Search Documents

The purpose of Volume II of this study is to provide a general plan for the pilot testing of two materials which could be used to tag explosives for both pre- and postdetonation identification and of tracing techniques which would thereby aid the investigator of an unauthorized bombing or explosion in being able to determine the source and/or user of the explosives. Volume I described the planning factors by which the tagging of explosives could be implemented on a National basis. 1.2 BACKGROUND Tagging explosives at the time of manufacture with a taggant material that could survive detonation, be recovered, and provide an investigative lead has been seriously studied for several years. This concept has gained widespread support among many law enforcement groups because of the scant clues that can presently be found among bombing residue.

Jan 1, 1977

By M. B. Cooke, A. D. Bauer, E. W. Dean

The Bureau of Mines is collecting and analyzing representative samples of crude petroleum from all the producing fields in the United States , and the results are being published in a series of reports that are preliminary to the issue of a bulletin covering the entire survey . The bureau has recently completed a survey of crude oils from the Kansas district . In all 27 samples were collected and analyzed , under the direction of A. W. Ambrose , chief petroleum technologist of the Bureau. Valuable assistance was received through the cooperation of oil companies operating in the State , especially the Prairie Pipe Line Co. , and the Empire Pipe Line Co. The present report issued as Serial 2322 , on the Kansas crudes , forms the fifth of the series . Of the four previous papers , the first ( No. 2202 ) deals with crudes from the Eastern fields of the United States , the second ( No. 2235 ) with crudes from the Rocky Mountain district , the third ( No. 2290) gives additional data , cn viscosities and pour tests , for the crudes from these two fields , and the fourth ( No. 2293 ) covers the fields of northern Texas , northern Louisiana , and Arkansas . The details of the methods of collecting samples , making laboratory tests and interpreting results , have been discussed in these earlier reports . It has also been pointed out that the only adequate method of interpreting analyses of crude oils is to compare the individual reports with the analysis of some crude oil that is familiar to the operator . For this reason , no comprehensive discussion of the results of the Kansas survey is attempted, although some general statements may be made .

Feb 1, 1922

By W. M. Deaton

[Knowledge of the ten?erat~rre to wkich n gas ullder3atur~ted xith re- srplc t to water vapor may be cooled before the water p?f 11 3egin to condense 8 is desirable .and frec-uently iq neceTsarp in nWy resenrch c~d industri~J activities. This tenperrture, the dew point, i s 2 nrrticulnrly innortmt factor in high-pressure gas transmission, PS water cox?-ensate any interfere i with the flow of gos in the line. Sonetimes this interfexnce is due only to the yresence of the liquid water. At other tfncs, under certain condi- tions of pressure and teriperature, the cogdense;? water cn!nhines with the 93 to farm solid .y2: hydrctes. These solid coar~ouncis ma:/ ccllect in sufficient quantit;. to rehce materially the c~xrying cap.citg of the pipe line or ever, to ply thc line coimletelp. ]

Jan 1, 1938

By W. M. Deaton

[Knowledge of the ten?erat~rre to wkich n gas ullder3atur~ted xith re- srplc t to water vapor may be cooled before the water p?f 11 3egin to condense 8 is desirable .and frec-uently iq neceTsarp in nWy resenrch md industri~J activities. This tenperrture, the dew point, i s 2 nrrticulnrly innortmt factor in high-pressure gas transmission, PS water cox?-ensate any interfere i with the flow of gos in the line. Sonetimes this interfexnce is due only to the yresence of the liquid water. At other tfncs, under certain condi- tions of pressure and teriperature, the cogdense;? water cn!nhines with the 93 to farm solid .y2: hydrctes. These solid coar~ouncis ma:/ ccllect in sufficient quantit;. to rehce materially the c~xrying cap.citg of the pipe line or ever, to ply thc line coimletelp.]

Jan 1, 1938

By W. D. Walker

This information circular is offered to the coal-mining industry for use as a guide in selecting, placing, and caring for fire-fighting equipment in coal mines. Its purpose is to suggest minimum requirements for fire protection underground, and it is presented with the hope that it will aid in establishing adequate standards that will provide reasonable protection against underground fires in coal mines. Potentially, a coal mine is a hazardous fire area. Coal itself is a combustible substance, easily ignited. In addition, large quantities of other combustible materials must be present in the area of operations; these include materials for roof support, track ties, doors, ventilation stoppings, lubricants, etc.

