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By G. P. Houston

This is the final, report submitted for the Contract No. H0220002 with the U. S. Bureau of Mines for the design and development of a Permissible Automatic Data Acquisition System (PADAS) to measure and record roof stresses in underground mines Basically the PADAS is a portable, battery powered, 24-channel data acquisition system designed for safe unattended operation of up to 30 days duration in explosive environments. The unit will accommodate twenty-four pressure transducers or eight borehole deformation gages (or any combination) at distances up to 300 feet from the PADAS to measure pressures up to 10, 000 psig. All 24 channels as a selected group are scanned sequentially at one of several selectable rates.

Jan 1, 1973

This publication summarizes the in-house and contract research projects programmed for fiscal year 1984 by the Bureau of Mines under its Conservation and Development activity. The document provides a mechanism for interested parties to gain insight into projects of the Bureau's Conservation and Development research program. The objective of the Conservation and Development Program is to provide the technological advances needed to stimulate the mining of domestic deposits containing critical, strategic, and other essential minerals in compliance with existing regulations and at costs sufficiently low to be competitive in world markets. Research efforts are directed toward improving the fundamental understanding of processes and procedures involved in the production of minerals. The overall goals will be accomplished by investigating alternative mining methods to increase domestic production of critical and strategic minerals from low-grade deposits; expanding the technology for the economic and efficient extraction of minerals consistent with cost-effective compliance with environmental regulations; and advancing the technologies needed to insure an adequate supply of coal.

Jan 1, 1984

By G. W. Jones

[The determination of the ignition tcqornturc ol" dict:iyl cther and othylene in air ma o;GrT;en rir..ic'r. is dcscribed In thin report J'IF.R mqdo primarily for comparison rritll sinilnr d~ton:in:~tions of ot; cr co~~o~imS-r, in the same apparatus and using the r?.:?.r.~o 1a.borntorg t cchzllique The investigation was conducted at the 2ittsbur;;h Experiment Station of the United States wcau 02 hii2cs vritEl tl~c cooperation of licrclc & Co., Inc.]

Jan 1, 1935

By R. H. Storch

This report describes work done as part of a Bureau of Mines program to appraise the titanium-mineral resources of Idaho. The work included both field reconnaissance and a spot churn-drilling program. Much general information was available, as a result of earlier work done under the Western Radioactive Minerals Exploration Program conducted between 1950 and 1954 by the Bureau of Mines for the United States Atomic Energy Commission. This particular exploration provided data as to the quantity of ilmenite (TiFe03) and accessory black-sand mineral concentrates in a number of placer deposits; however, at that time no tests were made to ascertain if the ilmenite was of marketable grade. The spot churn drilling was begun in the Gold Fork area of Long Valley, Valley County, Idaho (fig. 1), in August 1956 and was completed during October of the same year. Eleven holes (designated as the GF series on fig. 2) 35 to 45 feet in depth, aggregating 425 feet, were completed during this period. Data from other exploration drilling in 1951 was used in this report. The 13 holes in the G series shown in figure 2 were drilled by the Bureau of Mines for the United States Atomic Energy Commission; the 7 holes of the DH series were drilled by the Bureau of Reclamation. The 20 holes, ranging from 16 to 140 feet in depth, totaled 1,625 feet. The combined number of all samples recovered was 422. Those taken in 1956 were composited for each drill hole and sent to the Bureau of Mines laboratory in Albany, Oreg., for analyses.

