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By E. M. SEELEY, F. S. LOTT

The total capacity of the natural-gasoline industry to produce light hydrocarbon products increased to 21,322,000 gallons ( 507,670 barrels ) daily on January 1 , 1948 , from 17,928,000 gallons ( 426,860 barrels ) daily on January 1 , 1946. Expansion of the industry in the first two post -war years , 1946 end 1947 , thus averaged 9 percent annually , compared with 6 percent annually in the last two war years , 1944 and 1945 . The number of cycle plants increased only from 37 to 39 in the years 1946 and 1947 , and total capacity of these plants gained 21 percent to 5,857,000 gallons de ily on January 1 , 1948 , represent ing 27.5 percent of the total capacity of the industry , compared with 27.0 percent on January 1 , 1946. All other plants decreased in number in the two-year period from 589 to 510 on January 1 , 1948 , but their total daily capacity increased 18 percent to 15,465,000 gallons . The daily capacity of the average plant in the industry was enlarged from 28,600 gallons on January 1 , 1946 , to 38,800 gallons on January 1 , 1948 , continuing the long -established trend to producing units of greater size and efficiency . The average cycle plant capacity increased from 131,000 gallons daily to 150,200 gallons daily on the same dates as the average capacity of all other natural -gasoline plants increased from 22,200 gallons to 30,300 gallons . Owing to the elimination of small , obsolescent plants in Illinois , Oklahoma , and Pennsylvania , these States experienced the greatest reductions in numbers of plants in 1946 and 1947. In Oklahoma and Texas , several consolidations of two or more plants into a single operating unit were reported . Louisiana and Mississippi were the only States in which the number of plants increased , but daily capacity to produce light products was larger in eleven States on January 1 , 1948, than two years earlier . Added facilities in California and Texas accounted for 41 and 36 percent , respectively, of the national gain in capacity .

Sep 1, 1948

By Robert M. Becker

This investigation (in five parts) extends the theory of sample reliability from a sample consisting of a fixed number of items to a sample consisting of a fixed amount of items. Examples of a fixed amount of items per sample are samples consisting of a fixed weight or a fixed volume of unequal size particles. The extension of the theory is confirmed by experimental laboratory sampling using standard procedures. The probability distribution functions (the binomial, hypergeometric, multinomial, generalized hypergeometric, and those here called the compound binomial and compound multimomial functions) are developed from fundamentals. Their distributions are generalized to include some measured characteristic of the items. Infinite population moments are derived from moment-generating functions, and finite population moments are developed from corresponding infinite population moments using a newly defined mathematical operation. The first three experimental moments in laboratory sampling to given weights of particles are compared with the theoretical moments of their corresponding compound mult.inomial distributions. The agreement is striking. The study is divided into five parts. Part 1 deals with probability or random sampling to n items and with all sampling to n items per sample from some one probability distribution. This is the area of sampling covered by well-known theory. Accordingly, the procedures may be different but many of the results are well known.

Dec 1, 1964

By Robert M. Becker

Part 5, the last of this series, deals with the theoretical confirmation and application of results developed in parts 1 and 2. The bulk-sampling variances of Hassialis and Kassel and Guy are compared with those in part 2, both as to formulation and as applied to ores and coal. The results provide confirmation for much of the development in part 2. Examples are presented for determining the reliability of bulk samples with respect to various measurable characteristics. These characteristics include, for example, assays for elements or compounds and particle surface area. The bulk samples considered consist either of a given weight, a given volume, or a given number of particles. In addition to problems of sample reliability, some of these examples may also be applicable to quality control. Several possible applications of results developed in parts 1 and 2 are outlined. These include tests for random data, degree-of-mixing indices, and particle-fineness indices.

Jan 1, 1966

By George Watkin Evans

The United States Geological Survey has estimated 1 that the State of Washington contains 11,412,000,000 tons of bituminous coal and 52,442,000,000 tons of subbituminous coal, in beds more than 14 inches thick. As the present rate of production is about 4,000,000 tons a year, Washington apparently contains coal enough to supply Pacific coast markets for many years. The character of the coal beds of Washington renders the production of clean coal very difficult, and a considerable proportion of the output is washed before it is marketed. In 1915 Washington ranked fifth among the States in the amount of coal washed, though only twentieth in total output. In that year 37.9 per cent of the coal produced in the State was treated in surface cleaning plants.

Jan 1, 1924

By E. T. Bowers

Pneumatic conveying of coal underground is not widely used in the United States, although it is becoming increasingly popular in Great Britain, the Federal Republic of Germany, and South Africa. The question of safety has been raised repeatedly: Will the system be prone to dust or gas explosions, and, if so, can it withstand such occurrences safely? The work reported here was done under a Bureau of Mines contract and deals with the safety aspects of pneumatic transport of underground coal, as well as the hazards inherent in more conventional haulage systems. Included are three designs for different applications of pneumatic haulage: off-loading a continuous-mining machine on a room- and-pillar section, vertical hoisting through a 1,200-ft shaft, and off-loading a tunnel-boring machine driving a 2,000-ft tunnel.

