Supporting problems at an island mining face in Shanxi, China. Case study based on field observation

In this paper, field observation is conducted in Fujiaao Coal Mine, Linfen city in Shanxi province, China, which is unique because of its island-typed mining layout. Firstly, geology, layout of the coal cutting face, supporting pattern are presented and details are also provided. Then the problems are discussed and analyzed based on existing bolting theories. It finds out the length of the cable bolt is too long, which requires long time to drill boreholes, whilst the effectiveness is limited due to the illogical combination between cable bolt function zone and rock bolt function zone. Also, the face place allocated to rock bolt is very likely to cause line contact between its edge and steel belt, thus the bearing force is tremendously weakened and solely determined by strength of belt. Furthermore, field observation proves the low active supporting effects to roof, thus leading obvious roof sink even without the disturbance of mining activity. Eventually, some solutions are proposed with the intention to improve the situation based on the economic and technical considerations, including bolting in humidity environment, rational cable bolt length, wise choice of face plate, and ways to increase pretension force. The viewpoints and comments of this study can be referred by practitioners in coal mines sharing same difficulties.