Water budgets and groundwater volumes for abandoned underground mines in the Western Middle Anthracite Coalfield, Schuylkill, Columbia, and Northumberland Counties, Pennsylvania: Preliminary estimates with identification of data needs

Goode, Daniel J.; Cravotta, Charles A.; Hornberger, Roger J.; Hewitt, Michael A.; Hughes, Robert E.; Koury, Daniel; Eicholtz, Lee W.

doi:10.3133/sir20105261

Cited by 5 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Several previous studies (e.g. Rapantova et al ., ; Booth and Greer, ; Goode et al ., ; Uhlík and Baier, ) have also demonstrated the use of equivalent porous media models for regional scale simulation of flooded coal mines. The groundwater flow model evaluated the sources of water stored and discharged by the Pine Knot Mine complex and dynamic interactions among recharge, storage and discharge within the corresponding watershed area.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Calibration of the specific yield parameter provided an independent estimate of the mine pool storage capacity, based on measured streamflow, tunnel discharge and mine pool water level changes, rather than on estimates of coal volume removed or other geometric methods (e.g. Goode et al ., ). The calibrated specific yield of 17% for the mined layer is intermediate between reported porosity values of 11 (Hawkins and Dunn, ) and 40% (Ash et al ., ) for flooded underground coal mines in Pennsylvania.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Extensive losses of surface water to underground mines and corresponding downstream gains of metal-laden drainage from the mines can diminish or eliminate aquatic habitat in streams draining areas developed for coal and other mineral resources (Younger and Wolkersdorfer, 2004). For example, in the humid, temperate climatic setting of the anthracite coalfield of eastern Pennsylvania, USA (Figure 1), second-order and third-order stream channels that overlie underground mines can be dry or intermittently flowing although the mines discharge large volumes of contaminated water from downstream outlets (Ash and Whaite, 1953;Ackman and Jones, 1991;Chaplin et al, 2007;Goode et al, 2011). Pyrite oxidation products in coal waste and mined rock along subsurface flow paths contribute acidity, sulphate, iron and other metals to the groundwater stored and discharged from the mines (Cravotta, 1994;Foos, 1997;Perry, 2001).…”

Section: Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Surface water and groundwater interactions in an extensively mined watershed, upper Schuylkill River, Pennsylvania, USA

Cravotta

Goode

Bartles

et al. 2013

Hydrological Processes

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Streams crossing underground coal mines may lose flow, whereas abandoned mine drainage (AMD) restores flow downstream. During 2005–2012, discharge from the Pine Knot Mine Tunnel, the largest AMD source in the upper Schuylkill River Basin, had near‐neutral pH and elevated concentrations of iron, manganese and sulphate. Discharge from the tunnel responded rapidly to recharge but exhibited a prolonged recession compared with nearby streams, consistent with rapid infiltration of surface water and slow release of groundwater from the mine complex. Dissolved iron was attenuated downstream by oxidation and precipitation, whereas dissolved CO2 degassed and pH increased. During high flow conditions, the AMD and downstream waters exhibited decreased pH, iron and sulphate with increased acidity that were modelled by mixing net‐alkaline AMD with recharge or run‐off having low ionic strength and low pH. Attenuation of dissolved iron within the river was least effective during high flow conditions because of decreased transport time coupled with inhibitory effects of low pH on oxidation kinetics. A numerical model of groundwater flow was calibrated by using groundwater levels in the Pine Knot Mine and discharge data for the Pine Knot Mine Tunnel and West Branch Schuylkill River during a snowmelt event in January 2012. Although the calibrated model indicated substantial recharge to the mine complex took place away from streams, simulation of rapid changes in mine pool level and tunnel discharge during a high flow event in May 2012 required a source of direct recharge to the Pine Knot Mine. Such recharge produced small changes in mine pool level and rapid changes in tunnel flow rate because of extensive unsaturated storage capacity and high transmissivity within the mine complex. Thus, elimination of stream leakage could have a small effect on the annual discharge from the tunnel, but a large effect on peak discharge and associated water quality downstream. Published 2013. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Surface water and groundwater interactions in an extensively mined watershed, upper Schuylkill River, Pennsylvania, USA

Cravotta

Goode

Bartles

et al. 2013

Hydrological Processes

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“…Their assessment suggests limitations with the use of MODFLOW in simulations of seepage to underground mine workings can be overcome by considering cell sizes in context of the geometry of actual mine openings. Others have used the DRAIN package (Toran and Bradbury, 1988) and multi-colliery units (Goode et. al.,, 2011) in MODFLOW simulations of mine aquifers.…”

Section: Previous Simulations Of Groundwater Flow For Abandoned Minesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hydrologic interconnection between highly permeable above-drainage underground mines promotes a shift from a classic topographically-dominated groundwater flow regime (Ferguson, 1967;Wyrick and Borchers, 1981;Harlow and LeCain, 1993;Sheets and Kozar, 2000) to one that is dip-dominated, with groundwater capture areas that greatly exceed the boundaries of individual mines (Lopez and Stoertz, 2001). Previous researchers have used MODFLOW in mined settings (Toran and Bradbury, 1988;Goode et. al., 2011;Zaidel et.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of Modflow Drain Package for Simulating Inter-Basin Transfer of Groundwater in Abandoned Coal Mines

