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By Edwin M. Murphy

Methods are described for filling underground cavities remotely with dry material pneumatically injected through a borehole to seal openings, prevent air movement, and reduce subsidence; this often brings underground fires under control by limiting the access of air. Large-scale tests were made in the Bureau of Mines Experimental Coal Mine, Bruceton, Pa., in an operating mine, and in an abandoned Pennsylvania mine. Supplemental trials were made aboveground in galleries and in the laboratory. The parameters studied include horizontal and inclined passageways, obstructions in the entry, water leakage into the borehole, dry material, and grout and slurry mixes. The materials studied were fly ash, crushed and pulverized limestone, and sand. Best results were obtained with dry fly ash, though satisfactory seals were obtained with the other materials. When a borehole is dry and ends at an open void, casing is not necessary. If more than 5 gpm of water flows in the borehole, if the void contains loose debris, or if coarse material is injected, a material feedpipe should be inserted through the borehole. Fly ash was most suitable for remote filling because of its low angle of repose (8°) and its good flow characteristics. The depth of borehole through which the fly ash is injected has no appreciable effect on the filling operation.

Jan 1, 1968

By D. Barber, A. D. Miller, P. A. Bray

The project was to develop an area within the existing West County Wastewater Treatment Plant which would enable the construction of a new Raw Wastewater Pump Station (RWPS) with a footprint of approximately 85 feet by 190 feet and a foundation depth of about 82 feet below grade and a new Short- Term Detention Basin (STDB) with a footprint of about 80 feet by 130 feet and a foundation depth that varied from approximately 3 to 24 feet below grade.. The excavation support system had to be designed to withstand both normal and the 100-year flood elevations. A Reinforced Soil-Cement Wall (RSW)was chosen to provide a hydraulic barrier which consisted of a single row of soil-cement elements installed along the perimeter of the area to be excavated. Steel wide flange beams were installed on 4 foot centers to support construction loads and be resistant to the lateral forces of the soil and hydrostatic pressures. The RSW was installed to a maximum depth of 104.5ft using a triple-auger drill rig with mixing paddles with a 2ft key into weathered shale providing a cutoff wall consisting of 53,150 square foot of treated soil. The project was to provide the initial design of the excavation support for the pumping station excavation support system and groundwater cutoff. There was 534 linear foot of soil-cement-bentonite wall installed and 106 - 80 foot long W21 x 121 wide flange beams installed on four foot centers into the alignment of the wall. Each element was drilled down into the weathered shale to obtain groundwater cutoff. Derek R. Guthrie Water Quality Treatment Center Pumping Package is the site for a new pumping station that will service Louisville, Kentucky residents. After unplanned long term exposure into the winter, the effects of freeze thaw cycles were evident.

Jan 1, 2017

By Jon K. Ahlness

The Bureau of Mines investigated technologies for testing the integrity of in situ leach mining wells, as required by environmental regulations. To test for leaks, inflatable packers were used to seal the well casing. Laboratory testing determined that the packers could contain a casing pressure up to 50 to 60 psi (345 to 414 kPa) less than the packer inflation pressure. Single-and double-packer configurations were successfully field-tested in 32 wells ranging from 500 to 530 ft (153 to 162 m) in depth. A rigid pipeline and a hoist truck were used to run the packers in and out of the wells for the double-packer tests, which averaged 2-1/4 h each. In an effort to decrease the time of the rigid-pipe double-packer test. a self-contained trailer-mounted test system was designed and built. It utilizes a winch and steel cable to run the packers in and out of the well and high-pressure nylon tubing for packer inflation. This system was successfully field-tested in eight wells averaging 650 ft (198 m) in depth and resulted in a time savings of 13 pct and an operator-hour reduction of 42 pct.

