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By Maria I. De Rosa

Table 19 and figure 7 show the number of fires and fire injuries for surface metal/nonmetal mines by state during 1990-2001. Table 19 also shows the injury risk rates, employees' working hours, and lost workdays. A total of 79 fires occurred in 16 states during 1990-2001 for these mines. Forty-five of the fires caused 44 injuries and 2 fatalities (including 9 fires and 7 injuries involving contractors). The yearly average was 6.6 fires and 3.7 injuries. Sixty-five fires with 31 injuries and 2 fatalities occurred at metal mines, and 14 fires with 13 injuries occurred at nonmetal mines. The Ewhr value was 546 x 106 hr (In = 0.016), and the LWD value was 13,134. Nevada and Arizona had the most fires (19 fires, 10 injuries, and 1 fatality; and 19 fires and 11 injuries, respectively). They were followed by Minnesota (11 fires, 4 injuries, and 1 fatality) and Alaska (6 fires and 4 injuries). Of these states, Alaska had the highest injury risk rate value (In = 0.079). Table 20, partly illustrated in figure 8, shows the number of fires, fire injuries, fire fatalities, risk rates, employees' working hours, and lost workdays by time period. The number of fires increased during the second period, then decreased during most of the remaining periods. The number of fire injuries decreased during most of the periods (a small increase is seen during the last period), accompanied by a decline in employees' working hours during most of the periods (a small increase is seen during the third and fourth periods). The In values follow patterns similar to those shown by the number of fire injuries. Tables 21-26 show the number of fires by ignition source, method of detection and suppression, equipment involved, location, and burning material by time period. Figure 9 shows the major variables related to fires for 1990-2001. Table 27 shows the number of fire injuries per number of fires causing injuries and total fires by year, ignition source, equipment involved, and location.

Jan 1, 2004

By Harold M. Smith

The data in this report were prepared to show how Bureau of Mines routine crude oil analyses could be used to evaluate crude oils in terms of common commercial products . The use of Bureau of Mines routine analyses to determine hydrocarbon - type relationships for the gasoline and gas - oil fractions is demonstrated . For this purpose the correlation index , the aromatic profile and the naphthene profile are used to establish reasonably acceptable values for hydrocarbontype relationships . The derivation and meaning of these indications are discussed . These analytical interpretations are applied to a group of high - sulfur crude oils from the Near East , the Permian basin of West Texas , Venezuela , Colombia , California , and other locations , and the resultant data for gasoline , gas oils , lubricating oils , and asphalt are compared by appropriate tables and graphs . Because the Near East crude oils contain higher quantities of paraffins in the gasoline and gas oil ranges , they will yield good , lowsolvency solvents and good kerosine , jet fuel , and diesel fuels , but straightrun gasoline of inferior quality compared to similar products from either West Texas or Venezuelan high - sulfur oils . The Near East oils also should be good sources of lubricating stock . However , when used as stock for catalytic cracking or reforming , the Near East oils suffer by comparison because they are deficient in naphthenes .

Jan 1, 1964

By W. R. K. Wu

Studies are reported on the structure of coal and coke with the graphical , statistical densimetric method based on the relation between the molecular volume per carbon atom ( M / C ) and the atomic hydrogen - carbon ratio ( H / C ) . Previous work , mostly from chemical and physical investigations , is critically reviewed . Difficulties in evaluating the ring increment are demonstrated for coal and coke for the statistical densimetric method based on the additivity of atomic volumes of constituent elements . A new diagram is presented for the graphical method . Methods are introduced for correcting M /C and H/C for the presence of minor constituents in coal and coke . With the graphical method , the fractions of aromatic carbon atoms in the total carbon atoms are estimated for a coal , a resin , and 5 petrographic components ; the types of condensed structure in the fundamental units of molecules are discussed for these substances , 28 coals , and 6 " average " cokes at 500 ° to 1,000 ° C. It is also shown that the number of rings in the fundamental units of coal generally increases with increasing rank and that of coke , with increasing carbonization temperature .

Jul 1, 1960

By Frank J. Wiebelt

The Carbonate King zinc mine is on the west slope of Kokoweef Peak, Ivanpah Mountains, San Bernardino County, Calif. It has produced more-than 10,000 tons of ore with a 39-percent?zinc content since mining operations began in 1940. The ore, consisting principally of calamine and smithsonite, occurs in replacements of the YellowPine limestone. Milling, has been done from the surface to a depth of 275 feet. Eight holes, aggregating 2,121, feet were drilled by the Bureau of Mines in an endeavor to establish extensions of the worked-out ore bodies and to develop new ones. Although indication of mineralization was found in several of the holes, no new ore bodies were developed.

