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By Robert F. Chaiken

An absorption-desorption model of particle reactivity was employed to describe the observed relationship between two apparently diverse phenomena which have been the subject of considerable study at the U.S. Bureau of Mines: (1) coal-rock dust reflectance and (2) coal-rock dust explosibility. The model accounts for heterogeneities in particle-size and material properties; however, in the present report, only particle-size distribution is considered. A mean particle-size parameter, appropriate to the explosion extinction process, is derived, and then taken as appropriate to describing optical reflectance. The derived form-to-function relationships for the two processes, when compared with experimental data, suggest that a problem exists with previously derived theory relating optical reflectance to rock dust concentration. A reexamination of that theory leads to a new theoretical expression, changed by a factor of 2, for the variation of rock dust concentration with reflectance which is in quite good agreement with experimental results. The current work offers justification for measuring and establishing rock dust requirements for specific coal dust size distribution(s) found in the mine-distributions that undoubtedly depend on the mining method and the type of coalbed.

Jan 1, 2010

By W. A. Calhoun

"INTRODUCTION A letter from S. D. Strauss, vice president of Metals Reserve Company, Washington, D.C., dated May 22, 1945, to the chief of the Metallurgical Branch, Bureau of Mines, in Washington; includes the following: Because of the present critical shortage that exists in the supply of corundum required by certain industries in war production, the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, Mr. W. C. Keeley, Vice Chairman for Metals and Minerals, War Production Board, has recommended that the Reconstruction Finance Corporation though Metals Reserve Company, proceed with preliminary mill testing of the corundum ore in Gallatin County, Montana, and that the results of that testing be transmitted to the War Production Board. If the results of the testing work are considered satisfactory, Metals Reserve Company will then provide for the actual mining and milling of the ore for the production of corundum concentrates.Pursuant to the above stated recommendation by the War Production Board, Metals Reserve Company desires to make -use of the facilities of the Bureau of Mines testing plant at Rolla, Missouri, for conducting sink and float and other concentration tests on representative samples of the Montana corundum ore. Two, and possibly three samples of ore are to be tested which will have an aggregate weight of approximately 50 tons."

Dec 1, 1947

This report is the 22d in a series summarizing Bureau of Mines research and technologic work on coal and related investigations.2 3/ A summary of work published during 1957 and of work in progress is presented. Details regarding the subjects treated in the publications may be found by referring to articles cited in the footnotes. The objective of the coal work of the Bureau of Mines is to obtain information that will lead to improved production and utilization of coal, thus conserving a most important national asset.4 5/ Though studies of mining methods and exploration of various coalfields ma; contribute directly to improved production, no less so does the work in health and safety. The many problems relating to chemical and physical properties of coal reflect the need for an understanding of these properties for the most effective use of coal in its various fields of application and for the development of new methods of processing coal. Studies of existing and proposed processes of combustion, carbonization, gasification and hydrogenation of coal are necessary for increased efficiency in its use. Engineering service provided by the Bureau is of direct value in the conservation program in preventing waste. Stations where the main coal activities of the Bureau are carried out are shown in the following list:

Jan 1, 1959

By G. R. Hopkins

The average gravity of the total crude petroleum produced in the United States during; the year 1927 was 32.2° A. P. I., or 0.864 in terms of specific gravity. A similar study, made by the U. S. Geological Survey in 1921, gave the average gravity at that time as 32.0.° To one who is accustomed to thinking of crude petroleum in terms of Oklahoma-Kansas and North Texas trades it may be surprising that the average gravity for the entire country is no higher than 32.20. The chief reason for this apparent discrepancy lies mainly in California production, which in 1927 amounted to over 25 per cent of the total, but which had an average gravity of only 24.10. A factor of less importance was Arkansas, which, though on the decline as a producing State, exerted a material effect by reason of its average gravity of 21.6°, the lowest for any State. In view of the heavy production of light crude in the Seminole area of Oklahoma during 1927, it would appear that the average gravity should have shown more than a 0.2 per cent gain over 1921. That this did not occur was due to the fact that in the interim between 1921 and 1927 important heavy oil discoveries were redo, notably the Smackover field of Arkansas.