Jan 1, 1985

By Thomas T., Read

THE decades immediately before and after the end of the nineteenth century (1890-1910) were a period of increased activity in mineral industry education. One reason for ,this, undoubtedly, was the rapid increase in mineral production in the decade 1880-1890; pig iron and copper production tripled; coal, lead, and zinc output more than doubled. Most of the other mineral substances followed the same general trend. Aluminum production began in 1886; petroleum output, which in 1888 was less than it was in 1882, almost doubled in the next three years. Gold alone showed no appreciable change until its discovery at Cripple Creek in 1891, followed by the Klondike in 1896, brought to boiling a public interest in minerals that had been simmering for some years previously. The first cyanide plant in the United States was erected at Bodie in 1893, and the first chlorination plant at Cripple Creek* the next year. Silver- lead smelting had already greatly developed, and the metallurgy of copper was almost transformed. The hearth area and smelting capacity of copper reverberatory furnaces more than quadrupled between 1878 and 1894; matte converters were first erected at Butte in 1884. Copper production of the United States in 1899 was 30 times that of 1872. While it was the increased technology used in mineral production that really made the field attractive for educated young men, undoubtedly they did not realize that, and were impressed mainly by the quantitative increase in output. Another factor was the increased general interest in engineering education; three times as many men took engineering degrees in the United States in 1890 as in 1880; 1893 showed almost a 56 per cent increase over 1890. Industry had come to recognize that technical training was worth while. The mineral industry lagged somewhat at first; the total number of mining degrees

Jan 1, 1941

By Andre Panteleyev, Charels S. Ney, John M. Anderson

"Sam Goosly prospect, 22 miles southeast of Houston, B.C., was discovered in 1967 through geochemical reconnaissance. Soil sampling interpreted with respect to an east-to-west ice movement led to drilling targets.Mineralization is in a window of rocks thought to be Hazelton Group surrounded by Tertiary volcanic rocks and intruded by two stocks separated by about one mile. A westerly quartz monzonite stock is dated 61.1 m.y. and an easterly gabbro-monzonite complex is dated 52.5 m.y. The Tertiary volcanics are trachyandesites shown by the B.C. Department of Mines and Petroleum Resources to be in part extrusive equivalents of the gabbro, and they overlie Hazelton rocks uncomformably. Copper-molybdenum mineralization is sparsely developed in the westerly stock. Silver-copper mineralization forms an elongate west-dipping slab between the stocks in Hazelton rocks, which are continuously pyritized. The gabbro stock is not mineralized, but some dikes related to it are slightly so. Tertiary rocks are pyritized, but are not known to carry copper-silver mineralization. Hazelton rocks are divided into a lower conglomerate, an intermediate pyroclastic unit and an upper mainly sedimentary unit. They form a west-facing homocline. Coppersilver mineralization resides in the pyroclastic unit, mainly in a massive dust tuff through which are lenticular units of lapilli tuff. Well-mineralized rock is typically a breccia of light fragments in a dark chlorite-sulphide matrix. Sulphides are pyrite, chakopyrite and locally pyrrhotite, with very minor tetrahedrite, s phalerite and other sulphosalts. Rock alteration is predominantly a pervasive pyrite-sericite type, with widespread tourmaline, scorzalite, gypsum, ankerite and traces of fluorite. The most evident control of the copper-silver mineralization is the gross parallelism, over a strike length of 1.5 miles, to Hazelton strata, particularly a massive dust .tuff unit. In detail, mineralization crosscuts bedding and there is no appreciable banding within sulphides . A strictly syngenetic origin is untenable, but some initial concentration in a volcanogenic environment with subsequent modification by thermal processes seems likely."

Jan 1, 1972

By K. D. Bulin

"An interesting brief history review of shovels as the primary excavating tool will permit the reader to see that immeasurable development and resources have preceded the shovel excavators which today are used extensively throughout the mining industry. With this as a background, the shovel manufacturer has the ability to utilize his resources best in those areas of shovel development in which the maximum benefits of increased reliability, performance and ease of maintenance will improve the operating rewards to the user of the equipment. The author explains the function of the shovel as a part of the material handling system. A detailed description of those areas of the shovel in which the most recent developments and major improvements have been implemented in the manufacture of the shovel excavator arc included."

