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By Hang Yang, Linneas W. Laage

Mine fire emergency planning requires simulation of the interaction of the fire and ventilation system and the subsequent distribution of products of combustion (POC). Several computer models were developed by the Bureau of Mines to perform this simulation. The most recent and advanced program, MFIRE performs normal ventilation network planning calculations, and dynamic transient state simulation of ventilation networks under a variety of conditions. MFIRE simulates a mine's ventilation system and its response to altered ventilation parameters such as the development of new mine workings or changes in ventilation control structures, external influences such as varying outside temperatures, and internal influences such as fires. A major concern of mine fires is the heat- generated ventilation disturbances which can move POC through unexpected passageways. This Bureau paper describes recent in-mine experiments conducted at the Waldo Mine near Magdalena, NM to validate the temperature distribution and heat exchange with rock functions of MFIRE.

Jan 1, 1991

By Thomas H. Koenning, William E. Bruce

Determination of the state of a mine fire is an important function during firefighting and during rescue and recovery operations. It is imperative that an accurate, up-to-date assessment of fire conditions be available for persons directing such activities in order to avoid unacceptable risk to mine rescue teas and/or fire fighters. Many indicators which consist of ratios of the concentrations of fire gases have been developed over the years for determining the state of a mine fire. Results from numerous gas sample analyses are necessary for determining the trend of the fire. Some indicators are preferred because the influence of sample dilution, a frequent problem, is said to be eliminated. Definitions and examples of indicator6 found to be useful in diagnosing recent western U. S. coal mine fires are presented. Mine gas explosibility is an important subject also requiring rapid assessment. Example explosibility calculations are presented applying one widely used method. Establishing limits for withdrawal of personnel are discussed.

Jan 1, 1987

By Robert E. Tally

CHAUNCEY L. BERRIEN, Butte, Mont. (written discussion).-Having had much actual experience with mine fires which have occurred or have been active in the mines of the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. during the past 4 years and having lately visited the fire zone of the United Verde mine with Mr. Tally, I wish to congratulate him for the success which he has had in controlling this fire and making the mine perfectly safe .for his miners. By this work he is not only keeping the property in operation but is reclaiming many lost orebodies. The ventilation system as described by him is practically the same as that used under my direction at the Mountain View mine fire in Butte in 1913 and at the Pennsylvania fire in 1916. This same system is at present being followed at the Leonard mine to extinguish a fire which has been active for 10 years although bulkheaded. The mining system in the Butte mine, at the origination of these fires was the same as that at the United Verde, namely, square setting .accompanied by the use of much timber bulkheading in the stopes owing to heavy ground. The pyritic content of the ore in Butte is not as high, but on the whole conditions have been the same, with the exception of actual location of the fire in the mine. I agree with Mr. Tally that flooding, the use of C02 or any gas, and the use of steam are all impracticable unless the fire zone can be absolutely sealed. His system of upcast escapement shafts in the fire zone, the use of bulkheads and fans to keep the gases away from the firemen, must be resorted to. By the method lie describes actual stoping may be carried on safely if started from the bottom of the fire and if the fire zone extends to the surface. In other words, the fire zone must be isolated from the rest of the mine by bulkheads and solid ground, with no ground above which can be damaged by spread of fire or caving. The serious fires in Butte have .occurred on or between levels in the mines where it was necessary to prevent their .extension upward, downward and laterally while the work of actually extinguishing them was in progress. This necessitated proper bulkheading should we lose control of the fire, the installation of ventilation similar to Mr. Tally's and the systematic drilling of holes with diamond drills for distributing water on the fire and around it.

Jan 12, 1916

By Jan K. Wolski

The PC computer program PCVENT, version 3.3, for the ventilation network analysis now incorporates a real-time fire simulator. Position of the fire or a source of contamination and the character of the event are input from the keyboard. There are several options of type of fire: heat only, contaminant only, or both with a constant burning rate or with oxygen as the only limiting factor. Airway resistances or fan characteristics can be modified during a fire simulation. This allows testing of various fire suppression strategies. Program application in the analysis of a real mine fire is presented.

