Search Documents

By H. Reginald Hardy

This report is Volume I of a three volume final report on the micro-seismic monitoring of a longwall coal mine. Volume I deals for the most part with the detailed aspects of the microseismic field study itself, however, brief references are made to other secondary studies described in Volumes II and III. During this field study a mobile microseismic monitoring facility and associated transducers were employed to detect and record microseismic activity above a longwall panel at Greenwich Colleries, Barnesboro, Pennsylvania. The fundamental objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the feasibility of detecting microseismic activity originating from longwall mining operations using an approximately planar, near-surface, geophone array installed above the longwall and (2) to attempt to locate the sources of the various microseismic events. This investigation has proven that, using the techniques developed it is possible to detect microseismic events at depths of more than 400 ft and at horizontal distances in excess of 800 ft from the source. The majority of the observed events were found to have frequencies on the order of 10 to 100 Hz, and particle velocities of 50 to 300 µips. When a suitable velocity model was utilized, most of the events located were computed to be within ±100 ft vertically of the coal seam and ±50 ft horizontally of the longwall face. The results of the overall research project suggest that additional research should be undertaken in a number of associated areas.

Jan 1, 1978

By Michael S. Koleda

Less than two years ago, the, Congress, with broad bipartisan support, passed the Energy Security Act of 1980. A decade marked by ten- fold increases in world oil prices and two major interruptions in oil flows from the Middle East had ended. An all-out national commitment to transform America's vast tar sands, oil shale and coal resources into conventional fuels had begun. The national synfuels effort was to be public-private cooperation at a scale unmatched in peace time. Private industry would own and operate the synthetic fuels facilities. Government would reduce market uncertainties to acceptable levels. The potential government commitment was substantial. Up to $88 billion would be available through the Synthetic Fuels Corporation, principally in the form of contingent financing. Billions more would be spent through Department of Energy programs. Additional incentives for alternate energy development were contained in the Energy Tax Act of 1978. The Energy Security Act clearly specified national synthetic fuels production objectives: 500,000 barrels per day by 1987 -- 2 million barrels per day by 1992. Finally, said Congress, Uncle Sam was going to do something about rapidly rising oil prices, uncertainties of energy supply, and the resulting disruption to the U. S. economy. Simply put, the purpose of the Energy Security Act of 1980 was to provide government guarantees sufficient to get synthetic fuels projects off the private sector drawing boards and into commercial production. Because of their huge cost, technological uncertainty, and lengthy pay-out period, these projects were always second place to projects of smaller size, known technology and more rapid pay-out. The Energy Security Act was the legal expression of public policy to bring the free-market synfuels timetable into line with the faster paced political timetable in the interest of national energy security.

Jan 1, 1982

By I Coombes, M Trim, Y Sun, M McRae, A Spiegl, H Lagger, A Amon, P Barraclough, M Villeneuve

The Brisbane Airport Link Project (AirportlinkM7) includes the design and construction of more than 12.5 km of tunnels, with the Kedron interchange including four ramp tunnels that intersect with mainline tunnels and result in caverns with spans of up to 26 m. These caverns are in highly variable ground conditions with less than 35 m of cover underlying residential neighbourhoods and commercial properties. The Kedron caverns were constructed using the sequential excavation method (SEM). Owing to complex geometry and excavation sequence, the caverns were designed based on numerical modelling methods, including both two- and three-dimensional models. These numerical methods were used to develop a suite of support types with excavation sequences for the expected range of ground conditions. A combination of methods that included in-tunnel monitoring (convergence monitoring and extensometers), probe holes, endoscope probes, face mapping and ground settlement measurements were used to verify performance of the tunnel support systems and to select and refine the appropriate support system for each section of the caverns. The construction monitoring data indicated that numerical modelling can provide a good basis for predicting the performance of large-span underground openings in highly variable ground conditions. This paper presents a comparison of the performance of the caverns predicted by state-of-the-art numerical models and the actual measured performance.CITATION:McRae, M, Villeneuve, M, Trim, M, Sun, Y, Barraclough, P, Spiegl, A, Amon, A, Lagger, H and Coombes, I, 2014. Brisbane Airport Link Project – design and construction of the 26 m span Kedron Caverns: comparing monitoring data with the design, in Proceedings 15th Australasian Tunnelling Conference 2014 , pp 295–306 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 17, 2014

