Methane gas explosion? I just read that the explosion in a mine in Siberia was caused by methane gas.?

Question

I realize this question could be a set-up for all kinds of bathroom jokes but, seriously, why would methane gas be in a coal mine?

Answer 1

Methane is every where. Coalmines are the result of biomass being buried and pressured into its current state. Oil also has Methane.

Methane Ice is threatening to melt in the Ice Caps and pockets of Methane in the deep coldest parts of the ocean might come bubling up if the lower oceans warms too much.

The Methane gas is able to break down rapidly with the atmosphere gases, but too much at once is a deadly grean house gas.

Methane is every where, the good news is that we can use it to make Bio-diesel, and that means plenty of renewable resources and natural deposits.

Answer 2

Methane gas is commonly associated with coal deposits.
The same is true with oil reserves. It is a byproduct of organic matter which has decomposed.

Methane, if not properly vented from a mine, can cause an explosion. Simple biology.

Answer 3

methane gas are natural gas products during burial and diagenesis of organic matter (peat, fossils, coal).. whenever someone mines coal underneath through tunnels, this gas is released.. this gas is highly volatile.. so if someone smokes a cigar or simply create sparks through friction (rock against rock etc), explosions usually happen (big or small depending on the concentration of methane gas within the tunnel)

Answer 4

Pew.... anyway with all joking aside. methane just like anyother gas is stored in the earth somehow. you will even find it in the polar ice caps in what is called permafrost.