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By Alfred Weiss

These volumes report on the study initiated by the U. S. Bureau of Mines to develop and apply a methodology to quantitatively assess the probability and potential benefits of technological innovation over the next twenty-five years. The potential was recognized for new technology to solve copper industry problems in the United States. Objectives of the study were to: (1) Develop a methodology to obtain the opinions of mineral experts about future events -their likelihood of occurrence, and, conditional on occurrence, when and to what extent they are likely to occur; (2) Identify, select, and describe potential technological innovations which would have significant impact on copper production; (3) Implement the methodology and obtain the opinions of the mineral experts regarding selected copper technologies; and (4) Analyze the expected future benefits of successful technological innovations :n the copper industry. Although individual technologies are continuously examined throughout the copper 'community', this study is the first known comprehensive forecast of future copper technology. This study is also believed to be unique 1n that it represents the consensus opinion of over sixty expert copper technologists on the expected use of innovative technology in the industry over the next 25 years. The report is contained in three volumes.

Jan 1, 1983

"INTRODUCTION Industrial utilization of the present submarginal domestic manganese resources of the United States is wholely dependent at this time on the electrolytic manganese process established as the result of 4 years of continuous operation of the Bureau of Mines pilot plant at Boulder City and 7 years' operations of the Electro Manganese Corporation commercial plant at Knoxville, Tenn.Three Kids ore provided the feed for the Boulder City pilot plant during 3 years of operation. Hence, the electrowinning characteristics of the ore have been thoroughly established, making possible accurate estimates for commercial operations.Before the Defense Plant Corporation constructed the leaching plant, the Bureau of Mines conducted an exploration project to determine the extent and grade of the ore reserves. Additional exploration, development, and mining by the Manganese Ore Cc, have accurately determined the tonnage and grade of ore. A large tonnage of stock piled ore is now available for immediate processing, and a considerable tonnage of openpit ore has been stripped of overburden preparatory to mining. Numerous facilities, such as power, water, and housing, needed for an electrolytic manganese plant are already available.All of these factors, as well as plans for installation of scale electrolytic manganese plant facilities, are presented in detail in the chapter entitled, ""Mining and. Electrolytic Reduction of use from Three Kids Manganese Mine."" The Manganese Ore Co. kindly provided information on the present ore reserves and state of development of the mine."

Jun 1, 1945

By E. D. Gardner

A general survey of the mineral industries of the Black Hills is being made by the Bureau or Mines, but this report is confined to the tin deposits of that region. Because of the strategic importance of tin in a national emergency, special attention was given in the field to deposits of this metal. The present paper outlines the procedure that would be required for determining the potentialities of the most promising deposits as emergency sources of tin and gives estimates of the cost of sampling and rehabilitating some of the old tin mines. Tin mining in the Black Hill was quiescent in 1938. Tin occurs in two areas inn the region. The deposits have received considerable attention, and since 1884 numerous articles have been written about them. It is estimated that between 7 and 15 million dollars has been spent in promotion expenses, acquiring claims, development work, and equipment; production, has totaled about 160 long tons of metallic tin worth about $95,000.3/

Jan 1, 1939

By M. S. Cetiner

This report describes the prototype development If a medium to high voltage coupler, suitable for underground coal mining operations. The coupler has such unique features as automatic dust covers and continuous phase pin shielding. The coupler is rated at 7500V and 250A continuous operation.

Jan 1, 1982

By Allen G. Gray

It's not news to you that the United States is highly vulnerable to potential problems in supply of critical and strategic metals, and that these metals - chromium, for example - are employed in important bearing alloys. It's also not news to you that there is a significant challenge to improve durability and life of bearing systems which contribute to conservation as well as productivity. The objectives of this workshop are to identify available technologies and opportunities for new technologies in conservation, substitution, and displacement of critical and strategic metals in bearing systems. These considerations are among the most viable options for reducing vulnerability to a cutoff of chromium and other critical metals and action should be taken to identify and develop those technologies now rather than after a crisis is upon us.

