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By R. D. Currie

"A million tons of coal mined in the Pennsylvania anthracite region without a fatality is a feat of which to be proud and one that deserves the commendation of the entire mining industry. The average production per fatality in this region for 1933 was 206,823 tons, an exceptional record showing the results of an intensive drive made by the Pennsylvania Department of Mines and the anthracite operators and-workers to curtail the high accident rates heretofore prevailing in the region.This paper gives information about a mine with a record five times better than the average which should prove to the industry that mine accidents can be reduced through the proper safety organization and effort. The Pine Hill Coal Co., managed by Weston Dodson & Co., Inc., and located at Minersville, Schuylkill County, Pa., has made such a record at its Oak all colliery by studying its accident experience, realizing the facts, and pursuing a definite safety policy with a view to bettering its accident occurrence.As a direct result of its safety policy this colliery has produced 1,044,000 tons of anthracite without a fatality; within 3 years it has reduced its total accidents from 645 to 105 per year, its compensable accidents from 204 to 45 per year, and its lost-time accidents from 335- to 67 per year. In addition, it has set up a smoothly functioning safety organization that will go fax in aiding in the continuance of this great work of mining anthracite at a lower .cost in human suffering.This circular describes the accident-prevention methods perfected and the results obtained by this colliery in the belief that similar methods will produce essentially similar results at any other colliery where they may be adopted.The writer acknowledges his indebtedness to the officials of the company who furnished him with the details of the safety organization and the data from which this report was prepared. He especially desires to thank Messrs. Stockett, general manager, Wells, general superintendent, Morgan, safety engineer, and Kistler,- statistical department, for their hind assistance.The mine is opened by shafts, slopes, and drifts, a characteristic of minas in the Southern anthracite field. Thirteen different beds of coal are being mined. The thickness of the beds ranges from 3.5 to 16 feet and the pitch from 0 to 900. The roof and floor exhibit the entire range of conditions found in anthracite mines. Table 1 describes the coal seams being worked."

Aug 1, 1934

Coal-bearing beds underlie 23,000 square miles, about one third of Missouri's total area. Twelve out of more than twenty named coal seams have been or are being commercially mined. The remainder are too thin for commercial production. The coal is high volatile bituminous, with reserves estimated to be six billion tons, 1.24percent of U.S. coal reserves. Coal-bearing strata are generally thin seams which can be up to five feet thick. Typically, mined seams are about 28 inches thick. Coal deposits were first mined in Missouri in the 1840s, with the coal used primarily for domestic heating and blacksmithing. Production increased with the introduction of steamboats on the Mississippi. Coal production in 19 17 was six million tons. Production has steadily declined from a high of nearly seven million tons in 1984 to 2.3 million tons in 1991. Declining production is the result of several factors, including competition from other energy sources and the high sulfur content of Missouri coal. Today, coal-fired electric generating plants are the biggest consumers of Missouri coal. The Missouri regulatory program was conditionally approved November 21,1980, and fully approved January 17,1983. Its Abandoned Mine Land program was approved January 29, 1982.

Jan 1, 1992

By Lewis V. Wade

Barrett EA, Kowalski KM [1995]. Effective hazard recognition training using a latent-image, three-dimensional slide simulation exercise. Pittsburgh, PA: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, RI 9527. NTIS stock number: PB95-170379. Beus MJ, Orr TJ [1995]. Computer modeling and analysis of the Greens Creek mine, Admiralty Island, AK. Spokane, WA: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, RI 9530.NTIS stock number: PB95-176418. [ ]

By M. J. Ferrante

The Bureau of Mines determined the enthalpies of Ni3S2 relative to 298.15 K to provide new thermodynamic data for advancement of mineral science and technology. Enthalpies were measured with a copper-block calorimeter from 298.15 to 1,197 K. A solid-solid transition was found at 834±1 K, with an isothermal heat absorption of 13.32 kcal/mol. The temperature of this solid-solid transition was accurately measured by differential scanning calorimetry. Because Ni3S2 does not melt congruently, the heat of fusion of 4.70 kcal/mol was obtained by extrapolation of enthalpy measurements from the solid and liquid phases to approximately 1,064 K. Tabulated values are given for the relative standard enthalpy, heat capacity, entropy, and Gibbs energy function between 298.15 and 1,800 K. Enthalpies are also given in equation form and combined with data from the literature to derive values of standard enthalpies of formation and Gibbs energies of formation. Similar calculations were made for the reaction of crystalline and liquid nickel with gaseous diatomic sulfur for Ni3S-2(c, l).

