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By Jeffrey A. Shibe

A prototype Fire Safety Evaluation System has been developed and is ready to be evaluated by a Peer Consulting Panel and for performing field tests. The system can be used to determine combinations of widely accepted fire safety equipment and under-ground coal mine features that provide a level of safety equivalent to those required by the Code of Federal Regulations-Title 30 for underground coal mines. In this evaluation, equivalent safety performance is gauged in terms of overall level of safety provided rather than by a component by component comparison.

Jan 1, 1987

By A. J. Kraemer

This paper is the second and concluding report of the results of the Bureau of Mines' twenty-second semiannual survey of motor fuel marketed in the United States. The first paper Was published as Report of Investigations 30634 and reported data relating to gravity, vapor pressure, and distillation range of the samples. The present paper deals particularly with results of the determination of copper strip corrosion (method 530.22),5 color (method 10.11),6 sulphur content by the lamp method, 7 copper dish evaporation residue (method 530.1),8 and "gum" content as given by the steam-oven method as developed by the Bureau of Mines. 9 The price at the time the sample was taken and the tax are also stated for each sample. The sample numbers used throughout this report are identical with those used in Report of Investigations 306310; ?for example, No. 225 of this report is the same sample as No. 225 of Report of Investigations 3063.

Jan 1, 1931

By C. F. Jackson

This paper describing the mining practices at a mine in the Southeast Missouri district is one of a series being prepared by the Bureau of Mines on mining practices, methods, and costs in the various mining districts of the United States. The conditions, operating methods, and practice described in the following pages arc those obtaining at a property in the Southeastern Missouri lead belt, St. Francois County, Mo. This property is the eldest in the county and is a consolidation of a number of separate mines originally opened up as individual operations many years ago. Present-day operations have necessarily to be adapted to suit the older levels, stones, and pillars, and also the recovery of ore from worked over areas which was considered too low grade to mine in the earlier days constitutes a different problem than that of development and mining in virgin ground.

Jan 1, 1929

By A. J. Kraemer

This paper is the second and concluding report of the results of the Bureau of Mines' twenty-second semiannual survey of motor fuel marketed in the United States. The first paper Was published as Report of Investigations 3063 and reported data relating to gravity, vapor pressure and distillation range of the samples. The present paper deals particularly with results of the determination of copper strip corrosion (method 530.22), color (method 10.11), sulphur content by the lamp method, copper dish evaporation residue (method 530.1), and "gum" content as given by the steam-oven method as developed by the Bureau of Mines. The price at the time the sample was taken and the tax are also stated for each sample. The sample numbers used throughout this report are identical with those used in Report of Investigations 3063; for example, No. 225 of this report is the same sample as No. 225 of Report of Investigations 3063. This is the first semiannual motor gasoline survey of the Bureau 6f Mines in which some data were obtained on antiknock values for samples collected in the survey. The Bureau of Mines is not provided with equipment for making these tests in its own laboratories, but composite samples were tested in the laboratories of the Bureau of Standards and the report on these samples is given as a supplement to this paper (pp. 11 to 14).

Jan 1, 1931

By H. Britton

This bulletin is the seventh in the series of petroleum bibliographies published by the Bureau of Mines, Bulletins 149, 165, 180, 189, 216, and 220 being compilations for the years 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919-20, and 1921, respectively. In this bulletin the same general plan of classification of references has been followed, but several additions have been made. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Acknowledgment is made to the following organizations for the use of their libraries in the preparation of this bulletin: University of California, Stanford University, California State Mining Bureau, Union Oil Co. of California, Standard Oil Co. of California, and the Mechanics Mercantile Library of San Francisco; acknowledgment for their assistance is also made to H. H. Hill, C. P. Bowie, A. L. Foster, M. J. Gavin, H. C. Miller, E. B. Swanson, and Miss Louise Janssen, all of the Bureau of Mines, and to Miss Elizabeth H. Burroughs of the Union Oil Co. of California.

