Kuznetsk Coal Basin Research Articles

Earth Surface Subsidence in the Kuznetsk Coal Basin Caused by Manmade and Natural Seismic Activity According to ALOS PALSAR Interferometry

This paper presents results of a spaceborne radar interferometry technique application for land subsidence observations in a coal mining area in Kuzbass, Russia. Joint analysis of radar interferometry measurements with simultaneous seismic observations shows that the land subsidence is triggered by seismic events, both natural and caused by human underground activity. Surface displacements are linked typically to the boundaries of block structures and correlate with the location of clusters of seismic events.

Utilization of naturally oxidized Kuznetsk Basin coal

The possibility of producing humic materials and sorbents from naturally oxidized coal found in the stripped rock from some Kuznetsk Basin mines is considered. Means of producing ballast-free humic acids are considered.

Basic principles of coal classification by useful quality

The authors introduce the fossil coal classification in terms of useful quality of coal, by using the facet method and the qualimetry principles, in terms of the power-generating coal from the Kuznetsk Coal Basin and coking coal from Southern Yakutia. The new-proposed classification completes the existing classifications on the topic, and describes the full range of coal quality indexes according to a consumer and their significance in the final product quality evaluation.

Hubbert’s theory and the ultimate coal production in temrs of the Kuznetsk Coal Basin

The paper addresses Hubbert’s theory and its applicability to coal production dynamics in terms of the Kuznetsk Coal Basin (Kuzbass). The authors describe and validate the evaluation procedure for ultimate coal production using the lag modeling and the law of ultimate mineral mining efficiency decline, and present preliminary estimates of the ultimate coal production in Kuzbass based on the maximum NPV criterion in the dynamical unconstrained optimization problem.

Paragenesis of unusual Fe-cordierite (sekaninaite)-bearing paralava and clinker from the Kuznetsk coal basin, Siberia, Russia

Sekaninaite (XFe > 0.5)-bearing paralava and clinker are the products of ancient combustion metamorphism in the western part of the Kuznetsk coal basin, Siberia. The combustion metamorphic rocks typically occur as clinker beds and breccias consisting of vitrified sandstone–siltstone clinker fragments cemented by paralava, resulting from hanging-wall collapse above burning coal seams and quenching. Sekaninaite–Fe-cordierite (XFe = 95–45) is associated with tridymite, fayalite, magnetite, ± clinoferrosilite and ±mullite in paralava and with tridymite and mullite in clinker. Unmelted grains of detrital quartz occur in both rocks ( 0.8; sekaninaite and Fe-cordierite occur in rocks with XFe 0.6–0.8, and cordierite (XFe < 0.5) is restricted to rocks with XFe < 0.6. The crystal-chemical formula of an anhydrous sekaninaite based on the refined structure is \( \left| {{\text{K}}_{0.02} } \right|({\text{Fe}}_{1.54}^{2 + } {\text{Mg}}_{0.40} {\text{Mn}}_{0.06} )_{\Upsigma 2.00}^{M} [({\text{Al}}_{1.98} {\text{Fe}}_{0.02}^{2 + } {\text{Si}}_{1.00} )_{\Upsigma 3.00}^{T1} ({\text{Si}}_{3.94} {\text{Al}}_{2.04} {\text{Fe}}_{0.02}^{2 + } )_{\Upsigma 6.00}^{T2} {\text{O}}_{18} ]. \)

On high-armor bothriolepidid placoderms (Pisces, Placodermi, Bothriolepididae) from the Upper Devonian of the southern Ural Mountains and Kuznetsk Coal Basin

The bothriolepidid placoderms Bothriolepis markovskii sp. nov. from the southern Ural Mountains and Bothriolepididae gen. et sp. indet. from the Kuznetsk Coal Basin are described. The new species from the southern Ural Mountains has a high dorsal crest, resembling in this character Scottish B. cristata Traquair, Australian B. gippslandiensis Hills and B. cullodenensis Long, and B. heckeri Luksevics from the Novgorod Region. The bothriolepidid from the Kuznetsk Coal Basin is similar to Bothriolepis from central Poland and Livnolepis from European Russia. The new finds expand the diversity and distribution of crested bothriolepidid antiarchs. Apparently, the high bone dorsal crest developed in parallel in the exoskeleton of different both-riolepidid groups.

