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In attempting the predict coal cleat orientation in the subsurface for effective methane degasification of the coal beds in the Warrior coal field of Alabama, approximately 150 rock joint orientations and 45 coal cleat orientations were measured in each of 37 7 ½ minute quadrangles in Tuscaloosa, Walker, Jefferson, Fayette, Winston, Blount, and Bibb Counties. Data from these surface locations, and coal cleat data from eight underground mines was corrected for magnetic declination and titled beds rotated to the horizontal where necessary and plotted on rose diagrams for comparative analysis. Data collected on each joint and cleat consisted of attitude, quality, type, spacing, persistence, lithology, bedding thickness, surface texture, and filling. File data and published and unpublished reports from the State Survey and the State Mine Inspector's Office were re-viewed. Twenty-seven mining companies, most of which supplied information pertinant to the project were also contacted. The information obtained consisted of crop line information structure, and underground mine outlines, all of which were put on 7 ½ -minute topographic quadrangles. LANDSAT-1 imagery and Skylab photography were compared to dominant joint and cleat trends in the study area. Detailed results can be found in an open-file report entitled "Fracture Analyses in a Selected Area of the Warrior Coal Field, Alabama." A master's thesis entitled "The Relationship Between Surface Joints and Subsurface Structure in a Selected Area of the Warrior Coal Field" is being prepared to illustrate the relation-ship of the fracture system to the structure in the Warrior coal field. A proposal has been submitted for research on a project entitled "Rock Fracture Systems and Their Affects on the Extraction of Fossil Fuels in the Warrior Basin, Alabama"

Jan 1, 1976

By Paul V. Mullins

Review and evaluation of all available data on the vapor pressure of car-bon dioxide at the ice point, including previously unpublished results obtained by the Bureau of Mines, are presented. Suggested corrections and adjustments to all the data yield an average value of 26,136.4 mm mercury. Indicated agreement is within plus 1 part in 8,000 to minus 1 part in 11,000. A novel pressure bomb in which a sample of pure carbon dioxide is placed and sealed by a diaphragm fluid separator and its use as a reference pressure standard for extended and repeated use in the calibration of deadweight gages is described.

Jan 1, 1966

By H. L. Bibbs, H. D. Snedden

"INTRODUCTION The use of beryllium and its alloys has increased rapidly during the last decade. Further expansion of its use is limited; in part, by lack of adequately developed ore reserves. The principal commercial beryllium mineral is beryl, which is found chiefly in pegmatites and produced for market as a byproduct of the mica and feldspar industries. The coarse beryl is mined selectively, sobbed and sorted by hand, and then sold without further beneficiation. The known reserves of coarse beryl are small. No method has been available for concentrating small disseminated beryl crystals, so ores of this type have not been mined or have been left on waste dumps. Disseminated ore in low-grade unmined areas and waste dumps on developed properties is a potential source of beryl, provided a method is developed for its beneficiation.Published literature on the concentration of beryl is lacking in detail or deals chiefly with tests on artificial mixtures of pure minerals, and procedures as given were not applicable to the beryl ores tested at the Salt Lake Station. The testing procedures described in this report are independent developments. By employing these procedures, beryl was satisfactorily con¬centrated from several run-of-mine and dump ores, although these ores wore low in grade and part of the contained beryl was finely crystalline and disseminated.Beryl, quartz, and feldspar, when ground to flotation sizes, are so alike in color and general appearance that they cannot he distinguished by visual observation. The progress of the work depended on rapid determination of the grade of test products by means of the petrographic microscope. Small samples of concentrates and tailings were often cut after each addition of reagents, dried, and examined under the microscope."

May 1, 1947

By Robert W. Waytulonis

This publication contains 1,000 citations of technical and semi-technical literature treating diesel-powered equipment usage underground both generally and specifically. These citations were gathered by U.S. Bureau of Mines personnel over the period of 1978-1983. The citations concern diesel engines as powerplants for underground mining use; their design, emission characteristics and control, maintenance, usage; and health and safety aspects. All citations have been abstracted and arranged 1n a subject classification system with extensive cross-referencing.

