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By Paul T. Allsman

The Salt River range vanadium deposits are situated 3 to 6 miles east and southeast of Afton, Lincoln County, Wyo. The vanadium occurs in a continuous bedded shale zone of the Phosphoria formation extending from the vicinity of Afton into southeastern Idaho. The Bureau of Mines explored several of these vanadiferous-shale deposits between December 1942 and December 1943 and conducted metallurgical tests on the ores. The areas investigated were west Swift Creek, the Dry Creek, and the Cottonwood Creek. The vanadiferous-shale beds have been folded sharply into a series of tightly compressed, eroded anticlines and synclines, which form the Salt River range. The vanadium occurs in a series of narrow shale or mudstone beds contained within the phosphatic-shale member of the Phosphoria formation. Exploration by the Bureau of Mines consisted of surface trenching and underground work over 18 miles of outcrop of vanadiferous shale with an average assay value of 0.866 percent V2O5.

Jan 1, 1949

For the sixth year in a row, the value of nonfuel mineral raw materials produced in the United States set a new record, reaching almost $17 billion in 1977. Data provided by the Bureau of Mines show that the 1977 value of domestic nonfuel mineral production exceeded the 1976 value, $16.7 billion, by 2 percent. The $17 billion worth of minerals was the basis for approximately $770 bill ion worth of processed materials of mineral origin. Output of metals decreased $360 mil lion in 1977, while that of nonmetals increased $670 million. Of the 22 metals produced, output of 12 increased, and the value of 13 increased. Among the 46 nonmetallic minerals produced, the quantity of 27 increased, and the value of 34 increased.

Jan 1, 1978

By Allen L. Frank

The uranium mine environment is characterized by airborne radon-222 and its daughter products to which miners are exposed through breathing and by gamma and X rays from the uranium-235 and uranium 238 chains to which the miners are exposed externally. The nature of the radon-daughter concentrations and the methods used to define and measure the exposures are explained through an extensive review of the literature. An improved passive track-etch dosimeter for personal use is proposed which has a measurement range of about 30-400 WLH with a 95% confidence interval to ~25% for individual detector measurements in relatively stable mine air. Some measurements of these dosimeters adapted to environmental use are also presented. A program of development for enhancement of dosimeter sensitivity and greater accuracy of measurement is outlined. Extensive gamma-ray survey measurements were made in two Colorado and three New Mexico mines. Follow-up personal miner dosimetry with LiF TLDs was done at the mine with the highest exposure rates, The average miner exposure rate measured was 4.27 mR per day, or 9.3 of the maximum permissible level averaged over 13 weeks. Comparisons are made with previous mine surveys and their value in estimating miner exposure is discussed. Some depth-dose measurements made using Lucite as the absorber are evaluated.

Jan 1, 1978

By Juel H. Stears

The bureau of Mines analyzed data from 47 coal mine roof-fall resupport accidents that occurred from 1966 through 1974 to identify critical hazards .and problems. These accidents resulted in 62 injuries or fatalities. It was concluded that the majority of the accidents might have been prevented by observance of recommended practices and use of available technology such as setting temporary supports, adequate roof testing, etc. Additional work is needed in the following problem areas where present technology is inadequate: (1) warning of impending roof falls shortly before they occur, (2) better methods of detecting unsafe roof and ribs, (3) providing access to and temporary support of high roofs for testing and bolting, (4) reducing the noise level of stopers, (7) developing temporary roof support; that have greater stability and can be remotely installed, and (6) reducing the number of roof falls through better permanent support.

