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re: Roof collapse at Cargill Salt Mine ; Two men dead (identity’s in post)
Posted on 12/14/20 at 12:57 pm to JDGTiger
Posted on 12/14/20 at 12:57 pm to JDGTiger
Serious question ...
Why wouldnt the equipment rust in an extremely salty environment, but rapidly degrade when returned to the surface?
I imagine it must be because of moisture/humidity controls that the mines have in place, but don't know that for a fact.
The electrolyte (salt) is abundantly present, I'm assuming the oxygen content of the air in the mine is the same or similar to on the surface. That leaves the moisture component of corrosion, I think.
Why wouldnt the equipment rust in an extremely salty environment, but rapidly degrade when returned to the surface?
I imagine it must be because of moisture/humidity controls that the mines have in place, but don't know that for a fact.
The electrolyte (salt) is abundantly present, I'm assuming the oxygen content of the air in the mine is the same or similar to on the surface. That leaves the moisture component of corrosion, I think.
3
Posted on 12/14/20 at 1:26 pm to White Roach
There is very little moisture down there.
I remember seeing a GMC pickup in the mine I was in that was 30 years old. You could see the welds on the quarter panels and stuff where they welded it back together after it came down the shaft.
The mine I went in was United Salt's mine near Houston. The shaft was really small--maybe 10 by 10 plus the space for salt elevators and air handling. It was small enough they had to cut up that pick to send it down.
It is amazing the equipment has such little corrosion at the bottom of the shaft.
I remember seeing a GMC pickup in the mine I was in that was 30 years old. You could see the welds on the quarter panels and stuff where they welded it back together after it came down the shaft.
The mine I went in was United Salt's mine near Houston. The shaft was really small--maybe 10 by 10 plus the space for salt elevators and air handling. It was small enough they had to cut up that pick to send it down.
It is amazing the equipment has such little corrosion at the bottom of the shaft.
This post was edited on 12/14/20 at 1:28 pm
Posted on 12/14/20 at 2:56 pm to White Roach
quote:
The electrolyte (salt) is abundantly present
I believe the salt needs water to become an electrolyte. No water = no corrosion. My guess is that the humidity in a salt mine is incredibly low. My guess again is that The solid salt minerals act as a desiccant to the air in the mine, keeping it very dry.
Posted on 12/14/20 at 3:18 pm to White Roach
quote:
Serious question ...
Why wouldnt the equipment rust in an extremely salty environment, but rapidly degrade when returned to the surface?
I imagine it must be because of moisture/humidity controls that the mines have in place, but don't know that for a fact.
The lack of moisture down there keeps it from rusting, but it's also why any equipment that goes down in the mine stays down there. The moment it comes back topside it turns into a pile of rust.
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