Jan 1, 1973

By Peter A. Hacquebard

Recent drilling programs have shown that the in-situ coal resources of Nova Scotia are very substantial. The grand totals of the measured, indicated and inferred categories amount to 232 m, 646m and 993 m tons, respectively. This vast quantity of coal occurs essentially in five main fields: Sydney, Mabou, Port Hood, Pictou and Springhill. The largest resources (84% of the total) occur in the submarine area of the Sydney coalfield. With a 65% recovery rate, there are at present 150m tons of proven, recoverable coal in Nova Scotia. At a predicted maximum annual production of 5 m tons, this amount equals a lifespan of 30 years. However, additional drilling, particularly in the Sydney offshore area, holds promise of increasing the recoverable reserve tonnage to at least 350 m tons. This figure may be compared with the 484 m tons production obtained during 191 years of mining (from 1785-1976). The geological appraisal of the remaining coal resources in the five fields mentioned is presented in three-dimensional diagrams, per individual seam and corresponding reserve area. In addition, the submarine extensions of the Sydney and Mabou coalfields are discussed in light of results obtained from off shore oil exploration wells. The terminology and standards of coal resource calculations are pointed out, and the phenomenon of seam splitting and its prediction from geological data is illustrated. The availability in Nova Scotia of either thermal or metallurgical coal is considered in relation to rank and sulphur content. This paper was presented in June 1977 at the 90th Annual Meeting of the Mining Society of Nova Scotia. The coal resource estimates, however, have been updated to include the results obtained with the offshore drilling in the Sydney Coalfield to November 1977.

Jan 1, 1979

By B. K. Shibler, A. O. Ipsen, W. W. Agey

"INTRODUCTION As a part of the program of investigation of domestic sources of manganese ore, mining engineers of the Bureau of Mines obtained and examined samples of ore from six properties in the vicinity of Pioche, Lincoln County, Nev., and from one property near Caliente, Lincoln County, Nev. As the ores were too low-grade to be acceptable for the direct production of ferromanganese, their amenability to concentration by ore-dressing methods was investigated.In general, the Pioche ores had a low manganese content and, owing to extremely intimate association of manganese minerals with iron oxide and nonmetallic gangue, were refractory to concentration by ore-dressing methods. Only two samples (Zero Gap and Wheeler ores) were amenable to the production of concentrates that would sinter to a marketable plus 35-percent manganese grade. The Prince Consolidated and Ely Valley No. 1.ores were roasted and sintered to produce lead-silver-zinc fumes. The residues were of possible value as manganiferous iron ore. No marketable manganese products were made from Calton semi-oxidized ore, but over 80 percent recoveries of lead, silver, and zinc were made by bulk sulfide flotation followed by Diming of the sulfide concentrate. No satisfactory results were obtained by treatment of Golden Eagle and Ely Valley No. 2 ores.The Cudverwell ore was amenable to the production of high-grade manganese concentrates by ore-drssing methods. However, fine grinding was required to effect mineral liberation, and loss of manganese as slime limited the mangenese recoveries obtainable.In the coarse of the investigations, many data were obtained and compiled, but for the sake of brevity, several data, of secondary importance have been omitted or condensed, and only the tests giving the more promising results are discussed in detail. For convenience, the report has been divided into two parts, one opertaining to the Pioche ores and the other summarzing results obtained by testing Culverwell ore."

Aug 1, 1947

By A. Rahmati

Geological and geo-statistical modeling of the ore deposits play a prominent role in resource and reserve estimation for geo-statistical evaluations. Sheytoor iron deposit is located in the Bafq iron ore district (Central Iran) and in the south-east of the Esfordi 1:100000 sheet. According to the geological data, limestones and dolomitic limestones are situated in the north and central parts of the area, on the other hand, iron ore outcrops are observable in the center, south-west and south-east of the studied area. Meanwhile this ore deposit represents a sulfide one. Based on the boreholes data, geological and geostatistical models of the high and low grade iron mineralization zones were generated by Rockworks v.15 software. The IDW method was selected and employed for processing the collected data and a good adaptation between the results was revealed. The distribution model of Fe concentration displayed a relatively high grade Fe in the center, south and south-east parts of the area. Furthermore, this model illustrated a relatively high grade S and P in some parts of the center, north and south-east of the area. The Fe concentration, in the high grade mineralization zone, was between 45 and 61.5%. In addition, in the low grade mineralization zone, it was between 3.64 and 57.64%. Moreover, in the intrusive granites, the Fe concentration was between 30 and 48.73%. Due to the significant amount of the sulfur in the deposit model, most of Fe-bearing minerals are pyrite, so it is recommended an evaluation on Cu-bearing minerals and their related elements in the area to get done. Additionally, there are too much Fe values in granitic zones which could be caused by possible measurement errors and the geological classification of the area. Therefore, it should be done more carefully.

