Digital Commons Network^™

Research Progress And Prospects Of High-Salinity Mine Water Storage In Deep Strata, Xue Jiankun, Wang Shuangming, Zhang Pingsong, Wang Xiaodong, Zhou Zhenfang, Wang Tiantian, Zhang Quan, Xu Shi'ang, Wang Zhizhou

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background High-salinity mine water (HSMW) is widely distributed in mining areas in western China, while its discharge and treatment pose severe challenges to both the ecosystem and resource utilization. In recent years, HSMW storage in deep strata has gained widespread attention as an environmentally friendly and resource-saving approach for mine water treatment.Advances Focusing on the general characteristics of HSMW, this study systematically reviewed the key scientific issues and technical bottlenecks associated with HSMW storage in deep strata, highlighting its principles, technical classification, and engineering application. It comprehensively elucidated the applicability boundaries of this technology, involving the core links such …

Influence Mechanisms Of Cleats On Hydraulic Fracture Propagation In Deep Coalbed Methane Reservoirs, Wang Haiyang, Lu Chen, Su Xu, Wang Yufei, Zhou Desheng

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Creating large-scale fracture networks through hydraulic fracturing serves as an important approach to the commercial development of deep coalbed methane (CBM) reservoirs. However, these reservoirs contain extensively developed cleats. The significantly different cementation strengths of cleat fillings lead to complex interactions between cemented cleats and major hydraulic fractures during fracture propagation. Therefore, clarifying the mechanisms underlying the influence of cemented cleats on hydraulic fracture propagation is critical to improving the simulation effects of deep CBM reservoirs. Methods Using particle flow code (PFC) discrete element method, combined with quasi-triaxial mechanical test results of the No.8 coal seam within the Yichuan …

Seepage Dynamics And Damage Characteristics Of Shaft Lining Concrete Under Hydraulic Coupling, Xue Weipei, Zhou Yaya, Cheng Hua, Yao Zhishu, Rong Chuanxin, Wang Zhongjian, Wu Hao

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Concrete serves as a lining material for support structures used in vertical shafts in coal mines, and its seepage performance and mechanical characteristics play a crucial role in ensuring structural safety. Furthermore, shaft lining concrete is placed under the groundwater level, subjected to a stress environment significantly different from that of surface concrete.Methods To investigate the impacts of groundwater seepage on the performance of shaft lining concrete under triaxial stress conditions, hydraulic coupling tests were conducted using a servo pressure testing machine equipped with a seepage apparatus, yielding data on permeability, elastic volumetric strain, crack volumetric strain, and …

Evolutionary Mechanisms And Control Strategies For Surrounding Rock Stability Of Inclined Shafts Under Groundwater Seepage, Zhang Cun, Zhao Xiangyu, Chen Yanhong, Ren Zhaopeng, Wu Runze

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background The western coal mining area has emerged as China’s primary coal production base. In this area, multiple ten-million-ton-scale coal mines are constructed using inclined shafts. Since inclined shafts run through multiple aquifers, many of them are subjected to shaft wall rupture and water inrushes to varying degrees.Methods This study aims to determine the impacts of groundwater seepage on the surrounding rock stability of inclined shafts. Using field survey, theoretical analysis, and numerical simulation, this study investigated the shaft wall stability of the main inclined shaft in water-rich sections in the Xiaojihan Coal Mine.Results and Conclusions Theoretical analysis …

Mechanisms Behind Water Inrush Disasters Induced By Tbm Tunneling Passing Through Deeply Buried Fault Fracture Zones, Li Zhi, Dong Shuning, Shi Zhiyuan, Tong Renjian

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objectives While passing through a deeply buried water-rich fault fracture zone, a tunnel boring machine (TBM) frequently faces an extremely high risk of water inrushes, seriously restricting the engineering safety and efficiency. Methods This study aims to reveal the evolution patterns of water inrush disasters in the case where the TBM roadway tunneling passes through faults zones and propose technologies for advance prevention and control to mitigate the water inrush risk. Against the engineering background of the tunneling of a main roadway in a coal mine within a North China-type coalfield, this study established a 3D numerical model using the …

