Search Documents

By Martin H. Rogoff

This publication combines a critical review of the literature on the microbiology of coal with an introduction to those areas of microbiology related to studies of coal as a biological material. The attack on coal by microorganisms as yet remains doubtful. Only the low-rank coals contain an indigenous microbial flora, and even these organisms are not peculiar to coal, but are common soil and water forms. No experimental data have as yet been presented, either in the literature or in the present work, which unequivocally demonstrate the oxidation of coal by microorganisms. Reasons for the resistance of coal to such attack, including insolubility, physicochemical structure, steric hindrance of enzyme action, and the presence of antibiotic materials in coal are discussed. Microorganisms do attack large aromatic molecules and the mode of oxidation of aromatic ring systems by bacteria is presented. Well-defined pathways are known for the oxidation of polycyclic compounds with one to three rings, and these paths with their key intermediates are described and related to the possible oxidation of coal.

Jan 1, 1962

By Sam S. Taylor

The disposal of oil-field brines by injection into subsurface formations other than fresh-water-bearing strata is a positive method of eliminating the harmful effects of mineralized water on fresh-water supplies, vegetation, and aquatic and other animal life. The methods used most generally for the disposal of brines produced with oil are (1) impounding in evaporation ponds, (2) controlled diversion into surface streams, and (3) injection into subsurface formations. Various States recognize one or more of the methods as legally authorized procedure. As a general rule, impounding brine in ponds and solar evaporation have not been entirely successful, principally because of the large volumes handled; the porous nature of the soil, and the low rate of evaporation. Likewise, the diversion of brine into freshwater streams by controlled dilution has not proved satisfactory in some areas, especially in parts of Kansas and Oklahoma where the rainfall is relatively low, because it has been impossible to obtain enough fresh water for such dilution.

Jan 1, 1939

Development of automatic fire protection systems for large, mobile mine haulage equipment was initiated under Department of Interior's Bureau of Mines-FMC Corp. contract H0122053, "Improved Sensors and Fire Control Systems for Mining Equipment June 1972 to May 1973." After successfully designing and mock-up testing an effective economical automatic fire protection system, and after having demonstrated that the system could extinguish controlled fires on 100-ton capacity haulage trucks, USBM-FMC contract 110232059 was issued in June, 1973, to conduct further development and validation testing. This report documents technical progress and activity under the latter contract. Figure 1 shows areas of the two haulage trucks that were protected by the automatic fire protection systems tested during this program. Figures 2 and 3 are composites showing hardware and schematic diagrams of the systems tested.

Jan 1, 1974

By Ruth F. Brinkley

This circular describes the activities and publications of the Bureau of Mines, Explosives Research Laboratory4 for the fiscal year 1960 (July 1, 1959 -June 30, 1960). Part 1 describes briefly the principal projects that were active during the report period, and presents some data not scheduled for publication elsewhere in the near future. Certain of the results are only preliminary and should be regarded as tentative, pending the findings of the completed investigation. Publications that appeared during the report period are listed and described briefly in part 2. In general, the research activities reported in these publications antedate fiscal year 1960. The published material relating to activities that are still current is indicated by references in part 1.

