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Identification of the sources of mine drainage in a multiaquifer area: a case study of the abandoned Dashu pyrite mine in southwest China

Identification des sources de drainage minier dans une zone d’aquifères multiples: étude de cas de la mine de pyrite abandonnée de Dashu dans le sud-ouest de la Chine

Identificación de fuentes de drenaje de minas en una zona con múltiples acuíferos: un estudio de caso de la mina de pirita abandonada de Dashu en el suroeste de China

识别多含水层区域中矿坑排水的来源:以中国西南部废弃的大树硫铁矿为例

Identificação das fontes de drenagem de mina em área multiaquífera: um estudo de caso da mina de pirita abandonada de Dashu, no sudoeste da China

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Abstract

Environmental pollution by acid mine drainage (AMD) can have serious consequences, and water is necessary for the production of AMD. Studying the source of mine water is of great significance for revealing the causes of pollution and controlling environmental degradation. Taking the abandoned Dashu pyrite mine in southwest China as an example, hydrogeological and hydrochemical analyses and environmental isotope analysis, combined with principal component analysis (PCA), were used to find the hydraulic relationship between the mine’s decline roadway and the surrounding aquifer, and to identify the source of mine water. Using deuterium-excess and tritium-content values, the recharge sources of the mine water were identified quantitatively, and a conceptual model of the groundwater flow was established, taking into consideration the hydrogeological conditions. Thus, the hydrogeological context associated with the pollution was determined. The results showed that the mine drainage mainly originates from the central groundwater recharge zone of the Quaternary accumulation platform in the northwest section of the mine, and a small part comes from the karst water recharge zone of the Maokou Formation. A quantitative identification method appropriate for multiple aquifers is established, which can provide a reference for the identification of the drainage sources of abandoned mines in similar multiple-aquifer settings, and it could provide important guidance for environmental managers dealing with the remediation of abandoned mine drainage.

Résumé

La pollution de l’environnement par le drainage minier acide (DMA) peut avoir de graves conséquences, et l’eau est nécessaire à la production du DMA. L’étude de la source des eaux minières est d’une grande importance pour révéler les causes de la pollution et contrôler la dégradation de l’environnement. En prenant pour exemple la mine de pyrite abandonnée de Dashu, dans le sud-ouest de la Chine, des analyses hydrogéologiques et hydrochimiques et des analyses isotopiques environnementales, combinées à une analyse en composantes principales (ACP), ont été utilisées pour identifier la relation hydraulique entre la chaussée inclinée de la mine et l’aquifère environnant, et pour déterminer la source de l’eau de la mine. En utilisant les valeurs d’excès de deutérium et de teneur en tritium, les sources de recharge de l’eau de la mine ont été identifiées quantitativement, et un modèle conceptuel de l’écoulement des eaux souterraines a été établi, en considérant les conditions hydrogéologiques. Ainsi, le contexte hydrogéologique associé à la pollution a été défini. Les résultats ont montré que le drainage de la mine provient principalement de la zone centrale de recharge des eaux souterraines de la plate-forme d’accumulation quaternaire dans la section nord-ouest de la mine, et une petite partie provient de la zone de recharge des eaux karstiques de la formation de Maokou. Une méthode d’identification quantitative appropriée pour les aquifères multiples est établie, qui peut servir de référence pour l’identification des sources de drainage des mines abandonnées dans des contextes similaires d’aquifères multiples, et elle pourrait fournir des conseils importants aux gestionnaires de l’environnement qui s’occupent de l’assainissement du drainage des mines abandonnées.

Resumen

La contaminación ambiental por el drenaje ácido de las minas (AMD) puede tener graves consecuencias, y el agua es necesaria para la producción de AMD. Estudiar el origen del agua de las minas es de suma importancia para revelar las causas de la contaminación y controlar la degradación del medio ambiente. Tomando como ejemplo la mina de pirita abandonada de Dashu, en el suroeste de China, se utilizaron análisis hidrogeológicos e hidroquímicos y análisis de isótopos ambientales, combinados con el análisis de componentes principales (PCA), para encontrar la relación hidráulica entre la vía inclinada de la mina y el acuífero circundante, y para identificar la fuente del agua de la mina. Utilizando los valores de exceso de deuterio y de contenido de tritio, se identificaron cuantitativamente las fuentes de recarga del agua en la mina, y se estableció un modelo conceptual del flujo de agua subterránea, teniendo en cuenta las condiciones hidrogeológicas. Así, se determinó el contexto hidrogeológico asociado a la contaminación. Los resultados mostraron que el drenaje de la mina se origina principalmente en la zona central de recarga de aguas subterráneas de la plataforma de acumulación cuaternaria en la sección noroeste de la mina, y una pequeña parte proviene de la zona de recarga de aguas cársticas de la Formación Maokou. Se establece un método de identificación cuantitativa apropiado para múltiples acuíferos, que puede proporcionar una referencia para la identificación de las fuentes de drenaje de las minas abandonadas en entornos similares de múltiples acuíferos, y podría proporcionar una orientación importante para los gestores ambientales que se ocupan de la remediación del drenaje de minas abandonadas.

