Research on green coal mining strategy in Hedong Coalfield based on resource and geological environment characteristic

Hedong Coalfield is located in the Loess Plateau of western Shanxi province at the western foot of the Lvliang Mountains in the middle reaches of the Yellow River. It is an important coking coal producing area, with severe soil erosion, fragile ecological environment, frequent occurrence of geological disasters and karst spring distribution in China. Through the analysis of resource and geological environment characteristics of Hedong Coalfield, it is found that the scarce coking coal reserves in Liliu mining area in the middle of the coalfield account for 70.8% of the total reserves. But its development intensity is higher than the average value of the coalfield. We should strategically pay attention to the scarce coking coal resources in Liliu mining area, and carry out protective and economical mining approach. The thin coal seams in Hedong Coalfield make up 17.0% of the total coal seam thickness, and those in Liliu and Shixi mining areas make up nearly 25.0% of the total thickness in the mining area. The development of thin coal seams in Hedong Coalfield, especially the thin coking coal in the central part of Liliu and Shishi Mining Areas, should be emphasized to improve the coal recovery rate. It is possible to make full use of local loess resources, gangue and other materials from coal mining to develop filling mining, reducing the geological disasters of surface loess landslides and collapses on the surface, and soil erosion. The upper stratum of the Ordovician Fengfeng Formation beneath the Hedong Coalfield has a certain degree of water resistance. Fully evaluating and utilizing its water-rich and water-resistant properties can greatly increase the coal recovery rate, at the same time, minimize the damage to the underground karst water caused by coal mining, so as to protect the karst springs. Hedong Coalfield is an important energy base in the middle reaches of the Yellow River and the main battlefield of a major national strategy for ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin. Green mining technology is favorable to the optimization of coal development and utilization, and minimization of ecological and environmental impacts. Therefore, it has great prospects for future development and application, and requires the joint participation of multiple disciplines.