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Analytical and Numerical Simulation of the Hydrogeologic Effects of Mining Aggregate Below the Water Table

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Analytical and Numerical Simulation of the Hydrogeologic Effects of Mining Aggregate Below the Water Table

Study Area: Hypothetical hydrogeologic settings in which aggregate mining commonly occurs
Period of Project: March, 2000 – April, 2002
Project Number: CO344
Project Chief: Rick Arnold
Cooperator:

BACKGROUND:

Sand, gravel, and crushed stone are the main sources of natural aggregate. During 1998, about 8700 pits and quarries in the United States produced more than 2.5 billion tons of crushed stone, sand, and gravel. Mining of natural aggregate often takes place below the water table of ground-water systems, and the effects that such mining may have on ground-water levels and flow directions are important concerns. The effects on ground-water systems caused by mining aggregate can be simulated using analytical models or numerical ground-water flow models. However, each type of model has its limitations, and different models can produce different results.

To help predict the effects that mining aggregate below the water table may have on ground-water systems and to evaluate the advantages and limitations of different model types and approaches, the U.S. Geological Survey, as part of the Front Range Infrastructure Resources Project, is using analytical and numerical models to simulate the effects of aggregate mining in different hypothetical hydrogeologic settings that are representative of real hydrogeologic settings in which aggregate mining commonly occurs.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To demonstrate the potential physical effects that mining aggregate below the water table may have on ground-water systems in different hydrogeologic settings.
2. To evaluate the advantages and limitations of using analytical and numerical models to simulate the geohydrologic effects of aggregate mining.