An Attempt to Predict the Failure Time of Abandoned Mine Pillars

Summary  Left in place pillars of abandoned mines are subject to weathering (e.g action of water, bacteria) that degrades their mechanical strength and eventually leads to collapse. A simple weathering model is proposed, that is governed by two parameters: the rate of progression of weathered front and the rate of degradation of the compressive strength with time. Both plane strain and axisymmetric analyses are performed and closed form solutions of the variation with time of the bearing capacity of the pillar are given. Experimental data of the tests conducted on gypsum and anhydrite specimens attacked by water are presented. It is shown that in order to fit the experimental data a third parameter must be introduced. New closed form solutions are given and the data are used for estimating the time to failure of abandoned gypsum mines in Northern Italy. Authors’ address: Dr. Riccardo Castellanza, Research Assistant, Department of Structural Engineering, Milan University of Technology (Politecnico), Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy     

霍洛湾煤矿22101工作面顶板两带发育规律

在详细分析霍洛湾煤矿水文地质条件基础上,根据2-2煤层上覆不同岩层的岩石力学参数建立了工作面回采过程中覆岩变形与破坏特征的数值模拟模型,研究了工作面回采过程中顶板覆岩在不同来压阶段导水裂隙带和垮落带的发育高度;通过对钻孔冲洗液漏失量的现场观测,进行了“两带”发育高度的探测。将数值模拟结果及现场观测资料对比分析,确定22101工作面的导水裂隙带高度为33.6~37.8m,垮落带高度约9.6m。这为评价研究区水体下开采可行性和水体下开采防水煤柱的设计提供了科学依据。      

石膏矿岩三轴压缩蠕变特性试验研究

石膏矿开采多采用房柱法,其蠕变特性对采空区稳定性有重要影响。以荆花石膏矿为背景,利用RC-2000微机控制岩石三轴蠕变试验机,结合具体工程情况,对荆花石膏矿岩进行围压分别为0、2.5、5.0、7.5 MPa的蠕变试验。分析了所得的蠕变试验数据,选取合适的模型对试验曲线进行拟合,利用等时应力-应变曲线簇法求得在不同围压下的长期强度。分析可知,荆花石膏矿蠕变包含衰减蠕变和等速蠕变2个阶段,轴向应力较小时只出现衰减蠕变,轴向应变增大到一定程度时将出现衰减蠕变和等速蠕变2个阶段。选择西原模型对试验曲线进行拟合结果表明,西原模型能较好地描述石膏矿的蠕变力学特性,拟合相关系数R均大于0.9;在不同围压情况下长期强度与蠕变强度的比值为0.89～0.95,即围压对长期强度的影响不大。研究结论能为石膏矿采空区的稳定性分析提供依据。     

沙曲矿区地应力及采场地压的综合监测与分析

作为典型复合型顶板的矿山,沙曲矿区的工程地质条件受到多条构造带影响,采煤工作面顶底板均为不稳定性软岩,并含少量裂隙水。为了调查该矿区的地应力条件及地压规律,本文在沙曲矿区的主要开拓巷道中开展了6个地点的地应力测试,结果表明该矿区的地应力场比较均匀,属于准静水应力场。采用现场应力套孔解除和室内围压率测定的方法得到最大水平主应力数值在20.11～22.87(MPa)之间,侧压系数在2.25～2.85范围内,属较高应力;针对24101等工作面的大采高综采巷道进行了煤柱支承压力的现场监测,结果表明24101工作面的巷道煤柱应力分布特点可以分为塑性破坏区、峰值应力区和原岩应力区;同时,对南翼14204工作面顶板进行了离层监测和锚杆测力计载荷观测,结果进一步揭示了随着时间的推移,巷道顶板稳定性的衰减主要是由于离层数量的增加所造成的规律。该地应力及采场地压的综合监测及分析结果对沙曲矿区的支护设计和安全生产具有重要指导和实用价值。     