Jan 1, 1958

By Fred D. DeVanery

"INTRODUCTION Although galena is the most common lead-bearing mineral, is easily concentrated by gravity methods, and is readily susceptible to flotation, nevertheless some galena-bearing orebodies have within them small deposits of lead ore that fail to give a high recovery when treated by the customary milling methods.The secondary minerals, cerussite and anglesite, which result from natural oxidation of galena, cause losses when the customary method of lead-ore concentration is practiced. The identification of oxidized lead-ore minerals and the efficient concentration of a lead ore taken from the oxidized portion of an orebody which has previously yielded poor recoveries mere the objects of a recent investigation. Thus the ore examined was selected from a large orebody. The work was undertaken at the Mississippi Valley Experiment Station of the United States Bureau of Mines in cooperation with the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, Rolla, Mo.DESCRIPTION OF OREThe ore was of a brownish color owing to oxidation of some of the iron minerals to limonite. The lead content was 6.80 percent, and a cursory examination showed that most of the lead was present as galena. Small amounts of sphalerite, siderite, and pyrite were readily identified. The chief gangue mineral was dolomite, accompanied by smaller amounts of calcite and glauconite."

Jun 1, 1933

By Leon E. Esparza

In 1985, at the request of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Bureau of Mines studied the 16,927-acre Pryor Mountain Wilderness Study Area (MT-067-206), part of the 3,955-acre Burnt Timber Canyon Wilderness Study Area (MT-067-205), and part of the 4,550-acre Big Horn Tack-On Wilderness Study Area (MT-067-207) to evaluate their identified mineral resources. The Burnt Timber and Big Horn Tack-On study areas contain 3,430 and 2,550 acres, respectively. The three areas are in Carbon County, MT, and Big Horn County, WY, about 13 miles north of Lovell, WY. No identified resources exist in any of the study areas. Bureau of Mines personnel reviewed literature, searched county mining records and examined prospects, claims, and mineralized areas to determine whether identified mineral resources existed. The three study areas are within the Pryor Mountain unorganized mining district. U.S. Department of Energy production records indicate there were 223,000 pounds of uranium oxide (U308) and 236,000 pounds of vanadium pentoxide (V205) produced from 19 properties within the mining district. The average ore grade was 0.36 percent [3,600 ppm (parts per million)] U308 and 0.416 percent (4,160 ppm) V20S. Only the Pryor Mountain study area has current claims, the 50 claims of the S0S group.

Jan 1, 1986

By R. V. Ramani, A. S. C. Owili-eger

The Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 (sec. 303 (b)) stipulates that no working section of the mine shall contain more than 0.5 percent carbon dioxide and no harmful quantities of other noxious or poisonous gases such as the oxides of nitrogen. The concentration of methane should at all times be maintained below one percent. A split of air returning from any working section shall contain no more than 1.5 percent of methane (sec. 303 (i) (2)) and air that has passed by an opening of any abandoned area shall not be used to ventilate any working place in the coal mine if such air contains more than 0.25 percent of methane (sec. 303 (j)). Methane concentration in the returns from the bleeder entries should not exceed 2.0 percent (sec. 303 (i) (3)), and no air that has passed through an opening which is inaccessible for examination shall be used to ventilate any active areas. While the air quantity requirements alone can easily be met, the governing condition in most mines is the dilution requirements for quality control. A sufficient quantity of air is required to render harmless and carry away noxious and respirable pollutants. In recent years, changes in coal extraction methods, rates of advance, location of available reserves, position of prominent methane sources and horizons, and geological sequences have contributed sig¬nificantly to alterations in rates, patterns and character of numerous methane emissions. Gas production of 10 to 15 million standard cubic feet per day is not uncommon from deep mines (Cervik, 1969). Thus, because of the large capital outlay involved in the instal¬lation and subsequent remedial actions of methane drainage systems, knowledge of gaseous flow patterns and storage characteristics of the

Jan 1, 1974

By Robert J. Timko

The objective of this Bureau of Mines research work was (1) to determine how well the E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company P-2500 personal dust sampling pump controls the flow rate at 2 L/min and (2) to compare respirable dust mea-surements made using the P-2500 with those made using a nonpulsating sampling flow system, both using the Dorr-Oliver 10-mm nylon cyclone dust size classifier. The calibrator and the operation manual for the P-2500, supplied by the manufacturer, were also evaluated. Flow tests consisted of long-term (6-to 8-hour) flow stability tests at various backpressures, a low-flow indicator examination, flow controller response time tests and pulsation tests. Dust tests were performed using coal, silica, and Arizona road dust. No tests were performed to examine effects of temperature, barometric pressure, vibration, or mechanical shock. These pumps performed well within manufacturer specifications in all tests.

