Search Documents

By J. B. Gayle

During the past several decades, there has been a steady increase in the number and size of experimental ovens used for carbonization research. Although many were originally intended principally for studies of coal expansion, current practice usually includes determinations of the properties of the experimental cokes. With respect to size and shatter characteristics, the cokes from the larger experimental ovens closely approximate those from duplicate charges carbonized in commercial ovens; however, they are consistently lighter and frequently less resistant to degradation by abrasive forces. To minimize these differences, some operators dry the experimental charges before carbonization. The resulting higher dry coal charge densities do, in fact, yield cokes with gravities closely approximating those produced commercially from the same coal or blend but without drying. The drying of the experimental charges may be criticized on the grounds that it represents a departure from commercial practice and may result in oxidation of the samples; for these reasons, the practice has not been universally adopted.

Jan 1, 1961

By Albert E. Long

During the summer and fall of 1948 the Bureau of Mines, in cooperation with the U. S. Geological Survey, conducted 6xperiments in diamond core drilling in the Phosphoria formation in southeastern Idaho and southwestern Wyoming. Nearly all of the diamond core drilling in the Phosphoria formation has been done by mining companies interested in finding and developing phosphate-bearing beds amenable to stripping. The recovery of sludge; and enough core (usually 30 to 60 percent) to identify certain marker beds produced by current drilling practices meets both the primary requirement of mining companies in determining depth of overburden and their secondary need to determine the phosphate content of relatively thick minable units whose general composition and nature are already fairly well established.

Jan 1, 1949

By A. T. Iannacchione

The Bureau of Mines established geologic factors affecting the mining of the Lower Kittanning coalbed to aid in coalbed minability studies and examined the occurrence of "wants" (places where coal is missing) and types of unstable roof rock strata. Trends established from mapping, including prediction of areas of high methane emissions, were extrapolated to unmined areas. 'Wants' in the coalbed are of two types: Erosional and depositional. Erosional features occur where north-south-trending sand-filled channels cut into the coalbed. Variations in depositional environments have caused the coalbed to "split" into several thinner units. Slickensides, commonly indicative of unstable roof, are adjacent to and on the underside of sandstone channels; they were caused by differential compaction and by soft sediment sliding along the contact between the sandstone and adjacent shale. The frequency of unstable roof also increases where the interval between the Middle and Lower Kittanning coalbed is less than 30 feet. The zones of weakness at the contacts above and below the Middle Kittanning coalbed are the controlling factors for unstable roof in these strata. Methane emissions from the coalbed are controlled primarily by depth, fracture permeability, and rank of coal. Local geologic factors are coalbed thickness, associated rock strata, structure, and proximity to outcrop.

Jan 1, 1979

By A. Gene Collins

This report discusses some of the chemistry and geochemistry of cesium and rubidium. Knowledge of the cesium and rubidium content of oilfield waters aids in resolving the origin of waters and petroleum, exploring for petroleum and other valuable minerals, discovering water pollution sources, and augmenting the knowledge of geologic formations. The methods described in this report permit the detection of less than 0.01 mg/l of cesium and/or rubidium in a complex oilfield brine or water. Solvents possessing high-dielectric constants were evaluated for their ability to extract cesium and rubidium tetraphenylboron from oilfield waters and for their flame emission characteristics. Nitroethane was selected and used for the extraction and flame spectrophotometric determinations because it gave the highest sensitivity. Cesium 137 and rubidium 86 were used to determine the extraction efficiencies, which were about 87 percent and 58 percent respectively using a single 10 ml nitroethane extraction from a distilled water matrix. The standard deviation of the determination was 0.0008 mg for cesium and 0.0007 mg for rubidium in the 0.01 mg range.

