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An Overview of Geology, Hydrogeology and Open Pit Mining Perspective of the Phulbari Gondwana Coal D

Corresponding Author : Mohammed Omar Faruque (faruque_pge@yahoo.com)

Authors : Md. Rafiqul Islam (rafiqbdfellow@gmail.com), Salma A. Iqbal , Mohammad Iqbal

Keywords : Coal, Geology, Hydrogeology, Open Pit Mining

Abstract :

The Phulbari coal deposit is one of the largest coal reserves in NW Bangladesh. The country requires exploring this resource to overcome the present energy crisis. Two types of mining methods-open-pit and underground, might be considered for the exploration of coal worldwide. However, depths of the coal seam, geological, and hydrogeological circumstances of the Phulbari area vigorously disfavor open-pit mining. In this article, geology and hydrogeology of the area have been reviewed first, and then Boundary Element Method (BEM) numerical modeling has been applied to recognize in situ stress state around the proposed open pit mine of the Phulbari coal deposit. The modeling result reveals that the tensional rock failure state would be created around the proposed open-pit excavation. The major focus of the article is to explain the geological and hydrogeological problems linked to the in situ stress state of the surroundings open-pit dimension and how long distance the groundwater table would be affected because of the mine dewatering.  

Published on December 30th, 2012 in Volume 19, Issue 2, Applied Sciences and Technology