Search Documents

By R. S. Dean

This report, the third of a series of annual reports of the Metallurgical Division to be released in this form, covers the fiscal year July 1, 1936, to June 30, 1937. The technological work of the division is performed by sections. Thus, an efficient organization is provided to prosecute the various problems under investigation, and a logical system is set up for presenting the material contained in this report.

Jan 1, 1937

This manual provides instructions for installing, operating, and maintaining a protective canopy on the Galis Mfg. Co. roof drill. The instructions are based upon two actual installations: one made in a mine on roof drill, model 300, and one in the factory. The parts list and engineering drawings for the protective canopy are included at the end of the manual. And a discussion of some alternative design concepts is also included. The manual can also be used for retrofitting other roof drills with similar protective canopies. Skilled mechanics can determine if the instructions herein would be applicable to the other roof drills and can determine any necessary modifications if they are not.

Jan 1, 1973

By Chunbao Sun, Qi Liu, Chao Wang

Entrainment is a process by which fine and ultrafine particles are transferred to the flotation froth from the top of the flotation pulp, and eventually discharge to the concentrate product, evenwhen they are not attached to gas bubbles. Therefore, entrainment can be considered as a two-step process, one at the upper layer of the pulp to the flotation froth, and the other from froth to the concentrate. Entrainment is inevitable for both hydrophobic and hydrophilic minerals and is one of the significant factors affecting concentrate grade. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the entrainment mechanisms and entrainment models, as well as a summary of the main factors affecting entrainment and the techniques thatmay be used to lower or eliminate entrainment. Based on the review, we point out that selective aggregation of fine and ultrafine gangue minerals using appropriate process aids (polymeric depressants, inorganic salts, etc.) to increase their particle sizes appears to be a convenient and economical method. Directions of further research along this line are discussed.

Aug 31, 2020

By Robert M. Strong

The following report is a summary of the commercial results which 'Were obtained from 2,000 tests conducted by the technologic branch of the United States Geological Survey at St. Louis, Mo., and Norfolk, Va., in 1907 and 1908, under the technical supervision of R. H. Fernald, engineer in charge of the producer-gas section. The tests dealt primarily with gasoline, forming part of the investigation of mineral fuels provided for by acts of Congress. To determine the relative economy and efficiency of gasoline it was compared with denatured alcohol. The tests, many of which were undertaken in connection with work for the Navy Department, supplemented, to a certain extent, the work of previous investigations, but only so far as was necessary to emphasize some of the more important points and to lead up to the defining of conditions required for the economical use of gasoline and alcohol. In order to determine and eliminate the affecting engine conditions as far as possible, the investigation was commenced by making comparative gasoline and alcohol tests on the same engines. These tests were repeated on other engines of approxiElately the same size and speed, having different degrees of comFression, different methods of governing, and different carburetors. The final report will include much material that may be of use in engine design, but that side of the investigation was not pursued any further than was necessary to obtain the best possible results, for alcohol and for gasoline with the engines at hand, and to prove that the minimum fu·el-consumption rate for each could be obtained in approximately the same manner. The effects of engine and of operating conditions both have a bearing on the commercial deductions but will be discussed only in a general way at this time.