Jan 1, 1976

By John E. Husted

Quantities of kaolin in Georgia in-contiguous or single bodies had been established by previous work to be sufficient for an alumina industry. The need for characterization of this kaolin to determine its suitability as an ore of aluminum resulted in the studies described herein. It was determined in an area roughly 7 x 27 miles, known as the Wrens district that approximately 5.9 billion short tons of kaolin averaging 35.55 percent A1203 exist in an essentially continuous clay body. The Macon-Sandersville district consists of discontinuous kaolin bodies averaging 35.28 percent A1203 with an average thickness of 28 feet. Tonnages for this district are not available. One hundred and twenty core samples of kaolin were analyzed for K20, CaO, MgO, Al203, T102, Cr203, Fe203, Si02, P205, and F. The P205 and F were analyzed by wet chemistry methods and the others by electron microprobe. Seventy-nine of the samples were from the Wrens district forty from the Sandersville-Macon district and one from the Andersonville district. Emission spectroscopic analyses were also made to qualitatively determine all elements present for each core. X-ray diffraction studies were made of each core to determine mineral species present. Scanning and transmission electron microscope pictures also are given for each I' core sample. Elevations, overburden thickness, and kaolin thickness are given for each core site as well as map locations. Isopachs for over-burden and kaolin thickness are given for the Wrens district.

Jan 1, 1983

By Jeffrey A. Aldinger

This U.S. Bureau of Mines report presents an analysis of surface coal mining accidents involving mobile equipment for the years 1989 through 1991. Mobile equipment is defined as haulage trucks, front-end loaders, bulldozers, scrapers, and road graders. These five pieces of mining equipment accounted for 20 pct of all surface coal mine accidents and 41 pct of the fatalities. The general discussion of these accidents covers the accident causes, the primary activity of the accident victims, and other contributing factors. A more detailed analysis of accidents associated with each piece of mobile equipment is also provided. This report will provide mine managers and mine safety personnel with a better understanding of the hazards associated with mobile mining equipment. It identifies where improvements in mobile equipment safety can be made and those areas requiring additional safety emphasis, such as safety training, work procedure changes, or engineering changes to the equipment or work environment. The analysis was performed by a team of researchers using accident data and narratives provided by the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Jan 1, 1995

By J. M. Goris

Cable bolt supports are becoming an important ground control technique in underground mines in the United States and Canada. They show great versatility and are adaptable for use with many mining techniques, they have high load-carrying capacities, they can be installed in small areas with low roots, and they are cost effective. Investigators in a number of research institutes in North America have conducted studies to assess the material and support properties of cable bolts, evaluate their support capabilities under various mining conditions, and provide design criteria for using cable bolt supports as roof control systems under varying mining conditions. While conducting these studies, personnel have collected important information on the history, application, performance, and economics of these supports. This U.S. Bureau of Mines report documents this information so that ground control personnel unfamiliar with cable bolt supports can gain an understanding and appreciation of their use. A comprehensive bibliography of technical information on cable bolt supports was selected by the authors and is also presented.

Jan 1, 1994

By G. L. Oldright

This paper is the second of a series that is to appear on smelting in the lead blast furnace. The objects of this investigation are to determine the conditions obtaining within the blast furnace by direct experimentation, and to correlate the behavior of the furnace at various times with the main factors governing the operation of the blast furnace, and metallurgical losses. The writers wish to express their appreciation to the management of the International Smelting Company at Tooele. Utah, for their kind cooperation which made possible the assembling of these data.

Jan 1, 1929

By Daniel T. Rogers

The Bureau of Mines, in its alumina miniplant project to investigate alumina recovery from domestic, non bauxitic ores, has conducted research on the use of a hydrochloric acid leaching, gas sparging crystallization technology. An important element of this research is the efficient separation of undissolved, siliceous residue from AICI3 -bearing leach liquors by continuous, horizontal, countercurrent vacuum belt filtration. In an effort to calculate material balances quickly and to predict material balances based on different belt filtration configurations, the perfect-mixing-cells-in-series model (PMCS) for calculating material balances around belt filters was used. Because of the porous nature of the solids, the model produced erroneous material balances. Therefore a reliable model, the shrinking voids model, was developed postulating the presence of an unwashable voids liquor volume that decreases with decreasing liquor AICI3 concentration. This volume decrease postulation is equivalent to assuming that dilute liquors flow more freely, causing more voids liquor volume to become washable. Least-squares based computer programs are provided, which are useful not only in producing material balances from plant data but also in predicting balances for untested configurations using the same feed materials.