Jan 1, 1929

By M. Leva

WITH the development of new processes for the production of synthetic liquid fuels, an extensive literature search was undertaken to uncover fundamental relationships between fluid and heat flows and the operating variables of new types of converters. Examination of published correlations revealed that considerable uncertainty existed in the correlation of the operating variables of such equipment with the pressure drops which could be expected through packed and fluidized systems; correlations proposed in the literature differed from each other frequently by as much as 75 to 100 percent. Because new processes, especially more recent modifications of the original Fischer-Tropsch process, must compete with old, firmly established processes on the basis of unit product cost, the pressure-drop correlations in the literature were considered to be too inaccurate for use in calculating the energy required to pass fluids through packed beds. The following study was begun in 1946 to develop correlations that would be suitable for the design of new equipment in which fluids are brought into contact with granular materials. To arrive at general relationships, systems were chosen that did not involve chemical reactions, and a, particular effort was made to give the correlations only in terms of quantities that are ordinarily available from general process and design specifications.

Jan 1, 1951

By D. L. Soreck

The hazards to the public posed by abandoned mine shafts are well documented. As private development encroaches on previously mined areas, the potential for fatalities and serious injuries from abandoned mine shafts increases. The U.S. Bureau of Mines has conducted research into cellular concrete as a material for sealing these openings. The current work involves testing the characteristics of cellular concrete before and after it had been pumped or dropped from different heights into a simulated mine shaft. Cellular concrete was pumped vertically up to and subsequently dropped from heights of 18 and 37 m into concrete forms. Wet density measurements were made at multiple sampling points in the test circuit. Air content determinations and uniaxial compressive strength testing were conducted. Research results showed significant loss in air content and changes in the characteristics of cellular concrete during pumping or dropping from various heights. Recommendations on effective use of cellular concrete for sealing abandoned mine shafts are made.

Jan 1, 2010

By Compiled by Staff

"The Bureau of Mines was established in the public interest to conduct inquiries and scientific and technologic investigations concerning mining and the preparation, treatment, and utilization of mineral substances; to promote health and safety in the mineral industries; to conserve material resources and prevent their waste; to further economic development; to increase efficiency in the mining, metallurgical, quarrying, and other mineral industries; and to inquire into the economic conditions affecting those industries. The organic act of the Bureau, as amended by Congress and· approved February 25, 1913, made it the province, and duty of the Bureau of Mines to ""disseminate· information concerning these subjects in such manner as will best carry out the purposes of this Act.""In accordance with this directive, the Bureau reports the findings of its research and investigations in its own series of publications and also in articles that appear in scientific, technical, and trade journals; in proceedings of conventions and seminars; in reference books; and in other non Bureau publications. The number of these reports, the wide range of subjects they cover, and the variety of mediums in which they appear make the kind of list and index presented in this special publication both necessary and valuable. This issue of the Bureau of Mines List of Publications and Articles describes reports and articles published during the period January 1, 1990, to December 31,1991. It, supplements the 50-year list of Bureau publications issued from July 1, 1910, to January 1, 1960;1 the 50-year list of articles by Bureau authors published outside the Bureau from July 1, 1910, to January 1, 1960;2 and the 5-year lists of publications and articles from January 1, 1960, to December 31, 1964,3from January 1, 1965, to December 31, 1969,4 from January 1, 1970, to December 31, 1974,5 from January 1, 1975, to December 31,1979,6 from January 1, 1980, to December 31, 1984,7 and from January 1, 1985, to December 31, 1989.8"

Jan 1, 1992

By Thomas C. Denton

ALL of the 45 political divisions of Africa were accessible to non-Communist world industry and commerce throughout 1964, although in some of them revolt and political attitudes presented problems. The position of the continent as a whole for mineral and mineral fuel resources, production, and oversea exports continued to improve. At yearend, significant quantities of a greater number of mineral commodities vital to industry and agriculture were being produced than in any other continent. This statement excludes Communist areas on other continents but might well hold true even if such areas were included. Deriving from its exceptionally diversified production, Africa furnished overseas industrialized countries as a w ole a greater variety of key mineral commodities than any other area. In addition, the value of mineral imports from Africa into the United Kingdom and continental non-Communist Europe probably exceeded the value of such imports from any other area if gold is included and mineral fuels excluded.