Tle-Unet-Based Image Segmentation And Feature Extraction Of Water-Cooling-Induced Complex Cracks In High-Temperature Rock Masses, Fu Tianyu, Hu Mangu, Zhang Xiaojun, Yang Xiaobin, Lyu Fu, Lyu Xiangfeng, Peng Lei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Method Water cooling-induced macroscopic surface cracks in high-temperature rock masses are characterized by fine scales, pronounced length variations, and severe class imbalance in images, posing significant challenges for image segmentation. To address these challenges, this study proposed TLE-UNet, a semantic segmentation network for rock crack images. First, through thermal treatment and uniaxial compression tests of granite specimens, crack images under varying temperatures were acquired. Then, using a self-developed Lite Edge Fusion module, high-resolution shallow features were finely aligned with deep semantic features at varying scales. Furthermore, edge detection and channel-attention mechanisms were combined to enhance crack boundary perception. …

Multiscale Fusion Aot-Gan Intelligent Filling Of Blank Strip For Formation Microresistivity Imaging Logging, Huang Luyi, Wang Fei, Kong Lingsong, Jiang Qishu

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Formation microresistivity imaging (FMI) images features incomplete borehole coverage and thus contain blank strips due to the gaps between electrode pads, as well as their pushing and attachment mechanisms. Traditional blank strip filling methods suffer from several limitations, including susceptibility to image distortion and difficulty in retaining information on fine-scale structures such as fractures. This study developed an aggregated contextual-transformation generative adversarial network (AOT-GAN) for blank strip filling, aiming to achieve high-precision and high-fidelity information reconstruction. Methods Initially, a high-quality dataset was prepared based on original FMI images, along with full-borehole images obtained through image inpainting using CIFLog. Then, …

A Drilling-Punching-Hole Protection Integrated Hydraulic Caving Technology For Broken Soft And Low-Permeability Coal Seams, Yao Ningping, Hao Shijun, Zhang Jinbao, Wei Hongchao, Nie Chao

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Method For broken soft and low-permeability coal seams, gas drainage achieved through permeability enhancement and pressure relief by cross-seam hydraulic caving in coal seam floor faces problems including serious borehole collapse in the drilled coal seam intervals, low construction efficiency, and poor gas drainage performance. To address these problems, this study proposed a high-efficiency drilling-punching-hole protection integrated gas drainage technology, which enabled hydraulic caving, permeability enhancement, and pressure relief. Furthermore, this study developed a drilling-punching-hole protection integrated caving device. Through laboratory experiments conducted under pressure conversion and central channels equipped with controllable opening/closing mechanisms, this study selected the …

Surface-Borehole Resistivity Tomography For Seepage Detection In Earth-Rock Dams, Tan Lei, Hu Xiongwu, Zhang Pingsong, Jiang Xiaoyi, Dong Ya, Liu Fuda, Li Chunyang, Xu Hu

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Resistivity methods allow for effective detection of seepage in reservoir dams. However, when used to detect the hidden hazards of dams, the surface resistivity method fails to accurately identify vulnerable areas across an entire dam due to blind spots near both dam abutments and insufficient resolutions for deep parts. Methods This study proposed a seepage detection technique for earth-rock dams based on surface-borehole resistivity tomography, followed by the analysis of the distribution of surface-borehole resistivity under the lateral and vertical variations in a seepage zone through numerical simulations. This technique was applied to the Shibi reservoir dam. Using the …

A Gaussian Process Regression-Based Denoising Method For Transient Electromagnetic Signals, Wang Peng, Shi Jiaxing, Lu Kai, Hu Jinru, Wen Guangyuan, Zhai Haojie

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The transient electromagnetic (TEM) method serves as a primary geophysical technique for groundwater detection in coalfields at present, with the detection results directly influencing the implementation of water hazard prevention and control in coal mines. Since it is difficult to avoid electromagnetic interference sources such as power lines during data acquisition, TEM signals are prone to be contaminated by electromagnetic noise. Given that primary denoising techniques such as wavelet transform and empirical mode decomposition (EMD) are yet to be further improved, this study developed a novel Gaussian process regression (GPR)-based denoising method for TEM signals. Methods First, time alignment …

Synergistic Breaking Of Composite Key Strata And Energy Evolution Of The Overburden Under Mining Disturbances, Wu Boqiang, Wang Xiaodong, Zhu Shibin, Xu Ganggang, Zhang Yuehong

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective This study aims to explore the synergistic breaking responses and energy evolution mechanisms of composite key strata under mining disturbances. These efforts will provide robust theoretical support for the prevention and control of disaster-causing accidents in the surrounding rocks of coal seams and hold great significance for ensuring safe mining operations underground. Methods The breaking and instability characteristics of composite key strata under mining disturbances were analyzed by integrating physical simulation using similar materials, numerical calculation, and theoretical analysis. Accordingly, the accumulation and release patterns of strain energy and gravitational potential energy in the overburden were investigated. Finally, the …

