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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

By B. W. Gandrud

In July 1948, the Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior, in cooperation with the University of Alabama and mine operators, published Report of Investigations 4306, "A Combination Cleaning and Dewatering Process for Treating Fine 'Sizes of Coal, Preliminary Report In this report a new process, referred to as kerosene flotation; was described, and results of experimental work with the process Previous to the fall of 1947 were given, The contents of the report. were summarized on pages 19 and 20' as follows: In coal-preparation plants using wet methods of cleaning, the most difficult problem is the cleaning and dewatering of the "fines" from about 10-Mesh to 0. A combination proceed is now under investigation that shows promise of practically and feasibly solving this problem. The process is similar to froth flotation, but a generous quantity of kerosene is used as one of the reagents, and the feed is from approximately 10-mesh to 0 considerably coarser than the usual froth flotation feed. The kerosene and the coarseness of the reed result in a floated product that, under certain circumstances, can be dewatered satisfactorily by a simple process of mechanical squeezing, Squeezing is accomplished by means of an ordinary conveying' Auger-and trough assembly with a section of pipe easing at the outer end of the trough. The bottom of the trough and. casing is fitted with wedge-wire sections to permit escape of the water freed by the squeezing action of the auger. On account of the important role of the kerosene, the process has been referred to in this report as kerosene flotation. Up to now, the investigative work has been divided about evenly between the laboratory and commercial plants. Nearly all of the work has been done on sludges containing the solids from the underflow of dewatering screens. A few runs have been made on 10-mesh to 0: fines from raw coal, but in some of those runs the dewatering mechanism, failed to function.

Jan 1, 1950

By Gary E. Sherman

To aid the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in their Resource Development Navigation Study of ten existing or proposed port sites in Alaska, the Bureau of Mines examined the potential for mineral development around three Alaska port sites: Iliamna Bay, Kotzebue, and Nome. The mineral deposits near Iliamna Bay include gold, copper, and iron. Development of minerals in this area will require the discovery of new deposits or the definition of additional are reserves at known deposits. The mineral deposits near Kotzebue are primarily gold, copper, coal, lead, and uranium. Based on the character of these deposits, it appears that development of a small-scale mine supplying coal for regional use is the most likely scenario in the near-term. The mineral deposits near Nome are primarily gold and copper. Development of small underground gold mines is possible, however it appears that expanded offshore gold dredging will have the greatest impact on the flow of freight and goods through the Nome port in the near term.

Jan 1, 2011

Etching solutions containing hexavalent chromium ions (e.g., chromic acid) are used in brass finishing, printed circuit board etching, preparation of plastic for plating, anodizing, and various other industrial surface treatment operations. As the solutions are used, hexavalent chromium ions are reduced to their trivalent state, contaminants accumulate in the solution, and the effective acid concentration is reduced. When the etching rate becomes unsatisfactory for the particular operation, the solutions are discarded. This is a problem because the discarded solutions are pollutants, and because replacing the etching solution is expensive. The Bureau of Mines has developed a process for regenerating these spent solutions and returning them to the surface treatment operation without interrupting the etching process. An electrolysis cell containing anode and cathode compartments that are separated by permeable membranes, is used for regenerating the spent solutions. The spent chromic acid solution is fed to the anode compartment and sui (uric acid is circulated in the cathode compartment. Application of a steady electrical potential of a few volts dc across the electrodes causes the copper ions and other contaminants in the spent solution to migrate through the membrane to the cathode compartment where copper is plated onto the cathode. Zinc and the other contaminants remain in the sulfuric acid. At the same time, the complex, trivalent chromium ions in the spent solution are attracted to the anode where they are oxidized to their original hexavalent state. The regenerated solution in the anode compartment is then recycled back to the plant?s etching operation for reuse.

