science ? - trapped miners ordeal

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2010-10-15 6:21 AM

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Master
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Finally north of the Mason-Dixon Line
Subject: science ? - trapped miners ordeal

I was reading an article on the miners with my 10 yr old daughter and we came to a section where it said the miners were stripped down due ot the heat in the collapsed mine.  the daughter asked:  why is it hot?  every time she's been in a mine - coal and copper - it's been cold.

So BT - why was the mine hot?  Daughter even told me to ask my BT friends...  was it because it had collapsed and had no air circulation?  The depth of the mine was deeper then those she had been in and was closer to the center of earth? 



Edited by tri-mama 2010-10-15 6:22 AM

2010-10-15 7:31 AM
in reply to: #3153706

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Champion
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Albuquerque, New Mexico
Subject: RE: science ? - trapped miners ordeal
From 5' below surface to a couple hundred feet below surface, the ground temperature is the same as the average temperature throughout the year.  (Mammoth cave in Kentucky averages about 56F while Eagle Cave in Wisconsin is closer to 52F and Carlsbad Cavern in New Mexico about 63F.)  Once you start getting deeper, you start getting closer to the the earth's core and the temperatures start to rise.  They were 2000 feet below the surface. 
2010-10-15 7:38 AM
in reply to: #3153706

Iron Donkey
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Subject: RE: science ? - trapped miners ordeal

Well, when you get 33 flatulating miners in one area ...

2010-10-15 11:24 AM
in reply to: #3153772

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Champion
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Subject: RE: science ? - trapped miners ordeal
1stTimeTri - 2010-10-15 8:38 AM

Well, when you get 33 flatulating miners in one area ...



Well they were mining for chili.
2010-10-15 11:26 AM
in reply to: #3154391

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Champion
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Lost in the Luminiferous Aether
Subject: RE: science ? - trapped miners ordeal
Pector55 - 2010-10-15 12:24 PM
1stTimeTri - 2010-10-15 8:38 AM

Well, when you get 33 flatulating miners in one area ...



Well they were mining for chili.


That's the beans not the chili, get it right easterner. 
2010-10-15 11:26 AM
in reply to: #3154391

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Expert
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Katy, TX
Subject: RE: science ? - trapped miners ordeal
Pector55 - 2010-10-15 11:24 AM
1stTimeTri - 2010-10-15 8:38 AM

Well, when you get 33 flatulating miners in one area ...



Well they were mining for chili.


They were mining IN chili... I have never had cold chili.
 

2010-10-15 12:46 PM
in reply to: #3153706

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Champion
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Subject: RE: science ? - trapped miners ordeal
Isn't Chile closer to the Equator?
2010-10-15 12:48 PM
in reply to: #3153757

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Expert
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Portland
Subject: RE: science ? - trapped miners ordeal
McFuzz - 2010-10-15 7:31 AM From 5' below surface to a couple hundred feet below surface, the ground temperature is the same as the average temperature throughout the year.  (Mammoth cave in Kentucky averages about 56F while Eagle Cave in Wisconsin is closer to 52F and Carlsbad Cavern in New Mexico about 63F.)  Once you start getting deeper, you start getting closer to the the earth's core and the temperatures start to rise.  They were 2000 feet below the surface. 


As some bonus knowledge...

This is how Geothermal heating/cooling works...  You circulate water that is either warm from the ground (when its cold) or cool when its warm!

and of course, the fire breathing dragons help as well
2010-10-15 12:48 PM
in reply to: #3154579

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Expert
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Subject: RE: science ? - trapped miners ordeal
all that radon down there warms things up.
2010-10-15 1:09 PM
in reply to: #3153706

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Elite
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Subject: RE: science ? - trapped miners ordeal

Aunt Bootygirl is an economic geologist and you ask CoJ? 

Depth is one factor, as explained above.  Additionally, if the ore is high in sulfide minerals, the oxidation of these minerals is exothermic, meaning it produces heat when it is exposed to air and water and begins to "rust". 

2010-10-15 1:09 PM
in reply to: #3153757

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Regular
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Maynard, MA
Subject: RE: science ? - trapped miners ordeal
McFuzz - 2010-10-15 8:31 AM From 5' below surface to a couple hundred feet below surface, the ground temperature is the same as the average temperature throughout the year.  (Mammoth cave in Kentucky averages about 56F while Eagle Cave in Wisconsin is closer to 52F and Carlsbad Cavern in New Mexico about 63F.)  Once you start getting deeper, you start getting closer to the the earth's core and the temperatures start to rise.  They were 2000 feet below the surface. 



This is true and you have 33 people in a very small in-closed space about 500 square feet.  And each one generates heat.  So it's like being in a small room with a lot of people.

2010-10-15 1:23 PM
in reply to: #3153706

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Elite
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Spokane, WA
Subject: RE: science ? - trapped miners ordeal

The closer you get to Hell, the warmer it gets.

2010-10-15 1:29 PM
in reply to: #3153706

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Champion
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Albuquerque, New Mexico
Subject: RE: science ? - trapped miners ordeal

I had a chance to poke around a bit more (not like the budget meeting was productive...)

Typical gradients for the earth's crust are 10-50C/Km depending on surface temperature and the thickness of the crust.  Obviously, places like Yellowstone with a really thin crust have pretty steep gradients. 

2010-10-15 1:29 PM
in reply to: #3154584

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Master
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Beijing
Subject: RE: science ? - trapped miners ordeal
menglo - 2010-10-14 1:48 PM
McFuzz - 2010-10-15 7:31 AM From 5' below surface to a couple hundred feet below surface, the ground temperature is the same as the average temperature throughout the year.  (Mammoth cave in Kentucky averages about 56F while Eagle Cave in Wisconsin is closer to 52F and Carlsbad Cavern in New Mexico about 63F.)  Once you start getting deeper, you start getting closer to the the earth's core and the temperatures start to rise.  They were 2000 feet below the surface. 


As some bonus knowledge...

This is how Geothermal heating/cooling works...  You circulate water that is either warm from the ground (when its cold) or cool when its warm!



Kind of.   Near the end of heating season, the water entering my geothermal system is close to freezing.    Most systems will work until the water coming in is 20F.  (But there's still heat that can be extracted from the water by the heat pump)  
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