Impacts of karst paleo-sinkholes on mining and environment in northern China

The karst paleo-sinkhole is a special geological structure widely found in the coal measures of northern China. Some paleo-sinkholes have high permeability and connectivity, making them excellent connectors between the karst aquifer and the coal seam. Consequently, during coal extraction disastrous water inrushes take place frequently, which cause severe loss not only in mine submersions and personnel casualties, but also in environmental quality. Locations and the geological and hydrogeological characteristics of paleo-sinkholes in northern China are presented. In-situ drilling and excavation results show that paleo-sinkholes have different hydrogeological behaviors in different regions and in different mines. Based on observed data, mining-induced strata failure in the seam floor is analyzed. The existence of paleo-sinkholes increases the floor strata failure zone. Numerical simulation then is adopted to model coal mining with the effects of both the paleo-sinkholes and the water pressure in the confined aquifer. Analyses of the simulation conclude that the paleo-sinkhole induces the increase in the strata failure and deformation. These make water inrushes more likely to happen.