Jan 1, 1982

By Elizabeth A. Johnson

The effect of slag composition on lead losses to slags and on the behavior of associated accessory elements in lead blast furnace smelting has been studied by the Bureau of Mines. Equilibrations of 30 g of lead and synthetic slag doped with Cu, In, TI, and Sb at 1,200° C in CO-C02 atmospheres revealed the importance of the FeO:Si02 ratio and the basicity ratio, (CaO+MgO):SiO2, of the slag. Lead losses to slags increased with an increasing FeO:Si02 ratio and decreased with an in-creasing basicity ratio. Copper and indium distribution coefficients, [Lx =] increased from 15 at the lower basicity ratios to near 60 at higher basicity ratios. LTI values increased from 20 to 150 as slag basicity increased. Lcu, Lin, and LTI were relatively in-dependent of the FeO:Si02 ratio, but increased with greater amounts of accessory elements in the system. Antimony distribution alone was shown to be strongly affected by FeO:Si02 ratio, although data were scattered. LSb values ranged from 20 to 800 and decreased sharply with increasing FeO:Si02 ratios. The basicity ratio and the level of accessory element load did not have any noticeable effect on LSb.

Jan 1, 1983

By Victor E. Kral

"INTRODUCTION The Phelps Stokes iron deposit, also known as the Iron Mountain claim, was examined by G. L. Thompson, an engineer of the Bureau of Mines, in January 1943. As a result, the Division of Geophysical Exploration 3/ made a magnetorater survey of the deposit in June 1944, and the Mining Branch included it in a,project to explore Nevada iron deposits.The Bureau explored the deposit from September to November 1944 by means of 643 feet of diamond drilling and 445 feet of trenching holes were drilled, all of which penetrated more than: 100 feet of good-grade magnetite, although nearly all the ore except that found in the first hole contained an excessive amount of sulfur. Trenching was done largely over the first two holes, PS-1 and PS-2, and exposed the full width of the ore.The deposit is in Nye County, Nevada, 7.7 miles east of Gabbs. The property was discovered in 1902 was patented in 1907. There has been no production from the property and except for the Bureau's investigation,,has not been, explored since it was patented.Magnetite is the principal ore mineral; it occurs as fine-grained particles associated with sulfides and cemented with talc and calcite."

Feb 1, 1947

By F. E. Brantley

Optimum autoclaving conditions were determined for separation of iron and manganese values from pregnant leach liquor produced in extracting manganese from low-grade umber are. The umber was leached with a synthetic anolyte similar to a recycle solution, used in manganese electrolysis cell operations, that had been renewed with ferrous sulfate and sulfuric acid. The equipment used and results obtained are presented for the several conditions employed. The kinetics of the separation were studied. Rate equations were derived for the formation of solid ammonium-manganese sulfate, (NH4)2 Mn2 (S04)3.

Jan 1, 1968

By D. J. Judy, D. J. Rabovsky, W. H. Pailes, V. Castranova, K. Van Dyke, J. Rabovsky, N. A. Sapola, M. McPeek

