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By Robert H. Ridgway

This circular outlines salient facts regarding the manganese-ore industry in the United States and the world. It is founded chiefly upon published information available in the literature of the subject. The Bureau of Mines has in its files additional, more detailed data upon many of the topics presented very briefly here, and will endeavor to assist the mineral industries and public by giving further information in response to individual inquiries. The Bureau will welcome comments, criticisms, and contributions of data that may assist in making later additions of this circular more accurate, or in developing more fully its mineral files pertaining to manganese. In reporting the production of manganese-bearing ores in the United States the following classification has been adopted by the Bureau of Mines: (1) Metallurgical-grade ores, under which have been classified manganese ores containing 35 percent or more of manganese used in the manufacture of iron and steel, ferruginous manganese ore containing 10 to 35 percent of manganese, manganiferous iron ore containing 5 to 10 percent of manganese, and manganiferous zinc residuum; (2) battery ore; (3) fluxing ores, under which are classified ores that may contain a few ounces of silver and are rich enough in manganese to make them valuable chiefly for fluxing purposes in nonferrous smelters; and (4) miscellaneous ores, under which are classified the ores shipped to brick manufacturers, glass makers, and manufacturers of manganese chemicals.

Jan 1, 1933

By William C. Henkes

Anticipating the availability of space-altitude imagery from the Earth Resource Technology Satellites (ERTS), the Bureau of Mines investigated the possibilities of using suck imagery in its activities in solid waste disposal, reclamation of mine workings, and mineral resource inventory. The study indicates that monitoring open pit and strip-mining operations can be done using conventional techniques if the sharpness of the imagery is sufficiently high. Possibilities also exist for semi-automated processes for change detection. Additional experimentation is needed for multispectral discrimination and identification of mine-related phenomena.

Jan 1, 1971

The Technology Transfer Seminar on Mine Communications held on March 21-77, 1973, at the Pittsburgh Mining and Safety Research Center, Bruceton, Pa., presented information about recently developed equipment, instruments, and techniques for use in mine communications systems. All of the basic ideas presented in the fine seminar are operational in the Bureau of Mines Safety Research Mine in Bruceton.

Jan 1, 1974

By David Hoadley, Kenneth R. Maser, Ashok B. Boghani, James E. Billar, D. Randolph Berry, Mackenzie Burnett, Robert H. Trent

1, Introduction This report is submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of USBM Contract No. J0255017, "Development of Emergency Escape Systems Guidelines for Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mines" Under this contract the history of past mine fires was studied. Representative metal and nonmetal mines were surveyed and escapeways, refuge chambers, life support, and emergency hoist requirements were studied to determine the problems in complying with the proposed regulatory standards and their enforcement by MESA Mine Inspectors. In addition, a computer program was written to evaluate mine evacuation performance. The completed program is included in the appendix. 1. 1 Historical Review of Metal and Nonmetal Mine Fires Early records of mine fires are poorly documented because there was no statutory provision for reporting fires to the Bureau of Mines. The survey of representative mines during the course of this contract indicated that many small fires still go unreported even though they are now required to report all fires A recent report survey approximately 80 disasters in metal and nonmetal mines, (6 ) Table I is a summary of some of these fires. Historically most metal and nonmetal mine fires have been caused by electrical problems. Spontaneous combustion and the use of welding equipment are the other major causes of mine fires(14) Although not documented, many mine personnel agree that 30 percent to 40 percent of underground metal and nonmetal mine fires have their origin from cigarettes and other smoking related materials. The number of fires related to spontaneous combustion is decreasing and equipment fires are on the increase. The reduction of spontaneous combustion fires can be attributed to the use of sandfill in more mines and the increase in equipment fires to the increased use of LHD equipment.

Jan 1, 1976

By Paul Biggs

This Bureau of Mines report provides information on 138 waterflood projects in Wyoming. Injection was in 25 producing zones and 65 fields. Specific data presented include field location, discovery and development, water supply and injection, oil and water production, estimates of oil in place, and oil recoveries by primary and secondary methods. The 138 projects studied will, if successful, recover about 800 million barrels of secondary oil. Almost all of the injection water is from deep water wells.

Jan 1, 1970

By Willard L. Hunter

A series of steel heats, one low-alloy and nine carbon, was made by the Bureau of Mines in a 1-ton arc furnace from ferrous scrap from incinerated refuse, steel cans, and detinned steel cans, both alone and blended with heavy-melting scrap. Two additional control heats, one of carbon steel and one of low-alloy steel, were made from electric furnace heavy-melting scrap to pro-vide comparative data. The steel products were cast into two 4-by 4-inch nominal 50-pound ingots; in most heats, an 8-by 8-inch nominal 7S0-pound ingot was also obtained. Tests of these ingots indicated that reinforcing bars of acceptable quality can be made from urban refuse components such as steel cans.

