Abstract
Coal mining can deplete groundwater resources and discharge polluted water into the surrounding water bodies, decreasing the quality of ground and surface water. Group coal mining can drastically deteriorate regional water quality due to the overlying effects of multiple mines. As a country, China produces the most coal per year in the world. Group coal mining in China has caused a decline in the quality of many watersheds. This study introduced the regional water quality in Changchi basin, Shanxi province, which contains coal seams covering over 60% of its area and has over 10 active collieries. Coal mine discharge caused the increase of TDS, especially NO3-, in the river receiving the mining discharge. Quality of groundwater was also affected by the contaminated surface water when it was recharged by surface water. Reuse and treatment of mining discharged should be promoted in the area with high intensity of group coal mining.
Highlights
Water pollution caused by coal mining is a worldwide environment problem[1]
A total of 32 water samples were collected from the Zhuozhang and Lanshui rivers, the groundwater in Permian sandstone, Carbonic limestone and Ordovician limestone aquifers, and the pit water in the mining tunnels
The concentration of Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ and Na+ were tested in lab by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Agilent 7800), Cl, SO42- and NO3- were tested by ion chromatography (Dionex ICS-1100), HCO3, and CO3- were tested by titration (Chinese standard DZ/T0064-1993). 20% samples were duplicated and the relative deviations between duplicated samples were controlled to bellow 20%
Summary
Water pollution caused by coal mining is a worldwide environment problem[1]. In the large coal fields in China, there are usually many collieries in operation at the same time[3]. This group coal mining activity drastically affected the flowing field and chemistry of the regional water system[3]. Acid mining discharge with significant low pH and high sulfate, high hardness, and occasionally high heavy metal can pollute the regional water system drastically[4]. The change of regional water chemistry with the development of group coal mining in Changzhi basin, Shanxi province of China was introduced, how the coal industry affected the regional water chemistry was analyzed, and feasible measures for water pollution prevention was proposed
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