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By Alfred R. Powell

In another paper the writer has described an investigation in which the forms of sulphur in coke were determined and described. Coke was found to contain four characteristic forms of sulphur- namely, ferrous sulphide, sulphates, ad- sorbed free sulphur, and sulphur held in solid solution in the carbon. While the coke is still in the oven, only two forms of sulphur are present namely, the ferrous sulphide and the sulphur in solid solution in the carbon. During the quenching, however, the sulphur of the coke is subjected to considerable oxidation, a portion of the ferrous sulphide being oxidized to free sulphur and sulphates, while the solid solution form remains unchanged. The coke, however, loses no sulphur during this process, since the free sulphur which is formed ie retained by the coke in an adsorbed form. Since this oxidation of the ferrous sulphide took place so easily, an inves- tigation was undertaken to determine whether this property could not be taken ad- vantage of in some industrial process for the desulphurization of coke. Although it is true that such a roasting process would not touch the solid-solution form of sul- phur, still the removal of the ferrous sulphide sulphur would undoubtedly benefit the coke from the standpoint of the metallurgist. This improvement in the coke would result not only from the decrease in total sulphur, but also from the large decrease in the ferrous sulphide, which is responsible for the contamination of the iron in the upper part of the blast-furnace. The de sulphurization of coke by roasting in air it a new idea, but dates back to the earliest days of coke manufacture. In 1871, Philipparts published the results of some work done by him on the de sulphurization of coke by air, as well as a review of the results of earlier investigators. In the se earlier experiments, nothing was known of the forms in which the sulphur existed in the coke, while the temperature measurements were only approximate, so that altogether the results were not very conclusive nor complete. The de sulphurisation figures given by the se early investigators generally showed a low efficiency for the process, but some extraordinary results were claimed by certain inventors. In the light of our new knowledge concerning the coke sulphur, it seemed to be important enough to warrant investigation.

Apr 1, 1923

By James M. Nishi, Lloyd Carpenter

Sixteen elements were determined spectrochemically in the general range of 3 to 1,000 ppm in high - purity columbium . Samples were converted thermally to Cb2 O , mixed with graphite and Ge02 , and excited for 15 seconds using a 15 - ampere dc arc . For the molybdenum determination , the oxidized samples were mixed with NaCl and Geo₂ and excited for 30 seconds . Spectra were recorded on photographic plates , and spectral line transmittance values were measured photometrically . Relative - intensity ratios of selected analytical and internal standard spectral lines were plotted against concentrations of standards to form curves from which concentrations of impurities were read . Average precision of the method was 11.2 percent relative standard deviation .

Jan 1, 1964

By Donald F. Reed

The bauxite deposits of Tippah and Benton Counties in northeastern Mississippi were developed by drilling as a part of the investigation by the Bureau of Mines of the domestic sources of supply of aluminum. The primary purpose of investigations of this nature was to provide essential information to the war agencies of the United States Government and to assist owners and operators of mining properties in the production of minerals vital to the prosecution of the war. These reports are based upon the field work of the Bureau of Mines and upon data made available to the Department from other

Jan 1, 1948

By Milton H. Fies

The dedication of thin building, establishing a station of the U.S. Bureau of vines at the University of Alabama, bristles with significance and challenges the wisdom and courage of the people of this State. Here is united, in common aim, the Engineering School of our State University, recognized for its competency and usefulness, and the Federal Bureau of Mines. The Bureau is one of the most effective arms of our National Government. It outranks in accomplishment, measured by practical scientific contribution, any like governmental organization in all the other nations. It possesses none of the characteristics of many other bureaus of government which have created popular bias. Here is one Bureau devoid of political suggestion or aim with a personnel zealously devoted to labor in scientific re¬search - an organization marked by practical accomplishment, alleviating many of life's burdens, raking easier life's pathway, and unerringly pointing to life's possibilities.

