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The domestic mineral and material industry grew in some key sectors and declined in others during 1993; overall, the industry was poised at yearend for stronger growth in 1994. Metals production is expected to increase with anticipated growth in U.S. motor vehicle sales. There also may be increased demand for industrial minerals in 1994 based on domestic highway and building construction. Additional information on events, trends, and issues in the mineral and material industry is presented below and in the commodity sections that follow. Overall Industry Performance The value of processed materials produced from minerals in the United States during 1993 is estimated to have been about $326 billion, an increase of 5% compared with that of 1992. The estimated value of U.S. raw nonfuel minerals production in 1993 was $31.6 billion, about 1 % less than in the preceding year. The value of domestic minerals production has risen in 28 of the last 33 years.

Jan 1, 1994

During the period January 1, 1977 through July 31, 1977, 5 percent (264,000 tons) of U.S. capacity was closed due to power curtailments in the Pacific Northwest because of the shortage of water. During July, one plant in Tennessee cut production by 50,000 tons annually due to a power reduction by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Full capacity production was resumed at a West Virginia smelter during September. If demand for aluminum is strong it seems likely that aluminum supply during the remainder of 1977 and in 1978 will be tight. The price was increased 3¢ per pound to 51¢ per pound effective March 28, 1977, and by an additional 2¢ per pound to 53¢ per pound, effective July 5, 1977. New projects and expansion of existing facilities are planned by Australian aluminum companies over the next 2 to 3 years. The companies listed have committed themselves to spending approximately A$801 million: Alcoa of Australia Ltd. -New alumina plant at Wagerup, south of Perth. Darling Ranges bauxite is located near the proposed project. A$650 million. Coma 1 co Industries Pty. Ltd. -Increase bauxite mining capacity and upgrade or replace other facilities at its Weipa mines on Cape York Peninsula region of Northern Queensland. A$81 million. Alcan Australia Ltd. -Expansion program that will increase capacity of the Kurri Kurri aluminum smelter north of Sydney about 50 percent, and improvement of other facilities at the plant. A$70 million.

Jan 1, 1977

By Terry S. Cory

This report is a comprehensive summary of the results of the propagation measurements program conducted for the US Bureau of Mines under Contract H0366028. Data was gathered in the MF frequency range from a cross sample of six mines representative of the industry having typical wireless requirements. From the raw data which was gathered, a logical method of data reduction is presented which culminates in a set of average attenuation characteristics for all mines visited. These characteristics define a typical MF wireless system when the communication range requirements are known. Direct through-the-earth propagation and the range enhancement mechanism due to coupling on and off conductors are evaluated and related to the planning of a typical wireless MF communications system.

Jan 1, 1977

By James R. Wait

An attempt is made here to collect together various reports and publications that are based on research supported all or in part by Contract No. H0155008 for the past two years. The subject matter deals primarily with the excitation, transmission, and reception of electromagnetic waves in mine environments. This contract from the U.S. Bureau of Mines with the Office of Telecommunications supports the efforts of James R. Wait (Principal Investigator and Consultant to OT), David A. Hill (Co-Investigator), and various associates within the Boulder scientific community. The contributions of Samir F. Mahmoud were supported, in part, by the contract while he was a Visiting Fellow with the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado. Administrative assistance in CIRES has been provided by Mrs. Lana R. Hope.

Jan 1, 1976

A new mine has begun production of antimony ore and concentrates in Serbia, Yugoslavia. The mine is operated by the mining and metallurgical enterprise "Aajaca." Initial production is running at approximately 45 thousand tons of ore per year, yielding about 1,500 tons of concentrate. The mine is located on the mountain Kopaonik-Raiceyoj Gori. It is planned to expand production eventually to approach the level of 300,000 tons of ore per year. This level will be a significant addition to the world supply of antimony and will place Yugoslavia among the world's major producers. Currently the United States produces only about 6 percent of its primary requirement for antimony. COBALT -Anglo American Corporation, Ltd. reportedly is considering restarting the Tenke-Fungurume copper-cobalt project in Zaire. Construction on the project was suspended in January because of inadequate financing and political uncertainties. Technical feasibility and financing on a smaller scale than previously envisioned are now being considered. However, an increased copper price may be necessary before any decision to proceed is made.

