Search Documents

By Kenneth M. Maas

The Bureau of Mines inventoried the land in southwestern Alaska to classify ownership and availability and compared this land with known mineral terranes and mineral deposits. This report discusses and quantifies the potential for favorable location of mining claims for metalliferous (locatable) mineral deposits. Of the nearly 24 million acres that constitute the study area, approximately 3.6 million acres or 17% are available for mineral location, 3.4 million acres or 14% are available with restrictions, and 17 million acres or 71% are unavailable. Mineral terranes are known to underlie about 7.8 million acres or 33% of the study area; 3 million acres or 38% occur on land available for mineral location, 1.3 million acres or 17% occur on land available with restrictions, and 3.5 million acres or 45% occur on unavailable land. The State of Alaska has opened over 91 % of its land in the study area to mineral location; in comparison, the Federal Government allows mineral location on 0.07% of the land under its jurisdiction. There are 117 known mineral deposits or occurrences within the study area, including 77 lode deposits and 40 placer deposits. Of the 41 lode deposits occurring within a mineral terrane, 2 occur on available land.

Jan 1, 1988

By H. H. Dewing

The U.S. Bureau of Mines characterized Hg-containing wastes and used a thermal-desorption process to remove and recover the contained Hg. The wastes were generated by an electrical-parts plant engaged in the assembly of Hg-containing switches and contained phenolic resins and paper insulating materials mixed with soil. The average Hg content was 396 ppm. Numerous characterization tests showed the Hg was tightly absorbed and could not be removed or concentrated by leaching or gravity separation techniques. Laboratory retort tests showed the Hg content reduced to < 16 ppm in 2 h at 400 °C; rotary-kiln, thermal-desorption tests required 4 h at 450 °C. Airflow through the retort im¬proved thermal-desorption efficiency, but vacuum operation only slightly reduced the temperature needed for thermal desorption. Offgases from decomposition of organic materials were burned in a high-temperature afterburner and subsequently cooled in a heat exchanger to condense water vapor. Finally, the Hg vapor was condensed and absorbed from the offgas by activated charcoal. Mercury recovery was over 99.99 pct of the desorbed Hg. Thermal-desorption processes have had wide application to many Hg-containing wastes, and historical experience in Hg mining has demonstrated its potential cost effectiveness.

Jan 1, 2010

By T. F. Anstett

The Bureau of Mines estimated the potential availability of rare-earth oxides (EtEO), including yttrium, and thorium, which is also contained in the rare-earth bearing minerals monazite and bastnasite, from 38 &apos;properties in market economy countries (MEC&apos;s). Only nine of the properties evaluated produce or would produce REO as the primary product; the others contain REO as a byproduct, chiefly from mineral sands operations recovering rutile, ilmenite, and zircon. Nearly 77% (2,578,000 mt) of the total 3,355,000 mt of recoverable RE0 evaluated is from producing properties. It is estimated that 21% (705,000 mt) of this total is from properties that could not realize a positive rate of return at the January 1984 market prices for the recovered commodities. At production capacities assumed for this evaluation, the amount of RE0 potentially available from producers ranges from an estimated 46,500 mt in 1986, to a peak of 50,900 mt in 1992, to 49,900 mt by the year 2000. Total MEG production in 1984 was estimated at 40,700 mt. Assuming demand does not increase sharply, producing properties can continue to fulfill overall REO demand through at least the end of this century.

Jan 1, 1986

By H. V. Makar

Ferrous fractions recovered from urban refuse were tested by the U.S. Bureau of Mines, U.S. Department of the Interior, to assess their character, composition, and response to detinning. This research was conducted as part of the Bureau&apos;s efforts to conserve mineral resources through recycling. Results from laboratory and pilot tests established the technical feasibility of detinning scrap recovered from household refuse. Detinned products containing less than 0.03 percent residual tin were produced. Concentrations of other residual elements were determined and compared with those in existing commercial scrap and with proposed specifications. Studies were extended to include evaluations under commercial conditions. Preliminary tests on 5-1/2 short tons of ferrous fractions revealed the need for adequate shredding to assure optimum metal-caustic contact and minimize retention of tin-bearing rinse solution in the final baled product. The washed metal product contained 0.06 percent residual tin. Subsequent melt tests showed a yield of 91.4 percent. Based on these studies, full-scale commercial demonstrations showed that detinned bales equivalent to No. 1 bundle quality could be produced in carload quantities. Up to 5 pounds of tin per gross ton of scrap is con-currently recovered during the detinning process.

