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Kentucky Mining Institute Publications

COAL MINING REFERENCE BOOK
Fifth Edition, Revised
Kentucky Mining Institute 1997

This Revised Fifth Edition of the Coal Mining Reference Book is intended to fill the need for a simple, easily understood text of mining terms and problems that also addresses the importance of the safety and health of mine workers. It should not be considered a textbook, but rather a reference manual from which those desiring to improve their knowledge of mining may obtain valuable information. Students will find it especially helpful in preparing for examinations for fire boss, mine foreman, and mine inspector. The material presented is mostly in question-and-answer format and is in simple terms and language. For those seeking knowledge of mining beyond the scope of this book, there are numerous textbooks, vocational training, and correspondence courses available. In revising this book, every effort was made to update the information to reflect current mining practices. As changes in mining technology occur, the book will be revised periodically to provide the most recent information available.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Kentucky Mining Institute is grateful to the late Jed Mosgrove who, with Cloyd McDowell, authored the first Coal Mining Reference Book in 1948 and edited the subsequent editions.

Special appreciation is given to the following groups and individuals who made significant contributions to the revisions in this edition:

For updating, revising and editing:

Kentucky Department of Mines and Minerals -- Commissioner John L. Franklin and staff, with special thanks to Elaine B. Kincaid, Principal Assistant and William B. Morgan, Chief Examiner.

Johnson & Moore Consulting, Inc. -- Samuel S. Johnson

Katen and Associates, Inc. -- Kenneth P. Katen

Mining Consulting Services, Inc. -- J. Steven Gardner

For their contributions to the chapter on a mine foreman's liabilities:

Wyatt Tarrant and Combs-- Marco M. Rajkovich, Jr. and Joseph J. Zaluski

For critical review of the text:

David Blankenship-- TECO Coal Corporation
Patrick Graham-- James River Coal Service Company
Elmer Howard-- Martin County Coal Corporation
Joe Jacobs-- Kentucky May Coal Company
Ben Spears-- MAPCO Coal Corporation

For editing and layout work:

Katen and Associates, Inc. -- Ellyn C. Katen

For coordinating the efforts of each group and contributing to the chapter on governmental agencies:

Kentucky Coal Association -- William K. Caylor

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part I: General Principles and Safety Provisions

Chapter 1: Characteristics of Coal		1
	Coal Origin and Properties Coal Rank	1 3
Chapter 2: Types of Mining		5
	Underground Mining Surface Mining	5 7
Chapter 3: Governmental Agencies		9
	Laws and Regulations Licenses and Permits Information and Services	9 9 11
Chapter 4: A Foreman's Liabilities		13
	Health and Safety Liability Environmental Liability	13 14
Chapter 5: Mine Gases and Dusts		16
	Properties of Gases Air Oxygen Methane Carbon Dioxide Carbon Monoxide Nitrogen Hydrogen Sulfide Nitrogen Dioxide Sulphur Dioxide Hydrogen Water Vapor Diesel Exhaust Gas Detection Practice Problems	16 16 20 21 25 26 28 28 29 29 30 31 31 32 39
Chapter 6: Fundamentals of Electricity		41
	General Electrical Conductors Grounding Permissibility	41 47 49 51
Chapter 7: Surveying and Mapping		53
	Surveying Principles Keeping on Centers Turning a Place Without a Transit Sighting in Centers Surface Mining	53 55 56 57 59
Chapter 8: First Aid		60
	Human Anatomy Injury Assessment and Self-Protection Respiration Patient Assessment and Treatment Artificial Respiration Foreign Body Airway Obstruction (FBAO) Control of Bleeding Nervous System Physical Shock Wounds Burns Closed Wounds Dislocations and Fractures Transportation of the Injured	60 63 65 66 68 71 72 75 75 77 81 82 84 87
Chapter 9: General Safety Provisions		90
	General Self-Rescue Devices Filter-Type Self-Rescue Devices Self-Contained Self-Rescuers Dust Respirators Other Personal Protective Equipment Guarding Working on Platforms, Ladders, or Scaffolds	90 91 91 92 93 93 95 97
Chapter 10: Mine Emergencies		99
	Accidents, Investigations, and Reporting Explosions Fires Fire Prevention Fire-Fighting Equipment Fighting and Sealing Mine Fires Unsealing Mine Fires Recovery Operations Following Explosions and Fires Barricading Coal Dust Mine Rescue Apparatus Environmental	99 100 103 103 104 107 110 112 115 117 119 121

