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By John T. Dieckmann

This report documents the work performed and the results obtained in a 2-year development of a Mobile Inert Gas Generator for use in the Bureau of Mines Remote Sealing System for fighting underground coal mine fires. The performance requirements of an inert gas generating system for the Remote Sealing System were clearly established. A thorough review of seven possible system designs meeting these requirements was conducted. An air cooled, distillate oil fired combustion type inert gas generator was selected for further detailed design, hardware fabrication, and performance testing. The Inert Gas Generator constructed under this program has been thoroughly performance tested and has been operated in the field for approximately 200 hours. The system has met or exceeded all important performance requirements. The system was used in the fire fighting efforts at the Bethlehem Mines Corporation Cambria Division Mine 33 fire and contributed to the successful containment of the fire. The system was also employed in the demonstration of entire Remote Mine Sealing System at the Jenney Mine in the fall of 1978. The system is currently avail-able for fighting any future underground coal mine fires.

Jan 1, 1979

By W. E. Wallace, V. Castranova, F. Saus, D. Bates, C. A. Hill, V. Vallyathan, M. J. Keane

"Two in vitro systems are being developed to model initial stages in the interaction of respired dusts with the acinar region of the lung. Incubation of quartz and kaolin with dipalmitoyl glycerophosphorylcholine, a major component of pulmonary surfactant, suppresses the prompt C)1otoxicity of both dusts as measured by in vitro enzyme release from pulmonary macrophages or assay by erythrocyte hemolysis. Additional data is presented to quantitate the detoxification of quartz and kaolin by dipalmitoyl lecithin. Subsequent incubation of lecithin treated dusts with phospholipase enzymes results in partial to complete restoration of the assayed cytotoxic potentials, dependent on the lipase activity applied, the incubation time, and the mineral. Restored cytotoxic potential is due to removal of the prophylactic lecithin surface coating and/or due to residual lysolecithin which is produced by the partial enzymatic digestion of lecithin. Data is presented on the contribution of each mechanism to the restored toxicity. Again, this is dependent on the mineral used, the lipase activity applied, and digestion time. Additionally, a system is under development to challenge pulmonary macrophages in culture with native and surfactant treated dusts. A preliminary test of the dipalmitoyl lecithin - quartz rabbit pulmonary macrophage system is presented to illustrate the method.IntroductionRespirable quartz dust exposure is known to cause librotic lung disease; respirable clay dust exposure is less likely to do so as indicated by epidemiologic data on occupational exposures and by animal model studiesP·7) The hypothesis that damage to pulmonary macrophages in the acinar region of the lung by respired dusts is an early event in the disease process requires consideration because kaolin clay and quartz dusts are comparably cytotoxic to pulmonary macrophages in vitro.(3•9)"

Mar 1, 1989

By F. L. Wideman

This paper lists resources of sulfur in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizons, an area comprising approximately 522,600 square miles, Sources of sulfur occuring within the region are sulfur are, pyrite and pyritic ores, and natural gases and petroleum. Data concerning these sources are presented on a statewide basis. Some of the known deposits of sulfur ore are surficial and of fumerole origin; other deposits have resulted from oxidation of pyrite or sulfide ores of copper, lead, and zinc. The deposits are small and the sulfur is distributed erratically in them. There is a small production from some of the deposits, and the material produced is used as soil conditioner.

Jan 1, 1957

By David M. Lake

Conversion to trolley assist is a means of minimizing diesel fuel consumption, which in many mining situations offers a rapid payback of capital investment plus the inherent flexibility and maneuverability of truck shovel operation. When diesel electric truck shovel mining operation with trolley assist is compared to alternative mining methods such as conveyor systems, the trolley assist system can be easily justified in terms of return on investment, payback and increased productivity. A review of present technology, performance requirements and past experience in the mining industry has led to the development of a trolley assist system for diesel electric haulage trucks which, is proven in the mining environment, offers significant reduction in fuel consumption and increased productivity.

Jan 1, 1981

By M. F. Bradley, G. M. Schoen

The Magmont Mine, a 50/50 venture between Cominco American Incorporated (the Operator) and Dresser Industries, Inc., (Halliburton), is a metallic mining and milling facility in the new lead belt of Missouri. The mine is located approximately 100 miles southwest of St. Louis. Legislation passed in 1992 by the Missouri legislature requires all metallic mining and processing facilities to apply for a Metallic Minerals Waste Management permit (MMWM) for their waste facilities. Regulations were subsequently promulgated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Cominco obtained a MMWM permit (MM-006) from the Missouri DNR in 1992.