Jan 1, 1962

By Clifford H. Summers

This report describes an experimental program which we conducted on behalf of the U. S. Bureau of Mines, to select from currently available materials two novel systems of construction for air-restraining bulkheads to be used in control of radon-polluted air in underground uranium mines. The program included both laboratory and field tests, the latter conducted in a portion of an operating mine owned and operated by Union Carbide Corporation at LaSal, Utah. The test site was a worked-out, double entry stope having a Volume of about 2000 cubic meters, and was located immediately adjacent to an exhaust airway. The bulkheads were constructed of 15 cm x 1.5 cm timber uprights, 5 cm x 15 cm horizontal members supporting a close-fitted 13 mm plywood curtain-wall., which was covered with a low-permeability membrane to seal in the radon-polluted air. The two membrane materials selected for testing were chosen from a list of twenty-two potentially acceptable candidates using criteria such as strength, flammability, ease of application, adhesion, radon permeability, and elasticity. Thirteen of the candidates were tested in our laboratories for adhesion to plywood and to both wet and dry concrete (simulating wet and dry mine rock surfaces), and for their general physical properties, including radon permeability. The final selections made by the Technical Project Officer, and based on our recommendation, were a pre-formed ethylene propylene diene monomeric rubber (EPDM) membrane 1.12 mm thick, normally used as a roof sealant in industrial construction, and available from Carlisle Tire and Rubber Co., Division of Carlisle Corp., Carlisle, PA, and Aquafas 48-00, a water-based mastic used in a wide variety of commercial applications and available from H. B. Fuller Co., Foster Products Division, Spring House, PA. The EPDM membrane was applied as a single sheet, laminated (dry) between two layers of plywood, and the Aquafas was applied both by troweling and spraying onto a plywood surface. In the field test, radon concentrations were continuously measured before, after, and in the trapped air behind each bulkhead. Temperature, pressure, and velocity of the air in the adjacent airway were also measured and recorded continuously. Radon fluxes at the rock/air interface and through the bulkheads themselves were measured manually on a frequent basis. All continuously acquired raw data were recorded automatically on two USBM Data Aquisition Systems (DAS), and the raw data were converted into engineering units and recorded on magnetic disks by a specially programmed microcomputer that was interfaced with the DAS's. Relatively clean (i.e. low radon concentration) air was pumped into a point near the face of one test bulkhead from a location 170 meters away through vent bag. Several air curtains and two air-restraining bulkheads were erected in passageways adjacent to the test area in an effort to control both velocity and radon concentration of the air flowing past the bulkhead faces. An average concentration of approximately 500 pCi/liter at a flow of 550 m3/minute was attained as the background concentration against which leakage through the bulkheads was measured. The entire field test period extended from October, 1981 to March, 1982, a total of six months, and was subdivided into seven successive time periods: 1) site preparation 2) background measurements prior to bulkhead construction 3) passive restraint, with bulkheads in place and totally sealed 4) open bleeder period of natural convection ventilation in and out of the bulkheaded area through a 10 cm (diameter) opening, with connecting tubing; leading into an Exhaust airway 5) open bleeder period, having forced exhaust through a 1.0 cm opening using a servo-controlled fan 6) charcoal trapping period, using the servo-controlled fan to exhaust air through the charcoal traps, to test the effectiveness of such traps in removal of radon from the exhausted air 7) site decommissioning Each of the two systems tested, one incorporating the pro-formed EPDM-rubber membrane and the other utilizing Aquafas 48-00, was assessed for effectiveness in controlling radon-polluted air by observing the change in the radon concentration in the ventilation air flowing continuously over the surface of each bulkhead. The sensitivity of the observed measurements was limited by the volume flow-rate of the ventilation air and the radon concentration in that air. The data would indicate that the observed increments in radon concentration in the ventilation air moving across bulkheads B-l and B-2 were essentially zero within the limits of sensitivity of the measurements. Data from radon flux measurement taken both on the sealed ribs adjacent to the bulkheads and on the bulkheads themselves did not differ significantly from blank data.

