Geophysical Diagnosis of Diversion Channel Infiltration in a Uranium Waste Rock Pile

Nascimento, Matheus Mistrinel Pacine Feitoza do; Moreira, César Augusto; Duz, Beatriz Guzzo; Silveira, Ana Júlia Traíba da

doi:10.1007/s10230-022-00878-3

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 41 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Our discussion focuses on the data resolution capabilities of the W-α array across various tailings layers, acknowledging its diminished resolution at greater depths attributable to wider electrode spacing. Notably, prior investigations [51,59], including those by Olayinka and Yaramanci [45], have corroborated similar trends regarding data resolution concerning electrode spacing and DOI. While Olayinka and Yaramanci [45] observed lesser noise contamination in the W-α array when compared to other configurations in different geological settings, they noted that the W-β and W-γ arrays exhibited lower noise contamination during imaging surveys, albeit with inconsistent anomaly effects and signal-to-noise ratios, as reported by the same authors.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 67%

“…In comparison, the Sch array, while demonstrating imaging abilities akin to the Wα array due to similarities in electric field and measurements, excels in DOI relative to other arrays, as highlighted in previous research [59,66]. However, challenges persist, including higher noise contamination and fewer signal-to-noise ratios compared to the W-α array [45,60], rendering the Sch array less suitable for multichannel applications without a reciprocal array.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Meanwhile, the dipole-dipole array was used to assess waste materials in a mining tailing pond in El Gorguel, Spain [58]. ERT was employed to diagnose alteration channel penetration in uranium waste in Osamu Utsumi, Brazil, using the Schlumberger array [59]. The Schlumberger array was used for investigations and evaluation of environmental pollution in a mine tailings area in Komsomolsk, Russia [60].…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Numerical Simulation of Geophysical Models to Detect Mining Tailings’ Leachates within Tailing Storage Facilities

Ali,

Mewafy,

Qian

et al. 2024

Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The effective detection and monitoring of mining tailings’ leachates (MTLs) plays a pivotal role in environmental protection and remediation efforts. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is a non-invasive technique widely employed for mapping subsurface contaminant plumes. However, the efficacy of ERT depends on selecting the optimal electrode array for each specific case. This study addresses this challenge by conducting a comprehensive review of published case studies utilizing ERT to characterize mining tailings. Through numerical simulations, we compare the imaging capabilities of commonly used electrode configurations, six ERT arrays, aiming to identify the optimal array for MTLs’ detection and monitoring. In addition, field surveys employing ERT were conducted at the El Mochito mine tailings site to detect zones saturated with leachates within the tailing storage facilities (TSFs). The findings indicate that the “Wenner-Schlumberger” array exhibits superior data resolution for MTL detection. However, the choice of the optimal electrode array is contingent on factors such as survey location, geological considerations, research objectives, data processing time and cost, and logistical constraints. This study serves as a practical guide for selecting the most effective electrode array in the context of pollutant penetration from mining tailings, employing the ERT technique. Furthermore, it contributes valuable insights into characterizing zones saturated with mining tailing leachates within the TSFs, providing a solid foundation for informed environmental management and remediation strategies.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 67%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Numerical Simulation of Geophysical Models to Detect Mining Tailings’ Leachates within Tailing Storage Facilities

Ali,

Mewafy,

Qian

et al. 2024

Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The geophysical method used in this study was the DC resistivity in order to characterize the materials presents in the subsurface of slopes and identify water in fractures, as well as present in the works made by Casagrande et al 2020;Nascimento et al 2022 andOliveira et al 2010. The electrical resistivity method is based on the physical parameter of electrical resistivity (ρ) which consists of the difficulty to the passage of electric current (Telford et al, 2004).…”

Section: Resisitivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater identification using geophysical tools and its implications for the stability of slopes in an open pit mine

Guzzo Duz,

Moreira,

Hartwig

et al. 2024

Geofis Int

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The open pit mining development begins with the opening of pits with the rock mass excavation and formation of slopes and berms for ore exploration. Knowledge about the geological conditions represents an important step in this process, since rock masses generally have heterogeneous characteristics and the presence of discon- tinuities can become an aggravating factor in the safety of operations. The characterization and classification of these discontinuities, as well as the identification of the groundwater in the rock mass, has a great importance to ensure the safety of operations during the mine's production process, in addition to ensure the effectiveness of its decommissioning process. The use of DC resistivity geophysical method has been increasing to characterization and identification lithological types and presence of water, since it is a non-invasive research tool with fast ability to obtain data. DC resistivity together with visual investigation methods, such as obtaining the discontinuities orientation and their alteration characteristics, provides important information for the characterization of the rock mass. Given this importance, the present work aimed to use DC resistivity to identify the presence of water and its correlation with lithology and rock mass structure in order to identify how these variables influence the occurrence of ruptures. To this end, two-dimensional resistivity sections were designed and related to visual inspection data and kinematic analyzes obtained from structural data of the rock mass. The integration of these results indicated that the ruptures present in the investigated mine slopes are related to zones whose predominant lithology is volcanic breccia with the presence of water in the subsurface. These ruptures compromise the stability of the slopes and consequently make the decommissioning mine process difficult.

show abstract

“…The pit is approximately 1.2 km in diameter and from this, approximately 17,200 tons of uranium were removed. Since 1995, the uranium mine has been in the process of decommissioning, but given the conditions of both geotechnical and chemical instability, the site has not achieved effectiveness in this process [39][40][41][42].…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping the integrity of rock mass with GPR: case study in decommissioning mining

Duz,

Moreira,

Casagrande

et al. 2023

SN Appl. Sci.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Slopes are built for the purpose of extracting ore, in the case of mining, or access roads in civil works. The excavation of slopes in tropical countries is facilitated by the thick layer of soil formed from the more intense weathering when compared to other countries. However, the residence time of water in the soil is relatively longer and consequently allows the accumulation and percolation of water through rock fractures even in the dry period. These factors induce a greater probability of occurrence of ruptures. Mines in the decommissioning phase must guarantee slope stability conditions even after closure in order to comply with legislation and environmental safety. In this work, the slopes of a decommissioning mine were investigated using geophysical methods (GPR) and structural analysis of the rock mass. The results were presented in the form of radargrams that correlate distance and depth of investigation. Structural data served as the basis for the execution of kinematic analyzes for planar and wedge ruptures. The analysis of the results allowed the correlation between electromagnetic signal attenuation zones, with the presence of water and the occurrence of ruptures. Thus, the GPR results allowed the recognition of structural discontinuities, accumulation zones and water flow.

show abstract

Geophysical Diagnosis of Diversion Channel Infiltration in a Uranium Waste Rock Pile

Cited by 7 publications

References 41 publications

Numerical Simulation of Geophysical Models to Detect Mining Tailings’ Leachates within Tailing Storage Facilities

Numerical Simulation of Geophysical Models to Detect Mining Tailings’ Leachates within Tailing Storage Facilities

Groundwater identification using geophysical tools and its implications for the stability of slopes in an open pit mine

Mapping the integrity of rock mass with GPR: case study in decommissioning mining

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About