Jan 1, 1965

By L. J. E. Hofer

This Bureau of Mines study, part of a broad program of research in air pollution related to minerals, was conducted to determine the nature and extent of the poisoning of catalysts when used to remove certain air pollutants from exhaust gases. The poisoning examined in this investigation occurs when leaded gasoline is used as a fuel for automotive engines. This research was conducted in cooperation with the Public Health Service. The smog in the Los Angeles area is attributed to the effect of radiant energy on the mixture of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides found in the atmosphere there. A large portion of the hydrocarbons is believed to originate in the exhaust gases of automobiles. To prevent the escape of these hydrocarbons into the atmosphere catalytic mufflers have been proposed. In principle, these are simple and nonmechanical, consisting of a vessel charged with a catalyst capable of destroying the exhaust hydrocarbons by catalyzing their oxidation. However, these catalysts are severely affected by the particulate matter, mainly in the form of lead sulfate (PbS04), lead oxysulfate (PbS04.Pb0), and Lead chlorobromide (Pb(Cl,Br)2), contained in the exhaust gas. Deposition of lead on the catalyst as PbS04, PbS04, PbS0, and Pb(Cl,Br)2 restricts catalytic activity. As a result,after 20,000 miles of operation the temperature necessary to achieve 50-percent conversion of isopentane in a mixture of 0.2 percent isopentane, 2 percent carbon monoxide and 4 percent oxygen, and the balance nitrogen at 10,000 hourly space velocity has risen from 400° C. to 500° C. even with a catalyst taken from the exit portion of the catalyst bed. The rest of the catalyst was more severely affected. Therefore, it would appear that operation for 20,000 miles is near the limit for a catalyst.

Jan 1, 1963

By J. M. Stuve

Standard heats of formation (AH°p) of YbCl3 (c) and TmCl3 (c) were measured by solution calorimetry. Heat of solution data are given for ytterbium and thulium metals and corresponding anhydrous trichlorides in 4.360 molal hydrochloric acid. The derived standard heats of formation of YbCl3 (c) and TmCl3 (c) were -229,370 ±720 and -235,820 ±400 cal/mole, respectively, at 298.15° K. The resulting heats of formation for YbC13 and TmCl3 are about 1 kcal and 6.3 kcal more negative than previously published values.

Jan 1, 1967

By G. E. McElroy

Changes in existing airway and fan-installation conditions offer the most common opportunities for effecting economical operation of mine ventilating systems, but the largest possibilities for securing this result lie in the original design of the main airways for efficient service. Formulas, and. charts for their graphical solution, are presented herewith for the determination of the elements of airways design when the conditions of service are known, or may be roughly approximated. Although the analyses are made with particular reference to metal-mine airways, there is no essential difference between metal and coal mine main airways, and the methods presented are equally applicable to both. Little attention is paid to designing airways for maximum economy in the ventilation of metal mines. Most of the openings used as main airways are originally designed and used for transportation and other operating purposes. Even where openings are made primarily for ventilation, the possibility of their future use for other operating purposes, or even custom alone, usually results in the selection of a size and shape similar to those of existing openings. Natural conditions, such as heavy ground, often seriously limit the size of opening that can be maintained without excessive expense; and various operating factors, such as velocity limitations on traveling roads, often dictate size requirements in excess of those required for economy in ventilation only. In metal mines the main airways are, as a rule, too small rather than too large for economic service, with the general result that the quantities in circulation are often less than the mine's proper requirements over long periods, even though excessive amounts of power are applied in an effort to remedy conditions.

