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By R. A. Cattell

The Bureau of Mines actively conducted a well-coordinated research pro- gram during the past fiscal year on problems dealing with the production of oil and gas, transportation of natural gas, chemistry and refining of petrole- um, thermodynamic properties of hydrocarbons, and the processing and utiliza- tion of incombustible helium gas. These particular reserach phases, compris- ing the presently scheduled activities, are integral parts of a broad program selected soon after the war as suitable for Bureau of Mines study, to meet immediate needs for specific information on petroleum and natural-gas problems of national scope. Important progress was made and many technical reports were finished during the year. Several reports were published on gas-condensate production problems, one giving the results of laboratory tests of relative merits of various steels and alloys for rosisting the corrosion that occurs in high-pressure gas- condensate wells. Research was continued, using the Bureau's windowed cell, to determine the characteristics of gas-condensate fluids, and an important paper on the phase relations of these fluids at low temperatures was published. An important part of the Bureau of Mines petroleum production research program for many yoars has been the engineering study of type oil fields. This year reports waro completed on the Lake Creek, Sheridan, and West Rod River fields, Tex.; the Atlanta field, Ark.; and the Bogge field, W.V. Othor fields under study and for which reports will be issued are the Carthage and Now Hope fields, Tex., and the Weber pool, Okla. Spocial studios to determine the characteristics of the oil-gas solutions as they exist within the native reservoir rocks have been in progress in the North Lindsay field, Okla.; the Elk Basin field, Wyo. and Mont.; and the Rangely field, Colo. The North Lindsay study brought to light several un- usual physical proporties of the oil as it is found in this deep-seated reservoir. For instance, its viscosity is less than that of water, and more than 2 barrels of the initial reservoir oil must be produced to yield 1 barrel of "stock-tank oil." In the Elk Basin and Rangoly fields the oil-gas solution varies in composition within the reservoir, depending upon structural location. Engineering studies were continued on woll spacing and on drilling fluids with special emphasis on obtaining uncontaminated cores, or coros for which the flushing action of the drilling fluid can be dotormined accurately. In connection with research on production of oil by secondary recovery methods, progress was made in studies of conditioning water for subsurface injoction, of input ratos and pressures for water-flooding oil sands, and of the selective plugging the more permeable mediurs to prevent or retard channel- ing of the injected fluid. The availability of fuels for all types of internal-combustion engines still is tho primary resoarch project in potroleum chomistry and refining. This rosearch program is subdivided into a sorios of problems under four main topics: (1) Raw-material studios; (2) relationships of fuel consumption, proporties, and performanco; (3) utilization of potroleum products; and (4) analytical mothods, which include chomical and physical property detorminations.

Dec 1, 1949

By Oliver Bowles

The United States Bureau of Mines has within its ranks a group of engi- neers who are engaged in working out quarry problems, the solution of which will be of general benefit to the industries involved. The problems undertaken are approached in a systematic and thorough manner, all the evidence for and against any proposed change or new development being collected as carefully as an attor- ney would prepare his data on an important case. Unlike the attorney, however, the Bureau engineer does not take sides; his judgment is based entirely and in- partially on the array of facts presented. In order to gain the desired infor- mation he visits many plants, consults with the leaders in the industry, works out experiments in his laboratory, and supplements this information with a stu- dy of all available literature already published on the subject in any part of the world. As an engineer who has for eight years conducted such inquiries in the stone industry, I propose to discuss the Bureau of Mines viewpoint; and it may be of interest to consider with me in a brief and general way the engineer's method of looking at quarry problems, and some of the results attained through past and present labors. While the Bureau has conducted no investigation directly for the crushed- st one industries, two years of investigative work at cement-plant quarries, and work now being conducted at lire-plant quarries, has a very direct bearing on the problems of the crushed-stone industry, since stripping, drilling, blasting, loading, and transportation are similar in many respects in all stone quarries. The results of cement-plant quarry investigations are to be found in Bureau of Mines Bulletin #160. (b) Two short papers on lime-plant quarry problems have been issued in mimeographed form as Serial #01 (c) and Serial 3 (d).

