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By Shelby Z. Palya

"The Bureau of Mines was established in the public interest to conduct inquiries and scientific and technologic investigations concerning mining and the preparation, treatment, and utilization of mining-substances; to promote health and safety, in the mineral industries; to conserve Material resources , and prevent their waste; to further economic development; to increase efficiency in the mining, metallurgical, quarrying, and other Mineral industries; and to inquire into the economic conditions affecting those industries. The organic act of the Bureau, as amended by Congress and approved February 25, 1913, made it the province and duty of the Bureau to ""disseminate information concerning these subjects in such manner as will best carry out the purposes of this Act.""In accordance with this directive, the Bureau reports the findings of its research and investigations in its own series of publications and also in articles that appear in scientific, technical, and trade journals; in proceedings of conventions and seminars; in reference books; and in other non-Bureau publications. The number of these reports, the wide range of subjects they cover, and the variety of mediums in which they appear make the kind of list and index presented in this special publication both necessary and valuable. This issue describes reports and articles published during the period January 1, 1975, to December 31, 1979. It supplements the 50-year list of Bureau publications issued from July 1, 1910, to January 1, 1960; 2 the 50-year list, of articles by Bureau authors published outside the Bureau from July 1, 1910, to January 1, 1960; 3 the 5-year lists of publications and articles, from January 1, 1960, to December 31, 1964,, from January 1, .1965, to December 31, 1969,5 'and from January '1, 1970, to December 31, 1974; and the annual ,lists of Bureau publications and articles from January, 1 to December 31, 1975,7 from January 1, to December 31, 1976,8 from January 1 to December 31, 1977, and from January 1 to December 31, 1978."

Jan 1, 1981

By M. Kanefsky

Two channel polarity coincidence and polarity difference statistics are analyzed. The signal, common to both channels, consists of sinusoidal bursts where the exact frequency of the signal is nearly known, but other parameters such as amplitude, phase, and pulse starting time are unknown. The noise inputs are dependent, narrow band, Markov processes. It is shown that the performance depends not only on the signal uncertainties, but on the precise shape of the cross-correlation functions between the noise in-puts. By using two polairty difference statistics in addition to the polarity coincidence statistic, it is shown that the decrease in performance, as well as the cost of hard limiting due to correlated inputs, can be made small.

Jan 1, 1981

By Richard I. Miller

Science Applications, Inc. has developed for the U.S. Bureau of Mines a rapid response radon monitor capable of accurately responding within three minutes to changing radon levels of magnitude from 100 to 10,000 pCi/1, typical of the levels in working uranium mines. The instrument weighs 17 pounds, is sized 12" x 10" x 6", and is capable of 8 hours of continuous portable operation with a self-contained, rechargeable battery power source. Residual chamber contamination from a radon level allowed to remain in the chamber for 90 minutes is about 10 percent, decaying about a factor of two in one hour. The instrument sensitivity is a nominal 0.1 cpm/(pCi/1), with a background count rate of less than 1 cpm.

Jan 1, 1979

By Vinit Mody

The belt conveyor is one of the major pieces of equipment for transferring bulk material in mining operations. However, considerable amount of respirable dust may be generated whenever the bulk material is loaded, dumped, or transferred. This report identifies and evaluates various dust control technolgies applicable to belt conveyors, and describes how an integrated systems approach can reduce dust emissions at a transfer point. Phase I of the program consisted of literature search and a critical evaluation of various dust control technologies. The work established that a comprehensive approach to calculating exhaust volumes for dust collection system does not exist. The parameters that affect the wet dust suppression efficiency were also reviewed. Based on the Phase I work, bulk material handling system and dry dust collection or wet dust suppression systems were designed and installed at a number of transfer points in a limestone processing facility, a surface mine selected as a field test site. Field test data were used to determine the validity of various exhaust volume calculations at the different transfer points. The field test data also formed the basis for the evaluations of the relative effectiveness of commercially available and wet dust suppression systems in controlling respirable dust emissions.

Jan 1, 1984

By James W. Hendrix

A survey of endomycorrhizal fungi occurring on orphan coalmine lands in Western and Eastern Kentucky revealed a great diversity of species present. Thus a large number of fungi are available for isolation and evalution for enhancing revegetation of mined land. Endomycorrhizal fungi isolated from orphan mines stimulated growth of sweetgum seedlings on mine soil at low fertilisation but inhibited growth at high fertilization; this growth inhibition at high fertilization did not occur with plants growing on peat-perlite. Banding of endomycorrbizal inoculum was not advantageous, compared with incorporation of inoculum throughout the growth medium, for production of mycorrhizal sweetgum seedlings. Newly reclaimed mine spoils were nearly nonmycorrhizal, compared with land reclaimed four or eight years earlier. A procedure for isolation of single-spore cultures of endomycorrhizal fungi was developed; this procedure is necessary for studies of ecotypic variability. A practical procedure using container-grown Pisolithus tinctorius-infected shortleaf pine seedlings for production of large numbers of bareroot pine seedlings infected with P. tinctorius for mined land reclamation was demonstrated.

