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

All output is saved in the file MFIRE OUT m the di¬rectory and on the disk containing the program The file can be inspected with a text processor and sent to a print¬er, if needed CONTENTS OF OUTPUT FILE The comment lines, reference temperature, air densi¬ty, a table of the units of measure for the results, and the average values are shown at the beginning of MFIRE OUT All input data will be shown in the output file if LOUT on Control line number 1 is _<-1 For each contamination source, a new branch will automatically be setup The new airway and junction ID numbers will not interfere with the original numbering scheme of the data file Next are the results of the selected simulation(s) in the following order network balancing, network balancing considering temperatures, transient-state modeling, and altered equilibrium due to fire and distribution of the contaminants. Depending upon the contents of the data file, and the simulation selected, attention, warning, and error message will be shown at locations where calculations resulted in unusual conditions

Jan 1, 1990

By John J. Sammarco

Mining, traditionally a low-tech industry, is now utilizing surprisingly complex programmable electronic (PE) systems. The functional safety of PE-based mining systems is an international issue and concern. From 1995 to 2001, there were 11 PE-related mining incidents reported in the U.S. and 71 PE-related mining incidents reported in Australia. These incidents are due, in part, to unprecedented levels of system complexity. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is addressing this issue of system complexity by conducting research to develop a quantitative complexity assessment methodology based on Normal Accident Theory (NAT). The methodology models the behavioral interactive complexity at the level of system requirements. A graph-theoretical approach is used for creating quantitative metrics from Software Cost Reduction (SCR) dependency graphs. This complexity assessment methodology will help realize simpler, safer systems that will be easier to validate and verify. The methodology will benefit mining and other industries as well.

To provide a practical method to reduce hand and arm injuries during roof bolting operations.

Jan 1, 2000

By M. Gottlieb, P. Metes, Charles Sabine, Louis J. Denes, B. Kaminsky, Jami M. Girard, Ronald T. Mayerle

A significant risk factor in assessing and modeling potential catastrophic slope movement in open-pit mines is the presence of argillic alteration in host rocks. High-resolution hyperspectral imagery operating in the visible to shortwave infrared can be a useful tool for identifying and mapping potentially dangerous argillic zones. We have conducted preliminary experiments with a new type of hyperspectral imager that employs an acousto-optic tunable filter, a variable retardation plate and a standard digital camera. The instrument we tested operates in the .5-1.0 micrometer range. A shortwave infrared instrument is planned, and mid-infrared instruments have been designed. An AOTF consists of an acoustic transducer that generates an acoustic wave that propagates through an attached crystalline substance. The wave sinusoidally modulates the refractive index of the crystal, selectively diffracting incident light according to its wavelength. The instrument also measures polarization signatures of reflecting surfaces as well as their spectral properties, opening up new areas of possible research. Images can be acquired and processed at 30 frames/second. The AOTF camera system offers numerous advantages to geologists. It can be used as an airborne imager or as a portable field device to image pit walls, outcrops, rock specimens or drill core. It can be adapted to image polished sections under a microscope, and it could be used in underground workings. Algorithms can produce processed images in real time (e.g., ratio images), and, because it is a camera system, aerial images can be orthorectified.

Coal is found in the northeast comer of Georgia, in Dade, Chattooga, Walker, and Floyd Counties. Five seams, which underlie all of Lookout, Sand, and Pigeon Mountains, have produced most of the coal mined in the state. Representative analyses of Georgia coals show that they are typically low sulfur (less than one to one percent), low-to-medium volatile, bituminous deposits. Although there is no active mining in the state, reclamation continues on several permitted areas. In 1983 the State of Georgia relinquished primacy to the Office of Surface Mining. Since that time permits have been issued and mining completed. All the sites are presently in the process of bond release.

