Effect of Coal Mining on Springs in the Yushenfu Mining Area of China

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of coal mining on the springs in the Yushenfu mining area of China. The results of two springs and hydrological surveys conducted in 1994 and 2015 were compared to study the occurrence and evolution of springs before and after large-scale mining. The mechanism of spring evolution and ecological effects of domain evolution were analyzed by combined groundwater monitoring and evaluation of coal mining intensity. The results show that the maximum amount of single water inflow of spring with sand infiltration recharge was more than 10 L/s, the total amount of single water inflow of spring with mixed infiltration recharge was the highest, and the ecological effect of spring with loess infiltration recharge was the most significant. In the study area, 2580 springs (group) were distributed with a total flow of 4998.9428 L/s before 1994 and 376 residual springs (group) were present with a total flow of 996.392 L/s in 2015. Large-scale mining decreased the regional groundwater level, thus decreasing the amount of spring water. The high intensity of mining decreased the number of springs (group) and area of water and wetland in the study area. This directly affected the watershed ecology; the ecological degradation was significant.

Optimal water and fertilizer applications improve growth of Tamarix chinensis in a coal mine degraded area under arid conditions

“…Opencast coal mining activities cause significant environmental degradation and are also associated with the problematic discharge of coal mine spoils, which further enhance environmental pollution and reduce the ecological status of coal mining areas (Kuka et al 2013, Fan et al 2018. In northwestern China there are abundant Abbreviations -APX, ascorbate peroxidase; Cars, carotenoids; CAT, catalase; CCD, central composite design; Chl, chlorophyll; C i , intercellular concentration of CO 2 ; FC, field capacity; G s , stomatal conductance; IGP, integrated growth performance; LWP, leaf water potential; MSI, membrane stability index; P n , net photosynthesis rate; POD, peroxidase; RSM, response surface methodology; RWC, relative water content; SP, soluble protein; SS, soluble sugar; T r , transpiration rate; W, water; WUE, water use efficiency.…”

“…coal reserves, which contribute to approximately 70% of China's total coal production (Fan et al 2018). Excessive coal mining activities in this region have caused severe ecological and environmental problems including landscape degradation (Lv et al 2019), surface subsidence and coal gangue accumulation (Hu et al 2015), modification of the natural environment (Lv et al 2019), destruction of native vegetation and the transformation of coal-mining areas into deserts (Hu et al 2015).…”

“…Opencast coal mining activities cause significant environmental degradation and are also associated with the problematic discharge of coal mine spoils, which further enhance environmental pollution and reduce the ecological status of coal mining areas (Kuka et al 2013, Fan et al 2018). In northwestern China there are abundant coal reserves, which contribute to approximately 70% of China's total coal production (Fan et al 2018).…”

“…Opencast coal mining activities cause significant environmental degradation and are also associated with the problematic discharge of coal mine spoils, which further enhance environmental pollution and reduce the ecological status of coal mining areas (Kuka et al 2013, Fan et al 2018). In northwestern China there are abundant coal reserves, which contribute to approximately 70% of China's total coal production (Fan et al 2018). Excessive coal mining activities in this region have caused severe ecological and environmental problems including landscape degradation (Lv et al 2019), surface subsidence and coal gangue accumulation (Hu et al 2015), modification of the natural environment (Lv et al 2019), destruction of native vegetation and the transformation of coal‐mining areas into deserts (Hu et al 2015).…”

“…Excessive coal mining activities in this region have caused severe ecological and environmental problems including landscape degradation (Lv et al 2019), surface subsidence and coal gangue accumulation (Hu et al 2015), modification of the natural environment (Lv et al 2019), destruction of native vegetation and the transformation of coal‐mining areas into deserts (Hu et al 2015). Northwestern China is also considered an ecologically fragile zone due to the dominance of arid environments, which make ecological restoration more difficult to implement (Fan et al 2018, Lv et al 2019). Revegetation interventions in northwestern China remain crucial for restoring natural ecosystems and controlling or reducing desertification processes (Hu et al 2015).…”