Abandoned underground mines remain insufficiently investigated landforms, which leads to underestimating their importance within world landscapes. Even though they stand as distinct and widespread geomorphic forms, research devoted to them is underpublished in comparison with natural caves. Because many mines with disturbed entrances remain hidden, various methods of their detection are reviewed, which are essential to prevent loss of life and damage due to their eventual collapse. The most prominent manifestations of the presence of abandoned underground mines are dynamic deformations along with slower subsidence. Even small related movements of the rock mass are detectable. Interest in monitoring and modelling the motions of such processes is growing. In response to the increasing number of documented mines worldwide, their reclamation, remediation or rehabilitation are being initiated as part of efforts to restore land devastated by mining activities; complex reclamation problems can be addressed by multidisciplinary expert teams. However, it is important to note that abandoned underground mines and their particular geomorphic forms are considered to be a source of great geodiversity and hence also biodiversity. The various possibilities of future research connected with abandoned underground mines as geomorphic forms are outlined.

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We conducted one of the first complex geomorphological investigations of underground abandoned slate mines in Czechia, Central Europe. Sixty types of subterranean geomorphic forms were described from 114 abandoned underground slate mines in the Nízký Jeseník Upland. The forms, evaluated according to their type, scale, frequency, and fragility, are independent of each other or embedded. Their cascades occur in large multilevel mines affected by fluvial and gravitational processes. Analysis of the microforms revealed mine pearls enriched with titanium, calcareous soda-straw stalactites, amorphous calcareous-sulphurous piles, and quartz veins. Forty-seven of the identified mines were affected by gravitational failures. Four-year measurements of cracks revealed both negligible oscillations and distinct displacement of rock blocks up to 4 mm. The range of described geomorphic forms together with identified cascades and measured crack displacement point to rich geodiversity and high dynamics within the abandoned mines. Compared to other subterranean geosystems, the geomorphology of abandoned underground slate mines remains poorly investigated, although knowledge of subterranean geomorphic systems is crucial for future natural evaluation, risk assessment, remediation, or tourist management of abandoned mining sites. The recent results are applicable to other types of abandoned mines in the world. However, we should expect new findings and investigation of as yet undescribed geomorphic forms.