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By Stephenson. E. L.

"INTRODUCTION In the spring of 1942 a series of magnetometer surveys on deposits of black sand underlying Pleistocene raised marine terraces along the coast of southwestern Oregon was nada by the Division of Geophysical Exploration of the Federal Bureau of Mines in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. A few preliminary tests had been made in the same area in May 1940 and December 1941.The sands contain fine gold and metals of the platinum group, and, beginning in 1852, extensive, but spasmodic mining and exploration have been done for these precious metals. There are many old placer, mines and prospects, although for the most part the yield of the metals has been small. The sands also contain other minerals of potential value, including ilmenite, magnetite, garnet, zircon, and particularly chromite, and the wartime demand for domestic chromite resulted in extensive testing and development of the known deposits. The purpose of the magnetometer surveys was to determine the efficacy of, magnetic methods in tracing and outlining these known deposits and in prospecting for new ones. The field work was done between March 17 and May 29, 1942, by the author assisted by W.W. Paulsen of the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries."

Jun 1, 1945

By Frank C. Morris

It is generally recognized that the productivity and ultimate recovery of an oil well may be reduced as a result of reduction in permeability of the sand at the well bore by invasion of filtrates and clay particles from drilling fluids. As a means of determining whether a sand has been "damaged" from these sources, several investigators2 3 4 5/ have developed methods of analysis based on the rate of increase in bottom-hole pressure while a well is shut in. Because of growing recognition of the importance of completion practices as related to the quantity of oil that may be recovered from wells, the Bureau of Mines has studied completion practices in California and the Midcontinent area. Well-interference and pressure-buildup tests were completed Ear seven wells in the Scurry Reef field to determine the effective permeability in the reservoir.6/ Also, a study was made of the pressure-decline curves obtained from 35 water-input wells in 5 different production areas of northeastern Oklahoma and eastern Kansas.7/

Jan 1, 1957

In the spring of 1944 the Congress passed Public Law 290 (58 Stat. 190, 30 U. S. C. Sec. 321) "authorizing the construction and operation of demonstration plants to produce synthetic liquid fuels from coal, oil shales, agricultural and forestry products, and other substances, in order to aid the prosecution of the war, to conserve and increase the oil resources of the Nation, and for other purposes." Section 2 reads: "In order to carry out the :purpose of this act, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized- (a) to conduct laboratory research and development work, and, with pilot plants and semi-works plants, to make careful process engineering studies, along with structural engineering studies, in order to ascertain lowest investment and operating costs necessary to determine the best demonstration plant designs and conditions of operation;

Jan 1, 1948

By Maurice Deul

This bulletin summarizes the work conducted under the Bureau of Mines methane control research program during the years 1964 to 1979. This research effort was directed toward improving existing methods and developing alternative methods of reducing the explosion hazard during mining. The research was performed in three general areas: (1) basic factors that control the emission of methane into coal mines, (2) methane control during mining, and (3) methane drainage in advance of mining. Topics discussed in this bulletin include the magnitude of the methane problem; the equipment and instruments developed; the geological, chemical and physical parameters that control the movement of methane in coalbeds; the direct method of determining gas content; the estimates of gas content from adsorption data; and methane drainage, through shafts, through horizontal boreholes, through vertical boreholes, or through slant holes. Improvements in ventilation, control of methane in gob areas, and water infusion are also discussed, as is the potential use of coalbed methane as a supplement to natural gas supplies. This bulletin provides a comprehensive source of information on the accomplishments of the Bureau's methane control research program, on the technology developed, and on the direction of further research.

Jan 1, 1986

By J. E. Hamak

This publication contains analyses and related source data for 151 natural gas samples from 19 States. Of the total samples, 138 were collected calendar year 1989. The remainder were collected earlier, but releases to were not received until 1989. All samples were obtained and analyzed as part of U.S. Bureau of Mines investigations of the occurrences of helium in natural gases of countries with free market economies. This survey has been conducted since 1917. The analyses published herein were made by mass spectrometer and chromatograph.

