Mitigating mine subsidence dynamically to minimise impacts on farmland and water resources: a case study

Abstract

Subsidence related to underground mining can negatively impact farmland and water resources. This paper has developed dynamic subsidence reclamation (DSR-reclamation concurrent with mining) approaches to minimise these impacts and are illustrated using a case study in China. Two reclamation plans using DSR and traditional reclamation (TR-reclamation upon completion of all mining) approaches were designed respectively. Then farmland utilisation, water resources development and cost-benefit analyses were performed for the two sets of plans. The results show that farmland and water resource utilisation by DSR is larger than TR throughout the mining period. Farmland utilisation by DSR increased as much as 12.94%. Similarly, final water volume by DSR was 15.01% more than TR. The total revenue using DSR increased by 24.17% as compared with TR over a ten year period. So, DSR can be a very positive and cost effective approach for protection of farmland and water resources.