A case study of karstic collapse columns delimitation in coal mine by GIS spatial analysis

Abstract

Karstic collapse column (KCC), a kind of vertical structure typically developed in Carboniferous - Permian coal- fields in north China, adversely affects the safety of coal mine production. The formation of KCC entails several essential prerequisites: tectonics and regional structure, soluble rock, and groundwater dynamics. In this paper, Firstly, we targeted on the Liuqiao coal mine No.2 and focused on the coal seam No.6, extracted the regional tectonics map and the water-rich areas of limestone respectively from the result of geological and hydro- geological survey, the data of flow logging experiment and the report of transient electromagnetic (TEM) prospecting. Secondly, we drew a slope map of the coal seam No.6 on the basis of the floor contour. Then, based on these layers, via the spatial analysis of geographic information system (GIS), we delineate four suspected zones where may have the KCCs developed, and mark them as Zone I, Zone II, Zone III and Zone IV. Finally, we establish that the KCC which has been proved in the airway no.II617 is located in Zone II by comparison with the available production record. © 2012 Springer-Verlag GmbH.