Northern Coalfield Research Articles

Hydrochemical characterization and health risk assessment of shallow groundwater in a northern coalfield of Anhui Province, China

In a global context, the hydrochemical characteristics of shallow groundwater in coalfields exhibit high degrees of diversity and complexity that are rooted in the intricate interplay of geological variations, diverse climatic conditions, and extensive human activities. The specific types and concentrations of ions, such as Ca2+, Cl−, and NO3−, show stark differences across geographical regions. Given the crucial roles of coalfields as energy suppliers, the potential environmental contamination risks posed by mining activities to groundwater cannot be overlooked as such pollution directly impacts human health and ecological safety. This study focuses on the Huainan coal mining area in northern Anhui Province (China), where shallow groundwater samples were systematically collected and analyzed to determine the hydrochemical characteristics and ascertain the water quality status. By integrating hydrogeochemical analysis techniques with inverse modeling methods, it was revealed that the groundwater in this region is predominantly HCO3-Ca type, exhibiting weak alkaline characteristics. The formation mechanisms are primarily governed by silicate rock weathering and mineral dissolution–precipitation processes, albeit with discernible influences from human activities. PHREEQC simulations were used to further confirm the precipitation tendencies of minerals like calcite, dolomite, and fluorite as well as the significant dissolution characteristics of halite. The inverse modeling pathway analysis reveals specific hydrochemical processes along different paths: paths I and IV are notably dominated by Ca2+ dissolution–precipitation and cation exchange–adsorption processes, whereas paths II and III are closely associated with the precipitation of calcium montmorillonite as well as dissolution of kaolinite, calcite, quartz, and mineral incongruents. Moreover, evaluations based on the entropy-weighted water quality index (EWQI) indicated overall positive trends of the groundwater quality indicators within the Huainan mining area, reflecting the effectiveness of regional water quality management efforts and providing a scientific basis for future water quality protection and improvement strategies. In summary, this study not only deepens our understanding of the groundwater chemistry in the Huainan coal mining area but also underscores the importance of scientifically assessing and managing groundwater resources to address the environmental challenges potentially arising from coal mining activities.

Hydrogeochemical evolution and processes based on multivariable statistical and inverse simulation modeling: A coal mine in the Northern Coalfield, China

ABSTRACT Considering groundwater from the aquifers overlying the bedrock is an important water source for drinking purposes. As such, the investigation of its property is essential. Based on the spatial structure of aquifers in the study area, the aquifers in the Cenozoic strata are divided into three groups. The multivariate statistical approaches are employed to identify the hydrogeochemical processes and hydro-chemical types, and hydrogeochemical inverse modeling is applied to further validate and elucidate the hydrogeochemical process and water–rock interaction. The results are as follows: (1) The hydro-chemical type of the upper aquifer is dominated by the K + Na-HCO3 type, while others have similar water quality types, which are dominated by the K + Na-Cl type and the K + Na-SO4 type. (2) The saturation index of anhydrite, gypsum, halite, and CO2(g) is below zero in three aquifers, indicating that they are unsaturated. While aragonite, calcite, and dolomite in the middle aquifer remain in the unsaturated–saturated state. (3) The cation exchange process accelerating the reduction of Ca2+ concentration and the increase of SO42− concentration occurs in three aquifers, and the dissolution of calcite and dolomite minerals occurs in most cases. This study supports the fundamental evidence for the hydrogeochemical processes and water resource utilization and has a certain practical significance.

Safety aspects of large dragline-operated opencast mines - An overview

The Jayant opencast operation is one of the largest opencast coal mines in India. Prior to 2008 the mine experienced a number of dragline dump failures, which was a major hindrance in sustaining production. Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) and the mine management engaged several design, research, and academic institutions to carry out dump slope stability studies, particularly of dragline dumps. Birla Institute of Technology prepared a report on the investigations in May 2009. In this paper we review the findings of the report and the measures taken to tackle the safety aspects of dragline dumps.

