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By James Westfield

This publication covers the work of the Division of Coal Mine Inspection, Bureau of Mines, as performed under provisions of the Federal Coal Mine Safety Act. It presents background information and data since 1952 when the Act became effective and includes up-to-date statistics for the calendar year 1962. During that year, approximately 9,704 coal mines were active in the United States, and the Bureau made 12,810 regular inspections. BACKGROUND The Federal coal-mine inspection program was established to carry out the provisions in Public Law 49, 77th Congress, (H. R. 2082) approved May 7, 1941. This act has since been amended as Title I, Advisory Powers Relating to Health and Safety Conditions in Mines, under Public Law 552, 82d Congress, approved July 16, 1952, which also included Title II, Prevention of Major Disasters in Mines. Public Law 552 is known as the Federal Coal Mine Safety Act.

Jan 1, 1963

By James Westfield

This publication covers the work of the Division of Coal Mine Inspection, Bureau of Mines, as performed under provisions of the Federal Coal Mine Safety Act. It presents background information and data since 1952 when the Act became effective and includes up-to-date statistics for the calendar year 1962. During that year, approximately 9,704 coal mines were active in the United States, and the Bureau made 12,810 regular inspections. BACKGROUND The Federal coal-mine inspection program was established to carry out the provisions in Public Law 49, 77th Congress, (H. R. 2082) approved May 7, 1941. This act has since been amended as Title I, Advisory Powers Relating to Health and Safety Conditions in Mines, under Public Law 552, 82d Congress, approved July 16, 1952, which also included Title 11, Prevention of Major Disasters in Mines. Public Law 552 is known as the Federal Coal Mine Safety Act.

Jan 1, 1963

As shown in Table 9, consumption has risen steadily for the period November through April, reaching its highest level since June of 1974. Imports remained at a relatively high level in spite of decreased imports from Zaire and Belgium-Luxembourg. Award prices for cobalt sold by the General Services Administration on June 17, 1976 ranged from $5.058 to $5.41211 per pound of contained cobalt. The high bid was about $1 per pound above the current market price set by the major sales agent in the U.S. for cobalt on April 15, 1976. COPPER: Eight domestic producers on July 1 hiked refined copper prices by 4¢ to 74¢ per pound for cathode and to 74.625¢ for electrolytic wirebar. New York Commodity Exchange (COMEX) June pricing of prompt contracted copper averaged 70.6¢, with daily quotes registering between 67¢ and 72.5¢ per pound. In June, London Metal Exchange (LME) cash wirebar prices averaged 70.3¢, trading between a low of 65.5¢ and a high of 73.6¢. End of the month copper stocks totaled 108,758 short tons for the COMEX and 539,350 metric tons for the LME.

Jan 1, 1976

By W. H. Emens

[This circular is one of a series dealing with tie development and equip¬ment of small and medium size mines, and with the costs of such work prior to productive operation. The preparation and publication of these papers by the Bureau off Mines has been made possible through the cooperation of various min¬ing and development companies. The bureau of Mines has published a series of circulars dealing with min¬ing methods and costs at a large number of producing nines in the United States, Canada, Mexico, an, other countries. Unit costs of development work, shaft sinking, (rifting, crosscutting, tunneling, and raising are usually much higher in the preliminary development of a property than during its productive life.]

Jan 1, 1933

By L. A. Conley

This report, covering the period January through December 1976, contains abstracts of articles related to cost engineering and economics for chemical and petroleum plants, mining, and other mineral industries from the following periodicals: 1. Air Pollution Control Association Journal 2. Chemical Engineering 3. Chemical Engineering Journal 4. Chemtech 5. Coal Age 6. Coal Mining and Processing 7. Combustion 8. Drilling-DCW 9. Electrical World 10. Engineering and Mining Journal

Jan 1, 1977

By Raymond B. Ladoo

The Bureau of Mines frequently receives requests for information on the mining , preparation and marketing of epsomite or Epsom salt , and in order to answer such inquiries the following information has been compiled . While it is probable that few people have considered epsonate as a mineral product , it will be noted that it should be so regarded and its production forms an important industry .

