Hill seam trends

Hill seams are special types of stress-relief joints which are most common in steep slopes, under shallow overburden (less than 300 feet) (Overbey and others, 1973; Hylbert, 1984; Sames and Moebs, 1989, 1992). Hill seams can be anticipated in eastern Kentucky wherever underground mines are within 200 feet of the outcrop, generally at mine entries and as underground mining approaches the outside of a ridge. Hill-seam fracture trends tend to parallel the topographic profile of a ridge.

Hill seams tend to have orientations sub-parallel to the outcrop, and usually occur within 200 feet of the outcrop
Hill seams tend to have orientations sub-parallel to the outcrop, and usually occur within 200 feet of the outcrop (modified from Sames and Moebs, 1999, Fig. 27).

 

Large roof falls may occur at mine entries because of hill seam fractures. These examples are from mines in the Hazard No. 8 coal in eastern Kentucky. They occurred within 50 ft. of the outcrop.
Large roof falls may occur at mine entries because of hill seam fractures. These examples are from mines in the Hazard No. 8 coal in eastern Kentucky. They occurred within 50 ft. of the outcrop.


 

 

 

Last Modified on 2025-11-17
Back to Top