Abstract: There was no appropriate method for premining prediction of subsidence and overburden failure due to coal mining in new mining area. The engineering geological prospecting and predicting method, which includes the objectives of engineering geological prospecrting, prospecting engineering, in situ and in laboratory tests and prediction method is proposed for subsidence prediction in the coalfield prospecting stage. On the basis of the detailed investigations of engineering geolgical and hydrogeological and hydrogeological conditions, the physical and mathematical model is established, and the height of overburden failure and subsidence is predicted by numerical simulation. Then, engineering geological evalution in a comprehensive way is made by considering some aspects of engineering geological lithological suites, hydrogeological structure, heights of water-conducting fractures, seepage through protective layer and etc. . Subsidence and height of over-burden failure due to extraction of No.3 coal seam is predicted by this method in Jinxiang coalfield. The height of water-preventing coal/rock pillars is established to be 40m. The problem of the prospect of further exploration and development is solved, and a new method for subsidence research is proposed.