"Platelet activating factor (PAF) can be released from pneumocytes following exposure to occupational dust (Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. 135:83, 1987). In addition, PAF has been shown to induce pulmonary inflammation, edema, and bronchoconstriction (Hosp. Prac. 19, 67, 1983). This investigation reports the effects of PAF on the properties of three types of cells found in the lung. PAF (1-100, K1/2 = 2.5 pH) caused depolarization of neutrophils as well as generation of chemiluminescence and secretion of hydrogen peroxide. These responses were dependent on the presence of extracellular sodium. However, PAF did not alter oxygen consumption of neutrophils. Although PAF (10 uM) caused depolarization of alveolar macrophages, no stimulation of chemiluminestence, superoxide secretion, or oxygen consumption was observed. However, PAF (10 uM). did potentiate chemiluminescence and superoxide secretion in response to zymosan (2 mg/ml) by 55% and 36%, respectively. In addition, PAF (10-90 uM) caused aggregation of alveolar macrophages. PAF (2-10 uM) also caused depolarization of type II cells, but did not affect membrane integrity or oxygen consumption. However, PAF (10-18 PM) enhanced the activities of two distinct forms of cytochrome P-450 in type II cells and caused aggregation of type II cells at PAF doses above 18 uM. These data indicate that PAF can affect the secretory activity of pulmonary phagocytes and the ability• of type II cells to detoxify foreign compounds (Bureau of Mines Grant - G1175142).INTRODUCTIONPlatelet activating factor (PAF) is a glycerophospholipid (1-0-alkyl-2-acetylsn-glycerol-3-phosphoryl choline) which has been shown to Mediate a broad range of biological activities (1-3). Its pulmonary actions include contraction of pulmonary tissue (4), secretion of leukotrienes from leukocytes (5), airway constriction (6), pulmonary edema (7), and enhanced migration of neutrophils into the airspaces of the lungs (8,9).PAF can be released from several different cell types, such as, basophils, neutrophils and alveolar macrophages, in response to a variety of particulates or membrane stimulants which include zymosan, calcium ionophore, phorbol esters, chemotactic agents, and endotoxin (10-13). Therefore, PAP may play an important role in the development of pneumoconioses by mediating pulmonary responses of lung cells to a variety of occupational dusts. To investigate this possibility, we determined the effects of PAF on several physiological parameters of neutrophils, alveolar macrophages, and alveolar type II epithelial cells."

Jan 1, 1988

Workers in underground stone mines have a high fatality rate caused by falls of ground from the mine roof or rib. NIOSH recommendations to reduce ground fall injuries and deaths address baskets, mechanical scalers, mechanical bolters, drill steel changing, personal protective equipment, and training. Description of Exposure An informal National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) review in 1998 identified approximately 17 new underground limestone operations in vari¬ous stages of planning; as many as 35 new underground stone mines are expected by 2005. Many of these new underground stone mines will employ new or inexperienced workers with minimal knowledge of the hazardous conditions that exist underground. Workers in underground stone mines have a fatality rate nearly 20 times that of workers in the manufacturing sector. Three quarters of the fatalities in underground stone mines are caused by falls of ground from the mine roof or rib (Figure 1) [Statistical Abstract of the United States 1985-1999; MSHA 1983-1999]. During 1983-1999, nonfatal ground falls resulted in 140 injuries, or 15% of all underground, lost time stone mine injuries. These nonfatal ground fall injuries resulted in more than 13,800 lost workdays (one third of all lost workdays). Ground falls generate more disabling injuries and time away from work than any other type of incident. [ ]

Jan 11, 2003

By F. Chen, L. J. Gaydos, D. C. Kuhn, Demersm L. M., S. C. Sun

"Summary: In this report the differential regulation of NF-KB and nitric oxide (NO) was investigated in the mouse macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 following exposure to a mineral dust (silica) and /or an endotoxin (Lipopolysaccharide, LPS). The results indicated that silica and LPS can significantly induce the activation of NF-KB as well as elicit enhanced production of NO in RAW 264.7 cells as part of an early inflammatory response mechanism. A 24-hour time-course study showed that NO release from these cells continued to increase following the initial stimulus by LPS or silica. In contrast, activation of NF-KB was maximal at 6 hours and then showed a steady decline to 24 hours. The production of NO was suppressed by protease inhibitor and antioxidant, both of which block the activation of NF-KB. Surprisingly, the use of an NO synthase inhibitor resulted in an enhancement of NF-JCB activation. These findings suggest that NO produced in macrophage cells in response to an inflammatory stimulus like silica or LPS my be linked to a negative feedback role on the activation of NF-KB. It is now accepted that nitric oxide (NO) plays a pivotal role in the inflammation response process when macrophage cells are activated by a pro-inflammatory stimulus (l). Production of NO is dependent on the activity of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Up until now, at least three distinct genes have been described which encode different isoforms of NOS. NOS has been cloned from a variety of different mammalian cells, including constitutive neuron NOS, constitutive endothelium NOS and inducible NOS (2). Macrophages appear to be the principal cellular source for the inducible form of NOS (iNOS) activated in response to an inflammatory producing event. The mechanisms subserving the regulation of the iNOS gene and NO production have been under intense investigation in recent years (3-5). Several binding sites for transcriptional factors have been identified in the promoter region of iNOS gene, including NF-lCB, AP-1, NF-IL6, Oct-I to cite a few (5). NF-KB appears to play a"

