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By E. G. Baglin

As part of an effort to decrease U.S. dependence on imports of critical and strategic metals, the Bureau of Mines investigated three leaching methods for extracting the base metals and recovering platinum-group metals (PGM) from matte prepared from Stillwater Complex flotation concentrates. Because of a limited supply of natural material, synthetic matte of composition similar to matte prepared from natural concentrates was used to devise the extraction sequences. The validity of the sequences was verified with matte prepared from Stillwater concentrates. In two-stage matte leaching, first-stage H2S04 leaching extracted 99 pct of the nickel and iron from the matte but negligible amounts of copper and PGM. Second-stage oxidative leaching with Fe2(S04)3 or FeC13 solubilized more than 98 pct of the copper and no precious metals. Sequential leaching, in which acid and oxidizing lixiviants were added sequentially to the matte without an intervening filtration step, extracted 99 pct of the Fe, Ni, and Cu. A roasting-leaching technique, in which the residue from first-stage leaching was roasted between 360° and 500° C before a second leaching with H2S04, solubilized 98 pct of the copper. The three leaching methods yielded high-grade PGM residues containing more than 98 pct of the PGM in the matte.

Jan 1, 1982

By P. M. Daling

This report, sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of Mines, presents the results of an examination of available safety assessment methods and their applicability to the mining industry. Standard safety analysis procedures were evaluated for relevance to the mining industry and mine operators' needs. The major safety concerns and needs of mine operators were identified through telephone contacts and a visit to a mine site. Safety assessment methods recommended for use by the mining Industry were also Investigated for potential adaptability to a user-interactive computer system. Several methods were determined to be immediately transferrable to the mining industry; these techniques are described in a user's handbook produced as part of this project. The handbook gives detailed instructions on appropriate application and utilization of these methods. Other techniques will require further development before they can be effectively transferred to the mining industry. These methods, their advantages, disadvantages and resource requirements are described in the final project report. Recommended system safety analysis techniques facilitate an evaluation of total mine system safety and a determination of safety-related interactions among systems within a mine. The application of these methods to the mining industry could result in reductions in both the frequency and the consequences of mine accidents.

Jan 1, 1983

By Warren E. Morrison

Stimulated by 4 years of continuous economic growth without inflation, demand for energy in the United States reached an alltime high in 1964. Total value of production of goods and services (gross national product--GNP) for the year was $629 billion, an increase of 6.8 percent from 1963. Allowing for price changes based on 1958 dollars, the gain in real terms was 5 percent. In 1964 the Federal Reserve Board Index of Industrial Production stood at 132, a rise of 6.2 percent. With the impetus provided by personal income and corporate tax reductions during the year, aggregate wages, profits, and consumption reached record levels. Even the persistent balance of payments problem improved. Against this background the national consumption of commercial energy increased 4.2 percent. Energy needs continued to be met largely from domestic resources with imports, mainly crude petroleum and refined petroleum products, accounting for but 7 percent of the total. Mineral energy resources, namely gas, coal, and petroleum, contributed 96 percent of the input of energy into the economy during the year. The remaining 4 percent came from hydropower and nuclear power.

Jan 1, 1965

By J. D. Ramsdell

To obtain information on the effects of cobalt on microstructure and tensile properties of titanium-vanadium-cobalt alloys, the composition ranges of 4 to 16 percent vanadium with 1 to 4 percent cobalt have been studied. The beta phase was not completely retained with vanadium additions up to 16 weight-percent or in the same alloys containing up to 4 percent cobalt.

Jan 1, 1960

By C. A. Herbert

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 1932, there were 27 fatalities in the coal mines of Indiana. Four of this number occurred in small mines employing less than 10 men, over which the State Inspection Department has no jurisdiction. In addition to these coal mine fatalities, an explosives accident in a clay mine resulted fatally to one man. Tables 1 and 2, which follow, list the fatalities as to cause and occupation. Table 1. - Fatal accidents by cause, fiscal year ended September 30, 1932 [ ]

