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By Grant R. Brown

The report provides guidance for determining those environmental impacts associated with the surface mining of steeply pitching coal seams. In addition to the environmental impacts, four additional issues are addressed, namely (1) Time and motion studies of those coal mining systems employed in mining seams which pitch in excess of 25°, (2) Assessment of those mining techniques, (3) Development of rationale for the mining methods employed, (4) Identification of the reclamation practices and determine whether these practices were in compliance with appropriate Federal and State regulations. Five surface mines located in three geologically distinct basins of the United States were analyzed during the period of August through November 1979. The three basins include the Hanna Basin of Wyoming, the North Park Basin of Colorado and the Southern Anthracite Field of Pennsylvania.

Jan 1, 1980

By C. H. Riggs

This petroleum-engineering report of the Atlanta oil field in BO them Arkansas reviews reservoir conditions and pressure-production history of one of the important Smackover limestone fields in southern Arkansas. The study of the field was made and the report prepared to aid operators in this and similar fields to increase the efficiency of recovery through the application of better engineering practices. A similar study of the Magnolia field in Arkansas by Carpenter and Schroeder was the first of these reports prepared under a joint agreement between the Arkansas Oil and Can Commission and the Bureau of Mines. The increasing demands for petroleum and its products and the steadily increasing cost of discovering and developing oil field; emphasize the importance of conserving known reserves of oil and gas. In recent years vast improvements have been made in the technique of oil recovery, both by better utilization of the natural energy stored in the reservoir and by improved methods of applying external energy to the reservoir system. This report may aid in oil conservation by careful evaluation of the several factors that did or did not contribute the greater recovery in the Atlanta field and by suggesting improvements in production methods and applications.

Jan 1, 1949

By G. W. Jones

In cooperation with the Edison Electric Illuminating Co. of Boston, Mass., and the Boston Consolidated Gas Co., a survey has been conducted continuously since 1929 by the Bureau of Mines to determine the general hazards of combustible gases and vapors in manholes of the Edison Electric Illuminating Co. The New England Telephone & Telegraph Co. also has cooperated in the investigation, and tests have been made in its manholes since May 1, 1933. Yearly reports6/ on the results obtained since the beginning of the survey have been published. The method and procedure of conducting the survey in 1936 were the same as heretofore.

Jan 1, 1938

By G. W. Jones

In cooperation with the Edison Electric Illuminating Co. of Boston, Mass., and the Boston Consolidated Gas Co., a survey has been conducted continuously since 1929 by the Bureau of Mines to determine the general hazards of combustible gases and vapors in manholes of the Edison Electric Illuminating Co. The New England Telephone & Telegraph Co. also has cooperated in the investigation, and tests have been made in its manholes since May 1, 1933. Yearly reports6/ on the results obtained since the beginning of the survey have been published. The method and procedure of conducting the survey in 1936 were the same as heretofore.

Jan 1, 1938

By GJ Hundman

The Multiple Unit Continuous Haulage (MUCH) System was designed to provide the capacity to continuously convey coal from the mining machine to the main haulage belt. The MUCH System has an operator who steers the lead vehicle, ever following the mining machine. All the remaining vehicles follow the path of the lead vehicle, with their conveyors automatically lining up between the lead vehicle and mine section panel belt. This is accomplished by mechanical linkages on the vehicles which are interconnected by steering bars between vehicles (patent pending). The MUCH System has an operator who steers the discharge vehicle when outby travel is required. Outby travel is just like inby, with each vehicle following the path of the preceding vehicle. Surface tests overwhelmingly indicate the "UCH System should track/retrack successfully in square pillar underground room and pillar coal mines with 18 ft. wide entries and slopes up to 10 percent. For 60 degree pillar plans the minimum entry width required is 15 ft. Surface tests also indicate the MUCH System will convey over 8 TPM of coal around 90 degree corners without excessive spillage.

Jan 1, 1983

By J. F. Barkley

[There is a general concept in the, coal trade that the moisture- and ash-free B.t.u. of coal from the same seam, and. surely from the same mine, is substantially a constant; that calculation of the -moisture- and ash-free B.t.u. value from the proximate analysis and B.t.u. determined in the laboratory will reveal whether a coal came from a given area or sears; and that, having this constant, the B.t.u. value of a coal sample can be calculated fairly closely upon a dry or as-received basis from the moisture and ash values of its proximate analysis.]

Jan 1, 1941

Geophysical Abstracts 1 - 83 were issued in mimeographed form by the Bureau of Mines; Abstracts 87 - 111 were published in bulletins of the Geological Survey. Abstracts 112 and 113 were issued in mimeographed form by tine Bureau of Mines as Information Circulars 7256 and 7257. 1. GRAVITATIONAL METHODS 7004. Campbell, R. B. Florida's Geological Structure and Gravity. Proc. Florida Acad. Sciences for 1540, Gainesville, Fla., vol. 5, 1541, pp. 73-84.

