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By Ruth F. Brinkley

Principle activities of the Bureau of Mines Explosives Research Laboratory from July 1, 1960 to June 30, 1961 are reviewed briefly in Part 1. Part 1 also includes data obtained in connection with several minor investigations which are not sufficient to warrant separate publications. Part 2 gives brief abstracts of publications that appeared during fiscal year 1961; in general, the research reported in these publications antedates this period.

Jan 1, 1963

Develop geophysical techniques suitable for enhancing miner safety. Specifically, to use geophysical methods to detect hazardous conditions in a rock mass in deep underground mines as well as to assess the mechanical integrity and monitor changes of the rock.

Jan 1, 1997

By David Schlain

The galvanic corrosion properties of titanium in contact with commercially pure aluminum, copper, or type 302 stainless steel in some of the common organic acids were investigated. Acids used in these experiments were 10 percent formic, acetic, lactic, citric; 1 percent oxalic and tartaric; and 9 percent oxalic. Electrode-potential measurements and several types of galvanic couple experiments were carried out. Solutions were aerated by three methods: Flow of air, flow of helium, and natural aeration. Work was done at 35° C. with couples consisting of equal areas of the 2 metals. Titanium was resistant to corrosion in most of the organic acids studied, whether alone or in contact with a dissimilar metal. However, titanium coupled with aluminum did corrode in 1- and 9-percent oxalic acid solutions. Contact with titanium usually caused aluminum to corrode by galvanic action. Copper was subject to galvanic attack in 10-percent acetic acid with a flow of air. Contact with aluminum to some solutions in which titanium is ordinarily inert and noble with respect to aluminum caused titanium to corrode

Jan 1, 1956

By B. J. Dalton

The Bureau of Mines Helium Research Center has developed a computer program for solving two-phase equilibria data for binary mixtures and for evaluating thermodynamic functions of interest, including all critical points. This computer program was used to calculate equilibrium points on the PVTu surface for the helium-nitrogen system as predicted by the Van der Waals equation of state. Numerical values are tabulated and illustrations are presented for 1,279 equilibrium points and for quantities needed to construct Ponchon diagrams. Equilibrium ratios as a function of pressure at constant temperature and of temperature at constant pressure-are also shown graphically. In addition, saturated partial molal volume and partial molal enthalpy data are given. It is shown that the Van der Waals helium-nitrogen system exhibits retro-grade condensation of the second type for liquid helium concentrations of about 0.07 mole fraction or less and pressures below about 45 atm. It is also shown that the critical point is at a -maximum value of pressure (at constant temperature) and of temperature (at constant pressure).

Jan 1, 1971

By Gregory B. Beacher

Analyses have been performed on geotechnical properties of copper, uranium and phosphate (gypsum) tailings materials, with the intent of identifying typical measures of variability within and among sites, and of characterizing such variability for use in reliability modeling of tailings embankments. In all, data from approximately 41 sites were analysed. Fairly consistent results were obtained for within site variabilities. However no one probabilistic model was found to be applicable to all sites. The distributional forms for most of the data sets are regular, and tend toward Normality when spatial trends are removed. At many of the sites sufficient in situ data were available to allow estimates of vertical autocorrelation distances and measurement noise. Available data indicate that variability in pore pressures may have a more important effect than strength property variation. A major problem in interpreting available strength property data results from the unknown drainage conditions during testing.

Jan 1, 1983

By Robert H. Bedford

As a result of the Bureau's general survey of quicksilver deposits in California, the Guadalupe mine area was among those chosen for exploration. Exploration, such as that at the Guadalupe, was aimed primarily at maintaining or increasing production of quicksilver during the critical wartime period. The project as originally planned contemplated sampling the dumps and prospecting some promising surface exposures by bulldozer trenches. Salvage was the objective in the first case and new ore in the second. Later, a program. of diamond drilling was added, designed to add both to ore reserves and to geological information. This report summarizes the history, notes the location and physical features, mentions property and ownership, and presents a brief description of the mine. The geology is outlined, and the work done by the Bureau of Mines is explained and supplemented with accompanying maps. The work involved repairing 1-1/4 miles of roads; bulldozing 13 trenches by removing 2,345 cubic yards of dumps to provide for sampling; digging and sampling 9,284 linear feet of hand trenches, digging and sampling numerous test pits; and drilling 7 diamond-drill holes, totaling 1,000 feet. A total of 419 samples, including 10 percent check samples, were taken. Exploration work in California at the time of this project was under the direction of Spangler Ricker, supervising engineer of the California field office, the late Robert Bedford was in charge of the fieldwork on this project.

