Occurrence of Linear Discontinuous Deformations in Upper Silesia (Poland) in Conditions of Intensive Mining Extraction—Case Study

Abstract

Currently, linear discontinuous deformations in mining areas are an important issue, both due to the frequency of their occurrence and the threat they pose to general safety. This paper presents a case study of an occurrence of such a deformation. The analyses of the geological and mining conditions, as well as the conducted calculations presented herein, indicate that the cause of the deformation was the occurrence of high-value horizontal tensile strains. It was triggered by mining exploitation carried out with caving in three seams at depths between 200 and 545 m. An additional factor conductive to the creation of the deformation was the tectonic structure of the rock mass. The subject matter of the paper is significant given the growing number of discontinuous linear deformations occurring on the surface due to underground mining—even if the mining was conducted at great depths. They were formed as a result of intensive underground mining operations and the occurrence of high-value deformations. These deformations were particularly dangerous to building structures on the surface, which were often damaged. For this reason, it was worthwhile to make arrangements regarding the correlation between the occurrence of the deformations and the values and the distribution of continuous deformations caused by underground extraction, as well as the existence of tectonic faults.