Jan 1, 1992

This chapter details the perspective from which collected data have been examined. The first part, intended primarily for lay readers, discusses several topics related to mining as an enterprise. Initially, the organizational functioning of atypical large mine will be described. It is the formal structure above a miner that decides the conditions of his or her work. A second point of concern is the technology itself An underground coal mine is a sociotechnical system, with workers and machines organized in particular ways during production. Third, general conditions and dangers underground will be described in detail. The physical environment of an operation is a powerful factor in the work life of miners. Fourth, a discussion of the process of formal training is given. During this training, a new worker is taught what the organization expects of him or her in the role of safe, productive, coal miner. Next, there are outside organizations that act as significant forces in the workplace. Examples include the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), State agencies, and the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). The roles of these entities will also be examined. The second part of this chapter will depict each study site as a concrete setting, so that findings can be interpreted in their proper context. The Organizational and Technical Nature of Mining A coal mine is a complex system. It is defined as all parts of a mining plant&apos;s property (both underground and surface) that contribute, under one management, to the extraction or handling of coal [American Geological Institute 1997]. As suggested, many functions that must be carried out at an operation are only indirectly related to coal mining and processing. Even the jobs that are di¬rectly related tend to be numerous and varied [Wallwork 1981]. According to Palowitch [1982], the chief reason for this sophistication is that "after more than two centuries of exploiting our coal resources, today&apos;s coal industry finds itself saddled with a horrendous legacy of human impairments and environmental damages which society demands be corrected." Now, the effects of government regulation are evident in every aspect of the mining industry. Any operation, if it is to survive, must be administered with an eye for social efficiency and accountability. Long-range planning is needed to ensure that the mine produces coal in a cost-effective manner. One of the first things that must be considered is location and method of access. To extract coal from an underground mine, a coalbed (or "seam") must be reached from the surface. The term "portal" is generally given to any entrance that provides access to a coal mine. In hilly terrain, such as is found in Appalachia, the coal may "outcrop" on a hillside. This allows direct

Jan 1, 2000

By Thomas O. Glover

Cameroon&apos;s mineral industry continued to be dominated by crude petroleum, The economic development of the country depended on the production and export of crude on. Output was estimated to be 49 million barrels in 1985 compared with 56 million barrels in 1984 and 47 million barrels in 1988. The country&apos;s only refinery consumed approximately 12% of the daily production of crude oil while operating at slightly over 50% capacity. The refinery output, however, supplied the domestic need for motor fuel and heating oils. Cameroon&apos;s economic prospects were heavily dependent on the oil sector, which bad been responsible for the recent strong growth in the economy. The country consistently sought to avoid the problems associated with an overdependence on oil and followed a relatively broad-based development strategy, using oil revenues to sustain and encourage growth in other sectors. Approximately 75% of the gross domestic product (GDP) was attributed to the mineral industry in some form. GDP growth was approximately 6.5% during 1985.

Jan 1, 1987

By Dean H. Ambrose

This paper presents an approach for representing and analyzing random motions and hazardous events in a simulated three-dimensional workplace, providing designers and analysts with a new technique for evaluating operator-machine interaction hazards in virtual environments. Technical data in this paper is based upon a project striving to reduce workers&apos; risks from being hit by underground mining machinery in a confined space. The project&apos;s methodology includes human factors design considerations, ergonomic modeling and simulation tools, laboratory validation, and collaboration with a mining equipment manufacturer. Hazardous conditions can be analyzed in virtual environments using collision detection. By simulating an operator&apos;s random behavior and machine&apos;s appendage velocity, researchers can accurately identify hazards, and use that information to form safe design parameters for mining equipment. Analysts must be discerning with the model and not read more from the databases than what the simulation model was designed to deliver. Simulations provided an interesting approach to data gathering in that there was no need for live subjects and logistics - test sites and costs associated with experiments-became insignificant. Collisions versus speed, operators&apos; size, and risk behaviors proved the versatility found in the data obtained from the model. Preliminary results show that response time significantly affects the number of collisions experienced by the virtual subject. Also simulation data suggests that more mishaps occur with hand-on-boom-arm risk behavior.

