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By E. H. Denny

"Reduction of mine accidents appears to depend upon essentially the same fundamentals, whether considered from the viewpoint of the mine operator, miner, State mine inspector, or safety engineer. Conditions of mine operation with respect to safety are governed in most States by a mining law, usually somewhat general in its provisions but more specific than laws dealing with other industries, Methods of mining development and practice evolved through experience have been handed down from generation to generation; many of these are intended to avoid injury to men and also loss of property. To carry out the intent of these bases of law and experience relating to safety supplemental measures and conditions are necessary. Among these may be: (1) Planned safety rules adapted to the mine and compliance by both officials and Miners with such of these rules as pertain to their work; (2) a supervisory force adequate and competent to ¬administer the mining laws and safety rules; (3) discipline adequate to secure compliance with safety measures; (4) safeguards against mechanical, electrical, falling, and other hazards; (5) mining operations planned with respect to safety of workers; (6) an active safety organization of officials and employees; (7) education of officials and employees in safety practices; and (8) an active sustained interest in safety by management and employees.This paper presents the viewpoint of the safety engineer, though a safety engineer connected with a specific mine or group of mines would be in a better position than the writer to present the industrial engineer's thought. The application of the mine safety fundamentals just outlined will be given consideration from observations of methods used by safety engineers and supervisors.The term ""safety engineer"" includes men of various duties, various degrees of experience, and various authority. Depending upon the size of the operation or the interest of the management in safety, the safety engineer may have accident prevention as his sole duty; he may be the head of a sizable safety organization; or he may be in part a claim agent; a statistician compiling figures for the enlightenment of the company, the public, or a mining institute meeting; a surveyor who must convince the miner that his scale of 10/10 equals 1 foot does not defraud the miner of 6 inches to every yard measured; or he may be by heaven¬ly gift an orator capable of assuring the employees that ""all's right with the world""; he may be a young engineer gaining, experience while checking the observance of company rules and investigating accidents; or he may have the physical ills frequently resulting from several decades of mining experience and instead of a pension, the position of safety engineer has fallen to his lot. He may have mine-operating authority to correct immediately a dangerous condition or practice or he may have his recommendations officially disregarded at the monthly meeting or when the bottom of the desk basket is reached. He is likely to find that his viewpoint on accident reduction is considered unsound today because of youth and inexperience and unsound later because of old age and senility. He is likely to find the easiest course to be that of attributing to Providence and the carelessness of the worker the mishaps that result in the removal of a man to the hospital or the morgue."

Dec 1, 1936

By Jürgen F. Brune, R. Karl Zipf, Kenneth L. Cashdollar

This paper outlines the legal standards and methods for protecting underground coal mines in the United States from explosions of methane gas and coal dust. It will discuss inspection and monitoring of mine atmospheres, dilution of methane through ventilation, methane drainage prior to, during and post-mining, as well as explosion prevention through rock dusting and sealing of mined-out areas. Recent research findings of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Pittsburgh Research Laboratory on the magnitude of pressures obtained during methane explosions from modeling and full-scale explosion tests at the NIOSH Lake Lynn Experimental Mine will be presented. This work is currently being applied to modeling the structural response of explosion-proof mine seals to pressures from gas explosions. Also, new research will be presented on the inertization of float coal dust in mines through the addition of inert stone dust and on the application of the Coal Dust Explosibility Meter (CDEM), a handheld device developed by NIOSH to directly measure the explosibility of a coal dust - limestone dust mixture based on optical reflectivity.