Jan 1, 1991

By J. C. Edwards

Fire experiments were conducted in the Safety Research Coal Mine (SRCM) at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, with coal, diesel-fuel, electrical-cable, conveyor-belt, and metal-cutting fire sources to determine the response of fire sensors to products-of-combustion (POC). Metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) and smoke fire sensors demonstrated an earlier fire detection capability than a CO sensor. This capability was of particular significance for a conveyor-belt fire in which the optical visibility was reduced to 1.52 m with an increase in CO of less than 2 ppm at a distance of 148 m from the fire. Application of a neural-network program to the sensor responses from each type of fire source resulted in correct classifications of coal, diesel-fuel, cable, belt, and metal-cutting combustion with a mean of 96% of the test data correctly classified.

Jan 1, 2000

By J. C. Edwards

Fire experiments were conducted in the Safety Research Coal Mine (SRCM) at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, with coal, diesel-fuel, electrical-cable, conveyor-belt, and metal-cutting fire sources to determine the response of fire sensors to products-of-combustion (POC). Metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) and smoke fire sensors demonstrated an earlier fire detection capability than a CO sensor. This capability was of particular significance for a conveyor-belt fire in which the optical visibility was reduced to 1.52 m with an increase in CO of less than 2 ppm at a distance of 148 m from the fire. Application of a neural-network program to the sensor responses from each type of fire source resulted in correct classifications of coal, diesel-fuel, cable, belt, and metal-cutting combustion with a mean of 96% of the test data correctly classified.

Jan 1, 2000

By William Moser, B. P. Shagula

INTRODUCTION Every day mine management and mining personnel face the threat of a possible mine disaster or fire. Their ability to deal with such a situation safely and effectively depends on the level of emergency preparation developed and maintained. After conducting numerous informal evaluations or audits at different mine sites throughout West Virginia (as well as other states), the authors concluded that many mining operations are not prepared to handle a fire situation. The results of the audits indicate that while most mines are in compliance with federal and state legal regulations regarding levels of emergency equipment, water systems and training sessions, these levels - particularly in the area of fire training - are probably not sufficient to enable the mine employees to effectively combat a fire in its early stage. This paper will present the authors' recommendations for designing and maintaining an efficient mine emergency preparedness Program and an overview of the curriculum of the mine fire training Program currently being conducted. MINE EMERGENCY FXEPAREDNESS PROGRAM The Mine Emergency Preparedness Pro- gram (MEPP) is a management tool developed by the Mining Extension Service at West Virginia University and was designed to assist company personnel in effectively managing a mine emergency operation. The program goes beyond the traditional and required training of mine rescue teams by offering a complete emergency operations package. Included in MEPP are suggested approaches for training and organizing all personnel, ideas for developing plans of action concerning transportation, security and communications. The MEPP program may also be used as to assess present readiness levels. While the MEPP program is designed to address all types of emergency operations, the authors are convinced that emergencies involving mine fires are the ones of greatest concern and so are concentrating their efforts in that direction. Incidents where fires are involved seem to be increasing in frequency and are extremely costly to control if allowed to go beyond the incipient stages. With a proper emergency preparedness program in place and properly trained and equipped fire brigades, the authors feel that it is possible

