Hydrologic and Water Quality Characteristics of a Partially-Flooded, Abandoned Underground Coal Mine

Aljoe, William W.

doi:10.21000/jasmr94020178

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…The climate-controlled geochemical changes within the mine pool are similar to those observed at some other sites (Aljoe, 1994;Erickson et al, 1982;Rose and Cravotta, 1998). Recent investigations have emphasized the role of acid sulfate salts in generating "stored acidity" in underground mine works and mine waste piles (Nordstrom, 1982;Alpers et al, 1994;Cravotta, 1994).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Characterization of an Acid Mine Drainage Site in Southern Illinois

Smith¹

2002

ASMR

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Two seams at the Tab-Simco abandoned underground coal mine site in southern Illinois were mined intermittently from the 1890's until 1955, and later surface mined. The stripping operations resulted in several break-ins into the old underground works which were later buried by mine spoil. The resulting mine pool in the lower of the two seams has been producing an average of ~150 m 3 per day of acid mine drainage (AMD) for the past few decades. After exiting through the breakins, the contaminated water flows along discrete pathways through the base of the spoil and emerges as 5 perennial seeps. The AMD has contaminated a nearby stream and has produced a 4 ha "kill zone" within its otherwise forested floodplain. AM production at this site is a result of the interplay among (1) site geology, (2) mine geometry and location, and (3) climate. Limited hydrologic and geochemical data gathered over a 9-month period in 1997 and 1998 suggest that AMD production is strongly influenced by seasonal mine pool elevation changes. These elevation changes may govern the cycles of formation and release of acid sulfate salts (stored acidity) within the underground mine works.Additional Key Words: room and pillar mining, mine pool, hydrogeochemistry.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Characterization of an Acid Mine Drainage Site in Southern Illinois

Smith¹

2002

ASMR

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“…Hence at local scale, hydraulic gradients along a given roadway are often immeasurably small (e.g. Aljoe 1994). It is typically only over distances of several kilometres that appreciable hydraulic gradients become detectable.…”

Section: Estimation Of Equilibrium Hydraulic Gradientmentioning

confidence: 99%

A simple, low-cost approach to predicting the hydrogeological consequences of coalfield closure as a basis for best practice in long-term management

Younger

2016

International Journal of Coal Geology

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A simple, low-cost approach to predicting the hydrogeological consequences of coalfield closure as a basis for best practice in long-term management. International Journal of Coal Geology, 164, pp. 25-34. (doi:10.1016/j.coal.2016 This is the author's final accepted version.There may be differences between this version and the published version. You are advised to consult the publisher's version if you wish to cite from it.http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/120112/ The closure of individual coal mines usually entails a cessation of mine dewatering, which can give rise to significant changes in the local and regional hydrogeological regime. Where the last colliery in an entire coalfield closes, these changes can be very large-scale and potentially damaging, with potential for pollution of major rivers and aquifers. While a number of modelling approaches have been developed in recent decades to predict these changes and facilitate their proactive (and prophylactic) management, when the last mine in a given coalfield is closing the mine owners typically have neither the time nor money to commission extended and sophisticated numerical modelling studies. In such circumstances, a simplified, lower-cost approach is required to provide regulators with predictions of rates of water level rise, future equilibrium water levels and the rates and quality of any future outflows of mine water to rivers and / or aquifers. These predictions can also be useful in guiding the decisions of future site owners over alternative uses of colliery infrastructure after the cessation of coal production. An approach to such predictions has been developed which is based on summary information on the extent of workings, dewatering pumping rates, locations and collar elevations of unfilled shafts and adits attached to the deep workings, as well as surface topography and the geometry of any overlying aquifers. Uncertainties over hydraulic gradient after the completion of water level recovery are handled by analogy to a range of postrecovery gradients from similar large coalfields. A brief example of the application of the approach to a real coalfield is presented. This approach could be used either on its own or as a prelude to more detailed modelling and monitoring during the years following mine closure. The insights into system behaviour gained from such exercises could well be valuable in future re-use of flooded voids as resources for heat recovery or disposal as part of low-carbon heating systems. Highlights• Prediction of the hydrogeological behaviour of abandoned coalfields • Quantifies the duration of flooding till rest water levels are reached • Identifies the mined features most likely to give rise to polluted outflows • Allows prioritisation of post-closure treatment of major shafts

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“…A mine pool is a cluster of mines that exhibit close hydraulic connection, such that no barriers, or only barriers with high hydraulic connectivity, exist between individual mines in the complex (Donovan et al, 2000). Mine complexes with high-conductivity barriers have similar hydraulic heads while mine complexes with lowconductivity barriers have variable hydraulic heads (Donovan et al, 2000;Aljoe, 1994).…”

Section: Previous Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrology of the Abandoned Underground Corning Coal Mine, Perry County, Ohio

Stoertz¹,

Sahu²,

McCament³

et al. 2004

JASMR

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The Corning mine complex, a suite of abandoned partially flooded room-and-pillar mines in Perry County, Ohio, contributes nearly 100% of the annual acidity load to upper Sunday Creek. Discharge, which issues from a single hole, averages 73 liters/s (2.6 cfs); acidity load averages 590 kg/day; and metal (Fe, Al and Mn) loads average 260, 2 and 13 kg/day respectively. The discharge is a high priority for remediation, but is not well suited for treatment by passive systems. Source-control strategies require knowing recharge sources, flow paths, underground pool interconnections, and mine residence times. This paper describes the development of both conceptual and quantitative models of the mine system, based on mine and soil water budgets, an equivalent-porous-medium numerical model, a barometric efficiency model, and a chemical mixing model. The models were based on monthly water sampling, continuous mine-pool and discharge hydrographs, borehole logs, meteorological data and mine maps. The recharge rate is 20 cm/yr (13% of precipitation). Stream capture contributes 13% of the mine's annual recharge, with diffuse recharge accounting for 87%. During intense rainfall events, however, 50% of recharge can occur by stream capture. Mine storage varies seasonally, depending on recharge, which in turn depends on not just precipitation but also evapotranspirative demand and soilmoisture storage. Consequently, mine storage and discharge are highest in the late spring and lowest in the late summer and early fall. The mine aquifer is a gently dipping grid of rooms and tunnels that collectively provide hydraulic resistance to flow, and it does not form a single hydrostatic pool. Assuming that mines are fully interconnected and that water is well mixed yields a residence time of 5.1 years. However, barometric pressure response shows that the eastern 40% of the mine is separate and partially confined, with exceptionally poor water quality. The eastern portion accounts for only 10% of the flow, but contributes 50% of the chemical load. Excluding the weakly-connected eastern 40%, residence time is 3.9 years. Barometric responses of heads in various parts of the mine show unconfined behavior, confined behavior, or "displacement" behavior, in which heads increase with barometric pressure.

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Hydrologic and Water Quality Characteristics of a Partially-Flooded, Abandoned Underground Coal Mine

Cited by 6 publications

References 2 publications

Characterization of an Acid Mine Drainage Site in Southern Illinois

Characterization of an Acid Mine Drainage Site in Southern Illinois

A simple, low-cost approach to predicting the hydrogeological consequences of coalfield closure as a basis for best practice in long-term management

Hydrology of the Abandoned Underground Corning Coal Mine, Perry County, Ohio

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