Jan 1, 1982

By S. L. Weber, D. E. Banks

"Silicosis was first reported by the ancient Greeks and is apparently as old as human history. The prevalence of this illness peaked in the last half of the 19th century and the early part of this century, when mechanized industry was developing and the relationship between dust exposure and disease was less well understood. Yet, even today in devel-oped countries, sporadic outbreaks of silicosis occur when workers are consistently exposed to silica particles of respir-able size (0.5 to 5.0 µm in diameter) at levels exceeding those recognized to be safe.Silicon dioxide or silica. is the earth's most abundant mineral. Silica is considered to be either free (i.e.. unbound to other minerals) or combined. Minerals with high amounts of free silica include quartz (including granite) flint. Chert, opal, chalcedony, and diatomite. Combined forms of silica are called silicates and include, among others, asbestos talc and kaolin.In the crystalline form, silica exists as quartz, cristobalite, and tridymite (Fig. 28). Of these quartz is ubiquitous in the environment and occurs as sand and as a part of many rocks. Cristobalite and tridymite occur naturally in lava and can be formed by the heating of quartz or amorphous silica. Cristo-balite is more tibrogenic than quartz. Amorphous silica is noncrystalline and, therefore, is relatively nontoxic and does not cause silicosis. It occurs as diatomite (skeletons of pre-historic marine organisms) or as vitreous silica (glass), the result of carefully melting and then quickly cooling free crystalline silica. Heating diatomite with or without alkali (a process known as calcining), forms cristobalite and adds the respiratory toxicity of free crystalline silica.There are many opportunities for occupational exposure to respirable crystalline free silica. Some of the commonly en-countered occupations in which the risk of silicosis exists are reported in Table 20.Silicosis. the pulmonary disease caused by the inhalation of silica particles of respirable size, is most commonly cate-gorized by findings on the chest radiograph. The most typical presentations simple silicosis and progressive massive fibrosis appear different radiologically but are grouped under the category of classic silicosis because they are a part of the radiographic spectrum of this illness. Radiographically, simple silicosis appears as small (less than 10 mm in diameter), rounded opacities, typically predominant in the upper lung zones. Progressive massive fibrosis is the result of the coalescence of these small nodular opacities and appears as larger opacities (more than 10 mm in diameter), again typicallydistributed in the upper lung zones."

Dec 1, 1995

By Doris M. Hyde

The economy of Belize continued to show a very slight but still positive growth during 1986. The gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated to have been about $164 million,2 almost the same as those of 1984 and 1985. Foreign investors looked favorably on Belize because it had remained isolated from the sometimes turbulent political and social strife elsewhere in Central America. Reportedly, in late 1986, Guatemala had decided not to pursue its claim to Belizean territory and to give full recognition to that country. Discussions were to be held regarding any matters of mutual concern. New investment possibilities were oriented toward agriculture or manufacturing endeavors. Except for some interest in petroleum exploration, the minerals sector remained limited to the quarrying of construction-related materials.

Jan 1, 1988

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 R. Q. Shotts

Factors of geological structure and occurrence of coalbeds, plus the resulting mining conditions, have required more care in preparing coals in Alabama than in most other districts almost since mining Alabama coals began. For this reason, literature on these coals may be interesting to those in areas where prime coals have been mined out, and thinner and less regular beds must now be exploited. This literature review has been arranged in order of subject matter. Some references have been listed more than once, but each separate review is limited to the material pertaining to the subject matter being discussed. For those seeking specific information, the authors have indicated which items repeat material and which items are most complete or specific. Geology, preparation, and carbonization of coal have been reviewed the most frequently.

Jan 1, 1963

The Bibliographic Data Base is the result of a literature search con-ducted as one task of the technology assessment of current and advanced logging techniques, sponsored by the United States Bureau of Mines. After compilation, the bibliography was converted to an automated form for ease of utilization, and to allow for maintaining and updating the data base. The data base covers articles, symposia, books, patents, corporate and government reports, and other literature concerned with some aspect of borehole logging from January 1969 through December 1975. Periodic up-dating will be necessary to keep the data base contents in step with developments in the rapidly advancing field of application of borehole logging to mining. Many bibliographic indexes were scanned for entries relating to the subject of interest, and those entries which were included in our data base contain a reference to the bibliographic index in which they were listed (see Section 2.4.7). With the aid of these indexes, a vast number of publications, including foreign reports and publications, have been scanned for works relevant to borehole logging technology.

