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Impact of Mining Activities on the Groundwater Resources
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Impact of Mining Activities on the Groundwater Resources

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Hydrology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 September 2024) | Viewed by 9144

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Lahcen Zouhri

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
AGHYLE, Institute Polytechnique UniLaSalle Beauvais, SFR Condorcet FR CNRS 341719 rue Pierre Waguet, CEDEX, F-60026 Beauvais, France
Interests: environmental impact assessment; water quality; sustainable development; water resources engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleague,

The mining exploitation and extraction contribute to the development of the socio-economy of many countries (Africa, China, USA, Canada, Europe).  Groundwater resources which constitute the main use for the extraction and different mining activities are accompanied by a strong withdrawal affecting quantitative and qualitative parameters. Indeed, without preventive measurements, the mining activities can have a negative effect on the environment: hazardous tailings, the mine drainage, infiltration of the polluted liquid effluents in the underground, the degradation of the water quality, and the ecological environment (vegetal and animal biodiversity).

This Special Issue deals with water resources related to mining activities. It brings together the following subjects:

  • Identification of the hydrogeological parameters and the impact on the water storage;
  • Mining and water quality;
  • Hydrochemical interactions water/ rocks;
  • The Sustainable mining water management;
  • Risk analysis and post-mining management
  • Geostatistical and numerical modeling of the groundwater in the mining context.
  • Waste Management and rehabilitation;

Approaches related to the impact of mining activities on water resources. The present special issue draws from worldwide hydrogeological, geochemical, and geophysical investigations in the field, laboratory and geostatistical approaches, numerical simulations of contaminants transfer for a better assessment of resources in the mine context.

Dr. Lahcen Zouhri
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Acid mine drainage
  • Hydrogeochemical assessment
  • Geostatistics Contaminants transfert
  • Interaction rocks /water
  • Groundwater modeling
  • Rehabilitation