Aug 1, 2013

By Joseph Chalmers

Stimulative methods of production, whereby the total recovery of oil from natural reservoirs is increased, have come into considerable prominence during the past 15 years. In many oil-producing areas properties considered ready for abandonment by ordinary producing methods have responded to some form of stimulation, and their economic lives have been extended. The stimulative method having widest application is the injection of air or gas into the reservoir formations through selected input wells and is commonly referred to as the "gas drive." As a result of the many successful "gas-drive" operations operators are depending more and more upon this method for increasing the ultimate recovery of oil from their properties. A number of factors influence the efficacy of different gases as propulsive agents in recovering oil from sands. Gases of high density and viscosity show a tendency toward a slightly higher efficiency than those of lower density and viscosity. The solubility of the gas in the oil also affects the efficiency of oil recovery. Not only does dissolved gas decrease the viscosity of the oil, but dissolved gas that expands from solution in the oil tends to increase the effectiveness of a "gas drive." Interfacial tension between the oil and the gas and its effect upon the recovery of oil by gas injection are factors of which little is known. Dr. A. G. Loomis expressed the opinion that interfacial tension probably plays a minor role in the recovery of oil, except under conditions that produce a gas-oil foam. In connection with the above physical properties that influence the action of a pressure medium, control of the injected volume of the pressure medium is perhaps the major factor. The rate of gas injection determines to a great extent the amount of slippage and the resulting efficiency of the operation. The importance of volume control is realized when one considers that frequently it is the only factor that is under complete control of the operator.

Jan 1, 1930

By Calzado P. Luis E.

El presente estudio describe el comportamiento de un residuo de lixiviación bacteriana al tratamiento de lixiviación ácido-clorurante con el fin de extraer el contenido de plata. En este sentido, los parámetros que tienen influencia sobre la eficiencia de lixiviación son la granulometría y la temperatura de solución. Asimismo, la evaluación de las transformaciones desarrolladas en el material se realizó a través del microscopio electrónico de garrido y y en base a los argumentos del orden mineralógico, se evidencia que la limitada extracción de plata se debe a las fases estables de las condiciones empleadas por la ocurrencia del cobre gris y un mineral complejo de hinsdalita con contenidos de plata.

Nov 24, 1993

By P. H. Tumialán

El presente trabajo señala el proceso de mineralización del yacimiento de plata San Juan de Lucanas, Ayacucho, cuyas vetas NE de cizalla y juego NNE de tensión son producidos por fuerzas de compresión NNE- SSW. Asimismo, se describe su fisiografía, petrografía y petrología, geología estructural, estratigrafía histórica, geología económica, textura, zoneamiento, alteración hipógena de cajas, persistencia de mineralización, comparación de otros yacimientos, controles de mineralización, las reservas de diciembre de 1979, concluyendo con las posibilidades de mineralización de plata a través de un plan sistemático de exploración.

