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By R. V. Ramani, R. Stefanko, G. W. Luxbacher

Ahmed, M.,• "Development of an Integrated Control System for Mine Ventila¬tion and Firedamp Drainage," Mining Engineer, Vol. 127, No. 91, April, 1968, pp. 382-392. Andrews, J. W., "U. S. Mine Ventilation Standards," Paper presented at the International Mine Ventilation Congress, Sept., 1975. Boyle, J. A., and Conn, 0. S., "The Control of Mine Ventilation Utilizing Multiple Main Fans," Paper presented at the Seventy-second Annual CMIA Meeting, Pittsburgh, December 1958. Collinson, P. L., and Vance, W. E., "Mine Ventilation Planning," The Mining Engineer, Volume 121, No. 14, 1961, pp. 141-156. Committee on Industrial Ventilation, Industrial Ventilation, 12th Edition, 1972. Grever, R. E., "Automatic Monitoring of Ventilation Conditions in European Coal Mines," Symposium on Engineering Systems Design for Mine Safety, Michigan Technological University, August 1973. Hall, C. J., Airflow in Mines - Thermodynamic and Motive Column Analyses, The Book Concern, Printers, Inc., Hancock, Mich., 1967, 263 pages. Hargraves, A. J., "Planning and Operation of Gaseous Mines," Canadian Mining and Metallurgical Bulletin, Vol. 66, No. 731, March 1973, pp. 119-128. Harris, E. J., "The Fluid Network Analyzer as an Aid in Solving Mine Ventilation Distribution Problems," SME-AIME Transactions, Vol. 228, 1963, pp. 391-395 Higgins, J., and Shuttleworth, S. E. H., "A Tracer Gas Technique for the Measurement of Airflow in Headings," Colliery Engineering, November 1958, Vol. 35, pp. 483-487. Kaiser, K. M., and Bhowmick, B. C., "Recent Developments in Mine Ventila¬tion Instrumentation," Journal of Mines, Metals & Fuels (INDIA), June 1974, pp. 155-162. Kalasky, J. D., and Krickovic, S., "Ventilation of Pillared Areas by Bleeder Entries, Bleeder Systems, or Equivalent Means," Trans¬actions AIME, Volume 254, December 1973, pp. 284-291. Mahajan, J. K., "Ventilation Planning for a Deep Metal Mine," Min. Geol. Met. Inst. India, Volume 69, 1972, pp. 31-38.

Jan 1, 1977

By David A. Monaghan, Kenneth R. Maser, Adi R. Gurdar, D. Randolph Berry

SUMMARY The objective of this program was to develop a system to extinguish coal mine fires by remote sealing of the underground passageways. The system developed had to be versatile enough to function under a wide range of operating conditions, including large variations in passageway geometry, depth of mine, water conditions, both in the mine and at the surface, and rubble in the mine passage. The system developed had to include instrumentation for the remote probing of the passageway prior to sealing, a system for sealing the mine passages, and instrumentation for remote monitoring of the quality of the seal during and after construction. These objectives were successfully achieved during this program. The remote mine sealing capability of the system was satisfactc rely demonstrated in a field test conducted at the Eastern Associated Coal Corporation Federal No. 1 Mine in Grant Town, West Virginia. The remote sealing consists of: (1) A sonar initial probing system which can operate satisfactorily even in the presence of dense smoke. The system is capable of determining both the local passageway geometry, identifying the presence of cribs and other obstructions, and the position of the borehole in the mine passage. (2) A mine sealing material system which utilizes fly ash for making the complete seal or as a bulk filler in conjunction with a urethane, froth foam, seal topping system. The choice of using fly ash alone or fly ash with foam topping depends on a number of factors, such as quality of seal desired, time available per seal, depth of borehole, passageway geometry, and water holding require¬ment. The fly ash-foam seal is a better seal, capable of sealing against a higher water head than fly ash alone. The fly ash sealing

Jan 1, 1973

By Leon E. Esparza

The Bureau of Mines studied 780 acres of the 24,130-acre Sheldon Contiguous Wilderness Study Area (CA-020-1012) in 1985. The study was done at the request of the Bureau of Land Management and authorized under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (Public Law 94-579, October 21, 1 976) in order to evaluate the mineral resources. The study area is located in Washoe County, NV, about 35 miles northeast of Cedarville, CA. A search of county courthouse records and an examination by foot traverses through and adjacent to the study area did not reveal evidence of any mining or mining exploration activity past or present. In addition, evidence of any form of rock alteration was not observed. Evidence of mineral resources is not apparent. Although basalt, the only rock-type present in the study area, can have some limited industrial applications, sources closer to potential markets probably would preclude rock from this area being economically competitive. INTRODUCTION This report describes the USBM (U.S. Bureau of Mines) portion of a cooperative study with the USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) to evaluate mineral resources and potential of the Sheldon Contiguous study area at the request of the BLM (U.S. Bureau of Land Management). The USBM examines individual mines, prospects, claims, and mineralized zones, and evaluates identified mineral and energy resources. The USGS evaluates potential for undiscovered resources based on areal geological, geochemical, and geophysical surveys. Results of the investigations will be used to help determine the suitability of the study area for inclusion into the National Wilderness Preservation System. Although the immediate goal of this and other USBM mineral surveys ;s to provide data for President, Congress, government agencies, and the public for land-use decisions, the long-term objective is to ensure the Nation has an adequate and dependable supply of minerals at a reasonable cost.