Jan 1, 1949

By D. J. Parker

Owing to its flexibility, convenience, economy, ands availability, electric power is peculiarly adapted to the needs of the coal -mining industry. Because of such obvious advantages, the application of electricity has in recent years become more and more extensive and is now a most important factor in the Nation's coal prediction. With the introduction of this type of power into coal mines certain new, specific, and well-recognized hazards resulted. The question arises, therefore: Has the industry met these hazards squarely and. effectively? With respect to some individual companies, the answer happily is in the affirmative; with respect to the industry as a whole, there is much room for improvement.

Jan 1, 1933

By J. A. Stampe

In connection with its investigations of strategic minerals in the United States, the Bureau of Mines ran magnetic surveys totaling more than 533,000 linear feet at 30 deposits of magnetite in northern New Jersey. These deposits occur in a belt of granitic gneiss and in limited areas of limestone. The ore consists of magnetite accompanied by score of the following minerals: Hornblende, augite, apatite, feldspar, biotite, calcite, garnet and pyrolusite. Results of these investigations are being presented in two reports of which this is the second. The first paper, Certain. Magnetite Deposits in New Jersey, by A. L. Neumann and McHenry Mosier, was issued in April 1948 as Report of Investigations 4225.

Jan 1, 1949

By E. L. Garton

Bureau of Mines routine crude-oil analyses of 88 samples from 60 fields are presented in this report. Similar analyses from other fields in California have been published in previous reports listed in the appendix, page 52. Yearly production of crude oil in California and the percentage of United States production represented by California production for 1948-54 are given in table 1. [ ] Analyses in this report are of samples from the fields listed in table 2, with production data for 1953, cumulative production through 1953, and year of discovery of each field. Information regarding the source and general characteristics of the samples is included in table 3 with a summary of analytical and computed data.

Jan 1, 1956

By W. W. Adams

Coal mining in the United States, had a somewhat higher death rate per million man-hours of exposure among the employees in 1937 than in 1933 to 1936. However, the rate in 1937 was lower and therefore more favorable than that in any year since 1921 but previous to 1933. The nonfatal injury record, which began in 1930, was lower and therefore better in 1937 than in any other year since 1930. Separate figures covering bituminous-coal mines in all States showed a lower fatality rate in 1937 than in any year since 1920 but before 1933, and a lower nonfatal injury rate than that of any year since 1930 except 1933 and 1936. Reports for anthracite mines in Pennsylvania revealed a better safety record for fatal accidents in 1937 than in any year since 1930 except 1933, 1934, and 1936 and a better record for nonfatal injuries than in any year since 1930 except 1933.

Jan 1, 1940

By D. E. Andrus

This paper, which describes the milling practice at the Montana mine concentrator of the Eagle-Picher Lead Co., is one of a series being prepared by the United Slates Bureau of Mines. LOCATION The Montana mine is situated on the eastern edge of the Oro Blanco mountains at an elevation of 4,300 feet. It is in the Oro Blanco mining district, Santa Cruz County, in the southern part of Arizona, about 4 miles north of the Mexican border, 30 miles northwest of Nogales and 80 miles southwest of Tucson. Amado, a station on the Southern Pacific Railroad, midway between Tucson and Nogales, and about 40 miles northeast of the mine, is the shipping point and is reached over an excellent highway.

Jan 1, 1931

By Forrest T. Moyer

To keep the mineral and allied industries informed of trends in the causes of accidents and to point, out the need for corrective measures, the Bureau of Mines collects, analyzes, and periodically publishes health and safety statistics. This report includes data for 1962 on injury experience, with related employment statistics, at coal mines in the United States. These data are presented in tabular form under the following: General Injury Experience Tables 1 to 6: Current data on number of injuries, degree of injury, frequency and severity rates, average severity, and related employment and production data by work location.

Jan 1, 1964

By Forrest T. Moyer

To keep the mineral and allied industries informed of trends in the causes of accidents and to point out the need for corrective measures, the Bureau of Mines collects, analyzes, and periodically publishes health and safety statistics. This report includes data for 1962 on injury experience, with related employment statistics, at coal mines in the United States. These data are presented in tabular form under the following: General Injury Experience Tables 1 to 6: Current data on number of injuries, degree of injury, frequency and severity rates, average severity, and related employment and production data by work location.

Jan 1, 1964

By Paul M. Ambrose

ADVANCES in mining and processing technology made it possible to reopen the De Beers diamond mine in South Africa, originally located in 1871 by Cecil Rhodes and closed in 1908. Radioactive material was used to indicate the efficiency of hydro-cyclones used in diamond concentration. Added interest was shown in recovering diamond from the sea off the coast of South-West Africa. Production of crude artificial abrasives declined because demand was paritally met by withdrawals from stocks. The value of graded grain-coated abrasives and grinding wheels surpassed those of 1962.

