Ongoing, collaborative research between CSIRO's Exploration and Mining and Strata Control Technology has resulted in a
better understanding of rock failure mechanisms around longwall extraction. Failure has occurred further ahead of the
retreating face than predicted by conventional longwall geomechanics theory. In some cases significant failure has been
detected several hundred metres ahead of the face position with demonstrated influences of minor geological discontinuities.
Shear, rather than tensile failure has been the predominant failure mechanism in the environments monitored. Validating
technologies of microseismic monitoring and new face monitoring techniques have assisted the development of predictive 2D
computational modelling tools. The demonstrated 3D consequences of failure has assisted in the ongoing direction of the
project to further investigate these effects.