Air quality monitor

OP
OP
Rail Dawg

Rail Dawg

Sr. Member
Oct 11, 2015
491
890
Northern Nevada
Detector(s) used
MineLab GPZ 7000
Garrett ATX Pro
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
A ABSOLUTE MUST when going under ground!!!


You bet. Trying to get the best one made specifically for mining.

We are prospecting in areas with numerous old mines and are well aware the risks in going inside.

Definitely want an air monitor that can be trusted.
 

OP
OP
Rail Dawg

Rail Dawg

Sr. Member
Oct 11, 2015
491
890
Northern Nevada
Detector(s) used
MineLab GPZ 7000
Garrett ATX Pro
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
Being serious though, be sure to spend to get the best. No joke going into old mines.


Checking out the ALTAIR 5X Multigas Detector.

Detects combustible gases in LEL and/or volume percentage range, oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, ammonia, chlorine, VOCs, and many others depending upon sensor configuration.

Is this overkill for precious metals mines?

Thanks.
 

Mudflap

Bronze Member
Mar 31, 2012
1,312
1,655
Wallingford, Connecticut 1667
Detector(s) used
Whites MXT, Dual Field, CZ-21, Vaquero, Home Brewed (3).
Detecting since 1972.
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Remember the sensors have a limited lifetime and must be changed. Also you need check gas to make sure the sensors are working before use. The meter needs periodic calibration.
 

Mad Machinist

Silver Member
Aug 18, 2010
3,147
4,686
Southeast Arizona
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
Checking out the ALTAIR 5X Multigas Detector.

Detects combustible gases in LEL and/or volume percentage range, oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, ammonia, chlorine, VOCs, and many others depending upon sensor configuration.

Is this overkill for precious metals mines?

Thanks.

Is doing whatever you can to protect yourself overkill?
 

OP
OP
Rail Dawg

Rail Dawg

Sr. Member
Oct 11, 2015
491
890
Northern Nevada
Detector(s) used
MineLab GPZ 7000
Garrett ATX Pro
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
Is doing whatever you can to protect yourself overkill?


Good point.

There is also an ALTAIR 4X which tetects O2, CO, H2S, SO2 and NO2. It’s much cheaper than the ALTAIR 5X.

Some of the poison/combustible gases are related only to coal mining so we may not need the 5X.

Am curious what sensors are needed just for hard-rock mining.

Thanks!
 

RobertF

Jr. Member
Jan 19, 2011
76
129
Bakersfield, CA
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
You're pretty much good with any four gas detector from a reliable brand like MSA or Honeywell. Those companies don't mess around, too much liability in making a bad product.
 

hvacker

Bronze Member
Aug 18, 2012
2,357
1,904
New Mexico USA
Detector(s) used
My Head
Primary Interest:
Other
In caves, the gas most common problem gas is CO2 carbon dioxide. In caves it displaces oxygen.
It wouldn't surprise me if mines had similar problems. With CO2 you don't know of a
problem until your dizzy. A bit like CO Carbon monoxide.
When Gold Fever was on, he ran into a mine with bad gas a couple times but he didn't ID the gas.

I had testers for CO and they needed sensor replacement every year.
One I installed at a processing plant had a test gas for calibration that came with it..
 

N-Lionberger

Bronze Member
Dec 1, 2013
1,365
1,960
Arcata, California
Detector(s) used
Fisher 1212-x
Fisher Gold Bug 2
Whites 4900/SP3
Dowsing rods
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
I had a person some of you may know in the Auburn area that I asked this same question, this person recommended using a blood oxygen meter, the type that clips on your finger to check for gas..... That's one of the wildest things I have heard, this same person tried to sell me a 3" footvalve for my Keene 3x4 pump LOL!
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Top