Held at the Lakeview Scanticon Resort and Conference Center in Morgantown, the July 29–31 event focused on the prevention of coal bumps in deep-cover underground mines as its Day 1 theme.
Papers were presented to the large crowd on pillar design, seismic monitoring, numerical modelling and evaluation of case histories by distinguished authors from both the US and overseas, according to co-chairman Christopher Mark of NIOSH.
The annual conference was chaired by West Virginia Mining Engineering professor Syd Peng.
Additionally, guests heard a presentation by MSHA Technical Support Roof Control Division representative Joe Zelanko, who provided a detailed summary of the technical findings from the agency’s investigation report, which was released to the public earlier this month.
On the second day, the conference took a broader stance, covering topics such as longwall mining, surface mining, roof support, horizontal stress and surface subsidence, Mark noted, and a near-record 300 mining professionals from all over the globe were in attendance.
Next year’s dates for the ground control conference have not yet been finalised.