Jan 1, 1982

By Donald J. Barnes

There are no producing or developing mines in the study area. The only mineral production was stone from a basalt deposit near Indian View Point. Cinders and sand and gravel have been produced from deposits within 1/2 mi (0.8 km) of the boundary. Stone, sand and gravel, and cinder deposits inside the area are not considered resources because equal or better quality material is found closer to markets. The study area has no known oil and gas, coal, geothermal, or other energy related deposits. However, in 1982 application was filed on 25,000 acres (10,125 ha) of petroleum and on 15,000 acres; (6,0/5 ha) of geothermal leases.

Jan 1, 1983

By Stan Henning

The monthly summary of the climatological record for the demonstration mine is presented in Table 1. Tear normal temperatures occurred throughout the growing season. From May to October precipitation was more than normal except in June when it was 2.55 inches below normal. Corn and soybean plantings were delayed until June 2-7 because of wet field conditions. This is about one month later than normal for corn planting. Insect infestations were much less than those encountered in previous years. Cutworm activity was not noticed and alfalfa weevil infestation were small and patchy. Stalk rot in corn was a significant problem at harvest and resulted in much Milk lodging. The wet and generally overcast conditions of July, August and September were bend 10 beneficial al to certain plant disease organisms. For example, pumpkins planted in a small garden area at the demonstration mine did not ripen because of a powdery mildew resulting from overcast, wet conditions. Field operations and row crop plantings were greatly delayed by wet field conditions. It was difficult to plant by conventional tillage because the soil remained soft and sticky where the moldboard plow had been used. Plots in the no-tillage system could he planted before conventionally tilled plots could be traversed. Plant emergence and plant density at

Jan 1, 1982

By E. P. Hayes

This report supplements the date contained in Bureau of Mines Information Circular 6156, "Special features of core drilling in the salt beds of Western Texas and New Mexico," by J. S. Wroth. That circular dealt with the drilling of the first 12 of the 24 potash tests made by the U. S. Bureau of Mines in cooperation with the U. S. Geological Survey; this report is concerned with the drilling of the last 12 tests. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The writer is indebted to R. E. Heithecker, the Bureau of Mines engineer who had charge of the drilling of tests 13 to 17, for his well-prepared records on the drilling of these tests.

Jan 1, 1933

By Douglas Talley

This report describes a 4-inch diameter borehole probe which contains a low light level TV camera, magnetic compass, light illumination source, bottom/water detector sensor and a pointing angle sensor. The camera viewing angle is at a right angle to the probe's body. All data from the sensor is multiplexed into the closed circuit camera video for transmission on a single 50 ohm coaxial cable to a surface control unit. Likewise control of the probe's power, zoom lens, focus, panning and aperture is accomplished via a down-link multiplexed on the same cable.

Jan 1, 1984

By Edward L. McHugh

In 1986, at the request of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Bureau of Mines studied the 5-acre Zwagg Island Wilderness Study Area (OR-12-14) in order to evaluate its identified mineral resources. The study area is located in Curry County, OR, immediately west of Brookings. There is no evidence of mining activity on or near Zwagg Island, and no mineral resources were identified. The steep-sided, flat-topped island is normally accessible from the mainland by way of a sandy beach. The island consists mainly of marine sandstone, mudstone, and conglomerate of the Jurassic Dothan Formation. Dothan Formation sandstone has been used locally as construction material. Rock along the coast has also been used for construction of jetties to improve harbor access; additional work has been proposed at the port of Brookings. Although suitable for other construction uses, stone from Zwagg Island would probably not meet physical requirements for jetty stone. Development of a stone resource on the island is unlikely.

Jan 1, 1987

By Russell R. McLellan

Under the Heavy Metals Program, investigations were conducted at the old Badger dill placer mini in Nevada County California to collect data and information regarding drilling and sampling methods and deposit characteristics. The studies contributed to a team effort by five Bureau of Mines research groups to develop new or improved placer mining technology in the Tertiary gold-bearing channel gravel of northern California. This report describes the techniques used and the results obtained in the sampling and drilling stage of deposit delineation studies that were conducted by the Denver Mine Systems Engineering Group. Sampling included the collection and processing of 400 tons of largo and small volume samples from drill holes, underground workings, surface pits, and blast hole rounds. A total of 355 samples averaging 2,296 pounds per sample provided reasonably accurate data for analysis of the gold distribution. These studies indicate that the bulk of the gold is within 40 foot of bedrock in stacked, lenticular zones of cemented gravel that are largely confined to the relatively narrow, meandering course of the deepest portion of the bedrock channel. Drilling studies involved the testing of three types of truck-mounted drills including rotary, bucket and vibratory, none of which proved to be a completely versatile tool for sampling quickly and reliably both consolidated and unconsolidated gravel.

