Mining Environment Research Articles

Remote sensing-based seasonal surface urban heat island analysis in the mining and industrial environment.

Cooling spaces have an optimistic influence on surface urban heat islands (SUHI). Blue spaces benefit from balancing thechanging climate and heat variations. Because of the rapid deforestation and SUHI increase, the climate is gradually changing in Paschim Bardhhaman, West Bengal state, India. Paschim Bardhhaman has two sectors: specifically, Durgapur is the main industrial centre and Asansol has coal mines. This investigation aims to categorize spatiotemporal variations and seasonal differences in cooling spaces and their influence on SUHI, land use and land cover (LULC), and thermal differences using Landsat datasets for the years 1992, 2004, 2012, and 2022 in summer and winter. The coal mining and industrial range decreased from 10,391.92 (1992) to 3591.1ha (2022), respectively. Open pit mining distresses fresh water by heavy water uses in ore processing, and mining water was applied to excerpt minerals. Among the two sub-divisions, the blue space amount was higher in Asansol because mining actions were higher in Asansol than in Durgapur. The open vegetation volume has reduced from 46,441.03 (1992) to 25,827.55ha (2022) and dense vegetation has erased from 7368.02 (1992) to 15,608.56ha (2022). Dense vegetation improved because of heavy precipitation in those regions. Mostly, Raghunathpur, Saraswatiganja, Bhagabanpur, Bistupur, Paschim Gangaram, Garkilla Kherobari, and Gourbazar have dense vegetation. The outcomes similarly demonstrate that the total built-up part has increased by 8412.82ha in between 30years. The built-up zone changes near the southeast and western Paschim Bardhhaman district. Those region needs appropriate attention and planning to survive soon.

Review on Dust Control Technologies in Coal Mines of China

China faces a challenge in the sustainable development of the coal industry due to pneumoconiosis problems. Dust control technologies are crucial for safe production and miners’ health, ensuring the industry’s longevity. This article reviews the development process of dust prevention and control in underground coal mines in China, summarizes various technologies, and divides them into dust suppression, open-space dust reduction, and mine dust collectors according to different stages and environments of use. In dust suppression technologies, coal-seam water injection can reduce total dust generation by 60%, wet rock drilling can reduce drilling dust in the presence of stable water sources and high-pressure bearing equipment, and water-seal blasting can reduce blasting dust by 50–70%. In open-space dust reduction technologies, spray dust suppression can remove total dust by 50–95% and the removal efficiencies of foam dedusting for total and respirable dust are reported to reach 95% and 85% under the right conditions, respectively. In dust collector technologies, dry collectors can remove 80–95% of total dust. Wet collectors achieve up to 90% efficiency, dependent on water supply and waste processing. This article also discusses vapor heterogeneous condensation technology as a promising method for improving respirable dust removal in humid mine environments.

Research on Monitoring and Application of Ecological Restoration Engineering in Open Pit Backfilling Mines Based on Satellite Remote Sensing Data

Abstract. The restoration and management of mining ecological environment is an important component of China's ecological civilization construction. The implementation of restoration projects is to avoid the serious impact caused by the continuous deterioration of mining ecological structure, and is a key way to maintain regional ecological security and energy and mineral security. Therefore, efficient and rapid monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of mining ecological restoration is an essential and important link. With the rapid development of remote sensing technology, remote sensing monitoring has become an important means to objectively, quickly, and accurately obtaining changes in the mining environment. It can provide timely and long-term monitoring of mining and backfilling conditions in mining areas. This article uses the multi temporal stereo images of the Resource 3 satellite over four years to monitor the mining and backfilling situation of the Zhungeer open-pit coal mine area in Inner Mongolia. By reconstructing the Digital Surface Model (DSM) of the open-pit mining area, the changes and thresholds of the multi temporal DSM data are statistically analyzed to extract the mining and backfilling areas, and the earthwork volume is calculated. The results showed that from 2013 to 2016, the main large-scale mining faces in the study area of Zhungeer open-pit mining area had a total mining operation of about 563.5 million cubic meters, and a total backfilling operation of about 604.29 million cubic meters; During the period from 2016 to 2018, the main large-scale mining faces in the region had a total of approximately 721.71 million cubic meters of mining operations and a total of approximately 805.42 million cubic meters of backfilling operations. The overall operational intensity increased from 2016 to 2018. The research results show that based on satellite image data, it is convenient and efficient to obtain DSM and corresponding changes of multiple time periods in mining areas. Monitoring results can provide important support for regional environmental governance and protection, as well as safety production in mining areas.

