ASTM_D_4596_-_09_2015.pdf

Designation:D459609(Reapproved 2015)Standard Practice forCollection of Channel Samples of Coal in a Mine1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4596;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This practice describes procedures for collecting a coalsample from a channel extending from top to bottom in the faceof a coal seam in a mine.1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard.No other units of measurement are included in thisstandard.1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.For specificprecautionary information,see Note 2.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D121 Terminology of Coal and CokeD388 Classification of Coals by RankD2234/D2234M Practice for Collection of a Gross Sampleof CoalD2796 Terminology for Megascopic Description of Coaland Coal Seams and Microscopical Description andAnalysis of Coal(Withdrawn 1995)3D4371 Test Method for Determining the Washability Char-acteristics of Coal3.Summary of Practice3.1 At selected sites in the mine the face of the seam iscleaned of weathered coal and debris and the face is evened.Achannel of uniform horizontal cross section is cut from the coalseam and the coal therefrom is collected for analysis andtesting.4.Significance and Use4.1 A properly collected face channel sample that includesthe total coal bed interval provides a sample that is a repre-sentative cross section of the coal bed at the point of sampling.Channel samples are taken for subsequent testing needed forevaluation of coal quality and characterization for commercialevaluations,for planning of mining operations to maintain coalquality,for the determination of coal rank in accordance withClassification D388,and for geologic coal resource studies.NOTE1Because of the potential for lateral variability,a sample maynot represent the quality of the coal bed at another sample point.Thereliability of the data generated from channel samples is dependent on thenumber and spacing of the sample points and the variability of the coalcharacteristics in a given area.NOTE2Sampling of the mine product for these purposes is unsatis-factory because of contamination of the product with out-of-seammaterial,selective mining of parts of a seam,inability to obtain samplesfrom one or more specific locations in the mine,or other incompatibilityof the purpose of sampling with the mining practice.Conversely,channelsamples should not be used for evaluation of the quality of commercialshipments of the mine product,which should be sampled in accordancewith Methods D2234/D2234M.5.Apparatus5.1 Steel Measuring Tape,not less than 3 m(8 ft)long.5.2 Miners Pick or Similar Tool,with file for sharpening.Other devices may be used such as a pneumatically operatedchain saw with tungsten carbide teeth.5.3 Brush or Broom,for removing loose particles on thecoal face.5.4 Chalk.5.5 Sample Containers With ClosuresIf the sample is to beused for determination of inherent moisture,the container shallbe such that less than 0.05%of the sample weight is lostbetween the time of sealing the container with sample and thetime of opening for preparation of the sample for analysis.Steel airtight containers with polyethylene bag liners have been1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D05 on Coal andCoke and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D05.18 on Classification ofCoals.Current edition approved Sept.1,2015.Published September 2015.Originallypublished approved in 1986.Last previous edition approved in 2009 as D4596 09.DOI:10.1520/D4596-09R15.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced onwww.astm.org.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 found to be satisfactory for this purpose.For other purposes,bags made of a strong cloth and lined with a polyethylene bagmay be suitable.5.6 Ground ClothCanvas tarpaulin or heavy-duty plasticsheet about 3 by 3 m(10 by 10 ft).If the purpose of samplingincludes the determination of inherent moisture,the sheet shallbe of low water solubility and permeability,such as polyeth-ylene or oilcloth.5.7 Tags and Pen,for sample identification and for marking.5.8 Shovel.5.9 Notebook and Pencil,or other means for record keeping.6.Planning of Sampling6.1 C