By C. M. D. Majola, K. E. Langerman

Energy efficiency is a cost-effective way of both bolstering energy security and limiting the harmful effects of energy use on the environment. Mining is an inherently energy-intensive activity, and the 2008 revision of South Africa’s National Energy Efficiency Strategy (NEES) set a target of a 10% reduction in energy consumption by 2015 for the mining sector. In this study, we investigate the effectiveness of the NEES in improving energy efficiency in the South African coal mining sector by surveying energy intensity at a number of operations, and analysing energy efficiency trends and energy use by process and energy carrier at an underground coal mine in Mpumalanga. Most mines surveyed exhibit an increase in energy intensity over time. At the case study mine, the increase was primarily due to increased energy use in the beneficiation and discard reclaiming processes. Trends in energy consumption are a poor reflection of trends in energy intensity, as a decline in energy consumption is most easily achieved by reducing production. A more appropriate metric for energy efficiency at coal mines is energy intensity, defined as energy use per unit of saleable product, relative to a multi-year baseline. The evidence suggests that the NEES has been ineffective in promoting energy efficiency in South African coal mines. We propose that greater success could be achieved by monitoring and reporting on energy intensity at the process level, and by incentivizing energy efficiency gains.

Sep 6, 2023

By WILLIAM J. LINNEY

MAGNETITE ore from Lyon Mountain, so- called "Low Phos Chateaugay," has long been known to the iron and steel industry for its almost complete absence of impurities. These magnetites occur along the northern foothills of the Adirondacks in several parallel and folded stringers which are continuous for several miles, striking generally northeast-southwest and dipping usually over 45° to the northwest, or roughly toward the St. Lawrence River. Ore of minable thickness is found in shoots of various sizes as to length and breadth, but of undetermined and possible great depth.

Jan 1, 1943

By Richard E. Thill

The Bureau of Mines' Oil Shale Data- Bank (OSDB) was created in 1976 to serve as a centralized source for the storage, retrieval, and dissemination of technical literature, patents, and information on research projects in oil shale. Thousands of bibliographic references, patents, and research projects relating to the mining of oil shale have been identified, abstracted, and indexed according to selected keyword topics. The resulting data bank listings are contained in three sections, each with a separate keyword breakdown for use in rapidly identifying references pertaining to a specific subject. All references cited in the OSDB were published prior to an established cut-off date of May 1, 1981, when a redirection of Bureau of Mines programs resulted in the loss of project funds and the subsequent phasing-out of data bank operations. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The oil shale data bank listings are the result of a team effort of the project staff. The contributions of Jimaleen Jansma for keypunching, information acquisition, and data entry, and John Brandenburg and Sandra Brake for keywording and information acquisition are gratefully acknowledged. Appreciation is expressed to the staff members of the Smithsonian Science Information Exchange, Washington D.C. for their cooperation in supplying data on recent research projects in oil shale for inclusion in the OSDB listings. Appreciation is extended also to the staff of the Gallegos Research Group for assisting with computer services to obtain the final printouts and transfer of files onto magnetic tape.

Jan 1, 1982

This NIOSH Toolbox Training program contains 52 different modules designed to stimulate safety discussions among your employees. Each module is intended to be completed in roughly 10 or 15 minutes, so a Toolbox Training session can be conducted once a week for the entire year. Each session counts toward your employee’s 8-hour annual MSHA refresher training, thus saving an entire day of work.. The modules are used to refresh employees on the procedures, policies, and practices of working safely at a specific mine site and can easily be tailored to fit conditions and situations found on your property. Every module follows the same format, so that as the weeks pass, miners will start to approach every safety situation in the same way. A typical Toolbox Training session contains five basic steps that cover all the information in the module. 1. Identification of the hazard and discussions about the types of injuries typically associated with the hazard. 2. Discussions of some of the causes of the hazard. The MSHA example included with each module should be referenced. 3. After the hazard and accident has been explained and understood, discussions about best practices and tips for avoiding a similar accident. 4. Review of similar conditions or near misses from your mine site using the leading questions on the form to start a discussion. Specific examples of equipment or structures on the site that could lead to the same accident should be discussed. The blank space on the module is used to add your own remarks and questions to supplement the given information. 5. Miners fill out the training record on the back of the form with name, initials, and date of training session. The modules are designed to be kept in a standard three-ring binder and easily photocopied. This way, the same set of modules can be used for years to come. A blank form is included that can be used to create more Toolbox Training modules. The key component of Toolbox Training is to start a discussion among employees that will allow them to see the hazards around them every day and respond to these hazards in a safe and consistent manner. To start a discussion, ask questions that need more than a one-word response. Get the miners to talk about similar situations from their own experiences and give suggestions about how to fix the hazards around them. Toolbox Training is a quick and effective way to cover specific mining hazards, but it only works if miners are involved in the discussion.