Jan 1, 1923

By Carroll W. DeKock

Thermodynamic data for selected metal sulfates were critically evaluated and compiled as part of the Bureau of Mines program to provide a scientific base for use in developing new technology and predicting the feasibility of new processes. Values for Cp°, S°, H° - H°298, -(G° - H°298)/T, ?Hf°, ?Gf°, and log Kf as a function of temperature are given in tabular form. Thermodynamic data were compiled for VOSO4, Cr2(SO4)3, MnSO4, FeSO4, Fe2(SO4)3, CoSO4, NiSO4, Cu2SO4, CuSO4, CuO-CuSO4, ZnSO4, and ZnO-2ZnSO4, together with their stable hydrates.

Jan 1, 1982

By Mark L. Chatman

This report presents an economic mineral assessment and Inventory of mines and prospects In the approximately 176,000-acre Patagonia Mountains-Canelo Hills Unit of Coronado National Forest. Deposits or areas most likely to experience future development are characterized in terms of their economics, based on data acquired by the author from a variety of sources, and supplemented by USBM field data collected by other workers in 1990 and 1991. Numerous mine maps, rock-chip sample assays, and detailed descriptions of mine and prospect sites are in this report and appendixes. Heavy but sporadic mining, mainly between the 1850's and 1950's was nearly all confined to the Patagonia Mountains. High-grade sulfide veins, replacements, and skarn deposits accounted for most of the production, which included large quantities of zinc, lead, copper, and silver, and considerable quantities of gold. Small Quantities of molybdenum, manganese, tungsten, and placer gold have been mined. Most of the traditionally mined metalliferous sites will not see future activity due to the low tonnages present and removal of most high-grade rock. Possible future development areas include copper porphyries and breccia pipes; most are too deeply buried for current development. Localities where similar deposits may be concealed are identified.

Jan 1, 1994

The first metal-mine accident-prevention course was prepared and published in 1942-45 as a series of seven miners' circulars (Nos. 51-57). The scope of the course has been broadened, revised, and brought up to date, and it is being published as a similar series of seven miners' circulars (Nos. 51-57, revised) on accident prevention in metal and nonmetallic mines. These circulars are: Accident Statistics (Miners' Circular 51), dealing with general statistics on accidents and injuries at metal and nonmetallic mines, including causes, costs, and the uses of investigations and reports of all accidents.

Jan 1, 1955

By J. K. Whyatt

Researchers at the U.S. Bureau of Mines collected and analyzed overcore measurements and other indicators of in situ stress characteristics at the Lucky Friday Mine, Mullan, ID. An analysis of these data revealed that significant local variations in in situ stress are present in this mine and that these variations existed prior to mining. High stresses were found to be associated with the most competent strata and a locked section of a fault. An estimate of the predominant stress field was developed for mine-wide modeling. The estimate shows that the greatest principal stress was oriented north of northwest. This information should provide a basis for mine-wide structural modeling of the Lucky Friday Mine and should generate important insights into localized stress conditions, which may significantly affect both local and mine-to-mine variations in seismicity induced by excavation.

Jan 1, 2010

By Fermont F. Clarke, Others, Paul Zinner

"INTRODUCTION The Edison mine comprises workings on two irregular spodumene-bearing pegmatite dikes which outcrop near the town of Keystone in the southern portion of the Black Hills of South Dakota. The Bureau of Mines conducted an investigation of the Edison mine as part of a comprehensive study of the lithium mineral-production possibilities in the Black Hills area. The work was undertaken during the Second World War, when the demand for certain lithium salts and compounds exceeded the then small productive capacity of the industry.During the course of the project, the Bureau of Mines completed 13 diamond core-drill holes, aggregating 2,114.5 feet of drilling. Twenty-six cannel samples were taken from the main Edison shaft, and 13 miscellaneous samples were obtained to permit analysis of the efficiency of phases of mining and sorting operations. Metallurgical tests were made by the Bureau of Mines to investigate the feasibility of beneficiating spodumere-bearing ores from the Edison mine. 3/"

Apr 1, 1948

By R. Ward Stahl

This publication is a revision of Report of Investigations 5363 updated to reflect the improvement in fire protection at selected coal mines and contains suggestions on what may be considered good fire protective equipment, suggested methods of organizing the attack on fires at various locations underground, and helpful hints on testing and evaluating firefighting facilities.

