Coal mining in plain regions and its related surface subsidence and geological hazards have been extensively studied, whereas research on mining-induced hazards in mountainous areas remains limited. This knowledge gap has contributed to the frequent occurrence of mining disasters, particularly under steep ridge-type mountain geometry, where deformation characteristics, large-scale slope failure risks, and mining-induced hazard mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, a mining area in Zhenxiong, Zhaotong, Yunnan Province, China, is investigated using SBAS-InSAR, GNSS observations, UAV surveys, optical satellite imagery, and detailed field investigations. Surface hazards triggered by coal extraction are identified, and the response relationship between surface subsidence and mining activities is analyzed to reveal the development mechanisms of surface deformation beneath steep ridge-type mountain geometry. The results show that: (1) deep coal mining can still induce significant surface deformation due to the combined amplification effects of steep slopes and lithological conditions; (2) mining-induced deformation does not necessarily evolve into large-scale slope collapse and may gradually stabilize through natural adjustment processes; (3) SBAS-InSAR, validated by GNSS and field observations, provides an effective approach for detecting mining-related subsidence; (4) surface deformation in the study area is jointly influenced by multiple working faces; and (5) strong coupling between the unique steep ridge-type mountain geometry and underlying coal extraction leads to a compound disaster chain under multi-source interactions. These findings offer a critical scientific understanding of mining-induced deformation beneath steep ridge-type mountain geometry and provide important guidance for geological hazard prevention and control in similar mountainous mining areas.
Song et al. (Sat,) studied this question.