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 8605 KiB  
Article
Groundwater Quality Evaluation of Fractured Aquifers Using Machine Learning Models and Hydrogeochemical Approaches to Sustainable Water-Irrigation Security in Arid Climate (Central Tunisia)
by Mohamed Haythem Msaddek, Yahya Moumni, Lahcen Zouhri, Ismail Chenini and Adel Zghibi
Water 2023, 15(19), 3332; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15193332 - 22 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1514
Abstract
The primary aims of this research paper involve the creation and verification of machine learning-based quality models that utilize Integrated Irrigation Water Quality Indices (IIGWQIs) through an integrated GIS approach. We utilize the Least-Squares Support Vector Machines (LS-SVM) and the Pearson Correlation Fuzzy [...] Read more.
The primary aims of this research paper involve the creation and verification of machine learning-based quality models that utilize Integrated Irrigation Water Quality Indices (IIGWQIs) through an integrated GIS approach. We utilize the Least-Squares Support Vector Machines (LS-SVM) and the Pearson Correlation Fuzzy Inference-based System (PC-FIS) to establish forecasts for groundwater quality in the Meknassy basin. This basin serves as a representative case of an irrigated region in a mining environment under arid climatic conditions in central Tunisia. The evaluated factors for groundwater quality encompass the Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQIndex), Sodium Adsorption Ratio Index (SARIndex), Soluble Sodium Percentage Index (SSPIndex), Potential Salinity Index (PSIndex), Kelley Index (KIndex), and Residual Sodium Carbonate Index (RSCIndex). These factors were determined based on measurements from 53 groundwater wells, which included various physico-chemical parameters. The hydrogeochemical facies identified included Ca-Mg-SO4, mixed Ca-Mg-Cl-SO4, and Na-Cl facies, revealing processes such as carbonate weathering, carbonate dissolution, interactions between rocks and groundwater, and mixing ionic substitution. In terms of the irrigation suitability categories, the IWQIndex, SSPIndex, PSIndex, Kindex, and RSCIndex indicated no limitation or minimal limitation (77.36%), secure (92.45%), favorable to excellent (66.04%), favorable (81.13%), and average to secure (88.68%), respectively. However, only 15.09% were considered favorable, according to SARIndex. The evaluation of the predictive models revealed the effectiveness of both the PC-FIS model and the LS-SVM model in accurately forecasting the IIGWQIs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Mining Activities on the Groundwater Resources)
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15 pages, 9512 KiB  
Article
Origin and Salinization Processes of Groundwater in the Semi-Arid Area of Zagora Graben, Southeast Morocco
by Anasse Ait Lemkademe, Mustapha El Ghorfi, Lahcen Zouhri, Ouissal Heddoun, Abdessamad Khalil and Lhou Maacha
Water 2023, 15(12), 2172; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15122172 - 8 Jun 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1872
Abstract
Located in the southeastern region of Morocco, the Zagora area mainly relies on groundwater as a source of water supply. However, this groundwater is often of concern, due to the limited recharge and unfavorable geological conditions for the development of the aquifer. Despite [...] Read more.
Located in the southeastern region of Morocco, the Zagora area mainly relies on groundwater as a source of water supply. However, this groundwater is often of concern, due to the limited recharge and unfavorable geological conditions for the development of the aquifer. Despite this, private wells in the Zagora ditch reveal relatively rich water resources. Geochemical and isotopic studies were conducted in the area to understand the origin of the groundwater and its salinity, aiding in informed water management strategies to assist in better planning and regulation of well construction, as well as in mitigating the impacts of high salinity on local water supply and agricultural systems. The results show that the water quality varies, with some wells having conductivity values in excess of 5 mS/cm. Most groundwater samples have high salinity and low pH due to the CO2 dissolved in groundwater. Geochemical analysis indicated two chemical facies: chloride–sulfate calcic/magnesic and bicarbonate calcic/magnesic. The presence of Na+ and Cl− indicated that the origin of these two elements in these waters was the dissolution of halite, with some samples showing an enrichment of Na+ compared to Cl−. This could be attributed to cation exchange. The concentration of Ca2+ and HCO3− suggested that their origin is the dissolution of calcite and the weathering of calcium silicate minerals such as plagioclase. The isotopic analysis showed that the δ18O values ranged from −10.98‰ to −8.54‰, and δ2H values ranged from −75.9‰ to −62.3‰. This indicated that the groundwater originated from the High Atlas with a recharge altitude between 2600 m and 2800 m. The groundwater flows into the graben through fissures and regional fault networks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Mining Activities on the Groundwater Resources)
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25 pages, 25292 KiB  
Article
Heavy Metal Dispersion in a Hydrological Sub-Basin as Consequence of Mining Activity in Taxco, Guerrero (Southern Mexico)
by Juan Carlos Ramírez-Javier, Alejandro Hermelindo Ramírez-Guzmán, Giovanni Hernández-Flores, Mario Alberto Hernández Hernández, Oscar Talavera-Mendoza, Sergio Adrián Salgado Souto and Alejandra Cortés-Silva
Water 2023, 15(10), 1950; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15101950 - 21 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1823
Abstract
The mining industry generates high concentrations of heavy metals (HMs) susceptible to being released into surface and ground water. The objective of this work was to determine the concentration and dispersion of HMs in surface water and ground water in a hydrological sub-basin [...] Read more.
The mining industry generates high concentrations of heavy metals (HMs) susceptible to being released into surface and ground water. The objective of this work was to determine the concentration and dispersion of HMs in surface water and ground water in a hydrological sub-basin located in southwest Mexico. The samples were collected as following: 24 samples from streams, rivers, and one lake, and 15 samples from springs, located along the Taxco-Cocula sub-basin. A total of 78 samples were collected in the dry and rainy seasons. Physicochemical parameters, major ions, and HMs were analyzed. The pH, Eh, electrical conductivity, and total dissolved solids were analyzed in situ, while the concentrations of anions, cations, and HMs were measured in the laboratory. The results were treated with multivariate analysis and PHREEQC simulation. The highest recorded values (in mg/L) were in surface water, where the HMs in the dry season were Al (28.63), As (0.60), Cd (1.78), Cu (1.10), Fe (68.27), Mn (21.47), Pb (0.02), and Zn (208.80). These high concentrations exceed the limits established by national and international regulations for drinking water. The ground water did not indicate pollutants associated to the mining industry. On the other hand, in the rainy season, the surface water showed a decrease in the concentrations of the measured heavy metals. The hypsometric gradient and the hydrogeological and meteorological characteristics of the Taxco-Cocula sub-basin are the factors that contribute to the dilution and dispersion of the HMs along the 60 km of its length. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Mining Activities on the Groundwater Resources)
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17 pages, 18223 KiB  
Article
Characteristic Developments of the Water-Conducting Fracture Zones in Weakly Cemented Overlying Strata of Jurassic Coal Mines in Western China
by Lifei Zhang, Zizhao Zhang, Kaikai Wang, Xiaodong Tan, Tiandong Zhang and Lei Zhang
Water 2023, 15(6), 1097; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15061097 - 13 Mar 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1463
Abstract
The overlying weakly cemented, and poorly performing strata in Jurassic mines of western China have mechanical properties that are generally lower than those in the Carboniferous-Permian coal mines of central and east China. During coal mining, the overlying strata easily deform and fracture. [...] Read more.
The overlying weakly cemented, and poorly performing strata in Jurassic mines of western China have mechanical properties that are generally lower than those in the Carboniferous-Permian coal mines of central and east China. During coal mining, the overlying strata easily deform and fracture. These then formed water-conducting channels, triggering a series of eco-environmental issues, including ground fracturing, collapsed surfaces, declined underground water levels, deserted lands, and even severe water/sand burst accidents. To study the fracture characteristics of weakly cemented overlying strata and the evolution law of water-conducting fractures in Jurassic coal mines in western China, this study selected Tashidian Erjingtian Mine in Korla, Xinjiang, as the research object. Based on the simulation data obtained with physical analog model testing and field monitoring results, the authors investigated the development of water-conducting fractures in the weakly cemented overlying strata during the coal seam mining process. We simultaneously determined the location of key strata in the working face based on key stratum theory. According to the present research results, key strata controlled the development height of water-conducting fractures. When the primary key stratum or sub-key stratum was not fractured, the development of water-conducting fractures was stagnant; water-conducting fractures developed abruptly when the primary key stratum or sub-key stratum was cracked. The heights of water-conducting fractures in the weakly cemented overlying strata of western China exceeded that of similar stopes of central and east China. These research results provided theoretical and technical support for safety in production at Tashidian Coal Mine. In addition, they offered a reference for green and safe production in Jurassic coal mines of western China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Mining Activities on the Groundwater Resources)
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