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By John B. Goodman

This report summarizes the work done by the Koppers Company, Incorporated, in cooperation with the Bureau of Mines on the commercial evaluation of the primary low-temperature tars produced from Texas lignite in the Rockdale, Tex., plant of the Aluminum Company of America in conjunction with the Texas Power and Light Company. The interest of the Bureau of Mines in this project is twofold. First, through its cooperative agreement with the Texas Power and Light Company the Bureau has assisted in the technical design and practical operation of the prototype, externally heated, entrained-state carbonizer for producing char for electric-power production and for primary low-temperature tar. Second, the first successful operation of the prototype carbonizers employing the Bureau of Mines-Parry process on lignitic coal in 1953-54 led to the production of large quantities of primary lignitic tar, concerning which too little was known or had heretofore been published in this country.

Jan 1, 1959

By Alexander May

The U.S. Bureau of Mines investigated the application of oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and pH measurements to environmental studies of mining and mineral processing wastes, and developed a computer program to estimate the concentrations of species of lead present in samples from a lead processing waste site. The methods and techniques for the ORP-pH measurements were investigated using known standard solutions made in the laboratory, samples from a ferric oxide waste disposal pond at a rutile production plant, and samples of well water and stream water from the lead processing waste site. ORP values were measured from 5 to 80 °C, from pH 1 to pH 12, and at various ratios of oxidant to reductant. The ORP-pH values can help identify valence values and species of ions present, including those of major, minor, and trace concentrations, and also indicate possible reactions at various pH values. The ORP measurements versus temperature yield data from which thermodynamic values can be calculated. The application and limitations of these measurements are discussed, and a brief discussion of the computational program to identify species of lead is presented.

Jan 1, 2010

By G. L. Oldright

[This paper is the fifth 4/ of a series of publications on smelting in the load blast furnace. The objects of this investigation are to determine the conditions obtaining within the blast furnace by direct experimentation, and to correlate the behavior of the furnace at various tines with the main factors governing the operation of the blast furnace, and metallurgical losses.]

Jan 1, 1929

By D. L. Yopps

In research conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Mines, platinum-group metal (PGM) flotation concentrate from the Stillwater Complex, MT, was subjected to biooxidation using Thiobacillus ferrooxidans in an effort to break down the sulfide minerals and liberate the associated PGM's for subsequent chemical leaching. Bacterial preleaching oxidized up to 94 pct of the sulfide present, destroyed the PGM-bearing pentlandite [(Ni,Fe)9S8] mineralization, and dissolved most of the nickel in the concentrate. Cyanidation at 80° C proved to be the most attractive chemical leachant, removing 34 pct of the platinum, 76 pct of the palladium, 94 pct of the rhodium, and 97 pct of the gold from the biooxidized concentrate. Research also indicated that increased sulfide oxidation during the preleach phase led to improved PGM recovery in the subsequent chemical leaching phase.

Jan 1, 2010

By W. E. Robinson

A laboratory study wan made to determine whether drying and preheating Colorado oil shale with waste retort gases has any appreciable effect on its oil yield. Samples of crushed oil shale were heated at subretorting temperatures in a specially constructed electric furnace by gases similar in composition to waste gases from oil-shale retorts. The results of this study showed that preheating oil shale with nitrogen or a reducing mixture had no effect upon the oil or water yield. However, oxygen in the preheating gas caused a decrease of oil and an increase of water. In general, the oil yield decreased with (1) increase in oxygen content of the heating gases, (2) increase in temperature of the heating gas, (3) increase in heating time, and (4) decrease in the particle size of tho shale. The decrease in oil and the increase in water resulting from preheating were due to oxidation of the benzene-insoluble organic material (kerogen) rather than to oxidation of the benzene-soluble organic material (natural bitumen) in the shale, A small amount of oil was volatilized during preheating, which would constitute an additional loss if prober precautions were not taken to recover it. The results obtained in this laboratory study indicate that oil shale can be preheated without appreciable decrease in oil yield by proper selection of preheating conditions.

