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To solve the difficult problem of determining the change law of key point temperature and gas during the motion of high temperature area inside the coal mine seam, this study used the simulation platform of coal spontaneous combustion (CSC) development to investigate the temperature, gas concentration, functional group migration, and change rule of key points with layers in the holistic process of high-temperature region (HTR) spreading of Wen-Zhuang coalmine in Shanxi province, China. The analysis involved the dynamic change rule among temperature, oxygen consumption rate, CO, and C 2 H 4. Finally, with the gray correlation method, the changes of the dominant functional groups released by CO and C 2 H 4 were explored, which revealed the transport rule between the functional groups and the regional spreading in the HTR spreading process. The results show that the temperature of coal body and the rate of oxygen consumption gradually decreased with the deepening of coal layers. Among them, as the coal seam burns, the coal body will appear to "collapse", along with the phenomenon of "re-ignition"; at the combustion point temperature of each coal layer, the activity of the oxygen-containing functional group was the largest, the activity of hydroxyl group was the smallest, and the activity of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons was similar. Among them, the hydroxyl group, aromatic hydrocarbon, and oxygen-containing functional group had the same trend changing with the deepening of the layers, exhibiting a trend of first decreasing after increasing and later decreasing, and positively correlated with the ignition temperature of each layer. The trend of aliphatic hydrocarbon was opposite to the trend of other functional groups and negatively correlated with the ignition temperature of each layer. The research results of this paper can be used for disaster prevention in the HTR of mine fires, and parameters, such as indicator gases, functional groups and temperature, can be used to determine and deter the migration trend of mine fires, providing a theoretical basis for the prevention and control of high-temperature diffusion of coal spontaneous combustion. [Display omitted] • The variation law of the key points in the holistic process of coal spontaneous combustion in the high-temperature zone was explored. • The dynamic changes of temperature, oxygen consumption rate, CO, and C 2 H 4 were investigated. • The transport law and regional diffusion of functional groups in the process of regional diffusion at high-temperature were revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ecological restoration is not just an environmental issue and it is a societal problem. This paper analyzes ecological restoration and its impact on society in coal resource-based areas, focusing on the Ruhr region in Germany and Liulin County in China. Through the analysis and comparison, the study not only reveals the unique ecology-social system and explain the reasons for dependence on coal, but the finding shows that industrial transformation is a key factor in determining ecological restoration of coal resource-based regions. • The industries abandoned by the Ruhr area were taken over by China. Shanxi Province is very similar to the Ruhr area in terms of ecological destruction and social development at that time. The Ruhr region has become one of the most polluted areas in the world due to its coal and steel industry. After nearly 40 years of arduous practice, ecological governance and economic transformation in the Ruhr area achieved initial success. • Shanxi Province in China is a hub for energy and heavy chemical industries, and it ranks first in coal production nationally.. The Liulin county is located in the west of Shanxi Province, it is a typical coal mining subsidence and is scattered with numerous villages affected by subsidence due to coal mining. Shanxi Province and the Liulin county is undergoing difficult industrial transformation. • The author of this work visited the Duisburg-Essen University for a year, located in the Ruhr area of Germany, and learned about the ER and transformation in the Ruhr. When the author returned to China, she conducted field research for a two-month survey in Liulin County. Therefore, the author collected a large amount of literature ,data sources and gained practical experiences in these two areas. The coal resource-based areas rely on coal resources and primary processing as their pillar industries, such as the old industrial areas in China and Germany. Long-term, large-scale coal mining has significantly damaged the ecological environment of mining areas. Environmental restoration refers to repairing, rehabilitating, or revitalizing ecosystems that have been degraded, damaged, or destroyed by human activities or natural disasters. In fact, ecological restoration is not just an environmental issue and it is a societal problem. Ecological restoration is closely linked to natural resources, the environment, the economy, society, and politics. These factors form a social ecological system and it is the basis for local stability and sustainable development in the coal resource-based areas. In this process, the relationship between government, enterprise, and local people is constantly being reshaped and defined, then it causes changes in the local social ecology and political ecology. The paper researches the Ruhr area in Germany and the Liulin County in China, the former is a world-famous old industrial and the latter is a typical coal mining subsidence district. By analyzing and comparing the ecological restoration and significant social changes in the Ruhr area and the Liulin County at different periods, the findings show the unique ecology— social system of the coal resource-based area, then enhances the effective measures for ecological restoration and sustainable development of the coal resource-based areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The concept of industrial ecology (IE) was defined based on symbiosis theory. • IE was evaluated from the functional and structural dimensions of the IE system. • Evaluation subjects of IES include symbiotic units, patterns, and environment. • The overall IE level in the Area has improved with Inner Mongolia standing out. • The industrial and ecological development remained isolated or mutual restriction. This paper defined regional industrial ecology (IE) to include four connotations: sustainable social-economic-ecological development, the high-quality transformation of the industrial system (IS) and the ecological system (ES), and harmonious symbiosis between IS and ES. Regarding the composition of the symbiotic system, this paper proposed that the IE evaluation be carried out from three aspects: the sustainability of the symbiotic environment, the high-quality development of the symbiont, and the symbiotic pattern between the symbiotic units. Then, the maturity index determined by the symbiont and symbiotic mode and the orderliness index determined by the symbiont and symbiotic environment were measured to determine the IE level from the perspectives of the system's function and structure. Besides, this paper adopted Geodetector and Oprobit model to identify the influencing factors of IE. Taking the π-shaped Curve Area of the Yellow River as the study area, this paper found that the IE systems' structural orderliness of capital cities and resource-based cities was low, while the orderliness level of non-resource-based cities was high. The IE systems' functional maturity level in the northwest Area was better than that of the southeast. The IE level was high in Inner Mongolia while low in Shanxi and Ningxia. Scientific innovation, economic development, openness degree, ecological pressure, industrial structure, urbanization level, and government influence have different influences on the IE systems' orderliness and maturity levels. The findings of this paper provided a basis for realizing IE and promoting the high-quality transformation of the whole basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving an efficient, modern, and sustainable energy transition towards carbon neutrality has attracted worldwide attentions. Composite statistical indices are increasingly recognized as valuable tools for policymakers, offering enhanced understanding of the present condition and anticipated direction of energy transition. In this research, we constructed a comprehensive index to track provincial energy transition in China. With this index, we monitored the energy transition progress of 30 provinces in China. The Provincial energy transition index (PETI) scores exhibited considerable heterogeneity across provinces and throughout different time periods, with eastern provinces having the highest scores, and some northwestern and large coal provinces, like Shanxi, having the lowest scores. These findings indicated that provincial energy transition policies should be tailored to the local energy status and economic structures. The paper delineated conclusions and policy implications derived from the study's extensive evaluation. Specifically, effective ways to further improve a region's sustainable energy transition path include advancing the use of clean energy, vigorously promoting power grid construction, and investing in new energy sectors. The implementation of these strategies is expected to reduce energy consumption and carbon intensity, thereby decreasing carbon emissions, then ultimately accelerating the realization of the dual carbon targets. • We present a provincial energy transition index to track regional energy transition process. • There was significant heterogeneity in PETI scores across different provinces. • There were disparities among the performances in the three dimensions of the PETI. • Energy transition policies ought to give precedence to regions that are lagging in their energy transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how perceived social equity (distributional equity, procedural equity, and recognitional equity) affects acceptance of protected areas by local communities. We also consider the consequences of these perceptions on the behaviour of local people in relation to biodiversity conservation. Despite increasing importance being given to social issues in protected area management, there is limited evidence about the effect of perceived equity on local support for conservation initiatives. Questionnaires (mostly face-to-face interviews) were undertaken with 426 households living in and around the Giant Panda National Park, which lies across the Sichuan, Shanxi and Gansu provinces of China. Structural equation modelling revealed that local residents with positive perceptions of procedural and distributional equity were more willing to support conservation and engage in conservation behaviours. Surprisingly, perceived recognitional equity had no effect on acceptance and negatively impacted conservation behaviour. This highlights that, although it is essential to promote recognitional equity, the complexities around this must be considered further. The context (e.g. age, education, village of residence) moderates the relationships between procedural equity, distributional equity and local acceptance. We suggest that, in order to achieve better park-people relationships, in addition to addressing equity concerns, it is also necessary to implement supplementary measures, such as community co-management and benefit sharing with host communities. • Procedural and distributional equity facilitate acceptance of protected areas. • Recognitional equity has an intricate relationship with local support. • Perceived justice tends to be non-linear in relation to local support. • The location of communities influences local pro-conservation behaviours. • There is a need for a better understanding of the equity-acceptance relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Water