Acoustic emission （AE） technique is a useful tool for investigating rock damage mechanism, and is used to study the temporal-spatial evolution process of microcracks during the similar pillar material experiment. A combined AE location algorithm was developed based on the Least square algorithm and Geiger location algorithm. The pencil break test results show that the location precision can meet the demand of microcrack monitoring. The 3D location of AE events can directly reflect the process of initiation, propagation and evolutionary of microcracks. During the loading process, stress is much likely concentrated on the area between pillar and roof of the specimen, where belongs to danger zone of macroscopic failure. When rock reaches its plastic deformation stage, AE events begin to decrease, which indicates that AE quiet period can be seen as precursor characteristic of rock failure.
