Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
3000
2000
Total fatalities
1000
Fatalities due
to explosions
0
1900
1920
1940
1960
1980
Year
Figure 16.1.1. The number of total underground fatalities and fatalities due to ignition and explosions in US coal
mines between 1910 and 1980. From Deul and Kim 1988, p. 3.
reclamation problems which OSM funded through state Mineral Institutes, through contracts or through coopera-
tive projects with other state and federal agencies.
Although fire-control projects were transferred to OSM, the Bureau of Mines continued fire-control research.
Several field projects were executed under interagency agreements with OSM or as contracts with state environ-
mental agencies. The OSM research program was transferred to the Bureau in 1987. Under this program, the
Bureau evaluated proposals and monitored research contracts in addition to performing in-house work. The Bureau
also had a long-standing research program on the control of fires and explosions in active mines. Both the AML
work and the in-house program for active mines ended when the Bureau of Mines was closed.
The following sections briefly describe the Bureau
s fire-control research and field work performed over a period
of more than 60 years. For the most part, the descriptions of the work are taken from the original peer reviewed
reports published by the Bureau between 1930 and 1995. Over that period of time, the usual units of measurement
changed from the English customary units to the metric system. To avoid confusion, the units given are those in the
original publication. Conversion factors are given in Table 16.1.1.
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