Sapropelic
Coal
A coal derived from organic residues (finely divided plant
material, spores, algae) in stagnant or standing bodies
of water. |
Seam
A strata of coal, also called a vein. |
Sediment
Solid material, both mineral and organic, that has come
to rest on the earth's surface either above or below sea
level. |
Semi-Anthracite
Coal intermediate between anthracite and semi-bituminous
coal and having a fixed carbon content of between 85 percent
and 92 percent. Physical properties resemble anthracite. |
Semi-Bituminous
Coal
Coal that ranks between bituminous and semi-anthracite.
It is harder and more brittle than bituminous coal, has
a high fuel ratio and burns without smoke. |
Shaft
A vertical excavation connecting surface and mine workings. |
Shaftman
A workman who patrols in a slowly moving cage in a mine
shaft, and maintains the shaft by working through the
cage side, or on its top, or suspended from the cage bottom. |
Shift
The time during which workmen work, alternating with some
other period. |
Shooting
Blasting in a mine. |
Shot
The explosive charge in the coal face. |
Shotfirer
The official prior to detonating an explosive charge to
blast coal, examines the area for gas, examines the preparations
made for the blasting and when assured that all safety
regulations have been complied with, detonates the shot. |
Sinking
A passage driven on an incline down to coal workings in
lower depths, comparable to an inside slope. |
Slope
An entrance to a mine driven down through an inclined
coal seam. An inside slope in a mine is a passage in the
mine driven from one system of workings down through a
seam, to bring up coal from a lower system of workings. |
Slopeman
A workman who patrols and keeps in repair the mine's main
and back slopes. |
Splint
A hard variety of bituminous coal that ignites with difficulty,
owing to its slatey structure, but makes a clear hot fire. |
Spores
Parts of the reproductive organs of many plants that formed
coal. |
Stableman
A workman who cares for the horses and maintains the stable
underground. In off-working days the stableman is responsible
for watering the horses. |
Store
Keeper
A semi-clerical worker who supervises a storeroom of colliery
tools and equipment, and who issues these items for use
upon instruction of competent authority. |
Stripping
Mining coal by first removing the covering strata down
to the coal bed; open workings as in a quarry; sometimes
used to describe a final mining operation drawing pillars.
When all coal is removed the roof crashes down. |
Sub-Bituminous
Coal
A black coal that ranks between lignite and bituminous
coals. It has higher carbon and lower moisture content
than lignite. |
Sub-Bituminous
"A" Coal
A non-binding sub-bituminous coal having between 11,000
and 13,000 B.T.U. |
Sub-Bituminous
"B" Coal
A non-binding sub-bituminous coal having between 9,500
and 11,000 B.T.U. |
Sub-Bituminous
"C" Coal
A non-binding sub-bituminous coal having between 8,300
and 9,500 B.T.U. |
Sulphur
Coal constituent usually in the form of pyrite. |
Sump
A basin or collection place in a mine, into which water
runs to be pumped out. |
