神府煤田(即陕北侏罗纪煤田)的发现和探明，是我国“六五”期间煤炭工业最重要的成就，由此拉开了我国煤炭工业战略西移的序幕。神府煤田勘探与发现的道路曲折，科技创新成就珍贵，总结煤田地质勘查和研究进展，对我国西部煤炭主产区的地质工作、绿色开发具有重要启示和借鉴。

一是聚煤模式和聚煤规律的研究，从早期的河流沉积和煤层呈鸡窝状分布的不当认识，转变到大型湖泊三角洲沉积以及发育5个连续沉积的煤层(组)的客观认识，促进了普查找煤工程部署和快速完成。二是煤田勘探从早期按部就班套用“规范”，转变到榆神矿区勘探阶段大胆创新，提出了“沙漠煤田综合勘探技术”并推广应用，大幅度缩短了勘探周期，降低了勘探成本，提高了对煤层、地层和各类地质界线的控制程度，在20世纪90年代末期国家地质勘探投入不足的情况下，促成了榆神矿区及早开发。三是保水采煤科学理念的提出和科学技术体系的创建，创新了煤田开发生态环境保护的思路和方法。在神府煤田开发初期就关注到地下水水位管控和生态环境保护，建成了我国首张省级煤矿地下水监测预警网，监测站点涵盖神府煤田所有煤矿和规划区，促进了煤田开发的可持续发展。四是突水溃沙灾害、地面沉降和地裂缝等灾害防控、生态修复技术创新与应用，促进了绿色矿区建设，建成了和谐矿区、绿色矿山。

国家重大需求是推动神府煤田发现与勘探的重要契机，科技创新是推动煤田勘探进展和科学勘探的主要驱动力，产−学−研的有机结合是科技创新和产业发展的最佳途径。

高分辨沉积环境研究、透明地质大模型构建、深部煤层开采矿井水源头减水、高强度采煤条件下含水层结构保护和生态修复，无疑是今后神府煤田地质科技创新的重要方向。

The discovery and exploration of the Shenfu coalfield (i.e., a Jurassic coalfield in northern Shaanxi Province) represent the most significant achievement in China’s coal industry during the 6th Five-Year Plan of the country, marking the onset of the strategic westward shift of China’s coal industry. The complex discovery and exploration processes of the Shenfu coalfield have yielded valuable technological innovations. A summary of advances in the geological exploration and research of this coalfield will provide significant implications and references for the geologic work and green development of major coal-producing areas in West China.

First, research on the coal accumulation patterns has shifted to an objective understanding of large-scale lacustrine and deltaic sedimentary environments and five continuously deposited coal seams (formations) from the early misconception of a fluvial sedimentary environment and a chicken-nest-shaped distribution of coal seams. This sift has promoted the deployment and rapid completion of reconnaissance surveys and coal prospecting. Second, coalfield exploration has shifted from the early application of prescribed norms to bold innovations in the exploration stage of the Yushen mining area. Specifically, the integrated exploration technology for coalfields in desert areas was proposed and widely applied, significantly shortening the exploration cycle, reducing exploration costs, and enhancing the control over coal seams, strata, and various geological boundaries. As a result, despite insufficient national investment in geological exploration in the late 1990s, this technology accelerated the development of the Yushen mining area. Third, the introduction of the scientific concept of water-preserved coal mining and the establishment of the corresponding scientific and technological system represent innovations in the philosophy and methods of ecological conservation in coalfield development. Groundwater level control and ecological conservation were emphasized even during the initial exploitation of the Shenfu coalfield. China’s first provincial-level monitoring and early warning network has been established for groundwater in coal mines within the coalfield, with monitoring stations covering all coal mines and planning areas in the Shenfu coalfield. This facilitates sustainable coalfield development. Fourth, the technological innovations and application in the prevention and control of water inrushes, sand collapse, land subsidence, and geofractures, as well as relevant ecological restoration, have accelerated the construction of green mining areas, creating green mines in harmonious mining areas.

The huge national demand creates a great opportunity for the discovery and exploration of the Shenfu coalfield. Technological innovations act as the driving force behind the exploration progress and scientific exploration of the coalfield. Furthermore, the organic industry-university-institute collaboration represents the optimal approach to technological innovations and industrial development.

The geological technological innovation targets of the Shenfu coalfield will undoubtedly include investigating sedimentary environments using high-resolution survey methods, constructing large transparent geological models, reducing mine water production through source control for deep coal seam mining, and achieving aquifer structure protection and ecological restoration under high-intensity coal mining.