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The contribution of minerals to the growth and development of the United States is best demonstrated by the uses which have evolved during the past two centures. During pre-Revolutionary days the colonies were essentially agricultural in character, producing cotton, tobacco, rice, indigo, grains and flour, fish, livestock, dairy products, and timber. Shipbuilding was the major manufacturing industry. In 1763, the total value of exports for Virginia, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts was £2,722,000, of which £55,000, or 2 percent, was for "copper ore, and iron in pigs" (3)1 and £49,000 was for 21,000 barrels or hogsheads of "pot-ash." The value of 75 ships built for sale in 1763 by the colonies was £61,500.

Jan 1, 1976

By David J. Hoadley

This report describes the development and limited testing of a semi-automatic, raise climber, Compact Service Hoist System designed for stope access in underground metal and nonmetal mines. Demonstrated capabilities of the system include a 1,000-lb payload capacity, control from the traveling cage and from up to three remote stations, operating in vertical or inclined raises 3 ft in diameter and up to 300 ft in length and a travel speed of 50 ft/min. The system has the capability of operating in crooked raises because the conveyance climbs two stationary wire ropes suspended down the raise. The drive unit is electrically powered with power and control signals supplied to the drive unit through an umbilical 'cable also suspended down the raise. The system has been designed for portability, ease of installation and minimum raise development. The hoist has been demonstrated successfully in an above ground test tower. This report provides a detailed description of the hoist design and its demonstrated performance to date.

Jan 1, 1985

By Andrew Stewart

The author desires to express appreciation to R. A. Cattell, C. T. Seibel, and H. S. Kennedy, of this Bureau, and to Dr. Richard Wiebe of the fixed nitrogen research laboratory, Department of Agriculture, for helpful criticism and comments in the preparation of this paper. More especially thanks are due to A A. Cattell for his many valuable constructive suggestions. INTRODUCTION From time to time, the Bureau of Mines receives inquiries from the non-technical public on the subject of helium. People ask for information concerning its properties; they want to learn Whence it is derived, how it is produced, and to what uses it may be put. In consequence, the following paper has been written to give in simple terms an account of this most remarkable of gases. It has been thought desirable for purposes of analogy to include reference to All the members of the group of elements to which helium belongs, and, incidentally, to embody in the narrative certain other information pertinent to the subject.

Jan 1, 1933

By J. W. Thompson

BURYING DEAD MINERS. BURYING BODIES OF DEAD MINERS. REVISED STATUTES (HURD) 1874, P. 263. SEC. 22. LIABILITY OF RAILROADS, ETC., FOR BURIAL EXPENSES.-When any railroad company, stage or any steamboat, propeller, or other vessel engaged in whole or in part in carrying passengers for hire, brings the dead body of any person into this State, or any person dies upon any railroad car or in such stage, steamboat, propeller or other vessel in this State, or any person is killed by cars, or machinery of any railroad company or by accident thereto or by accident to or upon any such stage, steamboat, propeller, or other vessel, or by accident to or in or about any mine, mill or manufactory,* the company or person owning or operating such cars, inachinery, stage, steamboat, propeller, or other vessel, mine, mill or manufactory shall be liable to pay the expenses of the coroner's inquest upon and burial of the deceased and the same may be recovered in the name of the County in any court of competent Jurisdiction. NOTE--The original Act of February 15, 1855 (Laws 1855, p. 170), makes no reference to the dead bodies of persons killed" by accident to, in or about any mine."

Jan 1, 1919

By Albert H. Fay

This glossary is publi~hed- by the Bureau of Mines as a contribution' to the mining literature in the belief that it will fill a long-felt need. It contains about 20,000 terms; these include both technical and purely local terms related to metal mining, coal mining, quarrying, petroleum, and natural gas, and metallurgical works; names of useful, important, and common minerals and rocks; an<lgeological terms. It presents in one comprehensive volume the available standard, technical terms relating to the mining and mineral industry, as well as provincialisms that have been or are now in use in English-speaking countries. The glossary also includes many terms relating to ceramics and the clay industry, glass making, foundry practice, railway and building construction, electrical installation and power-plant equipment, and chemical terms relating to metallurgical practice. Complete lists of terms for' each of these allied industries are beyond the scope of this glossary. Paleontological terms, although closely associated with geology, are far removed from mining and metallurgical operations, and for this reason have been omitted. In a compilation of this magnitude, it is difficult, within a reasonable time to verify all definitions as to the latest usage. Much verifying was done and it is hoped that the best and latest definitions have been used. Reference to the publications cited will enable the reader to determine approximately the period when the definition was used. Definitions in use by engineers of high national or international reputation are given first preference. When definitions from different sources are the same, credit is given to the earlier author as being the original or nearest to the original source. Immediately following each term the name of the locality wherein the word is presumed to have originated or is widely used is given, where such information is available. The name of the author or source from which the definition was obtained follows the definition, and serves as a key to the publications listed. The terms selected from the various glossaries and publications examined have been compared with the Webster,

