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By V. E. Homme

This report describes methods of using sodium for reducing titanic chloride, developed as part of Bureau of Mines activities at Boulder City, Nev., to improve the extractive metallurgy of titanium. Theoretical indications pertaining to the major chemical reactions and possible side reactions of the process are compared with experimental observations. Low-temperature reduction equipment is described, in which titanic chloride was reduced with sodium at temperatures between 97.5° C., the melting point of sodium, and 200° C. Techniques employed in making reductions in ball-mill and high-surface sodium reactors are given.

Jan 1, 1958

By Jacob N. Frank

A factorially designed, hydraulic fragmentation experiment using a high-pressure water jet was conducted on concrete blocks. Three levels of pressure, standoff distance, and impact angle and two levels of traverse time and surface condition were used. Three variables were measured: depth of penetration, volume of material removed, and width of slot. Three stepwise linear regression equations were developed from the jet parameters and the physical properties of the concrete. The three basic equations, describing the significant jet parameters and physical properties, were developed into 15 predictor equations, five for each variable investigated. Direct regression equations were also developed for each variable investigated to show the result of increasing or decreasing each significant variable. Energy efficiencies were developed for the experiment and for each significant factorial variable.

Jan 1, 1971

By R. E. Thill

The ultrasonic pulse measurement system described measures velocities of longitudinal (compressional) and shear waves in rock to give values that can be used with density values to determine the dynamic elastic constants of rock. A special feature of this pulse measurement system is its unique acoustical bench that minimizes errors in pulse transit times that are commonly associated with coupling, sample alinement, and sample orientation. Some special features of the acoustical bench are its highly versatile transducer cartridges, a pneumatic ram coupling device, an orientation mechanism, and a vacuum chuck sample holder. The lathe-bed-like construction of the acoustical bench assures automatic alinement of samples and versatility in accommodating samples of various shapes and sizes.

Jan 1, 1968

By J. Roger Loebenstein

Small amounts of arsenic trioxide were shipped in 1988 from remaining stocks at ASARCO Incorporated's closed plant at Tacoma, WA. Imports of arsenic trioxide were at about the same level in 1988 as in the previous year. Legislation and Government Programs The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) levied a $1.6 million fine against Asarco for exposing its workers at its East Helena lead smelter in Helena, MT, to unacceptably high levels of lead and arsenic. The bulk of the fine was for violations of a respiratory protection program. The same smelter and its environs has been listed as a Superfund toxic-waste site by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Tests had shown high levels of lead, cadmium, and arsenic in the soil near the smelter. EPA planned to extend the cleanup to areas within the town of East Helena because high levels of arsenic had been found in shallow test wells outside the smelter site. Federal and State health officials have warned residents living in the vicinity of East Helena to avoid eating certain home-grown vegetables because of high concentrations of heavy metals.2

Jan 1, 1990

By W. H. Young

THE BITUMINOUS coal and lignite industry increased substantially in 1962, compared with the 1961 figures. The major items of production, consumption, exports, and productivity increased. However, certain key items declined. The steady upward trend in mechanization failed to materialize for the third year; the percentage of total tonnage mechanically loaded remained the same as in the 2 previous years; and the tonnage mechanically cleaned was smaller than in the previous year. The percentage of total production mined by stripping and by augers increased slightly. Most significant was the continued decline in average value and employment. Production.-The output of bituminous coal and lignite in the United States in 1962-422 million tons-was 5 percent greater than the 403 million tons produced in 1961. Production was greater in 1962, owing largely to expanded consumption by the electric utilities and to more exports.