Jan 1, 1983

By Jennifer A. Slatnick

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's), once universally accepted as ideal compounds for use in cooling and refrigeration, in foam production, and in cleaning electronic components, are being phased out and eventually banned under extensive international agreements because the chlorine in CFC's is thought to deplete the Earth's ozone layer. The industry has responded with the introduction of alternatives in the form of hydrofluorocarbons (HFC's), which contain no chlorine, and with hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC's), which fill an intermediate gap in the replacement of CFC's. As a result of the elimination of chlorine in the HFC's and the reduction of it in the HCFC's, these alternatives contain more fluorine than the CFC's do. Other nonfluorocarbon substitutes, known as not-in-kind alternatives, contain no fluorine at all. As a result, the fluorspar mining industry, which is the source of fluorine in fluorocarbons through intermediate hydrofluoric acid, is being affected. Concern for this impact has led the U.S. Bureau of Mines to employ its capabilities to analyze various scenarios in the evolution of CFC replacements and substitutes to determine their effect on fluorspar mining. This report utilizes a network flow model to examine the effects of proposed replacements for CFC's, in terms of fluorine content, on fluorspar operations worldwide and on hydrofluoric acid plants in North America and Europe.

Jan 1, 1994

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, Norway, 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, indirectly, 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 S. P. Kinney, P. H. Royster, T. L. Joseph

"The study described in this paper, on the reactions in an iron blast furnace, is part of the investigation being conducted by the Bureau of Mines on combustion of coke and the reduction of iron oxides in the blast furnace. Previous study of the combustion zone of the iron blast furnace, by means of a series of as samples taken through the tuyeres across the hearths of 13 blast furnaces, showed that the combustion of the coke in the blast-furnace hearth is complete at a distance of 32 to 40 inches from the nose of the tuyere, measured horizontally toward the center of the furnace. The results of this previous work are sum¬marized in the curves shown in figure 1, where it will be noted that practically all of the oxygen disappears at a distance of approximately 30 inches from the nose of the tuyere.In order to determine the height at which oxygen is found in a vertical direction above the tuyeres - it had been suggested that the combustion zone turned upward near the tuyere and to obtain comparisons with the samples taken at the Bureau of Mines experimental6 (5-ton) blast-furnace at Minneapolis, the Bureau extended the gas sampling on a commercial furnace to a number of planes between the tuyere level and the stock line. The sampling was conducted on a 300-ton furnace, making foundry iron, operated by the Central Iron and Coal Co., at Holt, Ala. The furnace was smelting Southern red and brown ores and nodules from pyrite sinter. Figure 3 is a vertical section of the furnace showing the six planes sampled."

Apr 1, 1926

By J. L. Howell, D. E. Pollock, A. B. Cecala, A. D. O’Brien

Dust from worker,s clothes has been shown to be a problematic source of personal dust exposure. A recently completed effort between NIOSH and the Unimin Corporation has resulted in a quick and effective way to clean worker clothing. The process involves a booth under negative pressure with an air spray manifold to supply compressed air to blow off the dust from the clothing. The overall system is designed to meet MSHA and OSHA requirements. Results of field testing indicated that the manifold cleaned the clothes 10 times faster and removed 50% more dust than cleaning methods used by workers today.

By S. M. Runke

"During the past three years the Bureau of Mines has carried on an extensive research program at the Rolla Laboratory for the beneficiation of low-grade Arkansas baixites by ore dressing methods. As a result of this study a 50-ton pilot mill was designed and constructed at Bauxite, Arkansas, by the Bureau to continue the investigation on a semi-commercial scale. The built both to reduce the experimental work to practice and to obtain operating data that cannot be determined by laboratory or small scaleTen samples of bauxitic material were mined and stockpiled at the plant site to ensure an ample supply of material for milling in the pilot plant. These samples were obtained from various bauxite deposits in Saline and Pulaski Counties, Arkansas. The deposits were selected as typical of a wide range of bauxitic material which would necessitate treatment under different conditions and by various concentration methods. All of the samples contained a higher silica content than permissible in Bayer-grade bauxite and several contained so much iron oxide that the available alumina content of the ore was mate¬rially lowered. From data obtained by milling operations on these ten samples, milling characterietics of most of the ores in the district should be predictable. This paper summarizes the results obtained in the laboratory testing of representative samples of each stock pile, and the results of small scale continuous testing of the composite sample of the ten stock piles in the gravity-flotation pilot plant at the Rolla Laboratory."