Jan 1, 1976

By R. Van A. Mills

Rapid deterioration and destruction of metal equipment in oil and gas fields cause waste of resources and financial losses that must be lessened or eliminated if operations in many important fields are to continue profitable. The magnitude of this destruction is proved by the huge consumption of iron and steel pipe, tubing, casing, pump valves, and sucker rods to replace worn-out equipment, and by the amount of such equipment that is left in wells or junked. (See PI. I, A and B, and PI. II, A and B, and Fig. 14, p. 61.) This destruction of equipment constitu~es in itself a serious waste, but contingent production troubles, such as underground leakage of oil through defective tubing and pumps, and the consequent loss of oil and gas because of damage to pay sands by infiltrating water and silt, frequent and costly repairs with necessary suspension of production, and the ultimate injury to or loss of valuable wells, often cancel all operating profits. Many of these troubles result from rapid destruction of metal equipment by corrosive waters. The strata penetrated by the wells usually contain saline waters. Certain types of these waters, with their associated gases, are intensely corrosive; they attack well casing or tubing so vigorously as to riddle it with holes, rendering it useless in a few years or even a few months or weeks after it is installed. Pump plungers, working barrels, balls and seats of valves, and screen pipe, as well as lead lines and other surface equipment, are ruined with equal rapidity. The development and application of practical methods to retard or prevent this corrosion are among the most urgent problems of the oil and gas industry. Although much progress has been made in preventing the corrosion of metals, the need for reducing the damage from corrosion in oil and gas fields is still imperative. This is especially true of underground corrosion in the wells, because underground conditions favor corrosion and are difficult to study; hence they have not been thoroughly understood. In efforts to stop ~amage to oil and gas field equipment by corrosion, numerous methods have been proposed or tried with varying success. Some of these methods are cheap and effective. However, it is surprising that in many important fields the damage by corrosion is accepted as necessary or unavoidable, although cheap and effective methods that have been developed and successfully tried elsewhere might greatly reduce the trouble or eliminate it. This bulletin describes common causes and effects of oil and gas field corrosion and outlines methods of abating the damage. In order to accomplish this purpose best, the writer has avoided taking sides in controversies between the advocates of different metals for oil-field use; instead he describes the methods of combating corrosion in the various fields and suggests experiments that may yield valuable results. Throughout the paper he has freely used information from published reports of other investigators.

Jan 1, 1925

Aluminum Production. -By October 1, Aluminum Company of America will restart a 35,000-ton-per-year unit at its aluminum smelter at Rockdale, Tex., restoring that facility to its full capacity of 325,000 tons annually. Primary Ingot Price Increase. -Most U.S. aluminum producers in mid-September were quoting a price of 72 cents per pound for primary aluminum ingot. On September 19, Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. announced that it would increase the price of primary aluminum ingot 4 cents to 76 cents per pound.

Jan 1, 1980

By Charles W. Merrill

AN ADEQUATE, dependable, and continuing supply of raw materials is indispensable to tile the United States and its industries in meeting the needs of an expanding Population, a rising standard of living, and the national security. The primary responsibility for appraising the status of the country's mineral supply and for making appropriate recommendations within the executive branch and to the Congress has been pinned in the U.S. Department of the Interior. In fulfilling its role of governmental responsibility for raw-material supplies and their efficient utilization, the Bureau of Mines has analyzed the factors in current and future mineral supplies and demands and has developed 87 statements for specific commodities that assess the national position and problems for these metals, minerals, and mineral fuels. These statements, which constitute the chapters of this volume, are based on lire assumption that nearly till production and consumption of materials in the United States are to be by private individuals and organizations, in accordance with the Nation's devotion to a private-enterprise economy.

