Assessment of Sinkhole Hazard in the Area of Shallow Mining Workings Using Electrical Resistivity Tomography

Roman Ścigała,Marek Jendryś,Grzegorz Dyduch,Katarzyna Szafulera,Stanisław Duży,Marek Kruczkowski

doi:10.3390/en14248197

Roman Ścigała, Marek Jendryś + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/en14248197

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Journal: Energies	Publication Date: Dec 7, 2021
Citations: 1	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Silesian University of Technology

Abstract

This paper presents the results of investigating shallow rock mass layers with the use of electrical resistivity tomography. The aim of the study was to assess the condition of near-surface rock mass layers located above shallow mining workings of a historical mine in view of the possibility of the occurrence of loose zones or possible voids that could pose a sinkhole hazard for the surface. The study was carried out under the conditions of the “Sztygarka” Training Mine and Museum in Dąbrowa Górnicza City (Upper Silesian Coal Basin, Poland), where discontinuous surface deformations occurred in the past in the form of sinkholes. The study and its interpretation indicate the existence of a sinkhole hazard due to the ongoing processes of the transformation of the near-surface rock mass layers above the shallow workings of a historical mine.

Highlights

Introduction conditions of the Creative CommonsThe transformation processes, ongoing around the world and especially in Europe towards a modern zero-carbon economy, are leading to a reduction in the fossil fuel exploitation in the mining industry
The problem of the continuous deformations related to the direct impact of the current exploitation disappears relatively quickly [6,7,8], one of the possible long-term dangers is the discontinuous deformation hazard, which may take the form of linear deformations [9,10] or surface deformations [2,11,12,13]
A few sinkholes formed on the surface in this area, so it was important from a public safety point of view to assess the present state of the hazard in a way that would be non-destructive for the elements of surface urban development

Summary

Introduction

Introduction conditions of the Creative CommonsThe transformation processes, ongoing around the world and especially in Europe towards a modern zero-carbon economy, are leading to a reduction in the fossil fuel exploitation in the mining industry. The problem of the continuous deformations related to the direct impact of the current exploitation disappears relatively quickly [6,7,8], one of the possible long-term dangers is the discontinuous deformation hazard, which may take the form of linear deformations (ground steps, fissures) [9,10] or surface deformations (sinkholes—Figure 1) [2,11,12,13]. The objective of this study was to determine the sinkhole creation hazard due to the existence of the shallow underground workings of the historical industrial objects of former training mine presently open to the public as touristic attractions. A few sinkholes formed on the surface in this area, so it was important from a public safety point of view to assess the present state of the hazard in a way that would be non-destructive for the elements of surface urban development

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