IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i15p6865-d1712012.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Continuous Chamber Gangue Storage for Sustainable Mining in Coal Mines: Principles, Methods, and Environmental Benefits

Author

Listed:
  • Jinhai Liu

    (Key Laboratory of Safe and Green Mining of Metal Mines with Cemented Paste Backfill, National Mine Safety Administration, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
    School of Resource and Safety Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Yuanhang Wang

    (Key Laboratory of Safe and Green Mining of Metal Mines with Cemented Paste Backfill, National Mine Safety Administration, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
    School of Resource and Safety Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Jiajie Li

    (Key Laboratory of Safe and Green Mining of Metal Mines with Cemented Paste Backfill, National Mine Safety Administration, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
    School of Resource and Safety Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Desire Ntokoma

    (Key Laboratory of Safe and Green Mining of Metal Mines with Cemented Paste Backfill, National Mine Safety Administration, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
    School of Resource and Safety Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Zhengxing Yu

    (China Academy of Safety Science and Technology, Beijing 100012, China)

  • Sitao Zhu

    (Key Laboratory of Safe and Green Mining of Metal Mines with Cemented Paste Backfill, National Mine Safety Administration, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
    School of Resource and Safety Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Michael Hitch

    (Faculty of Science, University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8, Canada)

Abstract

Coal gangue, a major by-product of coal mining, poses significant environmental challenges due to its large-scale accumulation, land occupation, and potential for air and water pollution. This manuscript presents a comprehensive overview of continuous chamber gangue storage technology as a sustainable mining solution for coal mines. The principles of this approach emphasize minimizing disturbance to overlying strata, enabling uninterrupted mining operations, and reducing both production costs and environmental risks. By storing the surface or underground gangue in continuous chambers, the proposed method ensures the roof stability, maximizes the waste storage, and prevents the interaction between mining and waste management processes. Detailed storage sequences and excavation methods are discussed, including continuous and jump-back excavation strategies tailored to varying roof conditions. The process flows for both underground and ground-based chamber storage are described, highlighting the integration of gangue crushing, paste preparation, and pipeline transport for efficient underground storage. In a case study with annual storage of 500,000 t gangue, the annual economic benefit reached CNY 1,111,425,000. This technology not only addresses the urgent need for sustainable coal gangue management, but also aligns with the goals of resource conservation, ecological protection, and the advancement of green mining practices in the coal industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Jinhai Liu & Yuanhang Wang & Jiajie Li & Desire Ntokoma & Zhengxing Yu & Sitao Zhu & Michael Hitch, 2025. "Continuous Chamber Gangue Storage for Sustainable Mining in Coal Mines: Principles, Methods, and Environmental Benefits," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:6865-:d:1712012
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/15/6865/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/15/6865/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yinghui Sun & Bohao Bai & Xu Yang & Shujun Zhu & Jilin Tian & Zhuozhi Wang & Li Xu & Lianfei Xu & Boxiong Shen, 2025. "Coal Gangue Utilization: Applications, Challenges, and Sustainable Development Strategies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-39, January.
    2. Qian Li & Jiajie Li & Siqi Zhang & Xiaoyan Huang & Xue Wang & Ying Wang & Wen Ni, 2023. "Research Progress of Low-Carbon Cementitious Materials Based on Synergistic Industrial Wastes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-19, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Niannian Li & Chonghao Liu & Jing Liu & Xiangying Jia & Xiaodi Ma & Jianan Zhao, 2025. "Opportunities and Challenges for Green Mining on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau: A Case-Based SWOT Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-23, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Asma Nouira & Mabrouk Ben Hamden & Mouna Sayehi & Imene Bekri-Abbes, 2025. "Transforming Waste to Water Filters: A Mini-Review of Ceramic Membranes from Upcycled Materials," Waste, MDPI, vol. 3(3), pages 1-24, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:6865-:d:1712012. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.