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By Richard Lusignea

A single boom roof bolting machine was outfitted with measurement and recording systems for detecting changes in machine parameters while drilling. The purpose of this instrumented bolter or "smart drill" is to detect changes in roof conditions from the machine parameters of penetration rate, thrust, rotation rate, torque, rejected light from rock cuttings, and vibration of the roof during drilling. The system was demonstrated underground in coal mine conditions and showed correlation between rock type and drilling parameters.

Jan 1, 1982

By Everett P. Partridge, J. E. Conley

Available statistics show that the demands of the American chemical industry for sodium sulphate have been increasing slightly in recent years. The supply from domestic sources, particularly in the form of byproduct salt cake from the acid manufacturers, has been tending to decrease this to the growing manufacture of synthetic acid. Both hydrochloric and nitric acids are being synthesized from their elements. The natural result has been that a smaller amount of salt cake is available. Simultaneously, the expansion of the kraft-paper industry, especially in the South, has brought about greater demand for sodium sulphate in that section. This demand is being met by domestic byproduct salt cake, by imported German sodium sulphate made from potash waste liquors, and by favorably situated domestic deposits of Glauber salts and the anhydrous salt, thenardite. No shortage of natural sodium sulphate exists in the United States, but usually such deposits occur in semiarid regions far removed from transportation facilities and from markets. Moreover, the major portion of the natural deposits is Glauber salt or mirabilite (Na2 504 • 10H20), which must be dried or dehydrated in order to meet consumer requirements. The water of hydration represents, roughly, 55 percent of the total weight of the crude salts and therefore has a very important influence on transportation costs, in many instances the cost of getting even the dehydrated product to market is the deciding economic factor. Therefore, the recovery of production of anhydrous sodium sulphate from plant-waste liquors or from natural brines of suitable composition might be economically feasible.

Mar 1, 1936

By Clarke E. Schuetze

This project had as its objective the experimental investigation of water capsule production utilizing the Southwest Research Institute's submerged nozzle encapsulation apparatus (U.S. Patent 3,389,194). Initial efforts on this project involved nozzle configuration and shell formulation optimization. The shell formulation developed on a prior program was modified during the course of the project to obtain the best balance of capsule breakage resistance and water retention. Subsequent effort centered on determining operating conditions which would produce the best quality capsules for each candidate shell formulation as determined by laboratory tests. Some preliminary work was done to increase the production capacity of the encapsulation equipment. The program was extended with major emphasis concerned with scale-up studies of capsule production capacity and the treatment of problems associated with grouting cartridge fabrication. During the course of the program, water-containing capsules were produced which have good long-term water retention, block resistance and adequate strength. Using a single-nozzle design, a production capacity of 15.9kg (35 pounds) per hour was demonstrated to give acceptable capsules based on initial results.

Jan 1, 1978

By Ernest J. Conway

This report presents engineering drawings for six material handling devices for underground coal mines. The devices were designed under a U.S. Bureau of Mines program to reduce injuries from material handling during mine and equipment maintenance. The six devices are (1) scoop-mounted 1411: boom, (2) swing-arm boom, (3) heavy-component lift-transport, (4) mine mud cart, (5) container-workstation vehicle, and (6) timber car. Each device is described briefly, and recommendations are made concerning the design of new devices.

Jan 1, 1989

By Paul M. Buttermore

As part of a national canvass of water use the Bureau of Mines compiled data on water requirements in the petroleum and natural gas industries for the calendar year 1962, specifically in well drilling, secondary-recovery operations, and natural gas processing plants. Total new water use in the petroleum industry of the United States, excluding refining, was 5.3 billion barrels. Secondary-recovery operations and natural gas processing plants required about 2.5 billion barrels of new water input; each of these requirements was about eight times greater than that for well drilling. Total use, including recirculated water, was 45.3 billion barrels of which 3.4 billion barrels was consumed. The greatest use of recirculated water was for natural gas processing, amounting to 38.2 billion barrels. Projections of total water use show that by 1975, 75.4 billion barrels will be used by the petroleum industry, of which 10.2 billion barrels will be new water. By 1985, the total use requirement will be 92.8 billion barrels, of which 13.1 billion barrels will be new water.

