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By Ludwig Schmidt

[The attention of operators of oil-producing, properties long has been directed toward methods of disposing of petroleum wastes as well as the disposal of oil-field brines. The problem of disposing of petroleum wastes is not easy to solve, and although many operators are to be commended for the effort they have made, much work remains to be done before the Problem can be considered solved. Petroleum wastes include emulsions of petroleum and brine or matures of petroleum and sand that cannot be "broken down" or treated economically by known methods of separating petroleum from deleterious natter; crude petroleum that escapes from pipe lines, fittings, and tanks because of holes in the lines, leaky connections, or some accident; and oil-saturated materials that accumulate accidentally or otherwise in the normal operation of an oil-producing property.]

Jan 1, 1938

By M. W. Von Bernewitz

Corduroy is used for saving gold in small Land large milling plants throughout the world. Investigations by the Metallurgical Division of the Bureau of Mine indicate that corduroy blankets, used with or without a trap or jig in the mill classifier circuit, often are effective in concentrating gold and sulfides, especially if the gold does not amalgamate readily and if not enough sulfides are present to warrant the use of a shaking table, flotation cells, or cyanide plant. Most cold-mining countries include several or many small miner, that produce siliceous ores low in sulfides and gold, which can easily be amalgamated or caught in traps or jigs or on corduroy and shaking tables. At these mines the ore is crushed by stamps or bill mills, and the flow sheets include plates, flotation cells, and cyanide treatment, yet probably nearly as much of the pair minerals may be recovered by the less expensive plant. A well-known western maker of mine and mill equipment asserts, as the result of considerable observation of installed plants, that old and other valuable minerals should be caught as soon as they have been released by a mill, end recommends jigs to do this. A supplier of corduroy has informed us that at some mines this material is being replaced by jigs that catch gold as fine as 400-mesh. But for the small operator, inexpensive equipment such as a corduroy table may be better adapted and give a good recovery of gold and associated minerals.

Jan 1, 1939

By R. S. Dean

"INTRODUCTION The metallurgical research program of the Bureau of Mines has been somewhat disorganized, but generally advanced by the increased activities of the war period. The present report is for the purpose of summarizing the work of the Bureau in this field for the past 15 years and indicating its future plan.Fifteen years ago the Bureau turned from its pioneer work on the physical chemistry of steelmaking to an emphasis on raking a pure steel synthetically, rather than by refining, that is, :producing each of the steel 'constituents in the pure state and combining them by simple melting. Such a procedure permits the use of less high-grade ores, not only of iron, but of the ferroalloy metals, such as manganese and chromium,This program has led to extensive work on iron-ore concentration, agglomeration, reducibility of ores and agglomerates, direct reduction of iron ores and concentrates by a wide variety of processes; special refining processes for iron, the production of pure mangenese, chromium, and cobalt from low-grade ores by electrolytic processes, the production of ferrochromium, ferronickel, and ferronickel-cobalt from low-grade domestic ores, and the development of many special alloys to effectively use the new products.The status of the work in each of these fields and the future program of work, together with a bibliography of papers and patents by the Bureau staff on each of these subjects, are given."

Jul 1, 1946

By Douglas F. Scott

This case study provides an example of how social marketing was applied to meet the needs of business customers. Federal regulations require that all companies develop a written program to track hazardous chemicals at their sites. The HazCom Writer, created by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), is a software tool designed to help companies prepare their required Hazard Communications (HazCom) written plan and list all hazardous chemicals at the company's worksite. The social marketing goal was to provide a product for small- to medium-sized companies to use for federal HazCom rule compliance. The HazCom Wm'ter is a direct NIOSH response to customer and stakeholder needs (including the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the mining community, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration- regulated companies).

