Design practices for multiple-seam room-and-pillar mines. Information circular/1994

Effective mine planning and design is essential for avoiding ground problems related to multiple-seam interactions. The U.S. Bureau of Mines, as part of its mission to improve coal conservation and utilization, has been investigating multiple-seam room-and-pillar designs to increase coal recovery and reduce interactions between operations. This report presents design practices when using room-and-pillar methods in the multiple-seam environment and is a review of relevant literature on multiple-seam ground control, mine planning, and mine design. Its objective is to provide mine planners and operators with practical guidelines and information to design sale and productive mines.