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firedamp
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firedamp

gas
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Quick Summary

Firedamp is a dangerous gas found naturally in coal seams. It is primarily methane (CH4) and is highly flammable and explosive when mixed with air in concentrations of 5% to 14%. This gas has been responsible for numerous mining disasters, such as the Monongah mining disaster of 1907, where a spark may have ignited methane and coal dust, causing a massive explosion that killed over 350 miners. Other harmful gases encountered in mining operations include white damp (carbon monoxide), black damp (excess carbon dioxide and nitrogen), and stinkdamp (hydrogen sulfide).123

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3 Britannica Sources
  1. mine gas
  2. firedamp
  3. Monongah mining disaster of 1907

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