Jan 1, 2001

By Peter Richards, Alexander Lewis-Gray, Mark Davies, Nicholas Katsikaros

"Gekko Systems developed the Gekko Resin Exchange Column (G-REX) in order to optimise the recovery of gold in complex leach-to-electrowinning processes, as an intermediate step using a highly gold-selective resin to isolate contaminant metals. The AuRIX®100 resin produced by Purolite is licensed exclusively to Gekko, with the G-REX column designed specifically for this resin (Lewis-Gray et al, 2015). Operational experience has been gained at the CGT Ballarat Gold Plant in near continuous operation since 2008, treating unclarified concentrate leach solution. The extension of the technology to higher throughputs and more complex chemistry is discussed.Aurix®100 ResinAuRIX®100 resin is a cross-linked polystyrene alkaline resin developed by Henkel (Virnig et al, 1996). The resin beads are off-white in colour, spherical, with a nominal size of 100% +600µm. This resin is highly selective for gold and silver over many metals, by way of extracting precious metal cyanide complexes from leach solutions with a pH less than 11.5. The higher end of the pH scale produces best selectivity according to the order of preference: Au > Ag > Hg > Zn > Ni > Cu > Co > Fe. Purolite produces the resin and Gekko Systems maintains licensing of AuRIX®100 resin for use in its G-REX column as part of its unique suite of gravity gold handling equipment.Significant cost savings over carbon-in-solution (CIS) systems are realised with AURIX®100 resin, of around 4% to 12% in capital savings and 27% to 40% in operating costs (Virnig et al, 2004). Allied to this is that AuRIX®100 resin is not susceptible to fouling, that is, the resin does not load with inorganic salts or organic compounds which would affect the loading and extraction of precious metals. To counter any potential for fouling by inorganic salts, in service a dilute acid wash is carried out periodically on the resin to unblock resin pores."

Jan 1, 2016

By D G. Boxall

As an alternative to heavy water cooling, reactors cooled by organic liquids are being actively developed in Canada under the sponsorship of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited. One of the areas in which development has been required is that of core materials. The factors affecting the selection of fuel canning and coolant tube materials are discussed. It is shown that S.A.P. is a potentially attractive material for these applications. The fabrication of fuel sheathing is discussed. Difficulties met due to large inclusions and blistering due to high hydrogen contents have been overcome by magnetic separation and vacuum sintering of the powders. High-quality tubes can now be produced by extrusion to finished size. A study has been made of the mechanical properties of fuel-sheathing tubes and bar stock. The stress rupture properties of the tubes subjected to uniaxial and biaxial stress have been determined. The biaxial stress tests were performed by internal pressurization. For times in excess of about 200 hours, the curve of stress against time to rupture is extremely flat. The secondary creep rates of

Jan 1, 1965

By B. R. MacKay

Introduction During the past six seasons the writer has been engaged in semi-detailed investigations on the coal areas lying along the front of the Rocky mountains between the Brazeau river and the Smoky River Coal Reserve (see Map, Figure 1). The purpose of this paper is to present some observations pertaining to the stratigraphy and structure of the district, touching especially upon the lithological units into which the Lower Cretaceous sediments have been divided, the thicknesses of the formations at different localities, the number, thicknesses and horizons of the principal coal seams, and the structural conditions which exist in the various fields.

Jan 1, 1930

By I. C. Edwards, E. O. Lilge, H. H. Mccreedy

"Introductory and GeneralTHE DRIESSEN CONE bas been used fairly extensively commercially as a classifier. Its use as a concentrator in the upgrading of ores at a fairly high ratio of concentration with concomitant recoveries has been almost negligible. Certain known features about the cone, however, such as its high throughput capacity, cheapness of construction and operation, and simplicity of design have attracted the attention of mill men. An inadequate knowledge of the operating characteristics of the cone when used as a concentrator seems to have been the main reason for its lack of use. It was for this reason that the present investigations§ were undertaken to determine the operating characteristics of the cone and its application to the concentration of uranium ores, with particular emphasis being placed on the concentration of low-grade uranium ores.The investigations were started in December, 1951, and have continued uninterrupted to the present. The initial work was confined chiefly to investigating the operating characteristics of the cone in order to establish the trends that certain variables would exert on the general metallurgy of uranium concentration. Optimum metallurgy was therefore not the prime initial objective."

