Dust explosion
![Lab demonstration with burning lycopodium powder](/Images/godic/202501/05/Staubexplosion3234.jpg")
![This traditional diagram shows five requirements for a dust explosion, though only four are technically required; see text](/Images/godic/202501/05/Dust_Explosion_Pentagon.svg3234.png")
![1878 stereograph rendering of the Great Mill Disaster](/Images/godic/202501/05/Washburnamill3234.jpg")
![Mount Mulligan mine disaster in Australia 1921. These cable drums were blown 50 feet (15 m) from their foundations following a coal dust explosion.](/Images/godic/202501/05/MountMulligan3234.jpg")
A dust explosion is the rapid combustion of fine particles suspended in the air, often but not always in an enclosed location. Dust explosions can occur where any dispersed powdered combustible material is present in high enough concentrations in the atmosphere or other oxidizing gaseous medium such as oxygen.