Numerical modeling of groundwater inflow from a confined aquifer into Sangan open pit mine, northeast Iran

Numerical models are useful in the evaluation of the interaction between groundwater systems and mining activities. They can be successfully used to predict the quantity of inflow into open pits and to design an appropriate dewatering system. In this paper, a two-dimensional axi-symmetric finite element model called SEEP/W has been used to predict the groundwater inflow into Sangan open pit mine (anomaly north C). The Sangan iron mine is located at 280 km south-east of Mashhad, Iran, in arid and warm climate conditions wherein precipitation is generally limited. The water inflow to the pit is mainly from a confined aquifer, mainly by horizontal flow in the upper layers and vertical flow at the pit bottom. The results of the numerical model of the ground water inflow are presented and compared with those obtained from Theis, Cooper-Jacob and Jacob-Lohman analytical solutions. Ground water inflow monitoring was also carried out in a trial excavation at the Sangan mine in order to calibrate the model. The model was then used to predict groundwater inflow into Sangan open pit mine during its advancement. This model provides valuable information for designing an appropriate dewatering system.

[1]  G. Kruseman,et al.  Analysis and Evaluation of Pumping Test Data , 1983 .

[2]  Sied Ziaedin Shafaei,et al.  Modelling of groundwater recovery process for prediction of land settlement in surface mines , 2007 .

[3]  S. W. Lohman,et al.  Nonsteady flow to a well of constant drawdown in an extensive aquifer , 1952 .

[4]  F. Calizaya,et al.  New P.T. Freeport Mine ventilation system -- basic requirements (25 kt/day plan) , 1999 .

[5]  S. P. Neuman.  GALERKIN APPROACH TO UNSATURATED FLOW IN SOILS. , 1974 .

[6]  G. Pinder,et al.  Application of Galerkin's Procedure to aquifer analysis , 1972 .

[7]  Raghu N Singh,et al.  ASSESSMENT OF GROUND WATER REBOUND IN BACKFILLED OPEN CUT MINES USING THE FINITE ELEMENT METHOD , 2004 .

[8]  R. L. Lewis.  Predicting the steady-state water quality of pit lakes , 1999 .

[9]  Fred Marinelli,et al.  Simple Analytical Equations for Estimating Ground Water Inflow to a Mine Pit , 2000 .

[10]  W. G. Gray,et al.  Galerkin approximation of the time derivative in the finite element analysis of groundwater flow , 1974 .

[11]  C. E. Jacob,et al.  A generalized graphical method for evaluating formation constants and summarizing well‐field history , 1946 .

[12]  Ahmad Aryafar,et al.  PREDICTION OF GROUNDWATER INFLOW AND HEIGHT OF THE SEEPAGE FACE IN A DEEP OPEN PIT MINE USING NUMERICAL FINITE ELEMENT MODEL AND ANALYTICAL SOLUTIONS , 2007 .

[13]  I. Porter,et al.  A Finite Element Model to: 1. Predict Groundwater Inflow to Surface Mining Excavations , 2003 .

[14]  Use of a Finite Element Code to Model Complex Mine Water Problems , 2003 .

[15]  C. V. Theis.  The relation between the lowering of the Piezometric surface and the rate and duration of discharge of a well using ground‐water storage , 1935 .

[16]  George F. Pinder,et al.  A Galerkin‐finite element simulation of groundwater contamination on Long Island, New York , 1973 .

[17]  R. Singh,et al.  Analytical techniques for the estimation of mine water inflow , 1985 .

[18]  Raghu N Singh,et al.  Application of idealised analytical techniques for prediction of mine water inflow , 1985 .

[19]  I. Porter,et al.  A Finite Element Model to: 2. Simulate Groundwater Rebound Problems in Backfilled Open Cut Mines , 2003 .