Jan 1, 1980

By Radford Schantz

In 1990, the Bureau of Mines (BOM) conducted a mineral investigation of the mines and prospects in the East Mojave National Scenic Area (EMNSA). San Bernardino County. California During field work. BOM identified 701 mines and prospects in EMNSA for which the geology, mineral resources, and mining history were compiled and summarized. Analytical results for 1.188 rock samples collected are tabulated. Total value of identified resources in EMNSA is $5.0 billion. Twenty-four mines and prospects were deemed profitable under current economic conditions. Development could generate considerable economic benefits to San Bernardino County. Potential economic benefits from mining the deposits were evaluated under the following access restrictions for EMNSA: 1) fun access, 2) HR 3460, and 3) S 11/HR 780. Under the full access scenario, cumulative mine revenues are $3.0 billion, cumulative personal earnings at mines and supporting industries are $0.94 billion, and annual jobs at mines and supporting industries are 2,379. Under HR 3460, mine revenues, personal earnings, and annual jobs are $2.9 billion. $0.88 billion, and 2,165, respectively. Under S 11/HR 780, mine revenues, personal earnings, and annual jobs are $1.0 billion, $0.32 billion, and 936, respectively.

Jan 1, 1990

By Joe N. Magee

As part of the important program of promoting conservation and efficient utilization of petroleum, Bureau of Mines engineers are making studies of secondary oil-recovery projects throughout the United states and publishing reports setting forth the pertinent facts so that others may profit by the experience gained. This report presents the results of a study by engineers of the Bureau of Mines, stationed at Franklin, Pa., of secondary oil recovery in a part of the Cabin Creek field, Kanawha and Boone Counties, W. Va., where natural gas is injected into the reservoir to stimulate oil production. Most oil produced in the Appalachian region at present is obtained from stripper fields in which almost all natural energy has been dissipated. Secondary-recovery methods are used extensively in many oil-producing areas of New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky for recovering oil not produced by primary-production methods. The part of the Cabin Creek field reported in this study is shown in figure 1 and has been designated by the operator as project 4. In 1944 the developed area of the entire field was approximately 4,200 acres, and the area of project 4 was about 600 acres. In the developed area of the project the oil reservoir is in the Berea sandstone and occurs at 2,914 to 3,410 feet.

Jan 1, 1952

By F. E. Brantley, D. M. Yergensen, D. A. Martin

Fluidized - bed roasting was investigated as a means of decomposing gypsum and gypsum mixtures to produce a gas rich in sulfur dioxide and a lime or portland cement residue . Ninety- eight percent desulfurization of gypsum in a 10 - inch fluidized- bed reactor took 1.5 hours at an operating temperature between 1,200 ° and 1,225 ° C. A cement- type residue was obtained but had to be refired at 1,450 ° C before mortar prepared from it met the physical specifications for cement .

Jan 1, 1963

By George C. Price

The Bureau of Mines conducted this study in the Roslyn No.5 coalbed in the State of Washington to determine the feasibility of mining hydraulically the portion of the coalbed that was steeply pitching. All of the experimental mining was done while advancing raises and rooms. A Bureau-developed hydraulic mining machine was used successfully in the pitching coalbed. It consisted of a remotely controlled monitor mounted on a self-advancing roof support unit of the type commonly used for roof support in longwall mining systems. The coal cutting rates averaged 0.73 and 0.54 ton per minute in raise and room mining, respectively, while using water volumes up to 230 gpm at a pressure of 4,000 psig. Productivity averaged 4.7 and 5.2 tons per man-shift for raise and room mining, respectively, compared with 7.5 and 8.5 tons per man-shift, respectively, by conventional hand mining methods.

Jan 1, 1965

By Stephen D. Cramer

The objective of the present studies was to develop thick adherent and coherent coatings of platinum and palladium on refractory metals and other substrates of industrial and engineering importance. Existing platinum and palladium electrolytes were modified to make them suitable for the electrodeposition of thick deposits. The optimum operating conditions for these electrolytes were established. Pretreatment procedures for columbium, copper, graphite, molybdenum, nickel, stainless steel, tantalum, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, and zirconium substrates were studied. New pretreatment procedures for columbium, molybdenum, stainless steel, tantalum, tungsten, and nickel were developed. The internal stress and hardness of selected electrodeposits were measured. The effects of heat treatment upon the properties of electrodeposits were studied.