resources system has multi-link characteristics. • The resilience evaluation index system of water resources system is constructed. • The resilience of regional water resources system is evaluated. • The temporal and spatial evolution characteristics of resilience are analyzed. As environmental and human changes combine, water shortage and ecological fragility are becoming increasingly serious issues in the basin. The national "14th Five-Year Plan" proposes to build resilient basins to enhance disaster resilience. On the basis of clarifying the multi-link characteristics of water resources system resilience under the influence of meteorology-hydrology-ecology-society-economy, this paper reveals the interrelationship and chain reaction among the factors affecting the resilience of water resources system by clarifying the multi-link characteristics of water resources system resilience. Based on the interconnections among meteorology-hydrology-engineering-economic society-ecology in regional water resources systems, this study constructs a resilience evaluation index for the water resources system. The index considers different objectives, dimensions, and scales to provide a comprehensive assessment of the system's resilience. Based on the multi-dimensional relationship of the evaluation index system, the TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) method based on entropy weight method is employed to depict the resilience level of the water resources system at varying spatial and temporal scales. By focusing on Shanxi Province as the research subject, a multi-link evaluation framework for assessing the resilience of the water resources system is established, and a quantitative approach to evaluate its resilience is investigated. The results show that the level of water resources resilience in Shanxi Province has improved from 2017 to 2021, and there are certain spatial and temporal differences. In 2021, only Lvliang City and Yangquan City have low resilience level, and the resilience level of other cities has been improved. Among them, Taiyuan City has the highest resilience level of 0.56, which belongs to the high resilience level. The research results can improve the cognitive level of multi-link evolution mechanism of resilience to a certain extent, and provide scientific basis for multi-dimensional targeted regulation of water resources system resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To provide a better alternative to the current shale inhibitors, this paper designs a novel aluminum-based shale inhibitor by complexing aluminum with humic acid (HA), which is expected to enhance wellbore stability in drilling. Firstly, the alkali dissolution and acid precipitation (ADAP) method was chosen to extract HA from lignite from Shanxi and Yunnan, China. Next, the complexation conditions for aluminum-humic acid (Al-HA) were optimized through orthogonal tests, including reaction ratio, temperature, time, and pH. The best complexation conditions for Al-HA-1 were determined as pH = 5.0, HA/NaAlO 2 = 7/3, T = 75℃, time = 30 min, and those for Al-HA-2 as pH = 10.0, HA/ NaAlO 2 = 3/7, T = 65℃, and time = 30 min. Further, several tests were conducted to evaluate the inhibition performance of our inhibitors. The results show that the hot rolling recovery of shale sample in 1.2 wt% Al-HA-2 solution was up to 90.52% after hot rolling for 16 h at 120℃; the linear swelling rate of artificial bentonite core in 1.2 wt% Al-HA-2 solution was merely 20.38% after 16 h. The inhibition mechanism of Al-HA mainly consists of flocculation on shale surface and chemical reverse osmosis. Both phenomena suppress filtrate intrusion and reduce pore pressure transmission. These superior properties make the proposed inhibitors a promising choice for wellbore stabilization, especially in shale oil/gas formations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In FTIR and mercury intrusion study of molecular structure change characteristics of SDS modified coal. • Correlation of coal molecular structure with wettability and methane adsorption capacity. • Essence to the explanation of the decrease of coal methane adsorption capacity under SDS modification coal. Adding ionic solution can improve the microstructure of coal, inhibit the gas absorption capacity and effectively reduce the outburst risk. In this paper, the high-quality anthracite in Jincheng, Shanxi Province is selected as the research object, and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) ion solutions with different concentrations are configured. Combined with infrared spectroscopy, mercury intrusion test, the change features of coal microstructure after soak by SDS solutions with different concentrations are studied, and the variations of the contact angle and adsorption constant of samples before and after modification are tested. The paper further discusses the influence of changing coal microstructure on the wettability and gas adsorption. The experimental results show that SDS can modify the microstructure of coal to some extent: –OH, -C O, and C O C increase obviously, macropores and mesopores increase, micropores and ascospores decrease. After SDS modification, the contact angle and the maximum gas adsorption a decrease linearly as oxygen groups and vtotal increase. In addition, the hydrophilic groups in the coal body increase significantly, which makes it easier to attract water molecules, and strengthen the pore connectivity and coal wettability. The polar oxygen-containing functional group molecules of coal also increase, occupying the adsorption site of non-polar molecular methane, and the adsorption site (micropore) decreases. The conclusion of this paper establishes theoretical foundation for the exploitation of coal seam gas resources. Adding SDS can directionally ameliorate coal microstructure, and then regulate the coal wettability and its ability to adsorb methane, to utilize coal resources safely and efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The late 1990s and early 2010s witnessed China’s efforts to reform its coal industry towards sustainability. A series of rigorous initiatives were launched to consolidate its coal resources and upgrade its mining sector. The “mine closure and production reduction campaign” (MCPRC) and “coal resources consolidation campaign” (CRCC) were among the notable. This paper conducts a general review of the policies and regulations relating to these initiatives with Shanxi, one of the key coal-producing provinces and one of the pilot areas for reform, as a case study. The paper argues that the “one-size-fits-all” approach may have brought short-lived political and economic benefits. However, in the long run, a rationally-designed, stable, socio-economically and environmentally co-ordinated regulatory framework for both large and small coal mines is needed for the sustainable development of China’s coal sector. This finding would be helpful for the potential similar reform initiatives for the coal sector and for the wider energy sector across the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contradictions of charging facilities supply and demand are intensified in China, the surplus and shortages of charging facilities simultaneously existing, and the utilization of charging facilities significantly polarized. To solve the problems, the sequential construction research method of regional public electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities is proposed based on the demand differences of charging facilities in cities and the utilization differences of charging stations in the same city. According to the actual charging transactions big data of Shanxi, the construction sequence of regional public charging facilities has been studied, which verified the scientificity and effectiveness of the proposed method. The results show that the charging facilities demand of 11 cities in Shanxi can be divided into 4 types, Linfen and Lvliang having the highest demand for charging facilities in the short term and long term; in the same city, the utilization of charging stations in residential areas is the highest, and the utilization of charging stations in working areas is the lowest; so, the charging facilities construction should focus on residential areas in Linfen and Lvliang. The proposed method is contributed to realizing accurate construction of charging facilities, which helps to guide the charging facilities planning of the government and the investment of charging facility investors. [Display omitted] • This paper proposed a public charging facilities construction sequence analysis method. • This paper guides the construction of charging facilities according to the utilization of existing charging facilities. • The utilization difference analysis of charging stations is based on the actual big data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Various engineering risks of high and steep slope near river and reservoir are analyzed. • In view of various risks during excavation of the foundation pit near high and steep slope, several effective reinforcement measures are proposed. • The finite difference software FLAC3D is used to simulate the evolution process of slope deformation, and the deformation law of steel tubular pipe pile is analyzed. • The plastic deformation law of reserved thin-walled rock wall is studied, and the stress characteristics of support beam in foundation pit are found. The intake of water diversion project is generally located on the bank slope above the large reservoir or deep water area of a river. Due to the influence of water level change and hydraulic action, the rock mass of bank slope is seriously weathered and broken, leading that the rock mass has low strength and is easy to collapse or landslide. In this paper, the water intake engineering of the long-distance diversion project in central Shanxi Province is selected as the research object. The multi-point displacement meter is used to monitor the slope deformation after anchorage and concrete retaining wall support. Based on the FLAC3D V6.0 software, the numerical simulation of the excavation process of the steep reinforced river bank slope is carried out, and the long-term deformation of the slope is predicted. The excavation scheme of retaining outer thin-walled rock wall as water cofferdam is proposed. The excavation process of foundation pit, which is supported with concrete-filled steel tubular pile reinforcing cofferdam and concrete supporting beam, is simulated. It is found that the upper part of the steep slope supported by anchor cable and concrete retaining wall is stable, and the large deformation and plastic failure of the water-retaining thin rock wall are mainly affected by the disturbance of foundation pit excavation. The concrete-filled steel tubular pile support avoids the collapse of the reserved thin-walled cofferdam, and the horizontal beam in the foundation pit improves the stress state of the external wall of the foundation pit. The research results of this paper reveal the evolution mechanism of rock mass deformation and failure during excavation of foundation pit on steep bank slope, and provide guidance for excavation and support of foundation pit for similar bank slope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The equivalent coefficient is revised according to ability and willingness to pay. • The Best-worst method is used to determine the weight of the allocated indicators. • A 10 km buffer calculation strip is established in the compensated payment area. • The overflow of hydrological adjusting is greater than that of erosion prevention. • Ecological compensation in 2010–2020 is higher than that in 2000–2010. Coordinated governance and horizontal ecological compensation are important ways to realize ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River basin. Taking the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River as