Radioactivity of coal and ash

The radioactivity of Kuznetsk Basin coal and ash is considered, in relation to other regions.

Fayalite from Fe-rich paralavas of ancient coal fires in the Kuzbass, Russia

Fayalite is a common mineral of Fe-rich paralavas related to spontaneous combustion of coal seams. Fayalite has also been found in parabasalts from burned coal waste piles of the Chelyabinsk coal basin. Among paralavas from different combustion metamorphic (CM) complexes of the world, fayalite is the most widespread in the fused rocks of the Kuznetsk coal basin (Kuzbass) and the Ravat area in Tajikistan. The optimal conditions for fayalite formation as products of coal fires in the Kuzbass and Ravat resulted from a favorable combination of the composition of fused protolith (parental rocks) composed of pelitic and Fe-rich sediments and the redox conditions of the deep subsurface (\( f_{O_2 } \) is lower than the QFM buffer). In the Kuzbass, fayalite is commonly hosted in high-silica aluminous Fe-rich paralavas composed of Fe-cordierite (sekaninaite), tridymite, hercynite-magnetite, cristobalite, aluminous clinoferrosilite, and Al-K silicic glass. The composition of all Kuzbass fayalites is close to the Fe2SiO4 end member. Kuzbass fayalites are characterized by a negligibly low CaO content and higher MnO and P2O5 contents like fayalites from burned rocks of other CM complexes. In Kuzbass paralavas, Fe-olivine is the late phase that crystallized after sekaninaite and tridymite, immediately before melt quenching.

Similarities of Chinese smoked coal and Kuznetsk Basin lean coal

Chinese smoked coal is investigated. It is related to high-metamorphic lean coal. An analogous Kuznetsk Basin coal is T coal from the Krasnogorsk mine in the Tom-Usinsk region. In view of its composition and properties, such Chinese coal may be regarded as a satisfactory source of carbon for many metallurgical processes.

Determining the suitability of coal for semicoking in internally heated vertical furnaces

A method of determining the semicoking products of coal is proposed as a means of evaluating the suitability of the coal for industrial semicoking in an internally heated vertical furnace. As an example, long-flame Kuznetsk Basin coal is evaluated. The method has been adopted at Leninsk-Kuznetsk semicoking plant.

Signature of Cenozoic orogenic movements in combustion metamorphic rocks: mineralogy and geochronology (example of the Salair-Kuznetsk Basin transition)

Cenozoic combustion metamorphic (CM) complexes produced by fossil natural coal fires are widespread at range-basin junctions worldwide. Large-scale fires accompany the initial orogenic phases as fresh coal-bearing strata become drawn into the aeration zone as a result of crustal deformation. In combustion metamorphism, the protolith melts to different degrees either into ferrous basic paralava or in glassy clinker. The melt rocks have a phase composition favorable for 40Ar/ 39Ar dating of ignition coeval with the onset of each episode in Late Cenozoic orogenic events. We suggest an algorithm providing correct 40Ar/ 39Ar age determination of CM rocks followed by well-grounded geological interpretation and test the new approach on melt rocks from the Kuznetsk Coal Basin. Paralava samples were dated by 40Ar/ 39Ar incremental heating and the isotope ratios were corrected for Ca-, Cl-, and K-derived Ar isotopic interferences. The interpretation of age-spectrum results was checked against internal and external criteria. The former were plateau and isochrone ages and the latter included the so-called “couple criterion” and conventional relative ages inferred from geological and stratigraphic evidence. As a result, we distinguished two groups of dates for combustion metamorphic events bracketed between 1.2±0.4 and 0.2±0.3 Ma. The older ages represent rocks in the western edge of the Prokopievsk-Kiselevsk block of the Salair zone and the younger dates correspond to those in its eastern edge. The reported dates record the time when the fault boundaries of the blocks were rejuvenated during recent activity and the block accreted to the Salair orogenic area as a submontane step. The suggested approach to the choice of objects, classification of rocks, and interpretation of 40Ar/ 39Ar spectra is universal and can be practiced in any area of combustion metamorphism.