Jan 1, 1967

By Richard L. Sayrs

"The Stiner zinc prospect near the north boundary of Union Tennessee, and the Bunch Hollow property 5 miles northeast in Claiborne County, Tennessee, were diamond-drilled by the Bureau of Mines during the period .September 1, 1944, to February 22, 1945. Seventeen holes totaling 5,687 feet were completed, 13 of which, totaling, 5.083 feet, were on the Stiner property and the remainder, totaling 604 feet, at Bunch Hollow.The Stiner prospect is about 1 mile east of the old workings known as ""New Prospect"" or ""Lead Mine Bend."" The Federal Geological Survey made a study' of the area early in 1944. The prospect was first visited in August 1944 by Bureau of' Mines engineers3/ accompanied by members of the Federal Geological Survey.4/ The locality is reached by traveling State Road 33 north-about 9 miles from Maynardsville, Tenn., thence northwest about 7 miles by an improved county road that leads to the mine (fig. 1). The tract comprises an area of about 181 acres held by G. S. Stiner of Sharps Chapel, Tenn.; it is now under option to the Universal-Exploration Co. of Jefferson City, Tenn.The Bunch Hollow property, about 5 miles northeast of the Stiller prospect, was also studied by the Federal Geological Survey previous to being;Visited by Bureau of Mines engineers in August 1944. It is reached by traveling north from Maynardsville, Tenn., on State Road 33 about 13 miles, thence northwest by county road 6 miles to the property (fig. 1). The last 3 miles of the county road are in poor repair but are passable during the entire year. The property comprises an area of approximately 300 acres and is held by the imperial Mining Co., Pressman's Home, Tenn.Few reliable data are available as to the history of the Stiner prospects themselves. However, the New Prospect mine, 1 mile west, has had a colorful past, This mine was opened in 1883 and was worked intermittently until 1918, by which time more than 65,000 tons of concentrates had been shipped. No further work was done until 1942, when the mine pillars were robbed and 1,900 tons of ore averaging 25 percent zinc was shipped to the New Jersey Zinc Co., Austinville, Va."

Apr 1, 1946

By Jaffrey Y. Foley

Placer gold and platinum-group metals (PGM) In the Slate Creek area, northern Chistochina Mining District, are derived from silicified and carbonate-altered, Cretaceous-Tertiary (?) dikes and related mafic and ultramafic rocks. Gold In the placer deposits is also derived from Tertiary conglomerate and altered Jurassic-Cretaceous argilllte. The argilllte and Igneous bedrock sources show a unique Ag-Au-Cu-Hg-PGM association that Is attributed to a combination of magmatic, hydrothermal, and supergene processes. The bedrock and placer deposits contain a variety of gold silver-lead-copper and PGM alloys. The observed geochemical, mineralogic, and alteration features are consistent with current geological models for turbidite-hosted gold deposits. No economic gold or PGM lodes were Identified, but several areas warranting more detailed investigation were Identified. Conventional geochemical sampling and analysis of small sample splits weighing between 10 and 30 grams were shown to be unreliable as a consistent means of identifying gold- and PGM-bearing bedrock. Pan concentration of pulverized rock samples was shown to be a more effective, but still Imperfect means of Identifying gold and PGM source rocks. Geochemical data and mineralogic examination indicate that gold and PGM in potential lode sources are very finely and erratically disseminated, are chemically combined with other elements, and may not be entirely free-milling or amenable to simple gravity concentration.

Jan 1, 1990

By Frank B. Fulkerson

Three of the five primary aluminum producers in the Pacific Northwest have facilities in the region to make aluminum mill products. Only one of the three, however, produces a variety of shapes and forms. The principal reason for the lag in development of an aluminum mill products industry was found to be transportation cost. The long range outlook is for expansion, based mainly on growth of the western market for aluminum used in construction, containers and packaging, electrical applications, diesel trucks, mobile homes, and irregation pipe. Consumption of western aluminum mill products in 1985 is projected at 1.1 million tons, compared with estimated consumption of 250,000 tons in 1961.

Jan 1, 1965

By J. P. Walsted

The lack of an iron-smelting industry in the Pacific Northwest places the ferrous metals industries under an economic handicap. No iron-smelting enterprises, now dormant, had been operated successfully. Iron made at both of hoes installations proved to be satisfactory for normal pig-iron uses. Electric power and reductants acre available in the area. Power from the dames now completed and. those being constructed insures present and future needs for basic industries. Subbituminous coal, close to the main supply of iron ore, insures ample reluctant for all smelting requirements.

