Investigation of the Causes and Factors Generating Land Instability in the Berbeşti Mining Basin

Abstract Romania’s new commitments to give up coal-based energy production entail the gradual closure of the last four open-pits in operation in Berbești Mining Basin, thus, raising the issue of primarily ensuring the stability of the lands in these perimeters in order to reintroduce them, too, into the economic circuit as soon as possible. Considering the numerous negative geo-mining phenomena that have taken place over time in the perimeters of Berbești Mining Basin, respectively landslides and other types of geotechnical phenomena, it is necessary to investigate the causes and factors that favor their manifestation so that their influence can be reduced, removed or simply taken into resizing calculations. The paper presents the results of a study whose purpose is to investigate the factors and causes that generate phenomena of instability of natural and artificial slopes in the area of Berbești Mining Basin. The main research methods applied in this paper were in situ observations, analyzes and laboratory tests, identification of rock types and their behaviors in various weather and humidity conditions, determination of physical and mechanical characteristics, and interpretation of results.