Jan 1, 1976

By H. P. LeVan

The aced for reliable reserves of the essential element, manganese, has been a continuing concern of the Federal Government for more than three decades. Because of the increasing vulnerability of outside sources of supply efforts have been intensified to find a means for beneficiating United States domestic deposits. The deposits of most interest would of necessity be near, or have access to, suitable transportation to processing plants. The Georgia manganiferous iron deposits represent some 10 million tons4 of ore readily available to southern iron and steel industries, if a manganese recovery process capable of functioning in the presence of large quantities of iron can be developed. In addition, a successful method for beneficiating the Georgia ore could produce a significant quantity of high-grade iron concentrate. The Differential sulfatization process developed 47 the Bureau of Mines5 seemed to be well suited for this application, particularly because it results in low concentrations of iron in the leach liquors with relatively complete extractions of manganese. In this process, manganese in the presence of iron is preferentially reacted with sulfur dioxide at elevated temperatures and subsequently extracted with water.

Jan 1, 1962

The principle activities of the Explosives Research Laboratory from July 1, 1961 to June 30, 1962, are described briefly in part 1. Part 2 gives short abstracts of publications that appeared during fiscal year 1962; in general, the research reported in these publications antedates the report period. Part 3 gives the results of an investigation which, although too limited to warrant separate publication, merits presentation in some detail because of current interest in ammonium nitrate-fuel oil compositions.

Jan 1, 1964

By K. K. Kelley

The first bulletin (245)3 in this series, which appeared in 1932, summarized the entropy values then available for the elements and inorganic compounds, results being listed for some 150 substances. In the interim advances in the realms of spectroscopy applicable to the determination of thermodynamic properties and in the development of methods of calculation therefrom have added many highly accurate values. Moreover, through the efforts of Prof. W. M. Latimer (286) and his coworkers, satisfactory entropy values are now available for all but a few of the common inorganic ions in aqueous solution. At the same time rapid progress has continued in the study of low-temperature heat capacities in several laboratories, In addition, compilation and correlation of data pertaining to vapor pressures (247), thermodynamic properties of carbonates (258), thermodynamic properties of sulfur and its inorganic compounds (250), and the thermodynamic properties of metal carbides and nitrides (251), which were published as members of this series, have yielded many values. As a result, over 500 usable entropy values for inorganic substances may now be tabulated. This bulletin originally was planned as a second revision of the first member of this series, the first revision (249) having appeared in 1936; however, because of requests for the explanatory section of the first bulletin from those teaching thermodynamics, it was decided to com¬bine the information in the first bulletin and its revision with the data that have appeared since 1935 and to repeat the explanatory material in somewhat more detail. The purpose of this bulletin is therefore to give the available values of the entropies at 298.1° K. of the elements and inorganic compounds, together with enough explanation of the methods employed in calculating entropies to make the results comprehensible.

Jan 1, 1941

By D. C. Fleck

Electrorefining yttrium from selected low-melting yttrium--base alloys is investigated, and various halide systems are studied as potential electrolytes for use in preparing low-oxygen yttrium by electrorefining unalloyed yttrium. Yttrium cathode products having significantly less metallic impurities than the anode materials were prepared from alloys containing nickel, iron, and manganese by electrorefining in LiCl-YC13 electrolytes at 900° to 1,000° C. Yttrium-copper and yttrium-magnesium alloys are not suitable as anode feed materials, An evaluation of chloride, fluoride, bromide, and mixed chloride-fluoride electrolytes showed that cathode products containing much less oxygen than the anode material can be obtained in the fluoride and mixed chloride-fluoride systems. Initial cathode current density has no apparent effect on the purity of the products obtained in both phases of the investigation.