Jan 1, 1933

By Jeffrey A. Aldinger

This U.S. Bureau of Mines report presents an analysis of surface coal mining accidents involving mobile equipment for the years 1989 through 1991. Mobile equipment is defined as haulage trucks, front-end loaders, bulldozers, scrapers, and road graders. These five pieces of mining equipment accounted for 20 pct of all surface coal mine accidents and 41 pct of the fatalities. The general discussion of these accidents covers the accident causes, the primary activity of the accident victims, and other contributing factors. A more detailed analysis of accidents associated with each piece of mobile equipment is also provided. This report will provide mine managers and mine safety personnel with a better understanding of the hazards associated with mobile mining equipment. It identifies where improvements in mobile equipment safety can be made and those areas requiring additional safety emphasis, such as safety training, work procedure changes, or engineering changes to the equipment or work environment. The analysis was performed by a team of researchers using accident data and narratives provided by the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Jan 1, 1995

By Chas. F. Jackson

The work of the Mining Division is divided among seven sections, each in charge of a supervising engineer, as follows: 1. Metal-mining methods section, the supervising engineer of which is also supervising engineer of the Southwest Experiment Station at Tucson, Ariz. 2. Metal-mining research section. 3. Nonmetal-mining section. 4. Coal-mining section. 5. Mine-ventilation section. 6. Mineral-industries survey section. 7. Electrical section. The names of the sections indicate broadly the fields covered by each, and in the following, pages the objectives and type of work of each section will be summarized briefly and their active problems listed. The work clone during the fiscal year 1937 will also be summarized.

Jan 1, 1937

By Paul S. Goodman

This report examines the feasibility of Employee Assistance Plans for the coal industry. Three issues are examined in detail. First, the prevalence of off-the-job factors such as alcoholism, drug abuse, and marital problems are examined in a sample of miners from the eastern, midwestern, and western underground coal fields. Then data were presented that examined the link between these off-the-job factors and behaviors critical to the mines such as absenteeism and turnover. Lastly, we examined the effectiveness of the major Employee Assistance Program in underground coal mining--the HELP Program. The report contains recommendations on whether coal mining companies should implement these programs and how these programs should be designed.

Jan 1, 1986

By William M. Knuth

This study involved a review of bonding and bond release practices in the states of the Eastern and Midwestern Coal Provinces. Data was collected from regulatory authorities and site visits to document the bonding and release procedures in the states related to achieving successful reclamation. The regulations related to PL95-87 were reviewed. The analysis included suggested modified or new bond release criteria, a review of applicable bond release inspection techniques was prepared, a conceptual graduated bonding system and incentive procedures for reclamation of surface mine sites to alternative or higher land uses. A number of conclusions and recommendations for further research were included. A detailed bibliography and a glossary are included in the report.

Jan 1, 1978

By P. M. BIDDISON, G. G. Oberfell, George A. Burrell

The Bureau of Mines is conducting a series of investigations, with a view to ascertaining the most efficient methods of obtaining gasoline from petroleum and natural gas. This report deals with a method of extracting gasoline from natural gas by absorbing the gasoline in oil and subsequently separating it from the oil by distillation. The process is quite different from those of compression and condensation which have been used for a number of years for extracting gasoline from casing-head natural gas, and has not heretofore been described in the literature. MANUFACTURE OF GASOLINE FROM CASING-HEAD GAS. The extraction of gasoline from casing-head natural gas by compression and condensation methods has become a large and lucrative industry in this country. In the year 1915 about 65,000,000a gallons of gasoline prepared by these methods was placed on the market. In addition, in marketing this gasoline, at many plants an equivalent quantity of naphtha was blended with the gasoline, thereby utilizing for automobile fuel and other purposes a large quantity of naphtha that otherwise would have been unsuited for these purposes. The increase for the year 1915 over 1914 was about 22,000,000 gallons. For the year 1916 the production should be more than 100,000,000 gallons. The quantity of casing-head gas treated in the year 1915 by compression and condensation methods amounted to about 24,000,000,000 cubic feet; the average yield of gasoline was 2.57 gallons per 1,000 cubic feet. b This casing-head gas represents natural gas that formerly went largely to waste; hence the process represented a distinct and important step in the utilization of the natural gas produced in this country.

