Study on the creep permeability of mining-cracked N2 laterite as the key aquifuge for preserving water resources in Northwestern China

This research focused on the impact of mining on the permeability of key aquifuge （N2 laterite） that is widespread in the arid and semi-arid areas of northwestern China and is critical for preserving water resources. The impact of mining stress recovery on the permeability of cracked N2 laterite was assessed for parts of northwestern China that included the Jingle laterite and Baode laterite. The mineral compositions and swelling properties of the laterite at both locations were examined, and analytical results showed that the laterite contained abundant clay minerals. The Baode laterite exhibited higher expansibility than Jingle laterite. The triaxial creep permeability performance of laterite specimens with a prefabricated crack width of 1.0, 1.5, and 2.5 mm were tested. The results indicated that strain of cracked laterite all exhibited transient creep following each level of loading, and then unstable creep and stable creep. With the increase of loading, the transient creep deformation corresponding to each level of loading decreased, the unstable creep deformation produced by identical loading gradually and incrementally increased. The nonlinear power function equation was selected to fit creep grading curves which have high precision. The cracks within the laterite gradually closed with the stress recovery, and permeability gradually recovered. During the stress recovery, the narrower cracks exhibited a smaller change in permeability. However, for narrow cracks in mining soil, permeability recovered after mining stress when permeability was closer to initial permeability, and the Baode laterite showed greater recovery than that of the Jingle laterite.

Fractal characterization for the mining crack evolution process of overlying strata based on microseismic monitoring technology

In order to study the evolution laws during the development process of the coal face overburden rock mining-induced fissure,we studied the process of evolution of overburden rock mining-induced fissures and dynamically quantitatively described its fractal laws,based on the high-precision microseismic monitoring method and the nonlinear Fractal Geometry Theory.The results show that:the overburden rock mining-induced fissure fractal dimension experiences two periodic change processes with the coal face advance,namely a Small→ Big→ Small process,which tends to be stable;the functional relationship between the extraction step distance and the overburden rock mining-induced fissure fractal dimension is a cubic curve.The results suggest that the fractal dimension reflects the evolution characteristics of the overburden rock mining-induced fissure,which can be used as an evaluation index of the stability of the overburden rock strata,and it provides theoretical guidance for stability analysis of the overburden rock strata,goaf roof control and the support movements in the mining face.

Effects of surface cracks on the rhizospheric microhabitat of Artemisia ordosica in subsidence area caused by coal mining

The effects of surface cracks caused by underground coal mining on microhabitat in the rhizosphere of Artem＆ia ordosias were studied based on field investigation and sample analysis. The results show that the amounts of microorganisms, enzyme activity and water content in soil vary with the biomass ofA. ordosias, and that the account exhibits in an order of large A. ordosias〉medium A. ordosias〉small A. ordosias. Surface cracks apparently decrease microbial quantities and enzymatic ac- tivities, and change the composition and structure of microbial community in the rhizosphere of A. ordosias. Surface cracks reduce water content and electrical conductivity, enhance the R/S （ratio of root and soil） of water content, electrical conductivity and pH value, and raise the content of Na and Pb in rhizosphere soil ofA. ordosicas, It can be concluded that the disturbance of underground coal mining on the microhabitat in the rhizosphere ofA. ordosica is obvious in the early days.