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By W. H. Ode

Low-temperature distillation tests at 200°, 350°, and 500° C. were made on a subbituminous coal from Boulder County, Colo., and a subbituminous coal from Weld County, Colo., in connection with a survey of carbonizing properties of American coals and investigations of their chemical and physical properties. The coal represented by the sample from Weld County was reported to give off combustible volatile matter at unusually low temperatures When placed on a fuel bed. The yields of tar and oil and the composition of the gas from this coal, as obtained in the distillation tests, did not confirm this report. These yields and the gas composition of the Weld. County coal differed but little from those obtained from the coal from Boulder County. Both coals yielded tar and gas in amounts considered to be normal for coals of their rank.

Jan 1, 1937

By Manuel Gomez

A computerized, interpolative mapping technique based on the moving average method was shown to be adequate to estimate the between-drill-hole values of coal-seam variables. The forecasting of the spatial distribution of coal properties along the seam was of three kinds: (1) Estimation of the variable of interest on a regional basis from widely spaced sample points, (2) prediction of coal properties for product control from closely spaced data, and (3) prediction of coal properties for specified benches, or layers of the coal seam, from closely spaced sample points. Estimates obtained with the computerized, interpolative mapping procedure were useful in the delineation of seam thickness, elevation, and overburden and in the estimation of sulfur and ash concentrations during the early phases of exploration. This grid interpolation technique was found adequate to adjust between-drill-hole values for trends resulting from the combined effect of several variables on a measured response. This information, coupled with statistical and geologic data that can be obtained in the exploration phase of mining, enlarges the information base available for coal-mine development planning, energy forecasts, and environmental control associated with fossil fuel power generation.

Jan 1, 1972

By Paul S. Lewis

The Bureau of Mines hydrogenated coals of different rank that had been irradiated with either x-rays or gamma rays. Lignite, high-volatile A and C bituminous, and low-volatile bituminous coals were exposed to l billion roent¬gens of gamma-ray radiation; specimens of high-volatile A and C bituminous coals from other sources received 6 million roentgens of X-ray radiation. Irradiated and unirradiated control specimens of those coals were hydrogenated in autoclave experiments at (6,000-p.s.i. final pressure and 400° C. with retention times of 15, 30, or 60 minutes depending on the coal rank and catalytic treatment. Comparison of results from irradiated specimens with those from the control experiments showed that the radiation had no beneficial effect on the coal. High-volatile C bituminous coal may have been affected by radiation more than the other coals. One billion roentgens appeared to reduce the amount of coal converted to liquids and gases by about 10 pct., and 6 million roentgens reduced it by about 6 pct. then catalyzed with tin. In all other cases, the conversion of irradiated coal was either reduced by as much as 4 pct. or was essentially the sank as that obtained with unirradiated coal. Irradiation during hydrogenation nay be effective for increasing the reactivity of coal and should be investigated; further work with coals irradiated prier to hydrogenation is not recommended.

Jan 1, 1962

By R. J. Matetic, D. Elsworth

The objective of this U.S. Bureau of Mines hydrologic-subsidence investigation was to evaluate the effects of longwall mining on the local ground water regime through field monitoring and numerical modeling. Field data were obtained from multiple-position borehole extensometers (MPBX's) that were used to measure subsurface displacements. Survey monuments were installed to measure mining-induced surface deformations. Numerous drawdown and recovery tests were performed to characterize hydrologic properties of the overburden strata. Coreholes were drilled above the study area to determine lithologic and strength characteristics of the overburden strata using the rock samples collected. Electronic recorders were installed on all monitoring wells to continuously monitor ground water levels in coordination with mining of the longwall panels. A combined finite element model of the deformation of overlying strata, and it's influence on ground water flow was used to define the change in local and regional water budgets. The predicted effects of the postmining ground water system determined by the model correlated well with field data collected from the field site. Without an infiltration rate added to the model, a static decrease of 3.0 m (10 ft) in water level would occur due to mining of both longwall panels and if an infiltration rate was inputted in the model, no predicted long-term effects would occur to the ground water system.

