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Spontaneous Combustion of Coal                                    357

           21.3   Mine Design for Coal Seams Liable to Spontaneous
                  Combustion


           Underground low-rank coal mines of Northern Illinois, Colorado, and Utah were
           initially designed in a manner similar to existing successful mine designs of eastern
           United States (Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Virginia) that mined higher-
           rank coal seams not liable to spontaneous combustion. This created many mine
           fires. Several design changes are necessary to mine these coals safely and
           minimizing the risks of mine fire. The subject will be discussed under the following
           headings:

              Mine Development
              Secondary Extraction
              Mine Ventilation and Methane Control
              Inerting the Gob With Progressive Sealing


           21.3.1 Mine Development
           In all underground mines, the property is first developed by driving a set of headings as
           “mains” and later submains are driven to create longwall panels. Fig. 21.6 shows a
           typical mine layout.


































           Figure 21.6 Typical mine layout.
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