Exploration of Petrographic, Elemental, and Material Properties of Dynamic Failure-Prone Coals

Details

• Personal Author:
  Lawson H
• Description:
  The purpose of this study is to explore how the geochemical and petrographic components of coal may impact its physical properties, as well as how these components correlate with a history of reportable dynamic failure in coal mines. Dynamic failure events, also termed bumps, bounces, or bursts, are the explosive failures of rock in a mining environment. These events occur suddenly and often with no warning, resulting in worker injury up to and including fatality in greater than 60% of MSHA reportable cases. A database of variables was compiled using publicly available datasets, which included compositional geographic, strength, and Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI) data (ACARP, 1998). Results indicate that bumping coals are less mature, lower in carbon, higher in oxygen, softer, and less well cleated than coals that do not bump. High liptinite content was found to correlate with higher average UCS values. However, no clear, direct correlation between UCS and dynamic failure status was observed. The findings of this study establish that differences exist between coals that have experienced reportable dynamic failure accidents versus those that have not. These differences are inherent to the coal itself, independent of mining-induced risk factors. Results further illuminate how compositional attributes of coal influence physical properties and begin to clarify potential links between geochemistry and dynamic failure status. Only through the better understanding of risk can more effective mitigating strategies be enacted. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Chemistry Coal Coal Mining Mining Occupational Health Oxygen Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety
• Keywords:
  Carbon Chemical Composition Coal Mining Explosive Hazards Failure Analysis Fracturing Geochemistry Geologic Characterization Injuries Mineral Deposits Physical Properties Risk Factors Rock Bursts Rock Mechanics Structural Failure Underground Mines

  More +
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISBN:
  9780873354721
• Publisher:
  Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, Inc., (SME)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 8 ; Washington ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  SMRD - Spokane Mining Research Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  152-161
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20060036
• Citation:
  Proceedings of the 38th International Conference on Ground Control in Mining (ICGCM 2019), July 23-25, 2019, Morgantown, West Virginia. Klemetti T, Mishra B, Lawson H, Murphy M, Perry K, eds. Englewood, CO: Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, Inc., (SME), 2019 Jul; :152-161
• Contact Point Address:
  H. Lawson, CDC, NIOSH Spokane Mining Research Division (SMRD), United States
• CAS Registry Number:
  Carbon (CAS RN 7440-44-0) ; Oxygen (CAS RN 7782-44-7)
• Editor(s):
  Klemetti T; Mishra B; Lawson H; Murphy M; Perry K
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Proceedings of the 38th International Conference on Ground Control in Mining (ICGCM 2019), July 23-25, 2019, Morgantown, West Virginia
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:1bb82d0f24540030db0f6b8d6707095cd58c9fc2af70a5fef2ca952053f073061679279d00898780519180d1c87c338f9e76e4dd93af021e424e5d6e976ededb
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/215252/cdc_215252_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.31 MB ]