Abstract: Soil mass cracks caused by coal resource exploitation are the most intuitive, widely distributed, and harmful geological disasters. They could destroy the continuity of land, threaten the mine geological environment, and lead to productivity reduction and water pollution. Moreover, they may also threaten the safety of mine electrical and mechanical facilities and workers. We reviewed recent research progress of soil mass cracks in formation mechanism and evolution pattern, shape characteristics and influencing factors, determination methods and eco-environmental effects in coal mining area. The shape characteristics of soil mass cracks in coal mining area should be further studied, the preferential flow effect and its contribution rate of soil mass cracks should be revealed by field study and laboratory simulation. Furthermore, the characteristics of soil mass cracks in dumping sites and its quantitative effects on slope stability should be clarified.

Key words: remote sensing based ecological index (RSEI), urbanization, ecological quality, Nanjing