Search Documents

By James D. Noll, Eileen Birch

In a previous study, the e?cacy of commercial and prototype impactors for sampling diesel particulate matter (DPM) in coal mines was investigated. Laboratory and ?eld samples were collected on quartz-?ber ?lters and analyzed for organic and elemental carbon. Coal dust contributed a minimal amount of elemental carbon when commercial cascade impactors and prototype impactors, designed by the University of Minnesota (UMN) and the US Bureau of Mines (BOM), were used to collect submicrometer dust fractions. Other impactors were not as e?ective at excluding coal dust. The impactors evaluated in that study were either not commercially available or were multi-stage, expensive, and di?cult to use for personal measurements. A commercial version of the BOM impactor, called the DPM Cassette, was recently introduced by SKCs. Tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of the DPM Cassette for measuring diesel-source elemental carbon in the presence of coal dust. Bituminous coals from three mines in two di?erent coal provinces were examined. The dust particle diameters were small and the coal dust contained a high percentage of carbon, there by giving a worst-case condition for non-anthracite coal mines. Results for the DPM Cassette were essentially identical to those obtained by the BOM impactors in a previous study. At a respirable coal dust concentration of 5.46mg m3, which is 3.8 times the regulatory limit, the DPM Cassette collected only 34µg m3 of coal-source elemental carbon.

By Forrest T. Moyer

INJURY experience and employment data are presented in this chapter for metal and nonmetal mines, stone quarries, sand and gravel pits, iron blast-furnace slag plants, and metallurgical plants (including ore-dressing and nonferrous reduction plants and refineries) in the United States. Employment and injury experience data for all mineral industries are given in volume II. The 1962 figures are preliminary summations which are subject to revision. They were compiled from all reports from producers received by the Bureau of Mines through April 15, 1963. The data for metal, nonmetal (except well and brine operations), stone, and sand and gravel operations were collected by a mandatory reporting system under the provisions of the act of September 26, 1961, Public Law 87-300 (75 Stat. 649). The act authorized the Secretary of the Interior to study the various aspects of safety in metal and nonmetal mines (excluding coal mines) and report the findings 2 years sub-sequent to the enactment of the law. Data on nonmetal well and brine plants and nonferrous reduction plants and refineries were reported voluntarily by the operators. METAL MINES Preliminary data for the metal mining industry comprise reports on 1,871 mines and pits. The combined fatal and nonfatal injury-frequency rate was 31.95 per million manhours in 1962, a decrease of 8 percent from the similar rate of 34.54 in 1961. Metal operations reported a total of 61 fatal and 3,201 nonfatal injuries.

Jan 1, 1963

By William M. Knuth

The objectives of this study were the evaluation of the technical and economical feasibility of utilizing color and color infrared aerial photography to satisfy some informational needs for pre-mine planning, mine progress monitoring, and reclamation monitoring. Seven aerial data collection missions were conducted within a two year period over strip mine sites in Pennsylvania. Scales of 1:6,000; 1:12,000; 1:24,000; and 1:48,000 were flown on the first aerial mission. The 1:12,000 was chosen as the optimal scale for the remaining six flights. An extensive literature and legislative review and discussions with strip mine operators identified the informational parameters that could possibly be obtained from aerial photography. Interpretability accuracies were evaluated for parameters in the broad categories of land use, soils, water, vegetation, and geology. Seasonal interpretation characteristics were noted for infrared photography. Man hours for photointerpretation and costs of aerial data collection were monitored closely and incorporated into a cost benefit analysis. Those parameters that could be mapped, identified, or measured with accuracies =75 percent were incorporated into a photointerpretation training manual. An additional analysis was performed to determine the applicability of the interpretation methodologies and results developed for Eastern sites to Western surface coal mining sites. In addition, a separate aerial photographic interpretation manual was produced during this contract. It is intended to be utilized by eastern and midwestern surface mine operators and regulatory personnel.

