Seismicity Induced by Mining

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the various aspects of seismicity induced by mining. An increase in seismicity in seismic areas and the generation of seismicity in aseismic areas have been observed as a result of deep underground mining and large-scale surface quarrying. Seismicity induced by mining, fluid injection, and reservoir loading are the three main types of triggered seismicity affecting the preexisting stress field in different ways. Mining operations, leading to the removal of large masses of rock, have their major impact on the elastic stress and fluid injections influence the distribution of fluid pressure in the upper layers of the crust. The orientation of the principal stress in nature is different in different tectonic environments. Regions of thrust faulting are characterized by the minimum compressive stress being vertical, in regions of normal faulting the maximum compressive stress is vertical, and in regions of strike-slip faulting the intermediate stress is vertical. It is found that the depth of mine tremors strongly depends on the type of rocks forming the roofs and floors of ore seams.

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