Mechanism And Prevention Of Rockburst In Deep Asymmetric Goaf Areas Coal Seam Main Roadway, Lu Xihui, Zhao Weiwei, Hao Yinghao, Cao Anye, Su Shijie, Lyu Guowei, Bai Gang

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective With an increase in the utilization of main roadways in coal seams, rockburst have occurred increasingly more frequently in these main roadways. Investigating the mechanisms behind these rockburst under specific conditions, as well as differentiated prevention and control measures, holds great significance for the safe extraction of deep coal resources.Methods This study investigated the main roadways at risk of strong rockburst within a coal mine in Inner Mongolia. By integrating a range of methods, including field measurement, theoretical analysis, and FLAC3D-based numerical simulation, this study examined the evolutionary patterns of both the surrounding rock stress and the overburden …

Sedimentary Evidence For The Connection Between The Southern Margin Of The Ordos Basin And The Paleotethys Ocean During The Permian To Early Triassic, Li Zonglin, Shi Yongsheng, Li Wenhou, Chen Long, Sun Jiaopeng

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Understanding the Permian-Early Triassic sedimentary environments along the southern margin of the Ordos Basin (also referred to as the SMOB) and their tectono-sedimentary responses to the Paleotethys Ocean plays a key role in determining the paleogeographic evolution and energy resource potential of the southern margin of the North China Craton. Methods This study investigated the Qinling Orogenic Belt (QOB) and the SMOB. Through systematic sedimentological examination based on drilling data and outcrop sections, along with a systematic review of existing paleontological findings, this study re-determined the Permian-Early Triassic tectono-paleogeographic frameworks along the SMOB. Furthermore, this study explored the paleogeography …

Characteristics And Mechanisms Of Guar Gum Degradation By Indigenous Bacteria In Coal Seams, Li Bing, Guo Hongyu, Zhou Xiao, Wang Haichao, Jian Kuo, Chen Zhaoying, Zhang Bin

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Hydraulic fracturing serves as a stimulation technique extensively used in the commercial development of coalbed methane (CBM), in which guar gum is commonly used as a fracturing fluid thickener. However, under the low-temperature conditions of coal reservoirs, conventional chemical gel-breaking methods often suffer from incomplete gel breaking and high residue content, resulting in formation damage and a decrease in the production efficiency of CBM wells. Methods Using indigenous bacteria in coal seams as functional strains, this study conducted microbial gel-breaking experiments. It systematically investigated the characteristics of guar gum biodegradation by these bacteria and determined the dominant microbial taxa …

A Method For Diffracted Wave Separation And Imaging Based On The Gwa-Vmd, Lin Peng, Liu Yulin, Peng Suping, Cui Xiaoqin, Guo Changbo, Yang Jie

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Small-scale discontinuous geobodies such as faults, collapse columns, and pinch-out points are widely present in underground spaces. They are closely associated with the safe production and development of underground resources such as coals, oil, and gas. As the wave field responses of small-scale discontinuous geobodies, diffracted waves can overcome the shortcomings of traditional reflected wave imaging, being capable of accurately identifying and localizing small-scale geobodies. Objective and Method This study aims to achieve diffracted wave imaging of discontinuous geobodies. Based on the differences in kinematic and dynamic characteristics between reflected and diffracted waves, this study leveraged the precise self-adaptive …

A Reflected Radio Wave-Based Exploration Method For Goaves In Closed/Abandoned Mines And Its Application, Pang Yao, Wu Rongxin, Wang Jinguo, Hu Ze'an

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Method The redevelopment and reutilization of closed/abandoned mines hold great research significance and practical production value due to their substantial number. In China, the secondary development and utilization of energy and spatial resources in such mines started late, rendering foundational theories and key technologies relatively underdeveloped. To investigate the developmental characteristics of underground spaces within goaves in closed/abandoned mines, this study proposed a reflected radio wave-based exploration method. Specifically, an observation system with a fixed transmitter-receiver (TR) spacing was deployed in rock roadways above/below or on both sides of the mining face in a closed/abandoned mine. Then, a …

Cross-Modal Lidar-Camera Joint Calibration For Heading And Mining Face In Coal Mines, Yang Wenjuan, Ren Zhiteng, Zhang Xuhui, Du Yuyang, Li Changpeng, Zhang Chao, Xu Jie, Wan Jicheng, Lei Mengyu

