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By John C. Machisak

THE INJURY data and experience at quarries and related plants of the United States are presented in this publication under the following general sections (A) General injury experience: Tables 1-3: Current data on number of injuries, injury-frequency rates, location, accident agency, degree of injury, and related employment data. (B) Injury experience at different kinds of quarries: Tables 4-5: Current data on number of injuries, injury-frequency rates, location, accident agency, degree of injury, and related employment, data. (C) Injury experience by States: Tables 6-20: Current data on the number of injuries, injury-frequency rates, accident agency, degree of injury, and related employment data. (D) Selected injury data: Tables 21-30: Current data on various selected factors of operating conditions at different kinds of quarries, including employment size-groups, length of shifts, comparative severity of injuries, and injury data and related employment experience at dimension-stone and nondimension-stone quarries and at underground quarries. (E) Historical injury experience: Table 31: Injury and employment data on the quarrying industry for 1911 through 1957. Statistical data on injuries and related employment in the quarrying industries have been collected annually from the operating companies since 1911. Reporting to the Bureau of Mines is voluntary; there is no Federal law compelling operators of quarries and related plants to supply such data. Data presented herein may not be complete for the entire industry. They are however, believed to be representative of the hazards common to all quarry and related workers. Moreover, the figures are comparable as between States-a significant fact in view of the lack of uniformity among the States with regard to the classes of injuries covered by State reports and other factors that tend to make it impracticable or impossible when using State records to

Jan 1, 1960

By Lloyd Williams

1. The investigation shows that the Coal Creek has been the most productive, bed in Campbell County and contains the largest recoverable reserves of coal. The Pewee, Red Ash, and Jullico have been relatively productive beds and contain appreciable recoverable reserves of coal. The Blue Gem also has been productive in the past, but available information indicates that most of the remaining coal is Less than 28 inches thick. The Big Mary has relatively large reserves over 28 inches thick, but the coal is high in ash and sulfur. Thick partings in the Windrock bed have discouraged mining in that bed. The Poplar Creek and Rex beds generally are below drainage, and large areas have been excluded from the reserve estimate, Reserves in the Walnut Mountain bed will be difficult to mine due to the irregu¬lar thickness and lack of continuity of the bed. Estimated coal reserves are- small in the remaining five beds. 2. Known measured and indicated reserves of coal, based on a minimum bed thickness of 14 inches and on 1,800 short tons per acre-Foot of coal in place, are estimated to be 398 million tons as of January 1, 1953, o? this total, 267 million tons is in beds 28 inches and more thick. Areas in each bed were omitted from the estimate because available data relative to the bed characteristics are too meager to make an estimate that conforms with the definitions of measured and indicated coal adopted for this study. Should future drilling or development prove reserves in these areas, these should be added to the total estimated reserves.

Jan 1, 1956

By Kenneth Maas

The Bureau of Mines devoted portions of the 1987-1988 field seasons to investigate the mineral aggregate industry in Juneau, Skagway, Haines, and Gustavus, Alaska, as part of the Juneau Mining District study. Statistics compiled for current suppliers include location, activity, reserve estimates, expected mine life, and types of commodities available. Each population center, except for Gustavus, is well endowed with suitable mineral aggregate to last at least 20 years. The Bureau of Mines quantified the mineral aggregate resource in many large potential sites within each area. Sampling, engineering and soil-index testing, site descriptions, deposit dimensions, and gold recovery information is described. Refraction seismic studies performed at three localities revealed gravel thicknesses in excess of 40 to 80 feet. In the Juneau area the Herbert/Eagle Rivers outwash area, East Fork Lace River. Antler/Gilkey Rivers, and Grizzly Bar (Taku Inlet) individually contain in excess of 60 million yd3 of excellent-quality aggregate with minor accessory gold credits. Haines is also well endowed with aggregate resources; large, quality deposits occur along and at the confluences of the Chilkat, Katzehin, Klehini, Tsirku, and Kicking Horse Rivers. Large deposits of granitic aggregate exist in the Skagway River and East Fork Skagway River.

