jc
Trainee
Posts: 2
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Post by jc on Jan 6, 2020 16:35:46 GMT -5
Hello,
I am writing a fiction novel which involves retreat mining (in Pennsylvania, a fictional small town in the Appalachians in 1984). I was wondering, when pillars are being dismantled with retreat mining, are explosives used? Is it possible that they had ever been used? I know this has led to many horrible mining disasters which is awful. I just want to try and get facts as straight as possible!
Any information you may have would be hugely helpful!
Thank you,
JC
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Post by John on Jan 7, 2020 7:51:11 GMT -5
Hello, I am writing a fiction novel which involves retreat mining (in Pennsylvania, a fictional small town in the Appalachians in 1984). I was wondering, when pillars are being dismantled with retreat mining, are explosives used? Is it possible that they had ever been used? I know this has led to many horrible mining disasters which is awful. I just want to try and get facts as straight as possible! Any information you may have would be hugely helpful! Thank you, JC
Mining explosives are different to explosives used for surface work. Coal requires "permitted" explosives that have salts of various sorts added to reduce the possibility of igniting gases, plus before shot holes are charged, tests for methane are carried out, again after the shot holes are charged and ready to be fired, tests for methane are mandatory.
Pillar extraction is a very dangerous business, carried out under strict support rules laid down by management, I doubt it can be done safely, other than by machines. I am aware of "pillar robbing" in years gone by before statutory support rules were introduced. "Pillar robbing" was removing part of the pillar, which weakened them risking life and injury to men working in the mine. |
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merlin
Shotfirer.
prop and lid
Posts: 64 
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Post by merlin on Apr 29, 2020 7:37:56 GMT -5
ery rare they tested for gas before firing shots they had no time
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Post by John on Apr 29, 2020 11:51:38 GMT -5
ery rare they tested for gas before firing shots they had no time  ? You must have had different rules than the one's we had, both the ripping lip and stable holes were tested for gas before firing at the two UK collieries I worked at. Not once did I see a shotfirer NOT test for gas, kind of foolish.
Even at Boulby they tested for gas religiously before firing, mind, we did have very bad gas problems at that mine |
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Post by spanker on Aug 26, 2020 12:30:40 GMT -5
Jc in uk coal mines the shotfirer always tested prior to drilling holes and before he fired the shots off if you had anymore than 1.25% reading you did not fire,2% and the power would be cut off and men withdrawn from the district,they were the very strict rules obviously there were always nut cases who knew better and on their heads it was.
You could always try to disperse via dilution and then if % reduced you would fire then.
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? You must have had different rules than the one's we had, both the ripping lip and stable holes were tested for gas before firing at the two UK collieries I worked at. Not once did I see a shotfirer NOT test for gas, kind of foolish.