Subsidence occurring in mining regions and a case study of Zonguldak-Kozlu basin

Mining conducted underground causes displacements and deformations in the ground and on the surface, also called mining subsidence, depending upon mining methods and geological factors, and can eventually bring about damages and destruction on buildings and amenities on the surface. These damages and destructions can adversely affect the development of cities and city life, and can emerge as a result of on-going mining activities due to active subsidence effect, as well as post mining production with residual subsidence effects. City of Zonguldak and its town Kozlu and its near surroundings constitute the centre for hard coal basin which has been under heavy mining activities for 160 years. Hence, the mining activities comprise one of the main economical incomes and the mining subsidence affects land ownership, land use, planning, structuring, in short every aspect of life in the region. This study details the damaging vertical displacements resultant of mining subsidence in the region and the solution suggestions, in an attempt to improve these unfavorable effects, along with the results obtained from the leveling works. © 2011 Academic Journals