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By C. B. Manula

This report is mainly concerned with the modification and development of a users manual for the Open-Pit Materials Handling Simulator (OPMHS) developed at Penn State. Model Modifications included the introduction of a free-format input, the application of a Weibull random generator, facilities to stochastically simulate shovel-dragline operations, and routines to increase the flexibility in making truck assignments. At the same time, core storage requirements and execution times were minimized and all P.S.U. conventions were removed to allow operation on other computing systems.

Jan 1, 1976

By E. C. Fitch

This report discusses fire-resistant hydraulic fluid safety from three different directions. First, results of a survey prepared for the Fire Resistant Hydraulics Journal by the staff of the Fluid Power Research Center are analyzed. Second, operational limitations of fire-resistant hydraulic fluids are examined. Finally, laws and standards of various foreign countries are investigated. Three conclusions are derived from a close study of fire-resistant hydraulic fluid safety from these three directions. First, a significant number of experts in the fluid power industry are no in agreement about aspects of fire-resistant hydraulic fluid fire-resistance and toxicity. This indicates a need for more in depth research. Second, the use of fire-resistant hydraulic fluids involves a compromise between the decreased fire hazards and increased toxicity and machine incompatibility problems. Finlly, major foreign governmental agencies have thorough laws and standards concerning fire-resistant hydraulic fluids. These laws and standards may provide a solid framework for further international research into fire-resistant hydraulic fluid safety.

Jan 1, 1979

By Richard C. Moore

The U.S. Bureau of Mines contracted a study to review the air and water monitoring requirements of five Federal environmental acts (the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) and to compile information on the currently available monitoring instruments. A literature review of the acts and their associated regulations was conducted to determine applicability to the mining industry as well as any air and water monitoring requirements. In addition, an industry search and literature review was performed to assess the instrumentation available to comply with the monitoring regulations. Based on this research, the instruments are classified by general applicability to air, surface water, or ground water monitoring, then catalogued by monitoring parameters. A discussion is provided on recommended and innovative monitoring techniques.

Jan 1, 1981

By David A. Summers

The use of high pressure fluid cavitation is investigated as a means of breaking an ore into its constituent grains. This Cavitational Rock Dissagregation (CRD) is found to be possible and effective in breaking down galena ore, both in sandstone and dolomite host material. The technique did not work as well in comminuting and cleaning oil shale, because the cavitation drove the oil into emulsion with the water. The presence of dominant bedding in the rock also caused preferential breakage to these lines, rather than to the individual grain boundaries. This problem was also encountered in tests on igneous ore where weakness plants of the overall ore proved weaker than the boundaries of the individual grains. It was found that the prevailing expression of cavitation erosion dependence on pressure was not absolutely valid. In contrast it was found that CRD is much more sensitive to jet flow diameter, and when this was recognized it was found possible to erode rock with compressive strength of up to 350 MPa with operating jet pressures of 10 MPa.

Jan 1, 1982

By Yoginder P. Chugh

This study has appraised available deeper soil loosening equipment in the 1-4 ft. depth range, in the U.S. and abroad which has potential for Illinois prime farm-land reclamation. The appraisal was based on written and/or oral contacts with equipment manufacturers, reclamation experts, and visiting with selected equipment manufacturers. The results indicate that several manufacturers in the U.S., West Germany, and England market static and vibratory deeper soil loosening equipment which may have potential for application in Illinois. The pertinent information concerning each equipment with potential is presented in this report.

Jan 1, 1983

By James W. Reil

A test series of small, precisely-controlled and thoroughly-monitored production blasts was conducted at two quarries. In each series, all variables except delay were kept constant, as much as practically possible. The first aim of the study was to determine the effect of local geology on ground vibration. The second aim was to test several hypotheses relating the effect of millisecond delay intervals to fragmentation and ground vibration. A resonant frequency of ground vibration was shown to be related to the thickness of the overburden, in accord with a model proposed by Gupta (1961). Since the overburden geology creating this resonant vibration cannot usually be changed, two methods were tested to choose delays such that blast vibrations would destructively interfere. These were shown to be effective in modifying both the peak particle velocity and response spectra of ground vibration. The delay interval chosen also affects fragmentation, primarily in massive rock, with an optimum relief between holes of 2 ms/ft. Strain gage records indicate a possible mechanism consistent with this information.