Kozar¹,

McCoy²

2012

JASMR

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Abstract. Simulation of groundwater flow in abandoned mines is difficult, especially where flux to and from mines is unknown or poorly quantified, and inter-basin transfer of groundwater occurs. A study was conducted in southernmost West Virginia to better understand inter-basin transfer of groundwater in above-drainage abandoned coal mines. The Elkhorn area was specifically selected, as all mines are located above the elevation of tributary receiving streams, to allow accurate measurements of discharge from mine portals and tributaries for groundwater model calibration.Abandoned mine workings were simulated initially as a layer of high hydraulic conductivity bounded by lower permeability rock in adjacent strata, and secondly as rows of higher hydraulic conductivity embedded within a lower hydraulic conductivity coal aquifer matrix. Regardless of the hydraulic conductivity assigned to mine workings, neither approach to simulate mine workings could accurately estimate inter-basin transfer of groundwater from the adjacent Bluestone River Watershed.To resolve the problem, a third approach was developed. The MODFLOW DRAIN package was used to simulate seepage into and through mine workings discharging water under unconfined conditions to Elkhorn Creek, North Fork, and tributaries of the Bluestone River. Drain nodes were embedded in a matrix of uniform hydraulic conductivity cells that represented the coal mine aquifer. Drain heads were empirically defined from well observations, and elevations were based on structure contours for the Pocahontas No. 3 mine workings. Use of the DRAIN package to simulate mine workings as an internal boundary condition resolved the inter-basin transfer problem, and effectively simulated a shift from a topographicdominated to a dip-dominated flow system, by dewatering overlying unmined strata and shifting the groundwater drainage divide up dip within the Pocahontas No. 3 coal seam approximately five kilometers into the adjacent Bluestone River Watershed. The simulation of mine entries and discharge using the MODFLOW DRAIN package produced estimated flows of 0.46 and 0.26 m 3 /s for the Elkhorn Creek and North Fork watersheds respectively, which matched measured flows for the respective watersheds of 0.47 and 0.26 m 3 /s.

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Use of Modflow Drain Package for Simulating Inter-Basin Transfer of Groundwater in Abandoned Coal Mines

Kozar¹,

McCoy²

2012

JASMR

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Simulation of groundwater flow in abandoned mines is difficult, especially where flux to and from mines is unknown or poorly quantified, and inter-basin transfer of groundwater occurs. A study was conducted in southernmost WV to better understand inter-basin transfer of groundwater in above-drainage abandoned coal mines. The Elkhorn area was specifically selected, as all mines are located above the elevation of tributary receiving streams, to allow accurate measurements of discharge from mine portals and tributaries for groundwater model calibration. Abandoned mine workings were simulated initially as a layer of high hydraulic conductivity bounded by lower permeability rock in adjacent strata, and secondly as rows of higher hydraulic conductivity embedded within a lower hydraulic conductivity coal aquifer matrix. Regardless of the hydraulic conductivity assigned to mine workings, neither approach to simulate mine workings could accurately estimate interbasin transfer of groundwater from the adjacent Bluestone River Watershed. To resolve the problem, a third approach was developed. The MODFLOW DRAIN package was used to simulate seepage into and through mine workings discharging water under unconfined conditions to Elkhorn Creek, North Fork, and tributaries of the Bluestone River. Drain nodes were embedded in a matrix of uniform hydraulic conductivity cells that represented the coal mine aquifer. Drain heads were empirically defined from well observations, and elevations were based on structure contours for the Pocahontas No. 3 mine workings. Use of the DRAIN package to simulate mine workings as an internal boundary condition resolved the inter-basin transfer problem, and effectively simulated a shift from a topographic-dominated to a dip-dominated flow system, by dewatering overlying un-mined strata and shifting the groundwater drainage divide up dip within the Pocahontas No. 3 coal seam approximately five kilometers into the adjacent Bluestone River Watershed. The simulation of mine entries and discharge using the MODFLOW DRAIN package produced estimated flows of 0.46 and 0.26 m 3 /s for the Elkhorn Creek and North Fork watersheds respectively, which matched measured flows for the respective watersheds of 0.47 and 0.26 m 3 /s.

show abstract

Water budgets and groundwater volumes for abandoned underground mines in the Western Middle Anthracite Coalfield, Schuylkill, Columbia, and Northumberland Counties, Pennsylvania: Preliminary estimates with identification of data needs

Cited by 5 publications

References 15 publications

Surface water and groundwater interactions in an extensively mined watershed, upper Schuylkill River, Pennsylvania, USA

Surface water and groundwater interactions in an extensively mined watershed, upper Schuylkill River, Pennsylvania, USA

Use of Modflow Drain Package for Simulating Inter-Basin Transfer of Groundwater in Abandoned Coal Mines

Use of Modflow Drain Package for Simulating Inter-Basin Transfer of Groundwater in Abandoned Coal Mines

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