Jan 1, 1950

By C. Harry Benedict

This paper presents the details of milling practice and costs at the conglomerate mill of the Calumet & Hecla Consolidated Copper Co., Lake Linden, Mich., and is one of a series on milling methods being published by the Bureau of Mines. GENERAL DESCRIPTION The mines of the Calumet & Hecla. Consolidated Copper Co. are located in the Keweenaw Peninsula of northern Michigan. The mines of this district lie in a belt not over 4 miles wide and 100 miles long, which contains more or lees commercial ore. The Calumet & Hecla properties are the farthest north, except for the Seneca, of the operating mines. The district borders on Lake Superior, and by means of the Portage and Torch Lake waterways the largest lane vessels, can transport coal and other supplies from the lower Lakes directly to the company docks.

Jan 1, 1930

By Andrew A. Cochran

Laboratory-scale research was conducted by the Bureau of Mines to develop a new process for treating electroplating and other wastes. Various acid and alkaline cyanide wastes were combined under controlled conditions to neutralize the wastes and to almost completely precipitate the metals and cyanides. The metals were subsequently recovered for recycling; the cyanides can also be easily recycled. The process was successfully used to treat the major types of electroplating and etching wastes, containing Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn, and to treat both concentrated and dilute wastes. The economic aspects of treating concentrated electroplating, etching, and anodizing wastes are especially attractive because of the low cost of mixing two wastes, the high value of the recovered metals, and the simplicity of the recovery procedures. The filtrates from the waste-plus-waste step were relatively harmless compared with the original wastes and met Public Health Service standards for free cyanide content. Free cyanide ions were not detected in most of the filtrates; the limit of detection was 0.03 ppm. Only small amounts of HCN were produced during the neutralization; the HCN was collected and neutralized.

Jan 1, 1974

By Alfred L. Ransome

The consumption of slab zinc in the United States increased sevenfold in less than a half century since 1900. Therein is reflected the innate characteristics of this versatile and nearly indispensable nonferrous metal whose use has grown at more than twice the rate of industrial production. The total metal consumption was substantially stimulated during the two World War periods, which were likewise marked by notable changes in use pattern accompanied by shifts in geographic distribution. This information circular summarizes basic data collected for many years by the Bureau of Mines, but in particular presents for the 1940-45 period details derived from the comprehensive slab zinc consumption survey inaugurated in 1940. The total consumption of slab zinc has been broken down into four major categories galvanizing, brass products, rolled zinc, and zinc-base alloys -- with minor applications grouped under a fifth heading, other uses. Ex- cept for the inclusion of zinc-base alloys with other uses before 1926, the above-named segregation has been shown for the entire period 1900-45. 11- though a substantial tonnage was taken by all groups in all years, there were large shifts in the use pattern in both World War periods. In both, the Allied Powers depended heavily on the United States for zinc-bearing products, especially those required by war industrius. The departures from usual uses were, however, much more marked during the second than in the first period, mainly because the United States could not have met the tro- mendously expanded war-materiel demands had the greater slab zinc needs of a period of high industrial activity been supplied. The geography of consumption is known in detail only for 1940-45. Even in that short period, substantial shifts are observable, largely the reaction from conversion to war production in 1940-41 and reconversion to peacetime consumption in 1945. However, there is so evidence of other shifts in consumption centers that appear to reflect longer-term develop- ments.

Feb 1, 1948

By Stella Sigler

This publication contains analyses and related source data for 153 natural gas samples from 16 States. Of the total samples, 149 were collected during calendar year 1993. The remainder were collected earlier, but releases granting permission to publish were not received until 1993. None of the analyses have been previously published in annual reports. All samples were obtained and analyzed as part of U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Bureau of Mines investigations of the occurrences of helium in natural gases of countries with free market economies. This survey has been conducted since 1917. The analyses published herein were made by mass spectrometer and chromatograph.

Jan 1, 1994

By J. Ribovich

The current Bureau of Mines active list of permissible explosives includes 71 brands. Eleven are gelatinous, 56 are the granular type, and four are water-gel explosives, an entirely new type of ammonium nitrate-based explosive for use in coal mines. The list of permissible blasting devices comprises five Cardox models.

Jan 1, 1973

By J. W. Eckerd, W. S. Sanner, P. L. Woolf, R. E. McKeever

The Bureau of Mines experimental blast furnace was operated successfully with anthracite metallurgical briquets . Tuyère pressures were higher and more erratic than for operations using coke , and furnace " hangs " occurred more frequently . Higher hot - blast temperatures were required to maintain the quality of the metal . By using higher hot blast temperatures , the fuel and production rates and slag volumes were comparable to those obtained for all - coke operation . The anthracite metallurgical briquets exhibited excellent mechanical strength and descended through the shaft of the furnace with little breakage or reduction in size .