Jan 1, 1968

This Bureau of Mines report reviews the development of the world potash industry. The trends leading to the present market situation of oversupply arid low prices, which threaten; the domestic potash industry, are presented and analyzed. Because the major threat to the domestic industry comes from Canadian imports, the report focuses on the comparative economics of United States and Canadian production. The study resulted in these major conclusions: 1. Balance of world supply and demand is foreseeable in 1975, but it could be delayed by planned expansion. 2. Balance of U.S. supply and demand could occur as early as 1974-75 or as late as 1981. 3. Nearly all U. S. production capacity vis-a-vis Canadian competition is now uneconomic. Prices cover out-of -pocket costs for only 30 percent of U.S. production. 4. U.S. producers will be undersold by Canadians in 60 to 90 percent of the U.S. market. Canadians also will have the edge over United States and European producers in export markets. 5. U.S. firms have invested in 60 percent of the planned 1971 Canadian production, and they have large holdings in Saskatchewan. 6. The decline in the U.S. potash industry probably reduced personal income in Carlsbad, Eddy County, N. Mex, the chief potash-producing area in the United States, about $21.5 million between 1966 and 1969.

Jan 1, 1970

In 2005, a total of 7,111 sand and gravel mining operations reported employment to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). ? Sand and gravel mines were the largest mining sector, comprising 48.5% of all mining operations. ? Sand and gravel mines were found throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Sep 1, 2008

Kroemer(1-3) and Kroemer et al.(4) define the isoinertial technique of strength assessment as one in which mass properties of an object are held constant, as in lifting a given weight over a predetermined distance. Several strength assessment procedures possess this characteristic. Most commonly associated with the term is a specific test developed to provide a relatively quick assessment of a subject's maximal lifting capacity using a modified weight-lifting device.(1,5) The classic psychophysical methodology of assessing maximum acceptable weights of lift is also considered an isoinertial technique under this definition.(6) While the definition provided by Kroemer(1) and Kroemer et al.(4) has been most widely accepted in the literature, some have applied the term "isoinertial" to techniques that differ somewhat from the preceding definition, such as in a description of the Isotechnologies B-200 strength testing device.(7) Rather than lifting a constant mass the B-200 applies a constant force against which the subject performs an exertion. The isoinertial tests described here apply to situations in which the mass to be moved by a musculoskeletal effort is set to a constant. Is Isoinertial Testing Psychophysical or Is Psychophysical Testing Isoinertial? As various types of strength tests have evolved over the past few decades, some unfortunate developments in terminology have arisen to describe and classify different strength assessment procedures. This is particularly evident in sorting out various tests that have been labeled "isoinertial." One example was cited earlier. Another problem that has evolved is that the term "isoinertial strength" has two connotations. The first is the conceptual definition: isoinertial strength tests include any strength test in which a constant mass is handled. In practice, however, the term is often used to denote a specific strength test in which subjects' maximal lifting capacity is determined using a machine and a constant mass is lifted.(1,5) Partially as a result of this dual connotation, the literature contains references to both "isoinertial strength test" as a psychophysical variant(8) and the psychophysical method as an "isoinertial strength test" (4,9) To lay the framework for the next two chapters, the authors will briefly discuss some operational definitions of tests of isoinertial and psychophysical strength. In stating that the isoinertial strength test is a variant of the psychophysical method, Ayoub and Mital(8) refer to the specific strength test developed by Kroemer(1) and McDaniel et al.(5) Clearly, this isoinertial protocol has many similarities to the psychophysical method: both are dynamic; weight is adjusted in both; and both measure the load a subject is willing to endure under specified circumstances. However, while both deal with lifting and adjusting loads, there are significant differences between the psychophysical (isoinertial) technique and the Kroemer-McDaniel (isoinertial) protocol in their procedures and the use of the data collected in these tests. For our purposes, we designate the