Jan 1, 1992

By Thomas Foster

One of the most dreaded things which mining men sometimes have to contend with is underground mine fires, which are both dangerous and expensive. In the Reliance mines we have had considerable trouble with mine fires. We have at the present time five different fire zones, three of these zones give us considerable trouble and the other two have not given any trouble since they have been walled off. Fire Zone No. 1 comprises No. 2, 3 and 4 South Entries, about 50 acres are enclosed in this zone. Fire Zone No. 2 comprises the main drift entry from the mouth to the Old Boundary Plane and extends to the crop line, about 10 acres are enclosed in this zone. Fire Zone No. 3 comprises 1 and 2 North Entries from the main slope to the Old Boundary Plane, a distance of about 1,200 feet, about 15 acres are enclosed in this zone. Fire Zone No. 4 comprises 11/2 and 2 North Entries, a distance of 1,100 feet between New Slope and Old Boundary Plane, about 15 acres are enclosed in this zone. Fire Zone No. 5 comprises the inside end of No. 11/2 and 2 North Entries and 3 North Entry from the New Slope to 30 room, a distance of about 2,600 feet along No. 3 North Entry, about 20 acres are enclosed in this zone. The first mine fire started in No. 2 South Entry in No. 1 zone in 1914. Inside of No. 7 room on the high side of the entry, there was a soft piece of coal. There were no rooms driven in this coal and one day a fire was discovered in the solid pillar on the high side of the entry, work was started at once to load out this fire. and several places was driven into the pillar and cribs built where the coal was taken out, but this method proved a failure and a sand pack was put up along the entry between the track and the high rib. This consisted of timber set about 3 feet from the rib and 2-inch boards put behind the timber and sand or adobe put in between the boards and the ribs, and this method gave very good results except that it required close watching as the sand would settle and let the smoke out between the roof and the sand. Fire broke out in No. 3 South Entry in No. 1 zone in the summer of 1919. We sealed this fire off by building 36 fire stoppings, which also enclosed the fire in No. 2 South Entry and we have never had any trouble with fires in this zone since it was walled off. The fire started in No. 2 -zone in 1919 and has been very active ever since. When this fire was first discovered we built new stoppings in front of the old one in the room necks; we also opened up some of the room necks and loaded out part of the burning coal and rock but this did not help any, the fire, would burn out around the stoppings also burn along the roof between the top coal and the roof sometimes nearly across the entry. Several holes were drilled from the surface to the fire area and flushing the fire was tried but this was also a:\, failure, the rock above the coal was so hot that the mud would dry in the hole and fill it. In 1921 we started to take down the top coal along this entry, timber the entry and put 2-inch boards behind the timber and fill in between the coal and the boards with sand or adobe. We have at present over 1,000 feet of this work done and it has given us better results than any other method that we have tried. As the coal burns out behind the timber the weight breaks the timber and it is necessary to renew some of it. Fire broke out in No. 1 North Entry in No. 3 zone in 1922. There was a stopping in this entry that had been put in when the entry was finished some few years before. The fire burned around the stopping on the low rib of the entry, we built another stopping in front of the old one taking down the top coal and extending it up to the roof also digging in both ribs and setting the stoppings into the coal about 18 inches. This fire did not cause any trouble until June, 1924, when we discovered this fire was very active on the inside

Jan 1, 1924

By H. J. Rahilly

MINE FIRES, in the Butte District, have been a source of trouble and expense for the past thirty years, for while the actual fire area in most of the mines has been comparatively small, the handling of the gas has generally been a much larger problem than the actual putting out of the fire. The chief causes of these fires have been: Defective electrical equipment, incendiarism or carelessness, and spontaneous combustion. While fires from the first two causes have been numerous, they have generally been discovered and extinguished before they became very serious. Spontaneous combustion has been the cause of most of the large fires. Sufficient heat has been generated by ground movement, high rock temperatures, and decomposition to set fire to inflammable materials (tarred ropes, canvas, dry timber, manure, and hay) left in the gobs some years ago. Also, the heat resulting from the oxidation of the fine broken sulfide ore is sometimes sufficient to set fire to the timbers. In 1906, a fire was discovered on the 1100-ft. level of the Minnie Healy mine about 400 ft. (122 m.) west of the Minnie Healy shaft, which presumably originated, in one of the upper levels, from spontaneous combustion. The fire was walled off by concrete bulkheads and a pillar of ground 100 ft. (30 m.) thick was left below and mining resumed underneath. During subsequent operations, this pillar became cracked and broken and the fire passed into the new workings. It travelled downward and spread rapidly until, in 1917, it had become necessary to wall off portions of the Tramway, Leonard, and West Colusa mines on the 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1800, 1900, and 2000-ft. levels, and the top of the 2200-ft. raises were sealed. The fire area now consists roughly of a block 1000 by 1200 ft. and from the 600-ft. to the 2200-ft. level. This block is composed largely of a series of parallel northwest-southeast nearly vertical veins and stringers that form a large orebody, with no well-defined walls but badly fractured and faulted, and known locally as "Horsetail Ore." These veins, or orebodies, are mined by the square-set or the rill method.