Jan 1, 1978

By Eric E. Cather

A mineral survey of the Fisher Gulch RARE II area (A5299), Trinity County, California was conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Mines and U.S. Geological Survey. The Bureau of Mines was responsible for detailed examination of mines, prospects, and mineralized zones; the Geological Survey conducted geological, geochemical, and geophysical studies of the area. The area is underlain by the Salmon Hornblende Schist. Tonalite stocks 1.5 mi (2.8 km) to the east and northeast of the area intrude the schist and are closely associated with the nearby nines (Cox, 1967). The mines have quartz veins containing sulfides and gold in shears trending east to north past in the schist and tonalite (Hotz, 1972). Strewn and terrace gravel s occupy most of the drainages, many have yielded substantial quantities of gold.

Jan 1, 1981

By Millard M. Gilkey

This Bureau of Mines report presents results of a detailed study of water usage in the Wyoming mineral industry along with projections for the future In 1964, the mineral industries of Wyoming used 20 billion gallons of new water, nearly all self-supplied, and reused 72 billion gallons, a total usage of 92 billion gallons. Consumption amounted to 2.8 billion gallons. About one-half of the 20 billion gallons of new water was obtained from [srface] sources and the rest from ground water. Reported costs, covering power and maintenance, for the self-supplied new water at mineral industry operations ranged from less than 1 cent to 20 cents per thousand gallons and aver-aged 8 cents. At one mineral-related operation, water was hauled by truck to supplement a well supply. The cost was $2.00 per thousand gallons delivered. However, the supplemental requirement was only 10 gpm. Cost figures for the recirculation of water, covering power and maintenance, averaged 2 cents. In terms of water usage, the value of product for the entire industry was $25 per thousand gallons of new water intake and about $180 per thousand gallons consumed. The study revealed that Wyoming has a water deficiency but that the shortage is less severe than in the arid Southwest. Projection of the water needs of the Wyoming mineral industries indicates that the demand for new water will increase from the 20 billion gallons used in 1964 to 25 billion gallons in 1980, a 25-percent increase. The projected new-water requirement for the year 2000 is 40 billion gallons, a 100-percent increase compared with the 1964 figure.

Jan 1, 1967

By Lucia Kuizon

The Miranda Pine Roadless Area Review and Evaluation (RARE II) study area (No. 5114) comprises 12,600 acres (5,100 ha) in Los Padres National Forest in Santa Barbara County, California, about 15 mi (24 km) east of Santa Maria (fig. 1). Mineral investigations are made by personnel from the U.S. Bureau of Mines on National Forest lands identified as Further Planning Areas in the RARE II program. The Bureau of Mines reviewed literature, mining claim records, and production files; examined the study area; and sampled mineral properties where appropriate.

Jan 1, 1983

By T. M. Ruff, W. G. McCoy, M. J. Beus, S. Iverson, W. Hasz

Technology to enhance safety during mine hoisting has been developed by researchers at the Spokane Research Laboratory of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Assessment of current hoisting technology suggests that monitoring conveyance position and load directly from the skip or cage top offers several significant safety advantages. Wireless data transmission schemes and a package consisting of sensors, batteries, and a charger mounted on the wire rope and skip have been developed. A state-of-the-art automated hoisting test facility was constructed to test the concept in a controlled laboratory setting. Field tests in a fill-size shaft are underway.

By Sheridan J. Rodgers

Toxic fumes generated during shot firing were measured in a phosphate rock mine and a copper mine. Fumes generated during firing of explosives in the Bureau of Mines 1350 ft3 test chamber were measured also. The release of fumes from water gels, ammonium-nitrate oil mixtures and nitroglycerin based explosives was studied. Direct reading instruments were used to monitor the fume concentrations. The amount of CO produced per unit weight of nitroglycerin explosives (0.41 ft3/200 grams) was higher than that produced by ammoniumnitrate-oil mixtures (0.24 ft3/200 grams) and water gels (0.16 ft3/200 grams). The amount of NOx produced by nitroglycerin based explosives was also higher than the amount produced by water gels or ammonium nitrate-oil mixtures.

