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Smoke and flames pouring from the Llewellyn shaft of the Consol No. 9 mine on November 20.
Smoke and flames pouring from the Llewellyn shaft of the Consol No. 9 mine on November 20.

The Farmington Mine disaster was an explosion that happened at approximately 5:30 a. m. on November 20, 1968, at the Consol No. Events 284 - Diocletian was chosen as Roman Emperor. 762 - Bögü Khan of the Uyghurs, Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 9 coal mine near Farmington, West Virginia, USA. Mining is the extraction of valuable Minerals or other geological materials from the earth usually (but not always from an Ore body Farmington is a town in Marion County, West Virginia, United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The explosion tore a large hole in the mine, and was large enough to be felt in Fairmont, almost twelve miles away. Fairmont is a city in Marion County, West Virginia, United States. At the time, 99 miners were inside. Over the course of the next few hours, 21 miners were able to escape the mine, but 78 were still trapped. All who were unable to escape perished; the bodies of nineteen of the dead were never recovered. The cause of the explosion was never determined, but the accident served as the catalyst for several new laws that were passed to protect miners.

Contents

Chronology

The overnight shift began around midnight with the typical humor and horseplay among the workers before they went underground.

Three of the miners being rescued via a hoist bucket on November 20.
Three of the miners being rescued via a hoist bucket on November 20.

At 5:30 a. m on November 20, an explosion shook the mine. Events 284 - Diocletian was chosen as Roman Emperor. 762 - Bögü Khan of the Uyghurs, It was so strong that a motel clerk reported feeling vibrations 12 miles away. Miners living in the area heard the noise and, knowing what it meant, headed to the mine, where they discovered a rapidly-spreading fire with flames shooting 150 feet into the air. Within hours, 21 miners made it to the surface but 78 were still trapped underground.

The fires continued to burn for over a week, and on November 29, rescuers finally admitted defeat after air samples from drill holes showed air unable to sustain human life. Events 1777 - San Jose California, is founded as el Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe The mine was sealed on November 30 with concrete to starve the fire of oxygen. Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats

In September 1969, the mine was unsealed in an attempt to recover the miners' bodies. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Progress was slow because workers discovered cave-ins that they had to tunnel around. This recovery effort continued for almost ten years. By April 1978, 59 of the 78 bodies had been recovered. Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Unable to recover the other 19, the mine was permanently sealed.

The actual cause of the blast and fire was never determined. However, several contributing factors were found that may have caused the blast: inadequate ventilation, inadequate control of explosive methane gas and coal dust, and inadequate testing for methane.

Aftermath

The Farmington disaster was a catalyst for the passage of major changes in the U. S. mining safety laws. One month after the Farmington disaster the U.S. Department of the Interior held a conference on mine safety. The United States Department of the Interior ( DOI) is a Cabinet department of the United States government that manages and conserves most federally Stewart Udall's opening speech specifically referenced Farmington and concluded, "let me assure you, the people of this country no longer will accept the disgraceful health and safety record that has characterized this major industry. Stewart Lee Udall (born January 31, 1920) is a former American politician " [1]

As a result of the Farmington disaster, the United States Congress passed the 1969 Coal Mine Safety and Health Act which strengthened safety standards, increased Federal mine inspections, and gave coal miners specific safety and health rights. The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses The Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, United States Public Law 91-173 generally referred to as the Coal Act, created the Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration

Victims

Investigation and recovery operations following the re-opening of the mine shafts.
Investigation and recovery operations following the re-opening of the mine shafts.

References

  1. ^ Lockard, Duane. Coal: A Memoir and Critique. Charlottesville, University Press of Virginia, 1998. p. 71.
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