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This report describes Phase I of the project --Development of a Mechanized Scaler --performed by Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratories for the U.S. Bureau of Mines. The objectives of Phase I were to 1) assess the needs of the industry as related to mechanized scaling; 2) conceive, evaluate and select mechanized scaler concepts; and 3) prepare preliminary designs of the selected machine concepts. To assess the scaling needs of the industry, we reviewed both U.S. and foreign literature, evaluated U.S. scaling accident statistics, reviewed existing mechanized scaling equipment, performed a series of mine visits and telephone interviews with mine operators, and assessed the applicability of a loose-rock detection system. The literature review identified over 25 scaler-related articles. However, little of the information could be used directly in the conceptualization and design portions of the project. Three articles did supply information on a number of machines used in Europe, along with statistics describing their effect on mine safety. For example, the French reported a 50% reduction in the total number of scaling-related accidents and a full 80% reduction in the number of lost-time injuries in the Lorraine mining district.

Jan 1, 1981

By Michel C. Frippel

This section of the Minerals Yearbook reviews the minerals industries of 29 countries: the 12 nations of the European Community (Belgium, France, the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Denmark/Greenland, Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, and Ireland); 6 of the 7 nations of the European Free Trade Association (Sweden, Nor-way, Finland, Iceland, Austria, and Switzerland); Malta; the 8 Centrally Planned Economies of Eastern Europe (the German Democratic Republic (GDR), Poland, Yugoslavia, Albania, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria); and the U.S.S.R. Western Europe Western Europe [loosely defined to include the 12 nations of the European Com-munity (EC) and the 7 nations of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)] is the single largest trading area and consumer of raw materials in the world. If Western Europe was at one time an important mining sector, it has now increasingly relegated the role of supplying minerals for its minerals processing industry to its ex-colonies in North and South America, Africa, and Australia. In this regard, Western Europe is the most important determinant of raw materials consumption (and thus raw materials production). There is an important reason for this since Western Europe lies somewhere between Japan at one extreme and the United States and the U.S.S.R. at the other extreme as regards the availability of natural resources.

Jan 1, 1992

By C. W. Van Law

WE have just heard a very able presentation, by Mr. J. C. Cameron, on the subject of Recent Trends in Labour Relations, as they exist today in Canada (l). With minor changes, what he said applies equally to the situation in the United States. Direct negotiation between employer and employee on a man-to-man basis, wherein good faith and mutual esteem was at least sometimes a factor, has almost entirely given way to a mass struggle in which each side is represented by highly trained specialists in a new jurisprudence, built up on vote-getting labour laws, decisions in analogous cases by Boards whose members may have had very little personal acquaintance with the specific case, etc., etc. Membership in a labour union has become almost an essential requisite to a job; once in, the individual workman loses his identity and dares not act on his own initiative or even express any idea not handed him by his Union head. An honest workman cannot turn in an honest day's work, because his Union will not allow him. Leadership in the Unions has become so powerful an instrument, both politically and monetarily, that Union policies are drafted primarily to build up that power, and may have little relation to the equities of the individual case. ?While both sides still render lip-service to the doctrine that Capital and Labour can advance best by co-operation to mutual benefit, that doctrine has in effect given way to as bitter and as legalistic a struggle as any in our civil courts. There are many reasons to believe that we are, industrially, in a situation much like the European situation from 1935 to 1939; an impending war to the death with 'appeasement' as the only, unavailing, policy

Jan 1, 1945

By Enzo Palumbo, Joël P. T. Kapusta, François Larouche

In light of the rapid deployment of bottom blowing smelting in China over the last ten years, one has to wonder why it has taken the copper industry so long to adopt ultra-high oxygen enrichment via Savard-Lee type injectors. As early as 1976, Kellogg and Henderson suggested, in their landmark paper on energy usage in the copper industry, that ‘maximum use of oxygen enrichment of process air’ was one of seven ‘energy saving features’ for copper matte smelting and converting. Yet today, shrouded injection and high oxygen enrichment has not been implemented in copper bath smelting outside China and Vietnam. In this paper, the authors explore the reasons why bath smelting processes such as the Noranda Reactor and the Teniente Converter still operate around 40% oxygen enrichment, while the bottom blowing SKS/BBS process typically runs at 65 to 75% oxygen, with all three processes producing white metal. Are there fundamental metallurgical explanations for this striking difference beyond the long-standing skepticism towards high oxygen shrouded injection and its perceived high implementation cost?