By Maria I. De Rosa

Table 10 and figure 4 show the number of fires and fire injuries occurring at the surface of underground metal/nonmetal and stone mines by state during 1990-2001. Table 10 also shows the injury risk rates, employees&apos; working hours, and lost workdays. A total of 12 fires occurred in 11 states; 5 of the fires caused 5 injuries. The yearly average was one fire and 0.42 injury. Five fires with two injuries occurred at metal mines, five fires with two injuries occurred at nonmetal mines, and two fires with one injury occurred at stone mines. None of the fires involved contractors. The Ewhr value was 58 x 106 hr (Irr = 0.017), and the LWD value was 75. Nevada had the most fires (two fires and no injuries). Ohio, New Mexico, Missouri, South Dakota, and Idaho each had one fire with one injury. Of these states, Missouri had the highest injury risk rate value (In = 0.25). Table 11, partly illustrated in figure 5, shows the number of fires, fire injuries, risk rates, employees&apos; working hours, and lost workdays by time period. The number of fires decreased during most of the six time periods. The number of fire injuries and employees&apos; working hours decreased during all of the periods. The Irr values follow patterns similar to those shown by the injury values. Tables 12-17 show the number of fires by ignition source, method of detection and suppression, equipment involved, location, and burning material by time period. Figure 6 shows the major variables related to fires for 1990-2001. Table 18 shows the number of fire injuries per number of fires causing injuries and total fires by year, ignition source, equipment involved, and location.

Jan 1, 2004

By Oliver Bowles

The following discussion of waste rock utilization constitutes the fifth paper of the current series of reports on lime- plant quarry problems . As here tofore lime manufacturers are invited to cooperate to the fullest extent by supplementing the Bureau's information with the results of their own experiences and observations . Waste utilization is the key to success in many enterprises , and with a broader knowledge of this branch of the lime industry more economical operation is made possible . Your assistance in compiling additional data on this subject is solicited , and such assistance may be rendered by writing answers to the questions on the final page of this report .

Apr 1, 1923

By Launa G. Mallett, Barbara Fotta

This report examines the effects of mining height on injury rates in U.S. underground nonlongwall bituminous coal mines, controlling for both the employment size of the mine and the mining methods. Using the mine-level employment and injury data reported to the Mine Safely and Health Administration, mines were stratified by average coal seam height (<43 in, 43-60 in, and >60 in) and by the average number of employees working at the mine (<20 employees, 20-49 employees, 50-99 employees, and >99 employees). To reduce the confounding effects of mining method on injury rates, mines using longwall mining methods were identified and excluded from analysis. The employment data show that as the mine size increases, the proportion of hours worked in low seams decreases substantially. Additionally, miners injured in small, low- scam mines arc, on average, younger and less experienced than those injured in large high-seam mines. Nonfatal disabling and fatal injury rates were computed within each category of employment size and seam height for the major types of accidents (ground falls, powered haulage equipment, machinery, handling materials, slips and falls, and hand tools). Our findings suggest that, regardless of the employment size, as mining height increases, miners are at increasingly higher risk of injury from accidents due to slips or falls and accidents involving shuttle cars and falls of ground. As mining height decreases, miners are at higher risk 01 injury from accidents involving roof bolting machines, load-haul-dump types of powered haulage equipment, personnel carriers, and powered haulage conveyors. On the other hand, regardless of the height of the coal seam, miners working in large underground mines had higher rates of injuries resulting from accidents involving handling materials and nonpowered hand tools, but lower rates of injury from accidents involving continuous mining machines and lower rates of fatal injuries from falls of supported and unsupported mine roof. Finally, miners working at small mines in low or medium seams are at higher risk of being fatally injured by a ljll of unsupported mine roof. These findings suggest the importance of&apos; considering the working height of the mine, as well as the employment size of the mining operation, when developing intervention strategies to reduce injury risk to underground coal miners. Results also identify the need to further explore how mining height contributes to the frequency and severity of injuries.

