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By R. V. Ramani

"In Part 1 of this two-part paper the characteristics of mine disasters and their effects are presented with case studies from coal, metal and non-metal mines leading to an amplification of their causes and opportunities for control. The disasters discussed encompass those which threaten the health and the safety of miners and those which affect the general population. In Part 2 of the paper, which will be published in the November 1995 issue of Natural Resources Forum, the approaches to hazard and disaster control are reviewed with particular attention to laws and regulations to promote health and safety at the workplace, and general welfare in mining communities. Further, a systems approach to disaster control is outlined.The mining industry is one of the three basic industries the other two being agriculture, and wildlife and fisheries. It is the process of mining which makes available the riches of the earth - the energy and mineral resources - to benefit humanity. In fact the progress of the human race through the ages is indelibly attached to prowess in exploiting these riches. The stone, iron and bronze ages are markers not just of a time in history but achievements of monumental proportions in the mining and beneficiation of natural resources. Even in agriculture, the remarkable success stories are associated with the prudent use of mined products to enhance production and productivity. The significance of a thriving mining industry to the wealth and security of a nation is therefore unquestioned.Unfortunately, the public's image of the mining industry is often associated with the mining disasters which receive wide coverage in the local and national media. Mine disasters command tremendous attention because of their infrequent occurrence and the extent of human suffering involved. Whether it is an explosion or a fire, or the opening or closing of a mine, the lives of people are touched by the personal and societal impacts of these events.Courts of inquiry of mining disasters have often concluded that the disaster situation was ever present and could have been detected with diligent search. In addition human error has been identified as one of the most frequent immediate causes for the precipitation of the disaster. For the most part, then, mining disasters are caused by man."

Dec 1, 1996

By G. W. Birge, D. E. Wolfson, J. G. Walters

Seventeen samples were carbonized by the BM -AGA pilot - plant test method and in industrial ovens . Chemical and physical properties of the samples were determined , and the physical properties of the cokes prepared by the two methods were compared . Since the capacity of the plants from which these samples were obtained is about 30 percent of the 1959 total for the United States , the data given in this report are indicative of the chemical and physical properties of blends used to produce industrial cokes and the acceptable chemical and physical properties of the resultant coke .

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 E. K. Kleespies

The Bureau of Mines demonstrated a technique for electrowinning titanium from titanium nitride and titanium dioxide. Titanium-nickel-copper metal solutions containing 26 to 61 weight-percent titanium were prepared by electrolyzing titanium nitride in molten mixtures of potassium fluotitanate) and sodium chloride or barium chloride and depositing titanium on nickel-copper cathodes. A titanium-nickel alloy was prepared by electrolyzing titanium dioxide in an electrolyte of potassium fluotitanate) sodium fluoride) and calcium fluoride and depositing titanium on solid nickel cathodes. This alloy contained 21 weight-percent titanium and had a combined oxygen-carbon content of less than 0.1 weight-percent. A compartmented cell confined the oxide feed near the anode and inhibited oxygen contamination of the metal.

Jan 1, 1966

By Daniel E. Sullivan

The recession of 1974 continued into 1975. Real gross national product (GNP), measured in 1972 dollars, declined significantly in the first quarter of 1975 but rose slightly in the second and increased sharply in the third quarter. Unemployment peaked during the second quarter and then declined slowly for the balance of the year. The inflation rate declined owing to reduced demand and smaller-than-1974 increases in energy and food prices early in the year. Recovery was clearly evident by yearend, though un-employment and inflation remained at high levels. Total output as measured by the GNP in current dollars rose 6.5% in 1975. Real GNP declined 2.0%, and inflation, as measured by the implicit price deflator, increased 8.7%. Real gross private domestic investment for residential structures declined 18.1% in 1975, which was a smaller rate of decrease than the 27% decline in 1974. Real State and local Government purchases increased 2.4%, and real personal consumption expenditures for services rose 1. 7 %. The Federal Reserve Board (FRB) index of industrial production declined 9.7%.

Jan 1, 1977

By Robert H. Merrill

This report contains a summary of the various studies made to determine the structural design of the production mine area of the Oil-Shale mine, Rifle, Colo. Prior to this investigation, it had been determined from a study of the geology, the structure of the deposit, and mining costs that the deposit should be mined by open stoping. The problem remained to determine the maximum safe roof span, the optimum extraction ratio, and the size of the pillars. These factors were determined from a study of the geologic structure of the deposit, the physical properties of the oil shale, and the magnitude and distribution of the stress around proposed underground openings. The latter was determined from both theoretical calculations and model studies. Safe roof spans, pillar sizes, pillar contours, and optimum extraction ratios were calculated from elastic theory and the physical properties of the mine rock. Safe roof spans, pillar sizes; and time effects were determined by Wright and Bucky by testing mine models in a centrifuge. The models were made from rock specimens taken from the proposed mine roof and pillars. The results from both studies agreed.