Jan 1, 1936

By C. J. Wilhelm, John M. Devine, Ludwig Schmidt

"Steel tanks often corrode rapidly in oil fields where the Gas produced with crude contains an appreciable quantity of hydrogen sulphide. In many instances working tanks have been discarded after only six months of service because of failure induced by corrosion.Aluminum has been used for some time in the fabrication of certain equipment incidental to the handling of oils containing hydrogen sulphide gas in solution, and has exhibited no carious corrosive action. These uses indicated that aluminum tanks,be equally effective in counter- acting hydrogen sulphide corrosion. Consequently, in the spring of 1920, an all-aluminum stock tank of 500 barrels capacity and a ""composite"" tank of equal capacity, having a steel bottom and bottom ring and an aluminum top and top ring, were placed in service on the State-Lassiter lease of the Gulf Production Co, in Crane County, Tex. These tanks were under observation for one year, the toot being sponsored by the Gulf Production Co., the Aluminum Co. of America, and the Parkersburg Rig and Reel Co. The results of this preliminary test sustained the belief that aluminum is highly resistance to hydrogen sulphide gas and likewise indicated the type or grade of aluminum which could be most economically used for lease tankage. However, in this preliminary test the tanks were not subjected to contact with the quantities o highly concentrated brines such as often are associated and produced with crude oil. Therefore, it was suggested by representatives of the aluminum Co. that additional tests be made to include production conditions in large quantities of brine would be handled, for pact experience had shown that aluminum often is susceptible to the corrosive action of brines."

Apr 1, 1931

By William R. Roy

Seven coal-related waste samples (mining, cleaning, and gasification) were characterized chemically and mineralogically. Laboratory extracts of each sample, using a variety of different extraction methods, were used in both acute and chronic bioassays. A coal slurry sample (coarse fraction) and two coal cleaning refuse samples were chemically and mineralogically similar, and generated acidic water-waste systems, both in the laboratory and in the field. Acidic laboratory extracts and field samples of acid mine drainage in the area where the solid samples were collected, tended to be in equilibrium with some type of CaSO4 phase and with maghemite. The chemical composition of the extracts was sensitive to the method used to generate the extracts, but generally had the same prevalent chemical character as the field samples. The acidic wastes contain appreciable quantities of soluble Al, Mn, Ni, SO4, and Zn as indicated by both laboratory extraction and field data. Long-term extractions suggest that some constituents (Al, Fe, SO4) continued to be released by the acidic wastes after 22 weeks with no apparent associated change in pH. Two mine spoil samples, essentially shale, tended to generate water-waste systems that were neutral in pH and consequently released lower quantities tit potential pollutants than the acid wastes. The gasification residue was compositionally similar to coal-fired power plant slag and fly ash and generated moderately alkaline extracts with low concentration of soluble potentially toxic constituents. All of the solid wastes contained a variety of organic compounds, many of which are on the EPA Priority Pollutant List. However, these compounds were essentially insoluble in aqueous media. Each extract was tested for acute toxicity with tour species of freshwater aquatic organisms; green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus), fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), a crustacean (Daphnia magna), and a snail (Physa anatina). The extracts of the two mine spoil samples and of the gasification residue were not toxic to any of the organisms while the extracts from the acidic refuse and slurry samples were acutely toxic to all of the organisms. For all cases, pH was significantly correlated to mortality while Al, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn were significantly correlated to mortality in specific instances. Data from 96-hour LC-50 determinations showed that dilutions up to 1:1000 were necessary to eliminate mortality. The most toxic extracts were those with the lowest pH which necessitated the largest amounts of dilution to eliminate mortality. Chronic bioassays with the same test organisms were investigated with leachate samples from a relatively unweathered refuse sample and an older, more weathered refuse sample. The unweathered refuse sample generated a leachate that was acutely toxic while the leachate from the weathered refuse sample was not acutely toxic. No detrimental chronic effects were noted in organisms exposed to dilutions of the non-toxic leachate while low concentrations of the acutely toxic leachate produced lower hatchability for the Lepomis cyanellus and Pimephales promelas eggs, increased mortality with chronic exposure for Lepomis cyanellus, Daphnia, Physa, and reduced weight gain for Physa. Dilutions of a toxic, high-Fe leachate resulted in the precipitation of ferric hydroxide that was implicated as the major causative factor accounting for the physical and physiological toxic effects exhibited by all of the test organisms in these acutely sublethal concentrations. The toxicity of this leachate demonstrates the potential effects that these types of wastes can have on the aquatic ecosystem if they enter a receiving water in a natural setting.