Jan 1, 1917

By S. J. Rodgers

MSA Research Corporation, Division of Mine Safety Appliances Company, was awarded a contract to conduct a survey of past and present methods used to control respirable dust in noncoal mines and ore processing mills. The survey covered information reported in mining journals, and U.S. Bureau of Mines Circulars, dust inspection reports, on-site evaluation of dust control methods and systems, and contact with manufacturers of dust control equipment. Both surface and underground mining operations were visited. Fifty mines and 51 processing plants were included in the survey. Dust control methods for the following types of ores or mines were studied: [ ]

Jan 1, 1974

By J. D. Noll

Elemental carbon (EC) is used as a surrogate for regulating the exposure to diesel particulate matter (DPM) of underground metal/non-metal miners. EC was chosen as a surrogate because EC is selective to DPM and is a major component of DPM. Using EC as a surrogate also gives one the advantages of no sampling artifacts and being able to sample at all locations in the mine. Currently, EC represents DPM well in underground mines. Some control technologies have been shown to possibly alter the relationship between DPM and EC and characteristics of DPM. Therefore, future work will investigate the relationship between DPM and EC as new control technologies are implemented.

Jan 1, 2002

Develop tools that mine personnel can use to comply with 30 CFR,Part 47. Background The new MSHA rule, 30 CFR, Part 47 (also known as the HazCom rule), requires all mines to develop a written program to track hazardous chemicals at their sites. More specifically, the rule requires that mines list all chemicals and determine which are hazardous; develop a written Hazard Communication Program; label all containers used to store hazardous chemicals; obtain or develop Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for all chemicals stored or produced; provide miners with training in working around hazardous chemicals; and make information about hazardous chemicals available to all workers. All mines with six or more employees must have complied with the new rule by September 23, 2002, and mines with five or fewer employees will have to be in compliance by March 21, 2003.

Mar 1, 2003

By F. E. Joyce

This paper describes the development of a process for producing manganese and iron pellet concentrates from low-grade manganiferous iron ores of the Cuyuna range by a two-stage sulfatization-reduction roast. First, the manganese minerals (7.5 percent manganese) were converted to water-soluble manganese sulfate by roasting in sulfur oxide gases at 700° C, then, the hematitic iron minerals (31 percent iron) in the hot sulfatized are were reduced to magnetite with simulated reformed natural gas in the temperature range of 350° to 425° C. Batch tests were made in a 3-inch-ID by 6-inch-long, gas-heated, stainless steel retort, and continuous countercurrent experiments were performed in a 2-inch-ID by 10-foot-long, electrically heated shaft furnace. Manganese sulfate was removed from the roasted product by leaching with water, and over 90 percent of the manganese was recovered in an oxide product (65 percent manganese) obtained by precipitation, drying, and thelmal decomposition of the sulfate. An iron oxide concentrate (60 percent iron) with an iron recovery of 75 percent was obtained from the water-insoluble residue by magnetic separation.

Jan 1, 1973

By R. Lincoln

A surplus of vanadium has resulted from the tremendous output of uranium, of which vanadium is a byproduct. More knowledge of the properties and characteristics of vanadium as a pure metal has been needed so that industry can take advantage of its availability and use it according to the best principles of conservation. Besides the problem of utilization, there is the ever present need of finding new materials which will satisfy specific and demanding requirements of science and engineering; vanadium or one of its alloys may possess the latent potential for filling some of these needs. Thus this? research project was undertaken by the Bureau of Mines to determine and examine some of the physical and mechanical properties of pure vanadium. A corallary investigation was the determination of the effect of the interstitial contaminants, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon, on unalloyed vanadium. The vanadium used for these determinations was principally the product of experimental production of the Bureau. The evaluation of this material, as small quantities became available, provided most of the data that have been obtained.

Jan 1, 1962

By M. M. Fine

Research on the solid-fuel reduction of Knob Lake iron or was conducted to upgrade lean and high-grade ores and recover metallized products suitable for ironmaking or steelmaking. The program included bench-scale tests plus a number of continuous campaigns in a 34-inch by 36-foot rotary kiln. In the laboratory, metallizations in excess of 90 percent were achieved by reduction of crushed ore with lignite at 950° C. Subsequent grinding (to minus 200 mesh) and wet magnetic separation yielded concentrates analyzing less than 3.0 percent SiO2 and more than 90 percent Fe. Virtually complete recovery of the iron occurred. During early continuous tests the crushed ore created a serious ringing in the kiln which was solved by balling the fines with bentonite. Unfortunately, at this temperature (950° C) the bentonite militates against the concentratability of the metallized product. For example, a run on direct-shipping ore produced concentrates of 89.5 percent Fe and 4.5 percent SiO2. At 500° C the adverse effect of bentonite disappeared and concentrates of 88.4 Fe and only 2.5 percent SiO2 resulted. However, with comparable feed r Los, the metallization dropped to 73 percent.