Jan 2, 1922

By Upfold RW, Velzeboer MD

An underground mine fire will influence the ventilation equilibrium in several ways which results in a redistribution of the ventilating quantities and pressures throughout the whole mine. The ventilation carries the combustion products which constitute the greatest danger of mine fires through the mine and provides the oxygen on which the intensity of the fire depends. However, as a result of the ventilat- ion disturbances created by the fire, changes in airflow patterns can take place which are not always obvious, especially when the mine is being served by several fans. The use of com- puter simulation techniques allow for the likely effects to be tested and the different ventilation options to be evaluated as an integral part of the overall emergency/rescue planning and control procedures.

Jan 1, 1981

By Douglas Bunting

IN THE anthracite fields of Pennsylvania, mine fires occur with more or less regularity and their existence is an ever-present hazard in coal mining. In all probability 90 per cent. of the mine fires can be ascribed directly or indirectly to the ordinary miner's open lamp. Other causes may be smoking, electrical installations, gas explosions, gas feeders, and the communication of fire to the outcrops from ash dumps, culm banks, timber and brush fires. Fires in pump rooms, engine rooms, and barns have been largely eliminated as a result of the Act of .Assembly, approved June 15, 1911, which provides that all inside buildings, including engine rooms, pump rooms, barns etc. shall be constructed of incombustible materials. Smoking of pipes, cigars, and cigarettes should be prohibited in the mines and too much care cannot be exercised in preventing fires by enforcing all rules designed for that purpose. Mine fires that involve underground fighting are invariably dangerous, and all fires, irrespective of the method pursued in extinguishing them, involve property loss and expense. Each fire generally presents a more or less original problem, dependent on the particular conditions. Generally mine fires may be divided into two classes: Those occurring in inaccessible workings and those occurring in accessible workings. The methods pursued in extinguishing or controlling mine fires are as follows: (1) direct attack, (2) smothering by sealing, (3) flushing with silt or other solids, (4) flooding with water, (5) cutting off, (6) surrounding with incombustible materials, (7) digging out by stripping from the surface. Most fires are extinguished in their incipiency by direct attack and failure to extinguish by this method is due to late discovery, lack of water, and facilities for fighting, or improper procedure in the initial attack. Should the method first pursued be unsuccessful, careful consideration should be given in determining next the method to be adopted; then the work should be carried on as rapidly as possible and under the supervision f the most competent persons. Materials and supplies should be fur-

Jan 9, 1921

By Alex C. Smith, Thomas P. Mucho, John B. Walsh, Alden Ozment, Michael R. Thibou, Michael A. Trevits

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), with US Foam Technologies, Inc. and On Site Gas Systems, Inc., conducted research on the remote application of extinguishing agents with the intent of improving deployment strategies to limit miner exposure and to help ensure the best possible outcome during a mine fire. Full-scale in-mine were conducted at the NIOSH Lake Lynn Experimental Mine to determine the flow characteristics, stability and fire-suppression capability of gas-enhanced foam. The in-mine experimental work was designed to evaluate movement of gas-enhanced foam through mine workings closely simulating an underground coal mine environment and how long gas-enhanced foam would remain stable. This paper presents results of the experiments and provides valuable insight into mine fire deployment strategies for gas-enhanced foam technology.

By John McEwen, Ian R. Jonasson, David H. Watkinson

"Mine Gallen is a zinc-rich pyritic volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit that occurs in a fault-bounded block of intermediate volcanic rocks. The block is completely surrounded at the present erosion level by the eastern part of the Lac Dufault granodiorite. The volcanic succession includes a massive feldspar porphyry that is probably a subvolcanic intrusion, an andesitic flow unit and lapilli tuffs. The latter are variably sericitized and pyritic, especially in the vicinity of the massive sulphide into which they grade.The ore body is predominantly pyritewith local sphalerite contents as high as 20%; minor chalcopyrite and trace galena are disseminated, but are found mainly along late cleavage. Most ore is a breccia of massive to banded pyrite-sphalerite, veined by massive and complexly banded sulphides. These structures formed by repeated blocky jointing, cracking, sealing, healing and annealing as hydrothermal fluid repeatedly passed through a developing sulphide mound. The deposit is interpreted to have grown on the seafloor in a manner similar to active mounds in the Galapagos rift.RESUME La Mine Gallen exploite un gisement de sulfures massifs volcan géniques comprenant essentiellement de la pyrite riche en zinc. Ce gisement se trouve a /'intérieur d’un bloc de roches volcaniques de caractère dacitique a andésitique, limite par failles et entoure de tout cote par la granodiorite du Lac Dufault. La séquence volcanique comprend des coulées andésitiques et des tufs à lapilli ainsi qu'un porphyre feldspathique massif sub-volcanique. Les tufs sont sericitises et pyritises, tout particulièrement au voisinage des sulfures massifs."