Jan 1, 1985

By F. J. Perzak

The Bureau of Mines conducted a study to develop a standard fire test for 5-gal containers used for storing combustible fluids in underground coal mines. A standard test method was developed which evaluates the performance of the container in a 4-min tray fire. Bureau investigators used the standard test method to evaluate several types of closed 5-gal plastic and metal cans in outdoor tests. Each can tested contained 1 gal of nonfire-resistant (NFR) hydraulic oil. A container failed the test if it lost its contents in any of seven trials. Contents spilled either as a result of thermal rupture or melting. Fewer than 10 pct of the metal containers failed this criterion, but all the plastic containers failed. The metal container failures were usual-ly due to tipping over during pressure relief, which spilled the NFR oil. Replacing the NFR oil in the container with kerosene resulted in failure of more than 30 pct of the metal containers. The standard tests and preliminary tests showed that plastic containers are not equivalent to metal containers in their ability to contain combustibles such as lubricants and greases in a fire. For solvents and lubricants more volatile than NFR hydraulic oil, approved metal safety containers are recommended.

Jan 1, 1985

By R. D. Rosenkranz

The Bureau of Mines has investigated the availability of copper from 272 deposits in market economy countries. The deposits studied have demonstrated resources totaling 413 million metric tons of contained copper and account for more than 90 pct of the reserve base for market economy countries. Using data gathered as part of its Minerals Availability Program, the Bureau performed geologic, engineering, and economic evaluations in order to determine the copper production potential of each deposit. At the 1981 copper market price of $0.85/lb, the deposits studied could economically produce an estimated 88 million metric tons of copper (allowing for profit computed at a 15-pct rate of return), primarily from mines operating at the time of the study (1981). At this price, producing mines in market economy countries could economically produce only 2.1 million metric tons of refined copper per year. However, actual 1981 production was 6.2 million metric tons, indicating that many mines continued to operate even though they were unable to cover all production costs. For U.S. producing mines, the estimated average cost of production per pound (including profit at a 15-pct rate of return) was $0.15 higher than the average cost in other market economy countries.

Jan 1, 1983

By Leo A. Schrider

This report analyzes the successful low-pressure gas drive in the Keener sand of the Bonds Creek oilfield, Pleasants and Ritchie Counties, W. Va.) and predicts its future performance. Core analysis from two wells and electrical and radioactivity logs were used to evaluate the reservoir characteristics. Production records over a 37-year period indicate that over 240,000 barrels of oil have been produced from the Keener sand by low-pressure gas injection. Decline-curve analysis shows that 165,000 additional barrels should be recovered from 108 acres of productive sand by continuing this secondary-recovery method.

Jan 1, 1966

By Galen G. Waddell

Dilation and contraction of the rock surrounding horizontal access open-ings of a deep mine were analyzed during stope advance to determine what type of measurements, made with relatively inexpensive instrumentation, would best reflect the rock behavior. A variety of instruments, mostly mechanical extensometers, were used. Detailed descriptions are given of Down-the-hole extensometers, floating rockbolt clusters, transit surveys, and other instruments and measuring techniques. Although all of the radial-deformation-rate graphs illustrated useful rock behavior data, the most informative graphs were compiled from data procured with the radial extensometers that penetrated, to various depths, the rock around the access openings. An analysis is given of measurement data on the rock around lateral drifts and across and adjacent to the nearly vertical vein of the Star mine, Burke, Idaho. Several useful relationships were found between the rock deformation rate and the stoping process. Information was produced on the elastic state of rock around an underground opening, effectiveness of stope support, rheology of rock, zone of influence around stopes, effectiveness of rockbolts, axis of maximum strain in a plane perpendicular to the long axis of the lateral, and other phenomena. This information could be of particular value in determining location, design, and support of underground openings.

Jan 1, 1966

By R. M. Creamer

Attempts have been made to electroplate titanium and zirconium from aqueous, nonaqueous, and fused-salt electrolytes. Metals were produced only in fused-salt electrolytes, the major product being sponge metal. All other electrolytes gave only partial reduction of the metal ions. Fused alkali borate electrolytes containing titanium salts gave titanium boride powders and coatings of poor adherence. Some of the problems encountered in the deposition of these metals and some of the aspects of titanium and zirconium chemistry involved are discussed. INTRODUCTION Titanium and zirconium are both relatively light, noncorrosive metals with both military and civilian uses. This has led to intensive investigations into the metallurgy of these metals. Both metals are high in the Electrochemical Displacement Series and are difficult to prepare in a pure state. At present they are prepared by reducing their chlorides, using magnesium. Electrolytic reductions have resulted in the preparation of fine powders or sponge of variable quality. It is believed that a good process of electroplating these metals on a baser metal would result in a very desirable product. The objective of the research summarized in this report was to investigate methods of electrodepositing these metals, with the idea of producing uniform, coherent plates. Most of the work was concentrated on titanium, the more abundant of the two metals. A system developed for titanium should be applicable to zirconium owing to their chemical similarity. Information gained from these experiments may also be applicable to the electro-winning of the metal.

