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By W. H. Tomlinson

During the 9 years ended December 31, 1938, 188 fatalities resulted from preventable accidents in and around the coal mines of Indiana; 173 of these occurred at underground mines and 15 at stripping or open-cut operations. In addition, there may have been other unrecorded fatalities during this period. The two organizations receiving notice of accidental deaths at coal mines in this State are the Division of Mines and Mining and the Indiana Industrial Commission. Only deaths occurring at underground mines employing 10 or more men are reported to the former, as neither strip mines nor underground mines employing fewer than 10 men cone within the purview of the Indiana mining law. The mine inspectors have no Jurisdiction over this latter group of mines and do not inspect them. Fatalities at small "wagon" mines and open-cut operations are supposed to be reported to the Industrial Commission; however, in many instances deaths at small mines are not reported, the only record being a death certificate filed with the county or corporation health officer. Thus, many deaths in small mines escape attention, especially when the victim succumbs some time after the injury was received. The data presented here on fatalities in Indiana, during the past 5 years include several instances in which the only record available is a death certificate; possibly others have been overlooked. From 1934 to 1937 the fatality record was progressively worse, that of the larger underground mines in 1937 being more than twice the average for these mines for the previous 4 years and only slightly less than twice the average for all mines, including open-cut operations. The increase in deaths during 1937 was due to two explosions, with 20 fatalities in one and 2 in the other. The number of deaths in the larger underground mines was considerably less in 1938 than in the previous 4 years, but there was no improvement in the number of fatalities at the small mines, or at open-cut mines.

Jan 1, 1940

By J. G. Kirby

According to the Bureau of Mines annual survey, as of January 1, 1954 there were 337 refineries with a total daily crude-oil throughput capacity of 8,006,897 barrels. The total daily capacity increased 368,236 barrels during the year while the total number of refineries declined 6. The capacity of the average refinery to process crude oil therefore increased during 1953 from 22,270 barrels to 23,759. With the exception of the Texas Inland, all refining districts reported gains in the installed capacity for the year, the largest being the Louisiana Gulf Coast with an increase of 20 percent. A total of 397,500 barrels of additional crude oil capacity was reported as under construction January 1, 1954. Accounting for 129,500 barrels of this total are facilities for 3 new refineries in North Dakota, 2 in Washington and I each in Ohio and Utah. Equipment being installed to replace existing units, totaled 180,750 barrels daily.

Jan 1, 1954

By T. A. Sullivan

The Bureau of Mines investigated modified sulfur concretes as one part of a program for utilizing sulfur in construction materials. The use of modified sulfur was studied as a means of preventing the stressing action in the concretes caused by the allotropic transformation of sulfur on solidification. Unmodified sulfur concretes have been prepared that have compression, flexural, and tensile strengths equivalent or better than Portland concretes. However, most of these concretes have been vulnerable to deterioration by weathering, temperature fluctuations, and freeze-thaw cycling. The sulfur was modified by reaction with dicyclopentadiene or dipentene before use as an aggregate binder. Sulfur concretes and modified sulfur concretes were pre-pared from acidic and basic type aggregates. Physical properties of the optimum mixtures were determined and compared with each other and with Portland cement concretes. The best results were obtained by reacting sulfur with 5 pct dicyclopentadiene to prepare modified sulfur concretes. Field testing of the concretes are in progress. Present results show that modified sulfur concretes are superior to unmodified sulfur concretes and equal or better than Portland concretes in compressive, flexural, and tensile strengths. Long-term aging characteristics of both modified and unmodified sulfur concretes are being determined.

