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By George T. Faust

The Southern Experiment Station of the Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior, in cooperation with the University of Alabama, is investigating the various types of clays to be found in the Southern States. In connection ,with this work, the petrographic laboratory is called

Jan 1, 1940

By J. W. Horne

The quantitative determination of salt in petroleum ins generally divided into two steps - (1) extraction of salt from the oil and (2) accurate measurement of the extracted salt. This paper presents a method used by the Bureau of Mines for quantitatively extracting the water-soluble chloride salts4/ from petroleum and discusses important details attendant on the success of the method. Among these details are homogeneity in the dispersion of salt crystals, emulsified brine and other impurities in the oil sample, complete solution of the salt, and total extraction and titration of all the aqueous phase. Recently, the chlorides of sodium, calcium, and. magnesium produced with and present in various oils have developed growing problems of salt deposition and corrosion in the petroleum industry. Therefore, a technical study of various emulsions and salts that accompany petroleum is being made by the Bureau of Mines in cooperation with the State of Oklahoma. One report (5)5 reviewing the literature pertinent to the study has been published.

Jan 1, 1940

By E. W. Dean, W. A. Jacobs

"The petroleum division of the Bureau of Mines in its laboratory investigations, has had occasions to develop a number of types of electrical heating equipment. It was found that electric heaters could be used to particular advantage in the standard distillation test for gasoline. (Dean, E.W., Motor Gasoline, Properties, Laboratory Methods of Testing and Practical Specifications, Bureau of Mines Technical raper 214, 1919, 33 pages.) In order to assist in rendering this type of heater available for general use, a description of the apparatus developed by the Bureau was published. (Dean, E.W., A convenient electric heater for use in the analytical distillation of gasoline,. Jour. Ind, and Eng. Chem., Vol.10, 1918, page 823.) Shortly after the article was printed a chemical supply house undertook the manufacture of an electric heater suitable for gasoline distillation. A preliminary model was examined and tested by the Bureau and modifications were suggested that were incorporated in the type of heater that was finally marketed.Description of the Bureau of Mines-heater: The electric heater developed by the Bureau has an inverted conical resistance Plament surrounded by a layer of heat-insulating material and mounted in a metal case having a top of hard asbestos (Transite) board. The resistance element is a helix of nickel-chromium alloy wire held by a molded core of alundum. The Bureau heaters are generally of about 330 watts capacity and are used with stock types of regulating rheostats capable of reducing the effective wattage to about 43 the full-load maximum."

Jun 1, 1920

By C. B. Manula, R. L. Sanford, R. A. Rivell

The need for a large capacity, high speed computer is more apparent in the revised model than in the original one. Core storage requirements for data and model logic have at least tripled. This dictates the use of one of the large modern machines such as the IBM 360-370 series or the Univac 1108 and 1110, which handle the model without the need for extensive program overlay. Computer time is expensive on these machines, however, and comprehensive analysis has gone into optimizing computer execution time consistent with model information flow sensitivity. For example, revised locomotive tramming routines have been developed which will significantly cut execution time compared to the previous version. Transceiver Applications The computer coding for the model has been developed to enable program execution and testing using a remote terminal on a time sharing system. In fact, nearly all of the coding, debugging, testing and modifications have been performed from a terminal during develop¬ment. The gaming options described in the Model Input Section of this report have been designed so that they are easily changed by the user from any remote site. One restriction on remote applications which could arise, however, is where highly detailed output options are specified, resulting in a large amount of output records which could be handled more efficiently on a high speed printer.

