For Sale : Bulletins and Technical Papers
of the United States Bureau of Mines

Bulletins (this page) - - - Information Circulars - - - Mineral Commodity Profiles (this page) - - - Reports of Investigation

- - - Technical Papers (this page) - - - Misc. U.S.B.M. (this page)- - -

The United States Bureau of Mines of the Department of the Interior was established in 1910 by the Department of the Interior and abolished on March 30, 1996. Source for indices to USBM Publications : National Technical Information Service

Condition: Unless otherwise noted, these bulletins are in good to very good condition. They may have lightly bumped corners, slightly soiled covers, and filing marks and/or stamps on the covers. Please ask if you want a more specific condition description for any individual issue. When I say "rust marks at spine" this means that the staples are rusty and/or the rusty staples of another report have left marks - it is not a big deal.

More recent descriptions are more detailed than earlier descriptions - Please ask if you need a larger description of illustrations for any publication.

A listing like "24 plates (3 in pocket)" means 24 total plates with 21 plates bound in text and 3 folded in pocket.

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United States Bureau of Mines : Bulletins :
9x6" through about # 500, 10.5x8” after that, soft-bound unless noted. These are in-depth scientific papers with illustrations and references. When I first started listing these years ago, I generally mentioned only fold-outs and plates in pockets, later descriptions are more detailed. Please ask if you need a larger description of illustrations for any publication. In the later years of the USBM, they incorporated the "Economic Papers" and "Technical Papers" series into "Bulletins."
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USBM Bulletin 57 : 1914 : Safety and efficiency in mine tunneling. By David W. Brunton and John A. Davis. 271p., 16 tables, 6 plates, 45 figures. Among many, some of the specific tunnels mentioned are Catskill Aqueduct, Los Angeles Aqueduct, Gunnison tunnel, Laramie-Pudre tunnel, Lucania Tunnel, Marshall-Russel tunnel, Mission tunnel, Newouse tunnel, Rawley tunnel, Roosevelt tunnel, Stilwell tunnel, Strawberry tunnel, Sutro Tunnel, Tequizquac tunnel, Shoshone tunnel, Mount Cenis Tunnel, Hoosac tunnel, St. Gothard tunnel, Arlberg tunnel, Simplon tunnel, Loetschberg tunnel, Busk-Ivanhoe tunnel, Severn tunnel, Totley tunnel, Aspen tunnel, Arthur’s Pass tunnel, Mont Royal tunnel, and others. This report includes ancient and modern tunnels for many different purposes. VG. $48

USBM Bulletin 80 : 1915 : A primer on explosives for metal miners and quarrymen. By Charles E. Munroe and Clarence Hall. 125p., 15 plates, 17 figures. A neat detailed vintage report. (Fair. All VG, but front cover loose and spine ends chipped) $34

USBM Bulletin 81 : 1915 : The smelting of copper ores in the electric furnace by Dorsey A. Lyon and Robert M. Keeney. 80p. Stamped "Property of Howland Bancroft, consulting mining geologist' - how is that for a fun provenance? (Very Good, one page margin has a chip) $25

USBM Bulletin 100 : 1915 : Manufacture and uses of Alloy steels. By Hibbard. 77p. (No back cover. Extracted from Hardbound book with multiple bulletins, so has a spine with a rough texture and no label. ) $8

USBM Bulletin 102 : 1916 : Inflammability of Illinois coal dust. Photos. By Clement & Scholl. 74p. (No back cover. Extracted from Hardbound book with multiple bulletins, so has a spine with a rough texture and no label. ) $10

USBM Bulletin 105: 1916 : Black damp in mines. By Burrell et. al. 88p. (No back cover. Extracted from Hardbound book with multiple bulletins, so has a spine with a rough texture and no label. ) $10

USBM Bulletin 108: 1916 : Melting aluminum chips. By Gillett & James. 88p. (No back cover. Extracted from Hardbound book with multiple bulletins, so has a spine with a rough texture and no label. ) $6

USBM Bulletin 138: 1917 : Coking of Illinois coals, nicely illustrated. By Ovitz . 68p. $9

Out-of-print United States Bureau of Mines Bulletins for Sale - Back to Top

USBM Bulletin 150 : 1919 : Electrodeposition of gold and silver from cyanide solutions. By S. B. Christy. 171p., 8 plates, 41 figures. VG $42

