Work

Characterizing depth‐dependent roof water abundance in underground coal mines using transient electromagnetic data

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Coal mining is a major industrial activity in North China, where water inrush hazards pose a persistent threat to safe and efficient mining operations. Accurate identification of water‐abundant zones in coal seam floors and surrounding strata is therefore critical for mine water‐hazard prevention. However, conventional geophysical investigations are often constrained by the half‐space assumption and limited observation geometry, which restrict their applicability in underground mining environments. In this study, the transient electromagnetic (TEM) method was employed to investigate the spatial distribution of water abundance in an underground coal mine. A whole‐space TEM configuration was adopted to account for the complex boundary conditions and confined observation space inherent to underground settings. By integrating time‐domain electromagnetic responses with appropriate time–depth conversion, the electrical characteristics of water‐bearing structures were systematically analyzed. The results indicate that the whole‐space TEM investigation can effectively identify water‐abundant zones and stereoscopically reflect their spatial distribution within the underground environment. Distinct low‐resistivity anomalies were identified and shown to be consistent with known hydrogeological conditions, demonstrating the reliability of the proposed approach. This study highlights the advantages of whole‐space TEM for underground water‐hazard detection and provides a practical geophysical framework for improving water inrush risk assessment in coal mines of North China.

Source: Geofluids

DOI: 10.1155/gfl/1161407

Authors: Sen Xue, Qichen Guo, Yun Wu, Zhen Song, Hu Zheng, Xiaowen Pan