Deformation and fracture at floor area and the correlation with main roof breakage in deep longwall mining

Water inrush at floor area is a natural hazard during coal mining. Especially in the northern coalfield of China, more than 55% of coal mines are threatened by water inrush at floor area. The hazard of water inrush is becoming more serious with increasing mining depth. In this paper, the deformation and failure behavior at floor area in deep longwall mining site were analyzed. The correlation between the floor failure and main roof breakage was studied using kinematics theory. Meanwhile, the impact loads of cantilever beam breakage on the floor area at both longwall face and gob area were calculated. Combining with “Pressure arch hypothesis”, the compression and unloading mechanics processes at floor area were analyzed, and the unloading deformation model of floor structure after the breakage of main roof was established as well. In addition, the correlation between unloading deformation at floor area and the main roof breakage, mining depth and unloading stresses were also obtained. Finally, these studies have been verified by using micro-seismic monitoring data in deep longwall mining site. The results show that the impact loads are proportional to the span and loads of cantilever beam. After the breakage of cantilever beam, the impact loads were transferred to the floor area at longwall face side and gob side, and the rock masses at both sides were failed in compression. Consequently, the position of back arch foot of the pressure arch was rapidly transformed into the contact gangue zone at gob area from the last breakage position of main roof. While as the unloading stress of rock masses inside of the floor pressure arch is increasing, the depth of unloading fracture and heave below longwall face are greater than those before cantilever beam breakage. In addition, the unloading deformation at surface floor increases nonlinearly with the increase in mining depth and unloading stresses.

Evolution Mechanism of Water-Conducting Channel of Collapse Column in Karst Mining Area of Southwest China

There are many karst collapse columns in coal seam roof in the southern coal field in China, which are different from those in coal seam floor in the northern coal field, due to the stratum characteristics. The karst collapse column in coal seam roof tends to reactivate and conduct water and induce the serious water inrush disaster, when the karst collapse column communicates with the overlying aquifer. In order to reveal the evolution mechanism of water-conducting channel of collapse column in karst mining area of southwest China, the aquifers and water inflow rule in 1908 working face in Qianjin coal mine are analyzed. Besides, the particle size distribution and mineral component of collapse column are researched by the X-ray diffraction test and the screening method, which are the basis for researching the water inrush mechanism in karst collapse column. On this basis, the water inrush of roof collapse column under the influence of mining is researched by establishing the numerical calculation model with the UDEC numerical software. The results show that the water flowing into the 1908 working face comes from the Changxing formation aquifer and Yulongshan formation aquifer above the coal seam, and the proportion of coarse particles and fine particles in collapse column is 89.86% and 10.14%, respectively. With the advance of working face, the water-conducting channel connected the working face with the aquifer, or the surface is formed by collapse pits, karst caves, and collapse column. The research results can be treated as an important basis for the water-preserved mining in southern coal field in China.

Effect Of Coal Mining On Health Of Workers And Surrounding Peoples In Northern Coalfields Limited Singrauli, India

The present study was to assess the effect of coal mining on health of workers and surrounding peoples in northern coalfields limited Singrauli, India. For data collection, pre-structured questionnaire was specially prepared and survey was also done in two year (2016-2017 and 2017-2018). Sample was selected randomly from local people of selected areas. Sample size was 150 respondents from each year in which 30 each from Amlori, Nigahi, Jayant, Dudhichua and Khadi a project. Thus the result revealed that local people were suffering from many health related problems in which most of the people were found respiratory and lung diseases. It is suggested that local people should wear mask, drink purified water and should plant more and more tress surrounding areas.

