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By K. G. Philo, R. C. W. Webber-Youngman

mining, where data-driven decision making optimizes resource extraction, enhances safety, and ensures sustainability. The adoption of digital technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things has amplified the importance of digital information. However, the integrity and security of this information are paramount, leading to the exploration of blockchain technology as a potential solution for secure digital value exchange in mining. This research examines blockchain's capabilities, drawing insights from its applications in sectors like banking, government, healthcare, and entertainment, and evaluates their relevance to mining's core value chain processes. The study identifies blockchain's distributed ledger technology, cryptographic security, and decentralization as unique advantages that can revolutionize mining by enhancing transaction speed, reducing costs, and improving supply chain transparency and compliance with sustainability standards. Blockchain's transparent and auditable records can enhance business transparency, fostering trust among stakeholders, including investors and regulatory bodies. The technology's consensus mechanisms and smart contracts further promote trust in collaborative ventures. This research provides a foundational understanding for decision-makers in the mining industry to evaluate blockchain's feasibility and potential return on investment, guiding strategic planning and resource allocation for blockchain applications. By leveraging blockchain, mining companies can optimize operations, improve sustainability practices, and establish a robust foundation for future growth, positioning blockchain as a transformative technology in the sector

Jul 10, 2024

By Edward E. Johnson

The U.S. economy made significant progress in 1984. The current-dollar gross national product (GNP), the market value of the Nation's output of goods and services, increased almost 11 percent over that of 1983 to slightly more than $3.66 trillion (table 1), and the real gross national product increased almost 7 percent.2/ Such rapid growth in real GNP has not occurred since the early 1950's. Real final sales increased only 5 percent during 1984, and real business inventories increased $24.8 billion ($57.9 billion in current dollars). Total employment of 106.7 million was an all-time record, and the unemployment rate declined from 9.5 percent in 1983 to 7.4 percent in 1984. During 1984 the U.S. dollar showed great strength on international markets, contributing to large current-dollar negative net exports of goods and services (-$62.5 billion) and even larger negative net exports of merchandise (-$107.6 billion). The strong dollar and the substantial increase in net imports of goods and services helped reduce U.S. inflationary pressures and provided a major source of loanable funds for financing domestic private investment.

Jan 1, 1985

1. Domestic Production and Use: Twelve companies operated 31 primary aluminum reduction plants, three firms accounting for 66% of production. Washington, Oregon, and Montana accounted for 32% of the total production; Gulf Coast States, 25%; Northern States, 29%; and other Southern States, 14%. Output of primary metal in 1973 was valued at $2.2 billion. About 80% of the secondary recovery was from new aluminum base scrap and 20% was from old scrap. Aluminum consumption by 25,000 firms was centered in the East Central United States. Of aluminum consuming industries in 1972, building accounted for 28%; transportation 19%; electrical, 13%; packaging, 16%; and consumer durab1es, 10%.

Jan 1, 1974

By Charles W. Merrill

AN ADEQUATE, dependable, and continuing supply of raw materials is indispensable to tile the United States and its industries in meeting the needs of an expanding Population, a rising standard of living, and the national security. The primary responsibility for appraising the status of the country's mineral supply and for making appropriate recommendations within the executive branch and to the Congress has been pinned in the U.S. Department of the Interior. In fulfilling its role of governmental responsibility for raw-material supplies and their efficient utilization, the Bureau of Mines has analyzed the factors in current and future mineral supplies and demands and has developed 87 statements for specific commodities that assess the national position and problems for these metals, minerals, and mineral fuels. These statements, which constitute the chapters of this volume, are based on lire assumption that nearly till production and consumption of materials in the United States are to be by private individuals and organizations, in accordance with the Nation's devotion to a private-enterprise economy.

Jan 1, 1960

Jan 1, 1902

Workers at Anaconda Aluminum Company's primary aluminum smelter at Sebree, Ky., were back on the job December 1, after agreeing to a new 3-year contract. The old contract had expired November 15. On December 20, the Aluminum Company of America reportedly shut down a 42,000-ton-per-year potline at its Wenatchee, Wash., primary aluminum smelter and half of a 23,000-ton-per-year potline at its Vancouver, Wash., smelter as a result of a power cutback by the Bonneville Power Administration. A1 so in December, Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. reduced overall power at its Mead and Tacoma, Mash,, smelters and shut down one of eight 27,500-ton-per-year potlines at Mead. Reported shutdowns for the firms since September have amounted to 76,000 tons for Alcoa and 50,000 tons for Kaiser. Alcan Aluminum Ltd. announced plans to double the generating capacity at its Kemano hydroelectric power plant in British Columbia to 1,916 megawatts. The additional power would be equal to that required of a primary aluminum smelter with an annual capacity of 567,000 tons.

