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By David L. Shuck

This report was prepared for the Bureau of Mines to describe the current methods of design, construction, and development of wells for in situ leaching of uranium. The discussion includes the alternatives for well design drilling equipment and fluids, grout formulation and emplacement, well integrity testing and repair, and well development and stimulation. Current practice in these areas was determined through interviews with eight operators of commercial scale in situ facilities and is also discussed. Based on this information plus the authors' experience, recommendations are made regarding well design, construction, and development tor in situ leaching.

Jan 1, 1982

By Fred P. Giese

Southeastern reserves of titanium ores are large, widespread, and ample for anticipated demand. The leading titanium industries are mining and beneficiating sand deposits, principally in Florida, and manufacturing titanium pigments. Most of the mineral output is consumed by the producers themselves. In 1962, 20 percent of the national pigment capacity was in the Southeast.

Jan 1, 1964

By Joseph A. Vanous

The inductive communication system was developed under this contract for use in the hoist of deep mines. This program was a four phase program with experimental dual frequency equipment resulting from Phase I, emergency single frequency equipment developed under Phase II, and equipment documentation required under Phase III. An additional emergency system was provided under Phase IV.

Jan 1, 1976

By L. Nahai

Iran's petroleum industry is nearly 50 years old and the oldest in the Near East. According to published figures, Iran ranks third in production and reserves in the Near East. These reserves (including probable reserves) are estimated at 35 billion barrels and constitute about 11 percent of the world's total. Iran is the sixth largest producer of crude petroleum in the world. The 1961 output of more than 430 million barrels was 5 percent of total world out-put for the year. In the same year, Iran ranked fourth among world petroleum exporters, providing 8.4 percent of total world exports.

Jan 1, 1963

By William R. Hardwick

Present information indicates that a copper deposit can be safely fractured with a nuclear explosive and the copper successfully recovered by the in-situ leaching method. The process is not yet at the stage where it can be presented t ) the mining industry as a technique proven in all its aspects, but it is a method with high success potential. Unknown factors must be evaluated by a full-scale test before the economics or the extent of the use of the method by the mining industry can be predicted. Preliminary calculations indicate that the cost of fracturing a copper deposit nuclear explosives may range from l.8 to 55.2 cents per ton or in some case: less than a cent per pound of recoverable copper. Copper may be recovered at less cost than by conventional methods. Deposits with 4 pounds of recoverable copper may be economic and production from a deposit may begin in less than half the time required for conventional methods.

Jan 1, 1967

By James J. Dowd

The investigation to evaluate the reserves of coking coal in the United States suitable for the manufacture of metallurgical coke is being made by the Bureau of Mines in three parts: (1) To estimate known (measured plus indicated) recoverable reserves of all coking coals; (2) to upgrade marginal coals through effective preparation; and (3) to study the carbonizing properties of coals and coal blends not now widely used for metallurgical coke making. This is the fourth of a series of reports giving the results of studies by counties under phase (1) of the investigation. It covers Armstrong County, Pa., which comprises parts of the Foxburg, Clarion, Brookville, Kittanning, Bural Valley, Smicksburg, Freeport, Elders Ridge, and Indiana quadrangles. (See fig. 1.) A base map for each bed in each quadrangle was made to the scale of 1 inch equals 1,200 feet. Maps of mines, locations of drill holes, bed and total coal thicknesses, and the outcrop of the bed were plotted on the maps. With all available data plotted, isopach lines were drawn to limit areas of known unmined reserves in beds 0 to 14 inches thick, 14 to 28 inches thick, 28 to 42 inches thick, and more than 42 inches thick. These areas of coal reserves also were divided into "measured" and "indicated" categories. All areas in each thickness range and in each category, mined-out areas, areas excluded from the estimate, and areas outside the outcrop were measured by planimeter on the base maps, Estimates of total reserves 14 inches and more thick and maps for individual beds were prepared from these data.

Jan 1, 1951

By Stephen D. Smith

This chapter summarizes data on crude nonfuel mineral production for the United States, its island possessions, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rim. Also included are tables that show the principal nonfuel mineral commodities exported from and imported into the United States and that compare world and U.S. mineral production. The detailed data from which these tables were derived are contained in the individual commodity chapters of Volume I and in the State chapters of Volume II of this edition of the Minerals Yearbook. Although crude mineral production may be measured at any of several stages of extraction and processing, the stage of measurement used in this chapter is what is normally termed "mine output." It usually refers to minerals or ores in the form in which they are first extracted from the ground, but customarily includes the output from auxiliary processing at or near the mines.