Aug 1, 1946

By R. J. Leary

Iron and steel scrap has accounted for 45 to 50 percent of the metallics used by the steel industry. In an electric furnace which utilizes a 100-percent cold charge consisting of about 99 percent scrap and 1 percent pig iron, sensible heat from molten pig iron is not present as it is when hot metal is charged to open hearths and converters. A study of means for more efficient utilization of iron and steel scrap in steelmaking indicated that the time and fuel requirements to melt scrap were important cost factors, particularly in arc-furnace steelmaking. A process to preheat scrap economically prior to charging into the arc furnace has been developed, utilizing efficiently the heat from combustion of fossil fuels as a substitute for electric-arc heating in the initial stage of arc-furnace steelmaking. Scrap is loaded into a portable vertical cylindrical furnace body that is open at the top and has a perforated dropout door at the bottom. In the heating operation, the furnace body containing scrap is placed upon a hollow base connected to a flue, and then the burner and combustion-chamber unit is lowered on top of the furnace body. The stream of hot-combustion products flows down through the bed of scrap imparting heat to it, and the cooled gases exhaust through the flue. After the heating operation the furnace body containing hot scrap is transported to the arc furnace for charging. Thus, the furnace body serves as a charging bucket for top-charged arc furnaces, enabling this preheating process to be integrated into existing material-handling patterns in many arc-furnace plants.

Jan 1, 1961

By Russell A. Schreiner

In conjunction with the Geological Survey, the Bureau of Mines conducted a mineral investigation in 1981 and 1982 of the Santa Rosa Mountains Wilderness Study Area (WSA), Riverside County, California. The Bureau of Mines is responsible for the mineral survey of mines, prospects, and mineralized areas in and near the WSA. A literature search was completed to obtain information concerning mineral occurrences and mining activity that relate to the WSA. A field investigation inside, and up to 1 mi outside, the boundary of the WSA, disclosed one prospect. This prospect was surveyed by compass and tape, and five samples were taken to determine the representative mineral content. No attempt was made to expose concealed mineralization or to re-open caved workings. All five samples were analyzed by fire assay for gold and silver and by colorimetric methods for tungsten. Two of the samples were analyzed by semi quantitative spectrographic methods to determine if any unsuspected elements were present. All analyses are furnished in this report except for the semi-quantitative spectrograhic analyses. Complete sample analyses are available for public inspection at the Bureau of Mines, Intermountain Field Operations Center, Building 20, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225.

Jan 1, 1983

By Kenneth M. Earl

In its investigation of deposits of strategic minerals, the Bureau of Mines did same development drilling at the Perkiomen Creek deposits, 5 miles east of Phoenixville, Pa. This area was the center of much copper mining from 1851 to 1858. The most productive vein was the Perkiomen-Ecton mines, owned by the Perkiomen Consolidated Mining CQ. The mines were closed in 1858, and no further production has been recorded. The Perkiomen-Ecton vein ranges in thickness from 2 to 19 feet. The principal mineral of value is chalcopyrite, with minor amounts of galena and sphalerite. No definite record was found as to the grade of ore min d. It was reported that 617 tons of 18-percent copper are obtained by hand sorting 12,200 tons of mine-run ore was shipped in 1851-1852. To cut the vein below the old mine workings, the Bureau of Mines diamond-drilled five holes aggregating 2,216.2 feet. The vein, where intercepted by drilling, carried narrow stringers of copper, lead, and zinc minerals.

Jan 1, 1950

By K. L. Paciorek

The primary objective of this program was to determine the toxic fume and fire hazard of materials used in the construction of mine stoppings and in the sealing and reinforcing of mine ribs and roofs. The materials investigated were: silicone, phenolic, and isocyanate-based rigid foams, as well as epoxy and acrylate mine sealants. Of the rigid foams tested, the X-156 urethane foam presented the greatest toxic hazard based on toxic load values hydrogen chloride was the main toxic species evolved by this foam. In 'lone of the isocyanate-based compositions was hydrogen cyanide the major component, but its contribution increased with temperature. The FS-24 urethane and Celotex Max-Seal isocyanurate foams had the lowest toxic load values, although these two foams have different applications for in-mine use. Of the two mine sealants tested, the latex /acrylic coating presented the greater toxic hazard with acetic acid being the main toxic species evolved.

