Strata-movement concepts and the hydrogeological impact of underground coal mining. [Effects of subsidence on permeability of rock above longwall]

Journal Article · Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986 · Ground Water; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.1986.tb01030.x· OSTI ID:5376020

Booth, C J

A review of mining-engineering concepts and studies in mine hydrology suggests a conceptual model linking the strata deformation, hydraulic property changes, and ground-water impacts due to underground coal mining. The pressure-arch deformation pattern about a small opening creates a local zone of increased permeabilities and dewatering in the seam and immediate roof, but should not hydraulically affect shallower aquifiers. Networks of supported headings, rooms, and pillars intensely drain lower aquifiers but only slightly affect higher strata except in areas of naturally high permeability. Longwall mining causes extensive, high-reaching, well-defined zones of stress, fracturing, and hydraulic impact, the maximum permeability increases being in the tensile zones immediately above the panel and at the sides of the subsidence trough. In shallow aquifiers, permeabilities and ground-water velocities increase, and hydraulic gradients decline independently of mine drainage. A study of a deep coal mine in the Appalachian Plateau, Pennsylvania indicated: probable hydraulic connections between the mine and shallow aquifiers in a principle valley area; no obvious response of water levels in shallow aquifiers to undermining by supported headings; and rapid, considerable declines in such water levels in response to nearby longwall mining. These results are consistent with the conceptual model.

• Research Organization: Dept. of Geology, Northern Illinois Univ., DeKalb, IL 60115
• OSTI ID: 5376020
• Journal Information: Ground Water; (United States), Vol. 24:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
58 GEOSCIENCES
LONGWALL MINING
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
HYDROLOGY
PENNSYLVANIA
COAL MINES
APPALACHIA
AQUIFERS
COAL SEAMS
DEFORMATION
DEPTH
DRAINAGE
FLOW RATE
FRACTURING
GROUND MOTION
GROUND SUBSIDENCE
GROUND WATER
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
MINING ENGINEERING
PERMEABILITY
PRESSURE EFFECTS
ROOFS
STRATA CONTROL
STRESSES
SUPPORTS
WATER REMOVAL
COAL DEPOSITS
COMMINUTION
DIMENSIONS
ENGINEERING
FEDERAL REGION III
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINES
MINING
MOTION
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
REMOVAL
RESOURCES
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
UNDERGROUND MINING
USA
WATER
012000* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Mining
011000 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
010900 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Environmental Aspects
580100 - Geology & Hydrology- (-1989)