Search Documents

The objective of this research was to evaluate the technical and economic constraints on the extraction and utilization of anthracite coal and to determine the research and development needed in order to make anthracite coal more fully utilized as a premium energy resource. In the report the contractor examines in detail the anthracite industry both past and present and evaluates market possibilities. Anthracite reserves and resources are analyzed and tabulated, and the problem of pumping and drainage from the flooded anthracite fields is covered. Current technology is considered in detail with a discussion of production techniques with potential for improvement. The contractor concludes the report with a summary of constraints on the anthracite industry and the contractor's recommendations for effecting a revitalization of that industry. An estimated production of 17 million tons annually by 1990 can be anticipated if adequate planning, research, and development to overcome present constraints are initiated in the near future.

Jan 1, 1975

By K. C. Dean

Discarded automobiles represent the greatest single resource of reusable metals, plastics, and rubber in the United States. This report presents results of Bureau of Mines research, conducted from 1965 to 1983, on separating and recovering useful materials from the scrapped hulks, using old and new metallurgical techniques combined with standard scrapyard methods. The Bureau determined the materials composition of three composite cars designated as circa 1960, mid-1970's, and early 1980's, and used these cars to study smokeless incineration and hand-sorting techniques. In studies on treating rejects from automobile shredders, the Bureau designed a process that included air classification, water elutriation, magnetic separation, handpicking, and heavy-medium separation, and also investigated cryogenics and liquation. Complete recovery of cop-per and other metals was economically made by hand and tool dismantling, leaching, or selective melting of starters and generators. Techniques are also discussed for plastic recovery and waste tire treatment.

Jan 1, 1985

1. Domestic Production and Use: In 1984, 12 companies operated 27 primary aluminum reduction plants, with 3 firms accounting for 57% of production. Washington, Oregon, and Montana accounted for 35% of the production; Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee 25%; Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, South Carolina, and North Carolina 20%; other States 20%. Based on published producer prices, output of primary metal in 1984 was valued at $7.2 billion. Aluminum consumption by 25,000 firms was centered in the east-central United States. Packaging accounted for an estimated 35% of domestic consumption in 1984, transportation, 20%; building, 18%; electrical, 9%; consumer durables, 8%; and other uses, 10%.

Jan 1, 1985

By H. T. Rall

This report summarizes a systematic 20-year study of the organic sulfur compounds in Wasson, Texas, crude oil and, to a lesser extent, of three other crude oils, that has culminated in some 200 individual sulfur-compound identifications. The development and application of special separation and identification techniques generally suitable for the characterization of sulfur compounds in any crude oil are discussed. This report reviews early sulfur literature covering petroleum sulfur compound identifications completed before this study was begun, and cites 58 papers resulting from this work. The sulfur compounds in petroleum, both as to type and quantity, have long been of concern to the petroleum industry, and such compositional data are not only of theoretical interest, but also of practical value.

Jan 1, 1972

By Robert C. Merritt

Laboratory amenability studies as well as a pilot heap-leaching investigation of low-grade sandstone uranium ores from Wyoming, New Mexico, and Colorado are described. Sulfuric acid heap leaching with oxidation, for 120 days, extracted up to 98 percent, 90 percent, and 79 percent U308 from Wyoming, New Mexico, and Colorado ores, respectively.

Jan 1, 1976

By Bruce F. Grant

"INTRODUCTION The future of oil production in the part of the Appalachian region included in southwestern Pennsylvania; West Virginia, and southeastern Ohio is directly dependent on the maintenance of existing wells. This report presents an analytical study of the methods used in oil-well reconditioning in this area. The study is part of a research program designed to evaluate those means of stimulating oil production that can effectively and economically maintain present oil-production rates and make it possible to keep existing wells in operation. Well-reconditioning work was curtailed during the war; therefore, an abnormally large number of wells in the Appalachian Region is now in need of repair. Because the lubricant content of Appalachian crude: oils is high and the refined lubricating oils an; particularly suited to use in high speed, high-temperature engines, the demand for these crude oils during the war exceeds, the maximum rate of production obtainable under wartime operating conditions. Increases in operating, expenses, inability to meet war-time reconditioning costs, and inflexible price structures caused the abandonment of an alarming number of wells during the past 4 or 5 years.As a means of increasing regional oil-production rates, new drilling in the older fields for primary production generally is uneconomical because reservoir pressures in most of the fields have virtually been depleted and the production rates of newly drilled wells are small."

