Coal mining activities in the Western Donbas cause significant transformations of the geological environment, leading to the activation of hazardous engineering–geological processes. The study was carried out on the territory of DTEK “Pavlohradvuhillia” PJSC which comprises ten mining fields with a total area of 499.66 km², making it one of the most industrially loaded coal-mining regions of Ukraine. The purpose of the research was to determine and classify the geological environment according to its stability under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors, as well as to identify the most vulnerable areas.
The methodology is based on the analysis of 14 natural and anthropogenic factors selected in accordance with regulatory documents. Spatial analysis was conducted using a 300 × 300 m grid. Each factor was assigned a weight coefficient (1–4 points), which made it possible to calculate the cumulative risk index normalized to 100%. Based on this index, the geological environment was divided into four types: stable (0–25%), conditionally stable (25–50%), low-stability (50–75%), and unstable (75–100%).
The results showed that 38.70% of the study area belongs to stable territories, 44.14% to conditionally stable, 14.92% to low-stability, and 2.24% to unstable ones. The most critical zones are concentrated within the Zakhidno-Donbaska, Ternivska, and Samarska mines, where the combination of flooding, waste dumps, and dense infrastructure significantly reduces environmental stability. The proposed methodology provides a scientifically grounded basis for the development of monitoring systems and spatial planning in mining regions, supporting timely forecasting and mitigation of ecological and technogenic risks.
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