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By Dean H. Ambrose

Using three-dimensional (3-0) graphics computing to evaluate new technologies for computer-assisted mining systems illustrates how these visual techniques can redefine the way researchers look at raw scientific data. The U.S. Bureau of Mines is using 3-D graphics computing to obtain cheaply, easily, and quickly information about the operation and design of current and proposed mechanical coal and metal-nonmetal mining systems. Bureau engineers developed a graphics simulator for a continuous miner that enables a realistic test for experimental software that controls the functions of a machine. Some of the specific simulated functions of the continuous miner are machine motion, appendage motion, machine position, and machine sensors. The simulator uses data files generated in the laboratory or mine using a computer-assisted mining machine. The data file contains information from a laser-based guidance system and a data acquisition system that records all control commands given to a computer-assisted mining machine. This report documents the first phase in developing the simulator and discusses simulator requirements, features of the initial simulator, and several examples of its application. During this endeavor, Bureau engineers discovered and appreciated the simulator's potential to assist their investigations of machine controls and navigation systems.

Jan 1, 1992

By David J. Kusler

A gravimetric method for the determination of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane, and oxygen in blast furnace top gas is described. Nitrogen may be determined directly by volume measurement or by difference. The method is direct, permits continuous as sampling, and provides an averaged analysis over a selected range of sampling intervals from 1/2 to 24 hr or more. Neither expensive equipment nor specialized personnel are required. The method is suitable for routine analysis, and the results compare favorably with those obtained by established methods.

Jan 1, 1963

By O. C. Blade

This report on the properties of aviation gasolines and aviation jet fuels produced in the United States during 1954 was made under a co-operative agreement between the American Petroleum Institute and the Bureau of Mines of the United States Department of the Interior. Analytical data are presented for 101 samples of aviation gasoline. Data also are given for 30 samples of aviation jet fuel. The analyses were made on samples typical of the manufacturers I 1954 production in their laboratories and the results submitted to the Bureau of Mines for compilation. The products of 19 manufacturers of aviation gasolines and of 15 producers of aviation jet fuels are represented.

Jan 1, 1955

By B. W. Gandrud

In 1927 Coghill showed that there is considerable liberation of the iron oxide mineral from gangue when the Alabama red iron ores are ground to a size suitable for classification and tabling but that there is not sufficient to make possible a high extraction and a high grade of concentrate. Coghill states: High extraction and 'high grade of concentrate cannot be obtained without grinding to a size comparable with flotation or cyanide practice. If grade of concentrate be sacrificed the grinding need not be so severe. These ores slime readily during grinding, and in most instances the slimes are only slightly higher grade than the original ore. Not only do they carry a considerable percentage of the total iron in the ore, so that to reject them as tailings would result in prohibitively low extraction, but they are too fine to be amenable to ordinary methods of gravity concentration. In 1929 the Bureau of Mines published results showing that certain Alabama oolitic iron ores could be concentrated by classification and tabling after grinding, with rubber-covered rods. This selective grinding produced slimes of much higher grade than the original ore, and they were considered part of the final concentrate.

Jan 1, 1934

By Joseph J. Wallace

1. The investigation shows that there are two coal beds of major importance in Perry County from the standpoint of present production -Flag and Fire Clay -and two beds of minor importance -Haddix and Hindman. The Flag and Fire Clay beds contain the largest remaining known reserves. 2. Known measured and indicated reserves in all beds, based on a minimum thickness of 14 inches and 1,800 tons per acre-foot of coal in place, are estimated at 840 million short tons as of January 1, 1954. Of this total, 720 million short tons is in beds 28 inches and more thick. Areas in each bed were omitted from the estimate because available data relative to the bed characteristics are too meager for making an estimate that conforms with the definitions of measured and indicated coal adopted for this study. Should future drilling or development prove reserves in these areas, these should be added to the total estimated reserves.

Jan 1, 1954

By J. G. Walters

This bulletin presents, in collected and tabluated form, Bureau of Mines and American Gas Association (EM-AGA) carbonization data pertaining to the chemical analysis of tars and the characterization of tars and light oils obtained from U.S. coals.

Jan 1, 1967

By Loren R. Anderson

This is an Appendix of Volume I. It contains the results of the electric cone penetrometer soundings from the first phase of the testing program.

Jan 1, 1982

By D. L. Sawyer

The Bureau of Mines studied alumina extraction from uncalcined, kao-linitic clay at temperatures from 1000 to 2500 C using 20-or 27-wt-pct-HCI concentrations and with an acid-to-clay ratio of from 0.8 to 1.4 times stoichiometric. Autogenous digestion pressures ranged from atmospheric pressure to about 900 psia. Extraction of 96 pct of the alumina was obtained by HCI leaching at temperatures and leaching times that varied from 1000 C for 120 h to 2000 C for 15 min. Hydrochloric acid stoichiometry of the reaction A1203'2Si02'2H20 + 6HCI + 2AICl3 + 2Si02 + 5H20 was studied at different temperatures and leaching times in a 750-mL tetrafluoroethylene-polymer-lined autoclave. A combination of high temperature and 20 wt pct excess HCI promoted rapid and almost quantitative extraction of alumina (99 pct in some tests). Additional Bureau data obtained with 35-mL tantalum bombs and leach-ing tests with added fluoride are also provided. At high temperatures, the addition of fluoride did not result in a significant improvement over HCI alone and was deleterious to the filtering properties of the digest residue.