Jan 1, 1920

This report presents information developed during Bureau of Mines contract H0242016, "Mine Shaft Fire and Smoke Protection Systems" from May, 1974 through June, 1975. Purpose of the metal and nonmetal health and safety project was to evaluate mine shaft fire and smoke hazard problems, and to develop and demonstrate a low-cost, reliable mine shaft fire protection system that would protect against such hazards and would be applicable to a majority of metal and nonmetal mine shafts, including raises and winzes, especially in deep mines. Program effort proceeded through five phases, culminating in the successful in-mine fire demonstration of a prototype system. In addition to this final report, a film is available which depicts components of the system and its successful shaft fire testing at an underground mine.

Jan 1, 1975

By Eleanor Abshire

This bibliography is the second in a series that covers the current technical literature relating to the metallurgy of zirconium. The rapid advance in zirconium technology makes it mandatory that abstracts be prepared and compiled as soon as possible to have maximum value; therefore, the information in this volume is not arranged chronologically. As a service to research and production groups, succeeding bibliographies will be issued as new acquisitions accumulate in the Zirconium Information Center sponsored by the Department of the Navy, Bureau of Ships and the Bureau of Mines at the Bureau&apos;s Northwest Electrodevelopment Laboratory, Albany, Oreg. The initial volume, Information Circular 7771, Bibliography of Zirconium, covering 969 abstracted reports and 645 United States and foreign patents, was published in April 1957.

Jan 1, 1958

In 1970, the U. S. Bureau of Mines contracted with Theodore Barry and Associates, a management consulting firm, to perform a one-year industrial engineering study of working-face hazards in underground bituminous coal mines. The field data was accumulated from industrial engineering observations in fifty underground mines. Supporting data for the analysis was derived primarily from the Bureau&apos;s fatal accident reports for the years 1966 through 1970. This report, Industrial Engineering Study of Hazards Associated with Underground Coal Mine Production, consists of three main parts: 1) The Fatal Accident Reports Analysis, 2) The Industrial Engineering Analysis, and 3) Multiflow Process Charts and Standard Time Data. The Fatal Accident Reports Analysis (Volume I, Section II) is based upon individual USBM fatal accident reports for 1966-1970. These were read, coded and computerized in terms of 84 significant variables. Cross-tabulations of these variables have been used to identify major underground hazards and to quantify significant causal factors. A very strong relationship was found to exist between fatal accident occurrences and low task experience. This led to a recommendation for formalized training, certification and supervision programs for miners. Victim compliance with federal regulations, mine regulations and supervisor instructions was analyzed, indicating that supervisors provide the most crucial communication link to workers. Thus, every attempt should be made to ensure the competence of immediate supervisors in the industry. Analysis of roof fall variables revealed a fatal propensity on the part of the miners to work under unsupported roof or under support conditions that are marginal. The technical approach to the problem is to make it physically impossible for a miner to work under these conditions; the behavioral approach is to ensure adequate training and develop proper safety attitudes among the miners. The Fatal Accident Reports Analysis revealed a need for normalizing data to interpret the results more accurately.

Jan 1, 1971

By Hazel J. Stratton

IN THE HALF-CENTURY that has passed since the Bureau of Mines was established in July 1910, the research and technologic investigations conducted by the Bureau&apos;s scientists, engineers, and other personnel have helped significantly in improving health and safety in the mineral industries and have contributed substantially in conserving the Nation&apos;s mineral resources through improved techniques in the mining, treatment, and use of mineral commodities. From Bureau laboratories have come new materials for industry and better methods of extracting and processing minerals and mineral fuels. Bureau safety investigations-complemented by equipment testing and by programs of mine inspection and education-have brought about safer and more healthful working conditions.