Jan 1, 1985

By Mark P. Meyer

This U.S. Bureau of Mines publication presents salient information in abstract form on 247 coal deposits in Alaska. Coverage includes currently producing deposits and deposits that appear to have commercial production potential. Data arc taken from coal properties identified by the U.S. Bureau of Mines minerals availability program and by a literature search. Infrastructural and institutional factors affecting coal development in Alaska are also discussed.

Jan 1, 1987

There has been a substantial increase in the use of rubber-tired front-end loaders in the mining industry in recent years. Concurrent with this increased usage, in the period of 1966 to 1970, there were at least 74 mining industry fatalities involving front-end loaders, or (on the average) in excess of one fatality per month. When the usage of front-end loaders by the construction industry and other industries, organizations, and agencies, such as the Government (i.e., Department of Defense), along with the uncounted numbers of serious, but non-fatal accidents, are included in the picture, the safety record for front-end loaders, of necessity, becomes a serious subject for study. There is an urgent need for attempts to be made to eliminate or reduce the number of safety hazards; to decrease the confusing diversity of controls designs found on present front-end loaders; to improve the maintenance and operating procedures; to formulate better personnel policies; to increase management and official awareness of the extent of the problem, in both industry and the Government; etc.; in order to decrease the number of accidents. Part of the problem may be traced to the fact that the operator of a front-end loader is frequently designated a "heavy equipment operator." This implies that he is automatically qualified to operate any model, of any manufacturer's, wheeled or tracked, front-end loader as well as many other types and classes of heavy equipment. Contrary to automotive practice, the complement of primary operating and emergency controls varies widely from model to model, as well as from manufacturer to manufacturer. Not only are certain controls present on one front-end loader model and absent on others, but there are significant differences in the modes of control operation, in the functions performed by superficially similar controls, in the location of the various controls, etc.

Jan 1, 1973

As part of the Phase I study activity, a questionnaire was sent to a representative sampling of mining companies to obtain information on the uses, use conditions, personnel policies and other user concerns associated with front-end loaders. On-site visits to several of the mining companies were also parried out and the questionnaire was used during these visits as well. Five major areas were dealt with in the user questionnaire. These included: 1) Front-End Loader Critique - An open-ended form was employed to permit the mining companies to describe the particular things they liked and disliked about front-end loaders, in general, and/ or specific models in particular. 2) Usage - A form indicating the functions performed by front-end loaders and the numbers, makes and models of front-end loaders being used by mining companies. 3) Environment - A form where the user indicated the various types of conditions encountered in their use of front-end loaders. 4) Personnel - A form for describing factors pertaining to the qualifications of front-end loader operators. 5) Miscellaneous and Comments - A form permitting the user to comment on his feelings toward standardization of front-end loader operator stations.

Jan 1, 1973

By T. N. Williamson

Most U.S. coal production is bituminous coal. Some 90% of current production comes from a geographical area enclosed in a circle with a 300 mile radius and its center at about Huntington, West Virginia. There are important underground coal production areas in the western parts of the United States as well. Most U.S. coal production comes from fairly level seams, many of which pitch rather uniformly only a few feet per mile. Usually there will be several overlying seams of varying thicknesses, separated by several tens of feet. Fig. 1. 1. Seams have minor local undulations but these? are small enough not to be a major consideration in a horizontal drilling research program.

Jan 1, 1970

Airy kind of a power system is a complicated network of various electrical components, such as cables, transformers, electric machines, circuit breakers, etc. For a system to work continuously and efficiently, each of the components has to be in perfect operating condition. The failure of any of these components can cause serious interruption of the supply and may in several cases involve a lot of precious time and labor in removing and replacing the damaged equipment it may also give rise to dangerous overvoltages on the system, thereby causing a safety hazard. Any piece of electrical equipment can have two likely modes of failure. The first would be the degradation of solid insulation material due to overheating, mechanical damage or a combination of the two, In this mode of failure it is possible that If the insulation damage is not an instantaneous phenomenon (a cable damaged by severe mechanical, Stress) that a detectable leakage current will do lop prior to the faint. The fault would probably he a result of heating and deterioration of the insulation by the leakage current.