Jan 1, 1985

By H. P. Greenwald

About mid-December 1936, the safety director of a large coal corporation visited the authors at the Bureau's Experimental coal mine to discuss a rock-dust barrier he had invented primarily for use in trackless entries of coal mines. The rock dust in this device was carried in its original paper containers and means were provided for ripping these open so that the dust might be scattered in the path of an explosion. The inventor termed the device a "bag barrier", and this term has been adopted in the present paper for convenience. At that time the device was in an early stage of development, and the inventor felt that the barrier should be tested to determine whether it had enough promise of being successful to justify further development. The matter was taken under consideration and finally three tests were made during the week of February 15, 1937. It was concluded that while the device did stop an explosion in two of the three tests, it was much loss effective than ordinary rock dusting, and that too few data were obtained to permit direct comparison with tests of other barriers. Apparently, the conditions under which the device could, be successful were somewhat limited, out the limits could not be defined without additional tests.

Jan 1, 1938

By W. E. Wallace, S. -G. Xing, M. J. Keane, J. C. Harrison

"SummaryDiesel-exhaust particles from two sources were dispersed in aqueous mixtures of dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline, a major component of pulmonary surfactant, and were tested for genotoxicity. Diesel samples from the same sources were extracted with dichloromethane and transferred into dimethyl sulfoxide and subjected to the same assays. Both types of extractions yielded similar results in both the Salmonella mutagenicity assay and the sister-chromatid exchange assay using V79 cells. After separation of the samples into supernatant and sediment fractions, the activity of both diesel samples was shown to reside exclusively in the supernatant fraction for the solvent-extracted samples, and exclusively in the sedimented fraction for surfactant dispersed samples. These findings indicate that genotoxic activity associated with diesel particles inhaled into the lung may be made bioavailable by virtue of the solubilization / dispersion properties of pulmonary surfactant components.While diesel engine emissions are associated primarily with transportation, they are also very common in the workplace. Estimates for the U.S. are that as many as 1.35 million workers in as many as 80 000 workplaces are exposed to the combustion products of diesel engines (NIOSH, 1988). These occupations include, but are not limited to mining, agriculture, motor vehicle maintenance, fork lift truck driving, truck driving, and tunnel and bridge operation."

Mar 1, 1992

By Joseph J. Wallace

1. The Pittsburgh is the most important bed in Washington County from the standpoint of present production and recoverable reserves. 2. Known measured and indicated reserves in all beds, based on a minimum thickness of 14 inches and 1,800 short tons per acre-foot of coal in place, are estimated at 4,181 million short tons as of January 1, 1954. Of this total, 4,132 million short tons is in beds 28 inches and more thick. Areas in some beds were omitted from the estimate because available data relative to the bed characteristics are too meager for making an estimate that conforms with the definitions of measured and indicated coal adopted for this study. Should future drilling or development prove reserves in these areas, such reserves should be added to the total estimated reserves.

Jan 1, 1955

By E. W. Newman

The Bureau of Mines, in cooperation with the U. S. Geological Survey, developed the property of the Tungsten Metals Corp. by surface trenching and diamond drilling from November 1940 to June 1941 and from August 1943 to December 1943. The purpose of the work was to determine possible reserves of tungsten in the downward extension and lateral eastern extension of three major tungsten-bearing quartz veins. The property is 50 miles south of Ely, White Pine County, Nev., in the Minerva Mining District. Tungsten ore was discovered in the district in 1915, and mining started in 1916. The tungsten ore bodies occur as shoots in quartz veins that occur along faults in limestone. With the exception of a small-scale leasing operation in 1932, the property was idle from 1919 until 1936, when Tungsten Metals Corp. was organized to acquire the mines. Production ceased in May 1945, and the mines were idle until leased in 1947. Development by the Bureau of Mines during 1940 and 1941 consisted of surface trenching, sampling, and diamond drilling 37 holes for a total of 6,959 feet. Subsequent drilling of eight holes, totaling 3,067 feet, in 1943 disclosed additional reserves. This report sets forth in considerable detail the exploration work completed by the Bureau and briefly describes the mining and milling methods employed. Diamond-drill halo logs and sample analyses are shown graphically in the illustrations that accompany the report.

Jan 1, 1950

By J. W. Paul

This report is one of a series of papers on coal mining methods and costs which are being prepared through the sponsorship of the U. S. Bureau of Mines for the purpose of bringing to the industry a knowledge of methods as they are used at the present time, and data on certain features which govern costs, safety, and conservation. The methods employed are, influenced by local conditions with respect to the character and dip of the coal, the nature of the, roof and the thickness of the overburden, and the means employed for roof support and its control.