Jan 1, 1943

By A. Galaitsis

This report summarizes part of the work performed under the USBM Contract No H0155113, "Noise Abatement of Continuous Mining Machines." It describes the noise source diagnosis of a Jeffrey 120M conveyor and the evaluation of several treatments all conducted in a test facility aboveground. The conveyor noise at the operator's position was gradually reduced from 101.5 to 93 dBA using damping, vibration isolation, sound barriers and smoother discontinuities. The underground performance of the selected treatments will be addressed in Volume II of the report.

Jan 1, 1979

By David J. Kusler

A gravimetric method for the determination of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane, and oxygen in blast furnace top gas is described. Nitrogen may be determined directly by volume measurement or by difference. The method is direct, permits continuous as sampling, and provides an averaged analysis over a selected range of sampling intervals from 1/2 to 24 hr or more. Neither expensive equipment nor specialized personnel are required. The method is suitable for routine analysis, and the results compare favorably with those obtained by established methods.

Jan 1, 1963

By H. C. George

This bulletin deals with prime movers, power-transmitting machinery, and the surface equipment and methods used to pump oil wells. It does not discuss geological problems nor the methods and equipment used in drilling or at flowing oil wells. Much of the presentation is by photographs and drawings which are described in the text. Underground equipment and methods for pumping oil wells will be discussed in a later publication of the Bureau of Mines.

Jan 1, 1925

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) defines an independent contractor as any person, partnership, corporation, subsidiary of a corporation, firm, association or other organization that contracts to perform services or construction at a mine. Contractors that perform specific types of work are required to report the number of employees who work at coal mines and noncoal mines.

Jan 1, 2008

The principal activities of the Bureau of Mines Explosives Research Center (now Safety Research Center) during fiscal year 1968 (July 1, 1967, to June 30, 1968) are reviewed in part 1. Part 2 presents short abstracts of the publications issued during this period in the Bureau series and in other media. Part 3 describes a short study on the thermal decomposition of RDX and HMX not destined for publication elsewhere. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Bureau gratefully acknowledges the support received through cooperative agreement in fiscal year 1968 from The Manufacturing Chemists Association.

Jan 1, 1970

Maps To Accompany Bulletin 418

Jan 1, 1941

By R. T. C. Rasmussen

"INTRODUCTION This is the second report of investigations describing tests in full-scale commercial heats of steel-using electrolytic manganese having a purity of about 99.95 percent, produced in the Bureau's pilot plant at Boulder City, Nev. The first report dealt with tests in cooperation with two companies can the use,of electrolytic manganese in the manufacture of stainless steel. 3/ Plans aril cost estimates for reasonably large commercial, electrolytic plants based upon pilot-plant experience, as well as the comments of a number of concerns where electrolytic manganese has been tried, are contained in another publication.4/ The tests in cooperation with industry are part of the Bureau of Mines program of investigations of methods of utilizing low-grade domestic manganese ores, thereby the United States leas dependent upon foreign sources of manganese for metallurgical use. The Boulder City pilot plant already has demonstrated the feasibility of producing electrolytic manganese from several of the most important reserves of low-grade manganese ore. As the ferromanganese normally used by the steel industry represents the bulk of the Nation's manganese requirements, the usefulness and possi¬ble advantages of electrolytic manganese in the manufacture of steel must be established if electrowinning from domestic ores is to become an important factor of manganese supply.Preliminary arrangements for the cooperative tests at the Atlas Steel Casting Co., Buffalo,. N. Y., were made with E. L. Altenburg, vice president and general manager of the company, by A. A. Dow. 5/ The data on the tests at the Atlas plant presented herein are based upon reports of E. L. Altenburg and information obtained by the author during a visit to the plant to observe the initial trial heats with electrolytic manganese in the open-hearth and the electric furnace."

Nov 1, 1945

By J. M. West

Expanded war in Viet-Nam overshadowed activities in the Far East in 1965, diverting capital and materials from potential regional development projects. Japan with-stood a period of business recession that was particularly felt by its coal mining and iron and steel industries. Toward yearend signs of improvement began to show. Despite the recession with attendant credit restrictions and forced cutbacks in areas of overproduction, Japan's overall industrial output rose nearly 5 percent during the year. Foreign trade, liberalized in 1964, was a strong point in the Japanese economy and took the place of lagging domestic demand. Japan maintained its third place in world production of iron and steel ahead of West Germany and in 1965 was the world's fore-most exporter of iron and steel in primary and semimanufactured forms. Economic setbacks in mainland China caused by its "Great Leap" failures and subsequent withdrawal of Soviet technical assistance were difficulties relegated to the past. However, a newly formed "Red Guard" political group, part of a so-called cultural revolution, was due to cause new disruptions in 1966. Nevertheless, significant gains were claimed in Chinese industry, and the country approached self-sufficiency in petroleum in 1965 by virtue of its Tach'ing oilfield. Restoration of friendly relations was achieved between South Korea and Japan accompanied by Japanese offers of industrial aid and increased trade. Indonesia's economy was deteriorating; the country withdrew from regional development organizations and continued its stubborn confrontation policy against Malaysia throughout 1965. Late in the year after a Communist uprising had been quelled, there was a period of political retrenchme t and it was hoped that economic improvements would follow. Petroleum remained a strong area in Indonesia's varied resources, and its production was increasing. Tin output declined, however, because of operating difficulties.