Jan 1, 1986

By Vijia K. Karra

Making sure workers within the aggregates industry go home safely each day is the goal of aggregate companies throughout the United States. At the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) researchers are contributing to NIOSH’s vision of safety and health through a fact-finding approach to reducing injuries/illnesses in various mineral sectors. Surveillance data from the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has been the primary source for such analyses. It helps to focus research efforts on key machinery, workers, and their tasks. The crushed stone category referred to in this article is represented as crushed and broken stone in the MSHA database.

By Alfred E. Schwaneke

The surface tension from 240° to 844° C and the density from 236° to 583° C of 99.999 percent purity liquid tin has been measured using the maximum-bubble-pressure method. Results for surface tension (y) show y (dynes/em) = 566.84 -4.76 X 10-2 T (° C) with a standard error of 1.9 dynes/cm. Results for density (p) show p (g/cm3) = 7.16 -6.3 X 10-4 T (° C) with a standard error of 0.012 g/cm3. Comparisons with other data found in the literature are discussed. The experimental results are considered to be as good as any data presently available.

Jan 1, 1970

By Charles L. Kimbell

The series summarizing the prices of the major nonferrous metals on the stock exchanges of the United States and the United Kingdom has been continued this year in tables 23 and 24. Time constraints have prohibited preparation of other price information that has appeared in this study in previous years. Users are urged to consult the 1993 USBM publication Metal Prices in the United States through 1991, which gives an analysis of historical price series and trends, or the 1993 edition of Mineral Commodity Summaries for current U.S. prices on non fuel commodities, and to utilize U.S. Department of Energy sources for information on fuel material costs.

Jan 1, 1993

By Brian Kenner, Peter Swanson, Todd Krahenbuhl

NIOSH has developed an automated PC-based seismic event (induced earthquake) monitoring system for use in mine ground control studies. The distribution and coordination of data acquisition and processing functions across a local area network is a central feature of the system. Mine-wide installations utilize multiple, autonomous seismic networks located both underground and on the surface. Seismic event locations, magnitude estimates, and other processed data are distributed for display and analysis on network nodes both underground and in the offices of mine engineers and managers. This paper describes the system’s design philosophy, hardware and software components, examples of installations, and a few observational results.

By A. R. Rule

Research was conducted by the Bureau of Mines to develop a process for utilization of Idaho kyanite. A continuous gravity-flotation separation process was applied successfully to recover kyanite-group minerals from an Idaho ore containing about 21 percent combined kyanite, andalusite, and sillimanite. Dry magnetic separation of the concentrate resulted in a product containing about 90 percent kyanite at a recovery of 63 percent of the kyanite-group minerals in the ore, Alumina and silica analyses were within the range generally accepted for conversion to mullite, and the finished products had a pyrometric cone equivalent of more than 38. A recovered garnet coproduct may be of commercial value.

Jan 1, 1973

By J. D. Hadden, Albert Sainato

The Bureau of Mines conducted drilling studies in the Pocahontas No. 3, the Pittsburgh, and a western coalbed to establish the gas migration characteristics for each. Gas pressures in the Pittsburgh coalbed were about 260 lb/in2 and in excess of 550 lb/in2 in the Pocahontas No. 3. Caving in drill holes prevented pressure measurements in the western coalbed. The Pittsburgh coalbed contained intersecting "clay veins" which formed gas pres- sure cells. Although these geological features hamper mining, they can be used to control the flow of methane into a mine working. Methane control techniques are proposed for the Pittsburgh and Pocahontas No. 3 coalbeds.

May 1, 1969

By R. E. Perry

In connection with a program of coal research at the Southern Experiment Station the Bureau of Mines, in cooperation with the University of Alabama and the various coal operators, conducts washability studies of coal from beds in Alabama and other Southern States in which commercially important deposits occur. One of the main objectives of a washability study is to obtain technically and commercially important data necessary for determining the best methods for preparing and utilizing the Nation's limited reserves of coking coal. Such information is important to conservation because it facilitates selection of preparation methods that will provide maximum yields of coal with low ash and sulfur contents.

