With the continuous improvement of mining technology and equipment in China’s coal mines, the number of working faces with high-intensity mining is increasing, and the area of surface damage continues to increase compared with previous years. In order to ensure safe production and protect the overall environment of the mining area, the damage characteristics of overlying rock and the transmission mechanism of surface damage in coal mining were analyzed, the forms of surface damage and their negative external influences were evaluated, the current situation of surface damage prevention and restoration technology was investigated, and the feasibility of surface damage economic utilization was considered. According to the above theoretical analysis and the current situation of China’s industry, this paper discusses the prevention and restoration of surface damage in China, and puts forward the following idea of mine governance: “utilization first, prevention and restoration later; natural restoration is the main approach, and artificial restoration is auxiliary; artificial restoration and natural restoration should be combined”, which provides a governance concept for mine surface damage management. This study on the negative external influence of rock and surface damage and its prevention and restoration technology is of great significance for mine safety and environmental protection.

The morphology, spatial distribution, and development of mining-induced overburden fractures within fault-affected areas are extremely complicated. These fractures play a dominant role in governing gas migration between rock strata. Understanding the overburden fractures evolution is essential for improving gas extraction efficiency. As a result, a systematic analysis of the mining activities in East 301 mining face of Dashuitou Coal Mine was performed. Numerical model of mining-induced coal seam containing faults with varying inclination angles was developed by Universal Distinct Element Code. As a result, the mining-induced fractures were statistically analyzed, and the evolution of fracture frequency (f), angle (θ), opening (b), and fractal dimension (D) of overlying rock within the fault-affected areas was obtained. The results show that significant reconstruction and propagation of the fracture network occurred in the fault-influenced region due to its tectonic features and localized stress concentration effects. The mining activity across faults leads to increased fracture frequency (f), angle (θ), and length (L), thereby enhancing the gas migration. A methodology for assessing fracture permeability based on overburden fracture characteristics including f, θ, b, and L is proposed and combined with field observations by in situ peeping technique to determine the optimal fracture network area. The optimal drilling layout is considered to be the fracture area with the opening (b) of >2 mm, penetration degree (T) of 0–0.6, and angles ranging from 35°–60° or 115°–140°. The aim of our research is to realize safe and efficient mining and gas extraction in the fault-affected area.

As a result of the mining of a C3 coal seam in a mine in Guizhou, perilous rock masses on the surface collapsed. In this study, the stability of perilous rock masses on the surface of the coal mine before and after mining was calculated and examined, and the movement law of the overlying strata in the goaf, the movement and deformation law, and the failure mode of perilous rock were analyzed. This study provides a theoretical basis for the treatment of unstable rock and coal seam mining, and has important guiding significance for the safe and efficient production of the mine. The results show that: (1) The perilous rock is in a basically stable state without the influence of mining. Through theoretical analysis and the construction of the collapse model of perilous rock, it is judged that perilous rocks W1, W3, W4, and W7 were basically stable, perilous rocks W2 and W5 were in an unstable state, and perilous rock W6 was stable without heavy rainfall. (2) As a result of the mining of the C3 coal seam, the cracks in the upper strata began to develop to the surface, and the longitudinal separation cracks gradually appeared between the surface perilous rock and the rock matrix. Due to the existence of these cracks, the perilous rock had a downward shear force. In addition, due to the heavy rainfall in the Guizhou area, the transient saturated zone of perilous rock is expanding and the strength of perilous rock is reduced. The seepage increases the sliding force of the perilous rock and aggravates the opening of cracks at any time. (3) The stability of the surface perilous rock mass is largely affected by the mining of underground coal mines. The simulation analysis was repeated using the method of setting coal pillars. When 45 m permanent protection coal pillars are set at both ends, and 15 m local protection coal pillars are set at 60 m, the safety of coal mining can be ensured without affecting the surface and perilous rock.

In order to improve the accuracy of coal and gas outburst risk prediction for an excavation face, an outburst equilibrium equation for the excavation face was established based on the MohrCoulomb criterion to predict the coal and gas outburst risk for the excavation face. The numerical model was established using the COMSOL Multiphysics simulation software to explore the relationship between the initial gas emissions from the borehole and the gas pressure. Using a ZTL20/1000-Z mine flameproof prediction device, taking excavation face 9301 in the Anshun Coal Mine in Guizhou Province, China, as the research object, and taking the detailed regulations for prevention and control of coal and gas outburst promulgated by the China Coal Mine Safety Supervision Bureau in 2019 as the prediction standard for coal and gas outbursts, an experiment on the outburst risk prediction for the excavation face was conducted. The results show that the gas pressure measured in the borehole is positively correlated with the initial gas emissions, and the initial gas flow can be used as a sensitive index to predict the outburst risk of the excavation face. The initial gas flow increases as the borehole depth increases, and it tends to be stable in the later stage. The initial borehole gas flow can not only reflect the outburst risk but also reveal the possible location of the outburst, which has obvious advantages over other outburst prediction indexes.

As coal’s share in primary energy consumption wanes, the annual increase in abandoned coal mines presents escalating safety and environmental concerns. This paper delves into cutting-edge models and attributes of integrating pumped storage hydropower systems with subterranean reservoirs and advanced wastewater treatment facilities within these decommissioned mines. By utilizing the expansive underground voids left by coal extraction, this method aims to achieve multifaceted objectives: efficient energy storage and generation, reclamation of mine water, and treatment of urban sewage. This research enhances the development and deployment of pumped storage technology in the context of abandoned mines, demonstrating its potential for fostering sustainable energy solutions and optimizing urban infrastructure. This study not only facilitates the progressive transformation and modernization of energy cities but also provides crucial insights for future advances in ecological mining practices, energy efficiency, emission mitigation, and green development strategies in the mining industry.

The problem of soft coal-seam wall spalling is more prominent in the deep mining process, which seriously restricts the safety and sustainability of mining. The horizontal ground stress is usually ignored in the analysis of the coal-wall spalling mechanism. In this paper, based on the Mogi–Coulomb criterion and limit-equilibrium analysis, it is found that the traces of coal siding can be approximated as linear. The safety-stability coefficient of a soft-coal wall under the limit-equilibrium condition is obtained by applying the Mogi–Coulomb criterion. The coal stability of different positions is quite different. The coal with greater cohesion is more stable. In this regard, the cohesion of the coal can be improved through flexible reinforcement so as to improve the stability of the coal body. The control mechanism of the grouting and flexible rope reinforcing technology for the coal-wall spalling in the soft-coal seam is revealed. The safety-stability coefficient of the reinforced coal wall and the limit-stability coefficient are deduced. The reinforcement effect is related to the aperture ratio, the ultimate tensile force of the flexible rope, and the layout spacing. Reasonable aperture ratio, layout spacing, and flexible rope selection are key to reinforcement. This study has important guiding significance for the sustainability and safety of mining by revealing the mechanism of coal-wall spalling and reinforcement.