Jan 1, 1964

By L. S. Breckon

This paper describes the methods and equipment used by the Utah Copper Co. in constructing a vehicular tunnel at Bingham Canyon, Utah, Completion and use of this tunnel for vehicular and pedestrian traffic permitted abandonment of the long-used county highway connecting Bingham and Copperfield. Expanding- operations of the Utah Copper open-cut mine, necessitated construction of a vehicular route away from the ore body. The site Of the tunnel is well beyond ultimate nit slopes and future mining operations. The tunnel not only diverts vehicular and pedestrian traffic is but also carrier, creek water, copper water, sewage, pipe lines, and. power and telephone cables between the two communities. The dimensions of the tunnel permit one-way traffic only. Traffic-control lights have been installed. Owing to the possibility of accumulation of carbon monoxide gas from automobile exhausts, automatic gas detectors has been installed at various stations. These detectors control the operation of a large exhaust fan situated at the upper portal of the tunnel.

Jan 1, 1940

By Sumner M. Anderson

THE importance of the mineral industries of the Latin American area in 1964 may be evaluated in respect to a number of points of reference, a few of which are measurable and appropriate for examination. With regard to the region's contribution to total world production, it accounted for total 1964 world output of natural nitrates (from Chile), and about 97 percent of the optical and electrical grades of quartz crystal (from Brazil). The region supplied over 20 percent of world output of 7 other mineral commodities and accounted for 4 percent or more of world output of 19 other mineral products. Among major commodities, the area, occupying 15 percent of the earth's land surface, supplied within 3 percent of that proportion of the world's output of copper, lead, tin, zinc, barite, and crude petroleum. Incomplete compilation of production data, particularly that of nonmetallic minerals, precludes production estimates on some items for the area ass whole, and therefore the importance of Latin America as a world producer of some additional commodities may not be clearly assessed. For example, most of the countries of the area collect only incomplete data or no data at all on the production of clays and other ceramic materials, sand and gravel, dimension and crushed stone, lime, ornamental and precious stones, perlite, vermiculite, carbon black, coal tar products, and petrochemicals. In the case of many countries of the area, the value of production of one or more of these commodities greatly exceeded that of other mineral industry products that are carefully reported.

Jan 1, 1966

By William H. Schiffbauer, Ph. D. Mowrey

Proximity warning devices can improve workplace safety by alerting workers when they are in a hazardous area near moving equipment. Industrial work sites often present extreme challenges to safety-based proximity warning devices. Many commercially available types of proximity warning sensors and systems can be rendered useless when covered with mud, ice, snow, ore, rock, and other material. The list includes radar, ultrasonic, capacitive, and visual types of sensors and systems. Addressing these shortcomings, NIOSH personnel have developed a patented active proximity warning system called HASARD (Hazardous Area Signaling and Ranging Device) which employs lowfrequency, low-power magnetic fields which are quite impervious to severe environmental conditions. A shapeable wire loop antenna which provides the marker of dangerous work areas, has been mounted on a continuous mining machine and was mounted inside 1.3-cm thick angle iron. This loop antenna was exposed to more than six months of active underground coal production, which included being covered by and scraped over with tons of rock, sprayed by a continuous stream of water, and immersed in thick mud. After six months the loop antenna showed signs of wear, but was still capable of performing its intended function. The HASARD system is now being applied to other industrial applications and is showing much promise, especially in harsh environments. This paper details the system, describes the tests that have been done, and mentions other areas where it can benefit the safety of industrial workers.

By G. W. Elger

This report describes pilot-plant studies and an economic evaluation of a process developed by the Federal Bureau of Mines, Albany Metallurgy Research Center, to produce synthetic rutile from a rock-type ilmenite concentrate. In this process, ilmenite blended with coke and lime is smelted in an electric arc furnace to separate most of the iron as salable pig iron and to form a titania-enriched slag of low iron content, which is treated with oxygen and titanium pyrophosphate. The titanium oxides are converted to crystalline rutile; the phosphate glass contains most of the associated impurities. The treated slag is ground and leached with sulfuric acid to liberate rutile crystals, which are concentrated by physical methods. In pilot testing conducted to obtain data for a cost estimation, a synthesized product containing about 88 wt-pct TiO2 and less than 2 pct FeO was extracted from a rock-type ilmenite concentrate containing about 45 wt-pct TiO2. The estimated fixed capital cost (on a mid-1975 basis) of a plant producing 500 tpd of synthetic rutile is $28,290,100. Based on 330 operating days per year, the estimated operating cost for this process is $351 per ton of synthetic rutile. The estimated selling price of synthetic rutile made from rock-type ilmenite is $344 per ton, based on a credit of $160 per ton of pig iron and a 20 pct interest rate of return on investment after taxes.