Jan 1, 1984

By James R. Wait

An attempt is made here to collect together various reports and publications that are based on research supported all or in part by Contract No. H0155008 for the past two years. The subject matter deals primarily with the excitation, transmission, and reception of electromagnetic waves in mine environments. This contract from the U.S. Bureau of Mines with the Office of Telecommunications supports the efforts of James R. Wait (Principal Investigator and Consultant to OT), David A. Hill (Co-Investigator), and various associates within the Boulder scientific community. The contributions of Samir F. Mahmoud were supported, in part, by the contract while he was a Visiting Fellow with the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado. Administrative assistance in CIRES has been provided by Mrs. Lana R. Hope.

Jan 1, 1976

By A. C. Fieldner

This is the tenth annual report of research and technologic work conducted by the Bureau of Mines on the occurrence, properties, mining, preparation, and uses of coal and coal products. These annual reviews are guide's to the current work-and publications of the Bureau but do not replace the more complete reports published under the authorship of the individual investigators on specific problems in Bureau of Mines bulletins, technical papers, reports of investigations, and information circulars and in the technical press. The Annual Report of the Director of the Bureau of Mines to the Secretary of the Interior for the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 1945, summarizes the year's work on coal as follows: Coal and Coal Products The United States maintained its No. 1 industrial position in supplying fuel for war and in preparing for peace through more complete mining, improved preparation and up-grading of coal for special uses, and better utilization of coal in industrial establishments and homes.

Jan 1, 1946

Consumption and intensity of use trends for twelve metals, by industrial end use, were estimated for 1972 through 198Z. The trends were then forecast through 1993 using standard statistical methods. The intensity of use measure selected is the quantity of metal consumed per constant dollar output of a specific industrial sector. The metals studied were aluminum, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, nickel, the platinum-group metals, tin, titanium, tungsten, and zinc. Average annual growth rates for the following four of the twelve metal increased from 1972-82 as follows: aluminum, 1.00 percent; platinum-group metals (consisting of platinum, palladium, and iridium), 8.83 percent; titanium, 7.82 percent; and tungsten, 6.09 percent. Consumption. for the remaining eight metals decreased at average annual rates ranging from 0.58 percent (copper) to 5.37 percent (manganese).

Jan 1, 1986

By Richard W. Lusignea

This report describes a program to evaluate the feasibility of determining roof features which occur in United States coal mines from changes in bolting machine drilling parameters. The ultimate purpose of this effort is the development of an instrumented roof bolting machine which can detect hazardous roof conditions and/or indicate when the existing roof control plan is inadequate. A survey of hazardous conditions occurring in United States coal mines is included, along with the slang expressions for these conditions, and their relative degree of hazard. Specific machine parameters are identified for detecting the specific roof conditions. Measurement concepts are proposed using readily available instrumentation in most cases. Various systems are evaluated and tradeoffs presented. An implementation plan is proposed for developing a prototype system and using it in an operating coal mine.

Jan 1, 1978

This: symposium was sponsored by the Bureau of Mines, U.S. Department of the lnterior, in order to critically examine the state-of-the-art of sulfide flotation chemistry and to define current and emerging problems that should be emphasized in future fundamental research. The topics covered through invited papers include both reviews and recent research results in the areas of thermodynamics of reagent-mineral interactions; collector adsorption processes; the effects of solid-state point defects on flotation; activation and deactivation phenomena; the electrochemical role of oxygen in sulfide flotation; environmental problems in flotation; and selective flocculation of fines. Papers riving perspectives on flotation research in relationship to our national mineral requirements and the relationships between industrial flotation research and academics are also presented. An edited summary of the symposium follows the papers.

