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By R. S. Dean

[Methods s of preparing the manganese metal that has been used in chemical and metallurgical investigations have passed through a cycle. Most of the investigations made e before the turn of the century, used Moissan's pyrophoric man manganese.3/ This material was made b; electrolysis into a mercury cathode and distillation in vacuo. The material was essentially pure, and investigations in which it was employed (with proper precautions against oxidation) led to accurate results on tie intrinsic behavior of metallic manganese.]

Jan 1, 1941

By W. G. Sandell, L. C. Bauerle, K. C. Dean

"INTRODUCTION As a part of the wartime activities of the Bureau of Mines, metallurgical services were extended to other Government agncies engaged in purchasing and stock-piling some of the more critical and strategic materials. At the request of Dr. Alan M. Bateman, special representative of the Metals Reserve Company, metallurgical studies were made on three samples of oxide tin ore from, the States of Zacatecas and Guanajuato, Mexico. The samples were submitted for testing by A. Porraz of the Financiera Miners, S. A., institution Financiera, Edificio Guardiola, Despachos 500-507, Mexico, D. F.The samples as received were marked Nos. 1, 2, and 3 and described as follows:Sample 1. - Origin: Mining camp ""El Naranjo,"" municipality of Sombrerete, State of Zacatecas, Mexico. This sample was partly concentrated by washing and as received was all minus 10-mesh in size.Sample 2. - Origin: Deposits in Sierra. Fria and Juan Cherey, municipality, of Jerez,State of Zacatecas, Mexico. This sample represented run of-mine ore.Sample 3. - Origin: Mine ""La Frontere, "" Ranch of San Pedro del loya, State of Guanajuato, Mexico. This run-of-mine sample was low in tin content but came from a highly mineralized tin field."

Jun 1, 1947

By Fred W. Snow

This paper describing the mining practices at the Magma mine, Superior, Ariz., is one of a series being prepared by the Bureau of Mines on mining prac¬tices, methods, and costs in the various mining districts in the United States. At present (1929) practically all the mineral production in the Superior district is from the Magma mine of the Magma Cooper Co. The ore is mined for its copper but contains associated silver and gold. Both direct smelting ore and ore of concentrating grade are produced. The mining methods now in use at the Magma mine were adopted or developed as knowledge was gained of the physical condition of the ore bodies and the inclosing formations; the wall rock is soft and crushed and the ore is relatively hard. In general, existing methods have been adapted to fit local conditions, but some of the mining practices used were originated at this mine. Most of the ore is mined by a combination of rill stopes and pillar stopes. The pillars are extracted by underhand mining.

Jan 1, 1929

By E. P. Barret

Differences in the reducibility of iron oxide materials have been recognized for a long time. Limonites are deoxidized more readily than hematites, and unaltered magnetites are the most difficult to deoxidize. Sinters are found between hematites and magnetites and vary considerably in reducibility, depending on the sintering practice followed and on the degree of fusion of the product. The increased activity in the beneficiation of taconite recently has made available a new blast-furnace raw material, namely, iron oxide pellets made from magnetic taconite concentrate. Many of the data in this paper apply to these pellets, or glomerules, as they were called when this method of agglomerating iron ores was first considered. To clarify the terms applied to iron oxide materials in this paper, the following definitions are given. Agglomeration is the general term applied to all methods of compacting or consolidating fine iron oxide materials. Sinter is the product from a Dwight-Lloyd or Greenawalt sintering machine. Pellets are formed by balling fine, moist oxide in a rotating drum at room temperature, followed by heating in a shaft furnace to a temperature below that of incipient fusion to develop a permanent bond. Nodules are formed by heating the iron oxide material to incipient fusion in a rotary kiln. Briquets are formed in a mold under pressure, with or without the addition of a binder, and burned to develop a permanent bond.

