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By R. F. Zaffarano

Reservoir oil in the Greater Aneth area, Utah, part of the Paradox basin, was studied to detect variation in oil characteristics within the reservoir and to determine its relation to age of accumulation and fluid equilibrium. At least three subsurface oil samples were obtained from each of the four largest of five field divisions comprising a producing area of 45,000 acres. Height of the oil column in the Pennsylvanian Desert Creek zone is about 230 ft. In general, the oil characteristics were found to be uniform across the area, and averages were developed for use in engineering applications. Average saturation pressure was 1,780 psia; the oil was undersaturated at the initial reservoir pressure, 2,200 psia. Variation in saturation pressure shows a lack of complete fluid equilibrium and continuing diffusion of solution gas from the main body of the reservoir to two extensions linked by narrow arms. By assuming early accumulation, the time involved in this diffusion process was calculated to be about the same as the age of the reservoir formation. Cause of the concentration of gas in the main body is attributed to differential entrapment during accumulation of oil and gas from an exterior source.

Jan 1, 1963

By M. E. Volin

The Smuggler is one of the mines in the Aspen district, located the central part of Pitkin County, Colo. It was first examined in July 1943 by C. R. Wilfloy, former mining engineer of the Bureau of Mines at Salt Lake City, Utah, in, company with the lessees, R. D. Rohlfing of Aspen and J. W. Vanderwilt of Denver. The purpose of this examination was to sample a mineralized breccia zone that appeared continuous along the contact between the Leadville and Weber formations. These preliminary samples showed that the zone contains low but significant amounts of lead and zinc and that the minerals are partly oxidized and thus not easily concentrated. The mine was examined again in May 1946 by the senior author and William Herron, one of the present lessees of the property. This examination reviewed the previous sampling and recommended investigations by the Bureau of Mines. Sampling and drilling investigations were conducted by the Bureau from October 1946 to February 1947 and again from August 1947 to April 1948. Aspen is the center of a famous mining district that produced over $102,000,000 in silver and lead ores from 1880 to 1918, when a dispute closed down the mines (fig. 1). All of the workings below the Cowenhoven tunnel in Smuggler Mountain and the lower Durant tunnel in Aspen Mountain have been flooded since that time. The Cowenhoven portal now is caved, and Smuggler Nos. 1 and 2 tunnels are the only accessible workings in Smuggler Mountain. The only operating mine is the Midnight, situated 4 miles south of town at an altitude of 9,700 feet.

Jan 1, 1950

These proceedings consist of papers presented at Bureau of Mines Technology Transfer Seminars in December 1983 for the purpose of disseminating recent advances in mining technology in the area of mine ground control. The Bureau of Mines conducts several of these seminars each year in order to bring the latest results of Bureau research to the attention of the mining industry as quickly as possible.

Jan 1, 1984

Protect mine rescuers from heat-induced stress that drastically cuts their endurance and saps their strength. Approach To prevent exhaustion caused by thermal stress, a rescuer can wear a liquid-cooled hood and vest which absorbs heat, thereby reducing the heat-induced strain on the rescuer's heart and circulatory system. How It Works Liquid coolant is continuously circulated through a self-contained system in which the coolant is chilled by a heat sink on the wearer's belt. The coolant, which is a mixture of alcohol and water, is pumped from the heat sink to bladders inside the hood and vest where it absorbs body heat. After absorbing heat In the hood and vest areas, the coolant returns to the heat sink where it is rechilled by passing through a tube coiled around a steel can containing a block of ice. To adjust the temperature of coolant leaving the heat sink unit, a valve can be operated by the wearer, causing part of the flow to bypass the coil. A small pump and a rechargeable battery are also part of the assembly.

Jan 1, 1979

By Harold M. Smith

Natural gas has been used as a fuel and source of energy almost from its discovery, but its use as a chemical raw material may be said to have begun in 1918, when Brooks and Humphrey3/ showed. presence of alcohols in the diluted acid oil obtained by the sulfuric acid-treatment of cracked petroleum distillates. However, development of the utilization of natural gas for chemical syntheses was slow, partly because erroneous ideas existed regarding the nonreactivity of tine hydrocarbons composing natural gas. Data accumulated by petroleum chemists throughout the world, particularly since about 1930, have shown that these hydrocarbons will react when activated by the effects of heat, pressure, chemical reagents, and light; also that the reactions can be made to proceed of practicable speeds and to provide good yields of useful products with moderate operating conditions, especially if catalysts are employed. As those results became known, the possibility of a synthetic organic chemical industry based upon these reactions became apparent, and today this industry is large and growing rapidly in importance. In this paper the story of the manufacture of chemical products from natural gas is told simply in graphic form. The industry is developing so rapidly that soma products may have been omitted, but every effort has been made to include all that are important or likely to become so. The difficulty of keeping information of this tape up to date is shown by reference to an information circular4/ or, the sore subject published by the Bureau of Mines in 1930, in which the important products are shown on a single chart, where as five charts are employed for the cane purpose at present.

