Comparison of rockburst occurrence during extraction of thick coal seams using top-coal caving versus slicing mining methods

In recent years, rockbursts have occurred frequently during the mining of thick coal seams in China. Use of the top-coal caving or slicing mining method to extract these thick seams may result in distinct geomechanical responses in the strata and, in turn, the pattern of rockburst occurrence around longwall layouts. To establish a thorough understanding of which method (caving or slicing) is better when it comes to preventing rockbursts during the extraction process, a suite of in situ rockburst measurements was conducted. Six typical rockburst-prone collieries were monitored during which a total of 110 rockburst events occurred. Numerical modelling was used to help interpret the observations. Here, we focus on the analysis of these field observations and the numerical simulations employed to develop a conceptual model for rockburst occurrence during caving mining of thick coal seams. We find that caving mining has a certain rockburst-reducing effect in that the method significantly decreases, or even avoids, the occurrence of rockbursts at coalfaces. Moreover, it reduces the scope of the damage likely to be incurred and the severity and frequency of rockbursting. According to the conceptual model, the rockburst-prone area during caving mining is generally the roadway section located a certain distance ahead of the coalface. This distance, which is roughly 10–54 m, is consistent with the rockburst damage observed on site (mostly 10–50 m ahead of the coalface). This rockburst pattern arises because caving mining results in reduced stress concentration, less bottom coal being retained, and wider-ranging fracture zones around the mine openings, especially ahead of the coalface. This makes the rock surrounding the mine openings less likely to accumulate high levels of elastic energy that need releasing and hence it is more difficult to induce rockbursting. Therefore, it is recommended that the top-coal caving method should be the preferred method of extraction when mining coal seams of a certain thickness.