USBM Bulletin 151 : 1918 : Recovery of gasoline from natural gas by compression and refrigeration by W.P. Dykema. 123p., nice photos of installations and equipment, fold-outs. (bumped corner) $15

USBM Bulletin 157 : 1918 : Innovations in the metallurgy of Lead. By Dorsey A. Lyon and Oliver C. Ralston. 176p. (upper blank edge of cover missing a slice of paper, lower spine end chipped) $16

USBM Bulletin 184 : 1920 : The manufacture of sulphuric acid in the United States by A.E. Wells and D.E. Fogg. 216p., nicely illustrated, fold-outs, photos. (Lower blank margin water marked and a bit stiff) $15

USBM Bulletin 211 : 1923 : The Chloride volatilization process of ore treatment. By Thomas Varley, E. P. Barrett, C. C. Stevenson, and Robert H. Bradford. With an introductory chapter by Stuart Croasdale. 99 pages, 28 tables, 7 plates, 5 figures. (Good. Spine ends a bit rough) $12

USBM Bulletin 223 : 1923 : Investigation of powdered coal as fuel for power-plant boilers : tests at Oneida street power station, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. By Kreisinger et. al. 92p. (Extracted from Hardbound book with multiple bulletins, so has a spine with a rough texture and no label. ) $10

USBM Bulletin 226 : 1925 : Treatment of manganese-silver ores. Fold-out figures. By Clevenger & Caron. 100p. (Extracted from Hardbound book with multiple bulletins, so has a spine with a rough texture and no label. ) $8

USBM Bulletin 233 : 1925 : Protection of oil and gas field equipment against corrosion by R. Van A. Mills. 127p., photos. $22

USBM Bulletin 235 : 1925 : Mine timber, its selection, storage, treatment, and use. By R. R. Hornor and Harry E. Tufft. With a chapter on methods of prolonging life of mine timber by George M. Hunt. 118p., 15 tables, 17 plates, 3 figures. Includes photos of Cliffs shaft houses in Ishpeming, Michigan; Curry shaft in Vulcan, Michigan; Creosoting plant in Colorado and more. VG $38

USBM Bulletin 243 : 1926 : Diamond drilling, with special reference to oil field prospecting and development. By Frank A. Edson. 170p., 39 figures. Nice photos of equipment. $12

USBM Bulletin 258 : 1926 : Suggestions for the design of electrical accessories for permissible mining equipment. By Ilsley & Gleim. 47p. (Extracted from Hardbound book with multiple bulletins, so has a spine with a rough texture and no label. ) $7

USBM Bulletin 261 : 1927 : Resistance of metal-mine airways. Fold-out figures. By McElroy. 149p. (Extracted from Hardbound book with multiple bulletins, so has a spine with a rough texture and no label. ) $8

Out-of-print United States Bureau of Mines Bulletins for Sale - Back to Top

USBM Bulletin 265 : 1928 : Leakage from high-pressure natural-gas transmission lines. Fold-out figures. By Rawlins & Wosk. 108p., 32 figures. (Extracted from Hardbound book with multiple bulletins, so has a spine with a rough texture and no label. - - - OR - - - Original paper wraps with mild ripple, thin water mark in some margins. Please tell me which copy you prefer. ) $6

USBM Bulletin 266 : 1927 : Technology and uses of silica and sand. Photos, fold-out figures. By Weigel. 204p. (Extracted from Hardbound book with multiple bulletins, so has a spine with a rough texture and no label. ) $6

USBM Bulletin 311 : 1929 : Drilling and blasting in metal-mine drifts and crosscuts. By E. D. Gardner. 170p., 63 figures. Among much more specifically mentions Copper Queen mine, Pilares mines, Homestake mine, Morenci branch, Commonwealth mine, Tri-state district, Cripple Creek district, Butte district, Tintic Standar mine, Utah Apex mine, Jerome district (United Verde). VG. $34

USBM Bulletin 312 : 1929 : Bauxite : float and sink fractionations and flotation experiments. Photos! By Gandrud. 101p. (Extracted from Hardbound book with multiple bulletins, so has a spine with a rough texture and no label. ) $10

