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By Laurence G. Trudell

Geology and oil-yield data are presented for a 58-square-mile area encompassing the U.S. Department of the Interior oil-shale leasing program tracts in the western Washakie Basin, Sweetwater County, Wyo. Lithology and oil yields of samples from three Bureau of Mines coreholes are evaluated and correlated with Kinney Rim surface sections measured and sampled by the U.S. Geological Survey. Minable sections of oil shale averaging up to 25 gallons of oil per ton crop out on Kinney Rim in the Laney Member of the Green River Formation. Thick oil-shale sections in the Laney Member that average 15 gallons per ton represent 155 million barrels of oil in place per square mile. In the lower part of the Green River Formation the Tipton Shale Member contains a 20-to 40-foot section averaging 15 gallons per ton. Beds of high-volatile C bituminous coal up to 6 feet thick are present in intertongued parts of the lower Green River Formation and upper Wasatch Formation.

Jan 1, 1973

By S. H. Lorain

This paper briefly describes the principal known commercial and near commercial deposits of gold-bearing gravel end the principal placer mining operations of Idaho County, Idaho. It is one of a series of similar papers on western mining districts. The data used in writing this paper were gathered during the summer of 1937. Information concerning gold-bearing gravels was obtained from prospectors and operators, while operators supplied most of the data on mining operations. No attempt was made actually to test the gravels. The principal object of the examination was to indicate placer areas worthy of further investigation by prospective operators.

Jan 1, 1938

By Michael D. Balen

The Bureau of Mines (Bureau), in cooperation with the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys (ADGGS), conducted field investigations from 1987 through 1989 in the 5.7 million-acre Valdez Creek Mining District (VCMD) in south-central Alaska. The objective of the VCMD investigation was to evaluate the mineral resources and the mineral development potential of the mining district. The investigation was part of the Bureau's continuing statewide mining district evaluation program. Nineteen new mineral occurrences were identified as a result of this investigation. Reconnaissance placer sampling resulted in the identification of 10 previously unreported occurrences that primarily contain gold, however, some contain subsidiary platinum-group metals and/or tin. Reconnaissance lode sampling resulted in the identification of two gold-silver occurrences, three platinum-group metal occurrences that contain elevated quantities of subsidiary chromium, nickel and/or cobalt, three copper occurrences that contain subsidiary molybdenum or zinc, and one zinc occurrence.

Jan 1, 2011

By James Westfield

This report covers the calendar year 1954 and has been prepared and submitted to the Congress of the United States in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 106(a) and Sec. 2l2(c) of the Federal Coal-Mine Safety Act (66 Stat. 692; 30 U.S.C. Sec. 451-483). Background The Federal Coal-Mine Inspection program was established to carry out the provisions of Public Law 49, 77th Congress, H. R. 2082, approved May 7, 1941. This act has since been amended to be known as Title I -Advisory Powers Relating to Health and Safety Conditions in Mines, under Public Law 552, 82d Congress, approved July 16, 1952, which also includes Title II -Prevention of Major Disasters in Mines. Public Law 552 is known as the Federal Coal-Mine Safety Act.

Jan 1, 1956

By F. A. Penning

An experimental and analytical investigation was conducted on a recoverable pit bottom buffer. Work was conducted at the Colorado School of Mines using the U.S. Bureau of Mine-s free fall test tower. The four-sided butter, one of several designs by Cable Belt Ltd., was constructed of reinforced rubber slabs. The kinetic energy of falling weights, 1670 to 6000 lb, was absorbed by the flexure of rubber slabs loaded along their edge. A series of constant energy, 3000 ft-lb and maximum design velocity, 600 fpm tests were conducted. Static testing of the buffer established the load-deformation behavior. A large hysteresis loop plotted above and below the data published by the manufacturer. Creep was evident during; the loading Lend unloading cycle. Electronic instrumentation measured deceleration using your accelerometers; overall and intermediate movement was found from four displacement transducers; bending strains were recorded at four locations; and base reactions were measured by using four load cells. Data were recorded on tape and played back on a recording oscillograph. High speed movies were taken of all the tests. Symmetry of response and rebounds, when they occurred, were noted. From the displacement-time and load-time data, maximum decelerations were calculated by four methods and different assumptions. Good agreement was found from these approaches. Impact loads ranged from a low of 0.7 to a high of 6.1 gs. A dynamic computer model was written for the response of the buffer. Displacement-time, and acceleration-time plots show close correspondence with experimental data for the ten experiments. Data from accelerometers, displacement transducers, strain gages, and load cells are included. The computer program listing, and displacement-time acceleration-time plots are also presented.

