Abstract: In order to formulate and implement the aquifer protection scheme for coal mining areas more rapidly and more efficiently,based on the adequate appreciation of the spatial relationship between the coal seams and the aquifers in Shendong Mining Area,this paper introduces six coal seam-aquifer spatial relationship models,and summarizes different aquifer failure modes.The result shows that,the aquifer failure caused by coal mining falls into two types,namely the roof aquifer delamination and the water flowing fractured zone developing to the aquifer.Accordingly,five types of aquifer failure modes are proposed,specifically,mid- strong water yield property porous aquifer roof failure mode,mid-strong water yield property porous-fractured aquifer roof failure mode,weathered fractured aquifer roof failure mode,syncline type water storage structure roof failure mode,and burned rock aquifer failure mode.The coal seam-aquifer spatial relationship corresponds to the failure mode,and thus hydro-geological conditions in mining area can be determined more quickly,which is helpful for the protection on water resource and safety production in mining area.