Jan 1, 1964

By Richard W. Watson

Card-gap and projectile impact sensitivity data are presented for a wide variety of explosive compositions tested at the Bureau of Mines in more or less standard test geometries. The results of both tests are in good agreement in that they provide the same sensitivity ordering for different subclasses of explosives. Least sensitive were homogeneous liquids that did not exhibit a tendency to undergo low-velocity detonation, ammonium nitrate-fuel oil, and most cast military explosives. Of intermediate sensitivity were pressed and powdered military explosives, cast pentolite, permissible and non- permissible water-based explosives, and one commercial two-component explosive. The most sensitive were permissible and nonpermissible dynamites and explosives susceptible to low-velocity detonation.

Jan 1, 1973

By George S. Rice, W. L. EGY, H. P. Greenwald, L. M. JONES

CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY. BY GEORGE S. RICE. PREFATORY STATEMENT. This bulletin describes the second series of coal-dust explosion tests conducted by the Bureau of Mines in the experimental mine near Bruceton, Pa. It covers a period from 1913 to 1918, inclusive, of more or less consecutive testing, during which many important conclusions were drawn regarding the way a coal-dust explosion may originate, the mechanism of an explosion, and the methods of pre- venting explosions and of limiting incipient explosions. The manuscript was prepared in 1918, but its publication had to be put aside during the World War for more pressing publications and it was not until this fiscal year 1922 that funds could be allotted for its printing. Meantime the general facts concerning methods of preventing explosions have been made known to the mining industry, with great advantage, it is believed, as explosions of coal dust in mines in the United States have become infrequent. This fact, however, must not lull the consciousness of mining men to the terrible potential danger that lurks in untreated coal dust. The experiments described in this volume should be of aid to them in planning to keep the ever present coal dust in an innocuous condition. The first series-reported in Bulletin 56, "First Series of Coal-Dust Explosion Tests in the Experimental Mine"-included only pre- liminary tests of the ability to start explosions of coal dust under the conditions in the experimental mine. After this fact had been determined and several violent dust explosions had been demon- strated before large audiences of mining men, the work had to be suspended in order that necessary repairs and extensions might be made in the fall and winter of 1911-12. Although the question of the possibility of coal dust causing explo- sions had been considered for more than a century, and much testing in laboratory apparatus and in small surface galleries had been done, coal-mining men generally did not believe that coal dust was explo- sive and considered that fire damp or gases of unknown composition were responsible for the mine explosions that had cost thousands of lives in the various coal-mining countries during the last century. As coal mines increased in number, size, and depth, explosions became alarming in their frequency. Finally came the Courriéres disaster in northern France, 1906, by which 1,100 lives were lost, and the following year in this country, the Monongah mine explosion, in West Virginia, which killed 361 men, and the Darr explosion, in Pennsylvania, which killed 239 men. These two disasters, both in December, 1907, led Congress to make an appropriation for an in- vestigation of the causes of mine explosions. The funds became available July 1, 1908, and the work was placed under the United States Geological Survey's technologic branch, with the late Dr. Joseph A. Holmes in charge. Before undertaking the investigations Dr. Holmes visited Europe, accompanied by the senior author of this bulletin, to study the methods foreign countries used to prevent mine explosions, to obtain details regarding tests being made in several countries, to procure safer explosives and better safety lamps for use in gaseous and dusty mines, and to study the methods used in coal-dust explo- sion tests in the recently completed galleries at Altofts, England, and Liévin, France, and in the older galleries at Gelsenkirchen, Germany, and Frameries, Belgium. At all of these stations the explosions tests were made in surface galleries. The Austrian gallery at Segengottes, near Brünn, Moravia, visited by the writer in 1911, is an underground gallery, but the testing done in it was limited, dealing with ignition of coal dust rather than with propagation. Although the results obtained in the foreign galleries had indicated that coal dust was explosive, mining men in the respective countries were of the opinion that the dust would not explode under mine con- ditions. This situation led Dr. Holmes to the conclusion that testing must be done in a real mine, to make certain that the conclusion would be reliable and would be accepted by the mining public as decisive.

Jan 1, 1922

By O. C. Blade

This report on the properties of motor fuels sold through service stations in the United States was made in accordance with a cooperative agreement between the American Petroleum Institute and the Bureau of Mines of the United States Department of the Interior. By agreement with the American Petroleum Institute, identification of the items is confidential. It presents analytical data for 4,680 samples, representing the products of 130 companies. The samples were collected during December 1953 and January and February 1954. As in previous surveys, the gasolines covered by this survey include those from both large and small suppliers. The data were obtained by laboratories of various refiners, motor manufacturers, and chemical companies and submitted to the Bureau of Mines for compilation. A list of the National Motor-Gasoline Survey reports published during the past ten years is given on page 5.