Jan 1, 1955

By E. T. Knight, John D. Gill

IN ITS capacity for service to the public the oil industry is truly gargantuan. But it is only in this respect that the industry is the voracious, many-headed, many-armed and many-handed creature it has been so often painted by those who know it not too intimately and only from the outside. Contrasted sharply with the immensity of the service rendered is the relatively modest share of the national income which has gone to those who provided the tools and the mental and manual labor with which the service was performed. No doubt the relative meagreness of the re- ward was the result of a combination of fortuitous circumstances respecting the nature and accessibility of the industry's raw material and the extensive development and application of the most advanced technology, spurred by an intense competition.

Jan 1, 1940

By D. Harrington, G. S. Rice, R. R. Sayers

"The Bureau of Mines in Serial No. 2606,4 issued in May, 1924, gave tentative specifications for rock-dusting to prevent coal-dust explosions in mines. Subsequently, a sectional committee of the American Engineering Standards Committee was appointed to formulate recommendations for standard practice in rock-dusting coal mines. The report of this Committee which follows was approved by the American Engineering Standards Committee, December 30, 1925. Several members of the Bureau of Mines staff served on this Sectional Committee and its recommendations are essentially in harmony with those of the Tentative Specifications in Serial No. 2606.As certain explanatory details contained in that serial are not included in the recommendations formulated by the American Engineering Standards Committee, it should be considered by coal-mine managements in conjunction with the committee's report which follows:Recommended American Practice for Rock-Dusting Coal Mines to Prevent Coal-Dust Explosions 1. Definitions of Terms Used: The term ""Mine"" shall include all underground excavations from which coal is hoisted or transported to the surface, through one or more openings.The term ""Main Haulage"" shall include all underground slopes and planes, all rock tunnels, and all entries excepting those from which rooms or chambers are turned.The term ""Entry"" shall include all underground haulageways, travellingways and airways, excepting working places as defined below:"

Mar 1, 1927

By Solange Tamara da Fonseca

Uma das maneiras de se reduzir os custos no transporte de cargas é aumentando a quantidade de carga transportada por vagão, isto eleva a tensão no eixo do vagão e, consequentemente, a roda deve possuir maior dureza sem perda da tenacidade para suportar o desgaste. Para atingir os níveis de dureza necessários estão sendo desenvolvidas rodas ferroviárias com aços microligados ao nióbio (Nb), vanádio (V), molibdênio (Mo) e titânio. A empresa MWL Brasil fabricante de rodas ferroviárias forjadas desenvolveu dois aços microligados: 1° contendo o elemento microligante vanádio (0,13 % em peso) e 2° contendo os microligantes nióbio+molibdênio (0,014 % + 0,12 %, respectivamente), ambos os aços com 0,7 % C. Estes aços foram analisados microestruturalmente e mecanicamente a partir da roda ferroviária pronta. A microestrutura destes aços é composta basicamente por ferrita-perlita. Nas propriedades mecânicas o aço ao V apresentou os melhores resultados em todos os ensaios (tração na temperatura ambiente e 540 ºC, energia absorvida no ensaio Charpy e KIC) quando comparado ao aço sem microligantes ou com a adição de Nb+Mo. O melhor desempenho do aço ao V foi atribuído ao seu menor tamanho de grão austenítico e espaçamento interlamelar da perlita mais refinado.

Aug 16, 2017

By G. Richards Gwinn

In modern warfare, mica is truly indispensable. Coordination of combatant units necessitates maintenance of intricate communications equipment, in the construction of which high-grade sheet mica is essential. Scrap, ground, and the poorer qualities of block mica, which are less essential to the military program, are not considered in this paper. Furthermore, as the paper is designed primarily to assist mica miners, mica derivatives, Such as splittings and films, also are excluded from discussion. The paper therefore relates solely to block mica of strategic quality. Understanding of t e many factor involved in marketing mica is definitely advantageous to mica, miners. The nature and detrimental effects

