Abstract
Poor water management can result in water shortages that greatly impact the production capacity of open-pit coal mines in arid and semiarid areas. Additionally, the improper handling of mine pit wastewater can exacerbate the overall loss of water resources. To mitigate the imbalance between the seasonal supply and demand for water resources, and the scarcity and low utilization rate of the water resources associated with open-pit coal mines, underground reservoirs with rock-mass pore space can be established in on-site waste dumps to store water. Here, the Baorixile open-pit coal mine, located in a semiarid area of China, was selected as the research area. Pebbly sandstone material was divided into three grain sizes in order to study these pore-space reservoirs. Considering the water storage characteristics of the aquifers in their original undisturbed state, and with reference to similarity theory, a similarity simulation experiment was set up. The experimental design can facilitate simulation of the influence of overburden pressure on the water storage capacity of underground pore-space reservoirs constructed in different stages, repeated pumping/storage on the reservoir water storage capacity, and underground reservoir establishment on ground surface settlement. It was found that pebbly sandstone with a larger grain size is more suitable for use as a water storage material in underground pore-space reservoirs of open-pit coal mines. This study provides a reliable material grading system for underground reservoir construction in open-pit coal mine waste dumps in arid and semiarid areas, to improve the water resources situation in mining areas.
Résumé
Une mauvaise gestion de l’eau peut entraîner des pénuries d’eau qui ont un impact considérable sur la capacité de production des mines de charbon à ciel ouvert dans les zones arides et semi-arides. En outre, la mauvaise gestion des eaux usées des mines peut aggraver la perte globale de ressources en eau. Pour atténuer le déséquilibre entre l’offre et la demande saisonnières de ressources en eau, ainsi que la rareté et le faible taux d’utilisation des ressources en eau associées aux mines de charbon à ciel ouvert, des réservoirs souterrains dotés d’un espace interstitiel dans la masse rocheuse peuvent être établis dans les décharges de déchets sur site pour stocker l’eau. La mine de charbon à ciel ouvert de Baorixile, située dans une région semi-aride de Chine, a été choisie comme zone de recherche. Le grès caillouteux a été divisé en trois tailles de grains afin d’étudier ces réservoirs à porosité interstitielle. Compte tenu des caractéristiques de stockage de l’eau des aquifères dans leur état original non perturbé, et en référence à la théorie de la similitude, une expérience de simulation de la similitude a été mise en place. Le dispositif expérimental peut faciliter la simulation de l’influence de la pression des terrains sus-jacents sur la capacité de stockage en eau des réservoirs souterrains à espaces interstitiels construits pour différents stades, du pompage/stockage répété sur la capacité de stockage de l’eau du réservoir et de l’établissement de réservoirs souterrains sur le tassement de la surface du sol. Il a été constaté que le grès caillouteux avec une taille de grain plus importante convient mieux comme matériau de stockage de l’eau dans les réservoirs souterrains à espaces interstitiels des mines de charbon à ciel ouvert. Cette étude fournit un système fiable de classement des matériaux pour la construction de réservoirs souterrains dans les décharges des mines de charbon à ciel ouvert dans les zones arides et semi-arides, afin d’améliorer la situation des ressources en eau dans les zones minières.
Resumen
Una deficiente gestión del agua puede provocar una escasez que afecte en gran medida a la capacidad de producción de las minas de carbón a cielo abierto en zonas áridas y semiáridas. Además, el manejo inadecuado de las aguas residuales puede agravar una pérdida general de recursos hídricos. Para mitigar el desequilibrio entre la oferta y la demanda estacionales de recursos hídricos, así como la escasez y su baja tasa de utilización asociadas a las minas de carbón a cielo abierto, pueden establecerse reservorios subterráneos con espacio poroso de masa rocosa en los vertederos de residuos in situ para almacenar agua. En este caso, se seleccionó como zona de investigación la mina de carbón a cielo abierto de Baorixile, situada en una zona semiárida de China. El material de arenisca se dividió en tres tamaños de grano para estudiar estos reservorios de espacio poroso. Teniendo en cuenta las características de almacenamiento de agua de los acuíferos en su estado original inalterado, y con referencia a la teoría de la similitud, se elaboró un experimento de simulación de similitud. El diseño experimental puede facilitar la simulación de la influencia de la presión de la sobrecarga en la capacidad de almacenamiento de agua de los reservorios subterráneos de espacio poroso construidos en diferentes etapas, el bombeo/almacenamiento repetido en la capacidad de almacenamiento de agua del reservorio, y el desarrollo del reservorio subterráneo en el asentamiento de la superficie del suelo. Se descubrió que la arenisca con un tamaño de grano más grande es más adecuada para su uso como material de almacenamiento de agua en reservorios subterráneos de espacio poroso de minas de carbón a cielo abierto. Este estudio proporciona un sistema fiable de clasificación de materiales para la construcción de reservorios subterráneos en escombreras de minas de carbón a cielo abierto en zonas áridas y semiáridas, con el fin de mejorar la situación de los recursos hídricos en las zonas mineras.