Jan 1, 1951

The original manuscript of section 2 of this series of miners' circulars devoted to accident prevention in bituminous-coal mines was completed in September 1944. At that time roof bolting had been tried with some success in the lead-mining district of south-eastern Missouri, but information on the subject was so fragmentary that it was not included as a method of roof support. References to roof support in bituminous-coal mines, therefore, were confined almost entirely to conventional timbering methods. In 1947 the Bureau instituted a research program and intensive study of the general problem of roof control, which emphasized roof-bolt application. The rapid increase in mechanized mining following the close of World War II provided the impetus for the Bureau's roof-control investigations, because the vertical supports used with conventional timber restricted the maneuverability of mechanical face equipment, and the industry wanted to explore every possible method of eliminating interference with the production cycle to gain full advantage of mechanized mining. Moreover, the accidental dislodgment of vertical supports greatly increased the roof-fall hazard. As roof falls have killed and seriously injured more mine workmen every year than any other cause or classification of injury since records have been kept, the Bureau assumed this investigative leadership with the prime objective of substantially reducing the annual toll from falls of roof, including falls of rib and face.

Jan 1, 1958

By N. L. Wimmler

The Metaline mining district was examined in 1942 by Bureau of Mines engineers with the cooperation of geologists of the Federal Geological Survey. Because the demands of war production were rapidly depleting reserves in some of the older zinc-lead producing districts of the United States, it was decided that an attempt should be made to increase the proved or indicated ore reserves of the Metaline district. With this objective, certain areas to be explored by diamond drilling were selected. The Bureau of Mines began work on this program. January 15, 1943; work terminated September 8, 1945. Forty-five holes were drilled in seven areas, The holes ranged from 154 feet to 2,050 feet in length. Their combined length was 38,150 feet. Thirty-three of the holes were drilled in. the North Pend Oreille and the West Bella May areas.

Jan 1, 1949

By John A. Breslin

This publication provides an historical overview of research undertaken by the U.S. federal government over the last 100 years to improve the health and safety of our nation?s miners. Federal research efforts began with the establishment of the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM, or the Bureau) in 1910. They have continued over the past century, even after the Bureau?s closure in 1996. It is hoped that this publication will give the reader an appreciation for the work of mining health and safety researchers over the past century, and of the miners served by this research. Although not a comprehensive history, this report highlights the key organizational changes made within the Bureau and the federal government that affected mining safety and health research. Some mention is also made of Bureau research not directly related to mining health and safety. Note that the work classified as safety and health research has varied over the last century. For example, before 1970 the Bureau separated mining research and safety and health research. At that time, mining research included ground control and methane drainage because they had direct implications for mine safety. Explosives research was also reported separately from health and safety, even though permissible explosives research was obviously related to safety. Therefore, where budget figures from the Bureau are mentioned in this report, it is often not possible to separate safety and health research from other types of research. This history is generally chronological, with a few exceptions. Because of their prominence and direct links to Bureau research, most of the Public Health Service mining studies completed before 1970, when NIOSH was established, will be discussed in a single section, even though the work spanned many decades. Likewise, for convenience, the brief histories of the Bureau?s mining research centers are located in one section.