Jan 1, 1990

By Gordon Thompson

"Development of the unique Mine Games exhibition at Science World British Columbia is the largest ever collaboration of many interests to present the story of mining and the issues of mineral development delivered to the public by a science education centre.IntroductionMineral education programs have long been a major focus of the British Columbia mining community. Mine Games and its tremendous potential to enhance industries image and the public's awareness of mining is unequalled in the field of Issue Based Education Exhibits.The main goal of the exhibition is to look at the future of resource industries in a rapidly changing world of economic activities, new technologies, and growing public concern for the environment. Three challenges were the aim of the exhibition: to increase participation, to serve as a tool to increase interest in science and technology, and to draw an increasing number of school students to the interests of geology and the earth sciences. Mine Games is to serve as a meeting place for discussion of issues and where reliable information can be shared and new ideas explored.The exhibition is designed to develop new approaches to hands on learning that encourages visitors to explore and generate discussion and thinking with respect to resource development activities.The role of author, beginning in 1993, was, with senior industry leaders, to coordinate the raising of $1.3 million to complete the funding of the $1.6 million project total. The second and most interesting challenge was to work with the many minds that were collaborating to create the exhibition and to assure that the facts and science were correct. This involved the coordination of ""expert groups"" that verified the science and technology and the issues that the creative design team at Science World planned to use in development of each exhibit module."

Jan 1, 1995

By K. C. Garner

The visit reported was made with support from the 1997 J.C. Boyle travelling scholarship. The management and control of hazardous gases released into the underground environment are an integral part of coal mining. The power-generations stations at Appin and Tower collieries, with a combined electrical output of 94 MW, have been operating for some time and have demonstrated a technology that is able to exploit the available gas fully. Contributory factors have been the development and introduction of directional drilling techniques, pre- and post-drainage of coal, relatively high seam permeability, a high gas content of the worked seam, high production rates and a willingness to embrace new ideas and technology

Jun 21, 1905

By Jed H. Mosgrave

One of the most interesting of all the subjects required of persons studying the different facets of coal mining is coal mine gases. Some mine gases have been a real problem since the very beginning of underground mining and in the early days there was insufficient knowledge to really cope with them. The history of mining shows that until the last 50 years, work was done primarily by the hand methods which are primitive by today's standards. Miners had to contend with gases without the aid of enclosed lighting, permissible mine machinery, sophisticated testing devices, and high pressure ventilating fans. In early days the miners were not educated as to the different mine gases nor did they have the technical equipment to determine the actual composition of the deadly atmospheres they encountered. They simply applied a descriptive term to each gas or mixture of gases depending on its effect on a person or the surrounding atmosphere. The gases or mixtures of gases were then referred to as "damps" which was probably derived from the German word "dampf," meaning vapors or gases. The more common damps encountered were as follows: Blackdamp A condition of the atmosphere where a miner's light would be extinguished and in which breathing would be difficult, sometimes even resulting in suffocation. An atmosphere deficient in oxygen and which could contain a combination of any of the mine gases. Firedamp Flammable mixtures of methane and air which would either burn or explode when ignited. White Damp A mixture of gases containing carbon monoxide.