Jan 1, 1966

By A. C. Munro

This paper, which describes the milling practice at the Britannia concentrator, Britannia Beach, B. C., is one of a series being prepared by the Bureau of Mines. The concentrator treats copper ore at the present rate of 6,000 to 7,000 tons of dry ore daily and produces copper concentrate and pyrite concentrate by selective flotation methods. The copper concentrate is smelted and the pyrite product is utilized for acid manufacture.

Jan 1, 1932

By Walter J. Huff

"INTRODUCTION The technical studies conducted by the Explosives Division of the Bureau of Mines have been summarized in a series of publications issued annually for the past 10 years. 3/ The following account covers studies undertaken from July 1, 1944 to June 30, 1945. The work is set forth under a number of main headings to correspond to the organizational structure of the division, the various activities being under the immediate direction of unit chiefs, who report to the author. Specific credit it due to the unit leader and his assistants.Determination of Ignition TemperaturesThe ignition temperature of mixtures of isobutane and air were determined by the static method using a 131-cc. quartz bull. 5/ The results obtained follow: Prevention of Benzene-Air Explosions by Addition of Nitrogen and Carbon Dioxide The elimination or mitigation of the explosion hazards of combustible gases is a part of the work undertaken by the Bureau of Mines in promoting safety. Explosions can be prevented by the maintenance of concentrations that lie outside the inflammable limits. A procedure has been developed whereby the inflammable limits of many complex gaseous mixtures may be calculated in a rather simple manner without requiring toilsome laboratory experiments. This procedure has been outlined in a number of previous publications. 6./ During the fiscal year under review, essential data required for the calculations of complex combustible gas mixtures containing varying percentages of benzene were obtained. Benzene vapor is a normal constituent of many manufactured gases and is widely used in the solvent industry and in the manufacture of high explosives."

Oct 1, 1946

By H. C. Fuller, J. H. Jacobs

"Manganese ore from Metals Reserve stock piles at Deming, N. Mex., Cushman, Ark., and Philipsburg, Mont., were processed in the Bureau of Mines pilot plant at Boulder City, Nev., to determine their suitability for the production of electrolytic manganese. Manganese was produced successfully from all of the ores.The ores, crushed and ground to minus 33-mesh, were roasted in a Skinner furnace to reduce the manganese and were then leached with spent electrolyte, from the cells, containing sulfuric acid. Acid-leach extractions of 96 percent on Deming, 89 percent on Cushman, and 97.5 percent on Philipsburg ores were obtained. Neutralization of leaches with ammonia results in the highest manganese extraction; but Cushman and Deming leaches could not be neutralized with ammonia, because the amount required was more than enough to maintain the proper ammonium sulfate concentration. A combination of ammonia and calcine was used. However, ammonia was satisfactory for neutralization of Philipsburg leaches. Sulfuric acid needed for make-up was as follows: Deming, 0.380 pound per pound of manganese extracted when neutralized with ammonia and calcine; Cashman, 0.402 pound per pound of manganese extracted when neutralized with ammonia and calcine; Philipsburg, 0.594 round per pound of manganese extracted when neutralized with ammonia alone.All of the leach slurries settled well enough to be separated and washed in countercurrent thickeners.Impurities were precipitated with hydrogen sulfide and removed by filtration. Cushman ore solution contained only- small amounts of impurities and required 0.055 gram of hydrogen sulfide per liter of solution for purification. Deming and Philipsburg solutions contained large amounts of zinc and required 0.55 and 0.65 gram of hydrogen sulfide per liter of solution, respectively.Electrodeposition was satisfactory on all three ores and current efficiencies of 62 to 66 were obtained.A process for the production of electrolytic manganese has been developed by the Bureau of Mines, first on a laboratory scale4/ and then on a semicommercial pilot-plant scale.5/ At first the- pilot plant operated on ore from the Three Kids mine near Las Vegas, Nev., to determine the practical features of the process on ore of this type. Since completing the work on this ore, the pilot plant has been used for processing other domestic ores to obtain engineering data and other economic information regarding the amenability of such ores to the process."