USBM Bulletin 356 : 1934 : Sampling and estimation of ore deposits. By Chas. F. Jackson and John B. Knaebel. 155p., 35 figures. Includes specifics of sampling techniques from hundreds of U.S. mines. $18

Out-of-print United States Bureau of Mines Bulletins for Sale - Back to Top

USBM Bulletin 372 : 1934 : Accounting system and office management procedure for medium size metal mines. By Albert E. Keller. 84p., 50 printed forms, 1 chart. (Good, but with minor rippling and a rusty staple) $12

USBM Bulletin 418 : 1941 : Petroleum and Natural Gas fields in Wyoming. By Ralph H. Espach and H. Dale Nichols. 185p., 72 figures (many of which are on the 13 sheets folded in box). Text and sheets are together in a hardshell box. The review is by individual field and includes Crude-oil analyses.The review is by individual field and includes Crude-oil analyses. Individual field reports discuss geologic structures, history of development, production of oil, gas and water, production methods, and related subjects. Poor : NO text, all plates but 4 and 10. (Plates are good with a few minor notes, some crossed creases are fragile. The hard-shell container is in sad condition.) $8

Folded sheets in hardcase for Bulletin 418” :
Sheet 1 : Tentative correlation of geologic formation in Wyoming.
Sheet 2 : Map of petroleum and natural gas fields in Wyoming, 1938.
Sheet 3 : Alkali Butte, Allen Lake Anticline, Big Muddy oilfield, Ant Hills Dome, South Baxter Basin gas field, Badger Basin oil field.
Sheet 4 : Big Sandy Draw, Billy Creek, Bison Basin, Black Mountain, Bolton Creek, Spindletop anticlines, Bunker Hill.
Sheet 5 : Sheep creek dome, Dallas and Derby fields, Crooks gap, Byron and Garland fields, Dutton Creek and Cooper Cover anticlines, Dallas and Derby Dome.
Sheet 6 : Elk Basin Big Horn basin, Mahoney-Ferris gas fields.
Sheet 7 : Los Soldier district, Fourbear anticline, Frannie structure, Gooseberry anticline, Grass Creek oil field, Hamilton Dome, Creybull field.
Sheet 8 : Vermillion Creek, Kirby Creek, LaBarge field, Lance Creek, Little Buffalo Basin, Maverick Springs.
Sheet 9 : Medicine bow anticline, Midway, Geary, and North Geary structures, Mule Creek, Muskkrat anticline, North Casper Creek anticline. Oregon Basin.
Sheet 10 : Osage field, Pilot Butte field, Poison spider, South Casper Creek, Polecat anticlines.
Sheet 11 : Salt Creek field.
Sheet 12 : Rock River, Spring Creek anticline, Spring Valley and Aspen Creek, Sunshine anticline.
Sheet 13 : Torchlight dome and Lamb anticline, Warm Springs fold, Waugh anticline.

USBM Bulletin 423 : 1940 : Mechanical shoveling in underground metal mines. By McHenry Mosier and J. H. Steinmesch. 97p., 29 figures. Presents recent data on mechanical shoveling in underground metal mines and in selected nonmetal mines. Describes various mechanical shovels and discusses improved technique in loading and changes in loading practice in certain mining districts. Lots of neat photos of vintage equipment. VG. $26

USBM Bulletin 425 : 1941 : Magnetic separation of ores. By R. S. Dean and C. W. Davis. 417p., 165 figures. A comprehensive tome, if ever there was one! Discusses briefly operations and trends in magnetic separation, explains magnetic separation, describes and classifies machines used, and outlines their development as disclosed by patents and examples of practice on wide variety of ores. (Good, lower spine end chipped. $28

USBM Bulletin 433 : 1941 : Open-cut metal mining. By E. D. Gardner and McHenry Mosier. 176p., 60 figures. Among much more, specific mention is made of Mesabi range mines, Cuyuna range mines, Marquette range mines (Tilden, Volunteer, Richmond), Gogebic district (Plymouth), Iron Springs district in Utah, Copper mines (Utah Copper, New Cornelia, Chino, Copper Falt, United Verde, Morenci), Gold mining (Yellow Aster, Iron Mountain, Orogrande-Frisco, Weepah, Comstock, Bi-Metallic, Big Canyon, Knob Hill), Oronogo mine, Sulphur Bank mine, Cloverdale mine, and more. (Good. All VG, but brighter green cover has sunned edges). $13

