Parametric assessment of groundwater vulnerability to pollution within an open pit reclaimed by gangue

Abstract

The use of post-mining wastes in the reclamation of an open pit may act as a source of pollution that has a very strong impact on the groundwater environment. One such facility in Poland is the CTL Maczki-Bór S.A. sand mine filled with waste rock from hard coal mines. The current hydrodynamic conditions in the Quaternary aquifer causes that the wastes are in the bottom part of the open pit under the constant influence of groundwater. Due to the sub-level nature of the pollution source, the author of the study modified the classic rank-weight method of assessing the groundwater vulnerability to pollution in order to adapt it to the atypical type of the pollutant emitter. An individual approach was proposed by modifying the range of parameters as well as the assigned ranks and weights. Six key parameters were indicated, i.e. the thickness of the aeration zone, the thickness of the saturation zone, the filtration coefficients of the deposits in both of these zones, the recharge of the aquifer and the surface topography. The correctness of weight selection was verified by sensitivity analysis in the sensitivity variant of one parameter. It has been proposed to classify the groundwater vulnerability to 5 classes from moderately high to extremely high. For theoretical and effective weights, the obtained values of the index of groundwater vulnerability to pollution allowed to divide the area of the reclaimed open pit into two zones with high and very high groundwater vulnerability to pollution.

Investigation of groundwater and its seasonal variation in a rural region in Natore, Bangladesh

“…Groundwater contains dissolved ionic substances since it is in contact with mineral rocks deep in the soil. Gradually, the amounts of pollutants are simultaneously being introduced into the groundwater through agriculture, mining, industry, and waste disposal [ [1] , [2] , [3] , [4] , [5] ]. Contaminated water can deteriorate biological integrity, upset ecosystems, put human health at risk, and make ecosystem functions less readily available [ 6 ].…”

Analytical research of the parameters and characteristics of new “quarry cavities – backfill material” systems: Case study of Ukraine

“…This is usually possible in the case when there are dumps nearby with a sufficient volume of overburden rocks from other quarries. Despite the fact that this method is environmentally friendly and characterized by relative simplicity, it has a number of disadvantages: low rate of filling quarry cavities, significant porosity of reclamation material and a high filtration coefficient with a subsequent probability of contamination [37], [38]. Further use of land areas reclaimed in this way in the construction direction of restoration is doubtful and risky.…”