A view from the drivers seat going into a mine where they use the room & pillar mining technique and another clip showing the longwall mining operation.
My grandfather mined underground for 38 years in Indiana and Illinois. Roof bolter, cutting machine, buggy, dynamite and about 10 years above ground at an underground mine taking care of the topside needs like the bath house, loader...and about everything and anything you can do at a mine. Was shocked by high voltage in the 60's but survived. Used to crawl 100 yards to start up pumps each shift because you couldn't walk to the room they were in any longer. The roof had settled to about 24" height. One particular mine he worked at in the late 50's had a man a week die there. Somehow he managed to survive WWII Japan and underground mining. Fortunately he enjoyed nearly 30 years of a happy retirement before he passed away. He did have black lung...but was denied the benefit due to testimony in court from the mine doctors exams. His doctor said it was obvious. Nonetheless...the mine was his life. He was absolutely at home there and had the closest friends you could possibly imagine there. He made a good living for his family. He took me to the mine he retired from and I got to ride the elevator down to 500' below ground when I was 10. I can say...I would have never been able to be a miner. I wouldn't leave the elevator I was so scared. He wanted to take me a mile back inside on a "tour" on the weekend. But I wouldn't go afterall. Anyhow...God bless our miners and thank them when you see them.
That first piece of equipment cutting and loading the coal was my daily job. Some say there's no coal dust with modern equipment, but that's a fairy tale. Even with all the water sprays , there's lots of dust. Most of us old coal miners have black lung. Thankfully, my lungs are not too bad. The pay is good but it takes a toll on your health and it's a very dangerous profession.
that's rock dust, its made from crushed limestone, its required by law to apply it to the roof and rip in the main haulage routes or track, the belt lines, and the entire working section area, hope that answers your question, I have 9 years experience in underground coal mining, im a 5th generation coal miner. my name is Zach I just realized im on my mothers youtube account...lol
We recommend the book "Modern American Coal Mining: Methods and Applications" by Chris Bise. You can order a copy from the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration at smemi.personifycloud.com/PersonifyEbusiness/Store/ProductDetails.aspx?productId=116958.
What kind of mesh are they using for rib support? If they're using steel I highly suggest switching to corrugated plastic mesh. The corrugation makes it easier to identify loose rocks and since its made out of plastic it is fire resistant and anti static. They're also very light and easy to handle.
No matter how clean they burn it at the surface, underground miners will always be needed; and I saw very few of the workers wearing protective masks. Taxpayers are paying for their shortened expensive lives.
@@johnworkman5121 Not so much any more. That's more and more natural gas and renewables and Georgia is building two 1,117 Mwe nuclear reactors. My state is retiring a 500 Mwe coal-fired power plant and the state south of me is retiring a 1,600 Mwe coal-fired plant. The 2,490 Mwe Bruce Mansfield coal-fired power plant is also retiring. Two units have already been shuttered and the final one is being shut down soon.
If you have 100 million federal income taxpayers, one cent paid by each of these taxpayers equals one million dollars. One dollar each becomes one hundred million dollars in taxes. Figure out your precious taxpayers' cost from that.
