Abstract
During its 13 years of non-continuous operation, the Osamu Utsumi Mine has generated serious environmental impacts. This mining complex is now attempting to decommission this uranium mine to reduce its environmental liabilities. As part of a hydrogeological analysis of the old Osamu Utsumi Mine pit area, a geophysical investigation was carried out along each front of the mine pit using electrical resistivity tomography and a dipole–dipole array. The lithology described in each front, the physical access, and data from monitoring wells also contributed to the geophysical interpretation and, hence, the hydrogeological analysis. The field results and geochemical data from monitoring wells enabled us to distinguish areas where water was flowing through fractures in the massif and areas with more acidic water, with electrical resistivity values less than 15 Ω m.
Zusammenfassung
In 13 Jahren ununterbrochenen Betriebs hat die Osamu Utsumi Mine schwerwiegende Umweltauswirkungen verursacht. Der Bergbaukomplex versucht nun, die Uranmine stillzulegen, um die Umweltbelastungen zu verringern. Im Rahmen einer hydrogeologischen Analyse des ehemaligen Grubengebiets der Osamu-Utsumi-Mine wurde eine geophysikalische Untersuchung entlang jeder Front der Grube mittels elektrischer Widerstandstomographie und einer Dipol-Dipol-Anordnung durchgeführt. Die jeweils beschriebene Lithologie, physischer Zugang und die Daten aus Überwachungsbrunnen trugen ebenfalls zur geophysikalischen Interpretation und damit zur hydrogeologischen Analyse bei. Anhand der Ergebnisse vor Ort und der geochemischen Daten aus den Überwachungsbohrungen konnten wir zwischen Bereichen, in denen Wasser durch Störungen im Massiv fließt, und Bereichen mit saurerem Wasser mit einem elektrischen Widerstand von weniger als 15 Ω∙m unterscheiden.
Resumen
Durante sus 13 años de funcionamiento discontinuo, la mina Osamu Utsumi ha generado graves impactos ambientales. Este complejo minero intenta ahora desmantelar esta mina de uranio para reducir sus responsabilidades medioambientales. Como parte de un análisis hidrogeológico de la zona del antiguo pozo de la mina Osamu Utsumi, se llevó a cabo una investigación geofísica a lo largo de cada frente del pozo de la mina utilizando tomografía de resistividad eléctrica y un arreglo dipolo-dipolo. La litología descrita en cada frente, el acceso físico y los datos de los pozos de control también contribuyeron a la interpretación geofísica y, por tanto, al análisis hidrogeológico. Los resultados de campo y los datos geoquímicos de los pozos de monitorización permitieron distinguir las zonas donde el agua fluía a través de las fracturas del macizo y las zonas con agua más ácida, con valores de resistividad eléctrica inferiores a 15 Ω∙m.
抽象的
在过去13年的不连续运营期间, Osamu Utsumi矿已产生了严重的环境影响。矿业联合体正试图关闭铀矿, 减少环境压力。作为Osamu Utsumi老矿坑区水文地质分析的一部分, 沿矿坑每个正面进行了电阻率层析成像和偶极-偶极电法物理勘探。每个正面的岩性描述、物理通道和监测孔数据也有助于地球物理解释和水文地质分析。现场结果和监测井地球化学数据帮助区分了穿过岩体裂隙的径流区和水酸性较强区, 电阻率值小于15Ω∙m。
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Acknowledgements
This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001. The authors thank Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), the Foundation for Research Support of the State of Sao Paulo (Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo - FAPESP) and the INB for their support.
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Camarero, P.L., Moreira, C.A., Targa, D.A. et al. Analysis of Acid Drainage Flow Zones in a Rocky Massif in a Uranium Mine from Structural and Geophysical Diagnoses. Mine Water Environ 41, 303–316 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-021-00827-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-021-00827-6