Feb 1, 1948

By George S. Rice

"The emission of hydrocarbon gases from coal beds and contiguous strata causes many accidents in coal—mine workings, the number of fatalities so caused being second only to those due to falls of roof. Gases tend to increase in amount with depth of coal mining, hence the danger of explosion is increased with depth. The pressure of the gas in virgin—coal areas at a distance from mine workings likewise tends to increase with depth from the surface, probably due to corresponding increase in hydraulic head and possibly, when the gas is held in nonporous formations, to greater ground pressure. The rise in gas pressure with depth under usual conditions is shown in wells drilled from the surface and in some coal fields in drill holes into the face of workings; however, under normal conditions of coal formation gas does not issue into workings under high pressure because the coal and adjacent strata have many bedding and joint planes which allow the gas to escape freely at the face of the workings. The rare occurrence of instantaneous outbursts of gas, with violent effects referred to later, constitute the exception.Variations of volume and pressure of fire-damp or methane found in different coal beds by wells at a distance from mine workings, are analogous to variations in volume and pressure of natural gas found in different gas and oil sands, although in general the pressure tends to increase with the depth. Sometimes, however, in tight sands higher in the formation the pressure of gas therein is abnormally high, and on drilling the well deeper gas in the lower strata may be found at lower pressure."

Jun 1, 1934

In 1970, the U. S. Bureau of Mines contracted with Theodore Barry and Associates, a management consulting firm, to perform a one-year industrial engineering study of working-face hazards in underground bituminous coal mines. The field data was accumulated from industrial engineering observations in fifty underground mines. Supporting data for the analysis was derived primarily from the Bureau's fatal accident reports for the years 1966 through 1970. This report, Industrial Engineering Study of Hazards Associated with Underground Coal Mine Production, consists of three main parts: 1) The Fatal Accident Reports Analysis, 2) The Industrial Engineering Analysis, and 3) Multiflow Process Charts and Standard Time Data. The Fatal Accident Reports Analysis (Volume I, Section II) is based upon individual USBM fatal accident reports for 1966-1970. These were read, coded and computerized in terms of 84 significant variables. Cross-tabulations of these variables have been used to identify major underground hazards and to quantify significant causal factors. A very strong relationship was found to exist between fatal accident occurrences and low task experience. This led to a recommendation for formalized training, certification and supervision programs for miners. Victim compliance with federal regulations, mine regulations and supervisor instructions was analyzed, indicating that supervisors provide the most crucial communication link to workers. Thus, every attempt should be made to ensure the competence of immediate supervisors in the industry. Analysis of roof fall variables revealed a fatal propensity on the part of the miners to work under unsupported roof or under support conditions that are marginal. The technical approach to the problem is to make it physically impossible for a miner to work under these conditions; the behavioral approach is to ensure adequate training and develop proper safety attitudes among the miners. The Fatal Accident Reports Analysis revealed a need for normalizing data to interpret the results more accurately.

Jan 1, 1971

This report presents the results of a study for the Bureau of Mines to compare loan terms for non-fuel mineral projects in developing countries, from various International Financial Institutions (IFIs), and from private sector commercial sources. The study compares IFI and commercial loan terms for seven mineral projects in developing countries. The International Financial Institutions represented are: ? International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) ? International Finance Corporation (IFC) ? Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) ? Asian Development Bank (ADB) ? International Monetary Fund (IMF) In addition, the costs of financing for these mineral projects were compared with the costs of long-term debt to the five largest U.S. mineral producers.

Jan 1, 1986

By Joseph L. Jordan

Coal is essential to America?s future energy needs. To meet these needs mining methods must be safe, economical, and environmentally acceptable. Belt conveyor systems for coal haulage from surface mines offer great potential in this situation. The advantages over conventional truck haulage are particularly promising for area strip mines in western coal fields such as the Powder River Basin where relatively thick, flat-lying coal seams occur. The current demand for low-sulfur coal specifically emphasizes the need for better mining methods in these areas. Underspoil haulage is the term applied to transportation of coal from the pit to the surfate in area strip coal mines by belt conveyors in tunnels under the spoil. The advantages over trucks include lower manpower requirements, greater pit safety and efficiency, and improved reclamation procedure. This evaluation includes a comparison of total mining costs for truck haulage versus six variations of the underspoil haulage concept. The more efficient of these underspoil haulage systems have economic advantages over truck haulage which become more pronounced with deeper overburden, thicker coal, and higher annual production.

Jan 1, 1977

By Heber E. Peterson, Sill. Claude W.

