Mining-induced geo-hazards with environmental protection measures in Yunnan, China: an overview

© 2014, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.There are abundant mineral resources in Yunnan Province, which is located in the southwestern part of China, due to its unique geological conditions. The distribution of minerals is related to geological formations and past tectonic movements. The mineral resources extracted in Yunnan Province constitute 83 % of total mineral production in China. The local environment around the mines in Yunnan Province has been destroyed due to harmful mining methods. Yunnan is a province with complicated and serious mining-induced environmental problems. Mining-induced geo-hazards found here include collapse, landslide, debris flow, sinkhole collapse, earth fissure, and water flowing into mine pits. To protect and control the geological environments in mining areas, countermeasures such as monitoring, and engineering rehabilitation and recovery, need to be adopted. Monitoring measurement combined with a digital mine information system can be used to forecast mine induced geo-hazards effectively. Moreover, appropriate engineering rehabilitation technology should be chosen according to the type of mining-induced geo-hazards.