Hydrology of the Ferron sandstone aquifer and effects of proposed surface-coal mining in Castle Valley, Utah

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6417545

Lines, G C; Morrissey, D J

Coal in the Ferron Sandstone Member of the Mancos Shale of Cretaceous age has traditionally been mined by underground techniques in the Emery Coal Field in the southern end of Castle Valley in east-central Utah. However, approximately 99 million tons are recoverable by surface mining. Ground water in the Ferron is the sole source of supply for the town of Emery, but the aquifer is essentially untapped outside the Emery area. A three-dimensional digital-computer model was used to simulate ground-water flow in the Ferron sandstone aquifer in the Emery area. The model also was used to predict the effects of dewatering of a proposed surface mine on aquifer potentiometric surfaces and the base flow of streams. Discharge from the proposed surface mine is predicted to average about 0.3 cubic foot per second during the 15 years of mine operation. Dewatering of the mine would affect the potentiometric surface of all sections of the Ferron sanstone aquifer, but the greatest effects would be in the upper section. Modeling results indicate that, except for Christiansen Wash, the dewatering of the proposed surface mine would not affect the base flow of streams.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Reston, VA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6417545
• Report Number(s): USGS-WSP-2195; ON: TI86900262
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
58 GEOSCIENCES
AQUIFERS
HYDROLOGY
COAL MINING
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
SANDSTONES
SURFACE MINING
UTAH
WATER REMOVAL
FEDERAL REGION VIII
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
REMOVAL
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SIMULATION
USA
010900* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Environmental Aspects
580100 - Geology & Hydrology- (-1989)