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Hydrogeology of the vicinity of Homestake mine, South Dakota, USA

Hydrogéologie de l’encaissant de l’ancienne Homestake mine, Sud Dakota, USA

Hidrogeología de las vecindades de la antigua mina Homestake, Dakota del Sur, EEUU

美国南达科他州前Homestake 矿附近的水文地质条件

Hidrogeologia na proximidade da antiga mina de Homestake, Dakota do Sul, EUA

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Abstract

The former Homestake mine in South Dakota (USA) cuts fractured metamorphic rock over a region several km2 in plan, and plunges to the SE to a depth of 2.4 km. Numerical simulations of the development and dewatering of the mine workings are based on idealizing the mine-workings system as two overlapping continua, one representing the open drifts and the other representing the host rock with hydrologic properties that vary with effective stress. Equating macroscopic hydrologic properties with characteristics of deformable fractures allows the number of parameters to be reduced, and it provides a physically based justification for changes in properties with depth. The simulations explain important observations, including the co-existence of shallow and deep flow systems, the total dewatering flow rate, the spatial distribution of in-flow, and the magnitude of porosity in the mine workings. The analysis indicates that a deep flow system induced by ~125 years of mining is contained within a surface-truncated ellipsoid roughly 8 km by 4 km in plan view and 5.5 km deep with its long-axis aligned to the strike of the workings. Groundwater flow into the southern side of the workings is characterized by short travel times from the ground surface, whereas flow into the northern side and at depth consists of old water removed from storage.

Résumé

L’ancienne Homestake mine, Sud Dakota (USA), recoupe une roche métamorphique fracturée s’étendant sur une surface de plusieurs km2, plongeant au SE à une profondeur de 2.4 km. Les simulations numériques du développement et du dénoyage des travaux miniers sont basés sur une figuration idéale du système, le schématisant comme deux continua chevauchants, l’un représentant les milieux dépilés, l’autre représentant la roche encaissante avec des propriétés hydrologiques variant selon la tension effective. L’équivalence des propriétés macroscopiques hydrologiques et des caractéristiques de fractures déformables permet de réduire le nombre de paramètres et fournit une base physique justifiant les changements de propriétés avec la profondeur. Les simulations expliquent des observations remarquables, incluant la coexistence de systèmes de flux profonds et superficiels, le flux total de dénoyage, la distribution spatiale de l’ennoyage et le volume de porosité dans les travaux miniers. L’analyse indique qu’un système de flux profond induit par environ 125 années d’exploitation est contenu à l’intérieur d’un ellipsoïde tronqué d’environ 8 km × 4 km en projection horizontale et 5.5 km en souterrain avec son axe principal dirigé suivant le pendage des travaux. Le flux d’eau souterraine dans la partie Sud des travaux est caractérisé par des temps de transfert courts depuis la surface du sol, alors que du côté Nord et en profondeur il mobilise de l’eau d’accumulation ancienne.

Resumen

La antigua mina Homestake en Dakota del Sur (EEUU) corta rocas metamórficas fracturadas sobre una región de estudio de varios km2, y se hunde hacia el SE a una profundidad de 2.4 km. Las simulaciones numéricas del desarrollo y drenaje de los laboreos mineros se basan en la idealización de los sistemas de laboreos como la superposición de dos continuos, uno que representa las labores abiertas y el otro que representa a la roca hospedante con propiedades hidrológicas que varían con la tensión efectiva. La equiparación de las propiedades hidrológicas macroscópicas con las características de las fracturas deformables permite que el número de parámetros sea reducido, y proporciona una justificación basada físicamente para los cambios de las propiedades con la profundidad. La simulación explica observaciones importantes, incluyendo la coexistencia de sistemas de flujos someros y profundos, el ritmo del flujo total de drenaje, la distribución espacial del flujo entrante, y la magnitud de la porosidad en los laboreos de la mina. El análisis indica que un sistema de flujo profundo inducido por 125 años de minería está contenido dentro de un elipsoide truncado en superficie de aproximadamente 8 km por 4 km en la vista en planta y 5.5 km de profundidad con su eje largo alineado al rumbo de los laboreos. El flujo de agua subterránea hacia el lado sur de los laboreos está caracterizado por tiempos de tránsito cortos a partir de la superficie del terreno, mientras que el flujo hacia el lado norte y en profundidad consiste de agua vieja removida del almacenamiento.

