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By Russell Griffin

The current state of the art of fire and smoke detection technology is reviewed from the standpoint of suitability for use in under- ground metal and nonmetal mines. Detection modes, fire signatures, and environmental considerations are included. Preliminary results of long- term, in-mine tests are presented.

By Michael C. Horn

The 61,470-acre Lick Creek Roadless Study Area is in the western Salmon River Mountains, centered 12 miles northeast from McCall, ID. U.S. Bureau of Mines personnel examined the roadless area in 1984. There is no recorded mineral production from the study area and no current mineral-related activity was observed. The roadless area is underlain by granitic rocks of the Idaho batholith. Pegmatite dikes and aplite dikes are present locally. Sampling indicates these rocks are not mineralized. No mineral resources were identified. INTRODUCTION This report describes the USBM (U.S. Bureau of Mines) portion of a cooperative study with the USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) to evaluate mineral resources and potential of federal lands recommended for wilderness, as required by The Wilderness Act of 1964. The USBM examines and evaluates individual mines, claims, prospects, and mineralized zones; USGS conducts broader geological, geochemical, and geophysical surveys. Such data helps Congress and other federal agencies make decisions affecting the use of public lands.

Jan 1, 1986

By John P. Hansen

Batches of red or brown iron ore concentrates, weighing 100 or 200 grams, were reduced with gaseous reductants in a laboratory-sized fluidized-bed reactor. Using a loss of weight technique, the rates of reduction were measured and the effects of temperature, gas consumption, and gas flow rates were determined. Below about 725° C the rate of reduction was controlled by the chemical reaction at the reduction interface having an activation energy of about 10 kcal/g mole. Above about 725° C the rate of reduction appeared to be controlled by the flow of the gaseous reductant and therefore to be directly proportional to the flow rate. Above 725° C, hydrogen reduced the iron ore much faster than carbon monoxide. In gas mixtures, carbon monoxide or nitrogen reduced the hydrogen partial pressure and lowered the reaction rate proportionally. When present in large concentrations, carbon monoxide had a serious inhibiting effect on the reduction rate, probably owing to carburization and sintering of the reduced iron.

Jan 1, 1970

By James C. Barker

Unverified reports of rare earth element (REE) concentrations in gold placers and radioactive mineral prospects in the Zane Hills were investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Mines as part of the Alaska critical minerals program. REE is reported to occur in dredge concentrates at the Hogatza mine and up to 1.2 pct REE was previously analyzed in alkalic syenite (bostonite) dikes marginal to the pluton. In addition, numerous thorium-rich veins, explored for their uranium content but unevaluated for REE, occur on the western margin of the Zane Hills. The Bureau mapped and sampled all of the reported or suspected REE occurrences. Dredge concentrates contain abundant uranothorianite, a mineral species which incorporates cerium subgroup REE. Bostonite dikes occur in conjunction with a multi-phased zoned alkalic intrusion, however, no significant REE concentrations were found. Thorium-rich veins contain nil to 0.5 pct Y but resource potential is limited by this relatively low grade, the ultimate low tonnage potential, and the lack of uranium as a major economic element. The Zane Hills exhibit attractive exploration targets for uranium deposits, primarily in a sedimentary form. Gold may be found peripheral to the pluton in both placer and lode deposits. Resource potential of REE, however, appears limited to a placer by-product of REE-Zr-Ti that is recoverable only during large scale gold placer mining. Placer exploration of the lower Wheeler and Dakli Creeks is suggested.

Jan 1, 1991

By Jerome Apt

This manual has been prepared fur the help and guidance of underground coal mine operators. It details both common and unique engineering methods by which the respirable dust, which is generated in coal mines, can be controlled. This document was compiled by Apt, Bramer, Conrad and Associates, Inc. under contract number H0111464, issued by the U. S. Bureau of Mines and forms Volume II of the final report. This contract was authorized by and executed pursuant to the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety. Act of 1969 (P. I. 91-173; 83 Stat. 742).

Jan 1, 1972

By Ralph D. Gift

This report describes a program of research to evaluate methanometry in coal mines. The program commenced by conducting an extensive state-of-the-art survey. Details of the survey are presented which includes a rating of various types of instruments that can be used to detect and record methane gas. Laboratory test data, on mine instruments tested are presented together with results from a computerized statistical analysts.

Jan 1, 1972

By William M. Schafer

Forage plots were established on agricultural lands contaminated by acid mining waste. The acid produced through oxidation of pyrite and other sulfides caused elevated solubility and plant availability of copper, zinc, and arsenic which killed vegetation and polluted surface and groundwater. Soil amendments including agricultural lime (CaCO3), hydrated lime (Ca(OH)2), phosphorus, and organic matter were used to reduce the toxicity of metals. Several acid-tolerant grasses were used to vegetate the amended soils. Various soil extraction techniques were used to see which best correlated with vegetation performance. The extractions corresponded to three "forms" of metals in soil including soluble (water-saturation extract); plant-available/weakly adsorbed (DTPA extract); and total (HNO3/H202 extract). Of the extractants tested the DTPA levels appeared to correlate best with metal levels in plant tissue. The DTPA soil extractant serves as a useful tool in predicting potential phytotoxicity of mine waste materials.