Jan 1, 1982

By M. A. Trevits, S. W. Lambert

In this Bureau of Mines investigation, production was monitored for 1 year at over 30 coalbed gas-drainage boreholes located in Alabama, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Results indicate that the quality of data gathered from such wells can be improved greatly if potential problems are anticipated and prevented in the early stages of well production. Major water-monitoring problems include solids buildup, freezing, the presence of gas in surface waterlines, and improper pumping interval settings. Such problems may be avoided by incorporating in the original well design waterline filters, sand screens, separator tanks, and systems to automatically control pumping intervals. Problems related to measurement of coalbed gas flow include large quantities of water vapor contained in the gas, especially during winter months; freezing and subsequent obstruction of flow; sudden, uncontrolled release of gas pressure; and solids buildup in metering equipment. The installation of commercially available items, such as filters, separators, and insulation, and the thoughtful application of a basic knowledge of coalbed gas reservoir characteristics will prevent most production-monitoring problems.

Jan 1, 1978

By E. J. Babcock

The existence of vast deposits of lignite in the West Central and Western States is well known, although the extent and importance of the deposits have not been appreciated, nor has there been an adequate economic utilization of the deposits. The work of the Bureau of Mines, the United States Geological Survey, and the State geological surveys is disclosing an increasingly large area, underlaid with this kind of coal. Among the States having the largest workable deposits may be mentioned North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Texas, and in several other Western States lignite occurs in smaller areas. In North Dakota alone it is estimated that the deposits cover approximately 32,000 square miles, many of them being 10 to 15 feet thick and capable of producing in all several hundred billions of tons of lignite. When one stops to consider what these figures mean as to the immensity of these deposits in the West, it is not strange that people are seeking to ascertain better means for deriving larger benefits from the proper utilization of those great deposits. Consequently, any proposed methods of utilization that are promising are well worthy of careful consideration.

Jan 1, 1915

By T. H. Davis

Twelve laboratories from the Western United States and Canada participated in radon progeny intercomparison measurements at the U.S. Bureau of Mines radon calibration facility in March 1987. The participants intercom pared grab-sampling and automated equipment methods at high and low concentrations of radon progeny and condensation nuclei (CN). The objective of this intercomparison was to determine if the measurement procedures and equipment of the North American facilities are equivalent. The sampling results showed good agreement among all participants. The standard deviation for the working level measurements was less than 3.5% for 1.70 working level (WL) and less than 8.8% for 0.21 WL. This relatively good agreement was achieved by using alpha standards calibrated by National Bureau of Standards (NBS) and by closely checking and monitoring airflows.

Jan 1, 1989

Develop and demonstrate a lightweight material that has low thermal conductivity and that would be suitable for placement using shotcrete methods. This material could be applied in deep, hot mines where mine drifts must be insulated. Its use would decrease mine refrigeration needs and reduce energy costs.

Jan 1, 1994

By Gerald T. Homce, Michael R. Yenchek, H. Kenneth Sacks, James C. Cawley

Abstract—Overhead electric power lines present a serious electrocution hazard to personnel in a variety of industries. Overhead lines, typically uninsulated conductors supported on towers or poles, are the most common means of electric power transmission and distribution, and are exposed to contact by mobile equipment such as cranes and trucks. Equipment contacting energized overhead lines becomes elevated to a high voltage, and simultaneous contact by personnel of the “hot” frame and ground can cause serious electrical shock and burns. Industries where risk of these accidents is greatest include construction, mining, agriculture, and communications/public utilities. An estimated 2300 accidental overhead line contacts occur each year in the U.S. This paper describes a practical low-cost concept to detect actual contact of mobile equipment with a high-voltage line and provide a warning. Accident statistics indicate that more than half of the fatalities could be prevented by such a device. Index Terms—Crane, electrical shock prevention, engineering control, mining, mobile equipment, power line.

By Oliver Bowles

As the preface states, this bulletin is the fourth of a series of re- ports by the Bureau of Mines on different phases of quarrying in the United States. The first part of the bulletin describes the chief types of cements, the growth of the cement industry in this country, and the character of the raw materials used. The bulk of the report deals with quarrying methods and equipment, and gives especial attention to drilling and blasting; a chapter on rock mining and one on pros- pecting are included. Methods of manufacture are mentioned briefly, as that subject, except as related to quarrying, lies outside the scope of this report; but transportation methods and the effects of the man- ner of mixing the materials at the quarry or crushing plant on quarrying methods are discussed.

