Mining causes earthquakes

According to a study by Christian D. Klose of Columbia University (USA), the most intense earthquake in Australian history occurs due to changes in the Earth's crust structure generated over 200 years of underground coal mining. land.

The 5.6-magnitude earthquake rocked Newcastle (New South Wales) in December 1989, killing 13 people, injuring 160 people and causing $ 3.5 billion in damage.

(Photo: Nationalgeographic) The removal of millions of tons of coal in Newcastle created many stresses leading to earthquakes in this area. But more important is the pumping of groundwater to keep the coal mine from flooding. For every ton of coal mined, miners need 4.3 times more water. For other mining activities, it is sometimes necessary to draw up to 150 tons of water per ton of minerals.

Mining is not the only human activity that can cause earthquake disasters. Through research, Klose discovered more than 200 human-induced earthquakes, most of which occurred in the past 60 years. Most of it is due to mining, but nearly a third is due to the construction of an artificial lake. Oil and gas exploitation can also lead to earthquakes. Three major earthquakes in the world in 1976-1984, all occurred in the Uzlikistan's natural gas extraction zone from 1976 to 1984.

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