Jan 1, 1976

By R. V. Subramanian

This project financed by the Bureau of Mines investigated the use of polymers to achieve rock bonding and reinforce coal mine structures for better or permanent ground support. Support was achieved by pumping the polymers into the rock interstices to bond the mass together for increased structural competence. Holes were drilled in the mine roof, after which the polymers were injected at about 100 psi to permeate the cracks. Initial laboratory work indicated that of all the resin systems tested, the epoxy resins could most likely be modified to be suitable for rock injection. This was confirmed when several potentially suitable resin systems underwent intensive evaluation. In a series of three field tests, two conducted in a copper mine with coal mine-type shale and the third in a coal mine, it was shown that the polymers penetrated cracks less than 0.005 inch wide. The fast-setting epoxy systems, cured out in thin films under mine conditions, produced a bond exceeding the strength of the uncracked virgin rock.

Jan 1, 1974

By William H. King

The Mercur Dome mine is in the Camp Floyd mining district, Tooele County, Utah (fig. 1). The property lies between 6,000 and 8,000 feet altitude on the southwesterly slope of the Oquirrh Mountains, a short distance west of Mercur, the district settlement. Mining began in the Mercur area in 1870. Operations at the Mercur Dame mine were started in 1937 after several claims had been consolidated into one group. Preliminary examination of the ground by F. H. Gunnell, a Bureau of Mines engineer, disclosed the presence of vanadium in a carbonaceous shale horizon. Rocks near the Mercur Lame property are chiefly sediments of Carboniferous age, including the Madison and Deseret limestones. The main shaft penetrates the Deseret formation to a point a few feet above the 1,000-foot level where it enters the Madison limestone. The flat-lying vanadiferous shale horizon is exposed on the 1,000-foot level near the top of the Madison limestone. The Bureau of Mines development program, consisting of diamond drilling, auger hole drilling, and sampling, was planned to determine the extent and assay value of the vanadiferous bed. Seven diamond-drill holes totaling 300 feet were drilled from the 1,000-foot level of the mine. Eight hand auger holes were drilled in the back of the drift on this level (fig. 2). Assay determinations were made on 74 samples from the drill holes and supplemental channel samples and are tabulated in this report. The concluding section embodies results of metallurgical tests.

Jan 1, 1949

By J. A. Herdlick

The Star mine, near Neihart, Cascade County, Mont., has been in continuous operation since the construction of a 50-ton bulk flotation mill in 1939. The mine was examined by G. N. Bennett, an engineer of the Bureau of Mines, in November 1942. At that time the life of the operation appeared to be limited and a program of crosscutting and core drilling were recommended. The program had as its objective the investigation of a promising undeveloped area lying west of the Star vein and, if possible, the development of enough reserves in this area to insure continuous operation during the war emergency. Development of additional reserves would then justify necessary changes in the mill in order to eliminate the heavy penalties imposed for excess zinc in the bulk concentrates. The Bureau of Mines work began in February 1944 and was completed in September 1944. The project was started by Wilder R. Brinton and continued by Thomas W. Oster, mining engineers in the Bureau's Montana district office. Beneficiation tests on are and concentrates were made after completion of the underground work. This report presents the factual data obtained during all phases of the Bureau's investigation.

Jan 1, 1949

By John Henderson

If you missed this year?s Texas State Holmes Safety Association meeting, you missed a great one. On January 23 & 24, 2009, we held the meeting that was rescheduled when Hurricane Ike threatened Corpus Christi in September 2008. Sixty-five persons from across the state attended the meeting held at the Holiday Inn Emerald Beach. The weather was 82 degrees, and the sky was clear and perfect for a safety meeting. Evaluations submitted by the attendees gave the presentations, the networking, and even the food top marks. There were eight councils represented; Big Country, Central Texas, Costal Bend, Heart of Texas, Hill Country, North Texas and North Central. Presentations included Workplace Examinations, Emergency Preparedness, Screen Safety, Contractor Responsibilities, Powered Haulage, Supervising for Safety, and Basic Inspections of Slings and Rigging. Mr. Edward Lopez, SC MSHA District Manager, gave the State of the District Address.

