Dictionary Definition
firedamp n : a mixture of gases (mostly methane)
that form in coal mines and become explosive when mixed with
air
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Extensive Definition
Firedamp is a flammable gas found in coal mines.
It is actually the name given to a number of flammable gases,
including methane. It is
particularly commonly found in areas where the coal is bituminous.
Firedamp is explosive at concentrations between
4% and 16%, with most violence at around 10%, and caused much loss
of life in coal mines before the invention of the Davy lamp. Even
after the safety lamps were brought into common use, firedamp
explosions could still occur from sparks produced when coal
contaminated with pyrites
was struck with metal tools. The presence of coal dust in
the air increased the risk of explosion with firedamp, and indeed
could cause explosions itself.
The Tyneside coal
mines in England had the
deadly combination of bituminous coal contaminated with pyrites, and a great number of
lives were lost in accidents due to firedamp explosions, including
102 dead at Wallsend in
1835.
Rather than the Davy lamp,
Tyneside miners used a Geordie
lamp, a similar safety lamp designed by George
Stephenson.
Damps
Gases (other than air) in coal mines in England were collectively known as "damps". This comes from the German word Dampf (meaning "vapour"), and was probably introduced when German miners and mine engineers were brought to England in the 17th century to help in the development of deep mining.Other damps included blackdamp (carbon
dioxide and other gases), and the insidiously lethal afterdamp (carbon
monoxide and other gases) produced following explosions of
firedamp or coal dust.
References
See also
firedamp in Bulgarian: Гризу
firedamp in German: Schlagwetter
firedamp in Spanish: Grisú
firedamp in Esperanto: Grizuo
firedamp in French: Grisou
firedamp in Italian: Grisù
firedamp in Hungarian: Sújtólég
firedamp in Turkish: Grizu
firedamp in Walloon: Grizou