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By B. J. Moore

This publication contains analyses and related source data for 675 natural gas samples from wells and pipelines in 24 States and 5 foreign countries. The samples obtained and analyzed during calendar year 1980 are included in tables 1-4. Those samples included in tables 5-7 were collected during the years 1960 through 1979. However, permission to publish the analyses of those samples was not given until the past year when the operators were again contacted to seek release of the information. All of these samples were collected as a part of Bureau of Mines investigations of the occurrences of helium in natural gases of countries with free market economies. This survey has been conducted in the United States by the Bureau of Mines since 1917. In late 1965, the survey was expanded to include foreign gasfields. The analyses published herein were made by mass spectrometer and a special helium analysis apparatus, which are described in Bureau of Mines Bulletins 4862 and 576. The results of the investigation of the occurrences of helium are published annually to make the information available as soon as possible to the gas industry and the general public. Twenty-two previous publications have presented the results of 12,152 gas analyses made prior to 1980. The first three, Bulletins 486,' 576,5 and 617,6 contain analyses and related source data on 5,218 gas samples collected from 1917 through 1980. The other

Jan 1, 1981

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 Wilton Johnson

The Bureau of Mines study indicates that land utilized by the mining industry for mineral extraction and processing from 1930 through 1980 amounted to 5.7 million acres, or 0.25 percent of the land mass in the United States. Land reclaimed by the industry during the same period was 2.7 million acres, or 47 percent of the land utilized. Land use by the mining industry includes surface land used for excavation or mining, for waste from underground mining, and for wastes from milling or processing operations. Data on land use for disposal of overburden waste from surface coal mines and on areas affected by subsidence associated with underground mining are included for the period 1930-71 only. The 10 leading States in total land used for mining over the 51-year period were, in decreasing order, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, West Virginia, Florida, Indiana, California, Alabama, and Missouri. Seven mineral commodities accounting for 92 percent of land use are, in decreasing order, bituminous coal, sand and gravel, stone, phosphate rock, clay, copper, and iron ore, all predominately surface mined. Bituminous coal production was responsible for nearly half of the total area utilized. Reclamation of mined lands and waste disposal sites over the reporting period was largely on lands utilized in mining bituminous coal; 75 percent of the land used for bituminous coal production was reclaimed.

Jan 1, 1981

These proceedings consist of papers presented at three Bureau of Mines Technology Transfer Seminars on ergonomics in the mining industry. These seminars were held in December 1981, and covered topics relating to ergonomics and mining in the areas of the man-machine interface, and design of the work environment. This area of research is directed toward reducing accidents traditionally associated with human error.

Jan 1, 1981

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 George K. Schenck

This Bureau of Mines publication describes and evaluates a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) based end-use data system for minerals that is designed to link the demand for minerals to economic activity in commercial uses. The new data system is two-dimensional. The first dimension of technical product classes (TPC's) measures the consumption of minerals in major primary intermediate products. The second dimension measures the consumption of these TPC's in SIC end-use sectors in sufficient detail to identify the major determinants of demand for each TPC. Intercomodity comparisons are achieved at the level of SIC two-digit major groups. The methodology was developed so that all available sources of information from Government and industry can be utilized at minimum cost. This information will be supplemented with additional data to be obtained by modifying existing Bureau of Mines canvasses so as to elicit additional quantitative responses from mineral producers. The new data system is expected to improve significantly the ability to forecast demand for minerals, and provide an information base that would, for the first time ever, permit resolution of such questions as trends in substitution among materials and the intensity-of-use of materials in end-use sectors. For the 42 TPC?s identified in the report, data are available for the new system from current sources or, except for three TPC?s that require new canvasses, can be obtained by modification of existing Bureau canvasses.

Jan 1, 1982

By Rustu S. Kalyoncu

A major goal of the Bureau of Mines is to conserve the Nation's mineral resources by developing improved performance materials. In support of this mission, a survey of the state of the art of chemically bonded refractories has been made, covering the scientific literature, government reports, and patents. This review includes research and development results for phosphate, silicate, oxychloride, oxysulfate, and other bonding agents used in refractories manufacture. A significant finding of the review was that references on bonding mechanisms, bond formation kinetics, and other important process parameters and conditions were few and universally vague. As a result, recommendations are made to expand research efforts to investigate the kinetics and mechanisms of reactions in chemically bonded refractories.

Jan 1, 1982

By Lawrence W. Sott

This Bureau of Mines report presents several factors that currently enter into the design, manufacture, and testing of windows and lenses used in explosion-proof enclosures. Emphasis is also given to the sealing concepts for lenses. Criteria for adhesives and sealants are suggested based on the survivability of an explosion-proof enclosure as a structure, rather than upon the minimum material properties of its constituents. Procedures for surface preparation of adherends are also discussed.