Oct 14, 1980

By Klaus Schwerdtfeger

The equilibria in the Cr-N system have been investigated in the temperature range 1100° to 1310°C by reacting chromium powder with Nz-Hz gas mixtures. The solubility of nitrogen in chromium in equilibrium with chromium subsitvide ("Cr,N") is given by Chromium subnitride is nonstoichiotnetric; its nitrogen content is always less than that corresponding to the formula CrzN. The lattice paranzeters of quenched samples have been measured; c, and a. parameters are found to increase with increasing nitrogen content. The growth rate of the subnitride layer on chromium plates was measured by a thermogravimetric technique, using a silica spring balance. The self-diffu-sivity obtained from the theoretical analysis of the parabolic rate constant is found to decrease with increasing nitrogen content, i.e., with decreasing vacancy concentration in the nitrogen sublattice. The intrinsic nitrogen diffuivity is derived from another series of rate measurements using "CrzN" plates; the intrinsic diffusivity, DN = 3.2 X 10-a cmZ sec-' at 1200 C, is found to be essentially independent of- the subnitride composition. The concentration gradient was measured in a chromium subnitride layer by the X-ray method and found to be consistent with the derived diffusivity value. TWO chromium nitrides are known to exist:' the nonstoichiometric subnitride "CrzN" and the nitride CrN. In the present work the kinetics of the formation of chromium subnitride from chromium and nitrogen have been investigated at 1100" and 1200°C. In additional experiments the relevant equilibria have been measured. The data are used to evaluate the diffusivity of nitrogen in chromium subnitride. Since chromium nitrides are often found in chromium-containing steels, the results are expected to be helpful in the interpretation of the chemical reactions between chromium steels and nitrogen. Equilibria in the Cr-N system have been determined by several investigators.2"3 The rate of nitriding of chromium was measured by Arkharov et a1 .' in ammonia in the temperature range 800" to 1200°C. The parabolic rate law was observed. Due to the undefined nitrogen activity of the ammonia atmosphere, it is dif- ficult to interpret these rate data theoretically. An additional difficulty arises from the fact that the two-layer scale consisting of CrN and "Cr2N" was formed at the temperatures below 1030°C. The rate of nitriding of technical chromium (95 pct) was measured by Zaks in nitrogen at -1 atm in the temperature range 800" to 1300°C. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS The chromium samples were reacted with Nz-HZ gas mixtures in a vertical tube furnace, wound with Pt-10 pct Rh resistance wire. The gas-tight reaction tube was of high-purity recrystallized alumina. In nitrogen solubility measurements the nitrogen content of chromium was determined by the Kjeldahl method, on samples quenched in the cold part of the furnace. The nonstoichiometry of the subnitride and the nitriding rates were measured thermogravimetrically using a sensitive (+0.1 mg) silica spring balance. For the equilibrium measurements samples of 1 g of chromium powder contained in high-purity alumina crucibles were used. In order to remove most of the oxygen and nitrogen impurities from the chromium, the samples were initially annealed in purified hydrogen until a constant weight was obtained. The chromium plates (approximate dimensions 2 by 1 by 0.08 cm) used for the rate measurements were machined from ingots obtained by arc-melting of iodine-processed chromium. According to manufacturers' specifications the purity of the chromium powder was 99.9 pct Cr and that of the iodine-processed chromium 99.99 pct Cr. Our own spectroscopic analysis of the chromium powder yielded 0.02 pct Fe, 0.05 pct Mn, 0.05 pct Si, and 0.02 pct Ti as major impurities with all the other detectable elements below 0.005 pct. The nitrogen partial pressure of the gas phase was controlled by mixing prepurified hydrogen and nitrogen with constant pressure head capillary flowmeters. Oxygen and water vapor were removed from the mixed gas by passing it through columns of platinized asbestos (450°C) and anhydrone. The gas flowed upward in the furnace with flow rates of 300 to 500 cu cm per min (25"~). Gas tightness of the furnace system was ensured by pressure checks at regular intervals. The furnace temperature was controlled electronically in the usual manner. The reported temperatures were measured with a Pt/Pt-10 pct Rh thermocouple and are estimated to be accurate within ±$C The X-ray measurements were made with a Debye-Scherrer camera and a diffractometer using chromium radiation {\Ka = 2.29092A). EQUILIBRIUM MEASUREMENTS The experimental results of the equilibrium measurements are contained in Tables I to In. Fig. 1 shows the solubility of nitrogen in solid chromium in the temperature range 1100" to 1310°C. In Figs.

Jan 1, 1968

By W. D. Bonisteel

In 1976, Rio Algom Limited began the expansion of uranium production facilities at Elliot Lake. Quirke Mine was the only property in operation at the time, and plans were made to expand its milling capacity from 4,500 to 7,000 tons of ore per day. Following this expansion, other properties in the area will be reactivated to fulfill long-term contracts for uranium. As part of the expansion program, it was decided that in view of the escalating cost and impending shortage of energy, heat reclaim and conservation would be employed wherever practicable. In general terms, heat reclaim applications fall into three main classifications: ventilation, utility and process. Two of the ventilation applications and one process application will be described in some detail. Several other systems will be presented briefly as a matter of general interest. Some future possibilities will also be mentioned, together with their potential for economical heat recovery.