陕北某矿双煤层开采对覆岩影响的模拟对比

多煤层开采条件下煤层覆岩破坏具有独特的特征，影响矿井生产布置。以陕北某矿为例，以该矿地质采矿条件为基础，采用相似材料模拟实验与数值模拟相结合的方法，通过建立模拟模型，开展了双煤层开采对覆岩的破坏影响研究。结果显示:留设不同宽度的煤柱，采用相似材料模拟和数值模拟2种方法得到的煤层覆岩垮落带高度、裂隙带高度都基本一致；在双煤层开采时，留设的煤柱宽度越大，两个煤层的叠置区域就越小，煤层开采对覆岩的破坏程度就越小。在工作面布置时，建议增大两个煤层的开采距离，并尽量增加煤柱宽度，以减缓覆岩移动破坏范围和破坏程度。研究成果为类似双煤层开采工作面的设计及覆岩破坏控制提供技术支撑。      

压力水作用下硬石膏岩膨胀性研究

针对隧道工程中硬石膏围岩在压力水作用下的膨胀现象,设计加工了多功能膨胀仪。使用该仪器及MTS815岩石力学测试系统,对不同水压条件下硬石膏岩的轴向膨胀应变及侧向膨胀应力进行了测试,对压力水作用后硬石膏岩的含水状态及力学特性进行了测试。结果表明：水压越大,硬石膏岩的最大轴向膨胀应变及最大侧向膨胀应力越大,膨胀起始时间越短;随水压的增大,硬石膏岩的吸水率增大,结晶水率逐渐增大并趋于吸水率,而自由水率逐渐减小并趋于0;硬石膏岩的弹性模量和峰值强度随水压的增大而增大。这些说明水压能影响其含水状态,增强硬石膏岩的膨胀性,促进其膨胀的激活,提高其力学性能。基于试验结果,建立了压力水作用下的硬石膏岩吸水状态方程,并改进了湿度场理论体系中的膨胀本构模型。     

石膏对白云岩溶解影响的实验模拟研究

表生到埋藏成岩作用的温度与压力（４０-１３０℃、常压－３０ＭＰａ）条件下，含膏与不含膏白云岩的溶解实验证明:在表生与相对浅埋藏的温压条件（低于７５℃，２０ＭＰａ）下，石膏（或硬石膏）的存在可不同程度地加速白云岩的溶解，随着实验温度和压力的升高，石膏（或硬石膏）对白云岩溶解的这种积极作用逐渐降低。在相对深埋藏的温压条件（高于７５℃、２０ＭＰａ）下，石膏（或硬石膏）的存在显著阻止白云岩的溶解，随着实验温度和压力的继续升高，石膏（或硬石膏）对白云岩溶解的这种消极作用也逐渐增加。从实验的这种结果可以预测，在近地表条件下和埋藏成岩作用的早期阶段，由溶解作用造成的含膏白云岩地层的次生孔隙将比不含膏的白云岩地层更为发育，因而在经历了古风化作用的地层中，含膏白云岩层更易形成良好的储层；与之相反，在相对高温高压的深埋藏成岩阶段，不含膏的白云岩地层中将更容易因酸性水的溶解作用而形成次生孔隙。因而在非蒸发沉积环境中形成的白云岩体（如正常海沉积环境的灰岩中的白云岩透镜体）更易因深埋藏溶蚀作用而形成良好的储层。     

Depositional environments and facies of the Late Triassic Abu Ruweis Formation, Jordan