Jan 1, 1980

By J. R. Thoenen

This circular is part 5 of the third paper (entitled "Excavation") of a series summarizing the technical problems involved in the production and preparation of sand and gravel. Part 1 discussed the use of power shovels, draglines, and excavator cranes; part 2, power scrapers, slackline cable-way excavators, and hydraulic monitors; part 3, hydraulic, clamshell, ladder, and dipper dredges; and part 4, haulage systems in general, with particular reference to locomotive and car, hoist and car, and remote-control systems. This circular discusses the use of motor trucks, conveyor belts, pumps end pipe lines, barges and towboats, and aerial trams. MOTOR-TRUCK HAULAGE During recent years motor trucks have gained considerable ground as a successful competitor of locomotive haulage for quarries and gravel pits. Often where trucks have displaced locomotives and cars the operators readily admit an increase in both labor and total haulage operating costs but point to some other advantage as offsetting the extra expense. In other instances haulage costs have beep reduced by the use of trucks. In still others operators, having replaced locomotive haul with trucks, have again returned to the earlier method. Obviously gasoline-driven motor trucks cannot successfully compete with other types of haulage under all conditions. The apparent' growth in the number of advocates of truck haulage, however, indicates that it has passed the experimental stage and become a permanent competitor to other tyres.

Jan 1, 1936

By Juh W. Chen

A process for recovery of energy from waste coal fines was investigated. The process, which was developed through laboratory, bench, and pilot plant scale experiments, consists of mechanical cleaning followed by high temperature oil agglomeration and pelletization. The process can produce a quality product under an economically and environmentally acceptable condition. Waste coal fines with ash less than 35: and HHV greater than 6,000 BTU/1b have been upgraded to a product with less than 15% ash and HHV Greater than 11,500 BTU/lb. A computer model has been developed to optimize the processing costs and to perform economic evaluation of specific sites. Ultimately tine model can be utilized to establish a priority listing for a region in assisting the determination of reclamation strategy.

Jan 1, 1983

This report summarizes the work performed under USBM Contract No. H0395041. The primary objective of this work was to extend the noise control technology developed under earlier USBM projects to a wider range of load-haul-dump models to evaluate the general applicability of these techniques. Noise control treatments were designed, fabricated, and installed on three Wagner LHDs (an 5T-2B, ST-2D, and an 5T-8A) selected as demonstration machines for this project. The machines were evaluated either in production mines or at the Bureau's Lake Lynn Mine. The results indicate that it is possible to achieve overall noise reductions of between 4 and 8 dB using these techniques. Engine cooling and seal design were determined to be important design issues in such treatments.

Jan 1, 1984

By M. M. Ayoub

This volume is the second of three volumes comprising the final report of the research project "Biomechanics of Low Coal." It covers only the anthropometric study of low coal miners. Volume I summarizes the overall biomechanical, anthropometry, and work physiology study conducted. Development of work clothes modified to meet the needs of low coal miners is described in Volume III. The male and female anthropometry, with the exception of weight and circumferential dimensions, was quite similar to the comparison populations. The miners tended to be heavier and have greater circumferences. The measurements made in this study were used to develop 5th, 50th and 95th percentile, quarter and half scale, male and female mannequins. These twelve mannequins can be used in work place and equipment design and redesign.