Jan 1, 1960

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Jan 1, 1985

The objective of this handbook is to provide the inspector with guidance for recognizing hazards from inhalation contaminants in above ground work areas of underground and surface metal and nonmetal mining and processing facilities and evaluating these hazards by collecting samples or making field determinations and interpreting the analytical results. Portions of the handbook that should prove most useful to the inspectors include a survey check list, rules for determining if sampling is required, list of most frequently encountered contaminants, list of candidate contaminants and their sampling conditions, interpretation of results, and a procedure for a health and safety inspection.

Jan 1, 2011

By Hazel B. Comstock

[This material survey on magnesium and magnesium compounds is one of a series of Bureau of Mines publications designed to serve the needs of Government and industry for comprehensive, up-to-date information on mineral commodities and activities Magnesium, the world&apos;s lightest structural metal has become a most useful material in airborne and space vehicles, automotive equipment, machine tools, and consumer products. Use of magnesium on in basic refractories for iron and steel furnaces has expanded as the production of iron and steel has increased. Progress in converting steel furnaces to the use of oxygen has further increased the use of magnesium and magnesite brick.]

Jan 1, 1963

By Hazel B. Comstock

This materials survey on magnesium and magnesium compounds is one of a series of Bureau of Mines publications designed to serve the needs of Government and industry for comprehensive, up-to-data information on mineral commodities and activities. Magnesium, the world&apos;s lightest structural metal, has become a most useful material in airborne and spare vehicles, automotive equipment, machine tools, and consumer products. Use of magnesium ores in basic refractories for iron and steel furnaces has expanded as the production of iron and steel has increased, Progress in converting steel fun cares to the use of oxygen has further increased the use of magnesia and magnesite brick.

Jan 1, 1963

By W. E. Foreman

A mathematical model was developed to assess the costs for reclamation of surface mining using the shovel overcasting operation, the front end loader operation, and a backfilling operation. A literature review was made of the present laws in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia pertaining to surface mining and of the various parameters that influence the input data for a mathematical model. It was determined that the working mathematical model would have to be applied on an area to area basis, preferably on a permit by permit basis in the area where surface mining was being done. To this end, a flexible model was developed with input data obtained from the area of study. The results of the study show that the cost per ton of coal for reclamation can be estimated for various reclamation levels. Validation of the model was done for selected permits from Virginia. It was determined that the permits could easily be used for input data to the model.

Jan 1, 1974

By Charles W. Merrill

The U .S. Treasury stocks of silver have been reduced at such a rapid rate to meet industrial and coinage requirements that they face exhaustion in 3 or 4 years. Alleviation of the silver problem will require increasing supply or reducing demand. This paper examines possible long-range resource development and research programs and improved secondary recovery. The possible reduction or elimination of silver in coinage and development and introduction of substitutes in the arts and industry are also discussed.

Jan 1, 1965

By Charles W. Merrill

The U.S. Treasury stocks of silver have been reduced at such a rapid rate to meet industrial and coinage requirements that they face exhaustion in 3 or 4 years. Alleviation of the silver problem will require increasing supply or reducing demand. This paper examines possible long-range resource development and research programs and improved secondary recovery. The possible reduction or elimination of silver in coinage and development and introduction of substitutes in the arts and industry are also discussed.

Jan 1, 1965

On November 9, the Reynolds Metals Company cut production by 12 at its primary aluminum smelters at Troutdale, Oreg., and Longview, Wash., as a result of an earlier 25% power cutback by the Bonneville Power Administration due to lower than normal stream flow in September, the Aluminum Company of America had closed one potline at its Vancouver smelter because of the power cutback. Nearly 700 union workers at Anaconda Aluminum Company&apos;s primary aluminum smelter at Sebree, Ky., walked off the job when their contract expired or, November 15, after rejecting a proposed 3-year contract. The smelter has an annual capacity of 180,000 tons mid accounts for 50% of Anaconda&apos;s aluminum production. No talks are scheduled.