Dec 1, 1996

By Allen McComas, Frank Chase, Phyllip Worley

Longwall mining has gained the reputation as being the safest extraction method in underground coal mines. However, one of the most difficult tasks associated with longwall mining is moving the face once a panel is completed. Based on Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) fatality reports since 1996, longwall face recovery operations have claimed the lives of 5 U.S. miners and have resulted in numerous injuries. Recovery operations can be hazardous because they involve moving large pieces of equipment in very confined spaces. They are also conducted in highly stressed ground conditions due to front abutment loads generated by panel extraction. Shield removal is the most hazardous operation during face recovery because miners are constantly exposed to the unpredictable gob edge. To protect the miners, one or more walking shields, cribbing and/or other supplemental roof and standing supports are typically employed as breaker line supports as each shield is removed. At the Harris No. 1 Mine in southern WV, mobile roof supports (MRS’s) have been used in lieu of traditional walking shields on 17 face moves since 1997. MRS’s are shield-like support units mounted on crawler tracks and are commonly used during room-and-pillar retreat mining operations. For longwall recovery, the two biggest advantages that MRS’s have over traditional walking shields are that they are remotely controlled and are highly maneuverable. MRS’s have contributed to safer shield recovery and shorter move times at the Harris No. 1 Mine. This paper will address both the safety and the operational issues associated with MRS usage during shield recovery. It will also discuss new developments, including the use of the inherently safer battery powered MRS’s, which have been recently certified by the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

The following additional studies are recommended: 1. Future development of the magnetic sludge process should involve optimization of the process variables; these include stirring rate, sludge heating time, aeration rate, method of preliminary sludge dewatering, and the effects of magnetic separation for final sludge processing. In addition, the matter of amenability of coal mine waters to treatment should be considered more thoroughly by means of a more comprehensive literature review as well as actual tests on mine drainage samples. 2. The technique of sludge freezing should be explored further. Emphasis should be given to conservation of energy in the process, and the filtration characteristics of the resulting sludges should be evaluated. 3. Further studies should be conducted on the feasibility of the CO2-addition approach to mine drainage sludge densification. The filtration characteristics of product sludges should be evaluated, and the possibility of recovering and recycling the residual alkalinity of the sludge, either directly as CaCO3 or as CaO plus CO2 after calcination, should also be explored further. 4. Efforts should be made to develop cost data for the conceptual processes involving magnetic sludge formation, sludge freezing, and C02 pretreatment, with the purpose of selecting at least one of these processes for further testing at a field site. 5. The use of inexpensive waste materials (e.g. fly ash, "red dog," slag) as sludge additives, possibly in conjunction with coagulant aids, should be considered further. Results of the present studies have indicated that such materials, employed in relatively large amounts, increase the density and enhance the filterability of sludges from lime neutralization of coal mine drainage. The use of pulverized blast furnace slag in this regard appears particularly promising, and studies should be made to ascertain its availability, relative cost, residual alkalinity, and behavior as an additive in conventional mine drainage treatment processes involving lime neutralization and aeration.

