Numerical simulations of water flow and contaminants transport near mining wastes disposed in a fractured rock mass

A numerical tool, called Hydro-Geosphere, was used to simulate unsaturated water flow and contaminants migration around an open pit filled with mining wastes. Numerical simulations had been carried out to assess the influence of various factors on water flow and solute transport in and around the surface openings including recharge, properties of the waste material and presence of fractures in the surrounding rock mass. The effect of the regional hydraulic gradient was also investigated. The analyses were conducted by simulating various 2D cases using experimentally obtained material properties and controlled boundary conditions. The effects of the hydrogeological properties of the filling material (i.e., water retention curve and hydraulic conductivity function), fracture network characteristics and conductivity of the joints were assessed. The results illustrate that fractures control water flow and contaminants transport around the waste disposal area. A fracture network can desaturate the system and improve the regional gradient effect.