Jan 1, 2012

By Louis E. Dalverny

U.S. Bureau of Mines research to develop diagnostic methods to locate and evaluate fires in abandoned mines and waste banks and techniques to extinguish such fires was applied to an abandoned 60-acre underground bituminous coal mine (Renton, Allegheny County, PA) to locate and extinguish three separated fire zones. Mine fire diagnostics interpret changes from baseline values in subsurface pressures, temperatures, and mine gas composition under imposed pressure gradients induced by a borehole exhaust fan. The effective gas sampling area surrounding each borehole is greatly enlarged. Sampling iterations, using a "communicating" boreholes set, provide "fire signature" information for locating both heated and cold areas. Time-dependent monitoring differentiates heating and cooling periods resulting from combustion front movement and/or fire extinguishment activities. A water injection with fume exhaustion extinguishment effort involved injecting water through boreholes to quench the heated zones while exhaust fans actively removed heated gases from the mine. The technique was ineffective as implemented, primarily because of inadequate spreading of water from the injection points. The Bureau's diagnostic method determined the fire locations and the effectiveness of the water injection with fume exhaustion extinguishment technique.

Jan 1, 2010

By Howard J. Pincus

The purpose of the study is to investigate the effects of fracture filling and associated alteration on the mechanical behavior of rocks. Results are presented for specimens from the Climax and Henderson mines in Colorado and the San Manuel mine in Arizona. The rock types studied from each location are from 1) Climax, medium-grained - granite, fine-grained granite, granite porphyry, schist, and gneiss; 2. Henderson, rhyolite porphyry; 3. San Manuel, quartz monzonite and quartz monzonite porphyry. A description of the rocks was made including: color, texture, mineral composition, composition and fabric of fracture fillings, density and porosity. Unconfined and triaxial compression tests were run on the Climax and San Manuel specimens. Sonic relocities were measured during the compression tests; Shore sceleroscope hardness was measured before the compression tests. Tentative conclusions are that some relation appears to exist between compressive strength and the following properties and features for all the specimens: dynamic Young's modulus, sonic velocity, density, rock composition, and composition and fabric of fracture fillings - veinlets. There appears to be some relation between compressive strength and Shore scleroscope hardness and porosity for quartz monzonite (San Manuel). A relation appears to exist between compressive strength and texture for schist and between com¬pressive strength and extent of failure on fracture fillings for fine-grained granite, schist, and gneiss (Climax). We plan to perform additional analyses of data collected so far and data yet to be collected in the next few months, with emphasis placed on devising a practical index of alter¬ation that can be used in the field. Limitations on interpretations arise from such factors as heterogeneity of the rocks studied, the small range of confining pressures used, and other factors presented in the text.

Jan 1, 1973

By Erik Sherer

Indonesia is poised to become a major player in the Pacific Rim thermal coal markets. Although the colonial Dutch developed numerous coal mines in the late 1800's for steamship bunkers and domestic fuel, Indonesia's coal industry has only recently begun to actively participate in the growing global marketplace. This export coal is primarily the result of the commercial development of coal mines in eastern Kalimantan by foreign contractors. From virtually no coal exports in the late 1980?s, Indonesia's coal industry has increased its exports to approximately 15 million metric tons (Mmt) in 1992. In 1992, Indonesia was the world?s sixth largest exporter of steam coal, By the year 2000, Indonesia projects that it will supply approximately 25 percent of the seaborne thermal coal requirements of the Pacific Rim countries. Although limited quantities of this coal may enter the European and U.S. markets, high qualities, low production casts, and favorable transportation rates will make Indonesian coals very competitive in the rapidly growing Pacific Rim markets. This study examines the Indonesian coal mining industry and compares it to the U.S. coal mining industry. This report is the sixth in a series of coal exporting country studies requested by the House Appropriations Committee. Previous studies examined the Colombian, Canadian, Australian, South African, Polish, and Venezuelan coal industries.

