Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 7
u
u
Environmental and Health Impacts
of Coal Fires
CHAPTER CONTENTS
7.1 Environmental and Health
Impacts of Coal Fires
Introduction
Environmental
Consequences
Health-Related Effects
Discussion
Important Terms
References
WWW Addresses:
Additional Reading
Destruction of floral and faunal habitat along Big Mine Run Road near the town of
Centralia in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Pennsylvania. The Western Middle
Field of anthracite coal has been mined here since the mid-1800s. The Centralia Mine Fire
that deforested this hillside started in May 1962 from trash burnt in an abandoned strip-
mining cut, to reduce the volume of refuse and control rodents in this unregulated dump.
Note the smoke-filled valley in the upper right-hand corner. This area would be too
dangerous to venture into for the purpose of collecting gas and mineral samples. One
could easily get lost, and not make it out alive. A sink hole (photo center), above an
abandoned underground mining tunnel, is coated with sulfur, and a coating of sulfur
covers the dead trees and other vegetation on this hillside. Field of view is about 35m.
Photo by Glenn B. Stracher, 1991.
