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A: 0.5545.
A: CH4.
A: Methane may be found anywhere, but is most likely to be encountered in virgin coal, roof
cavities, high places, abandoned workings, and places that are improperly ventilated.
Q: What is a flammable mixture of Methane and air which can either burn or explode when ignited
called?
A: Firedamp
A: 1100° - 1380° F.
Q: What is the least percentage of Methane that can be detected with a flame safety lamp?
Q: What effect does the presence of Methane have upon the explosibility of coal dust?
A: The coal dust is more easily ignited and the force of the explosion is greater.
Q: What effect does coal dust in the air have upon the explosibility of Methane?
A: Methane.
A: It is lighter than air and will rise and stratify if not properly diffused.
A: Methane.
A: No.
A: Methane is colorless.
Q: Which is the heaviest, one cubic foot of Methane or one cubic foot of air?
A: Methane (CH4).Q: What gas is odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, colorless and explosive in the
concentration of 5%-15%?
A: Methane
A: Along the roof, to the rises, in the vicinity of working faces, in dead ends and above falls.
Q: Why can there be no explosion when the percentage of Methane is greater than fifteen percent
(15%)?
A: Because the amount of Oxygen present is insufficient for rapid combustion to occur.
A: 5% - 15%.
Q: To what extent must the oxygen content be reduced before an explosion of methane and air is
impossible?
A: For a mixture of strictly methane and air, the oxygen content must be 12 percent or less. It is
however, significant to note that there is a combination of combustible gases following explosions and
during fires, so the maximum allowable oxygen will vary according to variations in the combustible and
inert gases.
Q: What is the weight of one cubic foot of Methane at 60 degrees Fahrenheit and 30.00 inches of
mercury pressure?
A: According to database records found on our companion site, usminedisasters.com, External Link
520 of the 864 mine disasters listed have been attributed to EXPLOSION. External Link
Carbon Monoxide
Q: What percent of Carbon Monoxide can cause death in less than one hour?
A: 1100° F.
A: CO.
Q: Workers should not be employed for a period of 8 hours where the Carbon Monoxide content
exceeds what?
A: 50 PPM (0.005%).
A: Carbon monoxide may be found in small quantities after blasting and will be found after an
explosion or in the return from a mine fire and use of diesel equipment underground.
A: A fire.
Q: What percentage of blood saturation by Carbon Monoxide (CO) will cause death?
A: 70% - 80%.
A: 12.5% - 74%.
Q: What percentage of Carbon Monoxide will produce slight symptoms in several hours?
Q: What percentage of Carbon Monoxide will produce discomfort in two or three hours?
Q: What percentage of Carbon Monoxide will produce symptoms of unconsciousness in thirty (30)
minutes?
Q: How much greater affinity does hemoglobin have for Carbon Monoxide than for Oxygen?
A: Carbon Monoxide.
A: It is extremely poisonous.
Q: What is the weight of one cubic foot of Carbon Monoxide at 60 degrees Fahrenheit and 30.00
inches of mercury pressure?
Oxides of Nitrogen
A: NO2.
A: 5 ppm (0.0005%).
A: 1.589.
A: 1.036.
Q: What is the weight of one cubic foot of Nitrogen Peroxide at 60 degrees Fahrenheit and 30.00
inches of mercury pressure?
Hydrogen
A: H2.
Q: Is Hydrogen explosive?
A: Yes.
Q: To what extent must the oxygen content be reduced before an explosion of Hydrogen is
impossible?
A: 5 percent or less.
A: Hydrogen (H2).
A: By chemical analysis.
Q: Is Hydrogen flammable?
A: Yes.
A: No.
A: Very violent explosions are possible when air contains more than 7 to 8 percent Hydrogen.
A: Yes, the presence of small quantities of Hydrogen greatly increases the explosive range of other
gases.
Q: What is the weight of one cubic foot of Hydrogen at 60 degrees Fahrenheit and 30.00 inches of
mercury pressure?
See more Properties and Facts about HydrogenQ: What is considered to be a dangerous mine
atmosphere?
A: 1.000
Q: Name the common gases found in coal mines following a mine fire or explosion?
A: Carbon monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Hydrogen, and other
hydrocarbons.
Q: What is TLV?
A: 100 ppm.
A: Displacement of oxygen by other gases, and consumption by oxidation, including mine fires and
explosions.
Q: To what extent must the oxygen content be reduced before an explosion of methane and air is
impossible?
A: For a mixture of strictly methane and air, the oxygen content must be 12 percent or less. It is
however, significant to note that there is a combination of combustible gases following explosions and
during fires, so the maximum allowable oxygen will vary according to variations in the combustible and
inert gases.