Jan 1, 1976

By R. E. Morgan, Barkleym J. F.

"INTRODUCTION Wood burned for commercial heat and power usually is waste material from some manufacturing process. The amount of it reaches substantial proportions. It is estimated that over 50 percent of the timber cut for lumber becomes ""waste"" in the process - sawdust, shavings, trimmings, slabs, and bark. Woodworking manufacturing processes also produce much waste. The incentive to use this waste has resulted in much development of wood-burning equipment to produce heat and power. To answer general inquiries received by the Bureau, this publication covering developments along these lines was written. There is included a bibliography of additional information on the subject.COMPOSITION AND BURNING CHARACTERISTICS OF WOODThe approximate composition of moisture-free wood is, in even figures:PercentHydrogen 6Carbon 49Oxygen 44Ash 1Total 100This composition corresponds to about C6H1005. Moisture is essentially always associated with wood. Green wood contains approximately 30 to 50 percent moisture; air-dried or seasoned wood contains 15 to 25 percent and kiln-dried about 8 percent. Exposed to the weather, wood absorbs and gives off moisture depending on weather conditions and water contact.""Dry"" wood ignites relatively quickly and readily gives off volatile matter when heated. Long flames and smoke easily occur during burning. The burning action is substantially retarded, however, by appreciable moisture content; ignition is more difficult. When the moisture content is more than about 70 percent, an auxiliary fuel is required to maintain combustion. One of the main factors in the problem of the satisfactory and smokeless combustion of wood is its moisture content."

Sep 1, 1950

By R. Lindsay Mundell

In the first half of 1990, lessening of cold war tensions was welcome. But Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August led to the Persian Gulf War in January and February 1991. The subsequent oil shock contributed to a dampening of the U.S. economy, and the U.S. gross national product rose only 0.9 % to $5,463 billion (U.S. billion = 109). The buildup of military forces in the Persian Gulf area focused greater attention not only on petroleum but also on other strategic materials. The U.S. Department of Defense continued to review stockpile goals and upgrade several mineral materials. In addition, the U.S. Bureau of Mines continued to maintain the standby Emergency Minerals Administration. After the Defense Production Act, which authorizes priorities, allocations, and supply expansion, lapsed on October 20, 1990, the Selective Service Act of 1967 became the authority to ensure that orders of the Armed Forces and defense atomic energy programs were given priority treatment.

Jan 1, 1993

By W. A. Dunkley

During the past year and a half the Western United Corporation of Aurora , Illinois , has been distributing carburetted water ges from its Lockport , Ill . , plant , to an extensive territory , under an initial pressure ranging up to 90 lb.. per sq. in . The most distant distributing point on the system is at Harvard , Ill . , about 35 miles from the plant.. The territory supplied is approximately 85 miles long and 35 miles wide , the total mileage of rains being 1223 , or approximately 24 per cent of all the gas trains in Illinois outside the city of Chicago .

Feb 1, 1923

By R. J. Fantel

The Bureau of Mines investigated the resource potential of 201 mines and deposits in 28 market economy countries and 17 mines and deposits in the U.S.S.R. and China. The 201 mines and deposits evaluated from market economy countries contain an estimated 34.2 billion metric tons of recoverable phosphate rock (at the demonstrated resource level), with Morocco and Western Sahara accounting for 61% (21 billion tons), followed by the United States with 19% (6.4 billion tons). The 17 mines and deposits evaluated in the U.S.S.R. and China contain approximately 1.5 billion tons of potentially recoverable phosphate rock. Potential annual capacity from low-cost, high-grade producing mines in the United States is estimated to decline significantly during the latter half of the next decade, and the United States will have to develop new, higher cost, lower grade mines in order to satisfy demand into the next century. Of the world's new production capacity which could likely be developed over the next decade, slightly over one-third could be produced at an estimated 1981 cost of $40 per ton or less, and about two-thirds would cost in the $40 to $50 range (including a 15% rate of return). In comparison, moot of the competing phosphate rock from producing mines in Morocco could be produced for under $40 per ton. The United States has sufficient demonstrated resources of phosphate rock (plus huge quantities at the identified and hypothetical resource levels) to satisfy domestic consumption for many years to come, but its future ability to compete in the major export markets against low-cost competitors is much more uncertain.

Jan 1, 1984