Feb 1, 2010

By S. L. Weber, Y. H. Cheng, D. E. Banks, J. K. H. Ma

"The aggressive industrialization of America, the development of powered tools which generated massive amounts of respirable-sized dust particles, a latency period which may mask the relationship between exposure and development of disease, inadequate (or perhaps even careless) understanding of the relationship between dust exposure and disease, and respiratory protection which has later proven to be inadequate have resulted in a series of epidemics of silicosis which have caused the premature death of many workers.1-11 Emphasis on the regulatory control of dust levels in the workplace has greatly reduced the development of pneumoconiosis in the United States and in other developed as well as underdeveloped countries, yet the prevention of silicosis or coal workers' pneumoconiosis has not come close to being accomplished. Despite the public health perspective that pneumoconiosis arc totally preventable illnesses, there appears to be little evidence that this is the case.Cases of pneumoconiosis continue despite aggressive enforcement policies by regulatory agencies, attempts at dissemination of very readable materials aimed at workers and management 12.13 and respiratory dust exposure standards which are in place and appear, for the most part, protectivc.14- 16 It is more than frustrating for all parties associated with advocating workers' health to see reports of workers with aggressive silicosis. On another level, both the physician and the affected worker are helpless when a diagnosis of silicosis or coal workers' pneumoconiosis is made. Both realize that there is no proven way to affect the natural history of these progressive inflammatory and fibrotic processes. Neither is there any ""compassionate use"" therapy. What must be developed, at the very least, is a ""salvage therapy"" which has the potential to reverse, or at least dramatically lessen, the aggressive natural history of silicosis which develops over relatively short time periods. Because of the aggressive nature of silicosis (compared to coal workers' pneumoconiosis) attempting to develop a therapy for this illness should be a priority."

Nov 1, 1995

By Welton J. Wenger

Apparatus for the analytical distillation of crude oils under an artificial pressure of 760 mm. of mercury has been designed and constructed. This apparatus enables laboratories at high altitudes to make Bureau of Mines routine analyses of crude oils with results similar to those obtained by laboratories at sea level. This is especially important for laboratories in the Rocky Mountain region, where barometric pressures of approximately 600 mm of mercury are encountered. During the past 30 years, the ?Bureau of Mines has made several thousand analyses of crude oils from various parts of the United States and from foreign countries. The first part (stage 1) of the distillation for the analysis is made at atmospheric pressure, and as most petroleum laboratories are near sea level, comparable results are obtained ordinarily. However, the increased use of the method by .laboratories at high altitudes has caused difficulty, as the analyses cannot be accurately compared with analyses from laboratories at sea level. For instance, laboratories at 7,200 feet generally report 2 to' 4 percent (based upon the crude oil) more gasoline than sea level laboratories. The use of the pressurized apparatus developed by the writers makes it possible for these high-altitude laboratories to duplicate analyses made at sea level.

Jan 1, 1949

By M. L. Glenn

The Bureau of Mines is conducting research on substitutes for chromium-containing alloys in order to conserve imported critical and strategic materials. Part of this research concentrates on finding low-chromium substitutes for heat-resisting stainless steels for the temperature range 600° to 800° C. Ferritic alloys are emphasized that have oxidation resistance provided by chromium contents as low as 10 pct and stress rupture strength provided by the precipitation of the chi(X)-phase intermetallic compound, (Fe36Cr12 (Mo, Ti)10). Initially, research was concentrated on selecting an alloy composition having a minimum chromium content with strengthening provided by the X-phase. An Fe-(10-12 pct)Cr-6 pct Mo-(1.5-2.0 pct)Ti alloy was selected. After the alloy selection, the tensile, stress rupture, and oxidation properties were determined. Stress rupture properties were found to be similar to those of 304 stainless steel. However, the alloys possessed brittleness during both stress rupture and tensile testing, possibly as a result of too high a content of molybdenum and titanium. Higher than expected oxidation rates were found that may be caused by the high molybdenum content.

Jan 1, 1984

By CLARENCE G. SMITH

Prior to the actual development of an oil property it is difficult to determine the quantity of oil under the property and the rate at which this oil can be brought to the surface-factors that determine the ultimate value of the property. Consequently, there has been much confusion in devising accounting systems that, during the entire life of a property, will show costs and profits from which the producer can determine whether his property is being worked at a profit or otherwise. The Bureau of Mines publishes this report in recognition of a distinct need for a simple treatise on accounting methods adapted to the peculiarities of the petroleum industry. Probably many companies operating oil wells are not fully acquainted with details important to the welfare of their business, because their account books fail to furnish them with exact and adequate data. With the accountant rests the responsibility of providing the management with reports setting forth the details of the business expressed in fitting terms as well as in dollars and cents. These reports are a means whereby efficiency may be maintained, waste prevented, oil obtained and sold, and money suitably reinvested. They also enable a concern to study the progress of its business in order to conserve to the utmost the possible benefits from an exhaustible deposit of mineral wealth. When managements realize the extent of the waste at their properties more attention will be given to the character of the accountancy records. Herein are presented descriptions and discussions of balance sheets, profit-and-loss statements, and bookkeeping methods peculiarly adapted to the oil business. As far as possible, technical phrases have been omitted in order that those not familiar with accounting terms may be able to follow the subject matter. The systems of keeping books outlined in Chapter X have all been found practical. For brevity as well as clearness the major part of the work refers to the company operating only one property.

