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By K. K. Kelley

Despite the wide interest in titanium and its compounds, no heat and free-energy-of-formation values for titanates (that is, compounds formed from titania and other metal oxides) have been available heretofore except for ilmenite (FeTi03). Such data are needed for understanding and developing processes for producing titania and titanium tetrachloride from ores (and possibly slags) and in connection with ceramic usage of titania. This paper reports experimental measurements of the heats of formation at ordinary temperature of 11 titanates-ilmenite, perovskite, barium metatinate, strontium metatitanate, barium-strontium metatitanate, barium orthotitanate, strontium orthotitanate, barium-strontium othotitanate, geikielite, magnesium-titanium spinel, and magnesium dititanate. The experimental method was solution calorimetry. The solution calorimeter was operated at 73.7°C. and used a strong hydrofluoric-hydrochloric acid mixture as the calorimetric fluid and reaction medium.

Jan 1, 1954

By N. S. Petersen

As part of the Demand Evaluation Program of the Bureau of Mines to determine future needs for minerals, a study was instituted to develop and describe a methodology for approaching the problem of substitution between mineral commodities and between mineral commodities and other materials. The report comprises three sections: A review of general factors relative to substitution, a case study of the effect of substitution on zinc die-casting markets in recent years, and a general methodology for reviewing materials substitution with specific emphasis derived from reviewing substitution in the domestic zinc die-casting markets.

Jan 1, 1971

By Jack E. Fraley

Because of their noncombustibility, silicate and magnesium oxycements are desirable for sealing shale in underground coal mines. In this Bureau of Mines investigation, cement samples were cured and tested (nonstandard tests) for submersion to note resistance to dissolution (breaking into parts), which is an important property for a coating. Nonappreciable dissolution during 1 week of submersion was set for passing the test. Over half of the coatings passed the test.

Jan 1, 1977

By K. R. Farley

A simplified method for the atomic absorption determination of antimony is described. Samples are dissolved in hydrobromic acid and diluted to volume with water. Solutions can be ready for analysis in about 10 minutes and are stable for at least 24 hours. The spectral line at 231 nanometers is used, and there is no effect on absorption resulting .from the presence of any concentration of HBr. Absorbance is linear with antimony concentrations up to 120 micrograms per milliliter. Sensitivity is 1.48 micrograms per milliliter per 0.0044 absorbance. Relative errors on National Bureau of Standards Standard Reference Materials were 3 percent or less, and relative standard deviations on 12 determinations of each of three flue dust samples were 4 percent or less (95-percent confidence limit).

Jan 1, 1980

By Aner W. Erickson

"Magnetite iron deposits on Tolstoi Mountain were examined as part of the investigations by the Bureau of Mines of iron and copper ores on Prince of Wales Island. The Tolstoi Mountain project was a part of a program for investigating mineral deposits in Alaska, under the general supervision of R. S. Sanford, acting branch chief.A preliminary examination was made by S. P. Holt, mining engineer of the Bureau of Mines, in company with John Reed, L. A. Warner, and W. S. Twenhofel of the Federal Geological Survey, on July 14, l943. Three samples were taken, rough estimates were made, and it was proposed that the area be mapped, topographically and geologically,. Dip-needle work was added to the program, and it was decided that, should results warrant, the deposits would be diamond-drilled.From March 26 to May 28, 1944, the deposits were examined thoroughly by Bureau of Mines personnel under the direction of the author. Thirty-two acres were mapped with contour intervals of 10 feet, grids were established covering the principal outcrops, over 1,500 dip-needle readings were secured, and the magnetite bodies were outlined. Additional information was gathered by trench inch and channel-sampling, 600 linear feet of trench being dug and 32 channel samples being cut. Finally, the mapped area was checked for nonoutcropping deposits by taking dip-needle readings at 10-foot intervals along the traverse lines, creeks, trails, and all outstanding topographical features. This re-connaissance work gave sufficient coverage of the 32 acres to eliminate the possibility of further magnetite bodies of any consequence remaining undiscovered.Acknowledgment is made to Nile Johannsen, assayer, Territorial Department of Mines, Ketchfkan, Alaska, for determination of samples.The deposits are on Prince of Wales Island in Southeastern Alaska near Tolstoi Pay, a deep-water indentation at the northwest and of Kasdan Peninsula. The physical features are shown on figures 1 and 2 and the location of the deposition figure 3. Old workings were found on the west side of Tolstoi Mountain; between elevations of 650 and 1,150 feet, at distances of 3/4 to 1-1/4 miles from the east shore of Tolstoi Bay.Access to the area is over a brushed foot trail built by the Bureau of Mines. Topography would permit construction of either surface or aerial tramways at moderate cost but would make road building expensive. Deep-water navigation, permitting inexpensive water transportation, is possible the year around.Kasaan Peninsula is an area of moderate relief, being considerably less rugged than the mainland to the east. Most of the mountains and ridges are less than 2,500 feet in height and show evidence of having been covered by the ice cap of the Pleistocene age. Rock exposures below elevations of 2,000 feet are limited, as extensive overburden 2 to 20 feet deep covers the greater part of the peninsula."