Jan 1, 1963

By J. T. Schimmel

The purpose of this investigation was to obtain complete information on some of the uses of a 24-inch-diameter auger in the underground mining of pitching anthracite beds. The auger was placed in operation early in 1958 to drive ventilation connections between coal gangways driven by a continuous miner. Although designed to drill rise holes only, it was used also to drill dip holes. The latter holes were drill id from an adjacent gangway to avoid interference between the auger and the continuous miner. These holes established immediate ventilation returns when intersected by the continuous miner. Bureau participation in the project covered 361 working days. The auger was used on 288 shifts, usually one 7-hour shift per day, and drilled 3,246 feet, of which 493 feet were reamed. The longest hole was 87 feet; hence the maximum drilling depth of the machine (rated at 100 feet) was not required. Holes drilled normal to the strike of the bed ranged from 30 to 66 feet deep, averaging 45 feet. The continuous miner drove gangways on 575 shifts. Thus, the auger worked one shift for each two worked by the continuous miner and was used on less than 80 percent of the workdays. The auger drove 24-inch holes 10 times faster than the larger, conventional openings could have been driven by usual mining methods and exceeded the workload for which it was purchased. Augering eliminates exposure to the hazards encountered in driving chute-work by conventional methods and provides adequate circular ventilation openings, which are strong in self support and are adaptable to reaming when required. With alterations, the auger may have limited use as a production machine in thin-bed pitch mining but cannot compete with established methods of thick-bed pitch mining.

Jan 1, 1962

By Carl E. Norman

An investigation of geologic structure on macroscopic, mesoscopic, and microscopic scales was conducted on near-surface igneous and metamorphic rocks in which the existing stress field was determined by in situ methods. A consistent NE-SW orientation of the maximum compressive stress in the horizontal plane at four of five test localities appears due to the intrusion of NW-trending diabase dikes. Structural features at the mesoscopic scale show no consistent directional relationship to determined stress directions. Petrofabric diagrams of open microfractures show preferred orientations, but these are not consistently related to the orientations of larger structural features, such as joints, foliation, or mineralized shear zones. However, at five of six test sites the preferred direction of microfractures occurs nearly perpendicular to the maximum principal stress directions; an anomalous parallel relationship exists at a test site in an intrusive rock body. The results suggest that the open microfracture subfabric may provide a means for gaining information on the directional properties of stress fields. Such information can be obtained from oriented cores taken from holes which exceed the approximate 100-foot depth to which other in situ methods are presently limited.

Jan 1, 1970

By W. P. Diamond, B. M. Bench, C. M. McCulloch

This Bureau of Mines report describes photolineaments obtained from stereoscopic examination of vertical aerial photographs and by the Ronchi grating study of aerial photoindex sheets. The photolineaments are compared with the trends of oriented fracture systems procured by measuring the compass direction of joints in bedrock. The relative reliability of the methods is shown, and the results are presented in graphical, tabular, and written form. Analyses of field measurements of strikes of bedrock joints in the project area indicate for the most part two intersecting sets of major joints oriented N 76° W - N 15° E, and N 57° W - N 27° E. The analyses of lineaments determined by stereoscopic examination of aerial photographs show dominant trends of lineament zones of weakness to be an average of N 65° W - N 20°E. Analysis of lineaments found by Ronchi grid viewing of aerial photoindex sheets indicate dominant trends of N 70° W - N 27° E. The three methods give similar findings and verify the work of previous authors. The Ronchi grid method is a useful guide, but it cannot be substituted for the two more painstaking methods.

Jan 1, 1977

By John R. Bitler

A computerized napping system was developed by the Bureau of Mines to provides procedures for the rapid and inexpensive display of coal reserve data. Mapping system output consists of two types of maps, point distribution and contour (isopleth), which can be produced for data (coal analyses) associated with a point location (outcrop, drill core, or mine samples). These locations can be in the form of latitude and longitude or Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid coordinates. The mapping area can range in extent from as small as a single county to as large as a multistate region. The mapping system utilizes programs developed at Harvard University, in addition to several modifications developed by the authors. The primary advantage of this system is that it enables the display of a rapidly changing data base and computerized map generation without the intermediate steps of digitizing and overlaying to produce base maps. The mapping system is applicable to any regional mineral reserve or resource study for which point location data are available. Included are example maps of the distribution of data points and contouring for sulfur content of the Upper Freeport coalbed in this western Pennsylvania demonstration area.