Jan 1, 1975

By Ralph B. Stevens

The objective of the Automatic Fire Sensing and Suppression Systems for Mobile Mining Equipment program is to document the design, fabrication, factory testing, 11-month in-mine testing, and final demonstrations of auto¬matic fire protection systems on several units of mobile mining equipment including trucks, front-end loaders, cranes, draglines, coal haulers, and cutters. Proper sealing of all system components from the elements, especially in corrosive mine conditions, is essential for reasonable life-cycles with minimum maintenance. Also, adequate power supplies, wire, connectors, and plumbing with adequate protection from the harsh mine environments and physical damage were necessary during the in-mine tests. The fire protection systems were developed from technology employed during two previous Bureau of Mines contracts: HO122053, Improved Sensors and Fire Sensing Systems for Mining Equipment, and H0232059, Validation Testing of Truck Fire Protection Systems.

Jan 1, 1978

By Charles E. Green

This study was conducted to identify, evaluate, and develop procedures to minimize or eliminate safety hazards associated with the electrokinetic dewatering process, such as toxic and volatile gas emissions, electrical shock, accidental detonation of explosives, electrochemical corrosion of metal appurtenances, and possibly others. The identification, evaluation, and procedure development were based on pertinent literature, existing safety regulations, interviews with mine personnel, physical and mechanical properties of the electrokinetic dewatering process, and physical characteristics of the material to be dewatered. The electrokinetic dewatering process was described in detail. Potential safety hazards were identified and evaluated. Procedures and/or safety regulations were developed to minimize or eliminate the potential hazards. It was recommended that the electrokinetic dewatering process when used in deep metal mines be properly monitored to obtain additional information on other potential hazards that possibly exist.

Jan 1, 1979

By D. W. Dareing

Multiple branch wellbores and horizontal holes, when applied to deep lying ore bodies, have the potential of significantly reducing well costs by reducing total footage drilled per acre of well pattern. In addition, horizontal holes may increase sweep efficiency. Well completion is a major problem. They must be cased to contain leaching solutions within the underground portion of the production loop. Several drilling and completion concepts are given and evaluated in the report. Our evaluation shows that there is economic incentive to further develop these concepts for field application to ore bodies 1,500 feet. Multiple branch concepts are the most attractive. They can reduce well costs by as much as 30° when applied to 2,000 feet ore body depths (44%, at 5,000 feet) and can accommodate a lamer pump than conventional vertical wells. We recommend this concept be developed further to accommodate either dual or triple branches.

Jan 1, 1980

By Glenn A. Shirey

The objective of this contract as to prepare a detailed, readily usable handbook on dust control techniques for longwall mining operations. Information was gathered from available literature, and through contacts with industry and government personnel. The handbook describes those methods of dust control applicable to today's longwall mining systems, and contains sufficient design elements to assist operators with problems in testing or implementing new control procedures. Complete reference lists are presented at the end of each chapter to direct the reader to additional information.

Jan 1, 1985

By F. du Breuil

BCR National Laboratory (formerly Bituminous Coal Research, Inc.), under a USBM con­tract (originally with the Department of Energy), monitored the installation and operation of a computer-based belt-monitoring and control system at the Barnes & Tucker Coal Co. Mine No. 20, Ebensburg, PA. The system installed was the National Coal Board's Mine Operating System (MINOS) coal transport monitoring and control system. The program objec­tive was to document (1) the installation requirements for a conveyor control system, (2) the operating experience with the system, and (3) the impact of monitoring and control on mine operation. Analysis of the system operation indicates that monitoring and control did improve belt availability significantly, and reduced downtime associated with belt delays. Economic analysis showed the increased belt availability would potentially result in significant production increase, and, therefore, excellent payback on the initial investment. The system performed satisfactorily, was well accepted by the work force, and did not increase the maintenance workload.