Jan 11, 1997

By Edward D. Thimons

A remote-actuated stench gas fire-warning system has been designed and tested by the Bureau of Mines. This system makes use of the hard-wire network for the mine&apos;s phone pager system, thus greatly reducing the system cost. By locating stench gas canisters with remote-actuation release capabilities near working sections, the fire-warning time can be greatly reduced. In a test of the system in a Missouri lead mine, the time required to warn miners of a fire at two working faces was reduced from about 20min with the conventional system to less than 4 min with the remote-actuated system.

Jan 1, 1984

By Geo S. Rice

"Three men lost their lives in the Black Diamond Coal Mine near Seattle, Wash., recently while wearing oxygen breathing apparatus. The press dispatches stated that these men lost their lives while practicing with the apparatus. Later reports stated that the men died while attempting to make a trip 1200 feet down a 25 degree slope which was filled with black damp, in order to measure the amount of water that had accumulated at the bottom of the mine, and the trip was attempted with oxygen in the tanks of the apparatus with dials indicating only 45 minutes supply. The oxygen in the tank was used up and the men therefore lost their lives from a deficiency of air to breathe.In spite of all the education and training done by the Government to prevent accidents, men are prone occasionally to take unnecessary chances. Every piece of apparatus, no matter how perfect, has its limitations. The Government, through the agency of the Bureau of Mines, has trained many thousands of miners in the use of mine rescue apparatus. The training has been given to all miners who requested it, and the Bureau has gone to the extreme of urging miners to join the rescue and first-aid classes. In spite of all the efforts of the Government, men occasionally attempt the impossible."

Jul 1, 1920

By Thomas C. Miller, Charles E. Mongan

"This publication is a progress report on Bureau of Mines studies in applying sonar techniques to roof-control problems in coal mines. Preliminary tests in the laboratory were made on layers of roof rock. To apply the experience thus obtained, a unit was designed and constructed and was used underground.The term ""sonar technique"" refers to the system of generating a beam of sound waves, shaping and directing the beam, introducing the beam into a medium to be studied, and examining any returning waves with a view of inferring the nature of the material traversed by the waves and the presence of interfaces or obstacles in the medium.The theory and actual underground experiments indicate that the sonic method is feasible. Information from physical tests made in the Bureau's Experimental mine confirmed the validity and potential usefulness of the sonar method. Lighter and more compact apparatus is desirable, and permissible equipment suitable for use in gassy or dusty mines must be developed. However, no particular difficulties are anticipated; consequently, this scientific approach to the exploration of roof strata shows definite promise. INTRODUCTIONThe problem of roof control in the coal-mining industry is of major importance. More than 50 percent of all coal-mine fatalities and 25 percent of all nonfatal serious injuries are caused by falls of roof, face, or ribs. The Bureau estimates that more than $128 million was spent by the coal-mining industry in 1958 for supporting roof."

Feb 1, 1960

By J. O. Winget

Amino acids were investigated in conjunction with rare-earth separation by ion exchange to determine whether they can be utilized effectively as retaining agents for metals separation using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) eluant at 85° to 90° C. Hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetic acid (REDTA) and diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) were the most effective amino acids investigated. Elements of atomic numbers 39 and 57 through 68 were effectively retained, whereas elements of atomic numbers 69 through 71 passed through the retaining-agent band. Utilization of REDTA or DTPA retaining agents allows an increase of 75 percent in the EDTA eluant concentration over that possible with hydrogen-or copper-retaining ions without precipitation occurring. Eighty-five percent recovery of the EDTA eluant collected before rare-earth breakthrough and during elution of lutetium, ytterbium, and thulium, and essentially complete recovery of the REDTA or DTPA retaining agents, are possible without extensive processing.

