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Processes
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Environmental Sustainability in Deep Mining: Controlling Dynamic Disasters and Mineral...
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Environmental Sustainability in Deep Mining: Controlling Dynamic Disasters and Mineral Resource Development

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 321

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Liming Qiu

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Guest Editor
School of Resources and Safety Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: visualization detection technology for underground space dynamic disasters
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Leilei Si

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Safety Science and Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, China
Interests: theory and technology of mine gas prevention and control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Hang Long

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Guest Editor
College of Safety Science and Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China
Interests: theory and technology of mine gas disaster prevention and control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As the global demand for mineral resources continues to rise, the mining industry is increasingly compelled to exploit deeper coal reserves, encountering environments marked by extreme geomechanical complexities. Modern deep mining operations face unprecedented challenges characterized by multi-field coupling effects, such as high in situ stresses, enhanced permeability, and intense mechanical disturbances. These conditions present considerable challenges to environmental sustainability in deep mining, making mining and environmental protection work increasingly difficult to manage. These conditions not only amplify the risks of dynamic disasters, such as rockbursts, coal and gas outbursts, and water inrushes, but also exacerbate environmental degradation, including groundwater contamination, surface subsidence, and greenhouse gas emissions. The evolving nature of disaster mechanisms, driven by the interplay between anthropogenic activities and geological heterogeneities, renders conventional mitigation strategies increasingly inadequate. For instance, the transition from static to dynamic loading regimes in deep strata complicates the prediction of fracture propagation, while gas adsorption–desorption dynamics under high stress challenge existing outburst prevention models. Furthermore, auxiliary hazards such as respirable dust accumulation, the spontaneous combustion of coal seams, and ventilation-induced methane dispersion persistently threaten both occupational safety and ecological sustainability. Achieving sustainable coal extraction in such settings demands transformative innovations that harmonize safety.

The Special Issue aims to provide a platform for researchers and industry experts to exchange technological innovations, fostering collaboration and advancing practices that prioritize safety theory and technology in deep mining operations while promoting the sustainable development of mineral resources. We particularly welcome contributions exploring novel computational approaches for green mining, disaster prevention and control, dust control, carbon sequestration, sustainable development strategies, etc.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in  Sustainability.

Dr. Liming Qiu
Dr. Leilei Si
Dr. Hang Long
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • deep mining
  • environmental sustainability
  • dynamic disasters
  • disaster prevention and reduction
  • sustainable development

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 3261 KiB  
Article
Research on the Pressure Relief Mechanism of Gently Inclined Long-Distance Lower Protective Layer Mining and Cooperative Gas Control Technology
by Yanjun Tong, Qian Liu, Qinming Wang, Chuanjie Zhu and Yue’e Wu
Processes 2025, 13(6), 1656; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13061656 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2025
Abstract
This study investigates pressure relief mechanisms and gas migration control in gently inclined remote lower protective layer mining, using the Wu8-31220 working face of Pingdingshan Tianan Coal Industry’s No. 1 Mine as a prototype. The integrated approach combining theoretical modeling with multidimensional monitoring [...] Read more.
This study investigates pressure relief mechanisms and gas migration control in gently inclined remote lower protective layer mining, using the Wu8-31220 working face of Pingdingshan Tianan Coal Industry’s No. 1 Mine as a prototype. The integrated approach combining theoretical modeling with multidimensional monitoring systems yielded critical insights into pressure relief patterns. Analysis demonstrated dip-oriented pressure relief angles measuring 77° (intake side) and 83° (return side), collectively establishing a pressure relief zone spanning 160.5 m. Concurrently, horizontal pressure relief angles were determined to be 60° in both orientations, generating a pressure relief zone extending 1261 m. Mechanical monitoring revealed multistage “compression–expansion” responses in the Ding6 seam during protective seam extraction, achieving maximum expansion deformations of 9.89–13.55‰ within the boundary zone. By optimizing borehole spacing (20 m) and extraction duration (8 months), the Ding6-32070 working face extracted 1.18 million m3 of gas (31.22% reserves), resolving spatial coupling challenges between gas recovery efficiency and pressure relief dimensions. This work advances understanding of pressure relief and permeability enhancement in gently inclined remote lower protective layer mining. The findings provide both theoretical foundations and technical benchmarks for safe deep coal mining operations and efficient gas control strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Sustainability in Deep Mining: Controlling Dynamic Disasters and Mineral Resource Development)
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17 pages, 3328 KiB  
Article
Effects of Supercritical CO2 Immersion Time on CO2/CH4 Gas Seepage Characteristics in Coal
by Ning Wang, Wengang Liu, Tuanjie Li, Shixing Fan, Rijun Li and Lin Li
Processes 2025, 13(5), 1419; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13051419 - 7 May 2025
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Abstract
Low permeability has always limited the efficient extraction of coalbed methane (CBM) in China. To investigate the permeability enhancement effect of supercritical CO2 on coal seams, experiments were conducted using a self-developed supercritical CO2 immersion system and a single-component gas (CO [...] Read more.
Low permeability has always limited the efficient extraction of coalbed methane (CBM) in China. To investigate the permeability enhancement effect of supercritical CO2 on coal seams, experiments were conducted using a self-developed supercritical CO2 immersion system and a single-component gas (CO2 and CH4) seepage experimental apparatus, considering different immersion times and injection pressures. The gas seepage characteristics of CO2 and CH4 in coal seams were studied under various conditions. Additionally, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was used to obtain the porosity components of the coal samples at different immersion times. The changes in permeability before and after the experiment were compared to analyze the permeability enhancement effect of supercritical CO2 on the coal samples. The results show that the original porosity of the coal sample was 2.06%. After 5, 10, 15, and 20 days of immersion, the porosity of the coal samples increased by 2.78%, 3.26%, 3.22%, and 2.86%, respectively. After immersion in supercritical CO2, the porosity exhibited a trend of initially increasing and then decreasing. During the single-component gas seepage experiment following supercritical CO2 immersion, the outlet flow rates of both CO2 and CH4 reached their maximum on the 10th day of immersion. Compared with the 0-day immersion, the outlet flow rates of CO2 and CH4 increased by 4.49 times and 3.23 times, respectively. After immersion, the CH4 permeability within the coal sample was stronger than that of CO2. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Sustainability in Deep Mining: Controlling Dynamic Disasters and Mineral Resource Development)
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