The Abu Ruweis Formation is composed of carbonates, evaporites, and mudstones, with some locally developed pelletic, oolitic and stromatolitic limestones. The lateral persistence of bedding, the purity of the evaporite rocks, the alternating arrangement of marine carbonates and evaporites indicates periodic deposition in subaqueous conditions (salina). Petrographic investigations, X-ray diffraction analysis as well as chemical analysis have shown that the outcropping evaporite beds are mainly composed of secondary gypsum, with rare anhydrite relics. Five microfacies of gypsum were recognized according to their fabrics: porphyroblastic and granoblastic gypsum showing polarization texture, gypsum pseudomorph after anhydrite laths, and satin spar gypsum. The textures they display indicate a hydration origin of precursor anhydrite, which is in turn rehydrated from primary gypsum. Some of these anhydrites were formed as a result of replacement processes of the carbonate sediments associated with the evaporites, as evidenced from the textural relationships of the carbonate and sulfate minerals. The O¹⁸ content ranges from 1.45 to 8.38% PDB and the C¹³ content ranges from −1.52 to 4.73% PDB. Trace elements analysis has shown that the Abu Ruweis dolomites are rich in strontium (up to 600 ppm), and sodium (up to 835 ppm). The isotope composition and trace elements content, as well as the petrographic characteristics point to a penecontemporaneous hypersaline dolomitization origin for the Abu Ruweis dolomites. The evaporites were deposited during a regressive lowstand systems tract, whereas the carbonates were deposited under shallow water marine conditions during a highstand systems tract. The Abu Ruweis succession represents a relatively stable arid climate within a rapidly subsiding basin. Restricted conditions were provided by the development of beach barriers.     

Investigation of Instability and Blasting Caving Technology of Composite Support Structure in the Goaf of Gypsum Mine

According to the structure form of room and pillar goaf in gypsum mine, the mechanical model of pillar roof composite supporting structure was established in this research. Based on the cusp catastrophe theory and energy dissipation theory, the energy dissipation relationship of the support structure was analyzed, and a new instability criterion of the support system was derived by introducing the control parameters α and β. On this basis, the study of blasting caving was carried out. The influence of row spacing and hole depth on blasting caving was analyzed using ANSYS/LS DYNA software. The blasting influence range, stress wave attenuation and vibration velocity attenuation indices are obtained, and the blasting parameters such as the optimal distance and depth of blast holes between pillars and roof were optimized. Based on the results of theoretical analysis and numerical, combined with the engineering geological conditions of Dahan gypsum mine, the practical study of blasting caving was carried out. The caving scheme and caving sequence was determined, then the blasting caving effect was analyzed. The caving effect was found to be good, and the applicability of the theoretical model is verified.

     

Anhydrite–gypsum transition in the argillites of flooded salt workings in eastern France

This study aims at understanding the physico-chemical interactions between the saturated brine and the rocks enclosing the underground salt workings in Lorraine (eastern France). These anhydrite-rich and argillaceous rocks were characterized in terms of mineralogy, micro-texture and connected porosity. Then, the two main lithofacies, massive anhydrite and anhydrite-rich argillite, were immersed in brine during more than 1 year. During this batch experiment, the argillites were affected by macroscopic splitting, contrarily to the massive anhydrite. Micro-texture and brine chemical analyses clearly show the swelling due to the hydration of anhydrite into gypsum inside the argillites, whereas hydration occurs superficially on the massive anhydrite, due to its very low permeability. Anhydrite–gypsum transformation is promoted by the presence of dissolved strontium and potassium in saturated brine. The low activity of water in saturated brine does not allow the clay fraction to swell significantly during the experiment. Thus, the expansion resulting from the hydration of anhydrite into gypsum might be responsible of the splitting of argillite in a saturated brine environment. The superficial anhydrite hydration on massive anhydrite can be explained by the low amount of connected porosity (less than 1%).     

Behaviour of abandoned room and pillar mines in Illinois

Summary Little comprehensive information has been reported on the behaviour of room-and-pillar mines. The objective of this paper is to present case data on mine failures in the Illinois basin for use in practice. Presented are results of an ongoing study and details on the site characteristics of cases where sags have developed on the surface. Site data are reported to show the geologic, mining, and sag conditions that existed. Sags mainly develop from pillar, floor, or pillar-floor failure. The character of the sags depends upon the type of mine failure as well as the overburden response.Preliminary results show that the statistical no-risk tributary pressure decreases over 300% as the mine age increases from about 2 to 100 years at a long-term value of approximately 300 psi (2070 kPa). As more information is collected and more analysis is done, the allowable tributary pressure can be determined for different site conditions.A plot is also reported that depicts the relationship of the maximum subsidence to site conditions. It was found that the modified subsidence factor was heavily dependent upon the overburden rock thickness.     