Q: What effect does an atmosphere with a reduced Oxygen content have upon the explosibility of
Methane?A: A greater percentage of Methane is necessary to start an explosion in an atmosphere
which contains less than the normal percentage of Oxygen.
Oxygen
A: 1.105.
A: O2.
A: 20.94% Oxygen.
Q: A sealed area of a coal mine after a period of time will be found to have the absence of what?
A: Oxygen.
A: No.
A: No, Oxygen alone will not burn or explode, it merely supports combustion. However, Oxygen
enriched atmospheres, along with the presence of the ignition of a flammable material will produce
extremely rapid burning and in some cases flash, which perpetuates the myth that Oxygen is flammable
and explosive.
Q: Mine air should not contain less than what percentage of Oxygen?
A: 19.5%.
A: Through breathing, the Oxygen is taken up by the hemoglobin of the blood and carried to all
parts of the body.
Q: What supports the chemical reaction that produces fires and explosions?
A: Oxygen.
A: 20.9%.
Q: What percent Oxygen will a person breathe faster and deeper while at work?
A: 17%.
Q: A flame safety lamp will go out when the Oxygen is below what percentage?
A: 16%.
A: Oxygen.
Nitrogen
A: 0.967.
A: 78.09% Nitrogen.
A: N2.
A: 81%.
Q: What is Nitrogen?
A: It is a tasteless, odorless and colorless gas which will neither support life nor combustion.
Q: Is Nitrogen combustible?
A: No.
A: None.
Q: What effect does Nitrogen have upon life?
A: It has no effect, except when it depletes Oxygen to the extent that there is a deficiency of
Oxygen.
Q: What is the weight of one cubic foot of Nitrogen at 60 degrees Fahrenheit and 30.00 of mercury
pressure?
Diffusion of Gases
Q: Once two or more gases mix uniformly will they separate or come apart.
A: False.
A: The rate of diffusion varies inversely as the square root of specific gravity.
Q: What is stratification?
Q: What type of atmosphere is easy for the detection of a gas, a diffused one or a stratified one?
A: A stratified one.
Carbon Dioxide
A: No.
Q: What is the specific gravity of Carbon Dioxide?
A: 1.529.
A: CO2.
A: Carbon Dioxide is a colorless and odorless gas formed by the chemical combination of Carbon
and Oxygen.
A: By combustion, by breathing of miners and animals, by decay of vegetable and animal matter,
by the oxidation of coal and by chemical action of acid water on carbonates.
A: Carbon Dioxide.
A: Usually by chemical analysis. However, in poorly ventilated areas of a mine, increased CO2
levels will be present when low Oxygen is detected.
A: Carbon Dioxide.
Q: What is the weight of one cubic foot of Carbon Dioxide at 60 degrees Fahrenheit and 30.00
inches mercury pressure?
Sulfur Dioxide
A: 2.263.
A: SO2.
A: Yes.
Q: What is the weight of one cubic foot of Sulfur Dioxide at 60 degree Fahrenheit and 30.00 inches
of mercury pressure?
A: There have been several singular fatalities where sulfur has been mentioned, however,
according to database records found on our companion site, usminedisasters.com, External Link the only
one to mention sulfur is the Otto Red Ash Colliery explosion External Link on October 2, 1871.
Hydrogen Sulfide
A: 1.191.
A: H2S.
A: Hydrogen Sulfide.
A: Hydrogen sulfide may be found in old pipelines, stagnant water, fire areas and occasionally in
active workings, usually associated with broken bottom.
A: 4.3% - 45%.
A: 14.2%
A: Yes.
A: 10 PPM (0.0001%).
Q: Among Methane, Carbon Monoxide, and Hydrogen Sulfide, which one has the lowest ignition
temperature?
Q: What is the weight of one cubic foot of Hydrogen Sulfide at 60 degrees Fahrenheit and 30.00
inches of mercury pressure?
Q: Have there been any mine deaths attributed to Hydrogen Sulfide poisoning?
A: Most definitely, yes. Five incidents that we know of involving H2S poisoning were at the
following:
Mine Damps
Q: What is meant by the term "blackdamp"?
Q: What is the most simple and safe test for the presence of blackdamp?
A: Hydrogen Sulfide.
A: Carbon Monoxide.
Q: What is Firedamp?
A: Firedamp is a mixture of Methane in air that will burn or explode when ignited.
A: 30% - 70%.
Q: What is Afterdamp?
A: Afterdamp is a mixture of Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Oxygen, Nitrogen and
Hydrogen.
Q: Can you provide a list of mine disasters where asphyxiation was the cause of death?
A: According to database records found on our companion site, usminedisasters.com, External Link
thirty-six (36) mine disasters are listed with Asphyxiation External Link as the cause of death.