Computer Simulation Of Ground Water Inflow To Underground Mines

The application and development of computer models for simulation of transient ground water inflow to underground mines can assist in mine planning and operation as well as environmental impact assessment. Applications include planning for water handling, treatment, and disposal operations based on predicted mine inflow rates, determination of mining impacts on ground water movement and potentiometric surfaces in neighboring aquifers, evaluation of methods for minimizing ground water inflow, and determination of ground water inflow quality. The potential ground water inflow components to a mine consist of direct inflow from an adjacent aquifer and infiltration through intervening geologic formations. The rates of inflow are controlled by the geologic conditions, the potentiometric surface of the aquifer, and the hydrogeologic characteristics of the water-bearing and confining formations. The capabilities and potential use of a computer model for simulation of mine inflow are illustrated through an example problem.