Sep 1, 1946

By Ralph H. Espach

Wyoming contains many petroleum and natural-gas fields, and more than 250 geological structures have been mapped; however, only about 85 have been found (July 1938) to contain petroleum or natural gas, or both, in commercial quantities. To January 1938 approximately 434 million barrels of oil and 915 billion cubic feet of gas have been produced, and it was estimated that proved oil reserves in Wyoming amounted to 300 million barrels.' The Salt Creek field, the largest in the Rocky Mountain area, alone has produced 64 percent of the State's oil and 46 percent of its gas. This field ranked thirteenth among the producing fields of the United States in total cumulative production as of January 1, 1938. On this basis it ranks with the Kern River and Huntington Beach fields of California and the Butler County fields of Kansas. The Salt Creek field has declined in relative importance; in 1937, while still the largest oil-producing field in the State, it produced 31 percent of the oil and 11 percent of the gas extracted from all wells in Wyoming.

Jan 1, 1941

By James C. Fowler

The design and field testing of a seismic miner detection and location system arc described. This work was carried out over a period of three years. The first two and one-half years were sponsored by Continental Oil Company, while the last period of tests were done as the first part of a one-year contract with the U.S. Bureau of Mines. Laboratory and field experimentation in three different nines under simulated emergency conditions have led to three important results: (1) Taps on roof bolts with normally available objects can usually be detected up to horizontal distances of 1,000 ft. (2) The origin of the tans can be located by on-site processing with a small computer. (3) Some predetermination of the approximate location is necessary for a quick and successful rescue. This report also includes preliminary specifications an,d cost guidelines for construction of a transportable field system capable of matching the performance characteristics of the one used during the field tests.

Jan 1, 1973

By Anthony D. Szpak

The purpose of this program was to demonstrate the feasibility of Illuminating various types of underground coal mining machinery as required by the Federal Coal Mine Illumination Standards Part 75.1719 to 75.1719-4 Code of Federal Regulations Title 30. Nine various machines were illuminated and the illumination systems were evaluated for a 3 month period of operation. Factors evaluated were ease of implementation, reliability, ease of maintenance, acceptance by mine workers and operators, Illumination degradation and durability.

Jan 1, 1981

By Robert B. Fulton

Summary of data and estimates for 52 fluorspar properties in the following 13 foreign countries: Mexico Thailand China (PRC) Morocco Tunisia Italy Spain South Africa France United Kingdom Kenya Namibia Federal Republic of Germany Data includes deposit type, resource tonnage and grades, mining and beneficiation methods, annual production, fluorspar products and by-products, manpower requirements, capital and operating cost estimates. For operating properties, engineering and cost data have been developed for present and anticipated levels of production. Hypothetical operations have been assumed for undeveloped deposits.

Jan 1, 1984

By L. A. Stewart

This is one of a series of reports prepared by the Federal Bureau of Mines on mining methods, performance, and costs at individual mines in the United States. The primary purpose of these papers is to promote development and conservation of our mineral resources by disseminating technological information on methods, practices, and results that may be applied to the engineering analysis and solution of mining problems. This report discusses the highly selective mining methods of the Jaquays Mining Corp. at the Regal asbestos mine, 45 road miles northeast of Globe, Ariz. The milling method at the Globe plant is discussed briefly, and the extraction ratios of the various grades of fiber are tabulated. The proposed flowsheet of a new mill under construction is shown.

