Effects of Coal Mining on Shallow Water Resources in Semiarid Regions: A Case Study in the Shennan Mining Area, Shaanxi, China

The Shennan mining area in northern Shanxi Province is located in a semiarid area where surface and near-surface water resources are very valuable. Mining-induced fractures can cause these shallow water resources to leak. The overburden strata were divided into engineering geology rock groups and a comparative analysis was calculated based on the height of the water-conducting fractured zone and the key stratum theory, using both an empirical formula and a fitting formula. The influence of coal mining on the shallow water resources was divided into four types: serious, moderate, slight, and no water loss. Finally, a water resource leakage differentiation graph was produced for the study area. The results can be used to guide coal extraction in the study area and to protect the area’s shallow water resources.