Jan 1, 1979

By J. H. Perry, D. W. Houseknecth, C. A. Kertis, A. T. Iannacchione

Major problems facing the development of coal and gas resources of the Hartshorne Coalbeds include the complex distribution of minable and unminable coal, high methane content and bed pressure, faulting, variations in degree of dip, presence of natural gas fields in associated sandstones, and legal problems, caused by local geologic characteris- tics, in identifying gas origin. This Bureau of Mines study provides pertinent geologic information for long-range planning of subsurface coal and gas production from the Hartshorne Coalbeds. Pittsburg, Coal, Hughes, and Atoka Counties, OK, have approximately 1 billion metric tons (1.1 billion short tons) of Hartshorne coal in place. The methane resource of Hartshorne Coalbeds is estimated at 9.2 billion m3 (325 billion ft3) and varies with overburden and rank, These estimates were compiled from gas well density logs, coal-core data, out- crop measurements, abandoned mine maps, and the literature. The Hartshorne Coalbeds represent a valuable coal and gas resource which at present is contributing nothing to coal and gas production. This report discusses potential problems and serves as a reference for future exploration and development work. Recognition of these potential geologically related problems prior to development of this basin will reduce hazards and allow for an economic recovery of these resources.

Jan 1, 1983

By V. J. Lynch, A. L. Peyton

"INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARYThe Brewer mine, near Jefferson, Chesterfield County, S.C., was originally operated as a gold mines as late as 1890 this mine was reported to have been one of the large gold producers in the southeast,Occurrence of topaz on the Brewer property was not reported until 1935, when it was discovered by Pardee and Parks. 3/ of the Federal Geological Survey while they were investigating gold deposits in the Piedmont province.During the 1940's the Chemical Engineering Branch of the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Electrotecbnical Laboratory of the Bureau of Mines at Norris, Tenn., investigated topaz from the Brewer mine to determine the possibilities of its use as mullite and for the production of calcium fluoride.From July 1950 through. April 1951 the Bureau of Mines conducted a diamond-drilling project at the Brewer mine to determine the grade and extent of the topaz deposits. Ten diamond-drill holes, totaling 2,344 feet, were completed, and 231 analyses of core samples were made during the course of the project.This report presents factual data relating only to the diamond-drilling project, The placer deposits on the Brewer property were previously investigated by the Federal Geological Survey 4/."

Aug 1, 1953

By R. H. Sprute

The Bureau of Mines conducted a feasibility study and designed an operational system for consolidating waste coal sludge in a 110-acre pond by applying direct current between buried and floating electrodes. Consolidation would reduce the sludge to half its present volume, there-by extending the working life of the pond as well as creating a safe, stable impoundment. The project was conducted by the Bureau under an agreement with the Washington Irrigation and Development Co. (WIDCO), located near Centralia, WA. Part 1 of this report, published as Report of Investigation 8666 in 1982, covers the results of laboratory tests at the Bureau&apos;s Spokane Research Center and of a small-scale field test at WIDeO&apos;s coal preparation plant. Test results show the process is efficient and cost-effective when power is applied at low current density. Part 2 (this paper) describes a detailed design for an electrokinetic system to dewater WIDCO&apos;s 110-acre pond with a 27.4-acre electrode array. Densification of the inactive sludge pond will require 3.6 yr of treatment for a total cost of $1,450,000. The study and design are site specific, but design procedures and analyses are sufficiently detailed to serve as a guide for applying the process to any sludge pond.

Jan 1, 1988

By R. V. Higgins

Many contributions to methods of forecasting the performance of waterfloods of a five-spot pattern have been made by investigators. In most of these forecasting methods, a previously selected sweep efficiency is used, and other simplifying assumptions are employed to obtain the objective. In this paper the calculated oil recoveries from several five-spot single- and multiple-layer stratified reservoirs were made with a minimum of assumptions, and because of the techniques used, no previously selected sweep efficiency was required. As a result, the accuracy of the forecast is increased. Permeability curves and continuously changing saturation gradients are used in every section of the pattern. By means of a potentiometric model, the flood pattern is divided into channels, the centers of which are the streamlines. The channels are divided into cells. As flood water enters, the permeability and saturation of each cell change with time. In this study the production from multiple-sand layers of different absolute permeability but with the same relative permeability-saturation relations are combined. The results are shown for a single- and 10-layer reservoir with a permeability variation of 0.60. The oil rate, water-oil ratio, and recovery are shown as functions of time for a 2- and 20-centipoise oil starting in primary phase and after fill-up.

