Special Issue on Deep Mining

With the deepening of the mineral supply crisis, deeper-level mining is inevitable. However, deep mining comes with challenges, particularly catastrophic events like rock bursts, gas outbursts and high temperatures. Effective hazard control and risk management strategies are needed for the safety of workers and underground facilities.

This Special Issue focuses on the theories and techniques that address the challenges of deep-level underground mining. The issue is organized by the International Society for Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering (ISRM) Commission on Deep Mining.

We invite original, high-quality studies on experimental, numerical and engineering practices related to deep underground mining.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Mechanisms, prediction, and prevention of deep rock bursts;
• Numerical and empirical design and analysis of deep mining;
• Rock mass response to mining;
• Ground support;
• Unmanned working-faces and automated mining processes;
• Geotechnical and financial risk assessment and management;
• Water hydrodynamics, prediction models of fracture depth and water inrush risk and prevention measures in deep mining.

Original Research Papers, State-of-the-Art Review, Commentary, Correspondence, or Short Communications are all welcome.

Guest editor

Dr Ming Cai

Full professor, Research Chair, Bharti School of Engineering and Computer Science, Laurentian University, Canada

Abbas Taheri

Endowed Chair in Mine Design at Queen’s University, Canada, Chair of the International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM) Commission on Deep Mining

Dr Mingzheng Wang

Associate Professor, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education on Safe Mining of Deep Metal Mines, Northeastern University, China. (Corresponding guest editor)

Submission Guidelines:

Manuscripts should be submitted online at:https://www2.cloud.editorialmanager.com/deepre/default2.aspx.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process.

Submission deadline: 31 July 2025