Jan 1, 1977

By H. Billmayer

This report covers the period from June 17, 1974 to February 20, 1975, and describes the work performed in compliance with the requirements of Contract No. H0346102 and Modification No. 1 thereto. The purpose of the contract was to design protective canopies for an Elkhorn Scoop, a Lee Norse Miner, a Wilcox Miner and a Wilcox Bolter; to construct mockups of the canopies; and to obtain machine operator evaluations of the canopy designs by assessing the mockups while installed on their machines in the mines. The overall program objective was to achieve protective canopy designs for the four machines which would be acceptable to the operators.

Jan 1, 1975

By C. Kwong, L. H. Rorden, T. C. Moore

This report describes the feasibility test of an electromagnetic method for locating, boreholes, with or without casing, that have been drilled in conjunction with mining operations but whose location with respect to the tunnel is not precisely known. The first tests were conducted with the cooperation of the Kerr-McGee Corporation, Church Rock Mining Operations, New Mexico, in September 1977. These tests demonstrated that accuracies of better than ±15% of range and ±1° of bearing can be achieved with a simple system and setups. Subsequent tests, in January 1978, on a horizontally drilled pipe line river crossing application, by Ti tan Contractors of Sacramento, California, demonstrated that accuracies of better than one-half percent of range and a few tenths of one degree of bearing can be achieved by using refined techniques. The demonstration tests were done at ranges on the order of 100 to 200 feet but the method is capable of working at much greater distances.

Jan 5, 1978

By John Millhiser, Margaret Bonarek, Dennis McLaughlin

This report contains a description of the contract activities performed by ENSCO, Inc. under contract No. H0178069. The purpose of this project was to enhance the Bureau of Mine's Cableless Electronic Survey System use to aid in the drilling of long (approx. 2000 feet) boreholes in coal. This drilling is performed as part of the methane drainage program. The system that was ultimately developed was field tested and demonstrated in actual in-mine drilling activities. The significance of this system as compared to previous drill survey systems is the fact that it surveys without having to be inserted and removed for each survey point. It is so designed that it can withstand the shock and vibration experience by the drill string during drilling. This means an increased productivity is now possible in that drill operators can determine drill bit positioning in a near real-time environment.

By J. H. Soulé

The Copper King copper-gold-silver deposit was discovered about 1880. Various individuals and companies have been interested in the deposit and considerable work has been done, although production, if any, has been small. The deposit is located in the western part of Laramie County, Wyo., and is favorably situated with respect to rail and truck transportation and high-tension power facilities. Mild summers and cold winters characterize the climate. Precipitation averages between 16 and 17 inches annually, with considerable snowfall in the winter. Permanent streams are small and most available water in being stored for use by Cheyenne, Wyo. Range grasses comprise the bulk of the vegetation, with small trees and shrubs common in the most rugged areas.

Jan 1, 1955

By Arnulf P. Hagen

This project was designed to explore the suitability of using fluorinated inorganic materials as solvents for the in situ mining of thin seamed, heavily overburdened coal; to build a data base for the selection of an inorganic solvent for use for coal cleaning; to determine if fluorinated solvents will reduce the organic and inorganic sulfur contents of the coal, as well as to lower the ash content. The coal samples have been combined with pure solvent, as well as with aqueous solutions at atmospheric pressure and at increased pressure. The increased pressure experiments are important since they duplicate the conditions anticipated for an in situ cleaning and mining operation. Trifluoroacetic, difluorphosphoric (phosphorodifluoroidic), and trifluoromethanesulfonic acids have been found to be effective for the cleaning of high sulfur, high ash coal at 300°C and at atmospheric pressure. At pressures up to 20,000 psi the effectiveness of these reagents is not decreased.

Jan 1, 1983

By J. B. Zadra, S. M. Shelton, M. M. Fine

"Ferrograde 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 ore 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 is 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 will include reports of results obtained in the various investigations conducted under the manganese program. The scope of the program and the organization that woo set up to direct and supervise the work 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. Zimmerley, J. D. Vincent, and C. R. Schack. Other reports will be published as the work progresses."