Jan 1, 1962

By H. B. Brunot, Ilsley. L. C., E. J. Gleim

"INTRODUCTION One of the various phases of the work by the U.S. Bureau of Mines, in its endeavors to minimize the hazards that attend coal mining, is the investigation of electrical motor-driven machinery. The object of this investigation is to foster the development of explosion-proof machines for use in gassy mines. This investigation is conducted under the provisions of Schedule 2C, which prescribes the inspection and tests made upon motors, controllers, and other electrical parts to determine their ability to withstand internal explosion without discharge of any flames. The method of conducting these inspections and tests is described in Bureau of Mines Bulletin 305, Inspection and Testing of Mine-Type Electrical Equipment for Permissibility, published in 1929. Formal approval of a machine for use in gassy mines is not granted by the Bureau of Mines until the machine is found to comply with the requirements, including inspection and test. When it is approved it is entitled to classification as a ""permissible"" machine.The high regard in which machines approved by the U.S. Bureau of Mines are held by engineers of other countries is attested by the growing number of shipments of permissible equipment; to other nations, including Australia, Russia, Norway, Japan, and Manchuria."

Aug 1, 1936

By David F. Gearhart, Thomas M. Barczak

This U.S. Bureau of Mines report examines the roof and floor contact pressure provided by the interaction of a shield with the surrounding strata. Controlled forces were applied to an 800-ton two-leg shield in the Bureau&apos;s mine roof simulator; the distribution of forces acting on the canopy and base of the shield were measured with 24 hydraulic pressure cells. Several influential factors that affect the load distribution were investigated: (1) the magnitude of loading (leg pressure); (2) the profile of the canopy, principally the upward-sloping tip; (3) the base-lifting device; (4) horizontal load acting on the shield; and (9 compliancy of the immediate roof and floor. It was concluded that the shield does not develop full canopy or base contact without deformation of the strata. Maximum contact pressures are developed at the rear of the canopy and on the toes of the base. Less than 10 pct of the available shield capacity is developed at the canopy tip despite the design intention to ensure tip contact. Horizontal loading reduced the toe pressure acting on the base by as much as 75 pct. The base-lifting device exaggerated the inherently high toe loading, increasing the contact pressure by more than 200 pct.

Jan 1, 1992

By T. M. Romslo

The Lake Shore property, located in the early 1880&apos;s, contains copper-bearing deposits that have been developed by surface excavations, underground workings, and churn-drill holes. Operation of the property ended in 1929 with a total recorded production of 280,000 pounds of copper. The property is near the foot of the Slate Mountains, which are made up mainly of probably the Pinal formation of pre-Cambrian age. In the mine area there are a few outcrops of granite, which is exposed over a large area east of the property. Other outcropping rocks on the property are limestone, quartzite, and diabase. The limestone and quartzite probably are the Mescal and Troy formations of pre-Cambrian and Cambrian age, respectively. The predominant copper mineral is chrysocolla, a hydrous silicate that occurs mainly as fracture filling in bedded schist. It is also, the principal copper mineral in the shear zone at the schist-granite contact and in limestone southeast of the main workings. Investigation of the Lake Shore property by the Bureau of Mines included both topographic and geologic mapping, exploratory drilling, and metallurgical test work. One diamond-drill, hole and five churn-drill holes were completed for a total of 2,872.5 feet. Drilling started January 19 and was completed May 13, 1949.

Jan 1, 1950

By D. C. Dahlin

To identify and characterize potential domestic chromium resources, the Bureau of Mines investigated podifom chromite deposits along the Border Ranges Fault in southern Alaska. Part 1 of this two-part report describes an extensive field investigation and preliminary resource evaluation studies by the Bureau&apos;s Alaska Field Operations Center. This paper, part 2, describes the mineralogy of 38 samples that were collected from low-grade deposits in the Chugach Mountains, on the Kenai Peninsula, and on Kodiak Island, and presents the results of laboratory batch beneficiation tests designed to concentrate the chromite. The samples are peridotites and chromites that consist primarily of variable amounts of chromite, olivine, and serpentine. They were beneficiated by a sequence of grinding, sizing, and gravity concentration operations. Twenty-four high-chromium or marginal high-chromium chromite concentrates, six high-iron or marginal high-iron chromite concentrates, and five submarginal concentrates were produced with chromium recoveries that ranged from 37 to 95 pct. Three very low-grade samples were not beneficiated. These results indicate that several of the de- posits may be significant chromium resources, Potential precious metals association with the chromite was also investigated. Analysis of these samples indicates that the chromite deposits are not good platinum sources.