Jan 1, 1960

By Arno C. Fieldner

This is the fifth of a series of annual reports4/ of technologic investigations conducted by the Bureau of Mines on the occurrence, properties, mining, preparation, and uses of coal. The research of the Bureau is carefully coordinated with the requirements of the producing and consuming industries, with a view to conservation of resources of coal in mining and use, and conservation of the health and lives of workmen employed in these industries. Such coordination is facilitated by the wide range of specialization of the several groups on engaged in studies concerning coal. Here are reported correlated studies ranging from paleobotanic analysis of the formation of coal as it occurred some millions of years ago to the effect of mechanical methods of mining on present-day employment in mines. As this is a summary of the current work of the Bureau of Mines, so the Bureau likewise has provided a condensed review of the outstanding current work of others on research and technology of coal 5/.

Jan 1, 1940

Mercury has been used by mankind since prehistoric times. It has been, and is now, widely used in industry and medicine and has unique properties which make direct substitution difficult or impossible. At present its principal uses are for electrical apparatus, control instruments, electrolytic soda preparation, mildew-proofing paints, pesticides, and medical and dental preparations. Deposits of mercury are less common than those of other base and precious metals, but some of the deposits are very large and have been ample to meet the world&apos;s past demands. The price of mercury has had many sharp fluctuations, but in general, the limited number of producers has resulted in a more stable price structure than that of many other commodities. The United States has been one of the main producers of mercury, and from 1850 to 1961 produced 3,247,704 flasks. Yearly production since World War II has varied from 4,535 to 38,067 flasks. An estimate of domestic resources of mercury producible at various price ranges was prepared for each mercury mine by combining specific knowledge of mercury mineralization with estimates of potential, based on geologic information and past production history. The sum of the individual estimates for each price range is shown in a table. A parallel estimate of nationwide production potential was made from a study of past price and production relationships. These were analyzed by plotting yearly production figures against the previous year&apos;s price, expressed in dollars of constant purchasing power. An equation was fitted to the data by mathematical means and was used to extend the curve into areas of higher than historic prices. Potential production rates at various price levels were taken from this graph. The estimated yearly production rates were used to make an estimate of total potential based on the premise that production rates and reserves have a proportionate relationship. The rate of developing mercury reserves during the period from January 1944 to January 1962 is considered, and it is shown that if this rate can be continued, the mercury resources of the United States, at a constant dollar price of $500 per flask, are adequate to support a production of 60,000 flasks per year for 30 or more years. This publication contains a history and description of the mercury industry in every State which has had production and individual descriptions of all mercury properties which have reported significant production. Accompanying tables give the important facts about all known mercury occurrences.

Jan 1, 1965

Mercury has been used by mankind since prehistoric times. It has been, and is now, widely used in industry and medicine and has unique properties which make direct substitution difficult or impossible. At present its principal uses are for electrical apparatus, control instruments, electrolytic soda preparation, mildew-proofing paints, pesticides, and medical and dental preparations. Deposits of mercury are less common than those of other base and precious metals, but some of the deposits are very large and have been ample to meet the world&apos;s past demands. The price of mercury has had many sharp fluctuations, but in general, the limited number of producers has resulted in a more stable price structure than that of many other commodities. The United States has been one of the main producers of mercury, and from 1850 to 1961 produced 3,247,704 flasks. Yearly production since World War I1 has varied from 4,535 to 38,067 flasks. An estimate of domestic resources of mercury producible at various price ranges was prepared for each mercury mine by combining specific knowledge of mercury mineralization with estimates of potential, based on geologic information and past production history. The sum of the individual estimates for each price range is shown in a table. A parallel estimate of nationwide production potential was made from a study of past price and production relationships. These were analyzed by plotting yearly production figures against the previous year&apos;s price, expressed in dollars of constant purchasing power. An equation was fitted to the data by mathematical means and was used to extend the curve into areas of higher than historic prices. Potential production rates at various price levels were taken from this graph. The estimated yearly production rates were used to make an estimate of total potential based on the premise that production rates and reserves have a proportionate relationship. The rate of developing mercury reserves during the period from January 1944 to January 1962 is considered, and it is shown that if this rate can be continued, the mercury resources of the United States, at a constant dollar price of $500 per flask, are adequate to support a production of 60,000 flasks per year for 30 or more years. This publication contains a history and description of the mercury industry in every State which has had production and individual descriptions of all mercury properties which have reported significant production. Accompanying tables give the important facts about all known mercury occurrences.

