Tag Archives: mine

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Earthquake Alert? Continued mine collaspe could be due to increased seismic activity in Idaho. Federal government closes mine

“We’ve issued a closure order so the entire mine is shut down. We will conduct a thorough investigation and we will not allow it to reopen until we are sure it is safe.”-Amy Louviere, U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration

On December 14, another rock burst struck the unlucky Lucky Friday silver mine in northern Idaho.  This time no one was killed.  Just last month, November, a miner was killed trying to free a stuck rock bin.  In April, a rock burst killed one miner.

Officials are concerned with the sudden occurrence of rock bursts in the mine.  For the past 25 years there had been no reported fatal accidents at the Lucky Friday mine.  Also of interest, there was no mining activity taking place 24 hours prior to the December 14 rock burst, that could have caused such a collapse.

There is now speculation that what is happening is the result of increased seismic activity in the northern part of Idaho.  (anyone remember the movie Dante’s Peak?)

Regarding the death in April, the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration blamed the mine’s owners, Helca Mining Company, for lax safety standards.  However, December 14’s rock burst took place while miners were trying to install a safety net designed to protect miners from such rock bursts.

Federal officials don’t know how long their investigation will take place.  At least 300 people in the small community of Mullen, Idaho, rely on the mine for high paying jobs.

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Corporate Incompetence? Third mine disaster in Idaho this year

For the third time this year, Hecla Mining Company’s Lucky Friday Mine suffered a rock burst.

It happened before 19:30 hours on the evening of December 14.  This time the miners were actually ‘lucky’.  Seven miners were rescued, with one going to a local hospital.

But two other mine employees were not lucky. They were both killed by  rock bursts at the same Lucky Friday silver mine.  The first rock burst happened in April, the second happened just last month!

U.S.

Another fatal U.S. mine cave in

After a fatal silver mine collapse, in Mullen, Idaho, a Washingtonville, Ohio, man was killed April 25 in a coal mine accident.

Officials with the East Fairfield Coal Company says the cave in was a freak accident.  They claim it was the first fatal accident in the mine’s 80 years of operation.  State and Federal authorities are investigating.

 

Idaho

Bad Luck at the Lucky Friday mine, search ended for Idaho miner

“…it is Easter morning. Here at the Lucky Friday Mine in Northern Idaho we have been hoping for a miracle for more than a week, but have now informed Larry Marek’s family that we believe hope for his survival is gone.”-Phil Baker, Hecla CEO

Officials say they are no longer trying to rescue Larry Marek, it is now a recovery.

“Words cannot express the deep sorrow we feel at the tragic loss of our friend, colleague and 30-year veteran of the mining industry. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, loved ones and friends.”-Hecla press release

Hecla officials did not give any details as to why they believe Marek is dead.

Idaho

Idaho Lucky Friday mine rescue ‘more difficult’

“Crews have been progressing safely and quickly. However, as the crew advances closer (to where Marek may be), the work involved will become much more difficult, time consuming with new materials, equipment and supplies in order to advance the tunnel into potentially unstable ground.”-Hecla press release

So far 163 feet (49.6 meters) of solid rock has been blasted, to make a new tunnel to get to where rescuers think Larry Marek might be. They think they have 53 feet to go, before they hit an open space behind the debris of last Friday’s cave in.
Plans to start two new tunnels were canceled because the ground was just too unstable.  Food and water has been passed through small holes made in the debris.  A small camera was sent through but the images were not detailed enough.  Bigger cameras are being brought in.

Idaho

Camera used at Idaho Lucky Friday mine rescue

Rescuers used a tiny camera to see if Larry Marek was behind the cave in debris.  No such luck.

Rescuers also pumped in air and water, through the holes they drilled.  They’re hoping that Marek is in the open space found behind the rubble of last Friday’s cave in.

They’re still trying to dig alternate tunnels.  They had to stop digging through the cave in rubble because the ground was unstable.

Idaho

Hope at Lucky Friday Mine in Idaho

Rescue workers say they think there is a void within the caved in roof of the Lucky Friday mine.  They drilled through the debris, ran a camera through and discovered that there is open space.

They drilled some other holes to let fresh air in. Rescuers have been working since the the cave in, on April 15.  53-year-old Larry Marek, and his brother were just finishing up watering down the latest dig, when the roof fell in.  Larry didn’t get out.

Rescuers gave up trying to dig through the debris, because it became more dangerous as they went.  They feared another cave in.  Now they’re trying to dig new tunnels.

Idaho, Technology

New tactic to save Idaho Lucky Friday Miner

Officials have decided it’s too dangerous to dig through the caved in roof of the Lucky Friday mine, near Mullan, Idaho.

They will now try digging two new shafts to get to Larry Marek.  He and his brother were working in the mine on Friday, when the roof caved in.

Digging the new shafts could take seven days.  Temperatures inside the mine, at the depth Marek was working, can hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37 Celsius).