Interaction effects due to subsidence in multiple seam mining

The Appalachian coal fields contain many contiguously placed seams of coal. Mining in these seams has been active over such an extended period of time that considerable knowledge has been gained in the area of multiple seam mining. It is commonly accepted that the preferred sequence of extracting contiguous seams is in descending order. However, in the past, selection of the mining sequence has been based primarily on seam ownership, availability and economics, not on ground control considerations. One of the major ground control mechanisms that must be considered in mine design, when contiguous seams have not been extracted in descending order, is subsidence. This investigation examines the affects of subsidence not on the surface but on mineable seams of coal lying above the seam that has been extracted. Case studies were collected from the Appalachian region. These studies were analyzed to determine which factors could be correlated with damage. An empirical model was then developed to predict when interaction problems caused by subsidence will noticeably effect mining in an upper seam.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mining Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Mining Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1983

Author dc:creator

• Webster, Stephen Leroy

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/114419

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/114419