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By R. A. Cattell

With the activities of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Division geared chiefly to problems directly connected with the war effort , the emphasis of the work under oil and gas development and production was to make engineering studies of selected reservoirs for the Petroleum Administration for War , to determine the extractable quantities of components in them, and to study the characteristics of these components for use in the manufacture of aviation gasoline and other products . The needs of the Petroleum Administration for War and the operators for specific data from gas - condensate fields were fulfilled , and , in addition , engineering data along lines of a forward - looking program of research on reservoir behavior were collected , which should be of great value in the postwar period . It is planned to publish many of these data as soon as conditions permit . The work of the Secondary Recovery Section had as its objectives in- . creasing the rate of production of crude petroleum and , which is more important , preventing the premature abandonment of wells in " stripper " and marginal According to the National Survey of Stripper Wells by the National Stripper Well Association in cooperation with the Interstate Oil Compact Commission , a total of 67,460 stripper wells was abandoned from January 1 , 1935 , to July 1 , 1942 , inclusive , with an estimated loss in proved reserves of approximately 216 million barrels . This survey also indicates that over 1.2 billion barrels of oil would be recovered by primary production from more than 290,000 stripper wells then in operation , and an additional 2.5 billion barrels of oil could be recovered from them by secondary production methods . The work of the Chemistry and Refining Section was oriented towards the optimum utilization of crude oils in the manufacture of aviation fuels for spark-ignition and jet - propulsion engines . The work involved intensive studies of superfractionation , hydrocarbon analysis , and the engine testing of fuels . Particular attention was given to the effect of sulfur compounds in the crude oils and in the fuels made from them . The research on thermodynamics is concerned with the experimental determination of precise and accurate values of the fundamental thermodynamic constants of pure hydrocarbons and related compounds . The data obtained in these investigations will be utilized for devising and improving chemical processes in which petroleum hydrocarbons are the raw materials . Without such data , much time and expensive material and equipment may be wasted in attempts to obtain reactions under conditions that the laws of thermodynamics rule out of consideration . Thermodynamic data are useful and required in the petroleum industry for calculations of heat balances in the design of furnaces , fractionating towers , and heat- transfer equipment . It is of utmost importance , also , to know the heat requirements of cracking and other chemical reactions so that heat may be supplied or dissipated in the proper proportions . These needs for thermodynamic data are being recognized more and more by petroleum -refining engineers . The responsibility for the production of helium for the Navy , the Army , other governmental agencies and non-Federal users is vested in the Bureau of Mines by an Act of Congress ( 50 Stat . 885 ; 50 U.S.c. 161-166 ) . The Helium Subdivision of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Division continued to meet all demands for helium .

Jun 1, 1949

By J. W. Griflith, P. A. Mack, C. M. Lang, S. Riling

"N-acetyl-beta(B)-D-glucosaminidase is a N-acetyl-beta((B)-D-glucosaminidase enzyme se¬creted by alveolar macrophages in response to phagocytosis of particulate material. Alveolar macrophages participate in the degradation and fibrosis of pulmonary tissue that results in pneumoconiosis. Known quantities of four characterized respirable dusts were bronchoscopically placed into the right caudal lung lobe of macaque monkeys. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples were collected from dust-exposed right lung and unexposed left lung of the same individuals at 2-week intervals for 12 weeks after dust instillation. The samples were tested for N-acetyl-B-D-glucosaminidase activity to determine if the enzyme levels could serve as an indicator of pulmonary injury induced by generic coal dusts when compared to known fibrogenic and nuisance dusts. Installation of generic quartz, anthracite, or TiO2 dusts produced significant elevations of enzyme activity and increased numbers of macrophages in the dust-exposed lobes. Elevations in enzymatic activity and macrophage numbers were greatest in response to generic quartz dust. These results suggest that quantitative levels of N-acetyl-B-D-glucosaminidase activity may be a useful indicator of acute and chronic lung injury following exposure to fibrogenic and nonfibrogenic dusts.IntroductionCoal workers pneumoconiosis (CWP) is an occupational pulmonary disease associated with the inhalation of coal mine dust. An important external factor in the development of CWP is the composition of the respirable coal mine dust. A cause-and-effect relationship exists between coal mine dust and CWP, but it has not been shown that exposure to generic coal dusts will cause CWP [12]. Numerous immunological, biochemical, and cellular changes occur in CWP; however, in this study, only N-acetyl-beta(B)-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase), protein, and alveolar macrophages (AM) will be examined [7, 32, 33]."