Jan 1, 2009

By Wilbert J. Huff

The Explosives Division of the United States Bureau of Mines makes certain laboratory and field investigations that deal with explosions, explosives, ignition, and combustion, together with many related problems, such as the cause and prevention of fires, and certain fundamental scientific questions bearing upon the determination of the chemical and physical mechanisms underlying some of the important phenomena encountered. Its work on explosives has been particularly directed toward determination of the chemical and physical characteristics of explosives designed for use in coal mines and in a more limited way to those used in metal mines, tunnels, quarries, and other engineering operations. This testing is handled by two units of the Explosives Division, as follows:

Jan 1, 1937

By John A. Breslin

This report summarizes the principal activities and significant results of the Bureau of Mines respirable dust research program since passage of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 and the Federal Mine Safety and Health Amendments Act of 1977. This program has investigated new and improved techniques and equipment to reduce or prevent the formation of dust during the cutting cycle; to dilute, suppress, or collect airborne dust generated during mining, handling, and processing; and to improve the measurement of dust levels for evaluation of engineering controls and for enforcement of Federal dust standards. The report is intended for mining industry dust control specialists and other interested parties. It includes a brief summary of the program to date, a section on future research plans and goals, and a list of publications resulting from the Bureau's respirable dust program.

Jan 1, 1982

Objective: To continuously monitor, display, and record concentration levels of respirable coal mine dust in mines to an accuracy of ±25% with a 95% confidence level for at least 30 days without servicing.

Jul 1, 1997

By D. Harrington

Notwithstanding all the effort maa.e to introduce wet drills to prevent dustiness of air of metal-mine workint;s pl2.ces, there has during the pa.st few years arisen in Australia and South Africa an impression that wet drills, in­cluding the Leyner typa, actuali"y cause und..ue quantities of finely divided ore and rock to rise into the air, these fine particles being chiefly attached to · P=i-rticles of fog or spray escc:.ping frow holes using water drills. This fs saia. to have created consternation in the ranks of the min operators who have com­piiei With drastic wet dri llin rf,ubtions, 2nc:i. purchased and operateC1. various types of wet drills at no inconsiderable expeniiture in both money and effort.

Mar 1, 1922

By Roy S. Nutter

An expert system advisor consultant to assist a coal mine section foreman is described in this report. The system is designed for an underground continuous miner section that is being specifically used for longwall development. The system provides three methods of operation that include normal operational mode for use underground, a training mode for use in training section foremen under controlled classroom conditions, and a demonstration mode that is free running. The Face Decision Support System or FDSS, is designed to interface with section environmental monitoring equipment and section production monitoring equipment that may appear in the future. This provides automated reprioritzation of the section foreman's job list from the system. The system 1S written in LASER which is written in C and is operated under the UNIX operating system. The objective of the entire FOSS system is to ensure that no job or piece of information important to safety or to production is forgotten because of the immediate problems confronting the section foreman.

Jan 1, 1988

By William O. Vanderburg

This paper describing the practice at the Wolf Pongee concentrator at Federland, Colo., is one of a series on similar subjects being published by the United States Bureau of Mines. The author acknowledges the assistance of Loach, manager of the Wolf Tongue Mining Co., and of W. G. Roseborough, superintendent of the golf Tongue mill, in the preparation of this paper.

Jan 1, 1933

By T. Ruff

Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Spokane Research Laboratory, studied technology and methods that could reduce accidents involving surface mining equipment that collides with other vehicles or workers, or drives over an unseen road edge. These accidents are partially attributed to the lack of full visibility around these large pieces of equipment. Blind areas can be extensive and this report presents plots of blind areas for five pieces of surface mining equipment. Several technologies designed for detecting obstacles in blind areas and providing a warning to the operator were evaluated on off-highway dump trucks. These proximity warning systems included radar, sonar, GPS, radio transceiver tags, and combinations of radar and cameras. A summary of test results is presented in this report, along with guidance on effective proximity warning technology, installation and maintenance considerations, and recommendations for effective implementation. This study found several commercially available systems that could effectively warn an equipment operator of an impending collision. Several new technologies also show promise for reducing these accidents. In most applications, it is recommended that sensor-based systems be combined with video cameras to provide important alarming functions along with an actual view of the blind area.