Jan 1, 1958

By D. R. Babich, E. R. Bauer

US. National Institute for Occupational .Safety and Health (NIOSH) researchers are conducting a Cross-sectional survey of equipment noise and worker noise exposures in the mining industry. Surface and underground limestone is one commodity recently sun eyed. The sound levels of milling and processing equipment were recorded to identify noise sources. Full-shift worker noise exposures were completed to determine the exposure of various occupations. This article presents the results o f the noise research conducted in both underground and surface limestone manes, detailing the equipment likely to cause worker overexposures, and the occupations experiencing overexposures. Implications for worker noise exposure reduction are also reported.

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 Kenneth E. Hjelmstad

The U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) has developed an electromagnetic (EM) fire warning alarm sys-tem for underground mines. The system generates a magnetic field for through-the-earth signal trans-mission to microreceivers carried by individual miners. EM fields can induce electric currents in metallic conductors; if an EM transmitting antenna and an electric blasting cap array are too close, the field could induce a current in the blasting array and cause an unintentional initiation of the electric detonators. The USBM conducted tests that define the safe and unsafe regions for using electric detonators near the transmitting antenna of the warning alarm system. The minimum safe distance between a transmitting antenna and a blasting array is the distance where the induced electrical current in the blasting array is 50 mA, which is the safe current level specified in Federal mine safety regulations. Tests indicate that at transmitting power levels of 100-and 1,000-W, separation distances of 9 and 21 m, respectively, were required. These distances are small compared with the dimensions of a mine. Thus, the tests indicate that, with proper placement of the transmitting antenna, the warning system can be used safely in the proximity of blasting arrays.

Jan 1, 2010

By C. P. Lazzara, R. A. Franks, G. F. Friel, J. C. Edwards, J. J. Opferman

A fire detection research program conducted at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (PRL) recently demonstrated the advantage of multiple fire sensors for early fire detec¬tion and nuisance alarm discrimination in underground coal mines. As an example, research has shown that an appropriate combination of smoke, CO, and metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) sensors has the capa¬bility to detect a smoldering conveyor belt fire which produces low visibility due to smoke, but CO concentrations too low for an early fire alarm. Such a sensor combina¬tion has the additional advantage of being able to distinguish a nuisance alarm event such as those produced by diesel engines or acetylene torches from mine fire products¬-of-combustion (POC) produced by a real tire. Research has also shown that the problem of hydrogen (H2) gas cross-interference with chemical CO sensors at battery-charging operations in diesel-emissions backgrounds can be resolved with a smoke sensor and a MOS sensor sensitive to NOx associated with diesel emissions. Other underground conditions, such as rock dust, exacerbate the problems with sensors. NIOSH has developed a neural network that takes many of these variables into account as it assesses real-time sensor data to discriminate nuisance alarms.

By J. W. Thompson

CONVEYANCE OF COAL IN PLACES. Coal or other mineral in place may be granted and conveyed as land, separate and apart from that which underlies or overlies it. Board, etc., of Greene County v. Lattas Creek Coal Co., 100 Northeastern, 561 (Indiana), January, 1913. MINERALS SUBJECT OF GRANT. Coal, mineral, and stone under the surface of the earth are the subject of grant and exception, and when excepted in a deed become a separate and distinct inheritance. Gordon v. Million, 154 Southwestern, 99 (Missouri), February, 1913. CONVEYANCE BY ONE COTENANT. One cotenant of land can not make a valid conveyance as against his cotenants of the minerals therein and a right to the small timber on the surface necessary for mining purposes with easements and full rights of way over the premises by the construction of roads, tram- ways, or railroads for the purpose of extracting, storing, handling, and shipping the mineral products. Ball v. Clark, 150 Southwestern, 359 (Kentucky), November, 1912. CONTRACT OF SALE COVENANTS RUNNING WITH LAND. Where a deed was made pursuant to a contract for the sale of certain copper-mining property at an agreed price, and at the same time and as a part of the same transaction a written agreement was

Jan 1, 1913

By C. B. Manula, R. L. Sanford, R. A. Rivell

The large amount of computer code required for this simulation model dictates that reasonable limitations be placed on some of the input variables. The program permits the following maximum sizes: 1. Ten mine car stations 2. Twenty track intersections 3. Three hundred mine cars 4. Eight motors 5. One hundred profiles 6. Twelve intersections between stations 7. Forty-five profile changes between stations 8. Thirty station pairs (routes) These may be changed by the user providing the particular computer in use has available core storage. Major Array Descriptions This section is a detailed description of four of the major arrays used in the rail haulage simulator for data storage and logical control. Other arrays are used; however, they may be considered sub¬servative to the major ones. These major variables are explained on the following pages. Motor Control Array (XXXDEF). The first 99 locations in this array are arranged according to and are developed by data input. Unit conversions are made at input time which include: 1. Tons to pounds. 2. Rolling resistance in pounds/ton to percent/100. 3. Miles per hour per second (mphps) to feet per min. per minute. 4. Miles per hour to feet per minute. The following information is stored for each motor at the array