Jan 1, 2004

The Rotary Kiln at TeKumi was commissioned in February 2002. The process involves burning limestone at 1000 - 11 000¦C to produce a burnt lime (CaO) product. This paper describes the design and installation of a trifoil system to improve the energy efficiency of the kiln. An energy balance showed that 32 per cent of the energy was being lost through the flue gases, compared to 5.8 per cent in shell losses and 2.5 per cent lost as heat in the product. The trifoil proved to be the best way to tap the energy from the flue gases. Drying tests showed that a trifoil improved the drying time of limestone by 37.5 per cent, compared to only 25 per cent for a lifter system. The trifoil system increases the surface area for heat transfer in a Rotary Kiln by 180 per cent. The overal energy efficiency of the Rotary Kiln was improved by 15 per cent, resulting in a 15 per cent increase in production and an 80¦C reduction in flue gas temperature. This has reduced dust build up in the ducting while reducing maintenance costs through a reduced fan speed. The trifoil hub was designed with tooths at the centre to prevent shifting. Each trifoil leg has an anchor block on the down side to prevent downward movement of the trefoil legs.

Jan 1, 2003

By Louis H. Berkelhamer

"INTRODUCTION The method of differential thermal analysis suggested by Le Chatelier (1)1 in 1887 has recently emerged as an outstanding means of studying the constitution of various substances, particularly clays, soils, and miscellaneous hydrous materials (2). The literature ably discusses the applications and results obtained but has paid too little attention to specific details of construction of the apparatus. Knowledge of the apparatus is of importance to the experienced research man as is extremely useful to the novice v ho ventures into this field of analysis. Further, it is generally acknowledged that the variations in design and conditions of operation are one of the essential causes for differences in characteristic temperatures as reported by various investigators. A step forward in the elimination of such differences is the publication of the details of construction and operation of a simple and inexpensive apparatus that has proved useful at the southern Experiment station of the Bureau of Mines, where it was used in cooperation with the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Ala."

Jul 1, 1944

By Terry B. Linde, William M. Dowall

The recently completed In-Pit Crushing and Conveying Project at Phelps Dodge's Morenci Mine is rated among the world's leading materials handling projects. The operation involves the crushing and transport of more than 109,000 tonnes per day of copper ore, utilizing regenerative conveyors capable of providing over 5.5 megawatts (7,000 hp) of equivalent electrical energy. This paper describes the key aspects of the project and includes: Original project objectives; System design criteria; System description; Optimization studies; Major design features; Equipment description; and System commissioning.

Jan 1, 1993

By A. C. Milner

In a gold standard world which possesses insufficient metal to meet the every-day needs of all, confidence becomes the vital factor, the very foundation upon which the machinery for the expansion of gold into currency, and credit, rests. The gold supply, affected by many influences, moves constantly from one point to another, but not always to that point where it is most needed. In the period 1928-1930, the combined gold holdings of the United States and France increased $1,370,936,-000, and this with new gold adding only $600,000,000 to the monetary gold stock.Theref ore, the gold stocks of other countries must have been depleted during the period by $770,936,000. This uncontrolled shifting throws the delicately adjusted instrumentalities of both credit and commerce out of equilibrium. If a given nation's gold stock shifts so as to bring it substantially below the legal reserve ratio set up against it for currency issues, the effect can easily extend to the currency issues and banking credit volume of one or more nations which may have based their gold exchange standards upon the gold stock of such nation. Thus the substitution of paper based on gold in place of the actual gold is an inflation of the currency, which carries through into an uncontrolled pyramiding upon the entire machinery of credit based on gold. In 1929 Europe, South America, Africa and Asia had overissued currency based on gold. America, Oceanica and Japan, which have not overissued their gold currencies, would in normal times require their entire present gold stocks and, as Continental Asia is largely upon a silver credit basis, from a domestic standpoint, it would appear that the gold problem is not so much one of maldistribution, as it is one of inadequate supply. It would appear that some method of increasing greatly the velocity of gold, within the safe reserve point, should be devised, or that silver, of which estimates indicate that 7,000,000,000 oz. are available for

