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By Stephen Gerard Sawyer

This report presents a Fortran IV computer program for the structural analysis of space-frame protective canopies used in underground mines to protect equipment operators from falls of roof, face, or rib. This program entitled CANOPY permits rapid calculation of the elastic strength of a canopy for a variety of static loading conditions. Stresses in, and displacements of each structural member are computed and printed out. Additionally, identification of all members that have commenced yielding, weight of the canopy, total loads on the canopy, and maximum loads that the canopy can sustain elastically are output. Program description, input instructions, program listing, and two example problems are included.

Jan 1, 1972

By Jonathan E. Ludlow

A field test was conducted to demonstrate and quantify the relationship between deep cutting and the creation of airborne respirable dust for longwall mining With a double-ended ranging drum shearer. The testing program was carried out on the 3 North longwall of North American Coal Company's Quarto No. y mine in Claringten, Ohio. Continuous recordings of the dust levels were made at both the midface and tail ate areas. Data were collected during 27 shifts during which time 81 complete mining, cycles took place. Both drum speed and the number of picks per line were varied systematically during the testing program to alter the depth of cut while the production rate was held constant by maintaining a constant haulage speed. The test results indicated that at the midface position, airborne respirable dust was strongly dependent upon the depth of cut as influenced by both the drum speed and number of picks. Drum speed had a much stronger effect than number of picks over the experimental range, since a halving of drum speed reduced dust levels by approximately 60 percent while removal of every other vane pick resulted in only a 2.1 percent reduction at constant production. At the tailgate position, however, neither effect was strongly apparent. A tendency for the slower drum speeds to he associated with reduced power consumption and higher haulage speeds (and therefore production rates) was also noted. It is recommended that longwall operators oper¬ate at the lowest available drum speed wherever possible.

Jan 1, 1981

By George T. Faust

The petrographer engaged in examining the products resulting from the beneficiation of ores and rock minerals is constantly required to develop new means and methods of assaying microscopically the results of such operations. From time to time investigators have published descriptions of apparatus that have aided in solving problems in processes f physical separation. Thus, in 191.9, Coghill and Bonardi 31 published a paper covering the application of the binocular microscope and camera lucida to the microscopic analysis of pulverized ores. Similar work has been published by Schneiderhohn 4/, Schwartz 5/, and Head and his associates6/, 7/, 8/. The present paper goes further and considers application of the polarizing comparison-microscope to problems directly concerned with mineral dressing where it is desirable to compare analogous products, and in addition it suggests new uses in various related fields. This work was conducted under the cooperative agreements of the Southern Experiment Station of the Federal Bureau of Mines and. the University of Alabama.

Jan 1, 1940

By Edward M. Kawenski

Float dust deposits in return airways in bituminous coal and lignite mines present a special explosion hazard. Research is in progress at the Bureau of Mines experimental coal mine to evaluate the degree of the hazard and to develop measures for preventing dissemination of dust into the ventilating air current. To determine the extent of this hazard prevailing in operating coal mines, 711 dust samples were collected in 50 mines located in the major coal fields of the United States. The mean quantity of coal and the incombustible content of the dust in the samples were determined. The term "float dust" is used to designate particles smaller than 74 microns in diameter (particles passing a No. 200 sieve) which have settled from the air current. Dust usually found in roadways and in working places is coarser than float dust, and is termed "coarse dust" (particles passing a No. 20 sieve). Variations in amount and incombustible content of coarse dust in a midwestern mine were studied previously.5

Jan 1, 1963

By Maurice C. Fuerstenau

The kinetics of leaching galena with ferric chloride and ferric nitrate have been examined as a function of ferric concentration, salt concentration, temperature and particle size. Diffusivity of ferric complex ions was also established as a function of ferric chloride concentration and temperature. In the presence of 3 M NaCl, leaching rate is controlled by product layer diffusion when ferric chloride is added as oxidant. With NaCl concentrations less than 3 mole/liter rate decreases with decreased NaCl concentration, and, thus, rate is apparently not controlled by product layer diffusion. It is suggested that rate is controlled by lead chloride solubility at the reaction interface under these conditions. When ferric nitrate is added as oxidant, leaching rate is limited by chemical reaction control. An electrochemical model is presented. Activation energies are 8.1 and 11.3 kcal/mol in the ferric chloride and ferric nitrate systems, respectively.