Jan 1, 1932

By James J. Dowd

The investigation to evaluate the reserves of coking coal in the United States suitable for the manufacture of metallurgical coke is being made by the Bureau of Mines in three parts: (1) To estimate known (measured plus indicated) recoverable reserves of all coking coal; (2) to upgrade marginal coals through effective preparation; and (3) to study the carbonizing properties of coals and coal blends not now widely used for metallurgical coke making. This is the fifth of a series of reports giving the results of studies by countless under part (1) of the investigation. (See appendix.) This report covers Westmoreland County, Pa., which comprises parts of New Kensington, Freeport, Elders Ridge, Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Latrobe, New Florence, Johnstown, Brownsville, Connellsville, Donegal, and Somerset quadrangles. (See fig. 1.) A short resume" of the chemical and carbonizing properties of the coals are included. Data on the coal beds in this county were obtained from mining companies, land companies, individual landowners, and other sources of authentic information. A base map for each bed in each quadrangle was made to the scale 1 inch equals 1,200 feet. Maps of mines, locations of drill holes, bed and total coal thicknesses, and the outcrop of the bed were plotted on the maps. With all available data plotted, isopach lines were drawn to limit areas of known unmined reserves in beds up to 14 inches thick, 14 to 28 inches thick, 28 to 42 inches thick, and over 42 inches thick. These areas of coal reserves also were divided into "measured" and "indicated" categories. All areas in each thickness range and in each category, mined-out areas, areas excluded from the estimate, and areas outside of the outcrop were measured by planimeter on the base maps. Estimates of total reserves 14 inches and more thick and maps for individual beds were prepared from these data.

Jan 1, 1951

By J. W. Town

As part of the Federal Bureau of Mines titanium resources examination program, samples from seven deposits in the Pacific Northwest were tested for amenability to various beneficiation techniques. The samples obtained by the Bureau's Office of Mineral Resources at Spokane, Washington represent a large potential source of titanium. This report summarizes the results of tests at the Bureau's Metallurgy Research Center, Albany, Oregon. Recoveries from tabling placer samples were about 50 percent at grades of 30 percent titanium dioxide. Flotation was the most effective method for concentrating the fine ilmenite in clay samples; recoveries of approximately 50 30 percent titanium dioxide. Flotation was the most effective method for concentrating the fine ilmenite in clay samples; recoveries of approximately 50

Jan 1, 1961

By C. J. Walker

The ever-increasing use off natural underground formations for storing natural gas has focused attention on the behavior of such storage formations under varying operating conditions. The need for a means of evaluating in¬dividual wells and groups of wells has become manifest. It is essential that industry and others be able to determine the rates of flow that can be ex¬pected from a given well or group of wells under different conditions and to ascertain whether certain wells are deteriorating. Such questions need more exact answers now than ever before because of the vital role underground gas storage plays in the industrial and domestic consumption of natural gas. The Bureau of Mines--in cooperation with the American Gas Association--has main¬tained an active interest in gas-well testing because of the implications of such test procedures on the consumption and efficient production of natural gas. A basis for testing gas wells was provided by the back-pressure method of Rawlins and Schellhardt (12).4/ They showed that for normal gas wells there is a consistent relationship between rates of delivery of gas and corresponding pressures when the formation pressures are used as the basis of interpretation, The equation for this relationship is as follows: Q = C (Pf2 - Ps2)n where; Q = rate of flow, generally expressed in cubic feet per 24 hours. C = a coefficient.

Jan 1, 1960

By B. W. Haynes

With the national focus on energy, the combustible fraction of urban refuse is being extensively considered as a fuel supplement for coal in the generation of heat and power. The objective of these analytical studies by the Bureau of Mines was to determine the concentration of major, minor, and trace elements in the combustible fractions collected at various locations in the Bureau's urban refuse recycling pilot plant located at College Park, Md. The samples processed through the plant were submitted by various municipalities that are considering resource recovery as an alternative to landfill or other means of disposal. Twenty-five elements were determined in samples from six geographic areas and were compared with element concentrations found in typical coal samples.

Jan 1, 1977

By R. W. Huber

Three arc-melted ingots, two of a titanium-7 percent manganese alloy and the third of unalloyed titanium, were forged and rolled into 3/4-inch plate; comparative data were obtained on these processes. The finished plate, part of which was used by the Naval Bureau of Ordnance, was tested for mechanical and other properties. These properties were correlated with sponge purity, forging technique, rolling temperature, and cooling rate from the rolling temperature. For the alloy material, transformation data were obtained, and their age-hardening characteristics were studied. The temperature-impact relationship was established for rolled sections from all three ingots. INTRODUCTION Arc-melted ingots of unalloyed titanium and a titanium-manganese alloy were fabricated into plate under closely controlled conditions by personnel of the Metals and Alloys Section, Physical Metallurgy Branch, Bureau of Mines, College Park, Md. This program was cosponsored by the Naval Bureau of Ordnance. Bureau of Mines interest lay in correlating the processing procedures with the mechanical properties of the finished plate.