Jan 1, 1949

By Harlow D. Phelps

"INTRODUCTION The Copper Butte mine was examined, surveyed and mapped (fig. 1) by a Bureau of Mines engineer in January 1944. As a result, it was decided to diamond-drill the deposit, using Bureau of Mines equipment, and drilling was started October 14, 1944, under the supervision of two Bureau engineers, and stopped April 5, 1945. Nine holes were drilled for a total of 1,274 feet, not including 48 feet on a lost hole. Figures 2 and 3 are sections at AA' and BB' of figures 1, and show the adjusted average assays of drill-hole samples. Figures 4 and 5 are separate maps of holes 4 and 6, respectively.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSIn its program of exploration 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 the national security and economy. It is the policy of the Bureau to publish the facts developed by each exploitation project as soon as practicable after its conclusion. The Mining Branch, Lowell B. Moon, chief, conducts preliminary examinations, performs the actual exploratory work, and prepares the final report. The Metallurgical Branch, R. G. Knickerbocker, chief, analyzes samples and performs beneficiation tests. Both these branches are under the supervision of R. S. Dean, Assistant Director."

Aug 1, 1946

By Daniel G. DiCanio

This report describes a computer-based model for estimating the tangible costs of injuries and deaths from work-related accidents in underground coal mines. The study undertook to identify and quantify the elements of accident costs, including field visits to coal mines, insurance carriers, and public agencies. The mathematical models developed for each tangible element of accident cost are presented in Volume I of the report. A listing of the computer programs which comprise the model and instructions for using the programs are presented in Volume II. Statistical distributions of mining family characteristics, data on 95 miners killed in underground accidents, and other basic data used to develop the model are presented in Volume III. Application of the model to a data base of 9,286 accidents which occured in underground bituminous coal mines during 1974 yielded a total of $56,900,000 in tangible costs to industry, mining families, and public agencies. Loss of income to the families of miners injured or killed in these accidents accounted for 47 percent of the total.

Jan 1, 1976

By H. C. Carpenter

This literature study of methods for desulfurizing residual fuel oil was conducted by the Bureau of Mines at the request of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. The sulfur compounds in residual fuels are believed to consist chiefly of condensed thiophenes and other polycyclic sulfur compounds. Hydrodesulfurization appears to be the most promising method for desulfurizing these oils and is the only method applicable to all types of sulfur compounds. There are indications in the literature that hydrodesulfurization without hydrocracking of residual oils may require higher pressures than used in present desulfurization processes, but no cost data and little experimental data are available on the higher pressure operation. Literature proposals for hydrogenating residual oils and heavy crude oils are exclusively for hydrocracking the oils to lower boiling products with accompanying partial desulfurization of the residual fuel fraction. Costs of the hydrocracking operations appear the closest available to probable costs of hydrodesulfurizing the oils, and have been reported (in 1955 to 1957) as $500 to $840 investment cost per daily barrel of capacity, with total operating costs of 70 cents to $1.10 per barrel.

Jan 1, 1963

By H. C. Carpenter

This literature study of methods for desulfurizing residual fuel oil was conducted by the Bureau of Mines at the request of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. The sulfur compounds in residual fuels are believed to consist chiefly of condensed thiophenes and other polycyclic sulfur compounds. Hydrodesulfurization appears to be the most promising method for desulfurizing these oils and is the only method applicable to all types of sulfur compounds. There are indications in the literature that hydrodesulfurization without hydrocracking of residual oils may require higher pressures than used in present desulfurization processes, but no cost data and little experimental data are available on the higher pressure operation. Literature proposals for hydrogenating residual oils and heavy crude oils are exclusively for hydrocracking the oils to lower boiling products with accompanying partial desulfurization of the residual fuel fraction. Costs of the hydrocracking operations appear the closest available to probable costs of hydrodesulfurizing the oils, and have been reported (in 1955 to 1957) as $500 to $840 investment cost per daily barrel of capacity, with total operating costs of 70 cents to $1.10 per barrel.

Jan 1, 1963

By Sara J. Davenport

With the increased demand for mercury incident to preparations for national defense and the reduction in imports from some of the usual sources owing to war conditions, many small mines in the United States Pure now being worked that ordinarily would be unprofitable. This is indicated by the following table on mercury produced in the Unite States in 1939-40 (1)4/

Jan 1, 1941

This manual provides instructions for installing, operating, and maintaining a protective canopy on the Joy Mfg. Co. shuttle car. These instructions are based upon actual installations made in the mine on two shuttle cars, model 21SC-2E. 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 shuttle cars with similar protective canopies. Skilled mechanics can determine if the instructions hexein would he applicable to the other shuttle cars and can determine any necessary modifications if they are not.

