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IUGG XXIV General Assembly July 2-13, 2007 Perugia, Italy
(S) - IASPEI - International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth's
Interior
JSS003 Poster presentation 1878
Early-Warning Mapping for cavities in abandoned subsurface mines
Dr. Vyacheslav Palchik
Geological and Environmental Sciences Ben-Gurion University of the Negev IASPEI
A surface landslide cased by collapse of abandoned subsurface mines is a problem in many parts of the
world. The landslides can cause damage to buildings on the overlying surface, hinder the economic use
of such territories, and sometimes result in loss human life. Cavities in the abandoned openings at a
depth up to 80 m in Donetsk city (Ukraine) are potentially dangerous from the point of view of
landslides and, therefore, earlywarning map of these cavities is needed. Unfortunately, there are no
reliable plans of the mining excavations and it is impossible to enter such openings. Empirical model
which relates to the physical characteristics of the overlying strata was proposed to predict the
existence of such cavities in abandoned underground workings at shallow depth. The model shows
combined influence of different rock layers and uniaxial compressive strength of the immediate roof
over underground openings on existence of the cavities in the openings. Large thicknesses of
sandstones in the rock mass or relatively high uniaxial compressive strength rock in the immediate roof
contribute to the existence of cavities in abandoned workings. On the other hand, sandstones of small
thickness, weak alluvium, argillites and sandy shales only give additional weight on immediate roof of
the opening and allow collapse of the rock mass. On this basis, early warning mapping for cavities in
abandoned subsurface mines defines locations of these cavities depending on rock strength,
thicknesses, alteration and types of rock layers, thickness of alluvium in overburden.
Keywords: mapping, cavities, landslide