Jan 1, 1973

By N. Malakondaiah

Several growth chamber and laboratory experiments were conducted to study the germination behavior of plant species on mine spoils and plant growth responses to nutrients on spoils and topsoils. Experiments were conducted to study the germination potential of some native and introduced species under various conditions. The seeds of green needlegrass, side oats grama, thickspike wheatgrass, crested wheatgrass, birdsfoot trefoil and emerald crownvetch were less tolerant, whereas those of alkali sacaton. durar hard fescue, slender wheatgrass, yellow sweetclover and alfalfa were most tolerant to the sodic mine spoil conditions. Addition of leonardite improved the germination potential of some of the poor genninators. Slender wheatgrass and yellow sweetclover were used as test plants to study the fertility status and productivity potential of stockpiled topsoils and spoils collected from Center. Glenharold and South Beulah of North Dakota. The topsoils were neither saline nor sodic but low in N and P. The spoils were neutral to alkaline with SAIL of 12-32, EC of 1.8-5.5 mmhos/cm, Olsen&apos;s P< µ4g/g, and total N <0.07%. Application of N and P together to the topsoils increased the yield of wheatgrass and sweetclover by 88% and 70% of their respective maximum yields, whereas near maximum yields were obtained for both the species by the same treatments to the spoils. The average yields on topsoils were higher than the yields on spoils. The concentrations of major nutrients were higher in plants grown on topsoil, whereas the opposite was true with the concentrations of Mn, Zn, and Cu. Growth chamber experiments were also conducted to study the growth responses of alfalfa, oats and slender wheat grass by the application of Mn and Zn to a sodic coal mine spoil which was previously used for pot culture experiments. Significant growth responses to Mn and Zn were observed in alfalfa but not in oats or slender wheatgrass. Fertilizing the spoil with Mn along with NPK increased the yield of alfalfa to 85% and with Mn + Zn to 99%. Growth responses and plant composition results of this study confirm that the application of major nutrients to spoils can accentuate Zn and Mn deficiencies in some plants.

Jan 1, 1982

By F. E. Cash

"Explosions in bituminous coal mines are preventable. The combination of adequate ventilation, thorough rock-dusting, and water on the cutter bars of mining machines and of empty and loaded cars will certainly reduce the hazard to a minimum, if not remove it entirely. This is the attitude taken by the Woodward Iron Co. in lessening or removing the dust and gas explosion hazard from its Dolomite and Mulga mines.This report was made possible through the willingness of Frank H. Crockard, president of the Woodward Iron Co. to make records available and to authorize their publication for the benefit of the coal-mining industry.The compilation of these data and preparation of maps was facilitated by the cooperation of M. Heard, general superintendent of coal mines, J. B. Whatley, assistant general super-intendent of coal, and R. P. Whetmore, chief mining engineer.The Dolomite and Mulga mines are about 16 miles southwest of Birmingham, Jefferson County, Ala., on a company owned and operated railroad which connects ore mines, coal mines, coke ovens, and furnaces.In the Dolomite property there is a 30°, 860-foot, double-tracked slope for hoisting, three manway and air slopes and one air shaft, all in rock.At Mulga there is a 220-foot hoisting shaft, an air shaft and two manways, and material and air slopes, all in rock to the coal bed.The coal in both mines comes from the Pratt bed, which is the next coal above the Mary Lee bed in the Warrior Basin. The coal is horizontal or slightly undulating, with thickness varying from 36 to 72 inches and averaging 50 inches.The method of mining is essentially room-and-pillar with modifications for mechanized sections. The mines produced approximately 1,100,000 tons with 2,328,309 man-hours exposure n 1929 and 900,000 tons with 1,697,436 man-hours exposure in 1930.Through the work of the safety department the entire personnel in the coal mines, as well as in other departments, makes safety an essential part of efficient operation.Both mines are gassy; Dolomite produces about 334,000 cubic feet and Mulga about 919,000 cubic feet of methane every 24 hours.The ventilation maps, two of Dolomite mines (figs. 1 and 2) and one of Mulga (fig. 3) give as much of the details of ventilation as is practicable to put on maps of such scale. As will be seen from these maps there are two main ventilating fans in Dolomite mine and two in Mulga mine and the general direction of the air travel is indicated by long arrows to fan 1 and short arrows to fan 2 in each mine. Each fan has a gas or steam auxiliary drive and each mine has a complete fan and power unit ready for operation in emergency.In Dolomite, recently taken data show that fan 1 exhausts 82,000 cubic feet of air per minute at 3.2-inch water-gage pressure, with an analyzed methane content of 0.15 per cent, and fan 2 exhausts 115,500 cubic feet of air at 3.8-inch pressure and 0.10 per cent of methane. In addition, a Capell fan at No. 2 air shaft is a standby or emergency unit.In Mulga recently taken data show that fan 1 exhausts 83,000 cubic feet of air per minute at 3.0-inch pressure and 0.18 per cent of methane, and fan 3 exhaust 119,000 cubic feet of air per minute at 5.4 inch pressure and 0.35 per cent of methane. Fan 2 at No. 2 shaft is a standby or emergency unit for the Mulga mine.The ventilation is on a split system in both mines. All part split and total returns are measured, sampled, and analyzed weekly, requiring one man two days each week. During December, 1930, 77 samples were collected and analyzed in Mulga and 78 in Dolomite. Two weekly reports covering part of December, 1930, are given here so that they can be studied to show control of ventilation in the Dolomite and Mulga mines. In the event that a split sample shows more than 0.50 per cent of methane, immediate steps are taken to lower the explosive-gas content. The reports follow:"

