Infiltration Depth of Mineral Particles in Gravel-Bed Rivers

Natalia Bustamante-Penagos,Yarko Niño

doi:10.3390/min11111285

Abstract

This article discusses the results of an experimental study of a spill of mineral particles in gravel-bed rivers due to mining accidents. The purpose of this research is to characterize the dynamics of the fine mining particles spilled on a bed of immobilized gravel as a hyper-concentrated mixture and to experimentally characterize the infiltration phenomenon. We analyzed the type of infiltration considering the dimensionless coarse to fine particle size relationship, the dimensionless weight of the fine particles, the relative density of the particles, and the relationship between the subsurface and surface velocities, in addition to the densimetric Froude and Reynolds numbers of the fine particles. We found that the dimensionless infiltration depth is not associated with hydraulic parameters or the weight of the fine sediment spilled; however, fine sediment deposition decreases with depth, and infiltration depth may increase if subsurface flow decreases over time. Finally, a relationship of the dimensionless maximum infiltration depth with the relative density of the mining particles, the ratio of the bed sediment and the mining particles sizes, and the ratio between the subsurface and surface velocities is established.

Highlights

Heavy metals in riverbeds can come from acid rock drainage formation, mining, industry, or mining accidents
The purpose of this research is to identify the dynamics of mineral particles as they spill in gravel-bed alluvial channels due to mining accidents
When the fine sediment is mixed throughout the water column, infiltration of fine material begins, first at the gravel layer and, later, into the substrate layer

Summary

Introduction

Heavy metals in riverbeds can come from acid rock drainage formation, mining, industry, or mining accidents. As a result of current and historical metal mining, rivers and floodplains in many parts of the world have become contaminated by the metal-rich waste in concentrations that may pose a hazard to human and animal livelihoods [1,2,3]. Human health and environmental impacts commonly arise due to the long residence time of heavy metals in river sediments and alluvial soils and their bioaccumulatory nature in plants and animals [2]. Simulations considered sediment transport dynamics to analyze contaminant transport due to sediment movement. Jaskuła et al [4] analyzed the spatial variability of riverbed pollution by heavy metals, such as

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