Jan 1, 1976

By R. B. Anderson

As a part of a Bureau of Mines program on the conversion of coal to liquid and gaseous fuels, the kinetics of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis on iron catalysts was investigated. Nitrided catalysts were studied at 21.4 atmospheres using feed gases ranging from 2H2+1CO to 0.25H2+1CO, and at 7.8 to 21.4 atmospheres using 1H2+1CO gas. The overall apparent activation energy increased with increasing carbon monoxide content of the feed gas from 19.5 kcal/mole for 2H2+1CO to 23.7 for 0.7H2+1CO. The rate of synthesis with 1H2+1CO feed increased linearly with operating pressure from 7.8 to 21.4 atmospheres. A semifundamental rate equation of the form [r=a'PH2 0.6pco 0.4- ?r0.5PH200.5] was shown to fit the data satisfactorily. The relative usage of hydrogen to carbon monoxide decreased with increasing conversion, passed a minimum, and then increased. Apparently water is the principal primary product and carbon dioxide is produced by subsequent water-gas shift reaction. In another group of experiments water, carbon dioxide, argon, and methane were added to 1H2+1CO feed to a nitrided iron catalyst. Argon and methane were only diluents. Carbon dioxide was a slight inhibitor and water vapor was a strong inhibitor to the rate of synthesis. Water accelerated the water-gas shift and usually increased methane production. Important factors of catalyst geometry in determining rate were found to be particle size and extent of reduction. Apparently the active portion of the catalyst is confined to a layer of 0.01 to 0.02 cm from the external surface of particles. A special solution was made of differential equations relating re¬action at the catalyst surface to diffusion in pores of the catalyst for spherical particles with an active layer surrounding an inert core. The equation derived expressed the experimental data reasonably well. Diffusivities determined by this equation varied from 3 to 24X10-6 cm2/sec; these values are of the same magnitude as observed for the diffusion of gases in liquid. The appendix presents a group of synthesis experiments at pressures of 21.4 to 103 atmospheres. In this range the rate of synthesis on nitrided iron catalysts increased with pressure to the 0.74 to 0.84 power.

Jan 1, 1964

By M. D. Carver

This publication describes development by the Bureau of Mines of a quality evaluation procedure for certifying the adequacy of production lots of Kroll process zirconium sponge the Bureau had produced for reactor applications. After the procedure was devised, the next step was to apply it in controlling the quality of one-half million pounds of zirconium sponge com-prising 259 production lots, called blends, originating at the Metallurgy Research Center of the Bureau at Albany, Oreg. The Bureau concluded that the evaluation method developed was adequate and that by this method the zirconium blends having impurity levels or other property values outside specification limits were differentiated and thus were diverted from nuclear energy end uses. The research was performed under contract for the Bureau of Ships, Department of the Navy, and for the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC).

Jan 1, 1960

By Joseph A. DeCarlo

THE TOTAL VALUE of sales of coal-chemical materials in the 10-year period 1948-57 increased 34 percent or at an average annual rate of approximately 3.5 percent. According to the Chemical Industry Facts Book, third edition, 1957, published by Manufacturing Chemists' Association, Inc., the production of industrial chemicals since 1939 "has grown at au average rate of about 10 percent" a year (p. 7). The rapid growth of the chemical industry increased requirements of chemical raw materials at a faster pace than could be supplied by coal carboniza¬tion, and view sources of supply became necessary. The petroleum industry in the past decade increased tremendously the flow of chemical raw materials to the chemical industry through the processing of crude petroleum and natural gas. Whereas coal carbonization supplied most of the raw materials for manufacturing synthetic organic chemicals before World War 11, coke ovens supplied only about 40 percent of the total used in 1957. Although the proportion of chemical raw materials supplied to the chemical industry by coke-oven operators declined, this source of supply is large and important to our economy. In 1957, the value of coal-chemical materials sold, including surplus gas used by producing companies, totaled $358 million, compared with $267 million in 1948. Major factors that contributed to this gain were (1) increased production of all coal chemicals and (2) higher prices for tax and light-oil products. Gains in output of coal chemicals resulted principally from expansion in carbonizing capacity of coke plants owned and operated by the iron and steel industry, as yields of the basic coal¬-chemical materials (tar, ammonia, light oil, and gas) varied only slightly during the 10 years under review.