Jan 1, 1979

By B. Denby

sintered ores, to be removed by a pneumatic,

Apr 1, 1995

By H. R. Banks

"AbstractThe rod mill introduced into the Sullivan Concentrator flow in September, 1948, replaced two sets of 74 in. by 20 in. rolls and their accompanying screens. In addition to the work formerly done by the rolls, the rod mill is producing a finer product and one which provides more suitable feed for the primary ball mills. The object of the finer discharge from the •primary mills is to make possible a feed directly from the mills to a series of flotation machines where a large portion of the galena can be withdrawn from the circuit while the galena is still coarsely granular. The interposing of classifiers between grinding and flotation means the selective grinding of the galena.The author summarizes the work of •the rod mill through the first 5,000,000 tons and shows that the wear of lifters, liners, and rods is definitely below normal for the type and size of rock being handled. The rod mill, driven through a fluid coupling, has been subject to a range of speeds from 13.5 to 19. A pinion in the speed reducer was changed to allow the extending of the normal speed range of the fluid drive of approximately 4 r.p.m.Since the critical speed inside the liners •is 23.4, the range •in per cent of criticial is 57.7 to 81.2 per cent.The capacity of the mill increases with increasing speed but the character of the product remains approximately the same except when the feed rate is too high.Consumption of steel, power, and other operating data are presented.The author introduces certain fundamental observations on the principles involved •in comminution in order to support the special design and operation of the rod mill."

Jan 1, 1952

By H. F. Feldmann

This Bureau of Mines report presents a method for the computer solution of the equilibrium compositions of any complex, multiphase, chemical system for which appropriate thermodynamic data are available. The method describes in detail the computation of systems in which solid or liquid species can form by heterogeneous chemical reactions where these species do not occur in any equilibrium equations. Also described are the calculation of phases formed by condensation (pure or solutions) and the inclusion of other system restrictions such as electroneutrality. The method is being used to compute the equilibrium composition of mixtures of an electrically conductive plasma and a liquid slag phase arising from the high-temperature combustion of coal for magnetohydrodynamic power generation. These mixtures can contain up to 65 species including gases, liquids, free electrons, and ions.

Jan 1, 1969

By Alexander N. Winchell

"The wash ore area on the Mesabi iron range covers a regionof the iron bearing formation extending from Grand Rapids on the west to the Hibbing district, about forty miles eastward. Not all of the developed ore bodies are of wash structure; some are of such grades that they can be shipped direct as merchants able ore. It is safe to say, however, that 65 per cent of the ore is of a possible wash structure and of too high a silica content to be classified as merchantable ore. The increase in the number of washing plants completed each year on the western Mesabi shows that ,the product must be of a structure desirable for furnace operation. The following is a list of plants which were . in operation, under construction, or with plans completed, at the end of 1918:"

Jan 1, 1920

By L. A. Panek

A new pillar strength formula is presented, incorporating a function P of size and shape, which takes into account the size-shape interaction effect as well as the enhanced strength exhibited by wide pillars. Existing pillar formulas, lacking these capabilities, are not suitable for extrapolating small-specimen test results to mine-pillar sizes and shapes. Interpreting compressive-strength test results as function of P clearly reveals wide-pillar behavior in much old test data. Model relationships are discussed, along with their scaling implications.

Jan 1, 1994

By Arthur A. Center

WAR demand- motivated developments in the zinc industry during 1942. Stocks of Prime Western were built up and High-Grade remained tight. The Prince The Prime Western stocks are expected to be cut down and the demand for High-Grade more easily filled as the Depue reflux plant of the New Jersery Zinc Co. increases - production. Subistition of steel for brass in artillery shell cases will have a considerable effect on the zinc situation of the country one estimate of the saving in zinc in 1943 by this substitution being a little under 100,000 ton, of metal. The metal saved will, of course be High-Grade. If the substitution occurs, the present tight situation in High-Grade may be entirely relieved as new production comes on the market and zinc may find itself approaching a situation as comfortable as that of lead provided the supply of zinc-hearing raw materials is sufficient to keep all reduction plants tip to capacity production. The premium price of the per pound of zinc over set quotas which went into effect early in 1942, helped to bring about the new lead-slag-fuming plant and other new sources of raw materials.

Jan 1, 1943