Search Documents

By Staff

"INTRODUCTION Sheet mica is one of the most important minerals in modern industry. It is used in many kinds of electrical devices, and up to the present time no satisfactory substitute for it has been developed. It is necessary for the successful operation of airplanes, ships, motor vehicles radios, and radar equipment. Early in World y r II, the Array and Navy, foreseeing the need for conserving the stock of sheet mica on hand and realizing that imports from India and Brazil were falling off, had strategic mica placed on the critical war-materials list.Examination and exploration by the Bureau of nines indicated that there probably are large undeveloped deposits of mica in Alabama, some of which are near the surface and others at greater depth. The quality of most of this mica is high.During World War I, Alabama mica producers added materially to domestic production, but after 1920 virtually all of the mines closed end miners scattered. During World War II, when imports from India, Madagascar,Brazil,,other foreign sources were reduced, sometime was required for Alabama to act into production. Operators began to produce small quantities in 1942.The Colonial Mica Corporation was created by the Government during 1942 to buy Mica for the Metals Reserve Company, end later Colonial was made sole buying accent for strategic mica. About this time the Bureau of Mines estab¬lished the graphite field laboratory at Ashland, Ala. Samples of mica wore submitted for examination, and advice was requested by property owners and mine operators. This continued during 1943, when as many as 400 visitors a month called at the Bureau's Ashland field laboratory."

Aug 1, 1946

By Christopher Mark

This proceedings volume contains papers presented at W U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) technology transfer seminars on New Technology for Longwall Ground Control. These seminars were conducted in Washington, PA, on April 12, 1994, and Denver, CO, on May 10, 1994. The papers herein describe several new, highly practical USBM technologies now available for ground control in longwall mines, including lie Coal Mice Roof Rating (CMRR), cable bolts, the MULSIM/NL model, and the Wood Crib Performance Model. Other significant topics addressed include longwall panel layout, coal pillar design, horizontal stress in longwall mines, roof support selection for gate entries, and ground control monitoring.

Jan 1, 1994

By Paul M. Tyler, R. M. Santmyers

Platinum and its allied metals osmium, iridium, rhodium , palladium, and ruthenium are the most costly of the better-known metals and combine properties that make them unique among the elements . For a number of isolated uses substitutes have been found which are cheaper and quite as satisfactory ; but none will replace platinum in many of its varied uses , and there is a large and growing demand for purposes for which no economical substitutes are known . As this paper is being written the supply of platinum tends further to increase as a result of the exploitation of newly developed resources and the expansion of production from older sources . In obedience to economic law prices have declined steadily . Buyers , always reluctant to commit themselves on a falling market , have maintained a waiting attitude , and consumption trends are not clearly indicated . Should platinum again approach the price of gold , the natural tendency would be to use more of the metal . In recent years , however , the industrial and scientific uses of platinum have become subordinate to its consumption in jewelry . In matters of personal adornment the popular whim and not practical utility is the dominant factor in demand , and it does not follow that lowered prices will stimulate demand . The substitution of white gold and certain plated goods for platinum may be checked by cheaper platinum , but a fickle public that turned from gold to platinum when platinum became the more costly metal can not with certainty be expected to buy more platinum jewelry because more of the metal than formerly may now be had for the same price . The dearth of platinum during and for some years after the World War had a profound effect upon prices , and this in turn wrought important changes in the field of consumption . When prices advanced the chemical industry, formerly the leading consumer of platinum, was forced to economize in its consumption of the metal and to substitute other metals whenever it could . Somewhat similar conditions resulted in the electrical industry and in the use of platinum in dentistry . Some of these former outlets are permanently closed , and others may be reopened now that platinum prices have receded to pre-war levels , but despite the general expansion of industrial and scientific activity since 1913 the demand for platinum outside the jewelry trade has suffered a net decline . Since the metallurgy of platinum is relatively simple the reason for its high price is its relative scarcity in the earth's crust . An interesting speculation set forth by certain geologists attributes the extraordinarily high density of the interior of the earth in part to the presence of iron alloyed with substantial amounts of platinum and other related metals . In support of this hypothesis it may be said that platinum is often found in meteorites , and known deposits in the earth's crust are all of deep - seated origin . However , even if there were a high concentration of platinum in the interior of the earth it would be next to impossible at the present state of our knowledge to make it available , and the world would continue to depend for its supply on deposits found within minable depths below the surface . For many years before 1914 the world obtained its supply of platinum metals primarily from Russia , which before the war produced as much as 300,000 troy ounces in a year , or approximately 95 per cent of the world output . Despite fluctuations due to internal political disturbances Colombia managed to account for 3 to 4 per cent , leaving the rest of the world to furnish the remaining 1 to 2 per cent .

