Methane found in coal mines. A mixture of methane and air is inflammable or explosive in certain proportions, and has been the cause of many pit disasters. The reduction of the hazard is a major consideration in coal mine operation. One of the best methods of firedamp detection remains the Davy safety lamp.
Firedamp (or whitedamp) is a flammable gas found in coal mines.
Firedamp is explosive at concentrations between 4% and 16%, with most violence at around 10%, and caused much loss of life in coal mines before the invention of the Davy lamp. Even after the safety lamps were brought into common use, firedamp explosions could still occur from sparks produced when coal contaminated with pyrites was struck with metal tools.
The Tyneside coal mines in England had the deadly combination of bituminous coal contaminated with pyrites, and a great number of lives were lost in accidents due to firedamp explosions, including 102 dead at Wallsend in 1835 and 164 killed at Seaham in 1880.
Damps
Gases (other than air) in coal mines in England were collectively known as "damps".
Other damps included chokedamp (carbon dioxide) and the insidiously lethal afterdamp (or blackdamp, a mixture of carbon monoxide and other gases) – produced following explosions of firedamp or coal dust.
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