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The Farmington Mine disaster was an explosion that happened at approximately 5:30 a.m. on November 20, 1968, at the Consol No. 9 coal mine north of Farmington and Mannington, West Virginia, USA. The explosion was large enough to be felt in Fairmont, almost 12 miles away. 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 19 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. ==Consol No 9== The Consol No. 9 mine was developed in the Pittsburgh coal seam, with its main entrances at James Fork, the confluence of Little Dunkard Mill run and Dunkard Mill Run, 2 miles (3 kilometers) north of Farmington, West Virginia.() The Pittsburgh seam, is over 300 feet (100 meters) below the valley bottoms in this region, and is fairly uniform, generally about 10 feet (3 meters) thick. This mine was originally opened in 1909 as the Jamison No. 9 Mine, operated by the Jamison Coal and Coke Company. The original entrance shafts were 322 feet deep. Even in 1909, it was noted that "gasses are liberating" from the coal in the mine, so that locked safety lamps were used at all times. Initially, compressed air power was used to undercut the coal, which was then blasted before horse power was used to haul the coal to the shaft, but within a year, compressed air locomotives were obtained for haulage.〔(Annual Report, Department of Mines for the Year Ending June 30, 1910 ), West Virginia Department of Mines, Charlston News Mail Co, 1911. Third Section, Page 15.〕 Between 1911 and 1929, Jamison No. 9 produced over 100,000 tons per year, except in 1922, when production was just under 3000 tons. Production fell to just over 4000 tons in early 1930, after which the mine was closed for three years. Production resumed in 1934, climbing to over 1.2 million tons per year in 1956.〔(Jamison C. & C. Co. Mine Data Tonnage Reports ), West Virginia Office of Miners' Health Safety and Training.〕 On November 14, 1954, an explosion ripped through the mine, killing 15 miners and leading to a temporary shutdown.〔(West Virginia Coal Mine Disasters ), West Virginia State Archives Collection.〕〔(Map Showing Extent of Forces, Flame and Deep Fire Areas, and Location of Dust Sampling Points Following Explosion, November 13, 1954, No. 9 Mine, Jamison Coal and Coke Company, Farmington West Virginia ), West Virginia Mine Information Database System〕 Under Consolidation Coal Company ownership, coal production in 1977 was 98772 tons.〔(Consolidation Coal Co. Mine Data Tonnage Reports ), West Virginia Office of Miners' Health Safety and Training.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Farmington Mine disaster」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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