Jan 1, 1943

"The sulphide nickel resources of Australia are concentrated in the Western Australian Shield. This shield is considered to have developed by extensive, but incomplete, Proterozoic reworking of once-continuous Archaean crust. It now constitutes relic Archaean cratons and intervening orogenic mobile belts transected by narrow, curvilinear tectono-thermal mobile belts of younger Proterozoic age. Remnants of the Archaean cratons are exposed in the Yilgarn and Pilbara Blocks. In the former an ancient (to ca 3600 m.y.) high-grade gneiss terrain (Western Gneiss Terrain) occurs along the western margin of the block and is interpreted to flank younger (ca3000-2800 m.y.) greenstone belts to the east. Ancient (to ca3500 m.y.) granitoid-greenstone terrains dominate the Pilbara Block.Proterozoic mobile belts contain only traces of nickel mineralization, except for one locality in the Halls Creek Province. The Archaean high-grade gneiss terrains contain no important mineralization, and the Pilbara granitoid-greenstone terrains contain only scattered examples of less important types of mineralization.The important deposits (e.g. Kambalda, Windarra, Agnew, Mt Keith) are all of komatiitic affinity and are best developed in the youngest greenstone belts of the eastern part of the Yilgarn Block. In particular, they are concentrated within, and adjacent to, the Norseman-Wiluna Belt, which contrasts in age, lithofacies and structural style with all other greenstone belts in the shield. It is interpreted to have been a rift zone. Within this belt the two main deposit types—the volcanic peridotite-associated and intrusive dunite-associated deposits—are concentrated into spatially separate zones. Precise controls on this heterogeneous distribution cannot be determined unequivocally from available data. One possibility is that the major volcanic peridotite-associated deposits were developed selectively in the actively subsiding axial part of the rift zone during the early extensional phase, whereas intrusive dunite-associated deposits were formed during a subsequent (less active?) stage of volcanic basin development. Distinctive sub-types (facies) of the volcanic peridotite-associated deposits form clusters that are generally within the rift zone. These may represent deposits related to discrete eruption centres, and at least part of their variation is due to relative position within extensive, topographically confined, linear flows."

Jan 1, 1984

By Nikhil Dhawan, Shrey Agrawal, Veeranjaneyulu Rayapudi

India’s steel vision of 2030 requires a huge amount of quality iron ore. The utilization of low-grade iron ores such as banded iron ores will play an important role to achieve the same production. The absence of alumina impurities in the banded hematite jasper (BHJ) ore provides it an edge over other low-grade iron ores. The conventional beneficiation techniques such as magnetic separation and washing were found to be ineffective to produce suitable feed (Fe ~ 60%) for the blast furnace. It was found that microwave exposure provides significant enrichment to the low-grade iron ore and can be used as a pretreatment step in the beneficiation of similar low-grade iron ores. The above study reveals that hematite phase is susceptible to microwave exposure which enhances the separation of iron values from impurities. Under optimum conditions, an iron-enriched concentrate with 61% Fe, 85% Fe recovery at 50% yield can be achieved from BHJ feed ~ 38% Fe. The pretreatment process for BHJ beneficiation includes only microwave exposure without any chemical additive and may prove economical and industrially feasible.

By R. E. Siemens, Gary L. Hundley

The Bureau of Mines has devised and demonstrated a process for recovering Ni and Co from low-grade domestic laterites . The process consists of four mmaajjoorr steps : ( 1 ) reduction roast , ( 2 ) ammoniacal leach , ( 3 ) solvent extraction , and ( 4 ) electrowinning . Several solid - liquid separation steps are required that affect the economics of the overall process . In this study , two techniques for solid - liquid separation , centrifugation and thickening , were investigated . This report presents the results of ( 1 ) laboratory and pilot plant studies to determine parameters for sizing centrifuges and thickeners and ( 2 ) an economic study of the two techniques , based on the requirements of a commercial - size ( 5,000 - tpd ) laterite processing plant . Sizing and other equipment - related recommendations , based on data from the Bureau's studies , were obtained from commercial manufacturers . The costs of thickening and centrifugation , including all the unit operations affected , were determined by the Bureau's process evaluation group . The total operating costs for separation using the two techniques ( including depreciation on the capital cost of equipment ) were found to be quite close : $ 17.26 per ton of laterite for centrifugation and $ 18.15 per ton of laterite for thickening . For centrifugal separation , the greatest cost was found to be the initial capital cost for the separation equipment ; using thickeners , the greatest cost was for reagent recovery .

Jan 1, 1983

By R. E. Johnson

Seventy years after the start of the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain, as reckoned from Arkwright's water frame patented in 1769, there was a significant development of the metallurgical industry in Virginia. In Britain, crucible steel had been rediscovered by Benjamin Huntsman in 17~0, and this made spring and tool steel more generally available. The metal-turning, screw-cutting lathe, including the basic principles recognized in today's engine lathe, was developed by Henry Maudslay about 1797. Wrought iron, as manufactured by Henry Cort's process patented in 1784, was readily available. Richard Trevithick's highpressure steam locomotive had met its test on the Pennydarren tramroad in 1804, and George Stephenson had built his famous Rocket, along with several other locomotives, at Newcastle around 1828. Puddling furnaces and a rolling mill had been placed in operation at the Tredegar Iron Works in Glyn Sirhowy, Monmouthshire, Wales, in 1807. In the United States, expanding commerce and a growing population resulted in continuing development from the Chesapeake to Virginia's Blue Ridge, and this demanded improved means of transportation. Ore deposits rich in hematite had been found in Virginia's Piedmont during the Colonial period, and a number of blast furnaces now dotted that area. The products of these operations were mostly pots, kettles, stove parts and like items for local trade. The James River and Kanawha Canal was incorporated in January 1785. Its eastern leg, winding along the slope of the high bluffs overlooking the river, was completed about 1800. About two dozen railroads were chartered in Virginia between 1830 and 1837. With expanding population and steady industrial development came a need for metallurgical products. Throughout the eastern United States, numerous metallurgical enterprises sprang up, and many of these flourished. The purpose of this article is to outline the development of one Southern metallurgical company, the Tredegar Iron Works, which was to have a significant impact on the industrial development of Virginia and the fighting of the American Civil War. Although the Tredegar Iron Works no longer exists, remnants of the early operations have been restored, and the current status of the site is also presented.