Jan 1, 1954

By W. H. Oppelt

The Federal Bureau of Mines investigated combustion of lignite in domes-tic heating equipment to obtain information on equipment performance and to evaluate testing procedures. Three types of domestic heating equipment were tested, ranging from a hand-tilled, magazine-type space heater to a ram-type overfeed stoker. Lignite was readily burned in each of the three units under various test conditions. Burnoff rates determined by adding weighed charges to the magazine were found to be in error because of shrinkage of the lignite when only a portion of the magazine capacity was consumed during a test. More reliable burnoff rates could be determined by carbon-nitrogen balances. A hand-fired magazine-type space heater (Booker heater) was operated without the furnace attachment at efficiencies to 75 pct. One test series was run with minimum supervision under conditions encountered in actual household operation. No mechanical trouble was encountered.

Jan 1, 1960

By John C. Hartley

Large areas of the anthracite beds in the Wilkes-Barre, Pa., region have been first-mined in such a manner that over half of the original coal has been left underground as pillars to support the overburden. To recover the maximum amount of this remaining coal, improved devices to support the roof while pillars are being extracted are needed. Also needed are suitable backfilling systems that will stabilize the strata during the mining and effectively limit the inevitable subsidence after pillars are removed. Accordingly, the Federal Bureau of Mines furnished 400 yielding steel props that had been purchased abroad, where this type of prop had been used successfully. The cooperating company arranged for concurrent tests with a mechanical stower designed and built by an American manufacturer. In the area in which the experiments were conducted, pillar removal, using conventional timbering, was most difficult because the roof fractured badly, the installation of timbers consumed a substantial part of the work effort, and some coal nearly always was lost. With the application of the yielding props, the time needed for securing the roof was reduced 33.9 percent; production per man-shift was in¬creased over 33 percent; coal recovery was improved more than 9 percent; and the convergence between roof and floor, during mining and backfilling, amounted to as much as 8.03 inches without any break in the roof. However, in September 1953 some roof rock fell in pillar 10 owing to insufficient props in a small area where the ends of three top holes drilled in the coal face extended up into the roof rock.

Jan 1, 1956

By Julie N. Walker

This U.S. Bureau of Mines report reviews the first 2 years of the agency's progress in implementing total quality management (TQM), which the agency refers to as Quality Improvement (QI). All employees have been trained in basic TQM concepts, a cadre of facilitators has been selected and trained, and 13 Bureauwide teams are addressing specific issues that were identified by Bureau employees nationwide as problem areas. Also in place are a Quality Council composed of the Bureau's top executives, a Quality Management Board, and eight QI Working Groups to provide a national 01 infrastructure. There are also Quality Steering Groups at each Bureau location nationwide to address local concerns. In addition to the narrative text, the texts of salient memoranda and other documents are included as appendixes.

Jan 1, 1992

By H. L. Gilbert

Zircon sand may be reacted with sodium hydroxide at 600° C. to form sodium zirconate and sodium silicate. Sodium zirconate is water insoluble and so may be washed free of sodium silicate. The sodium zirconate may then be converted to zirconyl chloride by the action of hydrochloric acid and the zirconyl chloride crystals separated by cooling the solution. This approach produces zirconyl chloride of satisfactory purity with less cost than is involved in buying anhydrous zirconium chloride and converting it. A proposed design for a plant is given, INTRODUCTION This work was conducted by the Rare Metals Branch as a part of research on zirconium at the Bureau of Mines Northwest Electrodevelopment Laboratories, Albany, Oreg., under the guidance of S. M. Shelton, Regional Director. The work was supervised by W. W. Stephens, head of the Rare Metals Branch (now with Carborundum Metals Corp.).

Jan 1, 1954

By G. W. Birge, D. E. Wolfson, J. G. Walters

An investigation was conducted to determine the relationship between ASTM and Micum tumbler data and to develop equations that would enable the conversion of data from one test method for comparison with those determined by the other , and thereby facilitate the international exchange of data . Relative strengths of 18 commercially produced cokes were determined by ASTM and Micum tumblers and ASTM shatter test . Two of the samples were coke produced for foundry use , and two were produced in beehive ovens . The remaining 14 samples were produced for blast furnace consumption and had ASTM tumbler stabilities of 36 to 58. Statistical procedures were used to relate the three test methods and also to evaluate the effect of charge weights , top sizes of coke , and types of screens specified by the two standard tumbler procedures , square - hole wire mesh for the ASTM tumbler and punched round - hole for the Micum . A significant result was that the data obtained with like screens have a higher degree of correlation with a smaller standard deviation than data from the screens specified for each tumbler .

