Abstract
As one of the largest coal-rich provinces in China, Shanxi has extensive underground coal-mining operations. These operations have caused numerous ground cracks and substantial environmental damage. To study the main geological and mining factors influencing mining-related ground cracks in Shanxi, a detailed investigation was conducted on 13 mining-induced surface cracks in Shanxi. Based on the results, the degrees of damage at the study sites were empirically classified into serious, moderate, and minor, and the influential geological and mining factors (e.g., proportions of loess and sandstone in the mining depth, ratio of rock thickness to mining thickness, and ground slope) were discussed. According to the analysis results, three factors (proportion of loess, ratio of rock thickness to mining thickness, and ground slope) play a decisive role in ground cracks and can be respectively considered as the critical material, mechanical, and geometric conditions for the occurrence of mining surface disasters. Together, these three factors have a strong influence on the occurrence of serious discontinuous ground deformation. The results can be applied to help prevent and control ground damage caused by coal mining. The findings also provide a direct reference for predicting and eliminating hidden ground hazards in mining areas.
Highlights
As the main component of China’s energy structure, coal resources play an important role in the national economy
To study the main geological and mining factors influencing mining-related ground cracks in Shanxi, a detailed investigation was conducted on 13 mining-induced surface cracks in Shanxi
We investigated 13 ground cracks caused by underground coal mining in Shanxi Province
Summary
As the main component of China’s energy structure, coal resources play an important role in the national economy. The main ground disasters caused by coal mining include surface subsidence, landslides, cracks, steps, and collapse pits. Field investigation and statistical analysis were employed to evaluate discontinuous surface deformation caused by high-intensity mining in the Shendong mining area and mine-sand bulge disaster (Yan et al 2018). These studies indicate that natural disasters have been systematically monitored from three aspects: space, sky and wireless sensor networks. The assessment of ground steps, cracks, and other forms of damage caused by underground mining still depends on ground monitoring methods, including field investigation, statistical analysis, and conventional measurement.
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