Hydrogeochemical arsenic simulation of V-Ti-Fe tailings pond ecosystem: A case study from Panxi region, China

The V-Ti-Fe mine tailings waste releases high concentrations of aquatic arsenic (As) ions to downstream ecosystems. The hydrogeochemical As simulation facilitates the prediction of toxicity (or redox state) and devising control strategies to mitigate the negative impacts. Therefore, this study utilizes the Wanniangou tailings pond (a V-Ti-Fe mine tailings reservoir) in the Panxi region, Sichuan province, China, as a case study to elucidate the As hydrogeochemical behaviour under varying pH and redox potential (Eh) conditions. Our study reveals that (1) the water-oxygen exchange and Mn are important to regulating the redox conditions in the filtrates. The Eh determines the valence states of As, which vary from reduced states to oxidized states during the runoff from the tailings pond to downstream (Rehe River). The flow of wastewater in Rehe River minimizes both the As toxicity and concentration, eventually improving water safety. (2) In a reducing environment, hematite exhibits a limited capacity for As(III) adsorption. In the case of oxidation conditions, goethite mainly adsorbed As(V), with an elevated adsorption capacity. Meanwhile, Fe-minerals remain relatively stable under varying redox and weakly acidic conditions. Consequently, targeted engineering interventions can achieve two crucial outcomes: (1) Minimize the acidity of the mine environment to retard the release of heavy metals from the tailings waste. (2) Prolonging the residence time of wastewater in Rehe River to promote the transition from a reducing state to an oxidizing state, thereby synergistically mitigating As toxicity.

Evaluation and application research on thermal comfort of mining face in hot and humid mines

The hot and humid environment in the coal mines negatively affects miners' health and mental health. This paper analyzes the factors that affect the human body heat dissipation, puts forward the concept of dressing rate, and uses the dressing rate to correct the human skin heat dissipation loss and sweat evaporation heat dissipation loss in the underground environment. A human-body thermal comfort model suitable for the hot and humid mine environment is constructed. Then the evaluation index UPMV of thermal comfort in hot and humid mines is proposed, and the mathematical model of human thermal comfort evaluation is constructed which improves the accuracy of human thermal comfort evaluation in hot and humid mines. Lastly, a software system of thermal comfort evaluation for hot and humid mines is developed, which is used to evaluate the thermal comfort of the human body at different working points of horizontal mining roadway in Shoushan mine, and the accuracy of the evaluation model is validated. The research results provide a theoretical basis for the evaluation system of human thermal comfort in hot and humid environments, and provide a reference for a scientific and reasonable arrangement of underground production.

IoT Based Smart Helmet for Industry Rutuja Kokate

The safety and well-being of industrial workers has become a primary concern for organizations worldwide. One of the critical aspects of industrial safety is the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), including helmets. This project proposes the development of an IoT-based smart helmet designed to enhance the safety and efficiency of industrial workers. The smart helmet integrates multiple sensors, such as temperature, humidity, motion, and gas sensors, to monitor the worker's environment in real-time. These sensors gather data on potential hazards like extreme temperatures, toxic gases, or sudden impacts. The helmet also includes a communication system that enables seamless interaction with control centers or other team members. The mining industry, a vital contributor to global economic growth and infrastructure development, grapples with inherent safety challenges posed by hazardous environments and unpredictable events. In response to these concerns, this abstract introduces the "Smart Helmet for Air Quality and Hazardous Event Detection" – a groundbreaking technology tailored specifically for mining. This advanced helmet integrates sensors like the MQ3 gas sensor, temperature and humidity sensors, LED lights with automatic controls, and a GPS module. Real-time data from these sensors are transmitted to an IoT platform, enabling continuous monitoring and immediate alerts. Traditional safety measures, including personal protective equipment and periodic monitoring, fall short in addressing the dynamic conditions of mining environments. The Smart Helmet offers a comprehensive solution by providing continuous air quality and environmental monitoring, coupled with automatic lighting and location tracking. This innovation marks a paradigm shift in mining safety, addressing the urgent need for proactive measures to safeguard the well-being of miners in the face of persistent safety challenges. Key Words: Safety, Sensors, IoT, Smart Helmet, Air quality monitoring

An integrated approach for sewage diversion: Case of the Huayuan mine, Hunan Province, China