Jan 1, 1918

By Donald R. Johnson

Apparatus developed by the Bureau of Mines for thermal analysis of oil shale was used to determine the thermal properties of shortite. Dissociation of shortite near 470° C occurs as an endothermic reaction that could consume significant quantities of heat in the oil-shale retorting process that produces shale oil. The shortite dissociation products undergo other thermal reactions that would not affect the retorting process. These reactions include crystal inversions near 365° C and 425° C and melting and decomposition endotherms above 500° C. Two separate reaction route for fusion and decomposition of the shortite decomposition products are dictated by the presence or absence of CO2 around the sample.

Jan 1, 1974

This bibliography lists publications issued by the Bureau of Mines concerned with investigations on petroleum and natural gas. The items included are chosen for their continuing interest and value. It was recognized early that a list of petroleum and natural gas publications was needed for the Bureau's work, and unofficial publication of a ?straight forward? listing was begun. It was at first a chronological list; however, suggestions submitted by its users prompted a format change to show publications under broad, general topics. Author and subject indexes were developed, becoming more detailed with each new edition. This present list supersedes the ones compiled in 1949, 1952, and 1957, and several supplements, which were aside available to the public by the Library Of the Bureau?s Bartlesville Petroleum Research Center. The unofficial field publication came to be widely known nail in considerable demand by those who are primarily interested in the Bureau's publications on petroleum and natural gas so that it became, desirable to have it published as an Information Circular. It is hoped drat, this official publications will result in a wider and more effective use of the Bureau's research results which are reported in its publications.

Jan 1, 1964

[THIS bibliography lists publications issued by the Bureau of Mines concerned with investigations on petroleum and natural gas. The items included are chosen for their continuing interest and value. It was recognized early that a list of petroleum and natural gas publications was needed for the Bureau's work, and unofficial publication of a ?straight forward listing? was begun. It was at first a chronological list; however, suggestions submitted by its users prompted a formed change to show publications under broad, general topics. Author and subject indexes were developed, becoming more detailed with each new edition. This present list supersedes the ones compiled in 1949, 1952, and 1957, and several supplements, which were aside available to the public by the Library Of the Bureau?s Bartlesville Petroleum Research Center. The unofficial field publication came to be widely known and in considerable demand by those who are primarily interested in the Bureau's publications on petroleum and natural gas so that it became, desirable to have it published as an Information Circular. It is hoped that this official publication will result in a wider and more effective use of the Bureau's research results which are reported in its publications.]

Jan 1, 1964

By Hans M. Cassel

The specific objective of research presented in this report was clarifi- cation of physicochemical fundamentals of the mechanism of dust explosions. The equipment, techniques (chiefly photographic), and dusts (chiefly graphite and light metals) employed are described. From behavior of individual par- ticles, conclusions are drawn as to their cooperative function in ignition and combustion of dust clouds. Results are interpreted using thermal theory as accepted for combustible gas mixtures. Radiative transfer across the flame front, as a characteristic of dust flames, is given particular atten- tion. Related studies by other investigators are discussed.

Jan 1, 1964

By Rudolf E. Greuer, Linneas W. Laage, Xinton Chang

The program MFIRE consists of four files MFIRE0 EXE, MFIRE1 EXE, MFIRE2 EXE, and MFIRE BAT The batch file, MFIRE BAT, controls the operation and cooperation of the three executable pro¬gram files and the output Networks of up to 500 air¬ways and 350 junctions can be modeled in the PC version of MFIRE Larger data sets can be accommodated by increasing array dimensions and compiling the program again. Input for MFIRE is in the form of a data file The data file contains fines of numerical data describing the physical mine, the ventilation parameters present, the fans, and the proposed thermal or mechanical disturbances

Jan 1, 1990

By J. Nielen van der Merwe

For the last 3 decades, coal pillars in the Republic of South Africa have been designed using the well-known strength formula of Salamon and Munro that was empirically derived after the Coalbrook disaster. The database was recently updated with the addition of failures that occurred after the initial analysis and the omission of failures that occurred in a known anomalous area. An alternative method of analysis was used to refine the constants in the formula. The outcome was a new formula that shows that the larger width-to-height ratio coal pillars are significantly stronger than previously believed, even though the material itself is represented by a reduced constant in the new formula. The formula predicts lower strength for the smaller pillars, explaining the failure of small pillars that were previously believed to have had high safety factors. Application of the new formula will result in improved coal reserve utilization for deeper workings and enhanced stability of shallow workings.