Jan 1, 1953

By E. P. Youngman

This paper is one of a series of digests of foreign mining legislation and court decisions that is being prepared in advance of a general report relative to the right of American citizens to explore for minerals and to own and operate-mines in various foreign countries. This interpretation of the mining laws of Greece was prepared from information furnished by Ralph B. Curren, American assistant commercial attache, Athens, in reply to a questionnaire of the United States Bureau of Mines, transmitted through the courtesy of the commercial laws division of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. INTRODUCTION In his report,3 Mr. Curren states that the source of his information was the Director of Mines of the Greek Ministry of National Economy and the Mining Code of Greece, which was, compiled from existing laws in 1929,4 and which has since been modified by several acts of Parliament.

Jan 1, 1932

By W. M. Myers

Water has been commonly used as a collecting medium in many instruments employed in the sampling of dusty atmospheres in mines** add industrial plants, and for this purpose has much to recommend it, particularly the following factors:1.,Water is a very efficient dust collector.2.,Distilled water of great purity may be readily obtained at slight expense. The analytical error introduced by the extremely small amount of foreign matter in carefully distilled water is very small,3.,Water is a very convenient medium with which to work as all the analytical operations of diluting, aliquoting, and filtering are readily and speedily carried out. Water has therefore been used extensively in such instruments as the Palmer apparatus, the Greenburg-Smith impinger, and the dust collector recently described by Drinker, Thompson, and Fitchet. The Bureau of Mines has conducted investigations in many metal-mining districts of the country, determining of dust the nature and amount of dust present in working places, its effect the health of workers, and what precautions may be taken to decrease the hazard of exposure to dangerous dusts. The Bureau is therefore interested in any factor that affects the accuracy of dust sampling.

Nov 1, 1923

By L. B. Berger

"INTRODUCTION Accurate determination of carbon monoxide in concentrations ranging from 0.2 to about 0.5 percent by volume is troublesome, because such concentrations are too high for some analytical methods and too low for others. Methods that are sensitive to concentrations of carbon monoxide considerably less than 0.2 percent are approaching their upper limit of usefulness when applied to the analysis of samples containing 0.2 percent or more of carbon monoxide, and it may be necessary to resort to dilution of the sample with a known proportion of air, or otherwise modifying the analytical technique, to obtain satisfactory results. Such methods include the determination of carbon monoxide by reduction of heated iodine pentoxide 3/4/5/ by the ""Pyrotannic acid"" method 6/ and by the so-called ""phosphomolybdic acid"" method. 7/ The use of conventional gas-analysis equipment, such as the Orsat type, in the determination of carbon monoxide in concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 percent is not desirable, as possible analytical errors may be of about the same magnitude, thus producing results of little quantitative value.For several years prior to this publication, the Gas Analysis Laboratory of the Health Division of the Bureau of Mines has used a modification of the Haldane type 8/9/10/ gas-analysis apparatus for the determination, by absorption in a chemical reagent, of carbon monoxide in low concentrations that are not readily determined by other methods. The method is applicable also to the determination of higher concentrations. As the procedure has proved successful and has been adopted by others, this report was prepared to describe the method and to present results of analyses obtained with it."

Nov 1, 1947

By A. W. Ambrose

"A need exists for men in oil-field production work who correspond to the mining engineer of a large mining property. Some oil companies prefer to call such an employee a resident geologist, resident engineer, or a petroleum technologist. He should perhaps be more correctly termed a petroleum production engineer. The duty of such a man is to apply his scientific and geologic training practically to oil-field development work.He should be, by education, a mining, civil, or mechanical engineer, with a knowledge of geology and chemistry. Upon completion of his education, such a man should spend several years in the oil-fields. There are two means of gaining proper experience. The first method is to work for an oil company in making a detailed study of each well, collecting data on the history and production, followed by a preparation of good records, from which well logs can be prepared. From the well logs, the geologic cross-sections, peg-models, and structure contour maps can be made. These allow a comparable, detailed study of each well, which is necessary to solve many of the problems. Along with this the engineer should visit drilling wells daily for collection of samples of formations and for a proper study of how they drill. He should form friendly relations with the drillers and production foremen. The second method of gaining proper experience is to start work as a roustabout, pumper, or on the pipe¬line gang, finally working up to a tool-dresser. After three or four years of such work, the engineer may be classed as a petroleum production engineer."

