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What environmental problems can be associated with auger mining?
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coal mining
Schematic diagram of an underground coal mine, showing surface facilities, access shafts, and room-and-pillar and longwall mining methods.
Auger mining, a method used to recover coal by boring into seams exposed by contour strip-mining, presents several significant environmental and structural challenges.
The primary environmental and safety problems associated with this technique include:
- Subsidence: The removal of coal through auger holes can compromise the structural integrity of the surrounding strata, leading to the sinking or settling of the ground surface.1
- Water Pollution: The process can disrupt local hydrology, potentially leading to the contamination of water sources.1
- Potential Fires: The creation of open holes and the disturbance of coal seams can increase the risk of underground fires.1
To mitigate some of these risks, operators must leave "webs" of intact coal between adjacent holes to help support the overlying rock, though this practice contributes to relatively low coal recovery rates.2