The coal exploitation in the Upper Silesia region (along the Vistula River) triggers the strata seismic
activity, characterized by very high energy, which can create mining damage of the surface objects, without
any noticeable damages in the underground mining structures. It is assumed that the appearance of the
high energy seismic events is the result of faults’ activation in the vicinity of the mining excavation. This
paper presents the analysis of a case study of one coal mine, where during exploitation of the longwall
panel no. 729, the high energy seismic events occurred in the faulty neighborhood. The authors had analyzed
the cause of the presented seismic events, described the methods of energy decreasing and applied
methods of prevention in the selected mining region. The analysis concluded that the cause of the high
energy seismic events, during the exploitation of the longwall panel no. 729 was the rapid displacements
on the fault surface. The fault’s movements arose in the overburden, about 250 m above the excavated
longwall panel, and they were strictly connected to the cracking of the thick sandstone layer.
With reference to the situation experienced in several Polish collieries where the risk of occurrence of gas-geodynamic phenomena is increasing and decisions to start the mining activities need to take numerous constraints associated with previous mining into account, this paper addresses certain geo-mechanical aspects of longwall mining in the zones of excavation edge interactions giving rise to major changes in the conditions of the deposit and rock strata, as a consequence of previous mining operations in adjacent coalbeds. Starting from the analytical description of displacements and stresses in the proximity of longwall mining systems, the paper summarizes the results of model tests and investiga-tions of the influence that the excavation edge has on the behavior and structural continuity of a portion of the coal body in the coalbed beneath or above an old excavation. Based on selected nonlinear functions emulating the presence of edges in the rock strata, a comparative study is carried out by investigating two opposite directions of workface advance, from the gob area towards the coal body and from the coal body towards the gobs. The discussion of the results relies on the analysis of roof deformation and the concentration factor of the vertical stress component at the workface front.
The underground mining of coal deposits in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (GZW) re-sults in an imbalance in the distribution of the stress in the rock mass, both in the immediate and distant surroundings of mining excavations. The occurrence of seismic tremors, among others, is the consequence of this process,. The intensities of seismic phenomena, which occur in several regions of the GZW (Bytomian Basin, Main Saddle, Main Basin, Kazimierzowska Basin, and the Jejkowice Basin) are very diverse, ranging from tremors unrecognizable by humans to strong tremors of the nature of weak earthquakes (Patyńska and Stec 2017). During the period of 15 years, i.e. from 2001 to 2015, the level of seismic activity changed and de-pended on both the intensity of the excavation work and the variability of the lithological and tectonic structures. On the other hand, the seismic activity analysis has shown that in recent years, despite a decrease in total output, seismic activity and rockburst hazard have increased. One of the rea-sons was the increase in mining output. Almost half of the output came from coal seams under the rockburst hazard. This resulted in an increase in the number of great energy tremors with the energy of 107, 108 and 109 J. It has been shown that the amount of energy tremors has a high impact on the level of the rockburst hazard. Between 2001 and 2015, as many as 20 rockburst were caused by seismic tremors above 107 J with 42 total phenomena (Patyńska 2002–2016). The purpose of characterizing the causes of this phenomenon was determined by the parameters characterizing the structure of the rock mass in places where the rockburst was recorded.
Mining-induced seismicity, particularly high-energy seismic events, is a major factor giving rise to dynamic phenomena within the rock strata. Rockbursts and stress relief events produce the most serious consequences in underground mines, are most difficult to predict and tend to interact with other mining hazards, thus making control measures difficult to implement. In the context of steadily increasing mining depth within copper mines in the Legnica-Głogów Copper Belt Area (Poland) alongside the gradually decreasing effective mining thickness, a study of the causes and specificity of mining-induced seismicity in specific geological and mining settings may improve the effectiveness of the prevention and control measures taken to limit the negative impacts of rockbursts in underground mine workings, thus ensuring safe working conditions for miners. This study investigates the presumed relationship between the mined ore deposit thickness and fundamental parameters of mining-induced seismicity, with the main focus on the actual locations of their epicenters with respect to the working face in commonly used room-and-pillar systems. Data recalled in this study was supplied by the O/ZG Rudna geophysics station. Based on information about the actual ore deposit thickness in particular sections of the mines (Rudna Główna, Rudna Północna, Rudna Zachodnia) and recent reports on seismic activity in this area, three panels were selected for further studies (each in different mine region), where the ore deposit thickness was varied (panel G-7/5 – Rudna Główna, panel XX/1 – Rudna Północna, panel XIX/1 – Rudna Zachodnia). Data from seismic activity reports in those regions was used for energetic and quantitative analysis of seismic events in the context of the epicenter location with respect to the selected mining system components: undisturbed strata, working face and abandoned excavations. In consideration of the available rockburst control methods and preventive measures, all events (above 1 × 103 J) registered in the database were analysed to infer about the global rockburst hazard level in the panel and phenomena induced (provoked) by blasting were considered in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented control measures.
Recalling the body of experience gathered in the collieries of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, the
increased risk of seismicity and rockburst occurrences in confined conditions including the exploitation of
remnants were identified. This study investigates geomechanical aspects of longwall mining in the areas
affected by old excavations aimed at relaxation of a multi-bed deposits within a thick coal seam or a group
of seams. It is assumed that high-energy seismicity is another factor determining the rockburst hazard
alongside the state of stress. A case study is recalled, describing a colliery where mining-induced seismic
activity of a de-stressed coal seam remained at the level comparable to or higher than it was experienced
in the de-stressed seam operations. An analytical model was used to study the stress state and potential
loss of structural continuity of an undisturbed rock body surrounding the longwall panel being mined
beneath or over the abandoned workings. Recalling the developed model of the system involving nonlinear
functions demonstrating the existence of abandoned mine workings within the rock strata, computer
simulations were performed to evaluate the rockburst hazards along the face area. Discussions of results
are based on observations of immediate roof convergence and the vertical stress concentration factor at
the longwall face zone. Computational data of the modelled mining situations demonstrates that despite
using the de-stressing method of mining, the occurrence of events impacting on mine working beneath
and over abandoned workings cannot be precluded. Here the scale of rockburst hazards is determined by
local mining and geological conditions, such as the type and extent of abandoned workings, their age and
vertical distance between them and the coal seam currently mined.
Rockburst is a common engineering geological hazard. In order to evaluate rockburst liability in kimberlite at an underground diamond mine, a method combining generalized regression neural networks (GRNN) and fruit fly optimization algorithm (FOA) is employed. Based on two fundamental premises of rockburst occurrence, depth, σθ, σc, σt, B1, B2, SCF, Wet are determined as indicators of rockburst, which are also input vectors of GRNN model. 132 groups of data obtained from rockburst cases from all over the world are chosen as training samples to train the GRNN model; FOA is used to seek the optimal parameter σ that generates the most accurate GRNN model. The trained GRNN model is adopted to evaluate burst liability in kimberlite pipes. The same eight rockburst indicators are acquired from lab tests, mine site and FEM model as test sample features. Evaluation results made by GRNN can be confirmed by a rockburst case at this mine. GRNN do not require any prior knowledge about the nature of the relationship between the input and output variables and avoid analyzing the mechanism of rockburst, which has a bright prospect for engineering rockburst potential evaluation.