Jan 1, 1959

By Jr. Sillers

This is the third report of investigations dealing with the application of electrolytic manganese to steel-foundry practice and the seventh in a series of reports dealing with tests to establish the technological acceptability of electrolytic manganese in the iron and steel industries. The work was carried out by Metallurgical Division of the Bureau of Mines as part of an extensive program for the development and utilization of domestic ores. The electrolytic manganese used in the tests was produced by the Bureau at its Boulder, City, Nev., pilot plant by the process developed by the Bureau of Mines.

Jan 1, 1949

By JOHN BUZARD

In the following pages the writer has endeavored to give an account of the many methods, advantages, and disadvantages of preparing and burning powdered coal. For much of the information jmparted the writer is indebted to various firms in the United States and Canada whose plants he visited, also to the technical press. Manufacturers and operators of coal-fired furnaces can not afford to disregard the possible advantages of pulverizing their coal before burning it. Hence the purpose of this bulletin will be fulfilled if it leads them, after making careful estimates, either to abandon their present method of burning cGal on grates or stokers, and install the pulverizers, conveying system, powdered-coal feeder, and burner best suited for burning powdered coal in their plant, or to reject, as uneconomical, the replacement of their present system of burning coal by a system for pulverizing and burning it. No research work on the combustion of powdered Canadian fuels has been carried out by the Mines Branch, Department of Mines; but if this research work were carried out scientifically by competent engineers, chemists, and physicists, it would show how powderedcoal furnaces and burners should be designed to gi ve an efficiency higher than they give at present.

Jan 1, 1923

By John M. Devine

Hydrogen sulphide associated with natural gas was noted as early as at Point Albino, Canada. The presence of this impurity was recognized also in other of the earlier oil and gas fields, although the occurrence was by no means common. However, in recent years, with the development of the producing zones of test Texas and the Texas Panhandle, the Production of "sour" crude has increased greatly and hydrogen sulphide has proved a generally troublesome factor--frequently a major problem--in the drilling and operation of many wells in those areas. The problems arising from the drilling and producing of oil or gas wells in hydrogen-sulphide areas, fall under two general divisions: safety problems and corrosion problems. Mention is made of a third division which is closely related to the other two, that of treating--or the development of processes for the removal of hydrogen iron the standpoint of safety and health hazards, hydrogen sulphide in the petroleum industry has been discussed in a number of publications. Likewise, the problem of hydrogen-sulphide corrosion of production equipment has been given considerable attention in the literature.

Jan 1, 1931

By Robert A. Clifton

This Bureau of Mines report discusses the mineralogy of zeolites, the properties that make them commercially valuable, the conditions of formation of both natural and synthetic zeolites, and present and potential markets.

Jan 1, 1987

By G. L. Oldright

The data presented in this paper were collected et the smelter of the Consolidated Mining A Smelting Co. of Canada, Limited, Trail (Tadanac), British Columbia, through the courtesy of S. G. Blaylock, vice president and general manager; James Buchanan, smelter superintendent, George Murray, assistant smelter superintendent; and the staff members listed in Paper XI, Report of Investigations 3243. INTRODUCTION This paper is the twelfth of a series on smelting in the lead blast furnace and the fifth4 dealing with blast-furnace gases.

Jan 1, 1934

By H. E. Powell

This study was made to determine the capabilities and limitations of the hydrocyclone for separating quartz sand from impure clays, Optimum operating conditions for beneficiating typical subgrade clays were determined. Estimates are furnished for installation and direct operating costs of hydrocyclones in such separations. Laboratory models of commercial hydrocyclones were used to beneficiate a suite of fire clays including plastic, semiflint, and flint types, all of which were contaminated with quartz in amounts ranging from 3 to more than 62 percent. Results show that this technique is not limited to a single type of clay but is applicable to clays ranging from plastic through flint, Under proper conditions use of this technique will result in good separation of the sand and good recovery of a useful clay mineral concentrate. Rejection of quartz from the clays investigated ranged from a low of 82.4 percent with an alumina recovery of 71.2 percent to a high of 99.0 percent with an alumina recovery of 85.6 percent.