Jan 1, 1969

By Rimas Pakalnis, Tom Brady, Lewis Martin

A major focus of ground control research presently being conducted by the Spokane Research Laboratory of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is to incorporate weak rock masses (such as are associated with operations in the Carlin Trend in Nevada) into existing design relationships. The original database that led to most of the empirical design relationships presently employed in hard-rock mining was derived from fair-to-good-quality rock. In this study, the relationship between weak rock quality and opening design (nonentry/entry methods) is being investigated. The common factor in all mines is a weak back or wall. This work attempts to provide tools that will enable a mine operator to make economic decisions that will also ensure a safe working environment.

By Max F. Lee, Warren A. Peck

The applicability of the Q-system [Barton et al. 1974] to Australian underground metal mines is discussed with reference to two common design issues: ground support for horizontal mine development, and assessing the stability of bored raises. Installed ground support in mine development is com-pared to empirical estimates using the Q-system and associated support capacity calculations. Data are graphically presented from 59 specially selected sites at 15 contributing mines. The actual performance of large-diameter raise-bored shafts is also compared to empirical stability assessments using a modified version of Q (Qr, after McCracken and Stacey [1989]). Lower-bound Qr values are plotted against raise diameter for 47 selected sites at 23 mines in Australia and Papua New Guinea. The influence on Q and Qr of some geotechnical aspects of the Australian landscape, the dynamic nature of mines (compared to civil construction), and occupational health and safety regulations are discussed. Stability and support assessments that are based just on Q or Qr are not always conclusive. It is often necessary to consider other rock mass parameters, the regulatory environment, and risk issues. These results are interim; further data collection and analysis are required with regard to comparing actual performance versus empirical assessments.

Jan 5, 2007

By Peter Grandone, Ludwig Schmict

The injection of oil-field brimJs into subsurface formations containing mineralized water ·now is .recognizud as the most satisfactory and effective means of disposal in Kansas.· Other disposal ·methods, such as impounding brines in evapOTation nonds and controlled diversion into surface streams, have not prov-ed entirely successful, principally. because the volumes of brine to be disposed of were large, the soil f;?xtr~~mely porous, the net evaporation is low, and the rairiiall insufficient fc)r adequati.:~ dilution of the brine. The disposal of brine by subsurfaCE) inj'ection is often: more. expensive than by either of the above surface methods; nevertheless, surface dis:pos?,l ow.ing to the damaging effe-c.ts of· salt water to plant, animal and aquatic life and to potable water supplies has been:a long-continuing problem with many technical, economic, and 'legal·complexiti,2s

Aug 1, 1943

By J. W. Thompson

LIMESTONE DEPOSITS. Limestone deposits that have not been demonstrated to be of such quality as to give them any substantial value over other limestone deposits of the same region, are not regarded as minerals. Gray Trust Co., In re, 47 Land Decisions 18, p. 20. OIL AS A MINERAL. Oil is a mineral substance and its removal will greatly impair the value of the land from which it is removed. Texas & Pacific Coal & Oil Co. v. Howard. Southwestern 735, p. 737. Tex. Clv. App. 212 OIL AND GAS AS MINERALS OWNERSHIP. Oil and gas are minerals and so long as they remain in place they belong to the owner of the land under which they are found and such owner has the right to explore for the oil and gas on or under his land and when found to remove and possess the same. Kimbley v. Luckey, Okla. - 179 Pacific 928, p. 831. OWNERSHIP OF MINERALS LACHES NO BAR. The owner of minerals in land can not be barred by laches for failing to assert his ownership where his title had not been ques- tioned and his right invaded. No lapse of time bars one's right to property and it is only in case his right has been invaded that it can be barred by laches.

Jan 1, 1920