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By E. S. Chalpin

On 25 August 1971, the U.S. Bureau of Mines contracted with the Aerojet Liquid Rocket Company to perform an engineering research program to be completed on 25 May 1972. The program objective was to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the underground use of several power sources including but not limited to a closed cycle diesel, electric cable/motor, rechargeable battery/ motor and exhausting diesel for mine shuttle cars, with emphasis on health and safety. This report, Research in Advanced Power Systems for Mining Health and Safety consists of four (4) main parts: (1) Hazards and Safety Analysis of Mine Power Systems, (2) Evaluation of Closed Cycle Diesel Power System for Mine Applications, (3) Closed Cycle Diesel Power System Consumables Compatibility, and (4) Concluding Remarks and Recommendations. The hazards introduced to a mine by shuttle car power system failure modes were evaluated and reported. A "fault tree" analysis was generated for each power system and the probability of death or injury during an eight (8) hour shift and for a week of operation (105 hours) were estimated. Advantages and disadvantages were also reported for each system studied. Aerojet's assessment, based on a "forced decisions analysis," of the four shuttle car power systems as to their relative health and safety is that the exhausting or open cycle diesel is preferred, followed by the closed cycle diesel, the electric cable/motor and the rechargeable battery/motor. The assessment was based on ten parameters pertinent to the health and safety aspects of shuttle cars. Drawing layouts of two typical mine shuttle cars incorporating closed cycle diesel powerplant concepts are included in this report. The performance parameters established for the two concepts are tabulated. A study was made of the logistics involved in transporting and replenishing the consumables needed to operate a shuttle car equipped with a closed cycle diesel. The closed cycle diesel powerplant consumables -oxygen, potassium hydroxide, and diesel fuel - were analyzed as to their compatibility with materials found normally in a gassy coal mine. Spill tests simulating inadvertent leakage of liquid oxygen in a coal mine were performed. A critical evaluation of existing oxygen sensitivity data and the relationship to the use of oxygen on a shuttle car in a coal mine environment is presented.

Jan 1, 1972

By J. R. Thoenen

Up to 1914 almost all of the world's supply of potash came from Germany and Alsace. With the cessation of shipments from Germany during the World War the importance of a domestic suppler was evident. During the past 15 years the United States has been working toward the establishment of a domestic potash industry which would end foreign dominance in this commodity. The Federal government has taken an active part in this program. As its share in the work, the Bureau of Lines has ascertained the potash resources in certain district's through core drilling and has engaged in a comprehensive program of research on the extraction of potash from its various minerals. Until the passage of the Winter bill (H. R. 496) by Congress in 1928 the Bureau of Mines had not been able to give any consideration to the western ores, wyomingite (leucite) and alunite. With the massage of this bill, however, the ray was opened for the extension of the potash studies to cover these materials.

Jan 1, 1932

By E. D. Doney

The Kerr-McGee Coal Corporation's Galatia Mine's first longwall mining system was implemented on May 3; 1989. Start-up of the longwall face represnted the successful conclusion of an effort begun nearly four years earlier. This paper-presents a case history of the processes that led to the longwall's implementation, and the subsequent mining of the first 7,900 foot long panel.

Jan 1, 1990

By J C. Volkwein, A D. A Hansen, E Sarver, C Barrett

Ensuring that diesel particulate matter (DPM) levels in underground metal and non-metal mines are maintained below statutory limits is an essential requirement of mine ventilation systems. However, despite the cost of providing ventilation, air ventilation rates are usually based upon models, assumptions, or measurements integrated over long durations rather than actual need. Real-time measurement of DPM, interpreted in terms of mine activity schedules, can offer better ventilation management to keep DPM within regulated levels while controlling costs. This work presents data from three demonstration sites with in-mine applications of an environmental particulate sensor that measured black carbon (BC) as a surrogate for DPM.Aethalometers are a class of environmental monitors that measure the light absorbance of aerosol particles at several optical wavelengths. A model AE33 Aethalometer was operated in three separate mines for periods of two weeks, three months, and seven-plus months, and the data was reported in real time as a concentration of BC. Concentration of aromatic organic compounds, which can indicate other forms of combustion, was also reported. The data was used to:- measure the relative efficiency of a new scale-model DPM air scrubber- determine if ventilation could be reduced in a shotcrete loading facility without compromising air quality- evaluate diurnal and weekly DPM levels in a large-entry stone mine. Instrument data were displayed locally and stored for later downloading in all cases. In one mine, the instrument was connected to a local controller, and in another it was connected to the mine’s underground network so that DPM data was presented in real time to a display in the mine ventilation engineering office on the surface.The results showed that the air scrubber removes from 82 per cent to 95 per cent of the DPM; that DPM produced during shotcrete loading is only a minor part of overall DPM levels; and that wide variations in DPM levels exist in the limestone operation. The DPM monitor operated continuously for extended periods in these underground environments. The only maintenance required was the routine replacement of filter tape, typically on a two-week schedule. A sample diluter, which is currently being tested, could extend the intervals between filter changes. The real-time data output of the Aethalometer is appropriate for direct integration into ventilation-on-demand control systems.CITATION:Volkwein, J C, Barrett, C, Sarver, E and Hansen, A D A, 2017. Application of an environmental ‘black carbon’ particulate sensor for continuous measurement of DPM in three underground mines, in Proceedings Australian Mine Vent Conference 2017, pp 143–150 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 28, 2017