Origin and evolution of a salty gypsum/anhydrite karst spring: the case of Poiano (Northern Apennines, Italy)

Poiano is the largest karst spring of the Emilia Romagna region (northern Italy). It drains an aquifer of unique properties composed of anhydrite with halite lenses at depth and gypsum at the surface (both with high NaCl content). Hydrogeological research has been undertaken using automatically recorded hourly data on temperature, electrical conductivity, and water level. Water feeding the Poiano spring is restricted within the gypsum/anhydrite outcrop between the Lucola, Sologno and Secchia rivers. Karstification in the Upper Secchia Valley only concerns the gypsum rocks mainly present along the border and in the shallower parts of the sulfate outcrop and does not appear to occur at depth. Data strongly support the hypothesis that the salt content in the spring water derives from active halokinetic movements. For the first time, the fundamental hydrogeological importance of the anhydrite part inside the sulfate rocks is demonstrated. If gypsum prevails over anhydrite the karst drainage network can extend deep into the rocks following a network of fractures and fissures. Instead, if in the deep parts of the aquifer anhydrite prevails over gypsum, the karst evolution cannot take place at depth and the structure of the underground drainage paths only follows near-surface paths in gypsum.     

矿井初步设计中边界防隔水煤岩柱留设探讨

针对一些矿井初步设计中留设边界防隔水煤岩柱不合理而引发矿井老空水矿难的现实,探讨了影响矿井间边界防隔水煤岩柱安全稳定性的因素,提出应充分考虑煤岩柱受覆岩应力破坏变形、覆岩受采动影响产生岩移破坏等,综合分析计算煤柱有效稳定性弹性核区宽度、覆岩导水裂缝带上限岩柱宽度及其抗静水压能力等,择优选取留设矿井边界防隔水煤岩柱。以济宁煤田济宁二矿与三矿边界煤柱的留设为例,计算其边界煤柱留设尺寸为99.56m,较原设计的40m有较大出入,据此对两矿井边界隔离煤柱进行了相应调整,确保了矿井的安全生产。该方法也可用于矿井留设采区、区段隔离煤柱的计算。     

Meganodular anhydritization: a new mechanism of gypsum to anhydrite conversion (Palaeogene–Neogene,Ebro Basin,North‐east Spain)

A number of Palaeogene to Early Neogene gypsum units are located along the southern margins of the Ebro Basin (North‐east Spain). These marginal units, of Eocene to Lower Miocene age, formed and accumulated deposits of Ca sulphates (gypsum and anhydrite) in small, shallow saline lakes of low ionic concentration. The lakes were fed mainly by ground water from deep regional aquifers whose recharge areas were located in the mountain chains bounding the basin, and these aquifers recycled and delivered Ca sulphate and Na chloride from Mesozoic evaporites (Triassic and Lower Jurassic). In outcrop, the marginal sulphate units are largely secondary gypsum after anhydrite and exhibit meganodules (from 0·5 to >5 m across) and large irregular masses. In the sub‐surface these meganodules and masses are mostly made of anhydrite, which replaced the original primary gypsum. The isotopic composition (11·1 to 17·4‰ for δ¹⁸O_VSMOW; 10·7 to 15·3‰ for δ³⁴S_VCDT) of secondary gypsum in this meganodular facies indicates that the precursor anhydrite derived from in situ replacement of an initial primary gypsum. As a result of ascending circulation of deep regional fluid flows through the gypsum units near the basin margins, the gypsum was partly altered to anhydrite within burial conditions from shallow to moderate depths (from some metres to a few hundred metres?). At such depths, the temperatures and solute contents of these regional flows exceeded those of the ground water today. These palaeoflows became anhydritizing solutions and partly altered the subsiding gypsum units before they became totally transformed by deep burial anhydritization. The characteristics of the meganodular anhydritization (for example, size and geometry of the meganodules and irregular masses, spatial arrangement, relations with the associated lithologies and the depositional cycles, presence of an enterolithic vein complex and palaeogeographic distribution) are compared with those of the anhydritization generated both in a sabkha setting or under deep burial conditions, and a number of fundamental differences are highlighted.     