Dec 1, 1996

By Mark Sheppard

This p aver is the second of a series recording the results of tests made at various quarries throughout the United States to determine, (1) the relation between the size gradation of feed to, and product from, primary crushers; (2) the particle shape of crushed product; (3) the differences in gradation and particle shape produced by different types of primary crushers; and (4) the differences in gradation and particle shape caused by crushing different kinds of stone. Primary crushing has received comparatively little attention in the technical literature in spite of the fact that the design of the whole crushing plant should be correlated to the performance of the primary crusher.

Jan 1, 1938

By Sidney Katell

This study estimates capital investment, operating costs, and selling prices for four underground bituminous mines producing coal with annual production ranging from 1.06 to 4.99 million tons. It is assumed that the mines have a 20-year life. Wages and union welfare payments are considered as of November 12, 1973, under the Bituminous Wage Agreement of 1971, and costs for material and equipment are based on 1973 indexes. Initial capital investment ranges from $12,540,700 for the 1.06-million-ton-per-year (MM tpy) mine to $44,720,500 for the 4.99 MM tpy mine. Total capital investment ranges from $21,850,700 to $75,693,500 for the same mines. Corresponding selling prices for the coal range from $8.76 to $7.53 per ton, assuming a 12-percent discounted cash flow rate of return after Federal income taxes.

Jan 1, 1974

By Wm. F. Netzeband

The purpose of this paper is to present to the operators, in other districts a detailed description of the ruining method used and the results obtained to exploiting one of the zinc-lead deposits of the Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri district. No. 1. mine is located in the heart of the town of Picher in the extreme northeast corner of Oklahoma. HISTORY The first prospect drilling was done at No. 1 mine late in-1914, and shaft sinking was started early in 1915. Sufficient ore was developed to start construction of the mill in April, 1016, Production begin in August, 1916, and the mine s been producing, except for short periods, to the present time. The property was originally a 40-acre tract, but additional properties have been consolidated with the original one until the mine now covers 200 acres.

Jan 1, 1929

By L. H. Adami

The heats of formation of anhydrous cadmium sulfate, cobalt sulfate, copper sulfate, nickel sulfate, and zinc sulfate were determined by hydrochloric acid solution calorimetry. The values at 298.15° K for formation from the metal, rhombic sulfur, and oxygen gas follow (cal/mole): CdS04J -222.0 ± 0.3; CoS04, -212.0 ± 0.4; CuS04) -183.4 ± 0.6; NiS04, -208.1 ± 0.2; and ZnS04, -233.1 ± 0.2. Corresponding heats of decomposition to form the metal oxide, sulfur dioxide, and oxygen were derived from these results; heats of decomposition to form the metal oxide and sulfur trioxide were also derived.

Jan 1, 1965

By Oren C. Baptist, Carlon S. Land, Eliot J. White

The water sensitivity of the oil - gas - producing sandstones in three fields in the Patrick Draw area of southwestern Wyoming was estimated by laboratory testing . The tests used to estimate sensitivity , which is a measure of the loss of well productivity if the producing formation is invaded by fresh water , are : Porosity ; permeability to gas , water , and brines ; saturation characteristics with air displacing water from the samples and by mercury injection ; and identification of clay minerals by X - ray diffraction . Laboratory results indicate that the degree of water sensitivity of the sands in the Patrick Draw, Table Rock , and Desert Springs fields vary , in that order , from moderately sensitive to highly sensitive . The main cause of the sensitivity appears to be the movement of fine particles in the pores , but the swelling of a small amount of an expandible clay mineral may also contribute to the permeability reduction observed in the samples . Laboratory results further indicate that the permeability of the sands to fresh water is seriously reduced if they are first flushed with sodium chloride brine ; calcium chloride brine is less harmful to the sands than sodium chloride brine . The low original permeability of the oil sand in the Patrick Draw field , together with its moderate sensitivity , indicate that the rate of water injection for the secondary recovery of oil will be low . Limited field experience in two pilot - injection wells confirms this prediction .