Jan 1, 1998

By N. Kumar Kittusamy

By McHenry Mosier

This paper constitutes the third progress report on a national survey of the use of detachable bits in metal mines. It presents comparative costs of drilling with conventional and detachable bits and describes the operating practice in rock drilling and the reconditioning of drill steel and bits at 10 mines not discussed in previous reports.3/ ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This report has been prepared with the assistance and cooperation of the officials and staff members at the mines visited. Costs and other data at individual mines were developed and furnished by the operators.

Jan 1, 1937

By Orlando Martino

This regional report covers the mineral industries of Canada and 40 countries and territories in Latin America and the Caribbean Basin. Also included is a brief description of the mineral potential of Antarctica. The Latin American region encompasses an area twice that of the United States. Latin America and Canada have a rich and diversified endowment of mineral fuels, metals, and industrial minerals. Tables 1 and 2 provide a summary view of Latin America and Canada's output of its major mineral commodities in world mineral supply in 1991 (revised) and 1992. Table 3 shows the relative importance of a selected group of minerals produced in Latin America in the world mineral economy.

Jan 1, 1994

By E. H. Rose

This paper, describing the concentrator practice of the Moctezuma Copper Co., is one of a series being prepared by the Bureau of Mines. The Nacozari concentrator of the Moctezuma Copper Co. (the Mexican subsidiary of the Phelps Dodge Corporation) is located about 75 miles south of Douglas, Ariz., in the Moctezuma District of the State of Sonora. Nacozari is the southern terminus of the Nacozari Railroad, ever which all concentrate is transported to Douglas for smelting.

Jan 1, 1930

By J. P. Connell

The U.S. Bureau of Mines awarded a contract to Morrison-Knudsen, Inc., to evaluate the use of roadheaders in underground mining operations. Road-headers were found to be widely used in mines as construction support units, as development miners, and as stoping machines. However, road-headers were found to have mechanical and electrical problems, to suffer reduced productivity when integrated into the mining cycle, and to create dust problems. Also high capital costs and low utilization and avail-ability cause high amortization costs per ton. This report identifies the roadheader operating problems and offers suggestions for improved mechanical and electrical design as well as manufacturer and owner responsibilities for improved availability. The development of a complex integrated excavation and ground support sys tern is no t warranted until the roadheader itself is made much more reliable.

Jan 1, 1980

By Paul M. Ambrose

THE ABRASIVES INDUSTRY throughout the world enjoyed a profitable year. With the exception of tripoli, the quantity of each kind of abrasive produced in the United States was greater than for any of the past 5 years and value of each was greater than for many years. Production of silicon carbide both in the United States and in Canada was the largest since 1960. Abrasive machining, which offers great potential for the increased Use of aluminum oxide, contributed to increased industrial productivity. Diamonds from the sea off the coast of South-West Africa attracted wide interest. Much of the production from this source has been gem diamond, and there is little likelihood of significant quantities of industrial diamond from that source. Manufactured diamond from all free-world sources was sold in the United States in 1964.