Jan 1, 1931

By Blaise Fettig

Santa Cruz Mountains, Ben Lomond, CA Vortex Project Sponsor- Blaise Fettig Vortex PM- Peter Dworetzky Obayashi Corp (Prime Contractor) PM- Kenji Yamauchi ABSTRACT: The City of Santa Cruz Water Department in California replaced the existing Newell Creek Dam inlet/outlet works. The existing inlet/outlet works included a deteriorated 36-inch diameter pipeline under the dam and other components that did not meet current California DSOD dam safety reservoir drawdown requirements. To maintain the reservoir, the City’s engineer designed a new inlet/outlet works that could be constructed under full reservoir conditions, in water up to 115 feet deep. The underwater work began with the dredging of an “amphitheater” on the native 2:1 rock slope. After dredging, three large, critically located benches were excavated into the rock slope with a heavy digging bucket and specialty designed underwater tools. A marine rail was constructed, on which three large concrete donuts were precast and lowered into the water before picking with a crane. These donuts were then installed and grouted in place on the excavated benches. Six foot diameter shafts were drilled through the hole at each inlet foundation donut to the tunnel intersect elevation, and steel casings were installed and grouted into each shaft. Divers installed the three intake structures at design elevations. These 30” intake structures were 30-inch standpipes with 30” diameter hydraulic valves and 48” diameter by 56” tall drum screens. The piping was connected to a 20” diameter air vent line which is designed to prevent vacuum conditions and plumbing to provide a minimum downstream flow. Once the shafts and intakes were in place, a new tunnel was advanced by the general contractor from the downstream right abutment to intercept the shafts. 30” CISS piles were installed to support the 20” vent line from the intake locations to the dam crest. These piles were drilled from barges. Divers then installed Vortex designed articulating pipe supports on the piles, and finally the vent pipe to shore.

Oct 7, 2024

By Katherine Harding

This Bureau of Mines publication describes a practical approach to sampling that does not require elaborate statistical techniques. Simple steps are given for finding a cutoff point in the response from a repetitive survey. This procedure can be used to estimate the aggregate value of the characteristic being measured without waiting for a complete count from the survey. This is a useful technique when the reference periods are repeated at frequent intervals, such as monthly and quarterly, and when the statistical collecting agency is engaged in publishing timely data which must be accurate economic indicators.

Jan 1, 1971

By Walter O. Snelling

In the course of some experiments more than five years ago, made for a totally different purpose than the investigation of the oil used, I placed a small quantity of a transparent yellow lubricating oil in a bomb-like vessel and heated it to a relatively high temperature. At the end of the experiment I removed the oil from the vessel and was amazed to find that instead of bearing any resemblance to the oil which I had put in, it now had the appearance of ordinary crude oil. The green color by reflected light and the rich red-brown by transmitted light were so unmistakable as to at once lead to further investigation. I subjected the material to fractional distillation, and the surprise which I experienced at the appearance of the oil, changed to amazement when I found that it yielded, on distillation, 15 per cent. of gasoline and 30 per cent. of burning oil, and that its constitution resembled crude oil quite as much as did its appearance. Furthermore, the gasoline and kerosene distillates which it yielded were of a clear water-white color, entirely without treatment with acid or alkali, and were entirely free from the odor familiar in "cracked" petroleum distillates. The result of this experiment was quite too remarkable to be credited without further confirmation, and I at once filled the vessel with some of the same oil that I had used before, and again heated to about the same temperature that I had previously used, and for the same period of time. Upon opening the vessel and removing the contents I found, not the material resembling crude oil that I had obtained before, but apparently only the same oil that I had put in, somewhat darkened in color, but nevertheless far different in appearance from the material obtained in the previous experiment. Evidently some condition existed in the first experiment that had not existed in the second test, and here began a series of tests in which I sought by the change of one variable after another to arrive at the identical conditions which must have existed in the first experiment. Only the fact that the bottle of heavy oil used in the first test was still in its place,