Mar 1, 1922

By H. R. Shell, Robert C. Johnson, Wilbur H. Warwick

Alpha silicon nitride fibers , Si3N4 , were successfully grown in graphite crucibles by a new method utilizing silicates and silicon ( S in equations below) as sources of silicon and using carbon , aluminum , and silicon as reducing agents (R in equations below ) . The basic reaction mechanism is believed to be generally as follows : 1,300 - 1,500 ° C S + R + N₂ SiO + RO + N₂ › 3Si0 + R + 2N₂ _1,300 - 1,500° C 3RO + Si¸N • ( 1 ) ( 2 ) A build - up of coatings on the solid raw- material particles hindered the evolution of silicon or silicon monoxide vapor and thereby slowed down further formation of silicon nitride fibers . Free oxygen in the crucible caused the formation of amorphous silicon dioxide ( SiO2 ) fibers . This problem was solved by passing , entering , and exiting gases through layers of lump graphite inside the reaction vessel . The silicon nitride fibers grew best around 1,400 ° C. Nitrogen flow rates from 4 to 6 liters per minute were adequate . The fiber widths were generally only a few microns whereas their lengths sometimes reached one - quarter inch or more . Chemical and X- ray analyses indicated that bulk fiber samples were usually 80 to 90 percent Si3N4 . The fibers had good oxidation resistance to about 1,260 ° C. Thermal shock resistance was excellent . Electrical resistance was determined .

Jan 1, 1964

By David E. Siskind

A Bureau of Mines survey of noise from quarry production blasting was conducted at seven crushed-stone quarries, providing information on close-in noise generation, comparative instrumentation, and evaluation of the sound levels as related to blasting parameters and existing State and local noise standards. The results from this preliminary survey will be useful in the design of a complete investigation of the problem of noise from blasting. There exists an immediate need for technical guidelines for noise pollution control agencies presently working on the regulation of impulsive noise sources. This survey and results from previous work by other researchers are used to derive interim recommendations on weighting scales, generated sound levels, and instrumentation. These recommendations are based on the limited data presently available and may be modified with subsequent investigation of noise generation, propagation, structural damage, and human tolerance.

Jan 1, 1974

By V. B. Royer, C. H. Harty

"MANGANESE-SILOCON ALLOYS AS DEOXIDIZERSThe basic open-hearth process for steel mining requires large amounts of oxidized iron for oxidation of the elements carbon, silicon, manganese, and phosphorus which are to be removed from the metal. Some of this oxidized iron (FeO) dissolves in the metal during the refining process, Subsequent to the elimination of the elements named, a considerable amount of dissolved iron oxide must be removed before the metal may be cast into ingot form. The elements generally used, for iron oxide removal, or deoxidation, are silicon, manganese, and aluminum. Silicon and manganese are always alloyed with iron, either singly or in combinations of various compositions. Aluminum generally is used in a commercially pure state and sometimes in complex alloys. A double deoxidizer of manganese and silicon alloyed with iron for furnace deoxidation has been the subject of an extensive cooperative investigation between the United States Bureau of Mines, the Carnegie Institute of Technology, and the Metallurgical Advisory Board. Certain grader of steel, especially low-carbon rimming steels, require a low-carbon deoxidizer to keep the finished steel within the carbon specification after deoxidation. ACKNOWLEDGMENTThe authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of J. F. Sanderson and S. S. Johnston in the analysis of the alloys used in this work.PURPOSE OF WORKThe need for definite information as to which compositions of manganese and silicon within a certain manganese-silicon ratio and when alloyed with iron would have an allowable carbon content for the particular grade or type of steel on which the deoxidize is used, prompted the undertaking of this investigation to determine the solubility of carbon in manganese, silicon, and iron alloys within the region bounded by 10:1 and 4:l manganese to silicon ratios. These data should be of value to the manufacturer producing such"

May 1, 1934

By John J. Henn

An evaluation is presented of the Bureau of Mines process for the recovery of metal and mineral values from municipal incinerator residues. This process employs standard mineral beneficiation techniques and is operating on a pilot-plant scale of 1,000 pounds of incinerator residue feed per hour. Products from this separation process include ferrous, aluminum, and copper-zinc scrap, and colorless and colored glass. Cost estimates were prepared for four plant sizes. The estimated capital and operating costs For the four plants follow: [ ] It is assumed that the separation plant is located adjacent to a municipal incinerator. Provision is made, however, for part of the residue feed to be delivered by truck so that one large separation plant can be used for residue from more than one incinerator.

Jan 1, 1971

By Theron A. Klinefelter, Sidney Speil, Sidney Gottlied

"INTRODUCTION The investigation of domestic talcs by the United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Mines, was initiated in December 1941 at the request Gen. Charles Hines of the United States Army. The urgency for such study was expressed by General Hines as follows:The radio-manufacturing industry has recently been expanded by the Army to provide sufficient, capacity for defense needs, and considerable concern has been expressed by the supply Arms and Services over maintaining continued availability of supplies of the necessary raw material. These ceramic products are used by the Signal Cores in all Army radio equipment, and to a greater degree in the new special ultra-high-frequency equipment. The Air Corps has recently become a user large amounts of radio-grade ceramics for aircraft spark-plug covers required for high-altitude operations. In addition, the use of this material is essential to the proper functioning of the radio-navigation aids of the Civil Aeronautics Board.Progress in the Bureau of Mines studies on talc was made available to representatives of the Army and Navy through frequent interim reports. Through the efforts of the several war agencies concerned with raw-materials supply and the domestic talc producers, the condition of scarcity that developed in 1942 passed to one of ease in 1943, and has so continued to date. Tentative estimate of reserves delineated indicates a supply of high-grade steatite sufficient to meet military war requirements for at least 4 or 5 years."

