Categories: Cornett's Corner

May M/NM Mining Disasters

It is a good time to remind people of Sunshine (the tragedy that could have been prevented, and that caused MESA to shift from Interior to labor, and become MSHA). And maybe a prayer for all miners. A little history with it. The Sunshine event brought about M/NM regulations in the 1977 Act. As a result of Scotia and Sunshine, what used to be MESA (Mine Enforcement and Safety Administration) under the Department of Interior was changed to our current day MSHA under the Department of Labor. Sunshine was the second largest M/NM disaster in mining history.

In the morning of May 2, 1972, a fire broke out in the Sunshine Mine. According to the US Mine Rescue Association, 91 workers died from smoke inhalation or carbon monoxide poisoning; 83 men were rescued, 81 on May 2 and two on May 9. The mine was closed for seven months after the fire, which was one of the worst mining disasters in American history and is the worst disaster in Idaho’s history.

46 years ago.

You Are My Sunshine

M-NM-By-Specific-Month-Qry
DATE	MONTH	STATE	LOCATION	MINE NAME	MINE TYPE	DISASTER TYPE	FATALITIES
5/30/1874	5	AZ	Amador, CA	Amador	Gold	Fall of Cage	5
5/3/1884	5	NY	Gouverneur, NY	Gouverneur	Marble	Cage Fall	6
5/14/1893	5	MI	Calumet, MI	Red Jacket Shaft	Copper	Hoisting	10
5/12/1905	5	MT	Butte, MT	Cora	Copper	Explosion	7
5/5/1911	5	MI	Negaunee, MI	Hartford-Cambria Mine #2	Iron	Fire	7
5/13/1912	5	MI	Ironwood, MI	Norrie	Iron	Cave In	7
5/17/1930	5	WV	Union, WV	Terry & Butterskill Quarry	Rock	Blasting	6
5/15/1970	5	WA	Stevens Cnty, WA	Silver Eagle Mine	Silver	Asphyxiation	3
5/2/1972	5	ID	Kellogg, ID	Sunshine Mining Co	Silver	Fire	91
5/10/1982	5	AZ	Superior, AZ	Magma	Copper	Roof Fall	3