river. The coal is a source of power and o raw material. The river provides transportation for raw and finished materials; equally important, it provides the water that is used for cooling and processing in manufacturing. It also serves as a vehicle for the disposal of waste.

Jan 1, 1962

By R. R. Sayers

The contemplated use of dichloro-difluorco methane in domestic and commercial refrigerating appliances and in air-conditioning equipment for public buildings and possibly homes, brims attention to the health hazards involved in a wide potential exposure of the public to vapors of another new product, and for the first time to vapors of an organic fluorino compound. The objective in the development of this new refrigerant, however, has been the mitigation of health and explosion hazards in automatic refrigeration, and accordingly these factors have been given primary attention. Early in the development, the Bureau of Mines as requested to make a laboratory study of the toxicity and potential hazard, and it was ca the oasis of the results is of this work and the results of a preliminary investigation made in another laboratory6 that the compound has been selected for commercial use. The investigation conducted by the Bureau of Mines is still in progress, enough information has been obtained to indicate the order of the toxicity and the magnitude of the health hazards involved in the use of dichloro-difluoro methane as a refrigerant. The following is a summarized report of the work completed to date:

Jan 1, 1930

By R. M. Santmyers

Caesium, rubidium, and lithium are sometimes described as the minor or rarer alkali metals. They generally occur together in nature, although, lithium is distributed more widely and is far more abundant than either of the other two. The chemical, and even the physical, properties of these three elements can best be considered In conjunction with the more familiar members of the alkali group, sodium and potassium. The five elements lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, and caesium show an interesting gradation properties from member to member with the increase in atomic weights. All are silvery white and soft enough to be cut with a knife. They tarnish rapidly in air and decompose water at ordinary temperatures. The lowest temperature at which the action of the several metals on water can be de¬tected is -98°C. for sodium, -105°C, for potassium, 108°C. for rubidium, and -116°C. for caesium. The chemical activity appears to increase steadily from

Jan 1, 1930