the research object, this paper analyses the compensation relationship and amount of cities along the line in Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan and Shandong provinces. Firstly, the spillover value of regulation of water flows and erosion prevention of 32 counties along the Yellow River in Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces were calculated during 2000–2010 and 2010–2020 from the perspective of land use/cover change (LUCC). Secondly, the compensation accounting index system was established based on the classification of ecological services given the beneficiaries' individual preferences, and each indicator's weights were determined based on the Best-worst method. Finally, setting the water ecological service value of the 10 km buffer zone on both sides of the Yellow River as the accounting scope, this paper calculated the amount of ecological compensation paid by 16 cities in Shandong and Henan provinces. The results show that: (1) The spillover value of Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces in 2010–2020 is greater than that in 2000–2010, and the values of erosion prevention in both stages are lower than that of regulation of water flows; (2) From the perspective of providers, the highest is 3.68e + 08 yuan in Lvliang from 2000 to 2010, while the highest is 3.60e + 09 yuan in Yulin from 2010 to 2020; (3) From the perspective of beneficiaries, Zhengzhou has the highest amount of compensation in Henan province, which is 2.28e + 08 yuan in 2000–2010 and 9.41e + 08 yuan in 2010–2020 respectively. In Shandong province, Heze pays the highest value of 1.27e + 08 yuan from 2000 to 2010, and Jinan pays the highest value of 9.56e + 08 yuan from 2010 to 2020. The ecological compensation scheme obtained in this paper is more sustainable than the vertical compensation and expands the scope of the existing ecological compensation standards, which can effectively stimulate the enthusiasm for ecological protection, and reduce the financial pressure on the central government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding corporate preferences for domestic policy instruments is crucial to designing and planning the sectoral market mechanism in China. Based on a detailed overview of nine domestic policy instruments under the sectoral market mechanism, this paper evaluates corporate preferences and identifies their relationship with potential determinants through an ordinal logistics model. The data was collected from 113 respondents in all 11 prefecture-level cities of Shanxi province, China. The results show that providing economic incentives is the most preferable policy for companies. The policy instrument in which installations with voluntary targets receive tradable units is not recommended unless the inequity in the distribution of responsibility could be reduced or alleviated effectively. If the government applies a mandatory policy, it is more effective to give companies mandatory targets and to allocate tradable units to them in order to offer more flexibility. This paper discusses policy implications in designing domestic policy instruments based on the determinants that impact corporate preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extraordinarily severe coal mine accidents (ESCMAs) are characteristized by thirty fatalities or more in one accident. In this paper, such ESCMAs are analyzed using 188 cases which occurred in Chinese underground coal mines. The analysis shows that the number of ESCMAs and the death toll have decreased steadily over time. Gas explosions, mine water inrushes, and coal dust explosions are the three major types of ESCMAs. Among the causes of ESCMAs, inadequate implementation of safety measures, deliberate violations and electromechanical equipment faults are the three top causes of ESCMAs, accounting for 27.13 %, 21.81 %, and 15.96 % of incidences, respectively. Meanwhile, ESCMAs frequently occur in the heading face, especially gas explosions, mine water inrushes and coal and gas outbursts. Furthermore, ESCMAs reoccur often in certain provinces, such as Shanxi, Henan and Heilongjiang, and mostly during November and December in each year. The results of statistical studies have presented useful information for the prevention of ESCMAs in order to reduce the probability of such disastrous accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study concerns the risk of power system caused by magnetic storms. • Responses of power system to magnetic storms are studied. • Excitation current is proposed to be a suitable quantity for assessing the response. Geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) flowing through transformers result in a DC bias, which poses a threat to safe and stable power grid operation. To evaluate the influence of geomagnetic storms on power systems, it is necessary to study actual power system responses. In this paper, the power system response is represented separately using current and reactive power measurements acquired using phasor measurement units (PMUs). On the basis of the data obtained from a wide-area measurement system, the power system responses to geomagnetic disturbances at Yangquan Substation, Shanxi, China were obtained. By employing the plane wave method, the data acquired during two mild magnetic storms at the Shisanling Geomagnetic Observatory were used to calculate the electric field and GIC at Yangquan Substation. The response variables and calculated GIC results agreed well, and the response variables were thus applied to assess the GIC level in the power system. The results show that the fluctuations in the PMU measurements were caused by GICs in the power system, laying the foundation for a significantly more detailed geomagnetic storm risk monitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface of the weathering brick is porous with cavities. There are four distinctly different morphologies from the magnified surface image, which shows different weathering mechanisms of ancient bricks lead to different conditions of bricks. • Showing the surface of the efflorescence brick presents four typical morphologies. • Using thermodynamic data to analyze weathering mechanism of bricks. • Analyzing weathering process of ancient bricks from the surface to internal. The weathering mechanism of ancient bricks is explained more specifically through chemical composition, phase composition and microscopic morphology of different parts of masonry bricks, combined with thermodynamic calculations. A mercury intrusion porosimeter is providing information on the capillary pores. The content of chloride (Cl) and sulfur (S) species on the surface of ancient bricks is much higher than that in the interior. The surface of the efflorescence brick contains more salts such as NaCl, Na 2 SO 4 , CaSO 4 and K-type feldspar and mainly presents four typical morphologies: columnar, spherical, needle-like and fine powder. It is shown that the underground water continuously flows inside the brick and migrates to the surface through the capillary networks. The pressure generated when soluble salts crystallize and the water freezing are the main factors causing the weathering and destruction (mechanical damage) of the bricks. In addition, faces of the brick exposed to greater acid rain react to form new salts which also are a contributing factor to the destruction of ancient bricks, with crystallization, dissolution, and loss of these salts. In this paper, thermodynamic calculation is used to propose an important method for the study of weathering mechanism, which provides a theoretical basis for the further protection of ancient bricks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the characteristics of the electrical structure and key geological issues of the Alxa and Ordos blocks using a lithospheric resistivity model obtained from a west-east trending magnetotelluric sounding profile. The electrical model shows that the lithosphere of the Alxa Block is high resistivity, except for two crustal low-resistivity bodies. The crust of the Helanshan Orogenic Belt is characterized by medium to high resistivity surrounded by two low-resistivity bodies on both sides. The upper crust of the Ordos Block exhibits discontinuous high resistivity. Still, the lower crust and upper mantle show distinctly low resistivity, which connects with the shallow low-resistivity body above it. The lithosphere of the Lüliang Uplift and the Shanxi Graben is generally characterized by high resistivity, with only localized low-resistivity anomaly found near Moho and in the shallow part of the Shanxi Graben. We propose that the Alxa Block has a stable cratonic lithosphere and that the crustal low-resistivity body within it is a remnant of the southward subducted oceanic crust of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. The low-resistivity body in the lower crust of the Trans-North China Orogen is also interpreted as a remnant of oceanic crust; the upper mantle low-resistivity body is proposed to be a partial melt resulting from the upwelling of asthenosphere caused by the combination of westward subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate and northeastward growth of the Tibetan Plateau. This low-resistivity anomaly spreads to the shallow crust, with its lateral distribution to the east and west being blocked by the Lüliang Orogenic Belt and the Alxa Block, respectively, then consequently upwelling along the Yinchuan Graben during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. We propose that the Alxa Block has been subducted to the Ordos Block along the Helan Mountain in the Early-Middle Paleozoic, which may have formed an ancient suture zone. This ancient suture zone was reactivated in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic by the Paleo-Pacific Ocean subduction and northeastward growth of the Tibetan Plateau, becoming a material upwelling channel and ablating the roots of the Helan Mountain. • The Alxa and Ordos blocks were probably merged during the Early-Middle Paleozoic. • The subduction zone was reactivated by the Paleo-Pacific Plate subduction and the Tibetan Plateau's northeastward growth. • The western North China Craton was also destructed by mantle upwelling beneath the northern Ordos Block. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Deviated well is one of the main well types to develop coalbed methane in China. It's been widely used by various coalbed methane companies in recent years. Compared with traditional oil and gas wells, coalbed methane wells are characterized by shallow depth and strict well spacing, which means higher wellbore quality control technology. Furthermore, coalbed methane wells are apt to produce coal dust during dewatering and coal dust causes serious abrasion of pipe and rod. It's required to improve wellbore quality. This paper analyzes the weakness of current wellbore quality control standard and technology for coalbed methane wells on the basis of the characterization of coaled methane wells and finds out the key factors that control wellbore quality of coalbed methane deviated wells. The technology is developed to improve wellbore quality of coalbed methane wells from trajectory design and real-time control. Through the on-site test in Baode block, Shanxi Province, the technology is further improved and it's confirmed by the test result that this technology can improve the wellbore quality of coalbed methane deviated wells. In addition, this paper also presents some good suggestions for compiling standard about wellbore quality control for coalbed methane deviated wells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In recent years, with the advancement of exploitation for domestic tight gas reservoir, more and more attention has been paid to the borehole stability based on the quantitative prediction of ground stress. In this paper, related research has been made in a tight sandstone gas reservoir in eighth segment of Shihezi group (P1x) and first segment of Shanxi group (P1s) in Eastern Sulige of Inner Mongolia; limitation of application of Huang model in the area has been discussed on the basis of an in-depth analysis of the geological character according to the logging information, and a new optimized Newberry model has been obtained. By using this model, the horizontal ground stress of this region was quantitatively forecasted with minor error and the results prove that the Newberry model can perfectly fit the quantitative calculation of horizontal ground stress. In the meantime, according to borehole collapsed technique and the analysis of the trend of induced slot, the horizontal ground stress direction has been determined. The study shows that the maximum horizontal principal stress direction in eastern Sulige is close to east–west and the minimum horizontal principal stress direction is close to north–south. The elaborate research about the horizontal stress for the tight sandstone formation in eastern Sulige in this paper can meet the need of judgment of ground stress better in this area and it is of great significance to the safety of drilling of profitable reservoir in this area, reservoir fracturing and stimulating, and the safety of production in the subsequent process of development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Fluvial-eolian systems were identified in the Late Jurassic Tianchihe Formation. • The associations of eolian dune and eolian sandsheet indicate dry eolian system. • An evolving erg system occurred in the upper part of the Tianchihe Formation. • The vertical transition from fluvial to eolian systems suggest a drying trend. • The uplift of the East China Plateau resulted in the erg development. Abstract Eolian systems were widespread in China in the Cretaceous. However, the reports of pre-Cretaceous eolian and its related systems are scarce, which prohibits studying the construction, accumulation and preservation of eolian systems as well as its allogenic and autogenic controlling factors. In this paper, we report on fluvial–eolian successions from the Late Jurassic Tianchihe Formation in the Ningwu–Jingle Basin. These successions represent the oldest reported inland fluvial–eolian systems in China. Fourteen lithofacies types are recognized in the Tianchihe Formation and have been grouped into six facies associations, including meandering fluvial channel, levee and overbank in the lower part, and eolian sandsheet, eolian dune, ephemeral fluvial channel and floodplain in the upper part. The fluvial system comprises a series of wetting upward cycles, which indicate humid climate culminating in high precipitation and shallow water table level. Eolian dune deposits composed of grainflow, grainfall, wind ripple strata and pin stripe laminations currently implies that all deposits types are internally bounded by reactivation surface and superimposition surface, suggesting compound dunes or draas. Eolian sandsheet deposits consist dominantly of subcritical climbing translatent strata and pin stripe lamination. The association of eolian dune and eolian sandsheet is development of a dry eolian system. Twelve drying upward cycles mainly composed of eolian sandsheet–eolian dune successions and four wetting upward cycles consisting of eolian sandsheet/dune–ephemeral fluvial channel/floodplain successions occur in the eolian system. These repeated cycles likely reflect an evolving erg system directly controlled by sediment supply, sediment availability and relative water table. The vertical transition from fluvial to eolian systems indicate a local climatic oscillation from relatively humid to arid conditions, which may be related with the uplift of the East China Plateau in the Late Jurassic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Improving the eco-efficiency of the circular economy system in mining areas has been recognized as the most effective way to reduce the greenhouse effect and achieve sustainable development. Based on the emergy theory and on data envelopment analysis (DEA), this paper adopts the SBM-Undesirable model to evaluate the eco-efficiency of the circular economy system in China's largest coal mining area, Shanxi Province, during the period 2006–2015. Emergy flow indices are treated as input and output indices. Eco-efficiency is factorized into economic efficiency and environmental efficiency. The potential for improvement of the circular economy system is analyzed based on input redundancy and output deficiency. The results for the period 2006–2015 indicate the following: (1) both the input and the output of the circular system increase during this period; (2) the increased input relies on mostly imported emergy, and the increase in waste emergy is lower than the exported emergy; (3) eco-efficiency is invalid except for 2011 and 2012 and exhibits a decreasing trend beginning in 2013; (4) environmental efficiency is invalid over the entire period, and the eco-efficiency level is positively related to the economic efficiency score; and (5) the circular economy system has a larger energy saving space, and the key to achieving sustainability of the circular economy system is output growth. Highlights • We assess the circular economy system eco-efficiency of coal mining in China using emergy and DEA. • We decompose eco-efficiency as economic efficiency and environmental efficiency. • The circular economy system is an energy-intensive system with high input and output. • The eco-efficiency level is positively related to economic efficiency. • The circular economy system has huge potential to save energy and reduce emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Phase objective analysis for PM2.5 reduction relies on small sample prediction model. • Traditional models cannot be applied to small sample data sets. • We propose a new dynamics forecasting approach for small sample prediction. • The phase model for PM2.5 reduction combines dynamics forecasting approach and SVM. • The proposed model shows good performance in simulation. PM 2.5 concentration prediction is one of the atmospheric environmental issues of great concern to the public, and specifically the long-term PM 2.5 change prediction can provide scientific basis for the government's energy conservation and emission reduction and industrial structure adjustment policies in advance. This paper proposes a new dynamics forecasting approach suitable for small samples and the approach transforms the time series prediction into a dynamics system through the ordinary differential equation theory, which overcomes the limitation of traditional statistical methods on sample size. What is more important is that it not only includes the time series itself, but also uses prior information in the modeling process. Based on the dynamics forecasting approach, the phase objectives analysis model for PM 2.5 reduction is constructed. The simulation experiment takes 11 prefecture level cities in Shanxi Province as research sites, and uses the annual PM 2.5 concentration from 2014 to 2018 to verify whether the proposed model can significantly improve the fitting accuracy compared with the single SVM. The experimental results show that the MAE (mean absolute error) of Taiyuan site is reduced by 73.24 % from 1.6030 of SVM model to 0.4290 of our proposed method. Similar conclusions can be obtained from other data sets, which considerably demonstrates the better generalization ability of the proposed model. In addition, this paper presents the forecast results of annual PM 2.5 concentration in different PGDP (energy consumption per unit of GDP) scenarios from 2019 to 2023, and analyzes the impact of PGDP reduction on PM 2.5 concentration. Among the three scenarios, the PM 2.5 reduction is the most significant in the scenario of PGDP with 10 % decrease. We would argue that a larger PGDP reduction might lead to a greater PM 2.5 reduction. Therefore, PGDP can be used as the basis for the Chinese authorities to tailor strategies to reduce PM 2.5 concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abandoned coal tunnels (ACTs) pose risks to coal mine safety by accumulating gas and water, causing surface subsidence, and endangering infrastructure. Accurate detection of ACTs is vital for advanced prediction and geotechnical hazard warnings. Seismic methods, particularly the surface-wave method, have demonstrated reliability in detecting shallow buried tunnels within complex geological environments, but improvements in accuracy and resolution are still needed. In this paper, we suggest utilizing the multiscale window analysis of surface waves (MWASW) method for ACT surveys. We conduct a synthetic test and a real-world case study to evaluate the feasibility and validity of this approach. The synthetic test on a 2D ACT model reveals that MWASW can reconstruct anomalous structures and identify the presence of an ACT, while also highlighting some limitations of the method. In a real-world scenario, we applied MWASW to a multi-survey line dataset from a coal mine in Shanxi Province, China. The resulting meter-scale resolution pseudo-3D S-wave velocity structure uncovers a primary ACT and two sub-ACTs buried at approximately 60 m, offering valuable insights into their morphology and orientation. To our knowledge, this is the first application of the MWASW method in such a case study, indicating its potential as an emerging alternative for characterizing complex near-surface media, such as abandoned coal tunnels or mined-out areas in coal fields. • Detect coal tunnels using spatial multiscale dispersion analysis method. • Directly reveal 2D S-wave velocity profiles with high resolution and accuracy. • Reconstruct a pseudo-3D structure model in field case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study mainly focuses on extraordinarily severe gas explosion accidents (ESGEAs) in Chinese coal mines. • Disorganized ventilation fan management and illegal blasting were the most prominent causes of ESGEAs. • ESGEAs are linked with the operating locations, occurrence time, regions and ownership of the coal mines. Extraordinarily severe gas explosion accidents (ESGEAs) (thirty fatalities or more in one accident) have a high occurrence frequency in Chinese coal mines. There are 126 ESGEAs that occurred in China from 1950 to 2015, and they were investigated through statistical methods in this study to review the overall circumstances and to provide quantitative information on ESGEAs. Statistical characteristics about accident-related factors, such as gas accumulation, ignition sources, operating locations, accident time, coal mine regions and coal mine ownership, were assessed in this paper. The statistical analysis shows that disorganized ventilation fan management was the most frequent cause of gas accumulation in ESGEAs, while illegal blasting was the most prominent cause of the ignition source in ESGEAs. Furthermore, ESGEAs were found to occur frequently in certain provinces (e.g., Shanxi, Henan and Heilongjiang) and during November and December of the year. Moreover, most accidents and the largest death tolls generally occur in state-owned coal mines. Based on the results of statistical studies, some countermeasures were proposed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loess is a product of aeolian deposition during Quaternary glaciation cycles. Loess–paleosol sequences are rich in calcareous nodules (CNs). In the literature, two models are widely cited for the formation of CNs, namely “per descendum” and “per ascendum”. However, there has been no direct testing or monitoring to support either of these contradictory models. This paper reviews a large number of multidisciplinary literature to evaluate the consistency, reliability and rationality of these two models. Three main conclusions are drawn: (1) the causative factors (variation of pH value along loess–paleosol sequence, decrease of CO 2 partial pressure, and reduction of solvent water) that