Jan 1, 1966

By Paul M. Buttermore

As part of a national canvass of water use the Bureau of Mines compiled data on water requirements in the petroleum and natural gas industries for the calendar year 1962, specifically in well drilling, secondary-recovery operations, and natural gas processing plants. Total new water use in the petroleum industry of the United States, excluding refining, was 5.3 billion barrels. Secondary-recovery operations and natural gas processing plants required about 2.5 billion barrels of new water input; each of these requirements was about eight times greater than that for well drilling. Total use, including recirculated water, was 45.3 billion barrels of which 3.4 billion barrels was consumed. The greatest use of recirculated water was for natural gas processing, amounting to 38.2 billion barrels. Projections of total water use show that by 1975, 75.4 billion barrels will be used by the petroleum industry, of which 10.2 billion barrels will be new water. By 1985, the total use requirement will be 92.8 billion barrels, of which 13.1 billion barrels will be new water.

Jan 1, 1966

By Thomas J. Albin

U.S. Bureau of Mines research has found that maintenance of surface mining equipment is involved in slightly more than one-third (34.1 pct) of all surface mining accidents. Two groups of machines, haulage trucks and power shovels, accounted for over one-half of all surface mining mobile equipment maintenance accidents in 1978-84. Maintenance work-time histories for these machines were compared with accident records to identify the most hazardous-to-maintain systems within the machines. Recommendations to reduce the accident risk associated with maintenance of these hazardous systems are presented.

Jan 1, 1990

By David C. Oyler, Dennis R. Dolinar, Christopher Mark, Craig S. Compton

Fully-grouted roof bolts comprise more than 80% of the primary roof supports used in U.S. coal mines. However, nearly 1,500 MSHA reportable, non-injury roof falls occur each year, and most of these are attributable to failure of the roof bolt system. Anchorage failure is one failure mechanism for fully-grouted bolts. As roof deformation works its way upward, the bolts can become heavily loaded near their upper ends. If the applied load exceeds the anchorage, the bolts will simply pull out. Research dating back 30 yrs indicates that this type of anchorage failure is most likely when the roof rock is weak, just where roof support is most critical. In soft shale or coal roof, the small amount of data available in the literature indicates that 20-30 in of resin anchorage may be required to achieve the full capacity of the bolt. In other words, the “full resistance zone” of a 60 in bolt may actually be just 30-40 in. Despite its potential importance, there is no widely accepted anchorage test for fully grouted bolts. Standard pull tests have sometimes been employed, but they provide no information on the anchorage near the top of the bolt. An alternative, first described more than 25 yrs ago in the U.S., is the short-encapsulation pull test (SEPT). With this test, the bolt is installed with only a short (1 ft or less) tube of resin. In recent years variations of this test have become international standards. v

Research personnel from the Bureau of Mines, a representative of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, and research contractors for the Bureau of Mines met with other Government and industry representatives at three seminar locations in December 1980 to discuss the findings and products of Bureau research on mine safety training. The research program is aimed at providing assistance to the mining community in its efforts to reduce industrial-type, human-error accidents through research establishing performance based methods and media for employee training. Research emphasis is directed toward development of baseline materials and instructional models; development of methods for structuring and evaluating health and safety, supervisory, and occupational training; and the continued investigation and application of current learning and simulation technology that could significantly enhance the effectiveness of training opportunities.

Jan 1, 1981

By Joe Maher

Adequate mine roof support to insure the safety of men and equipment is essential to successful mining. It is also expensive, amounting to more than one-fifth of the total mining cost at the White Pine mine. Cost effectiveness is therefore a prime consideration in developing optimum roof support. Roof bolt length is an important cost factor. This Phase II work compared uniform four-foot length Resin Bolts with the hitherto standard alternating four-foot and six-foot Resin Bolts, aiming at more cost-effective roof bolting. The data generated under this Phase II show that there is no discernible difference in the roof support given by uniform four-foot, and by alternating four- and six-foot, Resin Bolts in the relatively difficult ground selected for a severe initial test comparison; subsequent data from less difficult ground led to the same conclusion, namely no discernible difference between four-foot and four-six foot bolting.