Jan 1, 1940

By R. C. Corey

GERMANIUM is an element that has come into widespread use in the electronics industry in recent, years. So far this increasing demand has been, met by ample supply: however, the future balance is uncertain, and the need has been recognized to discover additional domestic sources of germanium. This investigation was conducted to study the possibility of obtaining a potential supply of germanium from coal or coal ash. It has been known for some time that coal contains germanium; the discovery that By ash from coal-fired boilers often contains appreciably more germanium than the original coal suggested the possibility that coal ash might be an abundant and economical source of this element. In this study the concentration of germanium was determined in numerous samples of coal and ash. A number of miscellaneous waste materials also were examined in the course of the investigation; the results are reported as a matter of general interest. The methods and equipment employed are discussed in detail. Sample-preparation and analytical techniques are described in the appendix. Spectrographic analyses were made on a total of 639 samples, including coal, coal ash, slap ash from lignite and peat, wood ash, and various inorganic materials. Qualitative analyses were run on all samples, and quantitative determinations were made on those samples that contained enough germanium to be measured by this method The lower limit at which germanium can be determined quantitatively by spectrographic analysis is 50 parts per million (p. p. m.), but concentrations of less than 20 p. p. m. can be detected qualitatively.

Jan 1, 1959

By Frank E. Cash

Data on the occident experience of the pebble-phosphate industry in Florida for 1937 and 1938 are combined in this report with statistics for the 7-year period 1930-36, inclusive, which were published in Information Circulars 69174/ and 69685/. The periodic publication of such data enables the pebble-phosphate industry, as well as other industries, to consider relative hazards, compare experience, and thereby help to prevent accidents. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Accident data ere furnished by the following; operating companies: Amalgamated Phosphate Co., Brewster; American Agricultural Chemical Co., Pierce; Coronet Phosphate Co., Plant City; International Agricultural Corporation, Mulberry; Phosphate Mining Co., Nichols; Southern Phosphate Corporation, Bartow; and Swift & Co. Fertilizer Works, Bartow.

Jan 1, 1940

By R. E. Morgan

This publication presents abstracts of articles and investigations pertaining to the utilization of fly ash. The terms "fly ash" and "flue. ash," as' used in most of the papers, refer to the ash from pulverized-coal firing collected by electrostatic precipitators or mechanical collectors. Several investigators do not define the material on which they report beyond calling it fly ash, but they probably refer to the fine material resulting from burning pulverized coal. A few of the papers report on investigations involving not only the use of fly ash but boiler slag as well. These can be identified by the title of the articles. Bibliographical information and the abstracts are arranged according to the date the papers were published, with the most recent listed first. With the continually increasing use of pulverized-coal firing, profitable disposal of the fly ash is becoming a problem of greater importance to many utility and industrial companies. Also, in recent years, the public demand for cleaner air, and the more highly efficient fly-ash collectors available have resulted in the collection of a greater percentage of the fly ash produced. The solution to better utilization of fly ash has, therefore, been the object of research for some years.

Jan 1, 1952

By William L. Crentz

Late in the nineteenth century en active coal-mining industry was begun in the Lower Freeport bed near Reynoldsville, Pa., where the bed thickened to more than 10 feet in places . The coal was readily accepted as an excellent steam fuel. Much of the thick coal his been depleted, but there are many areas where the deposit averages about 14 feet in thickness. As the more desirable mining sites were worked out in the Lower Freeport bed, other beds were exposed from which will come the county's major cowl production in future. The Lower Freeport bed is still the most important bed in Jefferson County from a production standpoint. The Lower Kittanning bed is second. Sporadic mining is being done in the Upper Freeport, Upper Kittanning, Middle Kittanning, Clarion, and Brookville beds. Strip mining has permitted recovery of much coal that could not be mined profitably by conventional underground methods.