Jan 1, 1968

By Richard A. Winters

In 1987, at the request of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Bureau of Mines studied the 334-acre Mountain Lakes Wilderness Study Area (OR-011-001) in order to evaluate its identified mineral resources. The study area is located in Klamath County about 15 miles northwest of Klamath Falls, Oregon, and is adjacent to the Mountain Lakes Wilderness. The area is underlain by Pliocene-age basaltic andesite. No mining districts are in the study area nor were any claims recorded or found. There are no oil and gas lease applications. There are no identified mineral resources in the study area. INTRODUCTION This report describes the USBM (U.S. Bureau of Mines) portion of a cooperative study with the USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) to evaluate mineral resources and potential of the Mountain Lakes WSA (Wilderness Study Area), at the request of the BLM (U.S. Bureau of Land Management). The USBM examines individual mines, prospects, claims, and mineralized zones, and evaluates identified mineral and energy resources. The USGS evaluates potential for undiscovered resources based on areal geological, geochemical, and geophysical surveys. Results of the investigations will be used to help determine the suitability of the WSA for inclusion into the National Wilderness Preservation System. Although the immediate goal of this and other USBM mineral surveys is to provide data for the President, Congress, government agencies, and the public for land-use decisions, the long-term objective is to ensure the Nation has an adequate and dependable supply of minerals at reasonable cost.

Jan 1, 1988

By D. Harrington

Recently the attention of the U. S. Bureau of Mines has in a number of instances been called to the firing of shots of permissible explosives in coal mines with delay-action detonators. In one bituminous coal mine they were used to bring down the coal for conveyor loading; in another in blasting pillars, which were not undercut; in another in one of the two charges separated by stemming in deep drill holes where the coal was undercut and sheared and mechanically loaded; in another in shooting top coal; and in another in the shooting of coal faces electrically from the surface. Some of these mines were rated as gassy by the State Mining Department in the State concerned. In most instances the charging of holes was done while the working shift was in the mine, and in some the shots were blasted while the working shift was in the mine. In all of these cases the shots were dependent - that is, the efficacy of the succeeding shots was dependent - upon the firing of the preceding shot or shots. The first shot, or possibly two or three shots, was usually fired with a no-delay electric detonator or an instantaneous electric detonator.

Jan 1, 1929

By G. Nuñez, M. A. Pathak, C. F. Stanley

"A 1986 report by the U.S. National Committee on Blomechanlcs (1) describes lung disease as a major national health problem. The report cites three areas that would benefit from a better understanding of the vibratory patterns of the lung. These areas are outlined below.1. In cases of respiratory distress, pressure driven artificial respirators are used. A new technique using high frequency respiration is quite promising, but the pressure distribution in the lung as a function of frequency is not yet known. At these frequencies of 1 to 60 Hz, the lung expands asynchronously (2) and a better understanding of these expansion nonunlformltles could provide valuable Information about the mechanics of high frequency ventilation.2. Listening to the sounds In the lung can yield valuable Information about the state of the lung. To improve the technique, a better understanding of how acoustic waves propagate through the lung is needed.3. The response of the lung as It Is subjected to acoustic excitation, dynamic loading or shock waves is not well understood. A better knowledge of these responees can lead to improved treatment for patients subjected to either explosive pressure waves or car crashes.4. Researchers are measuring the acoustic Impedance of the Iung to detect early states of dysfunction. Sneckenberger and Whitmoyer (3) have reported Impedances obtained at acoustic frequencies up to about 6000 Hz. However, It la not certain which parts of the lung are responding to the acoustic excitation.To Investigate the vibratory characteristics of the lung, excised rat lungs were excited via the trachea with acoustic waves at frequencies up to 6000 Hz. Thie paper describes an Instrumentation system, utlllzlng time-averaged holographic Interferometry, to detect and quantify the response of the lung surface to the acoustic excitation."

Jan 1, 1989

Jul 1, 2003

By David A. Monaghan, Kenneth R. Maser, Adi R. Gurdar, D. Randolph Berry

APPENDIX C SCALING RELATIONSHIPS 1. Scaling Law for Fly Ash Crater Formation The scaling law derived for predicting crater diameters at different scales is developed below by considering the equation of motion of individual fly ash particles. It is assumed that the air drag on each particle is characterized by Stokes flow, and at the borehole - passage intersection the air velocity and the fly ash particle velocity are the same. The equations of motion for a fly ash particle are the following, (see Figure C-1).

Jan 1, 1973