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Project Details

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Project Information Sheet 2004-01

Assessing factors that influence roof and floor conditions in the Gibson County Coal Company's underground mine in Gibson County

Funding Source:	The Indiana Geological Survey is funding the project; Gibson County Coal Company has provided confidential core and subsurface data.
Period of Contract:	1 Oct 2002 to 30 Sep 2004
Status:	completed — Definition of status type
Project Director:	Maria Mastalerz

Issue

Geologists can use three-dimensional visualization in order to better predict roof and floor conditions in advance of underground mining in the vicinity of the Galatia Channel. Unknown or unstable roof and floor conditions in an underground mine can lead to mining accidents.

Objective

The goal of this project is to predict roof and floor conditions in advance of mining.

Approach

The project utilized 3-D software to help visualize roof facies in an underground coal mine. Detailed descriptions of core were combined with facies analysis of gamma-ray logs to produce facies maps. The approach is unique in that it involves attempting to model the Dykersburg "grey shale wedge" as an incised valley, a new approach, in an effort to discover if more predictable facies models can be generated.

Products

This project will result in detailed facies maps of mined-out areas and areas close to advancing mine walls. A new predictive model to facilitate mine planning will be produced.

Benefits

The use of facies maps and 3-D visualizations can reduce the risk to miners and mining operations and will facilitate planning for future mining.

Locations Affected:

Gibson

Indiana House Districts Affected:

64

76

Indiana Senate Districts Affected:

48

49

Information Updated February 1, 2007

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