Abstract
Underground coal mining in Brazil is developed almost exclusively in the extreme South of the country. In the mid-1980s, an extensive work began on the geomechanical characterization of exploited or potentially exploitable coal beds through underground mining in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, conducted by CIENTEC—Science and Technology Foundation of Rio Grande do Sul State.
This chapter presents the geomechanical characterization of the most economically important coal seam mined in the South Catarinense Coalfield, southern Brazil (“Barro Branco,” “Irapuá,” and “Bonito”). The adopted in situ sampling procedures, the sample preparation techniques and the procedures used to carry out the petrographic, physical, and mechanical characterization tests in the laboratory, as well as the in situ tests, are detailed. The obtained results were statistically processed, making it possible to estimate the in situ strength of the coal layers for pillars dimensioning, as well as the typification of the main host rock lithologies present in the South Catarinense Coalfield for roof support system design.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
Change history
08 January 2021
Owing to the production team’s oversight, the figures in the chapter were misplaced. The correct presentation should be as follows:
References
Costa JFCL (2000) Assessment of coal reserves—Fontanella Project—Carbonífera Metropolitana S.A. Department of Mining Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre-RS, 79p. (in Portuguese)
Dobereiner L (1987) Geotechnical soft sandstone. Thesis summary 08. ABGE—Brazilian Association of Engineering Geology, Sao Paulo-SP, Brazil (in Portuguese)
Duarte JMG, Moraes RB, Oliveira CA, Cardoso RM (2010) Some specific geotechnical aspects of the UHE Mauá project. In.: Geotechnical Engineering Practice Symposium of the Southern Region, VII. GEOSUL 2010. Foz do Iguaçu-PR, Brazil, 9p. (in Portuguese)
Gaddy FL (1956) A study of the ultimate strength of coal as related to the absolute size of the cubical samples tested. Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Blacksburg, Virginia, USA, 57p.
Gonzatti C (2007) Proposal for the estimation of the in situ strength of coal seams with the use of geophysics. School of Engineering of São Carlos, University of São Paulo (Doctoral thesis), 274p. (in Portuguese)
Hoek E, Carranza-Torres C, Corkum B, (2002) Hoek-Hrown failure criterion - 2002 edition. In: Proc. of the NARMS-TAC Conference, v. 1, pp 267-273
IPT–Technological Research Institute of Sao Paulo State (1987) Additional laboratory tests for geotechnical studies to support the optimization of bolting project of Esperança Mine. Report No 25264. Sao Paulo-SP, Brazil, 41p. (in Portuguese)
ISRM (1978a) Suggested methods for determining sound velocity. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 15(2):53–58
ISRM (1978b) Suggested methods for determining tensile strength of rock material. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 15(3):99–103
ISRM (1979a) Suggested methods for determining the uniaxial compressive strength and deformability of rock materials. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 16(2):135–140
ISRM (1979b) Suggested methods for determining water content, porosity, density, absorption and related properties and swelling and slake-durability index properties (part 1). Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 16(2):143–146
ISRM (1983) Suggested methods for determining the strength of rock materials in triaxial compression: revised version. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 20(6):283–290
ISRM (1999) Suggested methods for the complete stress-strain curve for intact rock in uniaxial compression. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 36:279–289
Midea NF, Yoshikawa NK, Marchi AJ (1985) Pillar design—A example of the role of rock mechanics. In: Brazilian Mining Congress, 1st. Brasília-DF, Brazil. IBRAM, Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil, pp 198–214. (in Portuguese)
Software Statgraphics Plus (n.d.) Version 4.1—Professional System. S/N 4565002707. User manual (in Portuguese)
Steart FA (1954) Strength and stability of pillars in coal mines. J Metallurg Min Soc South Africa, 309–325
Wilson AH (1983) The stability of underground workings in the soft rocks of the coal measures. Int J Min Eng 1(2):107–108. London, Chapman and Hall
Zorzi L coord. (1990) PILAR Projet: Pillar design in coal mining. CIENTEC—Foundation for Science and Technology of the Rio Grande do Sul State. Porto Alegre-RS, Brazil, 2v. (in Portuguese)
Zorzi L coord. (1996) MULTICAMADAS Projet: Underground mining of multiple coal seams—Geomechanical study. CIENTEC—Foundation for Science and Technology of the Rio Grande do Sul State. Porto Alegre-RS, Brazil, 2v. (in Portuguese)
Zorzi L, Agostini IM, Benedett JV (1989) Geomechanical characteristics of sedimentary formations in the Santa Terezinha Coal Basin. In: Coal Brazilian Congress, 2nd. Porto Alegre-RS, Brazil, vol. 1, pp 13–43 (in Portuguese)
Zorzi L, Agostini IM, Gonzatti C (1991) Methodology for pillar sizing applied to southern Brazil coal seam conditions. CIENTEC—Foundation for Science and Technology of the Rio Grande do Sul State, Porto Alegre-RS, Brazil (Technical Bulletin no 23) (in Portuguese)
Zorzi L, Agostni IM, Gonzatti C (2006) BONITO Project—Fontanella mine—Technical Report No 1285/65526. CIENTEC—Foundation for Science and Technology of the Rio Grande do Sul State, Porto Alegre-RS, Brazil, 37p. (in Portuguese)
Zorzi L, Agostni IM, Gonzatti C (2007) BONITO Project—Fontanella mine—Technical Report No 1285/66826. CIENTEC—Foundation for Science and Technology of the Rio Grande do Sul State, Porto Alegre-RS, Brazil, 22p. + 5 anexos (in Portuguese)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gonzatti, C., Fiorentini, J.A., Zorzi, L., Agostini, I.M. (2020). Characterization of Soft Rocks in Brazilian Coal Beds. In: Kanji, M., He, M., Ribeiro e Sousa, L. (eds) Soft Rock Mechanics and Engineering . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29477-9_23
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29477-9_23
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-29476-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-29477-9
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)