ASTM D4596-99

Standard Practice for Collection of Channel Samples of Coal in a Mine

SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes procedures for collecting a coal sample from a channel extending from top to bottom in the face of a coal seam in a mine.  
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific precautionary information, see Note 2.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard; inch-pound units, which are provided for information, are approximations.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Apr-1999
• ICS: 73.040 - Coals
• Technical Committee: D05 - Coal and Coke

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D4596-99(2004) - Standard Practice for Collection of Channel Samples of Coal in a Mine
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D2797/D2797M-21a - Standard Practice for Preparing Coal Samples for Microscopical Analysis by Reflected Light
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999
• Referred By: ASTM D3176-15 - Standard Practice for Ultimate Analysis of Coal and Coke
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999
• Referred By: ASTM D1412/D1412M-20 - Standard Test Method for Equilibrium Moisture of Coal at 96 to 97 Percent Relative Humidity and 30 °C
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999
• Referred By: ASTM D388-23 - Standard Classification of Coals by Rank
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999
• Referred By: ASTM D3172-13(2021)e1 - Standard Practice for Proximate Analysis of Coal and Coke
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999
• Referred By: ASTM D5192/D5192M-22 - Standard Practice for Collection of Coal Samples from Core
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999
• Referred By: ASTM D6796-21e1 - Standard Practice for Production of Coal, Coke and Coal Combustion Samples for Interlaboratory Studies
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999
• Referred By: ASTM D5671-20 - Standard Practice for Polishing and Etching Coal Samples for Microscopical Analysis by Reflected Light
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1999

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D 4596 – 99
Standard Practice for
1
Collection of Channel Samples of Coal in a Mine
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4596; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope evaluation of coal quality and characterization for commercial
evaluations, for planning of mining operations to maintain coal
1.1 This practice describes procedures for collecting a coal
quality, for the determination of coal rank in accordance with
sample from a channel extending from top to bottom in the face
Classification D 388, and for geologic coal resource studies.
of a coal seam in a mine.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
NOTE 1—Because of the potential for lateral variability, a sample may
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
not represent the quality of the coal bed at another sample point. The
reliability of the data generated from channel samples is dependent on the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
number and spacing of the sample points and the variability of the coal
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
characteristics in a given area.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific
NOTE 2—Sampling of the mine product for these purposes is unsatis-
precautionary information, see Note 2.
factory because of contamination of the product with out-of-seam mate-
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
rial, selective mining of parts of a seam, inability to obtain samples from
standard; inch-pound units, which are provided for informa-
one or more specific locations in the mine, or other incompatibility of the
tion, are approximations. purpose of sampling with the mining practice. Conversely, channel
samples should not be used for evaluation of the quality of commercial
2. Referenced Documents
shipments of the mine product, which should be sampled in accordance
with Methods D 2234.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2
D 121 Terminology of Coal and Coke
5. Apparatus
2
D 388 Classification of Coals by Rank
5.1 Steel Measuring Tape, not less than3m(8ft) long.
2
D 2234 Practice for Collection of a Gross Sample of Coal
5.2 Miner’s Pick or Similar Tool, with file for sharpening.
D 2796 Definitions of Terms Relating to Megascopic De-
Other devices may be used such as a pneumatically operated
scription of Coal and Coal Seams and Microscopical
chain saw with tungsten carbide teeth.
3
Description and Analysis of Coal
5.3 Brush or Broom, for removing loose particles on the
D 4371 Test Method for Determining the Washability Char-
coal face.
2
acteristics of Coal
5.4 Chalk.
5.5 Sample Containers With Closures—If the sample is to
3. Summary of Practice
be used for determination of inherent moisture, the container
3.1 At selected sites in the mine the face of the seam is
shall be such that less than 0.05 % of the sample weight is lost
cleaned of weathered coal and debris and the face is evened. A
between the time of sealing the container with sample and the
channel of uniform horizontal cross section is cut from the coal
time of opening for preparation of the sample for analysis.
seam and the coal therefrom is collected for analysis and
Steel airtight containers with polyethylene bag liners have been
testing.
found to be satisfactory for this purpose. For other purposes,
bags made of a strong cloth and lined with a polyethylene bag
4. Significance and Use
may be suitable.
4.1 A properly collected face channel sample that includes
5.6 Ground Cloth—Canvas tarpaulin or heavy-duty plastic
the total coal bed interval provides a sample that is a repre-
sheet about 3 by 3 m (10 by 10 ft). If the purpose of sampling
sentative cross section of the coal bed at the point of sampling.
includes the determination of inherent moisture, the sheet shall
Channel samples are taken for subsequent testing needed for
be of low water solubility and permeability, such as polyeth-
ylene or oilcloth.
1
5.7 Tags and Pen, for sample identification and for marking.
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-5 on Coal and
Coke and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D05.18 on Classification.
5.8 Shovel.
Current edition approved April 10, 1999. Published July 1999. Originally
5.9 Notebook and Pencil, or other means for record keeping.
published as D 4596 – 86. Last previous edition D 4596 – 98.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.05.
3
Discontinued; see 1994 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.05.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 194
...