摘要

酸性矿山排水(AMD)污染的环境污染可能会产生严重的后果，并且水是AMD生产必需使用的。研究矿坑排水的来源对于揭示污染和控制环境退化的原因具有重要意义。以中国西南部废弃的大树硫铁矿为例，使用水文地质、水文化学和环境同位素分析，并使用主要成分分析(PCA)来找到倾斜的矿山公路与周边含水层之间的水力关系，以及识别矿水的来源。在考虑水文地质条件情况下，使用过量氘和氚含量定量确定了矿水的补给来源，并确定了地下水流的概念模型。因此，确定了与污染相关的水文地质环境。结果表明，矿山排水主要起源于矿山西北部第四系堆积台地的中央地下水补给区，一小部分来自茅口组喀斯特水补给区。建立了一种适用于多含水层的定量识别方法，可以为在类似的多含水层环境中识别废弃矿排水来源提供参考，并且可以为环境管理者提供重要的指导，以处理对废弃矿坑排水的修复。

Resumo

A poluição ambiental por drenagem ácida de mina (DAM) pode trazer sérias consequências, e a água é necessária para a produção de DAM. Estudar as fontes da água da mina é de grande importância para revelar as causas da poluição e controlar a degradação do meio ambiente. Usando a mina de pirita abandonada de Dashu, no sudoeste da China como um exemplo, a análise hidrogeológica e hidroquímica e a análise de isótopos ambientais, combinados com uma análise de componentes principais (ACP), foram utilizados para encontrar uma relação hidráulica entre a entrada inclinada da mina e os aquíferos circundantes, e para identificar a fonte da água da mina. Utilizando os valores de excesso de deutério e trítio, as fontes de recarga da água da mina foram identificadas quantitativamente, e um modelo conceitual do fluxo de água subterrânea foi estabelecido, levando em consideração as condições hidrogeológicas. Desta maneira, o contexto hidrogeológico associado com a poluição foi determinado. Os resultados mostraram que a drenagem da mina origina-se majoritariamente pela zona de recarga central da água subterrânea da plataforma de acumulação do Quaternário na porção noroeste da mina, e uma menor parte vem da zona de recarga cárstica da Formação Maokou. Um método de identificação quantitativa apropriado para múltiplos aquíferos foi estabelecido, o que pode servir como referência para a identificação das fontes de drenagem de minas abandonadas em configurações de múltiplos aquíferos similares, e pode servir como um importante guia para gestores ambientais lidando com a remediação de drenagem de minas abandonadas.

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Acknowledgements

This work was carried out as part of the State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection free exploration project SKLGP2019Z008, the Sichuan Provincial Department of Science and Technology program focusing on research and development (2020YFS0339), the State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Synergetic Control and Joint Remediation for Soil & Water Pollution open fund (GHBK-2020-018), and the State Environmental Protection special fund for support. Our thanks go to the Sichuan Institute of Geological Exploration for the sampling and analysis, which was of great assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environment and Resources, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China

    Bo Li & Zheng Linfeng

  2. State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu, 610059, China

    Bo Li, Zheng Linfeng & Guo Liu

  3. Sichuan Tianshengyuan Environmental Services Co., Chengdu, 610037, China

    Zaiwen Yang

  4. College of Chemistry and Life Science, Chengdu Normal University, Chengdu, 611130, China

    Cheng Chen

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Li, B., Linfeng, Z., Yang, Z. et al. Identification of the sources of mine drainage in a multiaquifer area: a case study of the abandoned Dashu pyrite mine in southwest China. Hydrogeol J 31, 387–400 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-022-02559-5

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