Laserfiche WebLink
Investigation into Continued Damage at the Solitario Ranch Page 10 <br />1 <br />1 <br />space available to subside, for this model, would be on the order of 3 feet fora 6- <br />foot thick coal seam. That thickness is reflected in the adjusted seam thickness in <br />the parcel data. <br />Calculated subsidence is the factor SU, and of course the point # is the prediction <br />point. The other factors relate to strain that are rock mechanic functions. <br />Prediction points 3 and 14 approximate the locations of measuring monuments <br />1N-1 and 1N-2 respectively. <br />Because of the variable nature of rock strengths and the unknowns involved with <br />the lack of survey coordinates on the house, these calculated figures would not be <br />considered absolute, but instead clearly show that the Tatum house is within the <br />influence of any subsidence of the mine. A rigid structure made of adobe could not <br />sustain even very small movements, without damage. The program does not take <br />into account the heave aspect that has been reported, especially in the pillar <br />failure studies. <br />The additional survey work provided by Basin and dated O1/OS/O1 may or may <br />not be useful. The indication is that the work was done with a GPS instrument, <br />and there needed to be closure to a second known station to check for accuracy. <br />The commonly accepted order of accuracy for subsidence surveys is 2°" order and <br />sometimes 3rd order, that is 0.35 times the square root of the distance surveyed <br />in miles, or 0.5 times the same factor for third order. <br />The comparison was made to the surveys done by Basin in 1988 and in 1995, but <br />not to the Mincic survey and resurvey both done in 1993. An elevation mending <br />process was explained above. <br />Opinions and Conclusions <br />It is my opinion that damage to the house and waterline have been caused by <br />mine subsidence and that this subsidence has continued. Pillar failure is <br />continuing in the 1 N entry especially in those pillars that were projected to have <br />had partial failure previously. <br />The initiation of the pillar failure may well have been related to the seismic shock <br />that occurred on February 27,1991 which was in the right time frame. There may <br />have been other seismic events that have not been recorded or noted since then. <br />In any case, once the floor starts to fail there is no reason for it to stop, as <br />additional weight is slowly applied to the pillars. <br />