Jan 1, 1982

By Raymond M. Kacmar

This paper describes the Bureau of Mines research program on the reliability of computerized mine-monitoring systems. The basic concepts of computerized monitoring are introduced along with its advantages and limitations. Current Bureau projects covering mine-monitoring systems are described, and some of the major areas of concern that should be addressed by future projects are outlined.

Jan 1, 1982

With IIT research institute as a cosponsor, this seventh mineral waste Utilization Symposium was funded by the Bureau of Mines through its Division of Mineral Resources Technology. Environmental scientists and engineers from five countries (Canada, Netherlands, Austria, England, Guatemala) besides the United States participated in the symposium, which was held Oct. 20-21, 1980, at the Chicago campus of IIT Research Institute. Of the 25 papers presented on the reclamation and recycling of mining and mineral wastes, municipal solid waste, industrial waste, and scrap metal, 21 are summarized herein.

Jan 1, 1982

The U.S. Bureau of Mines, Department of Labor, and United States National Committee of the CIE hosted the TC4.10 Mine Lighting Committee Meeting and Second International CIE Mine Lighting conference at the MSHA Academy in Beckley, WV from October 12-16, 1981. This was the first time the meeting and conference had been held in the United States. The TC4.10 Mine Lighting Committee, chaired by Dr. Adam Peretiatkowicz of Poland, was attended by 15 committee members and six guests representing eight countries. Discussion during the meeting covered mine lighting instrumentation, open cast (surface mine) lighting, and lighting sources. The committee also reviewed a draft of proposed lighting terminology and suggested changes to make the definitions more acceptable to representatives of the nations present. The mine-lighting conference featured 20 papers presented by 18 speakers representing six countries. The papers covered all phases of mine lighting, including research, hardware development and application, personnel acceptance, and requirements for system maintenance. The conference attracted 126 attendees and also included displays by eight lighting hardware manufacturers and four mining machine manufacturers. Papers from the conference are being published by the Government Printing office, with copies presented to the conference attendees. Copies will be available to others interested through the NTIS. During the course of the TC4.10 meetings and conference, committee members toured three mining equipment assembly plants, and six of the foreign representatives visited a longwall installation in an underground mine. Planning and administrative services for the meeting and conference were handled by Bituminous Coal Research, Inc., under USBM Contract H0318038.

Jan 1, 1982

By Lowell L. Patten

The Federal Bureau of Mines participated with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Martin Marietta Aerospace in developing, building, and testing a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer for use as an analyzer in mineral-resource investigative work. The prototype battery-powered spectrometer, measuring I1 by 12 by 5 inches and weighing only about 15 pounds, was designed specifically for field use. The spectrometer has two gas-proportional counters and two radioactive sources, 109Cd and 55Fe. Preliminary field and laboratory tests on rock specimens and rock pulps have demonstrated the capability of the spectrometer to detect 33 elements, to date. Characteristics of the system present some limitations, however, and further improvements are recommended.

Jan 1, 1982

By Richard D. Miller

This Bureau of Mines publication contains analyses and related source data for 224 natural as samples from 18 States. Of the total, 191 sam¬ples were collected during calendar year 1981. The remaining 33 samples were collected during previous years, but releases, granting permission to publish were not received until 1981. All samples were obtained and analyzed as part of Bureau of Mines investigations of the occurrences of helium in natural gases of countries with free market economies. This survey has been conducted since 1917. The analyses published herein were made by the mass spectrometer and special helium apparatus described previously (1-2).3 The results of the investigation of the occurrences of helium are published annually to make the information available as soon as possible to the gas industry and the general public. Twenty-five publications have presented the results of 12,827 gas analyses made prior to 1981. The first three bulletins (1-3) contain analyses and related data on 5,218 gas samples collected from 1917 through 1960; these bulletins have been supplemented annually by information circulars (4-17, 19-24) containing 7,609 analyses of samples collected since 1960.

Jan 1, 1982

By Benjamin W. Haynes

As part of the first-order assessment of potential manganese nodule processing reject waste materials, the Bureau of Mines estimated the physical and chemical characteristics of reject waste materials that would be generated from each of five potential process flowsheets. These processes were chosen because of their economic and technical feasibility for first-generation nodule processing. A brief description of the five processes is given to show process inputs and outputs, The physical characteristics are predicted based on land-based laterite processing where applicable, and where no land-based analog exists, on the basis of process chemistry. The probable chemical characteristics such as element content and compound form are tabulated for each process for 16 elements: As, Ba, Be, Cd, Go, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, TI, and Zn. These elements were chosen based on their presence on the toxic substance list of priority pollutants, EP toxicity criteria, and major and minor elements of economic importance (Co, Fe, Mn, and Mo). Physical and chemical analyses as well as results of the EP toxicity test of one industrially supplied pilot plant reject waste material are presented.