Jan 1, 1989

By Gregory M. Molinda

The Coal Mine Roof Rating (CMRR) was developed 10 years ago to fill the gap between geologic characterization and engineering design. It combines many years of geologic studies in underground coal mines with world-wide experience with rock mass classification systems. Like other classification systems, the CMRR begins with the premise that the structural competence of mine roof rock is determined mainly by the discontinuities that weaken the rock fabric. However, the CMRR is specifically designed for bedded coal measure rock. Since its introduction, the CMRR has been incorporated into many aspects of mine planning, including longwall pillar design, roof support selection, feasibility studies, extended-cut evaluation, and others. It has also become truly inter-national, with involvement in mine designs and funded research projects in South Africa, Canada, and Australia. This paper discusses the sources used in developing the CMRR, describes the CMRR data collection and calculation procedures, and briefly presents a number of practical mining applications in which the CMRR has played a prominent role.

Jan 5, 2007

By S. K. Mathur

This report identifies all the possible activities, variables and factors that contribute to the surface subsidence process over room and pillar workings. These factors are responsible for mine instability and collapse that ultimately transforms into surface subsidence. Such a failure mechanism is initiated by the failure of the mine floor bed and or the failure of the pillars or the failure of the roof after second mining, which eventually brings down the roof. The individual responses of the pillar, floor and roof rocks to the mining induced stresses and the complex interaction between these components can't be attributable to any single factor. Also, no attempt has been made to quantify the significance of each of these factors and relate to the ground subsidence due to the lack of field data. The discussion here is centered primarily on the first mining though second mining is mentioned very briefly,

Jan 1, 1982

By K. K. Kelley

This work is both a revision and an elaboration of Bureau of Mines Bulletin 371, which was published in 1934 and included data available to October 1933. During the intervening years, a large number of new experimental, high-temperature, heat-content data have become available through continuous, systematic efforts of the Pacific Experiment Station of the Bureau of Mines and the Laboratory for Inorganic and Physical Chemistry of the University of Groningen (Netherlands), coupled with various individual investigations at many institutions. In addition, calculations from spectroscopic and molecular constant data have been extended and applied to a wide variety of gaseous substances. This bulletin purposes to collect and correlate all available high-temperature heat-content and specific-heat data for inorganic sub-stances and to formulate tables and algebraic expressions for their representation. It is hoped in this manner to remove some of the tedium of thermodynamic calculations for industrial metallurgical research workers and engineers who often have available only an inadequate library in this field. It is expected also that this bulletin will have value to those teaching courses in metallurgical and chemical thermodynamics.

Jan 1, 1949

By R. J. Matetic

The Bureau of Mines, as part of a program to improve mine planning and development, is currently investigating the effects of pillar load transfer, which can impact mining operations wi.thin a multiple-seam configuration. At two mine sites where such ground interactions were present, the Bureau performed a complete geological analysis and installed and monitored instrumentation to gather pertinent data on rock mechanics. Overburden depth varied dramatically in the vicinity of the study area and reached a maximum at the study site; innerburden thick-ness was less than a pillar width (40 to 4S ft); heaving was experienced in both mines where sandstone and/or shale floor units were observed; overlays of the mine layouts show pillars were not totally superpositioned; a maximum of S in of roof to floor convergence was measured; and pressure readings indicated pillar core loading only and increased to a maximum of 7,000 psig over instrument setting pressure.

Jan 1, 1987

By W. G. Phillips

This report presents results from a study whose objective was to evaluate noise control options for existing equipment used in metal and non-metal processing plants. This equipment performs 3 basic functions, crushing, grinding to a point where the product can be liberated from the waste, and agglomeration A the product. Specifically, the study was directed towards taconite processing since the extreme hardness of taconite results in high noise levels and in considerable maintenance of the processing equipment. Both of these factors make this process a very challenging noise control task. Plants processing other ores use similar equipment, consequently the results of these studies should he applicable to a wide variety of plants. The report presents the source diagnosis and potential retrofit noise control treatments for fine screens, mills, crusher sizing screens, and vacuum disc filters. Estimates are make of the noise reduction from each treatment. The report concludes with recommendations for future research on each piece of equipment.

Jan 1, 1978

By Forrest T. Moyer

Frequency rates of injuries per million man-hours of exposure were improved during 1965 slightly to moderately over those of 1964 at metal mines, nonferrous reduction and refining plants, nonmetal mills, stone quarries and mills, sand and gravel operations, and slag operations. However, at metal mills and nonmetal mines the rates of occurrence of work injuries were less favorable. The severity rates of injuries during 1965 were better than in 1964 at metal mines and mills, stone quarries and mills, and slag operations. Conversely, severity rates were worse at nonferrous reduction and refining plants, nonmetal mines and mills, and sand and gravel operations.

