I read that a long time ago, they used to take canaries into coal mines to test for gas. If the bird died they knew to evacuate.
2007-01-12 23:09:15 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
The reason I thought something had to be burning was because I heard the real poison in the mix is carbonmonoxide. So where does that come from?
2007-01-15 09:07:45 · update #1
It's natural gas that is trapped under the coal and is odorless and kills. Sometimes I get gas like that.
2007-01-12 23:17:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The gas usually found with coal is methane, which is present naturally in many coal mines, but is odorless and colorless. This is the same gas that is used in homes for heat and cooking; the only reason that you can smell it in your home if there's a leak is because it is mixed with another gas called mercaptan so that you CAN smell it if there is a leak.
2007-01-12 23:17:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe it is the water that mixes with the coal that produces the gas. There is always water leaking in coal mines
2007-01-12 23:17:32 · answer #3 · answered by Shelty K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Coal gas is primarily methane, it was the by product of the compositing process which turned the giant forests of yore into coal.
2007-01-12 23:19:33 · answer #4 · answered by ag_iitkgp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