History of chemistry iodine first, but both scientists acknowledged Courtois as the first to isolate the element. In 1815, Humphry Davy invented the Davy lamp, which allowed miners within coal mines to work safely in the presence of flammable gases. There had been many mining explosions caused by firedamp or methane often ignited by open flames of the lamps then used by miners. Davy conceived of using an iron gauze to enclose a lamp's flame, and so prevent the methane burning inside the lamp from passing out to the general atmosphere. Although the idea of the safety lamp had already been demonstrated by
Durham Miners Heritage Centre Durham Miners Heritage Centre The Durham Miners Heritage Centre was a museum, now closed, run by the Durham Miners Heritage Group at Neville's Cross, Durham, England. It had a display of coal mining memorabilia and an exhibition of art. One of the main reasons for the display was to educate the next generation of children about the mining past of County Durham and to give opportunities to research coal mining history, especially local school groups in the area and visitors to the city. The displays included mining pit lamps such as the famous Davy lamp, tools used in the mining