Jan 1, 1980

By Ernest A. Hersam

"INTRODUCTION.Luring the year 1923 a complete survey was made of the condition of research in the reduction (milling) and concentration of ores and nonmetallic minerals - that is, up to the stage where the ores or concentrates were ready for hydro- or pyro-metallurgical treatment. This survey was carried on under the general supervision of L. A. Lyon, assistant director and chief metallurgist of the Bureau of mines, in cooperation with the milling committee of the American Institute of mining and metallurgical Engineers, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of California. Other institutions, including the National Research council, were of assistance and outlined recommendations during the study.While this report is on ""ore dressing"", it contains short sections on coal and clay. The mechanical handling that these minerals undergo is ""dressing"", so that ore dressing is inclusive of metallic and nonmetallic minerals. ""milling"", in its broadest sense, includes with ore dressing certain other metallurgical treatment which the report is not designed to cover.The survey revealed that considerable experimentation is being carried on great cost to the mining industry, but that the research is in general poorly coordinated while companies and firms are adequately taking care of routine tests and the mechanical features involved in their own operations, no comprehensive study of the fundamental principles of ore reduction is now in progress or contemplated. Many industries, besides mining, are interested in the preparation of materials for final treatment, rendering this investigation of value also to them. This class of fundamental research is neglected by industry unless there is some agency which can bring together at least a majority of this interested in a cooperative effort. It can not be effectively handled by a single company; and, moreover, no company can be expected to bear the whole burden of an investigation to benefit the entire industry or a number of industries hence there is need for concerted study within reasonable limits. Furthermore, co-operation eliminates duplication, which is largely a waste of effort and capital."

Mar 1, 1925

The value of raw nonfuel mineral materials production totaled an estimated $19.7 billion in 1978. The record 1978 value exceeded by 13 percent the 1977 value of $17.5 billion. This raw mineral output was the basis for approximately $200 billion worth of processed materials of mineral origin. Output of both metals and nonmetals increased about $1 billion each, above comparable figures for 1977. Of the 22 metals produced quantitative output of 11 increased and the value of 13 increased. Among the 48 nonmetallic commodities produced, the quantities for 35 increased, and the values for 40 increased.

Jan 1, 1979

By J. T. Dunham

Zirconium has possible use in industry where severe corrosion conditions are encountered because it resists attack from a variety of corrosive environments. However, very little experimental testing has been done to evaluate the corrosion behavior of zirconium when simultaneously subjected to high tensile stresses and exposed to corrosive environments. This investigation was initiated for an evaluation test, but was limited to environments consisting of ferric chloride solutions which were known to attack zirconium and were shown to promote stress-corrosion cracking in preliminary tests. Tests for cracking susceptibility were conducted by the Bureau of Mines to show the effect of stress, solution concentration, air aeration of solution, and the method of mechanical processing. Tensile stress was applied to the specimens by a constant-load method which proved more reliable than a constant-strain method.

Jan 1, 1961

By W. F. RITTMAN, E. W. Dean

This report presents the results of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Mines for the purpose of assisting in the establishment of a satisfactory standard method for the analytical distillation of petroleum, a problem of great importance to the petroleum industry. Experiments were performed for the purpose of studying the charac- teristics of methods typical of those in use; comparative studies were made of the efficiencies of the principal types of fractionation ap- paratus available to the petroleum chemist; and the characteristics of a type of apparatus that the results of the experiments seemed to indicate was best adapted to the purpose were investigated in detail. Also, some experiments were made to determine the effect of cracking as a factor in the analytical distillation of petroleum in still heads.

Jan 1, 1916

By K. C. Dean

Discarded automobiles represent the greatest single resource of reusable metals, plastics, and rubber in the United States. This report presents results of Bureau of Mines research, conducted from 1965 to 1983, on separating and recovering useful materials from the scrapped hulks, using old and new metallurgical techniques combined with standard scrapyard methods. The Bureau determined the materials composition of three composite cars designated as circa 1960, mid-1970's, and early 1980's, and used these cars to study smokeless incineration and hand-sorting techniques. In studies on treating rejects from automobile shredders, the Bureau designed a process that included air classification, water elutriation, magnetic separation, handpicking, and heavy-medium separation, and also investigated cryogenics and liquation. Complete recovery of cop-per and other metals was economically made by hand and tool dismantling, leaching, or selective melting of starters and generators. Techniques are also discussed for plastic recovery and waste tire treatment.

