Study on Sinkhole Formation Mechanism in Abandoned Mines

This study investigates the sinkhole formation mechanism due to piezometric rebound in the Siersza abandoned coal mine, Poland. Using radar images from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite, PSInSAR analysis reveals vertical land movement velocities ranging from -4 mm/yr to 16 mm/yr. Sinkholes occur in areas of shallow mining, with land uplift derivatives indicating potential unfavourable stress distribution in the rock mass. Seasonal variations in land movement closely correspond to precipitation levels, suggesting a correlation between sinkhole occurrence and rainfall patterns. Analysis of a specific sinkhole demonstrates a disparity between PSInSAR-derived land movement and precise levelling-based measurements, emphasizing the importance of validation and interpretation of PSInSAR-derived land movement for the study of highly localized phenomena. Integrating PSInSAR-derived land deformation patterns with hydrogeological parameters can enhance numerical modelling accuracy, enabling improved predictions of land uplift and sinkhole formation in post-mining regions.