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By John P. Carter

The U.S. Bureau of Mines conducted research to determine suitable construction materials for use in brine and steam environments produced from high-salinity geothermal brines. The high-temperature, high-salinity geothermal brines in the Salton Sea Known Geothermal Resources Area (KGRA) are a valuable source of energy and mineral values. The brine and steam produced from them are corrosive and cause early failure of many common materials of construction. Mass-loss and electrochemical corrosion measurements were conducted on over 60 metal alloys in brine and steam environments produced from geothermal well Magmamax No.1, located at the Salton Sea KGRA, at temperatures from 1800 to 2150 C, and in synthetic Magmamax brine at 105° and 232° C. General corrosion, crevice and pitting corrosion, and stress corrosion were examined along with the effects of dissolved gases. The alloys with the most acceptable corrosion performance in high-temperature, high-salinity geothermal environments were the high-chromium ferritic stainless steels, the Inconels and Hastelloys, and the titanium alloys. Specific alloys that performed well in wellhead brine included Fe29Cr4Mo, E-Brite 26-1, stabilized Fe26Cr1Mo, 6X, Inconel 625, Hastelloy C-276, Hastelloy S, Hastelloy G, Ti5OA, TiO.2Pd, and TiCode 12.

Jan 1, 2010

By William E. Souder

The behavioral accident simulator (BAS) is a computer program that can be used to simulate accident situations. It demonstrates how the potential to have an accident grows or diminishes as a result of changes in various environmental, organizational, and behavioral factors. It calculates the number of fatalities that may result from various conditions and graphically displays these data. The BAS is useful for studying systems of accident causes, for demonstrating the various ways to diminish fatalities, and for training employees. This Bureau of Mines report provides the detailed instructions needed to use the BAS.

Jan 1, 1988

By A. C. Fieldner, W. A. Selvig

Information concerning the fusibility of coal ash has become of considerable value to the consumer of coal, mainly in connection with the troublesome formation of clinker resulting from the melting of the ash constituents of the burning coal. The growing interest in such data has led the Bureau of Mines to make a general survey of the "fusing" or "softening" temperatures of the ash from coals of the United States. It is hoped that this information when used together with the large number of coal analyses published 1 by the bureau will assist the consumer of coal in comparing different coals, and in selecting the coal best adapted for his purpose.

Jan 1, 1922

A prototype EM Location System was fabricated and tested at the Geneva Mine near Dragerton, Utah. This system consisted of six manpack transmitters and six manpack receivers covering the frequency band from 900 Hz to 2900 Hz as well as a six channel receiver designed for use, in a helicopter. Tests showed that EM signals from lightweight (3/4 lb) transmitters could be detected both on the surface and from a helicopter through as much as 4450 ft of relatively high conductivity (2 X 10- 2 mhos/m) overburden. Furthermore, the resulting field strength profiles could be used to determine source location to within 150 ft of the actual surveyed location in the mine. Modifications were made to a Monitoring, Locating and Communications System being tested at the Bruceton Mine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. These modifications have improved the performance and quality of the paging and voice telephony mode of the system. Subsurface receiver modifications have improved reception of voice downlink signals.

Jan 1, 1973

By Thomas Curtin

The Bureau of Mines, in its researches aimed to prevent wastes and to increase efficiency in oil-well practice, has investigated the matter of casing troubles and fishing methods. The results of the investigation are set forth in this paper. After expensive development work, many wells being drilled for oil have been abandoned because of casing troubles. These troubles in many instances have been thought to be insurmountable, whereas they are sometimes susceptible of solution. In fields_ where casing difficulties are of daily occurrence, methods have been evolved for combating them. Were these methods more widely known and applied wherever the same conditions exist, the oil industry at large would be greatly benefited. This report attempts to classify these troubles and suggests solutions that will save the operator discouragement and expense. It is assumed throughout this paper that the reader is so familiar with the ordinary oil-well drilling and fishing methods that detailed explanation is unnecessary. The well-drilling terms that are used herein will be readily understood by those for whom this discussion is intended. However, in order to avoid confusion as to the sense in which some of these terms are applied, definitions &re included.