A Pilot Study of Post Combustion Carbon Capture & Sequestration Pilot Plant Aimed at Feasibility Analysis of Installation of a Carbon Capture, Utilization and Sequestration (CCUS) Plant on a Large Thermal Unit in India

CO2 Capture, Sequestration and Production of Multi-purpose fuels – Hydrogen, Methane and Biodiesel through Algae route through Post combustion CCS on a fossil fuel fired Plant has been successfully demonstrated at the DST sponsored CO2 sequestration Pilot Plant at the State Technological University of MP, the ‘RGPV’ at Bhopal in Central India. A CO2 Capture efficiency of over 93% has been achieved using MEA solvent of 18 % concentration and the required heat for stripping captured CO2 in the regeneration tower has been worked out at the level of 3.88 MJ per kg of recovered carbon dioxide, which is provided by the low pressure steam of about 150°C and 2 bar pressure @ 1.5-1.6 tons of steam per ton of CO2. Exergy analysis was carried out to optimize this regeneration energy requirement with multiple fuels including bituminous coal, fuel oil and also bio-mass aiming towards negative emission strategy. Production of multipurpose fuels like hydrogen and bio-diesel have been demonstrated in the pilot plant through lignite gasifier via CO and Algae routes respectively. Hydrogen to the tune of 21.92% by volume has been produced, while selected species of Algae grown in open pond with CO2 and Solar flux input provided Algal oil by using Soxhlet extraction process using petroleum ether. Parallel efforts are made in a Solar Thermal Pilot Unit, a MNRE sponsored project, in collaboration with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), NY, USA at the State Private University, RKDF in near vicinity of RGPV’s CCS pilot plant under joint collaboration. Based on above two pilot studies a feasibility analysis is carried out for installation of Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage plant on a 500 MW Anpara Thermal Power Plant in Northern Coal Fields of India. The Feasibility Study has revealed that it is possible to implement Carbon Utilization by growing selected species of Algae culture in the Ash pond of the plant for almost doubling the Algae growth for bio-diesel production. The feasibility analysis has further revealed that energy penalty for a 30% CO2 capture for a 500 MW Unit would be around 25% including 10% for compression and pumping in an Enhanced Coal Bed Methane (ECBM) technique in proximity to the CO2 source. In any case, the energy penalty in Indian context, when our power planners are targeting at no-storage options for CCS like Carbon sequestration for conversion to multi-purpose fuels rather than CO2 storage, the energy penalty still remains at level of 15-20%. This can be further reduced to a level of 5-10 % if solar thermal device is used for production of steam for solvent regeneration and stripping of CO2. A specially designed Alkali Halide Salt developed by RPI, USA is used as 24x7 heat storage- materials in the pilot plant and the same is integrated with the CCS pilot plant for solvent regeneration and stripping of CO2. Test results of Solar Thermal pilot plant for Steam production with thermal storage, using solid pathway is given which may pave way for development of the technology of Post Combustion Carbon Capture with least energy penalty in regeneration of solvents used in the CCS process.

The Progress of Education in the Northern Coalfield Before 1870

Although the literacy of miners lagged behind county and national averages, there was educational progress in the Northern coalfield before 1870. Progress came partly from the private adventure schools and the Sunday schools, which originated in the colliery communities and which have been underestimated by historians. Evidence from parish registers shows that the private adventure schools that proliferated in the collieries, especially from the 1820s, helped to maintain and raise literacy rates in some villages, but were unjustly criticized by educators who favoured state public elementary schools. The colliery Sunday schools, particularly those of the Methodists, were also important in developing the ability to read. The spread of Methodism amongst miners gave an important stimulus to literacy, which resulted in greater support for adult education in the coalfield. The growth of mechanics’ institutes, reading rooms and mutual improvement societies testified to a growing enthusiasm amongst miners for education before 1870. Despite the extraordinary population growth, especially in Durham, and extensive migration of workers in the coal industry, educational progress in the coalfield is evident particularly in the late 1850s and 1860s.

Biomass Production and Carbon Sequestration by Azadirachta indica in Coal Mined Lands

Carbon management is a serious concern confronting the world today. The importance of carbon sequestration in tree biomass has long been recognized, but few attempts have been made to estimate tree biomass accumulation and its contribution to sequestration of carbon on mined areas. Carbon sequestration rates vary by tree species, soil type, regional climate, and topography and management practice. We quantified biomass accumulation and carbon sequestration by Azadirachta indica A. Juss raised on coal mine overburden at Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh, India, adopting non harvest methods. A. indica, of the family Meliaceae, is one of the most widely distributed and multipurpose tree species occurring in dry regions of the country. Growth data were collected for 115 trees (>5 cm DBH) covering the overburden plantations of Northern Coal Field Limited, Singrauli (India). Plantation varied from 2-18 years. Significant correlations were identified between basal area and volume, DBH and volume and basal area and total biomass.