Jan 1, 1971

By L. L. Oden

The Bureau of Mines has studied a number of processes to remove Cu from molten steel scrap with the objective of determining if any of the laboratory methods studied warranted in depth research investigations. Experimental approaches included oxidizing Cu from steel containing other metals that form stable mixed oxides with Cu (AI, Cr, Fe, Mn, Mo, and V), injecting the same metals as oxides to simplify the mechanism of complex oxide formation, partitioning Cu into alkali or alkaline earth silicate slags or oxide-moderated sulfides, and coremoving Cu and S by injecting active compounds of Ca and Mg. The most promising tests, producing nearly 0.3 pct Cu in the slag, used Ar injection of K20-moderated Na2S-FeS below the surface of molten steel containing about 0.6 pct Cu and protected by a CaO-SiOz slag; however, in depth research investigations currently are not felt to be warranted.

Jan 1, 1987

The Production Profile Program is written for use on a Digital Model PDP 11/70 computer using a Fortran IV level G language. It may be run on any system which uses G level or an upward compatible version of Fortran IV language. Please note, however, that the Model PDP 11/70 for which the program was written is programed to read DEC026 type keypunching. If the user's computer is programed for another type of keypunching it may be necessary to re-keypunch the Production Profile Program. The Production Profile Program uses a fourteen card input. The data must be keypunched according to the layout described in detail in the multiple card layout forms (following). The output from this program must be printed on wide paper, as a full 120 columns are used. The samples of output at the back of this appendix have been reduced for inclusion in this report.

Jan 1, 1977

By Charles L. Kimbell

Comprehensive world mineral industry investment data do not exist, but limited material published on aggregates of in vestment in some elements of the world mineral industry suggest a continued up-turn in the investment level, at least in market economy countries in 1989. Steel industry investments in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries are not yet available for 1989 but, as shown in table 6, increased by 22.1% in 1988, after showing a decrease of 5.2% (revised) in 1987. The pattern of investment ups and downs varied during 1988 within country blocs and economic alliances showing no particular trends. Investment in the steel industry by the United States increased by 58.3% between 1987 and 1988 and was 1 1.9% higher than the previous highest amount invested during the 1984-88 period but was still 41.5% less than the amount invested in 1983. Investment in the steel industries of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) dropped again in 1988 from the revised amount for 1987, which became the first drop after several years of steady growth in what became the expanded ECSC in 1986. This drop in 1988 was the result of lower investments by Denmark, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Nether- lands, and Spain, investments grew or remained level in Belgium, Portugal, and the United Kingdom in 1987 and 1988. A decrease in investment in the Canadian (-26.6%) steel industry was offset by in- creases registered by the members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) of 31.7%, by Japan of 19.8% by Turkey of 22.4%, and a slight increase by the nations of Latin America. If data for the world steel industry as a whole, including those of the centrally planned economy countries, were available, the same pattern presumably would be shown as that reported; that is, it would remain fairly stable, with increases in some countries being offset by decreases in others. However, the lack of comprehensive information on the centrally planned economy countries makes it impossible to determine whether the overall trend was up or down despite recorded increases or decreases in production of the materials involved. Preliminary data show that investment levels in industries dealing with the production and/ or processing of mineral commodities for

Jan 1, 1992

By Harvey Patashnick

Current state-of-the-art microweighing technology represented by the Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance (TEOM) is utilized as the basis for a new generation of Personal Dust Exposure Monitors (PDEM's). Two design configurations are presented. The first is an end-of-shift analysis system which uses small TEOM-PDEM cannisters that replace the filter cartridges in the current PDEM system. All other components carried by the miner (cyclone preseparator and pump) are the same. After the shift the TEOM cannister is plugged into an interface box which enables a minicomputer to automatically identify the unit, determine the dust mass increase during the shift, compute the shift average dust mass concentration, and print out and/or store the data. The second design is a real-time TEOM-PDEM system which is capable of operation over a 10-hour shift and on demand display real-time dust concentration level, time weighted average, and shift average concentration. As a result of the design study, a prototype end-of-shift analysis system was fabricated and delivered to the Bureau of Mines. A description of this system which consists of six TEOM cannisters, interface electronics and minicomputer is given. The system represents a significant advance in the dust monitoring program in terms or accuracy and automation.

Jan 1, 1983