Jan 1, 1920

By P. R. Thomas

The Bureau of Mines determined the costs associated with the production of chromium, in the form of chromite and high-carbon ferrochomium, from the demonstated resources of 10 market economy nations. The analyses evaluated the relative geologic and economic position of these chromite resources contained within 80 producing or potential mining operations. This report presents cost evaluations of a demonstrated resource of chromite, contained within the nations studied, of appoximately 1.2 billion metric tons (t). Of this total, 70 pct is contained within the southern African nations of Zimbabwe and the Republic of South Africa. The majority of current chromium mining and smelting capacity is contained within these two countries as well. India and the Philippines have recently demonstrated greatly increased chromite resources and hold the most promise for expanding both chomite and ferrochromium production outside southern Africa. Their demonstrated resources represent approximately 7 and 16 pet, respectively, of the cost evaluated total tonnage. Chromite resources, on an identified or hypothetical basis worldwide, are highly concentrated within Zimbabwe and South Africa, with these two nations containing in excess of 95 pet of the total. Given the present market structure, a majority of chromium contained within the demonstrated chromite resources of the nations studied is economically recoverable; but from a long-term resource and economic perspective, South Africa should inceasingly dominate the markets for both chromite and high-carbon ferrochromium. In addition, it is anticipated that an increasing percentage of chromium traded on the world market in the future will be in the form of high-carbon ferrochromium as opposed to chromite, as this additional processing stage continues to relocate from the industrial nations that account for a majority of chromium consumption to those nations that mine chromite.

Jan 1, 1984

By Larry Patts, Jon Hummer, Jim Noll, Aleksandar Bugarski1, George Schnakenberg, Steve Mischler, Mike Crum, Shawn Vanderslice, Rick Anderson

This study is organized under the auspices of the Metal/Nonmetal Diesel Partnership formed by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the National Mining Association (NMA), the National Stone Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA), the United Steel Workers of America (USWA) and the MARG Diesel Coalition. The ultimate objective of the study is to reduce the exposure of underground miners to diesel particulate matter (DPM) and gases, and to help in fulfilling the partnership’s goal of identifying technically and economically feasible controls to curtail particulate matter emissions from existing and new diesel powered vehicles in underground metal and nonmetal mines. The majority of current knowledge on the performance of the diesel particulate filter (DPF) systems and other control technologies is based on studies done under laboratory conditions, the results then being applied the results to on-highway vehicles. According to the best knowledge of the authors, only two comprehensive studies that were conducted recently at Noranda’s Bathurst Mining and Smelting Mine and International Nickel Company’s Stobie Mine under the sponsorship of the Diesel Emissions Evaluation Program [McGinn 2001, Bugarski and Schnakenberg 2001, Bugarski and Schnakenberg 2002] offered some insight into the problems associated with the deployment of modern DPFs to underground mining vehicles. The U.S. mining industry has expressed concern that this rather limited knowledge base is not sufficient to help them comply with the rule limiting DPM exposure of underground metal and nonmetal miners [30 CFR 57.5060 2001]. The partnership agreed that a series of comprehensive field evaluations of DPFs in several underground mines was needed to determine their viability of DPF systems and establish confidence in their performance. The first in this series of studies was the one conducted in Stillwater Mining Company’s Nye Mine, Nye, Montana. This study was conducted in two phases. The objective of the first phase was to establish the effectiveness of the selected technologies in reducing diesel emissions by using an isolated zone methodology. The objective of the second phase was to assess the effectiveness of diesel particulate filters in controlling the exposure of underground miners in actual production scenarios. As part of the first phase of the study a series of tests were conducted at Nye Mine from May 19, 2003 until May 30, 2003. The results of Phase I of the study are presented in this report.

Jan 1, 2005

By Dean. R. S.

The work of the copper metallurgy section during the year was devoted to laboratory studies of sulphur recovery from smelter smoke and combination smelting of copper and manganese. Both of these subjects were new this year. Combination Smelting of Copper and Manganese According to published work, the affinity of manganese for sulphur is greater than that of iron for sulphur, so that if a suitable mixture of com-pounds of iron, copper, and manganese be smelted to form a matte and slag, manganese should concentrate in the matte, together with copper.

Jan 1, 1937

By Doerner H. A.