Jan 1, 1995

By C. A. Alien

The increasing activity in oil shale has had a tendency to direct the attention of the industry to any substance from which gasoline or other oils can be secured . Cannel coal for many years has been known, as a source of oil and formerly it was the only substance from which kerosene was obtained . The name of coal oil was given to kerosene because it was derived from cannel coal before any flowing wells were brought in in the United States . In an isolated region in Southern Utah there is an unusually thick and clean bed of cannel coal which laboratory experiments indicate can be made to yield about seventy gallons of oil to the ton . This coal was first described in Bulletin 341 of the United States Geological Survey under the title of Colob coal field . This field lies at the western and southern base of the Colcb plateau and extends from the town of Cedar City southward to Kanarra and then southeastward to the town of Mount Carmel . Cedar City is 35 miles south of east from Lund on the Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad which is the nearest railroad point . Mount Carmel is about 90 miles south of Marysvale , on the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad , which is the nearest railroad point from the eastern end of the field . The Colob coal occurs in Lower Cretaceous rocks and a number of wagon mines have been opened on the seam in the vicinity of Cedar City , Kanarra , and Mt. Carmel , but between these places the field has been very little prospected . The cannel coal , so far as known at present , is limited to a small area on the head waters of the north fork of the Virgin River in Township 39 and 40 South , Range 9 East . In this region it occurs as a bed 5-1 /2 feet thick over which lies a layer of bituminous coal 2 feet and 5 inches thick .

Feb 1, 1921

By W. P. Yant

[At the majority of mines where flame safety lamps are used either as working lights or as a means of detecting gas, no check it made on this condition of the various parts of the lamp and their assembly other than a visual ink inspection. Although this inspection should be made carefully in view of tae serious consequence that may follow Vie use of a faulty lama, In many instances the inspection is of a perfunctory nature. The Bureau of Mines has therefore designed a small box or gallery for testing lamps for defects and improper assembly before they are taken into the mine. The test simulates the condition when a lamp is extinguished by its introduction into an explosive mixture and the operator attempts to relight the wick while the lamp contains the explosive mixture. This test is more rigorous than merely subjecting a lighted lamp to an explosive methane-air mixture. In the latter test the products of combustion tend to blanket the propagation of flame from within the lamp to the exterior, especially if there are defects at the top of the gauzes. Moreover, when the lighted lamp is subjected to an explosive methane-air mixture the methane builds up slowly within the lamp until the lower inflammable limit is attained, whereupon a feeble explosion occurs within. If the nonlighted lamps is first filled with the methane-air mixture that gives the maximum violence and is than ignited, the dampening effect of products of combustion is obviated and the strain on defects is]

Jan 1, 1930

By O. Terichow

A pendulum sclerometer designed by the Bureau of Mines is described. Its method of operation is given, along with the results of tests made on representative mineral samples of Mohs' hardness scale to determine the applicability of the device for research on rock testing. The sclerometer hardness values obtained from the tests indicated that reproducibility and accuracy were good. A quantitative comparison of the pendulum hardness values with microhardness and surface energy values published by other investigators showed good agreement on minerals with Mohs' hardness numbers of 2 to 9.

Jan 1, 1967

RI 9527. Effective Hazard Recognition Training Using a Latent-Image, Three-Dimensional Slide Simulation Exercise, by E.A. Barrett and K.M. Kowalski. Pittsburgh, PA: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, 1995. NTIS stock number: PB95-170379. Rl 9531). Computer Modeling and Analysis of The Greens Creek Mine, Admiralty Island, AK, by MJ. Beus and T.J. Orr. Spokane. WA. -U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines. 1995. NTIS stock number: PB95-176418. RI 9600. Application of Field Measurements and Computer Modeling to Evaluate Deep Mine Shaft Stability in Northern Idaho, by M, J. Beus, T. J. Orr and J. K Whyatt. Spokane, WA: U.S. Department of the Inferior. Bureau of Minus. 1996. NTIS stock number: PB96-140181. [ ]

Jan 1, 1995

By John R. Shattuck

Preliminary examination of the McCormick chromite property was made by the Federal Geological Survey and the Bureau of Mines during the spring and summer of 1943. In October 1943 an exploratory project was undertaken by the Bureau in cooperation with the Survey and was completed in February 1944.The urgent need during the war for high-grade lump chromite such as produced at the McCormick mine, was one of the pertinent reasons for the project. The McCormick mine is situated about 12 miles southwest of the town of Sonora, in the foothill belt of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Tuolumne County, Calif. The chromite occurs as irregularly shaped lenses in masses of dunite contained in a steeply dipping, sheared, serpentinized zone of peridotite, near a contact with granodiorite.