Jan 1, 1929

By W. P. Haynes

To evaluate the potential use of battery-powered vehicles, the Bureau of Mines studied the performance of a battery-powered truck propelled by a 9.6 kw dc motor in considerable detail under various driving conditions. Some of the factors investigated were: Gear ratios, payload (1,468 lb maximum), road grade, stops made per mile, and charging time. With the exception of some difficulty with brush wear, operation and maintenance of the truck was generally trouble-free. On range tests carrying an 868-lb payload a distance of about 50 miles at an average speed of about 19 mph in normal driving, the Bureau's battery-powered truck averaged 1.6 to 1.9 miles per ac kwhr input. Stop-and-go tests indicated that prospects for the use of battery-powered trucks in house delivery service within city limits are good; performance of the Bureau truck was sufficiently high for that type of service. The estimated power cost of 2.65 cents per mile while making 10 stops per mile was attractively low from the standpoint of fuel costs.

Jan 1, 1967

By Larry A. Haas

The chemistry of current or potential SO2 removal processes can be placed into four categories: (1) reduction, (2) Liquefaction, (3) direct dissolution, and (4) oxidation. Methods that involve reducing SO2 to elemental sulfur appear promising since this product can be easily handled, shipped, and stock- piled. Unfortunately, SO2 cannot always be reduced directly when other oxidizing agents are present. Thermodynamic data indicate that some oxidizing reagents will also consume reductant at the reduction temperature. A two- stage process can be applied to waste gases that contain excessive quantities of oxygen, nitrogen oxides, and water vapor. The best sorbent for the first stage appears to be a nonalkali or nonalkaline earth medium since this medium more readily releases the SO2 for reduction in the second stage.

Jan 1, 1973

By E. G. King

Strontium sulfide and barium sulfide occur as intermediates in commercial treatments of the impure natural sulfates to produce pure strontium and barium chemicals. Thermodynamic considerations involving these sulfides have been hampered by lack of basic data, such as the entropies at 298.15°K. This paper reports the results of heat capacity measurements of strontium sulfide and barium sulfide in the temperature range 50°-298°K. The entropies at 298.15°K. were derived from the heat capacity values. Free energies of formation at 298.15°k. were computed from the entropies and literature values of the heats of formation. Strontium sulfide and barium sulfide are thermo-dynamically less stable than calcium sulfide, but more stable than magnesium sulfide.

Jan 1, 1960

By Scott W. Hazen

This report describes exploration for lead-zinc ores at the Madonna mine between 1945 and 1953 by the Utze Lode Co., the Bureau of Mines, and the company with Government financial aid under the Defense Production Act of 1950. The Madonna mine yielded silver, lead, and zinc with a net smelter value of over $5,000.000. from 1882 to 1924. The mine was inactive from 1924 to 1942 when the Utze Lode Co. acquired the property. Possibilities for finding ore in the mine, especially at depth, were considered favorable. The Utze Lode Co. began rehabilitating the Madonna mine in 1945. An exploration program, which consisted of winze sinking and drifting, failed to produce commercial are.

Jan 1, 1956

By Mark Sheppard

This paper is the third 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 the 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. Progress reports 1 and 2 dealt with comparisons of different types of crushers crushing the same type of stone. This report deals with relation¬ship between feed and product of two different limestones, as to size distribution and particle shape, when crashed in the same crusher.

Jan 1, 1938

By J. Vance Batty

Two methods were devised and evaluated for quantitatively measuring the amount of oleic acid on flotation products and in flotation waters. One method involved use of an organic solvent to remove carbon-l4-tagged oleic acid from mineral surfaces and flotation water phases with subsequent radio-metric analysis of the extracts. Studies showed this method to be slow and subject to large variations in accuracy and reproducibility. In the second procedure, tagged oleic acid was measured directly on the surfaces of dried mineral products. Oleic acid in the water phase was determined by adsorbing it on fine mineral, drying, and radiometric counting. Quantitative analysis of oleic acid on flotation products from bench-scale flotation tests with synthetic mixtures of ore minerals and quartz and with natural ores showed this method to be fast, accurate, and reproducible.

Jan 1, 1968

By Lloyd A. Morley

The primary goal of this research report is to discuss safety considerations involved in the use of lead-acid batteries for traction purposes in underground coal mines. In order to arrive at the objective, the topic of battery safety has been divided into two specific areas. The first deals with the fact that batteries emit hydrogen gas during and after the charge cycle. Hydrogen gas can be the source of dangerous explosions or mine fires. The second major topic deals with the electrical nature of the battery and battery-charging systems, which also provides a source of mine fires as well as electrocution hazards. In addition to the discussion on battery safety, a literature review has been undertaken to acquaint the reader with some basic concepts inherent to the battery usage process. The result of this research is a set of design specifications and procedural recommendations directed at improving the safety factors inherent in any underground battery usage scheme.

Jan 1, 1977