Gis-technologies for integrated assessment of the productive mining areas

The paper describes the bases of a new application of GIS-technologies for integrated assessment and comparison of the productive mining areas, involving a wide range of mining and technological factors, considering mineral properties, mineral occurrence conditions and geographical advantages of a mineral deposit location. The model capabilities are exemplified by a comparison of technological characteristics of coals, transportation and power supply infrastructure of the productive mining areas at the Kuznetsk Coal Basin.

Application of the directional hydraulic fracturing at Berezovskaya Mine

The paper analyzes the experimental research of the directional hydraulic fracturing applied for weakening of rocks at Berezovskaya Mine (Kuznetsk Coal Basin) in 2005–2006.

New bryozoans (Bryozoa) from the Upper Devonian (Lower Famennian) of the Kuznetsk Basin

New bryozoans from the Upper Devonian (Famennian) of the borderlands of the Kuznetsk Coal Basin are described: Orthopora tomensis sp. nov. and Minussina incrustata sp. nov.

On information-provided monitoring of geodynamic processes in the Kuznetsk Coal Basin in the conditions of highly intensive sub-soil usage

It is shown that formation of hollows in bowels of the Kuznetsk Coal Basin (Kuzbass), induced by opencut and underground mining has reached an intensity of 1.3–1.5 million m3/day. In the conditions of high concentration of mines and open-cuts in small areas, a regional monitoring network is required in view of a generated geomechanical space, hazardous in geodynamic manifestations. A developed information support of this netwoprk is presented, including information models of a geological environment and database obtained from instrumental observations on geomechanical processes. The equations of connection between structural and strength characteristics of rocks, their metamorphization grade and occurrence depth are given for five geological-tectonic zones of the Kuzbass as a way of prediction of their properties.

An approach to development of an information geomechanical structural model of the Kuznetsk coal basin

The geographic information system designed at the Institute of Coal and Coal Chemistry for the Kuznetsk Coal Basin and the non-linear geomechanics researches undertaken at the Institute of Mining has served the basis for analyzing the hierarchical structure of geological faults in the Anzherskiy economic district (Kemerovo Region). The analysis is performed by a new canonical scale for structural-hierarchical representations with base \(\sqrt 2 (A v log_{\sqrt 2 } A \leftrightarrow x v log_{\sqrt 2 } x;A = f(x))\), where A and x are the normalized functionally related values). The recommendations are given on how to utilize the geoinformation system of the Kuznetsk Coal Basin in order to obtain a graphical-analytical representation and a system analysis of experimental geomechanical data.

Peculiarities of Distribution of Gas-Dynamic Manifestations in Mines of the Kuznetsk Coal Basin by Days of the Weekly Cycle

The peculiarities of the origin of gas-dynamic events (rock, coal, and gas outbursts, methane ignition) in the Kuznetsk Basin mines in 1988 – 2004 are analyzed. A review is presented for information on recent accident and injury rate caused by disastrous gas-dynamic manifestations. The effect of bimodal frequency distribution of gas-dynamic events generated by explotion and burning of methane is revealed within a generalized weekly cycle.

The Hydrogeological Conditions in the Kuznetsk Coal Basin and Prediction of Their Changes Caused by Mine Flooding

The hydrogeological conditions of the Kuznetsk Coal Basin (Kuzbass) region are considered. Estimates of the safe yield and natural groundwater resources for this region are given. Better-quality groundwater are shown to be available for public water supply to some localities in Kuzbass. The applicability of mathematical modeling to forecasting the changes in the hydrogeological conditions caused by flooding of unprofitable mines is discussed.

New methods of extinguishing spontaneous fires in mines of the kuznetsk coal basin

New methods of extinguishing spontaneous fires in mines of the kuznetsk coal basin