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What triggered the explosion in the Upper Big Branch mine?

What triggered the explosion in the Upper Big Branch mine?

As we’ve reported before, Upper Big Branch is an especially gassy mine and methane seeps in from the coal seam, the mined out area behind it and cracks in the mine floor. That led to excessive sparking, investigators said, as the cutting tool, which is called a shearer, cut into a sandstone layer in the coal.

What caused the coal mine to collapse?

The fatal explosion of the underground coal mine was caused by a mixture of gas and coal dust. Gas exploded in one of the shafts on April 26, 1942, and sent flames bursting out of the entrance. The ventilation system was shut off and the pit head was sealed by the mine operator to deprive the underground of oxygen.

What happened Massey Energy?

It employed approximately 5,850 people and operated 35 underground mines and 12 surface mines. Massey Energy owned and operated Upper Big Branch Mine where 29 miners were killed in April 2010….Massey Energy.

Type Public
Fate Acquired by Alpha Natural Resources
Headquarters Richmond, VA

Who bought Massey Energy?

Alpha Natural Resources
NEW YORK/CHICAGO (Reuters) – Alpha Natural Resources said on Saturday it agreed to a $7.1 billion deal to buy Massey Energy Co, which was rocked by a deadly coal mining accident last year.

Who died in Upper Big Branch Mine?

Monday marks 11 years since the Upper Big Branch coal mine disaster in Raleigh County, West Virginia, where 29 miners were killed on April 5, 2010. Federal mine safety investigators determined that a buildup of methane gas and coal dust led to the explosion at the Massey Energy-owned mine.

How many people died in the Upper Big Branch Mine?

Twenty-nine men lost their lives in the worst coal mining disaster in the nation in 40 years. Twenty-nine families are still left today to honor their memories.

What was the worst coal mine disaster?

April 26, 1942: Benxihu Colliery disaster in Benxi, Liaoning, China. 1,549 workers died, in the worst coal mine accident ever in the world. At the time, during World War II, this area was occupied by Japan and the mine was under control of Japanese managers.

What dangers did coal miners face?

Miners are regularly exposed to harmful contaminants in the air such as silica dust and other mineral dust. This puts them at a greater risk of developing respiratory illnesses such as pneumoconiosis, aka the black lung and silicosis over a long period of time.

How long was Blankenship in jail?

On December 3, 2015, Blankenship was found guilty of one misdemeanor charge of conspiring to willfully violate mine safety and health standards in relation to the Upper Big Branch Mine explosion, and was sentenced to one year in prison.

Is Upper Big Branch mine still open?

The Upper Big Branch Mine was permanently closed in 2012, two years after a fatal explosion killed 29 miners there in April 2010. Alpha Natural Resources bought the mine from Massey Energy after the explosion.

Is Massey Ferguson still in business?

Today. Massey Ferguson currently produces 8600 series (limited markets), 5400 (limited markets), 5700s, 6700s, 7700s, and 8700s series tractors.

Is Upper Big Branch Mine still open?