Dec 1, 1948

By N. C. Dunham

"The Bureau of Mines exploratory work on the Bear Lodge, Wyo., fluorite property wider the strategic minerals Program was completed in November 1944. Exploration consisted of surface trenching, shaft sinking, and drifting at shallow depth. Doak C. Cox of the Federal Geological Survey visited the area during the latter part of 1944 and napped the Bear Lodge property.The Bear Lodge property is situated in the Black Hilts National Forest in eastern Crook County, Wyo., 6 miles north of the community of Sundance (fig. 1). Sundance is 29 miles northwest of Upton, Wyo., a station on the Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy Railroad and 43 miles southwest of a siding on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, 3 miles south of Belle Fourche, S. Dak. U. S. Highway 14 passes through Sundance in an east-west direction. Sundance may be reached from the south over U. S. Highway 85 and Wyoming State Highway 585.The Bear Lodge property i a situated in the Boer Lodge Mountains in secs. 15, 22, and 23, T. 52 N., R. 63W., 6th P.M.The topography in the vicinity of the fluorite deposits consists essentially of rounded hills which slope gently to the valley floors. Near the north end of the Property the terrain steepens locally, and the canyon walls are Precipitous along the courses of several streams. There is an adequate supply of water and native timber for mining purposes. The average elevation near the deposits is 5,700 feet.The climate of the region is relatively moderate. The summers are usually warm, with frequent rainstorms. Temperatures often fall below zero during the winter months. Snowfalls are moderate to heavy.Fluorite occurrences in the Bear Lodge area have been known since 1914; however, fluorite was not discovered on the Bear Lodge property until 1943, when prospectors working on a nearby manganese deposit found fluorite mineralization in the limestone. No production has been recorded from the property."

Apr 1, 1946

By C. F. Ellis

Interest in the composition of automobile exhaust gases has been greatly accelerated by recent studies that have indicated that these gases contribute to smog formation in urban areas. Several analytical methods have been published for the analysis of the hydrocarbons in the exhaust gases, but similar information has not been published on the analysis of the oxygenated compounds. This report presents procedures for chemical analyses of certain oxygenated compounds, procedures for sampling the exhaust gases for these analyses, and the analytical results of some experimental work in which these procedures were used. A stationary 1956 model, 170 horsepower, V-8, dynamometer-mounted engine, operated to simulate vehicular cruise conditions, was used for the study. Exhaust gases produced from a regular-grade Midcontinent gasoline during 15-40- , and 60-mile-per-hour cruise operations were analyzed by chemical methods for formaldehyde, total aldehydes, total carbonyls, total alcohols, carbon associated with the oxygenated compounds, and the oxides of nitrogen. Experimental results indicate: 1. The range of concentrations of the total of the functional groups of oxygenated compounds, expressed as moles per million moles of water-free exhaust gases, is about 90-100; the concentrations increase with engine speed. 2. Aldehydes comprise about 80-90 mole- percent of the total of the oxygenated groups, and formaldehyde accounts for about 50 mole-percent of the total aldehydes. 3. The order of magnitude of the concentration of the carbonyls is the same as that for the aldehydes, indicating that ketones are not a major group. A colorimetric test indicates that methyl ketones Constitute about 2 mole-percent of the oxygenated compounds.