Jan 1, 1929

By O. M. Bishop

"INTRODUCTION Early in World War II, the Bureau of Mines realized that reserves of fluorspar ore at many mines in the southern Illinois fluorspar district were not being developed as rapidly as the old ones were being depleted. At some mines the measured and indicated ore reserves were almost entirely depleted, although geologic factors favored new discoveries. The Leo mine, which had not been worked since 1938, was among this group of mining. The Bureau of Mines, together with the Illinois Geological Survey examined the property, studied the mine records and,geologic factors in 1944, and agreed that exploratory drilling was warranted Funds were,obtained for the work in the fiscal year 1945, and drilling was done; between October 27, 1944, and June 15, 1945.The property was owned in fee simple by the Hllside Fluor Spar Mines at the time exploration was begun in October 1944. Subsequently, in 1945, the Inland Steel Co. acquired of the Hillside property."

Jan 1, 1947

By Thomas C. Denton

In 1965 Africa maintained its position as a region of the world essential to advanced non-Communist nations for supply of vital metals and minerals. The position stemmed from the fact that Africa produced in large quantity a number of key minerals of which either or both resources and production capacity elsewhere did not approach the needs of the free world. The Republic of South Africa alone contributed more than three quarters of the gold mined in the entire non-Communist world besides an estimated 60 percent of metals of the platinum group and the entire new supply of amosite asbestos, and Africa as a whole was nearly the non-Communist world's only source of gem and industrial diamond. Africa also accounted for 83 percent of non-Communist world cobalt production. Besides these massive contributions, Africa in 1965 provided 50 percent or more of the new supply from non-Communist countries of the following mineral commodities: Lithium minerals, corundum, manganese ore: and chromite, and over 20 percent of new supply from non-Communist countries of columbium-tantalum concentrates, antimony, beryl, vanadium, phosphate rock, and copper. Africa also accounted for 18 percent of the non-Communist world's output of uranium, 14 percent of its tin, 11 percent of its lead, 9 percent of its zinc, and 8.9 percent of its crude oil output. With respect to chromite, at yearend Africa's reserves of the mineral were far larger than those of all other non-Communist regions combined. This probably also held true for manganese ore. In the case of crude oil, the fact that Africa's share of non-Communist world output was 1.6 percentage points greater than in 1964 was significant, particularly inasmuch as the output rate was continuing to increase at yearend.

Jan 1, 1967

By M. L. Wouden

In the late 1970's, the Bureau of Mines began to examine the criteria for reestablishing vegetative cover on coal strip mine spoils near Glenrock, WY. A 9-acre plot, consisting of (1) spoils covered with topsoil, (2) spoils without topsoil, and (3) spoils treated with sewage sludge, was constructed. These plots were seeded with Tegmar intermediate wheatgrass (Agropyron intermedium), Fairway crested wheatgrass (A. cristatum), and Critana thickspike wheatgrass (A. dasystachyum). After 5 yr, the topsoil had about 70 pct plant coverage. Revegetated spoils, without topsoil addition, averaged approximately 30 pct plant coverage, and sewage sludge-treated spoils had about 45 pct plant coverage. Comparison of grass types showed the intermediate wheatgrass produced greater surface coverage.

Jan 1, 1986

Research 82 highlights significant studies conducted during the past fiscal year at Bureau facilities and offices. Readers who want more information about the projects and studies summarized here can contact the researchers whose names and locations appear with each summary. General information on Bureau of Mines programs is available from the Office of Technical Information, 2401 E Street, NW., Washington, D.C. 20241. A listing of principal officials, a location map of field facilities, and a selected bibliography of publications and patents issued on Bureau developments during the past 3 years are provided.

Jan 1, 1982

By Robert L. Lagace

This final report documents the work done by Arthur D. Little, Inc. (ADL) on behalf of the U.S. Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh Mining and Safety Research Center (PMSRC), on Contract H0122026 (which began in August of 1971). Under this contract ADL provided technical assistance to the Bureau on a task basis on virtually all aspects of the Bureau's programs related to present and planned emergency and operational communications and miner location systems for underground coal mines. The work consisted of independent investigations, analyses, experiments, breadboard and prototype hardware development, workshops and technology transfer seminars on mine communications, and on-going evaluations and guidance related to the Bureau's contracted programs on electromagnetic noise, mine communications systems, and trapped miner location. This final report documents the work in two volumes, Volume I, "Emergency and Operational Mine Commun¬ications," and Volume II, "Seismic Detection and Location of Isolated Miners." The Tables of Contents of both Volumes are included in each Volume.