Jan 1, 1987

By Michael D. Balen

The Bureau of Mines (Bureau), in cooperation with the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys (ADGGS), conducted field investigations from 1987 through 1989 in the 5.7 million-acre Valdez Creek Mining District (VCMD) in south-central Alaska. The objective of the VCMD investigation was to evaluate the mineral resources and the mineral development potential of the mining district. The investigation was part of the Bureau's continuing statewide mining district evaluation program. Nineteen new mineral occurrences were identified as a result of this investigation. Reconnaissance placer sampling resulted in the identification of 10 previously unreported occurrences that primarily contain gold, however, some contain subsidiary platinum-group metals and/or tin. Reconnaissance lode sampling resulted in the identification of two gold-silver occurrences, three platinum-group metal occurrences that contain elevated quantities of subsidiary chromium, nickel and/or cobalt, three copper occurrences that contain subsidiary molybdenum or zinc, and one zinc occurrence.

Jan 1, 2011

By James C. Barker

Alluvial cassiterite concentrations are widespread in river gravel and high level terraces within the Ray River watershed. The area lies in unglaciated terrain of Alaska's northern interior. Cassiterite originates from several calc-alkaline plutons of the Ruby batholith. Extensional stresses resulted in graben-like Tertiary basins that were flooded by a 200 ft thick section of mid-to late- Tertiary basalt flows. Basalt blocked local drainages, and 50- to 100-ft of terrace gravel was eventually deposited on top of the flows. Further downwarping and eventual fluvial downcutting of the flows resulted in cycles of accelerated sediment transport, deposition, and reconcentration. Repeated erosional cycles concentrated heavy minerals and resulted in development of tin placers. Preliminary resource estimates of contained tin in Recent alluvium range from 62 to as much as 172 million lbs-Sn in 300 million yd3. Grade of about 90% of the gravels is estimated to range between 0.2- to 0.5- lbs-Sn/yd3. Associated gold and rare earth elements (REE) in monazite and xenotime may be recoverable. Most of the tin is considered a subeconomic inferred resource, though, at least some of the gravels contain 2-to 6-lbs-sn/yd3. Estimates are projected on the basis of surface sampling and several auger drill holes and are provided for the purpose of land-use management planning.

Jan 1, 2011

By Robert Stefanko

This report, rather than attempting to replace previous annual reports, supplements, and more importantly, coordinates and summarizes the entire effort. Even with such restrictions, the report is voluminous and, therefore, a decision has been made to divide it into two parts. The first volume is basically narrative and includes tabular results and analyses. The second volume is in appendix form giving detailed information. Together, they permit a logical discussion of all aspects of the project (Volume I) without cumbersome distractions but, at the same time, provide all the details to permit others to evaluate and explain the results or develop similar research programs (Volume II). The aim of the original proposal was basically to develop instruments and techniques and then make measurements of suitable power parameters, ground fault currents and ground resistance beds. With such information available, it was possible to develop a meaningful simulator which would permit investigating electrical systems and components on paper without costly trial and error procedures in the third year, a cable splice testing program was added to the project. While there were the usual delays attendant in such original research, these objectives were achieved.

Jan 1, 1973

By J. H. Crary

This report summarizes the results of a one-year agreement for research on the electromagnetic environment in coal mines, which was conceived as the beginning of a long term cooperative program between ITS and the Bureau of Mines. The concepts on which it was originally based are a result of the report on mine rescue and survival by the Committee on Mine Rescue and Survival Techniques of the National Academy of Engineering, dated March 1970. This report drew particular attention to the need for improved communications during and following mine disasters. In particular, the outstanding problems identified were the location of, and communication with, trapped miners. Some tentative solutions, generally involving long-wave electromagnetic signals, were offered. Consideration of the problems of disaster location and communication soon leads to consideration of the communications techniques (or lack of them) for use under normal mining conditions. In particular, if a disaster communication and/or location system is to be readily available and operable under disaster conditions, it should also be usable during mining operations. In this way operators can become familiar enough with the system to operate it during disaster conditions, as well as provide a mechanism for regular testing.

Jan 1, 1972