Jan 1, 1990

By Carl L. Bieniewski

U.S. molybdenum production increased fivefold from 18.2 million pounds in 1946 to 90.5 million pounds in 1966, and constituted 87.3 percent of the total free world supply in the 1946-66 period. Mining development in other free world countries in the next few years may reduce the magnitude of the U.S. position, although similar development planned for the United States may counteract some of the relative gains by those countries. In 1966 two-thirds of the reported molybdenum consumption in the United States by end uses was as an alloying element in steel. Molybdenum also has important use as an alloying element in iron and high-temperature alloys. Consumption of molybdenum metal for making fabricated parts has increased in the past few years, especially in the space and nuclear industries. Molybdenum compounds are used mainly for making pigment, catalysts, and lubricants. Based on producer reports of shipments of primary products to domestic customers, U.S. consumption of molybdenum increased from 16.5 million pounds of molybdenum in 1946 to 65.6 million pounds in 1966. U.S. molybdenum reserves are now estimated to be 5.9 billion pounds of recoverable molybdenum, an increase of 2.1 billion pounds above previous estimates. Molybdenum ores account for 71.4 percent of the reserves, copper ores for 22.3 percent and copper-molybdenum, tungsten, and uranium ores for 6.3 percent. Several methods for predicting future demand are illustrated and estimates of demand using these methods were made for 1975. Based on present capacities and announced company plans for future developments, estimates of annual production were made for 1967 through 1975 for the United States, Canada. Chile, Peru, and the free world. These data indicate that molybdenum production in 1975 for the free world is expected to be 246 million pounds with the United States producing 68.2 percent and Canada, Chile, and Peru 30.3 percent.

Jan 1, 1970

By J. L. Henry

The development and status of technology for producing titanium from U.S. resource materials are summarized in this Bureau of Mines report. Commercially feasible processes and investigations of alternative procedures are reviewed in order to identify techniques that could make existing operations more effective or areas in which future research may lead to the development of new production methods. Procedures are described for producing concentrated titanium dioxide from starting materials such as sands, massive deposits, and mineral processing residues containing rutile, ilmenite, and perovskite; producing and purifying titanium tetrachloride from concentrated rutile, ilmenite, and titaniferous slags; reduction of titanium tetrachloride to titanium sponge metal using metallic magnesium or sodium; purifying and consolidating titanium sponge and scrap by arc melting or induction melting techniques; purifying sponge, scrap, and alloys by molten salt electrorefining; and electrowinning titanium from chloride salts.

Jan 1, 1987

By L. H. Banning

Recent dry-top electric smelting tests at the Northwest Electrodevelopment Experiment Station, Albany, Oreg., indicate that a high-titanium slag and a good grade of pig iron can be produced from alluvial Idaho ilmenite. A total of 120 tons of concentrates were smelted during this investigation, to yield an average of 0.5 ton of slag and 0.3 ton of pig iron per ton of ilmenite. Power consumption averaged 1,400 kv.-hr. per ton of ilmenite, at a feed rate of 400 to 500 pounds per hour, when operating at an electrical energy input of 290 to 370 kilowatts. The optimum operating voltage appeared to be 110 volts, phase-to-phase. Graphite electrode consumption averaged 15.6 pounds per ton of ilmenite smelted. Magnesite furnace refractory withstood the corrosive action of the hot metal and slag better than carbon refractory.

Jan 1, 1955

By Richard V. Ageton, Harry E. Tufft, E. A. Holbrook

When an underground excavation is made, the rock surrounding the sides and top of the opening is deprived of its natural support and tends to fall. Whenever caving takes place, the time and extent of the caving depend on the character and condition of the rock. In strong homogenous rock, such as solid granite, even a large chamber may stand indefinitely, whereas a soft material, such as clay or a loose material like unconsolidated sand, falls immediately if not supported. Weaknesses in the rocks induced by structural features, such as joints, :fissures, bedding and cleavage planes, and fractures produced by blasting, will cause the falling of insecure blocks or slabs unless means are provided to support these in place. In an unsupported mine opening, as a tunnel, the first slight settling or adjusting movement of the rocks (the "initial creep" or "set") is caused by the great weight of overlying material pressing down the rock masses above and around the roof and sides of the opening until they key together in roughly the form of an arch. The rock, after it has adjusted itself to this shape, becomes. selfsupporting. Timbering is necessa.ry in all mining only to support, therefore, those comparatively small blocks or pieces of rock which tend to loosen from the top and sides of the opening during or after the formation 'of the natural rock arch, and which lie between this natural rock arch and the opening. This statement, of course, has its limitations. For example; a layer of strong rock, like limestone, may act as a beam; then only the material under the limestone will need support. Timbering is not, as is commonly supposed by the layman, used to supp!ort the huge mass of rock between the back (roof) of an underground opening and the surface. It would be impossible to place enough timbers in a:ny underground opening to support such a mass. This fact is not'·perceived by all miners.