Jan 1, 1955

By H. O. McDonald

Solutions containing Cr6+ and sulfuric acid are used in a number of surface-finishing operations. Substantial quantities of chromium and copper are lost and pollution problems are created when the spent solutions are discarded. To minimize the undesirable environmental effects while improving secondary resource recovery technology, the Bureau of Mines is conducting research to detoxify and recover metals from these solutions. Spent etchants are treated to remove copper and reduce Cr6+ to Cr 3+ in an electrolytic cell. The anodes and cathodes are granulated coke. The spent solution is continuously pumped through the electrodes. Hexavalent chromium is reduced to trivalent chromium, and copper is recovered at the cathode. Reoxidation of Cr3+ at the anode was not observed. The removal and recovery of copper reduction of Cr6+ lessen chemical demand and increase efficiency in waste in treatment operations associated with the use of these solutions.

Jan 1, 1980

By C. H. Fisher

Sulphuric acid of various concentrations has long been used as a reagent in the determination of olefins and aromatics in hydrocarbon oils4 such as gasoline, kerosene, and neutral oils from coal-tar distillates. Despite its long use, however, there is no general agreement as to optimum conditions and concentration of acid, and numerous methods and modifications have been recommended. In most cases, treatment of the neutral oil with 80 to 90 percent sulphuric acid, followed by distillation to the original endpoint to remove olefin polymers, is recommended for the estimation of unsaturated hydrocarbons. The distillate thus obtained is taken as olefin-free oil and used in later stages of the anlysis. Aromatic hydrocarbons generally are determined in the olefin-free oil by suphonation with more concentrated acid (96 to 100 percent and fuming sulphuric acid are recommended), the hydrocarbons not attacked and removed as water-soluble sulphoric acids being considered as saturated hydrocarbons. In some cases the saturates are examined further by differentiating between cyclic (naphthenes) and acyclic hydrocarbons (paraffins), Generally this is achieved by physical methods, although strong sulphuric acid is known to react preferentially with some types of saturated hydrocarbons. It was the purpose of the present work to make a general study of this type of analysis and to investigate the reactions of hydrocarbons under conditions often used in analyses that employ sulphuric acid reagents. Since previous work is not in good agreement, the optimum concentrations of acid for the different stages of the analysis were determined. Several sulphuric acid methods previously recommended and new modifications were compared, two synthetic solutions being used as the reference oil. The results obtained are presented below under separate headings.

Jan 1, 1937

By C. H. Fisher

Sulphuric acid of various concentrations has long been used as a reagent in the determination of olefins and aromatics in hydrocarbon oils4 such as gasoline, kerosene, and neutral oils from coal-tar distillates. Despite its long use, however, there is no general agreement as to optimum conditions and concentration of acid, and numerous methods and modifications have been recommended. In most cases, treatment of the neutral oil with 80 to 90 percent sulphuric acid, followed by distillation to the original endpoint to remove olefin polymers, is recommended for the estimation of unsaturated hydrocarbons. The distillate thus obtained is taken as olefin-free oil and used in later stages of the anlysis. Aromatic hydrocarbons generally are determined in the olefin-free oil by suphonation with more concentrated acid (96 to 100 percent and fuming sulphuric acid are recommended), the hydrocarbons not attacked and removed as water-soluble sulphonic acids being considered as saturated hydrocarbons. In some cases the saturates are examined further by differentiating between cyclic (naphthenes) and acyclic hydrocarbons (paraffins), Generally this is achieved by physical methods, although strong sulphuric acid is known to react preferentially with some types of saturated hydrocarbons. It was the purpose of the present work to make a general study of this type of analysis and to investigate the reactions of hydrocarbons under conditions often used in analyses that employ sulphuric acid reagents. Since previous work is not in good agreement, the optimum concentrations of acid for the different stages of the analysis were determined. Several sulphuric acid methods previously recommended and new modifications were compared, two synthetic solutions being used as the reference oil. The results obtained are presented below under separate headings.

