Abstract.--Careful evaluation of mine maps has been of considerable aid in understanding subsidence failure mechanisms above active and abandoned underground coal mines. This, in turn, aids the investigator in: (1) predicting what might happen in the future, and (2) designing proper corrective action to prevent additional subsidence events. Factors to be considered include accurate orientation of the mine map with surface features; pillar shape, size, alignment, and strength; percent coal extraction; overburden thickness and composition; location and orientation of barriers and unmined coal reserves; entry and haulageway size and alignment; water conditions in the mine; geologic structure; the presence of retreat mining in adjacent or nearby panels; and pillar alignment in association with retreated panels, Field investigations, includirtg drilling programs, based on the evaluation of available mine maps have established clear relationships between surface effects of mine subsidence events and specific underground conditions causing the subsidence. These include: (1) coal barriers acting as fulcrum points causing massive surface cracks due to transfer of overburden loads (Graysville and Willow Bend, AL
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