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oa Factors of the Ground Surface Subsidence above the Flooded Coal Mines in the Donetsk Region: New Dangers and Risks
- Publisher: European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers
- Source: Conference Proceedings, 5th EAGE Workshop on assessment of landslide hazards and impact on communities, Sep 2025, Volume 2025, p.1 - 5
Abstract
This study investigates the complex processes leading to ground surface subsidence above flooded coal mines in the Donetsk region, where military activities have intensified geological and hydrodynamic instability. Based on long-term monitoring data and expert analysis, ten primary factors influencing subsidence were identified. Depending on their origin, all factors were divided into 4 groups: geomechanical factors, water and hydrogeological factors, influence of the surface and other factors (including anthropogenic and military impacts). Particular attention is given to the compounding effect of military impacts, such as missile strikes and air bombings, which generate dynamic wave loads, amplify rock fracturing, and destabilize already weakened mine structures. Aggressive groundwater composition, high temperatures and structural loads further enhance subsidence mechanisms. The synergistic action of chemical corrosion and explosive dynamic loading leads to rapid collapse of mine roofs and asymmetrical ground settlement. The modeling results demonstrate an increase in the rate of surface subsidence by 1.5–2 times, while the depth of local failures reaches 1.5 meters.