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United States Bureau of Mines
Industry: Mining
Number of terms: 33118
Number of blossaries: 0
Company Profile:
The U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) was the primary United States Government agency conducting scientific research and disseminating information on the extraction, processing, use, and conservation of mineral resources. Founded on May 16, 1910, through the Organic Act (Public Law 179), USBM's missions ...
A rather brittle, lustrous, hard, heavy, gray metallic element. Symbol, Ta. Occurs principally in the mineral columbite-tantalite, (Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)<sub>2</sub>O<sub>6</sub>. Widely used to fabricate chemical process equipment, nuclear reactors, and aircraft and missile parts. Used to make electrolytic capacitors, vacuum furnace parts, and surgical appliances.
Industry:Mining
A ratio, calculated from the normative molecular proportions of the constituents of a rock or slag; e.g., number of atoms of oxygen in SiO <sub>2</sub>/ number of atoms of oxygen in the basic oxides.
Industry:Mining
A rawhide sack that holds about 150 lb (68.1 kg); used by miners for carrying ore.
Industry:Mining
A ray of electrons emitted during the spontaneous disintegration of certain atomic nuclei.
Industry:Mining
A reaction in an open-hearth furnace caused by the decomposition of limestone and the escape of the carbon dioxide gas. This reaction begins before the ore boil is completed.
Industry:Mining
A reaction involving the nucleus of the atom, such as fission, neutron capture, radioactive decay, or fusion; and distinct from a chemical reaction, which is limited to changes in the electron structure surrounding the nucleus.
Industry:Mining
A reaction series in which early-formed crystals in a magma react with later liquids without abrupt phase changes; e.g., the plagioclase feldspars form a continuous reaction series. Compare: discontinuous reaction series
Industry:Mining
A reaction series in which early-formed crystals react with later liquid by means of abrupt phase changes; e.g., the minerals olivine, pyroxene, amphibole, and biotite form a discontinuous reaction series. Compare: continuous reaction series
Industry:Mining
A reaction that occurs in an open-hearth furnace in which the carbon monoxide released by the oxidation of carbon causes a violent agitation of the metal as it escapes.
Industry:Mining
A readily combustible rock containing more than 50% by weight and more than 70% by volume of carbonaceous material, including inherent moisture; formed from compaction and induration of variously altered plant remains similar to those in peat. Differences in the kinds of plant materials (type), in degree of metamorphism (rank), and in the range of impurity (grade) are characteristic of coal and are used in classification.
Industry:Mining