Jan 1, 1979

The revised estimate of coal production in January 1977, is 39 million tons -- down 12 mi 11 ion tons compared with production in January of last year, largely as a consequence of the snow storms and cold. The major coal-hauling railroads operating in Eastern and Midwestern States reported to the Bureau of Mines that they loaded approximately the same number of cars for the week ended February 5, as in the preceding week. The Bureau of Mines estimates that U.S. coal production for the week ending February 5, 1977, was approximately 8.5 million tons, or nearly 3.5 million tons less than production for the corresponding week in 1976. Coal production from January 1 - February 5, 1977, was approximately 47.8 mi 11 ion tons compared with production of 63.5 million tons for the corresponding period in 1976. As of the first week in February, river and truck shipments of coal in the Eastern U.S. were about one-half of the normal traffic. Despite the freezing weather and ice and snow conditions of rivers and highways and reduced rail shipments, there was reportedly little or no shortage in coal supply to consumers. Inventories at electric utility plants and steel company coke plants at the beginning of the severe weather were sufficient in most cases for at least 30 days" operations. There have been no reports of coal shortages at other industrial plants.

Jan 1, 1977

A unity of viewpoint emerged from the workshop. The concept that transmission is via characteristic modes was a common theme in many of the presentations. Also, the confusion an the meaning of monofilar and bifilar to describe these dominant modes was cleared up. But, there was still a healthy divergence of opinion on what constitutes an optimum system. It was generally agreed that further analytical and experimental work is definitely needed. In particular, it was stressed that independent measurements of the constitutive properties of the electromagnetic environment are needed. Also, there was considerable concern that laboratory measurements of rock samples could lead to misleading results for the effective conductivities. Also, there was a general recognition that over simplified propagation theory should not be used to interpret field data. From a theoratical and practical point of view, it was realized that mode coupling plays a vital role in the transmission channel. One must not only understand which and how many propagation modes are excited by the transmitting antenna, but the conversion of energy from one mode type to another must be accounted for. This conversion can either be done intentionally (by fixed mode convertors) or non intentionally (by random wall roughness). In fact, mode conversion can be quite complicated when various propagation paths exist such as when insulated cables, leaky feeders, grounded rails, coal seams, etc. all convey portions of the electromagnetic energy. However, this state of affairs should be regared as an. opportunity for extended communication coverage in mines rather than a limitation of a desig. procedure based on preconceived notions of the dominant propagation mechanism.

Jan 1, 1978

By Russell R. McLellan

The Tertiary channel gravel deposits in northern California were selected Or detailed investigation by the U. S. Bureau of Mines as part of a national program to locate potential sources of gold that might be developed rapidly by large-scale mining operations. Five bureau research centers representing mining and metallurgy subsystems coordinated their efforts in a team operation to identify and investigate possible solutions to the problem area, that long have discouraged the resumption of large-scale mining in the deposits. This report summarizes the individual investigations, conclusions and recommendations conducted and prepared by all mining subsystems research groups after the completion of two years of field work at the deposits on San Juan Ridge in Nevada County, California. The studies indicate that modern mining technology can cope with the environmental problems that closed the immense hydraulic mines in 1,884. however, they also indicate that mining can be conducted with only marginal profits its unless the price of gold remains substantially above $70 per ounce or unless sufficient by-products can be recovered and sold to place the average value per cubic yard of gravel into a positive commercial range. The by-product potential of the Tertiary gravels remains to be investigated in more detail.

Jan 1, 2012

The Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) announced that the second unit at its experimental facility at Palestine, Tex. would begin production -in 1979, increasing the capacity of the facility to 30,000 tons per year. The plant uses an experimental process based on the electrolysis of aluminum chloride and reportedly uses 4 to 5 kilowatt hours per pound of aluminum produced, compared to an industry average of about 7 to 8 kilowatt hours per pound. Alcoa has reportedly signed a letter of intent with the Chinese government under which Alcoa will conduct feasibility studies on two new integrated aluminum projects and modernization of an existing aluminum plant. If the study results are favorable, Alcoa Engineers Inc. and the Import and Export Company of the Chinese Ministry of Metallurgical Industry could negotiate agreements to provide Alcoa technology and services for the projects.

Jan 1, 1979