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Duties on Lead Imports from Mexico. - On September 15, the President signed Proclamation 4792 suspending concessions formerly granted as of January 1 on red lead imported from Mexico. The Proclamation also increased the duty payable on litharge imported from Mexico from 3% ad valorem to 3.5% ad valorem, effective September 15. Appeal of Lead Standards. - The U.S. Court of Appeals for Washington, D.C., rejected petitions by the Lead Industries Assoc. and St. Joe Minerals Corp. for a review of standards promulgated by EPA and OSHA. The Lead Industries Assoc. reportedly will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court on the basis of the "benzene" and "cotton dust" decisions. Scheduled implementation of standards will continue during the appeal.

Jan 1, 1980

By Pat McCarran

WHEN this Government was founded, the framers of the Constitution wrote into that instrument a provision that Congress should "coin money and fix the value thereof;" and the Constitution prohibits making anything but "gold and silver" lawful money. So silver is written into our basic law. Shortly after President Washington took office in 1789 the Congress passed the first Mint Act, setting up the U. S. Mint. In that Act, signed by President Washington on April 2, 1792, the weight of the American dollar was fixed, and it was provided how much silver should be contained in a silver dollar and how much gold should be contained in a gold dollar. It was decided that 371 1/4 grains of pure silver was to be the standard dollar of America. That standard with respect to the pure silver content of the dollar has never changed.

Jan 1, 1947

By E. H. Boyle

The Bureau of Mines has evaluated the potential availability of silver from 436 mines and deposits in 41 market economy countries (MEC?s) comprising five major economic categories of deposits: predominantly silver deposits and predominantly zinc, lead, copper, and gold deposits. This study evaluated the long-term cost and availability of primary silver production from 53 producing and 13 nonproducing predominantly silver properties in 11 MEC's and estimated the total recoverable silver from 370 properties as a coproduct or byproduct of zinc, lead, copper, or gold production. This study resulted in estimates of a demonstrated resource of 5.99 billion tr oz of recoverable silver as of January 1984. Of this total, 23.5 pet is in the 66 mines and deposits classified as predominantly silver properties. The largest quantity of recoverable silver, 43.9 pct, lies in the 121 properties classified as predominantly zinc, with 26.5 pct in 120 properties classified as predominantly copper, 4.1 pet in 21 predominantly lead properties, and 2.0 pct in 108 predominantly gold properties. At current silver prices, the economics of silver production favor silver that is a byproduct or coproduct of zinc, lead, copper, or gold, and much of the silver production in the United States from the predominantly silver mines is at an economic disadvantage in comparison with silver production in other countries.

Jan 1, 1986

By H. A. Wheeler

IT may surprise some of our members to learn, among the industries based on the mineral resources of the United States that of clay now ranks third, being exceeded in value of product only by pig-iron and coal. The present annual value of clay-products exceeds the value of the outputs of gold and silver, and also exceeds the combined values of copper, lead, zinc, aluminum, mercury, antimony and nickel. These facts are shown in Table I. which gives the statistics for the year 1902

Jan 1, 1905

By J. J. Forbes

The original organic act establishing the Federal Bureau of Mines in 1910 and the amended act of 1913 indicated that promotion of the health and safety of mine workers was to be ore of the chief functions4/ of the Bureau. Many of the field and laboratory studies pursued by the Bureau are designed to improve conditions under dish minors must work. As the Bureau has no legal authority to enforce safety rules, it must rely upon cooperation of employer, employees, State mining or other departments, and labor organizations for success in promulgating its finding and making recommendations. The staff of the Safety Division, which is essentially a service organization of the Bureau, is composed of 28 safety instructors, 29 engineers, 18 clersk, and 7 others engaged in promotion of an educational program in an effort to improve conditions in the mining industry. The work is directed from 14 safety stations in the United States and 1 in Alaska. The work of the personnel, of the mine safety car that operates in. the anthracite region of Pennsylvania was supervised and directed by the district engineer in charge of the Wilkes-Barre (Pa.) Safety Station.