Jan 1, 1976

By J. A. Markovits

Coal has been hydrogenated in Germany on a lather extensive scale for the past 20 years, but the process is new to the United States. Although pressures up to 15,000 pounds per square inch have been employed on commercial scale in the synthesis of anhydrous ammonia, and there is evidence that valves, tubing, and equipment have been developed recently up to 30,000 p.s.i. working pressure at moderately elevated temperatures for limited industrial production of plastics, such pressure ranges are unusual in American industry, and equipment designed for them is not commonly available. In the Coal Hydrogenation Demonstration Plant at Louisiana, Mo., 10,000 p.s.i. operating pressures are combined with temperatures up to 1,000° F., and the materials to be processed under these conditions range from gases to mixtures of viscous liquids containing high percentages of abrasive solid particles. These service conditions presented unusual engineering problems requiring thorough investigation, Limited financial resources arid rigid time schedules inherent in the synthetic liquid fuels act often forced decisions before the best answer to a problem could be developed. Sometimes the ideal technical solution proved to be beyond the financial limitations of the demonstration-plant program.

Jan 1, 1949

A working understanding of present coal mine communications equipment and its usage is an essential prerequisite to the determination of future communications systems needs. As a means of gaining this understanding, a field survey program was planned and implemented. The plan formulated called for obtaining both qualitative and quantitative data from three main areas of interest: the types, physical condition, and performance characteristics of equipment presently used in the sample of mines to be visited; the relationship present communications has to safety and productivity; and the practical, future communications needs as de- rived through interviews with present mine management. In compliance with the original plan, the type and physical condition of equipment in use was found through at-mine interviews of personnel responsible for installation and maintenance. Further evaluation was made through the review of equipment instruction books and maintenance manuals and through in-mine inspection of communications equipment and signal distribution networks. The performance characteristics were determined through listening to conversations and noise levels and by talk-testing from randomly selected stations throughout each mine. System operation was evaluated by asking communication system users their opinions and by noting any difficulties personnel had using the systems. Plans in the second area of interest--that of relating communications to mining operations-- were to observe mining operations and usage of communications; to gain insight through interviews with mine management, from mine superintendents to section foreman; and to look for correlation between communications, production, and safety. Lastly the communication systems needs and requirements were determined from first hand interviews of mine personnel, from the analysis that lead to the individual reports on the eight mines, and from an overview of all of the mines studied. The latter was done to find commonality between the needs of the individual mines such that system requirements having the greatest universal value could be derived, thus lowering per-mine cost of equipment through economics of scale. Armed with tape recorders, backgrounds in communications technology, and with an interview questionnaire that was improved as experience was gained, engineers visited the eight mines to obtain the raw data from which the needs and requirements could be developed through analysis. During the first part of the program two days were spent at each mine so that interviews and tours could be completed, and so that full eight hour shift phone usage recordings could be obtained for statistical analysis. One day visits were sufficient for those trips where tape recordings were not made. During the later trips less attention was given to the statistical nature of communications, and more to how communications relates to the total mining operation.

Nov 15, 1974

By N. S. Petersen

As part of the Demand Evaluation Program of the Bureau of Mines to determine future needs for minerals, a study was instituted to develop and describe a methodology for approaching the problem of substitution between mineral commodities and between mineral commodities and other materials. The report comprises three sections: A review of general factors relative to substitution, a case study of the effect of substitution on zinc die-casting markets in recent years, and a general methodology for reviewing materials substitution with specific emphasis derived from reviewing substitution in the domestic zinc die-casting markets.

Jan 1, 1971

By Irvin G. Burough

Andros Analyzers Incorporated has designed and built two prototype continuous methane monitors capable of being mounted on a mining machine'. These instruments were designed for in-mine safety use. The monitors incorporated an NDIR optical/electronic analyzer design in which the response to the sample gas (methane in air) was achieved by synchronous detection and measurement of the amplitude oscillations of the trasmitted energy from an infrared source caused by the pressure modulation of the sample gas within the optical cell. Zero and span stability were to be achieved by the amplitude modulating of the infra-red source and using detected signal to correct for optical/electronic system variation. This design effort was to simplify and reduce the cost of the major components while eliminating the need for daily calibration. This report is the final report on this effort.

