Environmental Hazards Associated with Mine Shaft Closure: a Practical and Computational Case Study

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the challenges associated with mine shaft closure, emphasising hazards arising from long-term environmental impacts and ground-surface stability. The study focuses on Shaft I in Upper Silesia, decommissioned in the 1990s. Based on archival documentation and field investigations, we assessed the current technical condition of the shaft backfill, its impact on the surrounding ground environment, and the potential risk of discontinuous deformations in the form of sinkholes. We then performed numerical modelling using the finite difference method in FLAC3D to analyse zones of plasticity in the rock mass and to identify potential hazard areas around the shaft. The simulations indicate the possibility of vertical displacements and structural disturbance in rock layers persisting decades after formal closure. We underscore the need for continuous gas emission monitoring and observation of ground surface deformation. The findings support updating guidelines for long term supervision of post-mining structures and can inform the development of more effective shaft safeguarding and environmental risk management methods in former mining regions.