Verification of the “first flush” phenomenon in mine water from coal mines in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, Poland

Gzyl, Grzegorz; Banks, David

doi:10.1016/j.jconhyd.2006.12.001

Cited by 51 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Since 2009 there has been a slow improvement in water quality with a decrease in iron from 25 to 15 mg/L with time. This is entirely consistent with the observations by Younger (1997Younger ( , 2000 and Gzyl & Banks (2007) that mine water chemistry often improves with time due to flushing of vestigial acidity (secondary weathering products from pyrite oxidation) from the workings. The manganese concentrations have remained relatively stable at 0.6 to 1 mg/L.…”

Section: Analysis Of Archive Datasupporting

confidence: 91%

“…True thermal potential in the UK is currently uncertain but initial extractable heat estimates of 12MW for the Midland Valley of Scotland (Gillespie et al 2013) and 55MW for the 17 largest Coal Authority pumping operations across the UK (Parker, 2011) suggest a potentially significant resource. Without active pumping, the subsurface voids that are a legacy of the coal mining process naturally flood to form large bodies of water that, unlike surface waters, maintain a relatively constant temperature through the year.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sustainability of thermal energy production at the flooded mine workings of the former Caphouse Colliery, Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Burnside

Banks

Boyce

2016

International Journal of Coal Geology

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Abandoned, flooded, coal mine workings are an artefact of fossil fuel exploitation that can be repurposed as a renewable energy resource. The warm subsurface waters that fill former workings can be developed to provide efficient and low-carbon heat generation using ground source heat pumps. In order to determine the long-term suitability of flooded mine workings as a sustainable thermal resource we have to understand the hydrological components of the system and how they interact in response to exploitation-related disturbance. We investigate pump induced mixing dynamics at the former Caphouse Colliery, which has been pumped since 1996 for regional water level management but only recently started to be explored as a thermal resource. Initial findings from the first 6 months of study show virtually no variation in physiochemical, major ion or stable isotope values. However, placed in context with archived values from 2004 to the present, we see a general pattern of mine water quality recovery punctuated by a doubling of Cl -values (150mg/l to >300mg/l) which may suggest recent ingress of deeper-sourced saline waters. This is supported by O and H isotopic values, which are indicative of ancient, perhaps Late Pleistocene, confined waters. Sulphur isotope values (19.7-23.8‰) are abnormally high as compared to typical values for Carboniferous Coal Measures (5-10‰). There is no simple explanation, so further data collection and investigation is required, though we note that these values are similar to Lower Carboniferous seawater values. The relative stability of recent parameters suggests that Caphouse waters represent a dependable thermal resource. However, much about the hydrogeology of the Caphouse system is still uncertain, so further work is required to check the persistence of recent trends.

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Section: Analysis Of Archive Datasupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainability of thermal energy production at the flooded mine workings of the former Caphouse Colliery, Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Burnside

Banks

Boyce

2016

International Journal of Coal Geology

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“…An in-depth theoretical explanation of the first flush is presented in Wolkesdorfer (2008) and Younger (2000) proposes an empirical equation to estimate its duration. It has been described in many mining districts all around the world: Lindsay Colliery, UK (Younger and Banwart, 2001); Montalbion mining area, Australia (Harris et al, 2003); Lorraine basin and Ruhr coal mining district, France-Germany (Blachere et al, 2005), Upper Silesian coal basin, PolandCzech Republic (Gzyl and Banks, 2007);Chrzanow basin, Poland (Kasprzak and Motyka, 2015), among others. Since the reintroduction of pumping, groundwater rebound has ceased and ion and metal concentrations have demonstrated a gradual decline, indicating water quality recovery to pre-flood levels within ca.…”

Section: Hydrochemistrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrochemical characterization of a mine water geothermal energy resource in NW Spain

Loredo

Ordóñez

García-Ordiales

et al. 2017

Science of The Total Environment

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Abandoned and flooded mine networks provide underground reservoirs of mine water that can be used as a renewable geothermal energy source. A complete hydrochemical characterization of mine water is required to optimally design the geothermal installation, understand the hydraulic behaviour of the water in the reservoir and prevent undesired effects such as pipe clogging via mineral precipitation. Water pumped from the Barredo-Figaredo mining reservoir (Asturias, NW Spain), which is currently exploited for geothermal use, has been studied and compared to water from a separate, nearby mountain mine and a river that receives mine water discharge and partially infiltrates into the mine workings. Although the hydrochemistry was altered during the flooding process, the deep mine waters are currently near neutral, net alkaline, high metal waters of Na-HCO3 type. Isotopic values suggest that mine waters are closely related to modern meteoric water, and likely correspond to rapid infiltration. Suspended and dissolved solids, and particularly iron content, of mine water results in some scaling and partial clogging of heat exchangers, but water temperature is stable (22ºC) and increases with depth, so, considering the available flow (>100 L s -1 ), the Barredo-Figaredo mining reservoir represents a sustainable, long-term resource for geothermal use.

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“…Once established, mine water outflows tend to be permanent and perennial. However, considerable transience is typically observed in the quality of these outflows, with the concentrations of pollutants being highest in the period immediately following initial onset of outflow, with a gradual improvement over time until an asymptotic level of pollution is established (Younger 1997;Wood et al 1999;Gzyl and Banks 2007). Unfortunately, this asymptotic level all too often still exceeds the assimilatory capacity of the receiving water body, so that long-term treatment of the polluted water is required (Younger 1997;Stoertz et al 2001).…”

Section: Why Predict Post-closure Hydrogeology Of Coalfields?mentioning

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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Verification of the “first flush” phenomenon in mine water from coal mines in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, Poland

Cited by 51 publications

References 10 publications

Sustainability of thermal energy production at the flooded mine workings of the former Caphouse Colliery, Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Sustainability of thermal energy production at the flooded mine workings of the former Caphouse Colliery, Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Hydrochemical characterization of a mine water geothermal energy resource in NW Spain

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

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