Apr 1, 1945

By Robert C. Steckley

The Bureau of Mines performed a fragmentation experiment in cooperation with Duval Corporation in a porphyry copper-molybdenum deposit near the Sierrita pit south of Tucson, Ariz. This experiment evaluated the fragmentation created in a 10-hole test blast having blasthole spacings of 25, 20, and 15 feet. The 10 blastholes were 9 inches in diameter and contained a total of 17,400 pounds of aluminized slurry blasting agent in 50-foot columns with 60 feet of stemming. Diamond drill core examination was the primary method used to determine the condition of the rock before and after blasting. These core examinations included study of length recovery, rock quality designation (RQD), weight recovery, and size distribution. Topographic surveys were used to measure the rock swell produced by the blast and a fragment size distribution was obtained for the broken material on the surface. Fragmentation to depths of 110 feet was excellent from the 15-to 20-foot blasthole spacing patterns. Good breakage was also produced by the 25-foot pattern although the effects of the blast were not so obvious. In situ leaching tests were not conducted. However, based only on size consideration, all three blasting patterns produced adequate breakage for successful leaching.

Jan 1, 1975

By Henry E. Hilliard

The production, use, and emission of vanadium in the United States has been traced for the year 1991. Consumption was 3,300 tons2, exports 1,285 tons, and imports 2,013 tons. About 98% of production was used in metallurgy; the remainder was consumed in chemicals, including catalysts. Total emissions to the environment in 1991 were estimated at about 3,100 tons, including emissions due to the combustion of coal and petroleum products. Emissions resulting from the production of ferrovanadium were 130 tons, and emissions from the production of steel about 6 tons. Dissipative losses, defined as losses that occurred during use or as a result of wear, were estimated to be no more than 3 tons. Disposal losses were estimated to be about 4,600 tons. Most of these losses were steel products that contained 0.1% or less vanadium and mayor may not have been recycled. When these products are recycled by the steel industry, vanadium ends up in the steelmaking slag and does not return to vanadium use cycle. Worldwide emissions due to anthropogenic and natural sources were briefly reviewed. It was concluded that industrial emissions were about three times greater than emissions from natural sources.

Jan 1, 1994

It is a pleasure to submit to the National Critical Materials Council (Council) some of my thoughts concerning the important tasks which lie before you. It long has been my belief that America's economic health and national security may depend to a substantial degree on whether we have available to us an adequate supply of critical and strategic materials at reasonable cost. To the extent the Council can contribute to the identification and implementation of wise public policies which facilitate the achievement of that goal, we and our children should be grateful. Even before assuming office, President Reagan warned of the danger of undue dependence on imported materials essential to the Nation's defense and economic well-being. After his election, he appointed a transition task force on strategic and critical materials, and he later directed the Cabinet Council on Natural Resources and Environment to prepare .a National Materials and Minerals Program Plan and Report to Congress, which he forwarded to the Congress in April 1982. In 1984, my predecessor, Secretary Clark, established the National Strategic Materials and Minerals Program Advisory Committee, popularly known as the "Mott Committee" because of its distinguished chairman, retired Admiral William C. Mott.

Jan 1, 1986

By W. N. Marchant

The Bureau of Mines performed chemical research to elaborate details of sulfur chemistry pertaining to the citrate flue gas desulfurization process in which sulfur dioxide (SO2), absorbed (as bisulfite ion) in a buffered sodium citrate solution, is reduced by hydrogen sulfide (H2S) according to the overall reaction 2H2S + HSO3 + H+ ? 3S + 3H20. The rate-limiting step in the process was shown to be the reduction by H2S of thiosulfate (S2031-) that is formed as an intermediate. Pseudo first-order kinetic measurements were made at room temperature to retard the reaction sufficiently that adequate analysis was possible. These measurements showed the rates of the following net processes to be -d [S02]/dt (pH 4.5) = (0.409±0.050)min-1 [S02]; d [S2032-]/dt (pH 4.5) = (0.199±0.017)min-1 [S02]; -d [S2032-]/dt (pH 4.0) = (0.0437±0.0265)min-1 [S2032-]~1; -dH2S/dt (pH 3.9) = (21.6±3.0) mmoles/min-atm [H2S]g1.4, where [H2S]g is the partial pressure of H2S in the gas phase, in atmospheres, and the rate describes the consumption of H2S, in millimoles per minute; d[S]/dt (pH 4.0) = (38.0±3.4)min-1 [H2S]1, where [H2S] is the concentration of H2S in solution. Hydrogen ion consumption during the slow phase of regeneration was shown to occur at (2.1±0.5) times he rate of thiosulfate consumption, which is interpreted as evidence for the following as the rate-limiting reaction: 2H2S + S2032- + 2H+ ? 4S + 3H20 A scheme consisting of five sequential general reactions is proposed to account for sulfur formation.