Environment protection is a core priority for many governments in this century. Most environmental problems have diverse causes: emission of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels, resource depletion, or intense mining activities such as the Huayuan manganese mine. The positioning of mining factories and water treatment stations impacts the surrounding groundwater reservoir. As the mine expands, the environmental impact also increases, and the previous plan based on monitoring wastewater leakage has become inappropriate. Therefore, to solve this issue, a new study is required to understand the lateral resistivity distribution underground and to define a new station location for water treatment and divert the sewage to that station. In this study, the audio-frequency magnetotelluric method is used. Surveys of two long lines that cross the mining area to its boundaries are carried out. Data are robustly processed and inverted. Based on the inverted models, in addition to the geologic information, drilling inspections, and solid waste distributions map, the integrated interpretation develops two sites on the top of impermeable layers, which constitute a buffer point between the unsafe (high concentration of pollutants) and the safe zones in the northwestern part of the mine. From the resistivity distribution combined with the water quality analysis, a relationship between the fault structures reveals an interconnected conductive zone (CZ) in the southeastern part. As the main channels for water circulating underground, these CZs delineate the main groundwater reservoir with a clastic aquifer layer. However, close to factories, the water from faults contains solid wastes, thereby making the groundwater in that zone nonpotable, unlike the safety zone located in the northwestern part. This workflow can become a field guide to improve the environment of mines and the deployment of hydrogeologic drilling in a safe area.

The innovativeness of technologies of Industry 4.0 in the modern mining environment

The article presents the results of Industry 4.0 technologies in the modern mining environment. The study is aimed at identifying trends in interest in the topic of innovativeness of Industry 4.0 technologies in the modern global mining environment. To solve the problem of implementing innovations in the context of Industry 4.0 in the modern mining environment, particularly those related to mining science, two approaches were used: the Google Trends search service and the VOSviewer software. The first stage of the study identified the level of interest in mining science and Industry 4.0 in the world. According to the results of the second stage of the study, 8 strategic directions for the development of the mining industry within Industry 4.0 were identified in accordance with the qualitative composition of clusters by keywords in scientific publications, the Scopus scientometric database on the topic of innovativeness of Industry 4.0 technologies in the modern mining environment. It is proposed through amending the mining legislation in accordance with the development of Industry 4.0 technologies for the automation and digitalization of mining significantly increase interest in transformational changes.

Productivity of two species of tree legume as sources forage on post-tin mining in Bangka island

Legume tree One of the crops that may function as a viable source of animal feed and be utilized for land reclamation on former mining sites. Ex-tin mining land, which is widely spread in Indonesia, has the potential to transform to productive agricultural land, as long as the land is given sufficient inputs through land rehabilitation. The legume tree has drought resistance, hence limiting its potential for development on many types of land, including post-tin mining areas in the Bangka Tengah District of Bangka Island. The objective of this research is to assess the adaptation of two legume tree species in post-tin mining environments. The research was completed throughout the period from 2017 to 2020. Experiments using Randomized block design (RBD) with two different species of treatments, were repeated a total of five times. Two species tested were (1) Leucaena leucocephala cv Taramba, and (2) Indigofera zollingeriana. Data growth and yield components are harvested every three months and yield is subjected to analysis using the Duncan test at a significance level of 5 %. The research result indicated that all of the tested two species of legume tree were well-adapted to post-tin mining in Bangka Tengah District, Bangka Island. The fresh yield of L.leucocephala cv Taramba was higher (9.1 %) than I.zollingeriana but the quality was similar, so the two species can be developed on post-tin mining areas as forage material for an animal in Central Bangka District, Bangka Island.

Risks to Human Health from Mercury in Gold Mining in the Coastal Region of Ecuador.

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) plays a crucial role in global gold production. However, the adoption of poor mining practices or the use of mercury (Hg) in gold recovery processes has generated serious environmental contamination events. The focus of this study is assessing the concentration of Hg in surface waters within the coastal region of Ecuador. The results are used to conduct a human health risk assessment applying deterministic and probabilistic methods, specifically targeting groups vulnerable to exposure in affected mining environments. Between April and June 2022, 54 water samples were collected from rivers and streams adjacent to mining areas to determine Hg levels. In the health risk assessment, exposure routes through water ingestion and dermal contact were considered for both adults and children, following the model structures outlined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The results indicate elevated Hg concentrations in two of the five provinces studied, El Oro and Esmeraldas, where at least 88% and 75% of the samples, respectively, exceeded the maximum permissible limit (MPL) set by Ecuadorian regulations for the preservation of aquatic life. Furthermore, in El Oro province, 28% of the samples exceeded the MPL established for drinking water quality. The high concentrations of Hg could be related to illegal mining activity that uses Hg for gold recovery. Regarding the human health risk assessment, risk values above the safe exposure limit were estimated. Children were identified as the most vulnerable receptor. Therefore, there is an urgent need to establish effective regulations that guarantee the protection of river users in potentially contaminated areas. Finally, it is important to continue investigating the contamination caused by human practices in the coastal region.