Jan 1, 2012

By Charles Anema

The Mancarried and Helicopter Receivers were developed under the contract for trapped miner location. This program was a five phase program with 15 mancarried and 5 helicopter production receivers delivered under Phase IV and equipment documentation required under Phase V.

Jan 1, 1976

By A. R. T. Denues

Liquid oxygen explosives are ordinarily made from a carbonaceous absorbent and from liquid oxygen of high purity. These explosives have a limited but definite field of usefulness; their properties have been described in the literature, which includes several publications of the Bureau of Mines, the most recent dealing with fire-retardant treatments.3/ It seems generally conceded that the outstanding hazards in the use of these explosives are their high inflammability and their relative sensitivity to mechanical action. Each of these topics has been studied, and some interesting practical results have been obtained. Treatments have been described[7] that render liquid-oxygen explosives prepared from granular carbonaceous absorbents practically immune to the action of igniting agents representing or exceeding practical hazards in violence.

Jan 1, 1941

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Jan 1, 1981

By R. Newman

An inexpensive slow-speed data acquisition system has been adapted to digitally record multiple parameters simultaneously at intervals of 15 seconds. The system was built for use with standard soils testing equipment to automatically record load and displacement parameters at predetermined instants in time. Simultaneous readout is achieved by the use of special signal conditioner and sample-and-hold circuits which read the multiple signals simultaneously and hold them until the slow acting system can print out. Three channels of a 10-channel system have been converted and found to operate successfully during a series of direct shear tests. A unique feature of the system, which significantly reduced its cost, is the power supply units. Dummy circuits are used to maintain a constant power demand during sampling) thus eliminating the need for a costly power supply with rapid response characteristics. The entire system, having an overall accuracy of 0.25 percent, was put in operation for a cost under $2,500.

Jan 1, 1970

By Dale William Avery

Thirty mines and prospects were studied; 22 are within the Dolus Lakes RARE II area. Three properties within the area and one adjacent to it were determined to have indicated or inferred gold, silver, or molybdenum resources (fig. 1 and table 1) associated with quartz veins and shear zones or quartz-pyrite stockworks in granodiorite. Five other properties in the area and three just outside have potential for the discovery of gold and silver resources. Minor amounts of very fine-grained placer gold are in glacial outwash in and near the area. The John G. Carlisle Mine (fig. 1, no. 9) produced 120 oz (3.7 kg) of gold between 1897-1899. The Independence Mine produced 481 oz (15 kg) gold, 197 oz (6.1 kg) silver, and 189 lb (86 kg) of copper between 1926 and 1935. These mines are adjacent to the study area's northern boundary.

Jan 1, 1983

By A. R. T. Denues

[Liquid oxygen explosives are ordinarily made from a carbonaceous absorbent and from liquid oxygen of high purity. These explosives have a limited but definite field of usefulness; their properties have been described in the literature, which includes several publications of the Bureau of Mines, the most recent dealing with fire-retardant treatments.3/ It seems generally conceded that the outstanding hazards in the use of these explosives are their high inflammability and their relative sensitivity to mechanical action. Each of these topics has been studied, and some interesting practical results have been obtained. Treatments have been described that render liquid-oxygen explosives prepared from granular carbonaceous absorbents practically immune to the action of igniting agents representing or exceeding practical hazards in violence.]

Jan 1, 1941

A preliminary study was conducted by the Bureau of Mines to determine the effect of humidity on salt mine airborne dust levels. Results showed less dust where the humidity was elevated. Dust reductions appeared to be dependent on the equilibrium between humidity and salt.

Jan 1, 1980

Table A-1. Number of underground coal mines and samples collected for underground occupations, 1988-92 [ ]

Jan 1, 1997

By Larry R. Powell

As part of the Bureau of Mines effort to establish a comprehensive subsidence data base for subsidence technology development, subsidence and related data are being compiled for various mining, geological, and environmental situations. This publication presents data for two longwall mining operations in the Northern Appalachian Coal Region. Vertical displacements and relative face positions are tabulated for 104 subsidence monuments. Brief physiographic and geological descriptions of the mining sites are presented along with a general account of the mining and subsidence monitoring methods.

Jan 1, 1981