Jan 1, 2015

By Gordon T. Austin

The combined value of production of natural abrasives, which include tripoli, special silica stone, garnet, staurolite, and emery, increased in 1993. The increase in the value of tripoli production was the result of an increase in total production. Special silica stone experienced an increase in unit value but decrease in the quantity produced. Garnet showed a 19 % decrease in quantity and an 8 % decrease in value. Staurolite increased about 51 % in the quantity produced and 136 % in value compared with those of 1992. Staurolite's significant increase in value of production resulted from a 56 % increase in the unit value. The fused aluminum oxide industry showed an 8 % decrease in the quantity produced and a 13 % decrease in the value of production. The silicon carbide industry saw an 11 % decrease in the quantity produced and an 8 % decrease in the value of production. Combined, the industries decreased 9 % in quantity and 11 % in value compared with those of 1992.

Jan 1, 1993

By D. T. Randall, H. W. Weeks

The burning of coal without smoke is a problem that concerns the Government directly because of the advantages of smokeless combustion both in public buildings and on naval vessels. In addition, smoke abatement is a factor in conserving the fuel resources of the United States. Hence, as part of its general investigation of the best methods of utilizing the coals of this country, the Bureau of Mines, which is in charge of the fuel-testing work formerly carried on by the United States Geological Survey, has made extended tests to determine the conditions necessary for the smokeless combustion of bituminous coal in boiler furnaces. Bulletin 39,a a preliminary report, treats the smoke problem from a theoretical point of view, detailing the steps that are being taken by . municipalities, manufacturers, and citizens to abate smoke, also showing the possibility of a clean city. The present bulletin not only shows that bituminous coals high in volatile matter can be burned without smoke, but also that large plants carrying loads that fluctuate widely, where boilers over banked fires must be put into service quickly and fires forced to the capacity of their units, can be operated without producing smoke that is objectionable. Proper equipment, efficient labor, and intelligent supervision are the necessary factors.

Jan 1, 1912

By Gordon T. Austin

The combined production value of natural abrasives, which consist of tripoli, special silica stone, garnet, staurolite, and emery, increased in 1987. The increase was, in certain cases, because the materials were used in nonabrasive applications, such as the increased use of tripoli as a filler and special silica stone material as a special-purpose crushed stone. The increased use of garnet as a blasting media accounts for most of its growth. Production and sales of garnet were at a record-high level in 1987. [ ]

Jan 1, 1989

By Gregg Davidson, Lonnie Jacobs, Brett Zernich, Alan Howard, Robert Pintabona

All Rights Reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Information contained in this work has been obtained by SME, Inc. from sources believed to be reliable. However, neither SME nor its authors guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein, and neither SME nor its authors shall be responsible for any errors, omissions, or damages arising out of use of this information. This work is published with the understanding that SME and its authors are supplying information but are not attempting to render engineering or other professional services. If such services are required, the assistance of an appropriate professional should be sought. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any statement or views presented here are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of SME. The mention of trade names for commercial products does not imply the approval or endorsement of SME.

Dec 1, 2014

By Richard E. Chism

Jan 1, 1902

By D. Harrington

This circular presents Part III-A of a series reviewing the literature on effects of breathing dusts with special reference to silicosis; it deals with the economic and legal aspects of dust diseases in industry; Part III-B will contain data on the status and cost of compensation for silicosis, Parts I and II of the series have been issued as Information Circulars 6835, 6840, and 6848; Part I defines and classifies dusts, indicates sources of exposure, and describes the physiological effects of breaching dusts; Part II-A discusses the principal dust factors producing pulmonary pathology and methods of determination of dust in air; and Part II-B presents data on the engineering and medical control in the prevention of dust diseases and general recommendations for their control in industry. A summary and general conclusions will complete the series.

