Fully Mechanized Mining Boosts Coal Extraction, Transforms Livelihoods in China
The study investigated how different types of coal and rock in thick coal seams can affect the efficiency of coal extraction using mechanized mining methods. By creating a model and doing computer simulations based on a real coal mine's geology, they found that the depth of mining affects the stability of the roof above the coal seam. They discovered that using a certain blasting technique can help get more coal out efficiently by reducing the amount that gets smashed during the process. Additionally, they observed that changing the ratio of coal extraction to caving influenced how the coal above the mining area behaved, with a higher ratio resulting in different arch formations. Overall, the research shows ways to improve the recovery of coal from complex coal seams with various types of materials.