Jan 1, 1911

By James D. Bliss

Sedimentary deposits of pluvial Lake Bonneville are an important source of sand and gravel suitable for aggregate and construction in Utah. Data on Lake Bonneville basin sand and gravel deposit thickness, volume, grain size, percent of fines, and durability were statistically analyzed to detect variations associated with geologic domains, geographic location, Lake Bonneville shorelines, and sand and gravel deposit type, and to construct quantitative deposit models. Analysis showed several trends; (1) sand and gravel in younger shorelines was slightly more durable and the deposits considerably larger in volume, (2) younger shore- lines are also more likely to contain more than one genetic deposit type, (3) the volume of terrace deposits is larger than beach deposits, (4) terraces and beaches are generally thicker than spits and bars, (5) the northern part of the Bonneville Basin contains slightly more durable sand and gravel than the southern part of the basin and is more likely to contain deposits composed of more than one genetic deposit type, aid (6) the Wasatch domain deposits are composed of more than one genetic deposit type more often than deposits of the Basin and Range domain. Three additional conclusions with immediate economic significance are; (1) the median sand and gravel deposit in the Wasatch domain, 360,000 m3 (275,000 yd3), is three times larger than that of the Basin and Range domain (120,000 m3 [90,000 yd3]), (2) the median deposit thickness in the Wasatch domain, 5.8 m (19.0 ft), is nearly twice that of the Basin and Range domain (3 m [lo ft]), and (3) the Wasatch domain also contains slightly larger diameter gravel. These three conclusions are significant because the trend for sand and gravel development in the Bonneville Basin is to move from the Wasatch domain to the Basin and Range domain. Smaller, thinner deposits with smaller diameter gravel will require more surface area to mine than would have been necessary in the Wasatch domain. The result is a higher cost for sand and gravel in construction projects in the Salt Lake City area, especially since the gravel must also be hauled farther.

Jan 1, 2001

By H. W. Gillett

UNLIKE most previous Howe lecturers, I had not the good fortune to be associated with Henry Marion Howe, nor to be directly one of his students. Yet, through his writings, he has been my teacher, as he has of all American metallurgists. Instructive as his writings are-I use the present tense because Howe thought so keenly and reasoned so surely, seeing clearly, as if by intuition, what was hazy to lesser minds, that his writings are still vital-it is not, those books and papers, nor even the minds he trained in his classes, that were his most outstanding service. It was the spirit of Howe in his: approach to the problems of metallurgy, his broad-mindedness and fair-ness, his recognition of the need for theories and hypotheses to explain metallurgical phenomena, his willingness to use them as servants, as well as his questioning attitude-his refusal to accept them as masters-that comprise his greatest service. This most thoroughly warrants the honor the Institute pays each year to his memory. These traits I so respect and honor in any man that I glory in this opportunity to do reverence to him in whom they were so notably united.

Jan 1, 1939

By Joseph Coffman

There are 14 operations that supply 97% of the Market Economy Country (MEC) manganese and contain nearly all of its resources. Six mines account for about 70% of the production and 85% of the resources; there are no known resources that are economically close to those that are currently being mined. Costs (January 1989 dollars) of producing manganese concentrates from the operations evaluated are estimated to range from $ 0.96 to $ 1.86 per long ton unit (ltu or 22.4 lb) of contained manganese. Total MEC demonstrated resources evaluated amount to about 1.2 billion tons of in situ ore containing 474 million tons of manganese. Identified resources amount to about 1.8 billion tons of in situ material. Key results of the study indicate the following: 1. The MEC supply of manganese will be from the currently mined resources well into the next century. 2. Centrally Planned Economy Countries (CPEC's) will be increasingly dependent on MEC manganese ore and concentrate in the future. 3. At the 1976 to 1987 demand increase rate, total MEC resource needed through the year 2000 would be about 282 million tons of in situ material. 4. Transportation and infrastructure support will continue to be major elements of production costs.

Jan 1, 1992

By E. Chin

Although Japan is a major producer of crude steel, it is poor in industrial raw materials. This Bureau of fines report describes Japan's raw material needs for chromium, cobalt, manganese, nickel, and tungsten to produce ferroalloys and alloy steels. Japanese imports of these ores or metals by quantity and source are given for 1972-81, inclusive, to indicate (1) the changes in the consumption and supply pattern, and (2) the degree of Japan's dependence on foreign sources. This report also describes measures implemented by Japan to reduce the risk- of supply interruption, and discusses the possible implications of supply shortages.