摘要
水资源的管理不善可能导致干旱和半干旱地区露天煤矿的水资源短缺,严重影响生产能力。此外,矿坑废水的处理不当可能加剧整体水资源的损失。为了缓解水资源季节性供需不平衡、以及与露天煤矿相关的水资源的稀缺和低利用率问题,可以在现场排土场建立具有岩体孔隙空间的地下水库来储存水资源。本研究选择了位于中国半干旱地区宝日希勒露天煤矿作为研究区。为了研究这些孔隙空间水库,将含砾砂岩材料分为三种颗粒大小。考虑到原始未受干扰状态下含水层的储水特性,并参考相似性理论,设置了相似性模拟实验。实验设计可以模拟以下因素对不同阶段建设地下孔隙水库的储水能力产生的影响:覆土压力对水库储水能力的影响、反复抽/蓄水对水库储水能力的影响,以及地下水库建设对地面沉降的影响。研究发现,颗粒较大的含砾砂岩更适合用作露天煤矿地下孔隙水库的储水材料。本研究为改善干旱和半干旱区露天煤矿废弃物堆放区地下水库建设提供了可靠的材料分级体系,以改善矿区的水资源状况。
Resumo
A má gestão da água pode resultar em escassez de água que tem um grande impacto na capacidade de produção das minas de carvão a céu aberto em zonas áridas e semiáridas. Além disso, o tratamento inadequado das águas residuais das minas pode agravar a perda geral de recursos hídricos. Para mitigar o desequilíbrio entre a oferta e a procura sazonal de recursos hídricos e a escassez e baixa taxa de utilização dos recursos hídricos associados às minas de carvão a céu aberto, reservatórios subterrâneos com poros de massa rochosa podem ser estabelecidos em depósitos de resíduos locais para armazenar água. Aqui, a mina de carvão a céu aberto Baorixile, localizada numa área semiárida da China, foi selecionada como área de pesquisa. O material de arenito seixoso foi dividido em três tamanhos de grão para estudar esses reservatórios de espaços porosos. Considerando as características de armazenamento de água dos aquíferos no seu estado original não perturbado, e com referência à teoria da similaridade, foi montada uma experiência de simulação de similaridade. O projeto experimental pode facilitar a simulação da influência de pressão de sobrecarga na capacidade de armazenamento de água de reservatórios subterrâneos de poros construídos em diferentes estágios, bombeamento/armazenamento repetido na capacidade de armazenamento de água do reservatório, e estabelecimento de reservatórios subterrâneos em assentamentos na superfície do solo. Verificou-se que o arenito seixoso com tamanho de grão maior é mais adequado para uso como material de armazenamento de água em reservatórios subterrâneos de poros de minas de carvão a céu aberto. Este estudo fornece um sistema confiável de classificação de materiais para a construção de reservatórios subterrâneos em depósitos de resíduos de minas de carvão a céu aberto em áreas áridas e semiáridas, para melhorar a situação dos recursos hídricos em áreas de mineração.
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This research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2016YFC0501103).
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Wang, J., Chen, S., Han, L. et al. Experimental study on the influence of sandstone gradation on the water storage capacity of a pore-space reservoir in a waste dump of an open-pit coal mine. Hydrogeol J 31, 2021–2039 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-023-02709-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-023-02709-3