姚楼井田B煤防水煤岩柱留设研究

根据姚楼井田地质勘探所取得的资料,分析了Ｂ煤开采上覆岩土层的水文地质结构及工程地质特征,对该井田厚松散层含水层下近露头带开采的防水煤岩柱尺寸作出了评价,为开采设计提供了初步依据。     

鄂尔多斯盆地西部奥陶系风化壳岩溶作用模式

鄂尔多斯盆地下古生界马家沟组顶部遭受长期风化剥蚀,形成了以膏云岩为主的风化壳岩溶储层。通过偏光显微和超微扫描电镜深入观察了（含）膏云岩的孔隙类型及充填规律,分析了其岩溶作用特点,研究了以膏云岩为主的岩溶作用特征与传统碳酸盐岩岩溶作用特征的区别,探讨了膏云岩发育区的岩溶作用模式。结果表明:硬石膏结核和石膏晶体以其强亲水性和远高于白云石、方解石的溶解度,极易率先吸水发生溶解形成组构选择性溶蚀孔隙,导致膏云岩层蜂窝状溶孔的形成。硬石膏的高溶解度和力学不稳定性使得研究区以膏云岩、白云岩和灰云岩互层的风化壳储层以膏模孔、扩溶膏模孔及与之伴生的胀缩微裂缝为主要储集空间,孔隙大小具有明显的自限性。岩性—（含）膏云岩和沉积微相—海平面低位期潮上带（含）膏云坪沉积是储层形成的先天物质基础和环境条件,并因此直接导致（含）膏云岩储层的成层分布特征。表层膏云岩首先遭受淡水淋滤形成蜂窝状溶孔,多层成层分布膏云岩这种独特的物理化学性质使风化壳内的岩溶水以弥散性渗透为主,这是膏云岩发育区岩溶作用特征和模式与碳酸盐岩产生重要差异的根本原因。     

四川渠县三叠系膏盐的同生、成岩、后生及表生变化

本文论述了四川渠县三叠系的膏盐在沉积后的不同阶段所发生的各种变化,并提出根据膏盐的变化特征推测它们的原生沉积条件、卤水咸化程度及研究区的矿床保存条件。     

Gypsum–anhydrite transformations in Messinian evaporites of central Tuscany (Italy)

The Messinian succession of Tuscany (central Italy) contains three evaporitic units. Among the several exposed evaporitic lithofacies, only selenitic gypsum precipitated directly from evaporating brines. All the other facies, nodular microcrystalline gypsum, gypsarenites and gypsum laminites, despite their macroscopic differences, display the same petrographic textures, indicating that they are the product of dehydration of gypsum to give anhydrite which has been successively rehydrated to secondary gypsum. These secondary facies show an entire array of textures ranging from cloudy ameboid (xenotopic) with anhydrite relics, to idiotopic without anhydrite relics, that are here interpreted as a sequence of progressive stages of rehydration. The presence of completely hydrated petrofacies at the core of nodules which display a less hydrated rim suggests that these rocks have undergone at least two cycles of a dehydration–rehydration process. This interpretation is supported by the presence of satin spar veins that are replaced by microcrystalline gypsum. Satin spar itself is considered to be a by-product of anhydrite hydration. The first dehydration–rehydration event affected the entire gypsum deposit, producing a completely hydrated (idiotopic) facies together with satin spar veins; the second affected only veins, fractures and the rims of nodules, turning the first generation of satin spar and idiotopic gypsum into cloudy ameboid gypsum. Sedimentary structures typical of sabkha environments indicate for the youngest formation that the first dehydration and rehydration process occurred syndepositionally. The preservation of primary gypsum facies only at sites with condensed sections, indicate for the oldest two formations that the first dehydration event occurred upon burial. This event has been estimated to have occurred in the earliest Pliocene. After the Early Pliocene, dehydration was favored even at shallow depths, due to an increased heat flow related with the emplacement of local crustal magmatic bodies. Rehydration possibly occurred when these formations were uplifted and exposed to ground and/or meteoric water. The Volterra Basin has undergone alternating subsidence and uplift events, that can account for two dehydration–rehydration processes at least, also driven by alternating circulation, in the tectonic fractures, of fresh and salty water, the latter derived from dissolution of Messinian halite.     