are used to support the per descendum model do not completely explain the supersaturation of infiltration solution with CaCO 3 , thereby making this model questionable; (2) the per ascendum model explains the formation of CNs along narrow horizons through upward evaporation; however, it fails to produce sporadic distributions and irregular shapes of nodules on loess slope faces and the frequent appearance of nodules around plant roots. In order to reconcile these deficiencies, we conducted an extensive field survey in various parts of Shanxi province. Based on this new set of observations, it was concluded that the “per ascendum” model can be extended to explain all occurrences of CNs. This extended model is called “per evapotranspiration”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the first report of sauropod tracks from the Upper Jurassic of Shanxi Province, China. Dinosaur tracks appear concentrated in five trackways, in different stratigraphic levels of the Late Jurassic Tianchihe Formation. Tracks are dominantly small and medium-size sauropod tracks and are tentatively assigned to Brontopodus based on preserved track morphology, trackway pattern and statistical analysis. The Tianchihe Formation in which the tracks appear shows a gradual change from meandering fluvial to sandy braided fluvial depositional systems developed in a seasonally arid environment. Comparisons of the evaluated speed of bipedal to quadruped trackways indicate that the slower walk more easily produces pes-dominated overprints. Trackways in the Guxian tracksite appear following different orientations, suggesting that these trackways were produced by different sauropods at different times. An unusual trackway following a curved pattern has been identified in the site and could represent a special locomotion character or a social behavior. The presence of eolian deposits in central Shanxi Province could have acted as a paleogeographic and paleoenvironmental barrier for the dispersion of the Yanliao Biota that survived in northern Hebei-western Liaoning and northestern Shanxi Province to the Ordos Basin during the Late Jurassic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a critical element, lithium plays an important role in a wide range of modern industries and in particular, battery storage and new energy technologies. Lithium in coal has attracted much attention in recent years because some coals are highly enriched in this element and consequently their corresponding coal combustion products may provide anm alternative source for this element. Previous studies showed that highly enriched Li in coals is generally associated with chlorite group minerals and in most cases attributed to the action of hydrothermal solutions. This paper provides mineralogical and geochemical data on the No. 9 Coal, the major minable coal from the Antaibao Surface Mine, Ningwu Coalfield, Shanxi Province, northern China, and focuses on the modes of occurrence and source of Li in this coal. The No. 9 Coal is a medium ash, medium sulfur, high volatile bituminous coal. The mineralogy of the No. 9 Coal is dominated by kaolinite, calcite, and pyrite, with minor amounts of anatase, rutile, goyazite, quartz, illite, boehmite, and bassanite, and traces of orthoclase, zircon and galena. The studied coal samples are characterized by high contents of Al 2 O 3 (39.80% on average) in comparison with average Chinese coals, and high concentrations of Li, Ga, Se, Zr, Nb, Ta and Th compared with world hard coals. In addition to Li and Al, the critical elements Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf, and Ga in this coal also have a potential economic significance. The geochemical indicators (high Al 2 O 3 /TiO 2 , low Nb/Yb ratios and the specific rare earth element distribution patterns) and the mineral compositions (e.g., very low content of boehmite) indicate that the mineral matter in most coal benches and host rocks is dominantly derived from the Precambrian calc-alkaline granites of the Yinshan and northern Trans North China Orogens, and possibly from the bauxite of the Benxi Formation. Additionally, the geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of the intra-seam partings and some coal benches (quartz-free, kaolinite-dominated mineralogy, high Al 2 O 3 /TiO 2 and Nb/Yb values) indicate that they were derived from an alkaline intermediate-felsic volcanic source. The highly enriched Li in the studied samples mainly occurs in kaolinite and is attributed to the input of material from sediment-source regions, rather than hydrothermal fluids. In addition, interaction of terrestrial and marine waters may have promoted the Li enrichment process in the partings. • Critical elements including Li, Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf, and Ga are enriched in the coal. • Mineral matter in coal was derived from the Precambrian granites and alkaline pyroclastics. • Lithium in the coal mainly occurs in kaolinite and was derived from sediment-source regions. • The partings in the coal seam were identified as intra-seam tonsteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, the lack of Li resources is in stark contrast to a large amount of coal gangue produced by coal mining. To determine the distribution patterns and existing status of lithium (Li) elements in the coal gangue, the mineralogical and geochemical analysis were formed on samples of the roof, floor, and parting of No. 02, 2, 8, and 9 coal seams, being mined in Malan mine, Xishan coalfield, Shanxi Province. The results show that the lithium content in this study area is relatively enriched, the highest content is 499 μg/g in sample 02-G, and the average content is 109.8 μg/g, which is two times that of the world average value of claystone (45 μg/g). XRD analysis shows that the mineral composition of parting samples is mainly clay mineral kaolinite, while the coal seam roof and floor samples also include quartz and some iron-bearing minerals, such as pyrite and siderite. Likewise, possible lithium-rich mineral phases and possible lithium-rich factors were investigated in this paper. A comprehensive clay separation experiment and correlation analysis between lithium and major elements indicate that lithium is likely to exist in the clay mineral kaolinite in the study area. It is also found that the content of Li adsorbed by cryptocrystalline kaolinite is generally higher than that of crystalline kaolinite. According to the mechanism of Li+ adsorption in clay minerals, the higher lithium content of cryptocrystalline kaolinite is due to its larger specific surface area, which can adsorb more lithium on the surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplementary irrigation area in north China is an important agricultural production area, but water shortages have limited the agricultural production considerably. Irrigation is required to ensure crop yield during growth seasons with variable rainfall. Most irrigation schedules are based on typical meteorological years. However, it is very difficult to predict the meteorological information of irrigation year in advance, which limits the planning of irrigation schedules. Therefore, taking the central part of Shanxi Province (supplementary irrigation area) as an example, this study focuses on the optimal irrigation decision-making method of supplementary irrigation area. The irrigation schedule of summer maize from 1970 to 2020 was firstly optimized by using DSSAT model and genetic algorithm. On this basis, a decision-making method based on the ratio of cumulative rainfall to cumulative ETc between plantation date to the current date to determine the irrigation time is developed. The results indicated that using P/ETc (the ratio of cumulative rainfall to cumulative crop water requirement) as the criterion leads to superior decision-making. Two supplementary irrigation events can meet the growth demand of summer maize. Irrigation events decisions were made on days 44 and 58 after summer maize sowing, the accuracy of this method for two irrigation events decisions is 82.35 % and 86.27 %, respectively, and the average accuracy of the two irrigation event decisions was 84.31 %. At the same time, a support vector machine algorithm is used to make decisions about irrigation, comparing the decision accuracy with the results of the decision method proposed in this paper. The accuracy of the support vector machine decisions for the first and second irrigation events was 82.35 % and 80.40 %, respectively, and the average accuracy of the two irrigation event decisions was 81.40 %. The decision model was also superior to that involving support vector machine algorithms for the irrigation decision of summer maize can be used for irrigation decision-making in similar supplementary irrigation areas with variable rainfall. • Genetic algorithm and the DSSAT can effectively optimize the irrigation schedule. • Rainfall/ETc can be used as a criterion to determine the irrigation schedule. • The irrigation decision method is more effective than the SVM algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In this study, data mining was employed to identify people at risk of COPD based on questionnaire. • The prediction model does not require complex clinical parameters, which could be a useful tool in early COPD-assisted diagnosis. • Given that few studies used a variety of advanced machine learning algorithms for COPD pre-screening based on questionnaire, we applied them to detect the model that best fits our data. Since the early symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are not obvious, patients are not easily identified, causing improper time for prevention and treatment. In present study, machine learning (ML) methods were employed to construct a risk prediction model for COPD to improve its prediction efficiency. We collected data from a sample of 5807 cases with a complete COPD diagnosis from the 2019 COPD Surveillance Program in Shanxi Province and extracted 34 potentially relevant variables from the dataset. Firstly, we used feature selection methods (i.e., Generalized elastic net, Lasso and Adaptive lasso) to select ten variables. Afterwards, we employed supervised classifiers for class imbalanced data by combining the cost-sensitive learning and SMOTE resampling methods with the ML methods (Logistic Regression, SVM, Random Forest, XGBoost, LightGBM, NGBoost and Stacking), respectively. Last, we assessed their performance. The cough frequently at age 14 and before and other 9 variables are significant parameters for COPD. The Stacking heterogeneous ensemble model showed relatively good performance in the unbalanced datasets. The Logistic Regression with class weighting enjoyed the best classification performance in the balancing data when these composite indicators (AUC, F1-Score and G-mean) were used as criteria for model comparison. The values of F1-Score and G-mean for the top three ML models were 0.290/0.660 for Logistic Regression with class weighting, 0.288/0.649 for Stacking with synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE), and 0.285/0.648 for LightGBM with SMOTE. This paper combining feature selection methods, unbalanced data processing methods and machine learning methods with data from disease surveillance questionnaires and physical measurements to identify people at risk of COPD, concluded that machine learning models based on survey questionnaires could provide an automated identification for patients at risk of COPD, and provide a simple and scientific aid for early identification of COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An integrated optimization of configuration and operation strategy is established. • Applying genetic algorithm to find the optimal output of each facility. • The reasons for the parameters affecting system performance are analyzed. • The performance of CCHP system is optimal when production matches demand. In this paper, a comprehensive method is