# Analysis on the Spatial-Temporal Distribution Patterns of Major Mine Debris Flows in China
## 4 Analysis of the Spatial Distribution Pattern of Mine Debris Flow
### Mine Debris Flow Distribution Pattern by Geological Environment Zone  
As a geological hazard specific to mining areas, mine debris flow, like natural debris flow, requires specific topography as a basic condition, so mountainous areas with high and steep terrain, gullies and valleys, rich in unconsolidated soil, and highly weathered rocks are prone to mine debris flow. On the other hand, various metallic and non-metallic minerals are mostly produced in mountainous areas, and mining activities destroy the geological environment of mining areas and pile up large amounts of mine waste rock and slag, which intensify the occurrence, development, and hazards of mine geological hazards, making mine debris flows one of the most common and costly geological hazards in many mountainous areas. Combined with the collected data on the distribution of major mine  
Figure 3: (**a**) Geographic Divisions of China (Mainland China and Hainan Province only); (**b**) National percentage of major mine debris flow in China by province.  
debris flow, the distribution map of major mine debris flow was drawn using the China Mine Geological Environment Background Zoning Map [29] as the base map (Figure 4).  
According to the definition, \"hills\" refers to the terrain with certain undulations between 200 and 500 m above sea level; \"low mountains\" refers to the mountains between 500 and 1000 m above sea level; \"middle mountains\" refers to the mountains between 1000 and 3500 m above sea level; and \"high mountains\" refers to the mountains between 3500 and 5000 m above sea level. The figure analysis shows that in terms of different geological environment areas, the most frequent occurrence of major mine debris flow disasters is in the middle and high mountain areas, followed by the low mountain and hilly areas, less frequently in the plain basin areas and permafrost areas, and rarely in the Gobi Desert and Loess Plateau areas. The frequency of debris flow is also relatively high in the geological environment of middle and high mountains and low mountain and hills where the intensity of activities of mining mineral resources are high. These areas are crisscrossed by mountains and valleys, with a humid climate and abundant rainfall, and affected by the scale and intensity of mining development, some valleys with a more stable environment have been transformed into debris flow-prone areas, and the occurrence and hazards of debris flow are intensifying in some debris flow gullies that were originally conducive to the formation of debris flow. According to statistics, the low mountain hilly geological environment within the Shizhuyuan non-ferrous metal mining area in Chenzhou City, Hunan Province and the Shipingchuan molybdenum mining area in Qingtian County, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province, etc., as well as the middle and high mountain geological environment within the The Dongchuan copper Yinmin mining area and Gejiu tin mining area in Yunnan province and the Mianning Lugu iron ore mine in Sichuan province, etc. has historically occurred in major mine debris flow disasters, causing a large number of casualties and property damage. It is worth noting that major mine debris flows have also occurred in permafrost areas due to the long-term over-wet condition (natural moisture content of 30% or more) of the soil. At the same time, major mine debris flows frequently occur on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau at the junction of the first and second terrains of the three major terrains in China, where high mountainous terrain is widely distributed and strong geological and tectonic movements exist, providing rich conditions for the generation and development of major mine debris flows. In contrast, major mine debris flow disasters are  
Figure 4: Distribution map of major mine debris flow disasters (Mainland China and Hainan Province only).  
rare in areas with flatter topography or semi-arid climatic conditions, such as the majority of China's first terrace, the Tarim Basin, and the northeast.