Miners Used To Rely On What Animal To Detect Dangerous Gases?

Indigenous effigy made from coal in the form of a bison

Early indigenous people transform coal found in seams in foothills and mountain regions into effigies.

Most of the effigies draw bison, ordinarily cows, with tongues out, indicating either running or beingness in labour. The specimens have all suffered damage from ploughing but are still remarkable and authentic anatomical reproductions of bison.
Source: Royal Alberta Museum

First record of coal in Alberta, Peter Fidler's Journey page

The presence of coal in Alberta is first recorded past a European explorer.

In the Feb 12, 1793, entry of "Journal of a Journey over Land from Buckingham Business firm to the Rocky Mountains in 1792 & 3 by Peter Fidler," Fidler describes his coal discovery.
Source: Hudson's Bay Visitor Archives, Archives of Manitoba, E.3-2 fo.30

First commercial coal mine in Alberta, Sheran mine in Glenbow, Edmonton, 1948

The first commercial coal mine begins operation virtually present-day Lethbridge, Alberta.

Nicholas Sheran's mine, 1881
Source: Glenbow Archives, NA-1948-ii

First large-scale commercial coal mine in Alberta. Nicholas Sheran's mine, 1885

The first big-scale commercial mine begins production in Alberta.

The entrance to Galt Drift Mine No. 1 in 1885 nearly nowadays-day Lethbridge; Sir Alexander Galt establishes the mine to exploit the region's abundant coal deposits. Galt as well establishes the North Western Coal and Navigation Company in the aforementioned year to supply coal to the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Source: Glenbow Archives, NA-3188-43

A view of International Coal and Coke Company at Coleman in the Crowsnest Pass, ca. 1912

Coal mining begins in the Crowsnest Pass region of Alberta.

A view of International Coal and Coke Visitor at Coleman in the Crowsnest Pass, ca. 1912, eleven years after production started; the region yields a high book of industrial steam coal.
Source: Image courtesy of Peel's Prairie Provinces, a digital initiative of the Academy of Alberta Libraries, PC003325

Coal Branch mines open southwest of Edson, Alberta.

Mountain Park Station, Mountain Park, Alberta, ca. 1920-1923; small mining had begun in the Coal Branch virtually 1909, but afterwards 1910 the arrival of the railway opened upward the region to large-scale mining. Mountain Park appears to have been the kickoff major customs to grow, reaching a population of well-nigh 330 past the early 1920s.
Source: Provincial Archives of Alberta, CL26

Pit ponies pulling loaded coal-filled wooden mine cars underground at Newcastle Mine in 1914

Offset big commercial mine in Drumheller starts production.

Horses pull coal-filled wooden mine cars underground at Newcastle Mine in 1914, three years after Newcastle opened in Drumheller.
Source: Provincial Archives of Alberta, A6152

Alberta'southward deadliest coal mine disaster occurs at Hillcrest, Alberta.

An initial gas explosion triggers a larger coal dust explosion, killing 189 miners. The initial fatalities estimate reported in the Edmonton Capital newspaper on June xix, 1914, was subsequently revised.
Source: Epitome courtesy of Peel's Prairie Provinces, a digital initiative of the University of Alberta Libraries, Ar00113

Strikers from One Big Union (OBU) at Drumheller, Alberta, in 1919

Price of living rises by 65% since onset of World War I in 1914, contributing to coal industry labour unrest and heightened spousal relationship activity.

Strikers from the 1 Big Union (OBU) at Drumheller, Alberta, in 1919; the union forms afterward labour workers broke away from the United Mine Workers Association union. Miners are drawn to the OBU because of the deepening economical crisis.
Source: Glenbow Archives, NA-2513-1

Newcastle Mine in the Drumheller mining district of the province after ten years of expansion in 1921

The province is divided into xxx-two coal mining districts as the manufacture expands broadly.

Newcastle Mine in the Drumheller mining district after 10 years of expansion, 1921; Drumheller is one of thirty-two districts created to facilitate keeping track of the booming industry's developments, inspections and infrastructure requirements.
Source: Provincial Archives of Alberta, A6081

The 2d World War begins to revive Alberta'due south economic system and coal industry, which had declined during the Groovy Depression.

A view of the booming International Coal and Coke Company Ltd. at Coleman, ca. 1945; increased demand for steam coal during the state of war years led to greater production inside the industry.
Source: Glenbow Athenaeum, NC-54-2930

On February 22, 1947, an issue of The Western Examiner proclaims the discovery of the Imperial Leduc No.1 oil well as the birth of a new Alberta oil field.

The discovery of a major oil eolith at Leduc, Alberta, foreshadows a decline in the province's coal production.

On February 22, 1947, an result of The Western Examiner proclaims the discovery of the Imperial Leduc No.1 oil well every bit the birth of a new Alberta oil field. During the decade after the 1947 discovery, many mines close, and most coal towns decline significantly.
Source: Glenbow Archives, NA-789-lxxx

A heavy-duty truck hauling coal at the Wabamun surface mining operation near the TransAlta Power Plant demonstrates the advanced mechanization propelling Alberta's modernizing coal industry in the 1960s

Big-scale surface mining begins in Alberta virtually Lake Wabamun to fuel a big thermal electric power plant.

A heavy-duty truck hauling coal at the Wabamun surface mining operation near the TransAlta Ability Plant demonstrates the advanced mechanization propelling Alberta's modernizing coal manufacture in the 1960s.
Source: Provincial Athenaeum of Alberta, gr1989.0516.1088#1

The concluding mine in Edmonton'southward river valley closes.

The Whitemud Creek Mine in Edmonton's river valley in 1968; this operation is the terminal of Edmonton's coal mines to close in 1970. At this time, the mine continues to rely on horses to haul coal to its opening.
Source: City of Edmonton Archives, EA-20-4998

Atlas Mine in Drumheller Valley after restoration.

Drumheller Valley and Canmore mines close later decades in performance.

The Atlas Mine in Drumheller stops production in 1979 and officially closes in 1984. The large construction is the last wooden tipple standing in Canada. The mine is a Provincial Historic Resource, a National Historic Site of Canada and ane of the region's star attractions.
Source: Courtesy of Sue Sabrowski and the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology

Mining almost Forestburg ends after more than seventy years.

The retired Marion 360 Stripping Shovel at the Diplomat Mine site near Forestburg, Alberta; the interpretive site is a Provincial Historic Resource and Canada's only surface coal mining museum. The kind of big-calibration surface mining conducted near Forestburg requires massive equipment such equally the Marion 360.
Source: Diplomat Mine Interpretive Site

Wabamun coal-fired power plant is retired and demolished after almost fifty years in operation.

The Wabamun power plant in the final stages before destruction; it had begun generating electricity in 1962 by burning coal mined at big-scale surface operations near Wabamun Lake. The planned closure of the institute is featured in an Edmonton Journal article on April 2, 2010.
Source: Edmonton Journal

Source: http://history.alberta.ca/energyheritage/coal/the-early-development-of-the-coal-industry-1874-1914/early-methods-and-technology/canaries-in-the-coal-mine.aspx

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