Evolution of late Triassic rift basin evaporites (Passaic Formation): Newark Basin, Eastern North America

The Passaic Formation of the late Triassic Newark Supergroup is 2700 m thick and was deposited in series of wide, deep to shallow lacustrine environments in the Newark rift basin (eastern North America). The Passaic Formation can be divided into lower, middle, and upper sections based on depositional structures, composition and the distribution and morphology of its evaporites. Evaporites formed as a result of syndiagenetic cementation and/or displacive processes. Evaporitive minerals now include gypsum and anhydrite, although other mineral species, such as glauberite, may have originally existed. Most of the evaporites of the Passaic Formation occur within massive red mudstone and siltstone lithologies in the form of diffuse cements, void-fillings, euhedral crystals, crystal clusters and nodules. These evaporites grew displacively within the fine siliciclastic matrix as a result of changes in the hydrochemical regimes of the rift basin. A well-developed upward increase in the amount of evaporite material is present in the Passaic Formation. This resulted from: (1) long-term, progressive increase in aridity, and (2) significant increase in evaporation surface area of the basin during its tectonic evolution. A nonmarine source for the evaporites is evident from the isotopic data. Sulphate δ³⁴S ranges from 11%. to 3.3%. CDT, while δ¹⁸O ranges from + 15.1%. to + 20.9%. SMOW, indicating derivation from early diagenetic oxidation of organic sulphur and pyrite within the organic-rich, lacustrine deposits. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios in sulphate are radiogenic (average 0.71211), showing the interaction of basin waters with detrital components and that the Newark Basin was isolated from the world ocean. Most of the original evaporites show evidence of diagenetic change to polycrystalline and polymineralic pseudomorphs now filled with recrystallized coarse-grained anhydrite (1–3 mm size) and low-temperature albite. Homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions within the coarse-grained anhydrite indicate crystallization temperatures for anhydrite in the range of 150° to 280°C. Such elevated temperatures resulted from circulation of hot water in the basin. Later exhumation of these rocks caused partial to total replacement of anhydrite by gypsum in the upper part of the section. The resulting increase in volume due to hydration of anhydrite at shallow depths also emplaced non-evaporative satin-spar veins (fibrous gypsum) along bedding planes and in fractures. While the local geology of the Newark rift basin controlled the distribution of facies, the sedimentological development of the Passaic Formation evaporites resulted from the world-wide climatic aridity that prevailed during the late Triassic. because the Newark Basin sequence was only covered with about 3 km of sedimentary overburden that correspond to about 100°C and hence suggests that evaporites have experienced alteration by hot fluids. 5 As the Triassic marks the greatest evaporite formation world-wide and profound sense of parched continentality throughout the world existed before the final break-up of the Pangea, the Passaic Formation evaporites are an example of the influence of these palaeoclimatic conditions at the eastern margin of North America.     

双系煤层开采相互影响下的覆岩运动与破坏规律分析

以大同矿区同忻煤矿为例,利用关键层理论、物理探测技术和数值模拟,分析双系煤层开采形成的覆岩运动与破坏规律。研究结果表明：（1）石炭二叠系煤层工作面推进至193 m时,覆岩裂隙带发育高度达到最大为174.7 m;（2）物理探测得到3-5^#煤层开采引起的覆岩垮裂带高度约为180 m,综合理论计算与现场实测,确定覆岩裂隙带发育高度与采厚之比为11.7-12.0;（3）侏罗系煤层开采引起的底板破坏及双系间覆岩软弱夹层的缺失为双系煤层采空区联通进一步提供了条件;（4）侏罗系煤层的开采影响石炭二叠系煤层工作面超前支承压力的分布规律,当石炭系煤层工作面位于侏罗系煤层遗留煤柱下方时,超前支撑压力较无采空区时增大12.4%;（5）研究成果揭示了双系开采相互影响关系,为采取安全开采措施、减弱双系开采相互影响程度提供了科学依据。