Jan 1, 1920

By J. S. Malesky

"INTRODUCTION The Airdox method of breaking coal utilizes compressed air under high pressure and was developed to replace explosives. It is used in Illinois and Indiana mines to a large extent and also has been introduced in mines in a few other States.ACKNOWLEDGMENTThe author gratefully acknowledges the information and photographs furnished by the Cardox Corp.HISTORYIn the early 1920's, with the adoption of mechanical mining in States where on-shift shooting was prohibited, it became desirable to develop some means of breaking coal from the face without the use of explosives. At that time it was thought that a pressure of 20,000 pounds per square inch would be necessary to break the seal. It was impossible to obtain a compressor that would develop this pressure therefore, the 'patentees developed and applied the Cardox method, which utilizes liquid carbon dioxide as the blasting medium."

Aug 1, 1948

By L. F. Willmott

Pulverized high-volatile A bituminous coal was gasified with oxygen and superheated steam in a pressure-gasification pilot plant equipped for slurry feeding. The minimum ratio of water to pulverized coal that could be pumped satisfactorily as a slurry was about 1 to 1. Heating this slurry produced a suspension of coal in superheated steam having a steam-to-coal ratio greater than the 0.3 to 1 proportion that is considered optimum for pressure gasification of pulverized coal. A steam separator removed enough steam to provide ratios down to about 0.5 to 1, but a 0.3 to 1 ratio was not achieved. Gasification of Sewickley coal produced a synthesis gas containing about 36 percent H2, 46 percent CO, and 13 percent CO2, Gas output, gas composition, and coal and oxygen requirements were Virtually the same as for a pilot plant equipped for fluidized-coal feeding. Typical results from the slurry-fed plant at 300 psig were carbon gasified, 95 percent; coal requirement, 34 lb/M (thousand) std cu ft CO + H2 produced; oxygen requirement, 365 std cu ft/M std cu ft CO + H2 produced. The results showed that the two feeding methods are equally satisfactory from the standpoint of gasification. A choice between a fluidized-coal gasification process or a slurry gasification process depends on considerations relating to the coal-feeding phase itself, including capital and operating costs, manpower requirements, safety, and flexibility of operation.

Jan 1, 1962

By F. S. Crawford

Mining companies are usually held responsible for accidents occurring to the public around their operations . Safeguards are provided by progressive mining companies to prevent the public from getting into danger from wandering unattended about the properties . At abandoned operations , where little or no supervision can be maintained , persons are often injured through the negligence of the operator in leaving the property in unsafe condition . After a mine is abandoned or a lease is given up by a mining company , the responsibility for the safety of the property rests sometimes with the State to which the property ownership reverts or with the owner of the land ; either is usually quite unwilling to spend any money to remedy unsafe conditions due to the carelessness of the mining company . The land owner or the State , or both , should see that the work of leaving safe conditions behind is done by the operator before he abandons the mine or gives up the lease . Some of the worst hazards to the public at abandoned mines are from old test pits , abandoned shafts or tunnels , open pits , caved ground , and bodies of water in abandoned open pits . Hazards exist from some of these sources during the active operation of a mining property as well . In the early stages of mining operations test shafts are often sunk from 50 to 100 feet deep through the more or less loose material overlying bed rock . When these shafts are left unprotected , they are a serious danger for many years to come . In the course of time they become largely concealed by brush and grass , and thus are a deadfall to anyone who might happen to step into them . This condition will hold true for any part of the country, but to a much less degree where it is not necessary to sink through a great amount of cover . Many progressive operating companies have adopted the practice of filling in test pits after securing the information desired . Some nonresident landowners and exploration companies , however , have left such pits open , and it is extremely difficult for the mine inspector to get into communication with the owner . Frequently operating companies voluntarily fill test pits on adjacent property not