Feb 1, 1931

"M bed, Matanuska valley, Alaska, coal carbonizingproperties B 510M spectral lines, low-energy, study RI 5538Mab shaft, Leadvile district, Colo., investigation RI .1518Maberry process, for aluminum chloride TP 321"

Jan 1, 1960

By J. J. Forbes

Problems connected with the incidence, effects, determination, and control of dusts are still much before the public, although more information is available to the layman than when Bulletin 400, of which this publication is a revision,5 was issued in 1937. Bulletin 400 attempted to assemble information in convenient form on various phases of the dust problem, largely in the mining and allied industries. This revision includes data that have accumulated since 1937 and some that appeared previous thereto but were not available to the authors at that time. The literature on this subject is so voluminous that no attempt has been made to include all published material or all types of dust diseases, but only to assemble some of the more outstanding data on several aspects of the subject.

Jan 1, 1950

By Branch of Editorial Services

"The Bureau of Mines was established in the public interest to conduct inquiries and scientific and technologic investigations concerning mining and the preparation, treatment, and utilization of mineral substances; to promote health and safety in the mineral industries; to conserve material resources and prevent their waste; to further economic development; to increase efficiency in the mining, metallurgical, quarrying, and other mineral industries; and to inquire into the economic conditions affecting those industries. The organic act of the Bureau, as amended by Congress and approved February 25, 1913, made it the province and duty of the Bureau of Mines to ""disseminate information concerning these subjects in such manner as will best carry out the purposes of this Act.""In accordance with this directive, the Bureau reports the findings of its research and investigations in its own series of publications and also in articles that appear in scientific, technical, and trade journals; in proceedings of conventions and seminars; in reference books; and in other non-Bureau publications. The number of these reports, the wide range of subjects they cover, and the variety of mediums in which they appear make the kind of list and index presented in this special publication both necessary and valuable. This issue of the Bureau of Mines List of Publications and Articles describes reports and articles published during the period January 1, 1980, to December 31, 1984. It supplements the 50-year list of Bureau publications issued from July 1, 1910, to January 1, 1960;1 the 50-year list of articles by Bureau authors published outside the Bureau from July 1, 1910, to January 1, 1960;2 the 5-year lists of publications and articles from January 1, 1960, to December 31, 1964,3 from January 1, 1965, to December 31, 1969,4 from January 1, 1970, to December 31, 1974,5 and from January 1, 1975, to December 31, 1979;6 and the annual lists of Bureau publications and articles from January 1 to December 31, 1980,7 from January 1 to December 31, 1981,8 from January 1 to December 31, 1982,9 and from January 1 to December 31, 1983. 10"

Jan 1, 1985

By Thomas Gales

Longwall mining has a high potential for producing bulk production from a single face. Production is interrupted for a considerable time when it is necessary to move the equipment to a new block of coal. The frequency of such moves can be reduced by increasing the dimension of the block to be moved. Merely doubling the tonnage in a block to be mined may increase production by more than 21,000 tons per year. The time taken to move the equipment can be reduced by careful preplanning, industrial engineering analysis, and specially designed equipment. Reducing its move time from 30 days to five days can increase production by more than 25,000 tons per year. Increasing the panel dimensions and reducing the move time can give an increase in pretax profits of more than $600,000. A comprehensive bibliography is included.

Jan 1, 1977

The inherently explosion-proof mine (EPM) concept is based upon the non-flammability of certain combustible-oxidant-inert gas mixtures, and the effect of partial pressure of gases on physiological reactions. In a properly controlled underground environment, gas explosions are impossible, men can do work, and relatively high concentrations of methane would be permitted. A systems analysis has been performed to examine the physiological, engineering, and economic feasibility of such a concept, and methods and equipment are recommended for maintaining an EPM atmosphere in a bituminous coal mine producing a nominal two million tons of clean coal per year. It is concluded that: engineering feasibility can be demonstrated using subsystems and components that can be designed and built within the present state-of-the-art, that economic feasibility is possible within approximately five years, and that physiological feasibility is sufficiently promising to warrant continued investigation.