Jan 1, 1973

By P. L. Russell, M. E. Volin, F. L. C. Price, D. H. Mullen

Tin deposits in Catron County, New Mexico, were explored by the Bureau of Mines under authority of the Strategic Minerals Act of August 1939. The investigation covered both lode and placer deposits and was later extended to deposits in Sierra County. Six of the known deposits were examined by E. D. Gardner, supervising engineer of the Southwest Experiment Station of the Bureau of Mines, and S. G. Lasky, a geologist of the Federal Geological Survey, in June and July 1939. It was recommended that the more promising occurrences be explored by test pitting, trenching, and sampling. Field work, under supervision of M. E. Volin, began in September and continued through December 1939. The area was mapped by Carl Fries, Jr., of the Federal Geological Survey, in 1939 and 1940. The La Cruz Development Co. acquired control of the Squaw Creek placer claims in 1942 and began active sampling and development preliminary to large-scale operations. The result of this work showed a considerably higher tin content than that found by the Bureau of Mines in 1939. Because of this report and reports from other parts of the district that large-scale operations for the production of tin from lode deposits were possible, it was recommended that the Bureau of Mines resample parts of Squaw Creek and conduct a mill test of lode material to determine whether a concentrate could be made that was high enough in tin and low enough in iron to be acceptable in American smelting practice. This work, under the supervision of Paul L. Russell, was begun in November 1942 and completed in January 1943, during which time the Sierra Metals Co. acquired control of a large area in Sawmill Canyon. At the suggestion of the Federal Geological Survey and the War Production Board, which had reason to believe that a great deal of commercial material existed on certain flatlands and gully slopes, the project was extended to include test pitting and sampling of those areas. This work was completed in February 1943.

May 1, 1947

By Lincoln A. Stewart

"INTRODUCTION The First Supplemental National Defense Appropriation Act, approved August, 25,, 1941, authorized the Bureau of Mines to investigate sources of raw, material for western production and appropriated funds for that purpose. Numerous iron deposits and prospects in the Western States were investigated. Among those selected for more detailed investigation were tile Apache and Chodiski deposits in Arizona.The United States Geological Survey had examined these deposits in 1929 3/ and estimated that ""the quantity of minable ore reasonably to be expected in this locality will reach 10,000,000 long tons, but it will require prospecting by core drill to demonstrate this quantity with certainty"". C. H. Johnson, a mining engineer of the Bureau of Mines, made a preliminary examination in October 1941 and proposed exploration of the Apache deposit Canyon Creek.A trench sampling project was set up, and work at the Apache deposit commenced in November 1941. Mapping, trenching, and sampling of outcrops was completed in March 1942. Trenches were laid out at approximately 200-foot intervals for about 9,200 feet along the iron outcrop east of Canyon Creek, and channel samples were taken across the iron formation. The outcrop also was explored by trenching and sampling along a 1,900-foot outcrop on the west side of Canyon Creek.The first diamond-drilling campaign at Apache was initiated in May 1942 and continued to January 1943, when work was suspended owing to depletion of funds. Six holes spaced at approximately 500-foot intervals and, 500 feet back from the outcrop on the east side of Canyon Creek were drilled through the iron formation during this period.While this drilling was in progress, the Chediski deposit was mapped, trenched, and sampled. The trenches were spaced at intervals of approximately 800 feet along 10,000 feet of the iron-ore outcrop."

