Ground-water hydrology before, during, and after coal strip mining of a small watershed in Coshocton County, Ohio
Ground-water conditions before, during, and after surface mining of a small watershed are described as part of a study to determine the effects of mining on hydrologic systems. The watershed was underlain by stratified sedimentary rocks containing three aquifers. The top and middle aquifers were perched above clay beds that underlay the major coal seams; the lowermost aquifer is part of a regional aquifer system. Mining involved removing the overburden rocks (including the top aquifer), stripping the coal, and recontouring the overburden spoils to the approximate premining shape of the watershed. Replacement of the top aquifer by spoils during mining has caused many changes in the land surface, recharge rates, discharge rates, saturated thickness, water-table gradient, hydraulic conductivity, storage, and water quality. Changes in the middle aquifer include: the amount of recharge from precipitation, amount of leakage through the overlying clay bed, and water quality in some areas. Saturation of the mine spoils during postmining has been slow and irregular; saturated zones have ranged from zero to 5 feet in thickness. Water levels in wells in the middle aquifer have remained virtually unchanged. The water quality in the mine spoils is significantly poorer than in the original top aquifer. Specific conductance of water in the mine spoils is 2020 micromhos per centimeter and sulfate as much as 940 milligrams per liter compared to 120 micromhos per centimeter and 11 milligrams per liter in the original aquifer. Water levels and water quality in the deep aquifer have not been affected by mining. 8 refs., 16 figs., 3 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Geological Survey, Columbus, OH (USA). Water Resources Div.
- OSTI ID:
- 5879299
- Report Number(s):
- USGS/WRI-83-4155; ON: TI85901348
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
011000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
58 GEOSCIENCES
580100 -- Geology & Hydrology-- (-1989)
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COAL DEPOSITS
DATA
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEDERAL REGION V
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
INFORMATION
LAND RECLAMATION
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OHIO
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RESOURCES
SURFACE MINING
USA
WATER
WATER QUALITY
WATERSHEDS