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By S. M. Shelton, W. A. Calhoun, M. M. Fine, T. L. Johnston

"FOREWORDFerrograde manganese ore or its equivalent is essential to the manufacture of every ton of steel produced; although it is well known that there are large deposits of low-grade are in the United States, the production of substantial amounts of ferrograde material from domestic sources presents a problem that becomes more and more critical as the stockpiled ore depleted through inability to procure adequate supplies from foreign sources. Consequently, a program of laboratory,and pilot-plant investigation designed to solve the problem of obtaining a domestic supply of manganese has been undertaken by the Metallurgical Division, Bureau of Mines.This paper is one of a new series that include reports of results obtained in the various investigations conducted under the manganese program. The scope of the program and the organization that was set up to direct and supervise the were discussed in the foreword of the first paper of this series, Report of Investigations 3606 Manganese Investigations. 1. Concentration of Manganese Ores,from the Drum Mountain District, Utah, by S. R. J. D. Vincent, and C. R. Schack. Other reports will be published as the work progresses."

Mar 1, 1942

The mineral industry of Benin contributed less than 1% of the 1977 gross domestic product (GDP), which was estimated at $500 million.' Other than limestone and salt, no exploitable mineral deposits have yet been discovered in Benin, which has been rated by the United Nations as one of the world's least developed nations. In 1977, the economy was further weakened by petroleum price increases and severe drought. The country continued to depend on foreign assistance, which averaged $20 million per year, to finance development projects. The country's first 3-year plan, which was put into operation in October 1977 after many delays, allocated more than $1 billion to projects in infrastructure, agriculture, and light industry. The most important infrastructure project was the expansion and modernization of the port of Cotonou, valued as an entrepôt port for the transit of goods to the neighboring countries of Niger and Nigeria. Plans called for an increase in handling capacity to 1 million tons of cargo annually, the improvement of port and cargo handling operations, and the upgrading of the efficiency of the Port Autonome de Cotonou (PAC) management system. The $46 million project was to be financed by a consortium led by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and including Canada, France, Nigeria, and Abu Dhabi. Construction was scheduled to begin in 1978 and be completed in 1980.

Jan 1, 1981

By Michael J. Pazuchanics

This report documents the current status of the U.S. Bureau of Mines ongoing investigation of the use of adaptive signal discrimination (ASD) systems to distinguish between cutting coal and cutting rock. Cutting-tool forces and vibrations were measured in the laboratory using both conical bits and roller cutters in a linear-cutting apparatus for several material samples and two cutting directions. A number of ASD systems consisting of one or more signal classifiers were trained and tested to study how data window size, type of signal feature, and combining (polling) of classifier results influence system performance. The results show that ASD system recognition rates can be improved by increasing data window size, removing air-cutting portions from the signal data, overlapping data windows, and combining (fusing) information at various levels of ASD system operation.

Jan 1, 2010

By D. A. Buckingham

The Bureau of Mines evaluated potential availability of domestic nickel from 23 deposits, Evaluations included an estimation of in situ and recoverable resources, applicable mining and processing technologies, and capital and operating costs. Discounted cash flow analysis with a 15-pct rate of return was used to determine the average total cost of production of each operation, Identified in situ resources contain 9.0 million metric tons (t) of nickel; 5.5 million t is recoverable as nickel metal or ferronickel. Demonstrated in situ resources contain 8.2 million t of nickel; 4.8 million t is recoverable as nickel metal or ferronickel. No nickel is available at a total cost of production equal to the January 1983 market price of $3.24 per pound. Analyses indicate that potential annual production can only meet current consumption levels at a total cost of production of $7.60 per pound of nickel, Nickel's availability is contingent on (1) successful adaptability of nickel processing methods to domestic resources, (2) location of a smelting facility, and (3) marketability of byproducts and coproducts. Analyses were performed on the effects of byproduct and coproduct revenues, energy, labor, and transportation costs, and metallurgical recoveries on nickel's availability.

Jan 1, 1984

By Rolf S. Paine

The Bureau of Mines studied the presplitting technique used for control-ling overbreakage in the walls of a vertical shaft at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Littleville Dam project near Huntington, Mass. The periphery of the shaft, the dimensions of which were 16-1/2 feet wide by 21 feet long and 52 feet deep, was presplit (cracked) in the solid to a depth of 48 feet prior to full-depth sinking. Presplitting prevented overbreak in a fairly soft schist and provided sound self-supporting walls which required very little scaling.

Jan 1, 1965

By Rolf S. Paine

The Bureau of Mines studied the presplitting technique used for control-ling overbreakage in the walls of a vertical shaft at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Littleville Dam project near Huntington, Mass. The periphery of the shaft, the dimensions of which were 16-1/2 feet wide by 21 feet long and 52 feet deep, was presplit (cracked) in the solid to a depth of 48 feet prior to full-depth sinking. Presplitting prevented overbreak in a fairly soft schist and provided sound self-supporting walls which required very little scaling.