Jan 1, 1963

By C. P. Mishra

The Bureau of Mines performed a study of the availability of cobalt from market economy countries. The study entailed the detailed analysis of 97 deposits which contain 3.9 billion lb of cobalt at the demonstrated level; in 94 of the deposits cobalt is recovered as a byproduct, and in 3 it is considered the primary product. Since 97 pet of all recoverable cobalt is derived as a byproduct from copper and nickel deposits, the report focused on these two sources. At an assumed market price of $0.89flb for copper, $3.45/lb for nickel, $475/tr 021 for platinum, and $7/lb for cobalt, 1,330 million lb of cobalt at the demonstrated level are potentially available. This total includes 1,105 million lb of cobalt from copper properties, 190 million lb from nickel, 29 million lb from platinum, and 6 million lb from primary cobalt. This analysis indicates that the production cost for 589 million lb of cobalt can be totally covered by the revenues obtained from the other metals produced. The impacts of increases in capital investment and energy costs are also discussed.

Jan 1, 1985

By T. M. Romslo

The Lake Shore property, located in the early 1880's, contains copper-bearing deposits that have been developed by surface excavations, underground workings, and churn-drill holes. Operation of the property ended in 1929 with a total recorded production of 280,000 pounds of copper. The property is near the foot of the Slate Mountains, which are made up mainly of probably the Pinal formation of pre-Cambrian age. In the mine area there are a few outcrops of granite, which is exposed over a large area east of the property. Other outcropping rocks on the property are limestone, quartzite, and diabase. The limestone and quartzite probably are the Mescal and Troy formations of pre-Cambrian and Cambrian age, respectively. The predominant copper mineral is chrysocolla, a hydrous silicate that occurs mainly as fracture filling in bedded schist. It is also, the principal copper mineral in the shear zone at the schist-granite contact and in limestone southeast of the main workings. Investigation of the Lake Shore property by the Bureau of Mines included both topographic and geologic mapping, exploratory drilling, and metallurgical test work. One diamond-drill, hole and five churn-drill holes were completed for a total of 2,872.5 feet. Drilling started January 19 and was completed May 13, 1949.

Jan 1, 1950

By G. L. Oldright

This paper is the twelfth of a series on smelting in the lead blast furnace and the fifth dealing with blast-furnace gases. It was noted in Report of Investigations 2957 that the gases evolved from the top of the lead blast furnace at Tooele were similar in composition to those from the top of an iron blast furnace. It was noted in Report of Investigations 3095 that at Kellogg, where a smaller percentage of coke on charge and shorter stock column were employed, the gases evolved were much less reducing. At times there was a considerable amount of oxygen in the top gases at the second plant. More SO2 was also evolved from sulphides in the charge. Then operations were conducted as at Kellogg, the gases were alternately reducing and oxidizing. This paper deals with the gases evolved in smelting a charge containing more zinc than at either of the other two plants with about the same amount of coke as was used at Kellogg,: To compare other factors influencing the composition of the gases, it may be noted that at Tooele the approximate height of the charge column was 15 feet, at Kellogg 9 feet and at Trail 13 feet. The furnaces have about the -same cross-sectional area- tog. The furnaces at Tooele are about 6 inches wider at the tuyeres, being 54 inches wide against 48 for the other two plants. At Tooele and Kellogg the furnaces are fed at the top from bottom-dump cars. At Trail the charges are dumped from Decauville cars (bottom cars which dump when tilted), which run on tracks placed on both sides of the blast furnaces. The hoods through which the waste gases are conducted are directly above the shafts of the furnaces. The flues for removing the effluent gases lead off from under the charge floor at Tooele and Kellogg. (Charging and distribution of the feed in the furnace covered later in a rate paper of series.)

Jan 1, 1934

By H. R. Batchelder

The Bureau of Mines Gas Synthesis Demonstration Plant at Louisiana, Mo., includes apparatus for the gasification of pulverized coal with oxygen and superheated steam. A pebble heater constructed by the Babcock & Wilcox Co. is used to superheat nominal 5-pound steam for the gasification process, usually to temperatures of 1,600° to 2,300° F. with flow rates of 1,400 to 2,300 pounds per hour. Heaters of this sort have been described. So far as is known, the Babcock & Wilcox Co. is the sole commercial manufacturer of equipment of this type. Units have been built with capacities above 18,000 pounds of steam per hour.