proposed to synergistically optimize the configuration and operation strategy of combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) systems, considering configuration and strategy interact with each other. The mathematical model is established based on the energy flow and the energy balance relationship of CCHP system and traditional separate (SP) system with multi-objective evaluation criterion. The optimization based on an industrial park in Shanxi is carried out to find the optimal configuration and corresponding strategy. The results show that the optimized CCHP system outperforms the SP system in cost saving, energy consumption saving and CO 2 emission reduction with the saving ratio of 17.37%, 33.72% and 55.76% respectively throughout the year. An analysis of the factors that affect the performance of CCHP systems is adopted in terms of: (1) price of electricity and gas; (2) the ratio of thermal load to waste heat; and (3) load rate of gas turbine. This paper may provide some new ideas for the optimization and performance improvement of CCHP systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of rural settlements moving and relocation for coal mining and rural settlements expansion for new village construction, the rural settlements have been dramatically changed in the mixed mining-rural-settlement area of the Pinglu District of Shuozhou City in northern Shanxi Province of China. There are few studies that assess the characteristics and reasons of rural settlement changes in this compound area. This paper used satellite data and secondary data information on social and economic development in a mixed-method case study to analyze the characteristics and reasons of rural settlement changes in Pinglu District of Shuozhou City in northern Shanxi Province of China over the period 1986–2013. Three significant research findings were: (1) There were notable changes in the distribution of the rural settlements, and the total area of rural settlements increased by 1862.28 ha between 1986 and 2013, with the transformation of cultivated land to rural settlements being the most dominant change in land use. (2) The rural settlements increased with buffer radius increased up to 6–8 km which has become the standard boundary for rural settlement distribution. (3) The influential factors that have been identified for rural settlement changes included avoiding impacts due to coal mining, an urgency to build simple houses for the compensation, the relocation of farmers, the construction of new villages and land reclamation of abandoned rural settlements. These findings are useful for resource-based rural settlement management, providing reasonable compensation and relocation options when acquiring land in mining areas both within and beyond the study area in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An optimized workflow for monitoring mineral resource was provided based on UAV oblique photogrammetry. • An object-level change detection method was proposed to improve the accuracy of change detection in open-pit mines. • The effects of data matching accuracy, illumination and terrain depression on mine change detection were eliminated. • The extent of the cavity in sag open pit mines was obtained by vertical interpolation, allowing the mined volumes to be calculated. The dynamic monitoring of mineral reserves for open pit mine by oblique photogrammetry is challenged by data-matching accuracy, illumination and terrain depression. In this paper, an object-level change detection method based on neighborhood windows is proposed to improve the accuracy of change detection in open pit mines. On this basis, a mining volume calculation method that considers mine type is established to solve the problem of lack of volume calculation caused by the depression of the mined terrain. A case study of eight open pit mines in the Shanxi Province indicated that the Precision (correctness), Recall (completeness) and F1-score for change detection were up to 92.38%, 87.22% and 89.73%, respectively. The relative errors in the calculated mined volume were between 0.38% and 0.77%. Our study provides the basis for creating an automated, highly robust workflows suited for monitoring mineral resource using 3D models acquired from UAV oblique photogrammetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an integrated approach for theoretical analysis and numerical modeling to investigate the ground response mechanism of entries and control methods induced by hard roof in longwall top coal caving panel (LTCC). The test site is located in the city of Jinzhong, Shanxi Province, China. A roof mechanical model for the main roof's different breaking positions was created to study the ground response mechanism of gob-side entries. The theoretical analysis indicated that the closer the main roof fracture line is to the gob, the smaller the lateral cantilever length of the main roof above the gob, and the surrounding rock of the roadway are more stable. Therefore, an innovative approach is proposed t to reduce the lateral cantilever length of the main roof above the gob area and automatically retain entry. This approach involves applying the "directional roof split blasting technique for pressure relief and automatic retained entry" (DRSBPRRE) in the thick coal seam of the LTCC panel. Meanwhile, numerical modeling results verified the results of the theoretical analysis. The results of the numerical simulation and practical application suggest that the DRSBPRRE approach can eliminate the cantilever length of the main roof, significantly reduce the peak vertical stress in the solid coal rib by approximately 13.76 % and reduce the surrounding rock damage and deformation. Therefore, the DRSBPRRE approach is a safe and efficient mining method for pressure relief and entry retention. This research could provide an important reference for thick coal seam LTCC panel non-pillar coal mining technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T he geological transparency of working face is the premise and guarantee to realize the intelligent and accurate mining for coal resources. A large number of gas drainage holes, water exploration holes and other boreholes are constructed before and during coal mining. In this paper, the borehole radar (BHR) is used to detect the coal bedding interface in boreholes along the coal seam. With gprMax, we analyze the conditions of the top and bottom interface of coal bedding with 100 MHz and 200 MHz BHR at an dip angle of 0°;analyze the response characteristics of the 200 MHz BHR when the dip angle is 15°, 30°, 45°, and 60°;analyze the influencing characteristics of roadways and bolts during BHR detection.Practical applications are carried out.The result shows that 1) when the borehole inclination is 0°, to distinguish the reflected wave of roof from that of floor, for 100 MHz borehole radar, ΔD needs to be greater than 1 m, and for 200 MHz borehole, it needs to be greater than 0.5 m. 2)When the drilling inclination angle is not 0°, the reflection profile of the top and bottom interface will have a cross feature, and the greater the dip angle, the greater the crossing angle. 3) BHR multiples in boreholes along coal seam have nothing to do with borehole position and inclination angle, but are related to dominant frequency of BHR;4)The change of aperture mainly affects the in-phase axis shape of direct wave. 5)the roadways and bolts have an impact on the detection of coal -rock interface.6)The position of roadway reflection event axis is only related to the nature of coal seam. Therefore, the electromagnetic wave velocity of the coal seam can be calculated by calculating the slope of the event axis. The actual detection of coal seam thickness of about 3 m using 200 MHz in a mine in Shanxi province shows that the electromagnetic wave propagation speed in the coal seam in this area is 0.1342 m/ns. With the proposed processing method,the accuracy of BHR results is high, the error is within 0.5 m.Combined with the borehole trajectory, the BHR can provide accurate coal seam interface position information for the transparent working face. • BHR can be used to detect coal formation interface, combined with borehole trajectory, it provides the interface information for transparent working face. • The response characteristics of coal formation interface detected by BHR in horizontal wells in coal mine is quite different from BHR detect in ground vertical hole. • The electromagnetic wave velocity of coal seam can be calculated by using the reflected wave of tunnel. • The migration imaging method of coal seam roof and floor is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The PV potential in coal mining subsidence areas of Yangquan City was evaluated. • Effects of different deformation thresholds on the PV potential has been discussed. • The PV power potential in subsidence area can meet 30% of the electricity demand. • The LCOE considering the land price of the subsidence area is RMB 0.3934/kWh. Accurately assessing the photovoltaic (PV) power generation potential in coal mining subsiding regions is of great significance for the transformation of a resource-based city and the goal of carbon neutrality. In this paper, we proposed an assessment method for the PV power potential in coal mining subsidence areas. Both the environmental factors and ground deformation by interferometric synthetic aperture radar were fully considered. Furthermore, the levelized cost of PV electricity in subsidence areas and the benefits were predicted. Yangquan City, Shanxi province was selected as a study case. Results show that the optimal areas for PV power generation under the three-deformation rate ranges of (−40, −10), (−50, −10), and (−60, −10) mm/year in the Yangquan subsidence area are 32.13, 37.89 and 41.22 km2, respectively. The selected optimal PV construction regions agree well with the exiting PV facilities, indicating the effectiveness of the proposed method. The levelized cost of energy is estimated at 0.3934 RMB/kWh. The annual power generation can meet about 33 % of the electricity demand of Yangquan City. This work would guide the construction of PV power generation facilities in the coal mining subsidence areas for the transformation and upgrading of the mineral resource-based cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is crucial to understand corporate preferences in designing and planning new market-based instruments. Using the method of conjoint analysis, this paper evaluates corporate preferences for policy alternatives of the sectoral crediting mechanism aiming at supporting its discussions and development. Data were collected from 94 companies in all 11 prefecture-level cities of Shanxi province, China. The results confirm that companies are most concerned about three policy attributes; domestic policy instruments, the relationship with the clean developing mechanism, and the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities. From the viewpoint of the Chinese businesses surveyed, the ideal policy alternative has a domestic policy instrument in which installations with voluntary targets receive tradable units, while co-existing with the clean developing mechanism, and providing opportunities to get financial and technical assistance from developed countries. Meanwhile, the coverage of the sectoral crediting mechanism could be expanded to small companies that are the most inefficient and thus have the lowest abatement costs in some sectors. The results of this study are important in light of ongoing discussions and developments of the sectoral crediting mechanism in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reconstruct the paleoclimatic conditions of the Late Carboniferous-Early Permian coal-accumulation period in the Datong Basin, this paper analyzes the mineralogical characteristics of coal-bearing strata claystone in the Dongzhouyao mine of the Datong Basin and the stable isotope data of the kaolinite