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Coal Geology & Exploration

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Influence Mechanisms Of Soil Layer Reconstruction And Fungal Inoculation On Plant Water Use In Waste Dumps, Bi Yinli, Li Zhongqing, Ke Zengming, Peng Suping

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective In the mining areas of open-pit coal mines in the arid and semi-arid regions in western China, water scarcity severely restricts ecological restoration. As preliminary ecological effects have been achieved through soil layer reconstruction and bioremediation-based reclamation technologies in waste dumps of the mining areas, there is an urgent need to investigate the effects of both technologies on the water use and growth of representative plants. This will provide a scientific basis for accelerating ecological restoration in the mining areas. Methods In a waste dump of the Heidaigou open-pit coal mine in Inner Mongolia, four experimental program for soil …

Influence Patterns Of Coal Mining-Induced Subsidence On Economic Losses From Soil Erosion Of Loess Slopes In The Middle Reaches Of The Yellow River, Song Shijie, Li Yuanhong, Wang Yi, Liu Lu, Tian Yu, Tan Qingyu

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Quantitative assessment of economic losses from soil erosion on subsidence slopes in coal mining-induced subsidence areas can offer a critical basis for formulating scientific economic compensation standards while also laying a solid foundation for efficient governance.Methods This study investigated the subsidence slopes with different morphologies in the typical loess area subjected to coal mining-induced subsidence in northern Shaanxi Province. Using methods including field sampling, laboratory tests, and environmental economics analysis, this study constructed an index system for the quantitative assessment of economic losses from soil erosion on coal mining-induced subsidence slopes and revealed the variation patterns of such …

Mechanisms Behind Consolidation-Induced Water Release From Effective Impermeable Soil Layers And Mine Water Inflow Prediction In Coal Mining, Li Tao, Gao Ying, Fan Limin, Yang Junwei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background In the Yushen mining area, coal mining is gradually shifting toward areas with thick soil layers. This leads to continuous water release from the saturated soils above the hydraulically conductive fracture zones, thereby significantly increasing the burden of mine water drainage. Focusing on the Yushuwan Coal Mine in northern Shaanxi, this study investigated the mechanisms behind mining-induced water release from effective impermeable soil layers and predicted mine water inflow. Methods Using conventional hydrochemistry, isotopic hydrochemistry, and a high-throughput microbial sequencing method, this study conducted qualitative and quantitative identification of the primary water sources of a mine in the Yushuwan …

Numerical Simulations Of The Influence Of Vegetation Configuration On Dust Migration In Open-Pit Coal Mines, Han Li, Li Renjie, Bi Yinli

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Dust pollution emerges as a major environmental challenge in the open-pit mining of coal mines. Ecological restoration has found widespread applications in mining areas as a crucial measure. However, there is a lack of systematic studies on the role of vegetation configuration in dust migration. Methods Using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method for numerical simulation, this study constructed a comprehensive simulation framework incorporating wind field reconstruction, dust migration, and the dust retention capacity of vegetation. By setting different particle sizes and wind speeds, this study systematically analyzed dust migration patterns. Furthermore, vegetation configuration was introduced into the simulation …

Links Of Intensification Chemical Weathering And Nickel Enrichment With Volcanism In The North China Plate Around The Permian-Triassic Boundary, Wang Ye, Ye Chengzhuo, Zhang Tong, Yang Minfang, Zhou Kai, Zhang Peixin, Yang Yuzhu, Zhang Chu, Lu Jing

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The North China Plate serves as a pivotal region for deciphering the mechanisms underlying the links of volcanism and paleoenvironmental-climatic upheavals around the Permian-Triassic Boundary (PTB). The dramatic environmental perturbations during this period are closely linked to large-scale volcanic eruptions of the Siberian Traps Large Igneous Province (STLIP). These eruptions triggered global warming, extreme chemical weathering events, and mass extinctions, marking a significant turning point in the evolution of the Earth system.Methods This study investigated the Sunjiagou and Liujiagou formations in the WY-U-01H borehole in the Qinshui Basin, North China Plate. Using the chemical index of alteration (CIA), …

Mechanisms Underlying The Impacts Of Reservoir Pore Structures On Near-Well Salt Precipitation In Co2 Geological Storage, Deng Chenguang, Sun Xiaolong, Liu Keyu, An Senyou, Yuan Guanghui, Wang Yuxiang

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Method High CO₂ injectivity in reservoirs is essential for high-quality sites of CO₂ geological storage (CGS). Salt precipitation in the vicinity of injection wells due to brine dissolution in CO₂ emerges as a critical factor impairing CO₂ injectivity. To explore the differences in the mechanisms behind salt precipitation and damage degree across various reservoirs, this study conducted salt precipitation simulation experiments on sandstone samples with distinct pore structures using a high-temperature and high-pressure fluid displacement system. By combining methods such as cast thin section observations, scanning electron microscopy and resulting spectra, micro-X-ray fluorescence (micro-XRF) …