Feb 1, 2009

By M. J. Waller

Surface resistivity techniques were used at four field sites to monitor changes in apparent resistivities with variations in soil moisture content in the vadose zone. Apparent resistivity values were correlated with gravimetric moisture contents from soil samples taken at each site. Tensiometer readings were taken at two sites and correlated with the results of gravimetric moisture contents and apparent resistivities. Moisture at two of the sites was added by extensive watering; rainfall events were monitored at the other two sites. A recharge event at a dewatering program was monitored at a fifth site. A Ghosh-Koefed multi-layer computing algorithm was used to derive true resistivities from bulk or apparent resistivities. An automated data acquisition system was developed to measure resistivity changes and to process the data in the field. These studies are the first to evaluate measurement of moisture migration in clay rich soils using surface resistivity techniques. Results indicate that surface resistivity techniques readily measure changes in moisture contents in the vadose zone in clay rich soils. Correlation of apparent and true resistivity values with gravimetric moisture contents is more complex and requires additional research.

Jan 1, 1986

By Lewis M. McNay

Description of methods employed and cost data are given for surface-mined land reclamation in Moraine State Park, Butler County, Pa. This project was conducted under the authority of the Appalachian Regional Development Act; a total of 177 acres of land was rehabilitated for specific land use purposes. The use of large equipment expedited the project work, and similar results could be anticipated on similar reclamation programs.

Jan 1, 1970

By Stanton L. Tainter

When the disruption of gold mining stopped the usual source of siliceous flux needed by copper smelters , sandstone copper deposits in northern Arizona offered possibilities as a source of the flux during the war emergency . The Federal Geological Survey , while making a comprehensive survey of sandstone copper deposits , investigated the Warm Springs mining district in northcentral Coconino County in August 1943. A month later , J. H. Hedges , chief of the Tucson Division , Mining Branch , Bureau of Mines , examined the operations in connection with an application for an access road . Both investigations concluded that the district , as an emergency source of copper-bearing siliceous flux , had considerable merit , provided high prices for copper continued in effect . Early in 1944 , V. M. Ryan and S. B. Atherley requested assistance from the Bureau in exploring various deposits on their property . The Bureau / drilled 152 holes , aggregating 3,756 feet , on the Petoskey and Mackin groups of claims . This report is based upon churn drilling done under contract from October 7 to November 25 , 1944 .

Feb 1, 1947

By Robert E. Barieau

This report gives the principles of the method used by the Helium Research Center of the Bureau of Mines when solving nonlinear-regression problems and contains the mathematical equations necessary to accomplish the following objectives: the evaluation of the parameters in such a way that the sum of the weighted squares of the residuals of an experimental observable is a true minimum, regardless of the functional relationship between the variables and these parameters; and the evaluation of all variances and covariances of the parameters by means of the usual approximation of the law for the propagation of errors.

Jan 1, 1967

By Michael S. Miller

In 1985 and 1986, at the request of the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Bureau of Mines studied the 17,000-acre Pyramid Peak planning area in order to evaluate its identified mineral resources. The planning area is located in Riverside County, CA, 15 miles south of Palm Springs. The planning area contains marginally economic resources of marble and mica, subeconomic resources of garnet and occurrences of gold and tungsten. The area is underlain by marble, quartzite, schist, migmatite, intrusive rock, and a wide zone of intensely sheared rock. Quaternary stream, landslide, talus, and colluvial material overlie the older rocks. Ten claims for marble in or overlapping the southwest and southeast parts of the planning area are current (1986). Many other current claims are outside the planning area, adjacent to or within 2 miles of the southwest and southeast corners. Hundreds of millions of tons of inferred, marginally economic marble in and near the planning area may be mined for cement or lime after other developed resources near markets are depleted or if large-scale construction or other markets develop nearby.

Jan 1, 1987

By Albert E. Long

Preliminary experiments conducted in 1949 with a few diamond bits in which the diamonds in the bit crowns were set in hard-vector directions indicated that a substantial saving could be effected when a high percentage of the diamonds were oriented in this-manner. It was realized, however, that many additional tests would have to be performed before a positive trend could be established and the possibility of coincidence eliminated. Therefore, a long-range series of experiments was planned to investigate various phases of the problems related to the orienting of diamonds in diamond bits. This report (the third in a series) 2/3 presents the information obtained from tests conducted to investigate more fully the effects of orienting high-grade drill bort in diamond bit crowns. In these tests, the drill bort were oriented in both hard-vector and soft-vector directions in the crowns of AX-size bits. Test drilling was done in a dike of saussuritized dacite porphyry similar to a fine-grained granite in hardness e drillability.

