Rapid ground deformation corresponding to a mining-induced seismic event followed by a massive collapse

Abstract

On 17 April 2015, the Wujek/Śląsk underground coal mine in Poland was struck by a strong induced tremor of magnitude M4.0. The event was followed by a massive rock burst and a collapse of tunnels in the vicinity of the hypocentre. The earthquake was widely felt in the densely populated surrounding area. In this paper, we describe a possible connection between seismological parameters, such as the seismic source location and the focal mechanism, and the ground deformation just above the collapsed tunnels a very short time after the event occurred. We have shown that joint seismological and satellite observation can be very valuable and important tools not only to improve the knowledge concerning mining rock bursts and tunnel collapses, but also to find their influences on the ground effects observed on the surface.