Jan 1, 1984

By T. F. Mitchell

During the investigation or the occurrence of manganese deposits in western United States, Bureau of Mines' examining engineers collected samples from four manganese properties in the Death Valley region, California. These were supplemented by samples submitted by owners of two other properties in the same area. Extensive laboratory tests were made to determine the, amenability of the ores to standard ore-dressing concentration methods. A small sample of high-grade oxide manganese ore from the McWhinney property, San Bernardino County, Calif., was submitted by the owner. Although the sample would sinter directly to plus 48 percent manganese grade, it appeared probable that the ore, if mined in quantity, would be lower in grade and would require beneficiation. Therefore, testing was conducted to remove the chief gangue constituent, calcite. The National Resources, Inc., property (also known as the old Owl Hole mine) is in the Owl Hole Springs district, I mile from Owl Hole Springs, San Bernardino County, Calif., near the southwest corner of Death Valley National Monument. The ore deposits occur as small lenses or ,pockets, evidently .replacements in limestone and granite. Laboratory work was done on a representative sample of orb procured by Bureau engineers.

Jan 1, 1949

By IRENE AITKENS

The Mining Law of 1910 , with amendments of 1914 and 1928 , is at present in force in the Dominican Republic . The first and basic mining law of the Republic was passed in 1876 , and although numerous changes and amendments have been made from time to time , the new laws and amendments thereto have not changed the original or basic law materially . However , these enactments have materially changed the legal methods governing the exploitation of the mineral resources of this country and have added new regulations and requirements to those concerning certain specific minerals , etc. The original or basic law still exists as it was first promulgated to protect the rights of the Dominican Republic itself , the rights of the landowner , and the rights of prospectors in general . The Mining Law of 1876 remained in force , without amendment , until it was superseded by the law of May 25 , 1904 , an enactment modeled after the Mexican mining law and designed especially to encourage the investment of

May 1, 1931

By Oliver Bowles

"The town of Monson in Piscutaquis County, Maine is the, center of an important site industry. Monson slate has a nation-wide reputation, particularly for electrical switch boards, and the deposits have been worked for the manufacture of such products for many years. Open-pit quarrying is the method most commonly employed in obtaining slate. Underground methods have been used in the Peaon Bottom district near Delta, Pennsylvania, but the quarries that were thus operated are now abandoned. Underground methods have been used more extensively in foreign countries, the most famous example being the slate mines at Angers in France, where an over-head stoping method has been employed successfully for many it is only under special conditions that underground methods can be successfully used. If the deposit is wide and relatively thin, or if the material is too unsound to constitute a safe roof, open-pit methods must be used, for slate is too low-priced a commodity to justify the heavy expense of any timbering methods. It is only where the deposit is relatively narrow, of great depth, and sufficiently sound to afford a strong roof that ordinary mining may be employed.The best slate beds in two of the three quarries operated at Monson are no worked by underground methods. The chief bed worked by the Portland Monson Slate Co. is 10 feet thick, stands vertical and strikes N. 63º F. The slaty cleavage is vertical and crosses the strike of the beds at an angle of 5 to 10°. The grain or second direction of splitting is vertical and perpendicular to the cleavage. In addition to the 10-foot bed, to 2-foot beds and one 5-foot bed are available but are not now utilized. In the Monson Maine Slate Co. quarry (the old Pond quarry),a greater number of beds available, but at present quarrying is confined to a single bed about 9 feet thick which dips 30º S.E. and strikes N. 47ºF. The slaty cleavage is vertical and strides N. 45º F., while the grain strikes N. 45-50º W. and is also vertical."

Nov 1, 1920

By A. D. Marcy

The Midnite Mine is an inactive, hard-rock uranium mine in Stevens County, WA. Oxidation of sulfide-containing minerals, primarily pyrite, in the ore body produces large quantities of acidic water. An interception system installed by the mining company limits the discharge of contaminated water from the mine. The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have been actively involved in planning remediation of the disturbed areas. To assist in remediation, the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) initiated research to determine water quality and to define ground water flow characteristics. USBM personnel designed a monitoring network, supervised installation of sampling wells, and collected and analyzed water samples. This Report of Investigations describes interpretation of data collected between December 1989 and April 1992. The computer program WATEQ4F was used to identify aqueous species distribution and to calculate potential solid phase controls of solubility. To assist in interpretation of changes in water quality between sampling locations and to develop models describing proposed flow paths, the computer program BALANCE was used. Using output from these programs and field observations, a description of the chemistry along proposed ground water flow paths at the mine is presented.

