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INTRODUCTION <br />The research described in this report is part of a com- <br />prchcnsivc effort by the U.S. Bureau of Mines to develop <br />a subsidence data base representative of western U.S. min- <br />ing conditions. This data base will provide researchers and <br />mine operators with the information needed to further un- <br />derstand the effects of subsidence. This understanding is <br />needed by mine operators to predict how mining and geo- <br />logic parameters affect the inagnitude and extent of sub- <br />sidence in the West, thereby allowing for a mine design <br />that will avert or limk the adverse effects of subsidence. <br />In 1977, Congress passed the Surface Mining Control <br />and Reclamation Act. Section 516 (5) (1) of the act re- <br />quires the operator to '_adopt measures to prevent sub- <br />sideacc causing material damage ' Therefore, a meth- <br />odology to predict subsidence is needed by mine operators <br />to avoid or mitigate damage resulting from mining. Exten- <br />sive information exists regarding subsidence research in <br />the Appalachian and Illinois coal regions of the Unkcd <br />States (1)? however, information retarding subsidence <br />research in the West is limited. Western coal mining <br />conditions include strong massive sandstone member%, <br />thick and multiple coal scams, and extreme variations in <br />overburden thicknesses, and while research efforts have <br />been initiated by the Bureau (2-5), a complete data base <br />docs not exist that fully addresses subsidence prediction <br />and control technologies in the West. <br />The Bureau's research program is directed toward ful. <br />filling the needs of industry in the prcmining evaluation of <br />subsidence impact potential and in facilitating the per- <br />mitting process. The immediate benefit to the mining <br />industry from the completion of addkienal western U.S. <br />subsidence research studies is a much more accurate and <br />quantitative understanding of the behavior of subsidence <br />occurring over room -and -pillar and longwall operations in <br />geologic conditions unique to the West. The ability to <br />predict subsidence and associated damage will allow twine <br />operators to extract resources that arc currently sterilized <br />because the technology docs not exist to predict the result• <br />ing surface subsideoce effects to the degree necessary to <br />ensure that adverse impacts can be minimized. <br />This case study was one of several conducted by the <br />Bureau that together would begin to provide the subsid- <br />ence data necessary to characterize western U.S. mine <br />subsidence. <br />Once general subsidence parameters an be estimated, <br />the potential impacts of the subsidence can be evaluated. <br />The apabdi y to conduct this type of evaluation will bene- <br />fit mine operators and regulatory agencies that must assess <br />subsidence impacts. <br />The major objectives of this study were to (1) present <br />measured surface subsidence caused by room -and -pillar <br />mining in the Cameo V coal scam; (2) determine the <br />tiniusg, rate, and areal extent of subsidence; (3) estabksh <br />the final subsidence profiles; (4) correlate mining and <br />geologic variables with measured subsidence values; and <br />(5) evaluate the long-term residual subsidence. <br />This particular site was selected for the following <br />reasons: (1) coal is mired by the room-and-piNar method; <br />(2) shallow sandstone overburden was present throughout <br />the study site; and (3) several structures and two streams <br />were undermined. <br />ACKNOWLEDGMENTS <br />The Powderhorn Coal Co. provided valuable assistance <br />in conducting this research. In particular, mine engineers <br />William Poloske and Larry Rcschkc have made: significant <br />contributions to the project. Without the access they <br />SITE SELECTION <br />provided to company property, mine plans, survey data, <br />drill logs, and other information relating to the Roadside <br />Mine, this study could not have been conducted. <br />ROADSIDE MINE STUDY SITE <br />The Bureau selected the Roadside Mine to monitor <br />subsidence because the sift had specific mining and <br />overburden features for which little or no subsidence field <br />data exist, including shallow sandstone overburden, full <br />r Iahc numkem to parentheses refer to items to the list or references <br />to Ike end or tha report, <br />extraction room -and -pillar mining, and two streams. The <br />sits also has manmade structures (pipelines, power lines, <br />and water storage tanks) overlying the mine. <br />SITE DESCRIPTION <br />The Roadside Mine is located on Federal and private <br />coal leases approximately 4 mNes northeast of Palisade, <br />