By David A. Lipton

In the summer of 1985, at the request of the U.S. Forest Service, the U.5. Bureau of Mines examined the 109,000-acre West Big Hole study area to evaluate its identified mineral resources. The study area is in Beaverhead County, about 50 mi west of Dillon, MT. Four lode properties within or adjacent to the study area contain an estimated 452,000 tons of identified subeconomic gold-silver resources. Resources ranged from 900 to 302,000 tons, with estimated grades between 0.02 and 0.23 oz/ton gold and as much as 4.8 oz/ton silver. Gold, silver, and base-metal content in samples of poorly exposed mineralized structures indicate that exploration may identify resources on 18 additional lode properties within the study area and 5 properties adjacent to it.

Jan 1, 1988

By M. K. Mishra, U. M. R. Karanam

Relative to slender pillars, larger size pillars exhibit improved strata control. Fly ash, though traditionally treated as a waste product, is emerging as an alternate engineering material. This paper deals with the development of a strong fly ash composite material with additives. The geotechnical properties of this fly ash composite were determined and used to trap model core pillars, which resemble squat pillars. The trapped samples were tested under uni-axial loading in the laboratory and the results showed higher load-bearing capacity of the model core pillars. The reinforced fly ash composites provide lateral confinement and exhibit improved post- failure behaviour of the model cores.

Jan 1, 2008

By P Shen, K Hattori, H Pan, E Seitmuratova

"An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation. Ore-bearing intrusions in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) were examined from nine mines: Boshekul, Nurkazgan, Kounrad, Borly, Aktogai, Koksai, Baogutu, Tuwu and Erdenet. The intrusions are diorite, granodiorite and tonalite with SiO2 contents ranging from 58 to 75 wt per cent, and show mildly fractionated rare earth elements (REE) ([LREE]N/[HREE]N = 2.7–4.7) – light REE and heavy REE – and varying Eu anomalies ([Eu]/[Eu]* = 0.58–1.4). The ratios of Sr/Y vary from 7.9 to 115 and the contents of Y from 4.6 to 23.9 ppm. The parental magmas of the intrusions are intrinsically oxidised. Zircon grains in the ore-bearing rocks from large- and intermediate-sized porphyry Cu deposits show high Ce4+/Ce3+ ratios characterised by 65–422 at Boshekul (>4.1 Mt Cu), 76–480 at Kounrad (>4.8 Mt Cu), 90–280 at Aktogai (>12 Mt Cu), 80–250 at Erdenet (>11 Mt Cu) 74–370 at Nurkazgan (>3.9 Mt Cu), 100–210 at Koksai (>1.6 Mt Cu), and 71–340 at Tuwu (~2.0 Mt Cu). In two small deposits, the ore-bearing rocks display low values of Ce4+/Ce3+; Borly (0.6 Mt Cu) ranging from 28 to 158, and Baogutu (0.6 Mt Cu) from 29 to 113. The Ce4+/Ce3+ ratio of 120 distinguishes large intermediate-size deposits from small-size deposits. This information is potentially useful in exploration for porphyry Cu deposits in the belt.CITATION:Shen, P, Hattori, K, Pan, H, Jackson, S and Seitmuratova, E, 2015. Granitoids associated with porphyry Cu deposits in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt – characteristics and oxygen fugacity, in Proceedings PACRIM 2015 Congress, pp 377–382 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 18, 2015