By R. V. Ramani, R. Stefanko, G. W. Luxbacher

1 14 THIS IS A DIGITAL COMPUTER SIMULATION OF THE VENTILATION SYSTEM OF A MINE LOCATED IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. THE VENTILATION SURVEY ON WHICH THIS SIMULATION IS BASED WAS RUN FROM OCT. 27-30 AND ON NOV. 2, 1976 IN THE ACTIVE PORTION OF THE MINE INBY COMBS SHAFT AND THE INACTIVE PORTION AFOUND AND INBY DONAHOO SHAFT. FOLLOW-UP SURVEYS WERE THEN RUN ON FEB. 18 AND FROM MARCH 7-11, 1977 TO INCLUDE THE MAIN HAULAGE SYSTEM OUTBY THE ACTIVE AREAS OF THE MINE. ALL SURVEY DATA WAS NORMALIZED TO A STANDARD DENSITY OF 0.075 POUNDS/CU.FT. PRIOR TO THE CALCULATION OF INPUT PARAMETERS FOR THIS SIMULATION. IN THIS RUN, THE ORIGINAL VENTILATION NETWORK HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO INCLUDE NEW INTAKE AND RETURN AIRSHAFTS AT THE WEST MAINS. IN ADDITION A CONNECTION HAS BEEN MADE BETWEEN THE MINE UNDER STUDY AND A SHAFT IN A WORKED OUT MINE IN THE 1 FACE AREA. THIS SHAFT IS CONSIDERED AN INTAKE SHAFT FOR THIS RUN.

Jan 1, 1977

By Leonard Obert

[Tng occasional. rock noises in a nice caured by brc,*ing and ripping of the back, settling, and other cailscr, are well-known tc~ a11 mining en- gineers. These noises oftcn prececte certnin tpes of rock failure as such are used to e certain ev';ent a; w:,rnlngs. Senides t5ese audible rock noisee t'nere are, l?o\;evpr, even Iprger nw.iber of' s;Lba.J^;li5le rock mis~s, which must; be piclcell UT with sole type of vi-urr,tion rnicroyhoce and qli- fied in order tnnt :hey n;ny e heard. It v:zs s~v;,yestec" Ir, an evlier ? ,I a.ldible noises Ifureau of I.lines s~zb:ic;et.iod that n stud:r of t!ler;c! *- t mig!!t be useful ir. de temining roc^ movemrnt 3 preceding failure.]

Jan 1, 1941

By William A. Vogely

STRIKES in the steel and copper industries adversely affected production in the minerals industry in 1959. Because of an excellent first half of the year and rapid recovery of production after the steel settlement, most statistical indicators were higher than the recession-recovery year 1958. Domestic production of metals declined by 9 percent, but nonmetals (except fuels) increased by 8 percent. Ferrous-metal mine production was down 8 percent, and base-metal mine production was off 11 percent. Employment was high during the first half of the year, but averaged lower than in 1958. Stocks continued to decline as a whole, but crude metal ore stocks actually increased. The indexes of stocks at yearend were still high as compared with 1955. Prices were firm throughout the year. A new index of average unit mine value is presented for the first time in this review; it showed a very slight decline in average mine realization for 1959. The percentage share of supply from imports increased in some commodities, due in large part to the shutdown of domestic iron, steel, and copper industries.

Jan 1, 1960

By James R. Wait

It is the purpose of this paper to review theoretical model concepts in through- the -earth transmission of electromagnetic waves. While the subject is very broad in its defined scope, we will be conscious of the specific applications to mine rescue and emergency telecommunications in coal mine environments. The plan of the paper is to outline previous theoretical efforts without attempting to attach names or organizations to the specific developments. However, we include a guide to the literature as an appendix. Without pretending to be entirely impartial we include a critique of the limitations of the available analytical models. As I see it the central problem is to calculate the steady state mutual impedance of a four-terminal network that is the black box characterizing the through-the-earth path. Problems of secondary importance include the determination of the input impedances of the two pairs of terminals and the associated transient responses. [ ]

Jan 1, 1973

By J. Schlocker

The present emergency has greatly stimulated interest in the light metals - aluminum and magnesium - owing to their extensive use in airplane construction. The $63,000,000 plant being erected in the Las Vegas Valley by Basic Magnesium, Inc., under the auspices of the Defense Plant Corporation,

