Mine Fires
Date
Mine Name
Location
Mineral
Deaths
Planets
01/19/2006
Aracoma Alma
Melville, WV
Coal
2
12/19/1984
Wilberg
Wilberg, UT
Coal
27
07/22/1972
Blacksville No. 1
Blacksville, WV
Coal
9
05/02/1972
Sunshine
Kellogg, ID
Silver
91
03/26/1971
Nemacolin
Nemacolin, PA
Coal
3
03/05/1968
Belle Isle Salt
Franklin, LA
Salt
21
07/16/1950
Lark
Lark, UT
Lead
5
11/24/1927
Magma
Superior, AZ
Copper
7
08/27/1922
Argonaut
Jackson, CA
Gold
47
06/08/1917
Granite Mountain
Butte, MT
Copper
164
02/14/1916
Pennsylvania
Butte, MT
Copper
21
08/23/1911
Giroux
Ely, NV
Gold/Silver
7
05/05/1911
Hartford
Negaunee, MI
Iron
7
02/23/1911
Belmont
Tonopah, NV
Gold/Silver
17
11/08/1910
Victor American 3
Delagua, CO
Coal
79
11/13/1909
Cherry
Cherry, IL
Coal
259
11/06/1903
Koarsarge
Virginia City, MT
Gold
9
09/06/1869
Avondale
Plymouth, PA
Coal
110
Mine Explosions
Date
Mine Name
Location
Mineral
Deaths
Planets
04/05/2010
Upper Big Branch
Montcoal, WV
Coal
29
05/20/2006
Darby
Holmes Mill, KY
Coal
5
01/02/2006
Sago
Tallmansville, WV
Coal
12
01/22/2003
McElroy
Cameron, WV
Coal
3
09/23/2001
JWR No. 5
Brookwood, AL
Coal
13
07/31/2000
Willow Creek
Helper, UT
Coal
2
12/07/1992
Southmountain No. 3
Norton, VA
Coal
8
03/19/1992
Blacksville No. 1
Blacksville, WV
Coal
4
09/13/1989
William Station No. 9
Sullivan, KY
Coal
10
07/03/1983
Homer City
Homer City, PA
Coal
1
06/21/1983
McClure No. 1
McClure, VA
Coal
7
01/20/1982
RHF No. 1
Craynor, KY
Coal
7
12/08/1981
Grundy No. 21
Whitewell, TN
Coal
13
12/07/1981
Adkins No. 11
Kite, KY
Coal
8
09/09/1981
Warrier
Burgdorf, ID
Gold
3
04/15/1981
Dutch Creek No. 1
Redstone, CO
Coal
15
11/07/1980
Ferrell No. 17
Uneeda, WV
Coal
5
06/08/1979
Belle Isle Salt
Franklin, LA
Salt
5
03/09/1976
Scotia
Ovenfork, KY
Coal
26
12/16/1972
Itmann No. 3
Itmann, WV
Coal
5
12/30/1970
Finley Nos. 15 & 16
Hyden, KY
Coal
38
11/20/1968
Consol No. 9
Farmington, WV
Coal
78
07/23/1966
Siltix
Mt. Hope, WV
Coal
7
05/24/1965
C. L. Kline No. 2
Robbins, TN
Coal
5
08/27/1963
Cane Creek
Moab, UT
Potash
18
12/06/1962
Robena
Carmichaels, PA
Coal
37
03/23/1959
Phillips & West No. 1
Robbins, TN
Coal
9
10/27/1958
Bishop No. 34
McDowell County, WV
Coal
22
12/21/1951
Orient No. 2
West Frankfort, IL
Coal
119
03/25/1947
Centralia No. 5
Centralia, IL
Coal
111
08/28/1943
Sayreton No. 2
Sayreton, AL
Coal
28
02/27/1943
Smith
Washoe, MT
Coal
74
