Rock burst

[1] The opening of mine workings relieves neighboring rocks of tremendous pressure, which can cause the rock to fail explosively or trigger abrupt movement in nearby geological structures.

Rock bursts are a serious hazard;[2][3] Always a problem in South Africa,[4] they kill a large number of miners each year.

Another explanation is that the changes brought about by the mine's redistribution of stress trigger latent seismic events, deriving from the strain energy produced by its geological aspects.

Induced seismicity such as faulty methods of mining can trigger rock bursts.

[2][3][7] Approaches for dealing with rock bursts can be divided into two categories: tactical measures, which can be taken locally and at short notice in response to a heightened level of rock burst hazard, and strategic measures, which must be integrated into the mine design process and long-term planning.