Jan 1, 1982

By R. M. Gooding

This paper presents a short history of the production of mineral-energy fuels and energy from waterpower in the United States, with brief discussions of the utilization of each of the fuels and hydropower, and a look at fuels competition and interchangeability. Basic data, in figures and tables, are brought together in this publication for the production of coal in the United States from 1800 to 1960, for crude petroleum, natural gas liquids, and natural gas from 1859 to 1960, and for hydropower since 1900. Production for each segment of the fuels complex in the principal producing States from 1946 to 1960 is shown. Data are not included for consumption as such or for imports and exports.

Jan 1, 1963

By A. Aly Selim

This report describes the feasibility of predicting percussive drilling rates by equations derived from statistical regression analysis. The least squares statistical method was used and the analysis was performed both by direct and by stepwise linear regression analysis. The predicted penetration rate is a function of the drill power and the physical properties of the rocks penetrated. The results show promise that the technique may be of value in providing a mathematical model by which percussive drill manufacturers and users can predict the performance of a given drill. Experimental work involved two mining type percussive drills. Penetration data for these drills were determined from nine rocks drilled in the laboratory. Drill work rates (power) were determined in a separate series of experiments. Rock physical properties were measured from diamond-drill core samples taken from the same blocks used for percussive drilling.

Jan 1, 1970

By R. V. Higgins

A numerical method is presented to calculate the pressure distribution in a petroleum reservoir that has irregular boundaries. The computer program is straightforward and requires minimal data preparation. The method can also be used to determine pressure distribution in many other types of underground reservoirs. In this method, the grid solution of the fluid-flow equations in a reservoir that has regular boundaries (previously published) was expanded to handle irregular boundaries. The computer program locates grid points at the irregular boundaries. The method of mirror images is then used to form a special stencil to determine the pressure at each of these points. Two examples are presented to demonstrate the applicability of the method for virtually any reservoir configuration.

Jan 1, 1972

By R. M. Gooding

This paper presents a short history of the production of mineral-energy fuels and energy from waterpower in the United States, with brief discussions of the utilization of each of the fuels and hydropower, and a look at fuels competition and interchangeability. Basic data, in figures and tables, are brought together in this publication for the production of coal in the United States from 1800 to 1960, for crude petroleum, natural gas liquids, and natural gas from 1859 to 1960, and for hydropower since 1900. Production for each segment of the fuels complex in the principal producing States from 1946 to 1960 is shown. Data are not included for consumption as such or for imports and exports.

Jan 1, 1963

U.S. demand for building and construction materials, such as construction aggregate, gypsum, and cement, remained strong in 1989. Cement imports declined slightly, representing about 17% of apparent consumption compared with 19% in 1988. Mexico, supplying 29% of the total, was the primary source of imports, followed by Canada with 21 %, Japan with 14%, and Spain and Greece with 10% each. Mexico was also the target of an antidumping petition, filed by producers in Arizona, Florida, New Mexico, and Texas, alleging that Mexican cement was being sold in these areas at less than fair value. This was the second petition filed against Mexico in the last 3 years. The International Trade Commission made a preliminary determination that the cement industry in these regions was materially injured by Mexican imports. U.S. demand improved for construction aggregate for the fourth consecutive year and was at a near-record level. The U.S. gypsum industry performed well, even though new housing starts decreased for the third consecutive year. Increased U.S. exports of gypsum wallboard and strength in the remodeling markets offset the impact of declining housing starts.

Jan 1, 1990

The Black Hills Mineral Atlas briefly summarizes all pertinent date available on the mines and mineral deposits in the Black Hills that have been explored, developed, mined, or located. The purpose of the atlas is threefold: First, from available date the general potentialities of the Black Hills region can be determined, although it is not possible to calculate actual ore reserves; second, it will provide the necessary basic information regarding a given property or commodity for further detailed study; and third, the compilation is a comprehensive directory of Black Hills deposits.