Jan 1, 1981

By R. A. Franks, J. C. Edwards, L. Yuan

To determine the critical air velocity for preventing smoke rollback, diesel-fuel fire experiments were conducted in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) Pittsburgh Research Laboratory’s Safety Research Coal Mine. Such information is necessary for preplanning and implementation of ventilation changes during mine fire fighting and rescue operations. The fire intensity varied from 50 to 300 kW depending on the fuel tray area. Airflow in the 2-m- (6.6-ft-) high, 2.9-m- (9.5-ft-) wide coal mine entry was regulated during the course of each experiment. The airflow was measured upwind from the fire as an average over the entry cross-section with an ultrasonic airflow sensor and was recorded dynamically with a mine monitoring system. The extent of smoke reversal was monitored with light-obscuration monitors, ionization smoke sensors and visual observations. Experimental results for the critical air velocity for smoke reversal as a function of fire intensity compared very well with model predictions based upon a computational fluid dynamics fire dynamics simulator.

This study assesses whether Narragansett Basin coal deposits could be developed commercially in the near future. To do this, we identify the potential market for the coal, assess the price these users would be willing to pay for Narragansett coal, and this price to the expected costs of producing Narragansett coal. The study concludes that the major market, New England utilities, could burn bituminous coal from Pennsylvania or West Virginia at a lower total cost than Narragansett Basin coal, assuming expected mining conditions and emission policies. Therefore, the study concludes that Narragansett Basin coal resources could not be developed economically in the next ten years.

Jan 1, 1979

By S. L. Weber, Y. H. Cheng, D. E. Banks, J. K. H. Ma

"The aggressive industrialization of America, the development of powered tools which generated massive amounts of respirable-sized dust particles, a latency period which may mask the relationship between exposure and development of disease, inadequate (or perhaps even careless) understanding of the relationship between dust exposure and disease, and respiratory protection which has later proven to be inadequate have resulted in a series of epidemics of silicosis which have caused the premature death of many workers.1-11 Emphasis on the regulatory control of dust levels in the workplace has greatly reduced the development of pneumoconiosis in the United States and in other developed as well as underdeveloped countries, yet the prevention of silicosis or coal workers' pneumoconiosis has not come close to being accomplished. Despite the public health perspective that pneumoconiosis arc totally preventable illnesses, there appears to be little evidence that this is the case.Cases of pneumoconiosis continue despite aggressive enforcement policies by regulatory agencies, attempts at dissemination of very readable materials aimed at workers and management 12.13 and respiratory dust exposure standards which are in place and appear, for the most part, protectivc.14- 16 It is more than frustrating for all parties associated with advocating workers' health to see reports of workers with aggressive silicosis. On another level, both the physician and the affected worker are helpless when a diagnosis of silicosis or coal workers' pneumoconiosis is made. Both realize that there is no proven way to affect the natural history of these progressive inflammatory and fibrotic processes. Neither is there any ""compassionate use"" therapy. What must be developed, at the very least, is a ""salvage therapy"" which has the potential to reverse, or at least dramatically lessen, the aggressive natural history of silicosis which develops over relatively short time periods. Because of the aggressive nature of silicosis (compared to coal workers' pneumoconiosis) attempting to develop a therapy for this illness should be a priority."