Jan 1, 1974

By C. Sunderman, J. Johnson, S. Signer

Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health have developed a miniature data acquisition system (MIDAS) that can measure resistance changes and temperature, store data for later retrieval, and illuminate LED lights. This instrument can be used with strain-gaged bolts, cable bolts, CSIRO stress-measuring gages, string pots, and any other instrument that uses single-ended, resistance-type gages. MIDAS has the capability to measure up to 16 gages at preset time intervals and store more than 2000 scans, yet is small enough to fit in a 35-mm hole. Because the MIDAS consumes little power, a 9-V alkaline battery will operate the system for 6 months. Data from the MIDAS can be sent to a PC via an RS232/RS485/IRdA port. A software program was written to set operation parameters, graph data, and store all information directly to a spreadsheet. Three LED lights change from green to yellow then red based on reading levels and/or rates of change. This feature can be used with different types of gages to warn miners of possible rock instabilities. The MIDAS has received MSHA experimental permissibility approval and is currently being tested at several mines.

By Robert C. Hickman

"INTRODUCTION The Cline mine has been worked intermittently for copper and gold since 1895. Scheelite has recently been detected with the aid of a ""Mineralite"" on the old waste dumps of the mine. Four diamond-drill holes were drilled by the Bureau of Mines from August 13 to September 25, 1946. Results of this drilling showed the vein to pinch at depth and to carry no mineralization of economic importance.ACKNOWLEDGMENTSIn its program of investigation of mineral deposits, the Bureau of Mines has as its primary objective the more effective utilization of our mineral resources to the end that they make the greatest possible contribution to national security and economy. It is the policy of the Bureau to publish the facts developed by each project as soon as practicable after its conclusion. The Mining Branch, Lowell B. Moon, chief, conducts preliminary examinations, does the actual investigation work, and prepares the final report. The Metallurgical Branch, Oliver C. Ralston, chief, analyzes samples and makes beneficiation tests.The project was under the general supervision of Mitchell H. Kline, chief, Raleigh Division, Mining Branch.Acknowledgment is due Dr. Jasper L. Stuckey, State geologist, for logging the drill core and to J. B. Zadra and associates, Metallurgical Branch, College Park, Md., for analytical determinations."

Feb 1, 1948

By David Hoadley, Kenneth R. Maser, Ashok B. Boghani, James E. Billar, D. Randolph Berry, Mackenzie Burnett, Robert H. Trent

A. 4 Illustrative Simulations The capabilities of the program are demonstrated by simulating various evacuation cases in different situations for a particular mine. The mine selected for the illustrative simulations is the mine I C' , as described in Section 2, chosen particularly because of availability of mine characteristic data and mine evacuation results for test drills. These evacuation results can be used to verify validity of the predictions made by the program A.4 1 Mine Characteristics A schematic diagram of the mine is shown in Figure 19. The figure shows all the major shafts, drifts, raises and stopes of the mine in the form of a network. There are four hoists, Hoist No. 1 and Hoist No. 2 are assumed to be single drum hoists and Hoists Nos. 3 and 4 form part of a double drum hoist, with Hoist No. 4 being the main hoist (master hoist) The positions of the 133 miners, typically working in a day shift of the mine, are also shown in the figure. The miners are identified by a miner number, and their total number on each level is chosen from the data on the fire drill simulated as Case No. 1 in the illustrative simulations.

Jan 1, 1976

By Suresh K. Bhatt, Dennis R. Dolinar

The roof bolt system of a mine, if properly selected and installed, can allow for better roof control and reduce the potential for roof falls. Because of this potential to reduce roof falls and improve ground control conditions, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has an interest in the types of roof bolts that are used by the coal industry. Further, NIOSH has conducted research into how various support parameters can affect the number of roof falls that occur, including support type. Today, the five main types of roof bolts installed in U.S. coal mines are mechanical anchor bolts, point-anchor or resin-assisted mechanical anchor bolts, torque-tension bolts, combination bolts, and fully grouted resin rebar. This paper describes each support in detail. Because of the importance of resin in the functioning of the majority of bolts installed, resin grouts are also discussed. Further, trends in the types of roof bolts used are reviewed. Over the last 10 years, the significant trend has been the large reduction in the relative number of mechanical anchor bolts that are installed. These bolts have been replaced mainly by the resin-grouted rebar system. Data are also presented to show the impact of these changes in bolting on the number of roof falls.

Jan 10, 2000