Mining Contract: Analysis of Mine Seismicity and Geotechnical Modeling for Improved Safety in Underground Coal Mines

Summary of Results

Coal accounts for 82% of electricity generated in Utah, but production is declining as supplies run low and mines are forced to operate at greater depths under more hostile geologic conditions. Coal bursts, which are a subset of mining-induced seismicity (MIS), clearly present a hazard and result from unusually deep mines, strong roof and floor rock, and topography characterized by steep escarpments and deeply incised canyons—all of these conditions are present in Utah.

Utah also has unique capabilities for monitoring seismicity related to these bursts and other sources of MIS. The University of Utah Seismograph Stations (UUSS) (http://www.seis.utah.edu/) operates a regional array of seismograph stations, and the network catalog contains a continuous space-time records of MIS above magnitude 1.8 from 1978 to the present. The University of Utah’s (U of U) Mining Engineering department maintains a close collaboration with the UUSS, and this contract will greatly assist the U of U in attracting and supporting MS and PhD students who are interested in ground control and seismic monitoring research.