Understanding the influence of stratification for mine water management: a comparative study

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Hydrogeology
• Mining Engineering

Background:

• Effective mine water management is essential for environmental protection, regulatory compliance, and human health.
• Understanding complex hydrodynamic and chemical processes in flooded mines is critical for developing management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize hydrodynamic processes in flooded underground mines, focusing on density stratification.
• To investigate the relationship between stratification, mine geometry, and physico-chemical profiles.
• To identify universal patterns of stratification in flooded mines.

Main Methods:

• Physico-chemical depth profile measurements in 29 ore and coal mine shafts.
• Analysis of shaft geometry and mine layout.
• Comparison of depth profiles to identify cross-links and universal stratification patterns.

Main Results:

• Density stratification occurs in nearly all investigated flooded underground mines.
• The uppermost stratified water body is typically found near the first or second connected level.
• Stratification often leads to significantly improved water quality in the uppermost layer.

Conclusions:

• Density stratification is a fundamental process in flooded mine water management.
• Stratification directly influences the quality of discharged mine water.
• This knowledge is vital for optimizing mine closure, water management, treatment, and future mine design.