Jan 1, 1984

By R. H. Hiltz

One of the major hazards in underground coal mining is fire. The inherent hazard of fire is exaggerated by the nature of coal mining restricted areas, the highly combustible nature of coal itself, and a potential for explosive concentrations or dust and gas in the air it becomes imperative therefore to make every effort to eliminate the causes of fires, while providing the most effective means possible to control and extinguish those fires which may occur it has been demonstrated by prior work that the problem of control increases in proportion to the time necessary to institute control procedures. There are several areas of underground coal mining with obvious fire potential. Some of these, like belt heads, have reliantly undergone improvements in standby fire control devices Others, although having fire suppression systems available to them, have not received as complete a systematic study of their problems. Face machinery, particularly those without a water supply, falls in this latter category.

Jan 1, 1973

By Herbert Clark Hoover, Lou Henry Hoover

SINCE the Sixth Book has described the iron tools, the vessels and the machines used in mink, this Book will describe the methods of assaying1 ores; because it is desirable to first test them in order that the material mined may be advantageously smelted, or that the dross may be purged away and the metal made pure. Although writers have mentioned such tests, yet none of them have set down the directions for performing them, wherefore it is no wonder that those who come later have written nothing on the subject. By tests of this kind miners can determine with certainty whether ores contain any metal in them or not ; or if it has already been indicated that the ore contains one or more metals, the tests show whether it is much or little ; the miners also ascertain by such tests the method by which the metal can be separated from that part of the ore devoid of it ; and further, by these tests, they determine that part in which there is much metal from that part in which there is little. Unless these tests have been carefully applied before the metals are melted out, the ore cannot be smelted without great loss to the owners, for the parts which do not easily melt in the fire carry the metals off with them or consume them. In the last case, they pass off with the fumes ; in the other case they are mixed with the slag and furnace accretions, and in such event the owners lose the labour which they have spent in preparing the furnaces and the crucibles, and further, it is necessary for them to incur fresh expenditure for fluxes and other things. Metals, when they have been melted out, are usually assayed in order that we may ascertain what pro- portion of silver is in a centumpondium of copper or lead, or what quantity of gold is in one libra of silver ; and, on the other hand, what proportion of copper or lead is contained in a centumpondium of silver, or what quantity of silver is contained in one libra of gold. And from this we can calculate whether it will be worth while to separate the precious metals from the base metals, or not. Further, a test of this kind shows whether coins are good or are debased ; and readily detects silver, if the coiners have mixed more than is lawful with the gold ; or copper, if the coiners have alloyed with the gold or silver more of it than is allowable. I will explain all these methods with the utmost care that I can.

Jan 1, 1950

By Terry R. Neumann

During 1983, U.S. Bureau of Mines personnel examined mines, prospects, and mineralized zones to evaluate the mineral resources and potential of the Funeral Mountains Wilderness Study Area (WSA), Inyo County, California. Eleven mineral properties and two mineralized zones were examined during this study. Of these, six are within the study area and seven adjacent. There are no active mines, in the WSA, nor is there evidence of past production from any claim within the study area. The WSA contains no identified mineral resources. However, occurrences of bentonite, zeolites, and strontium were found in the area. There is little likelihood for resource development of any occurrence in the WSA. The area, in the Basin and Range Physiographic Province, is dominated by a Paleozoic marine sequence. Segments of Tertiary continental fluviolacustrine sediments, including volcaniclastic rocks, abut and overlie the Paleozoic rocks in fault controlled basin areas. Significant concentrations of bentonitic clay and zeolites occur as alteration products in Tertiary tuffaceous sedimentary rocks. However, they are generally low-grade, thin, and discontinuous, precluding commercial development. Limestone, quartzite, and sand and gravel in the area are suitable for many types of construction uses, but similar deposits outside the WSA are closer to markets. No energy resources have been identified in the WSA.

Jan 1, 1984

By Swades Kumar Chaulya, Vikash Kumar, Sushma Kumari, Naresh Kumar, Girendra Mohan Prasad, Monika Choudhary

Opencast mines are vulnerable to inclement weather conditions as it disrupts the day-to-day activities at these mines. To address the problem, a perceptive driving assistant system (PDAS) has been developed to increase the visibility of real-time video of the road in front of the vehicle for operators of heavy earth-moving machinery (HEMM) at opencast mines in harsh weather conditions.