Jan 1, 1994

By Christopher J. Bise

Volume II of this collection of research reports, entitled "Model Training Program," provides the framework and details for developing a tailored training program for a specific mine based upon documented human-performance deficiencies. To do this, several steps must be followed prior to program implementation: 1) background information must be gathered (database analysis), 2) direct observation of indicated problem areas should be conducted (safety sampling), and 3) separation of those deficiencies to be addressed through training from those which would be better addressed by workplace or equipment redesign (trainability assessment). Once training is determined to be the appropriate strategy for addressing the noted deficiencies, several approaches can be taken, depending upon whether the problem is related to repetitive work procedures in a predictable, a variable, or a dynamic workplace with a substantial amount of interaction between workers, equipment, and the environment. Although this volume and the subsequent seven volumes provide examples of how the training information was field tested using various strategies (for example, loss control, task training, etc.) and techniques (for example, microcomputer-based exercises, lectures, etc.), the ultimate selection of the delivery method is based on cost/benefit analysis. Therefore, the Model Training Program has incorporated a Training Cost Model as a desirable component.

Jan 1, 1993

By S. H. Lorain

Tin mining on Seward Peninsula, Alaska, has been intermittently active since the early 1900's. Most of the recorded production (over 2,200 short tons of metallic tin) has been obtained from placer deposits, but recent production also has resulted from development of lode deposits associated with intrusive rocks occurring in the western part of the peninsula. Generally, the lode deposits containing tin minerals (principally cassiterite) are found in dikes, in granite masses, and in silicate zones in limestone overlying the granite. Both the placer and lode deposits have been of considerable strategic interest to the Government because of the almost total absence of a domestic supply of tin. The most important tin-lode deposit discovered to date is in the Cassiterite dike at the Lost River mine, on Cassiterite Creek about 85 miles northwest of Nome. This highly altered, rhyolite porphyry dike averages 12 feet in thickness, strikes N. 75° to 85° E., and dips steeply to the south; it can be traced on the surface for about 8,000 feet. Throughout its explored length of about 2,200 feet the dike everywhere contains some tin and tungsten in veinlets and disseminations; economic concentration of the are minerals, however, is confined to definite shoots. The ore minerals include cassiterite, stannite, hulsite, paigeite, wolframite, scheelite, and base-metal sulfides; gangue minerals include fluorite, boron silicates, and lithium-bearing minerals. Some ore minerals also occur in the numerous other dikes and in the granite and intruded limestone in and adjacent to the mine.

Jan 1, 1958

By W. H. Oppelt

The continuous gasification of lignite in an externally heated alloy-steel re-tort was investigated by the Bureau of Mines, Grand Forks, N. Dak., from 1945 to 1951. The main objective of the long-term experimental program was to obtain data on the mechanical performance of this type of gasification retort, particularly the alloy-steel heat-transfer surface of the retort, when operated on large pilot-plant scale. At the same time, extensive experimental data were obtained concerning the effect of process variables and the effect of a limited number of design modifications on gasifier performance. In the period covered by this progress report 4 pilot-plant runs totaling 2,879 hours of operation were completed with the rolled-plate, 310-alloy reaction tube. Over 30 million cubic feet of gas, having H2-CO ratios from 2.1 to 4.4, was made by the partial gasification of 636 tons of 1-1/2-by 3/8-inch natural lignite. Rates of gas generation were from 8,200 to 14,300 cubic feet per hour. Three of the four runs were carried out with the lowered gas offtake or continuous-annulus design modification of the gasification retort. In the final run of the series, gasification of lignite from seven different mines in North Dakota and Saskatchewan, Canada, was investigated at similar combustion-space temperatures and lignite and steam feed rates.

