The Geological Sciences Colloquium Series presents Lindsey Schafer and Frederick Twumasi, Geological Sciences graduate students discussing their research on Dec. 1 at 4:10 p.m. in Clippinger 205.
Lindsey Schafer
Schafer presents “Statistical analysis of mining parameters to create empirical models to predict mine pool formation in underground coal mines”
Abstract: Mines are now created in the up-dip fashion to reduce the risk of acid mine drainage flowing out from the mine’s entrance. The threat of mine pool formation is still a concern because rocks are permeable and the acid mine drainage can seep into groundwater or discharge to the surface. The goal of this thesis project is to build the database needed to construct a computer application that can help in determining if a mine pool will develop or not in a new mine. Applicants and regulators could use this tool to predict the formation of mine pools and their environmental consequences in Ohio, and possibly neighboring states. The data compilation process and statistical approach will be presented in this talk.
Frederick Twumasi
Twumasi presents “Modelling of hydrological data to predict mine pool formation and possible discharge locations in underground mines”
Abstract: Hydrogeological modeling of the Meigs mine is underway to determine the sensitivity of the different parameters such as pre-mining water elevations, stratigraphy, and recharge to the mine in the post-mining water elevation within the mined area and possible discharge of water to the environment. Variables such as surface elevation, coordinates, rock types, coal elevation, depth from surface and strata thickness of boreholes distributed in the Meigs mine concessions were used in building the model. The modeled area was selected based on the hydrological boundaries of the surrounding watershed to the mine. Contacts maps were generated out of the various calculated contact elevation of the boreholes using surfer software and imported into Modflow for model building. Wells located in three aquifer were reported by the Meigs mine permits and with information from the mine permit and the water wells in the Ohio well viewer, maps of potentiometric elevation in the wells of each aquifer were constructed. Correlation of the water potentiometric maps for each aquifer were compared with the elevation of the upper contact of the formation hosting the aquifer which shows that areas of the aquifer that have the highest elevation have the lower potentiometric head and the areas with lower elevation have the highest potentiometric head. This behavior is consistent with fact that we should detect higher pressure at greater depths than at shallower depths. The pre-mining model calibration is underway and will be used to model the post-mining behavior. A sensitivity analysis will be done for the different variables and compared with the statistical work developed by another student in the different mines studied in this project.
Comments