Jan 1, 1953

The United States Bureau of Mines frequently receives requests for information regarding the details of its organization and the nature of its activities. In response to such an inquiry a series of articles outlining the work of the bureau as a whole and of its different divisions was prepared and published in the United States Daily, Washington, D. C., during November, 1929. These articles are reprinted here in the hone that they may assist in giving the public a more complete understanding of the aims and purposes of the bureau and the methods by which it is laboring for the attainment of safer conditions and more efficient methods in American mineral industries. An index of these articles, with the dates of 'their publication in the United States Daily, is given below.

Jan 1, 1930

By Charles B. Carpenter

When a drilling well strikes a horizon in which there is a large volume of petroleum or natural gas under high pressure, danger of a blowout with disastrous results is imminent unless proper precautionary measures are taken. The history of oil-swell drilling has been marked by many blow-outs and wild wells, some of which-have caught fire and burned for long periods. Such incidents nearly always make headline news, but ordinarily few persons realize that what to them is an interesting newspaper item may entail great financial loss to the operator and frequently loss of life or personal injury to members of the drilling crew and others in the vicinity of the well. The blow-out, wild well, and crater are dreaded specters to every thoughtful person in the oil industry because of danger to life and property, underground damage to surrounding wells, dissipation of reservoir energy, and waste of irreplaceable natural resources that blow to the air or migrate to barren formations. Every operator drilling in high-pressure fields must be on the alert always to forestall any conditions that may lead to a blow-out, and his vigilance must not cease until a well is completed and oil, gas, or both are flowing to storage or market.

Jan 1, 1937

By Clyde L. Brown

The ignition source of fires and explosions in coal mines is sometimes difficult to explain because resulting widespread destruction often erases valuable evidence that might reveal the cause. However, through years of experience, investigators have been able to piece together enough evidence to establish the reasons and, thereby, have been equipped to recommend corrective or preventative measures. The pattern of hazards is not constant. It changes with the development of new practices and new equipment. Important among the new hazards to coal mining are those introduced by electricity. In addition to the dangers of electric shock, fires and explosions from heat and arcs, and premature blasts, certain others have developed as a result of stray electric currents from direct-current traction systems. The conventional direct-current power-distribution system in coal mines is conducive to electrolysis damage to mine tracks, metallic pipelines, grounded power conductors, and structures in a position to become conductors of stray currents. The voltage drop resulting from power demand on intentionally grounded power conductors and accidental grounds on insulated conductors are common sources of stray currents in coal mines. Uncontrolled electric cur-rents flowing through the earth and metallic structures can be a menace, and these contribute to the estimated $6,000,000,000 annual loss caused by corrosion. The purpose of this publication is to discuss some of the electrolysis hazards in the coal-mining industry and to outline corrective measures to alleviate them.

Jan 1, 1962

By William P. Harris

The Lincoln Terminal System is described as a device with the capability to deliver technical information, monitor student performance, and assure learning in industrial training. An experimental unit, the LTS-3S, was constructed and delivered to the Bureau of Mines with appropriate lesson material for a test of feasibility and acceptability of this form of training in the mining environment. Operations were conducted at two mine maintenance schools. The overall results were that (1) there was a substantial improvement between tests before and after self-training on the LTS, (2) students found this an acceptable way to learn, and (3) reaction by training personnel and supervisors was favorable toward the feasibility and advantages of using the LTS in the mining environment. Transfer of the LTS to industry depends on availability of reliable units and adequate lesson material. The requirements for authors of training materials were established based on advice from mine training experts, formal analysis of lesson development procedures, and experience from efforts in lesson development at Lincoln Laboratory-It was concluded that experienced mine training instructors were best qualified to proceed effectively and economically to format instructional material for the LTS, if supported by well-designed facilities and services. Discussion with mining experts confirmed the desirability of generating training materials and delivering instruction at distributed locations to meet local training needs and in direct support of industrial operations.

Jan 1, 1975

By C. E. Brechtel

This project describes the design and testing of large face ventilation systems for oil shale mining. A design data base was generated by reviewing general industry practice, oil shale industry planning, and technical literature. Conceptual designs for seven different systems were developed and evaluated for suitability. A large, free-standing, jet fan and reversible fan with rigid duct were selected for fabrication and testing. The two systems were field tested in a dead-end heading 55 ft wide by 30 ft high and 320 ft long. System performance was optimized using measurements of air flow direction and air velocity. Total system performance was then measured using SF6 tracer gas released to simulate blast fumes, hot diesel exhaust, methane layering and methane from a blasted muckpile. Field testing indicated that both systems delivered similar performance. The jet fan offered some clear advantages because of its mobility, ease of oper-ation and lower power requirement. It also offered some functional advantages in ventilating for methane because of it high average velocity.