Jan 1, 1955

By J. R. Thoenen

Up to 1914 almost all of the world's supply of potash came from Germany and Alsace. With the cessation of shipments from Germany during the World War the importance of a domestic suppler was evident. During the past 15 years the United States has been working toward the establishment of a domestic potash industry which would end foreign dominance in this commodity. The Federal government has taken an active part in this program. As its share in the work, the Bureau of Lines has ascertained the potash resources in certain district's through core drilling and has engaged in a comprehensive program of research on the extraction of potash from its various minerals. Until the passage of the Winter bill (H. R. 496) by Congress in 1928 the Bureau of Mines had not been able to give any consideration to the western ores, wyomingite (leucite) and alunite. With the massage of this bill, however, the ray was opened for the extension of the potash studies to cover these materials.

Jan 1, 1932

This summary of State laws on explosives wag compiled primarily to ascertain what subjects relating to their control have been acted upon by each State legislature and, in general, how they have been treated. It does not Include any legislation passed after 1942, or any proclamations, regulations, or administrative orders. It does not purport or attempt to be authoritative. If any problem arises involving interpretation of the statutes of any particular State, the original source must be consulted for the exact words used by the legislature. This summary, however, will be useful in determining whether relevant statutes exist, and in locating them quickly, with a minimum of effort. It will be of value also in comparing statutes in other States to determine what construction has been placed upon them by the courts of these jurisdictions or to contrast the varying provisions of many States upon a similar subject. To make these comparisons easier, the statutory provisions for each State have been grouped under several major topics in outline form. Although this sometimes has resulted in disruption of the continuity of individual acts, the increased general clarity and availability of comparable sections have more than justified the procedure followed.

Jan 1, 1943

By C. J. Wilhelm

The Carthage field, in Pamela County, Tex., is one of the largest gas-condensate in respect to both areal extent and volume of recoverable gas in the United States. The field (shown in fig. 1) is approximately 25 miles long by 20 miles wide on a southwest to northeast axis and includes 306 producing wells as of July 1, 1948. 3 distinct reservoirs in the Rodessa and Sligo formations have been found in the Carthage area the two main producing zones being the Upper and Lower Pettit, less important production being found in the Hill zone. Although a small amount of commercial production has been obtained in the Travis Peak formation, it has not been included in this report. An engineering study has been made by Bureau of Mines engineers, with the ultimate objective of arriving at an estimate of the gas reserves, by application of the data made available by the operators in the Carthage field. During World War II the Bureau of Mines submitted a restricted petroleum-engineering report on the Carthage field to the Petroleum Administration for War, at which time (March 1944) the development consisted of only 19 producing wells, 7 of which were dual completions. Because of the restricted nature of the first report and the limited development at the time of writing, a more complete investigation and subsequent publication was considered advisable. Bureau of Mines engineers have made use of all available records such as electric logs, drilling-time logs, core descriptions and results of core analyses, well-completion records, and production data in developing this report.

Jan 1, 1950

By Roy S. Nutter

An expert system advisor consultant to assist a coal mine section foreman is described in this report. The system is designed for an underground continuous miner section that is being specifically used for longwall development. The system provides three methods of operation that include normal operational mode for use underground, a training mode for use in training section foremen under controlled classroom conditions, and a demonstration mode that is free running. The Face Decision Support System or FDSS, is designed to interface with section environmental monitoring equipment and section production monitoring equipment that may appear in the future. This provides automated reprioritzation of the section foreman's job list from the system. The system 1S written in LASER which is written in C and is operated under the UNIX operating system. The objective of the entire FOSS system is to ensure that no job or piece of information important to safety or to production is forgotten because of the immediate problems confronting the section foreman.

Jan 1, 1988

By J. R. Thoenen

Up to 1914 almost all of the world's supply of potash came from Germany and Alsace. With the cessation of shipments from Germany during the World War the importance of a domestic supply was evident, During the past 15 years the United States has been working toward the establishment of a domestic potash industry which would end foreign dominance in this commodity. The Federal government has taken an active part in this program. As its share in the work, the Bureau of Mines has ascertained the potash resources in certain districts through core drilling and has engaged in a comprehensive program of research on the extraction of potash from its various minerals. Until the passage of the Winter bill (H. R. 496) by Congress in 1928 the Bureau of Mines had not been able to give any consideration to the western ores, wyomingite (leucite) and alunite. With the Passage of this bill, however, the ray was opened for the extension of the potash studies to cover these materials.

