Efficient use of process water in open pit mining of watercut lignite fields in the Kansk–Achinsk Basin

Abstract

The review of the use of process water in open pit mines and Russia and abroad helps find out that the conventional drainage technologies are inefficient for watercut lignite fields in the Kansk– Achinsk Basin. The author proposes a mining technology without preliminary drainage of watercut lignite seams, which ensures reduction in unproductive expenditures connected with coal mining and mitigation of the environmental impact.