Jul 1, 1930

By Richard A. Andre, R. Larry Grayson, Thomas Simonyi

"INTRODCICTIONThe search for the cause(s) of coal workers' Pneunoconiosis continues despite the vast amount of research that has been undertaken over the past forty to fifty years. Good correlation between the mass of dust inhaled over workers' lifetimes and the incidence of the disease has led to the development of effective environmental standards and implementation of good procedures for the control of dust generation and dispersion in the working place. Research has only begun, however, to uncover the biochemical mechanisms involved in initiating the disease.Correlation between the rank of the coal seam in which miners worked and disease incidence and severity is acknowledged worldwide, but the agents in the higher rank coal seams which cause CWP arc still not defined. The basic components of the coal seams, i.e., the elements and minerals, are generally known, but the way in which they interact with human pulmonary cells is largely still a mystery.The process of disease development is a biochemical one which depends on the characteristics of the pulmonary cells within their immediate biochemical environment and the characteristics of invading respirable coal mine dust particles, probably both chemical and physical ones. The cell-particle relationship, therefore, must be defined, and both cells and particles must be characterized according to properties which potentially are involved in the disease process.Following such characterization, specific respirable dusts from different coal seams, which appear to have different effects on coal workers, must be obtained or constructed and then used in experiments designed to determine dust toxicity or the response of animals exposed to the dusts.The results presented here focus on characterizing properties of respirable coal mine dust particles collected from operating longwalls in West Virginia and Virginia Longwall panels were selected for analysis because the respirable dust in the coal face areas is largely uncontaminated by rock dust and analysis of the dust yields results unconfounded by rock dust."

Jan 1, 1990

By Merle L. Bowser

The Bureau of Mines has constructed a miniature oxygen deficiency alarm system using an electrochemical cell as the sensor. Distinct audible signals are produced at either of two preselectable oxygen levels which can be varied from approximately 10 to 20.9 percent oxygen. The high or cautionary range produces a 500-cycle-per-second tone pulsed at about a 1-cycle-per-second rate, whereas the lower or more dangerous oxygen level produces a continuous 500-cycle-per-second tone.

Jan 1, 1968

By J. W. Paul

The material that composes the roof in coal mines differs in strength according to variations in its physical nature and characteristics. Some material such as limestone and massive sandstone, (free from slits) and carbonaceous shale or bone, will often remain in place in narrow work without the use of timber or other means of support, but in wide places the use of supports becomes a real necessity. Roof material composed of shale, fire clay or small laminations of sandstone, or shale or sandstone interspersed with laminations of thin coal, presents conditions that call for timber support in both narrow and wide work. However, in narrow work such unstable roof material may be taken down until the strata assume an arch that is self-supporting for overlying firm strata such as a roof coal, a touch weather-resisting, shale, sandstone, or limestone. The proper support of the roof in roadways used for haulage or travel adds to the economy of operation by preventing delays in transportation and increases the safety of those who travel these roadways.

Jan 1, 1930

An active list of permissible explosives was published in December 1936 as part of Bureau of Mines Report of Investigations 3324, under the title "Active List of Permissible Explosives and Blasting Devices Approved Prior to July 31, 1,936." This list included 170 brand names. Changes in the list that have been authorized to June 30, 1937 placed 35 additional brands of permissible explosives on the active permissible list as a result of tests, changes in brand names, or transfer from the inactive list. Ten permissible explosives were transferred from the active to the inactive list. The present list contains 196 brand names, one explosive having been placed on the list subsequent to June 30, 1937. The brand names of the permissible explosives placed on the active list are as follows: [ ]