Jan 1, 1954

By Wilbert J. Huff

The organization of the Explosives Division is indicated by the accompanying chart (fig. 1). As this has been discussed in a previous report3/, it will not be considered further in this report. The activities of the various units are outlined below. I. INFLAMMABILITY OF GASES AND VAPORS4/ Determination of the Explosion Hazards of Combustible Gases and Vapors Found in Mines and Industries The Explosives Division maintains, at the Pittsburgh Experiment Station, a laboratory specially equipped for the determination of the explosion hazards of combustible gases and vapors. Of particular importance, is the determination of the chemical composition within which explosions may occur and beyond which there is no danger of explosion, combustion or inflammation. These limits, known as the limits of inflammability, as determined by this and other laboratories, have been compiled in Bulletin 279 of this Bureau. The last revised edition (1931) of this bulletin has been exhausted. Since it was published, the Pittsburgh laboratory has determined the limits of about 40 combustibles and has ascertained more precisely ant accurately many previously published limits.

Jan 1, 1938

By Alvin Kaufman

Geothermal plants are competitive with conventional units. A geothermal plant can produce electric energy for 6.70 mills per kwhr, compared with 6.96 mills for coal, 6.74 mills for oil, and 7.04 mills for gas. These costs include fixed and variable charges. Potential for geothermal power exists in the Western United States, Alaska, and possibly Hawaii. Assuming that the current downward trend in cost per kilowatt of coal will cease and that the relative cost of gas and oil, already trending upward, may rise considerably more, geothermal energy will be utilized where available, in producing electric energy. It will be used in California first because it is directly competitive with gas-and oil-fired installations there. A long-term appraisal is difficult because little is known about the sources of geothermal power and the electric generating capacity which the steam fields will support. However, a market for geothermal steam-generated electricity exists within the Western States.

Jan 1, 1964

By Alvin Kaufman

Geothermal plants are competitive with conventional units. A geothermal plant can produce electric energy for 6.70 mills per kwhr, compared with 6.96 mills for coal, 6.74 mills for oil, and 7.04 mills for gas. These costs include fixed and variable charges. Potential for geothermal power exists in the Western United States, Alaska, and possibly Hawaii. Assuming that the current downward trend in cost per kilowatt of coal will cease and that the relative cost of gas and oil, already trending upward, may rise considerably more, geothermal energy will be utilized where available, in producing electric energy. It will be used in California first because it is directly competitive with gas-and oil-fired installations there. A long-term appraisal is difficult because little is known about the sources of geothermal power and the electric generating capacity which the steam fields will support. However, a market for geothermal steam-generated electricity exists within the Western States.

Jan 1, 1964

By Paul Hatmaker

Diatomite is the name now generally given to a mineral substance composed of the tiny , skeletal remains of diatoms , which are microscopic , flowerless , water plants related to the algae ... This residuum is essentially hydrous amorphous silica. Common names for diatomite are : Diatomaceous earth , tripolite , kieselguhr , and infusorial earth . Strictly speaking , however , the latter material is not diatomite , as it is composed of the fossil remains of infusoria , which usually do not occur with the diatomaceae . Other synonyms for diatomite are : Diatomaceous silica , kieselmehl , bergmehl , diatomeenpeelite , polirschiefer , moler , molera , molererde , de smid earth , fossil flour , mountain flour , farine fossil , white peat , radiolarian earth , chalk rock, ceyssatite , randanite , and tellurine ; also various diatomite products of individual companies are known by their own trade names . Diatomite should not be confused with fuller's earth , for the two are separate and distinct substances . Bentonite , pumice , and tripoli , have also been used erroneously to designate diatomite . Tripolite , however , is a true diatomite formerly mined near Tripoli ..

Feb 1, 1931

By D. P. Desmond

The U.S. Bureau of Mines investigated leaching automobile catalysts with sodium cyanide (NaCN) solutions at high temperatures to recover platinum-group metals (PGM). The feed was virgin monolith rejects, used monolith, and used pellet catalysts. Leaching with a 5-pct NaCN solution for 1 h at 160° C dissolved over 97 pct of the PGM in the virgin monolith, over 85 pct of the PGM in the used monolith, and over 90 pct of the PGM in the used pellet catalyst. Over 99.8 pct of the dissolved PGM was recovered as a precipitate by heating the solution to 250° C for 1 h in an autoclave. The cyanide complexes were decomposed, and free cyanide was destroyed.