From thermodynamic calculations Maier predicted that zinc oxide and methane would react at specified temperatures substantially according to equation (1). (1.) ZnO + CH4 = Zn (gas) + CO + 2H2. Other reactions that may take place are (2.) CH4 = C + 2H2. (3.) ZnO + CO = Zn (gas) + CO2. (4.) ZnO + H2 = Zn (gas) + H2O. Maier predicted that 870°C would be the critical temperature above which reaction (1) would take precedence over reaction (2) and that reaction (1), at equilibrium, would be substantially complete at or above 927°C. Theoretical considerations indicate that reaction (1) is reversible: this is supported, but not proved, by experimental data. The other reactions are known to be reversible. At low temperatures reaction (2) requires a catalyst and it is slow below 1000°C. Reactions (3) and (4) are rapid, but the equilibrium constants are such that only small concentrations of CO2 or H2O can be produced below 1000°C. Maier calculated that CO2 should not exceed 0.5 per cent at 870°C., and the calculation for water vapor gives a still smaller order of magnitude.

Jan 1, 1931

By S. H. Ash

Probably one of the most significant departures in tunneling practice is the introduction of Diesel locomotives far haulage (Diesel trucks have been used for some time). The fallacy of the belief that they do not generate carbon monoxide or toxic gases and can be used indiscriminately has been proved by the authors through observation for several years of atmospheric conditions surrounding the use of Diesel engines in tunnels. Diesel locomotives haves been introduced in tunnel haulage for reasons other than safety or health. Except to the extent that they replace trolleys, with their danger of causing electrocutions, modern Diesel locomotives do not increase safety Or remove any ordinary hazards to safety or health. In fact, they create such hazards, the extent of which is limited entirely by the carbon monoxide-content level set, method of ventilation, adequacy of the measures.

Jan 1, 1942

By J. William Ganser

This paper is one of a series being prepared by the U. S. Bureau of Mines describing mining and milling methods and costs at cement-plant quarries throughout the United States. These papers are designed to disseminate technical information regarding the methods used. The cost tabulations represent local operating expenditures only and not total production costs. It is recognized that publication of total production costs might in many instances cause embarrassment to individual producers as well as to the industry as a whole. On the other hand, operating costs are essential to the technical discussion and study of the methods employed. The attention of the reader is specifically palled to this differentiation in order that no misunderstanding of the scope of the cost tabulations shall ensue. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author wishes to acknowledge the assistance of Fred Burkett, civil engineer, and F. O. Londrey, chief clerk, of the Trinity Portland Cement Co., for assistance in preparation of this paper, "The Geology of Dallas County. 1918," Bulletin 1818, Texas Geological Survey, Austin, Tex., by E. W. Shuler, was also freely consulted.

Jan 1, 1931

By Charles L. Kimbell

Although virtually every available indicator of world mineral industry activity demonstrated a gain in 1983 relative to the 2 very poor years of 1981 and 1982, the overall prospects for future years seemed far from bright. There were significant upturns in the quantity and value of mineral commodities produced, traded, and consumed in 1983, and many nonfuel mineral prices advanced, although the price advances in current dollars in most instances barely compensated for inflation. The pattern of investment in exploration and development of new mining ventures and new plant construction reflected virtual industry-wide concern that substantial upturns in demand for mineral commodities in the near future were unlikely, at least for most large volume products. The world oil glut continued despite cutbacks in production, and substantial stocks of many other mineral commodities mitigated against growth in total productive capacity, at least among market economy nations. In these countries, development activity at both mines and plants was confined largely to programs aimed at substituting new, more efficient installations for old, uneconomic or marginally economic plants. Among the centrally planned economy countries, the pattern was somewhat different on the whole, but even there, growth in total productive capacity was evidently somewhat restrained, although it seemed questionable whether the restraint was a function of intentional planning or simply an inability to accomplish planned programs on schedule. International political events, particularly the Iran-Iraq war and the unstable situation in the eastern Mediterranean countries (Lebanon, Israel, and Syria), continued to adversely affect mineral industry activities in those areas. Similarly, the internal and international conflicts in Central America negatively influenced mineral industry operations there. In Afghanistan, it appeared that there was some upturn in the very modest mineral industry operations, but industry activities there undoubtedly continued to be affected by confrontations between the Soviets and the local citizenry.

