Time Line |
250,000,000 BC to 400,000,000
BC
(but who's counting) |
Birth of anthracite. Material was deposited that eventually
transforms to anthracite coal. This occurred during the Carboniferous
Geologic Period. At that time, most of Pennsylvania was a flat,
hot, moist plain covered with steaming swamps thick with tall trees
and wide spreading ferns. |
| 1762 |
Connecticut settlers in the Wyoming Valley discover the anthracite
coal seams. The estimations are that 16 billion tons of coal lie
within the anthracite seams in northeastern Pennsylvania. The recoverable
(capable of being mined at this time) amount is classified at around
7 to 8 billion tons. |
| 1768 |
First recorded use of anthracite coal |
| 1775 |
Mining of anthracite starts in northeast Pennsylvania. The mine
is located near Pittston. |
| 1776-1780 |
Mining of anthracite starts in the Wilkes-Barre area. The mining
is on outcrops (surface exposed anthracite coal), along the banks
of the Susquehanna River. |
| 1788 |
The first industrial use of anthracite. It was used in heating
and drawing iron for the making of nails. |
| 1790 |
Anthracite is discovered in the Schuylkill region of Pennsylvania. |
| 1792 |
Anthracite is discovered in the Lehigh region of Pennsylvania. |
| 1820 |
The first recorded anthracite coal company, the Lehigh Coal Mining
Company, sends the first significant shipments of anthracite out
of the coal field region. |
| 1842 |
First documented mine strike. 2000 miners are affected. |
| 09/06/1869 |
Avondale
Mine Disaster - 108 men and boys killed during a fire at the
mine. This is the largest mine disaster to ever occur in the anthracite
mine region. |
| 1869 |
Anthracite is first used in a forge in Fell's Tavern located in
Wilkes-Barre, PA. |
| 1869 |
The Pennsylvania Department of Mines is established. |
| 1870 |
Industry records that close to 15 fatalities per million tons
of coal occur. This fact, in conjunction with the Avondale mine
disaster bring about the nation's first stringent mine safety laws. |
| late 1880s |
Bill Mitchell gains the trust and support of the various divergent
local miner 'social' groups into what will become the UMWA (United
Mine Workers of America.) |
| 09/17/1890 |
United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) miners union issues a strike
call to it's 9000 members. Within one week, 125,000 hard-coal coal
miners were off their jobs and 96% of coal mine production ceased. |
| 1900 |
The historical total fatality count in anthracite mines tops 13,000
men, women and children. |
| 1914 |
Employment at anthracite mines reaches a maximum of 180,000 workers. |
| 1917 |
Anthracite coal production peaks at over 100 million tons. |
| 1931 |
With stringent laws in place and state mine inspections, the number
of fatalities per million tons of coal drops to 6.5. |
| 1950 |
Anthracite coal mine production steadily declines from its peak
of 100 million tons in 1917 to 46 million tons in 1950. Thirty five
percent of the coal being mined comes from surface facilities or
the reprocessing of culm banks. The fatality rate drops to 1.86
fatalities per million tons of coal mined. |
| 1959 |
Knox mine
coal disaster - Port Griffith, PA (near Pittston). The Susquehanna
River breaches (or breaks through) the mine workings, permanently
flooding the majority of the interconnected underground mines in
the Wilkes-Barre area. Although production of coal was in constant
decline in the area since its peak in 1917, this disaster is referred
to as the event which ended deep coal mining in the northern anthracite
fields of Pennsylvania. Additional information on this disaster
is available in the historical list of fatalities.
River
Breaches the Mine
Efforts
to Control River Inundation |
| 1969 |
The Federal 1969 Coal Mine Health and Safety Act is passed by
Congress and an agency, now known as the Mine Safety and Health
Administration (MSHA) is created. |
| 1970 |
Anthracite coal mine production continues it steady fall to 9.2
million tons. There are 0.43 fatalities per million tons of coal
mined. |
| 1976 |
Anthracite coal production continues to shift from deep mining
to surface mines and the reworking/recycling of culm banks and refuse
piles. Several cogeneration plants are constructed. These plants
are designed to burn culm bank and mine refuse material. |
| 1987 |
Production of anthracite coal drops to 5.2 million tons, of which
only 615,000 tons come from the 98 deep mines in the region which
employ 620 deep miners. Deep anthracite coal mining accounts for
only 11.8% of coal produced. |
| 1987 |
The total recorded number of individuals that have died at mining
operations over the years since anthracite mining has occurred reaches
31,088. |
| Definitions |
| Battery |
A structure erected of timbers, plank and a drawhole to hold back
loose coal in a box and control the loading of coal by gravity feed. |
| Breast |
A working place or chamber driven up the pitch. Same as room. |
| Chute |
An inclined connection driven in coal or rock from the gangway to
the return or monkey airway for the purpose of travel, ventilation
and coal loading. |
| Coal (anthracite) |
A black solid, combustible substance formed by the partial decomposition
of vegetation without free access of air but under the influence of
moisture and increased pressure and high temperature. It is not a
rock, but rather the fossil remains of vegetable/plant matter sealed
between layers of rock. It contains a high percentage of carbon (86%
average) which burns or combusts and of low volatile matter (4.3%
average). This means anthracite is difficult to ignite but once it
gets going will burn longer and slower than any other type of coal. |
| Disaster |
An event that has occurred at a mine which involve five or more
fatalities. 119 mine disasters have occurred. |
| Gangway |
A main entry on haulageway. |
| Gob |
The breast area formed by props and liners and allowed to fill with
blasted coal. Not to be confused with mined but on caved areas. |
| Liner |
Boards or planks used to extend the box and manways of breasts in
pitching seams. |
| Monkey Airway |
The return air course driven parallel with and above the gangway. |
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