Jan 5, 1999

By Sean Gallagher, Thomas G. Bobick

The Bureau of Mines performed a pilot study examining the effects of posture on back strength and Maximum Acceptable Weight of Lift (MAWL) on six healthy male subjects (M = 32 years + 4 SD). Six hack strength measurements (3 static and 3 dynamic) were made while the subjects were kneeling and standing. In addition, these subjects (who were unaccustomed to lifting in these postures) volunteered to participate in a study of psychophysically determined NAWL in both postures. Results of the back strength tests showed a significantly lower peak torque per body weight output in kneeling versus standing hack strength measurements for five out of six test comparisons (p < .05). Subjective estimates of lifting capacity in the kneeling posture were significantly lower than those for the stooped posture (p < .05). The results of tests of hack strength and lifting capacity in these two postures provide useful information to consider in determining the physiological and psychophysical stresses imposed by these

By J. G. Linn, H. H. Schrenk, W. P. Yant, R. R. Sayers, John Chornyak, F. A. Patty, S. J. Pearce

"This report is the first of a series dealing with the results of a comprehensive investigation of methanol poisoning, conducted jointly by the Federal Bureau of Mines, Carbide & Carbon Chemicals Corporation, du Pont Ammonia Corporation, and the Commercial solvents Corporation.The study dealt mainly with physiological effects produced by inhalation of methanol vapor, and concentration studied ranged from approximately 500 to 15,000 p.p.m., and periods of exposure from 4 hours daily to continuous. The range of concentrations and periods of exposure were such as to produce acute effects, with and without fatalities, by a singel exposure and chronic poisoning, with and without fatalities, as well as little or no response after repeated daily exposures. In addition to the inhalation experiments, skin absorption was studied, and field surveys were made to ascertain the hazards associated with the manufacture and, use of methanol."

Feb 1, 1942

By John Owens, Wayne Howie, Hamid Maleki

After an analysis of the hazards of room-and-pillar retreat mining systems, it became apparent that safety could be significantly improved by considerations of (1) human factors, (2) remotely controlled mobile roof supports (MRS=s), (3) mine layout designs, and (4) ground monitoring systems. Initial studies of the effectiveness of MRS=s focused on their interaction with mine strata and evaluations of suitable measurements for detecting roof stability problems during pillar extraction. These studies indicated that overall stress distributions and strata movement were most influenced by the stiffness of coal-measure rocks and the design of mining layouts. Thus, to improve worker safety, mine layouts should be carefully designed and a pillar extraction method chosen for specific geologic and stress conditions. Pillar failure was often associated with an increase in pressure on the hydraulic gauges of the MRS, and roof failure was often preceded by rapid changes in the rate of roof-floor convergence. These studies led to development of a monitoring system that displays loading rate on an MRS in real time. A major MRS manufacturer cooperated in installing and testing the system on an MRS. New field studies focus on evaluating the performance of the system, measuring roof-floor convergence, and optimizing the safety of MRS operations through proper mine layout design.

By David Hoadley, Kenneth R. Maser, Ashok B. Boghani, James E. Billar, D. Randolph Berry, Mackenzie Burnett, Robert H. Trent

APPENDIX C - HOISTING SYSTEMS - AVAILABLE EQUIPMENT C 1 - Introduction A survey has been made of available hoisting equipment which has applications for use in metal and non-metal mine emergency escape hoist systems. The information was gathered from a number of sources, including representatives in the USBM and MESA, mine operators, personal visits and telephone interviews with manufacturers, field visits to inspect equipment, advertisements, catalogues and indices of manufacturers. Wherever possible, technical specifications and prices were checked out with the manufacturer, or supplier. The sections on individual sub-systems and components, such as automatic control systems, winches and controls, are not intended to be all encompassing surveys. Rather a reasonable number of representative units in each category are discussed. The sample is large enough to provide a general picture of the kind of equipment available, including the abilities and limitations and a reasonable price range. The survey has been divided into six categories 1. Complete Hoisting Systems A Above ground installations B Below ground installations 2. Hoist Assemblies ^(Man-rated) 3. Hoists (not Man-rated)

Jan 1, 1976