Jan 1, 1964

By R. G. Meara, O&apos

The land-pebble district of Florida, which in 1928 supplied 96.7 per cent of the phosphate production of that State and 82 per cent of the domestic requirements of the United States, is centered in Polk and Hillsboro Counties about 30 miles east of Tampa The deposits are unconsolidated sediments occurring as beds of phosphate matrix overlain by a mantle of barren sands and clays. The matrix consists of a mixture of Sand (quartz grains), clay, and phosphate rock in which the coarsest sand is much finer than the coarsest phosphate; that is, the sand is segregated in the fine material. Before the introduction of classifiers the concentration consisted of log washing, and screening at about 20-mesh, which was usually the finest size that could be taken to maintain commercial grade, 66 per cent B. P. L. (bone phosphate of limey or more. When classifiers were introduced some of the fines that had escaped at the head of the washery and some of the minus 20-mesh material isolated during the rushing and formerly lost supplied the feed.

Jan 1, 1931

By R. V. Ramani

This report is volume 1 of an eleven-volume final report for a Grant completed by The Pennsylvania State University for the Bureau of Mines to develop a dynamic general purpose computer simulation model for underground coal mining. The simulator developed under the Grant has a wide range of possible applications in the design and evaluation of underground coal mining systems from the standpoints of health and safety, productivity, and mine environment. The Master Design Simulator consists of nine free-standing function-oriented subsystem models linked together into an integrated, comprehensive model of an entire mining system. The subsystems comprising the Master Design Simulator include geology and reserves, methane generation, roof support, subsidence, production, rail haulage, cost, water generation, and ventilation. This volume of the final report contains a statement of the purpose and scope of work of the Grant, and provides an overview of the Master Design Simulator with a brief description of each subsystem. Also included is a discussion of several areas of application for the simulator.

Jan 1, 1975

By T. E. Gray

This report describes the preparation characteristics of the three significant coal beds in Greene County, Pa. It is one of a series planned to determine which coals are suitable for the production of metallurgical coke, either as mined or after beneficiation. Over 12.5 million tons of coal was produced in Greene County in 1956, of which approximately 10 million tons was cleaned mechanically in 8 cleaning plants. The Bureau of Mines has estimated that 3.5 billion tons of recoverable coal remained in the county as of January 1, 1954.

Jan 1, 1958

By P. A. Cox

Guidelines are provided for the design of explosion-proof electrical enclosures that will meet MSHA certification requirements according to Part 18, Title 30, of the Code of Federal Regulations, and fulfill their intended service underground. The guide covers only those aspects of design which affect enclosure strength, ruggedness, endurance and flame path, i. e., the enclosure ability to properly contain an internal explosion. Internal static and explosion pressures, external impact and thermal heating load are treated as well as the proper selection of materials and welding procedures.

Jan 1, 1985

By Gerald W. Elger

The Federal Bureau of Mines developed a modification in the conventional Kroll process for preparing high - purity hafnium metal . This modification involved the partial replacement of magnesium by sodium in the batch reduction of purified hafnium tetrachloride to sponge metal . The raw tetrachloride was purified either by thermal degassing of the volatile contaminants to the atmosphere or by fused- salt treatment . In the fused- salt treatment , the tetrachloride was contacted with molten alkali chlorides to remove the impurities . The reaction byproducts were removed from the metal by heat treatment in an evacuated furnace . The metal sponge was consolidated by melting into buttons or ingots , which were analyzed for impurities . The purity of the metal prepared by the modified process is superior to that of the metal produced by the conventional method . The hafnium metal was comparable to crystal - bar hafnium except for the oxygen content , despite the abnormally high impurity concentrations in the raw tetrachloride . Several ingots were successfully cold - rolled to sheet .

