Mine Water

Abstract

Water is needed at mine sites for dust suppression, mineral processing, coal washing, and hydrometallurgical extraction. For these applications, water is mined from surface water bodies and ground water aquifers, or it is a by-product of the mine dewatering process. Open pits and underground mining operations commonly extend below the regional water table and require dewatering during mining. In particular, mines intersecting significant ground water aquifers, or those located in wet climates, may have to pump more than 100 000 liters per minute to prevent underground workings from flooding. At some stage of the mining operation, water is unwanted and has no value to the operation. In fact, unwanted or used water needs to be disposed of constantly during mining, mineral processing, and metallurgical extraction.