Jan 1, 1985

By A. J. Kraemer

Few important improvements other than the development of cracking processes were made in technical petroleum refining from 1914 to 1919. Refiners were concerned mainly with enlarging their plants and erecting new plants to meet the growing demand for petroleum products. Shell stills operated as a unit or arranged in series for progressive or continuous distillation were the prevailing distillation equipment. Some improvement was made in condensers, but in most refineries of the period coils of pipe immersed in tanks of water were used to condense vapors and cool liquid products of the stills. Heat exchangers to conserve heat and reduce costs were more highly developed at California topping plants than at other plants. In this connection Wadsworth3/states: It is regretted that information concerning the operation of topping plants with eastern and Middle West oils is not available. The writer carefully canvassed the Middle West, but did not find a plant where operation had progressed beyond the early experimental stages and reliable figures could be furnished.

Jan 1, 1941

By L. G. Marshall

This report presents a cross section of the sand and gravel operations in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. The study covers individual operations, economic problems peculiar to the industry, glacial geology of the area and its effect upon the grades and types of products, and past, present, and future trends of the expanding population and its effect upon the industry.

Jan 1, 1963

By L. G. Marshall

This report presents a cross section of the sand and gravel operations in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. The study covers individual operations, economic problems peculiar to the industry, glacial geology of the area and its effect upon the grades and types of products, and past, present, and future trends of the expanding population and its effect upon the industry.

Jan 1, 1963

By W. L. EGY, GEORGES. RICE, L. M. JONES, J. K. CLEMENT

This report has been prepared, not only for the purpose of recording the results of the first series of coal-dust tests conducted in the experimental mine of the Bureau of Mines, but also to place before the mining public a description of the mine and an account of the objects sought in its establishment. Soon after the organization of the technologic branch of the United States Geological Survey, J. A. Holmes, then chief of the branch, concluded that for the solution of various problems relating to the causes and prevention of mine explosions it would be best to carry on large-scale tests in a mine rather than in a surface gallery. The idea of utilizing the underground passage of a mine for making explosion experiments did not at' first meet with general approval among investigators in this country or abroad. Many thought a mine passage was not a proper place in which scientific tests could be conducted, as great difficulty in controlling conditions was expected. However, after all arguments for and against such an investigation had been carefully considered, plans for opening an experimental mine were definitely adopted by the Bureau of Mines in 1910, and an allotment of funds was made to carry out the project. The first endeavor was to find an existing mine suitable for the purpose, but the mines offered by owners were either worked out, were wet, had poor roofs, or presented complications of various kinds, so that it was finally decided to open a mine if a site could be obtained having natural conditions that would fill the various requirements. A most desirable location was found on property of the Pittsburgh Coal Co., near Bruceton, Pa. The president of this company, Mr. W. K. Field, the general manager, Mr. G. W. Schluederberg, and the chief engineer, Mr. E. J. Taylor, rendered every possible service in

Jan 1, 1913

By E. D. Gardner

Ore and concentrate are transported on, the surface at western mining districts by (1) railroads, (2) surface trams, (3) aerial trams, (4) trucks, and (5) wagons, and (6) on the backs of animals. The daily and ultimate tonnage to be moved is the principal factor governing the selection of the method of transportation. Railroads are preferred when large tonnages are to be hauled over relatively long distances. The mine-haulage system may be extended or surface trams built to the mill or shipping point if a practical track grade is possible and if the distance is relatively short. Aerial trams have a special field of usefulness for transportation over steep or excessively rough terrain.

Jan 1, 1936