Jul 1, 1960

By Wm. W. Odell

This report comprises a brief outline of the experimental cracking of natural gas in a water-gas generator at Louisville, Kentucky, and a discussion of the results obtained. The work was done under a cooperative agreement by the U. S. Bureau of Mines with the Louisville Gas & Electric Co. The re-forming or partial cracking of natural gas is not a new process, but one which has been employed in the manufacture of city gas for a number of years. However, the apparatus used heretofore was not a water-gas generator containing a bed of ignited fuel, but instead it was a plurality of connected chambers containing spaced and arranged checker bricks, with means for heating the bricks and for admitting the natural gas. The procedure previously followed was quite different from that used during the tests at Louisville; likewise the results obtained were different. It is not uncommon for companies distributing natural gas to provide gas-generating equipment for producing manufactured gas which is used, mixed with natural gas, during periods of peak demand. Because this equipment is idle much of the time, in some instances being in use only for a few days a year, some of the gas companies have considered using it, during off-peak periods, in the manufacture of some gaseous products and for carbon black which might he produced and marketed with profit. There is one plant of this kind at Louisville. Kentucky. Its maintenance in condition ready to be operated is necessary because of the limited supply of natural gas and because of the variation in demand. The engineers of the Louisville Gas & Electric Co. considered in particular the possibility of cracking natural gas in a water-gas generator by injecting the gas into the incandescent fuel bed, thereby producing a gas comprised largely of hydrogen (H2) and carbon black, an appreciable amount of which is entrained in the gas as it leaves the generator, Because power and gas are available at low prices, Louisville was believed to be a satisfactory location for a plant which could use hydrogen. It was evident that this method of treating natural gas might directly benefit the gas company by: 1. Lowering, the cost of manufactured gas.

Jan 1, 1930

By Graham W. Marks

The general positions of the absorption maxima of aqueous solutions of the violet and green isomers of chromic sulfate the visible spectral region have long been known, but, to the knowledge of the writer, no comprehensive studies have ever been made. To gain further knowledge concerning these inorganic complexes and to investigate the possibilities of developing an analytical method for determining the concentrations of the violet and green isomers in a mixture, a more complete investigation was made in the spectral range from 325 to 850 millimicrons.

Jan 1, 1951

By Louis C. Brichta

The Capital Mine is one of, the more important zinc mines in Lawrence County, Mo. Owing to the urgent need for additional zinc during the war and the available facilities for the treatment of zinc-lead ores at the property, the Bureau of Mines examined the mine during July and August 1942 and selected it for further investigation by churn drilling, which was accomplished in the fall of 1943 and spring of 1944. At the conclusion of the drilling on the Capital holdings, the Greenland property, immediately south, was investigated by drilling two additional holes. Results of the investigation are presented in this report.

Jan 1, 1948

By Raymond B. Ladoo

Garnets are usually found well crystallized in the cubic system , the principal forms being rhombic dodecahedrons , tetragonal trisoctahedrons or combinations of the two , and hexoctahedrons . They also occur as rounded disseminated glassy grains and in compact massive , laminated or gramlar aggregates . They vary greatly in color , but the most common garnets , almandite and andradite , are most often found of a dark red or reddish brown color .

Apr 1, 1922

By D. Harrington, C. W. Owings

The mining industry is gradually realizing that safety education and safety inspection are economic factors that may not be overlooked as a means of reducing operating costs . Many mine operators , however , have failed to realize the benefits of safety , and the efforts of the more progressive mining companies are offset by the carelessness of neighboring companies when the accident records of a community or a State or the nation as a whole are considered . This tendency is indicated by the data collected by the safety division of the United States Bureau of Mines . During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1930 , relatively definite information: was secureä concerning 34 mine explosions , 24 mine fires , and 29 miscellaneous accidents ; these accidents are by no means all of the explosions , fires , and miscellaneous accidents which occurred in the mines of the United States during the period; but the data on the fires and explosions constitute a record of all of those types of accidents that were called specifically to the attention of the safety division , and the miscellaneous accidents include those on which definite , detailed data were obtained by the safety division .

