Abstract: Accurately predicting the evolution patterns of the caving zone and water-conducting fractured zone is of paramount importance for safe coal mine production. This paper conducts a simulation study on the development patterns of the two zones with mining heights of 3. 2 m and 4. 6 m in the No. 2 coal seam of Balasu Coal Mine. The results indicate that when the working face is fully extracted and adequately mined,the maximum development heights of the two zones are approximately 100 m and 138 m,respectively,with a periodic mining step distance of about 30～40 m. The critical threshold between full and partial mining occurs within a range of 280～330 m in coal seam advancement. As the water-conducting fractured zone initially forms,the caving area advances faster than the surface along the working face,with slowed vertical development and significant horizontal expansion. Simultaneously, subsidence of the overlying strata is accompanied by transverse fractures. As the working face progresses,the height of the caving zone reaches its peak,forming a symmetrical“saddle-shaped” initial pressure arch. When the stratification between the two zones becomes distinct,the vertical height of the caving zone maximizes,and its growth rate nearly stagnates,while the water-conducting fractured zone expands with mining. The initial pressure arch of the roof extends to its extreme value along the coal seam,with the maximum height of the caving zone located near the entry. Transverse fractures develop in the overlying caving area,extending the water-conducting fractured zone towards the surface,and the overlying strata exhibit an elastic expansion zone.