"INTRODUCTION In the usual volumetric determination of uranium, the solution containing uranium is reduced in a Jones reductor, yielding a mixture of trivalent and tetravalent uranium; the trivalent uranium is oxidized to the tetravalent state by bubbling a stream of air through the solution. The resulting solution of tetravalent uranium is titrated with a standard oxidant, generally sulfatoceric acid, dichromate, or permanganate. It seemed likely that the same general procedure could be used in determining semimicro quantities pf uranium if the conditions affecting the variables involved were understood more clearly than at present. In the method described below, the use of ferric sulfate to oxidize tetravalent uranium allows the titration to be made at room temperature in an essentially colorless solution with sulfatoceric acid. The latter oxidant in turn permits the use of the very stable indicator, ferroin; with its sharp color change and exactly reproducible blanks.Solutions of uranyl sulfate were prepared by diluting a stock solution that had been standardized gravimetrically according to the method of Lundell and Knowles (8).3/ Solutions of sulfatoceric acid were prepared according to the directions of G. F. Smith (12) and were standardized against arsenic trioxide in the presence of osmic acid according to the directions of Glen (5). The cerium solutions were stored in 18-liter carboys fitted with siphon arrangements so that the bottles did not need to be opened and protected from light in a dark cupboard. Under these conditions, even the 0.01 N solution changed by less than 1 part per thousand over a period of about 6 months."

Jun 1, 1952

By Charles Fried

The Coal Mine Health and Safety Act passed by Congress in 1969, called for research to alleviate the occupational stresses and hazards of coal miners. Spurred by a series of recent mine disasters the Congress directed the Bureau of Mines to increase its attention to the welfare of miners and to develop better working conditions and personal equipment for use in the mines. As one of the early steps in carrying out the provisions of the Act, the Bureau of Mines commissioned the Behavioral Sciences Group at the National Bureau of Standards to conduct a survey of the state of the art in ergonomics (human factors) as it has been applied to mining.

Jan 1, 1972

By J. Bootle

Marrow vein deposits will continue to be an important source of valuable minerals. Productivity per manshift is not keeping pace with operating costs. Increased mechanization of stoping operations must be obtained to create greater productivity at a reduced cost per ton. This application of mechanization may be to either present methods or to newly developed concepts. The total mine unit operations will be effected by increased productivity. Two approaches to increasing the mechanization of narrow vein stoping were studied with the intention of increasing stope productivity and decreasing stoping costs. A method of bringing efficient rubber-tired equipment into narrow cut and fill stopes was designed. It proposes to provide stope access by way of a ramp constructed on the stope fill. Impact breaking equipment was studied and specific applications proposed.

Jan 1, 1977

Wildcat strikes in the Appalachian coal fields, primarily in West Virginia, have resulted in an estimated 4.5 million ton loss in coal production during July and through the first week in August. Since then, the strike intensified further, and on August 9, nearly all of West Virginia's 60,000 miners were off the job with another 10,000 miners on strike in eastern Kentucky. The Bureau of Mines estimates that West Virginia's coal output is currently (8/9) eight million tons below last year when the state produced 108 million tons. West Virginia, the Nation's second largest coal producer of coal behind Kentucky, has not failed to mine over 100 million tons a year since 1938. At the end of the second week in August, nearly all coal miners in West Virginia remained out. The strike is a protest against a cutback in union health and retirement benefits. An announcement June 23 about the United Mine Worker's health and retirement fund precipitated the strike, Fund directors said that because of inflation and production losses caused by earlier wildcat strikes and the severe winter, miners would have to pay the first $250 of hospital costs and 40 percent of doctor bills, up to $500 a year. Previously, the funds paid all hospital and doctor bills. According to the West Virginia Coal Association each day of the strike in West Virginia results in a loss of coal production of 500,000 tons, a loss of $3.8 million in miners wages and $1 million in contributions to the UMWA's health and retirement fund.

Jan 1, 1977

The Bureau of Mines, through its Minerals Availability Program (MAP), investigates the mineral supply potential of the United States and market economy countries (MEC's) for a number of minerals considered essential to the U.S. industrial base. Major activities include identification of important mines and mineral deposits, estimation of their mineral resources and production costs, and availability and sensitivity analyses. Products include data print-outs of geological and engineering information, discounted- cash-flow rate of return (DCFROR) analyses of individual mining operations, commodity availability appraisals, and analytic services to Government agencies. These products are used in assessing the mineral supply position of the United States: in setting priorities for research aimed at reducing production costs and minimizing adverse environ- mental impacts and regulatory compliance costs of mining and mineral processing operations; and in formulating and evaluating Government policies that affect minerals. Bureau MAP data and analyses have been provided to the executive and legislative branches to aid in consideration of trade, tax, and stockpile policy issues. A study of the economic potential of selected seabed mineral resources supports the regulatory responsibilities of the Department of the Interior in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. Analytic studies of mineral project viability, industry competitiveness, and import dependencies were also undertaken for, or in cooperation with, U.S. and foreign government agencies, industry and trade organizations, and international lending institutions.