Apr 1, 2023

By Edward M. Kawenski

Float dust deposits in return airways in bituminous coal and lignite mines present a special explosion hazard. Research is in progress at the Bureau of Mines experimental coal mine to evaluate the degree of the hazard and to develop measures for preventing dissemination of dust into the ventilating air current. To determine the extent of this hazard prevailing in operating coal mines, 711 dust samples were collected in 50 mines located in the major coal fields of the United States. The mean quantity of coal and the incombustible content of the dust in the samples were determined. The term "float dust" is used to designate particles smaller than 74 microns in diameter (particles passing a No. 200 sieve) which have settled from the air current. Dust usually found in roadways and in working places is coarser than float dust, and is termed "coarse dust" (particles passing a No. 20 sieve). Variations in amount and incombustible content of coarse dust in a midwestern mine were studied previously.

Jan 1, 1963

By H. E. Thomas

[The Bureau of Mines has conducted a field hydraulic fracturing experiment to determine the preferential orientation of induced fractures in oil shale at a depth of about 400 feet in the Green River Basin of Wyoming. The hydraulic fracturing treatment was performed by injecting extremely viscous water-base gel and 8- to 12-mesh sand into the oil shale through straddle packers set in an impermeable section of smooth-walled, 6-1/4-inch-diameter open hole. An impression packer proved that a horizontal fracture, which has an average width of about 1/2 inch at the borehole, was induced. A corehole drilled 100 feet from the fractured well intersected the fracture and confirmed its horizontal orientation. Because a horizontal fracture was successfully initi¬ated, it is inferred that the creation of multiple, closely spaced horizontal fractures may be feasible in Green River Basin oil shale.]

Jan 1, 1972

By Robert G. Lundquist

REAM (for Rapid Excavation And Mining) is a method of rock fragmentation by high-velocity projectile impact developed by Physics International Company. This paper reports the results of field testing over the last two years. The success of the method is based on the fact that the amount of rock broken per shot scales nonlinearly with projectile impact energy. Thus, high energy impact yields spectacularly low specific energies for rock breakage. The field work reported used 90- and 105-mm military guns to accelerate 8-1/2 and 10-pound concrete and steel projectiles to velocities of 5000 to 5500 fps. All tests were performed in a competent 25,000 psi granodiorite at Hope Valley, California. During the first year of field testing 26 feet of 13-foot-diameter tunnel were produced with the 105-mm gun. The first 20 feet of this tunnel were line-drilled to aid in producing a stable portal. During the second year the tunnel was extended an additional 29 feet using the 90-mm gun. The 55-foot tunnel was produced by 590 shots. Between 1-1/4 and 1-1/2 tons of granite were broken by each shot. A silenced 90-mm gun was placed underground and the tunnel portal closed with a steel barrier. Overpressures of less than 1 psi were measured on the inside of the barrier, corresponding to an impulse noise of about 170 db. The muck produced was similar to drill and blast muck. Overbreak and ground support problems appeared to be less than with drill and blast. The contour of the tunnel was easily controlled using the 90-mm gun; the tests were also conducted using a 57-mm gun for trimming. Projections indicate that advance rates with REAM will be three to seven times faster than drill and blast, at less than two-thirds the cost. This is based on the development of a fully integrated continuous system and an inexpensive propellant giving a total expendables cost of less than $3 per shot. Other applications of the REAM technology are found in secondary breakage for open pit mining, in drilling large diameter holes, and in underground mining for longwall mining, overhand stoping, and raising.

Jan 1, 1974

On April 1, 1982, the Bureau of Mines and the Department of Energy entered into an Interagency Agreement to develop an enhanced computer cost model for uranium in situ leach mining. The original computer cost model contained data base information related to two regions; the Wyoming basin region and the South Texas trend area. The enhanced cost model contains additional information on San Juan Basin type deposits. This addition is significant because it expands the model's capabilites to include one of the largest uranium producing areas in the United States and developes costs related to uranium production from in situ leach mining. The data base was expanded and modified to include changes necessary for San Juan basin type deposits. These changes included, but were not limited to, state and local taxes, royalty payments, depth of deposits, drilling costs, and electrical costs. Also site visits were taken to verify many of the base case parameters. Consequently, the data base has been incorporated into the computer program and existing software was modified to provide for the additional data. Information was obtained on drilling coats and therefore the current program more accurately reflects these costs to depths of 2500 feet. This depth parameter has been expanded to include Wyoming Basin and South Texas scenarios also. Verbal communications were held with one operator in the Crownpoint, New Mexico area as well as the state regulatory agencies to help validate the expanded model. As a result of these changes, several tables have been included, summarizing changes in the new default parameters and the overall range of input parameters.