minerals isolated after clay separation. The δD (−80 to −105‰) and δ18O (13.9 to 16.3‰) values of the Late Carboniferous-Early Permian kaolinite are close to the kaolinite line, suggesting that these kaolinites formed by surface weathering before sedimentation. The calculated paleotemperatures during kaolinite formation in the upper Benxi Formation (Fm.), Taiyuan Fm., and the lower Shanxi Fm. are about 29.1 °C, 26.8 °C, and 25.7 °C, respectively. These temperatures suggest that kaolinites formed under warm-temperate to tropical conditions. In addition, according to the trend of gradually decreasing paleotemperature during kaolinization from the upper Benxi Fm. to the lower Shanxi Fm. and combined with previous studies, we inferred that the change of temperature in the study area was caused by the gradual northward movement of the North China Craton (NCC) during the Late Paleozoic Ice Age (LPIA). Meanwhile, as the plate drifts to higher latitudes, the water interacted with kaolinite gradually changes from heavy water (D 2 18O) to light water (H 2 16O), leading to differences in the H and O isotopic compositions of kaolinite in different periods. • H and O isotopic composition of kaolinite in LPIA claystones of the Datong Basin. • Kaolinite formed under warm-temperate to tropical surface weathering conditions. • During the Late Paleozoic, the temperature during kaolinization is gradually decreasing. • Ultimate control was the northward movement of the NCC during the LPIA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a representative of the process industry, the cement industry consumes a large amount of coal and electricity resources. This is mainly due to the irrational energy scheduling caused by the rough production and independent statistics of each energy consumption indicator within the cement industry. The synchronous accurate prediction of energy consumption can provide a more resultful scheme for the production control process and energy scheduling. However, due to the time delay, variables coupling, and uncertainty of production, it is difficult to synchronously forecast multiple indicators. In this paper, a data-driven prediction method combining Sliding Window and Dual-Channel Convolutional Neural Network (SWDC-CNN) is proposed to achieve synchronous prediction of coal and electricity consumption in the next 5 min. The sliding window method is designed to extract time-varying delay characteristics of time series data to overcome its influence on energy consumption prediction. The effect of redundant parameters between weakly correlated variables on energy prediction is reduced by designing a dual-channel structure. We experimented and compared with excellent models Support Vector Machine (SVM), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), Long Short Term Memory (LSTM), and Gate Recurrent Unit (GRU) on an actual cement production data in Shanxi Province, China. Experimental results show that the proposed SWDC-CNN model has good performance, the highest prediction accuracy, and can meet the expected requirements. • A synchronous energy consumption prediction model consisting of sliding window and dual-channel CNN is proposed. • Design a sliding window to construct a high-dimensional time series matrix containing time-varying delay features. • Dual-channel convolutional neural network is designed to solve the problem of parameter redundancy. • The model can accurately predict coal and electricity consumption of cement clinker calcination process simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feiyun Pavilion is located in Shanxi Province, China. It is a classic example of ancient wooden pavilions and one of the primary national cultural assets, which was rebuilt more than 500 years ago. During recent years, the structural deterioration and degeneration of Feiyun Pavilion have accelerated due to inefficiencies in maintenance and management. The main structure is apparently off-plumb and in danger of collapse. With special financial required, the state Administration of Cultural Heritage asked the local Cultural Relic Protection Unit to contact historians, researchers, and engineers to restore this particular ancient structure. This paper presents the necessary assessment data, evaluation method, and the preferred solution for retrofitting and strengthening this historical timber building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critical elements in coal have attracted much attention in recent years as some coals and coal combustion products may provide an alternative source of these. This paper provides mineralogical and geochemical data on the No. 4 coal seam, the major minable coal from the Eastern Surface Mine, Ningwu Coalfield, Shanxi Province, northern China. It also discusses the provenance of mineral matter, the origin of aluminum minerals (boehmite), carbonates (calcite and ankerite) and phosphates (goyazite) and the potential economic significance of critical elements (e.g., Al, Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf, and Ga). Mineralogically, the studied coal samples are characterized by high kaolinite (64.7% on average, low-temperature ash basis) and boehmite (24.1%) contents, followed by carbonates (calcite, ankerite, siderite, and dolomite), titanium oxides (anatase and rutile), goyazite, quartz, and apatite. In comparison with average values for Chinese coals, the studied coal samples are characterized by high Al 2 O 3 contents (mean 11.82% on a whole-coal basis and mean 49.49% on an ash basis). Compared with world hard coals, the No. 4 Coal is enriched in Ga, Se, Zr, Nb, La, Ce, Hf, Ta and Pb. In addition to Al, critical elements including Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf, and Ga in this coal have an economic significance. The Al 2 O 3 /TiO 2 vs. Nb/TiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 /TiO 2 vs. Zr/TiO 2 , Zr vs. Nb, Hf vs. Ta, and REY distribution patterns (REY, rare earth elements plus Y), indicate that the provenance of mineral matter (e.g., boehmite and critical elements Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf and Ga) in the No. 4 Coal is a number of sediment-source regions including the Neoarchean granites of the Yinshan Oldland, and the Paleoproterozoic granites and Benxi Formation bauxites (Late Carboniferous, to the northeast of the coal basin) of the northern Trans North China Orogen. Carbonate minerals (calcite and ankerite) are of epigenetic origin while the phosphate mineral (goyazite) was syngenetically deposited in the peat swamp during a period of a low water table. • The coal investigated is highly enriched in boehmite (24.1% on average, ash basis). • Elements Al, Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf, and Ga in the coal have an economic significance. • Mineral matter in the coal was dominantly derived from the Precambrian granites. • The boehmite was largely derived from the bauxite of the Benxi Formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article evaluated the urban land use efficiency (ULUE) of 57 cities in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) from 2005 to 2017 with the super epsilon based measure (Super-EBM) model, analyzed its difference characteristics and evolution trend by using the Theil index and kernel density function, revealed its spatial correlation by Moran index and LISA clustering, and also explored its influencing factors by the Tobit model. The results show that the ULUE of the YRB first declined and then increased, with the highest in the upstream areas, followed by the downstream areas, while the lowest in the middle reaches of the YRB. The ULUE in the YRB presented the characteristics of continuous distribution, and the ULUE in the cities south of the Yellow River was significantly higher than that in the cities north of the Yellow River. Secondly, the imbalance of ULUE in the YRB was aggravated, and the difference between groups was small while the difference within the group was absolutely dominant. The imbalance of ULUE in the midstream areas of the YRB dominated the whole basin. Thirdly, the ULUE of the YRB had a significant spatial correlation. In 2017, the local spatial correlation was mainly low-low aggregation, and the clustering area was concentrated in resource-based cities in Shanxi Province. Finally, the impact of economic development on ULUE in the YRB presented a "U" curve relationship. The proportion of secondary industry, population density, introduction of foreign capital, innovation level and traffic facilities can significantly promote the ULUE in the Basin, while land urbanization and environmental regulation had a negative impact on the ULUE of the YRB. This paper is important to realize the intensive use of urban land and achieve high-quality development in the YRB. • The urban land use efficiency, its spatial-temporal features and influencing factors of the Yellow River Basin were analysed. • The urban land use efficiency of the Yellow River Basin first declined and then increased during 2005–2017. • The urban land use efficiency had a significant spatial correlation and mainly low-low aggregation in 2017. • The economic development level had a "U" shaped impact on the urban land use efficiency. • Population density, foreign capital, innovation level and traffic facilities positively affect urban land use efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The site selection issue of underground pumped storage power stations is studied. • An innovative and comprehensive site selection criteria system is established. • A two-stage site selection decision-making framework is constructed. • The decision-making process is based on triangular intuitionistic fuzzy numbers. • The rationality of decision-making model is verified by an actual case in Datong. With the continued transformation of the energy structure, more and more coal mines have been abandoned. The construction of underground pumped storage power stations using abandoned coal mines not only solves the problem of renovating abandoned coal mines, but also ensures a high level of photovoltaic and wind integration. However, the most basic site selection problem of underground pumped storage power plants using waste coal mines has rarely been studied due to the complexity of the technical scheme and the uncertainty of the decision environment. Therefore, a two-stage fuzzy evaluation model is proposed in this paper. Firstly, two sets of site selection index systems are established, namely the veto assessment system and the comprehensive evaluation criteria system. Triangular intuitionistic fuzzy numbers are used for information representation. Then, the veto assessment system is applied for the initial screening of the alternatives. Afterward, the alternatives are evaluated by the comprehensive evaluation criteria system. The entropy method and step-wise weight assessment ratio analysis are utilized to calculate the objective and subjective weights respectively, and the Lagrange optimization method is used to obtain the combined weights. The sorting results of the alternatives are obtained through multi-attributive border approximation area comparison. Finally, an empirical analysis based on eight abandoned coal mines in Datong, Shanxi Province, proves the rationality of the decision-making framework. The weights of natural condition, society, resources, and economy are 29.52%, 23.83%, 28.42% and 18.23% respectively. Natural condition is the most important factor to consider when choosing the site for underground pumped storage power stations. The ranking results of the alternatives is A 5 > A 2 > A 3 > A 8 > A 7. Therefore, A 5 is the optimal location. The results have a guiding role for both governments and investors in the construction of underground pumped storage power stations and transformation of abandoned coal mines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emissions trading system (ETS) is a cost-effective way towards