Jan 1, 1985

By G. R. Peterson

To determine the availability of aluminum from world bauxite resources, the Bureau of Mines investigated 139 bauxite deposits worldwide and evaluated the potential production of aluminum based on the demonstrated resources of bauxite ore from 91 mines and deposits in 22 market economy countries. The demonstrated resources of the bauxite mines and deposits included in this study represent an in situ resource of 20.2 billion metric tons of bauxite. Total identified bauxite resources in market economy countries amount to roughly 31.9 billion tons. Of the demonstrated resource, some 18.8 billion tons of bauxite considered minable provide a production potential of 3.6 billion tons of primary aluminum. Given the wide geographic distribution of bauxite deposits, stable supplies of bauxite for aluminum production seem assured well into the next century. However, a tight market situation could develop during the 1990&apos;s unless the real price of aluminum increases enough to stimulate massive new investments in production capacity, particularly in refining and smelting. This study indicates that a real price of at least $0.85 per pound (in January 1980 dollars) would be necessary to stimulate the required investments and provide a sufficient rate of return on invested capital.

Jan 1, 1983

By J. A. Rowland

Manganese-copper alloys containing 60 percent or more electrolytic manganese exhibit an unusual combination of high vibration damping capacity with good strength properties. Properties of the pure alloys were first studied in the laboratories of the Federal Bureau of Mines and have been described in a series of technical papers1/ published from 1941-49. The unusual characteristics of these manganese-copper alloys attracted the attention of research metallurgists and several additional investigations have also been reported in the literature.2/ The engineer, also, was attracted by the combination of high strength and high vibrational damping capacity possessed by these alloys. A wide field of application in structural and machine design was obvious. However, serious difficulties encountered in commercial fabrication of structural or machine components from the alloys retarded attempts at their practical utilization. For this reason the Federal Bureau of Mines, in cooperation with the United States Navy, Bureau of Ships, undertook a program designed to develop practical methods for fabricating a selected group of the high-damping alloys. It is the purpose of this paper to summarize a part of that investigation in a form suitable for use by the metallurgist interested in commercial fabrication of the alloys.

Jan 1, 1955

By C. Travis Anderson

"Nickel is an essential metal in stainless steel, armor plate, and nickel steels and also in nonferrous alleys, such as monel metal and cupre-nickel, which are used in marine service. Nickel is one of the metals that must be greatly restricted in civilian use to provide the amounts needed for our War program. Consequently, it is desirable to investigate every possible substitute.The 5-cent coin no z in use contains 2.3 percent nickel. At the end of 1941, about 450 tons of nickel was being consumed annually to produce these coins. If the nickel used for that purpose in 9141 had been diverted to military use, 15,000 tons of armor plate could have been produced. As nickel is vitally needed for military as well as essential civilian products, it would seem desirable to substitute some other alloy for the 25 percent nickel alloy now being used. The Bureau of Mines has been asked to suggest possible substitutes.The substitute should have physical properties similar to the alloy now being used. It should have a metallic appearance and ring and a reasonably white color, so to be distinguishable from the present 1-cent coin. It should also be reasonably resistant to corrosion."

Aug 1, 1942

By George S. Rice

There have appeared, from time to time, comparisons of various features of coal mining practice in the United States and Great Britain. A recent, article, appearing in a British journal, points out that the American miner produces 3 1/2 times as much coal per shift as the miner, at one-half the cost, and proceeds to explain the natural industrial, and engineering causes which lead to this result. Amon« he reasons advanced. is that the American coal miner enjoys the advantage of more easily worked seams of coal, due to the fact that the coal mining industry in the United States is of more recent date than in Great Britain. The latter qualification is not correct, because where these advantages exist, they will persist. The coal beds of the United States are not buried deeply, except in the remote parts of the country, as in the Uinta Basin of Utah. The article referred to states that many of our miners are still employed on out seams reached by "adits", (which we term entries), or by vertical shafts of moderate depth. It is probable in fact that the great bulk of the coal of the United States is taken out from a depth of less than 400 feet.