Jan 1, 1973

By Jed H. Mosgrove

One of the most interesting of all the subjects required of persons studying the different facets of coal mining is coal mine gases. Some mine gases have been a real problem since the very beginning of underground mining, and in the early days there was insufficient knowledge to cope with them. The history of mining shows that until about the last 50 years, much work was done primarily by the hand methods which are primitive by today's standards. Miners had to contend with gases without the aid of enclosed lighting, permissible mine machinery, sophisticated testing devices, and high-pressure ventilating fans. In early days the miners were not educated about the different mine gases nor did they have the technical equipment to determine the actual composition of the deadly atmospheres they encountered. They simply applied a descriptive term to each gas or mixture of gases depending on its effect on a person or the surrounding atmosphere. The gases or mixtures of gases were then referred to as "damps," a term which was probably derived from the German word "dampf," meaning vapors or gases. The more common damps encountered were : Blackdamp A condition of the atmosphere in which a miner's light would be extinguished and in which breathing would be difficult, sometimes even resulting in suffocation. An atmosphere deficient in oxygen which could contain a combination of any of the mine gases. Firedamp A flammable mixture of methane and air which would either burn or explode when ignited. White Damp A mixture of gases containing carbon monoxide, most often found in mines during fires or after explosions.

Jan 1, 1981

By Jed H. Mosgrove

One of the most interesting of all the subjects required of persons studying the different facets of coal mining is coal mine gases. Some mine gases have been a real problem since the very beginning of underground mining, and in the early days there was insufficient knowledge to cope with them. The history of mining shows that until about the last 50 years, much work was done primarily by the hand methods which are primitive by today's standards. Miners had to contend with gases without the aid of enclosed lighting, permissible mine machinery, sophisticated testing devices, and high-pressure ventilating fans. In early days the miners were not educated about the different mine gases nor did they have the technical equipment to determine the actual composition of the deadly atmospheres they encountered. They simply applied a descriptive term to each gas or mixture of gases depending on its, effect on a person or the surrounding atmosphere. The gases or mixtures of gases were then referred to as "damps," a term which was probably derived from the German word "damps," meaning vapors or gases. The more common damps encountered were : Blackdamp A condition of the atmosphere in which a miner's light would be extinguished and in which breathing would be difficult, sometimes even resulting in suffocation. An atmosphere deficient in oxygen which could contain a combination of any of the mine gases. Firedamp A flammable mixture of methane and air which would either burn or explode when ignited. White Damp A mixture of gases containing carbon monoxide, most often found in mines during fires or after explosions.

Jan 1, 1981

By Jed H. Mosgrove

One of the most interesting of all the subjects required of persons studying the different facets of coal mining is coal mine gases. Some mine gases have been a real problem since the very beginning of underground mining, and in the early days there was insufficient knowledge to cope with them. The history of mining shows that until about the last 50 years, much work was done primarily by the hand methods which are primitive by today's standards. Miners had to contend with gases without the aid of enclosed lighting, permissible mine machinery, sophisticated testing devices, and high-pressure ventilating fans. In early days the miners were not educated about the different mine gases nor did they have the technical equipment to determine the actual composition of the deadly atmospheres they encountered. They simply applied a descriptive term to each gas or mixture of gases depending on its effect on a person or the surrounding atmosphere. The gases or mixtures of gases were then referred to as "damps," a term which was probably derived from the German word "dampf," meaning vapors or gases. The more common damps encountered were : Blackdamp A condition of the atmosphere in which a miner's light would be extinguished and in which breathing would be difficult, sometimes even resulting in suffocation. An atmosphere deficient in oxygen which could contain a combination of any of the mine gases Firedamp A flammable mixture of methane and air which would either burn or explode when ignited. White Damp A mixture of gases containing carbon monoxide, most often found in mines during fires or after explosions.

Jan 1, 1981

By J. J. Forbes

This publication is a revision of the first of a series of four Miners' Circulars originally prepared and issued in 19'29 for use in a course of training designed to prepare mine officials to organize men for rescue and recovery operations. These circulars were revised in 1937 and 1938 and again in 1948. This circular (Miners' Circular 33) discusses mine gases and methods for detecting them. The second of this series (Miners' Circular 34) gives instruction in Bureau of Mines methods of sampling and analysis of mine gases; the third (Miners' Circular 35) describes methods and equipment used for protection against mine gases; and the fourth (Miners' Circular 36) explains procedures used in sealing and unsealing mine fires and in recovery operations after mine fires or mine explosions.

Jan 1, 1954