Jan 1, 1999

By W. B. Tarpley

This program was conducted to demonstrate the unique advantages of suppressing methane ignition in underground mines by use of Energy & Minerals Research Company's thixogel fire extinguishing system, which stably suspends dry powder extinguishing agent in thixotropically gelled liquefied gas extinguishant. As anticipated, the project demonstrated thixogel system advantages of: 1) capability to disperse state-of-the-art powders in thixogelled Halons; 2) non-agglomerating stability for dependable expulsion; 3) stability in storage for long shelf life; 4) virtually in¬stantaneous dispersion; 5) expansive cloud formation; 6) reach and re-forming around obstacles; 7) at least twice the extinguishant effectiveness; and 8) compatibility of use with Fenwal bottles and MSHA canisters. Thus, it should prove a superior explosion/fire suppressant for coal face cutters and triggered barriers, as well as for motorized equipment, electrical equipment and the like.

Jan 1, 1981

By Will H. Coghill, Fred D. DeVaney

"INTRODUCTION The Mesabi iron district of Minnesota has a potential production of over 50 million tons of iron ore annually. The large shipments of ore each year are gradually depleting the reserves, and if the present rate of production is to be maintained there must be a growth in the present available ore supply.Growth is a natural course. The growth of a city may be affected by the addition of city blocks or by the improvement of utilities necessary for its betterment, these may go on in the order named or concurrently. The city-block type of growth of the Mesabi has been tremendous, and the ""betterment"" type has followed in due course. Probably the former has reached its limit, and if so, more time will be allotted to the latter. It is not the intent of this paper to present either a eulogy of the wonderful mining methods or a history of the milling, but it is pertinent to say that if the lean-ore area continues to produce, the continuance will be more the result of further improvement of milling methods now well under way than of extension of boundaries by the city block plan of growth.In an examination of the western end of the Mesabi district one finds sludge basins containing millions of tons of millable ore rejected by washing plants which were built for economy in operating cost and with little thought of conservation, and rich tailings piles of jigging plant rejects. In addition, there is an appreciable tonnage of bawl rake pro-ducts so low-grade that it requires mixing with the best ore of the district to make it merchantable.Any of these three products is a source of additional reserves, but gangue must be removed before the products will comply with blast-furnace stipulations. All investigators are agreed that to effect this separation comminution must be fine enough for liberation, but beyond this point opinions diverge; some would seek new processes, while others adhere to methods and machines developed in other mining districts.In the investigation by the Mississippi Valley Experiment Station of the United States Bureau of Mines working in conjunction with the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy,Rolla, Mo., the latter course has been followed. Attention was first given to the sludge basins mentioned. From their contents good grades of concentrates were made and the results published 4 later commercial-scale tests were made in a pilot plant of 10 tables, and the laboratory results were confirmed, The tailings from jigging plants are high in iron, and a study of their possible retreatment showed that if they are recrushed, high recoveries of acceptable grade may be expected. The results will be published later."

Apr 1, 1932

By J. P. Powell

Records show that systematic water flooding was begun as early as 1935 in Greenwood County and in 1937 in Butler County. Water flooding on some earlier projects in Greenwood County were described in a Bureau of Mines Report of Investigation.2/ This report presents a discussion of 4 projects -2 in Butler County, 1 in Greenwood County, and 1 in Butler and Greenwood Counties. The location of these projects is shown in figure 1. The projects have been in operation 6 to 12 years and have recovered about 6.6 million barrels of additional oil from the injection of 84.7 million barrels of water. Three of the projects take advantage of the elevation of the nearby hilly terrain, and water from the treating ponds flows by gravity through the filters into the clear-water tanks. By utilizing gravity flow, fewer pumps and less electrical energy is required, resulting in more economical operation.

Jan 1, 1956