Jan 1, 1965

By V. F. Parry, John P. Goodman

"INTRODUCTION Review of Previous Work Many investigators and certain commercial interests have recognized that the briquetting process is a practical method to convert much of what is now considered undesirable fuel into a usable form of domestic fuel.The art of improving the form of solid fuels is ancient, as early records indicate that the Chinese employed crude hand briquetting of combustible materials long before coal was known in Europe and America.According to Franke, 4/ the earliest description of a briquetting proce¬dure employed in the Occident is contained in an English patent dated in 1773. Following this in rapid sequence, many methods and procedures wore developed in this country and in Europe. Stillman/ states that the first attempt to briquet coal in the United States was made by Loiseau 6/ at Fort Richmond Piers, Philadelphia, in 1872. The American briquetting processes outlined by Stillman comprise an imposing compilation of successes and partial and outright failures."

Jun 1, 1943

By Robert G. Bottge

The Bureau of Mines investigated the availability of the land in south-central Alaska for exploration and mineral development of locatable minerals under State or Federal laws. The land ownership for an area of nearly 72.5 million acres in south-central Alaska was divided into 3 availability categories and 15 subcategories. In July 1985, 31.0 million acres of the study area were available for mineral exploration and development, 6.2 million acres were available with restrictions, and 35.3 million acres were unavailable. About 23.6 million acres in the study area are underlain by mineral terranes. About 9.9 million of the 23.6 million acres are available for mineral entry, 2.4 million acres are available with restrictions, and 11.3 million acres are unavailable. While much of the land currently classified as unavailable will be reclassified once it is conveyed to the State or to Native corporations, about 22% of the unavailable lands underlain by mineral terranes are now Federal parks, preserves, wildlife refuges, wild and scenic rivers, and military lands, all of which are considered permanently unavailable for mineral exploration and development.

Jan 1, 1986

By Jos. R. Guiteras

This paper is one of r series published by the Bureau of Mines dealing with the mineral resources of western South Dakota. The mining of pegmatite minerals is described mainly from the standpoint of the feldspar industry, as most of the other .pegmatite minerals produced are recovered as byproducts from the mining of feldspar. Feldspar is shipped from the Black Hills by three companies, all operating in the southern Hills. Because the pegmatites of the northern Hills, represented by tae Tinton area, have been described in other papers3/ of this series, the present paper is confined to the pegmatite dikes of the southern Black Hills. Emphasis is placed upon the current activity in pegmatite mining; little attention is given to the history of many famous mines in the district, and information concerning them may be obtained by consulting resorts cited in the bibliography. The field work was carried on from July 28 to October 15, 1938. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The geology of the Black Hills has been studied almost continuously during the last half century. A wealth of literature has attempted to explain the geology and mineralogy of the pegmatite dikes of this region. The writer acknowledges his indebtedness to all earlier investigators, as well as to the following men, whose assistance in the field was of particular value: F. C. Lincoln, professor of mining, South Dakota School of Mines; Mont Heumphreus, State mine inspector, South Dakota; Harold. H. Eyrich, superintendent, and Batemen Eilbeck, mine foreman, b. E. Schundler Feldspar Co.; J. W. Mitchell, field man, Consolidated Feldspar Corporation; John Wells, mine operator and local mineral buyer, Ouster, S. Dak.; Frank Hughes, general superintendent, and Harry Wasson, nine foreman, Hugo mine; D. W. Peterson, mine superintendent, Etta mine.; Lon Walker, Mine superintendent, Peerless

Jan 1, 1940

By Hazel B. Comstock

[This material survey on magnesium and magnesium compounds is one of a series of Bureau of Mines publications designed to serve the needs of Government and industry for comprehensive, up-to-date information on mineral commodities and activities Magnesium, the world&apos;s lightest structural metal has become a most useful material in airborne and space vehicles, automotive equipment, machine tools, and consumer products. Use of magnesium on in basic refractories for iron and steel furnaces has expanded as the production of iron and steel has increased. Progress in converting steel furnaces to the use of oxygen has further increased the use of magnesium and magnesite brick.]

Jan 1, 1963

By Hazel B. Comstock

This materials survey on magnesium and magnesium compounds is one of a series of Bureau of Mines publications designed to serve the needs of Government and industry for comprehensive, up-to-data information on mineral commodities and activities. Magnesium, the world&apos;s lightest structural metal, has become a most useful material in airborne and spare vehicles, automotive equipment, machine tools, and consumer products. Use of magnesium ores in basic refractories for iron and steel furnaces has expanded as the production of iron and steel has increased, Progress in converting steel fun cares to the use of oxygen has further increased the use of magnesia and magnesite brick.