Jan 1, 1988

By Nicholas Kyriazi, John P. Shubilla

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, has undertaken a study to determine how well self-contained self-rescuers (SCSRs), deployed in accordance with Federal regulations (30 CFR 75.1714), hold up in the underground environment with regard to both physical damage and aging. This report presents findings regarding laboratory-tested SCSRs in the sixth phase of testing from mid-1996 to early 1998. The SCSRs were tested on human subjects and on a breathing and metabolic simulator. These results indicate that most of the apparatus, if they pass their inspection criteria, perform satisfactorily. However, the deployed CSE SR-100s exhibited significantly higher inhaled CO2 levels than new units, as in the previous phase. This will cause higher ventilation rates in most users, which will, in turn, result in higher breathing pressures, possibly causing users to prematurely remove the apparatus. CSE Corp. has developed a noise test that can identify apparatus suffering from chemical-bed degradation causing the early CO2 breakthrough. This test was added to the inspection criteria for the SR-100. In addition, several of the MSA Portal-Packs that passed their inspection criteria were found to have KO2 dust in their mouthpieces. Further investigations by NIOSH and the Mine Safety and Health Administration confirmed these findings, which resulted in the decertification of the apparatus and their removal from service.

Jan 1, 2000

By R. Ward Stahl

Fire is still a scourge of the mining industry, although many precautionary measures have been and are being taken to reduce the incidence of fires and to combat them. Generally, the success of fire extinguishment is directly proportional to the speed of attack, and the speed of attack in turn is dependent upon the availability of materials and trained personnel. Preparations for firefighting are frequently neglected because they are considered emergency needs and do not contribute directly to coal production. Fire incites panic--a fact often overlooked--but such chaos can be minimized by training people in the use of equipment and procedures. Heat, smoke, and fumes hamper the approach to a fire; however, a relatively new technique of attacking fires with high-expansion foam may well contribute greatly to firefighting. The foam is transported to a fire and used at a considerable distance, thus permitting the firefighters to work more safely.

Jan 1, 1962

By Harry R. Nicholls

The objectives of this investigation were to determine the strain propagation laws for a strain pulse in salt and to compare the seismic effects from the detonation of different explosives in salt. The investigation showed that a strain propagation law of the type, e = K(R/W 1/3 ) n, and a strain energy propagation law of the type, Ea/W 1/3 = K(R/WI/3)b , are valid in salt. A change in the regression law coefficient, n , was noted with strain level. A similar change in b was inferred because strain energy is proportional to the square of strain amplitude. Particle velocity data may be used interchangeably with strain data under the test conditions.

Jan 1, 1962

By K. L. Paciorek

The aim of this program was to develop a reliable and meaning-ful basis for assessing certain safety aspects, namely fire and, in particular, toxicity hazards of articles employed in underground coal mining operations. The present investigation was concentrated on the thermal oxidative degradation of representative hydraulic fluids. To achieve this goal all products formed on thermal oxidative degradation of the fluids studied were analyzed, identified I and the amount of each individual species present was determined quantitatively on a weight of product per weight of material basis. The weight/weight data thus obtained can then be factorized to reflect the relative toxicity of each individual species present, using for example the Threshold Limit Values adopted by the American Conference of Governmental and Industrial Hygienists, whereby an overall "toxicity index" can be arrived at which makes it possible to compare the different fluids and/or classes of fluids in a quantitative manner insofar as their toxicity is concerned.

Jan 1, 1976

By K. J. Liles

The Bureau of Mines conducted laboratory semicontinuous and continuous heavy liquid tests to determine the feasibility of producing commercial-grade products from the high-clay sylvinite ores of the Permian Basin in New Mexico. Continuous test operations demonstrated that concentrates containing 59.9 percent K2O and recoveries of over 75 percent of the contained potash can be obtained. The organic heavy liquid was effectively recovered by vaporization, condensation, and absorption methods. Less than 5 parts per million of heavy liquid vapors were released to the atmosphere. This loss represents only 0.02 pound of heavy liquid per ton of ore treated.

Jan 1, 1973

By J. R. Bartels

The U.S. Bureau of Mines has established a wire rope research laboratory to examine the factors that affect the life of wire rope. Two sin-diameter 6x25 fiber core (FC) ropes were degraded on a bending fatigue machine, These were the second and third ropes in a series of tests on this construction and size rope. Tensile and nondestructive tests were performed on samples of the rope to determine the relationship between rope deterioration and rope breaking strength. The tests indicated that once a wire rope nears the end of its service life, both deterioration and the consequent loss of rope strength begin to increase at an accelerated rate.

Jan 1, 2010

By H. E. Powell

A laboratory investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Mines to study the magnetic characteristics and to measure the magnetic susceptibility of the mineral siderite. All susceptibility measurements were made by the method of Gouy on powdered samples and at room temperature. Specific susceptibilities of samples from 15 different locations, domestic and foreign, were determined. Values ranged from 66 to 103 (10-6) cgs electromagnetic units. The relation of susceptibility to mineral composition is discussed in this report. The specific susceptibilities of 76 minerals are tabulated in an appendix.

