Open-Pit Mine Dewatering Based on Water Recirculation—Case Study with Numerical Modelling

Kazimierz Różkowski, Robert Zdechlik and Wojciech Chudzik
Additional contact information
Kazimierz Różkowski: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Resource Management, AGH University of Science and Technology, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Robert Zdechlik: Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Wojciech Chudzik: Lafarge Aggregates and Concrete, Aleje Jerozolimskie 142B, 02-305 Warsaw, Poland

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 15, 1-18

Abstract: The layout of the dewatering system in open-cast mining must be adapted to mining assumptions and to the size of expected inflows, which, in turn, depend on natural conditions and the operation of other mines and groundwater intakes, affecting the arrangement of the hydrodynamic field. This case study analyses possible dewatering solutions related to a change in the mining drainage system: decommissioning by flooding of a depleted deposit and dewatering of a new one located in the vicinity. As part of numerical modelling, a solution was sought to minimise the environmental impact of drainage. Forecast calculations for two drainage alternatives were made. One of the solutions follows the classic approach: independent dewatering of the new excavation. The second solution assumes the recirculation of waters from dewatering of the new mine through their discharge into a closed and flooded pit located in the vicinity. The results of the forecasts for both variants point to the modification of the hydrodynamic field resulting from expected volumes of inflows and different environmental effects. The use of numerical simulations assisted the selection of the optimal dewatering solution.

Keywords: groundwater; dewatering optimisation; flow model; finite difference method; hydrogeological forecast; water recirculation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/15/4576/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/15/4576/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:15:p:4576-:d:603524

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().