Jan 1, 2010

By S. A. N. Sheya

The U.S. Bureau of Mines performed batch equilibrium contact experiments to examine the ability of activated coconut-shell carbon to adsorb various metal cyanide complexes. Tests were also conducted to determine the effect these cyanide complex impurities might have on the adsorption of gold by the activated carbon. Metal cyanide species included in the investigation were antimony, arsenic, cadmium, calcium, cobalt, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, silver, thallium, and zinc. Tests were made over a pH range of 6.4 to 12.5. The carbon exhibited a preference for gold adsorption over other metals present in solution. In the absence of gold, the metal cyanide complexes were adsorbed; adsorption generally decreased with increasing pH. However, calcium and thallium adsorptions increased with increasing pH, while arsenic and iron were not adsorbed at any pH.

Jan 1, 1989

By R. J. Leary, W. M. Mahan, F. X. Tartaron

A new type of apparatus for prerefining molten blast furnace iron and to reduce the cost of subsequent steelmaking consists of a funnel - shaped device lined with firebrick into which a horizontal stream of molten pig iron is directed tangentially at the top . The rotary motion thus induced causes the stream to flatten itself upon the wall and flow in a spiral path to the outlet ; thus , the device was termed " vortex cone .' Oxygen and other refining agents are impinged upon the flowing metal in the cone where reaction is facilitated by the large metal surface exposed and the turbulent flow pattern . Experiments with water in 1 - foot - diameter funnels provided an idealization of the flow patterns to be expected with molten iron . A brick - lined reactor 3 feet in diameter was built for desiliconizing molten pig iron in lots of 1 to 2 tons . At flow rates of 0.3 to 0.5 ton min - 1 (430 to 720 tons per day ) this apparatus was 64- to 90 - pct effective in desiliconization with oxygen efficiencies of 19 to 41 pct . Detailed experiments to develop basic engineering data are underway , and adaptation of this principle to other reactions and reactants is planned .

Jan 1, 1964

By Donald F. Reed

The bauxite deposits of Tippah and Benton Counties in northeastern Mississippi were developed by drilling as a part of the investigation by the Bureau of Mines of the domestic sources of supply of aluminum. The primary purpose of investigations of this nature was to provide essential information to the war agencies of the United States Government and to assist owners and operators of mining properties in the production of minerals vital to the prosecution of the war. These reports are based upon the field work of the Bureau of Mines and upon data made available to the Department from other

Jan 1, 1948

By Robert S. Sanford

This paper deals with truck haulage methods and costs at one of the many open-cut mines that are replacing rail haulage with heavy-duty trucks. At this mine, ore is trucked to a crushing plant, centrally located within one of the open-cuts. The requirements for efficient low-cost truck haulage are: Good trucks designed for heavy loads, adequate truck maintenance, smooth roads, and well-trained truck drivers The weighted average cost of hauling a long ton of ore to the crusher and the waste to the dump was reduced from $0.1993 in 1948 to $0.1114 during the last half of 1949, his corresponds to a cost per ton mile of $0.0864.

Jan 1, 1952

By R. D. Leitch

Spontaneous firing of coal during storage end even during shipment has long been a serious problem, especially in some regions and with some coals, and methods for preventing such firing have been investigated at intervals for more than 70 years. Spontaneous or other firing of coal waste, either outside or inside mines, has also been a problem probably for as long as mining has been practiced extensively. Much trouble has been caused by such fires, and much money has been spent in attempts to extinguish them. It is known generally that surface waste banks in bituminous-coal fields are very likely to take fire sooner or later, but it is not known so generally that anthracite refuse-bark fires also are common and that at least some of them are more serious in their effect and results than being regarded merely as a nuisance. There surface refuse fires probably would have attracted much more than local attention long ago had it not been that they usually cause no more serious trouble than air pollution. A few supposedly effective methods of preventing or extinguishing spontaneous fires have been reported rather recently. Unless one or more of these prove to be widely applicable, methods of solving these problems are no more certain today than they have been for many years.

