Characteristics of strata movement and method for runoff disaster management for shallow multiseam mining in gully regions: A case study

Abstract

Multiseam mining in gully regions has resulted in severe and complex disaster chains, including crack development, mountain landslides, river blockage, and intensified mine water inflow. To prevent and control water inrush disasters, it is imperative to investigate the characteristics and mechanizations of overburden failure under the combined effect of gully terrain and repeated mining in coal seams. This study takes multiseam mining within the gully region of the Xiqu Coal Mine as a case study. The comprehensive analytical method that integrates surface exploration, Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) measurement, numerical simulation, and rainfall-runoff analysis, is used to anatomize the entire process of overburden failure induced by downward multiseam mining and the accumulation process of runoff in the gully region. The results reveal that compared to single-seam mining activities, repeated mining and the occurrence of key stratum (KS) structure failure triggered the comprehensive subsidence of the interburden, producing a cutting-type fracture and stepped subsidence, while the overburden exhibited severe damage. Compared to gentle surface topography, gully slopes are prone to shear sliding under the effects of mining subsidence and gravity, resulting in the connection of the downward cracks of the slope and the upward cracks of the overburden. In addition, if the accumulation formed by gully landslides due to repeated mining blocks the river channel and forms a barrier lake during the flood season, it may cause a surge in underground water. High-precision terrain synthesized by UAV tilt photogrammetry is used to simulate the rainfall inundation range and time of different durations during the “100-year return period” rainstorm in the study area. This study proposes a zoning prevention and control method for surface runoff disasters based upon the characteristics of surface deformation and surface inundation time; this method involves filling surface cracks in runoff areas and submerged and crack development areas, implementing slope cutting and control in potential landslide areas, and strengthening the riverbed in submerged and maximum settlement areas.