A study looked at the condition of a coal seam and roof structures in an old mining area. They observed different types of remaining coal and roof structures. Using computer simulations, the researchers analyzed how different roof types affected the safety of mining operations and found that a collapsing roof is the primary risk factor under certain conditions, while roof caving is the main concern under other conditions. This means that understanding the type of roof above a mining area is crucial for ensuring safe and efficient mining practices.