Jan 1, 1937

By C. H. Fisher, Abner Eisner

"INTRODUCTION Sulphuric acid of various concentrations has long been used as a reagent in the determination of olefins and aromatics in hydrocarbon oils 4 such as gasoline, kerosene, and neutral oils from coal—tar distillates. Despite its long use, however, there is no general agreement as to optimum conditions and concentration of acid, and numerous methods and modifications have been recommended. In most cases, treatment of the neutral oil with 60 to 90 percent sulphuric acid, followed by distillation to the original endpoint to remove olefin polymers, is recommended for the estimation of unsaturated hydrocarbons. The distillate thus obtained is taken as olefin—free oil and used in later stages of the anlysis. Aromatic hydrocarbons generally are determined in the olefin—free oil by suphonation with more concentrated acid (96 to 100 percent and fuming sulphuric acid are recommended), the hydrocarbons not attacked and removed as water—soluble sulphonic acids being considered as saturated hydrocarbons. In some cases the saturates are examined further by differentiatingbetween cyclic (naphthenes) and acyclic hydrocarbons (paraffins). Generally this is achieved by physical methods, although strong sulphuric acid is known to react preferentially with some types of saturated hydrocarbons,It was the purpose of the present work to make a general study of this type of analysis and to investigate the reactions of hydrocarbons under conditions often used in analyses that employ sulphuric acid reagents. Since previous work is not in good agreement, the optimum concentrations of acid for the different stages of the analysis were determined. Several sulphuric acid methods previously recommended and new modifications were compared, two synthetic solutions being used as the reference oil. The results obtained are presented below under separate headings."

Dec 1, 1937

By B. W. Jong

The Bureau of Mines studied reinforcement of sulfur concretes using glass, polyester, and aramid fibers. The objective of this research was to determine the feasibility of fiber-reinforcing the sulfur concrete to enhance the flexural properties. Optimum fiber sulfur concrete compositions were formulated with a cement-to-fiber ratio of 9.0:1 for glass-fiber and polyester-fiber sulfur concretes and 12.1:1 for aramid-fiber sulfur concretes. Test samples were prepared using techniques developed by the Bureau of Mines. Flexural strength values of up to 50 pct of compressive strength values were achieved with fiber additions. With non-fiber-reinforced sulfur concrete, the values ranged up to 20 pct. The impact strength and fracture toughness of sulfur concretes were increased sig-nificantly by reinforcement with glass or with aramid fiber and were adversely affected by use of polyester fiber. Strain tolerance was doubled and failure mode was shifted from catastrophic to noncatastrophic type by adding glass fiber. The glass-fiber and aramid-fiber sulfur concretes are resistant to acid corrosion and have proved durable in freeze-thaw cycles. This laboratory and field evaluation has shown that fiber reinforcement of sulfur concrete is feasible and that it enhances the flexural properties.