Jan 1, 1961

By James F. O'Neill

Brown iron ore resources in Barbour , Butler , Crenshaw , and Pike Counties were investigated in a drilling program and geological study by the Federal Bureau of Mines in cooperation with the Alabama Geological Survey and the University of Alabama . The aggregate footage drilled was 18,010 linear feet . When developed , reserves of 12,664,000 long tons of crude ore were indicated , containing from 26.9 to 29.0 percent iron and 0.2 to 1.6 percent manganese under a maximum overburden of 40 feet . Total inferred crude ore for the four counties was calculated to be 827,700,000 long tons . Beneficiation of samples by simulated log washing and use of a 1 / 8 - inch screen yielded from 46.8 to 51.7 percent iron and 0.2 to 2.6 percent manganese . Screen- test studies indicated no appreciable interlocking between the iron and manganese minerals and the waste particles of materials retained on a 200 - mesh screen . Clay was prominent in micron - size slimes . Silica was deleterious in the minus 20 - mesh size . While an indicated 2,198,000 dry long tons of usable iron ore can be recovered , sink - and - float tests show that it may be possible for 4,654,000 dry long tons to be recovered by other than log washing . However , applicable commercial processes have not been demonstrated .

Jan 1, 1965

By Eliezer Kamon

To finalize the three years granted for the study of miners physiological responses to emergency situations, all the data obtained, were summarized into the following relevant sections; A.. Information on elements of the Man Test required under Subpart 4, Part 2, Title 30 in the Code of Federal Regulation (see Table M-T and Ref. I., Section A). B. Investigation on possible emergency activities, its simulation in the laboratory and the physiologic data obtained on miners performing them This included some studies under cool ambient conditions, expected to prevail in coal mines. C. While in section B the steady state responses have been obtained, time was devoted to establish a unit that will allow data gathering for non-steady state, i.e., transient responses to rapidly changing activities. Section B and C contained elements that were relevant to section A; the Man Test. Therefore some of the information described under section A Man Test, were actually measured during the battery of tests in either section B or in section C.

Jan 1, 1974

By E. R. Andersen, F. E. Block, T. T. Campbell

This work was done to develop methods for increasing the yields and purity of vanadium prepared by bomb reduction of vanadium compounds . Compounds reduced were V₂ 05 , V203 , VC , and VC13 . Sodium , calcium , and magnesium were used as reductants . Variables considered included reductant form , bomb size , pressure during reaction , method of ignition , and the use of slag fluidizing additives . It was concluded that yields of 85 to 90 percent can be effected by the calcium reduction of V205 in reactors measuring as much as 14 inches in diameter and 60 inches in height . Optimum charge composition included V₂05 , 65 percent excess calcium , and 0.4 moles sulfur per mole vanadium . Purity of the vanadium produced in large reactors varied from 99.5 to 99.8 percent . The higher purity metal , depending upon the amounts of interstitial impurities present , was usually cold ductile . Although high yields of up to 99.5 percent can be effected by bomb reduction of VC1 , the high pressures developed in the bombs and attack of the reactor walls by the byproduct chloride slags discourages this method of preparing vanadium . It was found that significant purification of impure regulus metal occurred when it was hydrided , crushed , acid leached , and vacuum dehydrided . Metal so treated can readily be converted to ductile sheet . A cost estimate based on the production of 100 tons of vanadium per year was prepared . It was concluded that pure ductile vanadium could be produced for approximately $ 20.00 per pound .

Jan 1, 1964

By F. Sillers, R. T. C. Rasmussen

"INTRODUCTION This is the third report of investigations by the Bureau of Mines in cooperation with industry to establish the value of electrolytic manganese in the manufacture of ferrous and nonferrous alloys. The manganese was produced by the Bureau at its Boulder City pilot plant from domestic ores and by the process developed by it. 4/ The work was done under the direction of R.S. Dean, assistant director, Bureau of Mines, and R. G. Knickerbocker, chief, metallurgical branch. The first report dealt with the use of electrolytic manganese in the manufacture of stainless steels 5/ and the second with its use in acid electric or open-hearth low- and medium-carbon steel castings. 6/The present report treats of the use of electrolytic manganese in the manufacture of low—carbon rimmed and killed steels. A résumé of these three investigations and two others appeared in the magazine STEEL. 7/ Further reports will be published as tests are completed at some 70 industrial plants. All tests were made on full—scale heats or melts, and the resultant product was processed and used commercially."

Jul 1, 1945