Source mechanism of a large scale gas outburst at Sunagawa Coal Mine in Japan

Abstract

On January 29ty, 1986, the third largest gas outburst in Japan took place at Sunagawa Coal Mine, which is the only hydraulic mine in Japan. It occurred at a face of a cross-cut, just after a coal seam was outcropped by blasting for drivage of the cross-cut. The site of the gas outburst was located 1,180 m below the surface. No workers were injured, but the cross-cut was plugged with 1,600 m³ of coal fragments extending over 100 m behind the face and 60,000 m³ of methane gas was emitted.

The site of the gas outburst was investigated in detail to clarify the geological features. A normal and a reverse fault existed at the site. The area of the ejected zone was about 400 m² and extended upward along the normal fault. The shape of the ejected zone suggests a great role of the normal fault on the gas outburst.

Digital seismograms, recorded by a mine-wide seismic array at the coal mine, consisting of 27 microseismic events were used to investigate the gas outburst. Magnitude, seismic energy release, distribution of hypocenter and focal mechanism were analyzed. Taking the shape of the ejected zone together with results of the seismological investigation into consideration, it appears that the seismicity started with left-lateral faulting of the reverse fault and then right-lateral faulting of the normal fault followed. The faulting of the normal fault might be the direct cause and be the predominant mechanism of the gas outburst.