A Method For Detecting Weathered And Oxidized Zones In Shallowly Buried Coal Seams Integrating Logging And Dense Microtremor Array Technology, Ma Zhi, He Weisheng, Hu Qiuping, Guo Zhengxue, Zhou Jinju, Chen Tongjun, Yang Le, Yuan Zhichao

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective The central and western regions of China hold abundant shallowly buried coal resources. However, the accurate exploration and safe, efficient development of coal seams in these regions are confronted with serious challenges due to weathering and oxidation. To achieve the cost-effective delineation of weathered and oxidized zones in shallowly buried coal seams, this study proposed a novel exploration method that integrated logging and dense microtremor array technology based on differences in physical properties and geophysical responses between weathered and oxidized zones and normal strata. Methods Initially, based on the analysis of the laws of variations in the physical properties …

Global Representative Metallogenic Models And Geophysical Exploration Methods Of Sylvite: Current Research Status And Prospects, Qu Ping, Yue Hangyu, Huang Xiaobing, Song Jiong

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Sylvite serves as a strategic mineral resource that plays a significant role in ensuring food safety and sustainable agricultural development, with approximately 90% of global potash resources used for potassium fertilizer production. However, developing countries such as China have long faced the challenges of heavy dependence on potash imports and insufficient potash resource continuity. Such a supply and demand framework causes China to speed up research on potash metallogenic patterns and technical innovations in potash exploration. This will help overcome resource bottlenecks. Objective This study presented a systematic summary of global potash metallogenic models and investigated the approaches of …

Numerical Simulations Of The Overburden Stability In Underfilling Zones During Continuous Mining And Continuous Backfilling Of Coal Mines, Liu Lang, Luo Yixiao, Zhu Mengbo, He Jun, Qu Huisheng, Duan Huaijun, Wei Baoning, Liu Zhizhen

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Method Coals serve as a predominant energy source in China. However, coal mining has resulted in increasingly pronounced ecological issues such as ground subsidence and solid waste accumulation. Although the continuous mining and continuous backfilling (CMCB) technology allows for efficient resource recovery and ecological protection through backfilling with coal-based solid waste, the issue of insufficient roof-contact backfilling (termed underfilling) poses a serious threat to the overburden stability during mining. Given the unclear mechanisms behind the influence of coupled multiple factors of underfilling zones in current research, this study constructed three-dimensional numerical models using the 3DEC discrete element software …

Response Characteristics Of Vegetation Ecology And Land Use Changes Tocoal Mining In Semi-Arid Regions, Du Zhen, Zhang Maosheng, Yun Shaoqi, Sun Pingping, Feng Li

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective In semi-arid regions, intensive coal mining is prone to induce vegetation degradation and reshape the land use pattern. To identify the ecological impacts of coal mining and provide support for differential restoration, this study presents a quantitative comparison of changes in vegetation, soil moisture content, and land use types between mining-affected and non-mining areas.Methods Yulin City, Shaanxi Province was investigated in this study. Two parallel baseline frameworks were constructed: mining-affected and non-mining areas, which were compared under the sandy-fluvial terrace and loess hilly-gully landforms. The annual maximum normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) derived from Landsat imagery was used …

Water Immersion-Induced Damage Mechanisms And Enhancement Via Nano-Modification For Artificial Dam Specimens With Vertical Interfaces, Li Yijia, Hao Xianjie, Chen Yuguang, Pang Tian, Yang Huaixiang, Li Hang, Ji Jinyi, Li Xinyu

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective To accelerate ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River basin, the concept of “conductivity, storage, and utilization” has been proposed to achieve the mine water storage and protection by transforming goafs into underground reservoirs and utilizing waterproof concrete dams. However, under the action of long-term water immersion and mining activity, the interfaces of composite concrete dam structures might undergo strength degradation, leading to hidden hazards. Methods By incorporating 0.5% and 1.0% nano-SiO₂, -Al₂O₃, and -TiO₂, this study prepared specimens with one vertical interface each that comprised double semi-cylinders through …

Building And Geological Interpretation Of A 3d Resistivity Model For The Reclamation Area Of The Jiaozhou Bay, Yu Peng, Zhao Mingyue, Yang Haiyan, Li Wenyu, Tian Jian, Yan Houzhen, Zhang Chao

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background With the advancement in smart city construction in China, the development and utilization of urban underground space have become a focal point. Geophysical methods, as a crucial technical means for underground geological structure exploration, face new challenges when applied to complex exploration environments in urban areas. Objectives and Methods To address issues in underground space exploration in the coastal area of Qingdao, this study investigated the reclamation area along the eastern coast of the Jiaozhou Bay. Using a detection technique that combined the transient electromagnetic method (TEM) using a conical source and high-density resistivity method, this study constructed a …

A Rock Engineering System Model For Predicting Fragment Size Of Muck-Pile Using Geometric Parameters And Rock Mass Properties, Patrick Adeniyi Adesida, Victor Abioye Akinbinu, Babatunde Adebayo