Jan 1, 2010

By S. R. Borrowman

Mill tailings from conventional uranium extraction processes contain nearly all of the radium originally in the ore. Such tailings require controlled storage in perpetuity to safeguard the surrounding environment from radioactive contamination. Alternatives to controlled storage of the tailings are (1) removal of the radium from the tailings for separate storage or use or (2) removal of the radium when processing the uranium ore. In laboratory tests conducted by the Federal Bureau of Mines, radium was leached from tailings using either hydrochloric acid or ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid. A hydrochloric acid leaching method was used to extract both radium and uranium from the ore to yield tailings containing less radium than those produced by either conventional sulfuric acid or alkaline leaching processes. From 77 to 94 percent of the radium in mill tailings was concentrated by sedimentation in slime fractions representing nearly 25 weight-percent of the original sample.

Jan 1, 1975

By Stephen A. Hare, O&apos

Powder metallurgy processing of commercial Raney nickel powders was examined. The typical angular particle shape, in conjuction with aluminum present in a eutectic phase, facilitated interlocking leading to excellent green strength after compaction. Density and porosity as influenced by the compacting pressure were studied over the range of 37.5 to 207 meganewton per square meter (MN/m2). Sintering in an inert atmosphere from 575° to 850° C caused a volume increase which is attributed to a solid state reaction between Al and Ni2Al3 phases. The reaction is 3Al + Ni2Al3 ? 2NiA13. A thermal pretreatment of 70 hours at 700° C was required to prevent this reaction from occurring during sintering. Density and porosity as a function of compacting pressure and sintering temperature were determined after a thermal pretreatment of the powder.

Jan 1, 1976

By Steven J. Schatzel

Gas drainage through surface bore-holes has been the conventional means of methane control for U.S. longwall gobs. However, these vertical boreholes are becoming so costly, and the surface rights so difficult to obtain, that the Bureau of Mines is developing underground gob gas drainage as an alternate means of methane control for U.S. longwalls. Holes are drilled into the roof over the panel and on retreating longwalls, towards the working face from a location inby the face. As the longwall retreats, an increasing portion of the hole intercepts the fracture system over the caved gob. A surface exhauster maintains a vacuum on a pipeline parelleling the panel and draws the methane mixture out of the mine. Auxiliary systems of gob gas drain-age during longwall mining will be essential for an increasing number of coal mines. Deep and gassy mines often find ventilation insufficient for adequate dilution of methane in bleeder entries. Although this cross-measure method of degasification has been used successfully in Europe, some of the European techniques cannot be directly applied to U.S. mines. This is the first study of its kind in this country.

Jan 1, 1982

By J. R. Thoenen

During the year 1927 the Bureau of Mines, at the request of a number of quarry operators, undertook to make a study of quarry operating costs in order to determine average costs for certain operating conditions and to suggest a model cost accounting system for quarry operations. A detailed questionnaire was prepared and mailed by the bureau to all quarries on its records as employing ten or more men in 1926.

Jan 1, 1929

By R. H. Sprute

Extensive Bureau of Mines laboratory testing has shown that electrokinetic densification can be an effective method for dewatering and consolidating unclassified metal mine mill tailings. The report describes results of a limited field test of this technique. Eighteen-cubic-yard concrete model stopes, 18 feet long by 6 feet deep by 56 inches wide, were filled with unclassified tailings slurry from a metal mine in the Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, district. Five different tests were performed. They showed that a strong, dense, dewatered fill can be obtained in a reasonably short time using electrokinetics, with typical power consumption of 25 to 30 kW-hr/yd3 of densified fill. At present power costs in the Coeur d 'Alene district, this would amount to 10 to 12 cents/yd3.

Jan 1, 1975

By A. B. Needham

This paper, which describes mining practices at a mine in the Cave- in-Rock, Illinois, fluorspar district, is one of a series being prepared by the Bureau of Mines on mining practices, methods, and costs in the various mining districts of the United States. Ore deposits in the southern Illinois-western Kentucky fluorspar dis- trict are of two general types (1) the flat-bedded, lenticular replacement and (2) the relatively narrow, rather steeply dipping fault or fissure filling. This paper describes production methods used and results obtained in mining one of the bedded lenticular ore bodies that are prevalent in the northeast portion of the district near Cave-in-Rock.