Jan 1, 1965

By Sidney Katell

This report covers the period January 1964 through December 1964; it is a continuation of the series that began with the publication of Information Circular 7516 in October 1949. Also, it is the sixth in a series of reports prepared under a cooperative agreement between the Bureau of Mines and the American Association of Cost Engineers. The agreement provides for the publication of an annual cost bibliography with the work load involved in the preparation shared equally. The abstracted articles, concerned with all facers of cost engineering in the field of chemical and petroleum. plants and related subjects, are from the following sources: 1. American Association of Cost Engineers Bulletin. 2. Bureau of Mines Information Circulars. 3. Bureau of Mines Reports of Investigations. 4. Chemical Engineering. 5. Chemical Engineering Progress,

Jan 1, 1965

By C. P. Haller, S. J. Aresco

"INTRODUCTION The Bureau of Mines has been active in promoting the purchase of coal for Government use under specifications that define the requirements in terms of heat¬ing value of the coal, expressed in British thermal units, and the composition as shown by proximate analyses. To these, when required, are added the fusing temperature of ash and the free-swelling index. Under most of these specification contracts the bidders guarantee the quality of the coal, and that guaranteed by the successful bidder becomes the standard of his contract. The deliveries are sampled in accordance with instructions./ issued by the Bureau; the samples are analyzed in the Bureau's laboratory to determine whether the coal is of the quality guaranteed by the contractor and, if it is not, a price adjustment is made.Analyses of the delivered coal and ""tipple"" samples (samples collected at mine tipples as coal is being loaded into railroad cars or trucks) provide valuable data for use in evaluating future bids. Moreover, the continuous sampling of coal as delivered is a check on the practical results obtained in burning the coal.The Government purchased approximately 5-1/2 million tons of coal in fiscal year 1951. In connection with these purchases, the Bureau analyzed 10,700 samples. These are published for the use of Government officials and the public. A series of publications s been completed on coal analyses by States, or, where production is small in any State, by groups of adjacent States. In addition to analytical data showing composition and quality of coals of the States, the publications contain brief descriptions of the geological structure of the coal basins, typical mining conditions in the various districts, the principal economic data of the industry, and the relationship of mine or channel samples to delivered and tipple samples. The present publication covers many States but deals only with the analytical data of the coals.The technical papers published by States, with their numbers are: Alabama, 347; Alaska, 682; Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon, 696; Arkansas, 416; Colorado, 574; Illinois, 641; Indiana, 417; Iowa, 269 and 706; Kansas, 455; Kentucky, 308 and 652; Maryland, 465; Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Texas, 700; Missouri, 366; Montana, 529; New Mexico, 569; Ohio, 344 (and Bulletin 499); Oklahoma, 411; Pennsylvania Bituminous, 590 (Supplement, 645); Pennsylvania Anthracitic, 659; Tennessee, 356 and 671; Utah, 345; Virginia, 365 and 656; Washington, 491 (Supple¬ment, 618); West Virginia, 405 and 626; and Wyoming, 484."

Feb 1, 1953

By O. P. Hood, G. St. J. Perott, S. P. Kinney

"FOREWORD (By O. P. Hood, Chief mechanical engineer).During the war certain suggestions concerning power production were made by Mr. Walter E. Trent to the War Inventions Board, and at the request of the War Department facilities for experimental work were provided on the grounds of the. Bureau of Standards.The experiments were along the line of controlling the conditions of combustion in a closed space. In order to reduce slag troubles, experiments were carried out for removing ash from powdered coal. After the war, work along this line was continued, resulting in the Trent Process, which agitates or beats together powdered coal, water and oil.A new technology had previously been given to ore preparation by the use of small quantities of oil in water with froth flotation, and although the methods, results and mixtures of the Trent Process were quite different, yet the same physical phenomena of differential wetting used, and the possibility of there being interesting results in fuel technologic was evident. A cooperative agreement was entered into, whereby the Bureau of Mines was to investigate the underlying physical and chemical facts and make them public, and the Trent Corporation was to pay the cost of the investigation.The several reports as made have been available to any one interested, and are now to be published. While the Bureau of Mines felt justified in investigating the physical phenomena so far as might be done in a laboratory, and so far as public interest might reach, no attempt was made to discover the commercial possibilities which development might bring. The question of commercial possibilities must be left for commercial enterprise to answer."

Jul 1, 1921