Jan 1, 1954

By R. M. Santmyers

Umber and sienna, like ocher, are naturally occurring mineral pig- ments composed largely of clay permeated with hydrated iron (ferric oxide), but they differ from ocher in that they also contain hydrated manganese oxide. The presence of manganese accounts for their browner color. In addition to silica and alumina (clay) and the coloring oxides of iron and manganese, these pigments often contain lime, barium, and other metallic salts as impurities. Sienna most nearly approaches ocher in chemical composition, and the chief distinction is its physical character. It grades into ocher with de- creasing iron content and into umber with increasing manganese content. Sienna is translucent rather than opaque and is more of a stain than a pigment; as the iron oxide content is rather high (often 60 to 80 per cent), the color is strong and rich and varies from pure brown to reddish brown. This pigment raw sienna, terra di Siena, and Italian earth. is known under several names: Burnt sienna is a pigment of an orange-brown tint made by cautionsly calcining raw sienna. It is divided into two grades; American, and Italian burnt sienna. American burnt sienna is a reddish-brown pigment containing from 25 to 60 per cent iron oxide (Fe2O3). One grade, found in Pennsylvania, analyses as high as 80 per cent and is mown as double strength sienna. Italian burnt sienna is a pigment generally containing more iron than the American product, averaging 60 to 75 per cent iron oxide.3 American pig- ments of the same iron content differ materially in shade, having a Havana- brown color, whereas the Italian is more of a maroon. Italian siennas when tinted with 20 per cent of white, show a bluish tint, whereas American siennas yield a brownish or yellowish hue. Raw umber, also known as Turkey umber, Levant umber, and terra ombra, is a greenish to yellowish brown siliceous and ferruginous earth, containing a considerable proportion of one or other of the higher oxides of manganese, Mng04 and MnO2." It is similar in many respects to raw sienna except that it is much coarser and contains more manganese oxide. All umbers contain over 5 per cent of manganese dioxide. Like sienna, umber is a permanent pigment, not being injured by light or by impure atmospheres. Burnt umber (velvet brown, chestnut brown, etc.), results from the calcination of raw umber. The color is much richer and warmer than that of the raw umber. The colors are equally permanent and can be used in conjunc- tion with all other durable pigments.

Sep 1, 1931

By Robert W. Gordon

This report describes the results and conclusions of the further development of a lightweight probe drill for use in anthracite mines. Improvements to the drill previously developed under Contract H0282044 were made and tested at an Eastern Pennsylvania mine. These improvements were: 1. Better hole cleaning due to the development of an air-water mist flushing system. 2. The application of roof drill bits to allow drilling through rock seams and lenses. 3. The development of a quick coupling drill system which reduced total steel change time. 4. Adaptation of a swivel to the drill anchoring system which greatly reduced set-up time between holes. With these improvements the probe drill demonstrated its ability to drill the required 11 holes in one shift. It also gained miner acceptance as a viable underground working tool. The probe drill proved to meet all of the design requirements of portability, low weight drilling controllability, structural integrity and reliability. In addition to its ability to drill the required probe pattern, the probe drill has the capability of drilling long holes. By drilling several holes over 80 feet deep the probe drill has demonstrated a potential for use in robbing pillars and for methane drainage.

Jan 1, 1981

By Thomas H. Dubaniewicz

Fiber optic systems are being deployed in locations where explosive gas atmospheres are normally present or are present under fault conditions. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (NIOSH, PRL) conducted a study of laser safety in potentially flammable environments. Researchers conducted experiments to estimate the mean and standard deviation of laser powers needed to ignite 6% methane-air atmospheres using single mode optical fiber tips covered by two types of iron oxide (Fe304 and (FeMn)203) mixed with a ceramic adhesive. The iron oxides, heated by a 1064 nm continuous wave laser, ignited the methane-air mixtures ,at similar powers. The minimum igniting power and maximum non-igniting power (10 tests) were 407 and 350 mW, respectively, using a 62.5 pm fiber. Laser beams guided by 125 and 80 pm diameter cladding single mode fibers produced similar methane-air igniting powers. Ignition was not observed using coal particles at powers that produced ignition with the iron oxides. Threshold ignition delays using the single mode fiber were approxinlately proportional to the inverse square of the igniting power. Ignition delays were significantly longer than the reported activation time for a comnlercial fiber optic power limiter. Comparisons are made with the results of other researchers. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