Jan 1, 1967

By William Seymour

"INTRODUCTION Byproduct-coke manufacture is one of our country's most essential in¬dustries; its importance was strikingly accentuated by the demands of World War II. This paper reviews recent progress in various phases of byproduct-coke operations for the production of metallurgical coke particularly that used as blast-furnace fuel.In the early days of the by-product-coke industry in the United States high-grade bituminous coking coals, both high-volatile or gas coal and low-volatile Pocahontas coal, were plentiful, and the selection and mixing of coals for coke-oven use were minor problems.The demands of World War I for the production of iron, steel, and coke aroused and stimulated new interest in the investigation of the reserves, characteristics, and properties of our coking coals. During that war the increased demand for coke reached a critical stage, and the shortage of high-grade coking coals necessitated the use of cols of inferior quality and of different coking characteristics than those previously used.The period of prosperity following World War I brought much progress and development in the by-product-coke industry. Methods of testing coal and coke were improved. The search for satisfactory coking coals was continued, and construction and design of byproduct ovens were improved."

Jun 1, 1946

In 2006, 14,885 mining operations reported employment data to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).1 Almost half (48.2%) were sand and gravel mines, followed by stone mines (30.7%), coal mines (14.2%), nonmetal mines (5.0%), and metal mines (1.9%).

Jan 1, 2008

By O. C. Blade

"INTRODUCTION This report on the properties of motor fuels sold through service stations in the United States is a continuation of a series of reports made in accordance with a cooperative agreement between the Coordinating Fuel Research (CFR) Com¬mittee of the Coordinating Research Council (CFC) 3/ and the Bureau of Mines of the United States Department of the Interior. The first of these reports presented data on motor gasolines sold during the winter of 1935-36. 4/ Further re¬ports were issued describing motor gasolines sold during the succeeding summers and winters to and including the summer of 1941.4/ No reports were made on motor gasolines sold during the winter of l941-42 and during the summer of 1942. However, starting with the winter of 1942-43, the semiannual reports were resumed. The present report presents analytical data for 3,011 samples, representing the products of 113 companies. Most of the samples represented in this report were obtained during July and August 1946. As in previous surveys the companies covered by the survey include both large and small suppliers. Conforming to former reports, the data cover three groups of samples - regular-price, premium-price, and third-grade gasolines.As the number of analyses submitted for samples of third-grade gasoline are not considered adequate to represent this type of motor fuel, data for the analyses have not been averaged, but the individual items are tabulated. The number of samples, items, and brands comprising each group is as follows: Regular-price, 1,585 samples, 311 items, and 99 -brands; premium-price, 1,422 samples, 280 items, and 94 brands; third-grade, 4 samples, 4 items, and 4 brands. The meaning of these terms as used in the survey is as follows:"

Dec 1, 1946

By Wilson Blake

This report presents the results of a 7-year Bureau of Mines program to review, revise, and make an effective engineering tool of the microseismic method of determining the stability of rock structures. The program consisted of developing new microseismic equipment and data analysis techniques and extensive field investigations to demonstrate the effectiveness and potential of the broad-band microseismic method. The guidelines for choosing the components of a microseismic system are presented along with approximate cost figures. Different microseismic systems are discussed, including completely automated systems. Procedures for conducting microseismic investigations and analyzing microseismic data are discussed in detail. Field situations which show the full value of the microseismic technique as an engineering tool are described.

Jan 1, 1974

By A. T. Iannacchione

The Bureau of Mines established geologic factors affecting the mining of the Lower Kittanning coalbed to aid in coalbed minability studies and examined the occurrence of "wants" (places where coal is missing) and types of unstable roof rock strata. Trends established from mapping, including prediction of areas of high methane emissions, were extrapolated to unmined areas. 'Wants' in the coalbed are of two types: Erosional and depositional. Erosional features occur where north-south-trending sand-filled channels cut into the coalbed. Variations in depositional environments have caused the coalbed to "split" into several thinner units. Slickensides, commonly indicative of unstable roof, are adjacent to and on the underside of sandstone channels; they were caused by differential compaction and by soft sediment sliding along the contact between the sandstone and adjacent shale. The frequency of unstable roof also increases where the interval between the Middle and Lower Kittanning coalbed is less than 30 feet. The zones of weakness at the contacts above and below the Middle Kittanning coalbed are the controlling factors for unstable roof in these strata. Methane emissions from the coalbed are controlled primarily by depth, fracture permeability, and rank of coal. Local geologic factors are coalbed thickness, associated rock strata, structure, and proximity to outcrop.

Jan 1, 1979