Jan 1, 1985

This manual provides instructions for installing, operating, and maintaining a protective canopy on the Joy Mfg. Co. shuttle car. These instructions are based upon actual installations made in the mine on two shuttle cars, model 21SC-2E. The parts list and engineering drawings for the protective canopy are included at the end of the manual. And a discussion of some alternative design concepts is also included. The manual can also be used for retrofitting other shuttle cars with similar protective canopies. Skilled mechanics can determine if the instructions hexein would he applicable to the other shuttle cars and can determine any necessary modifications if they are not.

Jan 1, 1973

By Felix duBreuil

The present sampling procedure for evaluating the rock dusting conditions in a coal mine is time consuming. This study considers means by which this procedure could be simplified. Surveys were conducted in six coal mines in Pennsylvania to determine the in¬combustible content of the deposited dust. Some 2,000 samples were analyzed and statistically evaluated. It is suggested that the mean incombustible content could be obtained with fewer samples and smaller samples without greatly increasing the sampling error.

Jan 1, 1972

By Everard Leland

This paper, describing the mining practices at the Pilares mine, Pilares de Nacozari, Sonora, Mexico, is one of a series being prepared by the Bureau of Mines on mining practices, methods, and costs in the various mining districts. At present (1930) practically all the mineral production from the Nacozari district is from the Pilares mine of the Moctezuma Copper Co., a subsidiary of the Phelps Dodge Corporation. The ore is mined for its copper but contains associated silver in small quantities.

Jan 1, 1930

By G. W. Birge

Carbonizing properties of the principal coal beds of Perry County, Ky., are described in this Bureau of Mines report. Seven samples, representing the Hindman, Flag, Haddix, and Fire Clay beds, were carbonized by the Bureau of Mines-American Gas Association (BM-AGA) method, and yields of products and physical properties of cokes were determined. Carbonizing properties of blends of Flag and Fire Clay coals, with 20 and 30 percent Pocahontas No. 3 low-volatile coal from McDowell County, W. Va., also were determined. Expanding properties of the Flag and Fire Clay coals and their blends were determined in the Bureau of Mines sole-heated oven. The Perry County coals tested are high-volatile A bituminous in rank and, with the exception of the Hindman-bed sample, which contained excessive sulfur, were chemically suitable for metallurgical use. The three coals tested in the sole-heated oven contracted less than normal for Appalachian coals of similar rank, Blending the Fire Clay and Flag coals with 20 or 30 percent low-volatile coal increased coke strength appreciably but increased the expansion beyond normal limits for industrial blends.

Jan 1, 1962

By Lulie H. Crump

Salient information on reserves, production, and consumption of fuels and energy by State is summarized in this Bureau of Mines publication. Reserve and production data are shown for each of the fossil fuels (coal, crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas) and for uranium. The consumption data of each of the major consuming sectors (household-commercial, industrial, transportation, electric power, and miscellaneous) are broken down by energy source (coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower, and nuclear). In addition, total energy consumption in the Nation in 1974 is compared with consumption in 1973 and 1975 (preliminary data).

Jan 1, 1977

By James M. Spear

Sample results suggest the only mineral resources in the study areas are placer gold deposits along the South Fork Kern River in the Woodpecker RARE II unit (fig. 1). These deposits, in Rockhouse Basin, total 4.5 Figure 1.--NEAR HERE. million cu yds (3.4 million cu m) of indicated subeconomic gold resources in four deposits of "older" gravel. Gold value in samples averages $0.36 per cu yd ($0.47 par cu m) and is as much as $4.44 per cu yd 1/. Cost of mining the gravel and recovering the placer gold is estimated to be more than $2 per cu yd ($2.62 per cu m) for a deposit of this size and type. Additional inferred subeconomic placer gold resources with similar grade probably occur in four other deposits of "older" gravel on which no mining claims were located. Placer gold occurrences on upper Trout Creek contain gold worth as much as $4.50 per cu yd ($5.88 per cu m) 1/. Average grade is much lower, and only about 1,000 cu yds remain (760 cu m). These occurrences do not constitute a resource, but may attract hobbyists not dependent upon making a profit.

Jan 1, 1982