07/15/1940
Sonman "E"
Portage, PA
Coal
63
03/16/1940
Willow Grove No. 10
Neffs, OH
Coal
72
01/10/1940
Pond Creek No. 1
Bartley, WV
Coal
91
07/14/1939
Duvin
Providence, KY
Coal
28
11/05/1930
No. 6
Millfield, OH
Coal
82
05/19/1928
Mather
Mather, PA
Coal
195
04/30/1927
Federal No. 3
Everettville, WV
Coal
97
01/13/1926
Mine 21
Wilburton, OK
Coal
91
04/28/1924
Benwood
Benwood, WV
Coal
119
03/28/1924
Yukon No. 2
Yukon, WV
Coal
26
03/08/1924
Castle Gate No. 2
Castle Gate, UT
Coal
172
01/26/1924
Lancashire No. 18
Shanktown, PA
Coal
36
11/06/1923
Glen Rogers
Beckley, WV
Coal
27
08/14/1923
Frontier No. 1
Kemmerer, WY
Coal
99
02/08/1923
Stag Canon No. 1
Dawson, NM
Coal
120
11/22/1922
Dolomite No. 3
Dolomite, AL
Coal
90
11/06/1922
Reilly No. 1
Spangler, PA
Coal
79
02/02/1922
Gates No. 2
Gates, PA
Coal
25
04/15/1920
No. 3 Shaft
Delcambre, LA
Salt
6
06/05/1919
Baltimore Tunnel 2
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Coal
92
04/29/1919
Majestic
Majestic, AL
Coal
22
09/28/1918
North No. 1
Royalton, IL
Coal
21
06/27/1918
Silver
Virginia, MN
Iron
18
08/04/1917
W. Kentucky No. 7
Clay, KY
Coal
62
07/17/1917
Three Forks Quarry
Trident, MT
Gypsum
8
04/27/1917
Hastings
Hastings, CO
Coal
121
11/14/1916
Bessie
Palos, AL
Coal
30
11/16/1915
Northwestern
Ravensdale, WA
Coal
31
03/02/1915
Layland No. 3
Layland, WV
Coal
115
04/28/1914
Eccles Nos. 5 & 6
Eccles, WV
Coal
181
10/22/1913
Stag Canon No. 2
Dawson, NM
Coal
263
04/23/1913
Cincinnati
Courtney, PA
Coal
98
07/07/1912
Eureka Pit
Ely, NV
Copper
10
12/09/1911
Cross Mountain
Briceville, TN
Coal
84
04/08/1911
Banner
Littleton, AL
Coal
128
01/18/1911
Keating
Radersburg, MT
Gold
6
05/05/1910
Palos No. 3
Palos, AL
Coal
83
03/02/1910
Alaska-Mexican
Treadwell, AK
Gold
37
01/31/1910
Primero
Primero, CO
Coal
75
11/28/1908
Rachel and Agnes
Marianna, PA
Coal
154
12/19/1907
Darr
Van Meter, PA
Coal
239
12/06/1907
Monongah 6 & 8
Monongah, WV
Coal
362
12/01/1907
Naomi
Fayette City, PA
Coal
34
01/29/1907
Stuart
Stuart, WV
Coal
84
03/18/1905
Rush Run/Red Ash
Red Ash, WV
Coal
24
02/20/1905
Virginia City
Virginia City, AL
Coal
112
01/25/1904
Harwick
Cheswick, PA
Coal
179
06/30/1903
Hanna No. 1
Hanna, WY
Coal
169
07/10/1902
Rolling Mill
Johnstown, PA
Coal
112
05/19/1902
Fraterville
Coal Creek, TN
Coal
184
05/01/1900
Winter Quarters
Scofield, UT
Coal
200
01/16/1895
Butte Hardware Co.