Jan 1, 1985

By R. V. Ramani

In this report, the application and limitation of the various equipment available for surface coal mining are discussed. The correction factors for adjusting equipment performance arising from machine design, material characteristics, and modes of operation are presented. Engineering design, pit layout and equipment selection are discussed with mathematical derivations. Two computer programs (SMCALC and SMRES) have been written to aid in pit design and equipment selection. The Strip Mine Calculation Program (SMCALC) can be used to select the bucket size and reach of shovels and draglines for various pit widths. It will also calculate the number of drills, loading shovels, trucks and bulldozers needed to achieve a production target. The Surface Mine Reclamation Equipment Selector (SMRES) can be used to select the number of bulldozers, scrapers and front-end loaders needed to achieve the desired production.

Jan 1, 1976

[Module 10. Internally Cued Operating Contingencies Prerequisite: Modules 1-7 - Estimated Instructional Time: 2.42 hrs. Module Abstract Trainees, using programmed instruction, describe the cues, consequences, operational sequences, and possible causes resulting from loss of air pressure from power fluctuations, and from a failure of the automatic lubrication system. Although some of the contingencies may be initially signaled by an alarm or from the oiler, each trainee will demonstrate proficiency in the appropriate operating techniques and procedures. This module also includes a review component for those trainees identified in the assessment exam as requiring less detailed instruction.]

Jan 1, 1976

By W. A. Selvig

EQUIREMENTS of montan wax for industrial use in the United States before World War II were met by imports, nearly all of which came from Germany. An important industry for extraction and refinement of this wax from certain brown coals had developed in Germany. At the beginning of the war, montan-wax imports were shut oft, and American industry was forced to rely largely on substitutes. Since the war, relatively small amounts have been imported from Czechoslovakia. Because of the shortage of montan wax at the close of the war and the fact that industry in the United States had to rely on foreign sources in the past, this investigation was started in 1945 to determine probable yields of wax from domestic lignite. Results of the investigation and the properties of extracted waxes are described in this report. Also included in the report are discussions of the occurrence and geology of lignite deposits of the United States from which samples were obtained for wax extraction and the petrographic composition of lignites, particularly in respect to those components that contribute to wax yields.

Jan 1, 1950

By H. A. Doerner

From thermodynamic calculations3 Maier predicted that zinc oxide Land methane would react at specified temperatures substantially according to equation (1). (1) ZnO + CH; = Zn (gas) + CO + 2H2 Other reactions that may take place are: (2) CH4 = C + 2H2. (3) ZnO + CO = Zn (gas) + CO2 (4) ZnO + H 2 = Zn (gas) + H2O . Maier predicted that 870°C. would be the critical temperature above which reaction (1) would take precedence over reaction (2) and that reaction (1), at equilibrium, would be substantially complete at or above 927°C.

Jan 1, 1931

A list of permissible mine equipment approved by the Bureau of Mines before January 1, 1937, was published in Bureau of Mines Information Circular 6942.3/ Information Circular 7007,4/ published as a supplement thereto, listed equipment approved. Burin', the calendar year 1937. The present list includes most of the material liven in these two publications, as well as approvals that have been issued up to January l, 1940. Some equipment formerly listed has been omitted because it has become obsolete or is no longer actively marketed. The list now includes electrically-operated air compressors, coal drills, loading machines and conveyors, mining machine, mine ones, rock-dusting machines, room hoists, storage-battery gathering and haulage locomotives and storage-battery power trucks, mine telephones, junction boxes, electric cap lamps, flame safety lamps, electric hand and trip lamps, electric flood lens, flashlights, methane detectors, and single and multiple-shot blasting units. The appendix at the end of this circular lists trailing, cables that have passed tests prescribed by Schedule 2D. When equipment passes the inspections and tests prescribed by the United Status Department of the interior, Bureau of Mines, in published "schedules" or standards, it is formally approved as "permissible" for use in gassy mines, and the manufacturer is then permitted to mark it with an approval plate that identifies it as having been approved by the Bureau. The inspections and tests are designed to insure that each equipment satisfies the minimum requirements for safety in use. The Bureau's purpose in investigating equipment of this type and listing that

