ABSTRACT
Yanzhou coalfield is the largest one in east China with the output of 4081.28 × 104 t in 2002. With the rapid development of coal exploitation, environmental problems become more and more serious. From 1971 to 2002 the subsided area had reached 6825 hm2 with the maximum depth of 9 m, resulting in many problems such as ground failure, soil erosion, drop of soil quality of cultivated land, and deterioration of ecological environment. Other environmental problems are solid waste and mining drainage. Gangue piles have occupied cultivated land about 94 × 104 m2, which pollutes the air, soil, and water. A large amount of drainage (a total volume of which was 1971.85 × 104 t in 2002) led to a serious waste of water resource. In this paper the major environmental geologic problems such as mining subsidence, pollution by gangue piles and waste of water are discussed.
