Some very hot rocks.

[The Hedgehog]

I almost stepped into this one in 2015. Ive seen a few that had glowing red lava looking coal burning. I’m surprised there are not more fires than there actually are in some places in MT with coal seams..

I was dropping branches into this one and it was so hot they would just poof - gone.

 

[The Hedgehog]

Poof gone - like this..

 

[BrentD]

Spontaneous combustion. As the coal dries out and is exposed to oxygen the pyrite found in it oxidizes and generates heat catching on fire. Some coal has more pyrite than others. Western coal has much less than eastern coal (not as old) Rocks with high sulfide content can also catch fire.

Seriously!?!? Dang, I learned something today, after all. Thanks!

 

[GoGriz]

That is crazy! Is it obvious when you are near one, or can you walk right up on one without seeing or smelling anything?

 

[Cheese Curd]

The burning coal seams cook the surrounding sedimentary rocks resulting in more resistant reddish rocks like the hills in Campbell County Wy and surrounding area.

 

[antlerradar]

That is crazy! Is it obvious when you are near one, or can you walk right up on one without seeing or smelling anything?

Usually the ground is slumping above the coal seam. If you are down wind you will smell them and on cold days with humidity often there will be a plume of steam.

 

[antlerradar]

The burning coal seams cook the surrounding sedimentary rocks resulting in more resistant reddish rocks like the hills in Campbell County Wy and surrounding area.

Same on much of the Custer. Some times the rocks get so hot they melt and other times the rocks trap so many gas bubbles that the resulting rock will float in water.

 

[okie archer]

I have never heard of this, pretty amazing.

 

[Werty]

I learned something new too!

 

[COEngineer]

Hope you peed on that could be a long fire season.

I once peed on a charcoal grill to put it out. I don't recommend it. The people standing downwind did not appreciate the smell and dodging beer bottles with my pants down was not fun.

 

[antlerradar]

About a month ago I helped two guys that were mapping burning coal seams with a drone. This one maxed out the infrared thermometer on the drone at 950 degrees.
Finally got up there last week to check it out. A large amount of the hill side has slumped away and exposed this glowing 12 foot long crack.
Still no sleestaks. Ben

 

[Hem]

Revived thread....fascinating. Never have even heard of such .

 

[EYJONAS!]

That's pretty awesome Art!

 

[Hem]

What is a sleestak? @antlerradar

 

[Dave N]

What is a sleestak? @antlerradar

If you aren't old enough you may be "lost".

 

[Hem]

If you aren't old enough you may be "lost".

Helpful...thanks.

 

[Dave N]

Helpful...thanks.

Old morning live cartoon type show called Land of the Lost. Sleestaks were slow lizard creatures.

 

[BrentD]

If you aren't old enough you may be "lost".

I'm more than old enough and I had to goog it. Needless to say, pop culture is not my Forte.

I'm good with that.

 

[antlerradar]

I'm more than old enough and I had to goog it. Needless to say, pop culture is not my Forte.

I'm good with that.

I had to google the first time @Ben Lamb asked too. I do remember Land of the Lost, but it was not high on the to watch list.

 

[Keep on]

The western coals, lignite and subbituminous are the easiest to self ignite. They have higher moisture and volatile levels.
Not that bituminous and anthracite won't do it, we get some coal pile fires every so often at the plant. The fire in Centralia PA was started from a trash burn near a seam than was under the dump.
The town is pretty much gone now, it was eerie to drive through that town in the 80's.