Develop hydrometallurgical or pyrometallurgical recycling methods to recover valuable rare-earth compounds from various forms of NdFeB magnet scrap. Background The U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) has developed technology to treat and recycle a variety of wastes containing valuable and strategic metals. As part of this effort, the USBM developed a process to separate neodymium and other valuable rare earths from iron in NdFeB magnet scrap (fig. 1). Since this scrap typically contains nearly 30 weight percent neodymium and since the demand for neodymium is constantly increasing, cost-effective methods for scrap treatment could have a significant impact on industrial expenditure and materials supply in the expanding area of magnet manufacture. Approach A hydromctallurgical, H2SO4 dissolution-precipitation process provided the most effective treatment for separating rare earths from bulk NdFcB magnet scrap (fig. 2). Precipitation of neodymium-alkali sulfate double salt proved advantageous over direct precipitation of fluoride or oxalate products. This double salt is easily converted to a variety of useful rare-earth compounds, which eliminates many of the materials-handling and economic problems inherent with direct precipitation. Following rare-earth precipitation, dissolved iron was removed from the acid leach solution by precipitation as a jarosite.

Jan 1, 1993

The range of environments which control the level of ground support required vary greatly in terms of rock type, rock structure and the mining method used. At the operating mines visited during this review the level of ground support was such that incidence of rock-fall- related accidents were rare. It was also found that methods existed to support most of the conditions encountered. The main problem areas were weak rock, major geological structures, areas of heavy jointing, high development density and areas affected by high mining-induced stresses and blasting. With stope support the level of success was much lower than that achieved in development; the larger spans and more rapid changes in geometry of open stopes compared with cut and fill stoping (where cables were originally used) led to significant problems. Before a useable design method for cable support of stope walls and pillars can be obtained the precise failure mode of the walls and pillars, and the interaction of the support and the rock mass must be investigated.

Jan 1, 1982

By Rita D. Sylvester

"THE BUREAU OF MINES was established in the public interest to conduct inquiries and scientific and technologic investigations concerning mining and the preparation, treatment, and utilization of mineral substances; to promote health and safety in the mineral industries; to conserve mineral resources and prevent their waste; to further economic development; to increase efficiency in the mining, metallurgical, quarrying, and other mineral industries; and to inquire into the economic conditions affecting these industries. The organic act of the Bureau, as amended by Congress and approved February 25, 1913, made it the province and duty of the Bureau to ""disseminate information concerning these subjects in such manner as will best carry out the purposes of this Act.""In accordance with that directive, the Bureau reports the findings of its research and investigations in its own series of publications and also in articles that appear in scientific, technical, and trade journals; in proceedings of conventions and seminars; in reference books; and in other non-Bureau sources. The number of these reports, the wide range of subjects they cover, and the variety of mediums in which they appear make the kind of list and index presented III this special publication both necessary and valuable. This issue describes Bureau reports and articles published during the period January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1964. It supplements the 50-year list of Bureau publications issued from July 1, 1910, to January 1, 1960,2 and the 50-year list of articles by Bureau authors published outside the Bureau from July 1, 1910, to January 1, 1960.3 It supersedes the annual lists of Bureau publications and articles from January 1 to December 31, 1960/ from January 1 to December 31, 1961,5 from January 1 to December 31, 1962,6 and from January 1 to December 31, 1963,1 The leading general and technical libraries of the United States maintain files of the Bureau's publications. A list of these libraries appears immediately following this introduction. BUREAU PUBLICATIONSBecause some series of Bureau reports contain both free and sales publications, and because the cost of sales publications varies, prices are indicated in the individual listings of all publications for which charges are made."

Jan 1, 1964

By D. C. Oliver

Paper written on project work carried out in partial fulfilment of B.Sc. (Eng.) (Metallurgy and Materials) degree Corrosion in exhaust systems can occur on both the interior and exterior surfaces. Chloride-containing de-icing salts on the roads in colder countries greatly increases the rate of corrosion on the exterior surfaces. This paper investigates the relative exterior corrosion resistance of three alloys?two ferritic stainless steels( AISI Types 409 and 441) and an aluminized mild steel. The exhaust system is split into two categories?the hot end and the cold end. A test for each of these ends was designed?the standard ASTM G85test was modified to create a simulated driving cycle. The cold end test samples were exposed to ten driving cycles, and the hot end test samples were exposed to five driving cycles. A driving cycle constitutes the car being started from cold, driven until the operating temperatures are reached, and switched off and allowed to cool. Pitting corrosion is the primary corrosion mechanism occurring at the cold end of the exhaust system. The aluminized mild steel was the most resistant alloy in this test, and Type 409 the least. However, once the protective aluminium layer degrades, corrosion will occur rapidly. At the hot end of the exhaust system, spalling of the surface oxide layer is the primary corrosion mechanism occurring. Type 441 was the most resistant in this test, and the aluminized mild steel the least resistant. Potentiodynamic tests were performed on the alloys?the results agreed with the results obtained in the exposure tests.