Jan 1, 1923

By Anthony M. Opyrchal

This Bureau of Mines study assesses the economic significance of the Florida phosphate industry to selected counties in Florida, the State of Florida, and the Nation: it also includes a brief survey of the industry's international impact. Based on forecasts of Florida phosphate production in 1981, and using constant 1977 dollars. estimates are given for 1981 for regional and national output the value of this output, income, and employment created by the phosphate industry in Florida, Federal, Stale, and county tax revenues generated by the State's phosphate industry are also estimated for 1981. The concentrated impact of the phosphate industry on certain areas of Florida and on the State?s regional industries is examined using economic base analysis complimented by an industrial complex approach. The industry's impact at the Stare and national levels is examined through input- output analysis. In addition, an attempt to forecast for 1990 the effects of constraints on phosphate rock mining as a result of economic conditions and other factors is included as an appendix to the report. Also discussed is the phosphate industry's importance to the U.S. balance of trade: U.S. agricultural production. Including forward linkages; the U.S. sulfur industry; and the phosphate industry's importance to the production of fluorine and uranium by- products from fertilizer manufacturing.

Jan 1, 1981

By T. E. Swigart

In connection with experimental work by the Bureau of Mines to determine effects of back pressure . on oil wells * , data were compiled on the engineering conditions in the oil field selected , in order to afford a more complete understanding of the wells tested , and to illustrate the extent to which underground conditions should be studied when making oil -field experiments of this nature . This report , containing the data mentioned, may be of interest to the oil industry , as it describes briefly the methods of operation employed in developing and exploiting shallow well territory .

Feb 1, 1923

By Selim E. Woodworth

This paper, describing the milling practice on the Mother Lode as typified in the mill of the Argonaut Mining Co. at Jackson, Amador County, Calif., is one of a series prepared by the United States Bureau of Mines. The data herein presented and furnished through the courtesy of E. A. Stent, managing director and vice president of the Argonaut Co., covers operations from 1914 through the year 1929.

Jan 1, 1931

By E. P. Youngman

In the Unfederated Malay States, with the exception of Johore, the rights of suzerainty, protection, and administration were transferred by giam to the British Government in 1909. In the States of Kelantan, Trengganu, Kedah, and Perlis, the rulers are assisted by State Councils and by British advisers appointed by the British Government.3 With respect to Johore, the largest, richest, and most highly organized of the Malay States not in the Federation, the treaty of December 11, 1885, with Great Britain, defined the relations of the State to the British Govern- ment and allowed the Maharaja to assume the title of "Sultan"; an amendment to this treaty (May 12, 1914) provided that the Sultan should be advised by a British officer, the General Adviser. ...... The political organization of the States is reflected in the mining legis- lation, Johore being the only one having a comprehensive code. The mining enactments now in force, according to the High Commissioner for the Malay States, are as follows:

Jun 1, 1932

By R. R. Wells

For several years the Klukwan deposit near Haines, Alaska, has attracted interest as a potential source of iron. Limited field and laboratory investigation has indicated that the deposit contains a large amount of Iron that is recoverable as high-grade concentrate. This report summarizes the results of laboratory beneficiation testing of the Klukwan ore, as represented by six samples submitted to the Alaska Experiment Station of the Bureau of Mines, Juneau, Alaska, Iron is present in the ore as a fine-grained magnetite associated with a pyroxenite type basic rock.. Satisfactory magnetic-separation procedures were developed for the production of concentrates assaying more than 60 percent Fe and 2 to 4 percent Ti02. During the investigation many data were obtained and compiled, but for convenience and clarity data of secondary importance have been omitted or condensed; only the more pertinent test results are discussed in detail.

Jan 1, 1953

By Charles Will Wright

This paper is one of a series dealing with mining problems and summarizing the data contained in the Information Circulars on individual mines that have been prepared by the managers or superintendents and published by the Bureau of Mines. The purpose of this paper is to present the problems encountered in the development of an efficient mine organization and to show the means used by certain mining companies in promoting efficiency. There is also a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of the various systems of paying and handling labor and a description of their application at the individual mines.