Jan 1, 1975

By T. F. Anstett

The Bureau of Mines estimated the potential availability of tungsten from 57 mines and deposits in 19 market economy countries. The tungsten resources of China and the U.S.S.R. were also estimated. This resulted from an evaluation of tonnage-cost relationships indicating the quantity of tungsten available as ammonium paratungstate (APT), artificial and natural scheelite, and ferrotungsten at various average total costs of production including 0- and 15-pct rates of return on invested capital. The evaluated deposits contain 1.2 million metric tons (t) of recoverable WO3, of which approximately 52,000 t of AEYT can be produced at the January 1983 market price of $5.37/lb, 89,000 t of natural and artificial scheelite at a market price of $3.63/lb, and 1,700 t of ferrotungsten at $5.61/lb of tungsten. An annual availability analysis indicates that by the early 1990's new deposit discoveries, development of known prospects, or expansions of producing mines will be necessary to meet projected tungsten demand.

Jan 1, 1985

By John M. Devine

The severe corrosion of equipment that is caused by the presence of hydrogen sulphide in oil and gas has been described in detail by several authors.5 Such corrosion, termed "low-temperature hydrogen sulphide corrosion", presents a somewhat different problem from the "high-temperature hydrogen sulphide corrosion" that is encountered in refinery operation and

Jan 1, 1932

By Thomas Varley

During the past few years, since flotation has become the paramount treatment method for most all kinds of ores, the Bureau has gathered the data on consumption of reagents used in the flotation treatment. The first report was issued in 1916. A brief review of such reports snows the progress made in the art of flotation, and each year brings forth the development of new reagent a or combinations of reagents that seem sure to survive, but research and progress spell their defeat, if not by entire elimination, at least subjects them to considerable modification.

Jan 1, 1928

By E. C. Fitch

This report discusses fire-resistant hydraulic fluid safety from three different directions. First, results of a survey prepared for the Fire Resistant Hydraulics Journal by the staff of the Fluid Power Research Center are analyzed. Second, operational limitations of fire-resistant hydraulic fluids are examined. Finally, laws and standards of various foreign countries are investigated. Three conclusions are derived from a close study of fire-resistant hydraulic fluid safety from these three directions. First, a significant number of experts in the fluid power industry are no in agreement about aspects of fire-resistant hydraulic fluid fire-resistance and toxicity. This indicates a need for more in depth research. Second, the use of fire-resistant hydraulic fluids involves a compromise between the decreased fire hazards and increased toxicity and machine incompatibility problems. Finlly, major foreign governmental agencies have thorough laws and standards concerning fire-resistant hydraulic fluids. These laws and standards may provide a solid framework for further international research into fire-resistant hydraulic fluid safety.

Jan 1, 1979

By Manuel Gomez

Bituminous coals having maximum fluidity values in the 40- to 25,400-dial-divisions-per-minute (ddpm) range were carbonized in a continuous, entrained-bed reactor. Carbonization was conducted in an 8-inch diameter, vertical reactor at temperatures from 955° to 1,345° F and at air-to-coal ratios ranging from 4.63 to 16.12 scf/lb of moisture-and ash-free coal charged. Carbonization rates from about 118 to 360 lb/hr, as-carbonized basis, were examined. It was demonstrated that carbonization temperature and air-to-coal ratio must exceed minimum values for continuous operation. Within the operating conditions discussed, highly fluid bituminous coal was carbonized to produce tar and nonagglomerated char. The yield of tar ranged from 21.3 to 38.9 gallons per ton and the char yield ranged from 1,109 to 1,563 pounds per ton, all units expressed on a moisture-and ash-free basis. It was demonstrated that the maximum fluidity and the average size of the coal along with the air-to-coal ratio and the carbonization temperature act together to influence the carbonization product yields and certain properties of the products. Prediction equations were developed from the data for product yields and selected properties of the char, tar, and gas.

