Van Dyke Mark, Klemetti Ted, Wickline Joe
NIOSH, Pittsburgh, 15236 PA, USA.
Coronado Global Resources Inc., Beckley, WV, USA.
Int J Min Sci Technol. 2020 Jan;30(1):131-139. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2019.12.003.
The identification and mitigation of adverse geologic conditions are critical to the safety and productivity of underground coal mining operations. To anticipate and mitigate adverse geologic conditions, a formal method to evaluate geotechnical factors must be established. Each mine is unique and has its own separate approach for defining what an adverse geological condition consists of. The collection of geologic data is a first critical step to creating a geological database to map these hazards efficiently and effectively. Many considerations must be taken into account, such as lithology of immediate roof and floor strata, seam height, gas and oil wells, faults, depressions in the mine floor (water) and increases in floor elevation (gas), overburden, streams and horizontal stress directions, amongst many other factors. Once geologic data is collected, it can be refined and integrated into a database that can be used to develop maps showing the trend, orientation, and extent of the adverse geological conditions. This information, delivered in a timely manner, allows mining personnel to be proactive in mine planning and support implementations, ultimately reducing the impacts of these features. This paper covers geologic exploratory methods, data organization, and the value of collecting and interpreting geologic information in coal mines to enhance safety and production. The implementation of the methods described above has been proven effective in predicting and mitigating adverse geologic conditions in underground coal mining. Consistent re-evaluation of data collection methods, geologic interpretations, mapping procedures, and communication techniques ensures continuous improvement in the accuracy of predictions and mitigation of adverse geologic conditions. Providing a concise record of the work previously done to track geologic conditions at a mine will allow for the smoothest transition during employee turnover and transitions. With refinements and standardization of data collection methods, such as those described in this paper, along with improvement in technology, the evaluation of adverse geologic conditions will evolve and continue to improve the safety and productivity of underground coal mining.
识别和减轻不利地质条件对地下煤矿开采作业的安全性和生产率至关重要。为了预测和减轻不利地质条件，必须建立一种评估岩土工程因素的正式方法。每个煤矿都是独特的，对于确定不利地质条件的构成有其各自不同的方法。收集地质数据是创建地质数据库以高效且有效地绘制这些危险区域的首要关键步骤。必须考虑许多因素，例如直接顶和底板岩层的岩性、煤层高度、气井和油井、断层、矿井底板凹陷（水）以及底板标高增加（瓦斯）、覆盖层、溪流和水平应力方向等等诸多其他因素。一旦收集到地质数据，就可以对其进行完善并整合到一个数据库中，该数据库可用于绘制显示不利地质条件的趋势、方向和范围的地图。及时提供这些信息，能使采矿人员在矿井规划和支护实施方面积极主动，最终减少这些特征带来的影响。本文涵盖了地质勘探方法、数据组织以及在煤矿中收集和解释地质信息以提高安全性和产量的价值。上述方法的实施已被证明在预测和减轻地下煤矿的不利地质条件方面是有效的。对数据收集方法、地质解释、绘图程序和通信技术进行持续重新评估，可确保在预测不利地质条件和减轻其影响的准确性方面不断改进。提供一份简洁的记录，记载此前为跟踪某煤矿地质条件所做的工作，将有助于在员工更替和交接期间实现最平稳的过渡。随着数据收集方法（如本文所述）的完善和标准化，以及技术的进步，对不利地质条件的评估将会不断发展，并持续提高地下煤矿开采的安全性和生产率。