Part II: Underground Mines

Chapter 11: Underground Mine Planning and Methods of Mining		122

Chapter 12: Ground Control		126
	General Examination and Testing of Roof and Coal Roof Support	126 130 131
Chapter 13: Ventilation		138
	General Fans Barometer Water Gage Stoppings/Seals Overcasts Regulators Doors Check Curtains Line Brattices Auxiliary Fans Belt Conveyor Entry Ventilation Anemometer Terms Formulas Examples Practice Problems	138 143 145 148 149 150 151 152 154 154 155 156 156 158 160 160 161
Chapter 14: Electricity and Maintenance in Underground Mines		163
	Electrical Safety Conductors Grounding Trolley Circuits Permissibility	163 165 166 167 168
Chapter 15: Mine Hoisting, Transportation, and Haulage		170
	Hoisting Belt Haulage Track Haulage General Clearance and Shelter Holes Locomotive and Trips Mantrips Track Problems Rubber-Tired Haulage Equipment	170 174 176 176 177 178 181 182 184
Chapter 16: Explosives and Blasting in Underground Mines		185
	Permissible Explosives Transportation of Explosives Storage of Explosives Firing Devices Preparation and Use of Explosives	185 186 187 189 192
Chapter 17: Mine Drainage and Pumping		198

Part III: Surface Mines and Surface Areas of Underground Mines

Chapter 18: Surface Mine Planning and Methods of Mining		202

Chapter 19: Ground Control		204
	Surface Mines Augering Operations	204 208
Chapter 20: Explosives and Blasting		210
	Licenses and Permits General Safety Storage Transportation Use	210 211 212 212 213
Chapter 21: Loading, Hauling, and Dumping		218
	General Loading Hauling Dumping Maintenance	218 220 221 222 222
Chapter 22: Electricity and Maintenance		224

Chapter 23: Preparation Plants and Load-outs		226

Definitions	233
Selected Resources	257
Editorial Review Committee	259

EDITORIAL REVIEW COMMITTEE

	John L. Franklin is the Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Mines and Minerals. Commissioner Franklin has over 23 years of experience in the mining industry. His career began at South Hopkins Coal Company and continued as he worked for several coal companies as a miner, section foreman, mine foreman and superintendent. Commissioner Franklin joined the Kentucky Department of Mines and Minerals in 1987 as a mine safety analyst, later serving as a mine safety instructor and inspector. In June 1992 he was appointed as Director of the Mine Safety Analysis Division, where he served until May 1995 when he was appointed Commissioner of the Department.
	J. Steven Gardner, P.E., L.S., is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with an M.S. degree in Mining Engineering and B.S. in Agricultural Engineering. He began his career with Beth-Elkhorn Corp. in 1975. Subsequently, he held positions with consulting firms and mining operations, including production, design and management. He served on the Tennessee DOL's Volunteer Mine Rescue Squad in 1980 and 1981. In 1983 he formed Tri-State Engineering, Inc., which later merged with MINING CONSULTING SERVICES, INC., a Lexington, Kentucky firm, where he serves as President.
	Samuel S. Johnson, MBA, P.E., is President of the Lexington, KY based JOHNSON & MOORE CONSULTING, INC. JMC's practice includes engineering, safety, and management services. Mr. Johnson holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering, Mining Option, from the Univ. of Kentucky and an MBA from Xavier Univ. He served as Deputy Commissioner of the KY Dept. Mines & Minerals, was a member of its mine rescue team and the Governor's Deep Mining Safety Comm. After concluding as V.P. of Transco Coal Co., he began his practice as a professional engineer, energy consultant, and safety expert in 1989. He is certified as a mine foreman in KY, TN., and VA.
	Kenneth P. Katen, P.E., a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for MSHA, is president of KATEN and ASSOCIATES, Inc., a Lexington, Kentucky firm that provides international management, engineering, and safety services. Since he began his career in 1972, he has worked in various positions involving engineering, production, and management at mining firms with operations throughout the U.S. Mr. Katen holds a B.S. in Mineral Processing and an M.S. in Mining Engineering from Penn State, is a registered professional engineer, a certified mine foreman, and certified MSHA electrical instructor.

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