Sustainable Materials and Innovative Techniques for Green and Safe Mining
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 14
Special Issue Editors
Interests: rock mechanics and rock strata control; mine geothermal energy and heat hazard prevention; mine safety and environmental protection; supercritical CO2 foamed concrete
Interests: coal-based waste utilization; hybird alkaline cements; mine-used functional materials; cement chemistry
Interests: prevention of mine heat hazards; coal and geothermal heat co-extraction; water-heat migration in fractured rock masses; prevention of mine gas
2. National Engineering Research Center of High-Speed Railway Construction Technology, Changsha 410075, China
Interests: civil engineering materials; concrete technologies; concrete durability; concrete material technology; cement; civil engineering highway engineering
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
As public awareness of sustainability grows, regulatory requirements and safety constraints in mining operations have become increasingly stringent. Novel and sustainable technologies and materials are urgently required in green and safe mining.
Safe mining: As shallow mineral resources become increasingly depleted, the exploration of deep underground deposits is expanding. The depth of coal mines now approaches 1,500 meters, while non-coal metal mines can reach depths of nearly 4,000 meters. However, deep mining presents significant challenges, including elevated ground temperature, high water pressure, and increased ground stress. Advanced technologies and materials for heat insulation, water sealing, and structural support are essential to ensure safe and efficient deep mining operations.
Green mining: When extracting ore bodies beneath sensitive areas such as water bodies, buildings, or transportation infrastructure, specialized mining techniques are required to minimize or prevent environmental damage. For example, technologies such as goaf backfilling and separation grouting have been used to effectively control the overlying rock strata. The development of new mining processes and cementitious materials is urgently needed.
Waste utilization: Mining operations generate large volumes of solid, liquid, and gaseous waste, including solid residues (e.g., coal gangue, fly ash, tailings, coal slime), liquid effluents (e.g., mine water, wash water, sedimentation tank discharge), and gaseous emissions (e.g., flue gases from power plants). Improper disposal of these wastes can lead to severe ecological consequences. Therefore, achieving comprehensive treatment and resource utilization of mining waste is imperative.
This Special Issue focuses on the critical role of sustainable materials and innovative technologies in promoting green and safe mining practices.
In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following:
- New methods and processes for sustainable mining;
- New technologies and materials for rock strata control;
- New technologies and materials for functional underground applications;
- Waste disposal and sustainable utilization in mining.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Yuan Zhang
Dr. Luchang Xiong
Dr. Junhui Wang
Dr. Suhui Zhang
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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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
- green mining
- safe mining
- sustainable materials
- strata control
- backfilling
- waste utilization
- functional materials
- underground structural supporting
- heat insulation
- grouting
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