Jan 1, 1949

By Elizabeth G. Baglin

Research was conducted by the Bureau of Mines to determine the feasibility of using electrokinetic densification to dewater Bayer process red mud, magnetic black mud prepared by pressure digestion of red mud in the presence of ferrous sulfate, and magnetic black mud formed by simu-lated Bayer digestion of Jamaican bauxite with added ferrous sulfate. Tests showed that the solids content of presettled muds could be increased from 25 pct to approximately 40 to 48 pct by gravity draining followed by electrodewatering for approximately 48 h. Electrodewatering may not be practical because of increased reagent and processing costs and because the muds must be thoroughly washed prior to electrodewatering to remove dissolved ions and decrease mud conductivities.

Jan 1, 1988

By E. K. Kleespies

The Bureau of Mines determined the kinetics of the reaction of titanium-iron alloys with titanium trichloride dissolved in sodium chloride to provide a basis for understanding the reactions occurring in metallurgical processes involving reduction of the metal halides or alloy refining in fused salts. The rate of the heterogeneous reaction was determined between titanium-iron alloys and titanium trichloride to elucidate the effects of alloy composition on the rate. Measurements were made in an inert atmosphere with a high-temperature thermobalance using high-purity reactants. The rates of the reactions were about 1 x 10-5 g Ti/cm2-sec, and the reaction was phase-boundary controlled. Titanium alloys of the body-centered cubic beta structure reacted faster than those with the hexagonal close-packed alpha structure. The inter-metallic compound, TiFe, reacted very slowly, whereas TiFe2 was inert. Alloys containing above 89 atomic percent iron gained weight by reacting with titanium species in the salt solution and depositing titanium in the alloy. The effect of TiCl3 concentration on the reaction rate was determined from 2 to 12 weight-percent TiC13 and at various alloy compositions. At high iron contents, above 50 atomic percent, the TiC13 concentration effect was small. At lower iron contents, the TiC13 concentration effect was greater for beta-crystalline alloys than for alpha-crystalline alloys. The temperature dependence of the reaction between titanium alloy containing 8.7 atomic percent iron and titanium trichloride was measured over the temperature range 1,062° to 1,220° K, and the energy of activation was 7.7 kilocalories for the reaction.

Jan 1, 1967

By Manuel Gomez

A general prediction model for the Hardgrove grindability index was constructed from 735 coal samples using the proximate analysis, heating value, and sulfur content. The coals used to develop the general model ranged in volatile matter from 12.8 to 49.2 percent, dry basis, and had grindability indexes ranging from 35 to 121. A restricted model applicable to bituminous coals having grindabilities in the 40 to 110 range was developed from the proximate analysis and the petrographic composition of the coal. The prediction of coal grindability within a single seam was also investigated. The results reported support the belief that mechanical properties of the coal are related to both chemical and petrographic factors of the coal. The mechanical properties of coal may be forecast in advance of mining because the variables used as input to the prediction models can be measured from drill core samples collected during exploration.