Jan 1, 1987

By Lester G. Morrell

AGAIN in 1963, as in nearly every year since 1946, the Canadian mineral industry has established a new national record in value of mineral production. The 1963 estimated total value of $2,976 million is 5 percent higher than the 1962 value of $2,845 million.2 As in previous years, metals made up more than half the value of total production. For selected years since 1949 the category percentages and total value are as follows: [ ] Crude petroleum, Canada's most valuable mineral product, accounted for 21 percent of the total value of minerals in 1963. In descending order came nickel 12 percent, iron ore 10 percent, copper 10 percent, gold 5 percent, and uranium 5 percent. Asbestos accounted for 5 percent, sand and gravel 4 percent, and cement 4 percent. The complete list of Canada's mineral products includes more than 50 basic commodities.

Jan 1, 1964

On July 1, the Bonneville Power Administration announced a 25% power cutback because of lower than normal stream flow. In September, the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) announced plans to shut down one 23,000-ton-per-year potline at its Vancouver, Wash., primary aluminum smelter. Alcoa also announced that the last of four potlines at its Point Comfort, Tex., primary aluminum smelter would be restarted in October. A new 3-year contract was signed and workers at three Alcan Aluminum Ltd. primary aluminum smelters in Canada returned to work. It was estimated that it would take about 3 months before the smelters were operating at full capacity.

Jan 1, 1979

By David S. Yantek

Miners in underground coal mines experience prolonged exposure to high noise levels, often with A-weighted sound levels in excess of 90 dB. Field tests have shown that the continuous miner conveyor is a dominant noise source. This paper will identify the most significant noise-radiating surfaces on the continuous miner tail section using vibration levels and surface areas to estimate the sound power levels of each surface. In addition, using five test cases, this study will examine the effects of three engineering noise controls on the surface-averaged vibration levels and average sound levels measured with four microphones located two meters from the tail section. The noise-radiating surfaces of the conveyor’s tail section include the top and bottom decks, the sideboards, and the flex plates. Emphasis is placed on the changes in the estimated sound power levels in the 500 – 2500 Hz 1/3-octave bands since this frequency range accounts for 80-85% of the sound energy near the tail section. The results show that the bottom deck is the most significant noise radiator for the untreated miner. Installing a coated bottom deck reduces the estimated sound power level radiated from the bottom deck by 11 dB and the average sound level by 2 dB. Using a coated tail roller results in reductions of the estimated sound power levels for individual components from 1 to 4 dBand reduces the average sound level by 2 dB. Coating the slide plate has little effect on both the estimated radiated sound power levels and the average sound level. The test results indicate that modifications that reduce flex plate vibration and reduce energy transfer from the tail roller into the tail section will be effective in reducing noise when combined with a coated tail roller and coated return deck.

By H. H. Schrenk

The purpose of respiratory protective equipment is to prevent the inhalation of harmful or objectionable atmospheres. Although constituents or contaminants that may render an atmosphere irrespirable or objectionable are numerous, they may be classified broadly as follows: I. Gaseous substance: n. A. Toxic. B. Inert (oxygen deficiency). II. Particulate matter (dispersoids). A. Solid. a. Dust (formed by disintegration). b. Pure (formed by condensation). B. Liquid. a. Mist (formed by disintegration). b. Fog (former by condensation).

Jan 1, 1940

By Stephan Stecura

Crystallographic modifications and kinetics of solid-state phase trans-formations were determined for five rare-earth" sesquioxides--La2O3, Nd2O3, Sm2O3, Eu2O3, and Gd2O3. Oxides used for crystal modification studies were prepared by thermal decomposition of the following high-purity salts of the five rare-earth elements--carbonates, chlorides, fluorides, nitrates, oxalates, and sulfates. X-ray diffraction patterns of the cubic and hexagonal oxides were indexed by a graphical method and patterns of the monoclinic oxides by Ito's method. The kinetics of crystallographic transformation were determined by high-temperature X-ray diffractometry. The kinetic data were interpreted using a shrinking sphere model. All of the transformations followed first order kinetics. Activation energies were calculated by application of the Arrhenius equation. These solid-state phase inversions were concluded to occur by a reconstructive transformation mechanism.

Jan 1, 1965