Aug 1, 1949

By Marvin W. Wilson

The Federal Bureau of Mines has conducted laboratory experiments simulating underground gasification of coal to study the feasibility and mechanism of the process and determine the chemical and physical characteristics of a coal-bed during gasification. Laboratory and small-scale field experiments also were made to investigate the properties of coal and other factors affecting the electrolinking-carbonization method of preparing a path through a coalbed before gasification. Laboratory experiments simulating underground gasification of coal: Experiments with a laboratory retort indicated that bituminous-coal deposits could be gasified in place to produce a combustible gas.

Jan 1, 1960

By T. J. Ballard

"The Hog Creek mine, in lot 92 of the 17th district in Towns County, Georgia, was examined in 1890 by F. P. King, who reported the existence there of a 4-foot vein of corundum. The mine is about 2 miles west of Hiawassee, on the southern side of Ramey Mountain. Ed Burch, of Hog Creek, holds the surface rights, and the mineral rights appear to be vested in the heirs of William R. McConnell, who formerly owned and prospected the property.Examination by the Bureau of Mines showed the workings to be caved, but it was thought advisable to open the mine and uncover the reported vein. The Bureau's work consisted, of trenching and cleaning out the pits and shaft.William R. McConnell, the former owner, prospected the property in about 1890. At some tine during that operation, the prospect was visited by Francis P. Kings a geologist with the Georgia Geological Survey.3/King reported that a 4-foot vein of corundum was exposed g feet below the surface in the main cut and was opened for 20 feet along the strike. He also reported that the so-called ""Georgia rubies"" were taken from this mine.The main mine is about 2,000 feet- north of Hoc Creek on a timbered southern slope of Ramey Mountain. It lies at an altitude of about 2,100 feet, approximately 100 feet above the high-water level of the Catuga reservoir, which floods Hog Creek to a quarter of a mile above its confluence with the Hiawassee River. The nearest water is a small branch about 1,000 feet to the west.Chlorite schist is the principal host rock. It has been intruded by irregular masses of a very herd periodtite rock possibly troctolite. The schist near the surface is extremely weathered, presenting white and red laminations parallel to the schistosity. At a depth of 40 feet in the cross-cut it appears as a fine-grained green-chlorite schist. The schist strikes about N. 350 E. and dips 800 to the southeast.No corundum vein was found, and if any existed it must have been mined out after King's visit. In the pit, about 15 feet west of the shaft, approximately 150 pounds of zoisite and an occasiona1 small crystal of corundum were found imbedded in schist about 18 feet below the surface, near hard, dense troctolite."

Mar 1, 1946

By Martin J. Gavin

The oil- shale studies of the Bureau of Mines , conducted in cooperation with the State of Colorado and the University of Utah , have for their primary purpose the determination of retorting and refining conditions most favorable for obtaining the highest yields of most satisfactory products . Oil shales , typical of the deposits in several States , are retorted in carefully controlled retorts of differe types , the conditions being varied in successive runs as the results indicate that improvement in the yield and quality of the products most desired may be expected . Each shale presents a somewhat different problem , for it has been found that different shales treated under similar conditions yield products of different natures , and also that the same shale will yield products of different natures when retorted under different conditions . Some shales apparently can not be made to yield , under any set of conditions , products of so high an order as are yielded by other shales . This indicates that the oil -yielding materials of certain shales differ in constitution and in their manner of breaking down when undergoing destructive distillation . Other shales appear to contain oil - yielding materials that resemble each other closely as regards chemical constitution , yet they require some. what different conditions of treatment , if products of similar nature are to be produced from each . In such cases the controlling factors seem to be the richness of the shale that is , its content of oil -yielding material and the physical and chemical nature of its mineral parts .

Mar 1, 1922

By G. W. Birge, D. E. Wolfson, J. G. Walters

Seventeen samples were carbonized by the BM -AGA pilot - plant test method and in industrial ovens . Chemical and physical properties of the samples were determined , and the physical properties of the cokes prepared by the two methods were compared . Since the capacity of the plants from which these samples were obtained is about 30 percent of the 1959 total for the United States , the data given in this report are indicative of the chemical and physical properties of blends used to produce industrial cokes and the acceptable chemical and physical properties of the resultant coke .

Jan 1, 1964