Jan 1, 1983

By Raymond B. Ladoo

In order to obtain comprehensive and authentic information on fluorspar mining in the western States , the writer, together with and at the request of representatives of some of the largest fluorspar producers of the Illinois - Kentucky district , spent the month of April , 1922 , in examining all we stem fluorspar deposits ( of which record was available ) believed to be of possible commercial importance .

May 1, 1923

By J. M. Seward, W. D. Dietzman, M. E. Hawkins

Analytical studies of formation waters are widely used by the petroleum industry as an aid in solving problems such as identifying intrusive waters , corrosion studies , treating injection water , and choosing open or closed water- injection systems . The solution of a problem is often simplified when reliable analyses of the waters under consideration have been made previously . Chemical analyses and electrical resistivity measurements are presented on 267 samples from 74 fields in south Arkansas , and 199 samples from 80 fields in north Louisiana .

Jul 1, 1960

By E. P. Youngman

In the Unfederated Malay States, with the exception of Johore, the rights of suzerainty, protection, and administration were transferred by giam to the British Government in 1909. In the States of Kelantan, Trengganu, Kedah, and Perlis, the rulers are assisted by State Councils and by British advisers appointed by the British Government.3 With respect to Johore, the largest, richest, and most highly organized of the Malay States not in the Federation, the treaty of December 11, 1885, with Great Britain, defined the relations of the State to the British Govern- ment and allowed the Maharaja to assume the title of "Sultan"; an amendment to this treaty (May 12, 1914) provided that the Sultan should be advised by a British officer, the General Adviser. ...... The political organization of the States is reflected in the mining legis- lation, Johore being the only one having a comprehensive code. The mining enactments now in force, according to the High Commissioner for the Malay States, are as follows:

Jun 1, 1932

By Lincoln A. Stewart, P. S. Haury

"INTRODUCTION AND RESUME Arizona asbestos mines are the only sources on the American continents of iron-free chrysotile spinning fiber that meets the Navy specifications for asbestos fiber for use in covering electrical cables. Rhodesia normally supplies the bulk of this grade of asbestos at about half the Price of Ari zona spinning fiber. The acute submarine menace in 1942 focused attention on the danger that imports might be cut off and that a sudden demand for greatly expanded production might fall on the Arizona mines to supply the tonnage of this essential material needed for war production.A joint preliminary investigation of Arizona asbestos deposits was made in August 1941 by J. R. Thoenen, senior mining engineer of the Bureau of Mines and A. E. Granger, a geologist of the United States Geological Survey. A more extended investigation of the numerous asbestos mines and prospects, which are scattered over 25 townships of difficult terrain in Gila County, was begun by the senior author in August 1942.The Geological Survey assigned two geologists (Newton Chute and A. F. Shride) a few weeks later to study the geology as an aid in selecting the mines for the Bureau's exploration projects. Six mines were selected for exploratory work because it was desired to prove reserves of ore where production could be started quickly if urgent demand should arise. Acceleration of production is normally slow because of adverse operating conditions. First, the mines are at distances of 35 to 100 miles from Globe, the shipping and supply point, and the roads are few and poor. The mine openings start in steep canyon walls, so that mining supplies usually have to be packed in and the product packed out over 0.5 to 5 miles of burro trail. Second, most of the ore deposits are small, and the ratio of rock broken to spinning fiber recovered is very high, usually exceeding 200."

Aug 1, 1947

By Louis J. Sousa

In November 1989, the U.S. Bureau of Mines sponsored a 2-day conference to stimulate thinking and discussion about changing materials technologies and implications for the Government's materials information programs. On the first day of the conference, speakers provided overviews of developments occurring in each of the major materials groups. Emerging technological developments, applications, economic and national defense significance, intermaterial competition, and potential market growth in advanced plastics, polymer composites, ceramics, metals, and electronic materials were described. In general, the speakers forecast advanced materials market growth rates in excess of overall gross national product (GNP) though high costs will tend to limit growth outside of aerospace, defense, electronics, medical equipment, and other typically high value-added businesses. On the second day, a wide range of speakers representing several facets of the materials community described how advances in materials technology are creating a need for new types of data, statistics, information, and analysis. Reflecting the speakers' broad range of organizational, professional, and personal perspectives, an array of information needs was identified. Most requirements, however, seemed to fall into one of five major categories: Federal materials research activities, material standards, market and economic information, health and safety, and public policy.