Jan 1, 2003

By Warren H. Weisz

A cement, in the broad sense, is any substance which will cause various materials to adhere to each other. Clay was probably the first material to be used by man as a cement or binding agent. Water occurs in or is mixed with the clay to make it plastic, so that it can be formed in place. The sun and air remove the water from the clay and on drying strength is developed. The clays unless fired are not too resistant to water, therefore, their use is best when restricted to dry areas. Gypsum used as a cementitious material is not the subject of this paper, but its use dates back thousands of years. Gypsum mortars were used by the Egyptians in building such massive masonry structures as the pyramids. The Egyptian mortar consisted of a mixture of sand with burned gypsum (of an impure type of 81.5 per cent calcium sulphate and 9.5 per cent calcium carbonate) for the cementitious material. The burning of this type of cementitious material took place at relatively low temperature. These burning reactions will be covered later when the dehydration of gypsum is discussed. The setting of the partially dehydrated gypsum is considered to be crystallization from a supersaturated solution which deposits crystals of dihydrate (gypsum). In low water-content mixes, the interlocking of the needle-like crystals helps to produce higher strengths. Slaked lime made from limestone burned at higher temperatures (1648 F is generally considered as the calcining temperature, although under certain conditions incipient calcination will take place at 1250 F) is another early-period cementitious material. During slaking with water, a colloidal or amorphous hydrated lime is formed. When it is allowed to dry, it hardens and develops low strengths. On exposure to the carbon dioxide of air in the presence of some moisture, carbon dioxide is adsorbed and part of the calcium hydroxide is converted to calcium carbonate. Structures in which a lime mortar is used continue to grow in strength as this reaction proflesses. Hydrated lime has the disadvantage of not setting under water.

Jan 1, 1960

By James J. Olson

This report summarizes the results of a review of foreign coal mining literature conducted under the Bureau's Advancing Coal Mining Technology program. In addition to a discussion on the historical development of mechanized longwall systems, and the current state-of-the-art method in Europe, this report summarizes the previous and ongoing Bureau efforts to adapt longwall technology to U.S. conditions. The bibliographic section of this report, divided into major categories such as mine design, face management, roadway development, strata control, powered roof supports, coal winning, conveying, and automation, contains over a thousand individual entries. The purpose of this report is to provide U.S. mining engineers with background information on longwall methodology and equipment developed in foreign countries (principally Europe). The Bureau of Mines, as part of its Advancing Coal Mining Technology program, is funding R&D projects to demonstrate that the longwall mining method, successfully used in the deep mines of Europe, can boost productivity and improve safety in certain U.S. mines.

Jan 1, 1977

By P. M. Daling, C. A. Geffen

The objectives of this study were to examine a representative cross section of formal safety analysis techniques developed for the nuclear and aerospace industries, to recommend those methods that would be suitable for application to the mining industry, and to include those methods in a user's manual. Volume XI of this report, the user's manual, describes several methods that were determined to be immediately transferrable to the mining industry. The handbook gives detailed instructions on appropriate application and utilization of the methods. Other techniques will require further development before they can be effectively transferred to the mining industry.

Jan 1, 1983

By C. J. Van Treeck

PGE concentrations of 18 g/t occur in the pyroxene rich rocks at the Union Bay Alaskantype complex. This PGE enrichment is hosted in magnetite veins. These veins cross magmatic layering and have an irregular morphology in both outcrop and thin section. Fe-Ti oxide geothermometry suggests that this mineralization took place between ~700-400°C. A variation in the amount of ilmenite and Mg- Al spinel exsolution in magnetite correlates with temperature estimates, lower temperature magnetite has less exsolution. Hydrous silicates form an alteration envelope around magnetite veins with a formation temperature of <575oC, vary with temperature, and contain appreciable amounts of Cl. Interaction of a PGE-Fe-Cl rich fluid with clinopyroxene increased the fluids pH and decreased PGE and Fe solubility depositing a PGE enriched magnetite within the Pyroxenites and Olivine Pyroxenites of the Union Bay complex.