Jan 1, 1935

A new series of reports called ?Mineral Perspectives" (MP's) has been initiated by the Bureau of Mines with the publication of MP-1 titled, "Far East and South Asia" by K.P. Wang and the staff of the Bureau of Mines. This new series parallels the creation of the recently announced "Minerals Commodity Profiles" (MCP?s). Both series are designed to provide current information on important sectors of the mineral economy to assist professionals in government, industry, and education in monitoring supply-demand relationships that have significant impact on our domestic economy as well as on the international scene. The orientation of the "Mineral Perspective" series is a geographic one which examines the mineral situation of a region or a country. The "Mineral Commodity Profile? series examines individual mineral commodities. They are in this sense complementary.

Jan 1, 1977

By Keith L. Harris

The U.S. economy continued to grow moderately in the third quarter, but at a slightly higher rate than in the previous quarter. According to the Department of Commerce's preliminary estimate, real gross national product (GNP) grew at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.3% during the third quarter of 1985, compared with a revised 1.9% for the second quarter and 1.6% for the third quarter of 1984 (table 1). Civilian unemployment dropped from the constant 7.3% rate between February and July to 7.0% in August and 7.1% in September. Employment on nonagricultural payrolls continued to increase (table 2), resulting in a continued rise in personal income, which in turn supported growing consumer purchases. Although purchases of services continued to provide the underlying foundation for the economic growth, the manufacturing sector received additional stimulus from significant increases in consumer purchases of durable goods, particularly automobiles. The increased demand for durable goods resulted in significantly higher industrial production for August and September, compared with levels attained previously this year (table 3). Capacity utilization increased to 80.5% in August but returned to 80.2% in September, matching the 1985 low previously reached in July (table 4). The real net export deficit grew only $0.2 billion in the third quarter; at $34.0 billion, however, it continued to exert a negative influence on the economy. On September 22, in an effort to reduce the deficit and make U.S. goods more competitive on world markets, the U.S. Government agreed to cooperate with the Governments of France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom in attempting to lower the-value of the dollar in relation to other world currencies. Low inventories, rising factory orders and construction spending, the possibility of a lower U.S. dollar, and aggressive automobile production plans announced by domestic producers for the fourth quarter indicate the potential for an increase in manufacturing activity in the United States.

Jan 1, 1985

By Joseph H. White, DR. JAMES G. CUMMING

This report presents the results of an investigation of hookworm infection in the deep gold mines of the Mother Lode, California. In this investigation 1,440 miners of the Mother Lode have been examined for hookworm infection; 444 miners were found to be infected; and 91 miners have taken the treatment and have gotten rid of the infection. ·Within a short time after this preliminary examination, an industrial strike started, which gradually scattered the miners and made it difficult to institute the treatment of many of those who had been found infected. ·With the completion, however, of the State survey all these will eventually be identified and treated. In 1906 Dr. F. F. Sprague, of Jackson, Cal., and formerly of the Philippine Islands, recognized the prevalence of hookworm infection in the gold mines of California. He treated many cases of the infection and brought the prevalence of the disease to the attention of his colleagues. Following closely this pioneer work of Dr. Sprague was that of Dr. E. E. Endicott, health officer of Amador County. In 1911 Dr. Endicott a related his experience in a paper before the American Medical Association. In 1909, Dr. Herbert Gunn, under the auspices of the California State Board of Health, made an investigation to determine the prevalence of the disease among miners. b He reported on the blood and stool examinations of groups of men from three large mines in Amador County. The high eosmophilia verified by stool examinations in many of the cases, and the demonstration of larvae in soil from the workings led Dr. Gunn to the following conclusions: 1. Hookworm disease is endemic in certain mines of California. 2. From 50 to 80 per cent of those working in these mines are infected. 3. The infection undoubtedly is present in practically all the gold mines of California and in those of Nevada just over the border. vYhen it was definitely determined by the California State Board of Health to make an investigation, in cooperation with the Industrial Accident Commission of the State of California and the Federal Bureau of Mines, as to the prevalence of hookworm infection among the miners of California, the following procedure was planned: (1) To encourage the superintendents of the various mines to cooperate in the campaign; (2) to diagnose fecal specimens from the miners and determine the percentage of infected miners; (3) to reach an agreement with the superintendents that all infected men must be treated; (4) to make reexaminations of all treated men; (5) to issue "hookworm certificates"; and (6) to eventually reexamine all California miners. A visit to several of the mines on the Mother Lode made it evident that the mine operators would cooperate most cordially in this campaign; in fact, several superintendents had already considered the advisability of such an undertaking.

