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Circulation of fresh air was critical in coal mining. In spite of passages created to control this, ther were always side rooms through which no circulation could be effected. These areas were where explosive "fire-damp", or light carbide of hydrogen, evolved spontaneously from the coal, and often caused fatal accidents to the miners.

Explosion in a Coal Mine

Circulation of fresh air was critical in coal mining. In spite of passages created to control this,…

A scene in the coal mining region of Pennsylvania.

Coal Mining

A scene in the coal mining region of Pennsylvania.

The goal of coal mining is to economically remove coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s is widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production.

Mining Machine

The goal of coal mining is to economically remove coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy…

Older methods of mining often included the necessity of the miner lying in a rigidly plane position. Old manner of work was done by hand.

Method of Mining

Older methods of mining often included the necessity of the miner lying in a rigidly plane position.…