Jan 1, 1980

By Richard E. Chism

Jan 1, 1902

Lead Tariff.--The full House Ways and Means Committee approved H.R. 6089 which will have the effect of reducing the tariff on unwrought lead to 3% ad valorem, with a floor duty of 1.0625 cents per pound, compared with the currently effective rate of 3.5% ad valorem. Consideration is also being given to tariff rates on imports of red lead and litharge from Mexico. A consortium of domestic producers has appealed to the Office of the Special Trade Representative (STR) requesting a return to tariff schedules which were in effect prior to the concessions made effective on January 1. Mexican producers have filed a proposal in favor of lower duties, and the matter now awaits a ruling by the STR. Ferrous Scrap Exports.--After holding public hearings and receiving public comments in May, the Department of Commerce announced that it would not institute formal monitoring of ferrous scrap exports, as requested by the Ferrous Scrap Consumers Coalition. The Department said, however, that it would follow the trend of scrap exports and prices. Ferrous scrap prices are currently low and supplies are reported to be adequate.

Jan 1, 1980

By Jr. Sillers

To prove to .the satisfaction of all concerned that electrolytic manganese from our low-grade domestic ores could be substituted satisfactorily for ferro-manganese made from high-grade foreign fires, an extensive series of tests was conducted in cooperation with industry, in which electrolytic manganese pro-duced by, the Bureau of Mines at its Boulder City, Nev., Station was substituted for the ordinary ferro grades in the production of ferrous and nonferrous metals and alloys and welding-rod coatings. Over 1,200,000 pounds of manganese was given out for this purpose. The objectives of the tests were accomplished, and for some purposes electrolytic manganese was shown to be superior to other grades because of its high purity. The only serious objection that can be raised against electrolytic manganese is its price, which puts it out of reach for most purposes. Even if the price were to be lowered to a point where it would be in line with ferro grades, it is questionable whether electrolytic manganese from domestic ores could supply more than a small part of the needs of American industry because of the large volume of domestic ore that would have to be processed to supply a satisfactory feed for the electrolytic process. Thus, although electrolytic manganese is highly desirable from a metallurgical standpoint, it could not be expected to substitute for more than a fraction of our domestic manganese requirements.

Jan 1, 1952

Jan 1, 1882

By Ronald D. Rothchild

This report describes the results of a study of longwall ignition hazards and specific suppression systems to minimize each of the major hazards. The major ignition hazards were identified by conducting a literature search and conversing with knowledgeable individuals in the United States mining industry. Three classes of potential ignition suppression systems are discussed: triggered suppression systems for face ignition, passive suppression systems, and control of ignition hazard in the gob. The triggered suppression systems included protection for the shearer, head and tail gates, welding equipment, and the shearer power cable. Passive systems include improved ventilation and water sprays, and charges in the shearer head. Gob protection can be improved by isolating the gob from working areas and by introducting inerting agents into the gob.

Jan 1, 1976

LOCAL COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS. Major J. W. Powell, Chairman; F. P. Dewey. Secretary; S. F. Emmons, A. S. Hewitt, J. P- Hilgard, Charles Knap, and F. W. Taylor. THE opening session was held in the hall of the new National Museum, on Tuesday evening, February 21st. President Metcalf introduced General W. T. Sherman, one of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, who read the following address: ADDRESS OF GENERAL SHERMAN. MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN : I have been invited to meet you here this evening to extend to you the cordial greeting of the regents of the Smithsonian Institution, and to assure you that they are most happy to have it in their power to place at your disposal this beautiful hall, dedicated to science and art. This National Museum is the property of the United States, of which the regents of the Smithsonian are simply the custodians, and the board has delegated to its secretary, Professor Baird, the right to extend its use to the National Academy of Sciences and like kindred societies, among which we are glad to class the Institute of Mining Engineers. It is eminently fit that you should meet here at this, the nation's capital, under a roof partly your own, devoted to natural sciences, and in the shadow of the Smithsonian, founded for the exclusive purpose of collecting and diffusing knowledge among men. Of all the workers employed on earth no single class seem to me more worthy the respect of their fellows than those who seek beneath the surface for the useful minerals and metals which contribute so largely to the wealth and comfort of mankind. In no branch of human industry does intelligence come so immediately in contact with labor. To the mining engineer chemistry, mineralogy, and geology are as reading, writing, and arithmetic to the merchant;

Jan 1, 1882

By Otto L. Schumacher

The Overthrust Belt in portions of Montana, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming, an area that has contributed generously to the Nation's mineral supply, is one of the few remaining oil and gas frontiers on the North American continent. Determination of the oil and gas potential and development of mineral resources of the area have been affected by a variety of land withdrawals and other restrictions, The purpose of this study is to determine the extent of these withdrawals and restrictions and to discuss the mineral resource potential within the study area. Statistics in this report refer to land status on January 1, 1979. At that time, of the 27.3 million acres of Federal mineral lands within the study area, applications tor Federal oil and gas leases for more than 4,4 million acres (about 16 percent) were pending; the average length of time was 2 years. Federal oil and gas leases covering 8.8 million acres were also on record. Although drilling has occurred on some of these leases, others are subject to restrictions that discourage or prevent development. Some in fact contain stipulations disallowing any development.