Jan 1, 1954

By J. A. CoRGAN, J. A. DECARLO

The coal -carbonizing industry is recognized as one of our country's most essential industries , and this position has been achieved through its primary function as a source of supply of special fuels and chemical raw materials . When coal is carbonized at high temperatures in slot - type coke ovens in the absence of air , it decomposes into two main products cokę ... and crude gas . Of these , the more important is coke , a hard, strong, porous solid that remains in the oven after the volatile matter in the coal has been driven out by heat . The hot crude gas carries with it all. of the coke -plant products except coke and has a complex composition in the vapor: state . Its processing , to produce the four principal coproducts of coke (tar , ammonia , light oil, and gas ) , is accomplished by preferential condensation and absorption . Although the principal coproducts of coke tar , ammonia , and crude light oil - - gas, are of secondary importance , their

Jun 1, 1949

By W. E. Young, D. T. Delicate

This study was made to present the mining methods and costs of a uranium mine typical of other mines in the highly productive Westwater Canyon member of the Morrison formation in New Mexico. Four mining methods have been used at the Section 23 mine: the retreat- room-and-pillar method, a sublevel-slicing method (also called top-slicing), the horizontal-cut-and-fill method, and a modification of the ring-drill method. The application of the methods at this mine and at other mines in the area should be of benefit to operators with similar problems. Ore bodies in the Section 23 mine are irregularly shaped and vary in size, in rock strength, in moisture content, and in uranium concentrations; different mining methods are required and mining costs are not constant. A 6-month period of operation at the Section 23 mine was analyzed and mining costs, not including amortization, depreciation, or Federal taxes, averaged about $6.80 per ton.

Nov 1, 1963

By Ruth F. Brinkley

Principle activities of the Bureau of Mines Explosives Research Laboratory from July 1, 1960 to June 30, 1961 are reviewed briefly in Part 1. Part 1 also includes data obtained in connect ion with several minor investigations which are not sufficient to warrant separate publications. Part 2 gives brief abstracts of publications that appeared during fiscal year 1961; in general, the research reported in these publications antedates this period.

Jan 1, 1963

By W. W. Adams, T. D. Lawrence, D. R. White

"This paper presents the results of the eleventh yearly accident-prevention contest, the National Safety Competition of 1935, conducted by the United States Bureau of Mines. Participating in the competition were 336 mines and Quarries in 37 States. Five mining or quarrying companies, each the leader in its group for having established the best safety record during the year, were awarded the national safety trophies 'Sentinels of Safety.Since these annual contests were begun 11 years ago the scope of the competition has been broadened materially, both as to the number of plants participating and as to the number of man-hours of exposure to accident hazards. Moreover, marked progress in the pre¬vention of accidents has been achieved, as is indicated by an almost constant downward course in the accident-frequency rates for the contest group as a whole during the past 11 years. On the other hand, the accident-severity rates for the group showed an upward trend during the first part of the period and a downward trend during the latter part, except in 1930 and 1934, when two disastrous explosions occurred with heavy loss of life, and in 1935, when there was an increase in the number of fatalities although no major disasters occurred. The accident rate for 1935, both as to frequency and severity, was higher than for 1934.The National Safety Competition is conducted by the Bureau of Mines in the interest of safety in the mining and quarrying industries. This object is accomplished directly through the efforts of the competing companies and their employees to win first place in the competition and thereupon receive well-merited and national recognition for their achievement. Indirectly the purpose of the contest is accomplished through studies by the Bureau of Mines of the fasts contained in the accident reports which the competing companies furnish to enable the Bureau to compute the accident rates that are the basis for determining the winners of the contest.The statistics that constitute the basis for determining the winning companies and the relative standing of all companies are prepared uniformly without regard to the States in which the companies operate, or to differences in classes of accidents covered by State laws relating to compensation for injuries resulting from industrial accidents."

Jul 1, 1936

By Nicholas Kyriazi

A joint effort by the U.S. Bureau of Mines and the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) was undertaken to determine how well self-contained self-rescuers (SCSR's), deployed in accordance with Federal regulations (30 CFR 75.1714), survived the underground environment with regard to both impact damage and aging. This report presents findings regarding laboratory-tested SCSR's from 1982 through 1990. The SCSR's were tested on human subjects and on a breathing and metabolic simulator (BMS). These results indicate that most of the apparatus, if they pass their inspection criteria, perform as expected except for units with manufacturing defects or design deficiencies. However, when the apparatus are carried in and out of the mine daily and stored at the working section, they may suffer abuse. Physical signs of abuse, unless extremely obvious, are frequently not detected by the miners or mine operators. This poses a potential danger to a user in an emergency. Recommendations include improved training in inspection procedures.

Jan 1, 2010