Jan 1, 1982

By Benjamin W. Haynes

This Bureau of Mines publication comprises a compilation of the state of the science in Pacific Ocean manganese nodule mineralogy and elermental composition. The report is divided into three sections: morphology, mineralogy and elemental composition. The nodule morphology section defines what is considered a nodule for the study, and details the external characteristics and internal structure. Nodule mineralogy is discussed in three sections: manganese minerals, iron oxide minerals, and accessory minerals. The major manganese minerals discussed are todorokite, birnessite, and vernadite. The iron oxide minerals are less well known and include feroxyhyte, goethite, and lepidocrocite. Accessory minerals present include quartz, clays, and other silicates and nonsilicates. A discussion on moisture content is also included. The elemental composition section presents data on 74 elements occurring as cations or anions. Summary data, histograms, and interelement correlation coefficients are presented. The elements are grouped as follows: major and minor elements of potential economic interest (8), other major and minor elements (9), elements of environmental interest (8), rare-earth elements (15), precious-metal-group elements (6), radioactive elements (3), other trace elements (17), and anion-forming elements (8). Cross sectional determinations of Ni, Cu, Zn, Co, Pb, Fe, Ce, and Ba are given for a single nodule to show the general tendency of different growth patterns within a nodule because of different element associations and composition.

Jan 1, 1982

By Charles D. Litton

This Bureau of Mines report presents a discussion of the essential components of pneumatic monitoring systems and their associated functions. Design criteria are presented which can be used for the design and fabrication of pneumatic monitoring systems having total system response times on the order of 15 to 30 min. To illustrate the utility of these design criteria, two detailed design examples are presented,

Jan 1, 1983

By Timothy A. Clancy

To help reduce the Nation's dependence on imported chromite, the Bureau of Mines is conducting research on the use of dolomites as an alternate material. Dolomite is a plentiful domestic resource and offers certain advantages as a refractory raw material. A review of the literature has indicated that there are many sources of high-purity dolomite in this country and that European nations use a greater proportion of dolomite refractories, primarily in steelmaking, than the United States, The Bureau of Mines characterized 14 domestic dolomites as to chemistry, density, mineralogy, microstructure, and thermal behavior, to develop baseline data on their suitability as refractory raw materials.

Jan 1, 1983

The Florida phosphate industry currently produces more than 80 pct of the total U.S. marketable output of phosphate rock. Because phosphate is one of three principal nutrients used in formulating a complete fertilizer, it is imperative that an uninterrupted supply of this material be available to meet the agricultural requirements of the United States while maintaining a viable phosphate industry which is competitive in world markets. As a result of an evaluation made by the Bureau of Mines, five areas were identified that affect the overall production and projected growth of the phosphate industry in Florida. These areas relate to the technological ability of the industry to comply with environmental regulations and performance standards by using the best available technology. The most significant technical problem facing the industry is the management of the clay fraction rejected during the beneficiation of phosphate ores. Other areas of concern are environmental restrictions and regulatory requirements, issues associated with mining and reclamation of wetlands, reclamation of other disturbed lands, and consumptive water use. Each of these areas is reviewed, with major emphasis placed on the current state-of-the-art processes for treatment and management of phosphatic clays.

Jan 1, 1983

By G. R. Peterson

To determine the availability of aluminum from world bauxite resources, the Bureau of Mines investigated 139 bauxite deposits worldwide and evaluated the potential production of aluminum based on the demonstrated resources of bauxite ore from 91 mines and deposits in 22 market economy countries. The demonstrated resources of the bauxite mines and deposits included in this study represent an in situ resource of 20.2 billion metric tons of bauxite. Total identified bauxite resources in market economy countries amount to roughly 31.9 billion tons. Of the demonstrated resource, some 18.8 billion tons of bauxite considered minable provide a production potential of 3.6 billion tons of primary aluminum. Given the wide geographic distribution of bauxite deposits, stable supplies of bauxite for aluminum production seem assured well into the next century. However, a tight market situation could develop during the 1990's unless the real price of aluminum increases enough to stimulate massive new investments in production capacity, particularly in refining and smelting. This study indicates that a real price of at least $0.85 per pound (in January 1980 dollars) would be necessary to stimulate the required investments and provide a sufficient rate of return on invested capital.

Jan 1, 1983

By C. D. Litton

This Bureau of Mines report presents a set of guidelines for determining the distribution of product-of-combustion fire sensors in underground mines. Sensor spacing is defined in terms of sensor alarm threshold, ventilation flow rate, and mine entry dimensions. Sensor spacing guidelines are presented for detection of fires from two primary combustibles, coal and wood, which are common to the majority of underground mines. The guidelines are based on data from full-scale and intermediate-scale fire tests conducted by the Bureau of Mines.

Jan 1, 1983