Jan 1, 1940

By B. H. Clemmons, C. H. Schack

Extractive metallurgy techniques currently employed to recover silver from primary ores and secondary scrap were reviewed and evaluated to identify and delineate metallurgical problems whose resolution would increase the supply of silver from domestic materials. The survey revealed that practically all primary silver is recovered by froth flotation concentration of various types of ores, followed by smelting and refining of the separate lead, copper, and zinc concentrates. Silver losses during the complex processing are, with rare exception, inconsequential. Furthermore, any silver production gain from base metal ores, which contribute about two-thirds of the total primary silver, is directly dependent on improvement in the market for the base metals. Statistical data on new and old silver scrap are wholly inadequate to make reliable conclusions about scrap processing problems and the possibility of increasing the recovery of silver from the many forms of secondary silverbearing materials. The available information indicates (1) that efficient silver reclamation practices are employed by the larger users of silver, and (2) that recovery of additional secondary silver involves solution of problems of collection rather than of processing. Several possibilities exist for limited increases in silver production from primary ores by improvement in metallurgical practices. Specifically, research is needed to (1) solve the problem of recovering silver from the copper ores of the Copper Range district, Michigan; and (2) devise economically feasible methods for recovery of silver from presently marginal or submarginal ores that because of grade, location, and frequently complex nature cannot presently be exploited by conventional techniques.

Mar 1, 1965

By H. H. Schrenk

The purpose of respiratory protective equipment is to prevent the inhalation of harmful or objectionable atmospheres. Although constituents or contaminants that may render an atmosphere irrespirable or objectionable are numerous, they may be classified broadly as follows: I. Gaseous substance: n. A. Toxic. B. Inert (oxygen deficiency). II. Particulate matter (dispersoids). A. Solid. a. Dust (formed by disintegration). b. Pure (formed by condensation). B. Liquid. a. Mist (formed by disintegration). b. Fog (former by condensation).

Jan 1, 1940

By Andrew Meyer

As a producer of gold and platinum, Colombia is most emphatically an important country. Last year it produced 656,000 oz. of gold-twice as much as any other country in South America, in fact accounting for a third of the production of that continent. In platinum, world data for 1941 are not available, but in 1939 Colombia exported 39,000 oz., apparently ranking fourth among the world's producing countries, being exceeded only by Canada, Russia, and the Union of South Africa. Colombia was always a mining country. Centuries before the Conquest, Indians mined gold, copper, silver, salt, and emeralds. The Spaniards simply intensified mining. The Bank of the Republic states that from 1493 to 1940 52,177,427 oz. of gold was produced by Colombia, and official Chocó statistics show that about $60,000,000 worth of platinum was mined between 1908 and 1941. These figures are impressive indeed considering that only rich pockets and surface showings were mined by the ancients.

Jan 1, 1942

The STATE MINERAL SUMMARIES publication provides estimated data and summaries of mineral activities at the State level for 1991. Most of the estimates are based on nine months data. Individual State summaries are published separately as State Mineral Industry Surveys and copies can be obtained from the appropriate State mineral officer or Bureau field office specified in each State summary.

Jan 1, 1992

1. Domestic Production and Use: In 1974 twelve companies operated 31 primary aluminum reduction plants, three firms accounting for 64% of production. Washington, Oregon, and Montana accounted for 32% of the total production; Gulf Coast States, 24%; Northern States, 33%, and other Southern States 11%. Output of primary metal in 1974 was valued at $3.4 billion. About 80% of the secondary recovery was from new aluminum base scrap and 20% was from old scrap. Aluminum consumption by 25,000 firms was centered in the East Central United States. Of aluminum consuming industries in 1974, building accounted for about 27%; transportation 19%; electrical, 13%; packaging, 15%; and consumer durab1es, 9%.

Jan 1, 1975

By Bernard Lewis

This report summarizes the fundamental research and technical studies conducted by the Explosives Branch of the Bureau of Mines from July 1, 1943, to June 30, 1949. It is the thirteenth of a series of annual reports, which have aimed to bring to the reader a resume of the research results that have appeared in published form during each fiscal year. The work of the Explosives Branch covers a number of activities - explosives research, explosives testing, flame and combustion research, flammability of gases and vapors, dust-explosions research, and technical studies in the experimental mine. An important part of the work of the branch is fundamental research to advance our knowledge and understanding of explosion processes. Considerable emphasis has been placed on studies of ignition and flame stabilization, as it is felt that an understanding of these processes should assist materially in alleviating explosion hazards in coal mines. The results are also finding important application in the development of jet propulsion. Studies of the explosibility of gases, vapors, and dusts saving thousands of lives and are preventing the destruction of much property. In innumerable instances in which potential explosion hazards exist, safe operating procedures have been recommended from data taken in the Laboratory. Aware of the value to national security of research results of combustion, flame, and explosion, the Army, Navy, and Air Forces are actively supporting important phases of this fundamental research.

