What is the name of the gas in coal mines?

Answer 1

There can be several. The one in the news in the past few days is methane. Methane naturally occurs in coals seams, landfills, etc. It has been said that anything that has been living that dies and rots produces methane gas. Methane is high flammable.

Answer 2

Methane!!!!

However, have an expression for a collection of dangerous gases.. It is called 'Fire Damp'.

Fire Damp is a mixture of methane, coal dust and oxygen. It will readily ignite and flash through the mine, and is extremely dangerous. Anything that it likely to make a spark, matches, cigarette lighters, watches, jewellery, rings etc., are NOT allowed down coal mines, simply because they may spark and thereby the possibility of ignition and a flash.

Mining Engineers and 'Deputies' regularly test for 'Fire Damp'. A very old fashioned method , but also very reliable, is to take a canary(sinnig bird), into the region of the mine were it is suspected. If the canary looks as though it is going to fall off its perch or becomes unconcious, then there is Fire Damp. To remove clean air is pumped through the mine.

NB The bird will not be killed if quickly removed to a more oxygenated region, where it will recover.

NNB Coal miners often bred canaries, for this purpose and to hear their song.

Answer 3

The gas commonly found in coal mines is methane. It is highly flammable and poses a serious risk of explosion if not properly managed.