Ground-water hydrology of strip-mine areas in eastern Ohio (conditions during mining of two watersheds in Coshocton and Muskingum counties)
Ground-water conditions during coal strip mining in two small watersheds are described as part of an ongoing study of effects of mining on hydrologic systems. Both watersheds were underlain by stratified sedimentary rocks containing two perched aquifers above clay beds which underlaid the major coal seams. Mining involved removing the overburden rocks, including the top aquifer, stripping the coal seam, and recontouring the overburden spoils to the approximate premining shape of the watershed. Water levels in the top aquifer declined as mining neared the watersheds, but destruction of observation wells precluded a record of any decline during mining in the watersheds. Depletion of the top aquifer was reflected in base flow of streams, which was reduced and more highly mineralized after mining. Initial saturated thickness of replaced overburden spoils ranged from 0 to 4 feet, based on data from observation wells installed immediately after reclamation. Down-hole specific-conductance measurements of water in the spoils suggest the presence of more highly mineralized water than that in the premining top aquifer. No significant effects of mining are evident on ground-water levels or quality beneath the stripped coal. 3 refs., 14 figs., 2 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Geological Survey, Columbus, OH (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5801934
- Report Number(s):
- USGS/WRI/OFR-81-913; ON: TI85901362
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Preliminary observation of surface-mine impacts on ground water in two small watersheds in eastern Ohio
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Related Subjects
011000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
58 GEOSCIENCES
580100 -- Geology & Hydrology-- (-1989)
AQUIFERS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COAL DEPOSITS
DATA
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEDERAL REGION V
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
INFORMATION
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OHIO
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RESOURCES
STRATIGRAPHY
STREAMS
SURFACE MINING
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WATER
WATERSHEDS
WELLS