Height of Water-Conducting Fractured Zone with Coal Mining in Loess Covered Area

Abstract

Loess covered areas in China are short of water resources, but yet contain abundant coal resources. Height of the Water-Conducting Fractured Zone (WCFZ) is an important index for protecting water resources and the ecological environment. Using the geological conditions of the Zhangjiamao coal mine, Yushen mining area, China, a series of in-situ testing methods were used to observe the height of WCFZ in coal mining face. Then, a physical simulation was conducted to determine the developing process of WCFZ. Finally, the single factor and multi factor statistical analysis of the height of WCFZ was performed based upon the collected data. The results show that height of WCFZ is mainly controlled by mining height, followed by bedrock and loess overlying the coal seam, which includes thick bedrock-thick loess type (I), thick bedrock-thin loess type (II), thin bedrock-thin loess type (III), and thin bedrock- thick loess type (IV). This study provides support for the sustainable development of coal mining in the loess covered area.