Jan 1, 1951

This Bureau of Mines publication presents five papers given at a Technology Transfer Seminar on Metal Mine Fire Protection Research. Several seminars are held each year to bring the latest results of Bureau conducted and sponsored research to the attention of the mining industry as quickly as possible.

Jan 1, 1977

By Masami Hayashi

Cost evaluations were made for five processes for producing 100,000 tons of electrorefined copper per year from a chalcopyrite concentrate. The processes were (1) conventional smelting with all furnace gases vented to the atmosphere; (2) conventional smelting with converter gases routed to an acid plant and reverberatory gases vented to the atmosphere; (3) conventional smelting with converter gases routed to an acid plant and reverberatory gases to a citrate system plant; (4) conventional smelting with all furnace gases routed to a citrate system plant; and (5) a modified smelting process in which the concentrate is roasted before being charged to the reverberatory furnace, with roaster and converter gases routed to an acid plant. The total fixed capital costs of the plants were estimated as (1) $56.7 million, (2) $77.4 million, (3) $87.2 million, (4) $73.9 million, and (5) $77.0 million, respectively. Total S02 removal from stack gases as sulfuric acid or sulfur for each process was (1) none, (2) 66 percent, (3) 99 percent, (4) 98 percent, and (5) 78 percent. Assuming no credit for byproduct sulfur or sulfuric acid, total operating costs per pound of electro-refined copper produced were estimated as (1) $0.081, (2) $0.103, (3) $0.119, (4) $0.111, and (5) $0.103, respectively.

Jan 1, 1974

By M. C. Irani

This study is a survey of supply and demand for minerals, metals, alloys, and compounds used by the chemical industries in the Ohio River Basin (ORB) area of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia during 1967. Data for the study were obtained from completed questionnaires received from chemical manufacturers and from interviews with officials of chemical companies and mineral producers and distributors. The information includes kind, quality, quantity, values, sources, specifications, uses, and methods of transportation. Results of the study show that of the total value of mineral materials consumed by the chemical industry, manufacture of inorganic chemicals consumed 46 percent; fertilizers, 22 percent; and soaps and detergents, 19 percent. Fifteen commodities accounted for 91 percent of the total value of mineral materials consumed. Five of these--phosphates, potash, salt, sulfur, and titanium dioxide--accounted for 59 percent of the total.

Jan 1, 1970

By W. E. Wells

This report describes experimental investigations made in the batchwise retorting of Colorado oil shale. Three heat-carrying mediums were used -hot shale gas, superheated steam, and hot flue gas. Using hot Shale gas for retorting, the several variables studied were retort-inlet-gas temperature, gas velocity through the shale bed, shale particle size, and grade of shale. In studying the effect of any one of these variables on oil yield, as and operability, the other variables were maintained essentially constant. Oil yields decreased with increasing in-let-gas temperature and increasing shale-particle size, and oil yield increased with increasing grade of Shale up to 50 gallons of oil per ton of shale, beyond which the process was inoperable because of swelling and caking of the shale during retorting. Changes in gas velocity had little effect on oil yield. Gas yield increased with increasing inlet-gas temperature, gas velocity, particle size, and shale grade. Oil yields of 100 percent of Fischer assay and from 1,600 to 1,800 cubic feet of 300-B.t.u. gas per ton of shale were obtained. Two runs only were made using superheated steam. Oil yields averaged 97 percent of Fischer assay, and gas yields averaged 4,00o cubic feet per ton of shale. Retorting with a hot flue gas produced from combustion in the shale bed, as in the N-T-U process, gave excellent yields using closely sized shale with recycling of flue gas. An excess of fine shale in the charge resulted in channeling and low oil yields. Using no recycle gas, good yields were obtained that tended to decrease with increasing air rate, and the retorting rate increased with increasing air rate over the range studied. Coking was not found serious with 30-gallon shale at the air rates used.

Jan 1, 1952