By Thomas R. Bur

The patterns of variation of the 21 anisotropic elastic constants with direction arc presented for all of the symmetry systems that are normally expected to occur in rocks and in the constituent minerals. The exception, which is not discussed, is the triclinic system for which no elastic constants are available. Variations are shown for rotations about the principal axes by means of polar graphs. These include graphs for all of the n-fold symmetry axes possible for elastic symmetry and thus make it possible to visualize variational patterns for rotations about any n-fold axis. Variations throughout space are shown by means of equal area projections for the only constants (those relating axial stress to axial strain) that are uniquely defined by a single closed surface. For those unfamiliar with the compliance (Sij) and stiffness (cij) coefficients, the variations that can be shown by Young's modulus (E), Poisson's ratio (v), and shear modulus (G) are also given.

Jan 1, 2012

By F. Garacia, J. Cervik

Gob holes are routinely used by the mining industry to vent methane from gobs and to prevent it from entering the mine ventilation system. In some cases, flows from gob holes are measured by centering an anemometer on the end of a discharge pipe. These measurements are erroneous and tend to be high by as much as 30 pct. The Bureau of Mines deter- mined method factors (correction factors) for anemometer measurements taken in this manner. Method factors for 4-, 6-, and 8-in (10.2-, 15.2-, and 20.3-cm) ID pipe are 0.68, 0.71, and 0.78, respectively. Comparisons between horizontal and vertical flows indicated no significant change in method factors. Consequently, the method factors for horizontal pipe flows can be applied to vertical upward flows.

Jan 1, 1987

By M. E. Tyrrell

Despits its high melting point (2,135° C.), resistance to attack by molten metals, and its hardness (8), spinel (MgO?Al203) synthesized by the fusion of alumina (Al 2 0.) and magnesia (MgO) is not used on a large scale as a commercial furnace lining, mainly because of the prohibitive cost. This investigation by the Federal Bureau of Mines was prompted by the possibility of producing synthetic spinel from inexpensive raw materials by methods outlined in U.S. Patent 2,029,773, "Process for Obtaining Products Containing Spinets," dated February 4, 1936. In this patent Ture B. Haglund described a process for recovering crystalline spinels from melts in the system Mg0?Al203-2CaO-SiO2, a system well suited to the use of starting materials such as dolomite CaMg(C03)2, olivine [2(Mg?Fe)0.Si02], and bauxite (Al203?2H20) which are abundant in the southeastern United States. Compositions, ranging from a low content in the eutectic mixture of 35 percent spinal and 65 percent dicalcium silicate (2 CaO?SiO2) to a high of 75 percent spinel and 25 percent dicalcium silicate, were fused in electric furnaces of the arc-resistance and internal-resistance types. So long as members of the system were in proper chemical balance, "dusting" slags could be produced over the entire range of spinel concentration.

Jan 1, 1961

By W. L. Dare

This information circular is one of a series, published by the Federal Bureau of Mines, on methods and costs of mining uranium ore on the Colorado Plateau. This report describes the relatively small-scale operations of the Salt Wash miner: The mining method followed, the equipment used, and the production costs. It describes 10 lease-operated mines of Union Carbide: Nuclear Co. that are typical of Salt Wash operations on the plateau. These mines lie within the Uravan mineral belt3/ and arc in the Gateway, Bull Canyon, and Uravan mining districts. (See fig. 1.) Generally the ore bodies occur as irregular, discontinuous layers of ore minerals within sandstone beds in the Salt Wash member of the Jurassic Morrison formation. The ore bodies sometimes occur as rolls, pod associat with carbonaceous trash, or tabular masses. Their size and erratic distribution preclude the use of a prearranged and uniform stoping system. The mining method is simply to follow the ore and leave open scopes behind.

Jan 1, 1959