Coal mining environment causes adverse effects on workers.

The objective of this study is to study the adverse effects of coal mining environment on workers to discover early effective biomarkers. The molecular epidemiological study was conducted with 502 in-service workers, who were divided into miner and auxiliary. We measured the individual levels of dust exposure for participants. Clinical examinations were conducted by qualified doctors. Peripheral blood was collected to measure biochemistry, hemogram, and karyocyte apoptosis. All workers were healthy who have not found with any diseases that can be diagnosed medically in the physical examination and showed no difference in dust exposure level, age, height, weight, and body mass index between groups. The working years of miners were lower than that of auxiliaries (p < 0.001). Compared with auxiliaries, the concentration and percentage of lymphocytes (p = 0.040, p = 0.012), basophils (p = 0.027, p = 0.034), and red blood cells (p < 0.001) and the concentration of hemoglobin of miners were lower (p < 0.001). The percentage of neutrophils (p = 0.003), the concentration of mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (p = 0.002), and the proportion of karyocyte apoptosis in miners were higher (p < 0.001). Miners presented higher blood urea nitrogen (p < 0.001), ratio of blood urea nitrogen to creatinine (p < 0.001), the high density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.001), lower creatinine (p < 0.05), and cholesterol (p < 0.001). The coal mining environment impacted mining workers' immune function, renal function, and the hematopoietic system, including BUN/CRE, HGB, RBC, and LYMPH, which could be used as early biomarkers to screen the health of coal miners.

Evolution law and mechanism analysis of strength for backfill under different stress and drainage conditions

In recent years, with the improvement of construction safety requirements in deep well mining, the backfill mining method has been widely used. However, the strength of paste filling acquired in quarry often surpasses the design strength determined in laboratory settings. In view of the problems that indoor conditions cannot restore deep mining environment, and the mechanism of coupling effect under multiple fields is unclear. This paper has carried out relevant research work through theoretical analysis and indoor experiments. First of all, after completing the preparatory experiments, this paper analyzed the strength difference of backfill under different curing stress and drainage conditions, and studies the influence of different curing conditions on the strength. Secondly, MPS-6 and 5TE sensors were used to monitor the electrical conductivity, pore water pressure, porosity and other parameters of backfill during the stress-drainage curing process, and changes of parameters during curing process were analyzed. Finally, the relationship among relevant parameters and strength properties of paste backfill was analyzed, as to clarify the influence mechanism of stress-drainage curing conditions on the strength formation for paste backfill. Research shows that both stress-undrained and stress-drained conditions can effectively increase the strength of backfill. Under stress-drainage conditions, the internal porosity of backfill will decrease, and the pore water pressure of backfill will first increase slightly and then continue to decrease. Under this condition, the electrical conductivity of backfill will first increase and then continue to decrease. The entire research has important positive significance for reducing mining costs, optimizing mining processes, and developing mining technology.

Effects of different reclamation measures on soil quality restoration in open-pit mines: A meta-analysis based on the Chinese Loess Plateau

In the Loess Plateau region, ecological restoration projects have been implemented to restore the ecological environment of open-pit mines. However, no consistent conclusion has been reached regarding the response of soil remediation efforts to different ecological measures and restoration years. A meta-analysis was performed on the results of studies published over the past 30 years for open-pit mining areas on the Loess Plateau in China. The findings reveal that land rehabilitation considerably improved soil quality in open-pit mining areas on the Loess Plateau. Different ecological measures revealed a significant variability in soil quality restoration. Specifically, forestland reclamation affected soil organic matter and microbial carbon the most. Grassland reclamation substantially influenced soil total potassium, organic carbon, enzyme activity, and microbial abundance. Plowland caused the most effective improvement in soil total nitrogen and physical properties. However, total phosphorus and pH were unaffected by restoration measures. In addition, the period of land reclamation and soil nutrients showed a high correlation in the early stage of reclamation. After long-term reclamation, a decreased rate of soil quality improvement by remediation measures occurred after the soil quality returned to its premining level. A relatively lag was observed in the response of soil microbial indicators to environmental changes, and the premining level was reached after longer-term reclamation.