摘要

美国南达科他州的前Homestake矿切割了数平方公里区域范围内的破碎的变质岩, 该变质岩向东南倾伏至2.4km深度处。本次井巷的开采和排水数值模拟假设围岩是均一、各向异性、双孔双渗透率连续体模型, 且其水文地质特征随有效应力变化。将宏观水文地质条件和变化裂隙的性质等同, 能减少参数的数量, 并能为随深度变化的性质提供基于物理性质的调整。模拟解释了重要的观测现象, 包括浅部和深部地下水流动系统的共存, 总排水速率, 内部水流和矿山巷道中孔隙度大小的空间分布。分析表明由125年采矿造成的深部地下水流动系统位于一个平面视图看面积约为8km×4km面积, 深度为5.5km的椭球体中, 且其短轴方向与巷道的走向一致。巷道南部的地下水流是来自地表的年龄较轻的水, 而补给到北部一定深度的水则是来自于储层中的老水。

Resumo

A antiga mina de Homestake, em Dakota do Sul (EUA), encontra-se instalada em rochas metamórficas fracturadas, numa área de vários km2, e inclina para SE até uma profundidade de 2.4 km. Simulações numéricas da exploração e drenagem da mina baseiam-se na idealização de um sistema de funcionamento da mina como dois meios sobrepostos contínuos, um representando as galerias abertas e outro representando a rocha hospedeira, com propriedades hidrológicas que variam com a tensão efectiva. A comparação das propriedades hidrológicas macroscópicas com as características das fracturas deformáveis permite a redução do número de parâmetros e proporciona uma justificação fisicamente fundamentada para as alterações das propriedades em profundidade. As simulações explicam observações importantes, tais como a coexistência de sistemas de fluxo de pequena e grande profundidade, a velocidade do fluxo da drenagem, a distribuição espacial das entradas de água e a magnitude da porosidade nos trabalhos mineiros. A análise revela que existe um sistema de fluxo profundo induzido por cerca de 125 anos de exploração mineira, que se encontra confinado dentro de um elipsóide truncado à superfície, com uma área em planta de cerca de 8 por 4 km e atingindo 5.5 km de profundidade, com o seu eixo longo alinhado com a orientação da exploração da mina. A entrada de água subterrânea no lado sul da mina é caracterizada por tempos de trânsito curtos a partir da superfície, enquanto a entrada pelo lado norte e em profundidade provém de água antiga removida do armazenamento.

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Acknowledgements

We appreciate the support from the National Science Foundation under grants EAR- 0809820, EAR 0900163, CMMI 0919497, EAR 1036985, EAR 0969053 and EAR 0919357.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Engineering and Earth Science Department, Clemson University, 340 Brackett Hall, Clemson, SC, 29631, USA

    Larry C. Murdoch

  2. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Mason 212 Building, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA

    Leonid N. Germanovich

  3. Department of Geosciences, A254 Weeks Hall, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1215 West Dayton Street, Madison, WI, 53706-1692, USA

    Herb Wang

  4. Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, Guyot Hall, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA

    T. C. Onstott

  5. Department of Geosciences, Penn State University, 231 Hosler Building, University Park, PA, 16802-5000, USA

    Derek Elsworth

  6. Geology and Geological Engineering Department, South Dakota School of Mines, 501 E. St. Joseph St, Rapid City, SD, 57701, USA

    Larry Stetler

  7. Department of Geosciences, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 248 Morrill IV-South, 611 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003-929, USA

    David Boutt

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  1. Larry C. Murdoch
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Correspondence to Larry C. Murdoch.

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Murdoch, L.C., Germanovich, L.N., Wang, H. et al. Hydrogeology of the vicinity of Homestake mine, South Dakota, USA. Hydrogeol J 20, 27–43 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-011-0773-7

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