Jan 1, 1974

By F. C. Gregory

"The ""safety bonus"" in metal mining is a sum in addition to the regular wage, paid to foremen or bosses for keeping the accident rate down to a specified minimum. It has been used with success for some time by certain companies as a regular part of their safety work. It is desirable from the employer's point of view in that the desired results in accident reduction must be accomplished before the bonus is earned; and from the standpoint of the recipient, in that he receives a reward for the additional effort which he has put forth in order to earn the bonus.While this paper relates to the safety bonus as applied in the metal mining industry, the bonus system discussed herein will apply equal well to coal mining, oil-field work, and other mineral industries.Various estimates have been made as to the percentage of accidents that can be prevented through physical safeguards, adoption of safe working methods, and other safety measures which can be initiated and carried out wholly through the management or the safety department. This percentage will always be a vari¬able according to the local plant and conditions. But all who have been engaged in accident prevention agree that such work alone cannot bring the accident fre¬quency down to where it should be, and that it is very necessary to work directly with the workmen, in an effort to make each individual do his share in making the work safe. In this latter phase of the work, the boss who has immediate super¬vision of the men is the one who can do the most, since he is in daily and frequent contact with the men while they are at work. In the metal mines, the shift and stope bosses are the key men; in the oil fields, the ""tool-pushers"" or sub-foremen, and the same applies to all industries. So it becomes necessary to keep these sub-foremen constantly interested in accident prevention, both because they are in personal touch with the men and because they are responsible for production and hostile to any plan which they think will interfere with their output. In large organizations it is the shift boss who represents the company and its policies to the man on the job."

Jun 1, 1924

Case 1: A driller-helper was pulling a winch cable toward a stack of drill steel when the cable contacted a 12,000-volt power line. The helper was killed, and the driller at the rig controls was severely injured. [ ] Case 2: A crew was preparing to remove a pump from a well when the hoist boom contacted a 4160-volt power line. The hoist operator was electrocuted. [ ]

Jan 1, 2005

By John G. Kovac

A computer simulation has been developed by the US. Bureau of Mines to estimate the chances of a miner making a successful escape while wearing a self-contained self-rescuer (SCSR). The model takes into account (1) training in the use of SCSR's, (2) apparatus integrity, and (3) oxygen cost of a mine escape. This report examines survival odds for a prototypical escape, and illustrates how these odds change when SCSR training is improved.

Jan 1, 2009

By S. J. Pearce

The Bureau of Mines has prepared, as circumstances have dictated, a series of schedules setting forth the minimum requirements that various types of equipment should meet to be considered safe and satisfactory for use under certain hazardous or unhealthful conditions. These schedules cover a wide variety of devices ranging from explosives to electrically operated mine locomotives. This paper discusses the functions and operations of schedules under which respiratory protective devices are tested and approved. It emphasizes that the aim of the Bureau respirator-approval system is to make available to the public respirators that meet definite performance requirements. The responsibility of the respirator manufacturer in pre-testing the device and in maintaining its quality after it is approved are explained. Aid is provided for the user in selecting the proper device for specific application, and a plea is made for better education of all concerned in the proper use of the devices. DISCUSSION Provisions have been made for testing and approving the following types of respiratory protective devices: Self-contained breathing apparatus,2/ supplied-air respirators,3/ gas masks,4/ dispersoid respirators,5/ and chemical-cartridge respirators.6/ These devices are tested at the Central Experiment Station of the Bureau of Mines in Pittsburgh, Pa. Self-contained breathing apparatus is tested by personnel of Health and Safety District B; other types of respirators are tested by the Branch of Health Research.

Jan 1, 1957

By A. C. Fieldner

It is estimated that 6,202,235,000 gallons .of- gasoline was produced during the year 1922. The crude light oil- output Burin- the same year is estimated at 111,000,000 gallons, or 1.8 per cent of the gasoline production. In fact, if all the coal mined were coked in by-product ovens, and the light oil recovered therefrom, this product would amount to only 15 to 20 per cent of the quantity of the petroleum gasoline now produced annually. It is obvious therefore, from these figures that the light oils by present coking processes can not assume great importance as a gasoline substitute in a national sense. However, the use of light oil as a motor fuel is of real importance in districts adjacent to by-product coking operations from which a reasonable proportion of the local motor fuel supply may be derived. The certainty of diminution of petroleum resources in the relatively near future demands the utmost utilization of gasoline substitutes from the distillation of coal as well as other sources. Motor benzol is a by-product from the destructive distillation of coal. From 11/2 to 3 gallons of refined motor benzol is obtained per ton of coal carbonized. The light oil vapors are extracted from the by-product coke-oven gas by passing it upward through a series of towers in which these vapors are absorbed in a descending current of "wash" oil (petroleum distillate). The light, oil is recovered from this wash oil by distillation with live steam, the resulting crude light oil consisting of a mixture of benzol, toluol, xylol, solvent naphtha, and a small amount of other substances (unsaturated hydro-carbons, carbon disulphide, and other sulphur compounds, phenols and pyridines) is then transferred to an intermittent still and fractionated into crude motor benzol, which includes the toluol and a part of the xylol or light solvent naphtha. The crude, motor benzol is yellow in color, contains sulphur compounds which corrode copper and brass, and also contains unsaturated bodies which oxidize and polymerize on standing, producing sediment and forming gummy deposits highly objectionable when the benzol is used in motors. These objectionable