Jan 6, 2007

By Alan A. Bergeron, J. L. Michels, R. L. Collins

Advanced communication and monitoring systems were developed and demonstrated in three underground mines representing different mining techniques, geographical areas, and material mined. The first mine was a large coal mine in western Pennsylvania that used room and pillar techniques and continuous mining methods. The system developed for this mine provided private telephone channels, environmental monitoring, and control of underground equipment, all on a single coaxial cable, with all system operations under the direction of a minicomputer. Many advanced features were incorporated into the system, such as paging of roving personnel, two-way section wireless, through-the-earth emergency communication, and redundant signal paths. Television was multiplexed into the system for underground equipment surveillance. A hoist radio system completed the complement of equipment at the mine. The second mine was a magnetite ore mine in eastern Pennsylvania that used block caving mining techniques. A radio system was developed that provided two-way communications between trackless vehicles and roving personnel. A unique system of uhf/vhf repeaters combined with a flleaky-feeder" transmission line offered operational and emergency features not previously found in mine communication systems. Evacuation alarming, personnel paging, fan-hole drill operator communications, and maintenance and safety vehicle dispatch were provided. The system required no dispatcher and operated during power failure. A hoist communications/shaft inspection system completed the installation. The third mine was a deep silver mine in the Cour d’Alene district of Idaho. The system developed for this mine utilizes a single wire pair to provide up to 14 voice channels. A unique combination of PBX, telephone carrier system, and intercoms offered private conversations, selective signaling, and emergency backup communications. Two hoist communication systems were installed to provide a voice link and in-cage belling signal between hoistman and cage.

Jan 11, 1981

By James A. West

Near East region countries continued to supply a large share of the world's energy requirements in 1965. The area accounted for nearly 27 percent of estimated total world crude oil output and for about 60 percent of world exports of this commodity. Also, it was the source of more than 40 percent of the world's petroleum refinery products exports. Although other mineral industry activities remained relatively in? significant in comparison with petroleum, regional production and export of certain metallic and nonmetallic mineral commodities were of world significance. Of these commodities, chief in importance were chromium, copper, mercury, antimony, boron, potash, and phosphate Tack. The Near East region contains the largest and most productive oil resources in the world. Petroleum exploration and development operations during 1965 resulted in crude oil reserve additions of almost 8 billion barrels to increase proved reserves to 219 billion barrels at yearend, an amount equal to nearly 68.5 percent of the world's proved oil reserves. Near East countries' production of crude oil averaged a record 8.337,575 barrels per day in 1965, an increase of nearly 11 percent over that of 1964. On an annual basis, Kuwait continued as the leading oil producer in the Near East; however, Saudi Ayabia was a close second and its rate of production in late 1965 exceeded that of Kuwait. The major oil producing nations and their percentage of total area crude oil output was Kuwait, 26.0; Saudi Arabia 24.3; Iran, 22.3; and Iraq 15.9.

Jan 1, 1967

By J. B. Janus

This report continues a series of analyses of coal samples made by the Bureau of Mines in connection with the yearly purchase of several million tons of coal for various Government agencies. Listed are the analytical data on the composition and quality of tipple and de livered samples of coal collected during fiscal year 1974.

Jan 1, 1975

By Don Steffa

Drift mining, according to California mining terminology - and it is distinctly a California development - is the blocking out and extraction (breasting) of the auriferous gravels of an ancient buried stream either through tunnels, inclines, or shafts; it is one of the minor divisions of the larger classification known as placer mining. The contribution of each of these divisions and of lode mining to the gross production of gold in California totals as follows:3 [ ] The total amount of gold recovered from the placers of California from 1848, when Marshall discovered the precious metal in the mill race at Coloma, to 1928, was $1,226,515,404. The same period saw a total gold production from all operations of $1,823,562,360.

Jan 1, 1932

By Terry J. Close

At the request of the Idaho Congressional Delegation, the U.S. Bureau of Mines Western Field Operations Center investigated the mineral resources of the 140,000-acre Red Mountain roadless area, located northeast of Lowman, in central Idaho. The area includes U.S. Forest Service Red Mountain RARE II area (4-063). The highly mineralized road less area is underlain mainly by granitic rocks which are transected by a northeast-trending fault system. Associated with the granitic rocks and fault system are gold and black sand mineral resources. At least 1,395 ounces of gold and 858 ounces of silver have been recovered from six lode and placer mines within the roadless area. A total of 525 tons of columbium-tantalum, 2,049 tons of euxenite, 83.5 tons of columbite, and 54,862 tons of ilmenite concentrates have been produced from a nearby black sand mineral placer. Mine workings and facilities in the roadless area consist of two dismantled mills, 15 open and caved underground excavations totaling about 2,900 ft of workings, seven large pits and quarries, over 166 smaller dozer-and hand-dug prospect pits and trenches, and in excess of 66 drill holes. The mineralized sites in the roadless area are covered by about 690 current (1992) mining claims. About 130 individuals are holding the claims. Also within the roadless area are four patented lode mining claims. Twenty-five of the 54 mineralized sites identified during the study of the roadless area have, or likely have, mineral resources. One has gold and three have black sand mineral resources that are marginal or subeconomic. There also are two hot springs with thermal water resources, some veins that could be sources of decorative quartz, and dimension stone which was quarried in the past and could be again.