Jan 1, 1931

By W. E. Wells

This report describes experimental investigations made in the batchwise retorting of Colorado oil shale. Three heat-carrying mediums were used -hot shale gas, superheated steam, and hot flue gas. Using hot Shale gas for retorting, the several variables studied were retort-inlet-gas temperature, gas velocity through the shale bed, shale particle size, and grade of shale. In studying the effect of any one of these variables on oil yield, as and operability, the other variables were maintained essentially constant. Oil yields decreased with increasing in-let-gas temperature and increasing shale-particle size, and oil yield increased with increasing grade of Shale up to 50 gallons of oil per ton of shale, beyond which the process was inoperable because of swelling and caking of the shale during retorting. Changes in gas velocity had little effect on oil yield. Gas yield increased with increasing inlet-gas temperature, gas velocity, particle size, and shale grade. Oil yields of 100 percent of Fischer assay and from 1,600 to 1,800 cubic feet of 300-B.t.u. gas per ton of shale were obtained. Two runs only were made using superheated steam. Oil yields averaged 97 percent of Fischer assay, and gas yields averaged 4,00o cubic feet per ton of shale. Retorting with a hot flue gas produced from combustion in the shale bed, as in the N-T-U process, gave excellent yields using closely sized shale with recycling of flue gas. An excess of fine shale in the charge resulted in channeling and low oil yields. Using no recycle gas, good yields were obtained that tended to decrease with increasing air rate, and the retorting rate increased with increasing air rate over the range studied. Coking was not found serious with 30-gallon shale at the air rates used.

Jan 1, 1952

By M. J. Ankeny

This is a study of 58 fatal haulage accidents investigated by Federal coal-mine inspectors during the period January - June 1951. The information presented in this circular was obtained by analyzing fatal haulage accidents in 33 bituminous-coal producing counties representing 11 States. The physical conditions represent a cross section off producing coal beds. Mining and transportation methods vary, from those of small hand-loading mines to those of large modern mechanized operations. These data are thought to be representative of haulage conditions within the bituminous-coal mining industry and are submitted to follow up the Information Circular 7604 ?Analysis of Haulage Fatalities in Bituminous-Coal Mines - 1950.? Coal-mine haulage ranks second as a cause of coal-mine fatalities, and the problem of haulage safety is complex. It is subject to constant change and is comprised of numerous influencing variables, which are not always obvious. The solution to this problem will not come through the application of any standard formula or mechanical approach since the inherent factors are strongly influenced by the human equation, and the chain of circumstances is further affected by expediency.

Jan 1, 1951

By J. H. Jacobs

The first authorization, in November 1940, was for a plant of only several hundred pounds capacity at Boulder City, Nev. Improvements in the process and subsequent additions to some sections have enabled the plant to produce more than 2,000 pounds of manganese per day for substantial periods. By the time pilot-plant operations were suspended in June 1945, over 1,500,000 pounds of metal had been produced. The future of electrolytic manganese production obviously depends not only on satisfactory development of methods but on availability of raw material and demonstration of valuable uses. Investigations of manganese-ore deposits in this country, made since 1938 by the Bureau of Mines, have revealed large amounts of ore suitable for making electrolytic manganese. At first the pilot plant was operated on ore from the Three Kids mine near Las Vegas, Nev. After practical features of the process had been worked out, other ores from throughout the United States were tested in the pilot plant. The purpose of this paper is to compare the results obtained on the following ores: Three Kids; Ladd mine, Tracy, Calif.; Chamberlain, S. Dak., nodules; and ore from Metals Reserve stockpiles at Deming, N. Mex.; Cushman, Ark.; and Philipsburg, Mont.

Dec 1, 1947