Illinois Compiled Statutes
225 ILCS 705/ - Coal Mining Act.
Article 24 - Rock Dust And Coal Dust

(225 ILCS 705/Art. 24 heading)

(225 ILCS 705/24.01) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 2401)
Sec. 24.01.

Coal dust and other combustible materials shall not be permitted
to accumulate in dangerous quantities in active underground workings of a
mine.

(Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/24.02) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 2402)
Sec. 24.02.

Where underground mining operations raise an excessive amount of
dust into the air, water or water with a wetting agent added to it, or
other effective methods, shall be used to allay the dust at its source.

(Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/24.03) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 2403)
Sec. 24.03.

All underground mines, except those mines or areas of mines in
which the dust is too wet or too high in incombustible content to propagate
an explosion, shall be rock-dusted to within 40 feet of all faces.

(Source: Laws 1955, p. 2012.)

(225 ILCS 705/24.04) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 2404)
Sec. 24.04.

In mines partially rock-dusted or in mines that are required to
start rock-dusting, haulage ways and parallel entries connected thereto by
open crosscuts, shall be rock-dusted. Back entries shall be rock-dusted for
at least 1,000 feet outby the junction with the first active entry. Inby
this junction, the rooms, entries, and crosscuts, shall be rock-dusted.
Rock-dusting shall be started at once and completed as herein provided, and
the mine shall be rock-dusted as it develops and rock-dusting shall be
maintained to the shaft bottom or entrance.

(Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/24.05) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 2405)
Sec. 24.05.

Where rock dust is applied, it shall be distributed upon the
top, floor and sides of all open places and maintained in such quantity
that the incombustible content of the combined coal dust, rock dust and
other dust will not be less than 65%. Where methane is present in any
ventilating current, the 65% of incombustible content of such combined dust
shall be increased 1% for each 0.1% of methane.

(Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/24.06) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 2406)
Sec. 24.06.
All rock dust used shall meet the following specifications:
1. All of the dust shall pass through a 20 mesh sieve, and at least 70%
shall pass through a 200 mesh sieve.
2. The dust shall not contain more than 5% combustible matter, nor more
than 5% free silica. The rock dust should be as light in color as possible.

(Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)