Abstract
Mine impoundments have in the past been a cause of catastrophic loss of life and destruction of property. To characterize this potential hazard, helicopter-mounted electromagnetic (HEM) surveys of coal waste impoundments were completed to identify fluid saturated zones within coal waste and to delineate the paths of filtrate fluid flow beneath the decant pond, through the embankment, and into adjacent strata or receiving streams. We also attempted to identify flooded mine workings underlying or spatially adjacent to the waste impoundment areas. In this effort, the National Energy Technology Laboratory of the United States Department of Energy (http://www.netl.doe.gov) conducted HEM surveys of 14 coal waste impoundments in southern West Virginia. Five electromagnetic frequencies were used in our surveys (385, 1700, 6536, 28120 and 116300 Hz) and processed using different inversion techniques to determine apparent conductivity depth images (CDI). Follow-up, ground-based resistivity surveys verified the results of the HEM survey. Overall, HEM and ground-based geophysical surveys proved to be effective in delineating the phreatic surface, determining seep locations, locating blockage in engineered drains, imaging areas of unconsolidated slurry, locating areas where process water has invaded adjacent aquifers, potentially depicting the possible location of flooded underground mine workings, locating infiltration zones into the abandoned mines and determining the spatial extent of impoundment impact.
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