Rockburst of parameters causing mining disasters in Mines of Upper Silesian Coal Basin

Abstract

In the years 2001-2015, 42 rockbursts were recorded in Polish coal mines. For the past 15 years the scale of the phenomena has been similar and ranges from 1 to 5 rockbursts per year. However, the number of recorded high energy seismic tremors of 108 and 109J (E) energy that has occurred in recent years, 2 to 5, is alarming. According to the data, 27 of tremors of E > 108 J energy that occurred between 2001 and 2015 caused 3 rockbursts. Confronting these data with seismic activity from 1989-2000, it should be noted that only 2 events out of 99 rockbursts caused tremors with energies of E>108 J. Against the background of the scale of seismic and rockburst hazards, the geological and mining conditions of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB) have been analysed, detailing the structural units in which the rockbursts occurred. On this basis, the author characterised factors that impacts on the mining excavations resulting in rockbursts that caused damage on a larger scale. These rockbursts had the characteristics of mining catastrophes and weak earthquakes not recorded in mining statistics of natural hazards of USCB so far.