Nov 1, 1995

By Avery H. Reed

ALABAMA'S mineral industry continued to expand. This was a record year for many commodities, with expansion in almost all industries. New records were established for the production of native asphalt, fixe clay, miscellaneous clay, kaolin, bentonite, lime, scrap mica, salt, sand and gravel, crushed limestone, crushed marble, and tale. Among the States, Alabama ranked second in the production of bauxite, third in the production of scrap mica and native asphalt, and fifth in iron ore. The mineral industry of Alabama was dominated by the mining and processing of coal and stone, the manufacture of cement, and the production of crude petroleum, which together comprised 87 percent of the total value of production, compared with 86 percent in 1963. The iron ore industry continued to decline. This was the first year in which consumption of imported iron ore exceeded the consumption of domestic iron ore. The coal industry recovered from the slump caused by the abandonment of red iron ore mining by United States Steel Corp., and production expanded 17 percent, for the best year in coal mining since 1948. During the year, the one-billionth ton of coal was mined within the State.

Jan 1, 1965

The strike of the Canadian asbestos miners entered its seventh month with increasing signs of early termination. Both unions are in the midst of heavy negotiations with management, and an optimistic industry source predicted that work would resume by October 1. Recession recovery in some segments of the asbestos manufacturing industry is being impeded by lack of fibers, CADMIUM - On September 9, St. Joe Minerals Corp. reduced the price of cadmium metal to $2.75 per pound. The producer price bad been uniformly quoted at $3.00 per pound since June 26, 1975. Subsequently, Amax, Inc. and National Zinc Co. reduced their prices to $2.50 per pound. By mid-September all five U.S. cadmium producers were marketing the metal at $2.50 per pound.

Jan 1, 1975

By Charles L. Kimbell

Although virtually every available indicator of world mineral industry activity demonstrated a gain in 1983 relative to the 2 very poor years of 1981 and 1982, the overall prospects for future years seemed far from bright. There were significant upturns in the quantity and value of mineral commodities produced, traded, and consumed in 1983, and many nonfuel mineral prices advanced, although the price advances in current dollars in most instances barely compensated for inflation. The pattern of investment in exploration and development of new mining ventures and new plant construction reflected virtual industry-wide concern that substantial upturns in demand for mineral commodities in the near future were unlikely, at least for most large volume products. The world oil glut continued despite cutbacks in production, and substantial stocks of many other mineral commodities mitigated against growth in total productive capacity, at least among market economy nations. In these countries, development activity at both mines and plants was confined largely to programs aimed at substituting new, more efficient installations for old, uneconomic or marginally economic plants. Among the centrally planned economy countries, the pattern was somewhat different on the whole, but even there, growth in total productive capacity was evidently somewhat restrained, although it seemed questionable whether the restraint was a function of intentional planning or simply an inability to accomplish planned programs on schedule. International political events, particularly the Iran-Iraq war and the unstable situation in the eastern Mediterranean countries (Lebanon, Israel, and Syria), continued to adversely affect mineral industry activities in those areas. Similarly, the internal and international conflicts in Central America negatively influenced mineral industry operations there. In Afghanistan, it appeared that there was some upturn in the very modest mineral industry operations, but industry activities there undoubtedly continued to be affected by confrontations between the Soviets and the local citizenry.

Jan 1, 1985

By J. Ronald Lawter

The purpose of the work described in this report was to measure the effects of diesel engine emissions on the air quality of work areas in a coal mine. Concentration measurements of a number of diesel related air contaminants were made at the Martin County Coal Corporation Mine in Inez, Kentucky. Compounds measured included carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, nitric oxide, and nitrogen dioxide. In addition, concentrations of the two classes of odorous compound;, aromatic hydrocarbons, and oxygenates were obtained along, with aldehyde concentrations. Surveys were made of the mine by odor analysts to determine the perceived intensity of diesel-produced odors. It was found that the concentrations of the measured species were well below their Threshold Limit Values. Odor intensity levels in the moderate to strong range were observed in the mine.

Jan 1, 1977

By E. M. Murphy

Comparative data from ASTM method of test E-162 and large-scale trials in the Experimental Mine show that the flame-spread quality of brattice cloth and other ventilation control materials can effectively be evaluated by either method. Materials having a flame spread index of 25 or less, as determined by the simpler and more economical laboratory test ASTM E-162, do not present a serious fire hazard when used in coal mines.

Jan 1, 1972