Jan 1, 1915

By S. K. Sharma

The present study attempts to critically review the pillar-design as required by Coal Mines Regulations of India vis-a-vis latest rockmechanics formulae, Equivalent material modelling was the approach adopted for testing the safety and stability of the pillar sizes predicted by various formulae. Two parameters, considered here for calculating pillar sizes was the stresses acting over the pillars and the strength of the pillars. Stresses acting on the pillars were calculated by the tributary area method. Based on the studies of Coates and Hustrulid, the stress obtained was reduced by 40 percent. For calculating the strength of the pillars, three formulae, namely Holland and Gaddy, Salamon and Munro and Central Mining Research Station, India, were used. The pillar widths were then determined by equating the product of recommended factor of safety and pillar stress with the pillar strength.

Jan 1, 1992

By Ralf M. Kleine

THE property of Consolidated 1 Discovery Yellowknife Mines Limited, (Figure I) is situated in the Northwest Territories, approximately 50 air miles north of the town of Yellowknife. The mine is reached by a shaft which extends from surface to a depth of 4,000 feet, with working levels established at 1 50-foot intervals. Stopping operations are carried on throughout a vertical range of 2,000 feet, with both shrinkage and cut and fill methods being used, depending on the ground conditions. Production started in 1950 and milling is done in a 1 65-ton per day cyanide plant. During ten months of the year, the property is serviced entirely by air, utilizing charter aircraft from Yellowknife. A 4,000-foot runway near the mine was constructed from mill tailings. This strip is adequate to receive Bristol freighter planes carrying heavy loads. Other servicing is done by Otter aircraft, equipped with skis or wheels for winter and with pontoons for summer operations.

Jan 1, 1962

By Nicholas J. Palethorpe

BACKGROUND Before addressing the above topic in any detail, it is pertinent to provide some background on Australia for those people who have not been there or who have a limited knowledge of our continent. Australia is approximately the size of the continental U.S.A. (excluding Alaska) covering an area of approximately 7 million square kilometres. It has a very dry climate which has led to a concentration of people in major cities scattered around the continents perimeter. Australia's population is currently approximately 15 million. Of the work force of 6.3 million, 72% work in tertiary industries, 20.2% in manufacture, 6.5% in agriculture and 1.3% in mining. Agriculture accounts for 46% of exports, mining for 31% and manufacturing for 23,. Economic activity is based on:- Agriculture This is capital intensive and covers extensive areas and is reliant on low cost farming. A.range of foods and fibres are produced with over 70% of production being exported. Such products are of course subject to the usual vagaries of world market demand and market access, particularly in regard to the operation of trade blocks such as the E.E.C. Mineral Resources A wide range of minerals and an abundance of iron ore, coal, gas and uranium resources provide an increasing volume of exports. However, Autralia's oil resources at present only supply approximately 70% of local requirements. Industry This is diverse and encompasses the processing of agricultural products and mineral ores as well as helping to supply the consumer and capital goods needs of the whole community. However, the small scale of local markets, the geographic isolation of Australia and relatively high wage costs have limited the scale of Australia's industry. Advanced technology has overcome some of these difficulties and high tariff and import quotas protect local producers from the full force of international competition. In 1980/81 Australia's Gross Domestic Product amounted to $130 billion with approximately 24% of this being devoted to investment. In the past decade Australia has experienced inflation rates ranging from 5% to 17% and only modest real growth rates ranging from 0.4% to 5% per annum. We have also experienced, as have many other industrialised nations, continuing wage and price increases. Unemployment presently stands at 6%. MINERAL DEVELOPMENT As the above figures indicate, Australia's continuing prosperity is very dependent on the mineral and agricultrual sectors of our economy. The dependence on these sectors is highlighted by the table below which indicates our position in a global context. [Australian Production of Minerals in a World Context Western World % Total Western World Position Mineral Production 1980 1st Rutile 75 Ilmenite 31 Zircon 70 Bauxite 36 Iron Ore 11 Tungsten 14 2nd Lead (Conc.) 15 3rd Manganese Ore 14 Brown Coal 11 (1979) Zinc (Conc.) 10 4thSilver (Conc.) 10 Nickel 6 5th Tin (Conc.) 5 6th Black Coal 5 Gold 2 Source: Mining Annual Review 1981] The total value of all mineral and fuel exports in 1980/81 is estimated at $5.9 billion. This prominence in the world mineral production has largely been achieved in the last 15 - 20 years. In fact, in the early 1960's, Australia had only 2 major mining export centres, Broken Hill in New South Wales and Mt. Isa in Queensland. This growth is highlighted by the fact that in 1963, for example, we exported only 9 tonnes of iron ore and less than 4 million tonnes of coal. In 1980/81 we exported 75m. tonnes ',of iron ore (valued at $1,117m.) and 47m. tonnes of coal valued at $1,965m.). The growth in our mineral industry has come about because of a number of factors. Abundance of Mineral Resources We are particularly well endowed with mineral resources, as indicated below.