Jan 1, 1954

By A. J. Farstad

Characteristics of metal/non metal mines were evaluated to determine the suitability of applying the U.S. Bureau of Mines electromagnetic location system to the problem of locating trapped mines in metal/non metal mines. Statistical distributions of mine depths and overburden conductivities show that the existing USBM EM system is inadequate for most metal/non metal mines. Alternate approaches to trapped miner location in deep mines were identified and subsequent field tests were conducted at six (6) mines to evaluate their feasibility. The approach considered to be the most promising is one which utilizes the existing manpack transmitting system, modified slightly for a dual frequency output, in conjunction with a sophisticated signal processing receiver on the surface. The main advantage of staying with a "through the earth" approach is that the underground equipment can be kept simple, easily maintained, light-weight and inexpensive.

Jan 1, 1979

By E. G. Davis

The Bureau of Mines studied tailings samples from 11 large-scale western copper operations to determine the potential for recovery of rutile and other critical and strategic minerals. Up to 15 pounds per short ton (lb/st) Ti02 was found ion these samples; however, only 9 to 44 pct of the Ti02 was liberated rutile. For one sample, gravity preconcentra-tion, grinding, and flotation recovered 34 pct of the Ti02 in a 54.8-pct-Ti02 concentrate. Over 0.38 Ib/st W was found in some of the tailings sampleso Scheelite was identified as the major W mineral. Nine of the eleven samples contained about 0.02 to 0.18 Ib/st Co. Pyrite was the principal Co-bearing sulfide mineral, with Co contained in about one-fifth of the pyrite grains. Up to 30 pct of the Co was concentrated in a bulk sulfide flotation concentrate.

Jan 1, 1988

By G. W. Jones

[As a part of its investigations pertaining to the promotion of safety, the Bureau of Mines is investigating various means, useful for the elimination or mitigation of the explosion hazards of combustible gases encountered in mining and industry. Information has been obtained and a procedure developed whereby the explosibility of many complex, gaseous, combustible atmosphere may be calculated in a simple manner without the necessity of performing laborious laboratory experiment. In a previous publication4/ data were given and a method described whereby the limits of inflammability of gaseous mixtures, including methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen, could be determined by calculation. The information published in that retort enables one to calculate the limits of inflammability of such gases are liberated by mine fires, gases from explosives, automobile exhaust gas, gases present after mine explosions, blast-furnace gas, and other gases containing part of or all of the above-listed constituents.]

Jan 1, 1938

By G. W. Jones

As a part of it investigations pertaining to the promotion of safety, the Bureau of Mines is investigating various means, useful for the elimination or mitigation of the explosion hazards of combustible gases encountered in mining and industry. Information has been obtained and a procedure developed whereby the explocibility of many complex, gaseous, combustible atmospheres may be calculated in a simple manner without the necessity of performing laborious laboratory experiments. In a previous publication4/ data were given and a method described whereby the limits of inflammability of gaseous mixtures, including methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen, could be determined by calculation. The information published in that report enables one to calculate the limits of inflammability of such gases as are liberated by mine fires, gases from explosives, automobile exhaust ran, uses present after mine explosions, blast-furnace gas, and other gases containing part of or all of the above-listed constituents.

Jan 1, 1938

By W. E. Anable

The Bureau of Mines researched methods for recovering copper from cyclone and electrostatic-precipitator dusts of primary copper smelters as part of its program to maximize minerals and metals recovery from primary and secondary domestic resources. Small-scale studies showed that use of 110 pct stoichiometric sulfur and 123 pct stoichiometric carbon, based on producing a 40-pct copper-iron matte, resulted in the recovery of 95 pct of the copper contained in the dust. Typical mattes contained less than 10 pct of the arsenic, 30 pct of the bismuth, and 45 pct of the antimony and tin contained in the dust. Matte was converted to blister copper by injecting up to 200 pct of the stoichiometric oxygen requirement over a period of 2 to 3 hours. Up to 76 pct of the copper contained in the dust was recovered as a crude blister copper containing about 2 pct arsenic, 0.5 pct antimony, and less than 0.1 pet bismuth and tin. A matte-white metal product resulted from carbothermically reducing dust with coal, lime, and silica. Up to 95 pct of the copper was recovered in the combined product.

Jan 1, 1981