Jul 1, 1947

By W. C. Hudson

"Sillimanite, kyanite, and andalusite are aluminum silicates having the same chemical composition (Al2Si05) and are used in the ceramic industry for the manufacture of high-grade refractories. ""Natural sillimanite with added corundum or other alumina to just short of mullite 2SiO2) proportions is unequalled for jobs where strength at high temperatures, resistance to spalling, and resistance to slagging by acid slags is desired. High-grade porcelain ware also requires these minerals.""At the same cost, sillimanite would be preferred for most uses, but the lack of any large source of sillimanite has given economic preference to kyanite or andalusite for special refractories and high-grade porcelain ware.""3/The possible economic value of the sillimanite schist in the piedmont Plateau was first recognized by Dr. L. L. Smith, of the University of South Carolina, who published an article in the Engineering and Mining Journal, August 1943, on an occurrence of sillimanite schist in South Carolina.The Bureau of Mines was interested in developing a large source of sillimanite to relieve the shortage of high-grade refractories, and initiated a project to locate the ore-bearing areas in Georgia and South Carolina and to develop the most favorable ones.Two hundred and seventy-eight outcrops of sillimanite-bearing schists were found by a Bureau of Mines engineer.4/ The schist occurs irregularly throughout a belt extending from Talbot County, Georgia; to Spartanburg County, South Carolina, about 220•miIes long and approximately 15 miles in maximum width. The Bureau drilled four areas of the more coarsely crystallized schist in Georgia and South Carolina:In its program of exploration 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 exploratory project as soon as practicable after its conclusion. The Mining Branch, Lowell B. Moon; chief; conducts preliminary examinations, performs the actual exploratory work; and prepares the final report. The Metallurgical Branch;.R. G. Knickerbocker; chief, analyzes samples and performs beneficiation tests. Both these branches are under the supervision of Dr. R. S. Dean, assistant director."

Sep 1, 1946

By Ernest A. Curth

Statistics For 1956-66 show that mine transportation accidents accounted for 19 percent of fatalities in bituminous coal mines, second only to roof deficiencies as a cause of death. Productivity per man-shift increased from 10.2 tons in 1956 to 18.4 tons in 1966, but the fatalities per million man- hours of exposure also increased from 0.19 to 0.21 during that same period, indicating that transportation hazards still persist. Consequently, the Bureau of Mines reviewed the transportation fatalities that occurred in bituminous coal mines during 1956-66. The data were processed by computer to find what constitute hazardous conditions and unsafe actions as well as to correlate occupation and age of victims, transportation type, and mine production. Environmental factors and equipment defects which create hazards, as well as unsafe actions of personnel, were determined for each type of mine transportation: Track haulage, mobile nonrail haulage, conveyors, hoists, automotive operations, and front -end loaders, and for transfer stations (loading points, slope and shaft bottoms, surface transfers) and railroad yards. Man-trip accidents, a group with a catastrophe potential, also were analyzed. The basic design and operational features of each transportation type were outlined and procedures considered safe in the light of accident experience were suggested. Findings show that unsafe actions of personnel and hazards created by environmental deficiencies or equipment malfunctions contribute equally in causing transportation accidents. Accordingly efforts should be directed toward improving working conditions, equipment maintenance, and education and training of employees. The trend is toward using safer modes of transportation, notably conveyors. More attention should be given to track haulage operation, railroad yards, and nondestructive field testing of materials.

Jan 1, 1971

By E. P. Carman

1. CARMAN, EVERETT P., OPPERMAN, MARTHA, NISHIYANA, SALLY, AND RACOOSIN, LEE. Bibliography of Bureau of Mines Investigations of Coal and Its Products, 1945 to 1950. B. 528, 1954, 60 pp. 40 cents. 2. ROSE, HAROLD J. Industry-Sponsored Coal Research in the United States. Chap. in Proceedings: Fifth International Conference of Directors of Mine Safety Research. B. 489, 1950, pp. 9-12. $1.25. Minerals Yearbook 3. STRINER, HERBERT E., CARMAN, E. P., AND GOODING, RICHARD M. Review of the Mineral-Fuel Industries in 1952. Minerals Yearbook 1952, Fuels, vol. 2 (pub. 1954), pp. 1-28.

Jan 1, 1958

By D. L. Pitt

This paper, describing the milling methods at the concentrator of the Premier Gold Mining Co., Ltd., Premier, B. C., Canada, is one of a series being prepared by the United States Bureau of Mines on milling methods and costs in the various mining districts throughout the United States and Canada. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance and suggestions given during the preparation of this paper by the engineering staff and accounting department of the Premier Gold Mining Co., Ltd., all of whom have assisted materially in gathering the data used.