Jan 1, 1963

By Charles Janin

The recovery of gold from sands and gravels is one of the oldest forms of mining; it antedates history and has been practiced by savage peoples. In North America the search for placer gold has been a powerful agency in the exploration and development of unknown regions and has profoundly influenced the course of our civilization. With the progress of invention, the improvements in machinery, and the availability of large capital for the conduct of great operations, the tendency in placer, as in many other branches of mining, has been toward the working of extensive but comparatively low-grade deposits. The early miner washed the rich spots in stream beds or terraces with his pan, his long tom, and his primitive sluice. Then followed the growth of hydraulic mining and the use of giants supplied with water under pressures of hundreds of pounds to the square inch that could work at a profit gravels whose gold tenor was less than 3 cents to the cubic yard. Finally came the dredge that could handle deposits lying so far below water level as to be beyond attack by other methods. Although the gold dredge was first successful on a commercial scale in New Zealand, it has reached its present strength and efficiency in this country and its development is a monument to the daring, per- severance and technical skill of the many men, mine owners and engineers who have each contributed something to the final result. The Bureau of Mines, authorized to conduct investigations for the purpose of increasing efficiency in the mineral industries, had its attention called some years ago to the need of a comprehensive report on gold dredging in the United States. The director of the bureau recognized that such a report should summarize the development of the gold dredge, should describe in detail the essential features of present-day dredges, should discuss the facts that determine whether a placer deposit can be profitably dredged, and should point out the approved methods of prospecting placer ground and of operating dredges. At the request of the director, the author undertook the preparation of such a report and has been intermittently engaged on the task for several years. This bulletin is the outcome of his labors. He hopes that it will prove of interest to designers and builders of dredges, to mining engineers, and to persons who may contemplate investing capital in placer-mining ventures.

Jan 1, 1918

By Paul T. Allsman, William H. King

This paper describes the mineral deposits and discusses mining and milling methods and related operating conditions in an important gold , silver , lead , and zinc producing area in Ouray , San Juan , and San Miguel Counties , Colo . , embracing 250 square miles . The area is extremely rigged , ranging in altitude from 8,000 to 14,000 feet . White men first penetrated the area in 1860 , when a group known as "Baker's party " reached the Animas River at the present site of Silverton . Difficulty with the Ute Indians and severe winter conditions forced the group to leave and discouraged prospecting until 1870 when a second party reached the area and succeeded in producing 27 tons of ore yielding $ 150 a ton in gold . In 1874 , a treaty with the Indians opened the way for settlement , and mining was established . The total production of recovered gold , silver , copper , lead , and zinc from 1873 to 1947 in the three counties is valued at $347,057,047 . The greatest amount of the total production of metals has come from quartz veins in a series of volcanic flows and tuffs covering the area and comprising a blanket 4,000 to 6,000 feet thick . The igneous rocks were laid down upon an old , erosion surface and are underlain by Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks and pre - Cambrian metamorphic rocks . The entire series has been intruded in late Tertiary time by volcanic dikes and larger intrusive masses . Because of the great differences in relief generally , mining is con-" ducted through long adits to a depth of nearly 3,000 feet below surface in places . Walls of the veins generally stand well , and shrinkage stoping is the most common method of mining . As virtually all of the ore is sulfide below the zone of oxidation , flotation is the common method of milling . Generally , where gold is important , provision is made for its removal by jigs . Bulk concentration of the sulfides is practiced at smaller mills , but the larger operations make a selective lead and zinc concentrate or a lead , zinc , and copper . concentrate . ·

Mar 1, 1950

By Warren E. Morrison

The first major evaluation of the nation&apos;s raw materials prospects after World War II was completed by the President&apos;s Materials Policy Commission (Paley Commission) in 1952 and submitted to the President in June of that year, as a five-volume study entitled Resources for Freedom. The bulk of the report was devoted to an analysis of the past, present, and probable future of the Nation&apos;s mineral supply industries. The Commission&apos;s evaluation of the future situation regarding minerals was derived from its forecasts of the probable domestic demand for the major minerals in the 1970&apos;s. This demand analysis was made in the context of probable worldwide demand. Several crucial assumptions were made by the Commission&apos;s fore-casters. It was assumed in 1950 that the next 20 to 30 years would see no major wars and be a period of sustained economic growth. Another assumption was that the anticipated demand for raw materials must be supplied at essentially no increase in real cost in order to avoid crucial supply problems. The Commission&apos;s forecasts were derived within the context of the country&apos;s expected future rate of economic activity. The gross national product (GNP) growth to 1975 was derived from projections of the number of people in the labor force, hours of work, and an index of probable production measured per unit of labor input. It was believed labor hours would decrease and labor productivity would increase. The result was a forecast GNP growth rate of 3 percent.

Jan 1, 1970