Study of Internal Dump Stability of Dudhichua Open Cast Project, Northern Coalfields Limited, India

Dudhichua Open Cast Project is one of the prestigious projects of Northern Coalfields Limited, India; with total mineable coal reserves of approximately 400 million tonnes and corresponding 1,700 million m3 volume of waste rock i.e. overburden material. Accommodating this waste dump masses in the limited space of the de-coaled portion of the quarry is considered as one of the major challenges to the mine operators. It has been reported that this mine is facing frequent slope failures of waste rock dumps which is of great concern to the mine management in view of unsafe working condition. To tackle the above problem, a detailed investigation was carried out to propose a stable dump profile which will cater to the land economics and safety aspects of the mine. A detailed investigation along with recommendation of optimum design for dragline dump profile along with shovel-dumper-dump profile is presented in this paper.

Anthracite Labor Wars: Tenancy, Italians, and Organized Crime in the Northern Coalfield of Northeastern Pennsylvania, 1895-1959

Anthracite Labor Wars: Tenancy, Italians, and Organized Crime in the Northern Coalfield of Northeastern Pennsylvania, 1895-1959

Anthracite Labor Wars: Tenancy, Italians, and Organized Crime in the Northern Coalfield of Northeastern Pennsylvania, 1897–1959

Anthracite Labor Wars: Tenancy, Italians, and Organized Crime in the Northern Coalfield of Northeastern Pennsylvania, 1897–1959

Biomass Production and Carbon Sequestration by Pongamia pinnata (Linn) Pierre in Tropical Environment

The significance of role of biomass of tree species in carbon sequestration has long been recognized. In the present paper, attempts have been made to work out biomass accumulation and carbon sequestration by Pongamia pinnata (Linn) Pierre raised on coal mine overburden of Northern Coal Field Limited, Singrauli (India), adopting non harvest technique. The age of plantation varied from 2 to 18 years. The correlation between basal area vs volume, dbh vs volume and basal area vs total biomass was found to be significant. In terms of vertical and horizontal growth, Pongamia pinnata proved as an efficient species. The net biomass production and carbon sequestration of Pongamia pinnata showed increasing trend with the age of plantations.

Robert P.Wolensky and William A.Hastie, Anthracite labor wars: tenancy, Italians and organized crime in the northern coalfield of northeastern Pennsylvania, 1897–1959 (Easton, PA: Canal History and Technology Press, 2013. Pp. 445. ISBN 9780930973421 Pbk. £15.55)

Robert P.Wolensky and William A.Hastie, Anthracite labor wars: tenancy, Italians and organized crime in the northern coalfield of northeastern Pennsylvania, 1897–1959 (Easton, PA: Canal History and Technology Press, 2013. Pp. 445. ISBN 9780930973421 Pbk. £15.55)

Anthracite Labor Wars: Tenancy, Italians, and Organized Crime in the Northern Coalfield of Northeastern Pennsylvania, 1897–1959 (review)

Anthracite Labor Wars: Tenancy, Italians, and Organized Crime in the Northern Coalfield of Northeastern Pennsylvania, 1897–1959 (review)

Geochemical alterations in surface waters of Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar, Northern Coalfield, India

Major ions showed high concentrations, ionic strength and chemical activity in the surface waters of Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar reservoir. Various geochemical ratios showed the dominance of silicate over carbonate weathering and major ions such as Na+ + K+ account for about 52 % of the cation budget. The high Na+ and K+ showed sedimentation of rock/coal particles consisting of highly weathered silicate minerals contributed by the discharge of mine water, fly ash mixing during transportation, etc. Further, Ca2+ + Mg2+/Na+ + K+ ratio was <1 (0.92) indicating the occurrence of silicate weathering in the reservoir catchment. The comparative assessment showed that the proportion of Ca2+ + Mg2+/Na+ + K+ tends to be lower along the coal mining belts compared to non-coal mining regions in the world. The Ca2+/SO4 2− ratio <1 revealed not only H2CO3 but H2SO4 also acting as a source of protons for rock weathering. The cause underlying these differences can be related directly to geological substrate and anthropogenic activities.