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective In underground coal mines, it is challenging to extract the features of the heading and mining face stably under insufficient illumination, significant dust interference, and sparse point clouds. This severely undermines the accuracy and robustness of camera-LiDAR joint calibration based on underground unstructured scene characteristics.Methods Targeting complex operating conditions, including fully mechanized mining face and tunneling roadways, this study developed a LiDAR-camera joint calibration method based on cross-depth feature coupling. In this method, an improved random sample consensus (RANSAC) algorithm for multi-plane fitting was designed for feature extraction. By integrating normal vector-based pre-clustering and an adaptive iteration mechanism, …

Note: Greenvent – Revolutionizing Methane Management With Hybrid Energy Processing In Mine Ventilation, Roman J. Jędrzejczyk, Damian K. Chlebda, Jacek Dańczak, Piotr Rosikowski, Monika A. Koperska, Robert E. Hayes, Joseph P. Mmbaga, Robert Hildebrandt, Joanna Profic-Paczkowska

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Methane plays a significant role in intensifying the greenhouse effect, possessing a global warming potential more than twenty times greater than that of CO₂ when measured on a carbon-dioxide-equivalent basis. Hence, identifying efficient methods to mitigate methane emissions is crucial for safeguarding the environment, ensuring economic viability, and maintaining practicality. Globally, research initiatives are dedicated to crafting an effective catalyst system for methane oxidation, which involves developing catalysts, comprehending their characteristics, and determining the best way of bonding them to structural supports to enhance functionality. Notably, systems that incorporate metals from the non-noble d-block of the periodic table as …

A Probabilistic Deep Learning Framework For Retrieving Chlorophyll-A From Hyperspectral Imagery: Integrating Channel Attention And Mixture Density Networks, Wenzhao Li, Surendra Maharjan, Rejoice Thomas, Junde Chen, Hesham Morgan, Michael J. Garay, Olga V. Kalashnikova, Shahryar Fazli, Charles Ichoku, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Accurate monitoring of Chlorophyll-a (Chla) is critical for assessing aquatic ecosystem health, yet ecological complexity often leads to ambiguous spectral signatures in satellite data. Traditional deterministic models assume a one-to-one mapping between spectra and pigments, often failing to capture these high-dimensional analytical challenges. In this study, we propose a novel deep learning architecture, the Channel Attention-Mixture Density Network (CA-MDN), to retrieve Chla from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) hyperspectral mission. The CA-MDN integrates an attention mechanism to dynamically select ecologically relevant spectral bands and employs a probabilistic output layer to quantify …

Biological Opinion Monitoring Of Riparian Habitat And Forest Stand Resources, Peter D. Howe

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Re: Approval Letter For The Final Repository Siting Study (Rss) Detailed Evaluation And Recommendations Report (Dated February 11, 2026), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Practices, Experiences, And Insights From Major Developed Economies On Green And Low-Carbon Technology Innovation Policies, Baihe Gu, Hongqian Wang, Yuling Sun, Dan Chen

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The transition toward green and low-carbon development has become a significant global trend for future growth. This study focuses on policy frameworks that support innovation in green and low-carbon technologies. It reviews the practices of major developed economies, such as the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Japan in this field, and synthesizes their experiences across key dimensions such as industrial policy, innovation actors, innovation ecosystems, funding mechanisms, and international cooperation. Drawing on these insights, and taking into account China’s unique advantages and challenges in green and low-carbon technological innovation, the paper offers policy recommendations aimed at …

Promoting Water Security Of South-To-North Water Diversion Project For National Water Network, Quanfa Zhang, Guihua Liu, Chesheng Zhan, Xiaobo Ren

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The South-to-North Water Diversion Project is a crucial infrastructure initiative aiming at optimizing nation-wide distribution of water resources, meanwhile fostering sustainable economic and social development, and ensuring the well-being of the people. The project, with its extensive scope and high technical complexity, particularly in the middle and west routes located in biodiversity hotspots such as the Qinling Mountains and the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, may alter local microclimates, potentially triggering meteorological disasters such as droughts, thunderstorms, and hail, along with secondary hazards. The implementation of the project may also disrupt the local hydrological conditions, disturb the balance of the existing atmospheric-vegetation-soil system, …

Https://Digitalcommons.Mtech.Edu/Superfund_Silverbowbutte/1787/, Josh Bryson

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Monitoring Strategies In Cave Microclimate Studies, Nenad Buzjak, Dalibor Paar, Aurel Persoiu, Christos Pennos, Franci Gabrovšek, Valerija Rossi

