Mainly as a result of the finding of the enquiry into the Whitehaven Colliery Explosion (1931), the present research was commenced to investigate the reaons for the incombustible dust binding in the mine and the circumstances in which a similar condition might exist. The genral physical properties and characteristics of the more common incombustible dusts used in coal mines were therefore examined and their reaction to changes of temperature, humidity, and added moisture investigated. Since there is a difference int he looseness of dusts, as well as a marked balling tendency in some dusts, methods of measuring their cloud forming properties were studied together with the effect of fineness and moisture content on these properties. Other problems directly connected with incombustible dusts and their use in mines were also investigated and the results are presented in the following series of papers
