SIMPL: A Simplified Model-Based Program for the Analysis and Visualization of Groundwater Rebound in Abandoned Mines to Prevent Contamination of Water and Soils by Acid Mine Drainage

Abstract

Cessation of dewatering following underground mine closure typically results in groundwater rebound, because mine voids and surrounding strata undergo flooding up to the levels of the decant points, such as shafts and drifts. SIMPL (Simplified groundwater program In Mine workings using the Pipe equation and Lumped parameter model), a simplified lumped parameter model-based program for predicting groundwater levels in abandoned mines, is presented herein. The program comprises a simulation engine module, 3D visualization module, and graphical user interface, which aids data processing, analysis, and visualization of results. The 3D viewer facilitates effective visualization of the predicted groundwater level rebound phenomenon together with a topographic map, mine drift, goaf, and geological properties from borehole data. SIMPL is applied to data from the Dongwon coal mine and Dalsung copper mine in Korea, with strong similarities in simulated and observed results. By considering mine workings and interpond connections, SIMPL can thus be used to effectively analyze and visualize groundwater rebound. In addition, the predictions by SIMPL can be utilized to prevent the surrounding environment (water and soil) from being polluted by acid mine drainage.

Hydrodynamic Groundwater Modeling and Hydrochemical Conceptualization of the Closure Mining Area of the WuMa River Watershed of China

“…The research on mine closures has also placed emphasis on groundwater levels, , water conservation, ,, chemical composition of groundwater, and the air pollution of surrounding. Such as, Kim et al put forward a simplified model-based program for the analysis and visualization of groundwater rebound in abandoned mines to prevent contamination of water and soils by acid mine drainage . Jiang et al conducted an investigation on the geochemical reaction between karst water in the gob area and waste gangue with a static immersion experiment to discuss variations in dissolution effects of different types of karst water on gangue after the closure of coal mining .…”

“…The research primarily focuses on active coal mining areas, − with less emphasis on the closure ones about groundwater pollution and environmental risk. The research on mine closures has also placed emphasis on groundwater levels, , water conservation, ,, chemical composition of groundwater, and the air pollution of surrounding. Such as, Kim et al put forward a simplified model-based program for the analysis and visualization of groundwater rebound in abandoned mines to prevent contamination of water and soils by acid mine drainage .…”

Application of a Fuzzy Logic Based Methodology to Validate the Hydrochemical Characterization and Determining Seasonal Influence of a Watershed Affected by Acid Mine Drainage

“…However, this problem is not only localized in the IPB, being well-known worldwide, with a lot of research works done, addressing the problem of contamination by AMD in rivers and also in groundwater systems [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Some ideas for its remediation have been highlighted in scientific works [ 13 , 14 , 15 ]; although, generally, the solutions found until now have been difficult to apply, due to high costs and high AMD extension areas.…”

Comparison of Various Growth Curve Models in Characterizing and Predicting Water Table Change after Intensive Mine Dewatering Is Discontinued in an East Central European Karstic Area

“…In practice, deterministic models are often used for estimating such mining-related groundwater level changes [19][20][21]. The application of numerical models in the case of mines established in karst areas can be particularly problematic, as karst systems are highly heterogeneous, usually with a complex flow system [22,23], a key factor which should be taken into consideration in their study.…”