Jan 1, 1981

1. Domestic Production and Use: In 1983, 12 companies operated 27 primary aluminum reduction plants, with 4 firms accounting for 65% of production. Washington, Oregon, and Montana accounted for 35% of the production; Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia 35%; Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, and North Carolina 14%; other central States 16%. Based on published producer prices, output of primary metal in 1983 was valued at over $5.7 billion. Aluminum consumption by 25,000 firms was centered in the East Central United States. Packaging accounted for an estimated 37% of domestic consumption in 1983, transportation 19%, building 17%, electrical 9%, consumer durables 8%, and other uses 10%.

Jan 1, 1984

Arsenic.--Inorganic arsenic has been added to the Environmental Protection Agency's list of hazardous air pollutants because of a high probability it can cause cancer. EPA estimates that inorganic arsenic emissions into ambient air total more than 6,000 tons per year, with about 65;L of this coming from the operations of copper, lead, and zinc smelters. Asbestos Detection.--In June 14, the President signed S. 1658 providing $172.5 million to detect and remove asbestos hazards in schools. Asbestos Use Must be Reported.--All firms using asbestos in the manufacture of some 30 categories of products must describe in detail how they use the mineral to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, for all manufactures since January 1, 1977.

Jan 1, 1980

By Larry Mirabelli, David Lilly

In 1777, the French naturalist, Georges Louis Leclerc, Compte de Buffon developed a statistical technique to estimate the width between two parallel lines by randomly throwing a needle at the two lines and counting the number of times the needle intersected one of the two lines. By knowing the length of the needle, the distance between the parallel lines could be estimated. This analysis was named the “Buffon’s Needle Problem”.

Jan 1, 2008

The value of processed materials of mineral origin was estimated to have exceeded $297 billion in 1991. U.S. raw non fuel minerals production in 1991 was estimated at $30.8 billion, a 5.8% decline from that in 1990. This estimate was based on data for the first quarter of 1991 (in some cases two quarters) for most of the 21 minerals that for many years have accounted for more than 95% of the industry's production value. The value of minerals production has increased in all but 4 of the last 30 years. The metals component of production value has fluctuated much more than the industrial minerals component, reflecting the greater volatility of metal prices. Employment in metal mining rose slightly in 1991, but this gain was more than offset by a decline in employment in industrial mineral mining, resulting in an overall decline of 3.0% to 164,600 workers in 1991. Prices of several major metals declined during 1991, reflecting weakness in the economy, causing some metal mines to shut down or reduce operations.

Jan 1, 1992

By H. C. Fowler

Technical developments in the American petroleum industry as regards exploration, drilling, production, and transportation were characterized by many anomalous conditions during the half decade 1914-19. A review of the literature of that period discloses the striking fact that individual geologists, engineers, and other technologists were surprisingly well versed concerning the occurrence of natural hydrocarbons and methods of extracting them and were acquainted with many of the physical and chemical characteristics that influence the behavior of fluids in natural reservoirs. However, the industry as a whole knew little of the correct application of recognized fundamentals; indeed, judged by present standards certain expediencies of self-styled "practical' operators seem cumbersome, if not evidences of ignorance.

Jan 1, 1941

Antitrust Investigation Dropped. - The Department of Justice announced that it was dropping its 5-year investigation of the aluminum industry. The investigation was over whether the aluminum companies were acting as if they were a shared monopoly. Deep Seabed Mining. - The Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has established an Office of Ocean Minerals and Energy which will be responsible for implementing the Deep Seabed Nard Minerals and Energy Act and the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Act. It will establish licensing and regulatory programs.

Jan 1, 1980

By A. J. Kraemer, H. M. Thorne

The following account of oil-shale operations in Australia is based upon infor- mation obtained by the authors while visiting Australia from September 15 to October 7, 1947, supplemented by published data, and augmented by analyses of samples of oil shale and its products at the Oil-shale Research and Development Laboratories of the Bureau of Mines at Laramie, Wyo. The primary objective of the authors' trip to Australia was to obtain, first hand, information regarding the equipment and methods used by National Oil Proprie- tary, Ltd., at Glen Davis, New South Wales, in mining oil shale, extracting oil from it, and refining the shale oil. This company was operating the only oil-shale plant that had been active in Australia since 1945. The plant comprised an oil-shale mine, 104 modified Pumpherston (Fell) retorts in 2 batteries, a hele refinery, and a 3-inch gusoline pipeline to the railroad loniing terminal t Sun Junction, 30 miles away. There were, also, the usual and necessary any uralities, such as a power house, mechanical shops, offices, and laboratories One Information regarding the company's operations was wance because of its bear- Ing upon the synthetic liquid fuels program of the Bureau of Mines, pursuant to the Synthetic Liquid Fuels Act of April 5, 1944 (30 U.S.C., 321-325, as amended). objective of the Bureau's program. In accordance with the maniate of the Act, is to furnish American industry cost and engineering data necessary for the development of synthetic-liquid fuel industry, and an obvious means of obtaining some of these data is to learn how oil shale is being mined and retorted and how shale oil is re- rined in countries where these operations have been conducted on a plant scale for many years. The authors spent 2 weeks at the plant of National Oil Proprietary, Lt., at Glen Davis, and were afforded every opportunity to obtain letailed and specific information regarding all aspects of the company'a operations.

Jul 1, 1951