Jan 1, 1940

By E. V. Deshayes, W. E. Young

"INTRODUCTION The Camp Bird mine was investigated by Bureau of Mines engineers 3/ September 22 and 24, 1942, and April 29 and 30, 1944. In a subsequent report and supplement, it was recommended that core drilling be done below the 14th. level to determine if commercial ore existed at greater depths, and particularly if ore existed in the vein or adjacent thereto where it passes into the sedimentary formations estimated to underlie the volcanics approximately 400 feet below the 14th level.Seven diamond-drill holes aggregating 3,956 feet were drilled. Four of these holes were under the Hematite ore body and three were under the Big Discovery ore body. Two holes under, the Hematite ore body wore directed at angles but little steeper than the angle of dip of the vein and penetrated the sedimentaries beneath the volcanics close to the vein. Enough low-grade ore was found at the base of the Telluride conglomerate to indicate the presence of a large body of low-grade zinc sulfide ore. Two holes were directed to crosscut the vein at a depth of approximately 125 feet below the 14th level. No commercial ore was cut, but the vein showed the average width and same general characteristics as at the 14th level. One hole under the Big Discovery ore body was directed to crosscut the vein and test the base of the Telluride conglomerate in the footwall block. No commercial ore was found in either the vein or the sedimentary horizon. One hole was directed to test the base of the Telluride conglomerate in close proximity to the vein in the hanging-wall block. This hole was lost approximately 100 feet short of its objective, and a third hole was drilled to accomplish this same thing. The third hole was stopped approximately 50 feet short of its objective when failure of equipment caused a recess of the"

May 1, 1948

By R. R. Sayers

"An important, function of the U.S. Bureau of Mines is to instruct miners in first aid, and as a means of promoting interest in it first-aid contests are held under the auspices of the Bureau, usually in coop; ration with other interested organizations, especially the American Red Cross, the National Safety Council and various operators' and Miners' associations. It was early found that the method of judging first-aid meets is one of the most vital factors in determining the degree of success of the meet.It may be safely stated that there is no method for the judging of first-aid contests that has proved ideal. A method that would give the most uniform judging would necessitate the rating of each team by the same judge or committee of judges and, in order that a judge may rate a team satisfactorily, he should see that team perform several events and average the ratings. Such a procedure is not practicable where there are many terms entered in the contest, as it would prolong the meet indefinitely. To overcome this objection the method has been tried of assigning separate judges to each team but this brings in a new factor the individuality of the various judges, some of whom rate closely, others loosely. The next development was to average the judging by having the judges rate different teams for each event. This would seem to solve the problem out it has been found, after using the method over a wide area for a considerable period of time, that the differences in the judging are too marked to be at all satisfactory. The next development was to appoint a committee of chief judges three to five in number especially trained and experienced, to aid the individual judges in rating the teams. This method has proved satisfactory at small meets but, as committee must review the work of each judge on each event, it has not been deemed feasible for a large meet."

Nov 1, 1920

By John R. Bitler

The Bureau of Mines conducted this study to provide information concerning the availability of and the demand for construction-mineral aggregates in the Baltimore, Md., Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA). The demand is discussed with reference to the area's current consumption and estimates of the area's demand for aggregates through 1990. Estimates of aggregate supply are presented in conjunction with an examination of the geology of the area, the availability of substitutes, and the effect of transportation costs. A discussion of the constraints affecting aggregate availability precedes the conclusions and recommendations. The availability of aggregates is subject to geologic, economic, and political constraints. As of January 1974, an estimated 20,100 million tons of stone was available to meet the demand projected through 1990 (188.7 million tons). An estimated 139 million tons of sand and gravel was available to meet the demand projected through 1990 (84.3 million tons). Several alternative actions are available within the area to insure the adequacy of the stone supply and to increase the supply of sand and gravel: (1) The establishment of special mineral resource zones; (2) the application of sequential land use techniques; and (3) the exploration of previously undeveloped regions.

Jan 1, 1975

By J. G. Kirby

According to the Bureau of Mines annual survey, there were 318 petroleum refineries in the United States with a total daily crude throughput capacity of 8,632,390 barrels as of January 1, 1956. Compared with the previous year the total number of refineries declined 8 while the crude throughput capacity increased 211,760 barrels daily. Three refinery districts accounted for 90 percent of the crude-oil capacity increase, the California district 34 percent; the Texas Gulf Coast district, 31 percent; and the Indiana-Illinois-Kentucky district, 25 percent. Decreases in capacity during the year were reported for the East Coast, Appalachian #1, and the Arkansas-Louisiana Inland districts. The capacity of the average refinery to process crude oil increased during 1955 from 25.830 barrels daily to 27,145.

Jan 1, 1956