Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of hydraulic conductivity of disturbed and undisturbed rock masses in Tunçbilek lignite basin, Turkey

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Hydraulic conductivities of rock masses in Tunçbilek lignite basin, western Turkey, were determined by analytical methods and seepage analyses. In situ hydraulic conductivity of lignite, clay-bearing rocks and disturbed rock masses in the basin was determined by utilizing the inversed auger hole method. The hydraulic conductivity values of the lignite and clay-bearing rocks were determined by the field testing to be ranged from 7.88×10−7 to 2.24×10−6 m/s and from 2.49×10−7 to 1.11×10−5 m/s, respectively. Excavation and blasting processes for mining activity eventually caused a significant increase in the fracture frequency. Therefore, hydraulic conductivity values of disturbed/blasted rock masses were measured as two or three order magnitudes higher than those measured on the undisturbed clay-bearing rock masses. To get a further understanding of the hydraulic properties of studied rock masses, seepage analyses were also performed on rock masses left as a pillar between an underground mining gallery and an adjacent abandoned open-pit mining lake. According to the analytical solution based on the Dupuit-Forchheimer approximations, the average hydraulic conductivity value of the pillar consisting mainly of marls, claystone and lignite layer with a variable thickness was calculated as 1.2×10−6 m/s. Seepage analyses were also performed to predict water inflow to the gallery in the case of possible blasting and subsidence-related disturbance problems as well as a rise in the level of the open-pit lake. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that subsidence or blasting-induced disturbance of rock masses can cause excessive water inflow into the underground galleries to jeopardize the safety of mining activities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig.10.
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alemdag S (2015) Assessment of bearing capacity and permeability of foundation rocks at the Gumustas Waste Dam Site, (NE Turkey) using empirical and numerical analysis. Arab J Geosci 8:1099–1110. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-013-1236-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baş H (1986) Tertiary geology of the Domaniç-Tavşanlı-Kütahya-Gediz region. Jeoloji Mühendisliği 17:11–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Black JH (1987) Flow and flow mechanisms in crystalline rock. In: Goff JC, Williams BPJ (eds) Fluid Flow in Sedimentary Basins and Aquifers, vol 34. Geological Society Special Publications, London, pp 186–200

  • Blümling P, Bernier F, Lebon P, Martin CD (2007) The excavation damaged zone in clay formations time-dependent behavior and influence on performance assessment. Phys Chem Earth 32:588–599. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2006.04.034

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burgess A (1977) Groundwater movements around a repository - regional groundwater flow analyses. Kaernbraenslesaekerhet, Stockholm

  • Carlsson A, Olsson T (1977) Hydraulic properties of Swedish crystalline rocks-hydraulic conductivity and its relation to depth. Bulletin of the Geological Institutions of the University of Uppsala 7:71–84

  • Çelik Y (2000) Stratigraphy and depositional environments of the Domaniç (Kütahya) Neogene basin, western Turkey. In: 53rd Geological Congress of Turkey, Abstract Book, Ankara, pp 177–178

  • Demir H, Bozdağ Ş (2020) Determination of the permeability properties of the Gyttja in the section Kahramanmaraş-Afşin-Elbistan coal basin and evaluation in the terms of dewatering. Çukurova Univ J Sci Eng 39(4):91–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Fell R, MacGregor P, Stapledon D, Bell G (2005) Geotechnical Engineering of Dams. Taylor & Francis, London

  • Fernandez G, Moon J (2010) Excavation-induced hydraulic conductivity reduction around a tunnel-part 1: guideline for estimate of groundwater inflow rate. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 25:560–566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2010.03.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foyo A, Sánchez MA, Tomillo C (2005) A proposal for a secondary permeability index obtained from water pressure tests in dam foundations. Eng Geol 77(1):69–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2004.08.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghaffari HO, Sharifzadeh M, Shahriar K, Pedrycz W (2009) Application of soft granulation theory to permeability analysis. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 46(3):577–589. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2008.09.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Groenewold GH, Hemish LA, Cherry JA, Rehm BW, Meyer GN, Winczewski LM (1979) Geology and geohydrology of the Knife River basin and adjacent areas of west-central North Dakota. North Dakota Geological Survey Reports of Investigation Number 64

