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By L. C. George

Addition of an acid waste to an alkaline cyanide waste was investigated for five different combinations of electroplating wastes. At the optimum final pH values of the mixtures, metals and cyanides were almost quantita¬tively precipitated. No evolution of hydrogen cyanide was detected by a few additional processing steps, significant amounts of variable metals were recovered for recycling the waste-plus-Waste step is attractive because no reagents are required, metals arc concentrated, and a relatively harmless effluent that meets most water quality Standards for cyanide content is produced.

Jan 1, 1970

By J. B. Gayle

The Bureau of Mines studied the effects of air oxidation on the recovery of float coal. Both batch-and continuous-type tests were made on six bituminous coals, representing the range in rank of coals now commercially used for carbonization, and on one anthracite coal. The effects on flotation recovery of oxidation at 1000 C for periods up to 50 days were investigated using an alcohol-type frother and a kerosine-pine oil reagent. Two series of release analysis tests were made, using one medium-volatile bituminous coal. Float coal recovery was adversely affected by oxidation in all tests where the alcohol-type frother was used. Conversely, a small degree of oxidation improved recovery with kerosine-pine oil frother for some of the coals in continuous tests. Prolonged oxidation (beyond about 14 days) adversely affected float coal recovery for all coals, the effect being more pronounced for batch-type tests and for tests using alcohol-type frother. Reagent selectivity for the rejection of both ash forming and sulfur bearing minerals was reduced by oxidation. Severe reduction of reagent selectivity required only about 3 days' oxidation for alcohol-type frother but more than 10 days' oxidation when the kerosene-pine oil reagent was used.

Jan 1, 1965

By J. D. Marchant

The Bureau of Mines studied solid-state electromigration to determine the value of the technique as a method of purifying cerium metal. Cerium metal in bars 6 inches long and 1/2 inch in diameter was refined at 600° C by solid-state electrolysis to remove iron, copper, and manganese. Iron and manganese were electrotransported to the anode and copper was electrotransported to the cathode. The concentration of iron at the anode of a cerium bar was 800 times greater than the concentration at the cathode. The concentration of manganese at the anode was twice the value at the cathode. The concentration of copper was 170 times greater at the cathode than at the anode. A radiotracer technique was used to follow the iron migration in the cerium metal. Molybdenum, silicon, and aluminum impurities were not electrotransported.

Jan 1, 1967

By E. L. Garton

The Bureau of Mines for a number of years has been conducting an investigation of crude petroleum from producing fields in the United States and the Western Hemisphere and has published a series of reports on these fields. Analyses of crude-oil samples from many oil fields of Oklahoma are given in Bulletin 2913. Analyses of 21 representative crude oils from various producing zones of the Oklahoma City field are given in this report. A close study of the analyses reveals very few differences in the general characteristics and chemical properties of these oils.

Jan 1, 1932

By P. T. Brooks

A process for extracting 69 percent of the vanadium from weathered Nevada dolomitic shale containing about 1 percent V205 was developed on a laboratory scale by the Bureau of Mines. The process essentially is comprised of salt roasting, leaching with dilute sulfuric acid, solvent extraction, and precipitation of vanadium as ammonium metavanadate. Carbonaceous unweathered shale was less amenable to treatment. A preliminary cost estimate for mining and processing 1,500 tons per day of weathered shale indicated a production cost of about 1 dollar per lb of V205. Considering recent sales at nearly $1. 75 per lb of contained V205, larger scale testing to obtain more definitive process design and evaluation data may be warranted.

Jan 1, 1974

By L. E. Schultze

Experiments were conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Mines to verify enhancements due to chloride and surfactant additions in the leaching system of chalcopyrite with ferric sulfate and sulfuric acid. A statistical experimental design was used and equipment was designed to eliminate contributions from changes in solution electrochemical potential during the course of the measurements. Results confirmed that chloride additions increased chalcopyrite leaching by as much as 94 pct over the electrochemical potential versus hydrogen electrode range of 630 to 750 mV at pH 1.7 and 50°C. Total iron concentration had no effect over the range of 1 to 5 g/L. The effect of surfactant addition was less well defined. While additions of LA 790 (a polyoxyethylene lauryl ether) resulted in increased copper leaching in several of the tests, the differences were too small to be statistically significant. No interaction effect could be verified.

Jan 1, 2010

By G. Richards Gwinn

Vermiculites are secondary minerals formed by the: alteration of biotite and philogopite mica and are associated with basic rocks such as dunites, serpentines, and pyroxenites. Vermiculite was first described by T. H. Webb in 1824. It remained a mineralogical curiosity until 1913, when the first commercial deposit was discovered in the Turrett mining district of Colorado. Expanded or exfoliated vermiculite was first marketed in 1915 from a deposit in this district 5 miles southeast of Hecla, Colo. This activity was brief, but successful and continuous commercial development began in 1921 in Montana. 'Deposits in other States have been found and developed, but Montana is by far the largest producer. Vermiculite has also been found in South Africa, Western

Jan 1, 1944

By John S. Dunning

This paper is one of a series describing methods and costs of recovering sand and gravel from deposits in the United States and deals directly with the operations of the Atlas Sand, Gravel and Stone Co. at Farmington, Conn. These papers are designed to disseminate technical information regarding the methods used. The cost tabulations represent local expenditures only and not total production costs. It is recognized that publication of total costs might in some instances cause embarasement to individual producers, as well as to the industry as a whole. On the other hand, operating costs are essential to the technical discussion and study of methods employed. The attention of the reader is specifically called to this differentiation in order that no misunderstanding of the scope of the cost tabulations may ensue.

Jan 1, 1933

By William E. Dennis

"INTRODUCTION The San Antonio Canyon prospect was examined by engineers 3/ of the Bureau of Mines in March 1943 and again in October 1944. In July 1944, the United States Geological Survey mapped the prospect and submitted a report 4/ recommending core drilling by the Bureau of Mines. The drilling project, which was supervised by the author, was started on January 10 and completed on May 10, 1946.ACKNOWLEDGMENTSIn its program of investigation 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 project as soon as practicable after its conclusion. The Mining Branch, Lowell B. Moon, chief, conducts preliminary examinations, performs the actual investigative work, and prepares the final report. The Metallurgical Branch, O. C. Ralston, chief, analyzes samples and performs beneficiation tests. Acknowledgment is made to W. D. McMillan, engineer in charge of the Austin field office, and to J. H. Hedges, chief of the Tucson Division, Mining Branch, for general direction and advice. The samples were analysed in the laboratory of the Metallurgical Branch at Rolla, Mo., C. Travis Anderson, chief."

May 1, 1947

By D. A. Stanley

The Bureau of Mines is investigating a method of dewatering flocculated fine-particle waste that involves treating the waste with a high molecular-weight polymer such as polyethylene oxide (PED) followed by dewatering on a static screen and/or in a trommel. Dilution of the polymer solution used for dewatering and use of the ion-exchanged form of the montmorillonite clay were found to be major factors determining the amount of polymer required to dewater clay-containing slurries. The amount of polymer, A, required to dewater ion-exchanged montmorillonite can be described by the equation, An = kC + b where n, k, and b are empirical constants and C is the concentration of the polymer solution used for dewatering. Clays that require large amounts of polymer for dewatering also dewater to a lower solids content. The concentration of the polymer solution is important because it affects the radius of the polymer coil in solution and hence its ease of transfer to a bridging configuration by shear. The constant, n, a function of the charge to hydrated radius of the exchange ion, relates to the strength of the bond between the polymer and the surface of the clay through a water bridge. The constant k is related to the hydrated radi-us for sodium or to the unhydrated radius for the other exchange ions.

Jan 1, 1986

By D. C. Crowell

This publication presents the results of a laboratory investigation of displacement of gas by injection or imbibition of water into sandstone models under essentially isobaric conditions. A brief discussion of scaling requirements is included. The influence on residual gas saturation of independently varying the parameters of dimensional ratios of the porous media, rates and methods of flooding, surface tension, initial water saturation, and permeability is shown. Of these variables, increased initial water saturation and decreased surface tension reduced residual gas saturation significantly, whereas variations in flooding rate and dimensional ratios had no apparent effect. No correlation was evident between absolute permeability and residual gas saturation.

Jan 1, 1966

By Xavier B. Starnes

The Dike and Eaton veins in Crittenden County, Ky. (fig. 1), are along northwesterly trending relief fractures that lie between two northeastward striking major faults - the Moore Hill and- the Levias, in Crittenden County, Ky. The veins contain small, narrow, irregular ore bodies of fluorspar with subordinate quantities of sphalerite and galena. Gravel fluorspar was found on the surface in the Eaton vein, and open-cut mining was in progress on the W. M. Conyer property about 1900. Discovery of fluorspar in the Dike vein came much later, about 1933, on the W. H. LaRue tract, but the principal production on the Dike vein started after the discovery of gravel spar in 1938 on the land of the P. J. Gilless estate. Production from the Eaton vein was estimated at 9,400 tons and that from the Dike vein at 15,700 tons, a total of 25,100 tons. A large part of this production was gravel fluorspar from within 50 foot of the surface. Beneath the gravel spar the veins are very narrow, averaging 2 to 2.5 feet in width, and the ore shoots are small. The deepest mine level was 140 feet below the surface, and the deepest shaft 150 foot. Orb was concentrated by log washer or sent unwashed to custom mills at Marion, Ky. about 6 miles distant.

Jan 1, 1950

By L. C. IlsLey, H. B. Freeman

In connection with the approval of coal-cutting machines for service in gaseous mines , the engineers of the Bureau of Mines have been somewhat concerned as to the type of trailing cables that could safely be used on permissible outfits . While no final action has been taken on this question ( tentative approvals having been granted pending investigations ) , the Bureau has been endeavoring to collect data and information on this question which would permit a fair , yet safe , ruling to be made . For this purpose cooperative arrangements were made with three coal companies to visit certain of their mines , making inspections inside the mines to observe the cables and cutting machines in operation . In all , twenty mines were visited . A questionnaire covering the operations of trailing cables was filled out at each of these mines . In a few instances no personal inspection was made , the information being supplied by mine officials after conferences with the Bureau's engineer . At other mines the information given by mine officials was supplemented by personal observation inside the mines , usually at a time when the cutting machines were in operation .

Jul 1, 1923

By R. A. Cattell

With the activities of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Division geared chiefly to problems directly connected with the war effort , the emphasis of the work under oil and gas development and production was to make engineering studies of selected reservoirs for the Petroleum Administration for War , to determine the extractable quantities of components in them, and to study the characteristics of these components for use in the manufacture of aviation gasoline and other products . The needs of the Petroleum Administration for War and the operators for specific data from gas - condensate fields were fulfilled , and , in addition , engineering data along lines of a forward - looking program of research on reservoir behavior were collected , which should be of great value in the postwar period . It is planned to publish many of these data as soon as conditions permit . The work of the Secondary Recovery Section had as its objectives in- . creasing the rate of production of crude petroleum and , which is more important , preventing the premature abandonment of wells in " stripper " and marginal According to the National Survey of Stripper Wells by the National Stripper Well Association in cooperation with the Interstate Oil Compact Commission , a total of 67,460 stripper wells was abandoned from January 1 , 1935 , to July 1 , 1942 , inclusive , with an estimated loss in proved reserves of approximately 216 million barrels . This survey also indicates that over 1.2 billion barrels of oil would be recovered by primary production from more than 290,000 stripper wells then in operation , and an additional 2.5 billion barrels of oil could be recovered from them by secondary production methods . The work of the Chemistry and Refining Section was oriented towards the optimum utilization of crude oils in the manufacture of aviation fuels for spark-ignition and jet - propulsion engines . The work involved intensive studies of superfractionation , hydrocarbon analysis , and the engine testing of fuels . Particular attention was given to the effect of sulfur compounds in the crude oils and in the fuels made from them . The research on thermodynamics is concerned with the experimental determination of precise and accurate values of the fundamental thermodynamic constants of pure hydrocarbons and related compounds . The data obtained in these investigations will be utilized for devising and improving chemical processes in which petroleum hydrocarbons are the raw materials . Without such data , much time and expensive material and equipment may be wasted in attempts to obtain reactions under conditions that the laws of thermodynamics rule out of consideration . Thermodynamic data are useful and required in the petroleum industry for calculations of heat balances in the design of furnaces , fractionating towers , and heat- transfer equipment . It is of utmost importance , also , to know the heat requirements of cracking and other chemical reactions so that heat may be supplied or dissipated in the proper proportions . These needs for thermodynamic data are being recognized more and more by petroleum -refining engineers . The responsibility for the production of helium for the Navy , the Army , other governmental agencies and non-Federal users is vested in the Bureau of Mines by an Act of Congress ( 50 Stat . 885 ; 50 U.S.c. 161-166 ) . The Helium Subdivision of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Division continued to meet all demands for helium .

Jun 1, 1949

By Harold E. Marr

Energy dispersion X-ray analysis was evaluated for possible application in the secondary metals industries for the rapid analysis and identification of copper-base alloys. Laboratory investigations of standard brass and bronze samples indicate that X-ray methods are capable of separating standard alloys into 10 general classes with analytical times of less than 3 seconds per sample for clean, flat samples. A radioactive source of americium 241 with a secondary fluorescer was used as an excitation source, and a lithium-drifted silicon semiconductor detector was utilized for energy discrimination of X-rays.

Jan 1, 1974

By Leonard Obert

Subsidence to surface occurs in a large proportion of underground mines. Preliminary to any indication of subsidence on the surface, there is usually a breaking up and sloughing of the cover into the mine opening which, in a period of time ranging from minutes to many years, progresses to the surface, This process is referred to as subsurface subsidence. In many mining operations, information regarding the process of subsurface subsidence is important, For example, if there are buildings or other improvements on the surface, or if the direction of the subsurface subsidence might threaten other underground workings--such as shafts--or if the subsidence might be progressing in a direction which would fall outside the anticipated subsidence limits, the problem could assume special significance.

Jan 1, 1961

By T. A. Henrie, E. K. Kleespies

Carbon reduction of rutile and ilmenite in nitrogen and ammonia atmospheres was studied as a method of preparing titanium nitride . Ammonia was a better nitriding agent than nitrogen . The contact between the solid reactants , carbon and rutile , was a prime factor in nitrogen atmospheres and was of lesser import in dissociated ammonia . The reduction process for conversion of rutile to the nitride required carbon . The nitriding of ilmenite- carbon mixtures produced titanium nitride and elemental iron .

Jan 1, 1964

By A. B. Hooker, L. C. IlsLey

"The last previous Bureau of Mines publication relative to details of permissible electric mine lamps is Bulletin 332, which describes 16 lamps approved prior to May 1930. Some of the lamps have become obsolete through the development of improved models which, with several new types, make it desirable to supplement the Bureau's published data relative to permissible electric mine lamps.In the following descriptions, lamps approved since May 1930 and prior to July 1, 1935, are placed in the three following groups: (1) Electric cap lamps, (2) electric hand lamps, and (3) lamps for miscellaneous applications,ELECTRIC CAP LAMPS APPROVED UNDER SCHEDULE 6B1. Edison model J lamp, approval no. 24. - The features that distinguish this lamp from earlier models of Edison electric cap lamps are:(a) The battery consists of two F-2 cells of square cross section and about 1-1/4 inches higher than M-14 cells in the model H lamp, making the battery narrower and higher than any of the earlier models of Edison cap lamps.(b) The cells are insulated from each other and the Monel-metal casing by enclosure in vulcanized-rubber baglike enclosures. Both cell terminals are insulated from the cell jar.(c) The battery is equipped with rubber-tube Bunsen-valve-type gas vents.(d) The battery casing is secured by a new-type magnetic lock.(e.) The battery and cover terminal clips have been redesigned to give a wiping contact."

Jun 1, 1936

By P. A. Wasson

The investigation described in this publication was conducted by the Bureau of Mines to determine the effectiveness of the anionic silica flotation method on goethitic iron-bearing materials from the Cuyuna Range, Minn. Samples used in this investigation were a composite of drill core from 13 holes, and 3 samples from lean ore stockpiles. These samples are believed to be typical of the mineralization occurring in an area with a potential reserve of several million tans of submarginal iron ore. Results from batch tests showed that the iron-bearing minerals could be effectively concentrated by flotation removal of the siliceous gangue. The drill hole composite yielded laboratory flotation concentrates from locked tests containing 56.8 percent Fe and 6.1 percent silica, with an accompanying iron unit recovery of 94.2 percent. Concentrates containing 52.4 to 53.7 percent Fe also were produced from the lean ore stockpile materials; corresponging iron recoveries ranged from 71 to 79 percent in the batch tests, with the possibility remaining for additional recovery of iron from the middlings.

Jan 1, 1963

By David N. Montgomery

The characteristics of a closed cavity acoustic coupler were measured. Various configurations were investigated to determine their feasibility for use in a portable audio dosimeter calibrator.

Jan 1, 1976