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The future of the dolomitic springs after mine closure on the Far West Rand, Gauteng, RSA

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

Approximately 1.2 km of dolomitic limestone overlies the Far West Rand gold reefs southwest of Johannesburg, South Africa. This karst aquifer is partitioned into several groundwater compartments by predominantly north–south trending syenite dykes. Prior to mining, the primary water flow was westwards, decanting over dyke boundaries as a succession of springs along the Lower Wonderfontein Spruit. Dewatering of the overlying dolomitic aquifer for safety and economic reasons by deep gold mining operations, caused the water levels of four compartments to drop and their respective springs to dry up. By perforating dykes, formerly separated aquifers were hydraulically interconnected by mining. Using historical and recent data of water flow—surface and groundwater—and pumping rates, a geohydrological model is presented. The results suggest that the water tables will rise to their pre-mining levels within 30 years after mining ceases and that the dry springs will flow again, despite the compartments being connected by the extensive mining operations.

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Notes

  1. Wagener (1984) defined dolomitic residuum as that portion of the dolomite which remains behind when part of the rock has been removed by chemical weathering processes and leaching. It comprises chert gravel, wad and small quantities of clay. The residuum is usually mixed with transported material which filters from above.

  2. Inter-colonial Commission (1905), Enslin (1967) and Hodgson and others (2001) assumed the pre-mining yield of the spring of a compartment to be equivalent to the recharge of that compartment. This convention was also adopted in this paper.

  3. Some pumped water re-enters the underground as mine service water, water also leaves the mine through evaporation via the ventilation shafts and tailings dams. Neither volume has been measured on a continuous and regional basis, consequently aquifer draw-down was, estimated from volume pumped minus natural recharge, assumed to be equivalent to the pre-mining spring flow.

  4. In 1960, Blyvooruitzicht Mine, also in the Oberholzer Compartment, was merely re-circulating pumped water.

  5. The vertical distance between the pre-mining water table and the sink of the dewatering cone at West Driefontein Gold Mine's No. 2 Shaft (a dewatering shaft) (Fig. 3, Table 5 column 6) is approximately 1,000 m.

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Acknowledgements

The contribution of Dr AH Leuschner of Gold Fields Ltd. is gratefully acknowledged for sanctioning this paper. The design of drawings and other editorial support by Mr. S. Dill, Ms. C. van der Merwe, Mr. C.J. Oosthuizen, Dr. F. Winde and Mr. M.S. Molefe is deeply appreciated. Last, but not least, the Far West Rand Dolomitic Water Association is graciously thanked for making data and other resources available for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. GFL Mining Services Limited Ground Stability Group, P.O. Box 6171, Oberholzer 2501, South Africa

    C. J. U. Swart

  2. Metago Environmental Engineers (Pty) Ltd., P.O. Box 1596, Cramerview 2060, South Africa

    A. R. James

  3. Council for Geoscience, Private Bag X112, Pretoria 0001, South Africa

    R. J. Kleywegt

  4. P.O. Box 9, Welverdiend 2495, South Africa

    E. J. Stoch

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  1. C. J. U. Swart
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  2. A. R. James
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  3. R. J. Kleywegt
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  4. E. J. Stoch
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Correspondence to C. J. U. Swart.

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Swart, C.J.U., James, A.R., Kleywegt, R.J. et al. The future of the dolomitic springs after mine closure on the Far West Rand, Gauteng, RSA. Env Geol 44, 751–770 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-003-0820-3

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