From Deseret News archives:
Safety expert: Collapses at Utah mine can be traced to overall mining plan
Mining bumps are pressure-shifting seismic events than can cause the walls, pillars, ceiling and even the floor of a mine to literally explode and disintegrate. They can cause deaths and injuries, and can result in cave-ins. Bumps accounted for 23 mining fatalities in Utah between 1894 and 1978, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
These so-called bumps are not uncommon in mining. But they can be reduced with safe mining practices, said Robert Ferriter, director of the Mine Safety and Health Program at the Colorado School of Mines. And while an investigation ultimately will determine the cause, Ferriter told the Deseret Morning News on Friday he feels certain the bumps were caused by mining activity.
"In my opinion, based on the evidence and the way it's described, I think it definitely was a mining-induced bump," he said of the initial Aug. 6 collapse.
"I think it goes back to the mining plan. How much ground are you going to take out? How much coal are you going to leave to stabilize? What size are the pillars? Again, it's a design-type thing. You want to minimize those bumps as much as possible."
"Earthquakes happen naturally. Bumps are a coal-mining phenomenon," Ferriter said, adding that bumps are more severe in Utah mining because thick (as much as 300 feet), heavy beds of sandstone often exist above mining operations, placing a great deal of stress on the man-made caves beneath them.
"The other thing that happens there is when you load it up, you are pushing the pillars into the floor, also," he said. "When the stress is overburdening, it pushes it (the pillar) into the floor," which can cause the floor of the mine itself to explode.
Ferriter said it is his understanding that around the time of the Aug. 6 collapse, miners had been extracting coal from the pillars themselves.
Recent comments
I think if they cant get the men thats trapped in the mine out dead...
reddog | Aug. 21, 2007 at 1:25 p.m.
No means of communication..!!
That has turned this tragedy into a...
A Fault Finder | Aug. 18, 2007 at 9:03 p.m.
UNO. YOU ARE CORRECT. TAKE IF FROM A 36 YR VET. OF THE AUTO...
silversmith1947 | Aug. 18, 2007 at 8:07 p.m.
- Senators target insurance exec pay 10:05 a.m.
- Researcher braves wilds for award 9:41 a.m.
- Elk herd troubles Idaho town 9:32 a.m.
- U.S. aims to win new fans at WCup 9:22 a.m.
- Opposition to wild horse plan 9:10 a.m.
- Climate drama climax looks elusive 8:46 a.m.
- Russian nightclub fire kills 109 8:38 a.m.
- Texas-Neb. will impact other games 8:35 a.m.
- Day 2 of U.S.-Afghan offensive 8:34 a.m.
- Gunmen kill 3 peacekeepers in Darfur 8:29 a.m.
- Ed Smart 'appalled' at testimony
- Mr. Football 2009: Tuni Kanuch
- 5A high school football All-State
- Y. profs: Beck not all-knowing
- George lost in rivalry hatefest
- 4A high school football: All-State
- Utah Jazz going green with unis
- Miller predicted Tiger's rough road
- Nutty Putty Cave to be sealed today
- MVPs wrap up stellar prep careers
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
410 - Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
294 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
247 - Letters: Liberal because LDS
238 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
189 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
185 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
179 - Max Hall: a fixture in rivalry lore
118 - N.Y. Senate rejects gay marriage
118 - Unbeaten BYU takes trip to Logan
104
Trolley Square's annual Holiday Open House will feature visits with...
That does it — I'm having an affair! Thanks to Tiger Woods, David...
First, a big thank you to all who posted questions here for me to ask...
There definitely is much available about the church on Youtube. I have been...
Congratulations to BYU. I will readily admit that BYU had the better team...
I think you would find that all the US Senate candidates are backing...
I totally agree with ITS ONLY ENTERTAINMENT. Beck is an entertainer. He...
"George lost in rivalry hatefest" only in the minds of those who are not fans.
Why doesn't the article address the profs views on the principles discussed...
I have never played a football game or used my body in such an execution, but...
I've never been to college and I could have told you Glenn Beck doesn't speak...
Where are you today? I can't see one post with all of your logic and...
BYU does indeed have a national championship. And how nice that they get...


