Water-preserved coal mining in water-shortage mining areas: a case study in the Yonglong mining area of China

Abstract

Abstract Water-preserved coal mining (WPCM) in water-shortage mining areas is an important aspect of water resources management. This paper aimed at the protection of Cretaceous groundwater resources during the high-intensity mining in the Yonglong mining area, China, and carried out basic theory and practical application of WPCM. The hydrogeological structure and engineering geological characteristics were investigated on-site. On-site detection and numerical simulation were used to study the dynamic evolution laws of overburden failure and water-conducting fractured zone (WCFZ), and the seepage laws of mining-induced overburden were analyzed by the rock triaxial seepage test. The results showed that it was feasible to carry out WPCM in the Yonglong mining area. From the view of reducing the height of WCFZ and preventing water hazards, the technical measures for WPCM were proposed. The research results can provide a theoretical basis and technical approach for WPCM in the water-shortage mining areas.