Mar 1, 1920

By C. E. Henning

The total number of petroleum refineries in the United States on January 1, 1958, was 318 and their total crude-oil throughput capacity was 9,407,707 barrels per day, according to the Bureau of Mines annual survey. During 1957, 3 new refineries began operating while 4 refineries were retired. Although there was 1 less refinery, the total crude-oil throughput capacity at the beginning of 1958 was 284,033 barrels per day, or 3 percent, more than the January 1, 1957, level. During 1957 all refinery districts showed increases in capacity. The largest increase, 27 percent, occurred in the West Coast district followed by the Indiana-Illinois-Kentucky district with 14-percent increase and the Texas Gulf Coast district with 13-percent increase. The national increase in capacity had the effect of raising the capacity of the average refinery from 28,601 to 29,584 barrels per day. New crude-oil capacity under construction on January 1, 1958, totaled 185,265 barrels, and an additional 297,885 barrels capacity was reported building as replacement for existing facilities. Included in total new construction were 2 new refineries, 1 in Washington and another in Texas, with planned processing capacities of 45,000 barrels and 8,550 barrels per day, respectively.

Jan 1, 1958

By H. E. Hilliard

The Bureau of Mines investigated hydrometallurgical procedures for concentrating precious metals from a mechanically processed metal fraction of obsolete military electronic scrap. Feed material for the leaching procedures described in this report was the high-tension-separated metal concentrate obtained as a fraction from mechanically processing partially stripped electronic units. Initial pretreatment with a 20-wt-pct-NaOH solution solubilized most of the aluminum. After washing, the resulting residue was incinerated to destroy any organics attached to metal particles. The incinerated residue was leached with 20-vol-pct H2S04 solution using two methods, countercurrent pressure and ultrasonic-aided leaching to solubilize the base metals, predominantly copper. Silver was recovered from the base metal leach residue using 50-vol-pct HN03, and gold contaminated with several percent palladium was recovered from the silver leach residue using aqua regia. The impure silver and gold plus palladium products represent about 1.5 wt pct of the high-tension-separated metal concentrate. Included is a three-step process evaluation study of mechanical processing of general electronic scrap and two hydrometallurgical procedures for leaching high-tension-separated metallic concentrates obtained from the mechanical processing step. Process evaluation concluded that only mechanical processing is economically viable.

Jan 1, 1985

By Jon K. Ahlness

The Bureau of Mines investigated technologies for testing the integrity of in situ leach mining wells, as required by environmental regulations. To test for leaks, inflatable packers were used to seal the well casing. Laboratory testing determined that the packers could contain a casing pressure up to 50 to 60 psi (345 to 414 kPa) less than the packer inflation pressure. Single-and double-packer configurations were successfully field-tested in 32 wells ranging from 500 to 530 ft (153 to 162 m) in depth. A rigid pipeline and a hoist truck were used to run the packers in and out of the wells for the double-packer tests, which averaged 2-1/4 h each. In an effort to decrease the time of the rigid-pipe double-packer test. a self-contained trailer-mounted test system was designed and built. It utilizes a winch and steel cable to run the packers in and out of the well and high-pressure nylon tubing for packer inflation. This system was successfully field-tested in eight wells averaging 650 ft (198 m) in depth and resulted in a time savings of 13 pct and an operator-hour reduction of 42 pct.

Jan 1, 1985

By C. O. Hawk

As an exploratory effort to produce useful products from coal by a new path, the Bureau has made a few experiments on the fast heating of finely ground coal particles by irradiation with a flash of high intensity light. The flash was produced by an electrical discharge at high voltage through a xenon-filled tube. The flashes lasted from 2 to 3 milliseconds. The reaction took place in small sample tubes, ½ inch-dimeter by 4 inches long, and with small amounts of coal (total amount charged 0.1 gram, probable effective amount not more than 20 milligrams). Average particle size of the coal, estimated on a numerical basis, was 20 microns. Temperatures reached were evidently quite high, because all products obtained in quantity were characteristic of high temperature pyrolysis. Apparently, conversion of the coal was extensive where isolated particles received the full benefit of a flash. It seems particularly significant that acetylene was present in appreciable amounts--comprising almost 3 percent of the total gaseous product in one case. This is good evidence of a short heating period to very high temperature (well above 1,000° C) followed by rapid quenching. Although the results are interesting, they do not suggest any immediate practical application.

Jan 1, 1963