Jan 1, 1965

By R. S. Dean

In an earlier paper Dean and Hersberger5/ gave preliminary results a d discussed briefly the use in flotation of organic reagents of the type known in the textile industry as "wetting agents.? These reagents are those with a molecular structure comprising a long hydrocarbon chain attached to a. highly molar or hydrorhile group in such manner that ionization is nearly complete in dilute solution and the resultant ionic grouping has a very considerable hydrophile-lipophile unbalance in the structure. As a result of this characteristic structure these reagents are more or less powerful frothers and emulsifiers. Ten the degree of hydrophile-lipaphile unbalance is sufficiently great and specific chemical factors are absent these compounds behave in flotation as noncollecting frothers insensitive to reason¬able changes of pH.

Jan 1, 1937

By R. S. Dean

In an earlier paper Dean and Hersberger5/ gave preliminary results a d discussed briefly the use in flotation of organic reagents of the type known in the textile industry as "wetting agents.? These reagents are those with a molecular structure comprising a long hydrocarbon chain attached to a. highly molar or hydrophile group in such manner that ionization is nearly complete in dilute solution and the resultant ionic grouping has a very considerable hydrophile-lipophile unbalance in the structure. As a result of this characteristic structure these reagents are more or less powerful frothers and emulsifiers. Ten the degree of bydrophile-lipaphile unbalance is sufficiently great and specific chemical factors are absent these compounds behave in flotation as noncollecting frothers insensitive to reasonable changes of pH.

Jan 1, 1937

By J. W. Adams

This report surveys the efforts of six contractors to the U.S. Bureau of Mines with regard to their electromagnetic noise measurement programs. What has been done, what is planned, and evaluations and recommendations are given for each contractor. The main observation is that to date there is not sufficient knowledge of electromagnetic interference in mine environments to design a reliable communication system. This knowledge should be available by the end of June 1972 if certain planned programs are completed successfully. A major effort of this report is to establish parameters to be measured, units to be used, and workable formats for data presentation. This is given in Appendix A. Some details concerning equipment, procedures, locations, and sample data are included in Appendix B.

Jan 1, 1971

By Wilbert J. Huff

[This is the fifth of a series of annual reports of the explosives Division, Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior.3/ It deals particularly with work done during the period July 1, 1939, to June 30, 1939. The writer and the respective unit leader to whom credit is indicated have directed the various studies outlined.]

Jan 1, 1940

By Chas. G. Maier

The absence of plants on the Pacific coast for the reduction of iron ores usually is attributed to the fuel situation there. Thus, the bulletin of the. State Division of Mines for 1933, entitled "California Mineral Production," says: "There are considerable deposits of iron ore known in California, notably in Shasta, Mad era, Placer, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles Counties, but production has so far been limited for lack of an economic supply of coking coal." It has been estimated that the six major steel plants of the Pacific coast have an annual ingot capacity of 600,000 tons. The present need for tin plate averages 300,000 tons yearly for California alone, of which some 12 percent is manufactured locally. If the consump¬tion of other iron and steel products in 1929 may be taken as an approximate, estimate of the normal requirement for such products, it may be estimated further that, 65,000 to 75,000 tons each of cast-iron pipe and steel reinforcing bars and 300,000 to 400,000 tons of structural shapes and plates will be required annually in California.

Jan 1, 1936

By David Bendersky

This report covers the activities of a feasibility study of fiber optics technology fur use in mines. The objective of the study was to evaluate, both technically and cost-wise, the possible use of fiber optic technology for underground mine communication and monitoring systems. The first phase of the study was devoted to the collection of information on the present underground mine communication systems and monitoring techniques, and the status of applicable fiber optic technology. In the second ph se of the study, a communication and monitoring system for a hypothetical underground coal mine was designed and the costs estimated. The significant findings and conclusions are presented.

Jan 1, 1982

The wealth of a nation can be measured many ways, but one of the most important measures is its natural resources, particularly minerals. Minerals provide the foundation upon which economic prosperity and defense preparedness rest. Assessing our energy and mineral resources and assuring their development is in the best interests of all our people continues to be an important national goal. Since its founding in 1910, the U.S. Bureau of Mines has established itself as the world's premier minerals information and research agency. Its authoritative, comprehensive data and pioneering research have contributed significantly to a strong U.S. mineral position in the world.

Jan 1, 1990

By Michael L. Clar

This volume is an annotated bibliography of published literature pertaining to the occurrence and control of surface and groundwater in underground coal mines. This literature was used to develop Volume 1 of this report, which assesses the feasibility of water diversion and overburden dewatering for underground coal mines in the Appalachian Region. Each abstract is followed by subject descriptors. the abstracts are listed alphabetically by title and are numbered consecutively. These numbers are used in the subject index to help the reader locate the appropriate articles.

