Title: Mitigating mine subsidence dynamically to minimise impacts on farmland and water resources: a case study

Authors: Zhenqi Hu; Ruiya Zhang; Yoginder P. Chugh; Jia Jia

Addresses: Institute of Land Reclamation and Ecological Restoration, China University of Mining and Technology Beijing, D11 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China ' Institute of Land Reclamation and Ecological Restoration, China University of Mining and Technology Beijing, D11 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China ' Mining and Mineral Resources Engineering, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 1230 Lincoln Drive, Carbondale, Illinois 62901-6603, USA ' Institute of Land Reclamation and Ecological Restoration, China University of Mining and Technology Beijing, D11 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China

Abstract: Subsidence related to underground mining can negatively impact farmland and water resources. This paper has developed dynamic subsidence reclamation (DSR-reclamation concurrent with mining) approaches to minimise these impacts and are illustrated using a case study in China. Two reclamation plans using DSR and traditional reclamation (TR-reclamation upon completion of all mining) approaches were designed respectively. Then farmland utilisation, water resources development and cost-benefit analyses were performed for the two sets of plans. The results show that farmland and water resource utilisation by DSR is larger than TR throughout the mining period. Farmland utilisation by DSR increased as much as 12.94%. Similarly, final water volume by DSR was 15.01% more than TR. The total revenue using DSR increased by 24.17% as compared with TR over a ten year period. So, DSR can be a very positive and cost effective approach for protection of farmland and water resources.

Keywords: underground mining; mine subsidence; farmland; water resources; dynamic subsidence reclamation; DSR; case study; water pollution; China; cost-benefit analysis; agriculture.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2016.079897

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2016 Vol.59 No.2/3/4, pp.169 - 186

Received: 27 Nov 2015
Accepted: 11 Mar 2016
Published online: 20 Oct 2016 *

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