Jan 1, 1981

During the second quarter of 1983, the economic recovery showed further strength abetted by the performances of consumer spending, residential investment, and the slowing down of inventory reductions. Real gross national product (GNP) increased from the first to second quarter at an annual rate of 9.2 percent, compared with 2.6 percent from the fourth quarter of 1982 to the first quarter of 1983 and an overall 1.9- percent decrease in 1982. Total industrial production increased 1.8 percent in July, and productivity as measured by output per man-hour increased 1.3 percent between 1982 and the first quarter of 1983 (table 1). Especially noteworthy .was the performance of real consumer durable goods expenditures, which increased at an annual rate of 32.0 percent from the first to the second quarter (about half of the increase consisted of automobile sales) and real consumer spending, which increased between these periods at an annual rate of 9.7 percent. Residential investment increased at an annual rate of 76.1 percent between the first and the second quarters,1/ and private housing starts by about 38,000 units in both March and May.

Jan 1, 1983

By John E. Rourke, O&apos

A survey of existing and developing field permeability test methods was conducted in order to identify and specify capable methods to be used in feasibility investigations or performance monitoring for in situ leaching of ore deposits. Geologic settings of leachable deposits are discussed, as well as representative techniques used for the in situ leaching operation. Subsurface investigation techniques including drilling, core recovery, and down-hole inspection methods relevant to field permeability investigations are discussed. Field experience is examined and capable field permeability test methods are identified. Specifications for test borehole preparation, test performance. and methods of analysis are given. The test methods are comparatively rated in a matrix with respect to costs ease of use, and data effectiveness' for a broad range of conditions. Well Pump and Packer test methods receive high ratings. Recommendations are made for needed developments in field permeability test methods and a comprehensive bibliography is given.

Jan 1, 1977

After more than 20 years dependence on bituminous coal as a primary fuel for generating electricity, the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company initiated a one-year study on the economics of building an electric generating station using anthracite as a fuel. The study will be completed in December 1976. If the feasibility study so indicates, PP&L will consider installing four 400,000 kilowatt generating units for scheduled commercial operation in 1985. Each unit would consume up to one million tons of anthracite annually. Anthracite generally is more difficult and expensive to extract than bituminous coal, but it has a significantly lower sulfur content than the bituminous coal currently being used by PP&L, thereby eliminating the costs of installing sulfur emission controls at generating stations. Moreover, significant reductions in transportation costs may be realized because the utility's operating territory is situated in the center of the anthracite region in northeastern Pennsylvania. These advantages may indicate that the use of anthracite is more economical than bituminous coal to PP&L. ASBESTOS -Asbestos production in the U.S. dropped again in 1975 until it was just two-thirds of that in 1973. This was in spite of the very strong demand caused by the Quebec strike. The 7-month strike of the asbestos miners in Thetford Mines, Quebec cut off 55 percent of the normal supply of U.S. consumers. Apparent domestic consumption was less than 75 percent of that in 1974. The wage settlement will probably result in a 20 percent increase in asbestos prices.

Jan 1, 1975

By E. E. Harton

Bureau of Mines Information Circular 7516, Bibliography of Investment and Operating Costs for Chemical and Petroleum Plants, was published in October 1949 to aid in estimating investment and operating costs of processes for manufacturing synthetic liquid fuels. Development of such processes by the Bureau of Mines was authorized by Public Law 290, 78th Congress. This bibliography included references to and abstracts of publications appearing from. 1930 to September 1948 on all processes in general use in the petroleum refining and chemical industries. Bureau of Mines Information Circular 7705, Supplemental Bibliography on Investment and Operating Costs for Chemical and Petroleum Plants, was prepared to cover the area from September 1948 through June 1952.

Jan 1, 1956

By John Paul Gries

This Bureau of Mines report reviews the mineral industry of the Black Hills area, including Butte, Custer, Fall River, Lawrence, Meade, and Penning- ton Counties, S. Dak.; and Crook, Niobrara, and Weston Counties, Wyo. It includes discussion of geological occurrence, processing, and potential of 27 commodities that have been produced from the nine-county area. The value of mineral production exceeds $70 million annually. Gold and petroleum account for two-thirds of the total, followed by clays, cement, sand and gravel, and rock. The combined mineral industries annually consume 268 million kilowatts of electrical energy, 933 million Mcf of gas, and 2 million barrels of fuel oil. Water consumption is about 10,000 gallons per minute. About 2,700 persons are employed on a year-round or significant part-time basis.

Jan 1, 1974