Jan 1, 1961

By G. W. Birge

This report describes the carbonizing properties of the principal coal beds of McDowell County, W. Va. Coals from 14 coal beds were selected for study: Upper Cedar Grove, Middle Cedar Grove, Lower Cedar Grove, Eagle, Douglas, Iaeger, Sewell, Welch, Beckley, Fire Creek and Pocahontas Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 9. Selection was based upon estimated minable reserves. McDowell County coals rank either as high-volatile A, medium-volatile, or low-volatile bituminous coal, and this variation in rank is reflected in the wide diversity of the carbonization properties of the coals. All coals tested were either satisfactory as mined or could be upgraded to meet present chemical standards for metallurgical coke; the coals produced strong coke, as determined by ASTM shatter and tumbler tests.

Jan 1, 1958

By H. M. Harris

The Bureau of Mines investigated chlorination of domestic ilmenites in a fluidized coke bed at temperatures of 950° to 1,150° C. Objectives were to develop an effective process for producing TiC14 suitable for TiO2 pigment and to reduce pollution by collecting and treating waste byproduct chlorides. The reactor for these tests was a 10.2-cm-diam quartz tube heated externally by electrical resistance heaters. It contained coke beds of from 35.6 to 82.5 cm in depth that were fluidized by 13 to 25 l/min of chlorine. Ilmenite concentrate powders were introduced at the bottom of the fluid-bed reactor, using the chlorine gas stream as a carrier. Test results showed that greater than 90 pct of the ilmenite reacted at optimum conditions and recovery of TiC14 ranged from 95 to 99 pct of stoichiometric. A temperature-controlled cyclone was used to remove high-boiling-point chlorides such as MnCl2, MgCl2, and FeCl2, and also collected fine unreacted ilmenite and coke dust. Impure TiC14 and FeC13 were separated by collecting the, iron chloride in a condenser con-trolled at 200° C. Titanium tetrachloride vapor was cleaned by passage-through a salt-column filter followed by condensation in water-cooled and refrigerated condensers. Liquid TiC14 was purified further by well-known industrial methods to meet specifications for pigment-grade chloride. Integrated tests were conducted in which chlorine, produced by dechlorination of FeC13 with oxygen, was recycled and used directly in a fluidized-bed chlorinator.

Jan 1, 1976

By E. O. Binyon

"Corundum and andalusite were discovered in August 1944 on what is now known as the Blue Metal group of claims. The property, comprising five unpatented lode claims, is situated 20 Miles northwest of Yerington in the Buckskin Mining District, Douglas County, Nevada, An engineer of the. Bureau of nines examined the property on November 1, 1944, and recommended a small: amount of drifting and crosscutting to determine more definitely the extent and character of the ore deposit. The work that had been done by the owners was for sampling purposes only and was confined to a few small pits on the outcrop, and no effort had been made. to delimit the ore zone. Samples taken from the best surface showings were sent to the experimental station in Salt Lake City for beneficiation tests. The results of the preliminary test work appeared favorable, and upon the strength of them and the recommendations made by the Bureau, 2.5 miles of access road was approved and completed early in 1945. Exploration was started on June 24 and completed September 26, 1945.In its program of exploration of mineral deposits, the Bureau of Mines has as its primary objective the more effective utilization of our mines 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.This paper is one of many reporting on various aspects of the Bureau of Mines program initiated in August 1939 by passage of the Strategic Minerals act, the scope of which was. greatly expanded by subsequent legislation.Some of these papers were published as war minerals reports, others as bulletins, technical papers, reports of investigations, and information circulars of the Bureau of Mines or• in, technical journals.The Bureau's program at first included separate investigations by the Mining and metallurgical Divisions, but these were consolidated under Assistant Director R. S. Dean beginning July 1, 1942. Mining and metallurgical investigations carried on in three regional organizations more closely integrated thereafter by a staff of specialists, who reviewed findings made in the field and in Bureau Laboratories, considered proposals for additional work, revised reports for publication, and served as advisors to the assistant director."

