Estimating the crush zone size under a cutting tool in coal

Summary As part of an effort to understand the mechanics of fine fragment formation in coal, which is important in studies of respirable dust due to mining, fracture toughness measurements and the strain energy density (SED) theory were applied to calculate the crush zone size under a cutting tool in coal. This zone is the major source of fine fragments in the 1 to 10 µm size range. The model used in these calculations is a boundary element program containing a failure criterion based on the SED theory. The boundary element program calculates linear elastic stresses at numerous points in the coal material ahead of a cutting bit. These stresses are then input to a subroutine called critical flaw length and orientation (CFLO) which uses the SED theory to determine the CFLO for a small crack at the boundary element stress computation point. The extent of crushing is based on earlier postulates about the role of inherent flaws in a fragmentation process. To form 1 to 10 µm fragments requires firstly a local stress strong enough to activate flaws with a characteristic length less than 1 to 10 µm and secondly, a flaw density sufficient to provide an average spacing between flaws also on the order of 1 to 10 µm. The locus of active 10 µm flaws represents the maximum possible extent of fine fragmentation in the 10 µm or less size range assuming that a sufficient inherent flaw density exists. The approach offers a first order approximation to the extent of crushing under a tool tip. The size and shape of the crush zone volume is affected by the attack angle and geometry of the tool.     

Methane emission from coal and associated strata samples

Summary This article discusses methods for providing a reliable forecast of the gas-dynamic behaviour of coal seams and adjacent strata. It shows that the ash content of carbonaceous materials determines their sorptive capacity (a universally applicable expression is presented for calculating the methane content of a sample) whilst the rate of methane desorption is a function of the degree of geological disturbance, i.e. the number and distribution of the macropores and fractures in the sample. This effect becomes less important as the sample ash content increases and effectively disappears above a certain value for high permeability materials.The quantity sorption-kinetic characteristic is shown to be a reliable means for quantifying methane emission behaviour. Large variations in coal sorption-kinetic characteristics are shown to occur over short distances as the geological structure of the seam changes, both vertically and horizontally. Consequently, sorption-kinetic characteristics may be used to predict the general level of methane emission from the seam and to quantify the risk of outburst inherent in disturbed areas of coal seams.     

In situ yield behaviour of a coal pillar

Summary An indication of the complete stress-strain behaviour of coal was obtained through instrumenting a headgate yield pillar and monitoring the changes in vertical and horizontal pillar stress, pillar strain, and roof-floor convergence as a function of time and distance from the moving longwall face. A semiautomated monitoring program was conducted over a 5 month period as the longwall face advanced toward and eventually passed the instrumented pillar. The development of a confined core and yield zone within the pillar was confirmed by the vertical and horizontal stress changes. Thein situ pre-failure (208 to 661 MPa) and post-failure moduli (55 to 208 MPa) of the coal were determined from the change in pillar stress versus pillar strain. Thein situ moduli are an order of magnitude lower than the 3450 MPa, commonly assumed for coal.     

Relative sea-level fluctuations and brown coal formation around the Early-Middle Miocene boundary in the Lusatian Brown Coal District

The Tertiary sedimentary sequence in the Lusatian Brown Coal District is the result of several transgressive pulses with intercalated regressive phases. Regression repeatedly resulted in the formation of large littoral bogs at the transition between brackish and terrestrial palaeoenvironments. In the lithofacies changes of the Lower-Middle Miocene strata (high energy sands, low energy intertidal silts, paralic peats) long-term changes as well as short-term oscillations of sea level are recorded. The rise of sea level in the upper Lower Miocene (Hemmoorian transgression) is proved in numerous localities of the investigation area. After a regression phase with major peat formation events around the Lower-Middle Miocene boundary, a renewed sea-level rise resulted in the widest extension of marine-brackish beds over pre-Tertiary basement in the south of the region (higher Reinbekian transgression, Middle Miocene). Very differentiated, fine-scaled, probably sea-level induced coastline oscillations could probably be traced even into the coal seams by the recognition of successive bogfacial types possibly showing a groundwater level change in the ancient peat bog (change of topogeneous and ombrogeneous bog types). A biostratigraphic calibration of the decalcified Lower-Middle Miocene sequence with its alternating transgressive and regressive trends to the fully marine sediments of the basinal centre, which are dated by calcareous microfossils, is possible by means of dinoflagellate cysts and pollen and spores. Correspondence to: C. Strauss     

滇东黔西晚二叠世早期辫状河三角洲沉积体系及其聚煤特征

滇东黔西上二叠统底部发育着一套玄武岩质砾岩，本文针对云南富源和贵州盘县一带的底砾岩进行综合研究，认为这套砾岩为辫状河三角洲沉积，并进一步识别出砾质辫状河道、砂质辫状河道、砾质河口坝、砂质河口坝等沉积类型。文中还对该辫状河三角洲的沉积序列、发育背景以及与聚煤作用关系等问题做了一定分析，认为三角洲朵体之间地区以及在衰退的三角洲朵体之上成煤较好。     

厦漳泉地区外向型经济发展的条件与特征分析

本文分析厦漳泉地区外向型经济发展的基本条件、发展过程，以及近十几年来利用外资的主要特征。在此基础上，对本区进一步加快发展外向型经济的潜在优势进行评述。     

长江三峡地区经济开发条件分析

长江三峡地区区域地理位置重要，区位优势明显，开发意义重大；区内农业、水能、矿产和旅游等优势自然资源丰富，组合配置良好，开发潜力巨大；区域经济开发的交通、能源、出入通道等基础条件已基本具备。     

Coal resources,production, and quality in the Eastern kentucky coal field: Perspectives on the future of steam coal production

The Eastern Kentucky coal field, along with adjacent portions of Virginia and southern West Virginia, is part of the greatest production concentration of high-heating-value, low-sulfur coal in the United States, accounting for over 27% of the 1993 U.S. production of coal of all ranks. Eastern Kentucky's production is spread among many coal beds but is particularly concentrated in a limited number of highquality coals, notably the Pond Creek coal bed and its correlatives, and the Fire Clay coal bed and its correlatives. Both coals are relatively low ash and low sulfur through the areas of the heaviest concentration of mining activity. We discuss production trends, resources, and the quality of in-place and clean coal for those and other major coals in the region.     

三山岛金矿F3断裂带的水文地质工程地质特征及灾害防治

本文对三山岛金矿F3断裂带的构造、岩性和水动力学特征进行了研究,对矿坑开挖中的突水和坑道碎屑流的成因做了探讨,并在水文地质结构、水化学、水同位素及水文地热学的综合研究基础上,对未来的二期井下工程开挖中可能出现的工程地质问题进行了预测,提出了防治方案。     

可可西里地区乌兰乌拉湖湖泊环境变迁及古人类活动遗迹

通过对可可西里地区及在乌兰乌拉湖所发现古人类活动遗迹的综合研究，认为乌兰乌拉湖地区自晚更新世末期以来，湖泊环境发生了由湿润（3×104aB．P．以前）──温暖（2×104aB．P．前后）──干暖（1×104aB．P．以前）──冷干（1×104aB．P．以来）的变化，湖水也产生了多次进退变化，与之相适应的古人类活动也发生了迁徒变化。