Jan 1, 1970

Part Two of this report is based upon six working memoranda prepared during the first half of 1972 at an early stage in our work for the Bureau of Mines. This work presents preliminary performance estimates of baseband voice and narrowband through-the-earth electromagnetic communications systems of principal interest to the Bureau for operational/ emergency mine communications applications. The calculations were prepared to obtain early indications of the feasibility and governing parameters of such communications systems. They are based on limited, but pertinent, coal mine electromagnetic noise data acquired to-date by Bureau of Mines contractors; on theoretical signal-attenuation characteristics for two transmitter antenna types of present interest to the Bureau and on semi-empirical models which describe the intelligibility of voice communications as a function of the frequency variations of the signal-to-noise ratio across the voiceband. This work examines the cases of baseband voice and narrowband communications for uplink and downlink transmissions, for frequencies up to 3kHz. Downlink transmissions are via a horizontal wire antenna, and uplink transmissions via a vertical-axis loop antenna, for typical mine depths of 300, 600, and 1000 feet. Representative coal-mine overburden conductivities of 10-2 mhos/meter (moderate and common) and 10-1 mhos/ meter (high) were used; the former figure for both voice and narrowband calculations and the latter for narrowband calculations only. Examples of high, moderate, and low, surface and subsurface, harmonic and broadband-impulsive noise conditions were taken from NBS and Westinghouse (WGL) mine noise data, together with examples of high- and low-levels of ELF atmospheric noise taken from M.I.T. Lincoln Laboratory data. The effects of simple voice spectrum shaping techniques on the intelligibility of through-the-earth voice communications are examined, and indexes of intelligibility more broadly based than signal-to-noise ratio are discussed. Finally, a means of overcoming the affects of 60 Hz noise and its harmonics which are the largest contributors to typical audio frequency in-mine noise, is suggested. These feasibility calculations are not intended to serve as definitive and complete treatments, but as a starting point: to establish first-order estimates of the magnitude and variability of transmitter power requirements under different noise, overburden conductivity, and mine depth conditions; to identify relationships, conditions, or frequencies that are likely to limit or enhance system performance; to reveal items requiring further investigation and data still required; and to suggest practical methods for optimizing system performance. These objectives were met by the calculations. Simple experiments to support these calculations can and should be carried out; together with more detailed investigations of specific modulation, coding, noise-suppression, voice-compression and signal-conditioning techniques, aimed at producing through-the-earth operational/emergency mine-communication systems that are not only effective, but practical and economically sound.

Jan 1, 1974

By D. E. Anders

Saturated hydrocarbons from 60 selected samples of a 2,300-foot Green River Formation oil-shale core (Piceance Creek Basin, Colo.) were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography techniques. Emphasis was placed upon the distribution of normal alkanes and 15 key-branched and cyclic alkanes. The latter compounds consisted of the C15, C16, C18, C19, and C20 chain isoprenoids, the 5-a and 5-ß C27, C28, and C29 steranes, three C30 pentacyclic triterpanes, and perhydro-ß-carotene. The results showed definite evidence of maturation of both the n-alkanes and the branched and cyclic alkanes; however, most if not all of the changes were limited to the indigenous soluble extract and were not the result of additional soluble extract generation from the insoluble kerogen. Source material and environmental variations were important factors in some of the observed differences in the branched plus cyclic alkane compositions.

Jan 1, 1973

By A. A. Campoli

Retreat pillar mining concentrates stresses on workings directly outby gob areas, which can result in coal mine bumps. The development of bump-control design criteria by the U.S. Bureau of Mines was furthered by data from a novel bump control mining method at the Olga Mine, McDowell County, WY. The pillar splitting, retreat mining system induced large pillar pressure increases and roof-to-floor con-vergence. Roof-to-floor convergence monitoring proved to be a valuable tool in evaluating the pillar splitting mining method and localized destressing techniques. Maximum strain energy storage in chain pillars appears to have occurred just prior to the first of four split cuts. At that point a 15-ft-wide, highly fractured perimeter confined the core of the 55-by 70-ft pillars, permitting the pillar core to support tremendous pressures. Splitting the chain pillars into two 17.5-by 70-ft wings removed the confinement load, resulting in pillar yield. Thus, the pillar splitting mining method successfully redistributed the weight of the roof away from the pillar line. Shot fire and auger drilling destressing techniques aug-mented the pillar splitting mining method by redistributing the weight of the roof.