International Journal of Speleology

Cave atmospheres are spatially confined but dynamical systems that influence subterranean ecosystems, geomorphological processes, registration and preservation of climatic signals in sedimentary archives, cultural heritage, and conservation management. Despite major advances in cave climatology, methodological approaches to microclimate monitoring remain fragmented and are in some cases still shaped by the long-standing assumption that cave air temperature simply reflects the mean annual surface temperature. This paper revisits that assumption and develops an experience- and literature-based methodological framework for cave microclimate research. Key terminology is addressed by distinguishing between cave climate, cave microclimate, and cave meteorology, and by situating microclimatic variability within …

Satellites, Urban Heat, And Environmental Justice: Community As The Bridge Between Analysis And Action, Joshua B. Fisher, Ambar Rivera, Ava Cison, Ashley Agatep, Kainani Tacazon, Sophia Spiegleman, Alison Mckenery, Rio E. Fisher, Reginald Archer, Jason A. Douglas

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Heat waves are increasing in frequency, intensity, magnitude, and duration, causing a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities exposed to urban heat islands. Newly emerging spaceborne thermal sensing instruments, such as ECOSTRESS and Hydrosat, now have the capabilities to measure urban surface temperatures accurately at the block level (< 100 m) and with enough frequency to capture transient heat waves (daily to subweekly). Such data are critical for monitoring and informing policy and mitigation efforts, such as resurfacing, green space, cooling stations, and medical mobilization. These serve to advance environmental justice and reduce health risks—and deaths—among the most vulnerable: minority, low-income, elderly, those with physical- and mental-health preconditions, unhoused, children, and outdoor workers. While scientists have increasingly used satellite data to quantify urban heat islands and risks to communities, there remains a significant gap in action resulting from such analyses—a figurative and literal “valley of death.” Reviewing over 500 scientific publications, we identify a critical lack of engagement with the communities being analyzed (10.9%; n = 58); yet, community engagement is key to bridging such analysis with subsequent action. Here, we demonstrate how participatory community engagement directly with data and analysis leads to increased policy changes and mitigation efforts. Our framework has immediate implications for how scientists may augment their work and thought processes to achieve …

Re: Conditional Approval Letter With Comments For Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Draft Final 2026 Interim Site-Wide Surface Water Monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) (Dated February 4, 2026), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Electrocatalytic Degradation Of Methylene Blue Using Rgo, Sb2o3, And Rgo-Sb2o3 Composite Ink-Based Electrodes, Maria Irene Myers Armas, Andrea M. Fletes, Thomas Eubanks, Arnulfo Mar, Jason Parsons, Helia Magali Morales

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Water pollution from industrial dyes is a critical challenge due to the resistance of these types of compounds to degradation and potentially harmful effects on living organisms and human health. In this study, the electrochemical degradation of methylene blue (MB) was investigated using ink-based copper foam electrodes with reduced graphene oxide (rGO), antimony trioxide (Sb2O3), and rGO/Sb2O3 composites. The materials used to synthesize the electrodes were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), which showed the successful synthesis of GO, rGO, and the Sb2O3-rGO composite. Additionally, the synthesized electrodes were examined using SEM. The MB degradation was studied using kinetic behavior and …

Environmental And Social Strategies, And Sustainable Performance: The Mediating Role Of Management Control Systems, Zheng Siqi

Student Works (2020-2029)

This study investigates how environmental and social (E&S) strategies influence enterprise sustainability performance (SP), with a focus on the mediating roles of Environmental Management Control Systems (EMCS) and Social Management Control Systems (SMCS). Anchored in the Resource-Based View (RBV), the study conceptualizes E&S strategies, EMCS, and SMCS as internal organizational resources that support the implementation of sustainability-related strategic intent. Although Chinese manufacturing enterprises face increasing regulatory and societal expectations regarding environmental and social responsibilities, prior research has primarily examined the direct association between sustainability strategies and performance outcomes or has treated sustainability control systems as aggregated constructs, providing comparatively less …

Whose Water Is It, Anyway? Federalism And Texas V. New Mexico, Bryon Louk

Arkansas Law Review

When a problem erupts between two states, interstate compacts provide a solution without the need for a nationwide decision. Rather than waiting for federal consensus, the states can, with Congressional approval, compact to solve their problems. However, the Supreme Court’s decision in Texas v. New Mexico (Texas II) has threatened interstate compacts, ignored principles of federalism, and overextended its original jurisdiction. It has allowed the United States to force Texas and New Mexico to keep fighting over a compact, even when the states have resolved their issues on their own.

First, this Comment will describe the legal background of compact …