Jan 1, 1923

Improve mine refrigeration system efficiency while providing free electrical energy to mines. Approach Convert the potential energy of incoming mine water falling down long vertical shafts into electrical energy by means of a turbine-generator system located at the bottom of the mine shaft. How it Works Converting the energy of falling water into useful work is a well-developed engineering concept. Water flowing down long vertical pipelines into deep mines develops high pressure that can be used to operate a turbine-generator system at the bottom of the pipeline. A thermal energy recovery system of this type offers three advantages: 1. In systems without turbines, the potential energy of the water is converted to heat. The water temper-ture will automatically

Jan 1, 1985

By W. H. Pailes, V. Castranova, D. Lewis, G. Goodman

We performed bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in 8 control subjects with no exposure to occupational dusts, 8 healthy power plant workers exposed to mixed dusts (primarily fly ash), 1 healthy coal miner and 1 rock driller with acute silicosis. All subjects were non-smoking males. We analyzed lavage effluents for total numbers of alveolar macrophages, lymphocytes and neutrophils and monitored chemiluminescence at rest (REST CL) and after stimulation with 3x10- M phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA CL) or 2 mg/ml zymosan (ZYM CL). The data are as follows:

Jan 1, 1988

By J. W. Paul, A. C. Fieldner

"In cooperation with the New York and New Jersey State Bridge and Tunnel Commissions, the Bureau of Mines has just completed the construction of an experimental tunnel in the Bureau's experimental mine at Bruceton, Pa., near Pittsburgh, Pa. The purpose of this tunnel is to make a final study of the ventilation problems arising in the adequate ventilation of vehicular tunnels for automobiles and trucks, especially the 9000-foot tubes that are being designed. to handle the traffic between New York City and New Jersey under the Hudson River.Chief engineer, Clifford M. Holland, of the Tunnel Commissions has shown that there are three principal problems involved in planning the ventilation of this tunnel, namely - (1) The amount and composition of exhaust gases from motor vehicles; (2) The dilution necessary to render these exhaust gases harmless; (3) Determination of coefficients of airflow and horse-power required in ducts, bends and openings.Composition of automobile exhaust gases.The answer to the first problem was obtained by making road tests on 101 automobiles and trucks at the Pittsburgh experiment station. These machines were taken from service without any previous adjustment so that the composition and amount of the exhaust gas may be taken as representative of actual operating conditions prevailing in the tunnel. A report covering the results of these tests was submitted to the chief engineer of the Tunnel Commissions, on November 1, 1920, and 411 be published in the report of the commissions. Several papers a have also been published in the technical journals summarizing the important results as regards tunnel ventilation and also with reference to gasoline losses in present-day motor car operation due to the general use of unnecessarily rich mixtures"

Oct 1, 1921

This bibliography lists publications issued by the Bureau of Mines concerned with investigations on petroleum and natural gas. The items included are chosen for their continuing interest and value. It was recognized early that a list of petroleum and natural gas publications was needed for the Bureau's work, and unofficial publication of a ?straight forward? listing was begun. It was at first a chronological list; however, suggestions submitted by its users prompted a format change to show publications under broad, general topics. Author and subject indexes were developed, becoming more detailed with each new edition. This present list supersedes the ones compiled in 1949, 1952, and 1957, and several supplements, which were aside available to the public by the Library Of the Bureau?s Bartlesville Petroleum Research Center. The unofficial field publication came to be widely known nail in considerable demand by those who are primarily interested in the Bureau's publications on petroleum and natural gas so that it became, desirable to have it published as an Information Circular. It is hoped drat, this official publications will result in a wider and more effective use of the Bureau's research results which are reported in its publications.