Jan 1, 2012

Duty on Lead Reduced. -On December 28, the President signed H.R. 5047 which reduces the duty on unwrought lead from 3.5% ad valorem to 3% ad valorem, with a floor level of 1.0625 cents per pound, effective retroactively from January 1, 1980, through June 30, 1983. Pacific Northwest Power Bill Passed. -On December 5, the President signed S. 885 which will enable the Bonneville Power Administration to guarantee 20-year contracts to its 15 major industrial customers in exchange for higher rates. In effect, the bill will have industrial customers pay some of the costs of building additional generating facilities in the Northwest, of which thermal units are expected to be a major part. BPA supplies power to six primary aluminum producers which operate eleven plants having over 30% of the primary aluminum capacity in the United States.

Jan 1, 1980

By Thomas E. Howard

Man has been engaged in the construction of tunnels in. rock for several thousand years. During that time, methods of tunneling have changed drastically. Hordes of men chipping away at the tunnel face have been replaced by mechanical drills and explosives and by tunnel boring machines. Spoil is no longer carried on the backs of humans, but is now removed by trains, trucks or conveyor systems. These and other changes have had the effect of greatly increasing the rate of tunneling, while at the same time, greatly decreasing the potential dangers to workmen. Although the techniques, equipment and material used for tunneling are being continually improved, rock tunneling is still a slow and expensive process. Significant improvements and innovations are needed to reduce the cost and time required for tunneling if we are to fully utilize the subsurface to aid in the solution of urban problems and in the conservation of resources. This report is intended to facilitate the orderly development of tunneling technology by focusing attention on the inadequacies of rock tunneling and the improvements that are needed. The data presented were derived from the results of a comprehensive questionnaire that was completed during the summer of 1969 by more than 600 individuals and organizations in 17 countries. Table 1 lists the countries and the number of replies from each. Appendix A contains a summary profile of the national responses, while the text presents the results and a brief analysis of the conclusions that might be derived from the data in the questionnaire. The data shown in Appendix A represent the consensus opinion of each of the 17 nations without regard to the number of individual replies or the amount of tunneling activity that is represented. The national consensus was determined for each country by a plurality of the individual responses, in some cases modified by the opinion of the rapporteur. Tire above procedures can lead to situations which are misleading. For example, experience and activity arc a rational basis for analysis; but, if national replies are weighted on this basis (i.e., number of responses), informed and valuable opinion of less active countries would probably be overwhelmed and lost. In analysing the data on the basis of national responses without weighting, it becomes apparent that many of the same problems exist under a given set of conditions regardless of the number of tunnels that have been driven.

Jan 1, 1970

By Rollie P. Dobyns

The K.M.A. reservoir was discovered to be oil bearing at a depth of 3,719 feet on March 11, 1931. Extensive development, however, was not begun immediately, because the discovery well had a low initial daily oil production, and market conditions for oil were unfavorable. Development of the field progressed slowly for the next 6.5 years. In the latter part of 1937, a wildcat well approximately 2 miles southwest of the discovery well was drilled on a magnetometer high and completed with an initial flowing production of 2,018 barrels of 430 A.P.I.-gravity oil in 12 hours. Rapid development of the southwestern part of the K.M.A. field was begun immediately and continued until over 700 wells were drilled and approximately 12,500 acres proved oil productive. Because of the large size of the entire K.M.A. field, this report is limited in scope to the southwestern part only, and the discussion that follows pertains to this area only. The closing date for production statistics is August 1, 1949. The K.M.A.? structure is a complex anticline having a maximum closure of 250 feet, and the K.M.A. formation is composed of sediments that grade from limestone through sandy lime and limy sand to sandstone with thin streaks of shale. Two "distinct members of the K.M.A. formation, zone I and zone II, are oil productive. Core analyses indicate the average porosity to be 16.5 percent for zone I and 16.1 percent for zone II. A relationship was established from core data, which showed the correlative permeabilities to be 42.1 millidarcys for zone I and 39.5 millidarcys for zone II, whereas the arithmetical averages of the permeabilities were 84 millidarcys for zone I and 216 millidarcys for zone II. Connate-water saturations were 17.5 percent for zone I and 20.0 percent for zone II. The porosity-saturation method, using a thickness-correction factor, was employed to calculate the volume of 168.1 million barrels of stock-tank oil initially in place in the reservoir. Analyses of the reservoir oil indicate that, although the initial reservoir pressure was 1,750 p.s.i., the original reservoir oil was saturated to only 1,300 p.s.i., at which pressure 1 barrel of stock-tank oil contained 525 cubic feet of ea~ in solution.

