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Stabilisation of old lignite pit dumps in Eastern Germany

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Abstract

The lignite workings in the former German Democratic Republic have left many residual holes of sometimes colossal scale. The artificial or natural flooding of these 50–70 m deep holes causes serious stability problems in sand slopes, and already fatalities have been reported as a result of the sudden initiation of flow slides. The paper describes the soil mechanics of the flow slides, which endanger the edge of the holes, and the measures taken to stabilise the slopes.

Résumé

Les exploitations de lignite à ciel ouvert de l’ancienne République démocratique allemande ont laissé de nombreuses excavations de taille parfois considérable. L’inondation artificielle ou naturelle de ces excavations profondes de 50 à 70 m cause des problèmes importants de stabilité relatifs aux talus de sable. Déjà, des accidents mortels ont eu lieu suite à des déclenchements soudains de glissements-coulées. L’article décrit d’une part, les processus de génération de ces glissements-coulées qui rendent dangereux les abords de ces excavations et d’autre part, les mesures prises pour stabiliser les talus.

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References

  • Förster W, Vogt A (1992) Rutschung Sedlitz—Beispiel für ein Setzungsfließen in Niederlausitzer Braunkohlenkippen (Landslide Sedlitz—an example for a flow slide in the dumps of the Niederlausitz lignite pits). Vorträge der Baugrundtagung, Dresden

  • Förster W, Walde M (1984) Die Verflüssigungsneigung von Tagebaukippen und mögliche Auswirkungen auf über sie geführte Verkehrswege (The tendency for liquefaction in open pit mining dumps and possible effects on crossing traffic routes). Wiss Tech Straßenwes 23

  • Wichter L, Lemke K (1999) Entwicklung eines Verfahrens zur Stabilisierung setzungsfließgefährdeter Kippenbereiche an Tagebau- und Restlochböschungen durch Injektionen von Wasser unter hohem Druck (Development of a method for the stabilization of flow slide endangered open cast mining and residual hole slopes using high pressure water injections). Report of the research project “Stabilization of flow slide endangered dumps and dump slopes”, partial project 2.1. German Ministry of Education and Research (unpublished)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Research & Material Testing Institute, Brandenburg Technical University, Universitatsplatz 3-4, 03044, Cottbus, Germany

    L. Wichter

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  1. L. Wichter
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Correspondence to L. Wichter.

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Wichter, L. Stabilisation of old lignite pit dumps in Eastern Germany. Bull Eng Geol Environ 66, 45–51 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-006-0051-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-006-0051-4

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