Jan 1, 1917

By R. E. Collom

The commercial development of petroleum and natural gas fields has reached its present status within 60 years and is still considered by some operators to be "100 per cent wildcatting." 1 A tendency to drill for gusher production, the production that yields big returns in spite of any mechanical defects in drilling methods, has frequently caused drillers to pass by oil-bearing strata of comparatively small yield and actually to overlook rich oil zones in proved fields; in addition, whole fields have been ruined by water because development methods were never carried beyond a hole-in-the-ground stage.2 Unfortunately, the petroleum industry has no mine dumps or tail. ing piles as at metal mines to yield fortunes through later and bette!' methods of treatment. The wasted oil and gas are gone, as are the time, money, and effort wasted in ill-advised or haphazard drilling. Probably as production costs increase less oil will be wasted, but the need to develop and produce from sands of low yield will become more urgent with the increase in consumption of oil and the decrease in supply. Hundreds of wells are producing steadily as the result of months and perhaps years of careful prospecting and of tests during drilling. The Bureau of Mines has studied the testing and drilling methods used at such wells, and presents in this paper a criticism of these methods and suggestions on future work. The term pr08- pecting here means correct identification and measurement of strata as they are exposed by the drill. The term testing means the determination of the kind and amount of fluid stored within the pores or crevices of any stratum exposed in the hole.

Jan 1, 1922

Jan 1, 1900

By Henry S. Washington

Introduction. It Still Rains On The Choco ! I Well Remember One Evening A Dozen Years Ago, While. Traveling Toward The Town Of Negua In A Small Champa Or Dug-Out Canoe, The Rain Fell So Heavily That I Had To Work My Hardest To Bail Out The Water With A Large Totuma Or Gourd In Order To Keep The Canoe Afloat, The Senegambian Meanwhile Plying His Paddle In The Stern. If Any One Thinks Bailing Is Easy Work, Let Him Scoop Out A Quart Or More At A Stroke, 40 Times A Minute For Half An Hour, And I Venture That He Will Change His Opinion. These Small Canoes Required Only One Paddler, To Make The 3 Miles An Hour Which Is The Standard Rate Of Aquatic Progress On The Choco. Another Time, On The Atrato River, About Six O'clock In The Afternoon, The Rain Fell So Heavily Than An Empty Gourd, 9 In. In Diameter And 4.5 Deep, Was Filled To The Brim In 90 Sec., Timed By A Watch. Such Downpours Are Typical, But Unless Caught In One It Is Not Specially Noticed. These Downpours Seldom Last More Than An Hour, And Frequently Cover Only A Limited Area, Occasionally Falling On One Bank Of A River And Not On The Other. During The Night-Time,' The Rain, If Gentle, Will Usually Last Until Dawn, And Sometimes An Intermittent Drizzle Will Keep Up All Day As Well, Although, As A Rule, It Rarely Rains During The Day. The Rise Of The Rivers, Due To The Rain-Fall, Varies From A Few Inches To Several Feet. One Night In August, 1899, The Spuds Of The Dredge Margaret, Operating On The Atrato River, Showed A, Rise Of 16 Ft., And For 3 Days Thereafter Occurred The Greatest Flood Known In That District For 32 Years. The Dredge Had All Three Spuds Clown, And The 2-Yd. Shovel Dragging On The Bottom. A 0.75-In. Cable Fast To A Stout Tree, 700 Ft. Away, Stretched Tight