Jan 1, 1942

By H. C. Brunaugh, James Westfield, R. W. Whittaker

"INTRODUCTION The purpose of this circular is to describe the sealing off of a mine fire and subsequent use of carbon dioxide gas to extinguish it.A fire of electrical origin occurred in the Valier mine of the Valier Coal Co., Valier, Franklin County, I11., on March 29, 1949, at about 1:35 p.m. It was discovered about 3:35 p.m. in 5 south west intake airway inby 1 and 2 west panels. The No. 5 southwest airway had caved, and the fire was in the top coal beneath a large fall of rock. All men, except officials, were ordered from the mine. The mine officials decided to seal the fire, and four temporary seals were erected, which isolated approximately 200 feet of 5 south west entry. The seals were completed on March 30 at 2:45 a.m., but on March 31, at 3;40 a.m,, two of them were blown out by an explosion of gas that was produced by the fire. The two seals were rebuilt, the work being completed on March 31 at 12:00 noon, but they were blown out by another gas explosion at 12:10 a.m. on April 1. It was then decided to extinguish the fire with water if possible.To accomplish this, concrete-block dams were constructed. On April 1, about 4:25 a.m., when the dams were about half completed, water was introduced into the fire area through a 2-inch pipe.On April 4, J. G, Crawford, general manager of the Valier Coal Co., notified James Westfield, chief of the Vincennes (Ind.) Branch, U. S. Bureau of Mines, by telephone of the fire in Valier mine and requested assistance to combat it. Westfield, accompanied by F. J. Smith and H. C. Brumbaugh, Federal coal-mine inspectors, went underground and inspected the seals and dams. Later, during a conference with company officials, it was decided that the concrete-block dams were not strong enough to withstand the hydrostatic pressure that would be produced by flooding the fire area. It was then decided to use carbon dioxide gas to extinguish the fire. Four seals were completed, and 5 tons of carbon dioxide gas was introduced into the fire area, which extinguished the fire."

Apr 1, 1950

By D. R. Mathews

The Bureau of Mines investigated the effects of tungsten and chromium, separately and combined, on improving the mechanical properties and oxidation resistance of vanadium. Binary and ternary vanadium-base alloys were prepared and tested for oxidation resistance and tensile strength. Softening occurred with less than 1 weight-percent of either tungsten or chromium, followed by strengthening with higher alloying contents. Vanadium alloys containing up to 9.8 weight-percent chromium or 14.1 weight-percent tungsten were more resistant to oxidation in air at 600° C than unalloyed vanadium. For the alloys with 12.20 weight-percent chromium or 14.56 weight-percent: tungsten, the maximum concentrations used, the lower yield strengths were about twice that of 38,600 psi for the unalloyed vanadium. Recrystallization temperatures for these alloys were 100 and 150° C higher, respectively. Alloys containing both chromium and tungsten had properties similar to those of the vanadium-tungsten alloys.

Jan 1, 1967

By R. L. Handy

The goal of this research was to adapt the highly successful rock borehole shear test for use in deep, small-diameter boreholes. Operating somewhat on the principle of a rock bolt, the borehole shear test measures both the expansion pressure and pulling force to give discrete measures of rock shearing strength as a function of the applied normal pressure. A new instrument was designed and built to fit into a 2-3/8 inch diameter hole. Unfortunately the design became so complicated, the operation is nut reliable. This is attributed to constraints of the small hole, and added requirements of an in-hole anchor to push against, and a rotating shear plate cleaner for repeated tests down-hole. A clue to the d: vice complexity is its length, which is over 10 feet. Furthermore it employs concentric cylinders and one hydraulic cylinder bored into the piston of another, or it would be even longer. Meanwhile drilling technology has advanced to greatly reduce costs of drilling 5- or 6-inch diameter holes. The downhole tester therefore should be redesigned and simplified for use in a larger diameter drill hole.

Jan 1, 1982

By Roy H. Grau

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has conducted research to improve the ventilation of large-opening mines whose entries are at least 93m2 (1,000 ft2). The ventilation of large-opening mines is unique compared to other types of mines because (1) it is challenging to keep airflow velocities high enough to effectively remove or dilute airborne contaminants because the entries are so large, (2) large air volumes can be moved through the mines with little static pressure drop, and (3) stoppings that are used to direct ventilation airflows are costly to construct and to maintain. The research results suggest that the ventilation of large-opening mines is improved significantly by incorporating ventilation planning into the mine planning process, using propeller fans to direct airflow, developing new stopping materials and construction methods, and using long pillars to eliminate crosscuts where possible.

