• Spontaneous combustion 



• Physics of adhesion of coal aerosols 



• Fluid dynamics of small particle transport and 

 deposit 



• Spontaneous electrostatic precipitation of 

 dust 



• Fundamentals of wet dust suppression 



• A study of the importance of the airborne 

 particulate matter to the transport of radon 

 in mine atmosphere (at the University of Illi- 

 nois). 



Current and Future Research 

 Emphasis 



Five interesting agency projects involving basic 

 metallurgy research which currently are in pro- 

 gress are listed below: 



• Fundamentals of flotation. The objective is to 

 improve the efficiency of recovery of mineral 

 and metal values from ores and concentrates 

 in processes governed by solid-liquid interfa- 

 cial phenomena in flotation and direct elec- 

 trochemical reduction. 



• Florida phosphate slimes. The objective is to 

 investigate and develop methods of reducing 

 the pollution caused by the colloidal waste 

 fines and process effluent from the mining of 

 phosphate fertilizer. 



• Catalyst development and characterization. 

 The objective is to develop low-cost rare- 

 earth metal catalyst materials to replace ex- 

 pensive catalysts. 



• Ion implantation for surface alloys. The 

 objective is to implant thin skins of chromium 

 and similar metals on base metals. 



• Improved methods of iron ore pellet produc- 

 tion. The objective is to develop and demon- 

 strate systems for utilizing coals of various 

 ranks suitable as fuel in firing iron ore pellets. 



Five of the most interesting agency projects in- 

 volving current basic research in the Mining Office 

 include: 



• Development of effective means for prevent- 

 ing, suppressing, and extinguishing fires and 

 explosions 



• Nature of explosive gas mixture 



• Explosion propagation 



• Dust capture by water droplets 



• Dynamics of small particle transport. 

 Short-term research priorities for the next three 



years include projects to: 



• Provide fundamental thermodynamic data and 

 process evaluations, in support of Bureau 

 research, essential to the development of 

 minerals processing technology. 



• Devise new and improved phosphate rock 

 processing methods to improve recovery, 

 reduce processing losses, control contami- 

 nants, and minimize slimes disposal prob- 

 lems. 



• Develop a sound data base of mineral re- 

 serves, production, and consumption for de- 

 termining longer range priorities. 



• Develop improved techniques for detecting 

 impending rock bursts. 



• Develop improved fire suppression systems 

 for mines. 



• Develop improved processing technology for 

 the prompt, economical recovery of copper 

 and byproduct metals from ores, concen- 

 trates, and mine wastes. 



• Test, improve, and evaluate, on a compara- 

 tive basis, promising technologies for re- 

 covering alumina from domestic nonbauxitic 

 resources, to lessen U.S. dependence on 

 imported bauxite and alumina. 



• Develop improved beneficiation methods for 

 recovering nonmetallic minerals from domes- 

 tic ores and/or mineral wastes. 



• Develop improved technology for recovering 

 uranium from various low-grade, domestic 

 refractory carboniferous and silicious urani- 

 ferous resources. 



• Provide basic physical/chemical data in sup- 

 port of the alumina miniplant project. 



• Evaluate wet high-intensity magnetic separa- 

 tors as a means of concentrating iron-bearing 

 materials. 



• Apply advanced techniques to improve con- 

 centration of chromite from complex domes- 

 tic sources. 



• Extend the application of extraction technolo- 

 gy to 0.01 percent uranium resources. 



• Provide methods for identifying, measuring, 

 and controlling fugitive and accessory ele- 

 ments and compounds that are present in 

 minerals processing systems and pass through 

 into the waste streams or the atmosphere. 



Long-term research priorities for the next 10 

 years include projects to: 



• Devise wider uses for more abundant domes- 

 tic minerals as substitutes for critical materi- 

 als and commodities in short supply. 



• Develop economic methods to recover miner- 

 als and metals from domestic ores of progres- 

 sively lower grade and complexity. 



• Develop technologies to facilitate the com- 

 plete recovery of minerals now wasted during 

 processing. 



• Develop metallurgical processes that use less 

 energy or use low-cost sources of energy. 



125 