Jan 1, 1985

By George S. Rice

"The author was a member of a Commission sent by the Secretary of the Interior to France to investigate developments in mining and metallurgy under stress of war conditions, and also to observe the extent and character of the destruction of the collieries and the steel and iron plants, and methods which were being taken to reestablish them. This commission consisted of F. G. Cottrell, Chief Metallurgist of the Bureau of Mines, Frank H. Probert, Dean of the University of California Mining School, and George S. Rice, Chief Mining Engineer of the Bureau. While conducting this investigation a trip was made to the Saar Basin to observe the conditions there. Following this Mr. Rice acted as advisor on mining matters to the Representative of the Economic Council in an Interallied conference held at Cologne in April 1919, and subsequently visited the mining districts in central and southern France, Belgium, and Great Britain.The Germans, in planning a campaign for world supremacy, had as one of their first objectives the seizing of the important Briey iron ore deposits of France and the coal fields of Belgium and northern France.Large resources of coal and iron have led to the commercial greatness of the countries possessing them, as exemplified by the great development first in England then in the United States, and in Germany when the minette high phosphorus iron ores became useful through the invention of the Thomas and Gilchrist dephosphorizing process in 1878. However, this development was anticipated by the German scientific advisors in 1871, and led to the then known deposit of minette ore in Lorraine being taken from France by Germany.When these ores became available, Germany made such tremendous strides that its minette ore developments were not sufficient and importation of ore was necessary. Meantime France, by drilling, had established the extension of the minette ore field into French Lorraine. Then it was discovered that France had greater resources, while the German resources were being rapidly depleted.Although Germany, in its Westphalian basin, possessed the most important coal field on the Continent, containing the largest resources in coking coal outside of Great Britain, its coal was distant from the sea coast, so it could not be an important factor in the export business. No doubt this fact caused the German Imperialists to look forward: to securing the coal basin of Belgium and northern France for future ocean trade.It was a striking feature in the German conduct of the war that, although the steel and iron plants of Belgium and France and other industrial establishments in the invaded regions of Belgium and France were utterly destroyed, the iron mines in French Lorraine were not destroyed nor materially damaged by the Germans in their retreat, while the destruction in France continued until the day of the Armistice. The other striking fact is that the coal mines Of Belgium were not destroyed. It can only be conjectured whether this was due to President Wilson's threat of retribution, which did not stay their hand in France, or was due to the fact that they did not consider Belgium as a real competitor. It was evident they wished to cripple France industrially when they could not hold these northern provinces."

Dec 1, 1919

By J. H. Tylczak

The Bureau of Mines studied the effect of alloy additions on abrasive wear of low-alloy steels. A dry-sand, rubber-wheel abrasion test appa-ratus using ASTM G65-Sl procedure B was used for the abrasive wear tests. Eighty-six material heat-treatment combinations were abrasion tested. Results of these tests were analyzed statistically using regression analysis to see if additions of Cr, Mn, Mo, Ni, Si, AI, Cu, and S were significant in affecting the abrasive wear rate of low-alloy steels. Regression analysis was also used to confirm hardness and C affect on the abrasive wear rate of these steels. It was found that for all the steels taken as a group, increased amounts of Mn significantly reduced the wear rate, while increased amounts of Mo and S1 increased the wear rate. Analysis also confirmed previous research done by others, that increasing hardness and amounts of C reduced the wear rate. For the hardened steels taken as a class, only increasing amounts of C and Mn reduced the wear rate, while increases in Si increased the wear rate. In the class of unhardened steels, increases in C, Mn, and S re-duced the wear rate, whereas increases in Mo increased the wear rate. The steels with the best resistance to wear were two hardened experimen-tal steels similar to AISI 1055 and AISI 107S.

Jan 1, 1986

By Lloyd A. Morley

Previous research conducted for the USBM by Penn State personnel (Grant GO-101729) found that a need existed to physically model a typical a-c/d-c coal mine section electrical system. Its purpose would be to permit preliminary evaluations of electrical problem solutions prior to launching full-scale investigations. Such use can result in greater flexibility than afforded by present computer models. Furthermore, numerous problems, which would be virtually impossible to incorporate in a computer model at this time, are more easily analyzed with physical simulation. The development of this system is now proceeding at the USBM's Bruceton Research Facilities. However, electrical specifications of scaled down components for its construction are required. This project is a result of that need and has been funded as an extension to Grant GO-133077. The following report covers these specifications. Scope of Work To represent a mined a-c/d-r. coal mine section, the typical component specifications must detail at least: a. one a-c continuous miner, b. two a-c or d-c shuttle cars, c. one a-c or d-c roof bolter, d. one a-c section fan, and e. feeder cables. Further, each machine should be portrayed by each of its general

Jan 1, 1974