Jan 1, 1974

By Robert T. Davis

An award is a form of recognition given for superior performance in a special field of endeavor. Each year awards are given by the Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association and the National Safety Council to the coal-mining industry's underground and open-pit mines that have worked a specific number of man-hours without a lost-time injury. These awards have a dual significance in that they prove efficiency can be attained without injury to persons. Safety awards do not result from luck or good fortune but do result from sincere desire coupled with sufficient effort and cooperation to achieve a desired goal.

Jan 1, 1964

By R. S. Dean

The possibility of cheap electric power for a number of mining areas in this country has suggested to many the idea of electric smelting of nonferrous ores in small units at or near the mines. The electric smelting of nonferrous ores was tested fairly thoroughly 20 years ago by United States Bureau of Mines and by others, and the fact that it did not achieve continuing workable success in any instance is sufficient proof that it offered no advantages at that time.

Jan 1, 1937

By S. J. Aresco

The Bureau of Mines has been active in promoting the purchase of coal for Government use under specifications that define the requirements in terms of heating value of the coal, expressed in British thermal units, and the composition as shown by proximate analyses. To these, when required, are added the ash-softening temperature, the free-swelling index, and the Hardgrove grindability index. Under most of these specification contracts the bidders guarantee the quality of the coal, and that guaranteed by the successful bidder becomes the standard of his contract. The deliveries are sampled in accordance with instructions4/ issued by the Bureau of Mines, the samples are analyzed in the Bureau laboratory to determine whether the coal is of the quality guaranteed by the contractor and, if it is not, a price adjustment is made. Analyses of the delivered coal and tipple samples (samples collected at mine tipples as coal is being loaded into railroad cars or trucks) provide valuable data for use in evaluating future bids. In addition, the continuous sampling of coal as delivered is a check on the practical results obtained in burning the coal.

Jan 1, 1957

By Roy J. Greenfield

The overall purpose of this research was to improve the understanding of how the post disaster seismic location system works, what determines the signal size, what is the character of the seismic noise, how well the system can detect blows from a trapped miner, and how well the source of the blows can be located. Based on an improved understanding of the system, improvements were suggested in the seismic subarray configuration, and in the system deployment procedures. An important part of this research was to become familiar with the seismic system operation and to work with the Westinghouse Electric Corporation and MSHA personnel to modify and improve the system. To accomplish this we participated in the planning, execution, and data analysis for a number of seismic field tests. Several in-mine field tests were conducted. From these tests the capabilities of an in-mine seismic system were analyzed and specifications were made for designing an operational in-mine system. Several portions of the work done on this grant were covered in previous reports. In particular the capabilities or the presently operational surface based seismic location system has been thoroughly documented by Durkin and Greenfield (1981). Portions of the location procedures and effects of mine openings on seismic signals have also previously been published. These portions or the work will only be summarized in this final report.

Jan 1, 1982

By William Cochran

The Bureau of Mines investigated mine subsidence caused by recent underground mining, estimated the extent of damages, and formulated a procedure for evaluating subsidence costs. On the basis of the quantity of material removed from beneath the surface, bituminous coal mining currently causes more extensive subsidence problems than mining of other minerals; costs are highest in areas such as western Pennsylvania where urban and suburban development and related types of land use conflict with mineral recovery. The Bureau of Mines estimated subsidence costs, including surface damages and control costs, for a 12-county area in western Pennsylvania for 1968. Total surface damages attributable to the underground production of bituminous coal in the 1-year period were $295,000; in addition, 12.4 million tons of coal, valued at $4.3 million, was left in place to minimize potential surface damage. Of the total subsidence cost ($4.6 million), $2.7 million was classified as external or social costs, not reflected in the market value of bituminous coal; this averaged $0.05 per ton of production, or slightly less than 1 percent of the market value.