Jan 1, 1950

The objective of this handbook is to provide the inspector with guidance for recognizing hazards from inhalation contaminants in above ground work areas of underground and surface metal and nonmetal mining and processing facilities and evaluating these hazards by collecting samples or making field determinations and interpreting the analytical results. Portions of the handbook that should prove most useful to the inspectors include a survey check list, rules for determining if sampling is required, list of most frequently encountered contaminants, list of candidate contaminants and their sampling conditions, interpretation of results, and a procedure for a health and safety inspection.

Jan 1, 2011

By LESTER W. STRAUSS

FOR fifteen months after the other dominions of the British Empire and the entire so-called sterling 11loc loosed the shackles that bound the111 to the gold standard, South Africa, giant among gold-producing nations, remained stubbornly attached to gold at the traditional ratio of 85 shillings in currency to one ounce of gold. But eventually even South Africa had to heed the dictates of trade and the obvious interests of its great gold-mining industry. In December, 1932, South Africa's currency severed its golden bonds. Today the South African pound is 011 a par wit11 the British pound.

Jan 1, 1935

Jan 1, 1991

By Paul T. Allsman, William H. King

This paper describes the mineral deposits and discusses mining and milling methods and related operating conditions in an important gold , silver , lead , and zinc producing area in Ouray , San Juan , and San Miguel Counties , Colo . , embracing 250 square miles . The area is extremely rigged , ranging in altitude from 8,000 to 14,000 feet . White men first penetrated the area in 1860 , when a group known as "Baker's party " reached the Animas River at the present site of Silverton . Difficulty with the Ute Indians and severe winter conditions forced the group to leave and discouraged prospecting until 1870 when a second party reached the area and succeeded in producing 27 tons of ore yielding $ 150 a ton in gold . In 1874 , a treaty with the Indians opened the way for settlement , and mining was established . The total production of recovered gold , silver , copper , lead , and zinc from 1873 to 1947 in the three counties is valued at $347,057,047 . The greatest amount of the total production of metals has come from quartz veins in a series of volcanic flows and tuffs covering the area and comprising a blanket 4,000 to 6,000 feet thick . The igneous rocks were laid down upon an old , erosion surface and are underlain by Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks and pre - Cambrian metamorphic rocks . The entire series has been intruded in late Tertiary time by volcanic dikes and larger intrusive masses . Because of the great differences in relief generally , mining is con-" ducted through long adits to a depth of nearly 3,000 feet below surface in places . Walls of the veins generally stand well , and shrinkage stoping is the most common method of mining . As virtually all of the ore is sulfide below the zone of oxidation , flotation is the common method of milling . Generally , where gold is important , provision is made for its removal by jigs . Bulk concentration of the sulfides is practiced at smaller mills , but the larger operations make a selective lead and zinc concentrate or a lead , zinc , and copper . concentrate . ·

Mar 1, 1950

By Persifor Frazer

1. SMOKE PREVENTION. Report of Select Committee of House of Commons (1843). Nuisance considerably abated in Leeds (Wm. Backerd, July 13, 1843, 239 pages). A synoptic index, p. 211, gives, in alphabetical order, the digest of every subject taken up. 2. FUEL : ITS COMBUSTION AND ECONOMY. D. Kinnear Clark, C. E. 24mo, 1354 pp. Crosby Lockwood & Co., London (1880). Includes abridgement of treatise on combustion of coal and prevention of smoke, by C. W. Williams, A.I.C.E. 3. DIE RAUCHSCHÄDEN IN DEN WÄLDERN DER UMGEBUNG DER FISCALISCHEN HÜTTENWERKE BEI FREIBERG. Dr. J. v. Schröder, Professor in Tharand, and Dr. A. Schertel, Vorstand des Hüttenlaboratoriums zu Freiberg. Royal 8vo, 27 .pages, 19 pages of tables and a map. Ernst Maukisch, Freiberg (1884). (Aus dem Jahrbuch für das Berg- und Huttenwesen, 1884.) In 1861, Reich and Stockhardt examined the extent of injury to vegetation by the Muldner works. Needles and twigs of pine showed in 100,000 parts : Pb, 5 to 50 ; As, 3.3 to 14.3 ; S02, 62 to 120. In the top twigs, 5 to 8 ; needles, 10 to 16 ; thicker twigs, 10 to 22 ; thinner twig-ends, 17 to 54 of lead. Lead greater in amount in sickly twig-ends with few needles ; also in the bark than in the naked wood of the trunk, which had hardly a trace ; also in the part turned toward the works than on the opposite side. Pb and As diminished in the vegetation with distance from the smelter ; and the same with regard to the soil. Fresh snow was collected, and SO, As, and Pb detected in it.

