ASTM D4596-09

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

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
A properly collected face channel sample that includes the total coal bed interval provides a sample that is a representative cross section of the coal bed at the point of sampling. Channel samples are taken for subsequent testing needed for evaluation of coal quality and characterization for commercial evaluations, for planning of mining operations to maintain coal quality, for the determination of coal rank in accordance with Classification D 388, and for geologic coal resource studies.  
Note 1—Because of the potential for lateral variability, a sample may 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 number and spacing of the sample points and the variability of the coal characteristics in a given area.  
Note 2—Sampling of the mine product for these purposes is unsatisfactory because of contamination of the product with out-of-seam material, selective mining of parts of a seam, inability to obtain samples from one or more specific locations in the mine, or other incompatibility of the purpose of sampling with the mining practice. Conversely, channel samples should not be used for evaluation of the quality of commercial shipments of the mine product, which should be sampled in accordance with Methods D 2234.
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 concerns, 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. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-May-2009
• ICS: 73.040 - Coals
• Technical Committee: D05 - Coal and Coke

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D4596-08 - Standard Practice for Collection of Channel Samples of Coal in a Mine
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D5192/D5192M-22 - Standard Practice for Collection of Coal Samples from Core
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D388-23 - Standard Classification of Coals by Rank
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D5671-20 - Standard Practice for Polishing and Etching Coal Samples for Microscopical Analysis by Reflected Light
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D3176-15 - Standard Practice for Ultimate Analysis of Coal and Coke
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D3172-13(2021)e1 - Standard Practice for Proximate Analysis of Coal and Coke
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D2797/D2797M-21a - Standard Practice for Preparing Coal Samples for Microscopical Analysis by Reflected Light
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009
• 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: 01-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D6796-21e1 - Standard Practice for Production of Coal, Coke and Coal Combustion Samples for Interlaboratory Studies
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009

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: D4596 − 09
StandardPractice for
1
Collection of Channel Samples of Coal in a Mine
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4596; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope channel of uniform horizontal cross section is cut from the coal
seam and the coal therefrom is collected for analysis and
1.1 This practice describes procedures for collecting a coal
testing.
samplefromachannelextendingfromtoptobottomintheface
of a coal seam in a mine.
4. Significance and Use
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.1 A properly collected face channel sample that includes
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
the total coal bed interval provides a sample that is a repre-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
sentative cross section of the coal bed at the point of sampling.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
Channel samples are taken for subsequent testing needed for
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific
evaluation of coal quality and characterization for commercial
precautionary information, see Note 2.
evaluations, for planning of mining operations to maintain coal
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
quality, for the determination of coal rank in accordance with
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
Classification D388, and for geologic coal resource studies.
standard.
NOTE 1—Because of the potential for lateral variability, a sample may
not represent the quality of the coal bed at another sample point. The
2. Referenced Documents
reliability of the data generated from channel samples is dependent on the
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
number and spacing of the sample points and the variability of the coal
D121 Terminology of Coal and Coke characteristics in a given area.
NOTE 2—Sampling of the mine product for these purposes is unsatis-
D388 Classification of Coals by Rank
factory because of contamination of the product with out-of-seam
D2234/D2234M Practice for Collection of a Gross Sample
material, selective mining of parts of a seam, inability to obtain samples
of Coal
from one or more specific locations in the mine, or other incompatibility
D2796 Terminology for Megascopic Description of Coal
of the purpose of sampling with the mining practice. Conversely, channel
samples should not be used for evaluation of the quality of commercial
and Coal Seams and Microscopical Description and
3
shipments of the mine product, which should be sampled in accordance
Analysis of Coal (Withdrawn 1995)
with Methods D2234/D2234M.
D4371 Test Method for Determining the Washability Char-
acteristics of Coal
5. Apparatus
5.1 Steel Measuring Tape, not less than3m(8ft) long.
3. Summary of Practice
5.2 Miner’s Pick or Similar Tool, with file for sharpening.
3.1 At selected sites in the mine the face of the seam is
Other devices may be used such as a pneumatically operated
cleaned of weathered coal and debris and the face is evened.A
chain saw with tungsten carbide teeth.
1
5.3 Brush or Broom, for removing loose particles on the
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D05 on Coal and
Coke and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D05.18 on Classification of
coal face.
Coals.
5.4 Chalk.
Current edition approved June 1, 2009. Published June 2009. Originally
published approved in 1986. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as D4596 – 08.
5.5 Sample Containers With Closures—Ifthesampleistobe
DOI: 10.1520/D4596-09.
2
used for determination of inherent moisture, the container shall
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
be such that less than 0.05 % of the sample weight is lost
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
between the time of sealing the container with sample and the
the ASTM website.
3 time of opening for preparation of the sample for analysis.
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
www.astm.org. Steelairtightcontainerswithpolyethylenebaglinershavebeen
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4596 − 09
found to be satisfactory for this purpose. For other purposes, 6.3 Sampling for Other Purposes—Variationsinthepurpose
bags made of a strong cloth and lined with a polyethylene bag of sampling and in conditions encount
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:D 4596–08 Designation:D 4596–09
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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. 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 concerns, 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
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 121 Terminology of Coal and Coke
D 388 Classification of Coals by Rank
D 2234/D 2234M Practice for Collection of a Gross Sample of Coal
D 2796 Terminology Relating to Megascopic Description of Coal and Coal Seams and Microscopical Description andAnalysis
3
of Coal
D 4371 Test Method for Determining the Washability Characteristics of Coal
3. Summary of Practice
3.1 At selected sites in the mine the face of the seam is cleaned of weathered coal and debris and the face is evened.Achannel
of uniform horizontal cross section is cut from the coal seam and the coal therefrom is collected for analysis and testing.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 Aproperly collected face channel sample that includes the total coal bed interval provides a sample that is a representative
cross section of the coal bed at the point of sampling. Channel samples are taken for subsequent testing needed for evaluation of
coal quality and characterization for commercial evaluations, for planning of mining operations to maintain coal quality, for the
determination of coal rank in accordance with Classification D 388, and for geologic coal resource studies.
NOTE 1—Because of the potential for lateral variability, a sample may 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 number and spacing of the sample points and the variability of the coal characteristics
in a given area.
NOTE 2—Sampling of the mine product for these purposes is unsatisfactory because of contamination of the product with out-of-seam material,
selective mining of parts of a seam, inability to obtain samples from one or more specific locations in the mine, or other incompatibility of the purpose
of sampling with the mining practice. Conversely, channel samples should not be used for evaluation of the quality of commercial shipments of the mine
product, which should be sampled in accordance with Methods D 2234.
5. Apparatus
5.1 Steel Measuring Tape, not less than3m(8ft) long.
5.2 Miner’s Pick or Similar Tool, with file for sharpening. Other devices may be used such as a pneumatically operated chain
saw with tungsten carbide teeth.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D05 on Coal and Coke and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D05.18 on Classification of Coals.
Current edition approved MayJune 1, 2008.2009. Published May 2008.June 2009. Originally published approved in 1986. Last previous edition approved in 20072008
as D 4596 – 078.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Withdrawn.
3
Withdrawn. The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D 4596–09
5.3 Brush or Broom, for removing loose particles on the coal face.
5.4 Chalk.
5.5 Sample Containers With Closures —If the sample is to be used for determination of inherent moisture, the container shall
be such that less than 0.05 % of the sample weight is lost between the time of sealing the container with sample and the time of
open
...