Jan 1, 1952

By A. F. Roberts

The subject of mine fires is a very wide one. To give reasonable coherency, the paper concentrates on the behaviour of fires in the ventilated airways of mines; spontaneous combustions are not considered. The following topics are considered in some detail: 1) Material selection: Performance requirements for mining materials in terms of flammability and smoke/fume production; methods of test and need for relevance to mining conditions. 2) Fire growth: The influence of material properties and method of use on the rate of growth of fire in a mine roadway; the influence of ventilation, slope, material orientation, proximity of walls and roof on fire behaviour. 3) The fire in the ventilation network: The influence of fire on the ventilation distribution; the circulation of fire products in the network. The influences of these topics in determining fire control strategy are then considered but topics such as fire detection and fire extinction methods are not reviewed in detail. An extensive Bibliography on papers relating to mine fires is included.

Jan 1, 1989

New Copper Deposit in Chile. - The recent copper discovery in Chile, made jointly by U.S.-owned Empresa Minera Utah de Chile, Inc., and Getty Mining Chile), Inc., awaits the passage of Chilean legislation which is expected to govern the terms of new foreign investment in the country's mining sector. Named La Escondida, the discovery is reported to have the potential for producing 100,000 tons of refined copper per year. This compares with Chile's total refined primary copper production in 1980 of 811,000 metric tons, and to U.S. refined primary production in 1980 of 1,122,000 metric tons derived from domestic material, and 89,000 metric tons from foreign material. U.S. Firms Buy Chilean Properties. - A bid of $18.1 million, made jointly by Chevron and St. Joe Minerals Corp., won over competing bids for the purchase of the Libra and Mena gold-silver-copper deposits in northern Chile. Chevron is the lead partner and owns 70% of the venture. The two properties purchased have not been developed to any significant extent. They are located near St. Joe's El Indio gold-silver-copper mine. The venture is also looking at the possible purchase of two other mines in the area.

Jan 1, 1981

Entering June, U. S. producer pricing of 99.5 percent unalloyed aluminum ingot was divided at 53-57 cents per pound. The Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp. took the initiative and raised its June 1 ingot values by 4 cents to 57 cents. Consolidated Aluminum Corp. announced plans to increase ingot prices by 4.5 cents per pound to 57.5 cents per pound effective May 15. Dealers increased their May ingot quotes by 1.5-2 cents to 50-50.5 cents. CADMIUM While producers in the United States kept May cadmium at $2.25-$2.50, dealers increased their quotes by 15-30 cents to as high as $2.15.

Jan 1, 1978

By G. F. Kuncir

The analysis described herein evaluates the Bureau of Mines Program for Advancing Mining Technology - Oil Shale in terms of the economic benefits which may be derived for the Nation as a result of its successful research and development efforts. On the basis of postulated oil shale production scenarios, benefit-cost ratio indicators are computed for the program elements as they apply to surface, underground, and modified in situ oil shale mining systems. Eight value indicators are used to measure the Program's beneficial impact on the future oil shale industry in relation to planned research and development costs. These are: capital cost savings, operating cost savings, labor savings environmental quality maintenance cost reduction, reduction in production costs, byproduct production benefits, total production benefits, and additions to recoverable reserves. Program costs are aggregated from 1974 through 1987 and major benefits are accrued from 1982 through 2040. Both cost and benefit streams are discounted to mid-1975 present value.

Jan 1, 1977

The U.S. economy showed further strength during the third quarter of 1983, continuing the upward trend discussed in the last two issues of Minerals and Materials. The National Association of Purchasing Management composite index increased to a 10-year high of 67. 1 in July. (A value of 50 or greater indicates expanding industrial activity.) The index, a weighted composite of new orders, production, employment, vendor performance, and inventories, is derived from a survey of purchasing agents for about 250 industrial firms. Investment and Other National Economic Indicators The strong consumer surge of second quarter 1983 was reinforced during the third quarter by the performance of private investment. Because of this, many analysts became more optimistic about the strength of the recovery and its potential for being sustained. Capital investment growth, negative since 1980, was positive for every investment component in the third quarter of 1983. Preliminary estimates indicate a real increase of $1.4 billion (at an annual rate) in private investment expenditures on nonresidential structures, an increase of $4.3 billion (at an annual rate) for producers' durable equipment, and an increase of $4.8 billion (at an annual rate) in real inventory levels. The second quarter 1983 increase in expenditures on producers' durable equipment was the first indicator that investment recovery would occur during the rest of the year (table 1). Corporate profits in total manufacturing increased $6.5 billion from first quarter to second quarter 1983 (table 2).