USBM Bulletin 439 : 1941 : Some essential safety factors in tunneling. By D. Harrington and S. H. Ash. 61p., 35 figures. Examples from the following (among others) are used : Colorado River aqueduct, Delaware aqueduct, Mono Craters tunnel in California, Morenci mine, San Jacinto tunnel. VG $18

START OF LARGER SIZE (10.5 x 8”)

USBM Bulletin 524 : 1953 : Visual-arc spectroscopic analysis. By Maurice J. Peterson and Howard W. Jaffe. 20p., 7 tables, 4 figures. Green HARDBACK. $10

USBM Bulletin 550 : 1956 : Petrography of American coals. By B. C. Parks and H. J. O’Donnell. 193p., 12 tables. 39 figures. (one page missing a corner tip). $18

USBM Bulletin 561 : 1956 : Zirconium. By the staff of the Northwest Electrodevlopment Laboratory. 190p., 138 figures, 34 tables. Includes great photos of vintage equipment and men in action. SCARCE.

Choose your copy of U. S. Bureau of Mines Bulletin 561 :
Very Good (bumped corner) - $22
Fair (Generally Good, but has cover wear and bumped corners) - $10

USBM Bulletin 565 : 1957 : Syllabus of clay testing. By T. A. Klinefelter and H. P. Hamlin. 67p., 12 figures. $15

USBM Bulletin 603 : 1962 : Electrostatic separation of granular materials. By F. Fraas. 155p., 76 figures, 66 tables. (bumped edge) $15

Out-of-print U.S. Bureau of Mines Bulletins for Sale - Back to Top

United States Bureau of Mines : Mineral Commodity Profiles. 10.5’ x 8”, staple bound. Each well-considered report usually contains an overview, description of the structure of the industry, uses of the mineral, reserves and resources, technology, supply-demand relationships, byproducts and coproducts, economic factors and problems, operating factors and problems, outlook, references. These reports provide a nice summary of each mineral as well as an historical perspective. Generally Very Good, may have lightly sunned spines, lightly bumped corners. For convenience, the following are in alphabetical order by mineral.

Aluminum (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1978, 29 pages. $2
Barite (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1979, 13 pages. $2
Beryllium (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1979, 10 pages. $2
Bismuth (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1979, 10 pages. $2
Cadmium (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1979, 13 pages (noticeably sunned spine). $2
Cement (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1978, 21 pages. $2
Cesium (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1979, 8 pages. $2
Clays (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1979, 16 pages. $2
Cobalt (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1979, 23 pages, with errata sheet. $2
Columbium (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1978, 12 pages. $2
Copper (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1979, 20 pages. $2
Diamond – industrial (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1979, 16 pages. $2
Fluorine (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1978, 27 pages. $2
Gold (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1978, 17 pages. $5
Gypsum (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1979, 11 pages.$2
Iron and steel (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1978, 29 pages. $2
Lead (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1977, 23 pages. $2
Lithium (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1979, 25 pages. $2
Manganese (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1979, 20 pages. $2
Mica (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1979, 18 pages. $2
Molybdenum (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1979, 23 pages. $2
Nickel (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1979, 19 pages. $2
Perlite (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1979, 14 pages. $2
Platinum (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1978, 23 pages (sunned spine). $5
Potash (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1978, 27 pages. $2
Rare Earths (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1979, 16 pages. (Yttrium and others) $3
Rhenium (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1979, 11 pages. $2
Sand and gravel (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1978, 22 pages. $2
Silicon (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1979, 13 pages. $2
Silver (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1978, 14 pages. $5
Soda Ash (Sodium Carbonate), Sodium Sulfate, and Sodium, 1979, 14 pages. $2
Stone (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1978, 19 pages. $2
Sulfur, (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile) 1979, 25 pages. $2
Tantalum (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1979, 14 pages (minor spots on cover edge). $2
Tin (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1978, 17 pages. $2
Titanium (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1978, 19 pages. $2
Tungsten (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1978, 22 pages. $2
Vanadium (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1977, 13 pages. $2
Vermiculite (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1978, 10 pages. $2
Zinc (USBM Mineral Commodity Profile), 1978, 25 pages. $2

Out-of-print United States Bureau of Mines Reports for Sale - Back to Top

United States Bureau of Mines Technical Papers :
9x6", soft-bound. Staple bound, no stiffer cover, just a regular page printed as the cover.