Jan 1, 1990

Five watersheds, ranging in size from 29 to 49 acres, were selected in East-Central Ohio to investigate the hydrologic and water quality conditions occurring before, during, and after surface mining. Four of the watersheds will undergo surface mining, involving either the Number 6, 9, 11, or 8 coal seams, and one watershed having an outcrop of the Number 6 coal will be operated as a control watershed. To determine the premining hydrologic and water quality conditions (Phase 1), physical information was obtained for each watershed and instrumentation was installed for obtaining hydrologic data and water quality samples. In addition to topographic maps, soils and vegetation maps were prepared. Stratigraphic columns were developed from geologic cores; networks of observation wells and of soil moisture access tubes were installed; and weather stations were established to measure temperature, humidity, wind and solar radiation, and to collect precipi¬tation samples. Field data were collected over a 10-month period for one watershed and for about 8 months on another watershed before surface mining began. The other watersheds continued in the premining data phase. These data were for precipitation, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, solar radiation, snow and frozen soil, soil moisture, infiltration (rainfall simulator), spring discharge, runoff from watersheds, and ground-water levels. Also, samples of runoff and ground water were obtained for chemical analyses and additional samples of runoff were acquired for suspended sediment load determinations. Over the study period, precipitation was not very representative of the long term averages, but data are available from the control watershed for a representative 7 year period which should prove invaluable in modeling the hydrology of the project watersheds for the premined conditions. Spring discharges (before mining) from the upper aquifer of two of the watersheds averaged only 508 and 652 gallons daily. The proportion of precipitation occurring as surface runoff from the large watersheds ranged from 8 to 36 percent and the peak discharges from 5.86 to 81.95 cfs. Base-flow and runoff water samples from four of the watersheds (unmined conditions) were collected and analyzed quantitatively for 39 water quality parameters. Monthly precipitation samples sediment fractions of the base flow and runoff were analyzed for 22 and 17 parameters, respectively. The average concentrations of the water quality parameters for the watersheds (unmined), except for suspended solids, were as low or lower than the EPA recommended maximum allowable concentrations in drinking water. Several parameters in precipitation equaled or exceeded the levels of corresponding parameters in runoff water. The average concentration of suspended solids in storm runoff ranged from 118 to 1110 mg/l, and for base flow the range was from 44 to 247 mg/l; the higher concentrations were associated with the watersheds exhibiting the greatest disturbance. Iron ranged from an average of less than 3 µg/1 to 228 µg/1. Manganese ranged from less than 41 µg/1 to 334 µg/I. Ground-water systems (unmined condition) are described for the five project watersheds. Each watershed was found to have two major perched aquifers within the top 250 feet. Generally, these perched aquifers involve local flow systems, though flow across watershed boundaries in some areas. Recharge is mostly from local precipitation and discharge is mostly as spring flow, base flow, evapotranspiration, and leakage through the underlying confining bed. Shallow ground water was commonly of the calcium bicarbonate type. Although dissolved-solids concentration was generally 200 to 600 mg/1, brackish or salty ground water was present in several areas. A composite hydrologic model for the project watersheds will consist of separate ground-water, unsaturated flow, overland flow, and evapotranspiration component models. The ground-water model (a modified quasi-three--dimensional U. S. Geological Survey model) operates on a grid network and the newly formulated unsaturated flow model was divided into overlying prismatic elements for numerical solutions. The unsaturated flow model includes provision for incorporating the evapotranspiration model. An available distributed kinemetic overland flow model was utilized. An analyses was made of one of the costs of reclaiming coal mines; the legal and administrative costs of complying with legislation. Such costs borne by coal companies under the Ohio law are thought to be a surrogate of these costs under the new Federal law. Regression analyses were used to relate the legal and administrative costs to acres in the permit and the tonnage of coal produced.