Jan 1, 1983

Electric power curtailments resulting from the coal strike, required Noranda Aluminum, Inc. to shut down its 140,000 ton-per-year (tpy) primary aluminum smelter at New Madrid, Mo., and layoff 308 workers. Other primary aluminum production facilities affected by the coal strike included the Aluminum Company of America plant at Evansville, Ind. which shut down half of one potline; the Eastalco Aluminum Co., smelter at Frederick, Md., which cut production by 7 percent; and the National-Southwire Aluminum Co. plant at Hawesville, Ky. which cut production by 6 percent. Alumax, Inc. announced that construction had started on a 91,000 tpy potline at the Eastalco primary aluminum smelter. The new potline will be owned 65 percent by Alumax and 35 percent by Mitsui & Co. Ltd. Howmet Aluminum Corp., which currently owns 50 percent of the existing 176,000 tpy facility, has the option of becoming a 50 percent owner of the third potline in 1982. Construction of the new line was scheduled to be completed in 1980.

Jan 1, 1978

Domestic Production and Use: In 1976, 12 companies operated 31 primary aluminum reduction plants, with 3 firms accounting for 63% of production capacity. Washington, Oregon, and Montana accounted for 36% of the total production; Gulf Coast States 19%, Northern States 29%, and other Southern States 16%. Based on published producer prices output of primary metal in 1976 was valued at $3.8 billion. Aluminum consumption by 25,000 firms was centered in the East Central United States. Of aluminum consuming industries in 1976 building accounted for about 25%; packaging 22%; transportation 19%; electrical 13%; , consumer durables 8%; and other uses, 13%.

Jan 1, 1977

By Kenneth L. Cook

From March 1944 to July 1945 the Division of Geophysical Exploration of the Federal Bureau of Mines made magnetometer surveys of some of the principal iron ore deposits of the Iron Springs district, Iron County, Utah. The district comprises a belt about 23 miles long and 3 miles wide. Most of the large ore bodies are found as pods of replacement ore within a favorable limestone bed lying at the margins of three separate igneous intrusions in the district The magnetic surveys were confined chiefly to this geologically favorable zone at the margins. The iron ore is a mixture of magnetite and hematite. The magnetite content of the ore ranges from 14 to 58 percent. Magnetic anomalies of 1,250 gammas or more were usually found over the near-surface ore bodies. About 62,000 magnetometer stations were taken over a total traverse distance of about 300 miles. Outcropping ore bodies were surveyed to determine, insofar as was possible from the magnetic data, their probable length, width, depth, extent, strike, dip, and tonnage. Geologically favorable areas where no ore is exposed were explored in an endeavor to find new ore bodies. Favorable locations were determined for exploratory diamond drilling, both in areas of exposed ore bodies and in areas of newly discovered magnetic anomalies. Forty-five separate magnetic anomalies that indicate the possible existence of ore bodies were observed. Of these, 13 anomalies are caused by outcropping ore bodies of proved commercial size. Five are caused by non-outcropping ore bodies of proved commercial size which were discovered, in whole or in part, as a result of the geophysical surveys. Of the remaining anomalies, which lie in virtually un-tested areas where few or no ore bodies are exposed, six probably are caused by large, unexposed replacement ore bodies, nine are possibly caused by large, unexposed replacement ore bodies, and six are probably caused by unexposed magnetite veins of some small commercial importance,

Jan 1, 1949

This report describes Phase I of the project --Development of a Mechanized Scaler --performed by Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratories for the U.S. Bureau of Mines. The objectives of Phase I were to 1) assess the needs of the industry as related to mechanized scaling; 2) conceive, evaluate and select mechanized scaler concepts; and 3) prepare preliminary designs of the selected machine concepts. To assess the scaling needs of the industry, we reviewed both U.S. and foreign literature, evaluated U.S. scaling accident statistics, reviewed existing mechanized scaling equipment, performed a series of mine visits and telephone interviews with mine operators, and assessed the applicability of a loose-rock detection system. The literature review identified over 25 scaler-related articles. However, little of the information could be used directly in the conceptualization and design portions of the project. Three articles did supply information on a number of machines used in Europe, along with statistics describing their effect on mine safety. For example, the French reported a 50% reduction in the total number of scaling-related accidents and a full 80% reduction in the number of lost-time injuries in the Lorraine mining district.

Jan 1, 1981