Backfill-Integrated Water-Conserving Green Mining Technology in Coal Mining
A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Earth Sciences".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 10
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Backfill-integrated water-conserving green mining technology represents a sustainable approach that synergizes solid backfilling methods with water resource protection. By utilizing waste materials such as gangue, fly ash, and tailings as backfilling media, this technology minimizes surface subsidence and groundwater depletion while also reducing the environmental footprint of mining. A key innovation lies in its ability to preserve aquifers by replacing traditional caving methods with dense backfill bodies, effectively isolating water-bearing strata and preventing water loss or contamination. The integration of water-saving strategies includes optimizing backfill mixtures to enhance permeability control and incorporating closed-loop water systems for material preparation, reducing freshwater consumption. Advanced monitoring systems enable real-time tracking of strata stability and hydrological impacts, ensuring precise control over mining-induced disturbances.
Challenges remain in improving backfilling efficiency, refining material recipes (e.g., using industrial wastewater as mixing water), and deploying intelligent equipment to automate processes. Case studies in arid regions of China highlight the potential of backfill-integrated water-conserving green mining technology to balance high recovery rates with water conservation, offering a model for sustainable mining in water-stressed areas. Future advancements in smart technologies and eco-friendly materials will further solidify the role of backfill-integrated water-conserving green mining technology in green mining.
We look forward to your contributions.
Dr. Qiang Sun
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- mining
- backfill
- green mining technology
- water-saving strategies
- eco-friendly materials
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