Jan 1, 1932

By W. A. Stickney

The Bureau of Mines conducted beneficiation and smelting studies on siliceous offgrade manganese samples to indicate effective methods of manufacturing silicomanganese from materials that cannot be economically beneficiated to meet General Services Administration (GSA) specifications for stockpiling. Laboratory and pilot-plant flotation tests were conducted on 2 samples, 1 from the waste-tailings dump of the Domestic Manganese & Development Co , Butte, Mont., and the other from the Nettie mine in the Butte-Philipsburg area. Smelting tests were made on the combined concentrates from the pilot-plant flotation tests and on part of the tailings sample The flotation scheme found to be adequate in laboratory tests and later in the pilot-plant tests consisted of flotation by a fuel oil-tall oil emulsion in an acid circuit (pH )-1-.8 to 5.0). The oil-emulsion reagent flocculated the manganese minerals and selectively floated them from the siliceous gangue, In the pilot-plant flotation test on Butte-mill tailings 90.1 percent of the manganese was recovered in a concentrate that analyzed 32.6 percent Mn, 4.8 percent Fe and 28.1 percent Si02. In the test on Nettie mine ore 90.8 percent of the manganese was recovered in a concentrate that analyzed 36 6 percent Mn, 5.5 percent Fe, and 26-4 percent Si02.

Jan 1, 1956

By M. C. Irani

The Bureau of Mines, in cooperation with the Mine Safety Appliances Co., has developed a new methane analyzer system for underground applications. Methane enters coal mine ventilation air from the breakup of coal at the active face, from the collapse of roof rock during retreat mining, and from the ribs abutting virgin coal. Each source contributes varying amounts to the total emission, depending upon rate of mining, type of mining, and the character of the coalbed and adjacent strata. The evaluation of individual parameters of methane emission requires the continuous monitoring of individual mine sections over a long period of time. The methane analyzer system was developed to meet this need. The system has been installed and operated in an active mine in the Pittsburgh coalbed. The system and details of its installation and calibration are described. Data are presented to substantiate its reliability.

Jan 1, 1975

By W. E. Anable

The Bureau of Mines researched methods for recovering copper from cyclone and electrostatic-precipitator dusts of primary copper smelters as part of its program to maximize minerals and metals recovery from primary and secondary domestic resources. Small-scale studies showed that use of 110 pct stoichiometric sulfur and 123 pct stoichiometric carbon, based on producing a 40-pct copper-iron matte, resulted in the recovery of 95 pct of the copper contained in the dust. Typical mattes contained less than 10 pct of the arsenic, 30 pct of the bismuth, and 45 pct of the antimony and tin contained in the dust. Matte was converted to blister copper by injecting up to 200 pct of the stoichiometric oxygen requirement over a period of 2 to 3 hours. Up to 76 pct of the copper contained in the dust was recovered as a crude blister copper containing about 2 pct arsenic, 0.5 pct antimony, and less than 0.1 pet bismuth and tin. A matte-white metal product resulted from carbothermically reducing dust with coal, lime, and silica. Up to 95 pct of the copper was recovered in the combined product.

Jan 1, 1981

By Virgil Miller, R. G. Knickerbacken

"INTRODUCTION The Bureau of Mines work reported by the Metallurgical Division 4/ in 1934 shows the possibility of producing artificial manganese ore by pre- ferential oxidation of manganese from spiegeleisen produced from manganiferous iron ores of the Cuyuna range, Minnesota. A three-step process is described as being capable of producing a ferrograde ore from this type of low-grade, domestic, strategic material. However, the melting temperature in the last step of the process that forms the manganese product is high, and the phosphorus content is not easily controlled. Also, the tenor of the manganese in the product is not comparable with other methods that use less process energy.Lofquist 5/ patented an improvement of the above three-step smelting method, in which sulfide was added to lower the melting point of the product.More recently, reputedly successful attempts have been made to reduce iron preferentially from manganiferous iron ores, simultaneously removing the phosphorus with the iron, by means of an unusually high temperature blast and excess coke.Anson G. Betts 6/ patented a process for the matte-smelting of manganese ores, in which the ore was mixed with pyrite and enough carbon or coke to serve as thermal energy and reducing, agent in a manner similar to the standard blast-furnace process. This process was intended to give pig iron, a manganese-iron matte, and a waste slag. Wood, Barrett, and Porath 7/ presented data on the treatment of low-grade, domestic, manganiferous iron ores and low-grade, domestic manganese ores by this Betts mattes pelting process."

Aug 1, 1942

By Donald E. Redmon

This Bureau of Mines report examines the injury experience in the quarrying industry for the years 1968-69. Twenty-eight tables for each year are presented in which disabling work injuries are summarized by department, source of injury, extent of disability, part of body injured, and nature of injury. Correlative information on employment, worktime, and operating activity is also presented.

Jan 1, 1973