Jan 1, 1983

By Steven R. Munts

The U.S. Bureau of Mines investigated mines, prospects, and mineralized areas in the South Providence Wilderness Study Area (WSA) in 1982. No mines are currently operating in the WSA, however, the Golden Gift Mine in the southeastern part of the WSA produced $6,800 1/ worth of gold and silver and five mines adjacent to the east boundary of the WSA had a total production of about $3,500,000 1/ in gold, silver, lead, and copper. There is no recorded placer gold production. Over 350 lode and placer mining claims are in and immediately adjacent to the WSA. Of these, 74 were actively held (1982) and at least one area, which is partly within the northeast portion of the WSA, was being actively explored by private industry in 1982. Adjacent to the southeastern border of the WSA the Big Horn Mine contains an estimated 200,000 tons of indicated and inferred marginal reserves averaging 0.25 oz/ton gold; and the Hidden Hill Mine has 550 tons of subeconomic resources averaging 0.60 oz/ton gold. An additional 11,000 tons of marginally economic gold-bearing dump reserves average 0.17 oz/ton gold at the Bighorn, Hidden Hill, and the Buena Vista Mines and the Midas Touch Prospect. Sample analyses indicate eight mines and prospects in, and five adjacent to the WSA may have additional gold-silver-lead-copper vein-type resources. Five of these prospect areas may have a disseminated gold resource and one may have gold resources in a skarn. One prospect may have a porphyry-type copper-molybdenum resource. Although gold placer claims were filed sporadically throughout the WSA, none appears to have placer gold resources. Likelihood for mining is greatest at the Big Horn Mine; if a mill is built there, it could process Big Horn Mine ore, ore from the Hidden Hill Mine, and gold-bearing dumps at the Big Horn, Hidden Hill, and Buena Vista Mines and the Midas Touch Prospect. All of these resources are adjacent to the WSA; however, their development would increase likelihood for development of resources in the WSA. Two major fault zones (the Hidden Hill, and the Big Horn) appear to have controlled the mineralization at many of the prospects and mines. All of the prospects or mines with vein-type occurrences and resources are on or adjacent to one of these fault zones. Veins throughout the eastern half of the WSA contain various amounts of gold, silver, and copper; only veins near the Big Horn Mine and in the northeastern corner of the WSA contain lead. Some veins are as thick as 6 ft, are traceable intermittently for over 2 mi along strike, are sporadically mineralized, are encased in prophylitic, argillic, and phyllic altered host rock, contain pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena, specularite, barite, or fluorite, and display multiple stages of quartz veining and (or) brecciation. Sample analyses at five prospects (map nos. 3, 18, 23, 24, and 31) indicate they may have disseminated gold resources. To date no oil or gas has been discovered within the WSA. However, some oil and gas leases are currently (August 1982) held within this study area.

Jan 1, 1984

On 26 August 1971, the Bureau of Mines, through the Spokane Mining Research Center at Spokane, Washington, approved initiation of the evaluation of oscillatory energy toward enhancing flow of polymer into shale. The effort was an outgrowth of work performed under Bureau of Mines Contract H0210055, "Feasibility Study of Surface Impregnation equipment for the Chemical Stabilization of Coal Mine Structures," wherein feasibility of the impregnation concept was expressed and the detailed design of a machine for impregnation of coal mine roofs with polymer (under static pressure head) accomplished. Under these efforts, the potential enhance¬ment of polymer uptake into the shale thru superposition of oscillatory energy on the static impregnation pressure was suggested. A proposal for investigation of this phenomena entitled "Feasibility Study of the Application of Oscillatory Energy as an Aid to Afford Chemical Stabilization" was presented to the Bureau whereupon a three month program for initiation of investigation was approved.