Mar 1, 1942

By R. J. Hundhausen

The continued worldwide shortage and strategic value of nickel place great importance upon the continued development and exploitation of new sources of nickel in the United States, The deposits of nickel-bearing minerals in Oregon and Washington have attracted considerable attention, particularly since the Hanna Development Co. has engaged in development work aimed at producing ferronickel from the Nickel Mountain deposit, near Riddle, Douglas County, Greg. The Red Flats nickel deposit in Curry County, Oreg., was first examined by the Bureau of Mines in dune 1945, but it was not until 1952 that the deposit was drilled and sampled. In 1953, a 15-ton sample of Red Flats material was procured and subjected to continuous smelting tests in the Bureau's Northwest Electrodevelopment Laboratory, Albany, Greg.

Jan 1, 1954

By Manuel Gomez

A computerized moving average technique was developed to interpolate coal seam characteristics between sample points. The interpolative method coupled with multivariate regression analysis and simulation procedures was used to forecast coal properties not readily obtained from an analysis of drill core samples. Coal property forecasts were of two kinds: (1) specific mine property forecasts that are suitable for mine product control and yield a good approximation of the local variation along both the vertical and horizontal axes of the seam, and (2) regional estimates where much of the local seam variation is smoothed out, but the general trends are maintained. Forecasts of the volatile matter, ash, total sulfur, and the heating value for part of the Pittsburgh seam located in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia were in good agreement with independent evaluation data. Spatial configuration for preparation characteristics, particularly, the effect of crushing on sulfur release, low-and high-temperature carbonization properties, the Hardgrove grindability index, the coal hardness index, gasification variables, and hydrogenation factors were constructed for the same area of the Pittsburgh seam. These forecasts may be developed from drill core data collected in the exploration phase of mining. The results, which may take the form of a series of maps, are useful to mining, chemical, and combustion engineers, to economists and mine managers, as well as to coal users for mine design, economic analyses, energy forecasts, utilization studies, mine product control, and environmental control and programming.

Jan 1, 1974

By Alan G. Mayton

The Bureau of Mines conducted one of the most extensive studies on surface mine illumination to date, to assess the illumination needs of mobile surface mining machinery with respect to the visual tasks required of machinery operators. Field Investigations were performed at 22 surface mining operations, coal and metal-nonmetal, within several mining regions of the United States. Visibility and illumination were measured for 159 visual tasks performed by equipment operators on or near 57 surface mining machines, including draglines, shovels, blasthole drills, bulldozers, loaders, haul trucks, graders, scrapers, and several service-type vehicles.

Jan 1, 1987

By Janet Torma-Krajewski, Pauline Lewis, Paul Gust, Lisa Steiner, Kean Johnson

Ergonomics processes described in the literature have been associated mostly with manufacturing, financial, electronics, and office settings where working conditions tend to be rather constant and repetitive. The information presented in this document demonstrates, however, that an ergonomics process can also be implemented in a setting such as mining where working conditions frequently change and workers are periodically exposed to extreme weather conditions. This document describes how Bridger Coal Company implemented an ergonomics process at its Jim Bridger Mine from 2001 through 2004. The process developed by the Ergonomics Committee, the promotion of the process to management and employees, and the impacts of the process on working conditions at the mine are reviewed. Barriers overcome and lessons learned are also described. Quotes from Bridger Coal Company employees are included in the document to add a personal perspective. Other industries with working conditions similar to mining, such as construction and agriculture, may find this information useful.

Jan 9, 2006

By M. Kanda, W. D. Bensema, J. W. Adams

Two different techniques were used to make measurements of the absolute value of electromagnetic noise in an operating hardrock mine, Grace Mine, located near Morgantown, Pennsylvania. Diesel-powered haulage equipment is used in this mine, and the electromagnetic noise environment it creates was measured to see how it differs from the environment created by electric-powered haulage equipment. One technique measures noise over the entire electromagnetic spectrum of interest for brief time periods. Data are recorded using broadband analog magnetic tape and are later transformed to give spectral plots. The other technique records noise amplitudes at several discrete frequencies for a sufficient amount of time to provide amplitude probability distributions. The specific measured results are given in a number of spectral plots and in amplitude probability distribution plots.

Jan 6, 1974