Bioaccumulation of Metals in the Edible Catfish Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) Exposed to Coal Mine Effluent Generated at Northern Coalfield Limited, Singrauli, India

Metal accumulation in various tissues of Heteropneustes fossilis exposed to the effluent generated from an open cast coal mine was investigated. The contents of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cd and Cr in the effluent were above the permissible limits as suggested by the different pollution control agencies. Out of the eight metals investigated, accumulation (mg kg(-1) dry weight of tissue) of Fe was maximum in every tissues followed by liver (265.88 ± 49.89) > kidney (153.0 ± 65.85) > gills (50.66 ± 23.923) > brain (49.303 ± 5.11) > air breathing organs (27.98 ± 10.93) > skin (19.56 ± 2.53) > muscles (8.74 ± 0.83). This was succeeded by Pb in brain (39.35 ± 5.79), Zn in kidneys (27.04 ± 2.31), Mn in the gills (20.69 ± 3.044), Cu (12.53 ± 1.01) > Cr (5.10 ± 2.87) in liver and Cd in kidneys (2.18 ± 0.084). Liver and ABOs showed significant uptake of all the metals. Except Cu and Cr, accumulation of most of the metals by kidneys and gills were also significant. Accumulation of Fe, Cd, Pb and Cr in most of the tissues of exposed fish were above the permissible limits indicating their potential hazardous impact on fish as well as on fish consumers. Even in the tissues of untreated fish the concentrations of Fe (12.26-428.47), Cd (0.2-1.22), Pb (0.02-9.42) and Cr (1.14-11.05) were above the permissible limits. This clearly demonstrates greater bioavailability of these metals in the area.

Attendance and work effort in the Great Northern Coalfield, 1775–18641

The transition to industrial capitalism in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was accompanied by a decline in irregular work attendance. The chronology of that decline is unclear due to a lack of quantitative evidence. This article examines detailed colliery records from a crucial period of industrial transition and shows that traditional patterns of attendance and work effort survived in one of the leading sectors of the industrial revolution well into the second half of the nineteenth century. The study shows how regional and local sources can throw new light upon problems for which national quantitative data are unavailable.

Study into blast vibration and frequency using ANFIS and MVRA

Blast induced ground vibration is a crucial parameter in determining safe charge levels and minimising the damage to the surrounding structures. A number of empirical equations have been proposed for prediction of peak particle velocity (PPV), but no empirical formula has yet been established for the prediction of frequency. In order to minimise the blast damage and the blasting related loss, it is important to study the parameters influencing blasting. In the present case, the adaptive neuro-fuzzy interface system (ANFIS) model was used to predict the PPV and frequency using blast design, rock properties and explosive parameters from the Northern Coal Field open pit mine in MP, India. Results were also compared using multivariable regression analysis (MVRA) to further prove prediction capability. The ANFIS approach shows very good prediction capability for PPV and frequency. The coefficients of correlation between predicted and measured PPV and frequency are 0·9986 and 0·9988 respectively.

Poor Law Guardians, Coalminers, and Friendly Societies in Northern England, 1860–1894: Statutory Provision, Local Autonomy, and Individual Responsibility

This article examines the ways in which the Poor Law dealt with victims of coalmining accidents who, though friendly society members, felt compelled to apply for parochial relief. It shows that although the Poor Law authorities provided explicit guidance on how to deal with such cases, guardians in the northern coalfields proved strikingly heterodox in the policies which they pursued. It is suggested that their independence has significant implications for our understanding of the relationship between statutory provision, local autonomy, and individual responsibility.