The mining hazard (not including coal) dataset identifies areas of known and recorded underground (non-coal) workings in Great Britain at a scale of 1:50 000. Underground extraction of rocks and minerals has taken place in Britain for more than 5000 years, extracting a broad range of raw materials, including ironstone, gypsum, lead, chalk and tin.

The voids resulting from past mining activity pose a potential hazard and may lead to financial loss for anyone involved in property ownership/management, including developers, householders or local government. These costs could include increased insurance premiums, depressed house prices and engineering works to stabilise land or property. And any underground working is usually surrounded by an area of ground which is affected by additional stresses due to its close proximity to the working and subsequently may be subject to some degree of subsidence. The extent of this area is controlled by a number of factors including depth/extent of underground working and the type and size of workings. This area is known as the zone of influence, which is included in the dataset for known areas of working of evaporites, oil shales and building stones.

This dataset provides essential information for planners and developers building in areas of former shallow underground mine workings that may collapse. It indicates where preventative steps might be needed to alleviate the impact of the hazard to people and property. The cost of prevention is usually a fraction of the repair bill following ground movement.

NOTE: The mining of coal is specifically excluded from this dataset and enquiries on past coal mining should be directed to the Mining Remediation Authority.