USBM Technical Paper 381 : 1927 : Heavy liquids for mineralogical analyses by John D. Sullivan. 26p. Fairly crudely bound into a hardboard pamphlet binder. (Library stickers and pocket). $2

USBM Technical Paper 383 : 1926 : Blasting to lessen bowlders in hard-ore stopes. By E. D. Gardner and S. P. Howell. 23p., 8 figures. (Good/Fair : Cover partly split along spine and creased) $4

USBM Technical Paper 399 : 1926 : Recovery of Molybdite from the ore. By H. A. Doerner. 13p., 3 figures. $3

USBM Technical Paper 494 : 1931 : Coper and zinc in cyanidation sulphide-acid precipitation. By Edmund S. Leaver and Jesse A. Woolf. 63p., 8 figures. Gives a proposed process that fills the need for a commercial method of recovering precious metals associated with minor copper values and is applicable to ores that are under smelting grade or ores in which the copper will not pay for a separate treatment for its recovery. $9

USBM Technical Paper 569 : 1936 : Analyses of New Mexico coals. Multiple authors, much detail and descriptions of many samples. Includes the Durange-Gallup field, Raton field, Cerrillos field Carthage field. Sections include Producing districts, Coal-bearing formations, Coal beds, Structure, Quality of coal, Methods of mining and preparation of coal, Relation of mine samples to commercial shipments, Analyses of delivered coal, Analyses of mine samples and more. 112p., 1 figure. (few chipped corner tips). $16

USBM Technical Paper 574 : 1937 : Analyses of Colorado Coals. Multiple authors, much detail and many samples. 327p. (Front cover has a chipped corner tip, a creased corner and minor soil/marks. The remainder of the paper is VG) $35

USBM Technical Paper 581 : 1937 : Ball-mill grinding. By Will H. Coghill and Fred D. Devaney. 56p., 9 figures. Discusses important points in fine grinding, as disclosed by experiments, and innovations in fine grinding. Tests described show that successive changes in set and induced variables in ball milling produce traceable and orderly changes in products. (Good, spine a bit rough) $9

USBM Technical Paper 588 : 1938 : Metallurgical developments at Mercur, Utah. By W. J. Franklin and Virgil Miller. 42p., 15 figures. Gold, Silver. $28

USBM Technical Paper 602 : 1940 : Inspection and maintenance of mine hoisting ropes. By L. C. Ilsley and McHenry Mosier. 27p., 5 figures. $5

USBM Technical Paper 608 : 1940 : Safety factors in construction and ventilation, Wawona Vehicular Tunnel, Yosemite National Park, California. By S. H. Ash. 34p., 21 figures. Excellent illustrations, including fold-out diagrams of tunnel cross-sections, plus photos of construction under progress. SCARCE. $22

USBM Technical Paper 635 : 1942 : Design of air-blast meter and calibrating equipment. By A. T. Ireland. 20p., 15 figures. $3

Out-of-print U.S. Bureau of Mines Technical Papers for Sale - Back to Top

United States Bureau of Mines : Miscellaneous Publications
Softcover unless noted.

Facts concerning uranium exploration and production. By John E. Crawford and James Paone. 1956 USBM. 7.5x5”, 130p., 15 figures, 2 tables. (Very Good, with ownership marks). $5

List of Publications of the Bureau of Mines : July 1, 1910 – January 1, 1949, with subject and author index. Prepared by Hazel J. Stratton and Mabel E. Winslow. 10x8”, 460p. $20

List of Publications of the Bureau of Mines : January 1, 1949 – January 1, 1954, with subject and author index. Prepared by Hazel J. Stratton. 10x8”, 187p. $5

Manual of First-Aid Instruction. 1935 USBM. 6x4”, 221p., lots of neat vintage photos, 107 figures. (Good. Owner’s stamps). $8

Technical guidelines for installing, maintaining, and inspecting underground telephone systems : a Bureau of Mines handbook. 1978. By Roger G. Long, Robert L. Chufo, and Richard A. Watson. 7x4.5”, 77 pages, 44 illus., 7 tables. (Good. Staple mark on cover, lightly bumped edge). $18

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