Modeling of Water Flow in Reclaimed Mine Spoil with Embedded Lignitic Fragments Using Hydrus-1D

• Published in: Mine water and the environment Vol. 34; no. 2; pp. 197 - 203
• Main Authors: Ma, Cong-an, Cai, Qing-xiang, Wang, Hui, Shao, Ming’an, Fan, Jun, Shi, Zhuye, Wang, Fengxi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.06.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Coal mining; Dyes; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Ecotoxicology; Flow paths; Fragments; Geology; Heterogeneity; Hydrogeology; Industrial Pollution Prevention; Land reclamation; Mineral Resources; Moisture content; Overburden; Porosity; Preferential flow; Sediments; Simulation; Soil; Soil porosity; Soil water; Soils; Spoil; Technical Article; Transport processes; Water content; Water flow; Water Quality/Water Pollution; Coal mine waste; Mobile–immobile; Dual-porosity; Vadose zone; Spatial heterogeneity; Hydrus-1D; Preferential flow
• ISSN: 1025-9112; 1616-1068
• DOI: 10.1007/s10230-014-0299-z

Lignitic mine soils represent a dual-porosity medium consisting of a technogenic mixture of overburden sediments that include porous fragments embedded within a mostly coarse-textured matrix. Flow and transport process in such soils are not sufficiently understood. The objective of this study was to identify the most appropriate conceptual model for describing small-scale heterogeneity effects on flow based on the physical structure of the system. HYDRUS-1D was used to simulate water flow under field conditions. We compared a dual-porosity (mobile–immobile) model simulation of the field soil water with field monitoring results. The predicted and observed water content were in good agreement. Since the heterogeneity of the lignitic mine soil may lead to preferential flow, Coomassie brilliant blue dyes were applied to the reclaimed surface, revealing preferred flow paths through macro-pores surrounding the numerous, large rock fragments.