Let us see some Mining Terms and Methodologies

·        Basically Coal has been classified in four types:

n Lignite (lowest rank coal)          –  25-35% carbon (high moisture + lowest heat value)

n Semi-bituminous                         -- 35-45% carbon

n Bituminous                                   -- 45-86% carbon

n Anthracite (highest rank coal)   -- 86-97% carbon

·        The most dangerous form of mining is Retreat Mining, also called Depillaring conducted in Board & Pillar method of mining.

·        Most Mine accidents in UG occurs due to Roof/Side fall and that in Open Cast due to dumper, haulage accidents etc.

·        Fool’s Gold – Iron Sulphide is called the Fool’s Gold when comes in contact with air and water in a coal seam forms Sulphuric Acid and drains through the mine. The process is termed as Acid Mine Drainage(AMD).

·        Mining Terminologies:

n  MECL – Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited

n  MGR System – Merry-go-Round System of coal transportation

n  ARD – Acid Rock Drainage

n  ETMS – Environmental Tele Monitoring System

n  PSLW – Power Support Long Wall method of mining\

n  AMM – Abandoned Mine Methane

n  CMM – Coal Mine Methane

n  CBM – Coal Bed Methane

n  RMR – Rock Mass Rating

n  TDS – Truck Despatch System

n  GPS – Global Positioning System

n  RFID – Radio Frequency Identification

n  ECBM – Enhanced Coal Bed Methane

n  SED – Stowing Excise Duty

n  MAMC – Mining and Allied Machineries Corporation

n  SLC(LT) – Standing Linkage Committee (Long Term)

n  ICRIS – Integrated Coal Resource Information System

n  ILRIS – Integrated Lignite Resource Information System

n  CIMFR – Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research

n  FSA – Fuel Supply Agreement

n  LOA -- Letter of Assurance

n  NCCC – National Coal Consumer Council

n  RCCC – Regional Coal Consumer Council

n  RCF – Ranigunj Coal Field

n  EAP – Emergency Action Plan

n  ANFO – Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil

n  NONEL – Non-electric Detonator

n  SMS – Site Mixed Slurry Explosive

n  RDX – Research and Development Explosive

n  MART – Multi Access Radio Telephone

n  NCSM – National Council for Safety in Mines

n  SSR – Systematic Support Rule

n  LOX – Liquid Oxygen Explosive

n  LTC – Low Temperature Carbonization

n  SPM – Suspended Particulate Material (if the coal dust is >10 micron)

n  RPM – Respirable Particulate Material (if the coal dust <10 micron)

n  DRCR – Double Roll Crusher Room

n  RBCR – Rotary Breaker Crusher Room

·        Safety Gadgets used in Mining

n  Davy Lamp – To detect flammable gases in UG mines

n  Gas Detectors – To detect combustible, flammable, toxic and oxygen depletion

in UG mines

n  Oxymeters – Used to maintain the level of oxygen in the body

n  Resuscitators – A devise using positive pressure to inflate the lungs of an unconscious person who is unable to breath in order to keep him oxygenated and alive.

n  Multi-Gas-Detector – To detect CO2, CO, O2, H2S and hazardous combustible gases in the mine

n  Safety Goggles

n  Dust Respirator

n  Stemming Plug

n  Noise Level Meter

n  Explosimeter – An instrument to measure the concentration of flammable gas in an UG mine

n  Chemical Oxygen Self Rescuer – Supplies Oxygen to the wearer on his demand. Can be carried on belt or shoulder.

n  Flame Safety Lamp

·        Air borne hazards are called Damps in Mining fields. Some of the hazardous Gases are

n  Choke Damp or Black Damp – CO2 + N2 (causes suffocation)

n  White Damp – CO

n  After Damp – CO2 + N2 + CO  (forms after mine explosion)

n  Sting Damp – H2S (Hydrogen Sulphide) can cause explosion

n  Mine Damp or Fire Damp – Methane CH4 (Highly Flammable)

·        Gassy Seam:

n  First Degree Gassy Seam – Where rate of emission of inflammable gas is <1 cum/Tonne of coal

n  Second Degree Gassy Seam – where rate of emission is >1 cum but < 10 cum/tonne of coal

n  Third Degree Gassy Seam – where rate of emission > 10 cum/tonne of coal

More to come...........keep learning....time is closing