Jan 1, 1917

By W. A. Selvig

"The tests described in this paper were conducted under the sponsorship of Subcommittee VII on Pulverizing Characteristics of Coal, a subcommittee of Committee D-5 on Coal and Coke, American Society for Testing Materials, with a view to evaluating various laboratory procedures for testing grindability of coal in connection with commercial pulverization of coal for use as powdered fuel. The subcommittee, at a meeting in New York City on February 21, 1934, selected for test four methods that had been developed during the past few years for testing grindabilitay of coal and were being used by coal-testing laboratories in the United States and Canada. These methods are:Bureau of Mines method, Cross method, Fuel Research Laboratory method, and Hardgrove method. Subcommittee VII agreed that the grindability tests should be made on five coals selected to cover a wide range of hardness. The Pittsburgh Experiment Station, Bureau of Mines, was asked to direct the investigation and to prepare representative samples of the coals. Laboratories of the fol. lowing institutions and companies agreed to cooperate by making grindability tests: Babcock & Wilcox Co., Foster Wheeler Corporation, Fuel Engineering Co., of New York, Fuel Research Laboratory of the Canada Department of Mines, and Northwest Experiment Station of the Bureau of Mines.ACKNOWLEDGMENTSHelpful suggestions in planning the investigation were made by A. C. Fieldner, chairman, Committee D-5 on Coal and Coke, A.S.T.M., and chief engineer, Experiment Stations Division, U. S. Bureau of Mines, Washington, D. C., and E. B. Ricketts, research engineer, New York Edison Co., New. York City.The coal samples were supplied through the courtesy of floats, Wheeler Corporation, New York City; Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Pottsville, Pa.; Pittsburgh Coal Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.; and Pocahontas Fuel Co., Inc., New York City."

Feb 1, 1936

By R. D. Rosenkranz

The Bureau of Mines has investigated the availability of copper from 272 deposits in market economy countries. The deposits studied have demonstrated resources totaling 413 million metric tons of contained copper and account for more than 90 pct of the reserve base for market economy countries. Using data gathered as part of its Minerals Availability Program, the Bureau performed geologic, engineering, and economic evaluations in order to determine the copper production potential of each deposit. At the 1981 copper market price of $0.85/lb, the deposits studied could economically produce an estimated 88 million metric tons of copper (allowing for profit computed at a 15-pct rate of return), primarily from mines operating at the time of the study (1981). At this price, producing mines in market economy countries could economically produce only 2.1 million metric tons of refined copper per year. However, actual 1981 production was 6.2 million metric tons, indicating that many mines continued to operate even though they were unable to cover all production costs. For U.S. producing mines, the estimated average cost of production per pound (including profit at a 15-pct rate of return) was $0.15 higher than the average cost in other market economy countries.

Jan 1, 1983

By Alla D. Mah

The work described in this report is part of a Bureau of Mines research program for obtaining heats of formation of inorganic oxides, carbides, and nitrides by combustion calorimetry. The heats of combustion of molybdenum subnitride (Mo2N) and chromium subnitride (Cr2N) were measured. The data were combined with previous determinations of the heats of formation of molybdenum trioxide and chromium sesquioxide to obtain the heats of formation of the two subnitrides from the elements at 298.15° K. The corresponding free energies of formation were estimated. The heat data were compared with those of nine previously studied nitrides.