Journal of Sustainable Mining

This study aimed to evaluate rock fragmentation risk indexes and develop a predictive model for the median size of fragment (X₅₀) using the Rock Engineering System (RES). The methodology includes the analysis of 15 significant parameters of rock properties and blast design, which are considered to be important to rock fragmentation from 30 selected blast sites. These parameters include rock type, hardness, blast-hole diameter, charge weight, blast pattern, and others that control fragmentation results. Statistical analysis was performed to validate the RES-based model developed from these parameters. The model exhibited a strong predictive capacity, evidenced by a …

Park Reclamation: Tackling Invasive Species At The Oconee River Greenway In Milledgeville, Ga, Christine Mutiti

Academic Affairs

This project focused on the ecological restoration of a kudzu-invaded section of the Oconee River Greenway while integrating high-impact learning into the Environmental Methods and Measurements (ENSC 2000) course at GCSU. Kudzu (Pueraria montana), a Category I invasive species, has significantly disrupted native plant communities at the site, making it an ideal setting for applied learning and ecological intervention. The project engaged students in authentic environmental research by involving them in every stage of the process including problem assessment, methodology design, field implementation, data collection, and reflection.

Students initiated the first phase of invasive plant removal using mechanical …

Empirical Methods For Support System Design In Deep Serpentinite Excavations: A Critical Evaluation, Anas Driouch, Redouane Oubah, Abdelaziz Lahmili, Latifa Ouadif

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Underground mining excavations in fragile serpentinite rock masses represent a significant challenge today. The complicated features of these rock formations, especially at great depths, make it difficult to classify them using commonly employed methods. This paper focuses on the application of empirical methods for the classification of serpentinite rock masses and the design of support systems in underground mining excavations. Specifically, it concerns an access tunnel excavated entirely in serpentinite at a depth of 460 m. Geomechanical classification systems indicate that the Tunnelling Quality Index (Q-system) and Rock Mass Rating (RMR) evaluate serpentinites as rock masses of exceptionally poor to …

Building Resilient And Sustainable Supply Chains: A Distributed Ledger-Based Learning Feedback Loop, Tan Gürpinar, Mehmet A. Gulum

Computer Science Faculty publications

Global supply chains face increasing disruptions from cyber threats, geopolitical instability, extreme weather events, and a range of economic, social, and environmental sustainability challenges. As these disruptions intensify, enhancing Supply Chain Resilience (SCR) has become a strategic priority. This study investigates how Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) can contribute to SCR by mitigating vulnerabilities and strengthening key capabilities within global supply chains. A qualitative research approach is employed, utilizing expert evaluations to examine DLT’s impact on supply chain vulnerabilities and capabilities. Five workshops were conducted with 25 industry professionals from logistics, IT, procurement, and risk management. Experts examined how DLT could …

The Effects Of Plastic Mulch And Irrigation On Hemp Chemistry And Leaf Endophytes, Allison Rietman, Connor Morozumi, Robert C. Pearce, Natalie Christian

Journal of Agricultural Hemp Research

As an emerging crop, cultivation techniques for industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) are still being developed and optimized. For example, irrigation and plastic mulching are some management practices that have been touted for their benefits in improving crop quality. Both techniques ensure ample water availability, which has often been attributed to improving hemp cannabinoid and terpene composition. In this study, we examined how supplemental irrigation implemented in a plastic mulch system influenced the cannabinoid and terpene profiles of one cultivar of CBD hemp, Lifter. We grew industrial hemp in field with plastic mulch and applied regular irrigation to one group …

Fisheries Research Report No. 354: Recreational Fishing For Abalone In Western Australia In 2024/2025 - Estimates Of Participation, Effort And Catch, Claire B. Smallwood, Karina L. Ryan, Lachlan W. Strain

Fisheries Research Reports

The Western Australian Recreational Abalone Fishery (RAF) operates in shallow coastal waters as a hand collection fishery while wading or diving. Three species of abalone are allowed to be caught. Roe’s abalone (Haliotis roei) are generally collected while wading from the shore in accessible nearshore reef complexes along the West and South Coast Bioregions. Greenlip abalone (H. laevigata) and Brownlip abalone (H. conicopora) are collected while wading (including snorkelling and freediving) and diving (using compressed air) predominantly along the South Coast Bioregion.

Recreational fishing for the three abalone species is licensed and highly regulated, especially in the Western Zone (which …

Frameworks And Life Cycle Assessment For Reinforced Concrete Bridges For Sustainability In Transportation, Yu-Fu Ko, Jessica Gonzalez

Mineta Transportation Institute

Bridge structures are critical components of California’s transportation network, with reinforced concrete (RC) bridges being among the most widely used. Extending the lifespan of these structures can lead to significant reductions in environmental impacts. However, California’s frequent seismic activity has repeatedly exposed the vulnerability of existing RC bridges, highlighting the urgent need for seismic retrofitting and maintenance to improve infrastructure resilience against earthquakes and to increase sustainability. This research used detailed computer simulations known as nonlinear finite element models, which are highly detailed computer models, incorporating section damage indices to predict damage and assess structural deficiencies in RC bridges during …