Jan 1, 1964

[THIS bibliography lists publications issued by the Bureau of Mines concerned with investigations on petroleum and natural gas. The items included are chosen for their continuing interest and value. It was recognized early that a list of petroleum and natural gas publications was needed for the Bureau's work, and unofficial publication of a ?straight forward listing? was begun. It was at first a chronological list; however, suggestions submitted by its users prompted a formed change to show publications under broad, general topics. Author and subject indexes were developed, becoming more detailed with each new edition. This present list supersedes the ones compiled in 1949, 1952, and 1957, and several supplements, which were aside available to the public by the Library Of the Bureau?s Bartlesville Petroleum Research Center. The unofficial field publication came to be widely known and in considerable demand by those who are primarily interested in the Bureau's publications on petroleum and natural gas so that it became, desirable to have it published as an Information Circular. It is hoped that this official publication will result in a wider and more effective use of the Bureau's research results which are reported in its publications.]

Jan 1, 1964

Provide longwall operators with an alternative strategy for placement of gob gas ventholes to improve gas production.

Jan 1, 1995

By R. V. Ramani, R. Stefanko, G. W. Luxbacher

Table

Jan 1, 1977

By C. M. Mason

A series of gelatinous permissible explosives was prepared with increasing sodium nitrate content and subjected to an improved technique for evaluating incendivity in coal dust-air and coal dust-gas-air mixtures. Those explosives containing an appreciable amount of sodium nitrate were found to be very hazardous in coal dust-air and coal dust-gas-air mixtures.

Jan 1, 1969

By Tye J. Lasich

This project involved modeling rock masses with varying Rock Mass Rating (RMR) values to determine the degree of instability that develops around an underground opening as a function of RMR. The modeling was performed using Itasca?s UDEC distinct element software, which allows explicit modeling of blocks of rock and how they interact with each other. The analyses included three different orientations of the joint sets, four different joint spacings and three different values of joint strength, which combine for a total of 36 different combinations of model parameters. Two different modes of behavior were observed: local failure of area immediately surrounding the roof and sides of the opening, and deep-seated failure extending a large distance beyond the opening. Quantification of the size of the unstable area that developed provides numerical validation of empirical guidelines used in design of ground support and instrumented monitoring systems.

Jan 1, 2005

By R. Pakalnis, C. A. Dreesbach, L. A. Martin

Instrumented cable bolts developed at the Spokane Research Laboratory of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health were used in conjunction with existing ground control systems to monitor rock mass loads at Tg Soda Ash’s trona mine, Granger, WY. Axial and shear loads were determined to levels of strain gauge accuracy of ±5 N or ±5 microstrain. These gauges were embedded in a remanufactured king wire that replaced the conventional king wire. Cable bolt performance, quality of grout, and installation techniques were also assessed. By using instrumented cables, a mine operator can determine axial load along the cable at predefined gauge locations. These data provide necessary input for an operator to design a safer working environment for miners.

By H. M. Lawrence

"In the land-pebble district of Florida a lively interest in the possibilities of obtaining increased recoveries of phosphate rock is evident. Research in several directions is being carried on by companies operating in the district to increase the yields obtained by the washing plants. The Bureau of Mines is cooperating with this research program to promote more efficient plant practice and to avoid unnecessary depletion of mineral resources.Washing practice, as carried on in the district at present for the recover of phosphate rock from the crude ores or matrix, is not a complicated process. Flow sheets of the several companies are similar, although the equipment varies with the preferences of the individual operators. For disintegrating the matrix log washers are favored, although revolving drums equipped with flights to break up lumps of clay are also used. Fine sand is removed by screening. Vibrating screens have become well established in the district, although stationary flat screens and trammels are also employed.The writer acknowledges with appreciation the cooperation of the phosphate companies in the land-pebble district; suggestions and criticism by Will. H. Coghill, supervising engineer, Ore Dressing Section of the Bureau of Mines; and the laboratory assistance of J. O. Davie, J. W. Pamplin, and E. Roca, cooperative fellows of the University of Alabama.Losses in the Finer SizesOf the phosphate that is not recovered by present washing methods the greater portion is in the finer sizes. In these sizes the phosphate grains are accompanied by grains of sand - largely quartz - of the same size, and recovery of these phosphate grains as a commercial product is not possible by simple washing methods. Phosphate recoveries approaching complete extraction can only be effecte by applying metallurgical processes, either mechanical or chemical. As yet, most of these processes have not advanced much beyond the laboratory or perhaps the pilot-plant stage. Such processes may have some application to the beneficiation of phosphatic ores or washer rejects, but a discussion of them is not within the scope of this paper."

Apr 1, 1929