Jan 1, 1982

By James R. Boyle

The value of Alabama's nonfuel mineral production in 1985 was $405.9 million, a slight decrease from the record high of 1984. With the exception of clays, output of most nonfuel minerals increased over that of 1984. Alabama was second in the Nation in production of crushed marble and bauxite; third in firre clay; fourth in masonry cement and kaolin; fifth in portland cement and lime; and sixth in ferroalloys and recovered sulfur, Alabama ranked 20th in the Nation in value of nonfuel minerals produced, but ranked 13th in value of industrial minerals. Valuewise, Alabama produced 2.4% of the Nation's industrial minerals.

Jan 1, 1987

By TUIJA MONONEN, LUDGER BENIGHAUS, CHRISTINA BENIGHAUS, Virginia del Rio, SARI KAUPPI, JUHA M. KOTILAINEN, JAVIER GÓMEZ, JARI LYYTIMÄKI

The understanding of public debates over mineral exploration and mining largely originates from exceptional situations such as mining accidents of conflicts. Less is known about how mining is portrayed and understood under more conventional settings. What storylines dominate the local day-to-day public debate? This article presents results from a comparative case study focusing on newspaper coverage of mineral exploration and mining in three European countries representing different geological and socio-economic contexts. Newspaper articles from the Geyer-Erzgebirge region in Germany, the Andalusia region in Spain, and Northern Finland are studied. The sample looks into the period between September 2018 and February 2020 and shows that regional newspapers report about mining issues relatively intensively even in the absence of major accidents or other media events causing peaks of attention. The tone of the articles is generally neutral to positive towards mining activities, reflecting the specific local settings, historical experiences, and future expectations. Despite the different contexts of the three countries, there were considerable similarities to the topics highlighted, including common themes of mining revival, mining events and social interaction, history of mining, and damages related to mining. Past, present, and future employment opportunities related directly or indirectly to the mining sector are key storylines. Another recurrent underlying theme is the need to balance environment and safety risks and socio-economic prosperity, typically covered through ordinary disputes among the mining sector, public authorities, regional non-governmental organizations, and local initiatives.

Jul 6, 2021

By E. L. Singleton

This Bureau of Mines investigation was initiated to study and establish some of the chemical and physical characteristics of the condensed Mno-Si02 system. To prevent oxidation of the manganous ion, I atmosphere of purified helium was used in the furnaces. Solidus-liquidus curves and invariant points were established from melting-point determinations and were supplemented from data obtained by the static-quenching method. Experimental findings and data are for the intermediate compounds of tephroite and rhodonite with their respective eutectics represented at 25.5 and 37.2 weight-percent silica. Tephroite melts congruently at 1,347° C., and rhodonite melts incongruently at 1,286° 8.. A metastable transformation was determined to exist at the 1,347° C. isotherm, the congruent melting point of tephroite. A composite X-ray-diffraction pattern was formulated for synthetic rhodonite. This investigation contributes fundamental data leading toward a better understanding of the more complex slag systems.

Jan 1, 1962