Recent case histories in the Appalachian region incorporating active mining operations with detailed geological hazards mapping prior to mining have confirmed the importance of certain geological techniques and applications. Applying these techniques to active operations in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, southwest Virginia, and eastern Kentucky demonstrates that certain of these geological factors can be related to mining on a regional basis. Some of the applications involve the identification of weak, fractured rock zones underground through use of high-altitude satellite imagery. The simple procedure of intensity or the magnitude rating of the linear features appears to be the real key in identifying hazardous roof areas prior to mining. Composite and overlay ma ping of significant, anticipated geological factors is the most important application to identifying safe, high-production mining areas as opposed to hazardous, low production mining. Again, it is necessary to apply rating factors to each potential problem and to design a presentation technique that can achieve simplicity and workability from a multitude of complex geological factors.

Although local or on-site physical and geological conditions largely dictate mining conditions, understanding and identification of regional geology and paleodepositional environments greatly enhance the more important ability to predict hazards prior to mining. Additional benefits derived from applying geologic hazards mapping are (1) identification of significant hydrologic factors which must be considered in meeting state and federal requirements for ground-water monitoring, and (2) establishment of confidence levels for coal reserve classifications.

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