Jan 1, 1960

By Jack Mantel

The goal of this 42-month contract was to increase safety in low-seam underground coal mines through development and in-mine evaluation of a temporary roof support system for roof drills and floor-riding operator compartments for a loader and shuttle car. The program was performed in three phases. During Phase I, state-of-the-art canopy technology was investigated, and preliminary design and mock-up evaluations were performed for temporary roof supports for single-and dual-boom bolters and for transverse-mounted floor-riding canopies for a shuttle car and coal loading machine. The shuttle car and loader canopies were approved for further development, and the design, fabrication, testing, and certification were completed in Phase II. In Phase III, the Bureau of Mines furnished an FMC 6L shuttle car fur use in the evaluation of the canopy for 45 shifts. The shuttle car canopy was evaluated at Virginia Crews Coal Company in West Virginia. Efforts to secure an evaluation site for the loader canopy were unsuccessful. The loader canopy was shipped to Bruceton for possible future evaluation.

Jan 1, 1985

By J. Alton Burks

When acoustical materials are used in a mining environment for noise control purposes, they are subject to environmental deterioration from hydraulic fluid, moisture, and dust. These and other factors can cause physical degradation of the material, which can lessen its ability to absorb sound. In this study, the Bureau of Mines measured the sound absorption properties of 16 different acoustical materials after 4 sample treatments: (1) being kept clean and dry (as received from the supplier), as a control or reference standard, (2) immersion in water and draining, (3) immersion in lOO-pct-petroleum-type hydraulic fluid and draining, and (4) exposure in a coal mine. The last three treatments were used to approximate the type of physical degradation that can be experienced in actual use. The impedance tube or standing wave method was used to measure the normal absorption coefficient. It was found that the absorption coefficient of most materials was adversely affected by the retention of either oil or water, with oil having the greater effect. The only class of materials that was affected by neither oil nor water was neoprene foam.

Jan 1, 1990

By J. M. Singer

Thermal, mechanical, and physical properties of virgin and heat-treated Pittsburgh seam coal were determined as part of a comprehensive study of combustion of monolithic coal block. The information was sought to help characterize pyrolysis and combustion processes in underground coal mine fires but should also prove useful in the study of in situ and surface coal gasifiers. Measured properties include thermal conductivity, specific heat, thermal expansion, density, compressive and tensile strength, porosity, and permeability. The transport property data were obtained (when feasible) in two mutually perpendicular directions of the anisotropic virgin coal material, and coal samples carbonized for 5 hours at temperatures of 350° C, 475° C, 500° C, 650° C, and 850° C. Other coals (Pocahontas No. 3, Sewell, and Illinois No. 6 seams) were investigated for porosity and relative permeability. Interdependence among all properties was evident from the results; however, only a few correlations could be developed owing to inhomogeneity of coal material and specimen variation, which had the effect of reducing the accuracy of measurement and increasing data scatter.

Jan 1, 1979

By Robert L. de Beauchamp

The Bureau of Mines reviewed aluminum chloride technology to determine the problems associated with its preparation from minerals, and to ascertain the best areas for research to solve these problems. Commercial AlC13 production processes are described and the ?state of the art? for the preparation of AlC13 from aluminous materials is evaluated. Areas for further research are indicated.

Jan 1, 1969

By W. E. Lamont

The Federal Bureau of Mines, in cooperation with phosphate companies in the Florida land-pebble area, made a comprehensive study of the waste clays, or "phosphate slimes," produced in the mining of phosphate rock in Florida. These slimes represent a significant ecological problem and a major deterrent to effective land recovery in the phosphate-mining areas. Physical, chemical, and mineralogical studies were made of slime samples submitted by 15 of the 16 plants in Florida in an effort to identify factors that prevent successful consolidation of the slimes and subsequent recovery of the mined lands. Results of these studies indicated that the clay mineral attapulgite, a hydrated magnesium silicate, was primarily responsible for the very poor settling characteristics of the slimes, and that the quantity of attapulgite in the slimes effectively controlled the settling rate, pulp density of terminal solids, viscosity, percent solids of filter cake, and flocculant requirements.

Jan 1, 1975