Geologic data collection and assessment techniques in coal mining for ground control

Area of Science:

• Geotechnical Engineering
• Mining Geology
• Earth Sciences

Background:

• Adverse geologic conditions pose significant risks to underground coal mining safety and productivity.
• Current approaches to identifying and mitigating these hazards are often mine-specific and lack standardization.
• A formal, data-driven method is needed to systematically evaluate geotechnical factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a formal method for evaluating geotechnical factors in underground coal mining.
• To demonstrate the value of collecting and interpreting geologic information for hazard mapping.
• To enhance safety and productivity through proactive mine planning and support.

Main Methods:

• Collection of diverse geologic data, including lithology, seam height, faults, and stress directions.
• Integration of collected data into a geological database for hazard mapping.
• Development of maps illustrating the trend, orientation, and extent of adverse geologic conditions.

Main Results:

• Geologic data collection and database integration enable efficient and effective hazard mapping.
• Timely delivery of mapped geologic information allows for proactive mine planning.
• The described methods have proven effective in predicting and mitigating adverse geologic conditions.

Conclusions:

• Standardized data collection and interpretation methods improve the accuracy of adverse geologic condition predictions.
• Continuous re-evaluation of methods ensures ongoing improvement in safety and productivity.
• Effective geologic information management facilitates smoother operational transitions and knowledge transfer.