Coal Mine Solid Waste Backfill Process in China: Current Status and Challenges

Abstract

Coal mine solid waste backfill is a coal mining method employed to safeguard subterranean and surface geological formations, as well as water resources, against impairment. It stands as a pivotal technical approach for realizing ecologically sustainable mining endeavors, aiming to address China’s predicament of ’three down’ coal pressure, coal gangue emissions, and land resource scarcity. This manuscript delves into an in-depth exploration of the evolution and research status pertaining to solid backfill technology, encompassing backfill materials, rock mechanics, backfill processes, and their application across China’s coal sector. The developmental challenges and technical intricacies linked to solid backfill technology within coal mines are meticulously scrutinized. Building upon these challenges and complexities, this study sets forth a progressive trajectory for solid backfill technology within the contemporary era. This trajectory envisions the synchronized advancement of novel solid backfill materials, intelligent surveillance and regulation methodologies, and machine learning technologies for backfill quality assessment. By doing so, the overarching aim of achieving superlative quality, heightened efficiency, and automation in solid backfill practices can be effectively realized.