Jan 1, 1937

By H. R. O'Brien

"During the past year, the Pittsburgh experiment station of the Bureau of Mines has been investigating methods for the quantitative estimation of carbon monoxide in blood. This work was necessary because reliable methods of analysis are of the greatest importance in the bureau's research work on prevention and treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning among workers in mines and metallurgical plants. Two of the methods considered involve color comparisons. In one of these methods, differences in tint can be noted fairly readily, while in the other, they are much more difficult to detect. The latter, however, is otherwise considerably simpler. It was decided, therefore, in studying the possibilities of this second method, to use the most sensitive eyes in the laboratory force.Preliminary trials.The method under investigation was the Haldane carmine determination of carbon monoxide in blood. The plain oxyhamoglobin of the blood in dilute solution is a pale straw color, when exposed to carbon monoxide it becomes a cherry pink. In the analysis dilute indigo carmine is added to oxyhsmoglobin until the solution matches in tint the carbon monoxide hemoglobin. The eye wanted, then, was the one most sensitive to faint pinks. But just how to select the analyst was not clear At first the Williams test scale, used in the Navy, was considered, but on con¬sultation with Dr. L. L. Thurston, bead of the Department of Psychology at Carnegie Institute of Technology, the following procedure was adopted.Instead of standard tests made up of all colors, only those occurring in the analysis were used. Solutions were prepared of the two hemoglobins, from which twenty-four different pairs were made up and placed in test tubes like those expected to be used in the analysis. One of each pair differed from the other in percentage of carbon monoxide hemoglobin by amounts varying from 2-1/2 per cent to 20 per cent. Each pair was compared in a box built in our own shop. This was 20 inches long and 5 inches square in cross section. One end was covered with ground glass. Just inside this glass cover were provided two slots, each the width of the test tubes used. The tubes to be compared were dropped into these slots through two holes in the top of the box. The device was placed before a window away from the sun, and so arranged that the light conditions were the same on each slit or opening. The person to be tested was seated before the box, and as the two tubes were placed before him side by side, he marked whether A (left) or B (right) contained the more cherry pink. This procedure was continued till he had compared all the pairs."

Jul 1, 1921

By Richard V. Ageton

Compressed- air blowers are frequently used both in large and small metal ines , not only as an aid to ventilation , but in some mines as a substitute for an dequate ventilation system . As a temporary fixture , blowers have their uses , but hey should never be used in lieu of a permanent ventilation system. A number Probably the most common error made in placing dependence on compressed- air lowers as an aid to underground ventilation is the tendency to over- rate their cooling efficiency . It is a very common but natural error to assume that compressed air which issues freely from a blower is of the same temperature as the compressed air which issues freely from the exhaust port of a rock-drilling machine . of readings were taken in different mines of the temperature of the rock- drill exhaust , of the compressed air flowing from the blowers , and of the surrounding air In both cases . In general , the temperature of the rock- drill exhaust was from 10 to 30 degrees below that of the surrounding air , in many instances being slightly below freezing , 32° F . The average temperature for a number of compressed-air lowers and for the mine air surrounding them is shown in Table I.

Jan 1, 1922

By Oliver Bowles

"Introduction.During recent months the Bureau of Mines has conducted a detailed study of the slate industry with special reference to increased efficiency in its production, preparation and utilization. The results of these investigations will be incorporated in a forthcoming bulletin. The purpose of this preliminary paper is three-fold. One object is to bring to the attention of slate producers certain modifications in manufacture and classification which would encourage a wider use of slate. A second purpose is to direct the thought of roofers toward the importance of proper laying of slate, and the third object is to acquaint the general public with its enduring qualities.Origin and character.Without entering into any detailed discussion of the origin and history of slate, a subject to be covered in the bulletin mentioned, it may be of interest to the general reader to know that slate is originally formed from mud or soft clay, carried down by streams and laid down in successive layers in deep water. The pressure of superimposed materials gradually compresses the clay into a firm rock known as shale. In many places this shale was, during the succeeding ages, subjected to intense pressure and folding due to mountain-building forces within the earth. This intense pressure, together with high temperature, changed the clay into other minerals such as mica, chlorite, and silica, which are very resistant to weathering, and also developed a very definite cleavage or splitting direction which characterizes the rock as slate. It is this property which renders slate of value for roofing, for, by using a broad chisel and a wooden mallet, a slate worker can readily split it into thin sheets which are later trimmed into rectangles of various sizes."

Jul 1, 1921

By H. W. Wainwright

1. A schematic diagram and a description of the apparatus are presented. 2. Five runs were made using gas having a hydrogen-carbon monoxide ratio of about 2:1 and sulfur concentrations ranging from nil to 1.53 grains per 100 std. c.f. 3. At constant space velocity of synthesis gas the product of the sulfur concentration and days of operation, with conversion of H2 + CO above 97 percent, was constant. With a gas containing 0.04 grain of sulfur ac carbonyl sulfide per 100 std, cu. ft ,, the conversion of H2 + CO remained over 97 percent for 40 days. During that time the heating value of the product gas (on a C02-free basis) remained relatively constant at 940 B .t .u. per c.f., based on dry gas measured at 600 F. and 30 inches Hg.

Jan 1, 1954