Jan 1, 2009

By M. Howard Berliner

"INTRODUCTION During the last 4 months of 1943, the Bureau of Mines engaged in an investigation and exploratory drilling program in the area between the Coughlin and Galena Level mines near the town of Shullsburg, in Lafayette County, Wisconsin. The work was undertaken as part of a general Bureau of Mines investigation of the zinc-producing area of southwestern Wiscon¬sin at a time when an effort was being made to increase the production of metals important to the Nation's war program.The portion of the southwest Wisconsin zinc district in the immediate vicinity of Shullsburg and the Coughlin and Galena Level mines is well mineralized. The principal ore horizon is at shallow depth, and there is evidence that relatively extensive surface mining for lead was done over a period of many years. Underground mining' for lead and zinc has continued to the present time.The Bureau undertook an exploratory drilling program in the area immediately west and southwest of the Coughlin mine workings after thorough preliminary investigations and geologic studies indicated that such work would serve to guide operators in the development of new ore reserves needed for continuance of mining operations in that area."

Apr 1, 1947

By H. H. Hill

"The wide publicity that is given to the discover; of new oil fields has led many people to believe that our supply of crude petroleum is practically in- exhaustible and that in order to keep pace with the demand for petroleum products, it is only necessary to drill a few more wells in some of the south-western states. It is not generally realized that, although many famous fields have been developed in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas and Louisiana during the past few years, the production of crude oil in 1919 was not sufficient to meet the demand and it was necessary to import approximately 53,000,000 barrels from Mexico.Continued efforts are being made to recover a larger percentage of the oil underground by improvements in methods of drilling and in handling producing properties. Improvements are also being made in methods for handling the oil after it has reached the surface which will result in reducing losses through leakage and through evaporation. These methods for cutting down waste in production and storage, if universally adopted, will no doubt result in appreciable increases in our supply of crude oil."

Nov 1, 1920

By Thomas Varley

[For a year or more, statements have appeared in the technical press, and Especially in various trade journals, indicating that valuable metals such as gold, silver, platinum, and other rare metals, have been found and also have been successfully extracted from oil shales. These reports stated tat decarbonization and special methods of chlorination treatment, leaching and subsequent Precipitation, also cyanidation followed by table concentration of the residues after cyanidation, all indicated that told ad silver and other metals could be, and were, successfully recovered. Such articles have caused much misunderstanding, and as the correctness of some re of the statements made in them were questioned by some of the technical journals and by various chemists and metallurgists, an investigation of the subject. was begun by the metallurgical division of the Bureau of Mines, in order, if possible, to determine to what extent, if any, metals of value do occur in oil shales, and if so, the feasibility of attempting their recovery by tie processes said to have been used for teat Purpose. Inasmuch as the Bureau's station at Salt Lake City is investigating the recovery of oil from oil shales, the investigation of too recovery of metals from oil shales was assigned to my direction as superintendent 'of that station. An agreement had been entered into with the owner of m extensive oil shale deposit in Wyoming whereby I would personally collect the samples' of shales for use in the investigation.]

Jan 1, 1922

By R. Karl Zipf

MULSIM/NL (multiple seams, nonlinear) is a new U.S. Bureau of Mines boundary-element-method (BEM) program for calculating stresses and displacements (is., convergence) in coal mines or thin, tabular rnetalliferous veins. This manual gives detailed operating instructions for MULSIM/NL and illustrates its use with several practical examples. While this manual concentrates on the practical aspects of actually running and using MULSIM/NL, another companion report titled "MULSIM/NL- Theoretical and Programmer's Manual" provides mathematical and programming details to those engineers and programmers who need to fully understand the FORTRAN program or desire to alter and enhance it. MULSIMINL analyzes one to four parallel seams that have any orientation with respect to the Earth's surface. Three main features distinguish MULSIM/NL from its predecessors: (1) nonlinear material models, (2) multiple mining steps, and (3) comprehensive energy release and strain energy computations. MULSIM/NL has six material models for the in-seam material including (1) linear elastic for coal, (2) strain softening, (3) elastic plastic, (4) bilinear hardening, (5) strain hardening, and (6) linear elastic for gob. The multiple mining step capability enables the user to simulate a changing mine geometry. Finally, MULSIM/NL performs comprehensive energy release rate calculations.

