Currently, water inrush accidents in China’s coal mines are mainly under control, but occasionally, grave water inrush accidents still occur, causing significant casualties and economic losses. Existing studies have primarily focused on accident statistics, and the research on the trend of accident evolution is becoming obsolete to match the current context of coal resource development. This study analyzes the water inrush accidents in China’s coal mines between 2014 and 2022. It investigated the spatial and temporal distribution of accidents, the level of accidents, and the extent to which water prevention and control measures vary by zone in coal mines. The study results showed that from 2014 to 2022, water inrush accidents in coal mines exhibited a “decline-stability-fluctuation” stage change pattern. Additionally, the location of water inrush accidents has shifted westward. Paying particular attention to preventing and controlling water disasters in coal mines within the west development zone is crucial. The water disaster accidents in China’s coal mines have been effectively controlled, but the problem of unequal levels of preventing and controlling water disasters in coal mines persists. This study can provide a reference for the safe and efficient production of coal mines and the control of the number of deaths in mine water hazard accidents.

Sustainability Utilization of the Fault-Controlled Wentang Geothermal Field With Hydrogeological Numerical Model at Site Scale

The utilization of geothermal energy has gradually increased in northern China because of its unique advantages as a heating supply. However, the sustainable exploitation of geothermal energy usually requires a comprehensive investigation of the geothermal water circulation pattern prevailing at a proposed site. During the exploitation of geothermal energy resources at Nanpu Sag in northern China, thermal anomalies were found to exist in two adjacent regions: the Caofeidian and the Matouying. To reconcile the anomalies and to examine both the source of recharge water and the geothermal systems’ circulation dynamics, a comprehensive investigation was performed using multiple chemical and isotopic tracers (δ²H, δ¹⁸O, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, δ¹³C, and ¹⁴C). The total dissolved solids (TDS) of the geothermal water are approximately 750 mg/L and 1,250 mg/L, respectively. The geothermal water isotopes at the two sites are also different, with average values of -9.3‰ and -8.2‰ for δ¹⁸O and -73.4‰ and -71‰ for δ²H, respectively. Moreover, the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of geothermal water at Matouying is 0.7185, which is much greater than that of Caofeidian, with an average value of 0.7088. All the results confirm the difference between the two geothermal systems and may explain the two circulation patterns of deep groundwater at Caofeidian and Matouying. The reservoir temperature obtained from theoretical chemical geothermometers is estimated to be 83–92°C at the Caofeidian and 107–137°C at the Matouying, respectively. The corrected ¹⁴C age implies a low circulation rate that would allow sufficient time to heat the water at Caofeidian. In addition, we propose a geothermal conceptual model in our study area. This model could provide key information regarding the geothermal sustainable exploitation and the effective management of geothermal resources.

The Yellow River Basin faces high-intensity coal resource development and severe water scarcity. This makes the treatment and use of mine water a critical factor constraining both coal industry development and ecological security for the region. This study uses kernel density estimation and the Standard Deviational Ellipse model to identify the spatial pattern of mine water production. It also combines bibliometric analysis and field investigations to assess research progress and current practice for mine water treatment and use in the basin. Results show that mine water production displays strong spatial clustering, with the center of gravity shifting northward. Research is moving from an engineering-focused stage to a theory-oriented one, emphasizing systematic optimization and sustainable use. Current practices still struggle with non-standardized data, uneven treatment quality, and incomplete management systems. This research underscores the importance of improving the region’s integrated management of mine water and proposes shifting mine water from an environmental burden to a resource asset.