Mining-Induced Deformation and Slope Stability in Steep Mountainous Areas Based on InSAR Monitoring and Rock Movement Theory: A Case Study from Southwestern China.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Mining-Induced Deformation and Slope Stability in Steep Mountainous Areas Based on InSAR Monitoring and Rock Movement Theory: A Case Study from Southwestern China.
Authors: Chen, Xiaoqiang1,2 (AUTHOR), Yao, Xin2 (AUTHOR) yaoxin@mail.cgs.gov.cn, Zhou, Zhenkai2,3 (AUTHOR), Tian, Xuwen2,4 (AUTHOR), Tao, Tao1,2 (AUTHOR), Li, Qiyu2,3,4 (AUTHOR), Wen, Yi1,2,3 (AUTHOR), Song, Guangyao2,4 (AUTHOR)
Source: Remote Sensing. Jun2026, Vol. 18 Issue 12, p2008. 23p.
Subjects: Slope stability, Radar interferometry, Mine subsidences, Natural disasters, Landslide hazard analysis, Mine safety, Rock deformation
Geographic Terms: China, Southwest China
Abstract: Highlights: What are the main findings? Mining-induced deformation in extremely steep mountainous terrain is jointly controlled by mining depth, slope gradient, and structural plane configuration, forming a topography–structure–mining coupled mechanism. InSAR-derived deformation boundary angles exceed theoretical predictions, indicating that complex topography and rock mass structure constrain deformation propagation. What are the implication of the main findings? Traditional rock movement theory has limited applicability in extremely steep mountainous conditions and may misestimate deformation influence ranges. A protective coal pillar (~160 m) can effectively reduce the transmission of mining-induced stress toward steep slopes and mitigate impacts on existing landslides. Geological disasters are frequently triggered in steep mountainous mining areas due to the coupling effects of underground excavation and slope stability, yet the applicability of traditional rock movement theories in such terrains remains unclear. This study investigates an extremely steep coal mine in southwestern China, integrating engineering geological surveys, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) measurements, InSAR monitoring, and rock movement theoretical calculations to analyze the impact of mining on mountain deformation and slope stability. The results show that the study area exhibits steep slopes (55–85°) and gently inclined, reverse-layered rock masses controlled by structural fracture zones, creating a geological environment prone to mining-induced landslides. The 1151 working face lies at a depth of 286–470 m, with a protective coal pillar of approximately 160 m left between the excavation and the cliff zone. InSAR monitoring indicates cumulative LOS deformation rates of −0.98 to 0.55 cm/a, with subsidence concentrated above the working face, while existing landslides in the cliff zone show no significant deformation. Comparison between theoretical calculations and InSAR inversion reveals that InSAR boundary angles (downslope 61–68°, upslope 67–73°) exceed theoretical predictions (downslope 48–52°, upslope 55°), indicating that complex topography and rock mass structure constrain mining-induced deformation propagation. The findings demonstrate that appropriately designed protective coal pillars and avoidance of unstable slopes can effectively mitigate the impact of mining-induced disturbances on existing hazards. This study provides valuable reference for landslide risk assessment and disaster prevention in extremely steep mining regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Remote Sensing is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: egs
DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 194915141
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Mining-Induced Deformation and Slope Stability in Steep Mountainous Areas Based on InSAR Monitoring and Rock Movement Theory: A Case Study from Southwestern China.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chen%2C+Xiaoqiang%22">Chen, Xiaoqiang</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yao%2C+Xin%22">Yao, Xin</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> yaoxin@mail.cgs.gov.cn</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhou%2C+Zhenkai%22">Zhou, Zhenkai</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tian%2C+Xuwen%22">Tian, Xuwen</searchLink><relatesTo>2,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tao%2C+Tao%22">Tao, Tao</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Li%2C+Qiyu%22">Li, Qiyu</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wen%2C+Yi%22">Wen, Yi</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Song%2C+Guangyao%22">Song, Guangyao</searchLink><relatesTo>2,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Remote+Sensing%22">Remote Sensing</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 18 Issue 12, p2008. 23p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Slope+stability%22">Slope stability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Radar+interferometry%22">Radar interferometry</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mine+subsidences%22">Mine subsidences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Natural+disasters%22">Natural disasters</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Landslide+hazard+analysis%22">Landslide hazard analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mine+safety%22">Mine safety</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rock+deformation%22">Rock deformation</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Southwest+China%22">Southwest China</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Highlights: What are the main findings? Mining-induced deformation in extremely steep mountainous terrain is jointly controlled by mining depth, slope gradient, and structural plane configuration, forming a topography–structure–mining coupled mechanism. InSAR-derived deformation boundary angles exceed theoretical predictions, indicating that complex topography and rock mass structure constrain deformation propagation. What are the implication of the main findings? Traditional rock movement theory has limited applicability in extremely steep mountainous conditions and may misestimate deformation influence ranges. A protective coal pillar (~160 m) can effectively reduce the transmission of mining-induced stress toward steep slopes and mitigate impacts on existing landslides. Geological disasters are frequently triggered in steep mountainous mining areas due to the coupling effects of underground excavation and slope stability, yet the applicability of traditional rock movement theories in such terrains remains unclear. This study investigates an extremely steep coal mine in southwestern China, integrating engineering geological surveys, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) measurements, InSAR monitoring, and rock movement theoretical calculations to analyze the impact of mining on mountain deformation and slope stability. The results show that the study area exhibits steep slopes (55–85°) and gently inclined, reverse-layered rock masses controlled by structural fracture zones, creating a geological environment prone to mining-induced landslides. The 1151 working face lies at a depth of 286–470 m, with a protective coal pillar of approximately 160 m left between the excavation and the cliff zone. InSAR monitoring indicates cumulative LOS deformation rates of −0.98 to 0.55 cm/a, with subsidence concentrated above the working face, while existing landslides in the cliff zone show no significant deformation. Comparison between theoretical calculations and InSAR inversion reveals that InSAR boundary angles (downslope 61–68°, upslope 67–73°) exceed theoretical predictions (downslope 48–52°, upslope 55°), indicating that complex topography and rock mass structure constrain mining-induced deformation propagation. The findings demonstrate that appropriately designed protective coal pillars and avoidance of unstable slopes can effectively mitigate the impact of mining-induced disturbances on existing hazards. This study provides valuable reference for landslide risk assessment and disaster prevention in extremely steep mining regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Remote Sensing is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=194915141
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.3390/rs18122008
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 23
        StartPage: 2008
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Slope stability
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Radar interferometry
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mine subsidences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Natural disasters
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Landslide hazard analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mine safety
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rock deformation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: China
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Southwest China
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Mining-Induced Deformation and Slope Stability in Steep Mountainous Areas Based on InSAR Monitoring and Rock Movement Theory: A Case Study from Southwestern China.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Chen, Xiaoqiang
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Yao, Xin
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zhou, Zhenkai
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Tian, Xuwen
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Tao, Tao
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Li, Qiyu
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Wen, Yi
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Song, Guangyao
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 15
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 20724292
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 18
            – Type: issue
              Value: 12
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Remote Sensing
              Type: main
ResultId 1