Jan 1, 1993

By J. F. Barkley

During the present war emergency, under the urge of the Federal Government to store coal, the following questions are frequently asked by coal users: (a) Will the coal lose any, of its heating value in storage? (b) Will it slack and give a smaller-size coal? (c) Will its burning characteristics change in any way? (d) Will it catch fire from spontaneous combustion? (e) What precautions should be taken when coal is stored? DISCUSSION (a) Loss of Heating Value Studies by the Bureau of Mines show that the loss of heating value of coal in storage commonly has been overestimated. Various types of storage tests were made on New River, Pocahontas, Pittsburgh gas, and Sheridan (Wyo.) coals. The following is quoted from Bureau of Mines Bulletin 136, Deterioration in the Heating Value of Coal During Storage, by H. C. Porter and F. K. Ovitz (p. 8):

Jan 1, 1943

By John Ward Smith

Detailed oil yield, lithologic, and mineral distribution data are presented for core and drill-cutting samples from the Western Oil Shale Corp. Project Utah EX-1 Corehole (WOSCO EX-I), drilled to sample a deeply buried oil-shale sequence in the Green River Formation of Utah's Uinta Basin. Drilling of this corehole was part of the evaluation of this site for possible oil-shale development by nuclear explosion. Sections sufficiently thick for nuclear development average 15 gallons per ton or less and consist predominantly of low-grade shales. Some properties of low-grade shales may be advantageous to a nuclear experiment by facilitating breakage, fracture development, and in situ retorting. The formation correlates precisely with the well-studied oil shales 25 miles east near the Colorado border. A 235-foot mineralized section containing nahcolite, shortite, and searlesite whose bottom lies 300 feet above the Mahogany zone is described.

Jan 1, 1972

By C. W. Owings, L. D. Tracy

"IntroductionMany bituminous coal-mining companies have inaugurated extensive safety Programs, but the failure to have approved or permissible equipment or safe practice in only one part of a mine has resulted in disaster. The necessity of using only equipment bearing the U. S. Bureau of Mines approval plate is emphasized by the fact that many accidents are the direct result of carelessness on the part of trusted employees using non-permissible equipment. A concrete example is found in the case of an explosion on October 26, 1926, in a mine in the Pittsburgh district, Pennsylvania.Story of the ExplosionAt about 10 o'clock on the night of the explosion an examination was made in No 2 butt left and parallel off 7o. 14 north, and was found to be clear of dangerous accumulations of gas. (See figure). Several hours later a crew of two men brought a self-propelling rock-dusting machine within 50 feet of the face of Po. 2 butt parallel before they examined for gas. The machine operator found an accumulation of explosive gas about 18 inches from the roof. He began to wave his arms thoroughly mixing the gas and air. Undoubtedly a highly explosive mixture was created, and as the men attempted to run the machine back to fresh air an explosion occurred.The helper dropped to the floor and was burned about the face and wrists. The machine operator ran down the entry and was more severely burned about the face, neck, and arms. He later developed pneumonia and died. Both men reached the door in the chute between No. 14 and No. 15 north. A pumper, who had felt the rush of air, found the men and helped them to walk outside."

May 1, 1927

By Gerald L. Finfinger

The Bureau of Mines conducted an experimental degasification project in Island Creek Coal Co.'s Virginia Pocahontas No. S mine. Methane from the overlying Pocahontas No. 4 coalbed was entering mine workings in the Pocahontas No. 3 coalbed through fractures in the roof rock. Small-diameter (l-S/B-inch) holes were drilled into the overlying coalbed to reduce the gas pressure and intercept methane flows, which were piped to the surface through an underground 6-inch-diam steel pipeline. The total methane flow rate from the vertical holes averaged 150,000 ft3/day for the first month. Methane flows into the mine were reduced by 47 pet, thereby demonstrating the effectiveness of this form of degasification in reducing ventilation requirements and providing a safer working environment.

Jan 1, 1979