Jan 1, 1981

By K. T. Menzies

Over 1500 literature citations related to diesel exhaust sampling and analysis were obtained as a result of both computer and manual searches of nine data bases. Abstracts and hard copies of relevant citations were reviewed and those considered appropriate for evaluation were included in a bibliography. Based on the literature collected, available sampling and analysis methods for the following diesel exhaust contaminants were evaluated: CO, CO2, NO, NO2, Hydrocarbons, Particulates, PNA, S04, Oxygenates Emphasis was given to both laboratory and field methods for these species. Methods were evaluated on the basis of sensitivity, selectivity, accuracy and reliability and a selected list of preferred methods was developed for each compound/ class. The selected methods were additionally evaluated through communication with current investigators. Sampling and analysis methods for all compounds except CO and CO2 were observed to have some unreliability. Recommendations were made for future research to develop, improve, and validate methods.

Jan 1, 1979

By Gregory Molinda

NIOSH has recently completed a study of the interaction between polyurethane (PUR) and coal mine roof in order to determine the mechanism of reinforcement, in both highly fractured rock and unfractured rock. Four case studies of PUR rein­forcement are presented. At a West Virginia site, a borehole camera revealed the location of roof voids and guided the PUR injection. By injecting polyure­thane into a zone from 0.6 to 1.8 m (2?6 ft.) high in the roof, a roof beam was created and ongoing intersection falls were halted. In another highly fractured roof in a western Pennsylvania mine, a total of 5.8 cm (2.3 in.) of rubbleized rock was found in a zone up to 3 m (10 ft.) into the roof. Untargeted PUR injection filled approximately 1/2 of the fractures. These two case studies showed that it is not necessary to fill up 100% of the void space to create stability. In the other two field sites, polyurethane was injected into weak, but unfractured roof. Post-injec­tion video monitoring showed that weak bedding planes were hydraulically wedged open and polyure­thane injected along bedding. The reinforcement value of this injection method is limited because of the wafer-thin layer of PUR introduced along bedding, and the lack of a PUR ??webbing?? which would serve as a structural framework to provide strength. It was determined that video inspection prior to PUR injection can aid in identifying the fracture zones to target, and minimize ??blind?? pumping and loss of PUR.

Jan 1, 2008

By Mark L. Chatman

This report presents an economic mineral assessment and Inventory of mines and prospects In the approximately 176,000-acre Patagonia Mountains-Canelo Hills Unit of Coronado National Forest. Deposits or areas most likely to experience future development are characterized in terms of their economics, based on data acquired by the author from a variety of sources, and supplemented by USBM field data collected by other workers in 1990 and 1991. Numerous mine maps, rock-chip sample assays, and detailed descriptions of mine and prospect sites are in this report and appendixes. Heavy but sporadic mining, mainly between the 1850's and 1950's was nearly all confined to the Patagonia Mountains. High-grade sulfide veins, replacements, and skarn deposits accounted for most of the production, which included large quantities of zinc, lead, copper, and silver, and considerable quantities of gold. Small Quantities of molybdenum, manganese, tungsten, and placer gold have been mined. Most of the traditionally mined metalliferous sites will not see future activity due to the low tonnages present and removal of most high-grade rock. Possible future development areas include copper porphyries and breccia pipes; most are too deeply buried for current development. Localities where similar deposits may be concealed are identified.

Jan 1, 1994

By K. B. Rojiani

Surface mining activities disturb large tracts of land resulting in the potential for greatly increased downstream sediment loads. The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 places increased emphasis on the protection of the environment from the adverse effects of surface mining operations. Surface mining activities must be planned to minimize disturbance to the hydrologic balance, erosion and sediment contributions to receiving streams. Sediment ponds must provide a sediment storage volume equal to the accumulated sediment volume from the drainage area as determined by the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) or other empirical methods established by the regulatory authority. It has thus become extremely important for the mining industry to secure more accurate estimates of potential erosion losses and sediment yield. Accurate estimates of sediment yield are required for the planning, design and successful operation of sediment control systems such as detention ponds and other alternative control structures and for evaluating the effectiveness of land management practices. The principal soil loss prediction procedure available for use is the LISLE. The USLE procedure is inadequate for use in predicting soil loss from surface mine regions for a number of reasons. These include: 1. The USLE was developed to estimate average average annual loss from agricultural soils. It cannot predict accurately soil loss for specific storm events. In surface mine regions a major portion of the soil loss occurs during the initial six months to one year of active mining. Accurate estimates of soil loss over short periods are thus required for the design of control structures. 2. The slope length and gradient factors used in the USLE were obtained from data or cropland having slopes ranging

Jan 1, 1983

By T. C. Davis

Nine organic derivatives of fluorine, silicon, boron, and aluminum were purified for thermodynamic studies using distillation, zone melting, and gas liquid chromatography, The unusual properties of these compounds required the development of special techniques for handling and purification. To determine purities of purified samples, new techniques for analyzing spectral data were developed.

Jan 1, 1965

By C. B. Manula

This report is volume 7 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 describes the Rail Haulage subsystem of the Master Design Simulator. This subsystem can be used as a free standing model or can be linked to the Production subsystem to provide rail haulage capability. Complex rail haulage systems can be realistically simulated with this model. This report includes complete instructions for operating the subsystem as well as a program listing. In addition, a case study is included which illustrates the application of the subsystem when linked to the production subsystem.

Jan 1, 1974