Jan 1, 1978

By Herbert H. Einstein

The innate variability of natural materials and processes causes uncertainty in the models representing the natural phenomena and uncertainty in estimating the parameters that are used in these models. Reliability analyses, in contrast to the traditional factor of safety approach, are well suited to a rational incorporation of uncertainty in design and exploration decisions. Probabilistic kinetic and kinematic analyses were developed and combined to form reliability analysis methods. With one method the reliability, i.e.) the probability of failure, of an individual 2-plane wedge in a slope can be determined. The other method is aimed at slopes with a single slope parallel set of joints. In each case two approaches were developed, an encompassing one relying on computer codes and a simplified or summary approach relying on charts or pocket calculator computation. A major contribution of these approaches is the treatment of joint persistance. Instead of having to assume a certain persistence, it is now possible to use exploration data on joint geometry and to include the persistence effect rigorously.

Jan 1, 1979

By L. B. Pankratz

Thermodynamic data on the elements, oxides, sulfides, halides, and selected hydrides, carbides, nitrides, carbonates, sulfates, silicates, and miscellaneous compounds were reviewed, evaluated, and compiled at the Bureau of Mines. Values for CP°, S°, H° -H°298, ?Hf°, and ?Gf° are given in tabular form. A brief thermodynamic background and a number of examples and applications are presented.

Jan 1, 1984

By William J. Douglas

This document describes the development of a conventional mining equipment data base, and an approach for conducting industrial engineering studies of arbitrary mining systems employing network techniques. Data was acquired through underground time studies. Each member of a four-man field team was assigned to a specific machine during each shift for which observations were conducted. Using digital wrist watches and networks describing the man-machine interactions, all events occurring luring the course of each shift were recorded on cassette tapes. The tapes were transcribed, coded, keypunched, and validated using computerized editing techniques. The resulting data files were processed to provide statistics relating to activity durations and event frequencies. The results were used to evaluate operator, machine, and system performance for each section which was observed. Equipment, reliability, and maintainability analyses were conducted using the industrial engineering data files in conjunction with historical information collected at the mine site.

Jan 1, 1976

By Llewellyn A. Rubin

ROUTINES AND SUBROUTINES A- 1 Wait Loop (Wait) A- 2 Receiver Processing (RCVP) A- 3 Control Panel Sequence (CPNL) A-4 Interrupt Routine (INTRP) A- 5 Math Processing Routine (PROC) A-6 Input Constants for Math Routine (CONI) A-7 Angle Conversion Routines (LVERT) A- 8 Display Routine (DSPY) A- 9 Message Print Auxillary Routine (MESSO) A-10 Auxillary Subroutines (AFUTC and AGETC)

Jan 1, 1973

By Fred Leonard

This report is principally concerned with the engineering and economic feasibility of area surface coal mining systems other than draglines. This analysis evaluates shovel/ trucks, shovel/crusher/conveyors, and shovel/rail excavation and haulage systems for an assortment of geologic environments and production rates in the Powder River Basin (PRB) Shovel/trucks, front-end loaders/ trucks, and shovel/crusher/conveyors were studied in a multi-seam, dipping geologic area of the Four Corners Region. The Texas lignite engineering and economic research involved bucket-wheel excavators (BWE), BWE/backhoes, and scraper/backhoe combinations for overburden and coal excavation. The PRE truck/shovel study utilized the most recent computer simulation available in both the design and cost analyses. Detailed engineering analysis, followed by in-depth operating costs (operating and depreciation) result in a complete evaluation of each mining system. Cost comparisons of the different mining systems under similar geologic and production constraints are presented in the report to illustrate the estimated capital investment and production costs per ton of coal and bank cubic yard of overburden.

Jan 1, 1980

Jan 1, 2001