Jan 1, 1992

By Audrey F. Glowacki, August J. Kwitowski, Richard L. Unger, Edward F. Fries

Well-prepared personnel and an effective emergency response plan are essential components of any emergency command center. Unfortunately, evaluating emergency preparedness is often difficult until a disaster actually occurs. For example, unexpected events may develop during an emergency that were not considered during the planning phase. Also, the command center may need to cooperate with organizations that it has not worked with previously. Preparation can be especially difficult for smaller or remotely located command centers, or those with limited resources to conduct mock drills. This paper explores the potential of using the Internet to teach and evaluate command center skills. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is developing an Internet-based, computer simulation training package for the mining industry. Trainees will play the role of command center leaders at a mine, while the actions of other individuals and organizations are simulated. Trainees will be able to test their emergency response plans and learn valuable lessons from past mine emergencies. Nationally recognized experts will be able to create new training scenarios and make them available to mines throughout the U.S. This product should better prepare command center personnel for large-scale disasters such as fires and explosions. Keywords: emergency preparedness, simulation, training, internet

By Dana Reinke, William Wiehagen, Launa Mallett, Charles Vaught, Kathleen M. Kowalski, Michael J. Brnich, Lynn Rethi, Lisa Steiner

Safety and health professionals from all sectors of industry recognize that training is a critical element of an effective safety and health program. A major concern in the mining industry today is how to train the present aging workforce plus the expected influx of new and less experienced miners and mine operators as the cohort of older workers retire. This paper defines the problem, offers a model to structure the inquiry, and presents the key issues a multi-disciplinary team of NIOSH researchers identified, based on an extensive review of the current literature in relevant areas. Issues include differences between cohorts, such as the newer workers (Generation M), and present workers (Boomers) with respect to their physical, social, psychological, and cultural characteristics, their learning styles and work expectations. Specific issues for an aging workforce are discussed. Some preliminary recommendations are offered on the type of training needed.

By Duvall Wilbur I.

This is the second report to be presented on th application of stress analysis to underground Mining problems. In part I2/ of this investigation the stress distribution around single openings in unidirectional and hydrostatic stress fields was analyzed. Relationships between maximum stress concentration and size and shape of openings were determined by the photoelastic method. In most cases the results were verified by mathematical methods This report considers the stress distribution in pillars formed by two or more openings in a. unidirectional stress field. Relationships between stress concentrations and size and shape of pillars are developed. Applied to mining, results snow how estimates may be made of the stress distribution in pillars, what factors cause high local stresses, and how local stress concentrations may be reduced by proper design of mine openings. The photoelastic method was used, as in Part I, to study the stress distributions, and, whenever possible, the results were verified mathematically. A description of the photoelastic method and equipment is .given in Part I.

Jan 1, 1948

By E. L. Garton

An active list of permissible explosives was published in July, 1931, as part of United States Bureau of Mines Report of Investigations 3134, under the title of "Active List of Permissible Explosives and Blasting Devices Approved Prior to June 30, 1931." Changes in that list were authorized in August, September, October, November, and December, 1931, and January and March, 1932, as published in Reports of Investigations 3140, 3147, 3150, 3155, 3158, 3161, and 3163, respectively. By these changes the following explosives were added to the active Permissible list: Austin Red Diamond No. 1, L. F. Gel-Coalite W, L. F;" Austin Red Diamond No: 5. Gen-Gel No. 2. Black Diamond Nu-Gel No. 1 Genite C-1 Burton 1, L. F. Liberty No 4 Burton 2, L. F. Liberty No. 5 Burton 10, L. F. Peerless D Burton 12, L. F. Permigel 1, L. F. Burton F, L. F.

Jan 1, 1932

By C. M. Mason

Bureau of Mines studies were made on the sensitivity of several ammonium nitrate-fuel oil (AN-FO) mixtures to bullet impact. The experimental work was done with one military rifle and two high-velocity sporting rifles with a variety of ammunition. For the three rifles used, the order of efficiency in initiating detonation in AN-FO mixtures was 220 Swift >300 Weatherby Magnum >30-&apos;06. The velocity of the bullet was found to be a decisive factor in the initiation. The sensitivity of various materials studied increased as follows: Clay-coated prills with 4 percent oil <fresh surfactant-coated prills with 4 or 6 percent oil <surfactant-coated prills with 4 or 6 percent oil and aged 270 days <crushed prills with 6 percent oil <very low-density, surfactant-coated prills (micronized), with 4 percent oil.

Jan 1, 1963