Sep 1, 1908

By Keith Harris

The U.S. economy grew moderately in the second quarter of 1985 with real gross national product (GNP) recording a seasonally adjusted annual growth rate of 2.0%, up from the 0.3% growth of the previous quarter but significantly below the 7.1% growth of the second quarter of 1984 (table I). Personal consumption expenditures grew 5.3%, with purchases of durable and nondurable goods rising 7.4% and 5.1 %, respectively; nonresidential and residential fixed investment--the two components of fixed investment--grew 11.8% and 5.6%, respectively; and Government spending rose 3.6%. However, these gains were tempered by a major decline in the growth of business inventories (from $19.1 billion to $8.3 billion) and the continuing growth of the net export deficit (from -$28.4 billion to -$33.3 billion). While the high value of the dollar compared with other currencies has been a major cause of the expanding trade deficit, its value, as measured by the monthly Federal Reserve Board (FRB) multilateral trade-weighted dollar index, has declined over 17 index points from its February peak to 140.94 in July. The July dollar value was still high historically. The rate of inflation, as measured by the fixed-weighted price index for GNP, remained low at 4.1%, down from 4.3% in the first quarter, and employment continued to grow at a rate sufficient to keep up with new additions to the labor force. Civilian unemployment has remained steady at 7.3% over the past 6 months. Industry Statistics The FRB recently revised its index of industrial production and changed the base year from 1967 to 1977,1/ The revised total index shows a 0.1 % higher annual growth rate between 1967 and 1984 than the previous index. In the slower growing or declining industries, such as metal mining, primary metals, and fabricated metals, however, downward revisions in the indices and rates of growth have occurred. The previous and revised annual rates of growth between 1977 and 1984 for several of the sectors of interest to the mining industry are shown in table 2.

Jan 1, 1985

By V. F. Parry, John P. Goodman

"INTRODUCTION Review of Previous Work Many investigators and certain commercial interests have recognized that the briquetting process is a practical method to convert much of what is now considered undesirable fuel into a usable form of domestic fuel.The art of improving the form of solid fuels is ancient, as early records indicate that the Chinese employed crude hand briquetting of combustible materials long before coal was known in Europe and America.According to Franke, 4/ the earliest description of a briquetting proce¬dure employed in the Occident is contained in an English patent dated in 1773. Following this in rapid sequence, many methods and procedures wore developed in this country and in Europe. Stillman/ states that the first attempt to briquet coal in the United States was made by Loiseau 6/ at Fort Richmond Piers, Philadelphia, in 1872. The American briquetting processes outlined by Stillman comprise an imposing compilation of successes and partial and outright failures."

Jun 1, 1943

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

Over 500 industrial, academic, and government representatives from Europe, Canada, and the United States attended the first large symposium ever held in this country on fly ash utilization and technology, March 14-16, 1967, at Pittsburgh, Pa. Sponsored by the Edison Electric Institute, the National Coal Association, and the Bureau of Mines, the symposium featured 27 formal presentations by leading reports from the United States and Europe on all major phases of fly ash production, utilization, and research. Representing the three sponsoring organizations were Edison Electric Institute, James D. William- son, The Dayton Power and Light Co.; National Coal Association, James R. Garvey, Bituminous Coal Research, Inc; and Bureau of Mines, Harry Perry. Symposium chairman was John H. Faber of the Bureau of Mines. Gerard C. Gambs, Consolidation Coal Co., addressed the opening session. Moderated by Mr. Garvey, President and Director of Research of Bituminous Coal Research, Inc., the opening session was devoted to a discussion of the nature of the fly ash problem, including availability, specifications, and limitations on its use. Subsequent sessions covered Fly ash marketing, fly ash utilization in concrete and masonry products, specialized uses, and recent developments in basic fly ash research. Others serving as session chairmen were Oscar E. Manz, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, University of North Dakota; Mrs. Katharine Mather, Chief, Petrography and X-ray Section, Concrete Division, U.S. Army Engineers Waterways Experiment Station; Mr. Williamson, and Mr. Perry.

Jan 1, 1967