Jan 1, 1968

By J. Cseff

A variety of shaft and hoist equipment exists in the United States. Nearly all hoist systems are electrically driven. Machine elements which comprise the hoists and ancilliary equipment include bearings, shafting, drums, gear reducers, couplings, brakes, clutches, sheaves and electrical motors. Volume I, Systems Description, describes the various components encountered in most mine hoist and shaft installations, and brief descriptions of functions and constructions. Hoist ropes and balance ropes are specifically excluded from this report. Associated with the hoisting system is the headgear, shaft and equipment, loading/dumping facilities and the actual conveyances and their rope attachments. Volume II, Inspection and Maintenance Procedures, discusses scheduled Inspection and preventative maintenance in general terms. Preventive scheduled inspection and maintenance procedures assist in the smooth operation of mine hoisting plant, by the prevention of unscheduled or catastrophic equipment failure and its attendant downtime. Schedules and overall maintenance planning is required at the management level. Records and equipment logs must record inspection and maintenance, and unusual operations or incidents. A cross reference between MSHA regulations and various equipment components is included as part of the report. A discussion of the various non-destructive testing methods which may be applied to hoisting equipment is also included.

Jan 1, 1981

By R. G. Gürtunca

Over the past century coal miner safety and health has seen tremendous improvements, the fatality and injury rates continue to decrease while productivity continues to increase. Many of the hazards that plagued miners in the past, such as coal bumps, methane and coal dust explosions, ground fall accidents and health issues have been significantly reduced. The contribution of NIOSH research includes products for prevention and survival of mine fires, methane control measures, design procedure for underground coal mines, methods for excavation surface controls, methods and procedures for blasting, laser usage in underground mines and prevention of electrocution from overhead power lines that have reduced accidents and injuries in underground coal mines. Health research has produced products such as the personal dust monitor, noise abating technologies and ergonomic solutions for equipment operators. Research priorities at NIOSH are set by considering surveillance statistics, stakeholder inputs and loss control principles. Future research in coal mining is directed towards respiratory diseases, noise induced hearing loss, repetitive musculoskeletal injuries, traumatic injuries, falls of ground and mine disasters. The recent spate of accidents in coal mines resulted in the Miner Act of 2006 which includes a specific role for NIOSH in future mine safety research and development. The mine safety achievements in the USA reflect the commitment of industry, labour, government and research organizations to improving the safety of the mine worker.

By C. A. Cole

This work consists of research in cable fault location and the construction of four field-test units based on the research. Swept-frequency sounding of mine cables with RF signals has been the technique most thoroughly investigated. The swept-frequency technique is supplemented with a form of moving target indication (MTI) to provide a method for locating the position of a technician along a cable and relative to a suspected fault. Separate, more limited investigations involved high-voltage time domain reflectometry and acoustical probing of mine cables. Particular areas of research included microprocessor-based control of the swept-frequency system, a microprocessor-based fast Fourier trans-form for spectral analysis, RF synthesizers, transmit-receive switches, RF receivers, cable dispersion-compensation techniques, low-voltage multielement display systems, and techniques for injecting or recovering RF energy through cable walls in support of clamp-on fault locators.

Jan 1, 1982

By William O. Vanderburg

This paper describing the mining practices at the Argonaut mine, Amador County, California, 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. The mining practices described are those used in exploiting the low-grade gold ores in the heavy and swelling ground that occurs on the Mother Lode belt. The author acknowledges the assistance of E. A. Stent, vice-president, James L. Fontenrose, cost clerk, Joseph Mohorovich, mine foreman, of the Argonaut mine, and of E. D. Gardner, supervising engineer, United States Bureau of Mines, Southwest Experiment Station, Tucson, Ariz.

Jan 1, 1930

By Patrick A. Hamilton

This Bureau of Mines report delineates the coal reserve base of anthracite, bituminous and subbituminous coals, and lignite, by mining method and sulfur content, for coal-bearing States west of the Mississippi River. The parameters used to establish the reserve base definition are the result of a joint agreement by the Federal Bureau of Mines and the U.S. Geological Survey. The reserve base of low-sulfur coal, =10 percent sulfur, is 167,324.5 million tons; medium-sulfur coal, 1.1-3.0 percent sulfur, is 37,531.5 million tons; and high-sulfur coal, >3.0 percent sulfur, is 11,244.1 million tons. The reserve base of coal with an unknown sulfur level is 18,323.0 million tons. The percentages of deep and strippable coal are 56 percent and 44 percent, respectively. The basis for reserve base estimates and analytical data for this report was the Fuels Availability System, a Bureau of Mines data bank containing numerous data tin fossil fuels. Information contained in the system was obtained from publications of the Bureau of Mines, U.S. Geological Survey, State agencies, private publications, and company data.

Jan 1, 1975