Jan 1, 1982

By John G. Parker

Important quantities of gold, silver, platinum-group metals, selenium, tellurium, and arsenic are recovered in the processing of copper concentrates. The objective of this Bureau of Mines study was to determine the occurrence of these elements in copper ores and to trace their distribution during subsequent processing steps. The study describes the important areas supplying concentrates, precipitates, and unrefined copper to the copper smelting and refining industry in a composite of the years 1971-74. The relative importance of these areas as a source of the respective byproducts is assessed. The lack of certain quantitative and assay data, recycling of dusts and slags, and the addition of scrap to the feed often complicates calculations and estimations of the byproducts in the smelter-refinery throughputs. Such volatile or low-boiling point elements as arsenic, selenium, and tellurium may be lost in gaseous and other emissions in various processing stages, or they may be concentrated in slags and residues for which samples were not available. The effects of antipollution legislation to improve control of sulfurous and other emissions that may affect recovery of certain byproducts was noted. A section on newer technology illustrating hydro-metallurgical techniques that may affect the recovery of minor metals is included.

Jan 1, 1978

The mineral Industry, following the economy as a whole, experienced little growth in 1992. However, with modernized plants, efficient workforces, and lower operating costs, the industry is well positioned to take advantage of possible improvement in the national economy during 1993. In addition to the significant 1992 events highlighted below, important events, trends, and issues within individual mineral industries are addressed in the commodity sections that follow. The value of processed materials of mineral origin is estimated to have been about $310 billion in 1992. The value of U.S. raw nonfuel minerals production in 1992 is estimated at approximately $32 billion, a 3% increase over 1991. The value of domestic minerals production has increased in all but 4 of the last 32 years.

Jan 1, 1993

By Lindsay D. Norman

Computer models for simulating the construction and for calculating the properties of particulate solids in two- and three-dimensional systems (coverings of circles and packings of spheres, respectively) were developed. By simulating the physical process of constructing circle coverings and sphere packings, in which the circles or spheres were randomly selected from many different distributions of sizes, physically realizable loose random assemblies were simulated whose physical and geometrical properties were predictable with the computer. Many of these properties, such as the number of contacts, are extremely-difficult to measure accurately, or considerable ingenuity is required in their determination. All of these properties were easily and accurately calculated by the computer models for many different coverings and packings constructed from equal, discrete, uniform, and log-normal distributions of particles. In addition to the loose random assemblies, dense random covering and packing constructions were simulated whose properties are ideal upper limits for those of the loose random coverings and packings. The properties of the dense random coverings and packings, heretofore only obtainable by theoretical analysis, were also simply obtained. The statistical geometry of loose random coverings and packings was studied, and several new interpretations of the area-covering or space-filling requirements in these systems were made. In two dimensions, it was found that the properties of all loose random coverings are predictable by taking suitably weighted averages of the corresponding properties of just four kinds of polygons whose edges are defined by connecting the centers of mutually tangent circles in the covering. The distributions of these polygons that permit area-covering were determined, and empirical equations for predicting the density, average coordination number, and average pore area in loose and dense random coverings were formulated. The properties of loose packings were determined by performing a simplicial division of the computer-simulated assemblies to produce a unique set of minimum volume, space-filling tetrahedra whose edges connected the sphere centers in each packing. A simple empirical equation was formulated that permits the calculation of the average number of contacts in any sphere packing, random or regular. Some of the statistical geometrical properties of the simplicial tetrahedra in the computer-simulated packings were analyzed. The tetrahedron edge length distributions in all the loose random packings were nearly identical when the edges were presented in terms of sphere diameters, regardless of the sphere population in the packing. Moreover, the gap lengths in the loose packings were to an excellent approximation representable by a uniform distribution of sizes. The distributions of spheres in tetrahedra resulting from the simplicial division of the loose random packings also existed in the tetrahedra in dense random packings. These observations were employed in developing a unique method for predicting the geometrical properties of loose random packings without simulating the assembled packing. Instead, the space-filling simplicial graph could be predicted for any given density of packing of any sphere population. The cumulative packing properties of these tetrahedra were shown to be nearly identical to those calculated by all loose random packing simulations attempted in this investigation. The simplicial tetrahedra completely describe a packing and can therefore be used to predict all properties of interest.

