Mine Hydrology: Coal Mine
Northern Arizona
Western Water & Land provides ongoing hydrologic services to a large coal mine operating in northern Arizona. Our services have included assessments of water quality of mine water drainage and hydrologic impact of refuse disposal. Assessment of refuse disposal impacts involved delineating the optimum refuse disposal area at the mine and investigating the potential hydrologic impact of the coal-wash refuse material. An unsaturated flow and transport model was developed to evaluate the potential for migration of coal-wash refuse leachate. The project required assimilation of significant quantities of hydrologic data. A final report was prepared to document the results of the assessment and support revision of the mine permit.
Western Water & Land also designed and implemented a groundwater tracer study at the mine to evaluate source contributions from two onsite ponds to a nearby spring. The scope of work for the project included trace selection, trace injection, monitoring, data interpretation, and final report preparation.
Western Water & Land also performed a comprehensive source-water spring study for the mine to assess whether mine operations contributed to degraded water quality in a downgradient spring. The purpose of the study was to construct a rational conceptual flow model depicting the origin of the spring and related groundwater flow paths. The study involved the compilation of numerous data sets including multiple parameters from hundreds of exploration drill holes. Water and rock samples were collected and analyzed to evaluate rock-water chemistry relationships. In addition, a comprehensive evaluation of water chemistry was conducted for the study. The resulting conceptual flow model indicated that mining activities did not likely influence spring discharge and chemistry.
Northern Arizona
Western Water & Land provides ongoing hydrologic services to a large coal mine operating in northern Arizona. Our services have included assessments of water quality of mine water drainage and hydrologic impact of refuse disposal. Assessment of refuse disposal impacts involved delineating the optimum refuse disposal area at the mine and investigating the potential hydrologic impact of the coal-wash refuse material. An unsaturated flow and transport model was developed to evaluate the potential for migration of coal-wash refuse leachate. The project required assimilation of significant quantities of hydrologic data. A final report was prepared to document the results of the assessment and support revision of the mine permit.
Western Water & Land also designed and implemented a groundwater tracer study at the mine to evaluate source contributions from two onsite ponds to a nearby spring. The scope of work for the project included trace selection, trace injection, monitoring, data interpretation, and final report preparation.
Western Water & Land also performed a comprehensive source-water spring study for the mine to assess whether mine operations contributed to degraded water quality in a downgradient spring. The purpose of the study was to construct a rational conceptual flow model depicting the origin of the spring and related groundwater flow paths. The study involved the compilation of numerous data sets including multiple parameters from hundreds of exploration drill holes. Water and rock samples were collected and analyzed to evaluate rock-water chemistry relationships. In addition, a comprehensive evaluation of water chemistry was conducted for the study. The resulting conceptual flow model indicated that mining activities did not likely influence spring discharge and chemistry.