Jan 1, 1933

Humankind's interest in measurement of human physical strength probably dates to the first humans. At that time, life was truly a struggle in which the fittest survived. To a great extent, fittest meant strongest. Interestingly, current interest in human physical strength in the workplace stems from 1970-1980s vintage research demonstrating that persons with adequate physical strength are less likely to be injured on physically demanding jobs. Survival in many modem workplaces may still be a case of survival of the strongest. There is, however, a flip side to this issue - that persons with limited strength are more likely to be injured on "hard" jobs. To address this problem, we can apply what we know about physical strength to job design. "Hard" jobs can be redesigned to be within the physical strength capability of most people. Since physical strength is important to these jobs, we must find ways to quantify it through testing. This publication concerns human physical strength testing. Its purpose is not to recommend any particular type of testing, but rather to describe the types of testing available and their uses. It is up to each individual user of strength testing to decide which testing technique is most appropriate for his or her particular application. This booklet discusses four types of strength testing: isometric, isoinertial, psychophysical, and isokinetic. Human Strength Before describing the different types of strength measurement, we must define the term "strength" and explain the concept of strength measurement. Strength is defined as the capacity to produce force or torque with voluntary muscle contraction. Maximum strength is defined as the capacity to produce force or torque with a maximum voluntary muscle contraction.(1,2) These definitions include some key words that must be explained. A voluntary muscle contraction is "voluntary." When a person's physical strength is measured, only the effort the person willingly puts forth at the time is measured. Thus, when we test a person's "maximum strength," we are not measuring his or her actual maximum, but some lesser value representing what he or she is comfortable expressing at the time with the existing equipment and environmental conditions. Interestingly, when researchers startled persons being tested (e.g., by setting off a starter's pistol behind them), they have found significant increases in measured strength.(3) It has been hypothesized that the lower strength displayed during normal testing provides a margin of safety against overloading and damaging muscle tissue. The test equipment and the tested person's familiarity with the process also influence the "voluntary" strength output. The interface between the tested person and the test equipment is particularly important. A poorly designed interface induces localized tissue pressures that vary from uncomfortable to painful. In this situation, testers are measuring voluntary discomfort tolerance - not strength. It is important for strength researchers to keep the "voluntary" nature of their data in mind when they are designing their equipment and protocols.

Jan 1, 1998

By Kenneth G. Skinner

Diatomite, also known as diatomaceous earth, diatomaceous silica, kieselguhr, and moler, has been used extensively for many years, but only during the past two decades has it become an important industrial mineral. United States sales for 1.936-38 totaled almost 280,010 tons,7 but relatively little (with the exception of that sold by an Oregon company affiliated with a larger California company) was sold by Pacific Northwest producers. In attempting to develop some of the many Pacific Northwest diatomite deposits, these producers have been handicapped by lack of published technical information regarding processing methods and the suitability of different deposits for specific uses. To determine some of the physical and chemical properties of known Pacific Northwest diatomites, the present investigation was started in 1938 by the Bureau of Mines in cooperation with the College of Mines, University of Washington. Figure 1 shows the location of deposits sampled. Because most relatively pure diatomites can be used as concrete admixtures or as inert fillers in rubber, paints, and plastics, this investigation concentrated upon determining some filter-aid characteristics and their relationship to other physical properties. A filter-aid is a powdered material that, when added to solutions to be filtered, improves flow rate, filtrate clarity, or both. Some chemical analyses also were made.

Jan 1, 1944

By G. G. Huggins

A demonstration project has been completed to reduce the operator sound level of an underground service vehicle, a personnel dispatch wagon, to go dB(A) or less. The program objective was to implement quieting recommendations made on an earlier study for the USBM n diesel-powered mine equipment. The manufacturer and mine to which the vehicle was going actively participated in the program to ensure a product that was not only quiet, but useful. The key element of the quieting package is an engine part a1 enclosure, which, with several complementary noise control components, reduced the operator sound level 14 dB, from 101 dB(A) to 87 dB(A). The vehicle underwent a 4-month trial period, with no degradation in the quieting package. Mine personnel reported no maintenance difficulties, and were enthusiastic about the dispatch.

Jan 1, 1975

By A. W. Frolli

This paper, describing the open-cut mining milling, and cyaniding methods and costs at the Yellow Aster gold mine, is one of a series being prepared by the Bureau of Mines on similar practices in the United States. It is presented primarily to show methods and costs of mining and treating low-grade gold ore on a large scale.

Jan 1, 1940