Jan 1, 1932

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Jan 1, 1985

By F. S. Crawford

"After many years of safety activity in the United States in one form or another it becomes increasingly evident to those in contact with safety work that to achieve continuous good results in accident prevention there must be an aggressive organization behind the safety movement at each mine with fairly definite plan and policy. A study of the methods used by various companies and the results they have attained will be of value to the common cause of safety promotion.A study has been made of the safety records of the Menominee iron range in the Lake Superior district, and of data from the county mine inspector's report. Several companies on this iron range that have attained a certain measure of success in their work of accident prevention have given data, and a summary of their safety methods is presented.The Menominee iron range of Michigan lies in the southern portion of the upper peninsula of Michigan, bordering on Wisconsin. It consists of two main. divisions--the West Menominee Range, situated in Iron County in the vicinity of Iron River and Crystal Palls, and the East Menominee range situated in Dickinson County in the neighborhood or iron Mountain, Mich. The mines about Iron River and Crystal Falls are peculiarly subject to fires in a carbonaceous, sulphur-bearing black slate which appears in the footwall. This gives considerable trouble because fires in this material start from spontaneous heating. The methods of mining are top slicing and open stoping, working on benches along the sides of the stopes. The character of the ground varies from medium Soft ore to relatively hard ore which permits open stoping. Approximately one-third of the operating mines are equipped with a fan for main mechanical ventilation. The remainder are ventilated by natural draft. The East Menominee range is the older, top slicing having been used there for a number of years, and the timber mats have boon well developed. In common with all districts, some companies pay more attention to safety than others, although, those which do riot have the best records do pay some attention to safety.During the past three years the annual production per man employed has remained about constant, but in many mines a general decrease is shown in the accident record. The variation in the results attained can be ascribed mainly to the earnestness with which accident-prevention work is pursued, essentially regardless of the method of mining used. This is shown to be generally true, because the record indicates a steady decrease in one mine with an active safety department, while in adjoining mines with the same kind of ground and method of mining but where not such intensive attention has been paid to safety work, the accident record is high."

Oct 1, 1931

By C. Lurie

This final report describes the work performed by Gulton Battery Corporation under USBM Contract No. HO-112033, entitled "Research and Development on Lithium-Nickel Fluoride Batteries For Mint Life Support Equipment". The lithium-nickel fluoride couple was chosen For this investigation because of its high theoretical energy density (626 Wh/lb), its ability to operate at ambient temperatures and the fact that it showed promise as a secondary system. The theoretical energy density of the lithium-nickel fluoride couple is ten times greater than that of the widely used lead-acid battery and three times greater than the silver-zinc battery which has the highest theoretical energy density of the commercially available secondary systems. The experimental program first evaluated the cell components individually. The results of these studies then formed the basis for investigations of cell performance using experimental three-plate cells. These cells consisted of one nickel-fluoride and two lithium electrodes. All work was performed in a glove box under an argon atmosphere which was sufficiently pure to maintain the shiny appearance on freshly prepared lithium surfaces. The major portion of the work effort was concerned with the nickel fluoride electrode. Binder, conductive diluent, fabrication technique, as well as the nickel fluoride active material itself, were considered. Criteria for binder materials were established and six classes of materials encompassing thirteen binders were evaluated. The candidate materials were initially screened for appropriate chemical and physical properties and finally evaluated in three.-plate cells, Two epoxy powders emerged as the most promising binders. Two types of conductive diluent were evaluated. The first is a carbon black of low bulk density and high surface area. This material is a good conductive diluent; however, electrodes fabricated with it lacked good mechanical strength. It was hypothesized that a uni¬form, small particle size, low specific surface area would improve the mechanical properties of the electrodes. Therefore, two samples of graphicic materials, milled to uniform powders in the one-to-ten micron range were evaluated. Electrodes prepared with the graphitic materials had superior mechanical properties, However, their electrical performance was significantly poorer and voltage losses of 0.2 to 0.3 volts were observed. Several electrolyte solutions were evaluated. N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone was tested but found to be incompatible in the presence of lithium. Lithium perchlorate, lithium hexafluoroarsenate, and lithium bromide were tested as two-component electrolytes in propylene carbonate solvent and their performance compared with that of the single electrolyte solutions, Lithium perchlorate gave the best performance. Lithium hexafluoroarsenate was also evaluated in methyl formate and appears to give equivalent performance. The lithium perchlorate-propylene carbonate system is preferred as it is easier to handle and less expensive.