Jan 1, 1971

Consumption and intensity of use trends for twelve metals, by industrial end use, were estimated for 1972 through 198Z. The trends were then forecast through 1993 using standard statistical methods. The intensity of use measure selected is the quantity of metal consumed per constant dollar output of a specific industrial sector. The metals studied were aluminum, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, nickel, the platinum-group metals, tin, titanium, tungsten, and zinc. Average annual growth rates for the following four of the twelve metal increased from 1972-82 as follows: aluminum, 1.00 percent; platinum-group metals (consisting of platinum, palladium, and iridium), 8.83 percent; titanium, 7.82 percent; and tungsten, 6.09 percent. Consumption. for the remaining eight metals decreased at average annual rates ranging from 0.58 percent (copper) to 5.37 percent (manganese).

Jan 1, 1986

By Donald W. Mitchell

Studies were made in the Bureau of Mines Experimental coal mine to evaluate the effectiveness of a few extinguishing agents and techniques for controlling a fire on a simulated mining machine. The investigation showed that water containing an alkali-metal salt or a surface-active (wetting) agent was more effective than water alone. For close attack, fog applications was the most effective technique studied; high rates of agent application controlled the fire more quickly than low rates. The ability to control the fire increased as the distance of attack decreased. Dry powders controlled the fire when applied by shovel but not when applied airborne by rock-dust distributor or by hand fire extinguishers. Dry alkali-metal salt powders (potassium and sodium bicarbonates and sodium tetraborate) quenched the fire more readily than limestone dust. In each instance the finer powder, the greater its effectiveness. In an open ventilated entry, smoke and hot gases backed against the air currents. An airspeed of 230 feet per minute was required to permit approach to within 10 feet of the fire. At lower airspeeds, approach could be made by extending the brattice across the bottom two-thirds of the entry, by pushing the smoke ahead with water sprays, or by discharging dust from a rock-dust distributor. In a dead-end entry, the fire was approached to within 30 feet by coursing fresh air along an airtight line brattice; however, it was safer, easier, and less time-consuming to attack the fire from a fresh-air base 100 feet away with a solid stream or by high-expansion foam; the latter method was more effective.

Jan 1, 1961

Our mission is help ensure our country has an adequate, dependable supply of minerals and mate al to meet its national security and economic needs at acceptable social, environmental, and economi[c] costs. We do this by promoting and encouraging private enterprise in the development of viable and stable mineral industries through the transfer of innovative extraction, processing, recycling, an environmental technologies; our use of cooperative partnerships with industry, academia, an government; our timely, authoritative worldwide mineral intelligence; our advocacy of public policies based on good science and sound economics.

Jan 1, 1994

By Robert W. Geehan

The Bureau of Mines developed, by core drilling, the property of Nevada Scheelite, Inc., from October 5, 1943, to February 24, 1944. Claims of the corporation are near Rawhide in the northern portion of Mineral County, Nev. The purpose of the work was to determine possible reserves in the lateral and vertical extensions of a tactite zone which was being mined for scheelite. Production from this zone to January 1, 1944, was said to be 64,500 tons, with a recovery of 50,618 units of tungsten trioxide. The development work was done by the Bureau of Mines in cooperation with the U. S. Geological Survey and comprised a study of the geology, mapping the areas, and exploring the deposit by diamond drilling, trenching and sampling. Eleven holes were drilled for a total footage of 2,365 feet of holes.

Jan 1, 1950

By Gill Montgomery

This report covers operations at the Crystal-Victory and Minerva No. 1 mines in Hardin County, Ill., which are operated by the Minerva Oil Co., Fluorspar Division, with offices in Eldorado. It describes the exploration, development, and mining practices, giving costs of each. Transportation, equipment, power, labor, and other influencing factors also are discussed. The mining methods employed are those most applicable to the flat-bedded replacement deposits common to the Cave-in-Rock section of the Southern Illinois fluorspar district. The fluorspar beds occur from surface exposures to 1,000 feet deep. In this district churn drilling is the method practiced for exploring flat-bedded deposits from the surface. Aerial photography and geochemical methods for indicating mineralization have been helpful in planning a drilling program. A program usually includes enough drilling to obtain only sufficient data on the value of the ore body and its structure to justify initial development and purchase of the mineral rights under option.

Jan 1, 1960