What caused the Upper Big Branch mine explosion
Ava Hall
Published Mar 15, 2026
Federal mine safety investigators determined that a buildup of methane gas and coal dust led to the explosion at the Massey Energy-owned mine. It was the worst mine disaster in 40 years. Massey CEO Don Blankenship was convicted in December 2015 of conspiracy to violate mine safety and health standards.
What caused the Scotia mine explosion?
On March 9, 1976, at approximately 11:45 a.m., an explosion caused by coal dust and gasses rocked the Scotia mine. … Investigators believed that the explosions were caused by methane gasses that were ignited by a spark caused by a battery-powered locomotive or another electric device.
What caused the Pike River explosion?
The immediate cause of the tragedy was a large methane explosion. Methane is found naturally in coal. It is released during mining and also accumulates in mined out areas. … Undoubtedly there was a failure to control methane at Pike River on 19 November 2010.
How did the West Virginia coal mining accident happen?
DateJanuary 2, 2006LocationSago, West VirginiaCauseCoal Mine Explosion caused by an alleged lightning strike at or near the mine entranceCasualties12 deadHow did the Brunner mine explode?
The official enquiry determined that the cause was the detonation of a charge in an area of the mine where no one should have been working. However, some experienced miners claimed that firedamp – methane gas produced by coal – had accumulated because of an ineffectual ventilation system.
What caused the Farmington Mine Disaster?
For 40 years, it has been a mystery why 78 men died in a mine explosion in Farmington, W.Va. At the time, federal officials said they didn’t know. But several months after the explosion, a federal investigator discovered one possible explanation — a safety alarm on a ventilation fan had been deliberately disabled.
Who owns Upper Big Branch mine?
The mine was operated by the Performance Coal Company, a subsidiary of Massey Energy. The explosion ignited from an unknown source with high methane levels being a contributing causal factor. Twenty-five men were initially identified as killed. Four days later, four missing men were found dead for a total of 29 deaths.
What happened Pike River mine explosion?
The Pike River mining disaster happened in November 2010 when two blasts ripped through the mine. Only two of the 31 miners on shift were able to escape. None of the miners’ bodies have ever been recovered.Why did the Springhill mining disaster occur?
The 1956 explosion occurred on November 1, 1956, when a mine train hauling a load of fine coal dust up to the surface of the 25-year-old Number 4 colliery to remove it from the pithead encountered a heavy flow of ventilation air being forced down the shaft by surface fans.
How many people died at Pike River?The remains of some of the men killed in the Pike River mine disaster, one of New Zealand’s worst mining disasters, have been found more than a decade after the explosion. The blast in November 2010 killed 29 workers, and many of the families have been fighting to have the remains of their loved ones found ever since.
Article first time published onWhat were the effects of the Pike River mine explosion?
The initial explosion damaged the mine’s gas drainage line, causing methane gas to begin accumulating in the mine immediately. As there may have been a potential ignition source, it was too dangerous for rescuers to enter the mine.
When did Brunner Mine close?
LocationProductsCoalHistoryOpened1864Closed1942
What happened after the Brunner mine disaster?
When the Brunner Mine exploded in 1896 families abruptly lost their husbands, fathers, brothers and sons. This led to new hardships caused by a loss of income, with grieving families struggling to pay for food, clothes, rent or mortgage.
Is mine 9 a true story?
Inspired by true events, the movie is about a crew of nine men working in an underground mine in Appalachia when things go wrong. “It’s not based on any one event, but based on several that have happened over time,” said Kevin Sizemore, a Princeton, West Virginia native who stars in the movie.
Who died in Upper Big Branch mine?
- Carl Calvin “Pee Wee” Acord (1958-2010)
- Jason Atkins (1984-2010)
- Christopher Bell (1976-2010)
- Gregory Steven Brock (1963-2010)
- Kenneth A. Chapman (1956-2010)
- Robert E. Clark (1969-2010)
- Cory Thomas Davis (1989-2010)
- Charles Timothy Davis (1958-2010)
Who died in the Sago Mine disaster?
Ware Jr.; David Lewis; Jackie Weaver; Martin Toler Jr. and Marshall Winans. Most of them died from from carbon monoxide asphyxiation. They waited for 41 hours for rescue crews to reach them.
When did mine 9 take place?
Smoke and flames pouring from the Llewellyn shaft of the Consol No. 9 mine on November 20, 1968DateNovember 20, 1968Time5:30 a.m.LocationConsol No. 9 coal mine north of Farmington and Mannington, West Virginia, United StatesCasualties
How many people died in the Farmington mine Disaster?
The 78 victims of the November 20, 1968 catastrophic explosion in Marion County were remembered in a virtual ceremony Sunday. It was the 53rd Farmington #9 memorial service. Roberts, the keynote speaker, said that the miners that died at Farmington are heroes because miners’ safety changed after the incident.
Where is the deepest mine in the world?
The deepest mine in the world is AngloGold Ashanti’s Mponeng gold mine, near Johannesburg in South Africa.
How many miners were pulled alive from the Springhill mining disaster?
At the 3500-foot level they met the rescuers. The push was on, with barefaced volunteers joining the draegermen. Sunday evening the deepest group of survivors was reached and all were out by Monday morning. 88 miners were rescued; 39, including the 7 on the surface, died.
How many people died in the Springhill mine disaster?
The disaster, known as the bump (like an underground earthquake), occurred Oct. 23, 1958. There were 175 men in the mine at the time; 75 of them were killed. While Pepperdine would occasionally talk about the 1958 disaster, Somers said it wasn’t something he enjoyed.
What is a bump in a mine?
A coal mine bump (a bump, a mine bump, a mountain bump, or a rock burst) is a seismic jolt occurring within an underground mine due to the explosive collapse of one or more support pillars,. … As mining proceeds, the weight of rock overburden previously supported by coal mined from rooms is redistributed to pillars.
How much has Pike River recovery cost?
The recovery project, which cost $51 million, plus at least $10 million for the police – was never about recovering the bodies, which are trapped behind a massive rockfall, but was intended to search the drift for possible evidence of what caused the explosions.
What is the Pike River Drift?
The Pike River underground coal mine is located in the Paparoa Range on the West Coast of the South Island. … The drift is a 2.3 km access tunnel from the entrance of the mine to the workings. The workings comprise around 4.3 km of inner tunnels, from where the coal was extracted.
How many coal mining accidents have there been NZ?
Major mining disasters Since coal mining began in New Zealand, there have been 211 recorded deaths from nine separate explosions, the most recent at the Pike River mine.
How much does a coal miner make?
Salary Ranges for Coal Miners The salaries of Coal Miners in the US range from $11,105 to $294,800 , with a median salary of $53,905 . The middle 57% of Coal Miners makes between $53,905 and $133,947, with the top 86% making $294,800.
Where does Mine 9 take place?
BLUEFIELD — West Virginia native and actor, Kevin Sizemore recently starred in a new movie called Mine 9. It is inspired by true events of coal mine disasters, but not one accident in particular. Instead, the movie was written as a juxtaposition of realistic portrayals of miners and their families.
Where was mine filmed?
The movie was shot in Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. The directors dedicated the film in memory of their location manager, Nikolai Semjevski (1975 – 2015).