Jan 1, 1966

The purpose of the contract was to develop an improved coal mine dust sampler whose electrical-to-mechanical energy conversion efficiency would be superior to that of the presently available equipment. The electrical to (pressure) X (volume) conversion efficiency directly affects the size and weight of the air samplers. At least half of the mass of present equipment is composed of the rechargeable batteries. Any increase in efficiency will allow this mass to be reduced or the flow rote to be increased.

Jan 1, 1974

By Stephen C. Tadolini, Thomas E. Marshall, Cecil Banta, L. J. Prosser, Anthony T. Iannacchione

The Pittsburgh Research Laboratory of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) endeavors to provide national and world leadership in the prevention of work-related illness, injury, and death. This is accomplished by using a scientific approach to gather information, assemble and create knowledge, then translate the knowledge and results into products and services. These products and services are then delivered to all personnel who can effect prevention. Obviously, the development and use of instruments to monitor mine roof conditions provides an opportunity to execute that mission. In the late 1990’s, based on observations at a number of underground limestone mines, only a few used roof monitors. Subsequently, NIOSH introduced the Roof Monitoring Safety System (RMSS) as an aid to roof inspection beyond traditional visual and sounding techniques. Initial expectations were that by gaining roof movement information, ultimately roof sag rates could provide indications of eventual failure. During this investigation, RMSSs were installed in 13 underground limestone mines in six states and this paper analyzes the data obtained at three of these mines. This paper also provides an overview of the system, data, analysis, and applications relevant to the RMSS.

By Philip Thompson

The Bureau of Mines investigated a selective flocculation-flotation technique to remove insoluble slimes from low-grade potash ore in a continous 45-kilogram-per-hour (100-pound-per-hour) process investigation unit (PIU). This research is part of the Bureau's program to improve resource recovery from low-grade ores. Results showed that 84 percent of the insoluble slimes were removed from an ore containing 5.5 percent water-insolubles and 14 percent K20 using a Bureau-developed, cationic flocculant-glycol ester-diesel oil reagent. Subsequent potash flotation recovered 75 percent of the potash in a cleaner concentrate assaying 56 percent K20. Concentrate leaching upgraded the product to market specifications of 60 percent K2O. An economic evaluation by the Bureau suggested that the rate of return on investment, after taxes, should be about 20 percent for such an enterprise.

Jan 1, 1980

By J. Douglas Causey

In 1987, at the request of the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Bureau of Mines studied a part of the 21,296-acre Million Hills Wilderness Study Area (NV-050-233) in order to evaluate its identified mineral resources. The study area is located in Clark County, NV, about 46 miles south of Mesquite, NV. The area is on the east edge of the Gold Butte mining district and has had minor production of copper and zinc from the Azure Ridge mine in the early 1900's. Assessment work was being done on the Esperanta claims, which covers the mine workings, in March 1987.

Jan 1, 1988

By G. S. Beaumont

This report presents a programme of work to demonstrate the use of a surface-based centralised computer control system for the remote monitoring and control of underground conveyors in a US coal mine. The system selected for demonstration was the 'Dynalink' Micro MINOS system which is manufactured by Hawker Siddeley Dynamics Engineering Limited. The site selected was Barnes S Tucker Lancashire No. 20 Mine located near Carrolltown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania. The system concept, operating and application software was designed and developed by the. British National Coal Board. The report describes the selection of the site, specification of the system requirements, commissioning, operation and evaluation of the system under typical US mine operating conditions. Experience with the system, based primarily on the system reliability and performance of conveyor control, was favourable. Mine management personnel felt that the system had successfully achieved its objectives and were keen to expand monitoring and control to other activities.

Jan 1, 1986

By Paul L. Michael

Roof warring signals from eleven underground coal mines (principally in the Pittsburgh seam) were studied and analyzed. The character of individual acoustic warning signals is shown to be dependent on spectral distribution of energy. Reverberation tires (pulse decay rates) were found to be usually between 0.1 and 0.5 seconds. Listening tests were conducted to assess the miner's ability to discriminate speech and roof talk signals in noise and in quiet, with and without ear protectors and with various levels of hearing loss. The ability to detect roof talk is shown to be generally degraded while wearing car protection in quiet, although, if car protectors are worn only when required by high noise levels, the ability to detect roof talk will be preserved at its maximum.

Jan 1, 1972

By Alla D. Mah

The heat of formation of scandium sesquioxide (Sc203) has not been measured previously, and existing values for gallium sesquioxide (Ga203) are subject to large uncertainties. As a consequence, thermodynamic calculations involving these oxides hare lacked scientific exactness. This paper reports newly determined values of the heats of formation of gallium and scandium sesquioxides at 298.15° K., by combustion calorimetry. The corresponding free energies of formation are derived from heat and entropy data.

Jan 1, 1962