Characteristics of seismic activity of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin in Poland

Abstract

S U M M A R YThe Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB) in Poland is one of the most seismically active mining areas in the world. Seismic observations supported by the Central Mining Institute date back to the 1950s, and include an extensive mine tremors data bank, which has been in operation since that time. More than 55 900 mine tremors of energy E ≥ 10 5 J (local magnitude M L ≥ 1.5) occurred over the period 1974-2005. In the USCB, two types of tremors can be distinguished. These are the so-called 'miningtectonic' seismicity and 'mining' seismicity. The 'mining-tectonic' seismicity results from the interaction between mining and tectonic factors. These seismic events appear to be located in tectonically disturbed zones and their sources are visibly more energetic. The mine tremor source mechanism can mostly be the normal dip-slip fault with a marked strike-slip component in the source region. The rupture plane azimuths and dips of these seismic events correlate well with the strike and dip of the pre-existing local faults, in the vicinity of which the mine tremor sources have been located. The generalized mine tremor source mechanism of the events under consideration contributed a less than 15 per cent implosion component, an about 15 per cent uniaxial compressional component, and an about 70 per cent shear component to the total seismic moment tensor solution.The second one-'mining seismicity'-is strongly associated with the mining activity and seismic events that occur in the vicinity of active mining excavations. These events are energetically weak and their source mechanism can be of explosive type. The total seismic moment tensor is composed of: 20-50 per cent explosive component, practically the same amount of uniaxial compressional component and a very small amount of shear component (less than 10 per cent).

Time-dependent seismic hazard in Bobrek coal mine, Poland, assuming different magnitude distribution estimations

“…1). USCB constitutes one of the most seismically active mining areas worldwide, with almost 56,000 mining tremors of energy E [ 10 5 J recorded between 1974 and 2005 (Stec 2007). The analysis of our study was based on selected set of data connected with exploitation in panel No.…”

Complex Rupture Process of the 19 March 2013, Rudna Mine (Poland) Induced Seismic Event and Collapse in the Light of Local and Regional Moment Tensor Inversion

“…However, Poland is faced with a relevant human-induced seismicity, especially linked to hard coal (e.g., Stec, 2007), brown coal (Wiejacz and Rudziński, 2010), and copper mining (Lizurek et al, 2014). Copper-mining-induced seismicity is commonly observed in southwestern Poland, at the Lubin-Głogów Copper District (LGCD).…”

Seismicity induced by longwall coal mining at the Thoresby Colliery, Nottinghamshire, U.K.

“…Seismic events associated with coal mining have often been divided into two categories: 92 "mining-tectonic" activity, produced by activation of pre-existing tectonic faults, and 93 "mining-induced" activity, directly associated with the mining excavations (e.g., Stec, 2007). 94 Observed magnitudes have typically ranged from 0.5 < M L < 3.5.…”