Jan 1, 1964

By David Schlain, C. B. Kenahan, F. X. McCawley

The electrodeposition of protective coatings of tungsten from a sodium and lithium borate - tungstate - tungstic oxide fused salt electrolyte was investigated . Soluble tungsten anodes were employed . Deposits were made on molybdenum , Carpenter 20 stainless steel , Inconel , and nickel . An atmosphere of argon was maintained around the electrolytic cell , and the electrolyte was stirred by rotating the cathode . Thick deposits of tungsten (up to 26 mils ) were made at a temperature of 900 ° C and cathode current densities of 0.3 to 0.4 ampere per square inch with high current efficiencies . The effects of variations in temperature , current density , electrolyte agitation , and tungstic oxide content of the electrolyte and of the presence of impurities such as moisture , air , iron , and nickel were investigated .

Jan 1, 1964

By Lotfollah Nahai

India is one of the fortunate countries that has substantial reserves of many raw materials for producing steel; however, for historical and economic reasons these resources have not been aggressively developed until recently. Production of steel on an industrial scale started in 1912, but annual output was below 1 million tons3 in 1938 and about 1,500,000 tons in 1951. Expansion of the steel industry became one of the objectives of India's economic planning after independence in 1947. The Planning Com¬mission's 1951 report emphasized the importance of steel production, but financial obstacles, emphasis on river valley projects, and priority for increased food production in the First 5-Year Plan (1951-56) did not permit large-scale expansion of steel capacity. The 1956 planned target for crude steel, only 1,650,000 tons, was actually exceeded by production of 1,737,900 tons. In the Second 5-Year Plan (1956-61), however, construction of steel plants received a high priority. Currently three new steel plants, each with an annual capacity of approximately 1 million tons of steel, are nearing completion in Rourkela, Dorgapur, and Bhilai. Simultaneously, the two privately owned steel plants and the small State-owned plant in Mysore have been enlarged and modernized. As a result, India's crude steel capacity will be about 6 million tons in 1961, almost evenly divided between Government-owned and privately owned plants. Actual production in 1960 totaled 3,254,000 tons compared with 2,434,000 tons in 1959. Assuming that the population will be 430 million and that capacity production will be achieved, the 1961 per capita steel output will be only 31 pounds compared with 200 pounds for Japan in 1959. Some Indian experts feel that development of steel-consuming industries merits greater emphasis in the Third 5-Year Plan (1961-66) than expanding existing steel-producing facilities. Nonetheless, the Third 5-Year Plan calls for a 10 million ton annual capacity by 1966 to be achieved by expanding the Government-owned plants in Bhilai, Durgapur, and Mysore, and by establishing a new integrated Government plant in Bokaro, in the State of Bihar.

Jan 1, 1961

By Oliver C. Ralston

The Nonmetallic Minerals Division of the Bureau of Mines deals with all mineral substances not intended to be used as ores for extraction of metals, with the exception of the fuels. However, coal washing, the methods of which are highly Similar to the concentrating methods for ores, is in¬cluded In the work of the Nonmetallic Minerals Division to facilitate administration and to avoid duplication of equipment. During the fiscal year most of the work of the division was done at the experiment stations in College Park, Md., Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Seattle, Wash.

Jan 1, 1938

By E. L. Litchfield

Four short-term studies of practical ignition problems were undertaken and completed during the course of the Bureau of Mines project "Development of Specifications for Intrinsically Safe Equipment." Conclusions were as follows: (1) the most easily ignitible mixture of propane-air in a PTB break flash apparatus is approximately 5.2 percent propane; (2) miniature lamp bulbs to be used in intrinsically safe circuits are about as incendive to coal dust-air as to methane-air and should be tested in gas mixtures containing about 7.0 to 7.5 percent methane; (3) the sodium amalgam contained in high-pressure sodium lamps does not present an ignition hazard for coal dust or methane, where the lamps contain no more than 30 milligrams of amal-gam; (4) the maximum allowable surface temperature of permissible electrical enclosures should remain at 150° C despite efforts by industry groups to raise the value to 200° C.

Jan 1, 1980

By LeRoy D. Loy

The disposal of excess overburden from surface mining can be accomplished by use of a reclamation technique entitled head-of-hollow or valley fill. This report attempts to assess current valley fill regulations and practices, identifies inherent benefits and deficiencies, and develops concepts to enhance fill technology.

Jan 1, 1978