Jan 1, 1971

By Dennis McLaughin

This report contains a description of the contract activities performed by ENSCO, Inc. under contract No. H0178069. The purpose of this project was to enhance the Bureau of Mine?s Cableless Electronic Survey System use to aid in the drilling of long (approx. 2000 feet) boreholes in coal. This drilling is performed as part of the methane drainage program. The system that was ultimately developed was field tested 2nd demonstrated in actual in-mine drilling activities. The significance of this system as compared to previous drill survey systems is the fact that it surveys without having to be inserted and removed for each survey point. It is so designed that it can withstand the shock and vibration experience by the drill string during drilling. This means an increased productivity is now possible in that drill operators can determine drill bit positioning in a near real-time environment.

Jan 1, 1981

By Felix du Breuil

Contract H0177044 included three objectives; (1) consolidate, maintain, and distribute information on STE approved lighting systems; (2) develop and present one-day seminars on underground mine lighting; (3) determine direct labor and hardware costs associated with the installation of mine illumination systems. All objectives were completed with results as follows: Task I - A file containing 1350 Statements of Test and Evaluation (STE) for all types of underground equipment was developed and publicized throughout the coal fields, A total of 40 requests for STE information was received and processed. Task II and III - A series of 50 seminars was scheduled and presented to 942 attendees throughout the coal fields. The seminars were well received and attendees indicated the information presented would be helpful in bringing their equipment into compliance. Holding a series of seminars in the coal fields, instead of a few in population centers, was favored by attendees. Task IV - Installation cost data obtained on 415 lighting systems indicate that the factors which most affect installation costs are higher hardware cost for DC powered systems and slightly higher manpower requirements for systems installed underground. Based on these data, the total cost to industry of retrofitting existing underground equipment could range up to $50 million.

Jan 1, 1979

By P. G. Guest

Many of the gases and vapors used in anesthesia form explosive mixtures with oxygen or air. Sources of ignition for these mixtures always have existed, in operating and anesthetizing areas. When ether was first introduced, candles and gas-lights and coal stoves caused fires and mild explosions of the vapor-air mixtures. Today the chief causes of ignition are electrical. Fires and explosions are still much too frequent; and, because many of the mixtures are rich in oxygen, the explosions sometimes are very violent. Obvious sources of ignition, such as electric-power sparks and arcs in open motors, switches, and receptacles, as well as exposed incandescent wires and hot plates, usually are recognized by hospital personnel and corrected. A source of ignition that is not so obvious to many is static electricity. Until quite recently the presence of this hazard in a large majority of anesthetizing areas was not even suspected. However, numerous explosions -many of them fatal to patients -have been attributed, with good reason, to sparks from static electricity. In this paper the authors present facts to show the prevalence of static electricity in the average hospital anesthetizing area, and the degree to which this easily developed electrical form of energy constitutes an explosion hazard. An effort is made throughout to explain how static electricity behaves, why it is a hazard, and why certain safety measures are needed and recommended. Following the introduction and a short general discussion of static electricity, which incorporates a glossary of pertinent electrical terms, an account is given of inspections and tests made in a number of hospitals. This account includes many suggestions that should be useful to any person who plans to make similar inspections and tests. However, a comparison of materials and equipment used with those described in the report will reveal, in many cases, the potential dangers and obviate the necessity for tests. The hospital work was supplemented by considerable laboratory research designed to determine the spark energies required to ignite anesthetic-gas mixtures and the exact amount of time involved in developing the usual static charges. The results of this research are reported and the implications examined. The paper concludes with a general discussion of static and related hazards in anesthetizing areas and of the most urgent preventative measures.

Jan 1, 1952

By David A. Andrews

Coal occurs at many scattered localities in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon, but in most of the known occurrences thick coal beds are of small extent and the coal generally contains a high percentage of impurities. The coal beds occur at many different horizons in strata of Cretaceous and Tertiary age. Bituminous coal has been found in several areas, the most extensive of which is the Eden Ridge field of Oregon. Lignite also occurs in many places, but the only extensive deposit is in the Goose Creek field of Idaho, Nevada, and "Utah. The coal reserves of the region are largely of subbituminous rank; most of the subbituminous coal is in the Black Mesa field of northeastern Arizona and the Coos Bay field of Oregon. The Black Mesa field contains more than 80 percent of the coal reserves of all ranks but is remote from both transportation facilities and centers of consumption. Substantial reserves ill the Coos Bay field are favorably situated with respect to transportation and markets. ARIZONA Subbituminous coal occurs in the Black Mesa, Pinedale, and Gallup coal fields in Apache, Navajo, and Coconino Counties, Ariz. (fig. 1). Bituminous coal occurs in the Deer Creek field in Pinal and Graham Counties and in a small area in Apache County at the north-east corner of the State. All the coal beds are in strata of Cretaceous age. The coal in the Gallup field and at the northeast corner of the State lies in the Western edge of the San Juan structural basin. "Vest and south of this basin the coal-bearing strata have been removed by erosion except in high mesas.

