Mechanisms of Mining-Induced Surface Hazards Beneath Steep Ridge-Type Mountain Geometry

TL;DR

Coal mining in steep mountainous regions can cause significant surface deformation due to topography and rock conditions, but it doesn't always lead to large landslides and can stabilize naturally.

Contribution

The study introduces a reliable framework using advanced geospatial techniques to detect and interpret mining-induced deformation in steep mountainous areas.

Findings

Deep coal mining induces significant surface deformation due to topographic and lithological amplification effects.

Mining-induced deformation may stabilize naturally without causing large-scale slope failure.

SBAS-InSAR, validated by GNSS and field observations, effectively detects mining-related subsidence.

Abstract

What are the main findings?
Coal mining beneath steep ridge-type mountain geometry can induce significant surface deformation even at great depths due to topographic and lithological amplification effects.Mining-induced surface deformation in mountainous areas does not necessarily trigger large-scale slope failure and may gradually stabilize through natural adjustment processes.

Coal mining beneath steep ridge-type mountain geometry can induce significant surface deformation even at great depths due to topographic and lithological amplification effects.

Mining-induced surface deformation in mountainous areas does not necessarily trigger large-scale slope failure and may gradually stabilize through natural adjustment processes.

What are the implications of the main findings?
Integrated SBAS-InSAR, GNSS, UAV, and field investigations provide a reliable framework for detecting and interpreting mining-induced deformation in steep ridge-type mountain geometry in mountainous terrain.The strong coupling between steep ridge-type mountain geometry and multi-face coal extraction reveals a compound hazard chain, offering guidance for disaster prevention and risk management in similar mountainous mining regions.

Integrated SBAS-InSAR, GNSS, UAV, and field investigations provide a reliable framework for detecting and interpreting mining-induced deformation in steep ridge-type mountain geometry in mountainous terrain.

The strong coupling between steep ridge-type mountain geometry and multi-face coal extraction reveals a compound hazard chain, offering guidance for disaster prevention and risk management in similar mountainous mining regions.

Coal mining in plain regions and its related surface subsidence and geological hazards have been extensively studied, whereas research on mining-induced hazards in mountainous areas remains limited. This knowledge gap has contributed to the frequent occurrence of mining disasters, particularly under steep ridge-type mountain geometry, where deformation characteristics, large-scale slope failure risks, and mining-induced hazard mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, a mining area in Zhenxiong, Zhaotong, Yunnan Province, China, is investigated using SBAS-InSAR, GNSS observations, UAV surveys, optical satellite imagery, and detailed field investigations. Surface hazards triggered by coal extraction are identified, and the response relationship between surface subsidence and mining activities is analyzed to reveal the development mechanisms of surface deformation beneath steep ridge-type mountain geometry. The results show that: (1) deep coal mining can still induce significant surface deformation due to the combined amplification effects of steep slopes and lithological conditions; (2) mining-induced deformation does not necessarily evolve into large-scale slope collapse and may gradually stabilize through natural adjustment processes; (3) SBAS-InSAR, validated by GNSS and field observations, provides an effective approach for detecting mining-related subsidence; (4) surface deformation in the study area is jointly influenced by multiple working faces; and (5) strong coupling between the unique steep ridge-type mountain geometry and underlying coal extraction leads to a compound disaster chain under multi-source interactions. These findings offer a critical scientific understanding of mining-induced deformation beneath steep ridge-type mountain geometry and provide important guidance for geological hazard prevention and control in similar mountainous mining areas.

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