The influences of coal mining on the large karst springs in North China

Environmental damage, to a greater or lesser degree, is caused by coal mining. On the basis of analyzing the hydrogeological conditions of the mining areas, this paper provides a sum-up of the characteristics of water disasters in North China-type Coalfield. Researching into the Baimai Spring group, this paper explores the relation between karst water and groundwater of coal-measure strata, using the methods of pumping test, dynamic observation, and tracer test. After working over the impact of mine water-inrush on spring dynamics, this paper estimates the contributory level of karst water to mining drainage. This paper holds that the mine water-inrush mainly results from karst water, with the fault structures acting as channels; the keys of mine water-inrush are faulty density, intersection and endpoint fault. Finally, this paper suggests that mining below Mine-9 be forbidden, and that below Mine-7 be properly mined, which provides the scientific basis for preserving springs and preventing water disasters in the mining areas.