Jan 1, 1963

By T. H. Jeffers

The U.S. Bureau of Mines has developed porous beads containing immobilized biological materials for removing metal contaminants from waste waters. The beads, designated as BID-FIX beads, are prepared by blending biomass, such as sphagnum peat moss or algae, into a polymer solution and spraying the mixture into water. Laboratory studies were conducted to determine bead sorption and elution characteristics. Batch and continuous tests demonstrated that BIO-FIX beads sorbed arsenic, cadmium, lead, and other toxic metals from acid mine drainage waters collected from several sites. Selectivity for heavy and toxic metal ions over calcium and magnesium was demonstrated. The beads exhibited excellent metal sorption and handling characteristics in stirred tanks, column contactors, and a low-maintenance passive system. The sorption process was reversible, and metal ions were eluted from the beads using dilute mineral acids. Cyclic tests indicated that the beads continued to extract metal ions after repeated loading-elution cycles.

Jan 1, 1991

By Larry G. Stolarczyk

An underground medium frequency radio communications system has been developed and demonstrated in both coal and metal/non metal mines. The principal advantage of the system are its low cost, ease of installation and the ability to provide radio communications to any vehicle or roving miner in the underground mine. The system provides high quality radio coverage in work areas and along manways with existing "wireplant" conductors. The conductors include AC power cable, telephone cable, metal water and high pressure air pipes, etc. The measured communications range from the base station to mobile transceiver exceeded 12,500 ft without the use of repeaters. A cost/benefit analysis shows that the initial cost of the equipment can be returned 2-6 times in the first year. The mine productivity increases by approx. 13 percent.

By Kenneth Eilerts

[The development and operation of ?combination on wells?5/ have created new and unusual problems, many of which cast to solved only if information is available concerning the properties of the fluids produced. Data as to the characteristics of the fluids at the relatively high pressures that exist in the reservoirs are especially important, and there is growing economic concern to know what part, if any, of the liquid recovered at the surface was liquid in the reservoir, As an extension of this problem, it is important to Know whether liquid will be formed in the reservoir it as a result o a isothermal retrograde condensation when the reservoir pressure is reduced. The pressure range of such condensation, if it occurs, is significant in the design of gas-recycling plants for maintaining reservoir pressures. In connection with the operation of such plants, it is particularly important to know how gyres sure and temperature will affect the yield of the liquid phase and the composition of the gas to be returned to the reservoir. It has not been possible to predict the behavior of these fluids that have high ratios of gas to liquid by comparing them with the behavior of low gas-liquid ratio fluids at identical pressures and temperatures. Such comparison fails because the proportions in which a component will be distributed between the phases of a system at any given temperature and pressure depend increasingly on the composition of the mixture as the critical temperature and pressure of the oysters are approached. Because many combination wells are producing from reservoirs that have temperatures near the critical point, experimental date on the properties of the fluids under reservoir conditions are particularly important at this time. To rest the immediate requirements of the industry for such experimental information an equilibrium cell has been constructed at the Petroleum Experiment Station of the Bureau of Mines, Bartlesville, Okla. When adequate experimental date, have boon accumulated, it may be possible to mare dependable estimates of the phase relations ft. high gas-liquid ratio fluids at the pre runes and temperatures characteristics of ?combination-well? reservoirs.]

Jan 1, 1940

By J. L. Holman

The Bureau of Mines, at its Rolla Metallurgy Research Center, has devised methods for separating and reusing the major portion of waste plastics discarded in urban and industrial refuse. Waste plastic concentrates from a local collection drive, recycling center collections, urban refuse pilot plants, and the secondary metals industry were separated into three major thermoplastic families--polyolefins, styrenes, and vinyls--based on differences in density using a Bureau-designed sink-float-elutriation hydraulic separator. Other separation methods and systems such as air classification, jigging, liquid media, screening, and electrostatics were studied. Vinyl plastics contain up to 50 percent HC1. It was found that over 90 percent of the HC1 in vinyls can be recovered as usable hydrochloric acid by pyrolysis at 350° C. The remaining pyrolysis products which had heats of combustion in excess of 12,000 Btu/lb, could become valuable as a future source of energy. A characterization study conducted on eight chopped wire insulation wastes from secondary copper and aluminum processors showed that most wastes contained 2 to 7 percent residual metal and large percentages of vinyl. The residual metal content of some of these wastes was lowered to 0.1 percent and the vinyl portion segregated using various separation techniques. The research also suggests ways in which reclaimed thermoplastics may be fabricated into useful products.

Jan 1, 1974

By F. D. DeVaney

The low-grade deposits of manganese ores along the Missouri River near Chamberlain, S. Dak., are known to contain one of the largest reserves of manganese in the United States. Manganese occurs as concretionary nodules ranging in size from 13 inches in their longest dimension to particles finer than 65-mesh. The nodules are embedded in soft, wet shale, which contains little manganese. The removal of nodules from the low-grade shale is a simple mechanical -problem; the question is primarily to determine the lowest-cost method of separation. This report purposes to present data acquired by experimenting with samples of the ore, which form a basis for suggesting methods of concentrating manganese nodules.

Jan 1, 1942

By Paul S. Goodman

Volume II The purpose of this study is to explain reasons for the productivity differences in mining crews. The literature on group productivity is examined. Then a new approach to estimating productivity differences is proposed and estimated across seven different mines. The results indicate a fairly robust model in terms of explanatory power. Recommendations on how the model can be used as a managerial tool are presented.

Jan 1, 1985