Butte, MT
N/A
150
01/07/1892
Mine No. 11
Krebs, OK
Coal
100
01/27/1891
Mammouth No. 1
Mt. Pleasant, PA
Coal
109
01/21/1886
Orrell
Newburg, WV
Coal
39
03/13/1884
Laurel
Pocahontas, VA
Coal
112
Mine Cave-ins
Date
Mine Name
Location
Mineral
Deaths
Planets
08/06/2007
Crandall Canyon
Huntington, UT
Coal
9
02/13/1991
J & T No. 1
St. Charles, VA
Coal
4
01/04/1989
Cumberland Valley
Middlesboro, KY
Coal
3
09/12/1984
Berger No. 2
Evarts, KY
Coal
4
05/10/1982
Magma
Superior, AZ
Copper
4
08/13/1963
Sheppton
Sheppton, PA
Coal
1
02/10/1943
C. F. and H.
Shullsburg, WI
Lead/Zinc
8
02/21/1918
Amasa-Porter
Crystal Falls, MI
Iron
17
05/13/1912
Norrie
Ironwood, MI
Iron
7
06/28/1896
Twin Shaft
Pittston, PA
Coal
58
Mine Inundations
Date
Mine Name
Location
Mineral
Deaths
Planets
07/24/2002
Quecreek Rescue
Friedens, PA
Coal
0
06/03/1981
Grays Knob No. 5
Harlan County, KY
Coal
3
11/20/1980
Lake Peigneur Jefferson Island
Jefferson Island, LA
Salt
0
04/04/1978
Moss No. 3 Portal A
Duty, VA
Coal
5
03/01/1977
Porter Tunnel
Tower City, PA
Coal
9
05/06/1968
Saxsewell No. 8
Hominy Falls, WV
Coal
4
01/22/1959
River Slope
Port Griffith, PA
Coal
12
11/03/1926
Barnes-Hecker
Ishpeming, MI
Iron
51
02/21/1918
Amasa-Porter
Crystal Falls, MI
Iron
17
10/19/1911
Wharton
Hibernia, MI
Iron
12
Other Notable Accidents
Date
Mine Name
Location
Mineral
Deaths
Planets
04/17/2007
Tri-Star Mining
Barton, MD
Coal
2
On Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at approximately 10:00 a.m., Dale Jones, a 51-year old excavator operator with 15 years of mining experience, and Michael Wilt, a 38-year old bulldozer operator with one year of mining experience, were fatally injured when a highwall failed in the 001 Pit (Caledonia Pit/419 Pit) of Tri-Star Mining, Inc., Job No. 3 mine.
08/13/2003
Jim Walter Benchman
Tuscaloosa, AL
Coal
0
Benchman Marshal Hutchins was seriously burned while filling SCBA cylinders with oxygen. The oxygen in a filter and the piping supplying the pump ignited combustible material within these components.
10/17/2002
Barrick Heat Stress
Elko, NV
Gold
2
Barrick team members, Theodore Milligan and Dale Spring were overcome and died of heat exhaustion during a training exercise at the company's idled Storm underground decline.
05/10/1995
Vaal Reefs
Orkney, South Africa
Gold
105
The disaster struck when a runaway train plunged down Vaal Reef's number 2 shaft. The train crashed on top of an elevator carrying miners to the deep gold seams - sending those trapped inside hurtling to their death 2.3 kilometers (1.4 miles) below the surface.
02/06/1986
Loveridge No. 22
Fairview, WV
Coal
5
Seven company and contractor officials were walking to the top of a raw coal pile when a section of the coal pile that was 4 to 6 feet in diameter suddenly collapsed. Five of the individuals were rapidly swallowed by the hole and suffocated. The two others escaped injury.
02/26/1972
Buffalo Mining Dam Collapse
Saunders, WV
Coal
114
The Buffalo Mining Company retaining dam collapsed resulting in the confirmed deaths of 114 persons along Buffalo Creek from Saunders to Man, West Virginia, a distance of about 17 miles.
04/12/1971
Barnett Complex
Rosiclare, IL
Flurospar
7
Seven men died as a result of exposure to hydrogen sulfide gas in advance workings on the 800-foot level of the Barnett Complex Mine. See video .
03/26/1942
Sandts Eddy Explosives Disaster
Northampton Co., PA
Limestone
31
Thirty-one limestone workers were killed when 20 tons of TNT prematurely exploded at the Lehigh Portland Cement Company's Sandts Eddy Quarry due to the use of old (5-6 yrs) blasting caps.
05/07/1935
South W-B Haulage Accident
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Coal
7
Seven miners were killed in one of the most extraordinary anthracite disasters on record. All were "transportation men" who perished when a 250 pound boulder fell about 625 feet into the No. 3 Shaft of the South Wilkes-Barre Colliery and smashed into their ascending elevator.
Mining Literature
Here are some of the books we've helped to promote:
The Deep Dark Disaster and Redemption in America's Richest Silver Mine by Gregg Olsen
47 Down The 1922 Argonaut Gold Mine Disaster by O. Henry Mace
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