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Geological characteristics of the main aquifer coal seam in the Ordos Basin coalfield, China

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Abstract

The main aquifer coal seam within the Ordos Basin (OB) coalfield, China, is an extremely rare example of a hydrogeological feature that is found relatively recently during basin development. Mine water gushed from this coal seam during the construction and production phases of the coalfield. However, because this seam has traditionally been considered as an aquifuge, the special geological conditions it creates have led to a range of new challenges in mine water disaster prevention, control, and management as characteristics of both confined and unconfined aquifers are evident. The aim of this paper is to reveal the causes underlying the formation of this main aquifer coal seam by analyzing hydrodynamic conditions, hydrogeological structures, and the surrounding lithological association. In addition, the particular geological conditions created by the presence of this feature are discussed, with emphasis on their influences on mine construction and production. This study provides an important theoretical basis for the future study of mine water disaster prevention as well as a potential method for disaster control that can be applied in the case of particular hydrogeological conditions.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 51674241).

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Correspondence to Meng Xiao.

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Ju, F., Xiao, M., Guo, S. et al. Geological characteristics of the main aquifer coal seam in the Ordos Basin coalfield, China. Arab J Geosci 11, 646 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-018-4008-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-018-4008-2

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