Jan 1, 1973

By Ronald M. Hays

The Duluth Gabbro Complex in Northeastern Minnesota possibly contains a significant domestic copper resource and the nation&apos;s largest nickel resource. Exploration has discovered large low-grade copper-nickel (Cu-Ni) deposits between Hoyt Lakes and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA). The mining and processing of Cu-Ni will have environmental, economic, and social impacts. The purpose of this study is to relate major environmental, economic, and social considerations to various aspects of Cu-Ni extraction. An open pit and two underground (block caving and open stoping with backfilling) models were developed to generate information on the impact of Cu-Ni extraction. Important considerations having environmental, economic, and social impacts (luring various aspects of Cu-Ni extraction are identified and defined. These aspects are exploration, development, mining, beneficiating, smelting, transportation, and termination of operations. Considerations are grouped into the general categories of site, industrial, energy, climatic, resource, water, air emission, waste disposal, employee, tax and royalty, transportation, and community considerations. Cu-Ni extraction in Northeastern Minnesota presents major environmental, economic, and social risks. Decisions are required on trade-offs between adverse and beneficial impacts. The approach used in this study assists in assessing environmental, economic, and social impacts. It will aid in the examination of potential and projected short-term and long-term advantages and disadvantages and will aid in the development of Minnesota&apos;s Cu-Ni resource for the maximum benefit to society.

Jan 1, 1974

By Ned H. Snyder

In recent years the Government and other large consumers of coal have appreciated more and more the desirability of definitely determining by chemical analysis and test the character and quality of the coal they purchase. Higher prices for coal point forcibly to the need of giving more study to engine room and boiler room efficiencies and economies; this implies an intimate knowledge of the character and quality of the fuel used. Analyses and tests of delivered coal furnish data whereby power plant results can be comprehensively studied and a continuous check maintained on the coal and on the conditions of plant operation. Under authority of acts of Congress making appropriations for technologic investigation of fuels and the analyzing and testing of fuels belonging to or for the use of the United States Government, a laboratory is maintained at the Pittsburgh station of the Bureau of Mines, where samples representing deliveries of coal purchased for Government use are analyzed and tested.

Jan 1, 1923

This Bureau of Mines report and its companion report (Information Circular 9142) have been prepared to assist in the preparation of prefeasibility type estimates for capital and operating costs of beneficiation of various types of mineral occurrences using current technology. The handbook provides a convenient costing procedure based on the summation of the costs for the unit processes required in any particular mining or mineral processing operation. The costing handbook consists of a series of costing sections, each corresponding to a specific mineral processing unit process. Contained within each section is the methodology to estimate either the capital or operating cost for that unit process. The unit process sections may be used to generate, in January 1984 dollars, costs through the use of either costing curves or formulae representing the prevailing technology. The mineral processing handbook includes individual cost estimation sections for unit operations associated with comminution, beneficiation, solid-liquid separation, hydrometallurgy, and special applications as well as infrastructure and plant general and administrative costs. When using this system for estimating cost data for a mineral processing facility or for checking or verifying processing costs from an existing facility, a minimum amount of background information is necessary.

Jan 1, 1987