May 1, 2003

By William L. Saunders

MANY members of the Institute, who participated in the visit made, during the Bethlehem meeting of February, 1906, to the shops of the Ingersoll-Rand Company, at Phillipsburg, N. J., inspected with interest the new Electric-Air drill, which the company had set up for the purpose of showing it in actual operation to American. mining engineers. At the request of the Secretary of the Institute, I promised at that time to prepare a paper for our Transactions, describing the construction and advantages of the machine. But such a paper would then necessarily have contained much that was only expected or claimed by the designers and manufacturers of the drill, and not yet incontrovertibly proved by varied and long-continued practice. However moderate such statements might have been, they would have given inevitably to the paper, to some extent at least, the air of a prospectus, rather than of a technical contribution. I therefore decided, with the Secretary&apos;s approval, to postpone the writing of the promised paper until it could set forth the results of adequate actual practice, as well as the latest details of construction, etc., based upon practical experience. That period has now arrived. The Electric-Air drill has been exhaustively tested in the field, under varied and arduous conditions and upon the hardest rocks. It is now fairly in the field; its merits and performances are matters of unimpeachable record, and its place among established competitors can be definitely determined. As a representative of the Ingersoll-Rand Co., as well as a member of the Institute, I may be permitted to add that my company, being largely interested in the manufacture of air-

Jan 9, 1907

MR. RIGG: Gentlemen, I would like to welcome you all to the symposium this morning. My name is Jack Rigg, and I m a special assistant to Hollis Dole, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Mineral Resources. Hollis is not in town this morning, and I am here to pinch-hit for him. The first order of business this morning is remarks by the Honorable Russell Train, Under Secretary of the Department of Interior. Mr. Train. MR. TRAIN: Thank you, Mr. Rigg. Lest you think that Hollis Dole is not interested in this symposium, let me just say that fie is flying back from Australia just to be here. He is heading up a United States delegation in Australia meeting on resource problems in the Pacific. And I believe he will be here about noon.

Jan 1, 1970

Gold was determined directly in eight different mill cyanide solutions, by atomic absorption spectroscopy in an acetylene-air flame. Some of the mill solutions were diluted with water to bring them into the most sensitive absorption region (5-50 p.p.m. Au) whereas those solutions with very low gold content &#171;2 p.p.m.) were concentrated by evaporation.Calcium was complexed with ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) to avoid the undesirable effect of a precipitate on atomization.When added to standard gold solutions, EDTA had no effect on absorption, nor did any of the impurities common in mill cyanide solutions.Known amounts of gold, ranging from 2 to 30 p.p.m., were added to mill solution&apos;aliquots and recovered to within 100 &#177; 2&#183;5 per cent. For duplicate determinations under normal worKing conditions, standard deviation was 1&#183;32 p.p.m.Excellent agreement was found between atomic absorption gold values and accurate fire assay values.INTRODUCTIONAtomic absorption spectroscopy has been shown to offer a rapid and accurate method for the determination of trace amounts of a number of metal ions. In the field of primary metallurgy atomic adsorption has been used for routine determinations of lead, copper, silver, zinc, cadmium and iron in a variety of raw materials and intermediate products.The scope of atomic absorption spectroscopy was reviewed recently by Willis (1963).The noble metals silver, gold, platinum, rhodium and palladium were determined by atomic absorption from chloride solutions by Lockyer &#183;and Hames (1959). In their determination of gold down to 1 p.p.m., they found no interference from the noble metals, nor from considerable excess...

Jan 1, 1964

By A. A. Sadegh

A laboratory investigation was carried out on the characterization and beneficiation of sillimanite ore. Petrographic analysis indicated that the ore consisted of massive elongated sillimanite grains in a matrix of hematite, garnet, feldspar and silica. A procedure for estimating the percentage of sillimanite was developed using float-sink and magnetic-separation techniques. A liberation study was carried out to determine the level of size reduction required to achieve sufficient liberation while ensuring that gravity concentration techniques would be applicable. Laboratory testing was performed on the liberated ore to investigate the applicability of using wide-angle dense-medium cycloning to upgrade this ore. Initially, medium-only tests were carried out using various size distributions of magnetite and ferrosilicon as the dense-medium solids to evaluate the effects of operating conditions on medium segregation. Depending on the medium solids and operating conditions, either positive of negative differentials (difference between the relative densities of the underflow and overflow streams) were obtained. Based on these results, separation tests were performed to process nominal -1.2-mm sillimanite ore. The results indicated that sillimanite concentration could be obtained using a medium relative density that was much lower than would typically be used in a dense-medium cyclone separation.

Jan 1, 2007

By O. C. Blade

This report on the properties of aviation gasolines and aviation jet fuels produced in the United States during 1955 was made under a co-operative agreement between the American Petroleum Institute and the Bureau of Mines of the United States Department of the Interior. Analytical data are presented for 116 samples of aviation gasoline and for 38 samples of aviation jet fuel. The analyses were made on samples typical of the manufacturers&apos; 1955 production in their laboratories and the results submitted to the Bureau of Mines for compilation. The products of 20 manufacturers of aviation gasolines and of 16 producers of aviation jet fuels are represented.

Jan 1, 1956