Abstract
This paper presents a case study of respirable dust characterization in a thin-seam coal mine in southern WV. Samples were collected in the intake, near the feeder breaker, and downwind of an active roof bolter, as well as in three downwind locations from the continuous miner during four separate cuts. The dust was analyzed using: scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM–EDX) to estimate particle size and mineralogy distributions; thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to estimate coal, non-carbonate, and carbonate mass fractions; and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy to estimate quartz and kaolinite mass content. SEM–EDX results were generally consistent with those obtained in previous studies of other central Appalachian mines, including presence of relatively high non-carbonate minerals content (primarily aluminosilicates and silica) associated with the rock strata encountered in the mine. Downwind of the miner, fine aluminosilicate particles were particularly abundant and apparently influenced the SEM–EDX analysis for some samples, resulting in underestimation of coal content relative to TGA. Comparison of the microscopy results to those from the TGA and FT-IR indicates some interference between aluminosilicates and coal dust is simply due to high sample loading—however, presence of coal-mineral micro-agglomerates is also indicated.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health for funding this work. We also gratefully acknowledge the mine personnel that provided access to their operation and logistical assistance during the sampling campaign. The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the authors and do not imply any endorsement by research partners or funding source.
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Gonzalez, J., Keles, C., Pokhrel, N. et al. Respirable dust constituents and particle size: a case study in a thin-seam coal mine. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 39, 1007–1015 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-022-00611-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-022-00611-2