Mar 1, 1932

By Wilton Johnson

The Bureau of Mines study indicates that land utilized by the mining industry for mineral extraction and processing from 1930 through 1980 amounted to 5.7 million acres, or 0.25 percent of the land mass in the United States. Land reclaimed by the industry during the same period was 2.7 million acres, or 47 percent of the land utilized. Land use by the mining industry includes surface land used for excavation or mining, for waste from underground mining, and for wastes from milling or processing operations. Data on land use for disposal of overburden waste from surface coal mines and on areas affected by subsidence associated with underground mining are included for the period 1930-71 only. The 10 leading States in total land used for mining over the 51-year period were, in decreasing order, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, West Virginia, Florida, Indiana, California, Alabama, and Missouri. Seven mineral commodities accounting for 92 percent of land use are, in decreasing order, bituminous coal, sand and gravel, stone, phosphate rock, clay, copper, and iron ore, all predominately surface mined. Bituminous coal production was responsible for nearly half of the total area utilized. Reclamation of mined lands and waste disposal sites over the reporting period was largely on lands utilized in mining bituminous coal; 75 percent of the land used for bituminous coal production was reclaimed.

Jan 1, 1981

By P. M. Johnson

A design for a laser-powered optical interferometer, using a specimen whose thermal expansion is to be measured as part of the optical system, was conceived and applied in a prototype dilatometer. The object of thin work was the development of an absolute dilatometer capable of use at elevated temperature, particularly above 1,000° C. The prototype has been operated at temperatures exceeding 1,510° C. Results obtained with this device agree within 2.5 percent with the published data for the coefficient of expansion of columbium.

Jan 1, 1968

On July 1, the Bonneville Power Administration announced a 25% power cutback because of lower than normal stream flow. In September, the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) announced plans to shut down one 23,000-ton-per-year potline at its Vancouver, Wash., primary aluminum smelter. Alcoa also announced that the last of four potlines at its Point Comfort, Tex., primary aluminum smelter would be restarted in October. A new 3-year contract was signed and workers at three Alcan Aluminum Ltd. primary aluminum smelters in Canada returned to work. It was estimated that it would take about 3 months before the smelters were operating at full capacity.

Jan 1, 1979

By Kenneth D. Winters

This Bureau of Mines report presents a Fortran IV computer program for the structural analysis of (1) protective canopies used in underground mines to protect equipment operators from roof falls and (2) rollover protective structures (ROPS) used in surface mines to protect equipment operators during vehicle overturn accidents. The program, entitled PLASTIC CANOPY, permits rapid and inexpensive calculation of the ultimate strength and deformation characteristics of a canopy for a variety of static loading conditions. The structure is modeled as a series of interconnected beam and/or plate elements. Stresses in, and displacements of, each structural element are computed and printed out at the yield strength of the canopy, at several intermediate load levels between the yield and ultimate strength of the canopy, and at the ultimate strength of the canopy. Other features of the program include prediction of buckling of a beam member under combined axial compression loading and bending, plotting of the input geometry of the structure, and plotting of the deformed shape of the loaded structure. Program description, input instructions, program listing, and four example problems are included.

Jan 1, 1979