Aug 1, 1946

By Michael J. Brnich

During the past 15 years the number of reportable mine fires has declined. A decline in the number of reportable fires is a gross indicator that allows experts to say something about the underground coal industry generally: There has been some improvement in overall mine fire preparedness. However, such an indicator is less reliable as a predictor of readiness at any particular operation. An indication of fire fighting preparedness would have to be assessed from evidence gathered at the mine site. In other words, there are two levels from which to view the problem. On a general level, there has been significant improvement in the industry's fire response capabilities over the past two decades. Specifically, however, little data has been gathered on a site-by-site basis to determine what improvements might be made on a local level. These improvements would move beyond regulatory compliance. It is expected that this manuscript, based on work conducted at an underground coal mine in the western United States, will help to focus attention on some central concerns involving this critical issue.

Jan 1, 2006

By Allen L. Frank

A portable radon diffusion chamber has been tested with electrical collection of the radon daughter nuclei for enhancement of sensitivity. The detector size was small enough to be worn suspended from the belt. With a battery-supplied high voltage the sensitivity was found to be 1.43 tracks/cm2 per pCi-hr/l of ambient radon at Sot relative humidity. The track densities on the surfaces of the CR-39 plastic nuclear track detectors were found to be non-uniform, making difficult the determination of average densities with high accuracy. The fabrication of electrets for use in the detector was investigated in accordance with published techniques with negative results.

Jan 1, 1983

By Robert Roby

The Mouat copper-nickel deposit in Stillwater County, south-central Montana, was examined by Paul T. Allsman, an engineer of the Bureau of Mines, in 1939. Because of the strategic importance of nickel, a project was executed by John East, Jr., J. J. Naughton, and E. W. Newman, engineers of the Bureau, to further delimit some of the copper-nickel sulfide-bearing bodies that had been discovered by the Anaconda Copper Mining. Co. in 1937 and to investigate the central part of the deposit, which had not been drilled previously. This report is based largely upon the results of the. Bureau of Mines investigation and the results of exploration by the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. In addition, a brief description is given of some other copper-nickel sulfide-bearing deposits along tho Stillwater Complex.

Jan 1, 1949

By Jeffrey A. Aldinger

This U.S. Bureau of Mines report presents an analysis of surface coal mining accidents involving mobile equipment for the years 1989 through 1991. Mobile equipment is defined as haulage trucks, front-end loaders, bulldozers, scrapers, and road graders. These five pieces of mining equipment accounted for 20 pct of all surface coal mine accidents and 41 pct of the fatalities. The general discussion of these accidents covers the accident causes, the primary activity of the accident victims, and other contributing factors. A more detailed analysis of accidents associated with each piece of mobile equipment is also provided. This report will provide mine managers and mine safety personnel with a better understanding of the hazards associated with mobile mining equipment. It identifies where improvements in mobile equipment safety can be made and those areas requiring additional safety emphasis, such as safety training, work procedure changes, or engineering changes to the equipment or work environment. The analysis was performed by a team of researchers using accident data and narratives provided by the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Jan 1, 1995

By Oliver Bowles

The manufacture of lime is one of the oldest industries. Plants are distributed widely and furnish an essential raw material for numerous industries. The use of lime by the building trades, in agriculture, and in hundreds of manufacturing and chemical processes has created demands for a large production and has necessitated exhaustive research on methods of manufacture and uses. The bibliography of lime is an extensive one, but for the most part each publication has dealt with only certain operations. The purpose of this paper is to present a general picture of the industry as a whole. The abundant literature has been abstracted and quoted freely, and the National Lime Association has rendered valuable assistance in furnishing data for certain sections. Publications containing more detailed information on the various branches of the industry are referred to in the footnotes and in the bibliography.