May 1, 1907

By C. H. Schack

Extractive metallurgy techniques currently employed to recover silver from primary ores and secondary scrap were reviewed and evaluated to identify and delineate metallurgical problems whose resolution would increase the supply of silver from domestic materials. The survey revealed that practically all primary silver is recovered by froth flotation concentration of various types of ores, followed by smelting and refining of the separate lead, copper, and zinc concentrates. Silver losses during the complex processing are, with rare exception, inconsequential. Furthermore, any silver production gain from base metal ores, which contribute about two-thirds of the total primary silver, is directly dependent no improvement in the market for the base metals. Statistical data on new and old silver scrap are wholly inadequate to make reliable conclusions about scrap processing problems and the possibility of increasing the recovery of silver from the many forms of secondary silver-bearing materials. The available information indicates (1) that efficient silver reclamation practices are employed by the larger users of silver, and (2) that recovery of additional secondary silver involves solution of problems of collection rather than of processing. Several possibilities exist for limited increases in silver production from primary ores by improvement in metallurgical practices. Specifically, research is needed to (1) solve the problem of recovering silver from the copper ores of the Copper Range district, Michigan; and (2) devise economically feasible methods for recovery of silver from presently marginal or submarginal ores char because of grade, location, and frequently complex nature cannot presently be exploited by conventional techniques.

Jan 1, 1965

A major domestic aluminum producer raised its price for primary aluminum metal from 44 cents per pound to 48 cents per pound, effective August 5, 1976. Other major producers have increased their list prices by equivalent amounts COAL: The strike which began July 19 in southern West Virginia enlarged by early August to involve approximately 80,000 miners in nine States. As of August 4, the aggregated loss of production is estimated to be 5.8 million tons. Reportedly, at this time, the railroads which serve the struck areas are feeling the largest impact with coke plants and electric utilities relying on stocks which are generally high.

Jan 1, 1976

By A. D. McMahon

This survey is one of a series of Bureau of Mines publications designed to serve the needs of Government and industry for comprehensive information on mineral commodities and activities. Copper, a versatile metal, has been vital to all civilizations from pre-historic times to the present. Its essential value in antiquity and until the nineteenth century arose from its malleability and ease of working, its corrosion resistance and durability, its attractive colors in alloyed and unalloyed forms, and, of course, its availability. The principal uses were for tools, utensils, vessels, weapons, pipe, statuary and other objects of art, and for building and architectural purposes where formability, permanence, and beauty were necessary qualities. Utilization of copper based on these physical and mechanical properties has grown tremendously for commercial, structural, mechanical, architectural, and art items; and its capacity for forming numerous alloys has led to a myriad of applications from miniature copper and brass eyelets to huge bronze battleship propellers. The early nineteenth century marks the epoch of the greatest use of copper, transmitting electrical energy. This particular property of copper is fundamental to the spectacular growth of the electrical industry and all associated industries relying on electricity for power, light, and heat. More than half of all copper produced is used for transmission of electricity.

Jan 1, 1964

By N. Akbulut, A. Anani

From the initial planning phases to the closing of a mine, mining is an industry where high attention, care, and sensitivity are needed in every step of the mine life. Since mining projects have a long-life span, exceeding a decade sometimes, managing a whole mine project is challenging, especially when challenges faced due to generational differences are considered, such as tracking and logging data, or the usage of different engineering solutions change over time. Along with the overall hardship caused by the time put into a mining project, the present-time operations are very costly where each minute counts. In present-time operations, every decision made, and every minute used during planning and operations has an impact on the efficiency, safety, and economics of the project. Having extremely harsh conditions in both the excavation and mineral processing operations not only slows down the processes but creates very dangerous environments that need to be handled with precise safety measurements. To support the already established processes, we could implement new technologies and use them to our advantage. Virtual reality (VR) is one of these technologies that we could implement in the mining industry. VR is a technology that emerged in the 1960s creating virtual environments and platforms. The user experiences these virtual environments from head- mounted headsets to rooms with 360 screens, all with different levels of immersion. These higher levels of immersion, create a higher level of presencemaking the users more engaged in the activity they are trying to accomplish. These two factors of immersion and presence are what make VR unique and beneficial. VR has some applications and case studies in the industry along with some research being conducted in universities. Unfortunately, there has not been a comprehensive literature review or analysis regarding only VR and its implementations for the mining industry in the last 5 years. This paper aims to describe what VR is and its relation to the mining industry, in the most recent years. The paper first gives a brief background on what VR is and its key concepts. Secondly, it will give information on how the initial stages of the literature review were conducted and the findings along with discussions. The paper will finish with the conclusion drawn from the discussion and potential future work.

Feb 1, 2023