Spatio-temporal heterogeneity and coupling effect of mining economy, social governance and environmental conservation: Evidence from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China.

In order to solve the problem of coordinated development among mining economy, social governance and environmental conservation in global resource-based cities, we choose Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region as the research area. The advantage of resource endowment and resource industry was measured by location quotient and input-output method. The panel data related to mining governance from 2010 to 2021 were selected to build the evaluation and coupling analysis model between mining economic, social governance and environmental conservation, and the spatial-temporal heterogeneity and coupling effect of them were analyzed by comprehensive empowerment evaluation, spatial autocorrelation analysis and barrier degree methods. The results show that: (1) Except for the overall upward trend of social governance, the development level of mining economy and environmental conservation are basically stable; (2) The resource-rich areas have obvious mining economic advantages, and the central cities have good social governance capabilities, and the environmental conservation effectiveness is uncertain; (3) The coupling effect between mining economy and social governance is stronger than that between mining economy and environment conservation, and the synergistic coupling effect of the three is relatively random. Finally, we put forward some policy response strategies to Guangxi, and theoretical and practical reference would be provided for resource-based cities around the world.

Mobilization and transformation of antimony in stibnite by microbial induced oxidation in mining environment

Elevated concentrations of antimony (Sb) in environmental and biological systems due to mining activities are of particular global concern. Microorganisms play a crucial role in the oxidation process of metallic sulfide minerals, leading to the release of metal ions into surrounding soil or water systems. However, the mechanisms and potential environmental effects of microbial induced oxidation of stibnite (Sb2S3) in mine environment remain unclear. In this study, compared with the abiotic controls, the microbial community screened from the highly contaminated soil of the Xikuangshan antimony mine in aerobic experiments did not promote Sb mobilization as expected. However, they had a significant effect on the morphology and species of oxidation products of Sb2S3 by mediating the oxidation of Sb(III) and sulfide on surface and in solution. These naturally coexisting bacteria could partially oxidize Sb2S3 to Sb(V) and SO42− directly on the mineral surface, completely oxidize the dissolved Sb(III) to Sb(V), facilitate the oxidation of S0 to S2O32−, and form the secondary Sb(V)-bearing mineral [NaSb(OH)6]. These findings support the important role of microorganisms in the mobilization and transformation of Sb from minerals/rocks in the mining environment and provide further insight into their potential environmental impacts and effective mitigation strategies.

High-order simulation of geological domains and effects on stochastic long-term planning of mining complexes

Stochastic long-term mine planning has evolved to account for different sources of uncertainty. Typically, the uncertainty and local variability of boundaries in geological domains have been overlooked by experts through their deterministic interpretation of available data. Categorical attributes are used to model geological domains, and their stochastic simulation accounts for the mentioned issues. The ability of two-points simulation methods to reproduce complex patterns or the requirement of a training image in multiple-points simulation methods has limited their implementation in mining environments. The high-order simulation of categorical attributes presents a mathematically consistent framework that overcomes these limitations by using high-order spatial statistics from sample data. The case study at a gold mining complex shows two stochastic mine plans based on two sets of geological realisations: geological domains in the first set are modelled using conventional wireframes, while, in the second, they are simulated through the high-order method. The resulting mine plans are substantially different; while both plans present a similar quantity of metal recovered and lifespan, risk profiles are up to 40% wider, and the expected NPV is 20% higher for the case of simulated geological domains, given the decrease of waste handling costs and the corresponding reduction in environmental footprint.

Study on the rigid-discrete coupling effect of scraper conveyor under different chain speed-load conditions

The complexity of the underground environment in coal mines often leads to varying load conditions during the operation of the scraper conveyor, which can affect the lifespan of its components and result in unnecessary energy consumption. A test platform for the scraper conveyor was constructed based on the similarity theory to measure torque, speed, chain tension, and scraper acceleration during transportation. A DEM-MBD model of the scraper conveyor was developed and validated through transport tests and similarity theories to analyze the rigid-discrete coupling effect under different chain speed-load conditions. The results revealed a stratification phenomenon and a Brazilian fruit effect in the movement of coal. The average velocity of the upper and lower coal layers gradually increased during the transportation, while the difference between them gradually decreased. As the load increased, the stacking density and height of coal between scrapers also increased, leading to a higher force exerted on the scraper and chain. As the chain speed increased, the stacking density and height of coal between scrapers decreased, along with a decrease in the force applied to the scraper and chain. The formation of three-body wear necessitates a specific positional condition. When the scraper (chain)- coal-deck plate (chute liner) forms a particle stagnation state, severe wear occurs on the parts. This study provides a foundation for analyzing the transport mechanism of scraper conveyor from the particle perspective, offers a simulation reference for analyzing the mechanical and tribological characteristics of the line pan and scraper chain, and serves as a guideline for the future development of transportation state monitoring and the optimization and enhancement of components under different working conditions.