Jan 1, 1936

By Edmund Newton

The Haile mine has been the outstanding gold-mining operation and the largest single producer of gold in the Appalachian region. Gold was discovered at the Haile in 1827, previous to the present operation, production has been nearly $4,500,000 (gold at $20.67 per ounce.) from somewhat over a million tons of ore, with an average extraction of about 70 percent. The Haile property, now operated by Haile Gold Mines, Inc., is in the southern part of Lancaster County, South Carolina, 3-1/2 miles northeast of the town of Kershaw and 55 miles north of Columbia, the State capital. (See fig. 1.) The corporation has a lease and purchase contract on 1,805 acres, covering the present productive area. In addition, it holds lease contracts on 1,500 acres additional adjacent to this area.

Jan 1, 1940

By W. L. Falke

This Bureau of Mines report illustrates critical path planning and scheduling techniques as applied to typical mining operations. Detailed examples of arrow diagramming and computer oriented applications of critical path methods are given. Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) is discussed briefly in comparison to the Critical Path Method (CPM).

Jan 1, 1966

By J. H. Tylczak

The Bureau of Mines studied the effect of alloy additions on abrasive wear of low-alloy steels. A dry-sand, rubber-wheel abrasion test appa-ratus using ASTM G65-Sl procedure B was used for the abrasive wear tests. Eighty-six material heat-treatment combinations were abrasion tested. Results of these tests were analyzed statistically using regression analysis to see if additions of Cr, Mn, Mo, Ni, Si, AI, Cu, and S were significant in affecting the abrasive wear rate of low-alloy steels. Regression analysis was also used to confirm hardness and C affect on the abrasive wear rate of these steels. It was found that for all the steels taken as a group, increased amounts of Mn significantly reduced the wear rate, while increased amounts of Mo and S1 increased the wear rate. Analysis also confirmed previous research done by others, that increasing hardness and amounts of C reduced the wear rate. For the hardened steels taken as a class, only increasing amounts of C and Mn reduced the wear rate, while increases in Si increased the wear rate. In the class of unhardened steels, increases in C, Mn, and S re-duced the wear rate, whereas increases in Mo increased the wear rate. The steels with the best resistance to wear were two hardened experimen-tal steels similar to AISI 1055 and AISI 107S.

Jan 1, 1986

By Maust. E. J., W. R. Crane

"IntroductionIn the study of mine drainage in the red iron ore mines of the Birmingham district of Alabama, an extensive series of measurements were made in order to determine the drainage from the area overlying and adjacent to the mines. Gaging rods were generally used in measuring streams, and weirs in ditches and sometimes as a check on rod work. These tests in turn were checked by current meter tests. In all, 725 separate stream gagings and 97 weir measurements were made. Certain relationships were worked out, particularly between rod and weir tests, which permitted obtaining results that are much more accurate 'under the existing conditions, than any available formula would give. The large number of weir measurements and the period covered by the tests made it impracticable to construct a weir for each observation so portable, adjustable weirs were built. The methods used are described here for the benefit of those interested in measurement of streams in connection with a study of mine drainage or otherwise. The Drainage AreaThe area draining the mining district lies between the crest of Red Mountain and Little Shades Creek, and for convenience was divided into sub-districts adjacent to certain groups of mines. Gaging stations were established on Little Shades Creek at the upper and lower boundaries of each sub-district, also at points on the tributaries near their junction with the creek. The difference between the volumes of water flowing in Little Shades Creek as it entered and left the sub-districts represents the flow from the tributaries on both sides of the creek. Since the flow coming from the sub-districts was measured direct, the inflow from the tributaries on the opposite side of the creek can be computed from the three volumes determined."

Oct 1, 1926

By A. W. Deurbrouck

This report presents the results of a washability study of 322 coal mine samples showing the sulfur forms and distribution in the coals. The samples were collected from mines which were principally utility coal producers. Generally, the data show the total sulfur content of the coals evaluated could be significantly reduced by some combination of stage crushing and specific gravity separation. However, few coals could be upgraded to a final product containing 1 percent or less total sulfur. The complete washability data are presented for each sample processed. A statistical evaluation is included for the coalbeds from which more than 10 samples were collected and for the geographical coal producing regions. A graphical summation is presented for the coal producing regions and selected coalbeds.

Jan 1, 1972