Section of the strata passed through in sinking to the Hutton seam in the Haswell colliery

First foldout plate from the report commissioned by Sir James Graham, Secretary of State, on 'the explosion at the Haswell collieries and on the means of preventing similar accidents'. This report was part of the coroner's inquest which followed the mining accident of September 28 1844. 95 men and boys died in the gas explosion of the coal mine.
Leading geologist Charles Lyell and physicist Michael Faraday were put in charge of the report which concluded that:
- the explosion resulted from coal dust igniting.
- although better ventilation in the shafts might reduce the risk of accidents, the mine had been well equipped.
-the scientists concurred with the verdict of the jury which had exonerated the owners of the Haswell colliery.
The report made further recommendations regarding the structure of mines but closed on a call for better education of the mining workforce so as to equip them with better understanding of the geological strata encountered, the chemical reactions at play.