Research and Simulation on the Development of a Hydraulic Prop Support System of Powered Roof Support to Increase Work Safety.

The underground mining environment is currently based on technology that uses mainly analogue sensors in machine and equipment control systems. The primary machine performing the most important functions in a mining system is the powered roof support. In order for it to work properly, it is important that it achieves the required power. To ensure this, it is necessary to continuously and precisely monitor the pressure in the under-piston space of the prop. Due to the extreme environmental conditions, pressure sensors should have high sensitivity, large transmission capacity, small size and light weight. To achieve these requirements, the authors of the article propose to implement a monitoring system based on photonics technology. To achieve this goal, several studies were carried out. The range of these studies included simulations, bench tests and tests under real conditions. The obtained test results showed the possibility of developing the control system for the powered roof support, the additional function to supercharge power. Based on the analysis of the obtained test results, assumptions were developed for the development of a power charging system with monitoring sensors. Based on the guidelines obtained from the research results, thedevelopment of the above prototype based on photonics technology is proposed.

UM‐GAN: Underground mine GAN for underground mine low‐light image enhancement

AbstractIn recent years, low‐light image enhancement has become increasingly active. However, in underground mine environments, acquiring high‐quality images is still challenging due to low light, low contrast, and occlusion. To address this problem, this study proposes a low‐light image enhancement method for underground mine based on generative adversarial networks (UM‐GAN), which aims to take full advantage of the ability of GAN to achieve the restoration of details, the reduction of noise, and the improvement of overall image quality. The model proposed in this paper is divided into three main parts. Initially, a generator network adopting an encoder–decoder structure is developed. Subsequently, a novel strategy is introduced to merge information by utilizing inverted greyscale images and low‐light images as inputs. Further image quality enhancement is achieved by incorporating a noise reduction module employing the diffusion model. To ascertain the efficacy of the UM‐GAN method, evaluations are conducted on diverse real‐world and synthetic datasets, juxtaposing the approach against superior methods. Through qualitative and quantitative comparative experiments, the method showcases noteworthy advancements through qualitative and quantitative comparative experiments, substantiating its effectiveness. This research provides new ideas and methods for overcoming image quality problems in underground mine environments and contributes to the development of underground mine image processing.

Integrated Hydrological and Hydrochemical Analysis of Arsenic and Iron Behavior in Waters of a Decommissioned Tin Mine in Ehrenfriedersdorf, Germany

Arsenic contamination poses significant challenges to environmental and public health, with mining activities contributing to its wider distribution. This study investigates the fate of arsenic and iron in mine waters at a decommissioned tin mine, now a visitor mine, located in Ehrenfriedersdorf, Germany, situated in the Free State of Saxony. Despite the general shortage of data, which is common for old mining sites, we explored the complex interplay of climatic conditions, hydrological processes, and arsenic and iron behavior in the mine waters through a comprehensive approach encompassing general site characterization, mine water monitoring, and analysis of local weather data. Over a period of three years, we conducted 14 sampling campaigns, collecting a total of 95 water samples, each consisting of three filtration subsamples, resulting in the analysis of 285 water samples. These samples were collected both aboveground and underground. Aboveground samples included mine outflows, a tailing outflow, and an adjacent creek, while underground sampling points were scattered throughout the mine initially and later focused on the identified “main” mine water system. The chemical data from the analyses were correlated with local climatic water balances to reveal distinctive patterns in arsenic and iron concentrations at various locations within the mine system. Our findings shed light on the hydrological behavior of the mine, helping to elucidate the impact of precipitation and potential evapotranspiration on arsenic and iron concentrations in a tailing outflow, in the flooded mine body, and at the portal of the main dewatering gallery. Our findings emphasize the importance of sustained monitoring and the utilization of local weather data to comprehend metalloid and metal contamination risks in similar mining environments.