Jan 1, 1982

By I. R. Kramer

I. R. Kramer (Martin Co.)—In a recent paper Nakada and Chalmers24 reported some observations of effects of surface conditions on the stress-strain curves of aluminum and gold single crystals. It is of interest to compare these observations with the results published previously in this journal and to comment on their general conclusions. In brief, Nakada and Chalmers concluded that the removal of the surface layer of a prestrained specimen lowered the stress-strain curve for aluminum but not that for gold. Further, they concluded that the surface work hardening of aluminum is confined to a depth not more than l0-3 cm. In our results25 published previously, it was pointed out that when prestrained specimens of aluminum and gold were polished to reduce the thickness upon reloading the initial flow stress decreased markedly. Further if a sufficient amount of metal was removed, the yield point failed to appear. With continued application of the load the stress-strain curve became coincident with that of the virgin crystal. We have found this behavior in some 100 determinations to hold consistently for gold, aluminum, and copper in both single and poly-crystalline specimens. The amount of strain required before the curves coincided depends upon the amount of metal removed but it is usually less than 0.01. This type of behavior is the same as that reported for metarecovery by other investigators.29 For aluminum specimens which have been prestrained and then heated to temperatures above 50°C we have consistently found that the stress-strain curve was typical of the orthorecovery28 type. In this case the stress-strain curve always lies below that of the virgin specimen. With respect to Ref. 24 the curves for aluminum are always below that of the virgin curves, while those for gold become coincident. This observation indicates at least for aluminum that the specimens must have been heated to a temperature high enough to cause recovery by an alteration of the internal dislocations. In addition, a recovery would be expected because of the removal of the surface work-hardened layer. Nakada27 had reported that, with his particular apparatus in which a perchloric acid polishing solution was used, the temperature of the specimen increased 65°C. The curves presented in Ref. 24 for gold do not permit one to detect the initial flow stress upon reloading after the surface-removal treatment. In fact, contrary to the method used by Nakada and Chalmers, the change in the stress-strain curve produced by a surface-removal treatment cannot be described in terms of a decrease in stress at strains much higher than that at the initial flow stress because of the coincidence of the curves at the higher strain values. With regard to the depth of the work-hardened surface layer, our data show for aluminum single crystals (7.5 by 0.3 by 0.3 cm) that the initial flow stress remained constant after 12 x 10-3 cm had been removed from the thickness. This depth was independent of the prior strain. For gold crystals this depth is somewhere between 10 x 10-3 and 20 x 10-3 cm. Y. Nakada (author's reply)— Kramer states,28 "for aluminum specimens which have been prestrained and then heated to temperatures above 50°C, we have consistently found that the stress-strain curve was typical of the orthorecovery28 type. In this case the stress-strain curve always lies below that of the virgin specimen." However, Cherian et a1.26 discovered that aluminum polycrystals annealed at 32" and 100°C showed the metarecovery behavior. They showed that the orthorecovery behavior did not appear until the crystals were annealed at 150°C. Kramer suggests28 that the drop in the flow stress of aluminum crystals after the surface removal by electropolishing24 may be due to the recovery caused by the temperature rise which may occur during the electropolishing.27 However, as indirectly stated in Ref. 24, the current density used in these electro -polishing experiments was 0.15 amp per sq cm. According to ref. 27, this current density should cause a temperature rise of only 40°C. This may cause the metarecovery but not the orthorecovery. Furthermore, as stated explicitly in Ref. 24, the surface removal was accomplished by chemical etching as well as by electropolishing. The results were the same for both electropolishing and etching. During the etching, the specimen temperature did not rise above 35°C. Some aluminum crystals were placed in water at 35° C for 30 min. These crystals did not show the decrease in flow stress. Therefore, it is quite clear that the flow-stress drop after the surface removal is not caused by a high-temperature recovery. However, as Kramer points out,28 it is quite possible that the internal dislocation structure may have been altered because of the removal of the highly work-hardened surface layer. However, how much this rearrangement contributes toward the flow-stress decrease is not known at present.