Jan 1, 1972

By Wilton Johnson

Native asphalt was produced in 1981 by five companies in three States, Alabama, Texas, and Utah. Texas was the leading State in production of native asphalt. Total production increased in 1981 to 1.26 million tons, while value increased 10.5% to $27.7 million. Bituminous limestone, used primarily for street and road repair, was produced by Whites Uvalde Mines and Uvalde Rock Asphalt Co., both in Uvalde County, Tex., and Southern Stone Co., Colbert County, Ala. Gilsonite was produced by American Gilsonite Co., Uinta County, Utah, and Ziegler Chemical and Mineral Corp., Weber County, Utah. This material was used for purposes other than road repair.

Jan 1, 1982

By Doris M. Hyde

In the past, mining has represented between 11% and 12% of the gross domestic product (GDP). In 1982, mining contributed over $150 million to the estimated $1.4 billion GDP.2 Overall economic growth for 1983 was projected at about 2%, primarily as a result of increased tourism. The inflation rate remained at or fell below the 1982 level of almost 4%. The Government continued its efforts to strengthen the industrial base by improving infrastructural systems and the establishment of a free trade zone. Laws against property ownership by foreigners or foreign-owned companies were strengthened, but the prohibition was softened to allow for close family inheritance. Otherwise, Government approval must be obtained to retain property acquired through inheritance, court order, mortgage, or other means. Special consideration was granted to foreign investors seeking to promote industries beneficial to the economy.

Jan 1, 1985

By Ann G. Kim

Fires that occur in abandoned coal mines, waste banks, and in coal outcrops constitute a serious health, safety, and environmental hazard. Toxic fumes, the deterioration of air quality, and subsidence constitute the greatest hazards from these fires. Although tires on abandoned mined land (AML) occur in every coal-producing state, the severity of the problem varies. Methods to extinguish or control AML fires, including excavation, fire barriers, and sealing, are generally expensive and have a relatively low probability of success This U.S. Bureau of Mines report includes information from a variety of sources, i.e., agencies of the Federal Government, State agencies, research reports, conference proceedings, product information, and technical literature. This information has been collated into a comprehensive discussion of AML fire problems. Data on past fire control projects and on the estimated extent of the current problem have been compiled. Factors affecting the occurrence, propagation, and extinguishment of AML fires are discussed. Conventional fire control methods are described, and their probable effectiveness is evaluated. Information on the hazards of AML fires and safety considerations is included. The status of current technology, recent improvements in fire control methods, and areas of current research are discussed.

Jan 1, 1993

The revised inspection standards or recommendations herein have been prepared for use in Federal inspection of bituminous-coal and lignite mines. They succeed a compilation of similar standards published as Bureau of Mines Information Circular 7268 in December 1943 and employed as a guide in Federal inspections since that time. Important alterations and additions have been made because of changes in mining, practice and temporary shortages of some safety equipment; moreover, several previous standards have been found not generally applicable and have accordingly been deleted. Mining methods and equipment continue to change, and new hazards and new safeguards are introduced. Consequently, these standards are subject to revision from time to time. Questions from the coal-mining industry regarding these standards and suggestions as to changes and additions thereto will be welcomed and considered carefully when the next revision is made. Many constructive criticisms from the mining industry have been considered in preparing this edition.

Jan 1, 1945

By James M. Spear

Sample results suggest the only mineral resources in the study areas are placer gold deposits along the South Fork Kern River in the Woodpecker RARE II unit (fig. 1). These deposits, in Rockhouse Basin, total 4.5 Figure 1.--NEAR HERE. million cu yds (3.4 million cu m) of indicated subeconomic gold resources in four deposits of "older" gravel. Gold value in samples averages $0.36 per cu yd ($0.47 par cu m) and is as much as $4.44 per cu yd 1/. Cost of mining the gravel and recovering the placer gold is estimated to be more than $2 per cu yd ($2.62 per cu m) for a deposit of this size and type. Additional inferred subeconomic placer gold resources with similar grade probably occur in four other deposits of "older" gravel on which no mining claims were located. Placer gold occurrences on upper Trout Creek contain gold worth as much as $4.50 per cu yd ($5.88 per cu m) 1/. Average grade is much lower, and only about 1,000 cu yds remain (760 cu m). These occurrences do not constitute a resource, but may attract hobbyists not dependent upon making a profit.

Jan 1, 1982