Jan 1, 1954

By M. Hayashi

The Bureau of Mines conducted laboratory studies on low-grade vanadiferous silicates from the Pumpkin Buttes and Nine Mile Lake deposits of Wyoming to examine techniques for extracting vanadium and uranium. Recovery from low-grade sources such as these could contribute to future vanadium production and reduce reliance on vanadium imports. The Pumpkin Buttes samples contained 0.03 to 0.04 pct V205 and 0.06 to 0.12 pct U308; the Nine Mile Lake samples contained 0.02 to 1.0 pct V205 and 0.06 to 0.19 pct U308" Leaching the Pumpkin Buttes samples for 18 h at 800 C with addition of 200 lb/ton H2S04 resulted in recoverey of 80 pct of the vanadium contained in the samples. The Nine Mile Lake samples were readily leached, yielding 78 to 94 pct of the vanadium after 3 h at 800 C with addition of 100 lb/ton H2S04, A solvent extraction procedure was used to selectively recover urani-um from Pumpkin Buttes and Nine Mile Lake leach solutions and to recover vanadium from the raffinates. In batch shakeout tests, Alamine 336 recovered over 95 pct of the uranium from leach solution adjusted to pH 1. Di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid and Cyanex 272 recovered vanadium from the uranium raffinate after reduction and adjustment to pH 2; vanadium extractions of up to 96 pet and 92 pct, respectively, were achieved.

Jan 1, 1985

By J. P. Capp

The Federal Bureau of Mines and the Alabama Power Company conducted an experiment in underground gasification of coal at Gorgas, Ala. involving the use of hydraulic fracturing to increase the air acceptance of a coalbed for the introduction of combustion air and removal of product gases. Air acceptance is defined as the flow rate of air which can be injected into the coalbed at 65 p.s.i.g. This was the second time the hydraulic-fracturing technique was used at Gorgas. Sand suspended in a heavy oil served as the fracturing fluid in the first experiment; in the second the sand was two to six times larger and was suspended in a water-starch gel. In addition to providing further tests of the underground-gasification process, the purpose of the second experiment was to determine the effects of the larger sand and greater volumes of a water-base fluid on (1) the extent of the fractured area, (2) the air acceptance of the coal, and (3) the rate at which a gasification path could be carbonized (linked) through the coal, and to compare these results with those of the first experiment. The coal was fractured by injecting 11,000 lb. of sand and 33,580 gal. of water and water-gel at 200 to 600 g.p.m. and 900 to 1,000 p.s.i. The fluid fractured the coal and the sand served as a propping agent to hold the cracks and crevices open. Pressures during the fracturing operation at test boreholes indicated that the fracturing fluid extended only about 150 ft. from borehole H, the point of application of the fracture. Injection of air revealed that the air acceptance of the coalbed within this e t was materially increased. On the other hand, increased air acceptance also was noted at boreholes up to 280 ft. from borehole H and at the electrolinking area 300 to 400 ft. away, indicating that the fracture effects extended considerably farther than was evident from observation. Similar effects were noted at approximately the same distances after the first hydraulic fracture.

Jan 1, 1961

By J. J. Hoeppner

Accurate determination of moisture in coals of various ranks has long been a subject of intensive investigation. Excellent reviews of methods developed over many years are given by Brown (9)4/ and, with experimental comparisons, by Goodman, Gomez, and Parry (11). As pointed out in these and other writings, one of the principal difficulties in assigning absolute merit to one or another procedure is the multiplicity of conditions under which water may exist in coal and the difficulties involved in obtaining sharp separation and distinction between these classes. Gauger (10) states: Water recoverable from coal is obtained from the following sources: (1) Decomposition of organic molecules (sometimes called combined water), (2) surface adsorbed water, (3) capillary condensed water, (4) dissolved water, and (5) water of hydration of inorganic constituents of the coal.

Jan 1, 1956

By Oliver Bowles

A conviction is growing that depressions and other adverse conditions are not entirely unavoidable if a knowledge of past achievements and shortcomings is intelligently, applied in shaping the course of industry. Mineral producers have available a source of such knowledge concerning; their industry in the statistical records of the United States Bureau of Mines, and by scanning, this increasingly exact history can obtain information on which to found a more stable future. This paper contains a brief history, covering more than 50 years, of the activities of the nonmetallic mineral industries as a group, followed by short histories of each of the more important commodities in which are noted the circumstances that lave influenced their development.

Jan 1, 1933