Stream Sealing to Reduce Surface Water Infiltration into Underground Mines

Details

• Personal Author:
  Ackman, Terry E. ; Jones, Jack R.
• Description:
  As part of the Bureau of Mines environmental research, a novel approach to identify and seal surface infiltration zones was tested at a stream, near Frostburg, Maryland, that partially overlies abandoned coal mine workings. Ground electromagnetic conductivity surveys were performed within a stream channel to identify water-saturated zones at relatively shallow depths of 25 and 50 ft (7.5 and 15 m). Zones of increased conductivity were found to be positively associated with areas exhibiting significant loss of flow. Conversely, zones which exhibited declining conductivity values delineated" areas where there were no significant flow losses. Using this information, an experimental grouting procedure was used to place an expandable polyurethane several feet (less than a meter) beneath the streambed over 70 ft (23 m) of the stream channel. Before grouting, the section exhibited a 25 pct loss (800 down to 600 gal/min); post-grouting gaging demonstrated a net gain. The conductivity surveys represent a significant cost savings in gaging work necessary for delineating stream loss zones. Also, the cost of grouting was over 50 pct less than the costs associated with conventional rechannelization and claylining and rip-rapping techniques. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Coal Coal Mining Environment Environmental Health Mining Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Coal-mining Environmental-factors Environmental-protection Sealing-compounds Underground-mining
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• Publisher:
  U.S. Bureau of Mines
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Conference Publications ; Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  PRC - Pittsburgh Research Center
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  232-239
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:10003408
• Citation:
  Mine Drainage and Surface Mine Reclamation. Volume I: Mine Water and Mine Waste. Vol. I. Pittsburgh, PA: U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1988 Apr; :232-239
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1988
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Mine Drainage and Surface Mine Reclamation. Volume I: Mine Water and Mine Waste
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b7b70bd9443d170040e23b8f7ed78ffef1382a0311182f64b1287b48a0a05b680c6973fcb6026da5ab646b8d46624061687c2f59a641f4db702baa9d8f552b2a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/219477/cdc_219477_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 306.53 KB ]