Jan 1, 1965

By Carl Lubbe, Ron Frye

Numerous articles have been written regarding the effects of blast control plugs in an attempt to quantify stemming ejection rates, air overpressures, fragmentation’and other parameters measured using these devices. In an effort to further attempt to understand the function of these devices, field and laboratory research conducted with various stemming devices was performed to enhance existing data sets and analyze otherphenomena that occur when these products are used.

Jan 1, 1998

By F. S. Kendorski

This report presents the results of a search for viable-self-drilling roof bolt concepts, detailed development, design, and manufacture of such bolts that drill their own holes, and testing in the laboratory and in the field in two different coal mines of three self-drilling roof bolts. Three new types of bolts were designed and tested, which drill their own holes and then anchor in continuous operation. These were a spring-actuated mechanical expansion shell, a slot and wedge, and a self-contained resin anchor bolt. Such bolts when fully developed for mine use would allow safer and remote installation of ground support and increase productivity. Recommendations are given for further work to improve drilling and anchorage performance.

Jan 1, 1979

This report summarizes a study conducted by The Service Bureau Corporation for the Bureau of Mines. Evaluations reflected herein are the result of an independent investigation by The Service Bureau Corporation of methane considerations during coal mining. The study is oriented toward a systematic analysis of methane control problems during coal mining. Throughout this study an attempt has been made to ensure considerations consistent with the recently enacted Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969. References to reports by The Bureau of Mines and others are made for the purposes of establishing identification between the evaluations contained in this report and on-going research efforts.

Jan 1, 1970

By John Rusnak

The Coal Mine Roof Rating (CMRR) is a practical rock mass classification system for use in design of mine openings. Data can be obtained for this purpose from exploration drill cores if simple geotechnical logging and rock mechanics testing is conducted. The CMRR is an excellent method to quantify rock characteristics for engineering purposes. It bridges the gap between geologic description and engineering design. The CMRR was utilized in the design of a 10,000 fl. long coal belt conveyor tunnel connecting an Eastern Associated Coal Corp. mine and preparation plant in Boone County, West Virginia. Data gathering and analysis techniques are discussed involving the calculation of the CMRR and its application in the design of the tunnel, which was driven through a thin coal bed zone. The preliminary findings have correlated well with actual roof and mining conditions encountered during driving the tunnel and it is concluded the CMRR is an effective method to utilize geologic data from exploration core holes for engineering analysis and design.

Jan 1, 1998

By Francis X. Cannaday

Equipment and techniques were developed with Bureau of Mines facilities for measurement in the laboratory of sonic shear wave velocity in variously shaped rock specimens in a wide range of sizes. A variety of rock types was tested. The shear wave front is produced by electronically excited, piezo-electric ceramic) disk-shaped transducers. Transmitter and receiver are interchangeable. Special equipment components were Bureau produced; other components were commercially available. The equipment permits quick measurement of shear wave velocity on variously shaped specimens with a minimum of specimen preparation. The technique, under favorable conditions, allows for determination of the moment of arrival of the shear wave when it is superimposed on a weak longitudinal wave.

Jan 1, 1968

By Mark R. Pettitt

The results of an extensive research and development program to reduce the noise generated during coal cutting are presented. The characteristics and magnitude of continuous miner coal cutting noise sources are defined. This work consisted of development of a simulated coal ,cam to facilitate above-ground coal cutting tests, noise measurements in a reverberant acoustic chamber during simulated mining operations of a continuous miner (cutting the simulated coal scam), and noise measurements in an underground coal mine during continuous miner operation. In-mine and laboratory test results were in excellent agreement for both A-weighted overall levels as well as A-weighted one-third octave band spectra. Methods to reduce coal cutting noise are presented. These methods take full advantage of the dynamic characteristics of the forces generated during coal cutting. Dynamic cutting force isolation was shown to be a very effective technique. Finally, a continuous miner was equipped with a cutter head that incorporated (among other design factors) cutting force isolation. Successful, lung term, in-mine use of the cutter head demonstrated coal cutting noise at the operator's station of less than 90 dBA and 50% coal, 50% rock cutting of less than 93 dBA.

Jan 1, 1985