firedamp
Sign in to saveAlso known as mine gas, coal mine gas, fire damp
Firedamp is any flammable gas found in coal mines, typically coalbed methane. It is particularly found in areas where the coal is bituminous. The gas accumulates in pockets in the coal and adjacent strata and, when they are penetrated, the release of the gas can cause explosions. Historically, if such a pocket was highly pressurized, it was termed a "bag of foulness".
~7 min read
Article
5 sectionsContents
- Name
- Etymology
- Contribution to mine deaths
- See also
- References
Firedamp is any flammable gas found in coal mines, typically coalbed methane. It is particularly found in areas where the coal is bituminous. The gas accumulates in pockets in the coal and adjacent strata and, when they are penetrated, the release of the gas can cause explosions. Historically, if such a pocket was highly pressurized, it was termed a "bag of foulness".
== Name == Damp is the collective name given to all gases (other than air) found in coal mines in Great Britain and North America.