achieving the carbon neutrality goal. Based on the gaps in the research on carbon allowance allocation vis-à-vis the carbon neutrality target, this study examines how to allocate carbon allowances equitably and effectively among Chinese provinces. Different from the previous research that mainly considers responsibility, ability, and potential of equity dimensions, this paper proposes a composite indicator allocation approach based on the equity of history, demand, contribution, and guarantee, and it also employs the entropy method and expert survey method to obtain the indicator weight values in different scenarios. Results show that the carbon allowances of some provinces, such as the forest-rich province of Yunnan, vary significantly in five scenarios, but little differences are observed for some provinces, such as the high historical emissions province of Shanxi. More provinces achieve data envelopment analysis efficiency in the preferred scenario. Compared with the objective scenario, the required emission reduction in the preferred gross domestic product (GDP) scenario is 231 million tonnes less, and the emission reduction cost is 190 billion yuan less. It is suggested that the Chinese government should adopt the allocation scheme in preference for the GDP scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is the core to design a cross-regional ecological compensation standard of cultivated land for promoting its marketization. Unfortunately, there are some defects in the existing ecological compensation model of cultivated land. For its sustainability, this study established a theoretical model of cross-regional ecological compensation of cultivated land, focused on estimating its ecological compensation price and then analyzed the temporal and spatial changes of its ecological compensation amount in Shanxi province. We found that the model designed in our paper had a lot of credibility, and it could better identify the ecological payment and acceptance areas of cultivated land. Moreover, the ecological payment areas were generally distributed in the Fenhe valley and surrounding intermountain basins, while the ecological acceptance areas were mainly along with the Lvliang mountains and the surrounding hilly mountainous. It also noted that the cultivated land's compensation price showed an upward trend with time, and presented a five-region distribution of "three highs and two lows". Furthermore, the average compensation price in the non-demonstration was greater than that in demonstration counties of Sloping Land Conversion Program (SLCP) and the average compensation price in ecological payment areas was also greater than that in ecological acceptance areas. It would promote the ecological compensation marketization of cultivated land with the help of regional differences in ecological compensation prices. These findings are highly valuable for the government coordinating the relationship between agricultural production and cultivated land protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy crisis is a major challenge to sustainable development. Governments therefore constantly seek ways to improve energy conservation. In this paper, our goal was to promote energy conservation and simultaneously increase employment. First, based on China's current regional energy conservation model, social energy costs and employment factors are comprehensively considered to construct an inter-provincial cooperative energy conservation model, the minimal core method is used to construct a cooperative interprovincial benefit-distribution model. Second, representative regions of China (Beijing, Shanghai, Shanxi, and Sichuan) were selected to demonstrate the model in an empirical analysis of cooperative provincial energy conservation. It was found that the total employment in Beijing, Shanghai, Shanxi, and Sichuan can be increased by 9.84 × 106 persons, and the total social energy cost can be decreased by US$59.22 × 106. The cooperative benefit distribution model can increase the total benefit by US$65.28 × 106. Finally, to verify the robustness and feasibility of the model, the sensitivity of the model to these changes is analyzed by changing the parameter values, and it was found that the model was both robust and feasible. The research results provide a new way to improve China's current energy conservation model. • The inter-provincial cooperation model for employment and social energy costs (i.e. bi-objective model). • Constructs a social energy cost function. • Considers energy structure factors. • Uses the minimal core method for benefit distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land-use pattern evolution is vital and essential for regional development. In northern China, hilly mountainous areas are widespread and have frequent mining activities. Analyze of the land-use evolutionary rule is a major barrier for making urban planning and identification suitable for various land-use types in these regions. This study has attempted from the perspective of Earth system science, using the FLUS model to simulate land-use pattern evolution in the stages of 2010‐2017 (test) and 2017–2025 (simulation) in Jincheng, Shanxi Province. The results show that (1) at the test stage, the FLUS model can better simulate the change in land-use types. The AUC value of all land-use types was greater than 0.8. Comparing the simulation results with the real land-use pattern in 2017, the global kappa value is 0.75, and the fom value is 0.43, which can be used for the forecast demand. (2) At the simulation stage, comprehensively considering natural, social, and economic factors, the land-use patterns are found to be spatially competitive in different scenarios. The planning scenario (PS) focused on the reasonable distribution of various industries, the ecological protection scenario (EPS) emphasized the importance of ecological land, and the sustainable development scenario (SDS) satisfied the needs of the socioeconomic system for various land-use types. (3) In general, analysis of land-use types change under the 3 different scenarios in the 15 years: the mountainous areas in the east and west were changed from grassland to forest, and the hilly and plain areas in the central part changed from farmland to forest. • The Simulation of land-use pattern evolution in hilly mountainous areas of North China were analysed by FLUS model. • Changes in land-use conflict levels in the mineral activity area were predicted. • This paper developed predictions of overall LUCC based on PS, EPS, and SDS. • The main changes in both 3 scenarios from 2010 to 2025 are farmland and grassland to forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Intra-cratonic basins are characterized by stable tectonic regimes, closed depositional systems, finite sizes of receiving basins and extremely low morphological gradients. This paper examines the effect of sediment accumulation on the sequence stratigraphic architecture and quantitatively evaluates its controls on the development of intra-cratonic sedimentary sequences using numerical modelling. A well documented intra-cratonic sedimentary sequence, the Lower Permian Shanxi Formation in the Ordos Basin, northern China, was used to illustrate a sequence stratigraphic model developed for intra-cratonic sedimentary basins. The studied sequence is characterized by a typical backstepping or source-ward retrogradation. A 2-D simulation software (SEDPAK) and a 3-D simulation software (SEDSIM) were used to model the intra-cratonic sequence. The modelling results indicated that sediment accumulation alone can produce the classical retrogradational stratigraphic stacking patterns. The sediment accumulation can (1) increase the retrogradational range of the original retrogradational stacking sequences, (2) change an original aggradational stacking sequence to a retrogradational stacking one, and (3) decrease the progradational range of an original progradational stacking sequence, or (4) even change an original progradational stacking sequence to a retrogradational stacking sequence. Understanding the relationship between the sediment accumulation and the stratigraphic development in an intra-cratonic basin is essential for interpreting the sequence stratigraphic framework and stacking patterns, and for predicting the distribution of potential reservoir sand-bodies within such basins. This work enriches the classic sequence stratigraphic models by providing a new model for intra-continental basins, and offers new insight on hydrocarbon exploration in intra-cratonic basins. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Efforts to control aeolian desertification in China have focused on the arid and semiarid regions. However, the direct dust emission rates, sediment characteristics and local-scale controls, as well as the measures needed to combat desertification, remain poorly understood in northwest Shanxi Province. Aeolian desertification is regarded as an obstacle to local sustainable socioeconomic development. This paper investigated changes in aeolian desertification between 1975 and 2010 on the northwestern Shanxi Plateau. In this study, remote sensing images were used to classify land suffering from aeolian desertification into four categories: light, moderate, severe, and extremely severe. To evaluate the evolution and status of aeolian desertification as well as its causes, we interpreted and analyzed Landsat multi-spectral scanner (MSS) image (acquired in 1975) and Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) images (acquired in 1991, 2000, 2006, and 2010) as well as meteorological and socioeconomic data. Results revealed 11,866km2, 13,362km2, 14,051km2, 13,613km2, and 12,318km2 of aeolian desertified land (ADL) in the above 5 periods, respectively. The spatial dynamics and patterns showed two stages: expansion during 1975–2000 at a rate of 87.37km2 a−1, and spatial transfer of affected areas during 2000–2010 with a net decrease of 173.27km2 a−1. During the evolution of aeolian desertification, areas of moderate ADL had the greatest dynamic response (11.45%). The factors controlling ADL dynamics were analyzed from the perspectives of two groups of factors: natural factors and human activities. Our results indicated that the climate-dominated natural factors contribute greatly to the occurrence and development of ADL. However, they are not the fundamental causes of its development. The human factors are the primary and direct driving forces responsible for the increase in ADL area. More thorough quantitative analysis, with more frequent remotely sensed data is needed to assess the driving forces in more detail. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Facing the increasing environmental degradation locally and globally, the Chinese government set mandatory goals of 10% reduction of SO2 emission in its 11th Five-Year Plan period (FYP, 2006–2010). In this paper we use Shanxi province to illustrate how policies and measures are implemented in practice at a provincial level as a response to the National FYP issued by the central government. Local policies are described and their effects are analyzed. We find that the 11th FYP goal for SO2 pollution reduction in Shanxi has been surpassed. SO2 reduction from estimated baseline level was calculated for the FYP period in order to identify which sectors have had the largest reductions. Regarding SO2, we find that Flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) in power plants has been the most important, while either the FGD operation rate or the efficiency, or both, are much lower in practice than officially required. SO2 emission reduction from closing down outdated production capacity is small according to our estimates. This is due to the comparatively small use of coal in the units being closed down in Shanxi. Necessary steps to achieve the targets in the 12th FYP are briefly discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]