Jan 1, 1940

By Forrest T. Moyer

All general measures of the safety record of the coal mining industry worsened appreciably in 1970. Injury experience for the year was 260 fatal and 11,552 nonfatal injuries at respective frequency rates of 1.00 and 44.40 per million man-hours of worktime. The fatality total was 57 higher and the rate of occurrence was 18 percent higher than the corresponding figures of 203 fatal injuries with a frequency rate of 0.85 in 1969. The worsened fatality record in 1970 resulted primarily from a major disaster (a single accident which results in the death of five men or more) on December 30, 1970, that killed 38 men. There were no major disasters in 1969. The total of 11,552 nonfatal injuries in 1970 was the highest annual total since 1960. It was 1,635 higher and the frequency rate was 6 percent higher than the corresponding totals for 1969 of 9,917 nonfatal injuries occurring at a rate of 41.76. The injury severity rate of 8,308 days lost or charged per million man-hours was 13 percent worse than that of 7,359 in 1969. Similarly, the average severity of 183 days lost or charged per injury in 1970 was 10 days or 6 percent higher than in 1969. Aggregate worktime of 260.2 million man-hours and production of 609.8 million tons in 1970 were, respectively, 10 and 7 percent higher than in 1969. An average of 144,480 men were at work on an average of 227 active days in 6,316 mines and 544 mechanical cleaning plants during 1970.

Jan 1, 1973

By J. W. Thompson, M. N. RICH

That there is wide interest in the preparation and properties of metallic zirconium and its salts is indicated by the many articles recently published in scientific and technical journals and the many patents issued. The compounds of zirconium have numerous important uses and more uses will doubtless be found. In the course of the special work on rare metals that were of military importance during the war, the authors of this bulletin were detailed to the Golden mining experiment station of the Bureau of Mines to prepare metallic zirconium and to investigate its properties. A number of investigations in recent years have indicated that sintered or coherent zirconium metal is very resistive to acids; that it can be used for electrodes, and it probably will find metallurgical uses. A steel containing zirconium has been proposed for use in armor plate and automobile parts, and nickel-zirconium alloys have been suggested for high-speed cutting tools and for cutlery. Numerous articles in scientific journals have recommended the use of zirconium oxide as a refractory, an abrasive, a pigment in paints, and as an opaquing agent in enamel ware. The salts have been used in the textile industry' as a mordant and also for weighting silk. When the authors began their investigation, they found it necessary to collect all of the available literature on the general subject of zirconium and its compounds. Pure salts could not be obtained on the market, and in order to get these, as a preliminary step to the preparation of the metal, the literature had to be classified and the methods of preparing the salts investigated. Also, there was much difficulty at first in making satisfactory analyses, and this phase of the work received careful attention. As it was necessary to begin with a historical review of the literature, such a review is given as Part I of this report, and a bibliography is included as Part IV. References to the numbered items in this bibliography are made throughout the text, the usual footnote references being omitted. Analyses of the products and conclusions as to their purity are given under the descriptions of methods of preparation. A table showing the properties of the amorphous metal, and another showing the properties of the coherent metal, will be found under appropriate headings in Part II. No attempt has been made in the historical review to discuss fully all the published information about zirconium and its compounds, but only such material has been assembled as has a direct bearing upon the present work. Considerable difficulty was experienced in collecting this material because of the confusion of terms by various authors who perhaps did not thoroughly understand the chemistry of zirconium.

Jan 1, 1921

By Dennis R. Kasper

This study evaluates selective environmental impacts of two distinct in situ mining techniques. In situ leaching of uranium, porphyry copper and native copper and in situ borehole (slurry) mining of uranium, sandstone, and pebble phosphate ores are the techniques and minerals investigated. The potential impacts onsite in the desert southwest (porphyry copper), Michigan (native copper), Texas and Wyoming (uranium), and Florida and North Carolina (phosphate) are addressed and discussed. The study emphasizes those impacts which are unique to in situ solution leaching and borehole slurry mining. Impacts which are characteristic of all construction projects in the general geographical areas investigated, such as socioeconomic effects on surrounding communities and site-specific impacts, such as rare and endangered species, are beyond the scope of this study. For each of the in situ processes and associated ores investigated, the physical and chemical characteristics of the systems are described, the toxicity of the leaching solutions are presented, and the potential impacts on the environment are developed.

Jan 1, 1979