Jan 1, 1989

By F. N. Kissell, C. D. Litton

This study ranks the factors impacting survival during a coal mine fire. It bas already been established that reducing time delays is the most important factor in saving lives. Consequently every event during afire is measured in terms d its duration, and the effectiveness d any action taken to improve survival is measured in terms d the time it saves. By ranking actions according to time saved these authors found that a comhination d actions was most effective. This combination was: • installing lifelines. • moderately decreasing air leakage and • decreasing the fire growth rate. Changing ventilation leakage alone was much less effective, as was altering the CO (carbon monoxide), sensor alarm threshold. These results confirm an earlier fault-tree study on escape from mine fires. The fault-tree study bad shown that, with the exception d delays, single factor changes have minimal impact. Significant reductions in fire fatalities only take place with multiple factor changes.

By Robert H. Merrill

A method of determining the strength of a mine roof layer in place is described in this report. The method was tested on a limestone roof layer 50 feet wide, 100 feet long, and 20 inches thick. In place measurements were accomplished by introducing air under pressure into a separation between the layer and the overlying roof, and as pressure was increased, the corresponding strain and deflection of the roof layer were measured until the roof failed. The ultimate strength of the roof agreed with the tensile strength of the roof rock (modulus of rupture) as determined in the laboratory; the modulus of elasticity as measured in place did not agree with the laboratory-determined values; the deflection and tensile strain in the layer in place showed good agreement with the theory of a body-loaded beam clamped at both ends. This procedure for determining the strength of a mine-roof layer is safer and less costly than successively widening a roof to failure. For example, it would have been necessary to mine the room to a width of 114 feet and a length of 228 feet to produce failure in this roof layer. The method is not necessarily limited to limestone; any thinly bedded rock type can be tested by this procedure when there is an open parting over the mined area.

Jan 1, 1958

To provide coal operators with an easy-to-use stress control design procedure to minimize coal mine bumps during room-and-pillar retreat mining conducted with available continuous mining machine technology. Approach The goal of this U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) re¬search was to facilitate safe and efficient room-and-pillar retreat mining of bump-prone coalbeds by limiting coalbed stress adjacent to expanding gob areas through variation of section layouts. The first step was design of total-extraction pillars and their associated pillar-extraction plans. The second step was development of a coalbed strength model. The third step was development of stress limit design criteria. The fourth and final step was development of a methodology to estimate the magnitude and distribution of development and abutment loads apllied to the pillar line. The linear geometry of unlimited-width sections allowed for the accomplishment of step four with the tributary-area and linear shear-angle concepts. Increasing overburden depths required limited-width sections separated by barrier pillars to control stress within total-extraction panels. The accomplishment of step four with limited-width section designs required prediction of abutment load distributions for rectangular gobs and apportionment of these loads over mixed pillar sizes. A parametric study of the complicated interaction of various combinations of overburden depths, total-extraction panel widths, and abutment pillar widths was conducted with the USBM-developed boundary-element program MULSIM/NL.

Jan 1, 1995

By Oliver W. Keener

This paper describing the methods and costs of mining at the Hartley-Grantham mine of the Century Zinc Co. in the Tri-State Lead and Zinc district is one of a series being prepared by the United States Bureau of Mines can mining practices, methods, and costs in the various mining districts of the United States. LOCATION, HISTORY, AND GEOLOGY The Hartley-Grantham Mine is located just outside the city limits of Baxter Springs, Kans., as shown in Figure 1. A plan of the mine is given in Figure 2, and Figure is a cross section through A - A of Figure 2.

Jan 1, 1930

By T. A. Lang

The objective was to develop a Program Plan of analytical studies and tests for determining (1) the optimum installation tension of a coal mine roof bolt, (2) the most valid bolt support theory or theories, and (3) the most valid roof failure theory or theories. On this basis a comprehensive literature search was made and significant material dealing with coal mine roof behavior, roof bolting and roof support was collected, reviewed, classified and analyzed. Emphasis was given to the influence of rock reinforcement on the control of deformation, stress field modification and mine roof stability. An assessment was made of the effect of various parameters including bolt tension, bolt pattern and time of installation, on the effectiveness of rock reinforcement systems, and equations developed for bolt tension as a function of these parameters, and rock properties. From these studies, a major program plan of tests and studies was developed for verifying and validating the most tenable theories of roof behavior and roof support and for determining optimum bolt installation tension.

Jan 1, 1979