  • Gurocak Z, Alemdag S (2012) Assessment of permeability and injection depth at the Atasu dam site (Turkey) based on experimental and numerical analyses. Bull Eng Geol Environ 71:221–229. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-011-0400-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamm SY, Kim M, Cheng JY, Kim JY, Son M, Kim TW (2007) Relationship between hydraulic conductivity and fracture properties estimated from packer test and borehole data in a fracture granite. Eng Geol 92:73–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2007.03.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ku CY, Hsu SM, Chiou LB, Lin GF (2009) An empirical model for estimating hydraulic conductivity of highly disturbed clastic sedimentary rocks in Taiwan. Eng Geol 109:213–223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2009.08.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Louis C (1972) Rock hydraulics. In: Muller L (ed) Rock mechanics. Springer Verlag, Vienna, pp 299–387

  • Louis C, Maini YN (1970) Determination of in-situ hydraulic parameters in jointed rock. Int Soc Rock Mech Proc 1:1–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Lugeon M (1933) Barrage et Géologie. Dunod, Paris

  • Moran SR, Groenewold GH, Cherry JA (1978) Geologic, hydrologic, and geochemical concepts and techniques in overburden characterization for mined-land reclamation. North Dakota Geological Survey Reports of Investigation Number 63

  • MTA (2002) 1:500,000 scale geology map of Turkey, İzmir sheet. General Directorate of MTA, Ankara

  • Oosterband R, Nijland H (1994) Determining the saturated hydraulic conductivity. In: Ritzema HP (ed) Drainage Principles and Applications, 2nd edn. Wageningen, ILRI, pp 435–476

  • Pesendorfer M, Loew S, Zappa M (2009) Environmental impacts of the Lötschberg Base and Crest Tunnels, Switzerland. In: Vrkljan I (ed) Rock Engineering in Difficult Ground Conditions – Soft Rocks and Karst (Eurock 2009). CRC Press, pp 729–734

  • Quiñones-Rozo C (2010) Lugeon test interpretation, revisited. US Society of Dams, 30th Annual Conference, Sacremento, April 12-16, 2010, pp 405–414

  • Rehm BW, Groenewold GH, Morin KA (1980) Hydraulic properties of coal and related materials, Northern Great Plains. Ground Water 18(6):551–561

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schobert HH (1995) Lignites of North America. Elsevier, Amsterdam

  • Shestopalov V, Rudenko Y (2002) Radioactive contamination of groundwater within Kiev conurbation. In: Shestopalov V (ed) Chernobyl Disaster and Groundwater. A.A. Balkema Publisher, pp 101–132

  • Singhal BBS, Gupta RP (2010) Applied hydrogeology of fractured rocks, 2nd edn. Springer, Dordrecht

  • van Hoorn JW (1979) Determining hydraulic conductivity with the inversed auger hole and infiltrometer methods. In: Wesseling J (ed) Proc. Int. Drainage Workshop, Wageningen, pp 150–154

  • Wei ZQ, Egger P, Descoeudres F (1995) Permeability predictions for jointed rock masses. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 32:251–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu Z, Zhao Z, Sun J, Lu M (2015) Determination of hydraulic conductivity of fractured rock masses: a case study for a rock cavern project in Singapore. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 7:178–184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2014.10.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao J (1998) Rock mass hydraulic conductivity of the Bukit Timah granite, Singapore. Eng Geol 50:211–216. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-7952(98)00021-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Turkish National Coal Board (TCB). The authors are also very grateful to field staffs of the Garp Lignite Operations Directorate for their valuable logistical support during field studies. The authors also thank the reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions which improved the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Engineering Department, Kutahya Dumlupınar University, 43270, Kütahya, Turkey

    Hüseyin Karakuş & Zeynal Abiddin Erguler

  2. Mining Engineering Department, Kutahya Dumlupınar University, 43270, Kütahya, Turkey

    İ. Göktay Ediz & Sunay Beyhan

Authors
  1. Hüseyin Karakuş
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zeynal Abiddin Erguler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. İ. Göktay Ediz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sunay Beyhan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hüseyin Karakuş.

Ethics declarations

Competing interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Amjad Kallel

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Karakuş, H., Erguler, Z.A., Ediz, İ.G. et al. Assessment of hydraulic conductivity of disturbed and undisturbed rock masses in Tunçbilek lignite basin, Turkey. Arab J Geosci 14, 1522 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-08063-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-08063-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation