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Numerical analysis of Unsaturated water Flow and contaminants Transport Around mining Wastes disposed in a Fractured rock Mass

Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Civil Engineering, Institut Supérieur de technologies de l'Environnement, de l’Urbanisme et de Bâtiments, Tunis 2035, TUNISIA

Int. Res. J. Earth Sci., Volume 3, Issue (1), Pages 38-45, January,25 (2015)

Abstract

Numerical simulations of water flow and mass transport were carried out to investigate the influence of discontinuities in the rock mass on underground water flow around an open pit filled with mining wastes. Simulations were conducted using the HydroGeosphere numerical tool. The analyses were realized by considering 2D cases for an axi- symmetric open pit under unsaturated water flow conditions. The obtained experimental material properties were used for various boundary conditions. The effects of the hydrogeological properties of the filling material (i.e., water retention curve and hydraulic conductivity function), fracture network characteristics and conductivity of the joints were assessed. The results illustrate that many factors can affect unsaturated water flow and contaminants transport ,especially the filling material, the initial and boundary imposed conditions and the fracture network. Presence of fractures can induce a more rapid migration of contaminants and contamination plume can reach more important distances which can increase underground water contamination risk. So, fractures around the rock mass must be characterized and discretely presented to better estimate the contamination plume.

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