Jan 1, 1947

The United States is rapidly depleting many of its most important minerals and fuels. The first two Annual Reports by the Secretary of the Interior, under the Mining and Minerals Policy Act of 1970, made us acutely aware that the natural resources that enabled this Nation to attain an unprecedented growth in terms of economic well-being, and to set an example of independent strength through the democratic process, are finite. Once they are depleted, large imports will be required. Simultaneously, competition for available supplies, especially of petroleum, is increasing in the expanding European and Japanese industrial communities and in the underdeveloped nations of the world. Even before the crisis of late 1973, the oil-producing nations of the world, principally in the Middle East, but including Canada and Latin America, were recognizing that the worldwide need for crude oil, petroleum products, and natural gas could be translated into an unprecedented economic bargaining position. Thus, the members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) raised the price of their crude twice during the first 6 months of 1973. By yearend the energy situation had be-come acute, and it seemed probable that regardless of current political developments, the era of cheap energy was over.

Jan 1, 1973

By Cecil Q. Cupps

Results are presented of a comprehensive study of the characteristics of the original oil in the Weber sandstone reservoir, Rangely oil field, Colorado. Through the medium of subsurface sampling, adequately representative samples of the original reservoir oil were obtained from many parts of the reservoir over a period of 5 years concurrent with active development of the reservoir. Data of differential gas liberation, pressure-viscosity, and. pressure-volume-temperature relationships are shown for 12 subsurface oil samples. Data also are given of reservoir pressure and. temperature, composition of liberated or solution Gas, composition of 22 produced-gas samples, and Hempel analyses of crude-oil samples from 18 wells. The characteristics or physical properties of the 12 subsurface oil samples, as determined by laboratory analyses, were correlated with elevation of the top of the Weber sandstone. These relationships of oil characteristics to elevation in the reservoir show that only the oil in contact with the initial gas cap was gas-saturated at the existing pressure and temperature. The characteristics of the original reservoir oil were marked by an appreciable decrease of saturation pressure and solution gas-oil ratio and increase of viscosity and density with depth below the gas-oil contact. The composition of solution gas and of' produced was also was found to vary with elevation of the oil in the reservoir.

Jan 1, 1951

Studies of coal reserves have shown that the total augerable reserve base for the United States is estimated to be five billion tons under the current state of mining technology; the potential reserve base at 850-ft penetration is estimated at 20 billion tons. It is with the idea of improving coal recovery, a basic objective of Project Independence, that new concepts, such as modifications and improvements in current machines and development of ways to recover pillars left by current augering, are required. Unless recovery is improved, these potential reserves amount to lost coal.

Jan 1, 1975

By Mandius C. Lundal

This report describes the work done to develop a coal mining machine to increase productivity and recovery from thin seams beyond the highwall, in addition to decreasing the miner's susceptibility to to highwall hazards First, radar transducers were adapted to measure coal thinkness and detect rock and coal interfaces; Then, the radar was incorporated into a cutterhead with steering controls. Next, visual displays were designed to show cutter position in the coal seam, and anticipated change in coal seam inclination, Finally, development of a telemetry system made remote control of the cutterhead possible. Simultaneously, a high-performance extended depth (HPxD) auger machine was designed with an automatic system to handle 600 ft of 36-in, diameter dual spiral flight conveyor sections. A two man crew controls all operations from a weather conditioned cab outside the VDZ, either at night or day time. As a primary mining tool, working 4000 hr/yr (2 shifts/day) recovering 60% of the coal 600 ft beyond the highwall, productlon to 500,000 ton/yr can be achieved. Volume I provides an overview of machine, systems and productivity.

Jan 1, 1977