A review of energy associated with coal bursts

A coal burst is defined as a rapid expulsion of coal (and potentially gas) from the boundary of the roadway. Rock and coal fractures together with micro seismic vibration is a common occurrence during mining, however, it is very uncommon for coal and rock to be propelled into the roadway. Irrespective, such occurrences do occur and appear to require significantly more energy than is available from strain energy release during coal cutting. The sources of energy which can contribute to the propulsion of coal from the face or ribs are typically strain energy from the surrounding ground, seismic energy from a rapid rupture of the ground in the vicinity, or rapid expansion of gas from within the burst source area. The aim of this paper is to briefly review the bursts which may be related to strain energy, seismic energy and gas energy. (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of China University of Mining & Technology.